As a Colombian who has been craving authentic Colombian cuisine since my last visit to New York in…read moreDecember, I can confidently say this restaurant truly satisfied those cravings. Being nearly eight months pregnant, my expectations were especially high, and it is rare to find a place that meets them so well. From the seasoning of the food to the warm and attentive service, everything about this restaurant stands out. Although I don't recall my server's name, he was incredibly kind and provided excellent service throughout. The ambiance is also worth noting--the space is large, offers plenty of seating options, and even features a large TV, making it a great spot to relax or watch sports. To start, I ordered a watered mango juice along with a beef empanada. The empanada exceeded my expectations--despite being on the smaller side, it was packed with flavor. I enjoyed it so much that I ordered five more to go, which speaks for itself. They were served with fresh ají, a traditional sauce that complemented them perfectly. For my main course, I had the carne asada plate, which included steak, rice, beans, sweet plantains, avocado, tomato slices, and a small arepa. Every component of the dish was well-executed--the beans were flavorful, the meat was well-seasoned, and the overall plate felt authentic. It is often difficult to find truly authentic Colombian food, especially in San Diego, where options are limited or not genuinely Colombian. This restaurant, however, delivers on authenticity and flavor. The portion size was generous, and I ended up taking leftovers home to enjoy later. In addition to the empanadas (two chicken and three beef), I also ordered a buñuelo and a cheese arepa to go. Unfortunately, these items did not meet the same standard. The arepa lacked flavor and was overly greasy, and the buñuelo was dry and similarly oily, even after absorbing excess grease from the bag. Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for Colombian food, especially given how rare it is to find quality options in this area. Friends of mine visited recently as well and thoroughly enjoyed their bandeja paisa, further confirming the consistency of the food. I will definitely be returning--especially for those empanadas. Como colombiana que ha estado antojándose de comida colombiana auténtica desde mi último viaje a Nueva York en diciembre, puedo decir con confianza que este restaurante realmente cumplió con mis expectativas. Además, estando casi de ocho meses de embarazo, mis expectativas eran aún más altas, y no es fácil encontrar un lugar que las cumpla tan bien. Desde el sazón de la comida hasta el servicio cálido y atento, todo en este restaurante destaca. Aunque no recuerdo el nombre del mesero, fue sumamente amable y atento. un servicio excelente en todo momento. El ambiente también merece mención: el lugar es amplio, y limpio. cuenta con muchas opciones de asientos y tiene una pantalla grande, lo que lo hace ideal para relajarse o ver deportes. Para empezar, pedí un jugo de mango (rebajado con agua) junto con una empanada de carne. La empanada superó mis expectativas; aunque es un poco pequeña, tiene muchísimo sabor. Me gustó tanto que pedí cinco más para llevar, lo cual habla por sí solo. Venían acompañadas de ají fresco, que las complementa perfectamente. Como plato fuerte, pedí la carne asada, que incluía arroz, frijoles, plátano maduro, aguacate, rodajas de tomate y una arepita. Cada componente del plato estaba muy bien logrado: los frijoles tenían un excelente sabor, la carne estaba bien sazonada y jugosa y, en general, el plato se sentía auténtico. Hoy en día es difícil encontrar comida colombiana verdaderamente auténtica, especialmente en San Diego, donde las opciones son limitadas o no lo son del todo. Sin embargo, este restaurante sí cumple con ese nivel de autenticidad y sabor. La porción fue bastante generosa, por lo que terminé llevándome lo que no pude terminar para comer más tarde. Además de las empanadas (dos de pollo y tres de carne), también pedí un buñuelo y una arepa de queso para llevar. Lamentablemente, estos no estuvieron al mismo nivel. La arepa carecía de sabor y estaba grasosa, y el buñuelo estaba seco y también muy aceitoso, incluso después de que la bolsa absorbiera parte de la grasa. En general, recomiendo este restaurante sin duda a cualquiera que esté buscando comida colombiana, especialmente considerando lo difícil que es encontrar buenas opciones en esta área. Unos amigos míos también vinieron recientemente y les encantó su bandeja paisa, lo que confirma la calidad constante del lugar. Definitivamente volveré, especialmente por esas empanadas.

BEST EMPANADAS IN ALL OF SAN DIEGO. I spent my whole day trying to find good empanadas here in san…read morediego that would remind me of new york and this was the only location that didn't disappoint. $1.99 per empanada, they are super filling and can tell are made with love. Service was amazing and quick and the atmosphere is very welcoming i love this place. LAS MEJORES EMPANADAS DE TODO SAN DIEGO. Pasé todo el día buscando buenas empanadas aquí en San Diego que me recordaran a Nueva York, y este fue el único lugar que no decepcionó. $1.99 por empanada, son muy llenadoras y se nota que están hechas con amor. El servicio fue increíble y rápido, y el ambiente es muy acogedor. Me encanta este lugar.

