amazing cuban, legit. satisfied idk what other review said about it being dry juicy and authentic read more

This review is from the last time I had oxtails here before they took them off the menu and subsequently closed. I visit Havana Grill whenever I want some tasty oxtail.  I noticed oxtail was one of the specials.  Last time I visited the oxtail was on the regular menu and you could order it anytime. Oxtail was extremely tender and juicy.  The mix of beef flavor and the spices in the sauce were delicious.  This is my favorite oxtail dish in town. French fries were crisp and had a delicious fried flavor.  The oil was fresh and there was no aftertaste.  Excellent fries. Pineapple upside down cake was dense and did not have a fresh baked aura.  The outside part was starting to harden like it was getting stale so I guess it was baked at least a day ago.  Cake had a mostly mild flavor.  I didn't taste the pineapple though the top was lined with it.  I did taste a ton of ginger flavor.  It appears pieces of ginger were mixed in with the pineapple.  I love ginger as part of soy/ginger seasoning for fish but not in a cake.  This is one of the worst pineapple upside down cakes I have had.  My favorite is at Roy's where you have to give them 30 minute notice and they bake it to order.  Roy's version was piping hot out of the oven, was moist and fluffy, with amazing pineapple flavor. Staff provided fast and friendly service. read more

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As someone with Cuban heritage, Havana Grill has always been a place that felt comforting and familiar to me. In the past, I've had some really great meals and experiences there, which is why this review is difficult to write. Unfortunately, during my most recent visit to the Clairemont Mesa location, the food quality was noticeably different from what I remembered. Several items tasted stale, cold, and as though they had been reheated. The beans were mushy and lacked flavor, and the plantains seemed old and not freshly prepared. Overall, the meal felt below the standard I had experienced there before. I'm sharing this not to criticize harshly, but because I genuinely remember this restaurant being much better and I hope they can return to the quality and freshness that made the place special in the past. I truly want to see them succeed and improve because there is a lot of potential there. read more

This was my first time trying Havana Grill. My Bf loves Cuban food and the man wanted a sandwich. I've had Cuban food here and there but not to the point where I have a favorite dish (yet), so I kinda don't know what is worth trying/would blow my mind. Personally, I did not know what to get. So I just got the Sampler Platter just to try different things, and My bf got the Hot Cuban. I also saw a pistachio latte written on the blackboard so ordered that as well. The Pistachio latte was okay, it wasn't bad. But nothing special and I probably wouldn't order it again. The sampler platter came with one big empanada, a couple Tostones, a couple ham croquettes, sweet plantains, Yuca Fries, plantain chips and a big ball of Papa Rellena. Everything was good, I liked the ham croquettes the least. I am not sure if it was supposed to taste sour? That threw me off. I wish it came with some sauce for dipping! I guess ask for some sauce otherwise there's ketchup and mustard on the self service counter. There was a garlic oil that came with my bf's sandwich, i'm not sure if that was supposed to be for the platter though. But I feel like some green mojo sauce would have been perfect. I had a bite of my bf's hot cuban - not bad. I thought the meat was really tender and juicy. Bf thought it was okay as well, but stated that he wouldn't order the same thing next time. His sandwich also comes with the plantain chips. We both liked the plantain chips. The atmosphere was lovely though! Beautiful inside. We took a menu from the counter and grabbed a table. When we decided on what to get, we just ordered at the counter and were given a number to bring back to the table. I saw a display case of delicious looking desserts/pastries. Did not get to try these since we were full already. Overall not a bad experience. I just hate the parking here :( read more

Havana Grill - Sampler Platter and Hot Cuban - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

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Sad to say this location was closed. Found a closed noticed on the building. This was one of my favorites here in SD read more

Havana Grill - Closed notice on building - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

I can't believe it's my first time eating here. The servers were so friendly and professional. I liked the Cuban vibe and music playing. Parking was easy too. So many great choices on the menu. Everything was delicious! My friend got the papa rellena which she raved about. She also loves the soup. Reminds me of home cooked soup. I ordered the Piccadillo empanada and the classic with plantain chips. It came with a garlic butter sauce that was addicting. read more

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I've dined in once and ordered to-go a handful of times. Quick and friendly service. I haven't tried the main dishes and usually just order sides. Plantain chips are crisp and perfectly salted but $6 now is very steep. Picadillo empanada has a lot of flavor and I'd order it again. The mojo sauce is delicious but the to-go mojo containers are barely filled so request extras if you need to. I've ordered the plantains before but my box literally had 4 small pieces inside so I'm too scared to ever order it again. The reason for the 3 stars is the package & handling tax. I have never seen this ever in my entire life, at any food establishment. Is this new here? Or have I just never noticed it before. What blows my mind is that the tax is charged but cutlery/napkins aren't even automatically included, they had asked me if I wanted them upon arrival to pick up my order. And then their tablet system asks for a tip, lol. I can't even. read more

