First time at location. A friend recommended this place. Walking up to the business looks like you are stepping into Havana. Loved the ambience. Family oriented. When I arrived I was unaware of the time. So they were about to close in 20 minutes. The owner still allowed us in. She was so nice and inviting. I I had order the Tour of Cuba. It was to die for. The shredded pork was moist, chewable and full of flavor. I couldn't put my fork down. I also had the plantains as appetizers. Forgot the name. During my time there they were playing Cuban music in the background. It was very relaxing made me feel like smoking a cigar. (And I don't even smoke) They play live music on certain days and have a patio were you can enjoy gazing at the stars. Drinking under the blue midnight sky with a cool breeze. Highly recommend this place. read more

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Such an odd location and please don't underestimate or judge and step inside and be transported to a little slice of Cuba and transcend with every delicious bite of croquetas, Cuban sandwiches and pastelitos amongst other dishes and treats! I finished off with a delicious cold brew. The ambiance is understated and comfortable and welcoming. The service was good. Will be back to try more dishes soon. read more

Amazing food. Don't let the area or building fool you. Ambiance is great. The owner was there & greeted us. Only complaint was service was slow not all our food came at the same time but they were a bit busy. read more

Cuba 1918 - cortadito - Cuban Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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The food did not rise to the same heights as Cuba's rustic interior, live jazz, and friendly service (ask for Madison). This Southwest side eatery leans into its historic roots, and offers a leisurely paced meal with an upbeat jazz accompaniment. The food skipped a beat. The Cubano was made with flavorless pulled pork instead of the traditional roasted pork (though roasted pork is on the menu in other dishes). The classic Cuban sandwich tasted mostly of mustard and pickles. Dessert (quesito) did not make up for the sandwhich's shortcomings. Again, the dish was flavorless. In spite of the shortcomings, I do recommend Cuba for its music, starters, mocktales, and service. Cheers! read more

I believe the best way to describe Cuba 1918 is a world of old-world charm and vibrant energy. This hidden gem in San Antonio is a delightful blend of flavor, and rhythm. The ambience makes you feel like you are stepping into a time machine set to the golden age of Cuba. And speaking of flavor, the food is not just amazing - it's mind-blowing. Every bite is a tantalizing journey for your taste buds. I had the ropa vieja with beans and even though I was full I could not fathom leaving my beans behind. I took a little break and made sure I did not leave a drop of bean on my plate. But wait, it gets better. As you savor your meal, the infectious rhythm of salsa music fills the air, making it impossible to resist the urge to get up and dance. Whether you're a seasoned salsa pro or a two-left-feet novice, the music at Cuba 1918 will have you moving and grooving in your chair. If you're in the mood for a truly unique dining experience that will transport you to another time and place, look no further than Cuba 1918. It's a San Antonio treasure waiting to be discovered. read more

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Let's start with the look of this place! Before I entered I could tell I found something special. The renovated entrance but with the original walls from when it opened creates a great atmosphere. I've had many Cuban food in my 30 years and I would say this has to be one of my favorites and closest to been authentic Cuban cuisine. The pork, the yuca and both types of beans were on point. Seasoned Cuban style for sure and everything was good. One and only one thing I could say negative was the quesito pastry which was super soggy and just fell apart. Other than that this place was fire. Thank you to the owner who came and talked to us and had us try some homemade hot sauce! Server was great and very attentive. If you like Cuban food hit this place up seriously. read more

Cuba 1918 - Cuban Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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My friend treated me there for my birthday lunch on 3/19. We got there around 2 pm and they close at 3. Service was slow, and at 3 pm the music and karaoke started and they forgot about us. We ordered desserts but only got one because the other one was in the oven. When we asked about our dessert they said it would be 4-5 minutes; this happened twice. After waiting more than 20 minutes we were finally able to pay our bill and left without ever getting our quesitos. By the way the music and singing was good. read more

Man, we drove half an hour to come get breakfast here only to find out their hours EVERYWHERE are wrong. Yelp, their website, google, both Apple Maps and google maps ALL say this place opens at 10am. Nope it's 11 every day now. I was really excited to try the food but that's a long drive to find out they don't care about their customers time. The door was open and I spoke to someone who didn't even apologize or seem concerned this happened. Not a business I'd recommend supporting if they can't be bothered to update their information. Sadly I cannot report back on how the food was. read more

Don't judge a book by its cover. This place is the perfect hole in the wall with amazing decor inside. I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in. The service was great. Our server was so kind and helpful in explaining what we ordered. We had Yucca fries with Garlic Mayo Ketchup. Like omg! I ordered the Cuban Picadillo (my mouth was extremely pleased). My son had the Cuban Sandwich and he loved it. My cousin had the BLT of some sort. She loved it too. It's the perfect place for a date or to show off your amazing taste in food to a friend. The food is fresh and made to order too!! read more

