D’Cuban Cafe

Forgot one of our orders, rude customer service when I walked in, wouldn’t answer any of our calls once we got home… wouldn’t recommend. Check your order before you leave!

This is my favorite Cuban restaurant. Everything is always great. The cilantro garlic Mayo is a must to dip their Yuca fritas in. The espresso is also the best I’ve ever had! Great spot with a super friendly staff.

Great Cuban Sandwich (yes, I went with the obvious choice for the first visit). All the food around me looks wonderful as well. Can’t wait to come back and try other offerings.
Service is very friendly and helpful, which is a big plus.
No need to visit chain fast food places when, for the same price, one can get better food and great service.

This place is a gem! Amazing food! The best Cuban food I have found in the Atlanta area.

I like it, I like it alot. I think the black beans could be seasoned a bit more but all in all everything is delicious. The staff is friendly. The empanada is very yummy. The sandwiches are above average but not the best I had. The shredded pork… amazing… I had the same dish at another cuban spot nearby and it was dry. Here, its moist and flavorful. Maybe my favorite on the dish. I really enjoyed the coconut flan as well.

Best Lechon Asado ever. The rice and black beans pair perfectly. Don’t forget the garlic sauce because it officiates the marriage between the food and your tastebuds. The taste of the pork alone is enough to die happy. Perfect amount of smokiness, Excellent quality, and for the price? Gah! Officially a die hard fan of this adorable little café. They even have a beautiful gold espresso machine and solely serve Bustelo which If you haven’t tried is an amazing Columbian coffee.
I almost forgot… Get the Maduros!!! Worth every stomach stretching bite. I don’t often review places but if it’s more than good… more than great… I just have to. Get to D’Cuban!

I went to go meet my old chef and his new chef at D’Cuban yesterday to check out there new food truck. I sat down and asked them how the food was. They told me it was great. I ordered 2 meals to go.
I saw a few old Cuban ladies peering over the kitchen counter. One of the employees asked us how the food was because the lady cooks in the kitchen wanted to know if the chefs (us) liked their food. I couldn’t really say anything since I haven’t ate my food yet. My 2 chef friends complimented the food and the ladies all smiled.
When I got home me and my girl ate the Lechon Asado and the Cuban sandwich. Ohh, the flavored that were in my mouth. The pork was flavored well and not dry. The black beans and rice were excellent. And the plantains paired with all the food well.
This place will be one of my spots when I crave some good pork and beans/​rice. Love it!

Disappointed. 2^nd time going. Ordered chicken rice and beans. Restaurant was empty. Took forever for the food to come, it was a to go order. Got home, opened the container and that chicken had to seriously be two days old. Not exaggerating. I was very upset. I took one bite and threw everything away. I really wanted to go back there and get my money back but didn’t feel like driving all the way back there. Will not be going back.

Really good authentic Cuban sandwiches! Great price and the sauces are very good! This will be a regular place for me…
The traditional Cuban coffee…

Dining in during lunch hours with a coworker was worth it. We shared a whole Cuban Sandwich Combo with a side order of Sweet Plantains. I thought half a Cuban Sandwich was plenty of food for me. I don’t like to over eat, I’d rather enjoy the food and be satiated :) I was very happy with the sandwich, quite authentically Cuban (according to my friend who has more expertise with Cuban food). We’ll definitely be back again whenever we need our Cuban fix ;)

This place is probably D’best Cuban sandwich I had in the Atlanta area. The meat was savory, juicy, loaded all into one sandwich and pressed nuclear on a grill. The staffs were friendly and the atmosphere was welcoming.
I can only say the bad part was the burnt flan I had. It was badly burnt at the bottom. I had told staff about this, hopefully they were aware and correct it next time. My overall experience was pleasant. I really enjoy the sandwich and wish more customers would arrive.

In my last review of D’Cuban Café, I stated that #1) I would be delighted to return, and #2) I hadn’t tried a Cuban Sandwich before. Since writing that review, I have returned at least three more times and have finally tried a Cuban Sandwich.
D’Cuban Café has officially become my favorite restaurant on Buford Hwy. Everything is so good here. Consistently good. I love it. I can’t get enough of it. Cuban Sandwiches are amazing. So are the Empanadas, Ropa Vieja, and Picadillo.
The servers are always friendly too, which makes us feel welcome. I’ve been recommending this spot to all of my friends.

