My friends and I went for a Sunday brunch. They had plenty of available seating. Their service was attentive and friendly. They had vegetarian and vegan options available. I got their soy based picadillo and it was delicious. Their beans and rice are safe to eat for vegetarians/vegans. They only regular milk for their cortado and other coffee options. I hope they provide non dairy options. read more

Thank you Mambos and welcome back am sure the neighborhood is excited to have you open again. The food was delicious today. read more

Mambos Cafe - Latin American Near Me - Glendale, California

Mambo's is back!!! The outdoor patio is open and they've arranged a very easy pay and pickup station by the front door. Of course, the food is still stellar and Ralph with his staff were beyond accommodating. The Best Cuban Food In LA! read more

They had me a "Maduros" aka platanos. Lol Wasn't crazy about the ambiance of this place, it was ehhh. The food was ok. Tried it but not sure I'll ever go back. Had the grilled chicken with Maduros and fried yuca. With sangria of course lol read more

not impressed... food wasn't what i thought it would be in comparison to other really good Cuban restaurants I have been too. I also think it's a bit over priced for what it is. I guess nothing beats Versailles. Beans... tasted bland, plantains (banana) not enough plus it's dry, white rice was soggy... chicken was ... not very appealing and the taste was a bit in the salty side... liked the bread hot bread and salsa though... read more

Mambos Cafe - Mambo 's Chicken - Latin American Near Me - Glendale, California

Great place ! Small, homey feel on the inside . Food is delicious , tried the ropa vieja & loved it.

Love the food here, so why only three stars, you ask? They close at ridiculous hours. Six on some weekdays, eight on weekends.. maybe earlier if they feel like it. Oh, and don't you dare sit down within a half-hour of closing as the staff will rush you through your meal to get you out of their restaurant as close to closing as they can. Good food, but who eats dinner before 6 these days?? Or 8 on weekends?!? read more

The food and service were excellent. When you walk into Mambo's you feel like you are walking into someone'a home. I wish they were open later in the evenings. read more

Exactly! Could've been better - Went for a 5pm dinner on Sunday evening. The server/host was the RUDEST and most condescending young adult I've encountered in a while. The food was okay, albeit the customer service really set the tone for the entire experience. I understand that this is COVID era and that restaurants are bouncing back but this host should not be in a customer facing role. We LOVE Cuban food and have loved previous experiences here years before but I am sorry we won't be coming back. read more

The place looks it used to be an old gas station. Maybe they should convert it back. (:() Had the picadillo habanero, which ironically was not spicy. The soy ground beef in this dish was rather tough. White rice was rather sticky. Service was mediocre. I ordered a cup of coffee. They brought me a cup, but NO cream (and didn't ask if I'd wanted some either) and worse, no spoon. In addition, the fork was clearly dirty, as a piece of the napkin stuck to the front of it. Of course, the wife had to ask for a straw for her mango juice. Wife had the roasted pork, which she liked. Mango juice, however, tastes like an icy slush, hardly any sweetness to it. Next time, Porto's. read more

Do not be discouraged with the fact that it looks like it used to be a gas station! When you walk into the restaurant you forget what the exterior and location looks like. The food is delicious, the staff is friendly, and their bread is never ending! Their mambo chicken was wonderful, with lots of spices and very tender! this is a great place to come for lunch. read more

Mambos Cafe - Mambo 's Chicken - very good ! - Latin American Near Me - Glendale, California

I originally was not going to write a bad review on this place, because I have been coming here for years. I normally have been treated very well by the staff here, and the food is honestly delicious. At first the staff seemed very friendly and professional. I forgot the man's name who was serving us that night but he looked like he was a manager. I believe it was around 6pm on a Friday night. He started off with a friendly demeanor and I was very happy with the service at first I didn't expect them to have corn tortillas because they served us bread originally as an appetizer. However, I have a gluten allergy so I asked if they had corn tortillas very kindly as an alternative. I even smiled at him . Then the waiter looked at me with a straight face and quickly turned cold. He said in a very aggressive tone and stood up straight as if I had just insulted him "This is Cuban food. We don't do that here." I was SHOCKED. As someone who works in customer service I would never ever use that tone with a customer or even say something like that to a customer. He could've kindly explained to me that they don't have corn tortillas as an alternative to bread. I just said, "Okay," and nodded my head still in shock. My family was even surprised they said he was too aggressive. I felt uncomfortable for the rest of the meal. I know I did not do anything wrong. I was nothing but polite. this man made me feel like I had done something wrong and I had to carry his crappy energy with me throughout the night. I will never ever come back here. PEOPLE GO TO LA BAMBA INSTEAD!! It is in Burbank they have Cuban food, Caribbean food with a mix of Mexican cuisine in there. They have corn tortillas (; they have really good guacamole and the perfect sweet fried plantains! It's a nicer restaurant, bigger too with way better service. They will be happy to answer any of your questions not only do they have Cuban cuisine, but they have other amazing varieties of food as well. their menu is bigger, and better. You will not be disappointed! read more

