We loved the atmosphere and the food! The owner introduced herself and made us feel welcome! I highly recommend! read more

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

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From the moment I stepped into this spot I felt the cook vibe, like I was now a member of a secret cool club. The place itself looks like a rowdy cantina but at the same time a romantic spot waiting to set dreams on fire. The menu is packed with so many options they set aside a section for vegan options, a second section for sweets and dedicated a page to just coffees. My goodness! The staff is pretty cool too. Soft spoken with as many smiles as suggestions, they are very happy to help. I started with the lavender and strawberry tea which was a fantastic cold serve. It complimented the savory Cuban sandwich nicely. The Yuka fries were a great starter, I recommend the small as it will serve well as an appetizer for four people. The Cuban was really flavorful, the meats were tender and the flavors were well balanced. I look forward to returning to try the Havana plate... And hopefully a dessert. They have a Friday jazz night that sells the place out so it might be best to make a reservation ahead of time. read more

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Went to try a Cafecito and Cortadito.... It was great! We also had the guava and cheese questions which were delicious! The ambiance was great. There was only one other table of customers at the time and the music was perfect for the gray Saturday morning. The owner was friendly and you can see the passion he has We would definitely return! read more

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I loved the ambiance. Very clean and classic vibe. There was more flair than authentic Cuban food. The waitress boasted it will be the best Cuban Sandwich, but sadly, it was one of the worst. They used pulled pork vs roasted sliced pork, which caused the sandwich to become very soggy. I could not finish eating it. The waitress then argued with me, saying that the bread is supposed to be soft and soggy. Mi abuela in Miami would have thrown a plate if you served her soggy bread. My companions BLT was perfect, with a good portion of bacon. The Maduros were sweet with a slight crisp. I would have been willing to return to try other items until the waitress tried gaslighting me into believing authentic Cuban sandwiches are soggy. read more

Located in the Southside of San Antonio and in an area that you probably would not think a place like this would be there, but this up and coming part of the city offers this amazing Cuban restaurant. The decor, ambiance, and small details in the place make you think you are in a Cuban Restaurant in Miami. Oh, and let's talk about the food... Why the heck have I not been here before? And if you haven't been, what are you waiting for? We went for a late lunch and we were greeted by a very nice young man, John. He explained the menu and was able to tell us about the best sellers. He was able to answer our questions about the place, menu, past & upcoming events, and he was our barista. I had Tiritas de puerco (pork belly) that was seasoned just right and offered the right crispiness. It was served with salad, rice, and black beans. My husband had the Cuban sandwich, which was like the one he recently had in Miami. It was very tasty and authentic...yummo! Once we finished our meal, we topped the experience with Cuban coffee and dessert. The coffee was strong and sweetened just right. The quesito dessert was lightly crisp and filled with cheese and guava. It was a great pairing that complimented the coffee. We are already planning our next visit and look forward to attending one of their special events. read more

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Cute hidden Jem in Sa!! Everything was made fresh. Got to met the owner and the history behind the restaurant but it's very unique and neatly designed read more

Cuba 1918 - Cuban Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Outstanding food and service. Came for lunch - ordered the Havana plate. So much attention to detail - a delicious and tasty meal. Friendly, attentive service. We will be back and plan on becoming a regular! read more

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From the outside it doesn't look like much. But wait till you walk in. Gorgeous! Friendly people. The owner was welcoming and kind. The food was fresh and hot. The coffee was amazing also. I had the cubano sandwich. Crunchy bread, pork, ham...great combo. We had a few appetizers. Everything was delicious. Look at the website for live music dates read more

Definitely the place to go for Cuban sandwiches and yucca fries. The ambiance is really nice. The parking is side street and the seating can accommodate medium sized parties (5-6). Everyone enjoyed their food which was a little bit slow in coming, but it was fresh and delicious. If I'm in the area I will visit again to try more dishes. read more

Cuba 1918 - Cuban Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

As a cuban person, this is not what cuban food should look like or be made like 0/10. Clearly, not owned by real authentic Cubans

Went for an event, so there were a lot of people being taken care of. Nonetheless, service was still prompt and super friendly. Food was delicious and proportions were large. There was live music which was really nice. Atmosphere is warm and friendly. read more

