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    Cafe Havana

    4.8 (209 reviews)
    Closed 7:30 am - 3:00 pm

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    Business Info

    CAFE HAVANA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Havana

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    Lechon Asado lunch plate
    Mel M.

    New to the area and coming from Central Texas where Cuban restaurants aren't that common, my wife and I were eager to try out Cuban restaurants near us. A couple of days after we closed on our house, we searched for lunch options. While checking out Yelp, Cafe Havana popped up with great reviews, so we plotted a course to check it out. Located in a seemingly industrial area, Cafe Havana offers ample parking. We placed our orders, Lechon Asado lunch for me and Cuban sandwich (which came with fries) for my wife. We, well maybe my wife did, waited a few minutes for her sandwich and fries to be served before eating. The lechon asado, aka roast pork, lived up to its billing as their best seller. Tender, savory and fatty pieces of pork served with yellow rice and fried plantains...the only thing missing was crispy pork skin that comes with pernil. My wife liked her Cuban sandwich as well, good flavors but lacking that crispy bread that she's come to expect. The fries were fresh and hot...perhaps the only place we've tried so far that includes fries with your meal. All in all, a good place that we'll likely revisit for future cravings for Cuban cuisine.

    Main area to order
    Noel E.

    Found it on Yelp and was a hidden gem, cafe con leche in point, free samples of expresso and greeted like Family! Definitely found me a new spot to sit and enjoy a nice cup of Cafe!

    Jacob W.

    I got the lunch special with a bunch of different options! It was delicious, staff was super friendly and helpful. It was busy inside but no wait, for lunch special the food is ready and hot. Interior was nice and laid back.

    Roasted pork with yellow rice and plantains
    Tim D.

    Wow, what a find! Just passing through Ocala on the way to the gulf and we found this wonderful little hole in the wall. Both the shredded beef and the roasted pork were so full of flavor! I had the coconut rice and found it a little bland and pasty but my wife's yellow rice was great and enough for us both. We were served a complementary taste of the cuban coffee and it was so wonderful that we each had to buy a full size cup. This is counter service so much much to talk about except regarding service except for that nice gesture of the coffee taste. The place is a bit of a dive but in a good way. You know when there is a line at the door containing local law enforcement that the place is a winner!

    The staff and food were great! I wish I'd taken a picture of the food The yellow rice and the Ocala coffee were delicious

    Restaurant and car

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    4 months ago

    The food was authentic and as tasty as I had back when I lived in Miami. The portions were huge. We will definitely be back often.

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    4 days ago

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    12 days ago

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    11 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    3 months ago

    Everything you'd expect out of an authentic Cuban place. Cafe con leche was excellent.

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    1 year ago

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    10 months ago

    Food was fantastic and staff was friendly and accommodating. Will definitely be back.

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    3 years ago

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    10 months ago

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    5 months ago

    i love this place ,i didn't know it was there ,happy that i found it ,great food and service!!

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    11 months ago

    Cuban Sandwich is good. A little slow coming out of the kitchen but i was there at the lunch rush so thats understandable.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Solid cuban food. I really loved their empanadas and yellow rice! Friend staff as well.

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The food is always delicious. I love cuban food. My son also loves the sandwiches.

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    4 years ago

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    Page 1 of 6

    Cafe Havana Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Cafe Havana

    Latin American Cafe

    Latin American Cafe

    4.7
    (85 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $

    My wife and I received a gift certificate for this place from our friend and realtor after we…read moreclosed on our house in Ocala, having moved here from Central Texas. Located in a strip mall anchored by a Roses Discount Store, the place looked dark from the outside and the "Open" sign didn't appear to be lit but we knew they were open because of various Open yard signs in front of the establishment. Upon walking in, we were seated right away and presented the menu. They have daily specials but they didn't have pernil, although they had lechon asado like most of the Cuban/Latin American restaurants we've tried in the area. I ordered the lechon asado which came with yellow rice, fried plantains and red beans. My wife tried their Midnite Cuban sandwich. The lechon asado was flavorful (but of course no crunchy skin) and the yellow rice was good as well. My wife's sandwich, however, was a disappointment! The roast pork had an off taste and was gristly...she had to remove that meat from her sandwich. I tried her roast pork and was thinking of sending it back but my wife just removed all the meat from her sandwich. Perhaps we'll be back but definitely not ordering the Cuban sandwich again. Lunch for 2 came out to just over $30 with tip.

    We usually come here when we visit family. My husband's favorite place. The food is delicious…read more Service is good and portions are quite large. Definitely good value here. We love the masitas- fried pork chunks. The beef stew is awesome. Today, trying the ropa vieja- one of the Friday specials and the breakfast , Machito. They make good French fries here. Area is very nice after the remodel a couple of years ago.