What can I say about this place... a family owned authentic Cuban cuisine. Their service is amazing and, friendly & attentive. Haven't had a dish that I didn't like. I highly recommend this place to everyone that likes or wants to try home cooked style Cuban food. It's freeway close and has plenty of parking. Love Ralph and the family! read more

Mambos Cafe - Indoor area of restaurant. - Latin American Near Me - Glendale, California

Have driven by this place a few times and wondered how the food might be. I tend to judge Cuban places by how they make their ropa vieja. Finally had a chance to give it a try. Ropa vieja was good, very flavorful, black beans and rice also tasty. The inside vibe was very homey, clean, staff was nice. read more

Really good Food! Good service. Totally recommend it, Friendly environment, with parking right outside. read more

Save your hard earned money and head over to Versalles or El Floridita instead where the food is typical Cuban cuisine. Pricing: Representative of the food, Cheap! Location: Decent with outdoor patio Service: Non enthusiastic with very little knowledge of the menu Decor: Semi eclectic Food: Terrible! I had Roast Pork, a typical Cuban dish with black beans and tostones (deep fried mashed plantains). It was flavorless, dry and definitely not roasted, more like skillet grilled. My girlfriend had Ropa Vieja (shredded pork in tomato sauce). Sauce tasted as if it were caned tomatoes with very little if any spices or flavor. Presentation: More like slapped on Bathrooms: Located outdoors. Be forewarned! On a hot day you will be stepping into an extremely hot sauna as these bathrooms have no A/C nor ventilation. Reminds me of using a Porta-potty at an outdoor venue. There is no way in hell any one can comfortably take care of business in there! Entertainment: On selected nights they have salsa Second Chance: No Actual Star Rating: 0 stars read more

Mambos Cafe - Latin American Near Me - Glendale, California

I had food here so many times I am behind happy despute covid19 they are still open.., today I stopped a CORTADITO... yummy the best cortadito other than Miami ... read more

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Went to eat here on a Friday . Yelp says open til 9pm. Walked in at quarter after 8 and was told they are closed and as I explained their Yelp needs to be updated was rudely told "yeah that's a real hassle for you buddy". Cool never eaten before, won't come back. read more

I was excited to visit Mambo's after reading other reviews, but found the food to be average. I had a Cuban sandwich which was OK, but I've had far better in Miami. My associate had the El Pedro, a chicken breast with avocado and pico de gallo. It was good. The service was excellent and friendly. read more

Mambo's cafe is a great place if you want Cuban food. It is a small restaurant with limited parking but is worth it if there is a spot. I have visited and enjoyed their food 3 times now. The atmosphere is like a cute little hole in the wall with Alcohol. Although i have never had any drinks here but water or soda. I hope you enjoy it if you go. I did. read more

Not bad, but not the quality I was expecting. Mojo was good, tostones were okay, but the Cuban sandwich wasn't very good. Pork was dry and flavorless. read more

Mambos Cafe - Latin American Near Me - Glendale, California

Love this spot. The food is amazing! Staff is super nice. Try the potato balls!!! Shrimp w garlic is amazing and the coffee is superb. Try their house iced coffee! We are back and its amazing again! read more

Ok...saw this on foodnetworks DDD...Simply put...THE FOOD WAS PHENOMENAL!! The salsa served with the bread is a like a party in your mouth! Great flavor with just enough heat to know it's there...we had the spicy chicken and shrimp with garlic/jalapeno...both were off the chart!! We are only visiting the area, but drove 45 min to get here...WAS WELL WORTH FIGHTING THAT CRAPPY LA traffic for this dinner!! read more

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Came here for dinner for first time in well over a year. So glad we did. As always their food is yummy. We had the ropa vieja, shrimp antojilla & pollo empanizado. And service was great. We didn't have to ask for anything. read more