The Empanada Spot is a must place for delicious eats. Everything I had was awesome. I had the…read moreQuesabirria, Chicken Pot Pie, Chipotle Chicken, and Costilla De Puerco (Pork Ribs). For dessert, I had the Apple Pie and Banana Nutella. Everything was excellent. The service was great. They were prompt and very nice. I can't say enough about the empanadas. A must place to visit.

Been wanting to try this spot for a while and hate that I waited sooo long…read more Customer service was amazing, stopped by 6/15 around 11:30ish and the gentleman was great, asked him for recommendations and he didn't disappoint. The wait was about 10 mins which wasn't bad at all. Empanadas were crispy and warm, filling was decent. The watermelon drink they have is delicious!!!!

Nice to have a solid Peruvian spot in San Diego. The ambiance has a Latin vibe to it with all the…read morefoliage and decor. The presentation of the dishes were excellent. The dishes we had are not quite as they add a modern twist. The vegetarian soltado protein were "steak strips" versus just veggies/tofu/mushroom. It ate more hearty without a loss of flavor. We also ordered arroz chaufas de pato (Duck fried rice). The flavor was spot on but the duck was a tad dry. We did have Yucca Fritas and that was good. The spicy Aji had a long lasting kick and a smoky flavor. We definitely recommend this location for the food and experience!

Come here on a Sunday with my friend for lunch. It has such chill vibe to it, beat away the heat of…read morethe day. I really enjoy it here. My friend ordered a beef saltado and i ordered a saltado vegetarian, both dishes are amazing, more than we expected. The services are good too, our server was excellent and very helpful. I would love to come again!

empanada- p good arepa- good…read moregot the sampler plate lechon- p good steak- bad sausage- ok egg and rice- normal

I had been eyeing this restaurant for some time and am kicking myself for not having visited sooner…read morebecause the food was soooo good! I ordered the mini bandeja paisa dish which is a sampler plate of the best of Cololmbian bites that included steak, crispy pork belly, juicy sausage, arepa, beans, grilled plantains, avocado, and rice topped with fried egg. Every single item was cooked to perfection which says a lot about the attention to details. And the flavors were on point - super flavorful and well seasoned. I highly recommend this place for those looking for hearty, authentic Colombian food with massive portions!!

The food was the best Salvadoren food I've had in a while. The service was great as well. My server…read morewas sweet and didn't mind my talkative side. She gave the best recommendations of food I just couldn't decide. I ended up getting 4 cheese and chicken pupusas and a side of fried plantains with condensed milk. Overall my experience was great and the food was even better. 100000/10 for me.

We have been coming to this San Diego institution for years. We were craving Latin food and we were…read morenot disappointed. The service was very friendly and quick. We had the plantain chips with fried pork. It came with a simple side salad. The shrimp rice was plenty for two people so we had leftovers. The passion fruit juice was so big we had to take it home. The place is family casual. Happy.

Food: 5/5 Portions: 5/5…read moreAtmosphere: 3/5 Cleanliness: 5/5 Customer service: 5/5 Speed: 5/5 Price: $ Takeout: yes Outdoor seating: yes ADA access: yes Dogs: outside Kid Friendly: yes Vegetarian options: yes Vegan options: yes Ambiance: casual Pros: authentic Cuban food. Friendly staff. Affordable prices. Cons: the parking lot is a little sketchy so be careful where you park.

The last time I visited this business, it was still called Los Pollos Rotisserie and Cuban Bakery…read more That shows you how long it has been because House of Cuban Flavor has been the name for more than a few years now under the same ownership. It's located in one of the middle suites between an auto parts store and a supermarket in an Otay strip mall of Chula Vista. Parking was plentiful as there were way more spaces in the lot than customers even at peak hours. There were a few tables placed on the sidewalk in front of the suite, but no seating was available inside. The coffee making station was to the right when you walked in. To the left of the service counter were glass displays containing the baked goods and desserts. Four small menu boards hung behind the counter. From left to right, the category on each board was Sandwiches, Cuban Specialties, Plates & Combos, and Bowls. Several trays in the display case were empty during my afternoon visit. The cashier ensured me that nothing was sold out. Items that were not displayed still could be ordered and made fresh by the kitchen. The Cuban Specialties were broken down further into Stuffed Potato Balls, Empanadas, and Pastries. Each offering cost $2.45 regardless of its composition. That was disappointing because I have encountered similar bakeries in which there were similar choices for less than $2 apiece. My order started with one of each of the potato balls (meat, spicy chicken, jalapeno & cheese) including a variety that wasn't listed (spicy pork). These were fried and then placed inside a cardboard takeout container. Each of the four had a slightly different color and/or texture to distinguish them from each other. The size was slightly smaller than a tennis ball. The meat filling was my favorite because it had the least heat as the other three contained noticeable spiciness. I also bought a meat empanada, a guava pastry, and a mango & cheese pastry. The pastry dough was light and flaky. The portion size was less impressive for $2.45. I recall when some of these were sold for one dollar less so the value has decreased over time. The fruit flavor of the guava and mango respectively was sweet but not over the top. For this recent experience at House of Cuban Flavor, I gave a 3.5 star rating.

