Came in to get a carry out order shortly after they opened, staff was very friendly and the food came quick. I ordered the Cuban sandwich with sweet potato fries and it was excellent, exceeded expectations. Very excited to come back. read more

Hola Havana Cuban Restaurant - Carry out cuban sandwich with sweet potato fries. - Cuban Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Update: I have now tried their Picadillo the Chicken Milanesa and I enjoyed both very much, but I keep coming back to the Vaca Frita -the strong flavors and incredible textures! Sometime I need to try the Bistec De Palomilla. Apparently it incorporates similar flavors to the Vaca Frita with a garlic lime sauce over Cuban-style sirloin steak and onions. I should also mention that I love their rice and beans and house made hot sauce! read more

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Been wanting to try this place for a while. We love Cuban food. We've had wonderful experiences from Little Havana to Louisville. I ordered the Vaca Frita and my wife ordered the Lechon Asado. And this is a really hard rating to give. The service is great. The atmosphere is wonderful. The food is good. And I'd say that about everything we both had. It was good. Not great. But good. And I think as hoping for great. It just doesn't have the Little Havana or Louisville knock your socks off flavor in my opinion. Not saying I won't be back. I will. But I was hoping for a tad more here. I'll be back and I'll try something else. Place has potential. And lord knows I love Cuban food. read more

Hola Havana Cuban Restaurant - Vaca Frita - Cuban Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

So so good. Highly recommend the guac and the vaca frita. Wish location was more convenient to my house that is my biggest complaint. In fact I wish this restaurant was in my front yard and I could eat vaca frita and plantains every day. read more

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This restaurant was very clean and welcoming. The service was amazing. Our food was well prepared and delicious. Portion sizes were proportionate to the cost. Wish we could have tried the Mojitos. We would definitely recommend Hola Havana restaurant. read more

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After our first visit to Hola Havana I can't wait to go back! Loved the Cuban "vibe"! The Ropa vieja, chicken milenase and Cuban sandwich were all delicious and expertly prepared. Service was excellent and the awesome margarita was one of the best I've had! The cafe con leche and flan was the perfect final touch to a wonderful dinner. Definitely going back! read more

First time trying Cuban food and I am in love!! What a fun place to eat and this food is amazing! The word needs to get out about this place! So fresh and unique flavors, everyone will love this food! Even my son loved his Cuban sandwich served in a paper car! very Cuban feeling! We had a great time eating here for lunch and looking forward to coming back! Service was fast, food was hot and fresh and everything was clean. A total hidden gem! read more

Hola Havana Cuban Restaurant - Kids meal so cute! - Cuban Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Husband and I love Cuban food. We get it often when we travel to the Miami area. The food here wasn't as good as Miami Cuban food, but I don't think anywhere gets the Cuban food as right as they do. The food was still good, and it is one of only two places I know of in Lexington to get Cuban. The waitress was extremely kind and checked in many times. Food came out very quickly. read more

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The food at this restaurant is so good. It was our fist time eating here. The waitress was so nice. They gave us the Cuban bread with butter as an appetizer on the house, how nice! I tried the strawberry margarita, it was fabulous. For our main dishes we had the fish tacos with the yucca. It was very good, the Pollo Asado was so good, tender and juicy inside. The black beans and rice were the best. The sweet plantains were almost like a dessert. The place had a huge mural of Cuba on the wall to get you in the mood of being in Cuba! We will definitely be going back to try some different items on the menu!! read more

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What a hidden gem in Lexington! I absolutely love everything about Hola Havana. The food is delicious, the vibes are immaculate, and the service is wonderful. It's truly a fantastic spot for authentic Cuban cuisine. I ordered the Hola Pollo Bowl, which is definitely the go-to if you're unsure what to get. It comes with grilled chicken, rice, queso, and fried plantains, and everything was packed with flavor. Plus, it's a generous portion, so you definitely get great bang for your buck! For dessert, we tried their new Guava Cream Cheese empanadas, and let me tell you--it's one of the best desserts I've ever had! I seriously dream about those empanadas. You need to check this place out! It's conveniently located near the Kroger on Richmond Road, with plenty of parking and seating available. You won't regret it! read more

