Yummy! Great Cubano with a great balance of meats, sauce and perfectly melted cheese. Will definitely return to try other options. read more

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Food was superb! I loved the Braised Brisket Hash for breakfast. It's a great value too. Good espresso drinks. Ample free parking in La Jolla Village is certainly welcome. But the highlight was the friendly attentive service. I look forward to my next meal at Havana Kitchen when I'm in La Jolla read more

We really like Havana Kitchen -- the food is authentic and full of flavor. The empanadas are a real favorite of ours! Always fresh and delicious. Highly recommend if you're looking for great Cuban food. read more

Very cool atmosphere and friendly staff (considering they let me move things around to get my perfect picture and did not complain of this sometimes crazy customer!:). This used to be a Mexican fast-food type of place and then I read that was also a Starbucks. It is now a Cuban-styled restaurant and I just went for coffee and loved the Cuco Chai Latte, so delicious and made with love. Very cute decor, with the tiles similar to houses or restaurants in Cuba or Spain or Portugal (it actually gave me a Portuguese vibe). The flower arrangements are a very nice touch that many of us value a lot (they are from the store next door). Everything perfectly clean and laughs coming from back in the kitchen (a great sign). I suggested the waiter to tell the owners to do some small 'salsa nights' with music and dancing post-diner. I think that would attract a lot of salseros from San Diego in my opinion. Can't wait to go back for some ropa vieja, but if you only want a coffee drink, this is an alternative to the chains. read more

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The food was very flavorful and delicious and a great portion for the price. The beef empanadas were also really tasty. Staff were super friendly and the service was fast. I'd highly recommend! read more

Havana Kitchen - Cuban Shredded Beef - Cuban Near Me - La Jolla, California

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In town for a wedding and looking for something different. We ordered a Cubano sandwich and the roast pork. The pork was immaculate with lots of flavor. The black beans and rice were great complements. But the plantains. Perfection. The Cubano was also excellent. Perfect balance of savory and acid. The bread was nice and thin with a nice finish. Service was pleasant and quick. The restaurant has facts about Cuba on the walls and in the restrooms. Very fun. The Cuban music was lively and fun and we enjoyed our time eating there immensely. read more

As much as I want to gate-keep this restaurant, I also genuinely want to share how good it is. I went here first after it opened and had a great experience. The service was prompt and the food was really good. I recently went back for brunch and it was the best brunch I have had in a while. I ordered the empanadas, rice and beans. Everything was hot, fresh and light. It wasn't heavy or too much for my stomach to handle (like some big breakfasts can be). I'd love to include a picture but I devoured it without a second thought. If you're looking for some good Cuban food--look no further! read more

The ambiance is really amazing. The service is good. We ordered the tops vieja, lechon, and empanadas. The food is okay a little over salted, the beans were missing the sweetness Cuban black beans have. I think the empanadas was the better dish. read more

The food we had was really delicious. Ordered their vegetarian dish and the one meal that doesn't have garlic (chicken fricasé). It was incredibly delicious and I could barely wait to eat my leftovers. read more

Their cubano was very well composed but it lacked the crispy outer texture a cubano has. If they simply pressed it for longer, it would achieve the crisp bread and the ingredients inside would meld better in addition to the cheese melting more. I like how they serve a sweet plantain as an accompaniment, makes a nice balance to the savory sandwich. The ambiance is cute with fun music. Seemed pretty slow for lunchtime, I hope they make it. read more

Back a second time and it dis not disappoint had the Lechon Asado (roasted pork dish). Generous portion of pork, served w rice beans and plantains. Pork was fresh and flavorful, rice, beans and plantains as good as Id remembered for $16. Seemed very reasonable for quality, portion and service. read more

My only complaint about Havana Kitchen is that I never remember to take a photo before eating! Everything is so good that I dive right in, and it's only when my plate is a mess do I realize I have fallen down on the job, yet again. They are very vegan and vegetarian friendly, they serve brunch all day, and their black beans and rice are to die for. I can never decide between the avocado cubano or bodega sandwich, so i often get both and then fall asleep at the table after eating too much :) read more

Food was delicious. My favorite is always the lechon en MOJO! Service was fantastic. Definitely a go to when in La Jolla! read more

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The Empanada combo was phenomenal, I actually split it into two portions so this doesn't look quite complete, I was too hungry to take pics before sorry. However, everything from the service to the ambiance was great! The music was such a Cuban vibe I was moving in my seat the whole time. Ugh these empanadas were delicious the whole plate was tasty, I'm Latina and I've had delicious Cuban food before just not in Cali. This is awesome though, it's my go to spot now for sure I can't wait to come back!! read more

