Habanas Cuban Cuisine

Delicious food from the main entrée to the desert. Great service and a great ambience. Would definitely come back again! Don’t even get me started on those mojitos! They are worth the trip alone.

First, I was welcome pleasantly when I first enter, so far so good. Next, someone ordered a nicely-​descriptive tea, but actually it was just a tea you can find in the any grocery market.
It was about 7ish nighttime and wasn’t too crowded, the place was broad and comfortable (have leather seating). The noise was durable, there isn’t a need to be shout at one another.
Ok, here’s the real deal: first we order some drinks which consist of juice, mojitos and beer but it took more then 15 – 20 mins just for our drinks. The funny thing was mojitos came out first, instead of can of beer which you-​know you basically just have to open it and bring it to us. Same for the foods, 20mins or more until we got our foods served, mind u there was only three party.
Food– I recommend you get the chicken adobo, it looks simple but it’s was the favorite dish to many of my friends and fried calamari (soo good). For drinks get de mango mojito, so fruity and just right level of alcohol. What I didn’t like was the pork chop which the meat was dry and rough to cut&chew and steak– worth to made it yourself than to pay someone to made it for you. Dessert was ok.

The food here is amazing along with tradional mojitos. Definitely worth the trip. Only thing I did not care for was the house soup, which was the chipotle corn chowder. Too much oil!!! :(no bueno

I’ve been wanting to visit this place for a looooong time! I do know that they are or they were affiliated with the Havana in Walnut Creek. I could be wrong. LOL! Anyway, so we finally went after work. We missed happy hour but we still got to take advantage of 50% off selected tapas. We ordered Habanas Crab Cakes with tart Pineapple Aioli, Plantain Maduros with Manzanas Aioli and Fried Calamari that came with Fried Herb Salad and Jalapeño & Cilantro Sauce. The food was soooo good and the price was even better! Our server was very helpful and he had a good attitude. You could tell the guy liked his job. We’re definitely coming back. Hopefully next time, we can catch their half-​off mojitos! :D

Amazing food! Yummy drinks! Great live music! Can’t wait to go back again! Great choice for a night out on the town! Bartender was super friendly!

I went there for the first time on my birthday and it was terrible! Aside from being over priced we were rushed from the moment we walked in. I honestly thought for the ratings it had here I would have a better experience. The entire time she kept mentioning they were ready to close when it was about 9:30 pm and their hours say «Opened Until 11PM.» We were the only ones there and we were asked about every 10 minutes if we were ready to pay. I was excited to go but will not return or recommend anyone else here.

A bit on the pricey side, maybe because we don’t have that many Cuban /​Carribean restaurants here in the East Bay– and have yet to find a good one here locally, unless you to the Palo Alto area– personal opinion =)
11.95 for the halibut ceviche, barely any fish in it, but flavors were okay, I liked the yucca chips that came with it.
My bistec entrée came out well done when I requested for medium well. The chimichurri sauce that comes with it tasted nothing but like parsley with no seasoning. *sigh* for $ 19.75, I thought that was a little heart wrenching when it’s only a skirt steak or flap meat that they used and the seasoned Spanish rice just tasted off, to me. Lots of Cuban beans, though, since it’s inexpensive.
I probably wouldn’t come back, unless it’s for a birthday occasion.
However, it’s a nice looking restaurant, I do love the Spanish music that they play.

This is my favorite place to take friends and family in Alameda. Great atmosphere, excellent food, and seriously top notch customer service. Brought some friends here a while back with food allergies (gluten, soy, dairy) and they went out of their way to accommodate us: their staff used different cooking dishes and the chef customized menu items for us.
I haven’t tried anything here I didn’t like. I don’t give out many 5 star restaurant reviews – this one is very well-​deserved!

Holy God, what an amazing place. I’m from Florida, & haven’t had Cuban food since I left home, & am so glad this was the first time I ventured to try – first off, the mojitos are legit. Strong & delicious. Try the strawberry if you’re into berry mojitos. Next: brunch. Do it. If you’re across the street waiting in line for waffles: YOU’RE FUCKING UP. No judgement; just stating facts. (Writing this after mojitos #3, so honesty is a thing.) Ropa Vieja so good you’ll slap your momma… even if you LOVE your momma. Ropa Vieja tamales? JUST TAKE MY MONEY. Lechon? O HELL YASSSSSSSS. CEVICHE WITH PLANTAIN CHIPS. You waffle eaters… keep fucking up, so I can have this good shit without waiting.
Or rectify your fuck up, and come here for brunch. THEY HAVE BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS, WHAT ARE YOU EVEN DOING OVER THERE WITH WAFFLES.

Came here to kill some time before going to the pub across the street. My friend said they make some really good mojitos. He wasn’t kidding lol. The drinks are strong so one glass did it for me aha.
The hostess greeted us right away but since there was a handful of us we were lucky to take over the bar. Wish I could’ve tried their entrees. I only tried the sweet potato fries, which are good with the sauce that came with it. Ill definitely be coming back to try their food!