amazing cuban, legit. satisfied…read more idk what other review said about it being dry juicy and authentic

This review is from the last time I had oxtails here before they took them off the menu and…read moresubsequently closed. I visit Havana Grill whenever I want some tasty oxtail.  I noticed oxtail was one of the specials.  Last time I visited the oxtail was on the regular menu and you could order it anytime. Oxtail was extremely tender and juicy.  The mix of beef flavor and the spices in the sauce were delicious.  This is my favorite oxtail dish in town. French fries were crisp and had a delicious fried flavor.  The oil was fresh and there was no aftertaste.  Excellent fries. Pineapple upside down cake was dense and did not have a fresh baked aura.  The outside part was starting to harden like it was getting stale so I guess it was baked at least a day ago.  Cake had a mostly mild flavor.  I didn't taste the pineapple though the top was lined with it.  I did taste a ton of ginger flavor.  It appears pieces of ginger were mixed in with the pineapple.  I love ginger as part of soy/ginger seasoning for fish but not in a cake.  This is one of the worst pineapple upside down cakes I have had.  My favorite is at Roy's where you have to give them 30 minute notice and they bake it to order.  Roy's version was piping hot out of the oven, was moist and fluffy, with amazing pineapple flavor. Staff provided fast and friendly service.

Brought my man-child for a quick lunch on Friday..... This place is simple yet very good. Pretty…read morepopular too. Great service & vibes. So lucky to have it near our home. What we ordered: Pupusa de Pescado x2 Pupusa de Cameron x1 #DiningWithTheAndersons #Pupusas #SilviasPupuseria #NationalCity #SalvadorianFood

I enjoyed this place so much! I have not been in over 3 years, but after having a craving for…read morepupusas, I am glad I came back here. My partner and I tried four different kinds (revuelta, chicharron, queso con jalapenos, and loroco). I had a to-go order, but I put on all the toppings at home and it was great. The curtido was nice and fresh, I wish I could just buy this alone and use it as a topping for so many things at home. The horchata was also delicious and not overly sweet. I liked the nutty taste of the seeds. The interior was well kept, clean, and felt very at home. I came in when no one else was there and my order was made fresh and the wait was not long. Cant wait to go back and try other menu items or pupusa fillings.

David was our server and he was amazing. Great service amazing human being. Best server in San…read moreDiego!

David was the best server! Oyster shot was amazing! I will be back again . The music and staff were…read morethe best !

I had the house smoked pastrami sandwiches Rueben style. It was really good. There was so much…read morepastrami on the sandwich o cold only eat half. The pastrami was lean, a little Smokey, tender and just really tasty. It is only available Tuesday and Wednesday. Definitely worth checking it out. They have info and out door seating. This is a great spot for families with kids and large group. Parking is street parking in the neighborhood. But I always find parking.

I keep wanting to like this place, it's in my 'hood and it draws a good crowd. I remember liking…read moreit more, back in the day, but the last 2 visits were MEH. The other day, I got the tri tip sandwich with chimichurri. The order came up quickly. I live a couple of blocks away. By the time I was home, the sandwich was cold. Not lukewarm, not tepid, but cold. But the REALLY disturbing thing was the bun/bread. It fell apart, into large chunks, the minute I opened the paper wrap up. A sandwich has two major components, BREAD and the filler. Can't you have decent fresh bread? This seems to be a challenge lately for the Grand Ole BBQ. A couple of months ago, I got the hot links, and they were served on the most run of the mill, grocery store quality, HAMBURGER bun. LINKS, folks, should be on a hot dog shaped bun, not cut up into small pieces and placed on a cheap, round, bun. I can't decide if this is hipsters, serving food and doing it their way, with whatever happens to be available at the moment, or if this is management saying "we don't care about your expectations." It isn't novel, to put links on a hamburger bun, it doesn't make it artsy, or unique, it makes it look like an afterthought. So does try-tip on a bun that wasn't. And the chimichurri- driest, almost oil-free chimichurri I've ever had, I had to add oil, at home, to be able to spread it. Good chimichurri isn't difficult, I make it all of the time. Make an effort people. Restaurant are closing. Disregarding your customer is one quicker way to meet that end.