Havana Grill

Nice clean restaurant and decor. Ordered the lechon. Good flavor and very juicy. I enjoy the mojo sauce, which is a garlic and olive oil combo. Service was friendly, but a little slow and the waitress seemed overwhelmed, despite only having a couple tables. She forgot to bring drinks multiple times and the drinks that arrived, were warmer than I would like. Definitely recommend the food, but hoping they can improve service. I hope I can upgrade to a 5 star next time.

INCREDIBLE!! Our family reunion with 40+ people had our 'big dinner' at Havana Grill, Mission Valley. Our group of many Cubans including my 89 year-old mother-in-law who left Cuba over 60 years ago, thoroughly enjoyed the ENTIRE experience! The Alex-es (there are 2 of them) and their staff, particularly Emma, made us feel like family and took exceptional care of us over the 3 HOURS that we were there! They served us 'family style' which worked GREAT as there were large plates of a variety of Cuban food (recipes from Alex's Cuban mother) that were passed around easily and happily from one table to the next. The restaurant had brought in a live band that kept us entertained all evening and had many of us including my grandson and his great-grandmother dancing around the restaurant. The food, the ambiance (including the live music) and the customer service were absolutely exceptional! (and the price was very reasonable!) Our group included many people from the east coast, including Miami where there are many Cuban restaurants, and everyone raved about the food and the experience! Thank you so much for creating lifetime memories for all of us! P.S - while I thanked the staff in the front of the restaurant, I failed to thank the kitchen staff - please pass along our SINCERE ADMIRATION AND APPRECIATION for their work!!

Vaca fritas was amazing. The beef had a crispy outside and still soft and tender texture as you bit in. The flavor of the mean was delicious, both savory and a little citrus maybe. It had an odd sense of being refreshing. Beans were delicious, just black beans but well cooked, food texture, and nice subtle flavor. Fried plantains were a nice touch for the meal and quite yummy. Also, the meal came with melted garlic butter which maybe had some other flavor in it but it tasted great with the beef. Empanadas, the crust on all of them buttery and flaky and perfectly cooked. The crust is actually a strong flavor so for some of the more miler flavored empanadas, it overpowered. Reviews of the flavors from favorite to least favorite: Braised beef: This was very flavorful, mine and my partner's favorite of the bunch. I'm not a huge fan of bell peppers (though I'm not offended by them), but it complimented the flavor of the beef so well that I really enjoyed it. Picadillo: 2nd favorite was this seasoned beef. It smells stronger than it tastes but it has a nice flavor. My partner said he wouldn't think he'd be able to eat the whole thing because it would be overpowering over a while, but I think I'd enjoy the whole thing. It was savory and seasoned well. -- For the record I don't always prefer beef, but I think the stronger flavor of these had better balance with the strong buttery-flavored crust. -- Beans: this surprised me. I didn't have high expectations but it actually was really tasty. I'm not sure what cheese they use but it was stringy and balanced nicely with the beans. Cubano: My partner put this as his third but is my fourth. I actually think maybe even 5th for me. He liked that it had the mix of ham and pickle flavors. It looked and tasted like it had ham and chicken and pickles. I couldn't taste the cheese at all and expected some kind of sauce or mustard with it like the sandwich does, but alas it did not. The meat also was a smidgen dry. Not bad but could have been way better. Lechón: my 4th/5th favorite. The flavor of the pork was quite good and it was tender and juicy enough. However, this is one where it suffered overall because it's a milder flavor and the empanada crust overpowered it. Chicken: I like chicken. It's so versatile. This just tasted like boiled chicken, very flight flavors, overwhelmed by the crust. Also, the chicken was overcooked and dry. It wasn't so bad you wouldn't want to eat it, but it was distinctly not tender and juicy. I wanted a sauce to dip it in to give it flavor. Oh the dessert.... It was delicious. The balance between the mouse and the cake was great. It wasn't too sweet or rich, but had a decadent chocolate flavor. The crust was nice with a little crunch to it. The cake inside was very moist. Also it looked like there were two different chocolate mousse in the layered cake, but I didn't try them separately to explore further. I ate all layers together and the cohesion was perfectly balanced. My partner took a bite with the rose petal, do not recommend.

