Havana Mania

Havanna Manna offers an exceptional dining experience that captivates both the senses and the spirit. One of the highlights of their menu is the whole chicken served alongside plantains and rice—a dish that perfectly balances flavors and textures. The chicken is expertly marinated and grilled, resulting in a succulent texture that contrasts beautifully with the sweetness of the caramelized plantains and the comforting, fluffy rice. This dish not only provides nourishment but also embodies the warmth and soulfulness that Caribbean cuisine is renowned for. It’s the kind of meal that wraps around you like a warm embrace, leaving you both comforted and satisfied. However, the true standout of my meal was undoubtedly the oxtails. These succulent morsels were incredibly delicious and so tender that they practically melted in the mouth, a testament to the chef's careful preparation and unwavering attention to detail. Rich in flavor, each bite was a delightful explosion of savory spices and deep, meaty goodness, evoking the age-old culinary traditions of the Caribbean. It's the kind of dish that can transport you to another place, making every forkful a cherished moment on your culinary journey. The oxtails encapsulate why Havanna Manna has cultivated such a loyal following; they are a perfect marriage of authentic taste and artistry. Whether you are already a fan of traditional Caribbean dishes or simply seeking a new culinary adventure, Havanna Manna proves to be an essential destination. With its welcoming atmosphere and a menu that celebrates the vibrancy and richness of Caribbean flavors, the restaurant promises to delight your taste buds and satiate your cravings. Each meal is more than just food; it's an experience that invites you to explore the depth of Caribbean culture through its cuisine, making every visit memorable and enticing.

This is the Cuban spot in the South Bay—authentic, flavorful, and full of soul. I’ve been coming to Havana Mania for years, and the vibes never miss. From the moment you walk in, you’re hit with that warm, welcoming energy—great music, amazing service, and the kind of comfort food that hugs you from the inside out. The mojitos? Legendary. Fresh, minty, and dangerously smooth. One sip and you’re instantly on island time. Everything from the ropa vieja to the tostones hits exactly how it should. It’s bold, it’s real, and it’s made with love. You can tell the kitchen knows what they’re doing. Bonus: There’s actually plenty of parking, which in Redondo is basically a miracle. So yeah—I’m a regular. If you see me at the bar, just know I’m here for the mojito, the music, and that Cuban vibe. Pull up.

Great Cuban food. Fast take out. The Fiesta Cubana platter had fried pork chunks, croquettes, yuca, ropa vieja, moro and it was so flavorful, fresh and hot. The cuban sandwich was top tier. Can't wait to eat here again!

So base on the Google reviews, decided to give this place a try. Service was a little slow, the place was not that busy. I ordered the whole yellow tail snapper. The fish came out very quickly, even though I requested extra seasoning. The fish had no flavor, Cuban/Caribbean food are full or flavor and seasoning. This was just a regular fried fish with no flavor what so ever. The flan had some flavor. But the food needs to have way more flavor.

My daughter and I chose to eat here on a bit of a whim one evening about an hour before closing time. We were welcomed by three different people upon just walking in the door, quickly seated, and just felt so welcome! Our server obviously knew the menu and was very helpful in choosing our dishes. As it was a weekday closer to closing time it was not very busy, there were only two other tables at the time. We absolutely loved our food! There are also lots of options to choose from not just for each meal but also for proteins and sides! This was an easy place for my daughter who has some severe dairy allergies to have a very filling and varied meal! Our family will definitely be adding this to our regular rotation of dining out!

Great spot! Had a nice dinner tonight - oxtail was great - could have used a little salt, but good. Trip was good - shrimp, chicken, steak, veggies rice and beans. Shrimp was terrific, chicken tastes weird, and needed seasoning, steak was chewy - veggies were great. Rice and beans perfect - sangria excellent! Chef maybe perk up the chicken - use a better cut of steak … but can’t deny liver the meal!!!!!