What a luscious treat amid the ordinary food spots! We ordered mango halibut ceviche and the paella — just heavenly!!! Great plantain chips! I don’t usually drink coffee but the café habanas with steamed milk and brown cane sugar was splendid! Nefis is the server supreme — great recommendations. OH my — we returned for dinner and the dark rum mojito pitcher, scallops, tuna tartar, grilled veggie plate… one of the best meals ever. They happily seated our party of 11 — we are definitely making this a regular spot! GREAT love music Sunday night — amazing guitarist. Fabulous food, outstanding service AND space for the kids to dance.

Great food, amazing service. I order the halibut mango ceviche (could use a little more lemon), trapo viejo empanadas, the Cuban wedge and the mix skewer. I would give it 4 stars for the messy bathroom but I liked the food :)

I’ve never really had Cuban food before, but this place was a nice introduction to it.
Got here right when it opened, so we were the only ones in the restaurant for a bit, so the service was definitely top notch.
We ordered the shrimp ceviche and the paella, and both were AMAZING and super tasty! We also ordered classic style mojitos and it was as fresh as it could get.
The shrimp ceviche is served with Yucca chips which were really good, and everything just tasted really FRESH! The paella is Cuban style paella, not Spanish style, so it was more of a risotto like dish rather than the burnt, crispy style that I’m used to and that I like. Nevertheless, I still really enjoyed the paella.
Unfortunately, we didn’t spend too much time here and didn’t order too much to really say anything more, but in general it was a great experience and I would definitely come back here again (probably to order the same things).

Have not been here for awhile, but brought a friend for lunch. I was CRAVING a good Cuban sandwich. Now, I know they didn’t have great ones here, but today, it was awful. I love the atmosphere and the service could not be nicer. IT is a great scene at night with good music and nice mojitos.
But the food disappointed me. The Cuban sandwich I got was all wrong. First, well, it was cold!!! It is supposed to be hot pressed. The cheese is supposed to be melty. This sandwich was — COLD! The pork should be from a pork roast, all greasy and flavorful. This was some thin tiny piece of grilled pork. There was the obligatory ham, but not much, and a few pickles and mustard. But there was — lettuce and tomato!!! NO NO NO. You don’t put lettuce and tomato on a pressed Cuban sandwich.
FAIL. The bread was not crispy. I am so sad I cannot get a Cuban sandwich in Northern California. THIS is a Cuban sandwich:
I miss Texas, where you can get awesome ones.

Still looking for a west coast Cuban spot.
Skirt steak was too chewy. Chicken was too salty. The lunch mixed grill plate said it came with BBQ sauce and I was surprised to see that it was actually BBQ sauce, like Kraft BBQ sauce. It was placed on the plate already so I had to sacrifice a bit of my rice because I didn’t come to a Cuban spot to eat grilled meats with american tasting bbq sauce. The beans oddly out-​shined everything on all of our plates.
Is the food good? Yes. Is it good Cuban food? not sure exactly, but I know it doesn’t taste the way it does in Miami.
What really gets me is the price of everything. IMO, way too expensive for mediocre Cuban food. TBH, I’d pay those prices and then some for some truly authentic Cuban food on the west coast.
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I have to say, their mojitos were excellent, especially the pineapple one. Live music on a Friday night, but not many people dancing.
Tapas were fun to share, the yuca were great, empanadas were good, Cuban sandwich also satisfying. Wish the bread they served wasn’t cold though.
Like the drinks, like the food — definitely a go to option for dinner on Park.

I’ve been on a hunt for the perfect Cuban Sandwich, and this place did not disappoint! The atmosphere is welcoming and all the food and beverages were delicious.
We stumbled upon this place on a Thursday afternoon and had the twice fried plantains with pineapple salsa and the boniato garlic fries for an appetizer. Both were wonderful! The mojitos were so fresh and perfectly priced, and the food and service will keep me coming back time and time again.

Yum. Yum. Yum.
The empanada’s with the plantain and apple appetizers were delish. My new favorite restaurant on the island. The manager is fantastic as well, great service.
Don’t forget to order the coconut mohitos!

I stopped by Habanas on a random Tuesday that I happened to be on vacation. It was completely empty, which scared me a little, but that just gave the server the opportunity to be extra attentive to me, which he was. I ordered the arugula salad with toasted hazelnuts and a walnut vinaigrette and a side order of grilled corn (no, the corn was not on the cob and yes, that made it about a billion times more manageable.)
The food was great! It did take a little longer than I expected but that’s more than likely because I stepped in at the exact moment they opened. Y’know, I was that fabulous customer who walks in before your grill is even on and orders the grilled dish and then pouts just the slightest (adorbs pout, of course – and pouts pressed between a helluva read, of course) as she waits for her meal to arrive. Anyway, the salad was deelish and the corn was even better. I didn’t get that authentic Cuban vibe from this spot but I also ordered a salad and a side order of corn, not arroz moro or tostones or any other Cuban staple. I will definitely be back to sample more and maybe even try one of what their website proudly proclaims was voted «best Mojito»!

For an hour last weekend, I was Cuban.
I sat in this open air restaurant and, transported by the music, sipped on a mojito and nibbled on a Pineapple Shrimp Salad and Scallops with a Citrus Ginger Sauce. Tropical bliss sans political oppression.
Is Habanas a little pricey? For sure. Does «open air» mean flies are your dining companions? Sadly, yes. Is parking Castro-​strophic? You betcha. Still worth it though.
Tip: If you want quantity and a lower price, opt for the pressed sandwiches.