La Havana Cafe

I’m shocked by some of the 5 star reviews. I really want to love this place because its so well decorated and the full bar/​tvs are nice, but I can’t. I went for dinner with a friend. We ordered some empanadas as an appetizer, I got the ropa vieja dinner and my friend the steak sandwich. The appetizer came out the same time our meals did. Their chimicurri sauce is really goo and the chicken empanada was very well flavored, neither one of us were fans of the beef empanada. My ropa vieja was alright, but didn’t have a lot of flavor. The beans are very good though. My friend’s steak sandwich was mostly fatty meat (chewy and hard to bite through). We sat for a couple drinks, which were all good. The service was fairly slow, the waitress barely came back to check on us, to ask us if we needed another drink, or our check for that matter. I’d rather go to Rinconcito for my Cuban food needs.

Every time we come here I try and get something new. Everything I’ve had has been amazing! The empanadas are my favorite. The entrees are well plated and even though the portions look small it’s super filling and flavorful. The only reason I didn’t give this place 5 stars is becuase sometimes the serves can get a little distracted or understaffed and what was meant to be a quick dinner turned longer because they were inattentive. But, when they do come to your table the servers and bartenders are friendly and always have good suggestions. I hope this place sticks around!

Just arrived here from Cali. first night dinning here. The surrounding was a little sketch but the place was amazing. Everyone was very friendly. The Cuban good were very very good. I couldn’t wait to come back again

Have been here 4 times now and loved everything we’ve tried. The people are friendly and it’s very good value for what you get. We love the cuatros leches cake with a cortadito

I came in on a beautiful Sunday early afternoon and I must say my waitress was very pleasant. Super kind, giving recommendations and consistently smiling. However, there is much better Cuban food around.
The pork in my midnight sandwich was just… dry. This sandwich does contain other meats so it might have been difficult to get it just right?
I also ordered a lime chicken entrée to go (thanks to the coupon I got on Unilocal) and again my rice, black beans and chicken were not super tasty. My chicken was dry!
As a customer it’s great to be well received, but I can also get excellent service at Nellie’s across the street while enjoying a finger-​licking meal.

Amazing! We had the tostones, letchon, and a Cuban. The owner is super nice and our server Jose was the best! Great food, great service. Will def return with family and friends! Delicious!

Got a Groupon for this restaurant as it is in the neighborhood and I love Cuban food. Not to be disappointed! The food was delicious — I ordered the Ropa Vieja and my husband the Fish a la Guira. Both were very tasty. I especially loved the fried sweet plantains (my favorite) and the congri rice was the best I have had. Will be coming back for more soon!

Absolutely delicious!!! Every thing had amazing flavor! I would really recommend the Cuban sampler… I know everything was cooked fresh and that’s always the best way to go! Pineapple mojito was delicious and strong.
I would recommend this place to anyone who wants great food, and good feels!

Excellent food and service! This place is great! We came here on a groupon deal but will definitely be back without it. I really enjoyed the black beans and rice and the lechon. My partner really enjoyed her lime chicken. That plus a tall boy pbr would only have cost $ 25. The beans were delicious. Quantity is generous, I only ate half. We couldn’t stop raving about the sautéed onions in our food. Their prices are very attractive, with high quality food and drink for much less than you’ll find elsewhere. Think $ 5, instead of $ 8 for a drink and $ 11 for a $ 16 entrée. Great value here and they have a lot of specials too. The atmosphere is casual but well cared for (nice décor throughout, Hightop tables and regular ones too) and the service is cordial and welcoming, excellent! Our servers were so exceptionally friendly and attentive, they definitely get 5 stars. We will be back soon for another wonderful meal!

All I had was the sample platter while on a date. It was delicious, everything on the platter was flavorful, loved the cuban tamal. Now all I need is to try their sandwiches and jibarito, if it’s good I’ll change my review to 5 stars! Can’t wait, damn low carb diet urghhhhhh!

This place is a block away from me but it is worth going out of your way for. Thr empanadas are the best I’ve had anywhere. Flakey crust, flavorful filling and yummy chimichurri. Jibarito equally as good. Plantain chips crispy with an awesome garlic sauce. Specials everyday. I haven’t had anything here that i didn’t say, yum this is so good to.

Really delicious food with amazing prices (especially compared to the prices at 90 Miles my other favorite Cuban joint). Havana has great daily specials on food and drink, so it’s fun to come in on different days and try something new. The ropa vieja is great, so are the wings (surprisingly so). Cuban Sampler platter is a great platter of fried food to share. And the jibarito’s are some of the best around (even giving Papa’s next door a run for their money). Good service to top it off. Exactly the kind of spot you want to live close to.

Amazingly delicious food and incredibly reasonable prices! We had the Miami Calle 8 Lechon and the Masas De Puerco, each better than the other. Both were served with beans and rice and plantains. The flavor of the marinated Lechon was so good and the leftovers made great tacos the following day.
Cute, casual place and some of the best Cuban food I’ve had in Chicago.

