Habana Express Cuban Restaurant & Bakery

Havana Express Cuban Restaurant was an absolute and delightful surprise. Finding truly authentic Cuban cuisine outside of Cuba is rare—but this place delivers the real thing. My wife is Cuban and an exceptional chef herself, so we approach Cuban food with very high standards. Both of us agree without hesitation: the food here is genuinely authentic Cuban cuisine. Every dish we tried reflected traditional flavors and careful preparation. The fried yuca was perfectly done, and enjoying a Malta Hatuey brought back true Cuban nostalgia. The service was equally outstanding. To our delight, the chef himself came out to greet us—he is Cuban, and you can feel his pride and passion in both the food and the hospitality. That personal touch made the experience even more special. And the pastries—simply phenomenal. Fresh, indulgent, and absolutely irresistible. Havana Express is a true culinary jewel in Concord. If you’re looking for real Cuban flavors, warm hospitality, and an unforgettable dining experience, this is a must-visit. Highly recommended—you will not be disappointed.

This place always hits the spot! Have visited a few times, but have been too excited to snap a photo of my food :) Great flavors with huge portions. I go back and forth with my favorite: the Traditional or the Cubano sandwich. I try to order both and split with my husband. Not sure what is in the green sauce, but must be magic. Highly recommend! Additional sidenote: have stopped in for breakfast a few times as well. The coffee + pastry combo is incredible!

I am glad we found this place, it has become my new favorite spot. I get the garlic shrimp bowl..It is VERY tasty. And the pastries are so delicious. The owners are very nice and personable. The atmosphere is great. And the prices are very reasonable.

I’m in love with this place! Their creamy cilantro and slow roasted pork pork are absolutely fantastic. My pro-tip is to order the Traditional over the more popular Cubano. I think the ham in the Cubano covers up how delicious their pork is. I’ve had other items off their menu, the rice bowls are also very good, but I find myself ordering the Traditional over and over again. There are other Cuban restaurants with more name recognition. (Porto’s and Versailles in LA come to mind) I would place Habana Express right up there with them and maybe even a notch above when it comes to flavor.

A Piece of Cuba I love Cuban food but it’s very hard to find in the Bay Area Habana Express is a Pleasant Hill gem located in a strip mall with a plethora of dining options Their signature is their classic Cuban sandwiches. While they serve dishes like ropa viejo, tamales and Cuban pastries, it’s really the sandwiches that are the star They’re made fresh to order (about 10 minutes) but well worth the wait. I ordered a side of yucca fries as well The Cubano is their most popular sandwich and consists of roasted pork, Swiss cheese, ham, pickles, mayo and mustard It’s finished on a griddle and the melty cheese and savory meats are a fantastic combo. Really enjoyed my lunch here and wish we had one on the Peninsula 📷 Cubano $13 ~ Roasted Pork, Swiss Cheese, Ham, Pickles, mustard, Mayo 📍 Habana Express Cuban Restaurant and Bakery (Pleasant Hill, CA) Indoor seating and limited outdoor seating is available. Credit cards accepted. Walk in only.

I stopped by because a friend told me to try them out. I a big fan of authentic Cuban food and it’s hard to find in the Bay Area. The people working were nice and they seem to have a lot of options. I ordered the Cuban sandwich and croquettes. The sandwich is ok I give it 6.5/10 but the croquettes are probably the worst I’ve tasted. This place serves Arepas and salchipapa so it’s more of a Colombian restaurant that has a Cuban vibe. Definitely not an authentic Cuban restaurant. A lot of people seem to like this place but there are other better places to get REAL Cuban food.

I had an amazing time, eating amazing authentic Cuban food. This was my 3rd time coming here and I gotta say I loved it. Food is original with real Cuban flavors, eating this food takes me back to my years in Miami where I learned about Cuban food and enjoyed it ever since, fortunately I found a Cuban place when I can continue to enjoy Cuban food. I really hope you guys never close. This time I brought my sister, her boyfriend, my mother in law who’s Cuban-who’s visiting from Miami , my sisters best friend and family, about 8 people, and the other two times I brought some other friends. I am beyond happy to know about this place , I will continue to come and brining more people to enjoy your food because honestly food was great and service too. We got everything we order correct and the cashier was very Kind too. Thank you to the person making out food which I heard is Cuban, I’m not sure if is the owner of the place but food tasted like original Cuban food. Plus we all loved that we can write on the walls….

