San Jose Restaurant Guide
Habana Cuba
(2 ratings)
(408) 998-2822
238 Race St., San Jose, CA 95126
Dining Specials
La Costa Del Sol
Latin
Burger King
American Restaurant in
San Jose
San Jose
Cuban
Latin
Brewery/Pub/Tavern
Casual/Family
Banquet/Party Room
Children's Menu
Kids Friendly
Live Entertainment
Outdoor Seating
Romantic
Take Out/Carry Out
Wheelchair Access
Wi-Fi/Internet Access
Dinner
Lunch
Cuban Food & Culture History
Restaurant Description
The hidden gem of San Jose, Habana Cuba Restaurant has become the place where locals and tourists return again and again for generous portions of fresh, authentic Cuban cuisine. Since the successful opening in early 1994, Habana Cuba Restaurant has enchanted thousands with unique blends of the Caribbean, and the ambience of old Habana. Though much has been altered, much abides! Restauranter Jennifer Cannella is proud of what she has brought to Habana Cuba. Since 2001, Jennifer has combined Guayaberas, South American wines, live Salsa rhythms and a Latin spirited staff which has created a feeding frenzy! Yes, where the San Jose Sharks go to feed! Teaming up with Chef Don Ciro Calvo, they have established one of the Top 50 Best Spanish Restaurants in the Country."Friendly and homey. Very reasonable prices for high-quality Cuban comfort food...." - San Jose Mercury News"You might not be able to visit Cuba legally, but Habana Cuba's the next best thing, cuisine-wise...." - San Jose Magazine"One of the top 50 Best Spanish Restaurants in the Country. You will dine to salsa rhythms, and ask to be seated in the outdoor patio with its South Beach feel...." - Hispanic Magazine"We are most fortunate to have the best right here and, since 1994 Habana Cuba Restaurant has enchanted thousands. Festive family-style that will make any occasion special...." - City Date Book
September 26, 2006 @ 6:05 PM
a diner from San Jose, Ca
A lot of us love this place. Many family members and friends pick this place for bday and celebrations. The good thing about it for parties is it is a long dinner. Do not go here if you want to eat and run or get to a movie on time. This place is about slow cooked, slow enjoyment foods. You will be here for a few hours if its a group.
The chicken soup rocks. I advise getting that instead of the salad that comes with the entrees. Yeah there is a boned piece of meat and a corn cob in it but its fabulous. We always get the tostones and the garlic with it keeps people away the next day but its worth it. We highly recommend the carne con papas, tortilla espanol, and any of the seafood dishes.
Only difficult thing about this place is it is pricey. And if you add buckets of beers and mojitos to the bill, oh my! But we always say it is well worth it.
The chicken soup rocks. I advise getting that instead of the salad that comes with the entrees. Yeah there is a boned piece of meat and a corn cob in it but its fabulous. We always get the tostones and the garlic with it keeps people away the next day but its worth it. We highly recommend the carne con papas, tortilla espanol, and any of the seafood dishes.
Only difficult thing about this place is it is pricey. And if you add buckets of beers and mojitos to the bill, oh my! But we always say it is well worth it.
September 22, 2002 @ 10:55 PM
a diner from san jose
The other night found Carlos, Ashley and me at Habana Cuba for a much anticipated Cuban dinner. We arrived around 8pm on a Saturday night with no reservation. We waited about 10 minutes for a table. The dining room is bright, a little on the noisy side with Cuban music playing in the background and prints of Cuba on the walls. Romantic dinner restaurant this is not.
Our server came and introduced herself. We ordered a pitcher of their homemade Sangria and an appetizer of croquets. No menu description, just croquets. We'll take a chance.
While we were waiting for our drinks and appetizer we were brought a basket of dinner rolls. No water, just rolls. Our drinks arrived, glasses of Sangria all around. It's a beautiful deep burgandy with bits of fruit floating in it. Ashley takes a sip, makes a face. I take a sip, uh-oh. It tastes like cheap wine with grape juice added. Just then our croquets arrive and our server takes our order.
