Hola Havana Cuban Restaurant

Absolutely awesome. I lived in Tampa for a while and always enjoyed the authentic Cuban food. I'd say this is just as good if not better. Waitress was wonderful and so was the food.

Hello Havana. If you love Cuban food, here is a great place to enjoy it in Lexington. It has a very inspired island theme. The bar area is nice but appears to favor island inspired cocktails. The mojito were good but lacked a premium choice on the menu. Now to the star attraction, the food. It was very authentic, and the sweet plantains were awesome. I had the signature bowl, and it was delightful (see pic). Overall the service was good and the staff was friendly. If you are looking for a caribbean food option or just something not quite Mexican food, then here you go.

Tuesday and Wednesday nights at Hola Havana are always fun. They are also very affordable with the 50% off. empanadas and croquettes as well as half price house margaritas and sangria. You cannot go wrong with either of those drinks, although the mojito is also very good. this is firmly established as one of my favorite restaurants but I've been challenging myself to try new menu items. The Chicken Fricassee is my new winter favorite. The sauce is wonderful, and tomatoes aren't even my thing. The service is always amazing here. it's true hospitality! If you haven't been, this is one you don't want to miss.

My family is visiting the area and we like to find restaurants we can't eat at home. We found Cuban food. We have never had Cuban cuisine. The servers were friendly and very helpful. I told her to bring me whatever chicken dish she thought was the best. I can not name what she brought, but it was amazing. The dish was a quarter of a whole chicken with pickled onions on top, a side of black beans, and rice. It was so flavorful. It's such a nice little place with a huge flavor. The prices were very reasonable.

There's a nice atmosphere and excellent food. I suggest adding photos of Ernest Hemingway, who lived in and loved Cuba. This will likely attract more customers. I've included a picture from a restaurant in Florida that features Ernest Hemingway on the wall as an example.

The Cuban sandwich was a generous portion and satisfying. However, the (11) sweet potato fries lacked crispiness and needed more seasoning. The beef Ropa Vieja had a rich, flavorful broth but could have used a bit more salt. Additionally, the grilled vegetables were undercooked.

Can’t think of anywhere I’d rather eat. Their food is simply stinkin’ delicious. Chocolate filled churros? Guava cheesecake? Incredible. Their service is top notch as well. I rarely leave reviews but I googled their page just to come here and brag.

Just returned from a trip to Miami. Spent the day touring Little Havanha. Curious about what Lexington had to offer with Cuban flare. Found this little gem. The food is exceptional and our experience was so much fun. Drinks were delicious and staff were so accommodating.

What a hidden gem in Lexington! I absolutely love everything about Hola Havana. The food is delicious, the vibes are immaculate, and the service is wonderful. It's truly a fantastic spot for authentic Cuban cuisine. I ordered the Hola Pollo Bowl, which is definitely the go-to if you're unsure what to get. It comes with grilled chicken, rice, queso, and fried plantains, and everything was packed with flavor. Plus, it's a generous portion, so you definitely get great bang for your buck! For dessert, we tried their new Guava Cream Cheese empanadas, and let me tell you--it's one of the best desserts I've ever had! I seriously dream about those empanadas. You need to check this place out! It's conveniently located near the Kroger on Richmond Road, with plenty of parking and seating available. You won't regret it!

The Cuban sandwich was a generous portion and satisfying. However, the (11) sweet potato fries lacked crispiness and needed more seasoning. The beef Ropa Vieja had a rich, flavorful broth but could have used a bit more salt. Additionally, the grilled vegetables were undercooked.

Great experience with great people food was amazing 5 would come back again for sure and get the polo bowl. And spicy mojito.

Y'all, I probably shouldn't repeat this since I don't ever want to hear them say they're out of the best dessert in town (and I've tried the majority), but those cream cheese and guava empanadas --if they'd been any better, Jesus would have taken them with him. Their entrees are great, including their plantains, but the empanadas will make your eyes roll back in your head. I can't stop thinking about them.

Absolutely love this place. My favorite are the vaca frita and the Cuban guacamole! The black beans and rice are phenomenal and so are the plantains.