Hola Havana Cuban Restaurant - Guava Cream Cheese Empanadas - Cuban Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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I ordered a pick-up order of the Cuban Sandwiches with sides of Jaba'o Rice. I was shocked that there was an up charge for added mustard (.25),.50 for added pickles (dill) and .75 for added Swiss Cheese. We didn't add any upgrades. Neither I nor my date could taste any Swiss Cheese. The Cuban bread was perfect. More pork than ham, but no swiss cheese taste. When I lived in Miami, Cuban restaurants offered sweet or dill pickles. I would have prefered sweet pickles. I was also alarmed that there was a .45 charge for take-out packaging. The Jaba'o rice was very good but bland as you would expect. I would suggest it be served with Pepperoncini Peppers. In summary. The bread was perfect. The Pork, Ham and Swiss Cheese was not in balance. It needed a little more mustard. Not enough Swiss cheese and pickles. I know Cuban sandwiches can be served with either sweet or dill pickles. I prefer sweet. No option. If they want to break the blandness of the Jaba'o rice, they will add a few pepperoncini peppers on the side. I will order again, I'll add more swiss cheese (at home) a little more dark mustard, and replace the dill pickles with sweet pickles. I will serve the Jaba'o rice with 2 pepperoncini peppers. read more

First time visiting. Inviting environment. Service team were all very friendly and inviting. Both my wife and I had the Cuban sandwich. We were not disappointed. Anxious to return and try other menu items. BTW, the mojito was excellent! read more

Wow! Excellent dishes, full of flavors. Can tell that the place really cares about their preparation and performance. Big portions, enough for two meals. read more

Food was amazing! Margaritas on point! Waitress was absolutely phenomenal! Wonderful atmosphere! read more

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Great experience with great people food was amazing 5 would come back again for sure and get the polo bowl. And spicy mojito. read more

Hola Havana Cuban Restaurant - Chocolate Empanadas Nutella - Cuban Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Back in Lexington on business, had to stop in for a quick late lunch at Hola Havana. Arrived after 2 pm after a long drive from Indiana, the place was empty except for a small family sitting at one of the outside dining tables. I was promptly greeted and seated and given a menu. I already knew what I wanted as I checked Yelp and their website before driving over. Cuban Nachos with fried slices of plantain, see picture. Had with chicken. Tasty! Washed it down with a glass pf pineapple juice. The place was clean and welcoming as usual. read more

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GREAT GREAT GREAT! Very authentic Cuban! The empanadas are so delicious! All three options are tasty (chicken, vegetarian, and beef) but the beef ones were my favorite! They have weekly specials after 3pm so definitely check that out and dine in! The service is always great and helpful when trying to decide what to get. The decor is so cute. The Bistec de palomilla was recommended by our server and it was great. Very flavorful! If you like plantains theirs are worth trying, they come with most of the dishes. Great place all around. Will definitely be back! read more

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Amazing!! 10/10 recommend everything was delicious and the service was wonderful. This was my first time here and the waitress was so kind and helpful with picking the right order. Also, the adorable car box for the kids meal is a great touch! We will definitely be back! read more

The food was amazing. I had the vaca frita and my husband has the ropa vieja it was so good. Plantains were sweet and tangy perfectly cooked. Overall great dinner with great service . Definitely give this a try. read more

Stayed in Lexington for a few days after touring Nashville. Wanted to tap into the local bourbon scene, but first stop after we checked in was to find a unique restaurant close to our hotel as it was getting late. Found Hola Havana on Yelp and the Cuban menu was intriguing. The restaurant is situated in a strip mall which might make you think that the food would be so-so or on the QSR (quick service restaurant) scale. But you would be wrong! We were greeted by a very friendly hostess and were seated right away. The restaurant was bright and colorful and the wall of windows allowed plenty of natural light in. The menu was extensive. The food was clearly homemade and the flavors were amazing. I love empanadas and was thrilled to find them on the menu. Started the meal off with one ground beef and one chicken ropa Vieja to share with my dinner companion. I ordered the CAMARONES A LA DIABLA for my entree. This consisted of lots of large plump shrimp immersed in a Creole style cuban sauce that was very reminiscent of a cross between creole gumbo and jambalaya with a kick of cuban spices. It came with a large portion of yellow rice. I was not a fan, but then again I'm not a huge rice eater. I added a side of beans in place of the plantains that came with the meal. The beans were excellent. I also ordered a Mojito, because if you are at a Cuban restaurant, why not? It was perfectly made. I enjoyed experiencing this little taste of Havana in the middle of a strip mall in Lexington. read more

