Cafe Cuba & Cakes

The yucca fries were fried to perfection! Crispy on the outside fluffy on the inside. The pork tamale is one of the best I’ve had in LA so far, there’s a sauce on it that’s tangy and savory which adds so much. The prices are so affordable, like a guava cheese pastry less than $2 are you kidding me? Prices I’m used to before covid and this place stayed the same. A+

I went on a random weekday morning: fabulous staff and service, fantastic music and energy, and indeed authentic tasty dishes!

Great little cafe with authentic Cuban food. The pork looked dry when it was served, but it was actually tender. The guava pastries did not have enough fruit in them, so it did taste like you were eating a dry Phyllo. Although there was only one person serving, our meals were good. It took quite a while to get service, and there was a lady getting takeout that kept being asked to sit down in order to serve others. They would get to get and then someone else would come in and she's be asked to wait. As a business owner, I would have offered her a drink and pastry. She should have been taken care of first as she waited the longest.

Delicious Breakfast in a Friendly Cafe environment. Chorizo and Eggs with potatoes and toast was delicious and I was able to take my time while enjoying my meal. Started and ended with Guava and Cheese pastry and coffee. I'll work on my breakfast Spanish for the next visit.

You know when one loves a place because it feels like home, but better, one kind of doesn't want a lot of people to invade it So, am gonna say this once: Respect this place, treat their servers right and appreciate one warrior. A family owned business serving better food, handcrafted, homemade food in this time when workers aren't "all there" for a variety or reasons, small business owners who manage to deliver are indeed heros and role models for us all, dissapearing middle classers. Congratulations on the ambiance, great music, exceptional good, friendly service, and the flavor of Cuba la Bella that almost brought tears to my eyes, recalling memories long lost in time. Thank you.

The coffee with milk is absolutely spot on! You must try the guava filled pastries. The carne con papas is a must. A Cuban friend told me it is as authentic as it gets! Price is affordable too!

🇨🇺 CUBA (via Eat the World Los Angeles) - They have all the favorite Cuban sandwich options like pan con bistec, milanesa, lechon and of course the cubano itself. If you prefer the medianoche ($11.95), the same sandwich ingredients as a cubano but on a sweet egg-y soft bread, you will be impressed by the one here. What makes this one of the best Cuban sandwiches in town is the perfect ratio of ingredients and pickly-ness. If someone compares this to a ham and cheese sandwich, they deserve a slap in the face. Despite having both of those items, the keys to a delicious cubano or medianoche are the juicy pernil, which is excellent here, and a layer of crisp pickles.

If you're looking for an authentic Cuban food experience outside the realm of "Versailles Restaurants ". Then this is the spot for you. As close to the real deal as you'll get here at this small unassuming cafe. Prices are modest. Taste is genuinely authentic Cuban food. 100% The cafe coraditio was spot on. Even the american coffee was good. Service was warm and catered to my coffee needs. I didn't have a chance to try the pastries. But I'll definitely be back.

This spot has some good cuban pastries as well as cuban sandwiches.the iced coffee is also delicious.the guava con queso pastries are bomb

I was in the area for an appointment and found this place. Got the most amazing sandwich cubano, cafe con leche, guava and cheese pastry and a dulce de leche cookie. The area and the exterior doesn't look like much but don't let it fool you! The food was really good and tasty. The sandwich was hot and melty, the bread perfectly crusty on the outside and soft inside. The place feels homey, the service is homey, and I enjoyed my time there. It's was a little warm inside but I didn't let it bother me. I am always looking for the best dulce de leche and I can tell you that the cookie I got hit the spot like no other. It has the perfect consistency, flavor and color. All the other pastries look amazing too but couldn't fit anything else. I will be back to try more next time I'm here. Prices are very good.

Amazing food. Staff in the front not so friendly but I'll still go for some pastelitos , when I'm in the area.

Poor management prices super high higher then Starbucks I'm good I rather go to Miami try the real deal or tell my wife to make it for me

After being raised in LA for so many years. I learned that this cafe had been in Hawthorne for many years. We ordered the Frita Cubana, plátanos maduros, some pastelitos de Guayaba y Queso (Refugiados) and Pineapple. It seems as their pastries have a coconut and sugar wash to give the bits a different sweetness layer. We included each a Cortadito, which HIT the spot on a rainy afternoon. The service here was very attentive and fast in a laid back environment. I most definitely recommend this Cafe, over other competitors who have grown too big and have undermined the product. This visit took me back to my childhood being Cuban in LA and going shopping with my parents doing the rounds supporting our community.

