Food: 5/5 Portions: 5/5…read moreAtmosphere: 3/5 Cleanliness: 5/5 Customer service: 5/5 Speed: 5/5 Price: $ Takeout: yes Outdoor seating: yes ADA access: yes Dogs: outside Kid Friendly: yes Vegetarian options: yes Vegan options: yes Ambiance: casual Pros: authentic Cuban food. Friendly staff. Affordable prices. Cons: the parking lot is a little sketchy so be careful where you park.

The last time I visited this business, it was still called Los Pollos Rotisserie and Cuban Bakery…read more That shows you how long it has been because House of Cuban Flavor has been the name for more than a few years now under the same ownership. It's located in one of the middle suites between an auto parts store and a supermarket in an Otay strip mall of Chula Vista. Parking was plentiful as there were way more spaces in the lot than customers even at peak hours. There were a few tables placed on the sidewalk in front of the suite, but no seating was available inside. The coffee making station was to the right when you walked in. To the left of the service counter were glass displays containing the baked goods and desserts. Four small menu boards hung behind the counter. From left to right, the category on each board was Sandwiches, Cuban Specialties, Plates & Combos, and Bowls. Several trays in the display case were empty during my afternoon visit. The cashier ensured me that nothing was sold out. Items that were not displayed still could be ordered and made fresh by the kitchen. The Cuban Specialties were broken down further into Stuffed Potato Balls, Empanadas, and Pastries. Each offering cost $2.45 regardless of its composition. That was disappointing because I have encountered similar bakeries in which there were similar choices for less than $2 apiece. My order started with one of each of the potato balls (meat, spicy chicken, jalapeno & cheese) including a variety that wasn't listed (spicy pork). These were fried and then placed inside a cardboard takeout container. Each of the four had a slightly different color and/or texture to distinguish them from each other. The size was slightly smaller than a tennis ball. The meat filling was my favorite because it had the least heat as the other three contained noticeable spiciness. I also bought a meat empanada, a guava pastry, and a mango & cheese pastry. The pastry dough was light and flaky. The portion size was less impressive for $2.45. I recall when some of these were sold for one dollar less so the value has decreased over time. The fruit flavor of the guava and mango respectively was sweet but not over the top. For this recent experience at House of Cuban Flavor, I gave a 3.5 star rating.

I was saddened to hear that their Clairemont location closed but happy to learn there is another…read morerestaurant in Mission Valley. So on a visit to San Diego, since I no longer live there, Havana Grill was on the top of my dining list. The sampler plate had everything from their appetizer menu. The Giant Papa Rellena is a sight to behold! A fried potato dumpling with delicious beef filling inside but in XXL size, it is a definite shareable for the table. Yuca fries were freshly made and perfectly tender inside with a crispy exterior. Tostones were also freshly made, tender and crispy. Ham croquettes had a good smoky ham flavor. Mariquitas and the plantains were equally well prepared. The appetizer plate came with their delicious mojo de ajo sauce for dipping. Their Lechon is still the best that I have ever had so I ordered that. It was tender, very flavorful, and came with black beans, rice, and plantains. I always order extra portions of their mojo de ajo to accompany my meal. The Lechon was, as always, very delicious. For dessert, I tried the Cuban Coffee Tres Leches cake. This was light in texture and not too sweet. The cake was soft and moist. There was a some coffee flavor but that could have been stronger for me. Nevertheless, this was a delicious ending to a very fine meal. Staff were efficient and friendly. I like the dine in format at this restaurant. The dining room is bright and airy with high ceilings. Very comfortable seating. Parking is plentiful in the adjoining lot but may be difficult depending on the time of day.

