Monica “Mika” Leon has spent the last decade working in kitchens across South Florida. Her journey to chef, restaurateur, and television personality began with Mika Bites, a wholesale desserts company she launched out of her mother’s garage. With a recently earned business degree, plus grit and passion to spare, Leon quickly went from home baker to a thriving entrepreneur—proving that sweets were only the beginning.

The granddaughter of a successful Cuban restaurant owner, Leon eventually found her way into the family business. She started with a food truck in 2016, hitting the streets of Miami with her unique Cuban tacos, using lechón, vaca frita, and ropa vieja as fillings. The truck gave her the opportunity to explore different neighborhoods, introduce new people to her food, and get a lay of the land before deciding to settle down.

In 2019, Leon established Coral Gables as the home of Caja Caliente’s first brick-and-mortar restaurant. It was a dream come true for the young chef who brought her family along for this new endeavor. The restaurant is currently on hiatus as it relocates for a bigger-and-better 2026 reopening.

Leon’s cooking is highly personal, taking flavor profiles inspired by her travels through the Caribbean, and combining them with family recipes passed down for generations. Traditional lechón tacos and a homey arroz con pollo are featured on the menu alongside whimsical brunch plates, and fresh takes on her favorite desserts, like a mango Basque cheesecake or passion fruit flan, all featuring local and seasonal ingredients.

In addition to her restaurant work, Leon has cultivated a growing media career including appearances on The Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay, Guy’s Grocery Games, 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing, Wildcard Kitchen and Tournament of Champions, Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted (National Geographic), Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi (Hulu), Family Dinner with Andrew Zimmern (HBO Max), and Luda Can’t Cook with Ludacris (Discovery+). She’s been featured in numerous local and national publications, including The Infatuation and Eater, who named Caja Caliente the best Cuban restaurant in Miami. Her first cookbook will be published in the Fall of 2026.