Chicken enchiladas arrive blanketed. Cheese pooled and broiled to a pale blister. Steam trapped underneath like a secret. The chicken is shredded fine. Mild. Reliable. Sauce leans tomato not chile. Comfort-coded. Beans on the side doing their job. Rice fluffy but anonymous. This is the dish people order because they've ordered it before. Muscle memory Mexican. It fills you up. It doesn't flirt. The salmon burger is thick and earnest. Cooked through. No wobble. The fish tastes clean but shy. Bun glossy and soft like it came from a bakery catalog. Fries pale and stiff. Ketchup mandatory. This plate feels like a concession. Something ordered by someone who didn't want Mexican but ended up here anyway. Respectable. Forgettable. Airport-adjacent energy. Crispy chicken tacos crackle on contact. Fried hard. Golden. The shell holds. The chicken inside is juicy enough to justify the crunch. Topped with pico that wakes it up. Acid saves it. This is the most fun thing on the table. Loud textures. Fast bites. Feels like the kitchen trying. You eat these first. You don't share. Lemon chicken comes half bird style. Charred edges. Citrus sharp and direct. The skin is doing real work. Salty. Bitter. Bright. Rice underneath soaks up the drippings like it knows its role. This plate smells better than it looks. Old-school. A little greasy. Satisfying in a late lunch way. Queso fundido arrives molten. Bubbling. Stretchy to the point of performance. You pull the spoon and it follows. Cheese-forward with minimal interference. No depth but lots of drama. Tortillas are a vehicle not a feature. Best eaten immediately. Becomes a mistake if you wait. Service is friendly but distracted. Orders come out in waves not courses. Water refilled when asked. The room feels practiced in being busy. Not rushed. Not warm. Just functional. Atmosphere is casual loud. Daytime crowd energy. Families. Groups. People killing time. It feels like a place you meet someone because it's easy not because it's special. it's giving early 2000s Yelp staple that survived on location read more

found the ambience to be subpar, service was lacking, the food was bland and nothing about it looked or tasted Cuban. visited Café Havana during happy hour. It was very difficult to find someone to be my server and when i finally did, he had to inform me what the happy hour was for food and drink (no happy hour menu was available) i would say the restaurant is badly managed read more

Sucks to give a 2 star and I even contemplated a 1 star. Gwen and I love Cuban food as she's half Cuban and we love exploring new places. Since we have kids at Pepperdine now we'd been to Ollo across the street and a few other pretty solid places in Malibu. So, our hopes were high for Cafe Habana, even though I had already seen the avg. 3 star Yelp reviews. I wonder if the owner has seen the comments or even cares. It kind of baffles me. So, I'll tell you of our stop at Cafe Habana for an app and drinks. When we parked and walked up, we'd been in the same center a few times and it the atmosphere is great - very Malibu. Btw, just prior we were shopping in Whole Foods and who is right next to us, none other than Nick Cage. Seriously. I know many celebs are around there but Nick is another level. You could tell even the folks working in the store were noticing. Anyway, I'm getting sidetracked. Back to Cafe Habana. As we entered, it was a cool open feel. But that quickly changed. We walked into the bar area and felt a little unsure of where to go. A guy to the left of us was maybe a worker, maybe? He kind of asked us a question but immediately we thought this guy is high. Through some mumbled dialogue on his part we worked out that we wanted a table. He asked if we had a reservation and we didn't - but, the place was mostly empty - so that was odd. Wondering if we weren't good enough to eat there, we almost considered leaving. We were sat at the very entrance to the outdoor space on a small two top. Next to us was a table of 4 seated very comfortably on a giant wrap around. And as we sat and waited for some attention from a server we listened to the owner (we think) come mingle with this four top. To each their own, but it was just plan odd. He bragged about his celeb status - I've never heard of him - and went on about himself while the 4 top half feigned interest. Gwen and I were just wanting to leave at this point. But, the server came. So, we ordered nachos and two drinks. Pictured are our nachos. Lemme break it down for you... 1 - menu isn't very Cuban at all 2 - nachos were a 4/10 (they literally squeezed the sour cream on as you can tell from the pic - sloppy for the price and place) 3 - drink were mediocre too 4 - bill was over $85 with tip I would visit again if a lot of that changed, but I'm quite hesitant. read more

