Second time coming here and unfortunately it wasn't as pleasant as the first. Maybe because we came at dinner as opposed to lunch but for whatever reason it wasn't as good. First off service was terrible. The server was nice but service was extremely slow and they didnt even have utensils for us, we had to ask for it. The menu style seems to have changed too, the layout was not great and text was small and scattered. it was confusing to read because you had to look in various places just to see what came with the order and the selections available. When the food came, the portions were way smaller than i remember. Last time i remember they gave very generous portions, but this time it was noticeably less. they also didn't give us chips which i remember we were given the first time. maybe it was complimentary the first time? but nothing of the sort this round. The food itself was also on the saltier side . Meat portions were a lot less and i didn't feel satisfied after finishing my meal. For the price, it seemed worth it the first time i came, but now for what we were served it's not worth it imo. unfortunately will not be coming back anytime soon unless I'm in the area and decide to give it another chance. read more

Delicious food and great for a low-key family dinner. Great ambiance and service. All of the entrees we've had have been great.

I ordered pollo plate and it had a lor of flavor, the black beans and rice was also on point. Can't wait to go back.

I've been coming here since they opened many years ago and I have to commend them because they just get better and better. Plantains, beans, rice, great flavors, delicious fruit blend drinks. Don't skip the guava drink! Everyone who works here is super nice and helpful. The food often takes a little long to arrive, but it's worth the wait. read more

This is my second time at Cuban Kitchen and the menu changed compared to the first time I came over a year ago. We were luckily able to get seating on a Saturday during the lunch crowd. Between myself and family, we ordered salad bowls. I would recommend the plates instead. The prices for the salad bowls were a bit overpriced for the amount that was given. I would have expected more lettuce and meat. The payment method is new because you scan the QR code on the receipt and follow the prompts on your phone to pay followed by a survey. read more

See all

I have gotten take out here a couple of times now and have tried enough of the menu to finally make an informed review. Overall, the restaurant is accurately rated on help as of the time of writing - 4.4 stars. I personally would give it 4.5 stars (so we round up to 5.0)! There are a few misses in my opinion but there are also some fabulous hits! Let me explain: AMAZING FOOD: -Cubano sandwich: 5/5. Probably the best thing on the menu and is worth everytime. My go to is to get a sandwich and split it with someone as an "appetizer". -Maduros: 5/5. If you enjoy plantains, definitely worth getting an extra side! -Lechon: 5/5. juicy pork, well marinated, full of flavor. Definitely a staple! -Ropa Vieja 5/5. Slow cooked braised beef. Amazing. A tad spicy. -Congri 5/5. Worth the $1 upgrade. Misses: -Empanadas 3.5/5: the mushroom & Feta one was solid. If you like empanadas, they are still good, but definitely not the highlight. -Mojito Chicken 3/5: was a bit dry the couple times we ordered. I know this also doesn't carry well during take out. -Vegetables (broccoli & mushrooms) 3/5: Just a bit bland and an after thought. Feels healthy to eat, but nothing amazing here. BIG BONUS: they have a rewards system that lets you accumulate points to redeem for $$ off! Just an additional perk for dining at one of our local restaurants! read more

The food quality and flavor profile of their food is unmatched. I'm obsessed with this place and highly recommend! Cuban sandwich and lechon bowl with plantains are my go to. read more

Sooo good! The food is full of flavor!! Got the pollo pimenton and the Bistec plate. Both tasty and portion size is perfect! Staff very friendly. Will be back! read more

Ordered my food to go, cubano sandwich and chips and guacamole as the sandwich came with no sides. Now I know California and Bay Area prices but to me for the amount of chips in that bag, I think there could have been more. That being said the guacamole was amazing, the sandwich was great, and I will go back. Also service, even though it was a to go order was top notch, and both the indoor and outdoor ambiance was wonderful. read more

Tried their lunch because of the high rating and maybe I ordered the wrong thing but everything was just bland. I ordered the pollito mojito with broccoli and mushroom sides. I didn't detect any marinade in the chicken, the onions tasted like they were sauteed in salt and the broccoli could have been just steamed. The cha-cha-churri was also bland and while the Guabanero BBQ sauce definitely added flavor, it reminded me of when I was a poor college kid adding store bought BBQ sauce to all my dishes just to spruce up an otherwise boring meal. Tostones arrived cold and soggy. read more

We ordered a delivery from grubhub. It costed quite a bit, but we really wanted cuban food. The delivery was pretty good We also ordered some sides. The sides are too damn expensive the three fried okras are $3, really? Come on bro or sis it is disappointing. The sandwiches and sides are nevertheless delicious (i.e 好吃). Will order again but just sandwiches, and probably not delivery. read more

See all

Great food, great service. All the other reviews are spot on! Everything you'd want from a Cuban restaurant.