Fast and friendly service. Sammich was incredibly good. Might wanna get water or a drink cause the sammich kind of makes the throat feel overwhelmed with flavor. Fries were decent. Little soggy no crunch, but tasted decent. Place is clean and has great AC.

Stopped by Habana Express on a Sunday afternoon a hidden gem tucked away in a Pleasant Hill shopping center. So glad we stumbled upon this spot! I ordered the Cubano sandwich, a Cuban espresso, and a guava and cheese pastry (not pictured), which turned out to be the true star of the meal. The flavors were spot-on perfectly balanced, fresh, and authentic. The menu offers a great variety of sandwiches, bowls, and plates, all made to order. On top of the amazing food, the service was exceptional friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu. Habana Express is a fantastic addition to Pleasant Hill definitely worth a visit if you're craving quality Cuban fare!

I'm back to try more, love the food! Just get some! Food notes: Cuban Soda IronBeer (4 Stars $2.95) The soda tastes like a combo of Root Beer and Orange soda. Good stuff! Breakfast Sandwich (Stars 4 $8.99) It's like the Cuban, but no pickles or mustard and plain egg omelette instead of thebml roasted pork. Really good! I wish they were open earlier than 11, kinda late for a breakfast sandwich. Maybe open at 9 and increase the breakfast menu, or serve coffee with the pastries... start with Saturday and Sundays. Maduro Side (4 Stars $4.99) The roasted plantains were good, soft on the inside with a good caramelization on the outside. Coconut Pastry (3 Stars) The guava and cheese pastry is still the best, coconut not so much. Next time try: Loaded Tostones Garlic Shrimp Bowl

First time customer and I am a fan :) I love cubanos and don't see them sold much around this area. What a great find. I got the sandwich combo with the cubano + fries + soda can. The sandwich was very good! I loved the cheese and pickles. They were generous with the meat (thick slices). The fries were fresh out of the fryer! Needed a bit of salt but I just salted them myself, which was fine. The combo came with a soda and I noticed they had Cuban sodas I've never seen before. I got this pineapple one recommended by the cashier and it was DELICIOUS. Definitely recommend you try! The restaurant itself is small but they do have lots of small booths available. The decorations are super cute!

Had the pan con bistec and it was really good! The restaurant was somewhat clean and the had friendly service.

If you're craving good Cuban food with ambiance, this is the place. It's tucked in the many strip malls in Pleasant Hill, but worth once you find it. Inside it looks like fast food, but it is actually made to order. Service is very welcoming and eager to serve you. The food came in short time, and everything was excellent! The steak and onion plate was delicious. Also had the Cubano sandwich and did not disappoint. Great spot to have good Latin food!

Quality/Quantity - What a GREAT find!! I really appreciate it when Yelp works, when 5 star businesses are really 5 stars! I know it can be subjective. Weird that when I Yelped restaurants for Walnut Creek, it brought me to more places NOT in Walnut Creek. Showed that Walnut Creek is going downhill?!?! Anyways, what a great find and worth the short extra drive. Been a long time since we have been to little Havana in Miami, Florida. Sure miss the place. And so glad we found this place. Today we got the following, and brought of it home for my lunch the following day. #1 Habana Bowl - This was good, the flavors of the shredded pork was spot on. And with generous portions. #2 Cubano Sandwich - This was the better of the two, but they were both 5 stars. Again, generous portions. Perfect combination of meats, bread, mayo, and mustard. What a recipe. Atmosphere - Small local restaurant. Fast casual environment. Counter service. Cool, simple decor, did not take enough pictures, lol. Monday and Tuesday specials, see pictures. Open 6 (or 7) days a week...? From 11am to 9:30pm. The posted sign and hours say 6 days, being closed on Mondays, but my other picture showed a Monday special... with free fries and 10% off?!?! Plenty of mall parking. Service - Good. I believe the wife worked the front and husband worked the back. Counter service. Price - $35 + tip; reasonably priced. But for the quality of food, I will keep coming back. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since June of 2024. We will share this with all of our friends, not just on Yelp.

