Alma De Cuba

Having gone of college near Philadelphia, whenever my parents visited I would ask to go here. That being said, I always get the same thing: ceviche, sweet plantains, tostones, and yucca fries. My favorite part of the meal though is these yummy cheese yucca bread they bring out at the beginning. I always want more than the two they bring out. The ceviches are all amazing, but the best are the al Fuego and the white tiger salmon. Those two balance either spicy or creamy with the sweet in a way that does not overpower the delicate fish taste. All the sides I order are so good, but I would never go without getting the plantains. It’s pretty easy to rack up a high bill here, but if you can it’s worth it for a great night out. It also tends not to be too crazy on weekdays and pretty crowded on weekends, so plan for the ambiance you want.

Definitely one of my favorites in the city, the mojitos are terrific and a draw on their own at happy hour. However my favorite thing they offer is the vaca frita, its delicious and a lot of food, definitely leave stuffed every time. I love the ambiance, the wait staff is superb and the food/​dirnks are great. I’ve already been 4 – 5 times and I will definitely be going again.

I’m Puerto Rican. I know arroz con pollo. Alma de Cuba was an Americanized version of it. My husband and I came for Restaurant Week and although the atmosphere was beautiful, the food was simply average at best. Cuba Libre offers tastier food.

Alma de Cuba is nestled between several clothing stores so it might be easy to miss, but be sure to swing by as both the design and food can not be missed. Though it is not the best Cuban restaurant is Philly, it is definitely still worth going to as the flavors are both complex and at the same time down to earth.
Ambiance: The restaurant actually has three levels with an outdoor sitting area near the street. The ground floor is dim with very nice accent lighting around the bar and the few tables scattered around. The 2^nd/​3^rd floor are more along the lines of your typical restaurant with tables neatly organized with booths lined the edges. The 2^nd floor is especially bright and inviting and the décor matches the waiter’s white suits.
Food: The service starts with two jalapeño corn bread balls that come with a delicious dipping sauce. The corn bread isn’t that spicy and was somewhat dry but the sauce made up for it. For dinner I had a delicious special white corn gnocchi dish. The dish had a mushroom reduction sauce that complemented it perfectly and while the portion was somewhat small, it filled me up completely. The dishes are on the expensive side ($ 20 – 35) so while the food was good, I thought the price did not exactly match what I was expecting.
Service: Absolutely fantastic! The waitress was kind, accommodating, and overall made the dining experience.
Drinks: The cocktails are quite nice. I had the RIcky Richardo which is a gin-​based iced cocktail that was very refreshing on a hot day.

On a recent visit to Philadelphia, a friend recommended Alma De Cuba, and we were happy he did! We were seated on one of the upper levels (3^rd?) and had a very attentive server that explained the menu and made a few suggestions. We each began with a cocktail — I had the Classico Mojito and spouse had something else (which I don’t recall), we both enjoyed the drinks. We shared the Ecuadorian Shrimp Ceviche and both thought it was very good. For our meal we ordered a Vaca Frita and a Lechon Asado. I really enjoyed my Vaca Frita and only shared a little. .. it was almost too good to share! I tried a little of the Lechon Asado and thought it was just okay, nothing special. If I were going back to Philadelphia, I would make a point of eating at Alma De Cuba again!

We came here for dinner after visiting the art museum as my girlfriend continues her quest to hit all of the Stephen Starr restaurants. The mojito was okay. I had my first dish of oxtail and enjoyed the tender meat. My scallops were okay but her tuna dish was fantastic. The dessert menu could use some expansion but there is a large variety of appetizers to try. The décor is very nice and there is substantial seating so getting a table should not be a problem.

