Habana Cuba

I was blown away at how great everything was. I loved the food the exotic flavors so similar to my cuisine of choice Puerto Rican. I loved it all!! more

Habana is a wonderful neighborhood restraunt.. Great tasting food, presented well with considerate wait staff and a nice nice atmosphere with very fair prices. I lived in Miami for 10 years eating Cuban food almost daily and Habana is on Top of my list for Cuban / Latin food! Don't miss the garlic chicken and the rabo both are delicious! Pros: Great Cuban food Cons: Parking on a busy night can get tight more

I was there as part of a group. I've been there several times. The good part is the food was better than the last time I was there, > a year ago. Much of my family is Cuban, so I'm familiar with the cuisine. I've definitely had better Cuban food. Black beans should be part of the meal and weren't. We had to request them. Their advantage is there are very few other Cuban restaurants in this area. This place wouldn't make it with any competition. I had the Tamal Cubano con Pollo which included 1 chicken thigh with a sweet dry tamale, potatoes, rice and a salad.\r \r There were no bread baskets. We'd have appreciated some. \r \r Our waiter we had was awful. The carafes of water on the table were completely empty by the time we left. He didn't check to see if he could bring anything else and wasn't available when we needed something - like more water, which is pretty basic. When he asked if anyone wanted desert or coffee, 2 people said yes, so he brought 1 desert menu. Most of us did have desert, but all had to share the single menu. Even when he saw us passing the menu around as he stood there waiting for us to order, he didn't go get more. He couldn't remember who got what, even though he made notes. A good waiter really adds to a dining experience. Ours subtracted, sadly. \r \r This restaurant wasn't busy when we were there. Most tables were empty. I couldn't see any excuse for his lack of interest. more

Not great... though it was a first time. I ordered the dinner plate with supposedly their signature items... more

Not great... though it was a first time. I ordered the dinner plate with supposedly their signature items and all of them were very mediocre border... more

Habana Cuba is amazing. Although I've only been here once, I'm going to go ahead and declare this one of my favorite restaurants. A friend of mine from Miami who claims to really know her Cuban food raved about this place being the best in the San Jose. Needless to say, she was dead-on. Off appetizers alone I was already full. The plate I ordered was the seafood cioppino. It came with all the goodies: clams, shrimp, lobster, and bass that literally just melts in your mouth. The plate came out pipping hot but was so good it didn't stop me from biting into it. Another recommendation would be my husband's dish, the lechon de la Cubana. Ever since I've gone I've been telling all my friends about my experience. Nice ambiance, huge portions on food, very attentive staff, I'd go back to Habana Cuba in a heartbeat. more

I have been going to Habana Cuba for nearly 20 years, the food is excelent! The service prompt, the admosphere is also great Jennifer and the crew at habana are excelent at what they do.\r \r If you are looking to a Snobby restaurant this is NOT the one for you, if you are looking for a family experience with nice music, descent wine selection, good imported beers from latin america and a large meal this is the place for you!\r \r Love Habana Cuba! Pros: Great Eating Place, lots of food great taste Cons: probably the location. more

My husband and I were excited about going to Habana Cuba since we had spent some time recently in Puerto Rico and fell in love with Lechon. We ordered the ""Surtido"" platter for two (a combination of Lechon, Pollo and Carne) - which could have easily served four adults- the portions are HUGE. This was the best rice and beans I have had in the states, however, all of the meat (the chicken, pork and beef) was completely dried out and difficult to chew and swallow. It was very dissapointing, but I would consider going back and giving it another try. The dining room needs a severe face lift as everything seems old and worn out. \r \r It was OK but not great, and definately nice to have some different ethnic food. Service was good and fast. Pros: Great Beans and Rice, Good Service Cons: Meat was very dry and tough to chew, interior decorations/restaurant ambiance is very tired and worn out more