One of the best Cubano sandwiches ever. Got there 2 minutes before opening on accident as google was showing an earlier time. But there was no issue from the staff on taking my order. Ordered the #2 which is the Cubano and got it with extra pickles to go. The sandwich was still perfect by the time I got it home. A nice press on it and everything was warm. I might ask for light mayo next time as the bread slides around a little and honestly I much rather prefer the tang of just mustard and pickles. SO much meat, this sandwich was packed (picture doesnt really do the girth justice). They don't skimp. I can't wait to go back and try more. They have bowls, other sandwiches, some pastries and empanadas.

After getting our little one's ears pierced, my husband and I decided to grab a bite to eat at Habana Express. It was both our first time dining there, so we didn't know what to expect. The service was amazing! All of the staff that we interacted with were very friendly and knew the menu extremely well. We ended up dining outside and they were kind enough to bring our items directly to us. The food was delicious! I can't even recall what we ordered, but it was all very good. It was seasoned to perfection. Our little one and our niece enjoyed the food as well. I highly recommend giving Habana Express a try!

First time visiting this place and WOW everything was cooked to perfection !! The meat was very tender and so tasty !! As of right now My favorite is the traditional sandwich I LOVE onions and the cilantro sauce was absolutely to die for omg. I highly recommend 10/10 experience I will definitely be back I can't wait to try the rest of the menu !!

Read about Habana in the Sunday Eats section in the local newspaper so off I went on a Tuesday for lunch. They have 10% off and a free side dish on Tuesdays and a free soda on Mondays. I was out in the area so I swung by and ordered a Cubano with a free order of fries and a Coke. I also ordered a couple guava cheese, a couple of the orange cheese pastries and a Cubano to go for my wife. The Cubano sandwiches were very tasty, the sandwich was grilled which gave the chewy roll a nice light crunch, generous serving of pork was tender, nice flavored ham, melted gooey cheese, mayonnaise and mustard all blended well for a very good sandwich. The French fries were nice and hot. It comes with sauces but I'm not a sauce guy. I think you need to dip the fries so they have more flavor and moistness. The pastries were good, definitely taste the cheese and light filling makes them good. The pastry is not real sweet which is good if you don't have a sweet tooth. Also, the pastries have a nice brown flakey crust. Hit Habana on a Monday or Tuesday to get 10% off plus a bonus side. Very nice family restaurant and on my list of places to go again.

Finally had the opportunity to stop in, and I'm SO glad I did! As a fellow Cuban (my father is from Camagüey), I've been waiting for an authentic Cuban spot to open up in the area. Our family matriarch -- who rarely eats anything she doesn't make herself -- ordered a bunch of things and gave her stamp of approval across the board. That's saying a lot! We've been disappointed by other so-called "Cuban" restaurants around here that miss the mark -- they have a tropical vibe but just don't taste like our homemade cooking. I was in a bit of a rush, so I went with an arepa con puerco (stuffed with tender pork and topped with this amazing green sauce), croquetas de jamón (fried to perfection), plátanos maduros, and of course, my favorite soda -- Jupiña! (If you know, you know... that sweet Cuban pineapple soda hits every time.) I can't wait to come back to try more dishes -- especially a traditional Cuban sandwich and some yuca con mojo (we're serious mojo snobs thanks to our abuela!). The place is small and cozy with a few tables to dine in, but the decor is a whole vibe -- Cuban memorabilia all over the walls, a fun little area where customers can sign their names, and the cutest cafecito station. They even sell galletas (those Cuban crackers!) in a bag to take home -- perfect with butter, dipped in café con leche... IYKYK. Thank you, Habana Express, for bringing authentic Cuban sabor to the area. I'll be back soon -- especially for those pastelitos de guayaba!

Wow! Not what I expected! Little Cuban sandwich shop tucked away. Great,fresh made in house Cuban food. We had the Cubano sandwich with Maduritos and empanadas. Everything was awesome! Then we had the coffee with guava and cheese pastry. It's was amazing! Service was great. I will be back!

