Havana Grill

It was my first time trying Cuban food, and the taste was amazing delicious and perfectly portioned. The service was friendly and attentive. However, it was very hot inside the restaurant yesterday. I only saw one air conditioner near the entrance. I had to eat while sweating the entire time. It would be great if you could fix this. I believe the atmosphere in a restaurant is an important part of the dining experience

Great Takeout Experience at Havana Grill! I placed a to-go order and was really impressed. The tortilla soup was flavorful and comforting. The mixed ceviche was delicious—fresh and vibrant—though I personally wasn’t a fan of the green pepper in it. Lastly, the Cuban steak was incredibly tender and full of flavor. While it’s labeled as a Cuban restaurant, I noticed the menu feels quite similar to a Mexican restaurant. Still, everything I tried was tasty, and I’ll definitely be ordering again!

The drinks were great. We had three pitchers of a mojito. There were a few different appetizers, all flavorful. My favorite was crab cakes. The main dish was also flavorful. Great music. Kinda small. Encourage a reservation

Walking around I got attracted by this nice Cuban place. Food is tasty and service is really fast. Nice atmosphere too, good place if you want to have something casual and good food.

The food at this restaurant is delicious, the restaurant itself is falling apart. The paint chipping everywhere. The seats are falling apart and overall needs a remodel, updating, painting, and new furniture. Even the restrooms need updating. The waiters kept taking our plates and cups even when we were not completely finished. It was as if we were being rushed out, but there was no wait. A compliment to a woman server that noticed we needed containers when our own server was not available.

Havana Grill in Chicago is a must-visit, especially for their mojitos! While I've had their food in the past, I won’t comment on the flavors as it's not my personal preference. However, their mojito flight is a fantastic option if you're looking to explore a variety of flavors without overindulging. Each mojito is refreshing and perfectly balanced, making it easy to enjoy multiple options. My top picks are the guava and coconut, which add a delightful twist to the traditional drink. Overall, if you're in the mood for some amazing mojitos, Havana Grill is the place to be!

We have been wanting to visit this joint for so many years, given it is only a 10 min walk away, but for some reason we kept forgetting! We love Cuban food, we just spent 8 days in Miami doing nothing but eating good Cuban food, so this is a good treat for us back in Chicago. The chimichangas are crispy and filled with a ton of chicken, it was a bit bland for us and that creame base sauce didn't really help. However the empanadas were awesome just by themselves, the filling were very flavorful, and what made them even better was the basil garlic olive oil dip. It basically comes with everything else, so I put the chimichangas in the tip and all of a sudden it tasted 10 times better. The Ropa Vieja was very tender and packed with explosive flavors as it should be, so are the accompanying rice and beans. The Cubano sandwich was on point, with pull pork and just the right amount of cheese and pickles, I personally prefer a little bit more mustard. The Steak Jabarito was a bit bland, the steak needs more seasoning, but if you dip that in the basil garlic oil, your are good to go! The desserts were just okay for me, I can't really taste the guava in the guava cheese cake, nor could I taste the lime in the key lime pie (it was just sour). The pie base was wet and hard, rather than crunchy and loose. It felt store bought to me. Over all, solid Cuban joint, we will come back for more specialty dishes and see how they compare to the joints in Miami! The prices are very reasonable, and breasts services.

Havana Grill is a must-visit in Chicago! Their mojitos are fresh, minty, and perfectly made. The vegetarian dishes are full of flavor—especially the enchiladas . Great atmosphere, great service, and unforgettable Cuban food!

We stopped by here for quick cocktails. The vibe of the place was quite nice and chill. Cocktails were yum especially the Litchi Martini and Espresso Martini. Service was quick as we were sitting by the bar. Would love to try the food the next time I visit!

Food was mid... charged me 75 cents for my mojo for my RopaVeja... dude just build it in the price of the meal. Food was a bit cold too, which was odd because they were so busy. Almost tasted microwaved... Very nice bartender tho, good floor awareness.

Havana offered an authentic Cuban cuisine experience! From the music, menu offerings, and ambiance it felt like we got on a flight right to Havana! We visited on a Friday evening about 6pm, I got there early and was able to enjoy some of their happy hour offerings which was nice (until 6p). We were seated right away and upon our arrival they were pretty light in traffic. By the time we left the traffic was picking up so I do suggest a reservation. The service was friendly, fast and efficient. While the food was authentic Cuban cuisine, some of it missed the mark for me. For starters we ordered the Crab Cakes, which were tasty and the chipotle sauce added a lot of character and flavor. We also ordered the Trio Empanadas, I really enjoyed the manchego cheese one, it had a good crunch and flavor however the pollo and picadillo ones lacked flavor in my opinion. For our entrees Tacos de Camaron, the shrimp was seasoned well and cooked perfectly, the chipotle coleslaw added a good flavor! Additionally we ordered the Vaca Frita, while the flavor and intention was there, the meat was a bit chewy/tough maybe a bit overcooked? While some of the food wr ordered missed the mark, their menu is so expansive I would certainly be back to try some other items! I still recommend especially for that authentic feel!