My husband and I have been to Habana Cuba several times and have never been disappointed with the food. This time around, we held a large family dinner serving close to 50 guests. I have to say, we weren't let down! All of our guests loved the Masitas de Puerco Frito (fried marinated pork) comparing the similarities in taste to our own family ""Lechon"". A favorite was the Vaca Frita (seasoned beef with grilled onions)...just the right amount of garlic and lemon seasoning that makes your mouth water for more! The Enchilado de Pescado (Seabass in a tomato based sauce with bell peppers and onions ) was perfectly cooked and received a lot of compliments. Arroz Blanco, Plantanos Maduros and pitchers of Sangria topped it all off. Nothing but great comments from the whole family on how great the food was and that it reminded them of good old family cooking. A big THANK YOU goes out to staff for their excellent service and for making this dinner one to remember! Definitely worth the five stars!!!! Pros: Great Food, Family Friendly, Excellent Service, Perfect for Large Groups more

After hearing and reading the reviews on this restaurant, I took my family (we are newly arrived here from NY) to this Cuban style restaurant. My stepmom is Cuban so I've eaten Cuban food many times and love it. There was no bread basket as we sat hungrily and waited for our food (we were told they had run out!!! and this was on Dec. 23rd!), and got our salad which was the smallest portion of lettuce and vegs, and it wasn't presented well at all. Then we got our food which was more disappointing. Their pollo fricase (stewed chicken) was rather bland, and they barely spared the sauce which was watery. The cuban steak was tender, but rather bland as well, but their shrimp dish was average. This came with an order of blackened fried maduros (ripe plantains) which tasted old; and white rice. What shocked me is that any spanish/latino restaurant serves white rice with beans, together as part of the meal. This restaurant charged you extra for their watery beans, and we also asked for an order of tostones (regular fried plantains) which were supposed to come with a garlic dipping sauce. That was a sorry description for the ""dipping sauce"" as all the sauce was an opened jar of minced garlic that you get at any supermarket. The tostones were good, but without the dipping sauce, it was just average. This restaurant was a complete let-down and this transplanted NY'er would not recommend it to anyone. Then came their inflated bill of almost $100 for this sorry meal. Having a Cuban family and being of Puerto Rican descent myself, I know good ""spanish"" food...this is not it. I wish it were...believe me, I wisht it were. more

Met up at this restaurant on a Saturday night to have dinner with a couple of friends, service was friendly, food and drinks were good. The food was a bit pricey but I would go again since there are such few latin restaurants in the bay area that serve up a decent offering like Habana Cuba. Worth a visit if you haven't been there yet and are not too price conscientious. more

I'm amazed at how mixed the reviews are for this restaurant! It appears that it makes a very big difference what you order, both food and drinks. I've eaten here twice, both times for lunch. Even with no reservations, we were seated promptly. The construction definitely detracts from the ambience, but it should be very nice once it is complete. The parking situation is lousy even at lunchtime -- very few spaces in the lot, and the neighborhood isn't great so I'm reluctant to park on the street. However, my friend and I were both very pleased with the food. The first time, we asked the waiter for a recommendation, and he suggested the slow-roasted pork. It was phenomenal; the portion was huge, but I could have eaten the entire plate in one sitting it was so good. I had the same thing the next time I went. They have an interesting selection of unfamiliar juices and sodas, but we stuck with the familiar (Coke) and had no alcohol, so I can't comment on the drinks. Disclaimer: This is the only Cuban restaurant I've ever been to, so I can't compare it to other Cuban places. Also, I don't like my food really spicy. But, taking those things into consideration, I will definitely be back just for the slow-roasted pork. Yumm!! Both times the staff was very friendly and helpful. The last time, I left a package there by accident, and didn't realize it for several days. A week later I went back, and they had it waiting for me. Nice, honest people. Pros: Friendly staff, good service, delicious pork Cons: Parking, a bit pricey more

A buddy and I had lunch there today. The restaurant was pleasant and well decorated. My wife is Dominican, and an excellent cook. Cuban and Dominican food are basically the same for many dishes, so her cooking is my basis for comparison. My opinion of the food was that it was average--it could have used a little more spice and a little more salt. For two people eating an entree and drinking just tap water, it was $24 plus tip. It will be helpful if you speak Spanish. more