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Big Miss. Ordered a sparkling water brought me an HEB can. Ordered empanadas, tasted like it came from a club store box. No flavor with a side of ketchup. Ordered Cubano, bland, bread was weak, unbuttered. Not any cuban flavor whatsoever..... read more

Ambiance was amazing. Peggy our server was great and helped us with any questions we had about the menu. Jon made us our mocktails and they were delicious. My food was delicious too! There's was rice and beans. My god, the beans and sandwich is my favorite. My friend got their chicken, she is a picky eater, she ate everything. Very happy with our time here. It was R&B Night, will be back. read more

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Ordered sandwiches and waited over 30 minutes for them. The sandwiches were also supposed to come with black beans and rice, but did not. The chips that came with the sandwiches were stale and old. I will not be returning. Came in Tuesday don't need a refund sorry for your hardship. read more

I'll start by saying the atmosphere is great and the waitress was nice although she didn't know what certain things on the menu were. We weren't offered a high chair which made our experience difficult as well. Unfortunately, our food was at best lukewarm, ropa vieja was super rubbery as well. The coffee tasted like cream and coffee mate creamer. We waited a long time for silverware- I had to ask for some again and when it was brought to me it was just loose silverware put on table not in napkins. It was such a bummer to experience. Maybe we went on a bad day considering they have great reviews but spending $60 on such a bad experience and leaving most of our food on the table is tough. read more

Our drink orders were wrong. Refills were never done in timely fashion. After waiting for 40min, we found out our order wasn't put in. Three tables got their food before us, before we complained & then we had to leave. Our lunch break was almost over. read more

We love the ambiance, food and service at Cuba 1918. Their brunch was awesome. Most of all, we're happy to support a local family owned and operated business. read more

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Great food, great service! Loved the atmosphere! Can't wait to return for more live music and karaoke nights.

My wife likes to try new places so she bamboozled me into coming to this side of town. No parking. Why businesses set up shop in areas with no parking is beyond me. Do not park in the back because you'll get towed. Food, well, disappointing. I ordered the "large" Cuban sandwich. I haven't been to Cuba but I've been to Miami which is Cuba but way better. This was not a Cuban sandwich. Go to the Cheesecake Factory at North Star Mall. That's a Cuban sandwich. Asked for dessert quesitos, the only thing they had according to the waiter. She comes back stating sorry we don't even have that. The place is in a shady side of town. Watch out for huge potholes on the way here. The place truly harkens to Havana. Small portions and missing menu items LOL. It's a perfect little restaurant in the wrong place and with cuisine that leaves you wanting. The coffee was ok. The waiter was great. I hate it when owners put nice decent waiters in bad places. Sad. read more

A fantastic experience. The food is amazing, staff are so friendly and helpful, Ana the decor has an authentic feel to it. A great date option. Try the Cuban Sandwich - it's a must! read more

My husband and I were looking for new places to try for our anniversary week and found this one and only Cuban place not too far from home. We came here Sunday after church and did not have a lot of expectations other than trying a new place as we don't want to be disappointed. Cuban food happens to be one of husband favorites while living in Miami. This was a pleasant surprise. All of the food that we ordered( croquettas, ropa vieja, pernil, Cuban sandwich, frijoles) are tasty and authentic. We will definitely come back to try other dishes. read more

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We visited on a Sunday afternoon. Service was great. Waiter recommended the Tour of Cuba, which did not disappoint. The ropa vieja was our favorite. We will be back to try some more dishes. read more

Cuba 1918 - Tour of Cuba - Cuban Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Great atmosphere, really enjoyed the restaurant. The food was good. We were at a slow time but I expect it is very fun in the evening read more

Such a fun and unique place. Beautifully decorated shed a hint of nostalgia. I ordered the ham and cheese tostada, the potatoes were perfection. I was very disappointed though, that my sandwich came with American cheese, I was hoping for a more authentic, white cheese variation rather than what this came with. My friends did enjoy their plates a lot, this encouraged the 4 star on my review. Hope they can change their cheese option for this sandwich though. I hope to be back to try some of their lunch options. read more

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There is only street parking for this Cuban restaurant in the Quintana neighborhood. We went on their first weekend open for business and really enjoyed it. They have outdoor seating as well as indoor. We tried the Cubano sandwiches with a couple sodas and noticed they have some mocktails as well. The sandwiches come with two sides, we tried the red and black beans, white rice and potatoes. The sandwiches and sides were all very tasty. We received our food quickly after ordering. The restaurant itself has the original walls and overall has a feeling like you are stepping into another time. The blue and red lighting is well placed and the music they played all created an inviting atmosphere. We'll definitely go back! read more

