The corn, the corn, the corn. I would go back for the corn! The chicken salad was just ok but that corn, worth it all. read more

OMG!!! Cafe Cabana is something out of this world!! Seriously. The taste and price are unbeatable. They Cubano Sandwich has to be in Michelin Guide for sure))) So tasty, so juicy, so f... good!! Service? Who cares when the food is so good, but our server was so friendly, he smiled and it looked like he definitely enjoys this place too)!! Ambiance, the vibe I loved EVERYTHING! P.S. World famous corn is A A A Must!!! read more

Cafe Habana - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

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This place use to be off the charts incredible, that wasn't the vibe I experienced my last visit . The burrito was not what I remembered or expected. It was bland and the chicken was dry, pretty lack luster. Chipotle's probably would have hit the spot more. I took home half and doctored it up. They do still serve their famous corn which was our favorite before heading home on a late night. The staff served a purpose but felt they were more bothered by waiting on people. read more

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Along my walk from the coffee cafe, and the fact that they didn't have much to eat, I decided to pick up something from here. I already had an idea of what I wanted so I ask for a cubano sandwich but was told it comes as a combo so I asked could I get plantains, but some how in the translation of things I got the sweet plantains and not the hard ones like I wanted. My fault I had to use the bathroom and was rushing to order and didn't make myself clear. It was good though because the sweet plantains were delicious. I loved how they prepared them. The sandwich was amazing too. Service was fast and friendly. The decor was giving diner vibes for sure. For sure I would do it all over again. Pick up a coffee and walk over to this place for more food options. Although my sandwich was five stars. Thumbs up and Happy Yelping! read more

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While out on a morning casual stroll and doing a little shopping, we decided to pop into this café for a light breakfast. It's a cool little local spot with a perfect corner location. It's small inside, but pretty cozy. They also offer outdoor seating if it gets too crowded. I had the Huevos con Chorizo with a glass of Agua de Jamaica, while my wife had the Breakfast Tacos and a glass of lemonade. Our food was hot, fresh, and delicious. Everything was made from scratch and cooked to order. The beverages really hit the spot, and based on the flavors, I'd say there are no powdered drinks served here. If you're looking for frills and thrills, this isn't the place for you. But if you want fast, casual service with good, fresh food, I definitely recommend checking them out. read more

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Love it love it love it!!! Great place with amazing service. Food is great by far best Cuban sandwich ever!!! The fries were so so good. Crispy salty and good. The pork platter was also great with side tostones the best ever. The pork is literally the most tastiest pork I've ever had. The floors are out of this world. read more

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I came here with a group of friends based on a recommendation for the corn. I am typically not a corn enjoyer, but the grilled corn here definitely pleased my palate! I loved it so much that I had to come back a few days later with a different group to grab another batch. The restaurant is small inside, but typically offers out door seating. Service was also prompt! read more

Cafe Habana - Grilled Corn - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

The Cubano voted best in NYC is a really big claim but I understand why. The best Cuban sandwich I've ever had!!!! The pork is soooooooooo juicy and tender. The roll was perfectly toasted. Ugh I'm still dreaming ab this sandwich!!!!! I subbed fries for sweet plantains and i am so happy I did. I loveeeeee sweet plantains The corn was also delicious. It was super sweet and the chili powder added the perfect kick The only downside is that it was really hot and I don't think the ac was working :( there was also a lot of flies :( but regardless of these circumstances, I will definitely be back!!! The food is just TOO GOOD read more

Cafe Habana - Cuban Combo - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

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I had the best grilled shrimp tacos here and loved the elote! Def coming back to try other items on the menu. Service at the bar counter was super fast! read more

