Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

El Chino — Pajarito Restaurant

Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2008

1. El Chino-Pajarito Restaurant Marker

Inscription. Cuban exiles in the 1890's met to plot for independence at a restaurant operated on this site by the patriot Antonio Menendez, a Chinese from Cuba. Many revolutionaries on their way to join the Mambi Army in Cuba, were given warm welcome and free rations. The Freedom fighters, before leaving for guerilla warfare in the savannas, were equipped with machetes and knives from the kitchen of El Chino - Pajarito. On occasions Jose Marti dined here with rebel leaders.

Erected 1962 by The Optimist Club of Ybor City.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans • Hispanic Americans • Patriots & Patriotism • War, Spanish-American.

Location. 27° 57.657′ N, 82° 26.666′ W. Marker is in Tampa, Florida, in Hillsborough County. Marker is on 8th Avenue, on the left when traveling west. Located in Ybor City Historic District of Tampa, between between 13th and 14th Streets. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tampa FL 33605, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. La Liga Patriotica de Instruccion (a few steps from this marker); Ybor City's First Fire Station (a few steps from this marker); José Martí (within shouting distance of this

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

marker); Founding of the Cigar Industry in Tampa (within shouting distance of this marker); La Casa de Pedroso (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named La Casa de Pedroso (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Antonio Maceo Grajales (about 300 feet away); Jose Marti (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tampa.

Regarding El Chino — Pajarito Restaurant. Mentioned on the marker, The Mambi Army was the National Army of Liberation that defeated the Spanish through two wars: 1868-1876 and again 1895-1898. Mambi is a Congo word. Recent estimates of the participation of Cubans of African descent in the Mambi Army run as high as 92%.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, December 13, 2008

2. El Chino-Pajarito Restaurant Marker

Photographed By Mike Stroud, December 13, 2008

3. El Chino-Pajarito Restaurant Marker

Near this site, editor Ramon Rivero y Rivero published the newspaper, Cuba, from 1887 to 1898. It was dedicated to the cause of the island's independence from Spain. Hillsborough County's first legal hanging took place near here on May 17, 1850. Jose Perfino, known as "El Indio", was executed for the murder of Thomas Cline.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, December 13, 2008

4. El Chino-Pajarito Restaurant Marker

located on the South side of 8th Ave.

Photographed By AGS Media, June 4, 2010

5. El Chino-Pajarito Restaurant Marker

Thankfully, in 2010, the marker is standing much more upright. The marker is capped with the emblem of the Ybor City Rotary Club, which features the flags of the USA, Cuba, and historical variants of the flags of Italy and Spain, the steamship Hutchinson, and a cigar.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 15, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 14, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 2,199 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 14, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 5. submitted on June 27, 2010, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.