Did pick up with UberEats since there is a promo for their Cubano sandwich of BOGO. Food was ready on time, cashier friendly. Lots of pastries on display that I also wanted to eat! Looked so fresh and tasty. On to the sandwich! I do love a good Cubano and this was reminiscent of my Miami trips where I had one every other day. HEFTY sandwich (I could only eat half for one meal) with free added jalapenos. Lots of tasty ham, big slice of roasted pork and a very creamy cheese that ties it all together. 10/10 for sure! I also am in love with their takeaway box. It's so cute! The cashier also gave me some extra hot sauce without asking and it went perfectly with the Cubano. Will be back to try other sandwiches for sure.

A Piece of Cuba I love Cuban food but it's very hard to find in the Bay Area Habana Express is a Pleasant Hill gem located in a strip mall with a plethora of dining options Their signature is their classic Cuban sandwiches. While they serve dishes like ropa viejo, tamales and Cuban pastries, it's really the sandwiches that are the star They're made fresh to order (about 10 minutes) but well worth the wait. I ordered a side of yucca fries as well The Cubano is their most popular sandwich and consists of roasted pork, Swiss cheese, ham, pickles, mayo and mustard It's finished on a griddle and the melty cheese and savory meats are a fantastic combo. Really enjoyed my lunch here and wish we had one on the Peninsula Cubano $13 ~ Roasted Pork, Swiss Cheese, Ham, Pickles, mustard, Mayo Habana Express Cuban Restaurant and Bakery (Pleasant Hill, CA) Indoor seating and limited outdoor seating is available. Credit cards accepted. Walk in only.

First of all, I am a very forgiving food reviewer. Having family in the restaurant business, has taught me to be tolerant and respectful of the industry, I tend to err on the side of "prove me wrong". Why am I writing this scathing review then? I was raised with GREAT Cuban food, I have Cuban blood running through me and what Habana Express is peddling as Cuban food, is not remotely close to my Islands delicious Caribbean cuisine. Forget authenticity, I gave up on that a long time ago. But for the love of God, atleast make an effort to cook a decent dish. When I saw a photo of a #HabanaExpress version of Vaca Frita with black beans, yellow rice and tostones that looked ok, I just ordered it. I didn't go down the list of items that I did not want and apparently, I was expected to, uncheck the pre-chosen "no black beans or salad" request. Just a heads up if you're ordering online. Vaca Frita is simply flank steak that has been crispy fried with a TON of lemon, onions and love . Without using lemon and onions, you get Beef Jerkey with no flavor. I had beef Jerky for dinner tonight. The tostones had zero salt and were as limp as a boiled hotdogs Tostones are Fried banana fritters). Moving on, a good Cuban Sandwich needs to be authentic. It does not take mayonnaise, the pickles are long and not soaked in pickle juice, the sandwich is made on a PLANCHA until the Swiss cheese (nowhere to be found in this sandwich) and puerco asado, is sliced thinly along with the jamon. The carne asada was not crispy, it was fatty, the ham which should be sliced thinly, was similar to Canadian bacon. To get good Cuban food, you need to go to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami or NYC and weirdly enough, Kentucky where for some reason, there is an area where Cubans migrated to. BTW, Havana's in Walnut Creek does not prepare authentic Cuban food but what they put out, is tasty. On the flip side, the manager worked in a bakery in Miami and their Pastelitos de Guayaba & Queso were actually decent so that is where my one star is being applied. I plead with you, do not judge our food by what Havana Express is selling as Cuban. If I were them, I would focus on the baked goods, it's their strength.

Easily 5 Stars. Absolutely delicious Cuban food! We got the Cubano Sandwich, the Ropa Vieja Arepa, and the Cuban Steak & Fries. Every aspect of the sandwich was executed nicely: the savory meat and cheese, slight crisp on the bread, no greasy messiness. The Ropa Vieja was tender and very juicy. The Steak was cooked to perfection and seasoned great. Will definitely be back!