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So my wife and I had dinner for Valentine's Day; the dim lights, flowers, and live music were a lovely touch, definitely a vibe for a romantic night. We had the Cuban meal and the steak with mash and asparagus, and our appetizers were beets and shrimp. The beets were beautiful in color, roasted to perfection, and the fried capers gave them a nice salty but sweet flavor. Now, to the shrimp - OMG, the crudo with the grilled shrimp was beautiful, and that strawberry cucumber salad on top of the shrimp was perfect; leaving the head on the shrimp gave it that Gulf Coast flavor, beautiful presentation. The Cuban offering was good, but the steak with the Cuban chimichurri was flavorful; the steak was skimpy, but the mash was amazing, with hints of corn and truffles - how does a mom-and-pop place get truffles? 10/10 on food. The dessert was nice. Now, the service - the waitress had no clue about the menu, I felt a little rushed, my food came out before my apps, and then I had a small buffet at my table, it was okay, but just a little overwhelming. The front-of-house staff needs major work. Overall, it was a nice night, the chef and the owner said hello, that was a nice touch, but I was also confused with all the liquor on the counter, it was not offered. Overall experience: food 10, service 4.5. Will I come back? If the food is that fast and good, I'll be back. read more

Stopped by for a late lunch durning the week. This was my first time visiting after hearing coworkers rave about the food. I was not disappointed. The place is tucked away in an unassuming place. However, once you find it, it's cute, clean and laid back! While I've never been to Cuba, the decor certainly gave that vibe. Our server was very attentive. She made great recommendations. I went with the Viejita Linda, a beef sandwich I chose with potatoes and rice for sides. It was all tasty! The portion size was enough for me to save for lunch the follow day. Noticed the stage and can only imagine the nights they feature live music. I'd definitely would like to return to check this out. read more

Cuba 1918 - Viejita Linda - Cuban Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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The atmosphere has lots of character and history! The staff are warm, friendly and enthusiastic! Last, but not least, the food was so delicious! I highly recommend their new Raspberry & Lavender Sweet Tea! read more

Cuba 1918 - Cuba 1918 . . . this place has character and history! - Cuban Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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I've never been to Cuba but the atmosphere and esthetic gives you that vibe! The food was amazing! It was hot, fresh and delicious! The owner greeted us and chatted with us a bit. She mentioned opening up a couple of places on the block as those buildings have been in her family. The waitress was amazing! She was the only one and had several tables to attend to. You could tell she was getting flustered but she did amazing! We will be back with FRIENDS! read more

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Thursday afternoon we enjoyed a birthday dinner at Cuba 1918; the atmosphere and live music was very comforting and romantic. It was a low-light cozy restaurant. The owner and the wait personnel were very professional and accommodating, respectful, polite and most happy to serve customers. We ordered the traditional fare to try it out, black beans and rice, Cuban ham sandwich, fried plantain, and black bean dip with Yuca chips. Our meal and the hors d'oeuvre were all delicious, and maybe a little too much food. After our meal, we sat listening to the owner sing beautifully a couple of old Latin songs. He has a beautiful voice and is a very talented singer. I hope that you will try eating at this very nice local neighborhood restaurant, and support our local Southside area. I've lived in this area for close to 65 years, and I'm happy to have them close by to enjoy. check it out - cuba1918.com read more

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Food is Cuban. Pricey. Breakfast was good. Cuban style. Different from Mexican. Need to look at ingredients. Had to ask waitress to explain some of the ingredients. Nice waitress. Nice decor and furniture. read more

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excellent vibe ! excellent company and the owners were the moar hospitable, definitely a go to place

We were so excited to find a place within a reasonable range from our home and Kerrville for real deal Cuban food! I was expecting the location to be a little closer to downtown (don't know San Antonio that well) and we even double checked maps to be sure we had the right address. Sure enough, we were at the right place and walked into a very hip little historic space that immediately made me feel I was somewhere in Puerto Rico or Cuba. We had made a reservation, so were seated right away, although at noon on a Saturday, it wasn't terribly busy. It did fill up, though, by the time we left. We started with a couple of Topo Chico's and Cuban coffee. The coffee was incredible... Smooth, sweet, and made me wish my caffeine tolerance would let me indulge in one more. A musician was playing and I can't tell you how much the music added to the experience. He was awesome! We decided to share, the big variety plate of Cuban food plus an extra order of tostones. It was a great way to get a little taste of a lot of things. Our waitress Ivey (sweet young lady) cautioned us that it was not like Miami Cuban food as some people expected but it was good. She was correct! We really enjoyed it and were stuffed at the end. A lot of sandwich plates were coming out and they looked incredible. A Cuban next time, for sure! This is a really cool little out-of-the-way business and I'm so excited that it is doing well. They definitely seem to work hard at it and offer a little slice of Cuba in old San Antonio. read more