Hola Havana Cuban Restaurant - CAMARONES A LA DIABLA with yellow rice, beans, and bread. - Cuban Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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One of the best meals in Lexington! If you want good authentic Cuban food, come to Hola! read more

The food and service were amazing and I loved the decor! Huge menu ranging from salads, sandwiches, beef , chicken and seafood dishes to choose from. I'm so glad we decided to give it a try! Can't wait to go back and try another dish on the menu! read more

The restaurant is very cute, good atmosphere and music. The service is excellent and the food is delicious! You need to try it.

On a recent trip to Lexington, the Fat Man and his wife decided they wanted Hola Havana Cuban Restaurant off Richmond Road. We started with the Cuban Sampler, with chicken and beef empanadas, stuffed potatoes, and croquettes. The croquettes were a little dark but still moist on the inside. The filling was thick with chicken flavor and sticky texture. The stuffed potatoes were crunchy on the outside but they needed a little salt. The beef empanadas were tender on the inside with a nice saltiness from the olives. The chipotle and lemon aioli accompaniments were excellent. The chicken empanada was juicy, tender with a good fry, and loaded with great flavor and citrus notes. The pimento sauce had good flavor. I tried the Beef Ropa Vieja, which comes with shredded beef cooked in a savory tomato sauce, Moros y Cristiano's rice, and fried sweet plantains. The rice was underdone, but there was good flavor. The beans add creaminess to the dish. The beef was tender in a flavorful, sweet, salty sauce. The onions, peppers, and olives added a great texture and flavor. I also sampled the Cuban Sandwich with sweet potato fries. This was made with roasted pork, smoked ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and yellow mustard on Cuban bread. The bread was toasty on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. The pork tasted terrific but was dry, making for a tough chew. The ham was thin and salty, and the Swiss was melted and gooey. The mustard helped cut through the salt and the pork. The pickles could have been thicker to add a crunch. My wife tried the Chicken Milanese. This is made with breaded fried chicken, special seasonings, and yellow rice, topped with cheese and sofrito sauce. The chicken had a great crust and crunch, and the sofrito was flavorful and had a great sweetness that made the dish burst with flavor. The plantains were sweet, the rice was cooked perfectly and the cheese added a creaminess. Hola Havana offers an extensive menu and a full bar. The staff was great and very attentive. The Fat Man says Hola Havana Cuban Restaurant is Fat Man Approved with 2 chins. read more

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Run, don't walk to this hidden gem! This is another place that's been on my must-try list and my only regrets is that I haven't been sooner! Both my friend and I got the red wine sangrias--we both loved them but they were definitely a little on the strong side so drink with caution! We started with the Cuban guacamole with plantain chips. It was good but the guacamole was a little bland. We both loved our entrees! There were so many things on the menu that we wanted to try but I ended up getting the picadillo a la habanero, which was ground meat in a tomato sauce served with rice and fried plantains. The plantains were cooked to perfection. It was so very good! My friend had the camarones a la diabla, which was amazing! She got black beans and saffron rice on the side, and both were perfect. 10/10 recommend! read more

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Food was delicious and lovely presentation. Guava dessert the best! Clean restaurant and friendly staff. read more

Hola Havana Cuban Restaurant - Cuban Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Absolutely love this place. My favorite are the vaca frita and the Cuban guacamole! The black beans and rice are phenomenal and so are the plantains. read more

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The food is the star here! Cuban bread, empanadas, steak tacos, all delicious. Attentive and pleasant wait staff. Decor is not only festive but also informative of Cuban culture. More people need to come here! One of the true restaurant gems of Lexington. read more

