Havana Express Cuban Kitchen & Bakery

This place is fantastic! Generous portions, great prices, and a super friendly staff. Don’t leave without trying the Cuban sandwich and a Cuban coffee—absolutely delicious! 😋

This place is a lifesaver. I stay close by during my week stay and I was traveling every day for 3+ hours. I needed a strong breakfast but not fast food. This was the best combinations of flavor product and availability. Food is fresh staff is helpful and cheerful and the food is as good as homemade. Next time in vegas I will give be there again.

We enjoyed a Cuban sandwich, café con leche and finished our cafe with a pastel de guayaba. Very good experience, everything was good tasting. Atmosphere is casual, cafeteria-style, similar to La Carreta in Miami, plus free onsite parking. Highly recommend.

Update: 11/29. Went back for the lechon. Much more tender, fresh. See photos. I’ve been here before a few times, but this is my first review. I’ve had the Lechon roasted pork, rice beans, and other side dishes but today I decided to have the roasted chicken which was not moist, but not too dry. I wouldn’t say it was my favorite meal. I would definitely go for the ground beef or the pork next time versus the chicken. The service is as friendly as it can be. I guess could be friendlier, but I don’t know. Maybe it’s a Cuban thing.

Moved here from Miami, and i was missing the food, but this is one of the best cuban restaurants in vegas. The cuban pizza was of the chain great taste

Service was lacking if at all present. Stood there at the counter for a couple minutes with a staff person with their back towards us only to have someone come from the back and ask the other staff “what do these people want?” in Spanish. I don’t look like I speak Spanish, but I answer in Spanish that I was hoping to place an order. That was red flag #1! Food was below average. Ordered a Cuban sandwich which tasted like it was soaked in vinegar, and blackened lettuce. Took 2 bites! Also ordered tostones which were cut so thick and was probably in the heat for less than needed. Service was poor the looked more annoyed than anything with every question. They would just point to the menu when asked any questions.

This place reminds me of my days living in Miami. This is true authentic Cuban as it gets. The cafe con leche is a medium to bold blend packed with all the goodness it’s known for. The trip here was well worth it. I ordered chicken soup since it was a very cold night and bought yuca, plantains and pork tamale to go. The interior is beautiful with Cuban artwork. A Cuban restaurant will not be a Cuban restaurant without pastries and that was you get here! I felt like I was back in Miami on calle ocho!

we had the Cuban coffee, guava smoothie, shredded beef, Cuban rice, fried plantains, and the original senorita pastry. all were fantastic. the environment is very welcoming and feels homey. would love to stop by again on our next trip to vegas! 💖

I have always wanted to try it. Stopped this time and had a breakfast sandwich and a cordadito. Hmmm. Service was great. They charge you to use credit card. The sandwich wasn't anything to rave about. Honestly a breakfast jack is the same and taste better and is 10x cheaper. The steam table with regular combo meal looked good. But I didn't try it. I would probably skip the breakfast.

Food is amazing here. Everything was served fresh and hot. We ended up here looking for a different restaurant but super glad we found this place instead. Looks like there is a spot for karaoke here. The service is great, and everybody was friendly.

My favorite here is their Polvoron cookies. I have been coming here and buying those for years. They have changed shapes every single time and each time, they change the price. I had my friends hooked with it too and she said yesterday "it was bigger before". Yes inflation what else can we say. As one reviewer here also mentioned DO NOT go thru the drive thru if you want to order from the bakery. Most of them do not speak English well and everything will be lost in translation. My next favorite is the Coguito Acaramelado. The size is the same but the price seems to change so frequently. The sign says $2.35 and I was charged $2.50 and they quickly took out the wrong price and didn't honor it. This visit I also ordered platanos and they were very good. The place is clean but not very friendly staff- again probably because we do not speak their language. Sad. What I was irritated was the .35 cents credit card charge that they don't even let you know before hand. No sign or no explanation. It's like a "right" they imposed wipthput giving the customers a choice to pay in cash to avoid the up charge. I guess I will have to find another bakery.