Cafe Habana - Nachos - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

My family and I used to come here weekly specifically for the shredded chicken tacos.They were one of our favorite dishes and a big reason we kept coming back and recommending this place to friends and family. Unfortunately, they changed the recipe and replaced the shredded chicken with cubed chicken. We found the new version to be a significant downgrade and did not enjoy it at all. It's disappointing because the original recipe was outstanding and was one of the main reasons we chose to dine here regularly. Since the change, we no longer come here. We hope management considers bringing back the original shredded chicken recipe, as it was a standout dish. read more

I love this place! The Cubano is authentic and full of bold flavor, and the plantains are sweet and delicious. Add an ice-cold beer with chips, salsa, and fresh guacamole, and I'm a happy camper. Great vibe, a nice bar, and an outdoor patio that makes it easy to linger. Friendly and attentive staff too! read more

Cafe Habana - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

I'm shocked this place doesn't have a higher rating, my boyfriend and I had a great time here. We split the fish tacos which were some of the best I've had, and the rice that they came with was delicious. We also got ceviche, chips and salsa and a prickly pear margarita. The restaurant itself was super cute and the staff were awesome. Everything was 10/10 and we'll definitely be back, this is for sure one of our new fav spots in Malibu. read more

Cafe Habana - Shrimp Ceviche - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

Where's the FLAVOR??!! Was the chef sick today?? Coming from a Latina family, we love REAL good food!! We ordered mahi taco entree and guacamole w/chips. Salsa came in 2 small containers that was like having tomato sauce from a can. No spice, no salt, no chilies. Food was bland, again no flavor. Guacamole was bland, no veggies added, no spice, no salt. Chips were stale, cold and again no salt added. I wish I cooked at home tonight! Maybe next time CH?! read more

Cafe Habana - We ordered Mahi taco entree, guac & chips.. - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

This place rocks, that's all I can say. Truly good food and awesome staff. Sure, it's tucked away, kind of hard to find, and has a hidden vibe to it, so maybe it's not packed with people all the time. I rather like that. And because it's not packed all the time, when it does get busy the staff gets a little stretched, but that's ok with me. The food still comes out perfect, the chicken enchiladas and mahi tacos are the best in town, and if you like to drink, there is a bar, in Malibu, that's an accomplishment. Great place to go with family and friends for good food and drinks, locals know it well, I highly recommend! read more

I know people have mixed feeling but I think you just have to order the right things The fish tacos are great, the salmon burger is fire, the salmon was good. We made a reservation for 16 people one day before pre-grad night for a late dinner and they were able to accommodate us, great for large parties! read more

Cafe Habana - Seared Salmon - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

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Mediocre is a kind description for this restaurant. The menu is pretty uninspired. We had salads that were fresh, but nothing special. I finally got cream for my coffee on the third ask, and the bus person was kind enough to bring it. The man who took the payment didn't make eye contact or say thank you. Additionally, I left something--fortunately not having monetary value--at the restaurant, called the same day and left a message, but no return call now two days later. Surely, Malibu can do better than this. read more

Excellent location, wonderful Malibu restaurant. Enjoyed my drink tremendously, the Manager even went to get the bottle for me from the back, and the food was on point. Great for locals and tourists alike. It's so moody here at night, really love it! read more

Cafe Habana - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

Love this spot! Been going here for years. I pick up the fish tacos at least once a week and they never disappoint! Also, the drinks are amazing! read more

Cafe Habana - Fish Tacos Malibu Style - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

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Best tacos in Malibu! Steak is so well marinated and servers and bartenders always friendly and fun. Love the Habana family!!!

I stopped into Café Habana on a random Thursday night, and it hit exactly the way a great local staple should. The vibe is relaxed and welcoming, and with the ocean just across the street, you catch that little hint of sea breeze that instantly puts you in a better mood. It's the kind of place that feels familiar in the best way, like you can settle in, exhale, and enjoy your night. Yes, it's been around for years, and maybe the menu and decor haven't tried to reinvent the wheel. Honestly, that's part of the magic. This place doesn't need gimmicks. It's cozy, casual, and effortlessly beachy with that Latin-leaning hum in the background that makes you want to stay for "one more" of everything. The food is pure comfort with personality. The steak tacos are still some of the best in LA, full stop. The salmon burger is flavorful and fresh. And the prickly pear margarita deserves its own paragraph: bright, balanced, and dangerous in the best way (you will want a second). What really keeps me coming back, though, is the hospitality. The managers and servers make it feel like a neighborhood spot, not a scene. Attentive without hovering, genuinely warm, and consistently on top of the details. If you're local and feeling "I've done this place already," come back with fresh eyes. And if you've never been, this is exactly the kind of restaurant you want in your rotation: comforting, reliable, and still delicious. read more

