Simply Cuban

This place is delicious! Everytime I’m in the area, I make sure to stop by! Very friendly staff, and parking is available.

I wanted to write a good review. I really did.
But…I ordered ropa vieja on seamless and the restaurant called to tell me that they had run out and she apologizes. She offered me a few things to replace the meal, which was nice, but then she CHARGED ME FOR THEIR ERROR.
There was a $ 2 difference in price, and she actually charged me for accepting the substitution I didn’t even want. So you get knocked down on stars for that. You honestly could have at least gotten 3 stars if it weren’t for that.
You also get knocked down because the steak I did get came through over cooked and rubbery.
And finally, you get knocked down again because the veggies I ordered were INUNDATED WITH SALT. Oh my God, it was barely fit for consumption. It’s like they fill a pot with ½ water and ½ salt and then add the vegetables.
The rice is also full of salt.
The taste of the beans and the seasoning on the steak was good, but if I ever ordered from them again, they would have to make my food to my specifications, specifically: skip the salt.

So i was recommended to try this place by my sister. I give this My and my partner came here on a Monday night. Street parking is extremely hard to find around this area. This place was nicely decorated. Its great for a inexpensive chill night out. Now let me get to the nitty gritty about the food.
We ordered 5 chicken empanadas, 2 beef empanadas, tostones, and sweet plantains with an ice tea, and orange soda. Everything came out to $ 23.50 which wasnt bad. The empanadas werent hot as if they sat under a warmer for a few hours. The chicken empanadas were not to my desire. These had a mixture of minced chicken. Im use to chicken empanadas with shredded chicken, but i guess it depends on your preference. The beef empanadas were really good. When costing $ 1.95 each, they were a pretty good size. Now for the tostones, they give you 4 for $ 2.95. It should come with 1 – 2 more but they were good. The sweet plantains came with 6 for $ 2.95. They could have been cooked a little bit more but they were ok. The owner was really nice. All in all i would come back to try more food options.

Warning the red sauce is so spicy! Get it on the side! I ordered for deliver and found out about this little gem via Unilocal!The order taker was very knowledgable on what’s on the menu and gave me great suggestions. I ordered the shrimp with red sauce a side of black rice (which is so freakin delicious) and sweet plantains. Portion and food quality wise I was very pleased. Even though the place is new I received my order in a timely fashion and my order was accurate. Will be ordering again.

Visited simply cuban for the second time this week. Food was delicious. I ordered grilled chicken, congri, yuca in mojo sauce. All delicious. Sampled co workers breaded steak and steak in a red sauce. Very very good. Place is BYOB which is also a plus. Will definitely go back for more.

Loved it! Server was super friendly. Food was fantastic. I had bistek empanizado, sweet plantains and congri. All delicious. Also tried the empanadas and the papas rellenos. Preferred the chicken empanada to the beef but that is just a preference. Huge variety on the menu. Can’t wait to go back and try more.

I ordered Cuban and Ropa Vieja sandwiches and it was just great, very flavorful and as authentic as you can get around here. I will definitely be back.

3 ½ stars.
It’s nice to see a Cuban restaurant in the ironbound area. That’s why I was excited to order from here when I came across this restaurant. I placed an order for delivery and ordered the lechon asado, a side of fried plantains (tostones), and a chicken empanada.
For starters I was disappointed that for the side, I could only choose between white rice, red beans, or black beans. I would’ve loved to see congri as an option (it’s very common at other Caribbean restaurants that they do this), but you have to pay extra for that as a side.
My food was delivered within a reasonable amount of time, so no complaints on that end.
First, I started with the chicken empanada. Right off the bat it was a little bigger than my palm. Very small. The taste was good but a little dry for my taste.
Then I moved on to the tostones. Upon opening the container I see that there are literally three tostones. Just three. It cost 2.95, so at that price each toston was averaging at $ 1 each, which seems very pricy compared to other places I’ve been to. Not to mention that the size of each one didn’t justify the price.
Now, the lechon on the other hand was absolutely delicious. Very well seasoned and it went perfect with the black beans (also delicious) and the white rice.
Overall, I would eat here again, maybe this time I’ll go and eat there. I just wish their portions would be a little more reasonable.