This place reminded me of my childhood with a bit of nostalgia... How nice it is to find a bit of your land in unthinkable places. The food tasted like my mother's food. How beautiful and delicious Cuban food is.This place is 100 percent recommended. The portions are generous and delicious. It is worth returning and having this place as my number one stop to return to my childhood. muchas gracias a los dueños por mantener la herencia!!

Delicious Cuban foods. Their mojitos were strong and tasty.

Always a great meal here but coming in to review a few more dishes we had not tried before - the Cuban Nachos, Beef Empanadas, Fiesta Cubano, and the 1872 Mojito. The Cuban Nachos were absolutely delicious and cooked so perfectly. There were even some crispy picadillo pieces. Yum! This is an excellent appetizer that I would suggest. The Beef Empanadas were full of flavor and the dough paired so well the beef. This is a must try if you love empanadas. The Fiesta Cubano is an entree that allows you to try pork bites, shredded beef, ham croquetas, moros, sweet plantains, and yuca. This is a great way to try multiple top hits and it's paired so well together in terms of flavor. Finally the 1872 Mojito is incredibly smooth! Their mojitos are always delicious but this one is especially full of flavor and a must try! Per usual, the owner and waiters are incredibly friendly and make this a must stop / regular spot for delicious food! Thanks again for another excellent meal!

Stop by to have some drinks with the family after enjoying the day at Venice Beach before going back to out Hotel Room. The waiter got upset after we told him we were only here to try the best Mojitos in town. We plan to order more but unfortunately with the bad service we decided to go to a different place.

Great family restaurant. Been around forever. Oxtail, freshly made daily. Fall off the bone tender. Loved the black beans and white rice. Checked on us without being invasive. Great service, Great food, support local family restaurant!!

This place was pretty good. We were greeted as we arrived and we got sat down pretty fast. Our waiter Manny was very nice and had the biggest personality. We started off with some delicious mojitos we tried the Mango, and guava and they were legit! Their Cuban sandwiches are very good and they are served with a side of fries(pretty good portion). We also tried their Moms Ropa vieja which was my absolute favorite it would have been nice if it came with a few pieces of bread to dip the flavorful broth as well. I got a side order that wasn't a problem but would have been nice.. it was 10/10. Their service is Fast and very attentive. For a first timer I'd def come back and try more options when I get that Cuban food urge. I loved the ambiance of the place we went to an early dinner and want as full so appreciate that.. overall experience was great! Parking wasn't a problem there's plenty of slots to park as well. Bathrooms were clean and loved the outdoor/indoor extra seating.

I've been dining at this establishment for years now as we have consistent work meetings here and I'm glad it's still going strong. Food is still as delicious but like many other restaurants, I feel portions went down and prices went up. Service was still spot on and the ambiance still gives you the Cuban feel.

Happened to be in Lawndale at lunch time and was delighted to find a Cuban restaurant. The place was clean and since it was on the early side of lunch we found ourselves the only ones there. Server was friendly and welcoming. Ordered the obligatory pollo and lechón asado along with plántanos maduros and frijoles negros. First time I've had small boneless chicken pieces mixed in with the rice as compared to pieces of chicken on the side. The roast pork didn't have the expected flavor although it was ok. The yuca was good although without the naranja agria, aka sour orange, it had a different flavor. All in all, was a fun lunch and an unexpected find. Server was very friendly, restaurant was clean and nicely decorated.

I was craving some tostones so we had to drop in! Okay confession--this was actually my third time eating here but I never wrote a review because I kept forgetting or was with a group and didn't want to be the weirdo taking food pics lol But this time I was free to do me! The camarones de ajillo are my absolute fav! I dip the tostones in the ajillo juice and it is so good! The vibe of this place is super cute and chill. They decorate for the holidays so it felt like I was in a little Cuban restaurant with Cuban music. Of course, I'll be back cuz I'm a regular!

Delicious, classic, authentic Cuban cuisine with a full bar and good rum selection. Fun ambiance with music on weekends, amiable staff and daily happy hour (till 9 on Monday).