Havana Grill delivers every time! I have been to the other location in Clairemont Mesa several times, but this was the first time I have been to the Mission Valley spot; it's just as great. My friend and I ordered the sampler platter and the Cubano Sandwich. The sampler platter included an Empanada, Papa Rellena, Sweet Plantain, Yuca Fries, Tostones, Ham Croquettes, and Plantain Chips. The flavors were all on point, everything was well seasoned, and the meal was hearty as well. The desserts were also delectable. We ordered the chocolate torte, the chocolate profiterole, and the best dessert they carry(in my opnion) the giava cheescake. This cheesecake is worth the return trip alone! Our service great as well. The interior is bright, clean, and inviting. I can't wait to come back. Eat up!

My friend took me here for lunch on a weekend and we had a great time. There was plenty of parking at the busy Mission Valley Mall. This place is beautifully decorated inside. It was open and airy so it felt like we were seated outdoors. Service was good too. Our waitress was checking in with us often and the food came pretty quickly, especially the empanadas. We ordered the 3 empanadas to try. The braised beef, picadillo, and chicken. I wish these came with sauces. They were delicious but the chicken empanada was a bit dry. The spinach salad was good too but I will order another salad next time. It was a bit on the bland side for me but my friend loved it.

Lechon hit the spot, but do not skip the mariquitas with mojo!!! They were the stars. Not my favorite papa rellena. Pastelito was decent. Cortadito was great!

First timer here, We sat at the bar this Wednesday night and was wildly impressed! My friend loves Cuban food so I wanted to taste what Havana had to offer and it was delicious! The bar staff were very friendly and the manager was excellent. You felt at home, it’s a great feeling and vibe! I will take the family back ! Cheers 🥂

Made a HUGE mistake recommending this place. Family came in from out of town and I corralled them across SD to come eat here. We walk up to the sign that says “please wait to be seated.” and we politely oblige - uncovered… in the rain. No hostess present, a mostly empty restaurant, a bartender tending to NO ONE, the barista casually leaning on the baked goods counter glances at our family before continuing her leisure. Another employee comes out of the kitchen, glances at us and begins to chat with the barista about how she needs an umbrella BECAUSE of the rain that we are now STANDING in before she disappears to the kitchen again. NO ONE greets us or comes to help or direct us, NOTHING. We have one small child (4yo) and one infant, plus a senior citizen with us getting wet. I finally go inside and ask if a hostess will seat us, being told - “Oh! No, we don’t have one right now.” So the whole time, the employees had this information, not one of the three at the front of the house tried to greet or assist our group with such vulnerable populations. These are THE WORST kind of people in the service industry. No compassion, NO urgency, NO empathy, NO obvious self-respect in how their OBLIVIOUS and blatant APATHY reflects on a business - because here I am - sharing my experience PUBLICLY and it was TERRIBLE. I did buy a box of four brownie cookies because, I prematurely bragged about them and didn’t want to waste the drive. Ended up getting WAYYYY better food and service at Yardhouse.

It's so great to have a good Cuban sit-down restaurant in San Diego! Their Cuban sandwiches are as good as the ones we get in Miami. The Crazy Cuban is my favorite. Their tostones are great. And I love that they have live music! Tonight my brother-in-law accidentally ordered the wrong sandwich, and they couldn't have been more gracious about bringing him the sandwich he meant to order. Lovely people and wonderful food.

From the moment you walk in to be seated, the restaurant is very inviting and gives immediate Havana vibes. There is a takeout/pick up bakery/cafe counter that you can order from if you are not dining in, a bar, and inside and outside dining. The food we ordered was amazing. We did an empanada trio, Havana skirt steak, and cubano. Pistachio coffee is a must try. They have a full specialty cocktail menu to order from and full bar. We came during lunch rush, and despite being understaffed, the food and experience was will nice.

Cute restaurant that makes you feel like you are in the heart of Cuba! Loved the music, the ambiance and the service. I ordered the Havana Mojito which was delicious. For starters, we ordered some of the empanadas. I ordered the Chicken Fricase empanada which was full of flavor. For my main entree, I ordered the Fricase de Pollo with congris which came with sweet plantains. The portion size was absolutely perfect.the chicken was so tender, it fell off the bone and was full of flavor. My entire family enjoyed their meals and drinks.