Cuba 1918 - Cuba 1918 - Cuban Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

This food was delicious. The outside and area of town you would not expect how cute and cozy it is inside. The entertainment makes this place even better. The service was great also.... A must try!! read more

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- No Cuban sodas - Restaurant more Cuban flair than an Authentic Cuban restaurant Decor is nice - No map of Cuba, cigars, domino table. - Music is old Cuban inspired. Decent. - Cuban sandwiches usually come with croquetas, plátano maduro or tostones. Not white rice black beans. - Cubans do not have hazel in their Cuban coffee. It's Un Cafe, cortadito or cafe con leche only. Usually you eat with Cuban toast. - Cubans do not eat on tostadas. I believe.atmosphere can be great. Service was great, young lady was very attentive. Yuca fries were tasty. Appetizer. Cuban sandwich is more like a Media Moche. White rice more like uncle bens Black beans - Can. Suggestion: Goya seasoned can. Read some of the other comments about staff. Staff was honest and treated us well. Race should not be in the ratings of the quality of the service. If a person serves you well. Great tip them well. Again, my rating is solely based on the Authenticy of being called a Cuban restaurant. Do not want to be negative, but a Cuban is very patriotic and when you call yourself a Cuban descendant, real Cubans will expect nothing less than being 100% Puro Cuban. It's great to have a Cuban influence restaurant in San Antonio but add your roots as well. I believe this is a Puerto Rican, Cuban, Mexican influenced restaurant. read more

Food: 5+ Service: 5+ Ambiance: 5+ This place is absolutely amazing! It's truly a gem on the San Antonio Southside. This is a place that has the ability to transport you to another place and time, while at the same time give you a firm hug or handshake that makes you feel right at home. Upon walking in, they had the live duo playing Havana rhythms on a Sunday afternoon. The soft lighting and music immediately calms you to prepare you for the delicious Cuban eats you are about to experience. The walls, floor, tables, booths, bar, jukebox, fedoras, and centerpieces all contribute to the charming motif that engages your senses and induces a sensation of easier and more relaxing times gone by. The waitress, the owners, and the staff are all super attentive, helpful, and welcoming - the love they put into the place and service should be emulated by all small businesses. They make you feel like you are dining at the chef's table. It was that great of an experience. I even learned a little about the business's social responsibility and special events - such a great attribute to couple the amazing food. Starters - Tostones (lightly salted plantain cakes) Entrees - Havana (shredded pork, salad, white rice, black beans) - Guanajo (turkey and cheese sandwich with cringo rice) Drinks - Lavender Tea sample Dessert - Quesitos (flaky pastry stuffed with cream cheese and guava) Everything was exceptional!! I don't know that I can say much more than that. However, the cringo rice (black beans and rice cooked together), the perfectly toasted Turkey sandwich that had toasted cheese (yum!!), the tostones, and the quesitos have made me a huge fan of this place already! I look forward to coming back and bringing others. If we can't travel to Cuba together, I'll bring Cuba (1918) to them. :-) read more

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The food, the service and the atmosphere were wonderful. We really enjoyed eating here. We will be back again for the Empanadillas and Tiritas! read more

Cuba 1918 - 3 Empanadillas with Guava BBQ Sauce and Maduros - Cuban Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Tried this place out for the first time today and I was blown away! The atmosphere is rustic and gives a real feeling of the culture. The food was incredible. Tostones were crispy and delicious. The best Cubano I have ever had. The roasted pork was magical. And do not leave without trying a cortadito. Everything was amazing and I will be back!! read more

Cuba 1918 - Cubano Sandwich - Cuban Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Jon was attentive and made great suggestions for our table based on our preferences. The food was great. We had the Empanadillas (awesome!), Cubano Sandwich, Tititas de Puerco, Ropa Vieja, Bistec Cubano, and Roasted Sofrito Potatoes. Only the children had some food left on their plate. We will definitely be back again!!! read more

Cuba 1918 - Our server, Jon, was fantastic! - Cuban Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

As a Cuban American from Miami I can say this is by far the most authentic Cuban food in San Antonio. All our plates were delicious, service was great, very attentive, and professional. The restaurant decor made you feel like you were transported to old Cuba. We will definitely be back. read more

Cuba 1918 - Ropa Vieja - Cuban Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

The atmosphere was simply beautiful food was made fresh spoke with the owners who rightfully so take pride in fresh ingredients no canned or left over foods. I will definitely go back family friendly atmosphere a MUST try read more

Cuba 1918 - Beef with rice black beans and salad great portion and super filling - Cuban Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Really enjoyed Cuba 1918! The food and ambiance were great. The Cuban sandwich along with rice and beans was a winner. Inside, the use of reclaimed wood and stone makes for a hip atmosphere. And the owners hire live musicians!!! read more