The food was amazing. The service was awesome. The owners were fantastic. Definitely would come back here when I'm in Lexington. Michele was amazing. Definitely come back when we're back in Lexington.

I love this place! The Cuban sampler and chicken polo are amazing! Service is quick and friendly.

GREAT GREAT GREAT! Very authentic Cuban! The empanadas are so delicious! All three options are tasty (chicken, vegetarian, and beef) but the beef ones were my favorite! They have weekly specials after 3pm so definitely check that out and dine in! The service is always great and helpful when trying to decide what to get. The decor is so cute. The Bistec de palomilla was recommended by our server and it was great. Very flavorful! If you like plantains theirs are worth trying, they come with most of the dishes. Great place all around. Will definitely be back!

Great food and service! I had the pollo ropa vieja and it was delicious. The employee there gave a lot of great recommendations too!

Stayed in Lexington for a few days after touring Nashville. Wanted to tap into the local bourbon scene, but first stop after we checked in was to find a unique restaurant close to our hotel as it was getting late. Found Hola Havana on Yelp and the Cuban menu was intriguing. The restaurant is situated in a strip mall which might make you think that the food would be so-so or on the QSR (quick service restaurant) scale. But you would be wrong! We were greeted by a very friendly hostess and were seated right away. The restaurant was bright and colorful and the wall of windows allowed plenty of natural light in. The menu was extensive. The food was clearly homemade and the flavors were amazing. I love empanadas and was thrilled to find them on the menu. Started the meal off with one ground beef and one chicken ropa Vieja to share with my dinner companion. I ordered the CAMARONES A LA DIABLA for my entree. This consisted of lots of large plump shrimp immersed in a Creole style cuban sauce that was very reminiscent of a cross between creole gumbo and jambalaya with a kick of cuban spices. It came with a large portion of yellow rice. I was not a fan, but then again I'm not a huge rice eater. I added a side of beans in place of the plantains that came with the meal. The beans were excellent. I also ordered a Mojito, because if you are at a Cuban restaurant, why not? It was perfectly made. I enjoyed experiencing this little taste of Havana in the middle of a strip mall in Lexington.

On a recent trip to Lexington, the Fat Man and his wife decided they wanted Hola Havana Cuban Restaurant off Richmond Road. We started with the Cuban Sampler, with chicken and beef empanadas, stuffed potatoes, and croquettes. The croquettes were a little dark but still moist on the inside. The filling was thick with chicken flavor and sticky texture. The stuffed potatoes were crunchy on the outside but they needed a little salt. The beef empanadas were tender on the inside with a nice saltiness from the olives. The chipotle and lemon aioli accompaniments were excellent. The chicken empanada was juicy, tender with a good fry, and loaded with great flavor and citrus notes. The pimento sauce had good flavor. I tried the Beef Ropa Vieja, which comes with shredded beef cooked in a savory tomato sauce, Moros y Cristiano's rice, and fried sweet plantains. The rice was underdone, but there was good flavor. The beans add creaminess to the dish. The beef was tender in a flavorful, sweet, salty sauce. The onions, peppers, and olives added a great texture and flavor. I also sampled the Cuban Sandwich with sweet potato fries. This was made with roasted pork, smoked ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and yellow mustard on Cuban bread. The bread was toasty on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. The pork tasted terrific but was dry, making for a tough chew. The ham was thin and salty, and the Swiss was melted and gooey. The mustard helped cut through the salt and the pork. The pickles could have been thicker to add a crunch. My wife tried the Chicken Milanese. This is made with breaded fried chicken, special seasonings, and yellow rice, topped with cheese and sofrito sauce. The chicken had a great crust and crunch, and the sofrito was flavorful and had a great sweetness that made the dish burst with flavor. The plantains were sweet, the rice was cooked perfectly and the cheese added a creaminess. Hola Havana offers an extensive menu and a full bar. The staff was great and very attentive. The Fat Man says Hola Havana Cuban Restaurant is Fat Man Approved with 2 chins.