I had lunch here with some friends. It was my first time at Havana Grill. I ordered the Citrus Grilled Chicken Breast that came with sweet plantains, brown rice, and signature black beans. I thought it was just ok, the chicken was a bit on the dry side. My favorite part of the dish were the sweet plantains. I had a taste of my friend's Arroz con Pollo. This dish was more flavorful than mine. They used dark meat for this dish and the way it was cooked left the chicken very tender and full of flavor. We also tried the Cubana empanadas--not recommended. The Yuka fries were good. Overall, I enjoyed the food but felt the service was a bit off. Food was delivered to our table within a good turnaround time; however, I had to wait quite a bit for my utensils. The server miscounted and didn't have enough at the table. Service was ok, not the best. The restaurant wasn't busy when we visited, but we had to flag down other servers since ours wasn't available. She was sweet, just not very attentive. The restaurant is very clean and nicely decorated. When you walk in, there's a beautiful display of baked goods. It took some serious willpower to walk away from the sweets, but I managed to succeed.

What went well? Everything! The restaurant was beautiful...a clean outdoor vide without being out doors...bright and festive, trumpet based music over the speakers (not loud just right). Our server Jake, knew the menu backwards and forwards and had a detailed explanation of everything which I needed not being Cuban or having visited many Cuban restaurants. My colleague who suggested we visit this restaurant is Cuban and was impressed with everything from the ham croquettes and yuca fries to the Lechon congris to the "materva", a soda from his childhood, to the mojito...he loved it all, high praise coming from someone who was born and raised in Cuba! For me the restaurant offered more than just great food but also a kind of experience...love it all and when I return to San Diego, I'll remember this restaurant.

I enjoyed the food, the atmosphere and service. They have a great variety of food to choose from. The non alcoholic drink options are also good. It is so nice to try a different dish every time I visit.

This review should be 5-stars, but after our experience on Saturday, it's a 1-star for a single dish - the paella. Wife ordered the paella and everything in it was dry, some of the seafood was desiccated. I can't figure out how the kitchen allowed something that bad out. Didn't they see it? The other food we had (sampler platter, lechon, etc.) were all great.

Havana grill has been our Favorite when it comes to Cuban food. Their location here in Clairemont and in Mission Valley is near our house . We had dined at both multiple times already with family and friends. I like every dish here but the Seafood Paella is my Favorite here , this has generous amount of seafood and is delicious. Fast and nice service and with a good amount of space for seating.

My friend took me here for lunch on a weekend and we had a great time. There was plenty of parking at the busy Mission Valley Mall. This place is beautifully decorated inside. It was open and airy so it felt like we were seated outdoors. Service was good too. Our waitress was checking in with us often and the food came pretty quickly, especially the empanadas. We ordered the 3 empanadas to try. The braised beef, picadillo, and chicken. I wish these came with sauces. They were delicious but the chicken empanada was a bit dry. The spinach salad was good too but I will order another salad next time. It was a bit on the bland side for me but my friend loved it.

Where to start? The decor is gorgeous. From the vane chairs to the tile work to the wood. 10/10 I got a dessert and coffee. Sat outside with my pup. So kind and helpful Got water for my pup. Checked on me several times. The coffee was good and the dessert was perfect on a hot day. Staff is friendly and helpful. Will be definitely going back for dinner

Ordered for pick up and Food was ready in 20 minutes ! Never seen a beef shank served this large .. The Osso Buco Encendido (Beef Shank) was served with grass-fed Beef Shank which was slowly braised in wine , and spices and garnished with red and green bell peppers!! Meat was very tender and flavored with deliciousness. Ate with rice and smothered it with the sauce ! Love this Cuban cuisine dish especially with the sweet plantain..... ¡Qué rico!

Never been here and have not had Cuban food in a long time. Wow the cocktails are delicious. I also. Really loved the beef on my plate lunch. The on tap beers are some of my local favorites. The service was really fast and this place is so cute and well designed.