Cafe Habana is a Cuban-Mexican restaurant located in the Nolita neighborhood of NYC. It used to be a former Dominican diner, so the ambiance has an old-fashioned feel with leather booths and bar seating. The interior is small and seating is tight, but it still has an intimate and cozy vibe for a dinner date with dim lighting. We dined in for a Valentine's Day meal and were able to snag the last booth seating. Our server was friendly and gave us some recommendations. They're famous for their elotes (grilled Mexican street corn) and Cuban sandwiches. The menu is small and limited, but they curate the food with love. They offer tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tortas, etc. They were also having Happy Hour all night long, so naturally we were ordering up margaritas and mojitos at ~$7-8 each. My margarita was unusually tarty, but it worked for me because I like sour cocktails. We ordered 3 drinks each and chile..... they were strong, I tell ya.... We ordered... *Guac & Chips ~$13 - The guacamole was on point - just the right combination of ripe avocados, chili, lime, and salt. I only wish they gave us more chips. *Cuban Sandwich ~$19 - Okay okay... this sandwich was so damn good and packed with flavor. It had pork, ham, swiss cheese, pickles, and chipotle mayo on Cuban bread. I had to savor every bite. The slow roasted pork was marinated so well and had a citrus-y kick to it. A hearty sandwich overall! I also ordered a side of tostones which were perfectly fried, crispy, and crunchy. *Baja Style Fish Tacos (2) with rice and beans ~$20 - The tacos came with beer battered whitefish, shredded cabbage, salsa verde, and pico de gallo. The fish was tender and juicy, but the overall flavor of the taco wasn't anything impressive. The rice and beans were pretty bland. For the cherry on top... They gave us old-school sweetheart lollipops in honor of Valentine's Day! I thought this was so wholesome and cute. It brought me back to the elementary school days when we passed out candies and cards to everyone in class hahah I understand the hype about the Cuban sandwiches. A must try if you're in the area and don't forget to order a drink or two! read more

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I've eaten here many years ago and I wanted to try it again. I had a roasted corn on a stick with Cotija cheese. It was really good. The food here is authentic. That's the plus. The portions are on the skimpy side. The enchiladas came with rice and beans and I'm used to getting a larger amount than we got. read more

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Really fun dive spot. It seems to be Mexican nowadays rather than Cuban which is confusing given its name. The corn was the star, wow was it good. We also ordered the tostada tradicional but it seems like they gave us the vegetarian one instead. It was really good nonetheless! Coffee had a cute presentation and hit the spot but could've been warmer and stronger. read more

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food - shrimp tacos were delicious! super flavorful loved the green sauce and rice drink - homemade lime lemonade was soo sour!! didn't like service - friendly ambiance - was seated in the back by the bathroom and was harassed by flies! cute interior read more

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Warning: This review contains random rankings that mean nothing to anyone other than me. I ordered the Plato Fuete roast pork. It was a very nice natural flavor. They didn't put any super fatty chucks in and the portion was generous for being in the city. This is as good as I've had in NY, but about a 4/5 for the pork in Miami. Not bad at all. The beans were tasty. I'd rate them a 3/5 in Union City and Miami standards. It came with yellow rice, a 0/5 by any standards. It was very dry and just wasn't good. The Cuban sandwich was not really what I'm accustomed to in Miami or Tampa. My wife ordered it and she's Cuban, she said she doesn't claim this sandwich. It was about a 2/5 in Union City and a 0/5 in Miami or Tampa. There was an attempt... The service was very mid by NYC standards a 2/5. 3/5 only because the roast pork and beans were pretty good. But I'd never come back here personally. read more

Highly recommend the elote. they put the perfect amount of cheese and mayo. Inside was well decorated with a good amount of seating, but it can get packed. Service was pretty fast. read more

Cafe Habana - 2 World Famous grilled corn - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

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The manager is sooo rude! Is really sad because I love this restaurant, I've been going for over four years. And today the manager was extremely mean. read more

How do you justify $13 modelo bottles? Assume location and corner has people coming in but just seems like a total rip off

When a place states "world famous corn" you'd expect it to be good, but unfortunately it lacked flavor of the street corn you get in Mexico or Latin American countries. Sandwiches and tacos were good, but the french fries were mediocre. Aside from that it took 40 minutes for us to get our food after ordering and they only prepared it when we asked about...seriously. Also, the female server was rude..confrontational when I wanted to use the restroom...she had to verify I was a paying customer. My review is based on the food only. read more

