My last review of Cuban Lives Restaurant was back in 2018, and this place still deserves a good review. I was pleasantly surprised this time, especially with the grilled pork, which was even better than my last visit. The pea soup and chicken noodle soup were both very good and comforting. The ceviche options were plentiful and very fresh. The chicharrón was also good, with crispy skin, though it was a little salty for my taste. Everything else was well balanced and flavorful. The price is very reasonable for a Cuban buffet, and the service was good throughout our visit. Dishes were cleared promptly, and our water glasses were always refilled. Overall, a solid experience and definitely worth coming back. read more

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I was searching for a Cuban restaurant in Hialeah. I saw this one, Cuba lives. We walked in and we bumped into a huge buffet. They had everything you can imagine in a Cuban restaurant and more.. the quality, the flavor and the attention that we got from the waiters was incredible. . You finished with the plate and right away they pick it up so you can go for more. The ambiance is very inviting and clean. They even had a large variety of salads, and fruits so no one leaves hungry. If you want delicious food and have a big appetite you have to try this place. It is big enough to accommodate many people so no waiting. I am very happily please and will be back. Give it a shot! read more

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Came back here after a few years and it is still one of the better spots in Miami for those wanting to try a variety of Cuban Food. Unlike most buffets the food actually tastes good! So many different options so there's always something else to try! Will definitely be back sooner if I am in the area! read more

Cuba Lives Restaurant - A little bit of everything! - Salad Near Me - Hialeah, Florida

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Let's go for a ride around Cuban cuisine cause that's exactly what to expect I told my mom let's go to a buffet and we found this little gem after visiting my dad's grave the food has everything you could think of from a Cuban restaurant arroz imperial, palomilla steak, ceviche, Moro, tostone you name it they probably got it except chicharrón but packed full of flavors and filling. The service was great they were super kind and explained how it works and treat you like family. The ambiance is definitely Hispanic nice music playing , clean and relaxing. read more

I hadn't visited this place in quite some time, and I always remembered it for its pleasant service and family-friendly atmosphere. However, last night's experience was very different and, unfortunately, disappointing. Upon arrival, the person who identified herself as the manager, Sheila, initially assisted us in Spanish, as is usually the case at this establishment. However, when she noticed that we had a small dog with us, she abruptly switched to English, and her attitude also became less cordial. I would like to point out that there are no visible signs in the establishment indicating any restrictions regarding pets. When we were asked whether the dog was a service animal, we responded that it was. Even so, we were told that the dog needed to remain inside a crate, as it was supposedly the establishment's policy. I understand and respect that each business may have its own policies. However, especially in customer service, the way these policies are communicated is just as important as the policies themselves. In this case, the interaction lacked empathy and courtesy, which negatively impacted our experience. For this reason, we decided to leave and go elsewhere. We ended up visiting La Juliana, where the service was excellent and the overall experience was very pleasant--definitely a place I would recommend. This is not a matter of personal preference regarding pets, but rather one of understanding and respect, especially when it involves a service animal that fulfills an important role. I regret having to share this experience, as I truly valued this place. However, I believe it is important to do so in the hope that improvements can be made in customer service in the future. read more

What a lovely experience Service was great Went in on fathers day Sunday It was packed!!! Everyone happy and smiling Amazing buffet!! I like that they offer fruit as desert If you have a diabetic or keto loved one this is a good place. Lots of meats Salad bar was simple but got all your basic needs met Alfredo pasta was soooo good with a pollo a la plancha!! A must add! Lots of rice choices Imperial rice White rice Cuban Chinese rice They have fish , chicken, steak, n pork The bread was boring I wish it was sitting in a butter garlic sauce instead of garlic spread at the top. The natural juices are very sweet so watch out. They add a lot of sugar. You can't seat unless the entire party is there so keep that in mind if you're a big party. read more

We visited from Texas in June 2025. We had never eaten Cuban food before and didn't know what to expect. I had watched David Srirachi's video on YouTube and it looked great so had to give it a try. Being from Texas we're used to a lot of Spanish, but pretty sure we were the only people in the place that spoke a word of English while we were there. Didn't matter one bit, if anything it made the experience even better. Wow! I'm a big fan and will be back. Had some flavors I hadn't had before and the variety was great. read more