Cozy location in San Mateo, indoor and outdoor seating available. Food was so good, with a touch of love, fresh and hot at your table. Service was top notch, staff was very attentive! Def my favorite Cuban spot to go to! read more

See all

I've been ordering from here for the past few months and the food is always fresh, healthy, and delicious. The beans and plantains especially are so good! Would highly recommend. read more

Lunch reservations made for a small retirement party. Appreciated the convenience of the parking lot. First off, we received great service. The waiter was friendly, answered questions, and offered recommendations. Most of my coworkers ordered the bowls and noted that they liked their meals. Appreciated that they had vegetarian and vegan options as well. I went with the Vacafrita platter with broccoli and mushrooms, which also came with sweet bananas. I enjoyed the dish and the low carb option. The shredded meat was flavorful on its own and even better with the various sauces they had available. The owner also came over to welcome us and treated us to the fried yucca (hot and crispy, great little appetizer) and the guava turnover (flaky and not too sweet). Great experience during our get-together to send our coworker off with well wishes. read more

Cuban Kitchen - Vaca Frita (Pan-Fried Shredded Beef & Grilled Onions) w/ Broccoli & Mushroom - Cuban Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

Walk into the Cuban Kitchen and you become family INSTANTLY. The owner is amazing, the food is amazing. They have a deal during mid morning/afternoon with half sandwiches. I'm not a coffee drinker at all. I had their coffee and I fell in love. This place is a MUST! read more

Absolutely delicious food served in a friendly, relaxed, neighborhood eatery ambiance. You can taste the love and care.

Amazing service! The food was 5 star quality!! I've been searching for a Cuban place for years and finally found one that is by far the best I have ever had! The staff is super friendly and they are very quick too! Drinks came out in seconds and the food was served within minutes from the time we placed our orders! The chef/owner even came out to greet us in the end to have a conversation about how our dining experience was. We told him it was by far the best we have ever had! I highly recommend this place! We will definitely be back! read more

See all

Today, is the 1st of October. Fall has descended and arrived. I saw this more than a few times, and wanted to check-it-out. Today is the day. I'm in San Mateo today. I'm here at Cuban Kitchen this Afternoon. I'm here for the Mojito Chicken with Sofrito, it's a one of a kind dish. Chicken thighs seasoned with a homemade 24 Hour citrus-garlic sounds real good. The Chicken was cooked to perfection, moist, and kinda smoky. I really like how the Veggies were cooked Al dente. This kinda reminds me of a Cuban version of Fajita. This might sound funny, but the Beans reminds me of what I get in a Chicken Ragout or Lagu Gà, something not so common out there, but I grew up with. And the best part, was the fried Plantains. I like how I didn't have to ask for Sauce, they brought out all different types for me right away. I also had to get a Jupiña Cuban soda, this was the first time I had a Cuban style Pineapple soda, and it was refreshing. I was thinking this was going to be a 3.9-4.3 stars, but I give this 4.4 stars out of 5 stars. It was just executed so well. read more

See all

We had 8 minutes to make it so only option was to-go orders. Missing out wasn't an option. The food: there is just as much or more flavor than the beautiful colors of the food. When they say aromatic white rice somehow that becomes a burst of yummy flavor for your tastebuds. Everything we got was delicious!!! The food was fire! The customer service from Frank was exceptional. I hope everyone spreads the word on the gem of a locally owned restaurant. Support local! read more

See all

I'm a sucker for Cuban food. We were meeting up with a friend and thought this place would suffice. It looks like an old diner revival. A cozy joint that has indoor and outdoor seating. We asked the cashier what is the best thing to order. She said the lechon and the Cuban sandwich. I can verify the best thing to order here is the Cuban sandwich $13.99. Although I didn't like the fact that it was ala carte (aka sides cost extra). The salad was mediocre. Dressing felt like it was lacking something. So I reached for the cream sauces and that seemed to perk things up. The lechon was ok, but I felt it needed something. The sauces saved that dish. The fries were tasty. The service was nice, although the cashier forgot to add the sandwich. She quickly corrected it. The owner was very helpful in explaining what dishes customers should order. read more