Super friendly family-owned business. Delicious coffee and cakes! The prices are more than reasonable for the cakes! Cheap! I'm sad I moved away from the area, it is a real treat of a place.

Today was my first time here and the vibes were so welcoming and family oriented. The coffee was amazing. I ordered potato balls but unfortunately it was so busy that they forgot them but they gave me a guava pastry to make up for it. The customer service was so great that I didn't even care. I will def be back!

As a first time customer the lady I placed the order with got my order wrong. They would not replace my food item with something else and refused to give my money back. Both ladies were rude and disrespectful. Never visiting this place again.

Where do i start the food was horrible didnt even take the order correctly received the wrong food which didnt even have any taste i ordered pastry of guava and was given one with meat that was cold that i disnt order the food filled with oil and the drinks were given to us after the food was finished plus the the food is over priced and the menu is not up to date on current prices so was over charged never come here yuck if you want cuban food go to portos

The sandwich and pastries from here are great. My family has been coming here for years. But the experience I have had with the lady answering the phone, the same lady I'm assuming that the other 1 star reviewers have mentioned, is beyond rude. My wife called to ask about the status of some pastries we ordered, and the reply she got was "I don't see any order with your name and if you ordered it they should be here sitting on the counter. I don't know why you have picked them up." It was almost as if we were being scolded for not having picked up the order yet. I literally stopped with what I was doing at home as I was in shock with the tone in which she was using to speak to wife. Lost a longtime customer over nothing. Horrible service.

Their oxtails and rice are This Hawthorne gem has really good pastries too. If you like Versailles, you'll love this place.

Worst service in the world. I was waiting at the cashier to place an order for 30mins and the waitress didn't even acknowledge me. Don't go here

Honestly, the most delicious Cuban food I have ever had! It's homemade, delicious, and well priced! I've been coming back for years now because their coffee is absolutely amazing. I had their Cuban tamale today and it beats all the tamales I've ever had! The croqueta and papa rellena are to die for! The pastries are better than the ones you'd get at a chain restaurant. Hands down the best restaurant in town!

Family and I stopped by to try their cuban sandwiches and they were tasty. The potato ball was big! We had a lot of their pastries to go and my favorite was the coconut one. There was only one waitress working so we had to wait a little bit but we weren't in a big hurry.

Stopped here for lunch and loved it. The staff was so sweet and I could tell they enjoyed our patronage. Had a cubano sandwich and it was delicious and authentic. Also had an order of croquetas and loved them. They have an impressive selection of pastries. Good coffee. Building is old and not much to look at. It is quaint and I enjoyed the vibe.

Instead of Cafe Cuba & Cakes, this place should be called Cafe Cuba & Waits. Both times I visited, it was more than 10 minutes before I was acknowledged. The food is great - second only to being in Cuba! However, yesterday's waitress did not even make eye contact as I waited at the register to order, instead doing small tasks (e.g. refilling the paper towels). After 10 minutes, I finally threw up my hands and started to walk out, to which she bellowed a weak, "Sorry." Fine food, but I do not have 3 hours to spend waiting for a sandwich. I'll never be back.

First, order the guava pastries. So good. I got a guava and a guava and cheese and I'm not sure which is better. I also ordered a cortadito which was pretty strong and definitely gave me the caffeine boost I was looking for. I love that this is a locals place and is close to home but never realized it was there before seeing it on Yelp. It is kind of hidden but is definitely a must try. They have meals here besides just getting pastries and coffee so I will be back to try those.

Not what it used to be . I asked for an iced coffee they gave me chocolate syrup and milk! Had to ask for my drinks twice. Lady just kept complaining that nobody was helping her bring our utensils. The ac was not working and it was super hot inside. Food was plain , croquetas were flavorless.

Many thanks to Mr. Roberto, quality and caring owner of Café Cuba & Cakes, for his yummy pastries and concern for customers.

Yum yum authentic Cuban homemade meal...the rabo encendido to die for...by far the best I've had

Cute little mom and pop place. The Cuban coffee is very sweet but yummy! All the pastries were excellent! Can't wait to come back

Incredible food and amazing service! The best Media Noche and Sandwich Cubano in Los Angeles. Wow we enjoyed everything here! We took home chicken fricasse for dinner and the flavor was amazing. The Madoro is outstanding. Papa Rellena a million times tastier than Porto's. This is our go to spot for Cuban food. Did I mention the flan, Batida Mamey, cafe con leche and tostones!! Run run here! You will be floored. The outside does not look fancy but once you walk in you will be greeted warmly and the atmosphere is very cute with salsa music playing on the speakers. This place is super clean and they take great pride in this, even sweeping the sidewalk so the entrance looks clean. This is true pride of ownership. This is a best kept secret for Cuban food in the South Bay with fair prices large portions and high quality food ! They close at 4 pm daily and closed Sunday. Bring cash otherwise a very small fee if you use credit card.