Azucar! I'm Cuban, born and raised in Miami and this place makes me feel like home. I was really worried I wouldn't be able to get my fix of Cuban food when moving to Burbank from Miami, but a co-worker put me on to this place and I am so glad they did! The food was really great the two times I've been there. The first time I went I had the special of the day, which was Macitas de puerco (pork chunks), with some Cuban-style fried rice and platanitos maduros (fried plantains). The pork was really tender and the sauce it was cooked in was nice too. The fried rice tasted just like the one I used to order at Islas Canaria (badass restaurant) back in Miami. The platanitos were also money. The second time I went I decided to order my go-to dish at any Cuban restaurant back home, the breaded chicken steak with white rice and black beans. It was surprisingly good, but a little thin for my taste. If the cut were jut a bit thicker, it would've tasted just like the ones I can get back in Miami. But it was still very good and I will definitely be ordering it again. The beans were nice too, but could've been just a tad bit sweeter for my taste. My soul is really happy that this place exists because having it around will be nice whenever I'm starting to feel homesick. read more

Mambos Cafe - Macitas de Puerto, Cuban-style fried rice and platanitos maduros. - Latin American Near Me - Glendale, California

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The food is just plain delicious. But what is really great is the staff. Came for dinner with family, very large group. Last minute reservation. Not only were we late, but we stayed way past finishing dinner. The staff were just marvelous. They were kind and attentive. They have my loyalty for life. But I am coming back for the cubano and the papa rellenas. And maybe a glass or two of the white sangria. Thank you. read more

I was watching Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and I decided to try this place. My antennas should've gone up when I only saw two people dining. Nevertheless, I walk in and two girls are at the counter talking. They greet me, only to be interrupted by a guy who needs a class on customer service. I order the Tostones cups with Shrimp Ceviché (which is the dish prepared on Triple D with Guy Fieri). The guy tells me the shrimp is grilled and not ceviché. No problem. Still place the order. I asked the young lady, who was initially helping me, if she had a recommendation. She said the roasted pork. Took my order home, and couldn't wait to taste the food. The Tostones cups were ok, for $19 the flavors were ok. Had to doctor it up with lemon and seasonings. The pork dish was bland, no flavor. Very tender, but no flavor at all. I had to improvise and make a sandwich with mayo and pickles to give it flavor. Overall, I was disappointed. This is the first time Guy Fieri let me down. I'll stick to Portos for Cuban food. read more

Went to try this place with family as my SIL heard about it over Social Media, always good to try a "new to us" Cuban place. Another small spot limited tables and a bar nice quiet atmosphere in the restaurant. Our waiter was very attentive and accommodating and the food came out pretty quickly from when we ordered to when it was served. Menu has a nice selection of dishes as well as the drinks menu. Each of us (5 total) ordered a different entree and we shared their appetizer item called El Trio each item was tasty so we figured it bode well for our entrees. Here's what we ordered...Mambo's Chicken, Rosa Viejo, Piccadillo, Sirloin Steak (Bistec de Palomilla) and the Pescado Al Ajillo. Of the 5, three we felt were generally under seasoned, which was quite surprising for Cuban food which we generally find to be boldly seasoned, specifically the Piccadillo, the Steak and the Fish. Often we've found Piccadillo to be over-seasoned and Bistec and the Ajillo more bold since they have garlic based marinades or saucing. The three of us that ordered these had to request salt and pepper to add to our dishes. The Chicken and the Shredded beef sounded like they hit their mark. Lastly we all shared an order of their Flan with coconut topping, that was good flan! In summary, though we enjoyed the meal, service was attentive and the vibe of the place was great, the under seasoned food may keep us from a return visit, of course it could have been an off night or some other reason, maybe these particular entrees were not their forte...maybe we'll give it some time and try again another time down the road. That said, I would still encourage folks to give Mambo's a visit my opinion is just that, my opinion. Cheers! read more

Amazing service, Ropa Vieja is they treat my family with respect. Will keep coming back. My wife enjoyed the Cortadito oh yeah if you're a fan of the movie "Super Bad" the liquor store from the McLovin scene with the ID is across the street. Another reason to visit read more

Mambos Cafe - Ropa Viejo dish, good portion full of flavor - Latin American Near Me - Glendale, California

Food was delicious, but the mood of our table was absolutely ruined from extremely poor customer service. One of the waitresses rudely cleared off my father's half empty glass without asking if he was finished. When he politely reminded her of the fact, she bluntly replied to him; "I'm sorry, we're closed", before quickly walking away. Absolutely disgusting. It was 7:56 pm, four minutes before closing. We were almost finished with our meal and would've been ready to get going a little after 8. But that was before we were suddenly unwelcome to stay any longer. Once I received my card back, I planned on writing a short note on the merchants receipt, but the pen was out of ink. That's okay, this complete joke of a waitress wasn't even going to see a penny of a tip anyways. Circus of a restaurant service with clowns disguised as waiters. They don't even introduce their names when they serve you. You're probably better off coming here for lunch, I think 8 hours should be plenty of time. Unless they start escorting you out around 2:30 or so. Embarrassment of a dining experience. Next time, I'm taking my business across the street to Sushi Nishi-ya, where they actually take care of their customers. read more

