Oh my. What an experience! First, the waitstaff is very accommodating. Sit inside or out. Seating outside is limited, but provides a great deal of fun people watching as you eat. Second, order a daiquiri. I had the guava daiquiri straight up. Delish and super smooth. So satisfying! Third, jump into anything on the menu. Multiple items we ordered were all superb. No matter what you pick, this is good, home-cooked style Cuban food. Eat it all up, and if you can't finish, take it home. Great the next day, that is for sure. No rush to finish up or clear your plate before you're done. Take your time, sit back and relax and have a wonderful meal, no matter what you choose. A definite find and a definite recommendation. read more

So happy we stopped in. We came mainly for Cuban coffee but the snacks looked too good to pass up. And they have $1 croquettas on mondays! We ordered: Ham and cheese croquettes Yucca fries 2 types of Cuban coffee (regular and one with condensed milk) Everything was so good. I really loved the texture of the yucca fries. I'm not sure what they did different than normal but it was much less stringy and they were quite tender inside. The Cuban coffees were both so good and perfectly sweetened. read more

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This place is fantastic!! The service and the live music sets the tone as soon as you arrive. Pleasant and lively. The waiter was from Cuba and we had never tried it before. He understood the menu and learned our likes, and made the best recommendations. Those recommendations were all very good. I am sorry I can't remember which menu item we ate specifically, but all of it was very good and flavorful. read more

Havana 1920 - Empanada de Carne - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

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This place was one of my husbands favorites during our visit to San Diego. Once you walk in, you can feel the Cuban vibe with the decor and music playing. The restaurant itself is a little tight though, but they make it work and even have some outdoor seating. The meal came with a braised pork, black beans, and rice. Personally I thought the pork was a bit on the salty side, otherwise it would have been better. The rice was cooked perfectly and the beans were nicely seasoned. read more

Havana 1920 - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

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The service is warm, welcoming, and even funny! Our server was happy to explain the menu, answer questions, and make recommendations as not everyone may be familiar with Cuban food. The plates are large and my party went with a family style meal which was nice to try more entrees and sides. There was plenty of indoor seating, and it looked like they also had an attached patio. The restaurant is connected to the mall, so parking is shared. The parking lot was extremely busy on a Sunday evening. Rice and plantains - 5/5, freaking LOVE plantains and these were GOOD. Black beans - 5/5, I don't love beans like that but these are seasoned WELL! I could easily eat a whole plate of just these beans and rice. Pollo Fricase - 3/5, the chicken is SOOO tender!!! Literally falls right off the bone, but I wasn't expecting the sauce to be so oily. I thought it was going to be a tomato wine sauce, since the menu said those were the main ingredients. Overall, it was good, but I don't like oily foods so I would order a different entree else next time. Roasted veggies - 5/5, nice assorted of veggies! I wanted more fiber with my dinner Plantain chips - 5/5, seasoned well and perfectly crispy! 3 Empanadas - 4/5, the braised beef was definitely the best flavor. The picadillo was good, but wish I had more olive or raisin in the filling. I'd pass on the Lechon, didn't find any yucca pieces and it was pretty bland in comparison to the other two. read more

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I tried this restaurant because it was listed on my San Diego food fest locations. The rice beans and pork were so tender and juicy. Full of flavor and the manager she was a amazing she treated us like royalty and made sure we had everything we needed. Their alcoholic drinks were good and strong. Nice atmosphere like you are on vacation. I will definitely return. read more

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Came here for Havana night with a friend. The service, appetizers and drinks were good. Got to try some rum and a few of their specialty drinks. However, the entrees we ordered were super subpar. The garlic chicken tasted really old and made my stomach sick. The beef in the ropa vieja dish was dry and not very flavorful. I wouldn't recommend going here for food but the drinks and live music were ok. read more

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Havana 1920 is a Cuban restaurant in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter known for its authentic cuisine, extensive rum selection, and vibrant atmosphere with live music! Made a quick stop before heading to the Padres game and ordered the Cubano sandwich, (2) birria empanadas, (1) papa rellena de queso, and (1) papa rellena de carne. The food was absolutely delicious! The Cubano sandwich was fire!!! A warm, pressed sandwich blending savory, smoky, and tangy flavors. It featured layered roast pork, glazed ham, Swiss cheese, dill pickles, and yellow mustard, all served on crisp, buttered Cuban bread. The birria empanadas were packed with flavor! The consome was a nice accent to the dish. But the real highlight were the papa rellenas- fried, stuffed croquettes featuring a savory ground beef filling (picadillo) inside a mashed potato shell. They were crispy on the outside, and creamy on the inside! Ridiculously flavorful! Overall, service was excellent! Our server was friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable! She made some excellent suggestions and recommendations! This place never disappoints! We will definitely be back for more! Psss... order the mojito with coconut puree! 10/10! read more