This was too funny to not share... This morning I had a pastelito craving and decided to give this place a second chance based on the reviews and photos. Yep, been here before. Yelp has it opening at 9am. I'd been up since 6, but I decided to wait three hours to eat because I really wanted a pastelito and cortadito. When I walked in at 9:01 there were already four tables finishing their meals, so clearly someone posted incorrect info. It only went downhill from there... Walked up to the counter and saw that they had a couple of loaves of Cuban bread, a small display case with a couple dozen guava and meat pastelitos, but no one behind the counter. Good, I thought. I'll get some stuff to go. It was probably a good minute before finally, a lady comes rushing out of the back and says to me as she's flying by, "Vas a tener que esperarme un buen rato porque no te puedo atender ahora mismo! Tengo aquella mesa primero, así que siéntate. La otra muchacha no vino y estoy sola..." I had to take a moment and look around to make sure I wasn't back home in Miami, LMFAO!!! That was straight out of the 'Miami Unfortunate Customer Service' handbook! Instead of, "Buenos dias, mire disculpe que estamos un poco atareados, pero tome asiento y ya lo atiendo," fue mas bien como un regaño, LOL!! I thought to myself, 'this can only get worse...' so, of course I walked out, and immediately called the wife and we howled with laughter reminiscing over similar bad service experiences we had back home. Ah, good times.... But yeah, no, I won't be back to this place. I'd rather wait and get the real thing when we go back home to visit.

Let me start by saying that this place is incredible. I had no expectations when I decided to give this place a try.. But even if I would have, they'dve been blown away. When you walk in, even with all the chairs up, you instantly feel the culture of the place. The music draws you in as the ceiling fans circle round and around. A woman with a lovely accent comes out from the kitchen to greet you, and you can't help but get excited about the food you are about to get because you know she was just prepping for it. And that's how I felt. I gave her my order of Bistec de Milanesa Sandwich, Cubano Sandwich, Papa Rellena, Tostones, Pastelito de Guayaba con Queso, and Pastelito de Carne. Bistec de Milanesa Sandwich-- Now THIS is delicious. The steak was done beautifully, seasoned well, and the shoestring fries compliment it wonderfully. The sliced tomato and onions were done just right. It was awesome, and I would totally get this again. Cubano Sandwich-- It was decent. Not the best cubano I've ever had, but it wasn't bad. I do wish that they used a more intense mustard, as it seemed kind of mellow.. Rather than a bright mustard that you'd expect in a cubano. The same goes for the pickles; they were so subtle that at first I thought they were forgotten, until I got to the second half of the sandwich. The meat I think is probably pre-sliced stuff. The bread toasting could have been better, too. All of which again, doesn't mean it's bad, only that it didn't particularly stand out to me. The best Cubano I've ever had belongs to El Conchinito on sunset blvd. Papa Rellena-- Oh man, this was incredible. I've never had anything like it. The meat inside was seasoned perfectly, and the contrasting textures of the golden crispy outside to the fluffy and warm inside was entrancing. It was just the right size, and I felt totally satisfied after finishing it. Highly recommend you snag one of these! Tostones-- SO good. Perfect, even. I would not change a thing. The thickness, the flavor, the texture were top notch. And the sauce they give you to dip it in was wonderful! This will be my shining example of tostones, for sure! Pastelito de Guayaba con Queso-- I am a huge fan of guava, so I was really looking forward to seeing how they use it here. It was quite good! The crust was perfectly done, and the guava and cheese dance together on the tongue in a wonderful way. While good on its own, I bet it would be great with a cup of cuban coffee! This place is out of the way for me, but I would definitely make the trek for it. This is officially where I will send people for good, authentic Cuban food. Pastelito de Carne-- Yum, this is the perfect take away snack.

In a pinch, thank goodness I found this spot open on New Year's Eve day. I'd originally planned for Porto's but dreaded the thought of waiting in a long line, plus this place was closer to where I was going. I asked the cajera how long they'd been at their location and to my great surprise she said like 8 years! The menu had your typical selection of Cuban coffees, Cuban pastries and Cuban sandwiches. The bakery display didn't have much in it beside guava pastelitos so I took all 9 of them. Then a lady from the back brought more out but the batch she brought out was guava AND cheese which are the best- super flaky and flavorful- so I took a dozen of those too, along with a dozen of the meat pastelitos- not enough meat or meat flavoring but the same size as the guava pastelitos. The prices of guava pastelitos are like 1.25 each and the meat were 95 cents but they were both about the same size. When I'm back in the area, I'll definitely try tue coffee and sandwiches.