Fantastic food, staff and ambiance. Party of 4 we went for lunch stuffed our faces with so much delicious food. We had 2 beers and a capirihni that was way too strong haha, but good. Total was $93 before tip. Enjoyed the food so much we did not take any photos. Will definitely be back soon and will take photos next time. read more

I went there last Saturday wit family an all 3 of is were impress with the food quality and taste. The servers were also excellent. read more

My husband wanted to eat some meat while we were in Haileah. My husband is Cuban, and I remember seeing a Cuban Food Buffet in Yelp. After googling, this restaurant was only 5 minutes away from where we were. The restaurant was quite big. There were many families enjoying their food. I was only one Asian there. Staff were very friendly and helpful. They have everything including some American food. The quality of food was not bad for buffet. I wish they had sweets as a part of buffet. But it's ok. By the time, we finished eating, we had no room for dessert. The price was reasonable too. read more

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Nunca más vuelvo a venir!!! Es como estar en cuba comiendo cajita de cumpleaños. O como nada y al final me cobraron como si lo hubiera hecho. No vuelvo más read more

VERY LOUD!!! NOT MUCH ENGLISH HERE! All food labels are in Spanish! First time here. Dinner Price $24.99. No desert bar. Salad bar OK. 2 in on a Friday at 5 for dinner. Pretty busy but got seated right away. Good variety to choose from. I tried many of their items just guessing what they were. I found nothing to be seasoned very well, very flat and only warm at best. A customer stopped and ask "what are 2 Americans doing here? We had a good laugh. No need to go back.. read more

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Pork is really nice. Tender and flavorful with more than enough portion. Service was very pleasant as well. She did look at me funny when I couldn't pronounce the dish. Good vibe all around. Thank you read more

Phenomenal food, however some items were a bit dry. Great place to come for authentic Cuban food. This place gets packed and is located in the heart of Hialeah. The ambiance gives Little Havana nights with live music. The price is reasonable for the endless food you get to endulge. The service is great, staff friendly. Planning to bring my family here when they come to visit. read more

HOLY CUBA! If you love Cuban food this is the place for you. If you have no idea what Cuban food is, you owe it to yourself to come here and explore it. This is one of the finest buffets I have ever eaten at. I truly dislike Miami, but I sure would come back here for the food! The service was great--bring your Spanish speaking self. Nice, clean, tidy, and a spectacular hidden gem. YOU NEED CUBAN FOOD IN YOUR LIFE. read more

This place is amazing! I found this restaurant as I was looking for buffets on google and decided to try it out... 12.99 during the week for lunch sounds too good to be true! For the price you pay you get your BANG for your buck...LITERALLY!! The food here is so fresh and deliciously amazing! If your in the area you really gotta give this place a try and I guarantee you will come out of here with a big smile, I know I did! The servers treat you great and are very attentive, which most buffets lack in but not this one. What I love about this place is that they offer a variety of authentic Cuban food for a great price. So, if your tired of going to an Asian buffet or Churrascaría, you gotta come here! Your tastebuds/cravings are not going to wanna go back to those type of buffets after visiting this one, at least for awhile. read more

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I was told about this place from a friend who regularly goes and is a fan. So I came to try it out. The place is located in Hialeah and looks nice enough from the outside with ample parking. Upon entering the establishment no one was at the reception area, staff were busy. Then two older Cuban ladies walked in and stood behind me, and then a server came and spoke to them first and sat them down. I actually said "err I was first!". he was very apologetic, and showed me to my own table, set in front of the buffet. Not a good start. However after that - it was great. This is a buffet, but is surprisingly good and great for me to sample all the Cuban dishes I have never tried, (see my plates for what I ate). THIS is the place to be adventurous. Everything I tasted was very good, and trust me I have tried many Cubans restaurants, cafes and home cooking from my Cuban husband. The fact that I could sample dishes that were new to me, I was in heaven. I especially liked a dish with cabbage in it, cilantro, onions and ham - I aske da female waitress and she told me all about it, its called Col in Spanish). I tried the ceviches, all were decent, beef, chicken and they even had picadillo and roasted pork with crispy skin. They also had monfongo and sweet plantains and they were very good too. They even had some mac and cheese, and spaghetti in a cream sauce Cuban style. I thoroughly enjoyed my tour of Cuban cuisine and most definitely WILL be returning. Also for 11.99 for the lunch buffet, it is excellent value for money. Also to be noted there were plenty of patrons dining there, and I am not surprised! read more

