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: patio Kid Friendly: yes Vegetarian options: yes Vegan options: yes Ambiance: casual Pros: authentic Cuban flavor, great value for food, friendly staff Cons: the parking lot is a little sketchy with some suspicious people wandering around.

Was in Oceanside for a family wedding and then headed to Chula Vista before flying home to buy some…read moremochi from a little shop I Love. We were trying to figure out where to eat lunch and this place popped up. We got a Cuban sandwich to split and a tamal. There's not really seating inside but there are tables outside. The woman at the front counter is very friendly and welcoming. The food was delicious my friend isn't much of a tamal person so I enjoyed that on my own I loved the lime garlic sauce that came with it so much I was putting it on my half of the delicious sandwich. The sandwich was crispy on the outside everything you expect from a Cuban sandwich and came with a lovely cilantro aioli. The women asked if it was our first time and then gifted us dessert a delicious flakey guava pastry. They have a larger catering menu as well we saw someone picking up a tray to go. Definitely will be back when I'm on a Mochi run when I'm San Diego.

YES YES YES!!!! If…read moreyou have not been to Havana Grill, get in the car right now. I'm serious - grab your keys and DRIVE! My family is Cuban and we have struggled some to find true authentic Cuban Food recently, but we struck absolute gold with this place. Their drinks are so wonderful - the margaritas, the Havana mojitos & the Old Cuban are top contenders. You really can't go wrong with any drink order though. I definitely have my favorites when it comes to their food items - the vaca frita (#1 oh my gosh I could eat it daily) and the fricase de pollo are so wonderful. The baked empanadas along with anything from their bakery section is going to be a win as well. Whatever you order just ask for more mojo! Make sure before you leave you get a Cuban coffee to end the meal paired with a slice of flan!

Attractive restaurant located in the Mission Valley mall…read more We stopped in for a quick lunch, trying 3 different empanadas and a beer. It took a while to be served the empanadas at the 'bakery' counter and right before we paid, the server went to serve someone at the outside walk-up window. Uh, hello...?! We sat at at the bar where the service as well as the empanadas were luke warm. The bar tender was wearing one earphone and obviously taking a phone call while 'working'. It was difficult to get her attention between her prepping limes, her phone call and her disappearing every so often. We could have easily walked out and not paid for our drink, but we were honest. She didn't get a tip. She also needs to learn to cut limes more efficiently. We wouldn't rush back.

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.

This was all recommended by the cashier who did amazing and giving me the low down on what's the…read morebest and honestly everything here was so amazing even a really great place to relax and do some work in there comfy chairs and nice big pillows. Really a 10 atmosphere and vibes as well You need to try this place. The entire meal was less than $40!! The plate was only like $22 which is a steal

As someone with Cuban heritage, Havana Grill has always been a place that felt comforting and…read morefamiliar to me. In the past, I've had some really great meals and experiences there, which is why this review is difficult to write. Unfortunately, during my most recent visit to the Clairemont Mesa location, the food quality was noticeably different from what I remembered. Several items tasted stale, cold, and as though they had been reheated. The beans were mushy and lacked flavor, and the plantains seemed old and not freshly prepared. Overall, the meal felt below the standard I had experienced there before. I'm sharing this not to criticize harshly, but because I genuinely remember this restaurant being much better and I hope they can return to the quality and freshness that made the place special in the past. I truly want to see them succeed and improve because there is a lot of potential there.

What a place!! A large group of my friends and I came in for dinner and they were more than willing…read moreto not only take our orders but also let us sit inside at the order table to wait :) Sweet lady at the front was helping those of us who were unfamiliar with the menu decide on what to eat. It's a bit of a hole in the wall so don't expect to eat inside, but absolutely expect to be welcomed with open arms and delicious food!! Amen amen amen

I hate to say it but nothing about this food is puerto Rican. The pastelillo meat was salty, the…read morerice was flavorless, the pernil was mushy, the beans were awful. The sofrito/recaito base was missing in every bite. The Puerto Rican flavors were absent overall. Disappointing to say the least. I spend $133 and feel it was a safe of money. I'm still on the hunt for good Puerto Rican food in San Diego. Help!

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.

Easy 10/10! Dropped by for lunch and loved everything about this spot! From the decor down to the…read moreservice 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.

Havana 1920 is a Cuban restaurant in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter known for its authentic cuisine,…read moreextensive 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!

The service was really great. Before I even got my food the waiter was very helpful…read more The ambiance is also really pleasant and colorful, great place to enjoy some time with friend.

had such a good experience here and honestly had to leave a review because of tanya and alani…read more the food was really good too everything came out fresh and tasted amazing. you can tell they actually care about what they're putting out.

My original post was 8 yrs ago so I've been coming here for a long time. I always get the same…read morething!! ALWAYSSS!! & it is ALWAYSSS consistently good. You know when you have a hyper fixation on a meal and you keep eating it until you hate it, well it's been 8 yrs and still til this day I love it. It's hard finding a place where your favorite dish taste the exact same every time. Most places change the recipe or cut corners but here you get quality. Back to my O.G order: Large Oxtail Plate w/no veggies and extra plantain with 2 beef patties and a Malt. It comes with rice of course and if you're lucky, ask for some extra gravy! 10/10 recommend

Yesterday I had the pleasure of trying some amazing Caribbean/Jamaican food, and everything from…read morethe oxtail, goat, rice, plantains, curry chicken, and jerk chicken was absolutely delicious. The atmosphere was welcoming, and the ladies there felt so authentic and reminded me of my great grandparents, aunts, and uncles coming together to make a home-cooked meal full of love. The only downside is that I live so far away, or I'd be there all the time. Truly a 10/10 experience and I will definitely be coming back!