Excellent service! Mariela is the nicest server. Great Cuban food and close to everything (train, waterfront). Nice ambiance and music as well.

Everything we ordered was delicious! I especially loved the garlic chicken and the garlic shrimp and the lechon was moist and not overly salty. The flan was really good.
Portions are a decent size. We each had a doggy bag. Will definitely be back! Waitress was super nice and tentative. This is a huge perk for the Ironbound. Not to mention its BYOB and there’s parking in the rear. I really hope this place lasts. My expectations were definitely met.

The evening started off by looking in Unilocal for a restaurant that was near and good and that could possibly deliver in the area where I live now. It has been hard to find a place that Delivers to the new area of Harrison and don’t even know why based on the revenue that restaurants and other business can make from all the new development being built right across that tiny little bridge. This place by far has been some of the best food I had in Harrison/​Newark. I had the pork dish and it had great favor and it taste delicious; Just a suggestion would be at bit less salt and it would be just perfect! The beans were a bit harder for my taste but I like them really soft and I know many people like beans a bit harder. The overall experience was great that is because of the owner makes you feel at home and welcomed along with all the other staff. I suggest trying it business like this need to thrive!

Newark has its first «frita Cubana» Frita is a Cuban dish with a seasoned ground beef and pork patty on Cuban bread topped with shoestring potatoes. Variations also include lettuce, onions.
But wait there’s more: the menu includes all of your Cuban favorites; tamale, bistec empanizado, papa rellena, etc… and your favorite batido.
Thank God!

Good Food and service to make things fun as far that I know this is the first Cuban eatery around the Ironbound, there’s also a classic car from the 50’s the décor it’s nice and hospitable as well, the prices are reasonable the food portions a little skimpy, in compare with the rest of the competitors around the area. something that it could be fix from time to time.

I really want to love this place. I really do. Working in Newark for many years, I’ve grown bored of the available food options and when I heard about this place I was beyond excited to try it. (My family is Cuban and I love a good Cuban meal).
The first time I went with a friend and ate at the restaurant. Service was slow (but that is typically the case in a lot of Spanish restaurants). As for the food I’ll give a break down:
Croquetas and Beef Empanadas — Delicious. And I liked that they were served with hot sauce on the side — I didn’t have to ask. A promising start to the meal.
Batidos — We both ordered the batido de mamey. Unfortunately, these fell flat. They were overly sweet and only tasted of milk. Couldn’t really detect the fruit in it at all.
Entrees: Cuban Sandwich and Bistec Empanizado platter —
My friend said her cuban sandwich was fine, though the bread could have been toasted a little more. In my opinion, for the price they’re asking ($ 8.00) the sandwich should have come with fries or some sort of a side.
The Bistec Empanizado was cooked well and had great flavor. The black beans (which came with rice), however, lacked the flavor you would expect from Cuban food. A little salt would have helped the beans.
Dessert (tres leches) is not made on premises and also left a lot to be desired. Too much icing and way too sweet.
Despite not loving the food the first time, I decided to give them one more try and ordered take out. I had the steak sandwich, another batido (papaya) and yuca fries.
The meat in the steak sandwich was so tough I could barely bite through it without the sandwich falling apart during the struggle. The batido again had no fruit flavor to it and the yuca fries did not come with mojo (I had to ask for it — and it could have used some salt).
With all that said, I’m not entirely ready to give up on this place. I’m hoping that they are receptive to reviews and will work out some of the kinks and flavor issues.

The Lechon Asado was so fresh, juicy, and full of amazing flavor! My fiancé had the Ropa Vieja sandwich and also really enjoyed her meal. We will definitely be eating here again.

Very good Cuban style cuisine. After living in the area for almost two years now it’s good to have something close by that’s a little different from your Portuguese and Brazilian hubs. My girlfriend, being from Miami, is always in the mood for Cuban comfort food and while there are many options in Jersey the Ironbound is somewhat limited. We ordered some Cubanaso sandwiches with Sopa de Pollo with a side of tostones. It really hit the spot and I like how there’s pork in the sandwiches — some places seem to think that pork is optional and only put ham and pickles smh! I will be coming back to try one of the larger meals.
I wish these guys the best!