This place came highly recommended by coworkers and my boyfriend and I were very disappointed with the food.
The ambiance and décor were great! The couches were cozy and intimate for a romantic date. It wouls have been great if we stopped at the appetizers.
I would only recommend the ceviche. We had the sampler and loved all three we chose.
We also ordered the fried oysters and vaca frita which were both bland.
I would recommend this if you’re only going to order ceviche

Relaxed and mod lounge-​like seating with dim lighting and great service. The food, of course, is amazing.
Some highlights:
–The vaca frita skirt steak is very tender and flavorful
–The lechon asado was nicely done with a juicy interior covered by a layer of crispy pork skin
–The corn-​crusted dorade was solid but didn’t stand out compared to the other dishes.
–The smoked albacore fish tacos were a great starter — the fish to toppings ratio was perfect.
–The duck ropa viejo definitely stole the show: juicy, flavorful, and melt-​in-​your mouth tender. This is the must-​try entrée.
–The fried yucaa side is also a tried-​and-​true classic: crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and covered with a nice thin layer of sweet dressing.
–And don’t leave without the chocolate cigar! It’s small so there will always be room for a chocolate mousse cake that literally resembles a cigar!

Alma De Cuba has the most amazing jalapeño cornbread ever!
I ate probably one too many before my actual meal came out, but that’s okay because it was that good.
For the main entrée, I ordered the Vaca Frita. The skirt steak had a delicious crispy exterior with a tender interior, but it was the black beans and lemony rice that really added the flavor this dish needed! I thought it was amazing and would definitely come back for it. I also tried the ceviche but I don’t remember which one I got oops. But I do remember it being pretty tasty!
Overall, the ambiance was really hip and relaxed, but I thought the lighting was a bit too dark. But I guess it’d be a good date spot!

Overall, a decent visit but I wouldn’t say this restaurant knocked our socks off. On the plus side, very attractive décor — swanky and modern with nice Cuban music playing at a reasonable volume. It is very dark, though — too dark in our opinion. No overhead lighting at all and only a small tea light candle on the table. It would be better if they had a larger candle that throws more light. We had to use the Flashlight app on our cell phones to read the menu.
The food, was okay to very good. I had the Smoked Albacore Tacos for my appetizer which consisted of 4 small crunchy-​shell tacos filled with some kind of tuna salad. To be honest, I wasn’t too crazy about the texture of this appetizer as I prefer whole fish as opposed to tuna salad, and I prefer traditional soft tacos as opposed to crunchy. It was okay tasting, though. Hubby got the black bean soup which was a generous portion (large bowl) and pretty good. I wouldn’t say it was outstanding and I’ve made tastier black bean soup at home, but it was pretty good. He also ordered a side of fried plantains which were scrumptious! We both got the Sugarcane Tuna entrée and it was delicious. The tuna was very tender and moist and flavorful. We liked the presentation with real sugarcane slices attached to the tuna. My only complaint was it was served over a heaping pile of flavorless steamed spinach. For dessert, I got the Tapioca pudding — a favorite dessert from my childhood. It was beautifully presented in a coconut shell and came with 2 fruit-​filled cookie bars which were delicious. Overall the pudding was decent, but the consistency was a little too loose/​liquidy and would have been better if it was thicker and perhaps a bit sweeter. I had a virgin mojito which was the tastiest I ever had in my life, however, it was served in a tall thin glass filled to the brim with ice, so there was about a total of 4 sips in the whole drink. Hubby had a regular mojito and it was a more reasonable portion and he said it was perfectly prepared.
Service was okay. Our waiter was nice but seemed a bit overwhelmed or frazzled. There were some periods were there was an uncomfortably long stretch of time before he stopped back to check on us, but when we did interact with him, he was professional and friendly.
I am glad we tried this restaurant because it’s been on our «to visit» list, but we probably won’t return. The prices are very high for our taste (appetizers in the $ 12-​$ 15 range, entrees were mostly $ 25-​$ 30, desserts $ 9) and we felt that overall, the experience did not warrant the price tag.

This place has great drinks, but the good is just OK. We ordered the empanada appetizer for $ 14 and it’s only one. It’s vegetarian with cheese so the price doesn’t make sense. A generous portion of rice and chicken is only $ 8 more than the single empanada!
I’m from NYC and know about expensive restaurants and the pricing here is arbitrary. Just doesn’t add up. My chicken dish was good but my husband didn’t enjoy his vaca frita because it was burned. The drinks and complementary bread balls were the best. It loved the ambience and design.