10/10 Cuban food. I don't have pics at the moment because I inhaled my food, it's just that good. This was my 3rd time here and I've been getting the #1 Habana Bowl and it's always on point. What this tells me is that it's consistent = quality! Service is fast and friendly. Ambiance is fun, I wrote on the doodle board. Will be back whenever I'm in the area.

Venimos mi hermana y yo a comer a este lugar de comida cubana que por cierto es la mejor comida cubana que puede haver en el área de la bahía. Ordenamos mis favoritas - las croquetas cubanas para empezar, esas 10/10, y siempre que vengo tienen el mismo sabor y textura , me recuerda de mis lugares favoritos de comida cubana en Miami , y después ordenamos un pan con bistec y un sandwich cubano - mi favorito. Todo muy bueno ... 10/10 todo y servicio muy bueno también ... limpio siempre y un buen ambiente... lo recomiendo... regreso pronto

Another great meal - had the cubano sandwich and the mojo chicken bowl. The cubano was solid. The mojo chicken was seasoned well and the rice and beans were great. No tamal but we subbed in to stones, which were great.

Upon arriving the lady at the register was very nice. We got the Cubano sandwich and the Cuban steak plate. I've had cubano sandwiches before but not from an actual Cuban restaurant. The cubano was exactly what we were hoping for. Very flavorful, lots of meat and the bread was also really good. The cuban steak was cooked to perfection! Love how they added the rosemary. You must try the cilantro sauce and the pinkish one that was similar to thousand island. For dessert we tried the guava cheese and plain cheese pastries and they were delicious. All-in-all 5 stars! I will be back and excited to try other items from their menu.

I had the Old School sandwich and it was delicious. The meat was super tender, even though there wasn't a lot of cheese it seemed creamy cheesy with every bite and the bread was perfect. I will crave this. Also, the service was great. Highly recommend.

I'm thrilled to finally have an authentic Cuban restaurant in our area! Sure, there's that place in Walnut Creek, but they lean toward a "fru-fru" Americanized approach--which isn't what I'm looking for. I want that "hole in the wall" vibe, where it feels like mom is in the kitchen cooking, and that's exactly what Habana Express delivers. We tried the Cuban sandwich, and it was excellent. What sets it apart is the attention to detail--the time they take to marinate and season every ingredient. The pork was tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor. The plantains were good--sweet, though not as plump as I've had elsewhere. I appreciated that they were properly ripe; nothing ruins plantains faster than serving them too firm and under-sweet. The ropa vieja entrée was outstanding--almost rivaling my homemade version! They serve it with yellow and moro rice, which is a departure from my typical pairing of white rice and black beans, but both rice options were full of flavor. The tamales were another standout. They brought back memories of the ones my grandmother used to make when I was a kid--truly delicious. One dish I'd suggest removing from the menu is the roasted corn. It doesn't feel like part of authentic Cuban cuisine, and unfortunately, it just tasted like plain corn. Even after adding salt, it didn't quite hit the mark. The highlight of the night, though, was the ham croquetas. These were incredible--better than the ones at Porto's! Lightly breaded with a flavorful ham filling, they were an absolute treat. I'll definitely be coming back to order a dozen. I was also pleased to see the selection of Cuban sodas like Malta, Materva, Jupiña, and Ironbeer--such a rare and delightful touch! Finally, the guava pastries were a perfect ending to the meal. They were flaky, crispy, and had just the right amount of guava filling. They could compete with any pastelito I've ever had. There have been other attempts at Cuban restaurants in the Pleasant Hill/Concord area, but I'm rooting for Habana Express to become a mainstay. It's a gem, and I hope it remains a popular spot for years to come!

This was my first time visiting this restaurant. It is next to Pho Viet, which I've dined several times. I decided to check out Habana Express. The cashier lady was extremely nice and helpful. I was looking for a couple of sides to bring home since I made Jamaican oxtails for dinner. I ordered a large side of beans and rice, Maduros, ham and cheese croquettes and their guava cheese dessert. I was impressed with the flavors of everything. I will definitely come back to check out their entrees and sandwiches. They offer a couple of discounts during the week. AND, they are having a Thanksgiving special. I was fortunate to see the turkey.... They will be open for pre-orders of Thanksgiving specials only. SEE photos for information.