See all

So so so good! I had "ropa vieja" sandwich (Cuban po' boy). Awesome flavor from the tender braised flank steak and stewed tomatoes. It was delicious but quite wet, and my bread got soggy after a while. I would recommend ropa vieja as a plate over a sandwich because of how wet it is. Of the sauces, "cienfuegos" was my favorite and not nearly as spicy as I was expecting. You're greeted with fruity sweetness with a very slow, low burn to set in later from the habanero. "Guava habanero BBQ" sauce was deliciously fruity but too sweet for my taste. Fried plantain was awesome! It's hard to go wrong with fried plantain. For dessert we had the cheesecake with guava sauce! Super delicious, an explosion of fruity flavor. The only drawback is that the slice is not big enough. The staff was very nice and patient with us despite being slammed with orders even as early as 5pm on a Saturday. Some staff wore masks, others did not. We want to come back for sure. Cuban Kitchen is one of the few places where my husband and I are already dreaming about what we want to order on our next visit before we've finished the food in front of us! read more

See all

Everything we had was absolutely amazing I would recommend the surf and turf sandwich ,the owner was also amazing let us try all the meats which I thought would help narrow down my decision on what to order but it didn't every meat was great go an see for yourself and thank me later... read more

Food was flavorful and deliciously seasoned. The sandwich cubano was the best I've had. It's authentic little spot. The the mojito chicken was tender and tasted like it been marinated for 48 hours! Rice and beans is the go-to side! The drinks -lemonade and sangria were both pretty good! Recommend and will keep in mind for future visits! read more

Great food and fantastic service. Family feeling right when you walk in. The offerings did not disappoint at all and so delicious. We had the vaca frito and rhe lechon plate. And the guava dessert to go with the coffee. There other authentic Cuban restaurants like the real one in San Jose (a must go to Cuban resto) but this place can get your cravings met and the lechon and Cuban sandwhich are okay. read more

I love this place! It's super casual, and the food is delicious. The staff is friendly and the service is always great. I highly recommend the Vaca Frita--it is so, so good--and dip it in a mixture of Guantanamo Sauce and Cienfuegos Sauce. Amazing! read more

We came here for lunch on a weekday and there was no wait to be seated. I got a Cubano and a wrap with pulled pork to share with my partner. I love that they offer full size sauce bottles for you to drizzle on each bite if you wish. They were all very flavorful and tasty and I was really happy to find that although some of them had a kick, all were tolerable for me since I can't eat overly spicy. My favorite was the aioli sauce. The Cubano was definitely the winner between the two items we ordered. The bread was perfectly grilled and crispy and stuffed with ham, pork, cheese and some pickles. I would have liked more pickles or pickled onion in it as there wasn't quite enough acid but overall it was a very tasty sandwich and a good portion size. The wrap was tasty as well although a bit more messy with a ton of meat and sauce. The pulled pork was on the sweeter side. They have a lunch deal for a half sandwich with a side for $9 and I'll have to get this next time because the fries looked amazing. Plenty of seating inside and outside and there's a lot right next door so no need to search for street parking. Service was very friendly and fast. read more

Cuban Kitchen - Cuban Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

Attentive service and the meals were delicious. Ambiance felt very much like a mom and pop shop where everything was made fresh and the people were friendly. It was never crowded rather it was frequented, with people picking up to-go orders, having a solo meal, or using the patio to have a meal with their SO and their pup. I dislike crowds, and I also am wary of empty restaurants. This place doesn't have those issues. The vibe is just right. Now the food. The maduros were excellent. I had a small side like 1-2 with my meal and immediately had to order more. A couple was not enough! The classic Cubano hit the spot, and the chicken bowl was a very homey and comforting dish. The sauces in the bottles added flavor to the dishes, however they were too mild, and we had to order a side of diced jalapeños to hit the heat level we were craving. The guava cheesecake was also delightful. Parking was a breeze even on a Saturday thanks to their lot next door. Cuban Kitchen is a down-to-earth place for a weekend lunch with a friend, loved one, or family. I plan to return regularly for the food and service. read more

Ordered a Cubano to go and I ate it in the car. When I finished I went back in and Ordered 3 more! Delicious. read more

Cuban Kitchen - CUBANO. - Cuban Near Me - San Mateo, California

Re their Cubano sandwich: The bread was soggy with thinly sliced lunchmeat. We thought it was terrible. Poor quality. What happened? 4-5 years ago it was a great memorable sandwich. I threw most of it away...that bad. Waste of my money. read more

Probably one of the best Cuban spots in the Bay Area. The food was delicious and the service was amazing. I ordered the Pollito Mojito plate and devoured every ounce. The chicken was flavorful and buttery smooth to digest. The onions were flavorful as well. I'm surprised I finished the rice--I usually never finish my rice from platters. The beans were so good and the pickled onions on top of it made it even more amazing. Definitely, will be coming back to try more dishes. I felt super satisfied with my visit today. read more