We had dinner here tonight for our anniversary and it was absolutely lovely! The lighting in dim but bright enough to see and the music was loud enough to hear but quiet enough to have a comfortable conversation. We met the owner Ray, he was very kind and excited about what they are doing there which I loved. All the food is prepped every morning fresh, and it shows. All the furniture in the restaurant is also either handmade or refurbished by the family and it's beautiful. The food filled me with joy! We started with the empanadas , it comes with 1 roasted beef and 1 roasted pork with guava bbq sauce. I had the Tour of Cuba plate which has a little of almost everything on it. Every bite is full of flavor and the meat was tender and juicy. The mojo on the fried plantains was to die for. The only thing I would have preferred to be different would have been for the sweet plantains to be cooked down a little more. But that's just personal preference. We also had an espresso before hand which was delicious. This is definitely my my new favorite place! read more

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Friendly. Authentic. Soon as you walk in, you're taken back to Cuba (old country). Great food!! Live music! Definitely will be returning read more

Cuba 1918 - Cubano. Rice. Potatoes. (Sorry, I don't know the Latin name) - Cuban Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

So tasty! After getting addicted to Cuban food when we lived in Florida, my husband and I were thrilled when we finally found a Cuban place in San Antonio. It's a bit far from us to eat there frequently, but whenever we're in the area, we're definitely gonna stop by and have their fantastic, Florida-reminiscent food. And their Havana Nights every Wednesday sound like a blast! Maybe one day we'll make it back down to the South Side to check it out for ourselves! read more

The service was great. The waiter was working very hard to get things out and very humble. In regards to the food. It was ok for casera Cuban food but was very bland. The Cuban sandwich is passable but the pork has no flavor if you order the dish. If the owner reads this ... I recommend you add mojo to the pork. Back to review.... It's a humble family restaurant that has so much possibilities. I would recommend for one of the chefs to go To Miami and try some there ... like la carreta miami.... Etc. bring that to San Antonio you will have to add another building. Over all great energy and people read more

Great place! Atmosphere amazing! Food was delicious!! I would definitely recommend this place to everyone! read more

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This place is delightful and delicious! Staff are very friendly and informative on the menu. All the food we ordered tasted amazing. We are definitely coming back! read more

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Food and Service were great!! Love the ambiance. Beautiful decor. Parking not great, but very glad we went.

The food is very delicious and the portions are really big for how much you pay. The waitstaff is also very friendly and helpful with suggestions on coffee and what to try. I also really liked the building itself, the walls were beautiful. Parking is a challenge but worth it to have the food. They also have live music on the weekends, I wish we had found this place earlier. read more

Cuba 1918 - Hours and information - Cuban Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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What an amazing experience. From the restoration of the space to the beautiful wood furniture to the live DJ, we felt transported to a tasty street on the Cuban island. We were lucky to have the owner share his and his wife's reason-for-being and the story of his nanny - the Cuban influencer of his youth. We had a wonderful spread of apps (Yucca Fries, Empanaditas and Tostones (MUST get extra green salsa/pico to go with this). We learned about the top dishes to try and he was NOT WRONG! WOW. Tiriditas - this grade A pork belly takes you to places your senses have forgotten existed. Ropa vieja - absolutely divine recipe of the country's most famous entree...a balanced savory-slightly smoky-touch of sweet tender yet toothy brisket. The Cuban sandwich - curated authentic Cuban pan with tender roast pork, ham, and well, all the balanced flavors to make each bit perfect. Oh, don't forget to close out with a Cuban quesito and cup of Cubano - truly, the tender crust of the guava-cream cheese pastry and the balanced yet punchy espresso pulled with sugar was/is the right ending (or beginning) of your visit. Every - absolutely everything - is made to order and with their personal recipes. I believe every recipe has a story...theirs tastes as good as it sounds. read more

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The restaurant is cute and only hold about 8 tables so it very intimate, also dog friendly they do have a patio area. I got the Cuban coffee, very tasty, the fresh guava refresher is a must ! We ordered the Cuban Caesar salad ( 2 thumbs up ) The jamón con queso was with sofritas potatoes was perfect with the salad and the main course the ropa vieja , black beans and congrí rice ( black beans and white rice mix together) over all I will definitely be back. Cuban approved by a Cuban native read more

