Havana Grill

We decided to go out to dinner. Yes, we came back and decided to eat at the bar FULL SERVICELove the atmosphere and luckily met the owner Sandra. What a joy what a hustle what a great sense of humor.A perfect eveningRemember Sandra has 2 location

First time here and been eager to try their empanadas. Sat at the bar with my friend. They had a huge rush of customers due to the random rain in San Diego. Lexie was the bartender and she was super nice and attentive. She got my drink order and then our food orders. She knew the menu very well and was very helpful despite being super busy as the only bartender for the entire restaurant. My friend ordered the citrus chicken plate and I ordered 2 empanadas and a potato appetizer which were all really good. Except I had to ask for chimichurri and ketchup from the waitress, which they never brought the second chimichurri, what else are you supposed to eat empanadas with?? Overall ambiance was nice but a bit loud with some drunk people next to us. Food was pretty good. The drinks were much better. I ordered a sunset vodka drink with guava and pomegranate boy was it strong and delicious!!!I'd go back on a weekend night for drinks for sure

I would love to give a 5 star review for the food, but due to the order of what came out when, I can not. So, I think you have to be in the know, if you eat here. I ordered our whole meal at the counter, which I wanted to get my drinks first, then all the food at the same time. That was not to happen. We ordered drinks, empanadas and side dishes. Almost immediately after we sat down, the empanadas arrived, which I asked them to take back, since I wanted a hot meal. Then the sides arrived and no where were our drinks. I covered the sides with a napkin and waited another good 10 minutes before our drinks arrived at the table. Then I had to get up to ask for our empanadas. I highly recommend ordering twice, drinks first and then the food later, so you can enjoy your drinks.The food was amazing, though a bit cool from having to wait. The drinks were very good as well. Now that I know how to order, I would come back and try other food options, since everything we tried, was delicious.

I always see Havana Grill when I'm around Mission & finally decided to try it. I ordered:VEGETARIAN PLATE + ADDED SHRIMP - Nothing spectacular about this meal, it's simple & convenient. I probably would've rated this a 3 if I was given 3 additional shrimps LOL. It was like $7 extra for 3 little shrimps.. the veggies itself were really greasy but the highlight was the black beans and I liked their brown rice, it was nice and fluffy. I probably wouldn't come back because there's not much seafood options but it was cool to try.

Discovered a new Cuban joint in my hood and opted for an early dinner.Ordered 3 empanadas as well as our entrees, and was a bit disappointed as everything came at once...Empenadas were tasty, each in their own way... plenty of filling and a flaky crust. Would have benefitted from dipping sauces.Ropa for my bride, and the pork for me... both were tasty, and large enough portion to take home another meal.Ambiance is industrial food hall, service was at the counter, and prices are in line with expectation.

Havana Grill is a fantastic dining experience that'll transport you straight to Puerto Rico! I had the lechon, which was tender, flavorful, and absolutely delicious, while my wife enjoyed the fish, which she couldn't stop raving about. The dessert was the perfect sweet ending to our meal--creamy, indulgent, and worth every calorie! The ambiance is charmingly authentic, making you feel like you're dining on the streets of San Juan. The staff was incredibly friendly, and the service was impressively fast.

Been to the Havana Grill in Clairemont but first time to this Mission Valley location. It has a different vibe and looks like an American diner. Nice but doesn't have the Cuban flavor in decor like the other restaurant. Three of us ordered the #RaboEncendido (braised oxtail) and we loved it. It was excellent and it will be on my dining rotation. I thought it was a bit pricey at first but it came with a good portion of oxtail accompanied with rice, black beans and a couple of plantains. I also tried the #PicadilloEmpanada and it had a good amount of seasoned ground beef. Very yummy and I liked that the empanada was meaty and not just a lot of dough. It was counter service (makes paying the bill easier when with a large group); but they do serve you water at your table, bring your order to you, and check on the table.

I came on a weekday during happy hour where empanadas are five dollars each and then there's a deal on the drinks. I liked the chicken empanada more than the beef. Both were great as appetizers. The drinks are also well-made. When I came to dinner, I wasn't too won over. I ordered the oxtail and I felt like the presentation looked awful.. it was greatly braised, but I felt like the flavor was lacking. My friend ordered the chicken. She liked it a lot and finished the whole dish. Lastly, we did a trio dessert with the. Flan , tres leches cake, and some type of pudding. I did not like the last dessert. The flan was the best! The restaurant with it was aesthetically pleasing super pretty . A great vibe for a date. Meal wise I don't think it was anything special.

I LOVE HAVANA GRILL. I have been three times so far, and each time has pretty much been with the same people (friends/coworkers) because the food is delicious, the service is great, and the decor is beautiful. It gives a very "outdoor patio" type of vibe because of the wooden shutters, vibrant colors, basket-type seats, patterned floor, tree dressed in string lights and not to mention the high ceiling that is glass (?) so the sunlight makes its presence. If you look at photos of this restaurant, I think my description is pretty spot on.Moving onto the food, which is the highlight of this restaurant. I don't think you can go wrong with anything you order here. There are items on the menu that I like less than others, but overall, there is something for everyone. The first time I dined in, I got the fricase de pollo. It was very flavorful, but I was not expecting a whole chicken leg on my plate. The dish was good, but not my favorite. The next time I went, I ordered the ropa vieja. I am a huge fan of braised-beef. It was shredded to perfection, and I did get a few pieces of fat, but overall I enjoyed this dish. Now, the last time I went, I got the vaca frita, and this dish was TOP TIER. My favorite dish thus far, and likely my regular order moving forward. The pieces of steak were juicy with a light crisp/crunch mixed in. I ate this dish in less than 20 minutes. I like to get the black beans and white rice. By the way, their beans are amazing. Why are they so tasty? Plantains are a must, but I wish they were a little crispier on the outside. I won't complain though because all of these sides on the plate are generous. The empanadas! Braised beef and picodillo are my favorites. The desserts! I think I have tried one of everything, if I am going to be honest. The chocolate tort is rich and decadent, so I would suggest sharing it. The guava cheesecake is slightly tart and light, but very refreshing. The tres leches is a classic, and the Cuban coffee flavor is a real treat. The flan is also a classic, but not to die for as some of the other pastries here are. I also thoroughly enjoy their espresso martinis and LOVE that it comes with a little chocolate with the initials "HG." The workers are always so kind and attentive. I haven't had a bad experience so far. If you cannot tell, I am a big fan. 5/5 all around.

I have been wanting to try this place. The food was OK at this eatery/restaurant. I had the citrus breast chicken. The flavor is not spectacular and the portion was a bit sad for $18. I am not sure what was going on with their plating but a little piece of carrots and a small chicken. (seems like a kid's meal) Service: People seemed to be friendly but were not well versed on their menu or substitutions. Ambiance: it has nice decor and a fairly clean place. They did have a nice looking dessert and coffee menu but didn't get to try it. I have been to a Cuban restaurants and this is probably not the one to come back to. 3 star for the decor/warm people/clean bathroom