Every time we're in the area, we end up coming here. It's a great way to stay connected to Cuban culture. The atmosphere, the food, and the flavors really bring that authentic Cuban feeling every time. The staff is always super friendly too, which makes it even better. read more

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Saw the sign for Habana Express on the way to my bank and had to check it out. After looking over the menu, we ordered the Cubano as a combo, which came with a side and a soda. We've both had Cuban food before, so we knew what to expect. This is not a place to rush in and out. It took about 20 minutes for our order, but everything was made fresh, arrived hot, and was packed up well to go. The sandwich was big enough to split. The bread was spot on, with thick slabs of roasted pork, ham, melty Swiss cheese, pickles, mayo, and mustard. I would have liked a little more mustard, but overall it hit the mark. We will definitely be back. read more

Habana Express - Habana Express - Cuban Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

Food: 5/5. I got the Cubano sandwich with a side of sweet potato fries. The sweet potato fries were absolutely amazing and the Cubano was EXACTLY what I was looking for. Delicious! Service: 4/5. The service was ok and was a little bit of a wait to get the food, so just note that it can take a bit if you are in a hurry. For how good the food is, I was a bit surprised to not see more people come through for noon on a weekday. Atmosphere: 4/5. It is located in a strip mall and kind of tucked back and hidden. The parking was a little hard due to the location. I love the inside: very cozy was some great music. The tables have photos on them that are really cool too! Overall, such great food and I hope to go back! read more

Habana Express - Cubano Sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

tostones were leathery. "Mojo" chicken had.... no mojo. Was just dry griddle fried chicken with seemingly no seasoning. Steak and onions were kind of flavorless, light on onions. Ropa vieja was dry and the flavor is not authentic and not very good. I guess at least there was flavor... Rice and beans are serviceable. Maduros were decent. Tres leches was good. Recommend this one. My kids didn't like any of the food other than the cake and now I'm embarrassed of my heritage after trying to show them "Cuban" food for the first time. They lap up all the various Asian foods we have in the Bay area and frequently request favorites from those restaurants. I'm worried the next time I tell them we're having Cuban food, they might refuse to eat or throw a fit. That is provided we can find better Cuban food. Overall theme of the several dishes we had was flavorless. read more

I discovered this place while hunting for luxury cardboard and since a number of memorable trips to south beach in my 20's I will brake for Cuban food in an attempt to find that Miami feeling again. I tried the ropa vieja bowl which is accompanied by plantains, black beans, rice, and salad. Great flavors all around! I also had a side of ham croquettes which were fried to perfection. The restaurant has a cozy ambiance with a focus on Cuban vintage car culture. Love the kids scribbles on the tiles to give it that neighborhood restaurant vibe. The staff were super friendly and the food came quickly! read more

Habana Express - Ropa Vieja bowl ham croquette and pineapple soda - Cuban Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

OKAY, Yelp is informing me to write a review. FINALLY, fifth time is the charm... (I went there 4 times previously; unable to try this establishment.) I have no idea how to type this review as I want to be truthful yet respectful. Food was terrible. I knew I had to try the CUBANO. This sandwich was filled to the brim with meats and cheese. The bread was nice and toasty. Very oily. However, it was not the cubano I'm used to that's from Miami. I also tried the PEPPER STEAK PLATE per the recommendations of the wait staff. The steak was extremely dry and salty. The plantains were awesome--sweet and nicely braised. Sides were good. Rice was bordering on raw...not soft and fluffy but soft with bits of crunch. ***had multiple people try these dishes and they also had the same feedback*** SERVICE: I mean they were nice. Kitchen staff walked by and waved hello. They were willing to provide recommendations. However, you can tell she just batted an eye continuously and not want to be there. VIBEZ: Love the decor, very fitting to their cuisine. Very diner-esque. Located in a plaza with multiple other eateries. Lots of parking. Would I come back? No and I am greatly disappointed. I equally do not appreciate the owner harassing me with emails and calling me a liar... my grandmother owned a restaurant and I know it's tremendously difficult to keep an establishment going with small profit margins as well. Hence, I tried really hard to write this review as respectfully and as truthfully as possible. read more