The 5 stars I'm giving is for their cortaditos. For a minute, I was trying them anywhere I could get them and Havana Mania blew everyone out of the water in cortadito quality! It's been a while since I've had their food so I will have to make a trip back for lunch and a little Cuban sandwich! I'll update the review here once I do. :)

Amazing that this place has been around for 27 years, looks nearly new inside. A bit unassuming, in a corner mini-mall that has a 99 Cent Store, but inside it feels serene, mini chandeliers, granite counter tops, full bar, nice Cuban ambiance music, giant banana-plant-like birds of paradise outside the window. Was not crowded for lunch on a Saturday. They have a covered patio too. Greeted very friendly and seated at a booth. The menu is huge, too many choices, so I opted for a 3-item combo that would provide some roasted pork "lechon" (super flavorful but a little dry), shredded stewed beef (ropa vieja), and ground beef Cuban picadillo style (braised with olives and corn), plus rice, black beans, a nice starchy chunk of steamed yuca with garlic, and excellent fried plantains. Each bite was a different and wonderful flavor combo, and fun to mix and match. We also got the seafood risotto which had some really nice tender white fish, juicy shrimp and a lot of turmeric/saffron, everything was yellow (and a few grains of rice on my shirt stained it!), very nice flavor and satisfying, with everything blending together in a pleasant way. The media noche sandwich (I just wanted to try it) didn't disappoint: crispy pressed bread, thin ham, cheese, pickle, mustard). I wish they had a more full flavored ham, but this is a minor. It came with a side salad with an unbelievably good cilantro-ranch dressing; that dressing is remarkable, fresh and exceptional. Service was very attentive and friendly. These are not cheap eats, but it won't break the bank either, and you can tell it's cooked with love and care. Would love to come back and try some other stuff when hankering for home-cooked Cuban cuisine.

Havana Mani in Redondo Beach is a solid Cuban restaurant that delivers the expected flavors from appetizers to dessert. We kicked off our dinner with the Havana Sampler - a tasty combination of 4 Papas Rellenas, 4 Croquetas, Yuca Fritas, and a zesty lime marinade. Each element was a flavor sensation. With the apps we enjoyed the classic and watermelon mojitos. They were refreshing and expertly crafted. For the mains we devoured a couple Lechon Asados, Picadillo, Vaca Frita, and Camarones En Salsa Criolla. They showcased the richness of Cuban flavors. Each dish was served promptly at the perfect temperature and more food than we could put away. To cap off the meal, we indulged in a delectable flan that was the perfect sweet finale and a couple of us had cortados. The only that outmatched the delicious food was the welcoming and superb service we received. The staff liked to have fun and joke around. It made the dining experience more enjoyable.

The perfect date night location there is dim lighting to set the mood, a band and a fully stocked rum bar. The food is real authentic Cuban food. Each dish has so many different spice & favors your taste buds will be in heave here. Complaints to the chef and staff for taking care of my & my bf.

Overall the food is good. Nothing was bad. But a lot of it was just missing that extra punch cuban cooking has. That super garlic lime smack. I'd suggest getting extra extra mojo and a bunch of limes. The croquettes are good . The cortado there is BOMB! I wouldn't mind stopping by just for that. Also the flannels very creamy . And I'm not a big fan person. The service is good, the waiter that served my table was very nice . For authentic Cuban you can't go wrong here .

The food was divine and the service was quick. I will be sure to come back and try out more of their food ! I highly recommend the lechón asado and the yuca fritas!

I've been driving by this place for years. I thought it was just a fast food takeout. But some friends of ours said it's a regular restaurant and invited us for dinner. I was so pleasantly surprised. It is a full service restaurant with indoor seating. They have all the regular Cuban delights. We had a couple of sandwiches, Ropa, Vieja, chicken, and everything was delicious. I can't wait to go back.

I ate here years ago and we are very well. This time, not so much. We stared with potato balls and it tasted like cold freezerburnt nastiness. I prefer chicken and rise. It was reheated and way to oily. Why does a restaurant give you old food? Do they think people cannot taste it? I will not under any circumstance return.