The place is very easy to find and stands right at the corner of Tropicana and Topaz. It has plenty of parking and a nice opening/entrance to the restaurant. The restaurant was very very clean and there is a ton of seating. There were three staff members behind the line and all of them greeted and engaged with their customers. There is a section of delicious Pattie's to your left when walking in and an assortment of tropical drinks. Right at the entrance is the "buffet style" line with a huge variety of dishes to choose from. They all looked freshly prepared. They have a menu right above it and you can order other menu items not on the buffet line. I wasn't too hungry so I just ordered the empanada and relleno de papa. Both had the same filling of very well seasoned ground beef. I didn't wait long. The appetizers were very very good and reminded me of home - I'm Puerto Rican. I would definitely return and recommend this place but I have to be honest. The relleno de papa was taken out too soon and there were still some frozen chunks of ground beef inside. It was my bad for not going back inside and letting the staff know but I was pressed on time and most of it was edible. I can't wait to go back to try their Cuban sandwich.

Cuban coffee was on point. Food came out pretty quick. The croquetas were also delicious. I wasn't a fan of the CC Fee added but I understand. Bring Cash!

I wanted a a true Cuban sandwich and asked a neighbor from Cuba where to go--Havana Express was her recommendation. Thanks Marcel! We ordered 3 Cuban sandwiches, typically they come with fries. We ordered salads instead on a couple. The salad was just tomatoes and lettuce. Cubans were good. A bit more generous on the pork would have made it 5 stars. Also ordered a pork steak sandwich. It was huge, enough for two. Called in the order and was told 20 minutes--more like 30. Half of the order was done, but not the rest. I'd recommend enjoying your meal in the clean restaurant.

No me gustó mucho la pizza sentí q faltó un poco más d queso los batidos también no estaban muy buenos la verdad esperaba algo mejor

Ehhh food was okay but not much flavors as I could expect from Cuban food. I've never had a Cuban sandwich with no pernil in it. They just gave hams cheese and Turkey and pickles. I was so disappointed!!!! Won't be back again. Not worth it

I ate until it hurt to breathe! The sweets cabinet is out of this world scrumptious. We hit a bunch of appetizers and I had the Cuban Sammie. Soooooo good *droolz* There is a mini stage and a bar towards the back so they might be holding live music events. I appreciated the outdoor seating but it is waaayyy to melty to sit outside right now. Wait to checkout was a bit long but servers were very nice. Overall much recommend for lunch or dinner!

This is my go to inexpensive lunch spot of my neighborhood. The service is always great and quick. Everything I've tried so far has been delicious, but my favorite thing to get is the plate with yellow rice, ropa vieja (shredded beef) and platanos maduros (sweet bananas). They give you all of that in a big Styrofoam container for less than $15. I normally get it to go, but they have a seating area inside as well as a recently renovated patio area. Bonus if you speak Spanish because everyone who works there is Cuban.

My recent experience at Havana Express was an absolute culinary delight! The cuisine was exceptional, and the service, courtesy of the delightful owner, Henys, was truly outstanding. It felt like a journey down memory lane, evoking fond memories of our Music Planet days while savoring the rich flavors of Cuba. And oh, the desserts and cakes! They are a true masterpiece! If you're seeking an authentic Cuban culinary adventure, wrapped in warm hospitality, and crowned with heavenly desserts, make Havana Express your next dining destination. This is an opportunity you won't want to miss! #HavanaExpress #CubanCuisine #MemorableDining #MusicPlanet

I have been craving a Cubano for so long and almost gave up on it. I've been to different restaurants and ordered a Cuban sandwich only to be disappointed by the flavor just not hitting that tastebud. Then I saw Havana Express being featured on social media and knew I had to stop in and get my fix and let me just say.....they DID NOT disappoint. I love the atmosphere when I walked in, they have some delicious looking baked goods and although I only went for the Cuban sandwich I will be returning to try some of their other dishes and definitely pick up a few of the bakery items as well. If you're ever on the Eastside on Tropicana near Eastern, make a stop in and indulge on some delicious food with great , fast and pleasant service. Oops I almost forgot, the sandwich comes with French fries and a few extra packets of mustard and ketchup. Stop reading and head over. I know I'll be stopping in on Monday before heading to work.