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I've always loved the food here since the first time I tried it, which is why I decided to celebrate rate my Galentines Day here with a great friend of mine. I was so excited when the day came because I made a reservation. I do thank them for being patient since my friend and I were running late. My friend loved the ambiance when we walked in. They had live music playing and the lighting was great. Well, we were seated and the table was super dirty with no utensils for us. The drinks were super weak and watered down, outside of the Sangría. We got out food which eas really good but then at some point we saw a baby cockroach crawling on the mirror. Our waitress was super sweet and understanding. She also was very apologetic about our whole experience. I will say it was more than likely the fact that it was a busy weekend but the food here never misses. read more

Havana 1920 - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

Easy 10/10! Dropped by for lunch and loved everything about this spot! From the decor down to the service and of course the food. Everything hit! I'm def coming back! I came during happy hour so I got to try a few appetizers and they all hit. The music playing was on point too. Shoutout to Christian & Morgan, they were both super sweet and attentive. Christian's recs were spot on ! Apps I tried: Papa Rellena de Carne - dangerous for me bc I love these! perfectly fried, crispy outside, soft and creamy inside, super flavorful Croqueta de Pollo - soo good ! crispy and packed w/ flavor the sauces they give you all paired so well with each appetizer! Empanada la Cubanita - 1000/10. perfectly fried, crispy exterior, packed w/ juicy well seasoned pork! the mustard added the perf tangy kick Main dish: I ordered the Ropa Vieja and let me tell you, the meat was cooked to perfection. I'd def order this again! It was tender, juicy and sauced so well. The rice was soft and the beans were a bit simple, they paired well with everything. Drinks: I wanted to try something cultural, so I went with the Malta it's rich, slightly sweet & super unique. Also, threw in a Coco Rico, this was super refreshing. I asked Morgan to bring any coffee and it was smooth and bold such a good way to end my meal. And you have to try the desert ! I didn't catch the name but it was absolutely worth it. read more

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After days of surviving the San Diego Comic Con on convention center food and beef jerky, I needed to get a decent meal. Havana 1920 went well above that. Live Cuban music was playing which set the mood. Anna, the waitress, was friendly and the service was fast. Started with a strong Cuba Libre then had the Lechon Asada. Delicious! The pork, rice, and black beans were cooked perfectly. The perfect ending meal in San Diego. read more

Havana 1920 - Lechon Asado and a Cuba Libre - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here during Comic Con weekend to snack on something while waiting for our speakeasy reservations. It was easy to get a table for 2, we were able to be seated, eat, and leave within 35 minutes or so which was nice! They offer you complimentary dried plantains as a welcome snack. My boyfriend and I shared a Cubano Sandwich, I had a Guava Jarritos (soda) and my boyfriend had a Sangria to drink. My boyfriend is a Cubano Connoisseur and this one was "just aite," meaning he's had better. I haven't had many Cubanos in my lifetime so I'm not sure what a "good" one is supposed to taste like, but overall the sandwich was a little too oily for my personal taste and it was better when dipping it in the thin soupy sauce it came with. It more so felt similar to a birria sandwich which I don't think is typical for Cubanos. They have a photographer that comes around and takes your photos and offers them in a frame for pretty expensive so we didn't opt for it. Overall was not impressed so I probably wouldn't come back here read more

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This place did not disappoint. Customer service was awesome (and patient while I waited for my friend that was 20 minutes late.) While I was waiting they brought out plantain chips that were sooo good with the sauces. We ordered a pitcher of sangria which was a great deal and did the job. Cost less than 3 drinks and we got a few rounds out of it. She had the Cuban sandwich and said it was good. That birria empanada was my favorite. I'm still craving it right now. Lastly the lechon plate makes me wish I lived in San Diego because I could eat that everyday. The prices were very reasonable for the amount of food we got and the quality was read more

Lovely experience checking out Havana 1920. Inspired homage to Cuban culture and cuisine that echoes through the menu, service, decor, and vibe. All of the entrees are worth checking out but don't sleep on the desserts or cafe con leche. read more

The food was so delicious and authentic. The restaurant is so beautiful and takes me back to the 80's in Miami. The staff were so friendly and welcoming. If you're in the area, definitely check it out. read more

Havana 1920 - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

1st time here and we had a great time ! Food was delish and so good so authentic all fresh and made to order Service was friendly attentive and fast and efficient. Love the vibe decor and the place is clean and organized Def we are coming back again. read more

Havana 1920 - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

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Amazing food and wonderful service. Ropa vieja plate was delicious. Highly recommended the mojitos and sangrias. Quiet setting. Wonderful place for a nice dinner date. read more