First time eating at Cuba 1918 and will definitely be returning. A couple of my friends and I came on Sunday for their buffet. They had a great selection of food and everything was absolutely delicious. The ambiance was so warm and inviting and you could tell everyone was enjoying their experience. Great coffee selection and it is also BYOB at this time. I encourage everyone to give this charming place a try, I'm positive you won't be disappointed. read more

Oh, this place seems to take you back to Cuba. It was a great visit for my family since they're Cuban. The cortado was delicious, along with all the appetizers we had. The ambiance was classic and clean. The service was quick and hospitable. I would highly recommend you visit this place for a great plate of food topped with fantastic service. It's a must visit! read more

I wanted to like this place. Now, I understand that at a Cuban spot you order the Cuban sandwich, but I cannot eat pork. I asked the waiter for a non pork recommendation. He suggested the ropa vieja sandwich with beans and rice. The sandwich was so bland and dry. No flavor. It barely got through half of it. Rice and beans were also bland. Table only had salt and pepper so I used some salt to get something in my stomach before I had to head back to work. I got a Cuban coffee to go, thankfully they had almond milk. It was whatever also. Needless to say I won't be back. I had to be in that area for work and there are limited spots to eat around there so I was hopefully about this place. When the check came it was almost $30. The website lists lunch prices but the menu I was given didn't have lunch options. I feel so silly having dropped $30+ dollars for a meal that was bland and not worth it at all. Service was top notch and interior was nice. read more

Wow we tried this place for lunch the other day. The empanadas were to die for maybe the best we ever had. We had a great sandwich. The owner gave us a history of the building. Very cool we will be back for more. read more

The interior is small, with maybe five tables plus bar seating. But it has a great vibe and the original walls from 1918. Additional outside seating is also available. The Cuban coffee was dark, syrupy, and perfect. The Cubano had a tasty filling, but the soft bun wasn't even close to authentic. It came with your choice of two sides and I had the black beans (good but not great) and sofrito potatoes (excellent). My husband had the picadillo with red beans and rice. He said the beef needed more cumin, but still was very good. I thought his red beans were more flavorful than the black. Wednesday nights will have an expanded dinner menu and live music, reservations recommended. Service was top notch. Free street parking. read more

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The food was delicious I was so excited to try their empanadas. I'll be back to try all their appetizers. The coffee was delicious and the food was served fast. I loved the ambiance! read more

The ambiance was lovely, the service was attentive, and the appetizers were quite good. However, the main dishes left much to be desired. I ordered the tiras de puerto, hoping for a flavorful and crispy dish. Unfortunately, it fell short on several fronts. The portion size was small, the dish was too greasy, and it lacked the desired crispiness. The rice did not have Cuban taste. it tasted like brown rice instead. The excessive amount of salad on the plate felt unbalanced. Considering the quality and quantity of food, the price seemed on the higher side. My husband opted for the bistec, which also had its drawbacks. While the meat was tender, it was disappointingly thin. The flavor was decent, but nothing exceptional. Again, the rice was the same as mentioned earlier, and the overwhelming presence of salad made the plate feel incomplete. In conclusion, while has its merits such as a pleasant ambiance, good service, and tasty appetizers, the main dishes were lacking in terms of portion size, flavor balance, and value for money. There is room for improvement, especially regarding the quality and variety of main course options. read more

The establishment prepared a special menu for my function. The owner came out and gave us the history of the establishment and how they use fresh ingredients (nothing pre made or from a can). The food was amazing. We will return. read more

Had breakfast at this Cuban gem. Authentic Cuban scenery. Great food! Service is really good! Great experience, must check out!!

we came in close to closing and they still decided to seat us , a party of 5 at that. John, our server was incredible. He went above and beyond and made us feel very comfortable. And not to mention THE FOOD was AMAZING authentic Cuban food. We tried the Cuban sandwich and it exceeded our expectations. We will absolutely be back and be telling everyone about this amazing hole in the wall! read more