It's a small & cozy business. Always very welcoming! I've been here 4 times & have tried their sandwiches. Authentic, full of flavor & delicious. Pastries are always fresh, as well as the coffee. I think they should have more than one non-dairy milk option (they have soy). Other than that, mugs & to-go cups are a great size & worth the buck.

Very good Cuban sandwich and plantains. Little bit of a wait but worth it for the quality

I really am a fan of Cuban cuisine. I've been to various Cuban eateries in the southland such as Porto's, Versailles and a number of others. I was looking for a place to have a light breakfast and especially get a good cup of coffee. My search on Yelp brought me to this place in Hawthorne. It's a nice-sized eatery with tables and chairs as well as a section with a rattan sofa and armchairs facilitating a group of friends to be able to sit around and visit with each other while enjoying some good eats. I was drawn to the papa rellena which is the potato balls filled with meat, in this case, ground beef. They also had the Cuban guayaba which is a pastry filled with guayaba and there is also one with guayaba and cheese. These delights are $0.95 and go perfect with a cup of coffee. I went with the large regular coffee so I could get free refills as I planned to take advantage of the free wi-fi and settle down and do some studying and work. The papa rellena was freshly made as it took a few minutes for them to deep fry them for me. They are $3.25 each but if you order a pair, you get a discount and pay $5.75 or so. I was immediately served the guayaba after finding a table which was enjoyable with my hot cup of coffee. They have sandwiches for order as well as hot plates such as the Ropa Vieja, chicken plates and tamales. I have to come back to try the Ropa Vieja which is one of my favorite Cuban dishes. The service is very friendly and I was able to use my Spanish in ordering and in my conversations with the staff. They do speak English as well. I will definitely return again to enjoy the other offerings at this quaint and authentic Cuban eatery.

So I found this place and it makes me mad because I've been working across the street from it for a few years and have never tried it. But I'm glad I found them now! I was too late for breakfast as it ends @11am but I was able to enjoy a great grilled chicken plate with black beans and sweet plantain. Omg and there were grilled onions and bell peppers. Everything was cooked to perfection and I was happy to be eating to the sound of Cuban music. I will be back for sure but I wanted to shout them out as I hope more people explore this small business so that they may expand. It sucks when the bigger brand unhealthy foods win and great places like this go unnoticed. Also shout out to the waitress, server, cashier, maybe manager because she seems to run the place! Ms Melba.

We liked all the food we had!! Yukon potato fritter was very unique to us, very different from regular fries. It feel like you really are in Cuba.

The senior lady at the counter is beyond rude and has a very nasty attitude -I have been going there for so long and she is never happy - I go less now because of her attitude but I do love my Cuban sandwiches from here and it sucks that I have to deal with that lady's bad attitude every time I go there...How do you open so early but when I call to place my order you tell me that the cook is not here call back at 9.... sucks

The older woman working there has a horrible attitude. I ordered a orange and celery juice, she then tells me there are no carrots when I didn't order carrot juice. She went towards the kitchen with a coworker giggling about how she couldn't understand my Spanish. She had an attitude when I told her I wasn't done ordering because I wanted pastries as well. And when I paid she slammed my change on the counter even though my hand was out. The pastries weren't even that good. I'll stick with Porto's moving forward.

Things have changed since the last time I came here. I wasn't able to place my order of the phone the way I did last time and instead was told I have to come in and wait while the small potatoes are made. Also, there is now a 4% charge for paying by card. I'm not happy about these changes but I'm not changing the rating because I still want to support this small business.

Got a quick Cafe con leche to go. Lot of parking in the front. Coffee was good but they only had soy milk not almond. If not, only other option is whole milk.

I really enjoyed this place! I had came back from Miami less than 12 hours prior and was already craving Cuban Food lol I yelped "Cuban food" it came up and wanted to give it a try. I was craving a Cortadito & guava pastry. Both were bomb. Even had my two friends tag along since one is from Cuba. Low and behold, the main cook is Cuban so my friend felt good knowing this place was legit and authentic lol Anyways, we had a great time and even bought some Cuban Espresso. Staff was friendly and we'll be back again soon!

Made an order through Yelp that apparently they never got. As soon as I got there, I received a text from Yelp that "something went wrong." So don't order through Yelp. Got a Cubano, it was delicious. Got a cannoli, it was alright. I would go again and try their coffee and another sandwich.

The food is not tasty and it doesn't give me that Cuban feel I would rather go to Tropicana because it's the best food ever.