The interior of this new location is on point. Everything else from there goes downhill unfortunately. I came with a group of 6 around 7 on a Friday and we were originally quoted 45 min for a wait time but probably only ended up waiting 15. This was a foreshadowing to the fact that the whole time we were there the service was chaotic. I decided to get the hot Cuban which comes with Roasted Pork, caramelized Onions, Jalapenos, Cilantro, Garlic Aioli and Mojo. The sandwich itself was fine. Nothing to write home about. The meat was tender. I think I was just hoping for more flavor all around. The plantain chips were thin and crispy and well fried. The bad...Another person in my party got the Havana sirloin steak medium rare. It came out so well done it was a mini brick. Sooo dense. Multiple people in our party tried it and immediately said we should tell the waiter. We did that and the new steak did not come out till literally the rest of the group were done eating and we had to check in with our waiter multiple times. Near the end of our meal we realized our water cups all had sediment at the bottom. Not a little. A LOT. Upon checking with our waiter, the owner came up and pretty much gaslighted us. It felt like she didn't believe us that we didn't add the sentiment ourselves. She offered us fresh water which at that point we didn't believe wouldn't have the same issue. We also mentioned the issue with the steak and her comment was pretty much like ... Well did you get the new steak? At which point we told her it took forever for that to even come out and be addressed and she didn't seem to care. The owner ended up coming back around and offering us free desserts and asked us not to write a review. Really? Not the best way to address multiple issues we had during the meal.

Very cute aesthetic and atmosphere. I came here on a weekday during lunch and was seated immediately. I order the Hot Cuban with a side of french fries. I was hoping the bread would be crispier and have more of a mouthfeel. It was softer than I had expected and zero crunch to it. Inside was jalepeno, garlic aioli, pork, and onions. The flavor was pretty underwhelming. At times, I could not tell that I was eating pork. I think it could have used a touch more salt and a healthier slap of garlic aioli. The fries were delicious. Thin and crispy. The sandwich came with a side of garlic oil and I used that for my sandwich and fries as a dip. I prefer to have a higher heat level when it comes to spice and this was 1/10. They provided a side of habanero hot sauce and that had a small kick but barely any flavor. They sell desserts and a range of coffee drinks. You can get either of them to go at the counter.

Walked in on a Saturday evening about 6 and they had a nice 3 piece ensemble playing. Sydney B was our waitress and she was very nice, attentive and helpful in our drink and food selections. Both our drinks were good- Havana Mojito and Basil Cucumber Julep. Took a fair amount of time to get our food. Wife ordered the Ropa Vieja with rice and black beans and I the Hemingway with congris. Food did not come out hot. Had to send black beans back to get heated because thewy were cold but did not send back congris which was literally room temperature. I was not a fan of the congris. Nice roasted vegetable assortment came with Hemnigway -bell peppers, carrots, broccoli and zucchini. Fried plantains were a nice addition to plate. Finished up with a Flan and an Americano Coffee which was quite strong. They have a walk up area where you can order empanadas, coffee and desserts to go.

More like 3.5 but I'll round up... let me explain Atmosphere was great! Food was flavorful and service was okay. When we arrived, there was a woman with a child and the hostess left to figure out a high chair situation. When she got back, she basically asked the woman how do you plan on seating the child. It was weird, why didn't you grab the high chair? Regardless, the child sat in moms lap. We didn't get water until we asked which was towards the end of the meal. Expect food to come out within minutes of ordering. Definitely a dine and dash. Lastly, we paid half with gift card, the server made sure to point out the suggested tip was based off amount after gift card. It was just an awkward situation. We knew that and planned to tip accordingly but no need to make us feel uncomfortable for using a gift card. Food and drinks were great! Highly recommend the empanadas!

Went here based on a recommendation. Arrived at around 6:30pm on a Tuesday night. Had to wait to be acknowledged and seated, and was told the hostess was out and they were short staffed. Few tables occupied when I arrived. After asking for recommendations between a couple of dishes, I decided to order the Havana Sirloin Steak with the congris. For the price ($29), the portion size was much smaller then expected. The steak was flavorful, but it was cooked more well than medium. Ended up ordering the Cuban fries ($7) as well. Liked that they were thin, crispy, and hot but I'm not really sure if it was just a subtle flavor or if the garlic sauce was missing altogether. Staff were friendly. Would consider returning to try the pasty and/or desserts.

We came here through a recommendation from a friend who knows Caribbean food well. Pretty busy place, nice attached coffee/pastry bar for walk up order to-go's. Nice bar area with featured drink menu. We came with no reservation, which I would recommend. We waited for about 20-30minutes for a party of 5 on a Saturday night. Live Cuban music with lively conversations. Definitely not a place if you want to be able to chat with your group. I personally enjoyed the music. Manager was extremely hospitable going around table to table greeting patrons. Our waitress was wonderful as well. She tended to specific allergies in our group. Now to the food! Delicious, authentic food! I ordered their specialty paella. I wanted to try their version as opposed to the traditional Spanish one. Good sized portion for a party of 1. Rice was perfectly cooked enough seafood with each bite; even better as leftovers! Others had the Osso Buco which was also a large portion. Meat was tender with dudes of white rice and black beans as well as plantains. Cuban American sandwich approved by my most pickiest eater. Salad with Chicken and had to try their Yuma fries. Crispy on the outside with their yummy cilantro sauce. Would definitely come back here!