I had the best experience here. The food is amazing, the staff is friendly. It is super clean and a family friendly environment. I recommend 10/10

Im just not too sure about this restaurant. I've passed it many times and just wanted to give it a try. Once you enter you give your order to the cashier. Now the menu was a bit scattered. I wasnt sure where to order from because it wasn't on the same board or anywhere near eachother lol. So the To-Go menu I posted on this review is an easier go to menu. Anyway. I had the beef fajitas plate served with rice and plantains. The fajitas was definitely not anything I was used to. Was a bit on the "sour" end and not sure why. Not something I would ever eat again. Anyway. The lady cashier was nice and the restaurant was clean. So theres that. But other than that. Not a place I'd go to again.

Outstanding! Pleasant! Clean! You must Stop. I ordered the Shredded Beef combo. The brown rice with black beans was moist and hearty. Slow roasted juicy beef, crispy creamy sweet and tangy plantain.

The food was very good and reasonably priced. Had the Cuban Sandwich and would give it a solid B. Note: I grew up frequenting Ybor City in Tampa, FL as a kid and young adult and maybe unfairly hold every Cubano Sandwich to that standard. With the sandwich had Cuban espresso and a few coquitos. The cortadito was excellent, brewed perfectly. The atmosphere is festive and interesting. There is a stage in the dining area so they obviously have live entertainment sometimes. Would definitely eat here again if I lived Las Vegas. Brings back memories for sure!

VALE VERGA LAS QUE ESTAVAN DE MESERAS EN LA NOCHE AYER! Service was so bad! First off, the service was trash. They were clearly talking smack about us and we stayed quiet when we could have told them the food was bad. The plantanos were trash and if you need me to translate I will. Telling people never to come here! Better your costumer service!

Walked in and was instantly greeted with smiling faces and a great Cuban esthetic. This place is set up kind of cafeteria style. The server walked us through everything and what our options were, guiding us as she filled our plate with delicious Cuban food. The choco flan is to die for. The price is just right. They have a large dinning room and cute glassed in patio area. The only reason it's not 5 stars is bc dirty dishes crowded the trash. So we had to just leave our dishes on the table. But, in all fairness they were busy servicing people.

Comida tradicional cubana, desayunos, almuerzo y cena desde las 8 am hasta las 10 pm.

I've been wanting to come here forever!!! I'm so disappointed my friend and I came here about 8 pm and it was kinda busy with to go orders. So I was like wow this might be amazing. Uhhh no. I got the shredded beef roast and it was cold and lacked flavor. The plantains were amazing though. Didn't like the bean and rice mixture it really lacked flavor. The pork empanada was decent. I really had high hopes for this place but unfortunately the flavor wasn't there. When I think Cuban food I think lots of flavor and usually I'm not disappointed. Not a place I'll be coming back to.

April 13, 2022 - I finally came and ate here. Every time I pass by I say I will try it one day. Tonight was that one day. All the food is in the front so it's easier to see what you want to eat. We ordered the Lechon Asado with Amarillo (yellow rice) and Platano Maduro (fried banana) and 2 Beef Empanadas. This meal was good. Bistec de Cerdo (pork steak) and onions with Congri (black beans and rice), Platano Maduro and a Tamal Cubano (Pork Tamale). The pork had a lemony flavor, which I really enjoy also loved the Platano's. The Tamal had a slightly sweet taste fro the corn. Quiet atmosphere, with a very relaxing aura. Very spacious and a Cuban decor. Another customer made recommendations so that is why I ordered the Bistec de Cerdo, said it was his favorite. So a thank you for his recommendation. If you dine in they serve your food on a plate instead of a takeout box and silverware, not the plastic ones. Of course I had to check out the desserts. I got one coconut and one guava turnover. Both were yummy. I got 2 cake pops for my boys and I'm pretty sure they are going to like them. Africanitas was described as close to a Twix. When I came home I put them in the fridge and the chocolate on the outside was so yummy. Not a dessert but they do make personal sized pizza we ordered one to go. They didn't slice it but it was good as well. So glad I finally stopped here, now I don't need to wonder how their food is. As always head on down to Tropicana and Topaz on the East side for good food, go with good company and I will guarantee you good fun!