We celebrated my daughter's 11th birthday and everything was great. The food is healthy and they use organic when possible. The staff was so friendly and attentive and the ambiance was festive and wonderful! Highly recommended read more

Stopped by to check out this cuban hideaway by the beach. Service was decent and food was good. They've got a great covered outdoor patio where we enjoyed our dinner and the drinks were delicious. Definitely not a bad spot to stop by if you're in the area, though better cuban food can definitely be had elsewhere. Solid 4 out of 5 stars! read more

Cafe Habana - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

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This place was great at one time. We would usually eat here once a week as my go to was the steak tacos. They are normally very tender with lots of flavor as they marinate the meat. This time it was some cheap cut of beef with no flavor. The meat was chewy and tough. Normally I cruise through both tacos quickly because they have been amazing in the past. I asked the server if they were using a different cut of beef and not marinating. He blamed it on the cook and offered absolutely no apologies. I wasn't able to eat the second taco and only gagged the first one down because I hadn't eaten since the morning. This bums me out since this was my favorite restaurant. I won't be back until I see that it's getting much higher ratings. read more

Absolutely a quaint hidden place in the Malibu Mart if you're not really looking for it. The decor and ambiance is relaxing and comfortable. With it's full bar and indoor dining area, Cafe Habana is a nice place to enjoy drinks and a meal. The Patio area is very pleasant and offers an excellent dining experience as Malibu can offer. The service is good, but not exemplanery. Wait staff pushing the bottled waters felt a bit intrusive for a place that has a burger on their latin food inspired menu. Expect to pay Malibu pricing for entrees and drinks. The burger is actually made quite well, along with many other items. The value is just a bit too touristy trap or simply for the location. read more

This was seriously the best Malibu restaurant they had amazing drinks delicious shrimp. All of the coworkers and employees were so kind and I'll definitely be returning soon! read more

Cafe Habana is without a doubt one of the nicest decorated restaurant I have been to and I am glad I finally was able to visit this hidden gem while in Malibu for business. Everything from the Chips and Salsa to the Cubano Sandwich and the Roasted Plantains were the bomb! 5 stars for reasonably priced and tasty food, plus friendly service!! read more

Amazing, amazing, amazing! This place is perfect for staying and chilling with friends or family. Nice food, cold drinks. But most of all is super crew! Dave, you are rock man!! read more

The food was amazing in the place. I really liked the chicken tinga tacos. Only thing is that the corn tortillas fall apart which is expected. The service was great the waiter was very attentive. Sat outside in patio. The ambiance was great, I liked the wall painting and fresh plants bordering the patio. read more

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Many amazing celebrations, occasions, and memories have been made here since my children were little. Now, my boys are in college, and my daughter is off traveling for work. The service, food, drinks, and desserts have been incredible every time! Last night, I had a delicious taco salad and shared a bottle of champagne with the wonderful man in my life. He loved the burrito, and we ended up boxing up the generous portions to take home. We couldn't resist sharing the fried burrito ice cream--it was indulgent and worth every bite. I'm so grateful for the warm greeting from the host and the excellent service from Faith and Dan, who served our champagne perfectly chilled in an ice bucket. A special thanks to the kind young man who checked in on us, even though I can't remember his name. The ambiance on PCH is beautiful, especially at the Malibu Cross Shopping location. The outdoor dining area is pet-friendly, which is a big plus for us since we often bring our dog. I highly recommend making a reservation, especially on weekends when it gets crowded. Valet parking is available too, which is super convenient. read more

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Would never recommend anyone coming here. Food does not taste fresh, service is not attentive and ambience is severely lacking. I'd recommend 20 other places in Malibu before here and that's about how many other restaurants there are in town. read more

Food was... really bad. We sent back the breakfast burritos after waiting over an hour. And the enchiladas were a 5/10. The restaurant decor is great and their coffee was surprisingly amazing, Those were the only saving graces. read more