Phenomenal from start to finish. The cocktails were outstanding, apps were fresh and irresistible. The tuna tacos kept me wanting more. I probably could have devoured a dozen no problem. Looking forward to returning to indulge some more.

Such an interesting restaurant that seems very hidden to me in the middle of center city. I’ve easily walked past it many times without noticing it of going in. The whole place is very dimly lit to the point that it’s difficult to see anything including the menu. The food and drinks are pricey so I’d suggest coming during happy hour to try a few dishes and drinks without breaking the bank. The servers were very friendly and attentive and seemed to know a lot about the Cuban food and culture. I thought the food selection was interesting but not being familiar with Cuban food, I found it difficult to chose what I wanted, combined with having to squint to read the menu I wasn’t thrilled.

Enjoyed our meal, but I think there might be some rough spots. We were a table of 5, and worked through a number of ceviches, appetizers, entrees, and even a dessert. It’s a little on the pricey side, but with some exceptions, mostly delivers on that. I would say that they have the usual silly markup on alcohol, but the food is fair for what you get. It is, as others noted, dark. I think it’s too dark. I like to see my food.
Ceviches and octopus appetizer: stellar. These were the highlight of the evening. Perfectly brined, grilled octopus was tender, strongly spiced without overpowering the taste of the underlying fish. Going through the full sampler would be a good way to develop a meal.
Entrees: bring an appetite or order about half as many as you have people. These are serious chunks of protein. Among us, there were two lechon (pork roast), two vaca frita, and one duck ropa vieja. Only the duck actually got finished. The pork was absolutely delicious — tender meat covered by a layer of crisp, salt, and fat. The steak was similar. The problem is that they are the sorts of things that stick around in your stomach for another 12 hours. These are just not things that are designed to be eaten by individual humans. The sides were minimal on both, but you barely need them. They’re mostly ways to add a bit of spice to the meat.
Desserts:actually pretty meh compared to rest of meal. The much famed chocolate cigar is a pretty boring cake. The bunuelas need a lot more caramel to balance out the banana. Star of dessert was actually the café Havana coffee with coconut milk, and if I had it to do over again, I’d just get that.
Overall: come for happy hour, stick to the lighter dishes on the menu, and it’ll be a great evening. As you deviate from that advice, you’ll be less happy.

The Happy Hours at Alma de Cuba is fab!!! Magic mojitos (their daily specials are showstealers), tasty tapas, and divine desserts are sure shot stress busters! With all food and drinks for $ 5, and desserts for $ 2, it is a deal you can not (and must not) miss!
You will come here for a drink and go home having dinner… This place is a GEM!!!

Tasty Cuban fare in a swanky, sophisticated setting.
Came here recently with a group of friends, and we really enjoyed our meal. Upon arrival, we were seated promptly by our hostess, and settled into a comfortable booth on the second floor. Setting is elegant and modern, with appropriately low lighting and ample space between tables. A good place for a date, or for a night out with friends.
For drinks, I started with a Hemingway daiquiri — tasty and good, although pretty much the standard recipe. I then moved on to the El Jefe mojito, which I really liked. The El Jefe is made with a mix of darker rums, which impart good complexity and depth. Recommended.
I love ceviche, and opted for the trio sampler: the Agua Chile sea scallop, the Thai Coconut, and the Ecuadorian shrimp. Each one was distinct and delicious, and the portion was just right for one person. You can also opt to sample 5 or 7 ceviche, which would be good for 2 – 3 people.
For my entrée, I had the Vaca Frita: a skirt steak that’s first braised, then pan-​seared to give an amazingly crispy exterior crust, and is served with a piquant citrus-​tomato sauce on a bed of black beans and rice. Just delicious, would definitely order again.
Others at the table ordered the Lechon Asado, a pork roast with a very crispy crust. I had a bite and enjoyed it, though I liked the Vaca Frita better.
I finished with the café con leche (very good), and the Chocolate Cigar, which was, to my taste, just too rich. The menu describes it as almond cake surrounded by chocolate mousse, but that seems inaccurate. The ‘cake’ portion tasted like flourless chocolate cake (essentially, a mix of chocolate and butter). Very, very rich — I had a few bites, but couldn’t finish the rest. If that’s what you’re looking for, enjoy, but for me it was too much.
Service attentive, informative and very professional. Overall a very good experience, would definitely return.