This is legit Cuban food. They have an authentic Cuban food menu. Great Cuban expresó. Warm family style service. I love this place.

I visited this place because i was recommended the coffee and pastries. The coffee was good and the guava pastry was great too except they brought it to me an hour after I ordered. I was curious and bought le chapin plate and I was pretty unimpressed. I waited nearly 2 hours for a plate that contained 2 fried plantains with 4 yuccas and scrambled eggs. The flavor was normal but the wait time is what really disappointed me.

The most delicious cheese pastries in town. I go there especially for these sweet cheese danishes. Not to be missed!

Amazing little place. Somewhat photo op opportunities as well. Place is clean and feels like home i would say. Parking can be limited. Restrooms are like in the next building or something.The coffee is great. Not alot of options for vegans/vegetarians though but theres cupcakes and pastries so that works as well i guess. The chochlate cupcake i had was so great. They even have an option to use soy milk. Free wifi is available as well. They play cuban/latin music but like the ones in the good old days and it just feels so relaxing and amazing to hear this music while sipping on a cup of coffee. Lady amd gentleman who run this place are really nice. They also take cake orders but a little pricey i would say depending on the type of cale you want. However, the cake tastes amazing especially the tres leche one. Overall great place to relax and unwind.

Really good food great pastries MUST GET THE CANOLI their pineapple soda is also yummy good prices lower prices for cash I believe. Make sure to order everything at once tho waiters seemed annoyed when they kept having to bring more stuff. But overall good place pretty place with wifi and outlets.

I love there chicken soup and everything else they have in the menu. The hostess are always friendly all the time. I love this place.

Great service & delicious food! We're greeted with a warm welcome and our order was taken really quick. The fresh juice and Cuban sandwich were reallyyy good and the Stuffed potatoes are a must!

The guava cheese pastries are amazing. I also recommend the cortadito (coffee) and the papas rellenas. (fried mashed potato balls with ground meat) The cashiers are kind and I definitely will support again.

This is in regards to the establishment's refund policy if you order online and have paid in advance through the Yelp app. After ordering, I received a courtesy call that they're out of the papa's fritas ordered. No big deal. However when I inquired about a refund, the woman helping me at the counter said I'd have to call "them" to get my refund. (Who is them?) Again, ordering through Yelp requires you to place an order and my debit card was already charged. Doesnt this mean this store has ot will have my money? I graciously asked if I could possibly & please have other food items comparable to the price of the fries. I was grateful that she made these accommodations for me. Word to the wise, call in advance to make sure they have what you want and maybe just order over the phone.

Being Cuban in Los Angeles means you have somewhat of a variety of Cuban restaurants to eat, but not all of them cook just like mom. There are only two restaurants that give me flashbacks to my mom's cooking and Cafe Cuba and Cakes is one of them. The prices are reasonable for the quality of food. They have a menu, but their specials are written all over the walls, so make sure you read everything before placing your order. I've been addicted to the Boliche for some time. I broke tradition and ordered the Carne Con Papas (Meat and Potatoe Stew). Wow! I've had the Oxtail Soup, which is really good. There's pastries and cakes. I haven't had the opportunity to sample their cakes, but their Pasteles de Guava are fantastic! Lastly, it doubles as mini mini-mart. You can buy Gaviña coffee cans and guava paste for authentic Cuban dessert! The staff are friendly. Free WiFi. Street parking.

This place is good!! I come here alot for special events with my family and friends. Highly recommend them.

First let's talk ambiance. After going to Cuba this cafe does a good job of giving you a bit of the home cooked family feel of Cuba which I love especially if you come on a day when there are a few older gentlemen chillin and laughing in the corner. There is always a low bit of Latin or Cuban music playing which is great Then the food and coffe The papa rellena's here are my favorite the breading has some extra spices and the potatoes to protein portion is perfect. In comparison to portos who changed there style maybe 4 years back making them smaller in nature Cafe Cuba please dont change your recipe. Then the coffee is good. So overall this location is a 5 and although I no longer live close to the location I still make a drive for return visits. Gracias

I hate this place! And I only gave them a one star so that I could write this review. A friend of mine called and asked what I would recommend. I told her NOTHING because their attitude is bad and frankly they don't have a big selection (referred her to Porto's instead). Well, she was already there. She will never return because she also experienced their rudeness. She felt that she was discriminated against because they were Mexicans. They catered to the "WHITE CUBANS" that came in after her and were helped before her. Needless to say she walked out but not before letting them know how she was treated. I too have experienced this. I don't recommends this place to anybody. Rather drive the distance to Porto's.