Went to Havana Grill for lunch and had an amazing experience. Our server, Katherine G, was exceptional -- friendly, attentive, and truly elevated our meal. The food was delicious, the service was top-notch, and the ambiance was great. Highly recommend this spot, and definitely ask for Katherine G. She gets our vote for Employee of the Week (or Month!).

I would give them 0 starts if I could. I love Cuban food, and me and my boyfriend decided to give this place a chance while visiting San Diego. I called and they told me there was no wait ( that should've been my first red flag). I normally don't write reviews and try to be very patient and understanding when it comes to the food industry, but they were outstandingly bad. We waited a long time for our food, we ordered tostones for an appetizer and they delivered them to the wrong table. When I pointed out they didn't even apologize or acknowledge their mistake. However, I decided to still wait patiently for the main courses. After a long time waiting, they brought out order wrong for the main dishes. I ordered a fricasé de pollo (braised chicken) and instead I got a grilled chicken that was very small and dry instead. When I said something, they didn't apologize and offer to let me keep the plate or to wait for the right order (which took another 20 minutes on top of the 20 minutes we waited at the beginning) . My boyfriend ordered a vaca frita and the meat was so dry, small portion and with a side of the saddest salad I ever seen. It was literally, a couple strips of carrots and like three leaves of lettuce that wasn't even that green. When I reasonably explained our discontent and gave them feedback the waiter impatiently said "it doesn't matter". Overall, the dishes are small and expensive, the preparation and execution of the meals are poor, and their staff doesn't seem to care about their customer experience. I don't recommend you spend your money here, it left a very bad taste in my mouth.

Vibes were immaculate, food was superb! Drinks were on point service was good no complaints! Will certainly be back.

Havana grill is a San Diego standout for its tasty Cuban food. I checked out their new Mission Valley location after more than a year since last dining at the original location. The Vaca Frita: remains my favorite dish. I like the meat crispy and to some it may seem a little dry, but I enjoy the texture throroughly. It's not tough by any means and quite satisfying, like a good roast beef. The congris/beans and rice and plantains are always something to look forward to as well. Yucca fries: A classic that all curious eaters should try. The oil and garlic sauce is also bomb. It's like a chewier fry. My friend's hot Cuban sandwich: Really juicy cut of meat, tender and easy to bite into. Definitely very quality and better than expected for a sandwich. Try the habanero carrot hot sauce if you can handle a little kick. It's not too much spice and tastes very fresh and clean. Ambiance: I love the new location for it's skylight and Vegas-like feel. There's imitation windows and cobble paving, making you feel like you are in a pleasant courtyard elsewhere. Perfect date night setting. The other location has a cool wooden and darker rustic feel. Service: We had a easygoing and friendly server, a nice young man who chatted politely with us. The man that brought our food over seemed gruff. All the front of house servers were great and professionally helped clean up a nearby water spill. Havana grill remains a must try and a unique eatery in San Diego that all my friends who moved away will miss and return to, and I will continue to support this business. Quality food here.

Came here on a weekday, so we were seated right away. Upon entering, we both said that it was a beautiful place to dine at. What we got: - Yuca Fries: thick cuts of yuca (cassava), deep fried until crispy, served with mojo. These were crispy on the outside, but soft on the inside. Sooo good with the sauce (we asked for hot sauce and their house hot sauce is super good too with the fries too). - The Hot Cuban: roasted pork, caramelized onions, jalapeños, cilantro, garlic aioli, mojo. This sandwich was flavored well, the meat wasn't dry, which was great. The sauces + hot sauce were great on this sandwich! - Vaca Frita: natural, hormone-free flank steak, seared crispy, sautéed onions, and mojo. This wasn't my dish, but I managed to taste it anyways lol. The meat was juicy, tender and flavorful! Overall, I would definitely come back. The service we received by our waiter was really great as well! I really want to try out their pastries and desserts at the front of the restaurant!