I was craving Cuban food and went Friday 08/07/26 around 630pm it was a busy Friday evening . A man…read moregreeted us and said the front table is the only thing open and we said that was fine . He did not hand us a menu . A thin Caucasian girl passed us twice and the same person that greeted us passed us , no one checked up on us . 20 minutes later I was flagging the same waitress . We had eye contact I can tell she saw me but looked right at me and gave me the meanest dirtiest look & ignored me . We were waiting no one has come up for over 20 min . I have no plans of staying there longer and not get any service . I told the bartender that came up near our table , she said she will tell someone . Finally another male waiter came up he was nicer and took our order . The same mean thin Caucasian lady came up brought our iced tea but only brought 1 , we ordered 2 She came back and brought the second iced tea gave us the meanest stern look and plopped down the second iced tea . I said thank you and she gave me the dirtiest look . She was bizarre and weird as can be . She looks like she hates her job and there is no reason for being mean . The food was 8/10 and portions were good but the bad treatment makes it not worth it to go back . We dine to have a nice enjoyable experience and I can't see spending my money to be treated mean by the staff . I won't be coming back anytime soon .

Food was excellent and the service was perfect. It was very nice to find authentic Puerto Rican…read morefood in San Diego.

From the owner: We are pleased to announce the launch of Tainos Puerto Rican Comfort Food. For menu and order…read moreoptions click on the menu link. Tainos Restaurant is a pop-up event Restaurant holding events one Saturday a month with two different event times. We specialize in fine dining Puerto Rican Cuisine. Our events offer a four course meal with your choice of appetizer and entree from our menu. We also offer private dining events such as anniversaries, private Valentines dinner etc. Tainos also offer BBQ catering for pickup or delivery with full service.

amazing cuban, legit. satisfied…read more idk what other review said about it being dry juicy and authentic

This review is from the last time I had oxtails here before they took them off the menu and…read moresubsequently closed. I visit Havana Grill whenever I want some tasty oxtail.  I noticed oxtail was one of the specials.  Last time I visited the oxtail was on the regular menu and you could order it anytime. Oxtail was extremely tender and juicy.  The mix of beef flavor and the spices in the sauce were delicious.  This is my favorite oxtail dish in town. French fries were crisp and had a delicious fried flavor.  The oil was fresh and there was no aftertaste.  Excellent fries. Pineapple upside down cake was dense and did not have a fresh baked aura.  The outside part was starting to harden like it was getting stale so I guess it was baked at least a day ago.  Cake had a mostly mild flavor.  I didn't taste the pineapple though the top was lined with it.  I did taste a ton of ginger flavor.  It appears pieces of ginger were mixed in with the pineapple.  I love ginger as part of soy/ginger seasoning for fish but not in a cake.  This is one of the worst pineapple upside down cakes I have had.  My favorite is at Roy's where you have to give them 30 minute notice and they bake it to order.  Roy's version was piping hot out of the oven, was moist and fluffy, with amazing pineapple flavor. Staff provided fast and friendly service.

Food was excellent. It reminded me of when my titis would visit from out east. The staff were very…read morehelpful. Definitely going to keep coming back

Can I leave them 10,000 stars??? The food is absolutely phenomenal. I went here with one of my good…read morefriends who is a Puerto Rican from the Bronx and we walked up from my place next to Petco Park and walked back with the food, and it was still piping hot. The pastelillos were fiiire. The beef were my favorite. The lechon and mofongo were delicious. As was the papas rellenas. Bomb. But the winner for me was the Puerto Rican fried chicken. I would walk through traffic to get that. It was phenomenal. Hot or cold (I ate leftovers cold later) was absolutely beyond delicious. The customer service here is fantastic, the people are extremely nice and helpful. Very welcoming. Would absolutely come here again without a question.

The staff is very friendly. The tortas were not the best as I thought they would have been. The…read moreprice could be a bit less but over is a A bit difficult to find parking since they are on the street in busy tijuana.

Ah! now this is what I have in mind when I think of a food truck. Here is where I had my first…read moretorta cubana. This food truck has been here for yeeeeears, and I understand why... they're amazing! It's conveniently located in zona Río, the truck itself is very clean and if packed with all the good stuff. The bread in the torta was phenomenal, warm and fluffy and lightly buttered, the egg is also fluffy and seasoned to perfection, and the carne asada is never chewy, it's perfectly cooked and tender. Service here is quite fast ,both times I've been here there's never a line, just a couple of people waiting for their order to be up. I would recommend you eat it at the stand, that way the bread doesn't get all soggy and cold when you get back to your place. I highly recommend this place if you want to do a Tijuana tour of food trucks.