The food was amazing. The service was awesome. The owners were fantastic. Definitely would come back here when I'm in Lexington. Michele was amazing. Definitely come back when we're back in Lexington. read more

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A small strip mall place (with a doctor as an owner if I read correctly), I have to say the place was more Cuban than I expected it to be, both in terms of the staff and the customers. The place was well-decorated, with a large map of Cuba among the pictures. They offer vegetarian options; don't get me wrong, the majority of the menu is still unstuitable (Cuban is not a vegetarian-friendly cuisine), but they had some appealing options. The "vegadillo" is a sauteed tofu with vaguely New Orleans-y peppers and spices, which was delicious, and was served with a black bean soup that I picked a bay leaf out of and which delivered ample flavor. If I'm being honest, though, the veggie empanadas were the best thing I ate. I don't know what the skill is in making the perfect flaky crust, but theirs was delicious, and I finished mine rather than take them because it seemed a pity to leave such crispness to the deprivations of my refrigerator. They have a nice lunch menu, and I am highly likely to give it a try. read more

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Started with probably the best margarita I've ever had! Food was great, a good change from Mexican (which I do enjoy). My mouth was practically assaulted with so many wonderful flavors. I ordered the ROPA VIEJA bowl, with amarillo rice and sweet potato fries. I could not finish all of it, and yet I didn't feel "stuffed." The service was very attentive and patient, especially when neither I nor my partner was fluent in Spanish, explaining everything. As it was my birthday, they even treated me to dessert! The atmosphere was very pleasant, and along one wall were informational posters that told about Cuba. And the place was SPOTLESS from the front door to the rest rooms. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! read more

Hola Havana Cuban Restaurant - Churros, and a nice note in sauce - Cuban Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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Y'all, I probably shouldn't repeat this since I don't ever want to hear them say they're out of the best dessert in town (and I've tried the majority), but those cream cheese and guava empanadas --if they'd been any better, Jesus would have taken them with him. Their entrees are great, including their plantains, but the empanadas will make your eyes roll back in your head. I can't stop thinking about them. read more

First visit. Outstanding food, superior service, and welcoming vibe. Mojito and margaritas were a wonderful complement. We will be back. Outstanding Cuban cuisine. read more

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Food: Recommend ropa vieja - very flavorful. Croquettes were bland and mushy. Churros were raw. Service: Kind and attentive waiters. Ambiance: Good for casual dinner with a small group. read more

Food and service were excellent. Our party of 4 all enjoyed their meals. Some of us had Ropa Vieja, which was very good. But I had the Vaca Frita, and that was the best I've had - great flavor and tenderness, and not fried to a dry crisp like in many places. Overall, a very good Cuban experience. read more

Hola is a new Cuban restaurant. I Ordered the Tostones stuffed with Ropa Vieja, then thought to get a side of Moros. It is rare to take a food out of its region and expect it to be replicated. That being said, the Tostones were very good. They needed only a touch of acid, a squeeze of lime. The Moros, though not very flavorful were otherwise well done. I was going back in my memory bank to when I lived in South Florida, and did not recognize the strong flavors that I remember indicative to Cuban cuisine. However, a return to Hola is a definite. Good service and friendly owner. 131 read more

Hola Havana Cuban Restaurant - Tostones stuffed with Ropa Vieja - Cuban Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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Was looking for something different. Thanks he wife was a little nervous trying something out of her wheelhouse. She became a fan. Great decor, wheelchair accessible. Attentive staff. And great food! read more

Hola Havana Cuban Restaurant - Cuban Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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Great food and service! I had the pollo ropa vieja and it was delicious. The employee there gave a lot of great recommendations too!

What really stands out is the fried plantains. It's definitely the best sweet fried plantains I've had in Lex! I've tried the classic dishes cuban sandwich, ropa vieja. Last time I got the Hola Pollo bowl which was good too. Ate inside once and the other times were take out. read more

Outstanding food and drinks. We had ropa vieja, camarones ajillo, and lechón asada. Empanadas were fantastic. The drinks were caipirinha, hibiscus margarita, and sangria. The food was ample and flavorful. Highly recommend!! read more

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