Havana Sandwich Shop

"The bright yellow and green palm-tree-clad exterior of Havana Sandwich Shop stands out on Buford Highway, beckoning folks to stop. And you should. For 45-plus years, this family-owned counter-service establishment has been stuffing delicious crusty bread cubanos with tender ham and tangy pickles (listed as No. 1 on the menu for good reason). The casual dining room is always buzzing with regulars and curious first-timers, which is understandable since they made our Best Sandwich list." - demarco williams, nina reeder, juli horsford, jacinta howard

"Havana Sandwich Shop makes the best cubans in the city. Serving as an archive of their 45-plus years in business, the dining area’s yellow walls are plastered with articles about the restaurant’s successes and family photos. They’ve weathered a fire, changed locations multiple times (they’re now back at their OG space on Buford Highway), and survived the pandemic—all while keeping the restaurant family-owned. And while much has changed, their reliability hasn’t. The cuban, stuffed with tender ham and tangy pickles, still tastes like it came from the hands of the family’s patriarch. At lunchtime, the place is crawling with regulars devouring world-class empanadas (chicken/cheese/jalapeño is our fave) with black beans and rice. But the cubano is listed as No.1 on the menu for a reason." - nina reeder, demarco williams, juli horsford, jacinta howard

"The oldest Cuban restaurant in the city, Havana Sandwich Shop has been open since 1976 and serves sandwiches and combo plates in a pared-down setting. The interior may look like a hospital cafeteria, but try the picadillo or Milanesa with a side of maduros (sweet plantains), or yuca with mojo sauce. Closed Sundays." - Allison Ramirez

"We know Havana Sandwich Shop on Buford Highway has other sandwiches (Milanesa, chicken salad, etc.). And we know they’re good. But we can’t come here without ordering the cubano. It's packed with tender ham and tangy pickles all on a slightly crusty bread with a soft, chewy interior. One bite and you'll understand why Havana has been the go-to cubano shop for decades. Chow down in the casual one-room dining area and get some tasty rice and beans as your side." - juli horsford, nina reeder

"It’s cliche to use palm trees as a beacon to find Latin-Caribbean food in Atlanta. But it also happens to work since this squat yellow building adorned with painted palm trees stands out on a busy Buford Highway strip. Inside, walls of press clippings and winding lunchtime lines are the only thing that’ll prepare you for the Cuban flavors you’re about to experience here. They all tout Havana as one of the best restaurants in Atlanta. And they’re not wrong.  Havana has attained their status of greatness by sticking to a simple formula: making standard, classic Cuban dishes that taste like a comforting hug with the kind of warmth and soul that only generational recipes can bring. They’re most well-known for their Cubano. So when you make it to the order counter, engage in this rite of passage and get one of the city’s finest takes on the classic sandwich. And once you become a regular (and you will), there’ll be time to explore every inch of the lengthy menu from their light, flaky empanadas to a tender ropa vieja. They’ve been churning out these types of classics since 1976, and while longevity isn’t always the best indicator of quality (cough, cough ), in this case Havana Sandwich Shop is tried and true. " - Juli Horsford