All you really need to know is the Miami Calle 8 Lechon. As I understand it’s a street and area of Miami that is Little Havana but in reality here it’s essentially a jibarito. It was ridicirlously good. Order it, thank me later, etc.
Ropa Vieja was too salty but otherwise ok… it was actually better as a reworked leftover dish the following night. Rice and Black beans, plus plantain, great.
Finally, one of the better and more comical bathrooms in Chicago, well done!
Glad to have this place on that stretch of Division betwix the PR flags.

DELICIOUS! If you’re thinking of trying La Havana, you must go, like, now. I went with a group of four and we tried a bunch of stuff and everything was delicious!
For drinks, we had the classic mojito which was excellent! The mint was so fresh and the drink was crisp and very refreshing (which may be how we managed to down 6 of them between the four of us…)
The appetizers: we tried the fries, tostones, plantain chips, and nachos. I have to say, they gave us plantain chips to start (on the house), which was a great way to start the meal!!! These were light, crispy, delicious and slightly sweet. The fries and tostones came next. Both were very good, but just slightly overdone for my taste. Regardless, they were both very good! I will say, the order of tostones only came with 3, so if you’re in a bigger group I might order two orders of tostones so everyone gets to try one! Lastly, the nachos came. The nachos here are not your typical nachos, they’re fried plantain chips coated with queso, ground beef, jalapenos, guac, sour cream, etc. I didn’t try these as I stay away from ground beef, but my friends managed to polish off the entire (huge) plate, so I can only imagine they were good!
For entrees, I tried the classic cuban sandwich and filletelo a la rola… or something like that. It’s the Sunday special for $ 10. The Cuban was good, but not the most amazing one I’ve had. They went a little skimpy on the pork and ham in my opinion. The bread they use is very good though. The special entrée I got consisted of skirt steak with bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms cooked in a special sauce and served with congri (Cuban rice which is white rice mixed with black beans). This was delicious!!! So good! Definitely the highlight of the meal for me (although I enjoyed everything). Absolutely excellent and I highly recommend you check out this Sunday special, I will definitely be back for it! I will say, on a more critical note, everyone at the tables rice and beans were quite cold by the time we got our food, which wasn’t a deal breaker but is definitely something La Havana should look to improve on.
Based on the food alone, I would probably give La Havana 4 stars, but our excellent server pushed things over the edge! He was super friendly, attentive, and helpful. He truly helped make it an awesome dining experience for us.
Thanks La Havana for a lovely double date spot, we’ll be back soon!

Was hungry and in the area. After searching Unilocal for something to satisfy my hunger we found La Havana café. This place was well worth the stop. I had the chicken salad and my hubby had an awesome steak sandwich.
The service was great and the ambiance/​décor was pretty nice. We will def go back to try some of their other menu items.
Side note:
they have a pretty nice bar with multiple TVs to watch sports if your into that kinda thing ;)

Ok folks, let me just talk to you for a minute. If you like grease, this is your spot. Everything is basically fried. Currently, the bartender who has been here for two weeks is at odds the manager. Not a good thing when you sit at the bar and hear all the troubles of the business. But guess what, that ain’t none of my business! Owner is trying his hand and is a good guy. Cut him some slack… You may love the place… Movin on…

Great place, amazing food at great prices.
Friendly waiters Jenna was awesome
Owner in the house thanking people and talking to guests.
Great environment
Great empenadas with chimichirri
Superb masitas de cerdo with rice and beans.
Big portions
Fast service
Will come here on a weekly basis.
Recommended fully by this fat guy.

So happy this is next door to my building. I have been here a few times and I have enjoyed myself every time. I have tried the steak sandwich, the Chicken sandwich, and their Hot Wings. Everything I have eaten has been pretty good. I did have a small complaint about the steak being a little over cooked, but they corrected and I was content with that. BTW… Wednesday it’s $ 0.25 wings. Can’t beat that with a stick.
Their drinks are good size and prices perfect!!! It’s a lovely option over Mas o Menos next door for a drink when I’m at home. I was excited when La Havana Café came in because I WON’T go in Mas O Menos at all. So Thanks guys!!! The staff is always friendly, sometimes they play music, and they have large TVs if you like watching the games.

If you can make it down to Señor Pan, on North Ave., please do so.
The Havana café is very nicely decorated, but the food was mediocre at best.
Our appetizer arrived with our entrée and that alone was a bad sign. I ordered the special of the day which was fried pork chunks with black beans and white rice…
The rice/​beans were good, but the pork lacked flavor (except for the heavy garlic flavor) and my friend had a breaded steak sandwich and the bread was so hard she almost broke her tooth! Steer clear of the lemonade as well cause it is SUPER potent and not in a good way.
I really hope they find their way because it would be great to have this new addition in the neighborhood.