I was hoping for better.
I came earlier this week with my boyfriend, and while the lighting and the atmosphere were great for a date night, the food was overpriced and generally subpar. The appetizers were actually really yummy, but the entrees and sides were severely lacking. The waitstaff was very attentive and helpful though!
The food:
Cheesy bread: the cheesy bread they started us off with was pretty good but could have been warmer, the dipping sauce was great though! They also gave us more bread which was nice and my tummy was happy (we went in SUPER hungry… this also contributed to some poor ordering choices… AKA ordering enough for four people).
Rainbow ceviche: a little acidic but overall very good. The fish was extremely fresh and the avocado added a nice creaminess.
Oysters Rodriguez: Normally I don’t love oysters but these were incredible. I wouldn’t come back for any of the entrees, but I might come back just for the oysters and a maybe a cocktail. If you come here, get these.
Lechon Asado (crispy roast pork): Oh man this was a big disappointment. There was SO much meat, and it was very oily and fatty and dry. Underneath the mounds of meat was rice and beans, which was also oily and kind of bland. I would have been much happier with a smaller portion of meat, a side of veggies, and a drier and better seasoned rice. This was just way too much.
Sea Scallops: The scallops were cooked nicely, but the hash in the middle was too heavy and too oily, and with only four scallops, it’s not worth the $ 30 they ask for.
Tostones: Nothing special and even somewhat lacking in flavor, but the sauce was good.
Spinach: a $ 6 side of spinach that should have come for free with the entrée, which was ALL meat and carbs. The spinach was fine, it was just sauteed lightly with garlic and salt and pepper. Super overpriced.
There were definitely a few good dishes in there, but given the price everything should have been a lot better. If you’re looking for a nice dinner or date spot, there are better options.

Came here for restaurant week.
Started with happy hour which is 5pm-​7pm. Had the smoked albacore tacos. They’re tapas-​style. Very tiny delectable bites. $ 5 mango mojito was bomb.
This place is huge. We were seated on the second floor. Very romantic atmosphere. Candlelit, ceiling fans spinning, super dim.
I went with the Ecuadorian ceviche, chicken imperial, and pineapple up-​side down cake. I was not a fan of corn nuts in ceviche. Everything else was delicious. Chicken was tender, and the rice was cheesy and tasty. The pineapple up-​side down cake is literally a lump of sugar. I’m pretty sure it could give you diabetes.
Service was amazing. Staff is so knowledgeable about the menu items, and take good care of you. They even clean off your table in-​between courses.

I’m not sure what I was expecting but this place just did not do it for me. It was late and I needed something that was open and walking distance from my hotel. This place popped up on my Unilocal app. My first impression, it was dark and quiet and a little empty (probably due to the late hour on a Tuesday).
The menu was way too modern for me as I was in the mood for traditional so I had a hard time ordering. I also was not too hungry so I stuck with safe: bacon wrapped dates and tostones. Bacon wrapped dates are good since most things with bacon are generally good. Tostenes were tostones. You generally can’t go wrong with that. These with 2 glasses of cava cost me $ 50.

Food, ambiance, and service were all terrific in my opinion. The prices are up there but they aren’t absolutely terrible. I ordered the skirt steak with white rice and black beans with a side order of sweet plantains. The food was absolutely delicious and the steak was cooked to order with a crunchy crisp to it. Not the traditional skirt steak but that is what made it amazing.
In addition, I tried the classic mojito and it was pretty good as well. If I am ever in Philly I would definitely come back. Keep in mind if you are driving it will be very difficult to park on street.