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Super Rica la comida por un precio accesible, el servicio de primera, constantemente preguntando si necesitas algo, muy buen ambiente me encantó read more

The BEST buffet I've been to, outside of Las Vegas! Big kudos to the chefs, I imagine them to be cute aunties with sazón, who are throwing it down in the kitchen. Every single food item is fresh, flavorful and spectacular. They have your typical Cuban/hispanic dishes such as grilled meats, yucá con mojo, plantains, all type of rice dishes (including arroz imperial and Moro), and a magnificent salad bar. Very easy to keep it healthy in this buffet, very impressive. The grilled steak, chicken and pork station is very popular and busy but they also do a great job at restocking it and keeping it neat. I've only gone for lunch a few times but was told that the dinner service is even more impressive and includes a musical act, I'll be coming soon to check it out. The servers and hosts are great and very attentive but not annoying and very fast at cleaning up your plates and refilling your drink. Please tip your servers! read more

Cuba Lives Restaurant - Catering Menú and pricing - Salad Near Me - Hialeah, Florida

First of all I should mention that I am not a fan of buffets. But I would recommend this one. I am not Cuban and not very familiar with the culture. Cuba Lives got me an opportunity to sample different food. It is a buffet but the place has live music (on weekends I understood), so it doesn't give the canteen vibes. The service was great also. My only concern is that almost nobody speaks English. But even then you can get by They have full bar also. Parking all around. I would recommend the place. For $25 you can try all the Cuban food at once read more

I was hesitant, a Cuban food buffet but I was nicely surprised! Loved it. Super fresh, clean, and amazing service. Thank you Eduardo! read more

Cuba Lives Restaurant - Salad Near Me - Hialeah, Florida

This is a buffet style restaurant with a good selection. In fact the food was very good. The waiter never refilled our water glass nor did he bring us our change from the bill. I do not know if this is cultural or if I was specifically supposed to ask for more water and my change. The restaurant was very clean but had a small area where you sit and dine. read more

Cuba Lives Restaurant - Salad Near Me - Hialeah, Florida

The food was amazing fresh seafood, congris, ceviche and many Cuban dishes it's all buffet - I love it very much every time I come to Miami this is the best place to enjoy authentic Cuban cuisine and the service was great - the place was full and the food just keep on coming. read more

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I'd driven by this place a couple of times and wanted to give it a shot for dinner after the gym. It looked decent and fancy-ish on the outside and my concern was that I'd be underdressed in gym gear. Based on my experience here and other recent reviews it looks like they have bigger fish, or chicken, to fry. I haven't been too much of a purist during the times of you know what but it was my understanding that buffets were not allowed to operate, social distancing at all. Well this place is still running a buffet operation. The first sign that this might've not been the best was the host/waiter mentioning that I wouldn't have much time because they were in a hurry to close. I commented that my dish was fairly simple and that's when I was told it was buffet. I head back to the serving line and got a couple of pieces of grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, and mashed plantains. A couple of bites of my chicken breast convince me that it was not the way to go. It tasted rancid like if it had been sitting there for a while. To their credit at least the mashed potato was good. I went to the register to complain about the taste of the chicken and was charged full price basically $16 for mashed plantains and potatoes and a couple of bites of rancid chicken. On top of that they even had a line for tip on the receipt. The few bites that I had felt like a bomb on my stomach. Here's hoping my next checkin isn't at an urgent care. read more

All about the food variety never had tried fingernail fried rice , an experience I would not recommend read more

Cuba Lives Restaurant - Yelp said it was too long , anyways see for yourself and be aware we're you are eating - Salad Near Me - Hialeah, Florida

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Food was delicious. They should include the dessert in the price as well though. On their picture they show the desserts kind of making you think it's included in the buffet. But other than that. I recommend it! read more

First time myself, my wife and adult daughter ate here are ate any Cuban food. Excellent food and service.