I've lived in Florida and developed a taste for Cubanos this is the best in SoCal that I've found. It's old school service inside meaning that they care about you. Happy Hr is perfect for the decorations. Mojito was perfect. Just a hole in the corner but Cuba in the inside

My wife and I tried this place once before and didn't really like it and now a few years later, we decided to give it another try and we ordered the chicken in garlic sauce and onions with shredded pork, and it was absolutely dry with no taste, the chicken tasted like it has been sitting there all day, and they reheated it in the microwave. The pork was dry and hard to shred, the rice was hard like it was sitting all day and reheated, the best thing on the menu was the plantains, I wouldn't recommend this place. There are a lot better Cuban restaurants out there like El rincon creollo the server was semi-rude and pushy when I asked for extra sauce for the dry food, my wife ended up complaining to the manager, and we got our whole meal without charge although we didn't eat it, the ambience is nice and the music is good, but the food is pretty disgusting. I wouldn't be surprised if you find find this restaurant on an episode of kitchen nightmares by Gordon Ramsay, I'm almost scared to look in the kitchen and see where they served my food from

The food here was delicious and the service was great. The Cuban coffee is strong. I would recommend having just one.

Impressive Cuban spot in the South Bay. Invited here by friends and loved their choice in restaurants. It's located in a big shopping plaza with plenty of parking. The food was delicious. I mean we pretty much cleaned our plates, haha. A little pricey in my opinion for the portion size, but full of flavor!

Food is deliciously flavorful. Our team loved the Oxtail plate, Lomo Saltado, plantains, beans, rice, and empanadas. Look forward to visiting again and bringing the family.

We love to visit here when we are in town. They are always so welcoming, hospitable, and in the evenings have a live band. The food is always delicious and filling!

I really like this place. I have been coming here for the last 10 years and I crave their food often. Love their picadillo, croquetas, pollo empanizado and lechón. Also like their mojitos. Always recommend it to friends visiting the area.

Havana Mania provides authentic Cuba cuisine. the Chicken with juicy garlic sauce. so as Shrimp dish and Pork dish along with Beans and Fire Cooked Bananas.

Authentic Cuban spot with on point mojitos. Came here on a Tuesday around 7:30pm and had no reservations but got seated immediately. Indoor dining only (no outdoor spots available). There's bar seating as well. Credit cards accepted. Ample parking in the parking lot. They do have happy hour on the weekdays. The employees were all friendly and the food came out fairly quickly. The El Criollo is good for two people to split and does come with rice, plantains, and black beans. The meats come separately on one platter. The overall environment is family-friendly and casual.

Food is so delicious Service so gracious and kind. Servers are great Love the ambiance it's tropical classy and relaxing all at the same time. My new Cuban

Went there looking for good cuban cuisine and it was excellent. The service was awesome and truly personalize. The food tasted very authentic and prepared with the cuban love that we were wanting. Very airy and open ambience which is what make it feel latino!

After visiting Havana Cuba a couple years ago we wanted to find a place locally with a real Cuban vibe and food and drinks- well we found Havana Mania and wow what a great experience- we felt like we were back in Havana with the true Cuban food and drinks and friendliness - we will be back again for sure

I was unimpressed with the steak Cuban here. It was tiny in comparison to the other steak Cubans I've had in the city. Also, the meat reminded me of steak-umm sandwich meat that we would buy frozen at the supermarket when I was a kid. I really had higher hopes for the quality of the steak and the size of the sandwich.

The Chicharrones de Pollo Empanizado con Mojo Criollo was very burnt and like chicken nuggets very small portion. The presentation was very sloppy. First and last time going Date on attendance was 3/30/24

Great Cuban food, love the atmosphere and the service people very nice. Ok prices and a lots of it

We went here last night about 7PM. We went on a recommendation from someone on Yelp. The restaurant is located in a strip mall so there is plenty of parking. The entrance was kind of hidden behind some tress but it is open...lol It's authentic Cuban decor when you enter. There was a host to greet us and seat us. Very welcoming. Our waiter Manny was very knowledgeable about the menu. They have plenty on the menu to choose from. We ordered 3 mojitos, which came out quickly and were good. The food came out quick too. I had the Arroz con pollo, my dinner companions had the oxtails and an appetizer which was plantain with potatoes with pork all were delicious and filling. For a first time it was a good experience and we will be back to try other stuff on the menu

I'm giving a five star because the staff is very friendly here, however, the food is not the best authentic food. If you want to eat ok food, come cheer, but if you want real authentic food, please skid this restaurant. P.S the staff is friendly.