Hovering between a 3 and 4. While I love their outdoor patio, the friendliness from some of the staff can be a bit better. The carne con tequila was good! (Cooked medium, server recommended medium rare). It was better from the Cuban sandwich I had last time (picture not available). If they can improve some of their food and staff friendliness, I do believe that they can get more 4 & 5 stars ratings.

Great place for cuban food in the area. It felt and tasted pretty authentic. The people here are really nice and offer a great service. The only thing I didn't like about this place was their mojito. It was more on the strong side and could've used more mint. Aside from that I would definitely come back.

The service was good and the ambience did feel reminiscent of a nice Caribbean vibe. While my daughter enjoyed her steak sandwich, I tried my first jibarito and was singularly unimpressed. The key lime pie was portioned pretty small as well.

We got this vegetarian vegetable dish and it was not filling for how much it is , while it was good it's a bit disappointing how few vegetarian options they have. I wish they'd have a few more options

Hmmm...I remember there being more rum in the mojitos some years ago. Our mojitos were definitely lacking. They use to be so good; my favorite mojitos in the city. My friend had a beef jibarito which they felt wasn't very flavorful, and I had one of the only two vegan options they had. It was just roasted veggies stacked up with a side of really good chimichurri. I wish they would had some creative vegan dishes to the menu. I will give them a try again and hope things have improved.

Tried this place out for a work lunch and it was good! I didn't have the chance to try one of their actual Cuban dishes but they looked really good and I will have to go back to try one of them. Service was fast, food had large portions, and the inside was really cute. They also have a patio for when the weather. I'll have to come back to try more options out here

The vibes were immaculate feeling like you're sitting on the city streets of Cuba. Sitting outside was cramped but truly beautiful views with the stunning restaurant building and views of the city in all directions. Even with the sky scrapers you feel you're transformed to another country. We enjoyed the plain mint mojito than the fruit flavored ones in the flight. The chicken enchiladas were yummy and were served with lots of beans and rice to be a satisfying meal. Overall, a good choice in River north!

Nice Cuban restaurant in downtown Chicago. The menu has a nice selection of meals and drinks. I ordered the ropa vieja with a guava mojito. Very good and flavorful. It was a very fulfilling meal

Food was great. Service sucked. It so disappointing because I know that Rick would be furious that a staff member was so lazy.

I've only done takeout but the food is good everytime. I really like their grilled chicken with rice and beans. The chicken is always juicy and the beans are not soupy. I will continue ordering from them.

I really like this place!! I've never eaten here however the mojitos are delicious a bit sweet for me however it's still good! I love this music too, I wish they had a dance floor. Service is good too

Ordered the Havana Steak Sandwich and would order it again! The Mojitos have that fresh mint taste to them Its a little tight in the restaurant but was able to fit a group of 6 easily Great service as well :)

Loved the food and the service. The carne asada was delicious as well as the chips and guacamole. I didn't have drinks but my friends did. And they said the minutos were super good. Our waitress, can't recall the name was super nice and attentive. And the best part is that at the end of the night the restaurant turned into a night club where they played Soanish music. We had tons of fun. I definitely recommend

Nice little spot in the River North neighborhood. The food and cocktails were so good we ate at this restaurant twice during our stay in Chicago. I can't wait to come back for the Vaca Fritas and Mojito sampler. Oh, don't forget the chips and guac!!!

Tiny Cuban spot, BIG flavor! I stumbled upon this gem while researching Chicago restaurants (a.k.a. drooling over food pics online) and found a Groupon deal. Being Valentine's Day, I wasn't sure if they'd let me use it because, you know, love is expensive. But they did, and let me tell you, the food was chef's kiss. We kicked things off with a tequila flight, because what's better than one drink? Three drinks. Paired with my already perfect margarita, I was basically one sip away from salsa dancing on the table. For the main event, I had the Cuban steak, and I'm pretty sure it whispered, "I love you" before I devoured it. My husband got the churrasco, which he claims was amazing but honestly, I was too busy having a moment with my own plate to notice. Moral of the story: Do NOT skip this place. It's got fantastic food, great service, and enough tequila to make you think you are Cuban.

