For many Cuban families, the biggest meal of the holidays isn't Christmas dinner. It's Nochebuena, "the good night," on Christmas Eve. In 2026 it falls on Thursday, December 24, and if you're hosting, the planning starts now.
The Alfonso family has cooked Cuban food on Southern Blvd in West Palm Beach since 1986. Here's what goes on a traditional Nochebuena table, how much pork to order and a simple timeline, so you can spend Christmas Eve with your family instead of standing over a pig all day.
What Is Nochebuena?
Nochebuena is the Christmas Eve feast in Cuba, Spain and much of Latin America. In Cuban homes it means a long table, a whole roast pig, music, dominoes, and family who stay up until midnight and beyond. Christmas Day is often the quiet day after.
Here in South Florida the tradition is as strong as ever. That's why roast pigs are hard to find the week of Christmas if you wait too long.
The Traditional Nochebuena Menu
Lechón asado
The centerpiece is lechón asado, a whole pig marinated overnight in mojo criollo (sour orange, lots of garlic, oregano and cumin) and roasted for hours until the meat pulls apart and the skin crackles. Many families roast it themselves in a caja china, a wooden roasting box, which means starting early in the morning and tending it all day.
Black beans and rice
Rice and beans go next to the pork, either cooked together as congrí or moros y cristianos, or as white rice with a pot of black beans on the side.
Yuca con mojo
Tender boiled yuca topped with warm mojo, a sauce of garlic, citrus and onions. It's the side that soaks up everything on the plate.
Plátanos
Sweet, caramelized maduros made from ripe plantains, or crunchy tostones made from green ones. Most tables want both.
Something sweet
Nochebuena desserts lean old-school: Spanish turrón (almond nougat), buñuelos in anise syrup, arroz con leche and, of course, flan. Our bakery makes flan and cheese flan in individual and family sizes, plus a big flan that serves 20 to 30, tres leches, arroz con leche and trays of assorted pastries. See what else comes out of the ovens at our Cuban bakery.
And a cafecito
Nobody makes it to midnight without a round of Cuban coffee.
How Much Lechón Do You Need Per Person?
A whole pig weighs a lot more than the meat that ends up on the platter, because of the bones, head and skin. As a guide, our Roast Pig Package is a 40 to 45 lb pig for 20 to 25 people, which works out to about 2 lbs of whole pig per guest.
Lean toward the higher end if your family are big eaters or you want leftovers for pan con lechón the next day. If the table is full of sides and desserts, the same pig goes further. Not sure? Call us with your headcount and we'll tell you what fits.
A Nochebuena Planning Timeline
- Early November: settle your guest list and decide whether you're roasting the pig yourself or ordering it.
- As soon as you know your headcount: reserve your pig. Christmas week books up first, so don't leave it to the last minute.
- Mid-December: order desserts: flan, tres leches or a pastry tray.
- December 22 to 23: confirm your pickup time, and buy drinks, ice, serving trays and foil.
- December 24: pick up, warm the sides, set the table and enjoy the night.
Hosting Nochebuena Without Cooking All Day
At Capri, whole pigs are a house special. Each one is seasoned the traditional Cuban way and roasted on-site in a specially designed oven that cooks the meat evenly and makes the skin crispy. Our Roast Pig Package comes with congrí and yuca con mojo or maduros, so the main part of the meal is done.
Call (561) 655-1602 to reserve your pig for Christmas Eve, or read more about ordering a whole roast pig. Feeding a bigger crowd, like an office or a church group? Our catering can help with the rest of the spread.
The Day After: Pan con Lechón
The best part of Nochebuena might be December 25. Pile leftover pork on Cuban bread with some mojo and onions, press it, and you have pan con lechón. Grab a loaf of fresh Cuban bread from our bakery, or let us make the sandwich. Our Cuban sandwiches are pressed hot every day.
Want to know how lechón compares to the other Cuban pork classics? Read Masitas vs. Pernil vs. Lechón.
¡Feliz Nochebuena from the Capri family!