FIRST AND LAST!
The décor, although simple and understated, felt authentic. After seating ourselves and reviewing the menu, we decided to order. My daughter chose the empanada plate with two chicken empanadas and beans and rice. I chose the beef empanada and the chicken croquettes.
When I saw the croquettes on the menu, I immediately thought of salmon croquettes which are very rich in flavor and texture and are round patties. These croquettes were very unexpected because they resembled fried mozzarella sticks in shape but had a very soup-​like texture. So I suspect that they take a thick soup freeze it, batter it and fry it because there would be no way that they could maintain the texture without first freezing the croquettes. They were very flavorful, but just lacked the appropriate texture. I mean they eviscerated the ingredients to the point that I could have sucked them out of the breading with a straw, which is just not an appealing thought.
The beef empanada was a better option because it was actually very good, flavorful and light. I expected the chicken empanada to be the star of the show but it disappointed because it was just too dry. In the end, I was glad that I had not ordered the plate because the yellow rice was under-​seasoned, undercooked and really dry. The beans were not well seasoned and were served in a very thin liquid. If you are going to serve the liquid with the beans, that liquid should be cooked down until it is thick, rich and popping with flavor. These beans were actually embarrassing. After soaking the rice in the beans, both were made more palatable.
Finally our meals were accompanied by two sauces, a hot sauce and a garlic aioli. The sauces were very thin and had the consistency of a beverage. It was really difficult to use them because they were served in a condiment vessel when a container with a pour spout would have been more appropriate. As served, they were very messy and dripped all over the container and table. In the end, we did not really need them anyway.
Unfortunately, this was my first and last visit because even the water was a disappointment, it was not filtered and had an unclean taste.

Came here for a quick lunch on a Friday with my boyfriend during our respective breaks. Ordered over the phone so as to avoid the lines and in effect, place was super packed when we arrived. Sandwiches were good but not the greatness I’ve come to expect from Cuban places in Miami, which is where I’m from.
I would definitely come again and it was super affordable, so def two thumbs up for that. The service was also quick and efficient, with no fuss. The empanadas were pretty damn good and I will be returning to try some of their more traditional dishes soon!

Stopped by here on a whim and was wonderfully surprised. Service was fast and the space is very cute! Ordered Cuban sandwich combo, which was great and my husband ordered a empanazita, also great! Def wound recommend this place!

As soon as we walked in, I knew I would love this place. The smell was amazing.
We stopped in for lunch. It was not incredibly crowded when we arrived, but it filled up quickly. Unfortunately, we were in a bit of a hurry and had to change our order to make it to-​go. I wouldn’t say the food or service was slow, but I would order to-​go if you have time pressures. We only had about 45 minutes, and it would have been tough to squeeze lunch in that time frame.
There were so many things I wanted to try that I found myself wishing that they had a sampler of sorts on the menu. Although the Unilocal menu shows one, it was not actually available or on the menu at the restaurant the day we arrived. When I asked the server about it, he said the menu on the Unilocal site was a new menu that would start the following week. Great choices on the menu though and prices were very affordable.
On the server’s recommendation, I tried the Cuban sandwich with rice and beans. It was the best Cuban sandwich I have ever had.
I am so excited to go back and try some of the other things on the menu. Everything looks (and smells) absolutely incredible.

I recently met a bunch of Unilocalers at D’Cuban Restaurant on 6200 Buford Hwy, Norcross GA 30 071 — this was a UYE (Unofficial Unilocal Event) hosted by Daniel B (Daniel has become the king of UYE in Atlanta — I’ve enjoyed exploring many restaurants with him the past several years).
D’Cuban is very conveniently located just South of Jimmy Carter Blvd on Buford Hwy. Coming from I85 head West on Jimmy Carter then turn South on Buford Hwy and travel about a block — D’Cuban is on the left. The building is a bit nondescript in brown brick with «CUBAN RESTAURANT» in red/​orange on a faded sky-​blue background.
When you walk in you’ll see seating to the left and right — the left-​side features a menu board below the register and a bar with an espresso machine behind it — to the right is a wooden cabana-​like façade where you can see a bit of the kitchen. We took up a large group of tables on the left — I believe there were 14 – 15 of us sharing appetizers and entries, along with the wonderful Cuban coffee. If you haven’t tried Cuban coffee before, it’s a bit different from what you might expect — the espresso is foamy and served in a demitasse cut and very sweet (you typically see a bit of sugar coating the bottom when you’re done). I usually quaff this down quickly before getting on with the rest of the meal, then order another to finish up — the coffee at D’Cuban is exceptional and brings back memories of Miami for me.
The menu is relatively short with Sandwiches, Drinks and Desserts on one page (along with Kids Meals) and Dinner plates on the flipside, along wit Lunch Specials. I ordered a few empanadas to get things rolling — they have both beef and cheese (non-​meat option!). Both were quite good with a bit more spice in the beef empanada — also the dough was quite flaky.
I ordered half a Cuban sandwich (roast pork and ham with cheese and pickles, spicy mustard on that famous Cuban bread — crusty/​toasy on the outside) — this came with black beans and a really delicious white rice (the rice was suffuse with garlic and quite good). I also ordered some maduros (sweet pan-​fried plantains) and a side of congris (rice cooked with beans) — all very good and recommended if you aren’t familiar with Cuban cuisine.
I believe everyone really enjoyed the food (saw some other 4 and 5 star reviews). I think I actually like Papi’s slightly more but that may be due to there being a bit more variety there (I’m especially fond of the vaca frita and the jerk chicken there), however I’ll be returning to D’Cuban as it’s more convenient to my home. I asked about vaca frita at D’Cuban and the owner/​manager? Lucas indicated that they could make it — it just wasn’t on the menu, so that’s what I’ll be ordering the next time. Oh, and more coffee!
The service was exceptional, with one waitress handling the entire group with aplomb, really taking very good care of us.
(Longer review posted to my food blog)