Great Cuban Espresso. Just as good as Little Havana in Miami. Coconut tart great addition to the coffee. Friendly, fast service.

The food was absolutely wonderful fresh seasoned well. The woman who took my order was kind and walked me through the menu which I appreciated. It wasn't too busy the night we went but I saw they have live performers on certain nights. The vibe was very comfortable and the also have outside seating.

Service is amazing!!! Love the coffee and breakfast is great! Guava and cheese turnover is so good.

The food and the service was amazing, really authentic Cuban food! My favorite part was the batido de mamey. It was soooooooo good.

I was running errands and I happen to drive by Havana Express around dinner time. I love Cuban food and once I saw they had drive through service I pulled in... Cubano sandwich: The Cubano was freshly made to order which I appreciate. They were generous in size as well as the meats and cheeses inside. The fries were soggy but I didn't even expect fries so no big deal to me. Overall their Cubano was pretty good and I'd order again during a drive through visit. Empanadas: I had two beef empanadas and they were delish. These were on the larger side and was stuffed with plenty of beef. Good job. Their menu is extensive and I will make future visits to try more empanadas and sandwiches. The ham croquettes caught my eye on the drive through menu so I'll be going with that in the future. The beef empanada was the star this past visit and I'm looking forward to trying the others soon. Enjoy!

It was my first time visiting and called 7 hours in advance for 8 orders of Colada Coffee. Everyone was sweet, but difficult with communicating as they understand very little in English. As much as I hate leaving such poor review, my experience could have been better if they were properly organized. Because my order was for the Compang of my Employer, we are very punctual with time. My order was lost and was not made until 3:50 PM. It is a family restaurant. Other than the inconvenience and negative feedback of my experience, I must say, the food looks delicious, desert looks beautiful with many options to choose from. The environment is very family oriented and would most definitely come back to try the food and hopefully have a better experience than I did today.

I was really surprised & disappointed after finding out that water isn't available unless you purchase it. I don't know if this is common practice in Cubs but here in the states.. it's not normal. I'll never go back.

We stopped by for dinner on a Monday evening. The cafe has a friendly and comfortable charm about it. A simple to understand and very reasonably priced menu made ordering quick and easy. Basically this place has some of the most delicious and home-cooked tasting Cuban food in the valley at really great prices served by some really friendly people. If you're in the mood for some Cuban food, you'll definitely have a nice dining experience here.

Ordered a Cuban sandwich from here. Sandwich was basic. If you want a GOOD Cuban sandwich they have the BEST at the Cheesecake Factory hands down. I may have to come back to try something different.

Great selection of bakery items as well as Cuban style food. Small outdoor seating area with view of Tropicana.

The food was okay, nothing special. We ordered the bolognese pasta, chicken noodle soup, the beef sandwich and the ham and cheese sandwich with fries. The only thing was good was the ham and cheese... the rest were all tasteless!!! Had to season it myself!

Best Havanese comfort food for your soul. We tried pork sandwich and Cuban sandwiches. Freshly made, generous fillings and served hot in front of you. They also have delicious bakery items like flan,, pastries etc.. This is a family run business and the staff are very attentive to your needs. Overall a good place to have quick breakfast / brunch.

