El Tamarindo Cafe

El Tamarindo Cafe is a family-run Latin American and Central American restaurant located on West State Road 84 near the marina district and Croissant Park in Fort Lauderdale. Known for its warm hospitality and colorful tropical decor, the restaurant features a covered outdoor patio where leashed dogs are welcome to join their owners for lunch or dinner. Located in one of Fort Lauderdale's most popular dining corridors, the establishment pairs convenient parking and easy sidewalk access with a laid-back South Florida indoor-outdoor layout.

The scratch kitchen celebrates authentic Salvadoran, Mexican, and pan-Latin flavors, led by handmade corn-masa pupusas stuffed with cheese, loroco, pork chicharron, and refried beans served alongside tangy curtido cabbage slaw. Other hearty favorites include sizzling beef and shrimp fajitas, grilled churrasco skirt steak with chimichurri, carne asada, crispy snapper, sweet fried plantains, and tres leches cake.

Guests on the shaded outdoor terrace can enjoy fresh-squeezed tamarind and horchata aguas frescas, house margaritas, or imported Latin beers while servers provide water bowls for visiting pups. Friendly service and homestyle Latin cooking make El Tamarindo Cafe a beloved Fort Lauderdale neighborhood gem. Open throughout the week for locals and visitors exploring Fort Lauderdale with their pups, the outdoor seating area provides plenty of shade, cool breezes, and space between tables for leashed dogs of all sizes to rest comfortably while their owners dine.