See all

This place is so good!!! I get the bowl or platter every time and my fiance always gets a sandwich, and every single thing we've tried has been so good, every single time! Cute ambiance as well and has its own parking! Good service and good food. 10/10 read more

This place always hits the spot. Just tried the confirm rice, so good with the vacca fritta and broccoli mushroom plate. I love that they included 2 fried banana too. We get a side of rice, beans and bananas for the little one and side of yucca fries to share. read more

Wow! Who knew? We definitely didn't. Cuban Kitchen has been in my bookmarks for the longest and today is the day we finally got to try them! :) We ordered the Best Cuban Sandwich, Ropa Vieja plate with rice and beans, small side of Maduros, and an iced Cortadito. We opted to sit outside since the sun was shining and the rest of the patrons were dining inside. The plants added a lovely ambience. We were imagining we were in Cuba or Little Havana in Miami. (haha x)) Everything tasted so delicious! Our server, Perla, was kind and welcoming! She even brought out a sample of lechon for us to try because we were having a hard time deciding earlier. The lechon was SO juicy! We will definitely come back for the food as well as Perla's stellar customer service! Oh and the saaaauuuuceee! They have a great assortment of sauces and you can even buy a few bottles to take home. I definitely recommend Cuban kitchen to try some authentic Cuban food. read more

Cuban Kitchen - Cuban Shredded Beef Stew - Ropa Vieja plate, the the "Best" Cubano S'wich, Maduros, and Iced Cortadito - Cuban Near Me - San Mateo, California

Based on other reviews decided to try this restaurant. My friend and I found the food to be too greasy. All I could taste was oil. Will not go back read more

I've tried the classic Bistec sandwich twice here and both times I liked it. The bread is very soft. I liked the pickled onions, lettuce, and tomato, and they also have crunchy potato sticks that are very fun to eat. The beef are cut in small strips and they tend to fall out of the sandwich when I eat it. The sandwich also has an aioli sauce called Guantanamo with a hint of jalapeño. I love aiolis so I thought this was great. You order via phone (website) or at the front. read more

The moment I walked in I was kindly greeted, then when sat I had the best meat I have had in SF so far. VERY great place! Great food and it is clean! 10/10! read more

Came here late last night with my wife. We ordered the Ropa Vieja platter (though according to the reply below, we received Vaca Frita instead) and the Philly Bistec sandwich. The meat on the platter was good, but the rice was quite bland and the broccoli was tasteless and included crunchy bits of the stem, feeling like it had barely been cooked. The sandwich was quite nice but my wife felt the bread was a bit soggy and could have been crunchier. The waitress was lovely and very welcoming, but did not seem to know the menu very well as we had to point out what we wanted on the paper menu while she put it in her handheld device. Perhaps the device and paper menu don't show exactly the same things? She had to ask a colleague for clarification. The price was also on the higher side. read more

Cuban Kitchen - Vaca Frita platter, with Congrí and Broccoli Mushroom sides - Cuban Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

"I love my curves and I embrace them." -Eva Mendes Hoy! I love Cuban Kitchen! The Latina owned small restaurant in the barrio of San Mateo! It's on "the original highway" of El Camino Real so it's really not hard to miss! Just look for that Cuban Kitchen sign! Kudos to all the strong Latina women out there! This review is long overdue as my visits were during COVID times when take-out was the only option, but Cuban Kitchen made it easy for me. I placed my orders on separate occasions via online. Parked in the lot and someone, including the owner, would happily bring it out to me. I really enjoyed the Pollito Mojito w/ Beans & Rice, Maduros, Mint-Mojito! The Garlic Chicken seasoned nicely, still very succulent, and tasty. Beans & Rice on-point, but the Maduros (Plantain) was the star of the show... as I side dish it had me wanting more weeks later! MmMint-Mojito! Lynna Martinez is the founder and owner of Cuban Kitchen, a dream since childhood has become reality in San Mateo. Opened since 2015, the journey actually began years before, including stops as a banker and crew member at Chipotle. Her degree in Economics and study in the Culinary Arts set the backbone for completing her dreams. And like most minorities she literally gave up everything just to have an opportunity to succeed in life. In the end, I highly recommended Cuban Kitchen in San Mateo. It's a fast-casual restaurant that offers authentic Cuban foods. It's not fancy by any means, but as someone who has traveled several times to the Caribbean, I can confidently say... MUY BUENO! read more

See all

Oh my goodness the food is so delicious! We got the Cubano and a vaca frita plate, 2 empanadas, iced coffee, mint mojito, and 2 guava pasties can't wait to come back ! Come here and eattttt read more