Habana Express opened where Curry House was. Infrastructure similar. Decor reflects Cuban themes. Pictures of Havana are on table tops. Dining inside & out. Big parking lot. Quick service at counter. Pd. Food brought to table within 10 minutes. Sides scoop ready. Entrees prepped in kitchen. Offerings: sandwiches, cuban bowls, sides, bakery & desserts, pastries, specials... Bites: Traditional Bowl (17.49) -small salad of mixed greens, onions, cilantro, tomatos fresh tasty with house made dressing. -black beans firm & fresh -moro rice had bay leaves, traditional herbs & spices flavoring. Fresh. Nuanced balanced flavas. -generous amounts of sliced lechon moist & tender. Minimal flava. Doesn't resemble Philippine version, spanish style yes. -tamal-smooth texture, sweet tasty from corn nibbets within. Dessert: coconut pastry (2.89) -flaky layers ala croissant-buttery notes. -top and filling mucho coconut schreds. Overall sweet, crunchy morsels. 4.5 stars worth repeating. Habana Combo most popular item.. National Hispanic Heritage Month: 9/15-10/15/2024

This place was solid. I had the Cubano and it was a hearty sandwich especially for the price. The ham and thick cut roasted pork were delicious. The bread the perfect texture and nice and crispy. I was slightly unimpressed with the cheese. It was more of an American cheese than a Swiss cheese but was melty and gooey in the best way. I also would have like a couple more pickles. The service was friendly and quick though I was there about 2pm and no one ahead of me in line so I didn't get to experience them at a busy time. The Cuban music and interesting phots and artwork provided a nice atmosphere for a deli setting. I will be back to try some of the other menu items and the Cubano again for sure.

What the... Are you serious! I can't believe what I just ate. This is one of the best kept secrets in YELP. This place should have a line around the block and close early because it ran out of bread. This has to be the best sandwich I ever had in my life! And it's Cuban! C'mon man. Did I just die and went to Havana. The Cubano is gorgeous, it's big and it's Michelin quality. I came here on Tuesday, Fat Tuesday for those who know. They have free fries with the sandwich. It's the start of Lent, so I promised myself to give up simple carbs. Dang it. First meal on Easter, I'm coming straight to my favorite sandwich spot, Havana Express!

Maybe they didn't like me or it's an off day but it's a hard hell no for me. I have never been more disappointed in my life My friend told me to try the Cuban place in Pleasant Hill. Well turns out my best friend is not feeling well and she wanted some pho and the only decent pho place in this area happens to be next to the Cuban place So I said OK I'm gonna go try the Cuban place The most disgusting Croquettes I have ever had in my life Not only are they burnt but they did not put down the flour so I can actually taste it. And they're supposed to have him and potato, but this is just a burnt mess. I don't know what. The cilantro sauce is decent. But this is nasty I wouldn't give it to your dog

Delicious, humble and clean hole in the wall featuring Cuban pastries and coffee, sandwiches and meals. I tasted the shrimp and beef plates and had the Cuban sandwich. Amazing. I'll definitely go back when I'm in the East Bay. They cater, too.

We tried the Cubano, the steak sandwich, and the guava cheese pastry. All were delicious! We've been there twice and the food and service is awesome! The owners are so nice and friendly. We definitely recommend Habana!!

Here again for a second time... the chill vibe with customers friendly decor and service. This time I ordered the #8 (steak)...I ate it all .. seasoned rice with beans , skirt steak dry rub, fries, and a salad ... bomb .... Bomb ..

Aylin, greeted me upon entering the Habana Express restaurant. The restaurant was clean, approximately 6 tables, casual dinning. They also have outdoor tables. #2 Cubano sándwich ($13.99): The roasted pork was tender, the ham was a decent slice and the dressing was lightly spread on the toasted bread. I asked for picante, because, why not! Their salsa had the right amount of spice. Aylin, informed me that I can request Jalapeños next timeI place a order. My sándwich held up nicely and did not get soggy. The pastries are hot! Everyone who came in asked for them , they were sold out. The time to come for guarantee pastries is first thing in the morning. Pros: -Friendly service -Excellent Cubano sándwich Cons: -Baked desserts run out early Siete siete dos mil viente cuatro

The Traditional sandwich is the way to go! I prefer it over the more popular Cubano because the ham can be over powering and cover up how delicious everything else is.