Havana Grill - Package & Handling Takeout tax?! WHAT?! - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

First time eating at the Havana Grill with family. Loved the food selections. I ordered 3 empanadas; lechon, picadillo, and ropa vieja 10/10 well seasoned and crispy on the outside. Chef's kiss. Cuban burger with guava aioli 10/10 . Both Cuban Hot coffee and Cuban mocha iced latte with vanilla was delicious. Thank you to our server name Tess; Greeted us with a smile and helped recommend popular menu items and was extremely patience with our overly stimulated children. We will come back again! read more

HAVANA GRILL @ CLAIREMONT Parking was available and free right out front! My business mentor brought me here, it was a style of looking at the menu, ordering at the front, and then self seating yourself. Super casual, and it got packed pretty quickly. The food came out steaming hot, I really enjoyed the details of their plating and making it nicely plated. The food for me was a bit bland, and I felt like the plantains they added were delicious, but sadly had two small pieces. Each dish is around $16-$25, so a standard but definitely wished the portions were a bit bigger. I wasn't the biggest fan of my rice mixed with veggies, it tasted a bit frozen from the peas, and my chicken was really dry. I had to use my friends sauce from another plate. Overall, hoping to try again in the future. The atmosphere was lovely and bright. read more

Havana Grill - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

The place was very clean and aesthetically pleasing! They had a lounge area in the corner I thought it was very cute, perfect for a lunch date . I had the "Ropa vieja " it's shredded beef with sautéed onion, and bell peppers , it was a little salty but i enjoyed it very much , the sides were rice , black beans and plantains . The salt and sweet combo was good . Customer service was good very welcoming and polite, at the end I had a cafecito which was very satisfying. Definitely recommend this place and will come back to try the desserts. Parking is a little tight during lunch time considering a lot of buisness's in that plaza . read more

Havana Grill - Cafe Cubano - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

Wow ¡Que delicia! everything was delicious. We had the lechón with the congri, mar y Tierra con arroz y frijoles, croquetas and un cortadito y café cubano to go. My new favorite place in San Diego. read more

Havana Grill - Cortadito para llevar - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

Stopped in for lunch with my boss recently. The restaurant is very nice and casual feeling. The staff is super friendly and check in with you often. I had a Cubano sandwich and a cafe Cubano. The cafe was so so good. Perfectly sugared. The sandwich was great, very filling and the bread was crisp but still soft. The plantain chips were perfect, not greasy, not too thick. It was an excellent lunch. read more

Another San Diego must try ! I went with the recommended cray Cuban with jalapeños and it was amazing. I also tried a empanada , which was also good. The ambiance of the restaurant and vibe is very cuban and tropical. I'd rather spend a few more dollars and go here than eat some junky , fast food . read more

Havana Grill - Amazing sandwich with Amazing platform chips - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

SANDWICHES 10 out of 10. Ordered for pick-up and can't wait to come back to dine in! Hot Cuban sandwich is loaded with soft roasted pork. I don't know if it's the garlic aioli or mojo or the combination of both but the meat is soo yummy. We preferred it over the other sandwich even though that one got a lot more flavors goin on... it's honestly a close tie. I don't know about "hot" cause this doesn't give spice but she was worth it Crazy Cuban is a burst of flavor...soo satisfactory! This hot pressed bread is everything. Crisp bite into tasty goodness. The pickle, mustard, pork, smoked ham, I mean everything goes perfectly together. Came with sides of sweet tostones (fried plantains) They offer fizzy pink lemonade too! We love that read more

Havana Grill - Hot Cuban - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

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This was all recommended by the cashier who did amazing and giving me the low down on what's the best and honestly everything here was so amazing even a really great place to relax and do some work in there comfy chairs and nice big pillows. Really a 10 atmosphere and vibes as well You need to try this place. The entire meal was less than $40!! The plate was only like $22 which is a steal read more