Came with our family, 3 young children, for lunch on a Thursday. This place far exceeded my expectations. The food was delicious!! My go-to meal at any restaurant is a chicken Ceasar salad, if it's good I continue to eat at that restaurant and try other menu items. This restaurant had the best CS I've had in a LONG time. Comimg back ASAP read more

Cafe Habana - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

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I'm honestly not sure how this restaurant has survived over the years. Like how everyone has said in their past reviews on this restaurant, the food is very bland and lacking in flavor. It definitely is not what I consider authentic Cuban/Mexican food. The first time I came here I ordered the chicken enchiladas. It was just alright and I think one of the most popular dishes that you can order there. The second time I came here I ordered the fish tacos. They looked good but again they were very bland and needed more seasoning. I don't plan on coming here again even though I gave them a second chance. Maybe the food would taste better too if you have a couple drinks before. This place is perfect for people that like basic and unseasoned food! read more

Cafe Habana - Fish Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

Pros -Quick service -Cute ambiance -Large menu to satisfy all cravings, diets, etc. -Strong margs (ordered the 818 prickly pear one) Cons -Hostess had an attitude read more

Cafe Habana - Interior - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

We were looking for a place to eat and with two children under 2 and a dog, we were definitely looking for something a bit more laid back. Cafe Habana looked like it'd fit the bill. The patio looks cozy and a great place to hang out. The hostess was nice enough to give us the large table in the back so we had some space to spread out as well. Unfortunately the food was lackluster. First of all, majority of the menu was Mexican rather than Cuban. Second the prices are a bit higher but given the location that's not surprising nor would I count that against them. But the food is a solid 2 star for us. Chips for the table was nice but the salsa was watery. The Cuban sandwich was decent but the fish taco was disappointing. Everything on the kids menu was $15+ and frankly nothing special. read more

Cafe Habana - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

We had a great experience with the team from Cafe Habana who helped to coordinate lunch for about 20 people in The Lumber Yard outdoor courtyard, just outside their restaurant space. They worked with us to set up a self serve bar and a catered menu, coordinated with the management to allow this and were very friendly, professional and pleasant throughout the afternoon, constantly checking on us, helping with packing leftovers and topping up drinks. The setting was wonderful and everyone had a great time! Perfect option for kids and large groups. We can't wait to do this again soon. read more

Disappointed to say that the food and the service at this restaurant are mediocre at best. The food is bland and one of the food runners had the worst attitude. He brought a basket of broken pieces of tortilla chips, and when we asked for a second in the hopes of getting actual chips he just tossed the basket on the table and walked off. Our server didn't stop once to ask if we needed anything else, such as refills, or to offer dessert. Mind you, we've lunched at this place several times throughout the years since it opened in 2010 and only encountered this dismal service today. We will not be returning. read more

Anti sanitary place to dine. Service was horrible and the food was not good at all. Very disappointing place

Another 5 Star restaurant revelation!! Wow! Not sure why I've never been here!? Cuban/Mexican inspired food-Located in the very popular Malibu Country Mart which faces PCH, on Creekside in the Lumber District (south/west section) trendy cool vibe-rustic spot! The indoor dining also has a full bar, we sat on the patio in a comfy couch like booth, very "woodsy" and nicely shaded... also dog friendly! Our server Cole was very sweet and super helpful with the menu, really knew it well! Sharing his thoughts on many different items, which my husband and I love!! Always helps us decide what to order! We LOVED the calamari appetizer! Thank you Cole for helping us decide! Cooked just right! Light & crispy Yum! My fried chicken sandwich was delicious! It had a spicy slaw on it, pickles and a spicy honey sauce. Definitely reminded me of a cubano-awesome flavors! My husbands asada steak was fantastic! Topped with a little Chimichurri sauce (the best!!) and he asked for more...Served with black beans, rice and a little salsa. Cooked perfectly (medium rare). An excellent meal from start to finish! Highly recommend! Locals! Outta-t owners! You must try it! read more

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Absolutely LOVE Cafe Habana! From the chill vibe to the food, this place is fabulous and has long been one of my favorite spots in Malibu. I should be more adventurous with their menu but love the brown rice bowl with steak so much that I can't bring myself to order anything else! Tip...ask to swap the brown rice for their yellow rice and you will be so glad you did. This spot always has a cool mix of local characters along with those coming to Cross Creek for the day to shop. It's always welcoming and my favorite waiter is Oliver. read more