I'm not typically a fan of Cuban restaurants around here. I find them to be a bit flavorless but I was pleasantly surprised by Mambo Cafe. I ordered the Mambos chicken because, well, if it's named after the restaurant it has to be good right? I definitely recommend it. It came with a saucy chicken and rice, a bowl of black beans and plantains. Plantains aren't really my thing but it's nice that it came with a lot of sides. The restaurant is small but there is plenty of parking out front because it is next to an auto body shop. The restaurant is dark but nicely decorated mix you kind of get a nice old school feel here. read more

Early dinner on weekday with son and his roomie Outdoors was only option during CoVid. The Sangria was so perfect with fresh and luscious fruit and the iced coffee malt drink got a blue ribbon too! Food from bread to appetizers and main dishes all freshly prepared and tasty. Pico de Gallo version was not watery but chunky with freshest ripe tomatoes and citrus spiked with cilantro, onions, spice. We devoured two chicken dishes--succulent and flavorful--and I had the vegetarian bowl that hit the spot. There was no room for dessert. Loved the family friendly atmosphere, very warm and welcoming. It'll be great when live music can resume when restrictions are lifted. read more

Mambos Cafe - Best Cuban food experience! - Latin American Near Me - Glendale, California

My reviews are Few and Far Between. So when I take time to post, folks it means something. LOL. I'm not some Guru but I know where I want to spend my money when I eat out. This place here was so worth the wait. It's is what it is, a nice little Cuban Cafe. A busy corner and a not so ordinary location situation but these people make it work. So much so that I finally had to visit. Somewhat Dark and cozy inside with a patio. Very nice service with a smile. HowevEr the Food. It's soooo Good you have to stop yourself and take a pause. And for me that means it's Awesome. Great traditional Cuban Flavors not over done. I'll will be going back soon. read more

Mambos rules. Good vegetarian options and great service . Not many places around here I would suggest this highly read more

Mambos Cafe - Vegetable Tamale - Latin American Near Me - Glendale, California

Best Cuban food and best service! I've been coming here for twenty five years and Hebe never been disappointed

I dont know how i feel about this place. I really wanted to try the roasted pork sandwich. I got one and it wasnt crazy good. The pork tasted alright, but it was a little dry. It literally just had red onions and pork inside a bread. No sauce nothing. No other condiments. Not sure if ill be back. read more

Food is delicious and authentic. Staff is friendly and helpful. Had the pulled pork and breaded chicken.

Random chance of coming here. Needed a place to eat after a long drive and saw this place. Food is really good! Love the Yuca and and plantains! So yummy! Portions are big too! Will be coming back! read more

I'll start by saying that the staff was very nice, the only thing I do wish they did come around a bit more to check on us, other then that their service was ok. Now as for the food I can't say I was very pleased with that I got. I got the Mambo's chicken sadly wasn't as good as I thought it would be. The side of beans weren't the greatest they had a burnt taste to them, the rice was really good, and the fried plantains were good. read more

Well I heard about this place from Guy Fieri's Diners Divesand Drive In. I will give it a second chance. Ordered Mambo's chicken and the chicken itself was very good. Tasty, moist and well prepared. I prefer My Cuban Rice prepared Morro style (mixed rice and beans). It was ok, kind of gummy which surprised me. I am a rice fanatic it's my thing. So I am a bit picky when it comes to rice so it was a little disappointing. On this day even the white rice I ordered was sticky so maybe bad chef day. Another miss were the Fried Plantains which I prefer to the sweet variety. Mine came undercooked. Not sure if they thought I was asking for my sweet plantains to be Fried. Those that know do realize that there is a major difference between the two. I still say give it a try as my dinner mates enjoyed their Salmon Ajillo even though they forgot to substitute the sauce as requested. Still I will return on a different night as overall it was a nice experience One thing I would to add is that I found the food surprisingly bland which should not be the case with Cuban Cuisine again perhaps the chef had a bad day as I see the potential but from my undercooked potato ball(meat in the middle was cold and the potato was hard) to the before mentioned plantains I have to give it a raised eyebrow on this review read more

Mambos Cafe - Salmon Ajillo - Latin American Near Me - Glendale, California