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Came here this weekend and it was the perfect way to end our travel day. We are from SoCal and this spot made me so jealous that we aren't from the area. All the meals hit the spot, especially when paired with Maduros. I wish I had more room to try more items before we left but when we come back to the area, this will definitely be a spot we go to read more

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Walk into Habana Express and you're immediately transported to a retro diner infused with classic Cuban décor. The menu is clearly displayed on screens, offering plates, sandwiches, and arepas with a choice of proteins, along with Cuban pastries, desserts, and drinks. Over several visits, we've tried the garlic shrimp, roasted pork, and chicken--both as plates and in sandwiches. Portions are generous, and the meats and shrimp are consistently juicy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The sandwiches, however, truly stand out. We've had Cuban sandwiches at many restaurants in many countries, and these are hands down the best. Light, perfectly pressed, crunchy, and utterly addictive. Habana Express is a true local gem. The service is always friendly, the dining area is spotless, and the food never disappoints. It has quickly become our go-to spot for a quick lunch--or really, any meal. read more

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Parking is shared with other restaurants and a Safeway so it can be a hit or miss with parking close. The inside is small but spacious. Walls are decorated to make the room feel lively. There are booths for anyone dining in as well. Service was quick, easy and super friendly. I got the Traditional Sandwhich ($14.99). It has slices of roast pork. caramelized onions, tomatoes, pickles and cilantro sauce. The roast pork was half meaty and half fatty which is great and what you would want in a sandwhich that isn't overly saucy. The onions, tomatos are a great contrast to the meat. The cilantro sauce was killer. Wish I had a side of it to dunk the sandwhich in. I also got the Pork Cuban Arepas ($5.49). Roast Pork stuffed in Arepas or a corn flatbread. Again the pork is great but I found myself not a fan of the arepa mainly because it was dry. It was worth a try though. read more

Habana Express - Post Bite: Pork Arepas. Camera did not eat first. - Cuban Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

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In the same shopping center as Safeway so ample parking. We walked in on a late evening about 30 mins before closing. One person was still finishing up eating and we ordered the pepper steak, steak and onions and Cuban sandwich forgot to take a photo. My pepper steak was good. Not sure if we came late but my side was hard over crunchy. I tried a bite of the steak and onion and took a plantain. Not overly sweet, I enjoyed the plantain. I did not try the sandwich but was told it was good. I will be back to try a few more dishes. read more

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Wanted to try somethig different and my son chose this place after the movie. The flavors are amazing. Never had Cuban food before and it was worth the try. The pork was juicy. The steak well seasoned. The croquette was crispy and creamy at the same time. Service was friendly and quick. Bathroom was clean. It's nothing fancy but good home cooking. Plenty of parking in shopping center. Glad we gave it a try. read more

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I'm currently 50/50 on how I feel about Havana Express. The decor is very nice and creates a great atmosphere, though keep in mind the space is quite small with very limited seating. I also wished the staff had been a bit more enthusiastic and engaging; the service felt a little flat during my visit. The Food: I was unfortunately disappointed with the Ropa Vieja bowl. I've had this dish before at other places, but here the meat was on the dry side and a bit tough. The rice was also a little hard, it definitely needed more cooking time. On the positive side, the Yuca fries were really good! They would have been even better with a sauce, but I wasn't offered any (though I saw some available). The side of Maduros was good, and the cheese pastry I bought for my fiancé was a hit- he really enjoyed it. The Drinks: The Cafe con Leche was just okay. I also tried the Cortadito, but I wasn't impressed. It didn't have the right consistency. Value: The total for these items came to about $45. Given the price and the issues with the main dish, I'm not sure if I'll be a regular. I might give it one more shot just to try the Arepas to see if those are better, but for now, I'm on the fence. read more