This place is amazing! Everything we had is delicious, service is friendly and quick, and the inside is clean! It's a casual grab-and-go spot for Cuban food. My party loved the Cubano sandwich, Traditional sandwich with super tender roast pork, and the #1 bowl with ropa vieja (pulled beef with bell peppers). The staff let me switch the plantains for tamal, which was super delicious. I'm sure the plantains would've been great too. Everything in the bowl was amazing from the super fragrant rice to tender black beans. We also tried the guava cheese pastry which we all loved! Sandwiches are about $14, bowls are about $18, and pastries about $3. The staff was very friendly and open to any questions. Ample parking in the plaza lot. Will definitely be back if I'm in the area!

I was excited to hear there was a casual Cuban food & bakery spot in Pleasant Hill! Especially as a fan of Porto's, I love a good potato ball or guava & cheese pastry. Ordered takeout here and food was ready on time. The place was empty at 6pm on a Saturday. Here's what we got: Habana Bowl (4/5) Overall I enjoyed this - the Ropa Vieja had good flavor but was somewhat hard to pull apart and tough to chew at times. Plantains and rice were tasty. Traditional Bowl - my fiancé had this and said it was very plain and flavorless. Potato Ball with pink sauce (4/5) - tasty! Doesn't even need sauce. Soft on the inside with meat at the center. Guava & Cheese pastry (4/5) - good flaky pastry with decent filling. The bowls are quite pricey, but they're a medium-large portion of food. Not sure if I would order the bowls again but I would like to try a sandwich and the croquettes if I do come back.

Kudos to this restaurant for putting up a solid Cuban menu! Admittedly, I am not familiar with Cuban flavors beyond the classic Cuabno sandwich so exploring (and continuing to explore) this menu will be fun. The staff were great and the service was awesome. They have decorated the interior with some classic Cuban looks and play a great playlist of Latin and Cuban classics. The food was super tasty. Not a single dish to say it needed more of this/less of that. My favorite was the cuban and the guava pastry. I will most certainly have more of it in the future!

New spot for me, I was super happy with the food and the service. I will be back:) Very cozy and I felt that I got a lot of food for the price.

Restaurant is steam table. We gave our order and got served quickly. People working were nice. Music is a little too loud and echo-ey. We ordered: #1 bowl - 5 out of 5. Ropa was moist and flavorful, yellow rice was yum as were the madaros which tasted like they had some citrus squeezed on them after frying. The 'salad' was ok. #2 bowl - 4.5 out of 5. Lechon was suculant, moro rice was.okay (a little bland); and Cheese pastry 4 out of five. Flavor good but wanted more filling. Only sad note they dont have any cuban coffee:-(

Hands down, the best Cuban sandwich I've ever had was in Pleasant Hill, California. Perfectly pressed, the bread was crisp yet soft, holding together layers of juicy, slow-roasted pork, savory ham, melted Swiss, tangy mustard, and crisp pickles. Every bite was perfectly balanced--rich, flavorful, and deeply satisfying. I've had Cubans in Miami and Havana, but none compare to this hidden gem. A must-try if you're anywhere nearby.

Good Food, Friendly Staff I'm no expert but I've tried a lot of Cubanos in the Bay and this one's pretty good.

Came on a Monday for the first time and all sandwiches were 10% off and came with a free side! The sandwich is huge and can be 2 meals (for me anyway). It has a few seats inside and some outdoor seating. The cashier was really friendly explaining the Monday deal and telling me about their pastries. The lady who brought my order to my table was also very nice.

First time here so I had no clue which one to try first. I had to ask another patron what they would recommend. He recommended the Cubano sandwich. So that's what I ordered. Habana had a promo yesterday. You get a side with your sandwich. I ordered Maduro with sandwich. The Cubano sandwich was delicious and very filling. The meat was soft and juicy. I also tried the potato balls and guava cream cheese pastry. I had to compare their potato ball with Porto's beef potato ball. I personally enjoyed Porto's potato ball (sorry Habana). As for the guava pastry, it was delicious. The portion of the filling was good both guava and cream cheese. We came in around 11ish so the place was still clean and they played Latino music. The lady at the counter was pleasant and very patient. Great experience for me. I will definitely come back to try other sandwiches. Sorry. I forgot take a foto of my food. I packed my food to work.