The first time I've been here was with my BF. It was cute and romantic in their little way. Candle lit tables and interesting decor. Looking through the menu, which was divided beef, pork, chicken, seafood, etc, I chose a deliciously described steak dish. It was a thin marinaded rib-eye with grilled onions. I do love rib-eye. But when it arrived I have to say I was a bit disappointed. Although the chicken soup was really good, the beans and rice was mediocre. The steak was also completely well done to the point it was dry. I think I had better food at Chevy's or On the Border. (I know Chevy's is not Cuban food but from what I ate I couldn't tell the difference) And it wasn't that cheap either. The beef dish was almost $20. \r \r Just this past weekend a friend of mine visited and wanted to try some Cuban food. The only place I knew was Habana Cuba so I decided to give it another chance. We ordered a pitcher of Red Sangria and it was pretty good. (Although very weak). Then we decided to order a dish called Surtido which was a combination of beef, pork, and chicken. Again if came out with its mediocre beans and rice. I was excited to try 3 different types of meat in once dish but when it came out, I was utterly disappointed again. Every single meat was over cooked. I thought I was chewing ball of yarn. Now that I think of it I should have said something to the waitress. Stupid me. My other friend ordered the Ox Tail and said it was good. I had a bite and it was much tender and tastier than my dish. Lastly a couple that came with us ordered a whopping $45 paella and I thought it was just okay. I've had better paella before. So if you are thinking about getting a juicy piece of meat, I don't t know if this is the place for you.\r more

I'm a person that truly enjoys dining out and I appreciate a great dinning experience..!!\r The great thing about Habana Cuba Restaurant that from the moment that one arrives until you leave its such a fun-intimate, delicious experience...!\r The food taste as if your ""grandma"" had cooked it with so much love..! the pork, is so tasty the ""Rabo Encendido"" it's just so tender and tasty... hummm... !! also enjoy the Appetizers with the garlic dip, the Fried Bananas and the Black beans.. I'm getting hungry just visualizing it.. !! Also the stuff working in the restaurant always have a smile and the service its perfect.. I love the decorations, the happy bright colors and the photos inside the restaurant of old Cuba.. very unique..!!!\r \r more

The fact that a Cuban restaurant won ""best Mexican"" is the height of ignorance and should clue you off as to the validity of many of the rave reviews. Cuban and Mexican food are about as similar as Italian and Chinese.\r \r As for the restaurant, it is about average. As a Cuban American I find the food typical of what you might find at a Cuban fast food place in FL or NJ. The food is OK but it is a bit salty and greasy. If you have never had Cuban food before please keep an open mind if this is your only experience with it. more

Good food, generous portions ( i was warned, but did not believe...believe!) friendly accomodating staff - answered all of my questions accurately regarding portions and flavors; a welcoming experience. Next time I'm in San Jose, It's definitely a do-over! more

After being a chef for 33 years, I have very picky taste buds. Habana Cuba has proven to be a wonderful place to eat. I enjoy their food, especially the slow roasted pork. Their combination appetizer is great! I also enjoy their mojito. Great place to eat and enjoy a nice 3 hour dining experience. Thank you Habana Cuba! Pros: Great food! more

With a complete lack of Cuban food in the Bay Area, Habana Cuba cvan provide a necessary fix. It's pales in comparison to some of the Cuban restaurants on the East Coast, but for northern Cali, it's not that bad. The Cubano sandwich is done right, and the fried platanos do the trick. Pros: good food Cons: inexperienced staff more

For my first cuban culinary experience, my european girlfriend took me to this restaurant because she knew that I love the cuban culture.\r \r The paella was soggy, very spicy, and the safood/fish swimming in it was bland.\r The sangria had hardly any alcohol, but a lot of nameless cut-up fruits packed inside of it.\r \r The decor was generic, no ethnic touch.\r \r Very expensive for a thick soup and watered down drinks.\r \r Spend your hard earned money somewhere else.\r more