So delicious and worth the price! I tried going here with a friend a few years go during restaurant week and it was so packed we couldn't get a table. But I was able to finally try it with my boyfriend a month ago and it was so good! I got the Havana steak sandwich and it was so delicious!!! The bread, meat, and the chimichurri was mouthwatering!! The crisp on the bread made it so yummy and I had to dip my sandwich with chimichurri every bite! Also I loved the fries too and how proportionate of an amount we got. I always feel bad leaving a heap of fries when restaurants give us too many. My boyfriend got the Sandwich Cubano and he loved it so much as well. I guess we have our own tastes since he said he loved his more than mine and I loved mine the most lol! We also had the cheesecake afterwards which was delicious. The price for the food quality was amazing and I can't stop thinking about the sandwich!!! Funny enough it turns out my boyfriend's step dad, Ken, said he eats here all the time and looooves the food and the family! And of course, he also raved about the Havana steak sandwich because it is THAT GOOD! Can't wait to come back!

First clue that the owner of this establishment is NOT Cuban, the typo. Also, caipirinhas are from Brasil....and tacos from Mexico. Not a truly Cuban restaurant. The flan was, however, delicious. The bartenders took care of us. And the lechón (advertised as Cuban roasted pork on the menu) looked great. Mojitos were too sweet for my tasting.

We stopped in impulsively and had the BEST time!! Friendly staff, great drinks, and a cute bar. What else could you need?

Getting some good vibes from this place with the atmosphere not to mention the good ass drinks and food. Havana had got it going on for sure. If you like Mexican food it's not a big stretch getting Cuban stuff. A lot of pretty similar items. There's lots of the menu from meaty stuff to healthier and lighter options. Even though it was busy the stuff came pretty fast. It's expensive compared to some places but for River North it wasn't so much. The menu is a combination of Cuban and Mexican classics, and some of these blend together. Cocktails include margaritas. It's $8 for the Signature Margarita, which has cucumber jalapeño tequila. As for the food it's got the Cuban, the classic ham sandwich. There's also a few things for vegetarians. I got the Veggie Parillada. It's about $15 for a plate of seasoned vegetables. This had a pretty spicy chimichurri sauce to go on a pile of green peppers, jicama, mango, portobello, red peppers, squash, and zucchini. It actually made a pretty good meal. The coworkers liked their Cubans and whatever else they got so it turned out good even though it's pricy. Hot flavors as well as atmosphere. It gets busy and loud so it's for sure a hip spot to be seen. They still manage to get drinks and food out fast though.

I get that I ordered my meal for delivery and that often the"tasty" level depreciates, but it shouldn't be to the level where it has NO flavor at all. I ordered the steak jibarito and the flavor was non-existent. I didn't receive any mango chutney, which I like to think would have boosted the flavor. The steak was pretty tough, and the lettuce and tomatoes were sparse. The best thing about my meal were the fries and the hot temperature. I really wanted this to be good because jibaritos are one of my favorite sandwiches, but there was nothing redeemable about this.

Loved this place so much! Was visiting family in Chicago and ate dinner with my friend here. Perfect choice. Quick service and we were able to be seated outside on a nice afternoon. Food was delicious and seasoned and tasty. We especially loved splitting the mojito flights we shared. I enjoyed the shrimp tacos and rice. So yummy and I would definitely recommend it. So glad I found this awesome spot for a fun night out.

We've eaten here a few times over the years and it is always authentic and delicious. I've had their tacos previously, very tasty, and their Cuban, which had a crisp bun, salty ham (in a good way), gooey cheese, and tangy mustard. Loved the Cuban. And the golden fries! They have a variety of sandwiches, beef/steak dishes, pork dishes, seafood, and more. The star here are the drinks--amazing mojitos, caipirinhas, and margaritas, as well as a few other cocktails. The restaurant is decorated in dark toned wood and earthy colors. There is a beautiful set of glass doors that open onto the sidewalk and outdoor dining areas. Service is laid back, yet super kind and attentive. Perfect vibe.

Came here because the reviews suggested that the food was good however I was extremely disappointed. The food was flavorless, the portions were extremely small. Would not recommend anyone coming here. Also the service was terrible.

I used to hang out here all the time because I love their mojitos and they always have great bands. Stopped going because my jacket was stolen. Went back after many years and it was fun but the bartender tried to scam me. He charged my card and he put the tip amount instead of letting me choose how much tip I wanted to give him. I had to ask for a receipt because he didn't give me one and that's how I knew he had charged me for 2 drinks instead of the one I ordered. I will never go back to a place that scams their customers because they think they're too drunk to notice or say anything.