«I prefer a quick bullet through the heart than to be boiled in oil like a beef empanada.» — Zorro: Season 4, Episode 13
Amazing! Delicious! Wow! So I have to say, even with 20 of us descending upon them for lunch on a Saturday, they didn’t seem to bat an eyelash… impressive.
There were so many choices on the menu, my decision was a tough one. But I heard so many people around me ordering Cuban sandwiches that I knew I would get to taste it… so instead I went with the Milanesa. It is a breaded and fried steak, topped with cheese, lettuce and tomato on the regular Cuban bread. I also ordered beef empanadas (to share) and a friend got the maduros (sweet fried plantains) to share with me.
My sandwich choice was a great one — the crunch from the bread and the saltiness of that melty cheese with the thin fried steak (think country fried steak on bread). The tomato was so fresh the juice was running down my arm. It was so rich and delicious. It didn’t need anything added. I would definitely order it again. I also got to taste the regular Cubano and the Medianoche (Cubano on sweet bread). I think if I came back, I would order the Medianoche — both were spot-​on, but I loved the addition of the slightly sweeter bread with all the salty ingredients IN the sandwich.
As for the sides, I love that we all enjoy sharing. The Maduros were phenomenal — but I think I am easy to please on those. Perfectly caramelized, soft on the inside — I could have eaten an entire plate. The empanada was also good — but it needed the garlic sauce with it to send it over the top! I was also a fan of both types of yuca that came to the table. There was the fried (like french fries) and the sautéed (I guess) with onions. I was torn as to which I preferred, but the fried you could dip in all their sauces… so points to the fried. I also enjoyed the rice and black beans (when mixed together). The rice seemed bland otherwise.
I was so full after this meal — so much food for lunch — and I feel like it was so inexpensive. My bill was $ 10. That’s just crazy. This will stick on my top list as it was amazing in taste, quality and price!