Wow! Tropicana is popping with all kinds of restaurants, coffee shops, retail shops etc. I rarely am in this part of town, but Hubby and I were running some errands and came across this place. We were in the mood for something different to eat! We pulled up at the drive thru and decided to share a Cuban sandwich. Guess what? We both had never tried one before. I know crazy! I have enjoyed other Cuban food but never tried the sandwich. We pulled into the drive thru and placed our order. The wait was a little long but obviously they make your sandwich fresh. The sandwich arrived and was nice and hot. We took our first bite and the bread tasted like it just came out of the oven. The pork was thinly sliced and mixed well with the ham. The compliment of Swiss cheese and mustard made this sandwich complete. Yum! We both really enjoyed our lunch and we will return again.

Great food and kind service The worker helped us choose food as it was my second time being there and my friends first.

Food was delicious. Service was good. Would come back for a second visit when I'm back in the area.

Great combos , everything I tried was impressive. Prices and portion sizes never disappoint.

Today, I searched for Cuban food. The first place I went to was inaccessible due to road construction. The second was turned into a fast food hamburger take out. Feeling frustrated, I drove to this place. When I walked in, the ladies at the counter greeted me warmly. Behind their masks, their eyes were smiling, and their voices friendly. Since it was in the middle of the afternoon, there was only one person picking up an order. This is not a fine-dining establishment, rather a take-out place, hence their self-description as "express". Unless one is ordering sandwiches, all the other foods are pre-made, so one merely needs to pick combinations of proteins and side dishes. I opted for chicken, pork asado and beef piccadillo. Sides were yellow rice and congri (black beans and rice). As a special treat, I also picked up a flan and a senorita (a custard-filled pastry). I couldn't wait to get home! Hubby and I dug in with gusto. The chicken was well seasoned. The pork, although tasty, was rather dry. The piccadillo was delicious and we wished there was more of it. We devoured the rice. The congri is as good as I remember when I dined in Cuban restaurants when we lived in Florida. A special treat for me are the platanos maduros (sliced fried plantains). I wish now that I also tried the yuca. Maybe next time. We absolutely loved the flan --- it was light, creamy and not overly sweet. The senorita was a revelation -- it was beautifully layered, flaky and creamy. If anything, we'd go back again and again for the desserts alone!

Taste of food original but too greasy. Food not very fresh, service nice atmosphere ok. Place too small for eat in.

I'm giving this 4 stars for their effort in perfecting a Cuban sandwich. Being married to a Cuban man who knows the components of an authentic Cuban sandwich, this sandwich unfortunately fell short of his expectations. The mojo was lacking from the sandwich. The cheese was not fully melted. The pork was not marinated to his liking. Sooooo ... we are still in search of the best Cuban sandwich in Las Vegas (besides our friend Odalys' house !!) However, for $7 with a side of fries, it'll definitely fill you up.

I've never had anything here but the empanadas and croquetas de jamon and it's always about 150 degrees inside in the summer but I love it! I feel terrible for the hard-working people here because of the temperature.

This place made me look ok to see if my Cuban mom and Gradma where in the back cooking. This place is freekin awesome and very authentic Highly recommended!

Disgusting place, no wonder they are loosing all their clientele. $2.50 for a pastry. I can get Porto's delivered to my house for $1.75 each. Attached you will find the receipt. Porto's are better quality. This place is not anymore what it used to be. It's sad that they are ripping off customers. That's why I am always going to Sylvain Cuban Bakery, Food is always fresh and delicious.

Saw their big sign for Cuban sandwiches and had to stop. I'm a sucker for a good Cuban sandwich. Upon entering I was met with a nice Spanish greeting and wonderful customer service. I managed to speak to her in Spanish and order my items. I ordered a Cuban of course. Which comes with fries for $5. Great deal. It was pretty darn good. My only issue is that it wasn't very hot. Otherwise it was good and tasty. The fries were basic shoestring fries but I lied them because there were a good amount of softer fries vs crispy. That's my preference. Also got a couple of empanadas with ham and cheese. Both were good, piping hot, and full of melty cheese. Yum. Ordered a chocolate senorita. It's a flaky layered dessert. Also wonderful. It seemed to have cream between the flaky dough layers with a hardened chocolate ganache for the topping. Finally a caramel cappuccino. It came from a machine and they also have vanilla. No complaints here. I would have loved to try their Ropa Vieja and rice and beans. Everything looked so good. Bummed they didn't have croquetas de jason y queso but someone had ordered 40 of them and sold them out for the day. Man they must be good. Maybe next time I'll be lucky to try them.