Been wanting to check out this place and I figured getting Cuban food would make it seem like the summer. This is a really good spot and I'm definitely going to come back here in the summer for the happy hour they have. We got the tortilla soup which was very nice and had a smoky flavor. The yuca fries were a miss, but I definitely want to return! Mojito hit different

Havana Grill never disappoints. I have visited Havana more times than I can count and they are always consistent. I always rave about Havana and recently introduced some friends to the place so it's finally time to write a review! I stumbled upon Havana many moons ago when the waiting time at a nearby place was too long. Back in 2017/18 when I found out about Havana my group was able to easily get a table but I don't think that would be the case today. I cannot say this louder but you must make a reservation if you want to avoid a long wait. It's been times when I was midway making a reservation and all of the decent times were snatched up. Unless you want to eat dinner with the early birds (4pm) or the night owls (8pm-10pm) make the reservation a few weeks in advance. Now to the actual food... Havana is the one place you can go with a chatty group and when the food comes the whole table is quiet. I always get the Havana steak sandwich when I visit. I've tried the sandwich Cubano and other things but the Havana steak sandwich knocks it out of the park. The steak is cooked to perfection and the fries are a mix of sweet potato and yucca. The serving size decent enough that you will be able to take something home. I normally can get one and a half and sometimes two meals from my Havana visits. I really like the mojitos. I recently tried the mojito flight with mango, berry, and guava flavors. I liked the guava because it was subtle and I struggled to tell the difference between other two flavors. The mango and peach were on the sweeter side. I will probably stick will the more subtle flavors. I would highly recommend visiting Havana Grill! If you struggle to book a reservation from their site call them up. I was able to get a reservation for a group of 7 more easily over the phone.

Came here for a Happy Hour and I'd say the drinks were pretty good and the pricing was fair. It was a last minute situation before a concert but I'd say if you can catch them for HH like we did before going to The House of Blues then I highly recommend. I can't comment on food.

I LOVE coming to this restaurant for lunch. They have a lunch menu that has great prices. My favorite dish is the steak jibarito with fries. It's essentially a steak sandwich between 2 fried green plantains. I get my steak medium rare, and it's juicy and flavorful. The fries are also are so yummy and the green sauce they serve with the dish is delicious. I recommend dipping your fries in the sauce. The tacos are also great here. They come with guac which is a plus. In the summer, they have a patio with umbrellas, and it's really nice to sit outside. During colder months, sitting inside is still very nice. The inside of the restaurant is clean and elegant-looking.

Another favorite cuisine of mine is Cuban food. Who am I kidding I love them all. Seriously I do love variety and was craving a Cuban sandwich. I found Havana Grill and figured it would be a great lunch spot. It was a beautiful day and there was outside seating available. Grabbed a table and waited to place my order. I ordered a Cuban sandwich with plantain chips. Pretty basic but filling that craving. My sandwich came and looked good. They provided regular plantains which wasn't all that bad. The sandwich was ok, not the best that I have ever had. Let's be honest, we aren't in South Florida or Cuba for that matter. The plantains were really good. Service was ok. Again not the best that I have had, it not the worst. Overall it was an ok experience. Not sure if I would return as there are so many good food options in Chicago.

Havana Grill is simply standard. Neither overwhelming good or bad. I have not been back since my original visit, but I would not be against trying it one more time before I make my final decision about how I feel about this place. We got the plantains and split the dish below (forgetting the name) and a salad. The mojitos were good.

The service was impeccable. the food was fantastic. Will be back next week. Giving them a shoutout!! Loved it!!

The pulled pork. Haven't tried it yet but smells amazeballs Update: it is amazeballs. Highly recommend the pulled pork. It rests on a jalapeño mashed potato and a puréed plantain (I think) cream sauce. Well it was very savory and delicious. I wasn't very hungry and damn near licked the plate clean. Well done Havana, I'll be back

AMAZING INCREDIBLE DIVINE I would fight wars for these chimichangas. I have never had anything better than these in my life. Chill vibes in the restaurant. I had some drinks too but can't say they were my favorite. Staff was friendly but service was pretty normal. I'd go back for a chimichanga, but I'll be skipping the drinks next time.

Stopped into Havana Grill on a whim. My wife and I were walking through the high rent districts of Downtown Chicago and saw the Havana Grill. We love Cuban food (see my south Florida reviews) and thought even though we had eaten already, we needed to go in for a tasty libation or two. Havana Grill is quaint, and has a well stocked bar. You literally feel like your in Cuba while drinking here. The smells, the sounds, the language, all that was missing was a cobbled together 55 Oldsmobile out front. I ordered a classic mojito and my wife got a coconut mojito. Both of the drinks were refreshing with tastes that were out of this world. The coconut was fresh and crisp and the regular mojito was equally as good. If ever in the area, please, stop in and sit down for a bite or a drink, tell them El jefe Enrique sent you, you'll be glad you dropped in.