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Affordable, quick and unique restaurant for the area. Food is solid 4 stars. There's some unique sodas and a good variety of plates and sandwiches as well as different types of Cuban sides of plantains or yucca chips. I do wish I had gotten a sandwich instead of the steak platter though. It's a takeout place but there's some seats as well. My only reason for -1 star was the service was a little slow on our order and was just average, probably better for takeout. read more

Habana Express - Steak platter and cubano sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

Stopped by Habana Express on a Sunday afternoon a hidden gem tucked away in a Pleasant Hill shopping center. So glad we stumbled upon this spot! I ordered the Cubano sandwich, a Cuban espresso, and a guava and cheese pastry (not pictured), which turned out to be the true star of the meal. The flavors were spot-on perfectly balanced, fresh, and authentic. The menu offers a great variety of sandwiches, bowls, and plates, all made to order. On top of the amazing food, the service was exceptional friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu. Habana Express is a fantastic addition to Pleasant Hill definitely worth a visit if you're craving quality Cuban fare! read more

Habana Express - Sweet potato fries - Cuban Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

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Love authentic Cuban food is this as close as one can get to Calle Ocho food. Food is satisfactory. Could be better priced. Service is just ok. read more

I'm back to try more, love the food! Just get some! Food notes: Cuban Soda IronBeer (4 Stars $2.95) The soda tastes like a combo of Root Beer and Orange soda. Good stuff! Breakfast Sandwich (Stars 4 $8.99) It's like the Cuban, but no pickles or mustard and plain egg omelette instead of thebml roasted pork. Really good! I wish they were open earlier than 11, kinda late for a breakfast sandwich. Maybe open at 9 and increase the breakfast menu, or serve coffee with the pastries... start with Saturday and Sundays. Maduro Side (4 Stars $4.99) The roasted plantains were good, soft on the inside with a good caramelization on the outside. Coconut Pastry (3 Stars) The guava and cheese pastry is still the best, coconut not so much. Next time try: Loaded Tostones Garlic Shrimp Bowl read more

Habana Express - Breakfast Sandwich (Stars 4 $8.99) - Cuban Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

First time customer and I am a fan :) I love cubanos and don't see them sold much around this area. What a great find. I got the sandwich combo with the cubano + fries + soda can. The sandwich was very good! I loved the cheese and pickles. They were generous with the meat (thick slices). The fries were fresh out of the fryer! Needed a bit of salt but I just salted them myself, which was fine. The combo came with a soda and I noticed they had Cuban sodas I've never seen before. I got this pineapple one recommended by the cashier and it was DELICIOUS. Definitely recommend you try! The restaurant itself is small but they do have lots of small booths available. The decorations are super cute! read more

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Quality/Quantity - What a GREAT find!! I really appreciate it when Yelp works, when 5 star businesses are really 5 stars! I know it can be subjective. Weird that when I Yelped restaurants for Walnut Creek, it brought me to more places NOT in Walnut Creek. Showed that Walnut Creek is going downhill?!?! Anyways, what a great find and worth the short extra drive. Been a long time since we have been to little Havana in Miami, Florida. Sure miss the place. And so glad we found this place. Today we got the following, and brought of it home for my lunch the following day. #1 Habana Bowl - This was good, the flavors of the shredded pork was spot on. And with generous portions. #2 Cubano Sandwich - This was the better of the two, but they were both 5 stars. Again, generous portions. Perfect combination of meats, bread, mayo, and mustard. What a recipe. Atmosphere - Small local restaurant. Fast casual environment. Counter service. Cool, simple decor, did not take enough pictures, lol. Monday and Tuesday specials, see pictures. Open 6 (or 7) days a week...? From 11am to 9:30pm. The posted sign and hours say 6 days, being closed on Mondays, but my other picture showed a Monday special... with free fries and 10% off?!?! Plenty of mall parking. Service - Good. I believe the wife worked the front and husband worked the back. Counter service. Price - $35 + tip; reasonably priced. But for the quality of food, I will keep coming back. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since June of 2024. We will share this with all of our friends, not just on Yelp. read more