Big Bro and I pulled up to Habana at 1:24pm coated in sweat after the mile walk, as it was the first real hot day of the summer. Even my all linen fit was futile against the heat. We entered the non-descript 39 seat hole in the wall cafe with tiled floors, a handful of barstools and faux leather booths for seating, and ceiling fans being the only weapon against the heat. It was JUMPIN, but we got a seat right away as they turnin tables quick. The interior is a little beat up, and I mean that in the best way possible. I've never been to Cuba, but Cafe Habana is authentically Latin American. It reminds me of small places in Mexico or Puerto Rico that don't look like much when you enter, but the food BANGS. It's a no frills place. Not like Tacombi though, don't get it twisted. Tacombi plays on Mexican culture, talking about the balmy beaches of the Yucatán and sharing the beauty of authentic Mexican culture with the world and then looks you dead in the eye as they charge you $6.98 before tax and tip for a tiny little fish taco with no sides. Don't get me started on Tacombi. Tacombi is like big pharma to me. Enough about the opps, my b. We ended up ordering the world famous corn, plantains, the cubano sandwich, and the marinated roast pork. The grilled corn, dressed in mayonnaise, cotija cheese, chili powder & lime was actually insane... I was initially like "damn this Equinox trainer has me paying $5 for some corn" but thank GOD I did. I forgot one of the few absolutes in life... CORN MAN GETS PAID!! The cubano sandwich ($18.95) came with fries, which is a rarity in NYC these days. It consists of Citrus marinated roast pork wrapped in ham with swiss cheese, chipotle mayonnaise & pickle on a toasted roll. The pork was so juicy that little pork juice was squirting down the roll on every bite... that visual is crazy lol but it was delicious. If you're reading this and don't live in NYC you're probably like "damn that's expensive he's trippin..." but this is par for the course in the city, and absolutely Nolita/Soho cheap. I'm fascinated that a place like Cafe Habana exists in the Nolita/Soho area. I would expect it to be deep in Alphabet City or Union City. Idk. Cafe Habana is just so unpretentious, right smack in the middle of one of the most pretentious places in the world. New York City continues to surprise me everyday. IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov_reviews read more

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And this little gem offers the best Cuban sandwich I've ever had. Went to NYC for my first time; this is the place I'm reviewing first because it set the tone for things to come. My rubric for 5-star includes offering something that redefines expectation. A pushing of the envelope. A modification of the paradigm. Cafe Habana gets the nod for one totally biased/totally fortuitous reason and two more subjectively objective ones: 1) the feel, 2) the tostones (and with specific reference to the garlic sauce, loving offered without askance), and 3) the Cuban sandwich. 1) The feel. This isn't, probably, the correct word for it. It's the atmosphere met with the staff, met with the 11am vibe, met with the decor, met with the hospitality of the front of the house (read: one woman who KNOWS what she's doing). I was a tourist on this one: we plopped down at a table way too small for my husk, and she promptly offered more spacious seating. She would go on to continue to offer this loving "I-know-what's-better-for-you-than-you" guidance at most turns (and, also but, in the most demure and gracious way possible), and continued to build my confidence/acceptance that she was right and her recommendations should not be strayed from. Her acumen was knowledgeable, thorough, and above all, greatly appreciated. The decor was kitschy, small, homely, but authentic and ingratiating. It was a warm August late morning, and the A/C was throwing off condensate like a strained waterfall. None to worry. It had the feel of being in a tropical clime, a foreign land left to the benevolence of other to determine the course of the day... 2)...which brings us to the food. Call it brunch, and embracing a when in Rome mentality, I went with what looked good. I'm always suspicious of a dish that's advertised by the establishment as "our famous ______!" or "world's best _____!", but here the puffery was t puffery. The tostones were dense, starchy and subtlety sweet with a touch of salt. Having touched all three bases and heading for home, then came the garlic sauce. The waitress brought it insistently, set it down, and went back to attend to other matters. The trap was set. It worked, and the ball left the field of play dead-center. Take that dense, starchy, subtlety sweet and salty amalgam and throw Lucious buttery garlic in the mix? Ballgame. 3) The Cuban. A world-class Cuban, to my experience, defies culinary texture reality. Crisp/crunchy yet-not-brittle blends into gooey, delicate meltiness and then right into dense, savory pork loin. That was this. Get Goldilocks on the line: not too heavy, not too delicate. Just right. Just damned right. We also had the famous street corn. Worth it as well. Mayo, paprika(?), the dried cheese on top, and (I'm not a huge fan of corn), but the best cooked (juicy (which I didn't really ever think of as a corn quality previously), lightly sweet) kerneled starch I've been privy to, perhaps ever. In sum, a boy from the south came to The City. Landed at LaGuardia at 9am. With all his prejudgments and misconceptions about Yankees. And his eyes were opened to the possibilities of good in Gotham at 11:15am by a Hispanic lady in a little diner in The Bowery (or SoHo, or NoHo...somewhere in lower Manhattan on Prince Street) on a hot August morning. This is the power of cuisine. It opens eyes and deepens appreciation. Etch-esketch (sp?) shaken, now give me more garlic butter sauce and plantains! read more

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Strolled in Cafe Habana after a shopping day in Nolita.  It was busy but it was just me so table for one, please! Tight quarters.  I was sat at a tiny table in the back (my choosing) not knowing it was right next to the bathroom.  A very busy bathroom, might I add.  My only gripe.  Again, my choice to sit in the back.  Now I know for future.  Service was on point. Very attentive.  My order was taken quickly and food brought to me just as quick. I settled on the beer battered fish burrito that came with salsa verde. A pressed flour tortilla with black beans, rice, tomato, lettuce.  The salsa was its saving grace. I'd slather it on an old leather boot and dig in if I could.  The burrito itself was okay but seemed to be missing something.  Maybe pico? Sour cream?  I don't know.  Often times came across as bland but I finished 98% of it so it couldn't have been too bad.  Good enough to return.   I'd like to try other items, especially the corn.  Next time! read more