This was my first Cuban restaurant I've ever been to. The food, service & Ambience were all above satisfactory. From what I've heard, they used to be live music there. Unfortunately at the present time, they no longer have live entertainment. I imagine the ambience would be on another level. I may come back one day with a couple of friends and hang out at the small bar near the entrance. Seems like it could be a cool place to hang out for a couple of hours on a Friday or Saturday night, wish they were open later though. Nevertheless it was a good experience. I will be returning in the near future to try some other dishes.

This restaurant has changed since retiring from aerospace times. I boasted to my visiting friend that this place had tasty food and good portions. Well it is completely turned around. The chicken was sliced so thinly the onions were thicker and completely covered it. The ropa vieja was served in a desert bowl. Rice and beans are still as before. The inside looks the same as ten years ago. The waiter was very nice and attentive enough as to not being annoying. Sorry to say I will not being coming. My quest for a Cuban restaurant like the old Havana Mania will start

I felt rushed. Did not get a welcoming vibe out of this place, especially the older waiter. It felt more like hurry up order. After my second drink, he was already for me to conclude my visit. Instead I ordered another mojito. Great food and drinks but the customer service can definitely improve, especially for those dining alone.

A Cuban restaurant that seems to have been around for a long time in the neighborhood. The servings are large, the drinks are hefty, and the folks here are wonderful. My brothers were in town for a family event and they got into the area kind of late. This looked great and it seem to be open a little longer than other places in the area. It was a Monday night and prob an hour til closing time. We were greeted by super friendly gentlemen and seated right away. Wasn't really busy because it was a Monday night and kinda late. We ordered the potato balls, the croquettes, and mojitos to start. All very tasty. The apps were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. What you want for those dishes. The mojito was refreshing and I could taste the alcohol which was great because I try to avoids sugary cocktails for the reason of not being able to taste it. For myself, I ordered the arroz con Pollo or the chicken rice. A Cuban classic. I rarely ever order it when I go to other Cuban restaurants but I just wanted to try it here. The serving was pretty huge. I finished everything because I was super hungry and hadn't eaten that much that day. The flavors were great and generous amounts of chicken. There was patches of crispness which is what you want in a dish like this. I would compare it to a delicious chicken fried rice. Presentation was fun too! Overall this was a fun neighborhood restaurant run by folks who truly value their customers and the food was great too.

Have done here for years. The food is delicious. I enjoyed the bistec empalizado. The staff is friendly.

This place never disappoints! Always hits the spot! The oxtail is my favorite. Mojitos are the best and the flan tonight was just perfect to end the evening.

My boss was bummed when they shut down the Cuban sandwich place somewhere near work so my coworker from out of town (huh?) was told to find us a place. Inundated with Porto's we were told to come here. Parking is really easy. It's in a strip mall. The thing that drew my eye after the full size coconut tree in the middle of the dining room is the care someone took with the lighting situation. They had identical little chandeliers lining the wall and much larger chandeliers with blue glass fisherman's balls in their center (strange) like the ones my mom had from the 70's (also strange). There were yet a different type, though more conventional in the patio dining room which sat unoccupied that day. The staff is very attentive. One man got a crew to push three tables together for our party and went mad taking all the orders, bringing drinks, bringing food and bussing the table. I want what he was on. I had the arroz con pollo which was good but I wasn't crazy for the plantains (texture and sweetness didn't complement the dish for me) like everyone else was. I also felt the rice lacked flavor. Maybe I am more used to the South American version? I also got sick afterwards and ended up tossing the leftovers so kind of a miss for me. Everyone else enjoyed their food and suffered no consequences so it's likely it was just me.