This could be my favorite restaurant in Las Vegas. I keep coming back for more! Each dish perfectly executed. The price point compels me to make it my first stop after leaving the airport or when I want a good solid meal that going to be consistently excellent and is not going to be expensive. The staff is happy and helpful. The menu options are plentiful and I always end up taking leftovers home and ordering more before I leave. Some offerings are simple and yet, they will have you craving for more. Other offerings - like the stews - are more complex and will also have you craving more. I suggest you start off simple. If you don't speak the native language I suggest you use the point the finger technique which is after all, the universal language. I highly recommend this restaurant. I can guarantee that you will be filled to the brim with very tasty, solidly filling, healthy food.

I love coming here, it's affordable, service is quick, food is prepared hot, the meal is very satisfying, and Cuban food just taste absolutely amazing! Everyday is a different entree. They have chicken, pork, beef, rice, beans, soup, and tostones. I usually order the $5 combo with mixed beans and rice. On this visit they brought out a fresh tray of vegetables with sautéed peas, onion, and cherry tomato, and I added chicken and potato to my combo. The meat is juicy, flavorful, and very tender, the mixed beans and rice are delicious, and the vegetables are sautéed well. Ordering food is easier if you know a little bit of Spanish. If not, then no worry they can still assist you. Keep in mind it is best to use cash when making a purchase. If you opt to pay via credit or debit, they will charge an extra $1 on your card. They do give generous portions and whenever I order here, I have plenty of leftover for my next day lunch. I have tried the Cuban Sandwich ($5) which is like a buttery crisp panini bread with ham, cheese, mayo, mustard and pickle, it's a very good sandwich and it comes with fries. If you do order fries, be sure to let them know you want it well done so it's serve hot and crispy. The Croqueta de Jamon ($1 each) has ham and cheese inside, it's a small deep fried tasty snack that's also good and I wish I can have more than just one. They have a bakery section where they offer all kinds of dessert, pastry, and delightful sweets. I tried the Chocolate Cake ($3) with mocha cream and chocolate ganache. I like this cake a lot! It has the perfect sweetness with chocolate sprinkles and it's almost as if they added a bit of Ferrero Rocher to give it a nice texture and a little crunch. Drinks are purchase separately, it doesn't come with the combo. I have tried melon and limon ($2) and both drinks taste refreshing. If you order a drink, it is given to you cold but they don't serve ice. They have beers too. The decor appears retro and if you look to the side of the wall, you will see a funny mix of car parts. While you dine, you can watch tv too. The restaurant does have a spacious enough seating area that can accommodate a big group of family. There are plenty of table so there isn't a wait. On Black Friday, they were playing upbeat Cuban music. It got so busy that night, customers kept the line going, tables were filling up fast by the group, and I was feeling really good because the place felt like a fiesta party.

Good authentic Cuban food and the service was great! We enjoyed the empanadas as well. At the end of our meal we enjoyed a delicious cup of the best coffee you will ever taste! We will certainly be back again

Empanadas and Cuban coffee are the best! Super flake and meat filled empanadas are out of this world

Thursday - 6/11/20 It was my first time here but I really didn't find much I wanted to eat. Lots of fried foods here, and I'm not into fried foods. Sorry but I'm just saying the truth. This place is okay, but it's not my "cup of tea" for my own health reasons. I prefer non-fried foods. Other than that, the lady behind the counter was trying to help us decide what to order, since the 3 of us were first-timers for Cuban food.

I ordered my food through Grubhub and when I received it everything was good except when I open the bag and began to eat my food I noticed my meat wasn't cooked well it still had pinkish in it and my white rice was HARD. Ground Beef / Picadillo De Res