Super good food and service. Didn't have to wait long for a seat. Close to the beach too so that's convenient

Good food nice atmosphere Fine on the outside patio Young crowd when I was there oh the corn on the cob is really good Be sure to try it'

My family and I were in town for my husbands birthday. It was our first time in this area and we were having such a great time. One of our friends, who travels and stays regularly around this area, gave us a list of recommended restaurants to try. We decided on Cuban food from the list, and started walking over. We were seated right away. Immediately after that things just started going downhill. Let me start off by saying that if you are coming here for actual Cuban food, don't. I think the only thing Cuban about this place on their menu was a Cuban sandwich. Everything else on the menu was more like Mexican cuisine. Nothing wrong with that since we love Mexican food, however that's not what we came for. And The food was also ok at best. It lacked flavor but we still ate it. Now the service was where things took a left turn. After being seated, the 1st guy who helped us, asked us if we wanted any drinks to get started. He then proceeded to throw napkins down at our table as if they were frisbee's. His energy was way off and it seemed like he didn't want to be there or even help us. That should have been our first sign to get up and leave but we ended up staying. We then had a second man tend to our table and his service was horrible. He gave us dirty looks the entire time. Even my kids noticed. He hovered over our table the entire time. Every time he refilled our water, we would say thank you and he would roll his eyes without a word to say and then proceed to walk away. He seemed disgusted, annoyed and angry literally the entire time. He was standing right by our table as if waiting for us to hurry up and finish our food. When it was time to remove our plates from our table he turned over us, annoyed he asked if we were done and halfway through us saying yes, he just picked up the plates and left. It was such an awkward experience. We were so excited to try this place but left so disappointed. I wish we would've chose another restaurant from the list we were given. We felt so unwelcomed and that really sucked. I hope that if you do end up trying this place out, you have a better experience than my family and I had. read more

Mother's Day my first time here, we I couldn't believe the treatment the hostess gave us. We believe she's racist. She didn't even smile at us she walked past us three times until another family came to the hostess stand behind us. . We were there before the other. She told us there was no tables available when clearly there were 8 empty tables available she stated there was a 345 reservation and a 4 PM reservation and she still would not seat us even though there eere 8 empty tables when we got there at 3pm The people behind us did not have reservations either, I told her they don't have a reservations either and we should be seated first. She had a huge attitude when she did seat us she clearly did not want us to be there. She also walks around having 3 buttons undone on her skirt you can see below her bellybutton This clearly is not a family base restaurant or friendly The way she was acting. We chose to stay because we had a family member from out of town that has eaten here before and really wanted to eat here for Mother's Day. I personally would not return to this restaurant because the hostess Abby her energy was so a low frequency it made our time uncomfortable. Cafe Habana really should consider who they hire. read more

Went here off of a recommendation and was extremely disappointed. The host sat us at a terrible table and when we asked for a different one, she said they were completely booked. Then the restaurant remained empty for the entirety of our time there. We sat at our table for 15 minutes without anyone coming over so we flagged down a bus gal and then a waitress came over. She had absolutely no interest in us or our experience, it was awful. We asked for multiple things that we never received. She didn't apologize for never coming over. When we were using the card reader and paying, she just stood there silently with no attempt to make conversation. The food was average. My mahi on my fish tacos was over cooked and dry. Would not recommend due to poor service, no energy or vibe, and the food was nothing special. With how many amazing restaurants there are in the LA area, we were disappointed to waste money here. read more

Cafe Habana - Fish Tacos Malibu Style - Mexican Near Me - Malibu, California

This is one of my favorite restaurants to visit in Malibu! Conveniently located close to some of the best beaches in Malibu, especially for those looking to surf the world famous First Point by the Malibu Pier and Lagoon, this restaurant serves as the perfect place to relax & dine, post surf. The ambiance here is incredible with super comfortable seating in their open air spaces, great music, attentive staff, and wonderful menu. You can't come here and not try their classic Cubano sandwich, which I have to say as a Native Floridian with Cuban family all from South Florida, checks all the boxes! Drinks are always refreshing & mixed perfectly and their coffees are exactly as the islands would order. Don't forget to try and save room for their deserts which are never disappointing. read more

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