This place is fantastic!!…read more 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.

The service is warm, welcoming, and even funny! Our server was happy to explain the menu, answer…read morequestions, 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.

It was the day before my best friend's birthday. We met up to catch up, walk around, and find a…read moregood spot to eat. We ventured to Flama Llama, delighted by the wonderful atmosphere and friendly service. What I was not mentally prepared for was the most enlightening culinary venture that I would ever undergo. Flama Llama provided for my companion and I both a satisfying afternoon meal, and perhaps the most poignant dining experience I have enjoyed thus far in my life. The meat was tender and juicy. The vegetables more flavorful than I ever thought possible. The noodles seasoned to perfection. The chicha morada subtly sweet and divinely slaking. And the sauce -- the sauce was orgasmic. I used to not believe those who claimed that good food tells a story. Before this meal I was blind, but now I see the truth. Tension, melancholy, tenacity, and elation. So rich in intensity and meaning. To descibe in human tongue this meal that transcends language would be a disservice to its biblical splendor. I can only in good faith describe the effect that it had on me. I have never cleaned my plate like I did in this restaurant. I have never performed with such steadfast resolve. I have never been turned into a beast of a man and immediately satiated by such postprandial bliss. I was a mad, esurient dog, and Flama Llama's cuisine a gentle hand guiding me to fulfillment. How the sweet meal sang to me, beckoning me into this nirvana like Saint Peter at the pearly gates. This world is a savage one, but the food at Flama Llama has reminded me that no matter how crestfallen, no matter how mired in anguish we as humans have become, beauty endures. I am, in all likelihood, Flama Llama's #1 fan. Still, I wish I knew enough about cooking or creation of any kind so that I could appreciate it more. I wish I had it in me to become so skilled at preparing food that I could develop something even remotely close to this. And while I have my eye on other endeavors, I will never stop being inspired by Flama Llama. Such artistry I will be hard pressed to find elsewhere. I can only hope that one day I will be responsible for something that touches someone as deeply as this food has touched me. An incredible experience if ever one there was. I may no longer seek love from a human companion because I have found everything I need at this establishment. I do not say this lightly: Flama Llama has changed the course of my life forever. afterwards we went to costco and got a hotdog and it was pretty good too

Flama Llama is a hidden gem! I love that they keep the menu focused - you can tell they put real…read morecare and heart into every dish instead of trying to offer everything. The Crudo (sashimi) was incredibly fresh with the perfect spicy, garlicky kick. We also had the Lomo Saltado with beef and shrimp and the Garlic Noodles with chicken, and both were packed with flavor and cooked perfectly. Fresh ingredients, unique Peruvian-inspired dishes, and excellent execution. We'll definitely be back!

Sometimes a hole in the wall is exactly what you want, and Caribbean Taste is that. Every meal is…read moreprepared as though you're going to leave, but everyone is welcome to stay. My permanent date, who has been to Jamaica and pronounced her jerk chicken absolutely authentic. I, who hasn't been to Jamaica, was delighted with the oxtails. As I was working with a plastic fork, there was a bit of using my fingers to pick the meat off the bones, which was completely worth it. She had to caution me to pause, as the quantity of rice and beans is more than any single person should eat in one sitting. Survey. Helpful hint: get a small if you don't want leftovers, but the large will make for a nice lunch the next day. Also, this place gets five stars despite not having sodas on tap. The joint is too small for that amenity, but they do have some Jamaican sodas in a fridge which looked delightful.

Stop by because I was craving some traditional Jamaican breakfast…read more I have been here once or twice and this has been my favorite dish thus far. I ordered the Ackee and salt fish with dumplings. This hit the spot for sure