Was looking for something different. Thanks he wife was a little nervous trying something out of her wheelhouse. She became a fan. Great decor, wheelchair accessible. Attentive staff. And great food!

Everything was delicious! Will Def return! A couple of minor service issues relating to language barrier but overall great experience.

The best food I've had in Lexington! I'm so sad I didn't find this restaurant sooner! Great ambiance, great staff, & phenomenal food! Must haves? Chicken & Beef Empanadas (our table was split on which was better)

First visit. Outstanding food, superior service, and welcoming vibe. Mojito and margaritas were a wonderful complement. We will be back. Outstanding Cuban cuisine.

Everything looked so good and I couldn't decide so I got the Sampler and the Queso with plantains. It was all so good! Next time I look forward to trying the Stuffed Tostones. The Sampler included Papas Rellenas (don't let the name fool you, they are fried balls of mashed potato and ground beef.) and Croquettes and Empanadas. They are all so good but the beef empanadas are some of the best I've had. They use a ground beef mixture instead of shredded beef. Anyway it seems a little bit of Cuban - Mexican Fusion. I look forward to going again!

Food was amazing and very authentic. Service was amazing. I would definitely visit again!

Back in Lexington on business, had to stop in for a quick late lunch at Hola Havana. Arrived after 2 pm after a long drive from Indiana, the place was empty except for a small family sitting at one of the outside dining tables. I was promptly greeted and seated and given a menu. I already knew what I wanted as I checked Yelp and their website before driving over. Cuban Nachos with fried slices of plantain, see picture. Had with chicken. Tasty! Washed it down with a glass pf pineapple juice. The place was clean and welcoming as usual.

Started with probably the best margarita I've ever had! Food was great, a good change from Mexican (which I do enjoy). My mouth was practically assaulted with so many wonderful flavors. I ordered the ROPA VIEJA bowl, with amarillo rice and sweet potato fries. I could not finish all of it, and yet I didn't feel "stuffed." The service was very attentive and patient, especially when neither I nor my partner was fluent in Spanish, explaining everything. As it was my birthday, they even treated me to dessert! The atmosphere was very pleasant, and along one wall were informational posters that told about Cuba. And the place was SPOTLESS from the front door to the rest rooms. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Food was good. Loved the yucca and maduros. Good Cuban flavor. My husband was raised in Cuba. He enjoyed the food. The Ropa Viejo a little too soupy, needed more capers and olives but a good flavor. I had the pork and it was very good. I would suggest a piece of Cuban bread with each meal and not have it as a side you have to order. I loved the Hibiscus tea. I was surprised there was no flan in the menu. The service was excellent. Flor was our server and she was lovely. My husband loved the opportunity to speak Spanish. The ambience was nice, Latin music, maybe add a little Gloria Estafan. For me, I like a little lower light for a dinner restaurant. It was very bright. Loved the Cuban mural on wall. It was a lovely night and good experience.

Not the best Cuban food we've ever had but pretty good. I had the Cuban sampler while my husband had the Cubano Sandwich. Both of us had mojitos. All of it was good but was missing that something extra to make it standout. I suspect that it's because we're used to our incredible local Cuban restaurants. The service was very good and I loved the paintings. They definitely added to the ambience.

A small strip mall place (with a doctor as an owner if I read correctly), I have to say the place was more Cuban than I expected it to be, both in terms of the staff and the customers. The place was well-decorated, with a large map of Cuba among the pictures. They offer vegetarian options; don't get me wrong, the majority of the menu is still unstuitable (Cuban is not a vegetarian-friendly cuisine), but they had some appealing options. The "vegadillo" is a sauteed tofu with vaguely New Orleans-y peppers and spices, which was delicious, and was served with a black bean soup that I picked a bay leaf out of and which delivered ample flavor. If I'm being honest, though, the veggie empanadas were the best thing I ate. I don't know what the skill is in making the perfect flaky crust, but theirs was delicious, and I finished mine rather than take them because it seemed a pity to leave such crispness to the deprivations of my refrigerator. They have a nice lunch menu, and I am highly likely to give it a try.