D’Cuban is one of the best Cuban restaurants I’ve tried in metro Atlanta to date (
). Generally, the food I’ve tried here has been very good. The lechon (roasted pork) is simply outstanding.
The restaurant is located in the Norcross Village shopping center OTP (outside the perimeter), the same shopping center as other excellent Buford Highway restaurants such as Sabores del Plata (Argentinian) and Costa Verde (Peruvian). Who knew this small complex had such seriously good eats?
D’Cuban opened September 2012. If I recall correctly, the manager, Lucas, told me ownership changed hands about two months ago. The restaurant may be making changes in the near future to both its build-​out and menu. Personally, I think everything is fine the way it is. The restaurant is located on the south end of the shopping center in a funky, narrow, almost-​triangular-​shaped space. It’s a small, casual restaurant that is easily identifiable from the road thanks to the Cuban flag and tropical graphics on the windows, along with the word «Cuban» up top.
The business is open from 11am to 8pm, six days a week. It’s closed on Sunday.
I like the simple menu with authentic Cuban fare such as picadillo (ground beef), ropa vieja (shredded steak), and milanesa (Cuban chicken fried steak). Lunch specials are $ 6.75 and are available on Saturday too. Lunch portions are smaller and come with black beans and rice. Sandwiches are $ 6.95 each and come with a side. Dinner entrees are $ 9.99 or less. The portion sizes are moderate to big. This place is a solid value.
I’ve tried both the Cuban and medianoche sandwiches here and they are quite good. I’m still not sure which Cuban restaurant in the Atlanta area has, hands down, the best Cuban, but D’Cuban is a worthy competitor. The Cuban sandwich is essentially a ham and cheese sandwich consisting of roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard. It’s served on pressed Cuban bread, which is a white bread that has a little bit of fat in it (part of the reason it tastes good).
The medianoche is similar to the Cuban except the bread is different. The medianoche uses egg bread, which is sweeter, softer, and not as crusty nor flaky as Cuban bread. Either way, you can’t go wrong. The ham and pork are savory and decent quality. The sandwiches are satisfying and filling.
As mentioned earlier, the lechon is phenomenal. I highly recommend it. One plate consists of coarsely shredded/​pulled pork that has been seasoned and marinated and topped with mojo onions. The meat is surprisingly tender, moist, and flavorful. It’s great by itself, with the accompanying rice and beans, and/​or with one of the restaurant’s complimentary sauces (available by request). Try the red hot sauce or the mojo sauce, which is primarily made out of olive oil and garlic.
I also like D’Cuban’s white rice. It’s really good. I think they’ve put a little bit of butter and/​or additional flavorings to the rice because of the way it tastes. It’s savory and slightly oily. The black beans are OK. Mix the rice and beans together and you have arroz congri.
Other sides I’ve tried include the yuca frita (fried cassava or yuca root), steamed yuca (with onions, garlic, and oil), beef empanada, and maduros or sweet fried plantains (bananas). The yuca frita and maduros are delicious. The yuca frita are like thick, extra starchy French fries. They are greasy, but tasty. The maduros are made-​to-​order, fresh, and plump. The steamed yuca and beef empanada are OK. I like the garlicky flavor of the steamed yuca. The beef empanadas are big and hearty with thick exteriors and filled with plenty of ground beef.
Tropical fruit juices are available such as mamey sapote, mango, and pineapple. They also serve Cuban coffee, which is essentially a sweetened espresso shot. The fancy-​looking, golden-​plated espresso machine is located behind the bar.
Service is fantastic. Lucas and his staff are friendly, attentive, and mindful.
Whether you dine in or take out, D’Cuban is a splendid choice for Cuban food. I give them 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
Note: They don’t have a liquor license yet, but should be getting one soon.

I went to D’Cuban restaurant last week with other Unilocalers for UYE lunch and came back satisfied, mostly.
It is located at a stripmall in buford highway (closer to the Jimmy carter blvd).
We got there just few minutes after they opened for lunch but we could already see few tables occupied and the restaurant got quiet busy with people pouring in throughout the time we were there — that’s always a good sign.
Cuba has tropical climate and that helps to produce starchy roots and vegetables that are commonly used in Cuban cuisine. So typical plate would have rice, black beans, some meat and starchy roots (Yuca or potato) or plantains. That’s ultimate comfort food right there!
We had made reservation so we were seated promptly. We had only one waitress for our table of 14 but she was prompt and always there answering questions, filling water, bringing drinks and finally the food. In the middle of the meal the manager came to our tables and checked on us.
I ordered mango juice for drink and it came out in no time. I initially thought it was a fresh squeeze because it didn’t have the concentrated taste you get when it’s made from canned mango pulp but waitress confirmed it was indeed made from mango pulp. I liked that it was neat and not thick, smoothie like consistency. Why get filled up before even starting a meal?
They have a simple menu with Sandwiches, meat plates, sides and desserts. They have lunch portions with combo too.
I ordered,
1) Lechons plate — pulled pork, with salad and rice (You can also order rice & blackbeans or cuban bread and blackbeans, instead). The pulled pork was simple and moist as it should be. I really liked the rice, it had some nice flavor and taste to it. They probably cooked with salt and some kind of broth. Salad had lime dressing but it wasn’t anything to write about.
2) Beef empanadas — I didn’t quite like the empanadas here. The meat-​potato filling was quite bland for my liking and could use some seasoning.
I also tried from what others ordered,
1) Cuban sandwich — panini like hot pressed sandwich with roasted pork, ham, swiss cheese and briny pickle. It was so delicious and flavorful and considering you get all this for just under $ 7, this one is definite re-​order for me.
2) Fried yuca — It was hot but came out quite greasy. Quite frankly, I like yuca fries from Pollo Campero better.
3) Congri — This is basically rice and blackbeans cooked together with or without some meat. Here it was cooked with bacon. I believe bacon can elevate any dish and that is true here as well.
Service was excellent here. Even when all the tables were full, they kept our water and drinks refills going. The billing process was smooth and they also accept American Express.
I admit, I haven’t been to many cuban restaurants. But of what little I have experienced the best cuban restuarant I have been to in Georgia is Cali N Tito’s in Athens. D’Cuban is not as good as Cali N Toto’s yet, but it definitely comes closer. In our time there, the manager mentioned that they are introducing a new improved menu very soon as well. New menu or not, I will definitely go back to D-​Cuban.
Four stars.