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Not a thing has changed! The Cubano Sandwich and Ropa Vieja Arepa tasted just as good as last time. This time we also tried the Pan con Bistec Sandwich and Tostones--both were flavorful and texturally nice. The Cilantro Lime Crema (soo good) and the Ketchup Mayo sauces were must haves with our meal (PS: if they didn't give any, just ask for them) read more

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Food was great. As always. I got the Cuban sandwich my favorite. Is amazing every time I come here. My sister got the pan con bistecs and my other two friends got a arepa and a bowl . Everything was great. It was quiet and clean. Service was great too. read more

Habana Express - Cuban Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

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One of the best Cubano sandwiches ever. Got there 2 minutes before opening on accident as google was showing an earlier time. But there was no issue from the staff on taking my order. Ordered the #2 which is the Cubano and got it with extra pickles to go. The sandwich was still perfect by the time I got it home. A nice press on it and everything was warm. I might ask for light mayo next time as the bread slides around a little and honestly I much rather prefer the tang of just mustard and pickles. SO much meat, this sandwich was packed (picture doesnt really do the girth justice). They don't skimp. I can't wait to go back and try more. They have bowls, other sandwiches, some pastries and empanadas. read more

Habana Express - Cross section view of the Cubano extra pickles - Cuban Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

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After getting our little one's ears pierced, my husband and I decided to grab a bite to eat at Habana Express. It was both our first time dining there, so we didn't know what to expect. The service was amazing! All of the staff that we interacted with were very friendly and knew the menu extremely well. We ended up dining outside and they were kind enough to bring our items directly to us. The food was delicious! I can't even recall what we ordered, but it was all very good. It was seasoned to perfection. Our little one and our niece enjoyed the food as well. I highly recommend giving Habana Express a try! read more

Habana Express - Pepper steak meal - Cuban Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

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This place always hits the spot! Have visited a few times, but have been too excited to snap a photo of my food :) Great flavors with huge portions. I go back and forth with my favorite: the Traditional or the Cubano sandwich. I try to order both and split with my husband. Not sure what is in the green sauce, but must be magic. Highly recommend! Additional sidenote: have stopped in for breakfast a few times as well. The coffee + pastry combo is incredible! read more

Habana Express - Pan Con Bistec Sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

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5/10 Cuban food. If you're used to eating Cuban food on the east coast you'll be disappointed. If you've never had Cuban food or it's not something you eat often, you'll probably like this place. I've tried Habana twice and will not be coming back. Food tastes ok but seriously lacks the authentic Cuban flavor. The Habana bowl for $20 is the smallest portion of Ropa Vieja and beans. Black beans were very bland which is hard to do. The plantains were good but my frozen ones from Trader Joe's taste the same. The sorry salad that was included in the bowl was a few pieces of lettuce and two thinly sliced tomatoes. The bowl is overpriced and should be around $12, $15 max. Service was just meh to ask for a tip on a to go/takeout order. I wish this place was better because I'd love to have good quality Cuban food nearby. read more

Havana Express in Pleasant Hill is insane. This was honestly the best Cuban sandwich I've ever had. I ordered the traditional sandwich with yucca fries and a pineapple soda, and everything was perfect. The meat was absolutely out of this world, so juicy and packed with flavor. The vegetables were super fresh, and the bread was incredible, perfectly crispy and toasted just right. The yucca fries came out hot, crispy, and well seasoned, super fresh and way better than regular fries. You can tell everything is made with care and attention. This place completely blew me away. One of the best sandwiches I've had in general, not just Cuban. I'm 100 percent coming back. read more

Habana Express - Traditional Cuban sandwich with yucca fries and pineapple soda. Fantastic - Cuban Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