Portos in the bay! Give me pastry or give me death! It had to be said- I have been on a crusade to find the equivalent of Portos(southern Cali) for years. The pastry gods lead me to this corner of pleasant hill. Let me tell you: the cheese croissant was flaky and gooey and the right amount of sweet. The guava turnovers: next level! Best I have tasted in the bay. Recommend to get all three (guava, guava with cheese and cheese). Craving monster appeased

I tried the cubano and the chicken arepa. The Cubano was great but the arepa was amazing!! So delicious and well seasoned. The following day I had an arepa at another place to try to chase this feeling but it was nowhere near as good. They are kind of small because I think you're meant to get multiple. I wish I lived closer to here so that I could eat arepas all the time. Service was great, we asked a lot of questions lol.

Love Habana Express! They have a good selection of entrees, sandwiches and even pastries. I love the Cuban sandwich, the pork bowl and the cheese guava pastry. The only thing missing is a good cup of Cuban coffee with milk but sadly due to Starbucks nearby, they apparently cannot sell any latte and has to be black coffee only. The service here is warm and helpful. Will come back for more!

After traveling to Miami I have become quite picky about my Cuban food and let me just say this restaurant nailed it!! Walking in the ambiance is lively and reminds me of Callé ocho. They greeted us warmly and allowed us to take our time ordering. The food was delicious and everything I would want from a good Cuban spot!

From the outside this place looks like a franchise that might lack authenticity. Most of that fades away when you step inside and hear the music and see the decor, and experience the pride and friendliness of the employees. Two ladies behind the counter were so friendly and eager to help, and provided excellent service. They even brought our food to the table and packed our leftovers. Food is delicious, flavorful and tastes homemade. Portions are HUGE! Two entrees were too much food for my fiancé and I. The Ironbeer soda tastes like a fruity, creamy cola. It's hard to describe but it's delicious and pairs well with the flavors of the food we ordered (Habana bowl & Traditional sandwich). There isn't really anywhere like this in the area, so we are happy to see this addition. During our visit we observed quite a few happy customers. We will DEFINITELY be back!

Finally stopped by to try this place after seeing the great reviews. Friendly service. I ordered a cubano and habana bowl which has ropa vieja. The food was ready in about 10 mins after ordering. The cubano was good. Was it amazing? No, but pretty solid. The habana bowl my husband said was good too. I think overall it is a solid spot for a quick meal. Great to have a place to grab a cubano when the urge arises or just something different. I wasn't wowed but it is a solid dining option.

So many choices from sandwiches to plates to even sweets! I ordered the #1 the Habana bowl. Very generous with their food. They also have their own little hot sauces they offer which I think go very well with the meat not too spicy at all. They have guava pastries and that was delicious as well. They have cakes there too which I overheard were not made by them only the pastries are. Customer service is great. They have a few tables to sit at. I'm not from the area but all the parking was 30 minutes besides in the area of the Safeway but I guess that why it is named express to do to go. Would Come again and try their sandwiches!

I've been here a couple times already. It's tucked away in the corner of the shopping center and it can be hard to see if you're not looking for it. Thankfully I found it one day here on Yelp, and I'm glad I did. My first time there I had the Cuban Steak and Fries. It was so good, packed with flavor, cooked perfectly and the sides were all delicious and complimented the steak perfectly. I was in the area yesterday and decided to try them again. This time I got a Ropa Vieja Arepa and a Traditional Sandwich. Unfortunately they ran out of the Bistec. The Arepa was cheesy and fully of flavor and perfect for a quick snack. Delicious! The sandwich I ate a bit later and wish I would have had it fresh. That being said, it was still a great sandwich. It's a small little restaurant but absolutely worth a trip. So much flavor and everything is cooked perfectly. Their customer service is great as well. Very friendly and hospitable. I'll be back whenever I'm in the area