Havana Kitchen - Empanada Combo ( with beef and chicken mojo) - Cuban Near Me - La Jolla, California

Wow! What a fantastic cafe. Friendly service. Such amazing dishes. The potato balls were perfect, light crispy shell, flavorful creamy inside. The pork dish with rice, beans and tostones was crazy good. My wife said her Cuban sandwich was the best she's ever had. read more

Havana Kitchen - Potato Balls - Cuban Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Stopped by to kill time on a Sunday while waiting for our daughters at the beach. It was 6:30p and they were one of the few places we could sit and have coffee. The young lady at the register taking our order was patient and very kind. She told us which empanadas were popular and which were her favorite and so how could we not try them? We order 3 and an iced almond milk latte with 1/2 chocolate and 1/2 hazelnut- she made it PERFECT . The empanadas came out pretty quickly. They were fresh and piping hot. The young man brought us out several sauces to try with them. We ordered the Oscar, the cilantro chicken and the veggie. All were delicious! We'll definitely be back to try other things on their menu. We initially intended to just stop for coffee but I think we may have accidentally found our new favorite Cuban spot! Thank you for the great meal and exceptional customer service! We'll see you again soon! read more

The best Cuban food in San Diego!! Everyone who works here is so welcoming and kind. The ropa viejo is a MUST order and the original or spicy Cubanos are also favorites. Perfect spot for lunch or a casual yet delicious dinner. They also have beer & wine. Love this addition to La Jolla! read more

Havana Kitchen - Original Cubano and Ropa Vieja - Cuban Near Me - La Jolla, California

First time trying Cuban food and Havana Kitchen was such a perfect introduction. Food was tasteful and delicious. We got the Sauté entree with Chicken + Cilantro sauce and a side of Yuca fries. Service was quick and kind, server even took our finished plates. Ambiance was friendly - not many people on Friday around 4pm. Would totally come back again and try other menu options! read more

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What a beautiful find ! I was visiting in La Jolla and looking for a place to pick up a quick bite. I found Havana kitchen when I was walking in the area. I placed my order and picked it up and was very disappointed I didn't dine there. The decor is charming, the restaurant beautiful and immaculate. My dish was outstanding as was the sandwich I picked out for my son. Even the plantains are excellent and I typically don't enjoy them. Now I'm a plantain fan! Definitely will be back when I'm visiting the area again. Awesome place to dine with great staff as well. read more

The food was soooo salty! It was good, but just way too much salt. Won't be back. I'm going to keep typing cause it is making me.

Best Cuban Food we have had in a very LONG time! We had the Chicken Fricassee and the Cuban Roast Pork plates, both served with rice, beans and plantains. Each traditionally served with perfectly cooked (and really tasty!) plantains. And the portions are quite large. We each had enough leftover for lunch the following day. Great service and the interior wasn't noisy...the music playing was at the right volume to be heard and I didn't feel like it was too loud. I appreciate that. If you've driven passed Havana Kitchen and not stopped in for a bite, you're missing something special. Prices are so reasonable too! With costs going up for a sit down meal, Havana Kitchen is a bargain! For two meals it was less than $40 - including a tip! I will absolutely be back again. Give them a try if you haven't already. If you are a la Jolla local put Havana Kitchen on your 'must try' list of restaurants. Five Stars!! read more

Went there for lunch today. Very cool place with great food. My wife and I shared the roasted pork meal and three empanadas. All were excellent. We really enjoyed the pork, rice, beans, and plantains. Really good. Service was fine. You order at the front and they bring out your good. We sat outside since it was a beautiful day. read more

Excellent empanadas (some of the best I've ever had) and chicken sandwich! Both were packed full of flavor, and not dry at all. The chicken sandwich had tons of peppers and great spices. read more

Family owned, served with a lot of love and pride. This restaurant serves the best Cubano sandwiches, rice, and beans that we have ever had. We have tried their soup, which is excellent, fresh and great for cold weather, or getting over colds. it worked for my son. I don't know what they do to their black beans but I recommend ordering double. They are the best! while the restaurant is really cute. We tend to take the food to go. Everyone is always very lovely and helpful when we go in to pick up the order. this should definitely be a must try Restaurant when you come into La Jolla . read more

The staff is super friendly and I've loved the dishes both times I went! I like studying there in the afternoon because it's not busy in between lunch and dinner peaks, music is upbeat and sort of motivational, has tables near outlets, and free parking for 2 hours. read more

Their brisket hash is definitely a must have! 10/10. Super flavorful and good portion sizes. The service was kind and the place had a nice seating and view read more