Outstanding food and drinks. We had ropa vieja, camarones ajillo, and lechón asada. Empanadas were fantastic. The drinks were caipirinha, hibiscus margarita, and sangria. The food was ample and flavorful. Highly recommend!!

We came here for lunch today and it was amazing! The resturant is so cute and colorful. My only qualm was the bathroom had a horrible smell but that didnt affect the food so it's not that bad. Our service was great they were all really friendly. We got a cuban fish sandwich, cuban guacamole and stuffed churros. It was all delicious although it was all very messy. I reccomend getting a side of their spicy pineapple sauce with the sandwich because the sauce on the sandwich just runs right off. The pineapple in the guacamole was amazing and it had so much lime flavor it was one of the best ive ever had. Their plantains are really good as well.

I really can't say enough good things about this place. The sweet plantains, the yuca fries, and of course their version of a cheesesteak is amazing. That sandwich is full of flavor, cooked with some crispy bits but still juicy, the seasoning on the peppers and onions, all of those flavors work together in a symphony of textures and flavors. The sweet plantains have caramelized edges and soft delicious insides.l, some of the best I have ever eaten. The staff is always welcoming, prompt, and polite. I have yet to have a bad experience whether I get a take out order or dine in. This place is one that grew to one of my top local places almost immediately and I will continue to go to often as I can.

This place is great! Love showing this place off to people that's never been. The food is good and comes out quickly. The staff is nice welcoming! The painting inside the restaurant go great with the theme. 12/10 I'd recommend to go again and again!

Wow is all I can say ! Fantastico !!!!!! Great service food was amazing and good atmosphere Must try !

nice enough little place but the pickles on the cubano were tasteless. How can pickles be tasteless? There weren't many in the first place and sliced super thin but even so would have expected them to add some flavor. letting the management know to use better pickles and to be more generous with them and I would give a second chance. Let us know when you've upped the pickle quality.

A great experience, the food was fresh and delicious and the service was outstanding. The restaurant was spotless, not so much as a single fingerprint on the windows. Highly recommend this place! They weren't busy at lunchtime and I feel like more people need to know about it.

What really stands out is the fried plantains. It's definitely the best sweet fried plantains I've had in Lex! I've tried the classic dishes cuban sandwich, ropa vieja. Last time I got the Hola Pollo bowl which was good too. Ate inside once and the other times were take out.

Food is Delicious!! Anais was great! Service & ambience very good. Came in to get a to go order, but stayed & ate here... glad to see lots of happy diners!

Hola is a new Cuban restaurant. I Ordered the Tostones stuffed with Ropa Vieja, then thought to get a side of Moros. It is rare to take a food out of its region and expect it to be replicated. That being said, the Tostones were very good. They needed only a touch of acid, a squeeze of lime. The Moros, though not very flavorful were otherwise well done. I was going back in my memory bank to when I lived in South Florida, and did not recognize the strong flavors that I remember indicative to Cuban cuisine. However, a return to Hola is a definite. Good service and friendly owner. 131

Run, don't walk to this hidden gem! This is another place that's been on my must-try list and my only regrets is that I haven't been sooner! Both my friend and I got the red wine sangrias--we both loved them but they were definitely a little on the strong side so drink with caution! We started with the Cuban guacamole with plantain chips. It was good but the guacamole was a little bland. We both loved our entrees! There were so many things on the menu that we wanted to try but I ended up getting the picadillo a la habanero, which was ground meat in a tomato sauce served with rice and fried plantains. The plantains were cooked to perfection. It was so very good! My friend had the camarones a la diabla, which was amazing! She got black beans and saffron rice on the side, and both were perfect. 10/10 recommend!

We are here this weekend, so delicious. The flavors were on point. My hubs got the street tacos, I got the hola pollo bowl, family ordered the appetizer sampler, gauc w/ fried plantains, and the ham croquettes. The beef empanadas were some of the best I have EVER tried. Gauc was house made and fresh. Next time we will order the beef empanadas as an appetizer, Cuban gauc, the stuffed tostones, and the hola bowl. Just share all of it! You won't regret it! The male owner is Mexican and his wife is Cuban-they both bring their family recipes to the table- can it get ANY better? Eat local and try this little known secret fast!