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Havana grill is one of my go-tos for unique and satisfying restaurant food. At the Clairemont location, dining is casual but still has a nice ambiance with wooden decor and some front patio tables. You order in the queue and get a number for dine in. My #1 order is the Vaca Frita plate. It's unique for having a super crunchy crispy texture, to the point that some shards/strips of the braised flank steak are light in weight but dark and caramelized in color. Always going to get congris on the side, which is when they mix the beans in with the rice. Give it a try because it's totally different from Mexican style beans. If you choose white rice it is seasoned salty/sweet. Plantains are always good here. The yucca fries are yummy and worth trying at least once. In addition to their garlicky oil sauce, the carrot habanero I've had before is super fresh and and palatable. If you want to try this place, you might also like their second location at mission valley mall which is aesthetic and very classy looking. read more

Havana Grill - Vaca frita plates (top right ropa vieja) - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

This is my second time here and decided to bring my best friend this time . I ordered the Ropa vieja and she ordered the grilled citrus chicken and 2 empanadas. The food came out after maybe 5 to 10 minutes and brought to our table . The shredded beef was tasty and love the plantains . The black beans were so good . This place gets many customers and can get loud read more

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I came on a Friday at lunch time, and I was just about the only person in here. The interior was very esthetically pleasing. It was order at the counter, and the service was pretty quick. Sandwiches are on average $17 range. It was good, although I was not overly impressed. There was a lot of yummy spices on the meat, however I was not tasting the other sauce or the caramelized onions. If be happy to come back and give it another try! read more

Havana Grill - The Classic - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

Was absolutely delicious! We were two vegetarians in desperate search of Cuban food and have been dying to get down here from North County. It was so good! We were in the a la carte mood so we got two orders of white rice, two black beans, sweet plantains, tostones and Cuban bread. Yes yes yes to everything! Everything hit the spot and was so tasty I have nothing but good things to say. The restaurant itself was very cute, the staff were friendly and helpful and was a great spot for dates or larger parties. read more

Havana Grill - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

Talk about an amazing experience!!! Highly recommend y'all!!! Food was made to touch every taste bud in your mouth ( as we say sabroso= delicious)! We had the Crazy Cuban sandwich, Cuban sandwich, beef empanada, pastry de guava with cheese and the brownie cookie ( all a 10 out of 10). Staff were super friendly and amazing making sure you had everything you needed. Ambiance was chill and relaxing. If you love Latin food, you must try. read more

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First off the ambiance is great, But the service was slow and unorganized, The food was DRY and Flavorless its as if they don't know what salt or seasoning is. I had the seafood Prealla it was so dry I could bearly eat it... my wife had the Salmon it was so small and it seems like they use caned mango.. Yuck! It is definitely over priced and under fed... I will never go back. Only gave 1 * because I had to... DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY!! read more

The restaurant has a beautiful, bright ambiance with distinctive interior design. The menu features authentic Cuban cuisine. We tried three empanadas, fried yuca sticks, and two Cuban sandwiches. The empanadas were crispy with generous fillings and unique flavors. The yuca portion was small but tasty, complemented by a garlic butter dip. The Cuban sandwiches were meat-heavy and a bit dry; they might appeal more to meat lovers. The accompanying plantain chips with garlic butter were enjoyable. The dessert display was tempting, so we tried two: a chocolate bomb, which was actually a banana froster--a delightful treat resembling a banana cream puff coated in chocolate--and a guava pastry, which was the highlight of our meal. I even took one home for my mother. Additionally, I brought back two empanadas and a mojito cookie; the cookie's lemon-mint flavor was initially unusual but grew on me. Overall, the food was decent, but I might not return for a full meal. However, I'd consider coming back for their pastries or empanadas, which are available at their café counter. Given the pleasant environment, it's worth a visit for the experience. read more

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The desserts are so unique and delicious! The place is also beautifully shaded by big green plants that the restaurant had used to hide the street view and add to the shady vibes inside. The design of the restaurant is very lounge-like and beautiful. The food was amazing and the chicken was cooked very tenderly! You order and pay at the counter. read more

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1st timers, please AVOID. Try at your own risk. Sorry about the totally unexpected bad eating experience with my wife. I selected this restaurant based on YELP Review and want to try Cuban food for the first time but it was a total bummer. I would have given 1 star rating but giving 2 star rating for the effort the gentlemen did by offering me a replacement of my order as I was unable to eat. Below is my summarized experience: PROS: - Service: Nothing except that the the gentleman replaced the dish on telling that I didn't like the food. The chicken was smelling as if not fresh. Even the sauce could not mask it (Note that I am sensitive to odd unexpected smell. For others they might not feel it.) CONS: 1) Expensive: Very expensive considering the taste or quality of food + Ambience. 2) Taste: None of the dishes were above average. Why would I pay 20-30 bucks for half roasted chicken with rice when I can get almost similar or slightly better roasted chicken from Costco/Ralphs in less than 10 bucks. 3) Ambience: It was cold rainy day and the doors were open. The room was dark and dull. No decoration typically you see in any average economy restaurants. Sorry about my review. But it is needed for many people who use Yelp for their quality time. Suggestion to the Owner. Please improve the food quality and make the price comparable to you food taste and quantity. Food quality and Taste is important than anything for a restaurant. Then comes Service. Ambience don't matter if food is awesome. read more