Cafe Habana - Beer battered Fish burrito - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

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I have ordered takeout from Cafe Habana multiple times. The are very prompt in getting your order ready. If you want to eat in, the restaurant is has a small indoor space and has a few outdoor seatings. It is usually packed in the evening and the weekend. Below are some of the food items I have ordered and I have enjoyed them all. - Slow Cooked Citrus Pork Burrito - Cuban Combo (Cuban Sandwich and Fries) - Chicken Diablo Torta Combo (Chicken Diablo Torta and fries) - World famous grilled corn - Chips & Guac - Fish Tacos Will definitely order again to try different menu item. read more

Came in on a Saturday afternoon. There were plenty people inside and out, but we got seated relatively quickly. They're super busy that sometimes the waiters and waitresses forget about you but be patient. They'll get to you, and if they forget, they don't mind you flagging them down. Get the Cubano. The meat was so juicy. The au jus came out of the sandwich with each bite. The sandwich was meaty and savory. I wanted more pickles for the acidity. The bread was soft. The sandwich was a little smaller than I expected. Fries were okay. They weren't the best in terms of texture. I would skip the fish burrito if I came back again. It wasn't what I was expecting. The batter was thicker than I was used to and wasn't as light. The crust felt heartier. I was expecting more like a California style fish burrito. This one was heavier. There was rice and beans and less raw vegetables. Must eat it with the salsa verde for a nice freshness. A lot of people order their elotes and come in just for that, but I'm not sure if I could justify paying that price for corn. Honestly, just come for the Cubano, and I guess the elote if you really want to try it. read more

Cafe Habana - Fish Burrito - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

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I came on Wednesday for corn. Came back on Thursday for 3 more because DAMN. Just damn good corn!!! That's all there is to it. Quick service too. In and out in ab 20 mins! Great for a quick/decadent bite read more

Cafe Habana - Grilled Corn - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

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What a great find in SoHo! I was shopping alone and stumbled upon this gem. The pork taco was scrumptious, and the street corn on the cob may be the best I have ever had! read more

Cafe Habana - Sitting at the small bar inside. - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

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If you're looking for a quick bite and love this kind of food, give it a try! The waiters are extremely kind and there are chill vibes inside of the restaurant for an around the corner meal. Nothing to rave home about, but it's still pretty solid for something with good pricing and fillling! read more

Cafe Habana - Grilled Steak, Poblano Peppers & Onions Burrito - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

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From bad to worse. Cardboard chicken covered with pepper powder. Mushy yellow rice. Canned black beans. Old dried up lime wedges. No service. Dirty restaurant. Dirty looking staff. Negative stars for Cafe Habana. Hopefully going out of business soon. To be replaced with Chipotle or a reasonable facsimile. read more

Mediocre overall. When I first came, I was appalled with the seating arrangements, however not much could be done due to the buildings layout. I will say that it's not best suited for those who don't deal well with high stimulation and tight environments. It was very tight squeeze and uncomfortable to move around, constantly having people hit my back as they tried to walk by me. The service was very neglectful, overall felt like they were completely scattered and was neglected throughout my entire stay. In combination with the ambiance, the service made me feel completely uncomfortable and overstimulated. I felt as if I couldn't breathe with the seating arrangements. The food was the most disappointing part. The prices do not match the quality that was provided and felt as if there was no flavor in general. Very bland. It's unfortunate because I came based on recommendations but it fell completely short. read more

Friday, May 30th around 6:00pm for dinner! I don't get the hype over this place! The Cuban sandwich was so underwhelming that I don't even care to finish the leftovers I brought home (and that says a lot because I don't like wasting food and left leftovers!) The pork didn't taste seasoned at all and was dry. The ambiance is cute but feels very tight and stuffy. My friend got the fish and shrimp tacos and she said it was nothing special as well. The man waiter was nice but it switched a lady waitress and she was pretty rude. My friend asked for the check and she didn't say a word and just slapped the QR check on the table. So rude!!! What killed the mood WAS THE WAITRESS. Made us feel rushed and like we were an inconvenience for being there and simply asking her for the check. read more

Cafe Habana - Cuban sandwich and Fish and Shrimp tacos - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