We sat outside... it was a busy part of the day but it was nice sitting outside. Service was on it.. despite dogging waking -traffic. Everything we ordered was on point. Stared with some empanadas. They were a perfect size and really good. We

Initially wanted to come try their pitchers of mojitos (as famously shown on TikTok), but boy let me tell you that their food is just as tasty! The Havana Steak Sandwich was a flavor bomb--meat was juicy and the onions were so sweet. As for the mojitos, easily finished 2 pitchers (guava & mango flavors) bc they were that good.

We stopped in a Monday around 2:00. No worries on seating. The waitstaff sat us quickly and our food came so fast. Water refills no problem, friendly all the things you look for. We all enjoyed our food. We started with the plantains and dipped into a whipped black bean sauce, mango salsa and guacamole. All three separate were amazing but we stayed to mix them on our appetizer plates and that was even better. The calamari- fried to a perfection ! I got the crab cakes for my meal and they were lovely. On the side more mango salsa and a nice sauce drizzled on top. Overall I don't give 5 stars often but they deserved 5!

Came here on a weekday for happy hour and the margarita deal is really good! Walked in without a reservation and got a seat outside which was nice

I had much higher hopes for this location - the pictures looked yummy. But everything desperately needed salt. And the flavors were not authentic either. The vaca frita for example is made with red onion instead of yellow onion, completely changing the flavor of the meat. The Latin fries (which is a mix of sweet potato and regular fries) has a seasoning on it that is sour of balance with the dishes- there's a Smoky edge to it that really overwhelms any other flavor. The redeeming item was the fried yuca with the garlic sauce. That was good. Service was average overall. Our server was short with us and dismissive. The circulating wait staff was very attentive to refills and clearing plates though. Ambiance is quiet and does have a Caribbean feel to it. The bathroom is not handicap accessible - you have to take a flight of stairs down to get to the facilities.

Enjoyed the food, service and ambiance. Music and noise level appropriate. French fries were a nice surprise mix of sweet and regular potatoes!

Great outside seating for June. Strong mojitos and I was able to share a sandwich cubano.

Unique, tasty Cuban cuisine right in the middle of Chicago downtown. I've been living just a short walk away for years so I'm disappointed I didn't try Havana Cafe earlier. The interior is artfully decorated with Latin music playing that really sets the atmosphere. I started with a pisco sour which was very reasonably priced at $11, and my girlfriend and I split a ceviche mixto. The seafood was fresh and I liked that it's served with both tortilla and plantain chips, but it could've been tastier and the portion wasn't that big. For my main I got the Havana roasted pulled pork, recommended by the server, and for good reason as it was the best dish of the night. The pulled is tender but packed full of savory spicy flavor, beautifully presented on a tower of jalapeno mashed potatoes and roasted corn sauce. My girlfriend got the pollo horneado (marinated chicken baked in plantain leaves served with sweet potatoes and plantains). The chicken was a bit dry but the marinade was surprisingly rich and spicy. We also got a side of yucca fries which were nice and crispy outside but still fluffy inside. Chicago doesn't have a ton of Cuban food, so it's great to have a great reasonably priced one sitting right in the heart of downtown. It's not the biggest place so try to make reservations, it's definitely worth a visit whether you're a fan of Cuban food or you've never tried it!

Went there for a quick bite before a concert there's isn't parking but it's a parking garage right across the street kinda expensive but if you're coming to the city you expect the price. They have indoor and outdoor seating weather permitting. It's small inside and needs a little sprucing up. They still have the QR code for the menu the service was awesome we were seated immediately and the waiter came and explained the menu and offered suggestions. We ordered the empanadas and crab cakes with a side of sweet potato fries. Everything was delicious and fresh.

Service was soso, food was average. Took a long time to get our food. They had a large table of 15 plus people that came in after we ordered. They were more focused on getting them their food. Not much options on the menu for a cuban restaurant. Very little seafood choices, which I tend to go for. They get a passable grade from me. By the way the female server was lovely and helpful.

Great service, yummy food. The chips and dips (guacamole and 2 salsas) was a great start. The portions on the meal were generous and tasty. We finished with the guava cheesecake which was a nice finish.

The restaurant has a lovely decor and plays Spanish music, which adds to the ambiance. The staff is friendly and welcoming. I ordered the seafood paella, which was good, and had a decent amount of seafood .