After paying for my order (around $23), I noticed that when they handed me the food, some items I had already paid for were missing. When I asked about it, the staff were rude and dismissive instead of trying to resolve the issue or explain what happened. There seems to be a lack of communication and very little concern for customer service. I recommend that anyone visiting double-check what they are charged for versus what they actually receive in their order. Very disappointing experience. read more

Havana Grill - Charging more to the customer and giving less of what was ordered - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here for a work lunch and it was really sooo much better than I was expecting. Everyone loved their food, service was top notch and the owner even approached us to make sure everything was going well (she was very sweet). My sandwich was absolutely delicious, it was a toasted shredded flank steak sandwich and side salad, the salad dressing was so good!! Everything was super fresh and it was nice to go to a casual sit-down restaurant with decent prices, unique/authentic food and great service. read more

Havana Grill - Cuban American sandwich with a side of Ensalada Cubana vs plantain chips - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

Really nice Cuban restaurant in the Mission Valley Mall?? Yelp says casual restaurant but I thought people dressed a step above casual- a lot of people post office work and even a bridal party was there on a weekday, so a little nicer than your Work From Home attire. Parking Free parking, Havana Grill is next to CAVA and Bloomingdale's Outlet. Service/Wait Time/Aesthetic Friendly employee took our order and answered questions, she seemed knowledge about the menu and the food came out at good time. Really beautiful restaurant, very clean indoor/outdoor look. Food We got the sampler platter to try it all- all items were really good! In order of best to least best I would say the empanada, papa rellena (stuffed mashed potato bal with ground beef), ham croquette, sweet plantain, tostones (fried plantain), yuca fries (fried cassava), plantain chips. If I was going to come back I would try more of the empanadas! For main, I got the Vaca Frita and loved it, it's a perfect amount of crispy without being dry. We also had a seafood paella for the table. I really liked this paella and thought it was one of the best in town, even better than some of the Spanish restaurants. The seafood was fresh and the rice was perfect! I would definitely return to Havana Grill and recommend it to anyone in the Mission Valley area! read more

Such a cozy and welcoming little spot! The atmosphere is warm and relaxed -- perfect for a quiet lunch or dinner. Everything is clean, neat, and thoughtfully arranged. The food was absolutely delicious -- perfectly cooked rice, tender shredded beef, and sweet plantains that just melt in your mouth. You can tell the ingredients are fresh and the dishes are made with care. The staff were polite, attentive, and genuinely kind -- it really makes a difference. Prices are not cheap, but honestly, where is it cheap nowadays? Considering the quality, the experience, and the comfort, it's definitely worth it. Highly recommend if you're in Claremont and want to enjoy flavorful Cuban food in a calm and pleasant atmosphere. read more

Havana Grill - Vaca Frita - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

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This restaurant is amazing! I was not too familiar with Cuban food but now it is our favorite. We go as often as we can. Tried several sandwiches, salads and dinner entres! I understand the recipes come from Family favorites passed down to the current owner. So flavorful, presentation is beautiful and so reasonably priced. Deserts & coffees are incredible! And we've always had great service and great decor. Be sure & try this restaurant! read more

If you're in San Diego and looking for some tasty Cuban food, Havana Grill in Clairemont Mesa is the place to be! Start with the Crazy Cuban sandwich--it's loaded with flavor and super satisfying. You've got to try the tostones--crispy fried plantains that are perfect for dipping--and don't skip the sweet plantains for a little sweetness to balance things out. Wash it all down with one of their refreshing sodas or a classic root beer. The vibe is friendly and laid-back, making it a great spot to kick back and enjoy a good meal. read more