Food was good but service here is severely lacking. Ambiance is nice, it's a cute restaurant. Came on a weekday around 5:15pm and easily grabbed two seats at the bar. Ordered entrees then also a side that the bartender (in her defense, she looked really busy / might have been new because she kept referring to a recipe book) forgot to put in, asked her to place it and then it still took a decent amount of time (maybe 15 minutes?) for it to come out so we ended up just having to take it to go because it was taking so long. They ended up comping this. Bartender took a while to greet us and get our drink order, and took a while to come back for the entree order. Service overall was more like a 2/5. Food and ambiance brought the rating up.

The restaurant has a beautiful, bright ambiance with distinctive interior design. The menu features authentic Cuban cuisine. We tried three empanadas, fried yuca sticks, and two Cuban sandwiches. The empanadas were crispy with generous fillings and unique flavors. The yuca portion was small but tasty, complemented by a garlic butter dip. The Cuban sandwiches were meat-heavy and a bit dry; they might appeal more to meat lovers. The accompanying plantain chips with garlic butter were enjoyable. The dessert display was tempting, so we tried two: a chocolate bomb, which was actually a banana froster--a delightful treat resembling a banana cream puff coated in chocolate--and a guava pastry, which was the highlight of our meal. I even took one home for my mother. Additionally, I brought back two empanadas and a mojito cookie; the cookie's lemon-mint flavor was initially unusual but grew on me. Overall, the food was decent, but I might not return for a full meal. However, I'd consider coming back for their pastries or empanadas, which are available at their café counter. Given the pleasant environment, it's worth a visit for the experience

What a great experience !!! My first time food was very tasty ( as I'm Cuban ) I knew the flavor. Food presentation was amazing Servers were very friendly and the ambiance Cuban authentic with a little Cuban musicians as entertainment. I'll be back with my family o really love that place !

Great atmosphere very clean friendly. We sit at the bar. It's happy. The bartenders are friendly professional drinks tasty alcohol Now the sandwich is absolutely delicious and filling I couldn't eat the whole one gonna have an extra stack later on tasty the chips the plantain chips yummy I wish you were a little in the warm side, but I got over it real quick Come down during Mission Valley well worth the experience you know there's laws against that. No that's stalking you can talk.

Had dinner here at Havana Grill. Our waitress Angelina was excellent and friendly. She recommended the Arroz con Pollo for our meal which was tasty. Had the Cuban coffee #Cafe con Leche which was very good. For dessert had the #Bananas Foster profiterole. The dessert it was a bit sweet. The restaurant was clean and the layout was open. I would go again to try something different.

One of my rotations...came here for a quick bite. They changed from ordering at the counter to table service and added a service fee We had quick service and a friendly server. She recommended the #ArrozConPollo "a popular item that is back in the menu" it was good and hoping the #Oxtail makes it back on their menu too. The #CubanCoffee was excellent and #BananaFosterProfitable delicious I need to do research on the service fee versus/with gratuity

Great food and vibes but service could be better. Do not recommend for large groups over 10+ since full waiter service isn't available. I had a work dinner here and it was complicated to collect all orders to order at the cashier. We also had to bring our water pitchers to the bar for refills since no one was checking in on us. I had the Havana Sirloin Steak, which was cooked to perfection. Also enjoyed the plantains and their appetizer platter. A few other coworkers did mention that their rice was a bit undercooked and dry though. Overall, great Cuban food but probably wasn't the best spot for my large group.

The food here is pretty decent! It's like a hit and a miss with everything else besides their Vaca Fritas. Their chicken is pretty mild in flavor as well as their seafood paella. Pretty pricy but not bad though!

I've long been a fan of the Havana Grill on Clairemont Mesa Blvd, and decided to try the newer location in Mission Valley. My, oh my! The new Havana Grill is quite the belle of the ball! We arrived on a Friday night, and they had a live band that sounded very reminiscent of Buena Vista Social Club, which really elevated the ambiance. The Pollo was so tasty, with expertly seasoned skin. I opted for brown rice, black beans on the side, and added a side salad. Chun P began with an empanada - which homie did not share! It was gone really fast. We loved the food, service was welcoming and friendly. Definitely visit on a Friday night/weekend so you can catch the fabulous live music.

Tan Rico! Even though she was the only bartender on shift, Veronica provided outstanding customer service, worked her ass off, and still made amazing espresso martinis. I'll definitely be coming back, not just for the food and drinks, but for the dedication and care she shows her customers. ¡Gracias, Veronica, por tu excelente servicio!