This place has delicious food, I got the Alabao bowl and it had excellent complex flavors. The portion size was a bit on the smaller side, but it had good vibes, service, and food.

I was there yesterday with family. The service was great however as soon as I got home I started feeling very sick. I was throwing up all night with diarrhea and with fever. I went to the urgent care and they determined it was food poisoning. As customers we do not know what these kitchens look like not to mention the cleanliness and temperature of the meat and other poultry. Please please clean your kitchen, make sure meat is not out of temperature, make sure each night everything is being cleaned or thrown away. This has been the worse experience.

We finally made it over to Hola Havana for dinner last week and it was outstanding! They were running a special on empanadas so we got two chicken empanadas as a starter. I had the Chicken Fricassee with black and beans and rice and fried sweet plantains. Everything was delicious and even though I had no room for it, I had to try the Platanos con dulce de leche which were fried plantains drizzled with sweetened condensed milk. Bananas Foster is my favorite dessert of all time and this was very similar to that. I would rank this dish as in my top 3 desserts in Lexington and I have a feeling I'll be going back just for dessert in the future. I highly recommend giving this place a try!

Had a wonderful lunch here last week. Lovely kind server and great food. Try the Cuban guacamole. Wonderful. Chicken empanadas were my favorite on the sampler appetizer.

Fantastic food, service and an overall winning experience. I highly recommend that you try it out as soon as possible. It is important to support our local gems.

The food was amazing. The service was good, attentive servers. It was a beautiful restaurant! 10/10 recommend!!

Nice little piece of Cuba there in Lexington. The food was very good. We had the Pollo a la Plancha (grilled chicken breast with mojo sauce) and a generous side of plantain chips. They made a pitcher of Mojitos that was perfect for the warm day we were having.

Ordered a few things to go: hola pollo bowl, stuffed tostones, and cubano sandwich with fried yucca bites. All were very good. I would have liked a bit more salt on the yucca and more flavor on the bowl. But I would go back and order other items. Try it!

Been meaning to go here since it opened up two years ago. Great food with generous portions. Big drink menu. Had the jalapeño margarita. Friendly staff...fast service and great ambiance.

Delicious!! Went for the first time for dinner and loved it. We shared croquetas for an app and they were great! Four big croquetas made with ham and chicken, and a spicy chipotle sauce. They were so good we ate them before I could remember to snap a picture! I had the lechon and it came with yucca and moros. The pork was so juicy and full of flavor! The pickled red onions were fantastic and added some nice acidity to the richness of the pork. My friend had the ropa vieja and I grabbed a bite. The beef was awesome and I would definitely get that next time. Very generous portions and friendly, attentive service. Great Cuban flavors and some classic dishes done really well. Appealing cocktail menu, hello mojitos! Had the coconut cream pie for dessert - very tasty. I can't wait to go back!

The food was okay, it tasted good, but I get sick from low quality ingredients if they have chemicals in them or aren't fresh and I got sick off of their food, so won't go here again.

AMAZING food! True authentic Cuban cuisine that never disappoints. Everything I've ordered has been fresh & phenomenal, but I think the true star of the show is their vaca frita. SO. GOOD. The owners & staff always welcome you with a smile. Be sure to grab a mojito or margarita. Love this place!

Absolutely delicious! Authentic cuisine and the staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming. The drinks are fantastic with amazing mojitos and daiquiris in all sorts of flavors. An energetic, welcoming atmosphere with vibrant colored walls and decorations. We even met the owners who were so hospitable. All of the food came out hot and fresh with large portion sizes for the pricing. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves Cuban food or who is looking to try something a little different than everyday Lexington cuisine.

-Vaca Frita -Emapanadas one beef/one chicken -Havana guacamole with pineapple -4 mojitos! All of the food was amazing! The service was fantastic ....... The Mojitos are top knotch! One of the best meals we have had in a while!

Wonderful, authentic food. Great service! Terrific Cuban food. Xxxxxxxxxx cxxxxxxxxx cxx