We loved our dinner at Havana 1920. Plantain chips come out immediately with two great dipping sauces. The bartender was helpful with both food and drink recommendations. I had the Princess Carrier, as I love Aperol. It was great. My husband tried the special of the day, which was a rum and banana liqueur old fashioned. Next level. For our appetizers we tried the Papa Rellena de Carne and Croquetta de Jamón y Queso. Both were excellent. My husband loved his classic Cubano, and I went for Mexican fusion with the Burrito Cubano. That thing was the size of a human child and TASTY. All in all, out the door for under a hundred bucks, we left super happy. read more

Havana 1920 - Princes Carrie and Special of the Day Cocktail - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

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Absolutely delicious food. Our hostess was friendly and made a great mojito. Will definitely be back. Our party had Lechon Asado, Cubano Sandwich and Lechon Tacos. Everyone was happy and satisfied with their portions. read more

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Solid 3.5 stars Too almost 15-20 mins to get our order in bc no one came to our table. Tbh the best part and reason I will be back are the complimentary chips and dip they provide. It's so good. I want a tub of those chips and dips. The chicken was okay rice was good and buttery, and the shredded beef was okay but kind of sweet. The chips? I'll be back for those. read more

Havana 1920 - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

While visiting San Diego for spring break, I had heard many good things about this place. Walking in, the ambiance was like a taste of Cuba. The lively music, decor, and food brought everything together. We ordered a Mojito and I was recommended a Princess Carrie by our server, and they did not disappoint! We also ordered the Cuabinta Empanada, as well as their Empanada de Carne which were bomb as well! read more

I'm a sucker for a Cubano sandwich and theirs did not disappoint. Pork was the star but all of the flavors pulled through. Perfectly toasted and crispy. Also tried the Mexican Cuban sandwich which replaced the pork with birria and the pickles with jalapenos. It was also quite tasty, especially dipped in the consommé. Two people had salads and said they were nothing special. El presidente is a rum based riff on a manhattan and it had a nice balance. Not as boozy as a traditional manhattan and the rum had a good contrast to the sweet vermouth. Rum old fashioned also worked. Definitely want to return and try some of the other things in the menu. read more

I had a great dinner with the family there. Everything was delicious. Nice live entertainment. Cozy vibe. Staff was very attentive.

My friend and I were going to a museum across the street and wanted some coffee. She is half Cuban so she was excited to see this Cuban inspired restaurant and to our surprised they served coffee. No one downstairs so we ventured upstairs and sat at a very cozy cute table facing the street. Nice view and that cool feeling of being at the historical building. We ordered a capuccino and Cuban coffee. My capuccino was good but was served in a mug, I was expecting a bit more style or Cuban flavor. The coffee of my friend was definitely not Cuban coffee they way is usually made so she requested to be redone and still she was not happy. We were pleased with the banana chips appetizer freebie, thanks for that. Good flavor! Nice atmosphere, just a bit too dark and a bit 'old building' smell. We will come back for food. read more

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I want to first say that I did come here during a very busy Comic Con week, so maybe other times they are not as bad. This is located in the GasLamp and we were given the option to sit inside out outside, so we chose outside. The table was covered in food pieces do she wiped it down quickly with a rag. We were just ordering drinks to kill some time, so didn't care too much. The table was pretty old looking as well. It did take them quite a while to come take our order, we got 2 cuban espresso martinis which were made with gin i believe. It took them an extremely long time to bring the drinks and in the mean time 2 other people, including the manager stopped to see if we were helped. We finally got our drinks, and the were ok, but not the best I've had. The server said they had to make some fresh cold brew and that's what took a while. I like mine darker and stronger, but these were lighter in color. I also think i prefer the vodka. They did bring a small bowl of plantain chips which were good. If i go back in definitely sitting inside next time, and trying the food read more

Havana 1920 - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

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Decided to come here on a Saturday night after a day at the zoo with the family. Highly recommend reservations, but there were definitely tables available for walk in. They take you to the second floor, and the restaurant was decorated incredibly well. You will truly enjoy the decor. The food was okay, but what you expect paying downtown prices. The service was sadly a little slow. The flan had the consistency of cheesecake. While a super cool concept, I wouldn't want to come back. read more

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Great food and atmosphere was really fun. Took a friend from out of town there and she loved it as well. read more

The food and service was excellent. My family enjoyed the music on a Friday evening and we could not have been more pleased with the Havana 1920. read more

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Finally got to try this place passed by it so many times while hanging out in the gaslamp. Staff was very friendly and helpful in making food selections. I came twice haha last night for dinner. Got a great high table on the second floor with a live singer who was very good and great view. I got the ropa vieja which had nothing wrong with it but it wasn't anything I would rave about or highly recommend. My husband got the pan con bistec sandwich which he really loved and wants to reorder again! I took a bite of it, it was good but for me the meat was tough to chew through. 2nd visit for lunch took my review from a 4 star to a 5 star! Our waiter Danny recommended the 2 unique empanadas (cubano and birria). Soooo good! And he made an amazing mojito with coconut Milk! Must try these empanadas and Mojito! read more