Just bought two Cuban Empanadas and she bought out the fresh ones, I asked for those because usually the other ones are sitting and they get oily. So what does she do tells the girl that's serving me to give me the old ones and know my stomach is messed upLast time I eat there

We came on a Friday for my birthday, and it was packed! Luckily we had reservations, and arrived a little early so we were also able to benefit from the happy hour. The cocktails were solid, the food portions were a great value for money, and it's family friendly. Huge plus that my baby looooved the food and devoured the empanadas. We got a few different plates and paella, all delicious. And the banana profiterole was such a good ending. There was live Cuban music (awesome!) and super friendly and attentive service. The owner walked around asking everyone how they were doing, she truly seemed to care about her restaurant and the customer experience, which is refreshing to see. So great music, great vibes, wonderful layout/decor, excellent comfort food selection and quality, and amazing service. Cannot wait to come back!

Found this place on Yelp famished checked was was near me and this place came up. Pleasantly surprised how delicious the food was here and how great the service was. Both savory and sweet items were delectable and I need to for sure return. This review is 5 months late.

Had dinner at this place bc was craving Ropa Vieja and I wanted my Cuban friend to weigh in on how good this new chain spot is. FYI. Even if you're seated, you have to go to counter to order bc they won't come to you. That was a very clear because we were waiting for 15 minutes before anyone told us we had to go order at the counter where all the pastries are even though they had told us to go find a seat. I know there are plenty of tables indoors, which is nice and the decor is very lively. Food ordered: - Ropa Vieja - good flavors and interesting enough this location makes the veggies more crunchy than usual, but what was disappointing is that the meat wasn't so tender as RV normally is made and in fact this had a little chew to it. - Plantain Chips: Not stale so that was good - Steamed Yuca - they were swimming in oil - my Cuban friend agreed this was way way too much oil - but they were deliciously garlicky - Ham Croquettes: delicious when they're right out of the fryer and are toasty and crunchy Overall, it's a decent place to satisfy my Cuban food cravings.

Came here yesterday for lunch with some friends, there was no mine and we got seated right away, the food was good, my wife has the Vaca Frita which is good but it's a little dry for me, the mashed potatoes and the fried plantain was good, a friend of mine loves the Ropa Vieja and his wife like the salmon with French fries (she loves the fries the most) but the bottom was soaking in oil so they were soggy, then the other friends ordered the roasted chicken but he said it's has too much seasoning that he did not finished and took it home, his wife ordered the Arroz con Pollo which she loves. I ordered the Paella, the rice is the same as the arroz con pollo but the seafood is cooked separately, the shrimp is not peeled and it was sticking to the skin and the tiny squid is a bit overcooked. It's good and they are better than the other Havana Grill, I still didn't like the empanada, I ordered the beef and chicken and there is no flavor to them but the guava pastry is really good. Our server was really good he gave the suggestion on what to order. I also like this place because it in the mall area and the seat is nicer than the other restaurant because the other one we place the order on the counter while here they have the waiter to take our order and server to serve us our food.

The service here is always great and this wasn't our first time here, but tonight stood out.. Jake was a great attentive server! We greatly appreciated him. We came here to study and he was super helpful when we asked for some changes to certain sandwiches and went above and beyond. The ambiance was great alittle loud but they play some good tunes as well. We always get the sandwhiches cubano, classic and hot Cuban. We love the yucca fries and the drinks are always delicious as well.

I had never heard of this place until my friend was craving it- so off we went! I instantly fell in love with the cute versatile vibe- you can dress all the way up or all the way down and fit right in. We ordered the lechon, garlic fries, and for dessert- the mojito cookie and key lime tart. Everything was so delicious- I realized after we'd cleaned off our plates that I didn't even take photos! The servers were kind and attentive enough. We didn't feel rushed and we had the time to chit chat in between table visits.

Live music. Friendly staff. Nice ambience. Was seated quickly. Appetizers are out quick! Digging this spot so far. Food came out really fast too. In under 15 mins. Even before I could get started on this review. The food tastes as good as the pictures look let me tell you. Folks this spot is a can't miss. Very authentic. I'll definitely be back.