The steak sandwich was delicious!! I also had the frozen margarita which was fire. Fries were a tiny bit soggy so I'd suggest asking for extra crispy if you can. I'd love to go back for the tacos or the Cubano, which is what they're known for read more

Cafe Habana - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

Quaint cute spot in manhattan. Had great sandwiches but the fries were good! Would come back for a quick bite read more

Cafe Habana - Cuban Sandwich - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

If there's one thing you need to get here it's the elotes. GET IT. It's $10 for 2 pieces for corn but it's sooo good. read more

Cafe Habana - Elote - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

In short, this place was disappointing. Saved this Cuban-Mexican restaurant for so long as there are more than 2k ratings on Google Map and 3k ratings on Yelp. Their storefront vday decoration was adorable tho. Love the homey vibe of this neighbourhood corner cafe. I ordered two of their most signature dishes with a plethora of good reviews. I might be completely wrong, or simply bc this kind of dishes doesn't suit my tastes, but I really didn't find it life-changing, maybe even unsatisfactory... Plus all their 2-ppl tables were super small. I kept dropping cutlery or lime or my personal belongings due to the narrow seats (given that I visited during non-peak hours). ＊ Cubano Sandwich "Voted best in NYC" - ermmm really? The only thing I liked about this sandwich was the crispy baguette with mustard/mayo. Ham was mediocre and tasted like cheap supermarket ham. Taste of cheese was almost invisible. Shattered pork was bland, tough and reminded me of tuna idk why lol. I poured away all the ham and pork at last and finished the baguette only. Fries on the side were tasteless, probably precooked. Oh and one more point - the sandwich was soaked with meat juice, which made the whole dish soggy and messy... ＊ World Famous Corn Had high expectation on this one - it turned out to be underwhelming. There was a stick for you to hold the corn, but DAMN THE STICK WAS FREAKING BROKEN AFTER MY FIRST BITE!! My grilled corn dropped and I had totally no idea how could I bite it without a stick. I used all kinds of methods to devour it, messing up my hair and clothes. No mood to enjoy the highly rated corn. Btw, I had a super small appetite but this was literally the first time I still felt hungry after having a $30 meal after tax and tips in NYC... My Recommendation: Maybe the grilled corn? Worth Returning ? No. read more

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Been a fan for well over a decade. I just wish they resurrected the Diablo burrito, a crowd favorite. Even if it's just to go. Help a fiend get his hit! Here are photos of my one true love... read more

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Cafe Habana is a small, cute cafe that is a good time. The servers were all nice and our food came out fast. Best of all, the food was so good. Especially the corn was delicious! Great quality food. read more

The trip to Nolita is well worth the buzz surrounding their renowned Corn Y Cubano! During the years I worked in this neighborhood, I would get weekly cravings for Elote. It is grilled in front of you and topped with mayo, cotija cheese, lime, chili powder, and powder. It is a good size and can be rather full with all the toppings. This is a terrific summertime quick lunch that you can grab on the fly and enjoy sitting outside or taking a stroll through the neighborhood. The restaurant is frequently packed but well worth the wait if you're seeking for a full meal. The food is served quickly and the staff is really polite. I would suggest the well-liked Grilled Steak Torta, their famous Cubano sandwich, or, for a more laid-back option, the Baja Fish Tacos served with a side of Lemonade! They offer amazing freshly baked cookies every day, and the pricing are fairly cheap. This restaurant is located in the bustling neighborhood of Nolita, and the best way to reach there is by public transportation; several trains are also close by. Parking in this area is not always easy to come by. read more

Love the island vibes inside! The waiter was super friendly and helpful when picking out a dish to try. I had a basic quesadilla but excited to try the world famous corn dog next time! read more

Great spot. It feels like a busy cafe in cuba. Love the vibe. Love the location. Good service. Cuban sandwich was great and fries are always amazing. read more

Cafe Habana - Cuban Sandwich - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

Was seated quickly on a Friday night 8pm without reservation. Music was going and there was a lively, young atmosphere. We got the corn, guacamole and citrus pork tacos, and frozen margaritas. Margaritas weren't very strong and adding mango to it doesn't mean blending it in. Our margarita had strips of mangos inside that you had to sip through a straw. The corn was good, standard elote nothing too special but tasty. Standard guac and chips, and the tacos were ok. Black beans were good. I can imagine quite a bit later at night things getting more lit! read more

Cafe Habana - Guacamole - Cuban Near Me - New York, New York

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The food showed why this place stands out. The team delivers exceptional service quality. The design choices work and the menu impresses. The kitchen consistently delivers outstanding dishes. The place delivers genuine flavor. read more