Delicious breakfast! I had the Havana Sunrise: 2 eggs, avocado, toast with guava jam, and potatoes. Perfect cortadito (espresso with milk and sugar)! Sounds crazy, but the potatoes are exceptionally good! Perfectly cooked, with paprika, garlic and other spices. The atmosphere feels like walking into a Havana restaurant. Original stucco walls, high ceiling. read more

The only reason this place is receiving four starts is because in the beginning the service took a while. But once we ordered the waiter was super attentive and respectful. Food was amazing, I definitely recommend getting the ropa vieja, super delicious. Also the strawberry banana juice and the guava juice was excellent as well. Today was a Thursday so there wasn't any live music but the music from the radio was still very relaxing and set the ambiance very nicely. Very dim and chill with a jukebox inside. Overall: this place is definitely worth a try! read more

A great spot on the southwest side of town! Getting me ready for my Miami trip! Excellent space and food portions are tremendous. read more

Cuba 1918 - Red beans and the Cubano! - Cuban Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

This is a lovely hidden gem for Cuban delight. I wanted to try something new and have never tried Cuban cuisine. The service is great and the ambience is perfect, from the vintage peeled walls, to the piano and the bar. Rey came to our table to greet us and it made me remember that Latin American culture is about sharing and caring for the other by delivering the best food possible. Thank you for a lovely evening and great food. read more

Cuba 1918 is definitely a hidden gem. The food was amazing and the service was excellent! Mikayla was our server and she went above and beyond making sure our orders were correct (we had a large party) despite how busy they were. The music was superb and added the perfect ambiance to our experience. This is definitely a place we plan to visit more often. read more

Best Cuban Resturant in Texas! Excellent food, service, and authenticity! Highly Recommend Cuba 1918 for Cuban Food. read more

Great food and service. Enjoyed the Picadillo dish with strawberry/lavender tea. Parking was easy

My family was so excited to try this Cuban restaurant. Unfortunately, we left extremely disappointed (and I left hungry). The restaurant is overflowing with SO much potential. The staff are friendly and professional and the ambiance is stellar, hence the 3 stars. The building and interior exemplifies old world charm at its best. Apparently, they have live music events, which I can imagine is truly a treat given the setting. With all this being said, in my opinion, the food is sub-par and service was excruciatingly slow. We were prepared to wait since it was a Sunday afternoon, and perhaps if the food had been better, the wait would've been less painful. However, this was not the case. It started to go down hill when our appetizer finally arrived and it was not what we ordered. Our server was apologetic and quickly tried to rectify the mistake (which we appreciated). After being seated for approximately 45 minutes, my husband's order came out. We all encouraged him to eat and not wait for the rest of us. This ended up being a great idea since it took another 20-25 minutes before my son's burger came out. Again, I told him not to wait for me. Another 10 minutes passed before my food finally came out, only to discover it was not what I had ordered. I had been excited to see an extensive vegan menu and ordered the vegan piccadillo entree. Instead, they brought me a pulled pork dish. Initially, the server claimed it was meant for another table (even though the restaurant was pretty bare at this point). We then realized the plate was sent back to the kitchen and they were planning to start to prepare my correct order. At this point, we just gave up and asked them not to bother. We were beyond ready to leave, and I did not eat. We paid our bill and generously tipped our kind server. As we left, we noticed so many tables with dirty dishes sprawled all over, including a few tables that had not been bussed since our arrival at the restaurant 2 hours prior. I'm hoping this was due to staff shortages and is not the norm. Speaking of shortages, my husband's steak had 2 or 3 slivers of onion, and my son's burger which clearly indicated it would be topped with onions, had none. We paid $2.00 extra for avocado to be added to his burger, for it to only have a tiny smear of avocado. When we arrived, we were told there were no yuca or empanadas, so ingredients were clearly scarce. I do not like leaving poor reviews. I'm hoping my review helps Cuba 1918 make much needed improvements so it can maximize its potential, become very successful and be around for many years to come. read more

I really wanted to like this place but unfortunately I was very dissapointed. The food is average at best and the service was horrible. Had enough time for dessert and coffee but the waitress was too busy setting up tables for customers that were not there yet completely forgot the ones already there. Maybe next time. NOT! read more