Read about Habana in the Sunday Eats section in the local newspaper so off I went on a Tuesday for lunch. They have 10% off and a free side dish on Tuesdays and a free soda on Mondays. I was out in the area so I swung by and ordered a Cubano with a free order of fries and a Coke. I also ordered a couple guava cheese, a couple of the orange cheese pastries and a Cubano to go for my wife. The Cubano sandwiches were very tasty, the sandwich was grilled which gave the chewy roll a nice light crunch, generous serving of pork was tender, nice flavored ham, melted gooey cheese, mayonnaise and mustard all blended well for a very good sandwich. The French fries were nice and hot. It comes with sauces but I'm not a sauce guy. I think you need to dip the fries so they have more flavor and moistness. The pastries were good, definitely taste the cheese and light filling makes them good. The pastry is not real sweet which is good if you don't have a sweet tooth. Also, the pastries have a nice brown flakey crust. Hit Habana on a Monday or Tuesday to get 10% off plus a bonus side. Very nice family restaurant and on my list of places to go again. read more

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If you're craving good Cuban food with ambiance, this is the place. It's tucked in the many strip malls in Pleasant Hill, but worth once you find it. Inside it looks like fast food, but it is actually made to order. Service is very welcoming and eager to serve you. The food came in short time, and everything was excellent! The steak and onion plate was delicious. Also had the Cubano sandwich and did not disappoint. Great spot to have good Latin food! read more

Habana Express - Cubano Sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

If you are a pork lover, you would be in heaven! This place is seriously good. Came here with a friend and we got the traditional and one of the newer ones. Absolutely mind blowing! The best way to do this, is to split the sandwich so we were able to try both types. For the original, the purest taste of pork (with large portions) is what I made out the most, not too salty, not too peppery, just nicely seasoned. Service was fast (we ordered and paid online ) and very friendly! There are two different types of sauces. The cilantro sauce was delicious, the pink sauce (ketchup and mayonnaise) is probably good too. The shop itself has a lot of Cuban artwork and members of the community coming in to sign the walls. Very community and family orientated. Makes you feel at home! Excellent place to grab a sandwich! read more

Just ordered the Steak & Frites on Uber eats but decided rice & a tamale were more my thing today ... too bad I only got half of a tamale I know it is tough running a restaurant but this is no bueno I would have been fine if the menu said half a tamale, or I would have paid more because your food is excellent Picky right? But details are details read more

Wow what happened to the service here so slow I felt I could have flown half way to Cuba. Food is great.

Ugh it pains me to say but my mind has changed about this place. The last two times I ordered a tray the dishes were lacking in flavor: the congri (dry and lacked garlic) and the tamales(all around not good). I will not be ordering catering again. Their forte are the pastelitos and the sandwiches. I'm familiar with Cuban food while being Cuban myself growing up with this delicious food and living in Miami. I'm sad to say it's been a disappointing experience the last two times. Was it a change in ownership? I love the look of the place and the music playing makes for great atmosphere but not enough to come back necessarily. Ugh this is not Cuban food at its best.. read more

Did pick up with UberEats since there is a promo for their Cubano sandwich of BOGO. Food was ready on time, cashier friendly. Lots of pastries on display that I also wanted to eat! Looked so fresh and tasty. On to the sandwich! I do love a good Cubano and this was reminiscent of my Miami trips where I had one every other day. HEFTY sandwich (I could only eat half for one meal) with free added jalapenos. Lots of tasty ham, big slice of roasted pork and a very creamy cheese that ties it all together. 10/10 for sure! I also am in love with their takeaway box. It's so cute! The cashier also gave me some extra hot sauce without asking and it went perfectly with the Cubano. Will be back to try other sandwiches for sure. read more

Habana Express - Cubano Sandwich. - Cuban Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