Whenever I am heading back from L A, I stop in Redondo for some really awesome Cuban food. It calms me down from the drive back to Huntington Beach, and I get Some really great food. It has Never Been a disappointment, always true home cooked food. Plus I look forward to taking food home to go. I always ordered 2 entries, because I cannot make up my mind. And...You must try a made to order mojito also.

First time trying Cuban cuisine and this place definitely did not disappoint! Their food was absolutely delicious and the service went above and beyond through out the whole process

Nice warm lighting. Cute decor and music was at the right level. Fast and friendly service. Ordered the empanada, papas rellinas, and Havana Grande. Meat was nice and juicy. Everything was tasty.

My 84th birthday celebration last night, with seven dear friends. Impeccable service, exquisite food, a simply perfect evening. My hands down choice for that special venue for an important event.

I was trying to see if there was an opening at the nail salon but they were all booked so when I left and was feeling hungry, I looked up and saw the sign outside that they served Cuban cuisine. I sure love me a Cuban sandwich so I looked up their menu and saw they had great reviews. I decided to give it a try and upon getting inside I was greeted by a gentleman who I think is the owner or GA. He asked if I was there for pickup, and I told him I wanted to order to go. He asked the staff to hand me a menu and take my order to go. The lady was sweet and I got the Cuban sandwich with plantains instead of fries which was extra. While I waited I got a cafe con leche made and served in front of me at the bar. Really impressed by the efficiency and friendliness so far. I couldn't wait to get home to try it, so luckily my order came out as I was about to finish my cafecito! The pressed sandwich had roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard. The taste and flavor was authentic and plantains were made just right. I'm excited to explore the menu next time and try something different. Happy Hour, here I come!

Great/friendly staff and authentic/delicious Cuban fare... And can't forgot those mojitos!

My friends and I ate here New Year's Eve a little after 5PM which turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The ambience was dimly lit and quiet with only one other group dining on the other end. Seated immediately while the waiter commented about having no water and only mojitos, I decided on trying the Pineapple Express, which had a refreshing kick to it. For the main course, I went with the item on the very top of the menu, Fiesta Cubana. It was about a twenty minute wait, and when the plates arrived my initial thought was, "I sure hope I get full off of this..." The portion was smaller than what I hoped a fiesta would be. That more or less mirrored what my friends ordered as well. With that said, the quality of the food was exceptional and tasted fresh, containing enough variety of flavors such as the pork, shredded beef, ham croquettes, and yuca. Devoured relatively quickly though still kinda hungry, I settled with drinking the mojito at a snail's pace while our group sat back and chatted. I would recommend ordering more if you have a large appetite. There were a number of other items like the cubano sandwich that'd be worth a look.

This spot is a little hidden gem! Stopped here while visiting the area. The pictures and reviews convinced me and they did not disappoint. My whole table loved their food and the service was super friendly.

I ordered the camarones in the creole sauce and the papas. The camarones was good. They give a good portion of shrimp and the vegetables were delicious. The black beans come in a tiny bowl. My only suggestion is that I would have liked the plantains to be in a separate container too. The plantains was in the creole sauce, which wasn't terrible, but i found it odd that the beans were separate and that wasn't. what took the show was the papas. To be honest I was going to save half (comes with 4) for my partner and then I started eating and ate all 4. It has beef and ham with the creamy green sauce and onion on the side. It was mouth-watering! The green is kind of heavy so don't dump too much on there, but otherwise 9/10 for the papas.

Great location with plenty of free parking. Staff was very friendly. I ordered the Pineapple Mojito. Cuban Sandwich aka the Ricky Ricardo. With a side of plantains the mojito had a nice kick to it. Great addition of mint leaves. And the pineapple taste was excellent. Awesome drink. The Cuban sandwich consisted of pork, beef, cheese, mustard and pickles on a panini style bread. Very very tasty. One of the best Cuban sandwiches I had outside of Miami. The plantains on the side were an excellent choice to accompany the meal. Nice and crispy on the outside and tender and sweet on the inside. Highly recommend this place