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.

My favorite ppl. Bre is wonderful…read more Always clean and happy vibes inside. Super friendly staff

FIVE STARS hands down. That Ropa Vieja was a flavor explosion and the Cubano bread was so crispy…read more And I dont usually like black beans but theirs has some umami flavor that keeps you dipping your spoon in for more. The staff were so friendly too and gave alot of good recommendations. Only thing I'm sad about is that I'm from out of town & now have to hunt for Cuban food just as good back home.

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.

Really disappointing takeout experience…read more I ordered the El Cubano sandwich, and it was so dry. The bread had a nice crunch on the outside, which I liked, but unfortunately that was about the only good thing I can say about the sandwich. I also paid extra for the Cuban fries because the description mentioned mojo garlic sauce, but when I opened my order at home, they were literally just plain fries. So I basically paid extra for regular fries, which was pretty ridiculous. The empanadas were decent, but nothing special. Overall, the entire meal was dry, underwhelming, and definitely not worth what I paid. I was really looking forward to trying this place, but based on this experience, I definitely would not return.

Excelente comida cubana, variedades de platos, postres y bebidas cubanas que te transportar a esa…read moreisla hermosa. Excelente trato y muy buen servicio.

This place is a little gem. The Cuban sandwiches are as close to Cuba or Miami on this side of the…read moreMississippi. It has ambience, cute decor, and lots of character. But, I am giving four stars because of the wait, but they do make everything fresh.

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.

Oh my. What an experience!…read more 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.

So happy we stopped in. We came mainly for Cuban coffee but the snacks looked too good to pass up…read more 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.

Phenomenal food, tastes like it was made with a lot of love!!…read more My grilled chicken plate was a ton of food and the plantains were my favorite. Will definitely be back very soon!!

I was in the Encinitas area again and was hungry. I actually came to this area for a different…read morerestaurant for breakfast but saw this Cuban restaurant, El Cubano, and I rarely turn down Cuban food. There was ample parking due to this area being a strip mall type of establishment. I headed to the food court area and stumbled on El Cubano. I decided to choose a go-to item, the Ropa Vieja and I got it with white rice, black beans, and sweet plantains. A salad also came with the plate. Everything had a nice flavor to it. I really enjoyed the ropa vieja. I just wished there was a bigger portion because I'm a growing boy lol. I will for sure return to try some of their other items.

We've been to Habana a number of times but typically on a weekend. During our previous visit, Tony…read moreaka Fluffy, gave us a great experience. He was personable, funny and made a lasting impression. My wife and I decided to have an impromptu date on a random Wednesday and we were pleasantly surprised to see Tony at our Table again! Same great experience, great recommendations. Tony is a pro. He recommended the Lechon Asado and he was not wrong. The pork was extremely tender and the Congris was delicious. I highly recommend this location, but you have to ask for Tony.

we came here for a friends birthday brunch !! They hosted us and let me tell you tony was an…read moreamazing host and server. Very attentive, always checking in, always making sure everything was okay. Food was amazing, drinks and mimosas were amazing. The ambiance of the restaurant was absolutely amazing, to it's most cuban delights ! Thank you for hosting us habana & thank you tony! We appreciate you guys !

Some of the best Cuban food I've ever had! The beef and pork were SO flavorful highly recommend…read moreboth! The staff was also so sweet and welcoming :) And you can't skip the coffee & sangria... both were delicious! Definitely a spot I'd come back to!

Today, we were quoted 60 mins wait which we agreed to but after about 30 mins after our order was…read moreplaced, we were told that the potato balls that we ordered were out of stock and that we can get something else or a refund. We waited another 50 mins before I asked for an update after waiting for more than 80 mins, Cas came out of the kitchen and snapped at me saying "what's the problem here?" So I said "well I'm just asking for a status of my order." First of all, I wasn't even talking to Cas and she didn't even know what was going on before she took it upon herself to yell at me. Kila, which was the person I was talking to originally was extremely friendly. She apologized for the delay and even offered us some pastry which we did not care for after Cas inserted herself into a conversation that had nothing to do with her. It's ironic how as a paying customer, I was using a polite voice to ask for status and got snapped at by an employee. Got our refund and took our business elsewhere. There are plenty of options here in old town Temecula.

Love this restaurant. Best vibes and ambiance. Dim, patio is super cute! I recommend sitting in the…read morepatio vs inside. The chorizo mussel clams steamer is so flavorful and good! Order an extra side of bread and dip it!! Perfect appy! Espresso martini was made to perfection. The filet was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Comes normally with fries but I got the garlic mashed potatoes instead. Service was great! Highly recommend this spot! Great for dates, girls date night and it's the perfect vibe!

I want to begin with an important distinction: my two-star rating is not meant to suggest that the…read morefood was terrible, the service was bad, or the restaurant unpleasant. It reflects something a little harder to quantify: value. The amount a restaurant asks me to pay inevitably creates a certain expectation. Food, service, atmosphere and price don't exist independently of one another; they form a package. And for me, the package simply didn't come together here. There were things I genuinely liked. We sat outside, beneath a corrugated metal covering, and I actually enjoyed the design of the space. The tables and chairs are a refreshing departure from the polished, corporate, "haven't I seen this in twelve other restaurants?" look. And the candle wall at the far end of the patio is simply wonderful--warm, cozy and genuinely beautiful. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to the setting or the prices. We each had a beer: an 11.16-ounce can for $10. It was cold, fresh and perfectly drinkable. It also wasn't particularly good. Obviously, the restaurant didn't brew it, but ultimately they chose it, priced it and served it. We also shared the Chicken Empanadas ($18) and Mariscos Fritos ($22). The empanadas were... meh. Nothing particularly wrong with them, but nothing that made me want another one, either. The Mariscos Fritos were the bigger disappointment. The menu promises calamari and shrimp, although I honestly had trouble identifying much of either. There was plenty of fennel, which was far too raw for my taste, and the dish was a considerable distance from what I would describe as "cooked to perfection." And I want to be fair here: nothing tasted spoiled. Nothing appeared to have been fried in old oil. Nothing was inedible. We finished the plate. It simply wasn't enjoyable. The service was perfectly fine and, frankly, perfectly forgettable--and I don't necessarily mean that as criticism. Good service can be a little like music in a movie: sometimes you barely notice it, but you'd certainly notice if it weren't there. Nothing about the service bothered me, and nothing particularly stood out. What finally crystallized my feelings was looking to my right from our table and seeing a parking lot. At one point I was being blinded by the headlights of a car whose driver needed about four attempts to park. Had I been looking at the Caribbean Sea, I might have sipped my $10 canned beer, eaten my rather ordinary appetizers and thought, Well... I'm paying for the whole experience. But I wasn't looking at the Caribbean Sea. I was looking at a parking lot. And perhaps that's the best way I can explain the two stars. Two $10 beers and two appetizers brought us to $60 before tax and tip. That amount, by itself, doesn't offend me. I've happily spent similar amounts elsewhere and walked away thinking, Worth it. Here, I didn't. The food wasn't terrible. The service wasn't bad. The setting had some genuinely lovely touches. And the prices, considered in isolation, aren't outrageous. They simply didn't belong together. For what we ate, where we ate it, and the overall experience we received, I left feeling that what I had paid and what I had received were too far apart. And ultimately, that's what I'm rating.