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this place is bomb. I don't think there are many Cuban places in the area so when I saw that it was here I was excited to try it. this was my first time coming here. i ordered the old school sandwich, beef empanada and a chicken empanada and some yucca fries. I also got their green and red sauce. everything was really good. It did take a little longer than I thought to get my order but it really wasn't an issue, they were busy and it looked like there was a big group of people eating there too. the place is small but it's really cute. Everyone seemed nice even though they were busy. I'll probably be coming back here to try something else. I was looking at the other food they have and the rice plates look really good. read more

Order at the counter amazing Cuban food! This is authentic according to my Cuban relatives! Service with a smile. Basic tables and comfortable booth type seats and fun Latin music playing. Highly recommend vaca frita, tostones, platanos Fritos and pastries!! read more

Habana Express - Counter and tables - Cuban Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

Finally had the opportunity to stop in, and I'm SO glad I did! As a fellow Cuban (my father is from Camagüey), I've been waiting for an authentic Cuban spot to open up in the area. Our family matriarch -- who rarely eats anything she doesn't make herself -- ordered a bunch of things and gave her stamp of approval across the board. That's saying a lot! We've been disappointed by other so-called "Cuban" restaurants around here that miss the mark -- they have a tropical vibe but just don't taste like our homemade cooking. I was in a bit of a rush, so I went with an arepa con puerco (stuffed with tender pork and topped with this amazing green sauce), croquetas de jamón (fried to perfection), plátanos maduros, and of course, my favorite soda -- Jupiña! (If you know, you know... that sweet Cuban pineapple soda hits every time.) I can't wait to come back to try more dishes -- especially a traditional Cuban sandwich and some yuca con mojo (we're serious mojo snobs thanks to our abuela!). The place is small and cozy with a few tables to dine in, but the decor is a whole vibe -- Cuban memorabilia all over the walls, a fun little area where customers can sign their names, and the cutest cafecito station. They even sell galletas (those Cuban crackers!) in a bag to take home -- perfect with butter, dipped in café con leche... IYKYK. Thank you, Habana Express, for bringing authentic Cuban sabor to the area. I'll be back soon -- especially for those pastelitos de guayaba! read more

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A Piece of Cuba I love Cuban food but it's very hard to find in the Bay Area Habana Express is a Pleasant Hill gem located in a strip mall with a plethora of dining options Their signature is their classic Cuban sandwiches. While they serve dishes like ropa viejo, tamales and Cuban pastries, it's really the sandwiches that are the star They're made fresh to order (about 10 minutes) but well worth the wait. I ordered a side of yucca fries as well The Cubano is their most popular sandwich and consists of roasted pork, Swiss cheese, ham, pickles, mayo and mustard It's finished on a griddle and the melty cheese and savory meats are a fantastic combo. Really enjoyed my lunch here and wish we had one on the Peninsula Cubano $13 ~ Roasted Pork, Swiss Cheese, Ham, Pickles, mustard, Mayo Habana Express Cuban Restaurant and Bakery (Pleasant Hill, CA) Indoor seating and limited outdoor seating is available. Credit cards accepted. Walk in only. read more

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I've been craving a stripped down kind of Cuban cafe food kind of place and this is it! I've had the pan con bistec, arepas, and tostones...as well as yucca fries. All were hits each time I came. Being from So Cal I was spoiled with the offerings at my old spot, but this will suffice for being in the Bay. Family business too, so I like the idea of supporting local. read more

The Traditional sandwich is the way to go! I prefer it over the more popular Cubano because the ham can be over powering and cover up how delicious everything else is. read more

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Had the pan con bistec and it was really good! The restaurant was somewhat clean and the had friendly service. read more

Habana Express - Pan Con Bistec - Cuban Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

Another great meal - had the cubano sandwich and the mojo chicken bowl. The cubano was solid. The mojo chicken was seasoned well and the rice and beans were great. No tamal but we subbed in to stones, which were great. read more

Habana Express - Mojo chicken bowl - Cuban Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

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