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After seeing reviews of Havana Grill, I had high hopes. There were plenty of parking spaces. The decor was quaint. There's plenty of seating inside and out. I came on a Friday evening and the room was full. There was a small line at the register. There was a sign for take out. I'm not sure it matters as there's only one person at the counter. I ended up standing around waiting as the lady walked away from the counter after the line died down. When she returned, I informed her that i had a to go order. She had to bag my items but didn't place utensils in it. I had to ask her for utensils. She seemed distracted. I ordered the seafood paella based on reviews. I was disappointed with the dish. It did not meet my expectations. The rice was sticky. It was bland. The seafood was abundant. I can tell the seafood was fresh. I noticed on the restaurant menu as I'm writing this, that it was to come with a side salad. I never got one. Unfortunately, for $28, I didn't feel it was worth it. The only thing that made up for it was the seafood. My husband got the Ell cubano sandwich. He enjoyed it. He did not like the side plantain chips that came with it. I thought it was ok, should've gotten the fries for $1 more. read more

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The first time I tried Cuban food was here! And I've been returning here regularly since! Amazing quality Cuban food, from fritters and empanadas, to delicious meat/protein plates. And I can't forget about their plantains! They also make their own sangria, Beyond their food, the ambience is so cute and offers a modern twist on cubian vibe. I've also ordered to go here a few times, and was very impressed how well the food traveled! Often to go food taste stale or cold by the time it gets to you, but the food was delivered just as it would be if you dined in! read more

This place is a favorite. I ordered the roast chicken. I should've tried something else. The chicken was dry and so I just ate a few bites. Atmosphere is still good. Service is fine, nothing extra to state. read more

I forgot to take photos of the food bc I was so hungry lol if you're craving Cuban, this location hits the spot. From their Cubano sandwich to the chicken platter... such a hearty meal and delicious! Highly recommend it! read more

Overall, I was not particularly impressed. And I think that's because of our choice of dish. Seafood paella was a miss -- it was dry, and some of the shrimp were cold (ie, not heated through all the way). Ham croquette was not the texture I expected (and probably because I'm not used to Cuban food?) -- it was mushy and too salty. Otherwise, their craft sodas are good. Service was great. Plenty of seating, and they have their own parking lot. Conveniently located. I think I'd give their other location a try before dismissing Havana Grill altogether. read more

Havana Grill - Croquetas de Jamon / Ham Croquettes (3) - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

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I love this location. While the Hotel Circle one is more upscale looking, the service and food at this location is outstanding and much less of a crazy line. Very friendly staff, excellent food, good portions and a happy hour with some nice options. Don't wait, give this place a try! read more

Very nice late dinner option in Clairemont. I've never been to a Cuban restaurant before but this was great. I loved the decor and the service was friendly and attentive. We ate a later dinner so tables was plentiful. Parking was free easy with good accessibility. The food was authentic and very tasty, plantains were plentiful! Recommend giving this place a try! read more

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Counter service restaurant with the nicest staff! We were here on a weekday for dinner and there were a lot of people enjoying their meals. The red wine sangria was delicious. It wasn't too sweet. My friend ordered a mojito and liked hers too. We started out with the appetizer platter and that was a lot of food. So glad we ordered it though because we got to try a little of everything. I really like the empanadas, fried plantains, and yucca chips. For dinner we ordered the Arroz con pollo and seafood paella. I really like the arroz con pollo but the seafood paella, which I was excited for, was a bit on the dry side. The seafood was a bit overcooked. We were celebrating a birthday so we ordered a couple of desserts to share. The coffee tiramisu, flan, and chocolate chip cookie were all delicious. My fav is the coffee tiramisu. We were there until almost everyone left after the dinner rush and the nice waitress gave each of us a fruit empanada to take home. So nice! She saw that we were celebrating a birthday. We will definitely be back to try more items off the menu for sure! read more

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We ordered from here this past weekend, the paella and the picadillo empanada and the lechon empanada. The empanadas are probably some of the best I've ever had. The lechon was so tender and the meat so well seasoned in the picadillo one. The crust on them were very well textured and lightly crips. I was so very happy. The paella, I think, would have been so much better enjoyed there vs. taking it home bc the steam and travel time back home over cooked the seafood a bit. The rice was flavorful though, I definitely want to try it the next time I can vosit and enjoy inside the restaurant. My husband said the decor and ambiance was very nice. We'll be back for sure! read more

The ambiance is what is being sold here. Lovely storefront, ample seating, and plenty of parking. But what is a Cuban eatery without a proper Cuban sandwich? I was disappointed by el Cubano after hearing all the hype around it. Personally I've had better Cubans at Siesel's. The meat to bread ratio is abysmal, overall flavor wasn't saved by the cheese and mustard either. Plantain chips on the side are crumbly and sad. I also ordered a rotisserie chicken dish with sides of rice beans and sweet plantain. The best part of the whole meal was the seasoned rice. Maybe we caught them around closing time but I was thoroughly unimpressed and do not plan on returning. read more

Havana Grill - El Cubano - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California