Came here on a Monday to grab lunch with my husband and our 4-year old. I'm a huge fan of Cuban food and this place was absolutely amazing! I craved chicken and curry so we ordered a chino chicken curry, some veggie empanadas for my vegetarian husband, rice and beans, grilled cheese sandwich and some pastries for our son. Everything was oh so delicious! I especially liked my chicken curry. The chicken was very tender and juicy, it soaked up all the flavor without tasting too salty. The rice paired really well with the curry. Every bite was so satisfying, with layers of rich flavor and exuberant texture. The entire dish was just so fragrant I could still smell it in my head! Their service was exceptional! Not only was the staff super attentive to our needs, but they were personable, genuine, and at the same time, professional. We had a great experience! The design of the restaurant was cozy and inviting. I liked how clean it was. It was also roomy, well lit, and had a gorgeous patio seating area. It was a beautiful day when we went and I just had to sit outside for a bit to enjoy the sun. I HIGHLY recommend checking this place out!! I would love to go back and try their other items. Oh and while you are at it, take a few minutes to look at the prints and photos on the walls - very interesting stuff! read more

The first day of fall and we were craving something cozy and home made. We enjoyed a delightful plate of Ropa Vieja and an OG Cubano sandwich and got beef empanadas for the kids every single item was very delicious. We closed out our treat with a pair of cortaditos/coffee and a cheese and guava pastry. Service was helpful and attentive. Will come again soon! read more

The food was simply amazing, I recommend the shredded beef with a side of empanadas, the service was as if I was welcomed by my own family, and the ambience was as if was in old style family diner with a twist of their own culture shining through the whole place. Simply amazing read more

Great food great atmosphere Went with the whole family and everyone enjoyed it. You have to try everything, it's all delicious read more

Super flavorful and comforting food. Very kind staff and cozy vibes. Reasonably priced too. 10/10 experience every time! read more

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Visiting La Jolla and stopped by before hitting the road. Delightful place, friendly service, and tasty Cuban food. The cafe con leche made me feel like I was back in Little Havana, Miami! read more

Fantastic food and service at a very reasonable price. Didn't realize La Jolla had a Cubano restaurant.

Loved the food. I had the chicken and rice. My husband had the shredded beef. Both were delicious and plentiful.

Amazing spot! We found the restaurant on yelp before going to a show at the comedy store. It is such a great place. The food was delicious. So much flavor! And you could tell it was made so fresh and with so much love. The owner was so nice and guided us through the menu. She even came out and asked us how our food was and chatted a bit. You could tell how much pride she took in everything. We had the ropa vieja which was amazing 10/10. My wife had the cubano sandwich, amazing as well. And we had the empeñada flight. We had 2 chickens and 1 beef. All were 10/10. Sauces are incredible too. Wish I could buy them. It was our first trip to a Cuban restaurant and it was amazing. I wish we lived closer so we could go every week. Thank you! read more

Phenomenal food. Tried the Plantain Pancakes and the Steak Grill Sandwich when on a day trip to San Diego, will definitely be back every time I visit read more

We have been here twice now. Amazing! Today we had breakfast for dinner. The loaded yucca fries are an amazing appetizer. I enjoyed the braised brisket hash. My wife had an awesome chicken dish. My son had empanadas eggs and beans. My other son had some plantain pancakes. Despite the generous servings the plates are almost clean. read more

Havana kitchen is a must when coming to La Jolla! We started with the Ropa Vieja, steak grill sandwich and a carafe of the white sangria. Everything was incredibly flavorful, hearty, and delicious. We ended with the guava cheese pastries and cappuccinos which was the perfect way to end the meal. Overall ambiance was wonderful and customer service was excellent. Shoutout to Sara and Morgan for helping us out! Can't wait to come back and will definitely bring more people. read more

Delicious. This was our first time here and we got there a little bit after they opened. The place is stylish and very clean. Sarah's customer service was wonderful: she was very helpful with her recommendations, and was polite and personable. My husband is a vegetarian and it was nice to have some tasty options other than the usual fries and salads. The black beans and rice were amazing, and we loved the plantains. The cuban sandwich was great. The yuca fries and sauce - we could have eaten another portion. The flan was the smoothest and lightest flan I have ever had. We had a great time and this was a fantastic meal. The Cuban coffee: espresso with a little sugar and milk...it was so good that we both ordered a second cup. If I didn't live a half hour away, I would be there every day for java. read more

Delicious authentic Cuban food. Staff was very friendly and courteous. My family and friends loved it! read more

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