The food is a variety the ambiance and other diners are very intimidating even for being right in the heart of hialeah be prepared to e transported to a different country and not in a good way. The service was good and the desserts are exceptional! read more

Loved this place! We were seated right away on a Saturday afternoon at around 4 pm. Mariquitas were served with a delicious cilantro garlic type sauce. The buffet had gloves available for those who wanted to use them. The buffet had so much variety: steak, pork, chicken, ceviche, pasta, fried rice, etc. Even croquetas! My dad loves this restaurant so I was excited to try it and it didn't disappoint. The flan was the size of my head lol! And very yummy. Can't wait to come back read more

Very good food, the service was excellent and the ambience was perfect. Highly recommended

Delicious Cuban food with great variety of food and great service! Very nice facility, clean, modern and great welcoming service by Eduardo. The food is absolutely bursting with flavor. All the dishes are well prepared and presented, fresh made food. They had an excellent selection of Cuban desserts. I settled for flan with a cortadito coffee. The flan was topped with caramel cream and a side of whipped cream. I have to say it was a succulent dining experience. I would recommend this place to any visitors! read more

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Horrible. Old food under lamps. Nothing seemed fresh. Would not recommend. Waiters inattentive, seemed bored, annoyed to serve the customer. read more

Food is delicious and they have a great variety of dishes. Perfect for lunch or dinner! There is something for everyone. My favorite dishes are the "Ropa Vieja" (pulled stewed beef with veggies) and "Congri" (black beans and rice) . The service is also amazing. Eduardo was very welcoming and very helpful with recommendations. They all make you feel at home and are very funny! You'll leave with a smile on your face no matter what! Don't skip dessert! The Copa Lolita was delightful and so smooth. Overall, I 100% recommend!! read more

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Finally! Someone read my mind. A Cuban Buffet in the center of Miami. The restaurant is clean and pleasant to the eyes. A family environment. The food looks and tastes delicious. I recommend this restaurant for lunch or dinner. The only thing i would recommend to improve is the attitude of some of the waiters. But overall this places is great. I look forward to coming more often. read more

First and last. Ordered a Palomilla steak and got some kind of beef that's one notch above dog food. Don't know about the rest of the menu and won't care. Don't order steak here though. read more

Cuba Lives Restaurant - Bistec de Palomilla - Salad Near Me - Hialeah, Florida

Hands down my favorite Cuban restaurant!!! Went Friday on their lunch special with co workers and can't wait to go back. Buffet price per person was $10.99 Monday- Friday. They had almost everything. If you enjoy Cuban cuisine you'll love this place. The only bad thing is that they don't open Monday's :) Service was good and place is clean. read more

Cuba Lives Restaurant - Salad Near Me - Hialeah, Florida

Wow wow wow ....... dog food!!!!!!! This place left me and my husband grossed out and discussed If I could give them a negative 5 I would. What a disgrace Ok the meat was salty the tamales tasted like pure masa the yellow rice very sticky and over cooked the fired cheese was cold the beef steak was tough all the fruit was to ripe The tostones were hard and cold The fruit salad was watery Should I go on !!!!!! We keep trying one bite at a time desperately trying to find something worth putting into our mouth The only 2 things that were 50% ok was the yucca and the shrimp in sauce The restaurant was freezing The waiter was a My god this place takes the Cake Top level DOG FOOD!!!!!! Please avoid this place at any means the sad part that we where talked into going Oh I forgot the flan was Burnt read more

Great food for the price and quantity. Their vaca frita (Shredded Beef known as Fried Cow) was great and their flan was not only good but a nice portion too. This place brings back so many memories. The actual location was a place my family and I frequented when I was a child back in the late 70's called "El Lila Restaurant" ....they left all the original murals which makes this place nostalgic. Service was also great. Very clean and welcoming. read more

Although food was excellent. Hostess ladies were not amiable and in fact they were rude. We had a group of 8 but they refused to sit us until we had every single person with us although there was plenty of tables open for seating. I understand the culture and typically cubans are not the warmest when it comes to customer service. There was a person that just stared at people all the time. The servers were very serious although our server treated us nice. Just an overall heavy feeling environment as if there was about to be a raid inside the place lol Food was great overall but not exactly amazing when compared to other Cuban restaurants. read more

The best .. typical Cuban food done right .. A regular stop for us .. unfortunately we moved to Kissimmee.. whenever we're in town . We get our fix.. I hope they open one up here .. worth the 3 hour drive read more