This is cafe style where you go up and order your food. I find it pretty appalling that they ask for a tip. Naturally we have twenty percent but not deserved. We ordered the chicken with plantain which my sister enjoyed. I enjoyed the chicken sandwich with fries. We had to flag down someone for water cups. We have to get up for our napkins and to go boxes. Service was not great , needs improvement especially since it looks so nice and you think you're going into a restaurant. The food is good but I would probably order to go next time.

We ordered several dishes from the menu, and as someone raised in a Cuban household, I can say this place really delivered on flavor. My family especially enjoyed the delicious Ropa Vieja and the Lechón -- both were packed with authentic taste. The Chicken Empanadas were a definite hit! Every bite was bursting with flavor and took me right back to my roots. The only dish that could have used a bit more attention was the Picadillo. It needed more time to marinate and soak in the tomato sauce to really bring out the depth of flavor. Aside from that, this place is awesome! The service was awesome as well! The live musicians added an authentic and vibrant touch to the experience. We even order extra food to go! Highly recommend

Excellent service, the staff is well informed about the menu. I had the royal sangria ( highly recommended) Vaca frita was a success . Unfortunately I can not say the same about the seafood paella , I was looking forward to a decent one, a bit disappointed ( the rice was reheated and extra salty ( perhaps from soy sauce) the seafood was overcooked as well. The ambience brings you back to a modern cafe in "old Havana " For dessert we order the cafe cubano tres leches , excellent choice to close to end the meal!

Wow. Could not be much more disappointed. We were kinda greeted with a half-hearted, "Hello." We placed the order at the counter as there is not true table service. The lady behind the register seemed to be upset we were there. . We had to sit a table as their customer alert system went down and that meant they didn't know where we were to deliver the food. Well... the drinks we ordered from the bar came after the meal came. We asked for the Drinks to be delivered before so we could relax. The food arrived and the chicken was massacred. Dry and burnt. My beans and rice combo was ice cold. We asked for a refund on the drinks as we did not want them with dinner and the lady, while nice, did not know how to do a refund to my card. All in all the place seemed to be like an opening night when no one knows their job and their is no communication between the people. Tables were dirty and the food was average at best. Hard to recommend a $70 dinner in a place with such bad processes and service.

Highly Recommend!!!!! I was out shopping and decided to come in on a Friday evening. What a fantastic and lively environment. They have live music and the place is packed, so fun! They offer indoor & outdoor dining, bar, bakery. I ordered the Havana Chicken sandwich made with their own in-house made bread, it was amazing! They serve it with a mojo dipping sauce (garlic, olive oil & lemon juice) which made it even better. I also got the house salad and really enjoyed it ( purple onion, romaine, tomato and cucumber). The flavors of their food are new to me and I'll definitely be back. 10/10

Oh my gosh this place! There is very little cuban food in San Diego and I was stoked to try this place. At first I was discouraged that it was located at the mall BUT its a proper restaurant on the outside of the mall so you don't have to go inside to get there and it doesn't have that uninviting food court vibe. Actually, the ambiance is amazing! It's "outdoors indoors" with plants and street lamps, full experience. Food: so good, so nostalgic- be hungry! If you're like me and have a too long foregone craving you will have trouble not ordering everything!!! Drinks are fancy but most cocktails are on the sweeter side (lots of fruit in the Caribbean drinks) but there is a full bar if you like your drinks up or liquor forward. Worth a visit, great for dates, girls nights, visitors. Oh and actually, I went with my kid (5y) and they were really sweet and accommodating, though I would not call them a family place.

The Cubano was amazing. According to my better half, the maduros and the tostones were excellent, as well as the chips, and those are chips made out of plantains. The flan was light and fluffy. Definitely different than Mexican flan. The staff is outstanding. We can't figure out how a Cuban place as an Irish bartender, but it is what it is. He's really really good at what he does and Delaney, Delaney has a wonderful smile and in spite of being only 21, she can mix those drinks too! The ambience well you know what it says. "Half of my heart is in Havana ooh na na" and the other half well my entire heart is with my partner Sharon U. Jessica is the manager on duty but she is a server too because you make way more money serving tables. It was Saturday evening at 6:30 and there wasn't an open seat in the house. Make sure to call for reservations

I Tried Havana Grill and it was amazing! I got the picadillo plate--seasoned perfectly and full of flavor, wife had the ropa vieja plate and it was tender, rich, and authentic. Generous portions, great service, and definitely some of the best Cuban food in town.