    Photos
    A Whole "Red Snapper" 1.5- 2.0 lbs. served with 2 sides (market price, also allow xtra time time, as we cook it to order.
    A Whole "Red Snapper" 1.5- 2.0 lbs. served with 2 sides (market price, also allow xtra time time, as we cook it to order.
    Miami Chicken
    Miami Chicken
    Masitas

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    Masitas
    Mojo Grill & Catering

    Mojo Grill & Catering

    4.0
    (329 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    So far, EVERYTHING on the menu sounds delicious and the quandary I found myself in was that I was…read moreso pulled in a million directions on what I wanted to order...I just couldn't decide! We started with Carolina Tater Skins. Absolutely DELICIOUS! Potato skins with Roast Pork, cheese, bacon, green onions, topped with bbq sauce...cup of sour cream in the middle. Didn't last over 3 minutes for the two of us and there were 6 of them! They were THAT delicious. I ordered the Birria Tacos (3) with a side salad and my husband got the Cuban Clucker sandwich with a side of crinkle fries. We spoke to our waitress about how we had wanted to try their food for awhile now but just so happened to find ourselves about 1.3 miles from this location tonight and made the decision to try them tonight! She said they were best known for their wings and just how to get them. So we also ordered 10 wings done just that way. Our meals were brought not too long after we demolished our fabulous appetizer. Wow! Absolutely crazy good! I pounded the three Birria Tacos in record time, in between also demolishing my side salad. My husband said his fries were perfect and he's STILL working on that huge sandwich as I write this! Lol The chicken wings, while they looked delicious, once I tried one, there was a strange fishy taste that came across so strong on the wings that didn't have the sweet and spicy sauce on them, that I couldn't eat them. It actually made me gag. I just couldn't eat them. The waitress asked us how we liked them, so I explained what was wrong with them. She offered to have them remade but we declined. She told the manager to come speak to us about them. He was nice enough, but looked intimidated by us (a 61 and 62 yr old?) and kinda looked anywhere but at me when I was explaining what the problem was with the wings. He was said he'd investigate. Our waitress came back and asked if he spoke with us. I said he did. She asked what he said and I said he told us he'd investigate the problem. She asked us if he said he's take the wings off our bill and I said no. She said she'd take them off anyways because it was a whole 10 wings we didn't eat. I said, thanks but I'm not trying to get free food especially if she gets in trouble for doing that. She said but you didn't even eat them! I said she couldn't have paid ME to eat them! The taste was so gross I actually used a napkin to wipe the taste off my tongue! She laughed. We went ahead and ordered dessert to make up for the wings we sent back and then didn't want after all. The bourbon peach bread pudding turned out to be sold out, so we settled on beignet bites for him and Pecan Pie for myself. Both were EXCELLENT! WE will definitely be back to see our fantastic waitress Anna and to try more of their menu because they have some of the most delicious sounding entrees! All in all, we were impressed by the fantastic food (minus the fishy wings), but everything was fresh, delicious and very decently priced! Great place to bring the family because there's something for everyone here. Chicken tenders to burgers and all kinds of sandwiches, soups, salads, pasta...diversity without being outrageous. Great combos! Can't wait to try something else next visit! You know it was a great meal when your husband turns to you as you're walking to the car together and he says "thank you babe. That was really good!". 'Nuff said?

    I am so conflicted but I'm going to give it 3 stars. The vibes were all there! The decor, the staff…read moreand the atmosphere. What made me give it 3 stars? The over fried food :( The staff was very friendly and hospitable. The hostess nearly had a heart attack when we told her 15 people but Mr. Michael was more than accommodating and our waitress Destiny crashed out before we were seated but she was on it, friendly and attentive! She always made sure we were looked at and answered our questions. Alright the food ..... While for the most part it was DELICIOUS, there was some that someone back there loves to over fry the food. All of our sweet potatoes fries were burnt and had the taste of just used oil, it had no meat. The one that made us upset was the beef empanada, it came out doo doo brown and it was not appetizing. The texture was horrendous, no airy crisps to the bread and taste horrible! Even when putting the salsa and sour cream, the freezer burn and over fried cooking oil taste over powered everything. Destiny said that they didn't have empanadas ready and weren't expecting to serve a great amount... Whoever is in the kitchen then should prep and be mindful that a kitchen is a live operation... Gordan Ramsey would never. It was horrific and my friend still paid because she didn't want to complain, we ordered 8 plates of those and 4 were left over. Basically, your food could be over fried, inconsistent, served with no passion and over powered with raw oil.

    Photos
    Some of the most interesting decorations I've seen yet and I didn't even take pictures of the ceiling!!!!
    Some of the most interesting decorations I've seen yet and I didn't even take pictures of the ceiling!!!!
    Red Fish plate with beans and rice and sweet potato fries
    Red Fish plate with beans and rice and sweet potato fries
    Mojo Grill & Catering

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    Cafe Havana - cuban - Updated June 2026

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