Ordered the Cuban Sandwich. It was very delicious and tasty. Server was quick and fast in getting my drinks and sides. The place has two story, with the main seating area on the second floor. The ambiance is great with their salsa music playing on the background. Overall, great place to come if you're looking for Cuban sandwich! read more

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This place was a location on a food tour I was on. This was a cool location based on the décor and atmosphere. There were two floors and most of the tables were upstairs including the bar. It really did seem like old school Cuba. I had a beef empanada as well as a ham and cheese empanada. The beef was very flavorful and meaty. There were small pieces of carrot I believe too. The ham and cheese had plenty of ham and cheese. It was a great combination. The outer layer of both was crispy and flaky. There was also a sriracha, ketchup, and mayo sauce as well as a garlic sauce given. The mayo was okay, too much ketchup. The garlic sauce was good and paired well with both empanadas. Will I go back? Yes. read more

Havana 1920 - Beef Empanada - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

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Amazing flavors! Must try best plantains with delicious garlic oil! Run to this spot My go to anytime in SD read more

Ever since I've been to Miami, I've been trying to hunt for a local Cuban restaurant to eat. When I saw the name Havana 1920, I thought it was the same chain as the one from Miami, but they are under totally different ownership. The food was overall decent, the chicken came out to be a little bit drier than I expected, however, the shrimp was absolutely delicious. Parking can't be difficult since you are in gaslamp downtown, but once you can find parking and you'll make it to the restaurant, the vibe of the restaurant is perfect. It seems very relaxing and down to earth but it has that nice flare where if you want to bring a date to dine, you will have your Privacy to chitchat and enjoy the food without being rushed. read more

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Craving authentic Cuban? This is your spot. The restaurant was small and quaint, located in the center of the Gaslamp district. It's a two-story building with seating available on the second floor. We were greeted by friendly staff at the door who showed us our table. Once we were seated, they brought plantains with dips to the table. We ordered a pitcher of mojito (can't beat $38 for 8 glasses), a few empanadas, and lechón taquitos. The empanadas were okay - wasn't a fan of the Cubanita but the vegetarian was tasty. Meal was okay but nothing spectacular. Service was great. read more

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We had came to this spot on a Tuesday night and was surprised there was no one there. The service was awesome since we were the only ones there. Food was solid and extremely cheap during happy hour. We had bought an appetizer sampler that was only 12 bucks which was a killer deal since the portions were huge. Drinks were less than 10 bucks and the spot feels like you are in Cuba. It is a great date spot and has live music. read more

Havana 1920 - Empanada de Carne - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

My sister took me for my birthday. My first time. We love good Cuban food. Service was amazing. Love this place. I will be back read more

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The food was outstanding! We were doing our own self-guided food tour of the Gaslamp so we stopped in for a cocktail and appetizer. The platter was a perfect choice to sample a bunch of different offerings. Everything was tasty. We especially loved the plantain chips and sauces they served as we sat down. The cocktails were delicious. We were there too early to hear the music, but I'm guessing that adds another wonderful dimension to the experience. This is a must stop when visiting the area. read more

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The hostess was very accommodating at check-in, which made for a great first impression. As I walked up the stairs, there was live music playing--the performer was incredibly talented and really set the mood. I grabbed a seat by the window, which was perfect while I waited for my food. The ambiance was absolutely spot on! The food and drinks were AMAZING. We ordered a pitcher of coconut daiquiri, and it was delicious--not too sweet, just right. All of the appetizers were fantastic, but the croquettes were definitely the standout. For my entrée, I had the lechón asado and savored every bite. The lechón burrito was just as good, but if I had to choose, I'd go with the lechón asado. The waitress was attentive and made sure we had everything we needed throughout the meal. I would absolutely come here again and highly recommend it! read more

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I visited with a large group and found them very easy to work with! Everybody enjoyed their meals and the live entertainment we had on the 2nd floor. Service was also good, and to my knowledge, no one in the group felt like things exceeded waited times for anything. My only disappointment was the strength of my cocktail. I ordered a pitcher of mojito which was over half full of ice. Unfortunately, the ice diluted the pitcher so much that it affected the flavor and quality of the drink. It started out good, but it didn't last long. Knowing that this is a Cuban restaurant, I fully understand the rum forward cocktails. I would like to have also seen a few more tequila options available. read more

Havana 1920 - Mojito pitcher and Painkiller shot - Cuban Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great spot for Cuban food. I got the Empanada de Carne and it was delicious. Very nice service. Waitress had patience with my terrible attempt to pronounce Spanish words. Pretty ambiance and environment too. read more