All entres are served with your choice of fried plantains, yucca (steamed or fried) or black beans, soup or salad. Carlos orders Zarzuela de Mariscos. Mixed seafood in a light tomato sauce served with boiled white rice and plantains, Ashley decided on the evening's special: Camarones al Ajilo, prawns sauted in a garlic sauce and olive oil with boiled white rice and fried yucca (cactus root). I ordered the Arroz con Calamares (rice and squid) "cooked in it's own juice with onion, green olive and green bell pepper" the menu stated. I also ordered fried yucca.
We all dig into the croquets. They are deep fried and served with lime wedges and salsa. I squeeze a little lime on mine, take a bite, pasty and bland. Maybe a little salsa will help I think to myself. Nope, the salsa tastes like it's from a jar. We are not off to a good start.
Forty minutes later we are still waiting for our salads. Meanwhile two tables seated after us have been served. Ashley catches the server's eye. "Um.." She gestures at our still empty table. "Your dinners will still be a few more minutes" says our server. "No, no" Ashley says "our salads..."
Our entrees finally arrive. My calamari looks and smells delicious. The calamari is quite good with a meaty texture, not rubbery at all. Unfortunately the whole dish tastes like a green olive and not a green bell pepper to be found. For some reason there are green peas scattered throughout the dish. Still, I enjoyed it. I happen to like green olives. I was also served steamed yucca instead of the fried I had ordered. These were served with a heaping mound of chopped garlic. Oh well. I never minded a food adventure. Steamed yucca is similar to a boiled potato, bland and sticky.
Carlos' Zarzuela came with huge crab claws, a generous portion of sea bass, prawns, lobster and a single clam that didn't open during cooking. (This should have been discarded and replaced in the kitchen.) He said it was good but really wished he could have tasted the clam.
Ashley enjoyed the garlic sauce but said her prawns were rubbery, cooked too long. "The boiled rice is perfect though, just like we do it in the South" she said. She also enjoyed the fried plantains. I reached over and tried one of her fried yucca. They are good, just like french fries.
Ashley and I are dying to know what's in the Sangria. Ashley firmly believes it's wine from a box. Carlos had a different theory: You know all those bottles they have to open to serve just one glass? Okay, so we asked one of the bussers. Wine, orange juice, lemonade, sprite and canned fruit. Canned fruit? We decided to skip dessert.
Our server came and introduced herself. We ordered a pitcher of their homemade Sangria and an appetizer of croquets. No menu description, just croquets. We'll take a chance.
While we were waiting for our drinks and appetizer we were brought a basket of dinner rolls. No water, just rolls. Our drinks arrived, glasses of Sangria all around. It's a beautiful deep burgandy with bits of fruit floating in it. Ashley takes a sip, makes a face. I take a sip, uh-oh. It tastes like cheap wine with grape juice added. Just then our croquets arrive and our server takes our order.
All entres are served with your choice of fried plantains, yucca (steamed or fried) or black beans, soup or salad. Carlos orders Zarzuela de Mariscos. Mixed seafood in a light tomato sauce served with boiled white rice and plantains, Ashley decided on the evening's special: Camarones al Ajilo, prawns sauted in a garlic sauce and olive oil with boiled white rice and fried yucca (cactus root). I ordered the Arroz con Calamares (rice and squid) "cooked in it's own juice with onion, green olive and green bell pepper" the menu stated. I also ordered fried yucca.
We all dig into the croquets. They are deep fried and served with lime wedges and salsa. I squeeze a little lime on mine, take a bite, pasty and bland. Maybe a little salsa will help I think to myself. Nope, the salsa tastes like it's from a jar. We are not off to a good start.
Forty minutes later we are still waiting for our salads. Meanwhile two tables seated after us have been served. Ashley catches the server's eye. "Um.." She gestures at our still empty table. "Your dinners will still be a few more minutes" says our server. "No, no" Ashley says "our salads..."
Our entrees finally arrive. My calamari looks and smells delicious. The calamari is quite good with a meaty texture, not rubbery at all. Unfortunately the whole dish tastes like a green olive and not a green bell pepper to be found. For some reason there are green peas scattered throughout the dish. Still, I enjoyed it. I happen to like green olives. I was also served steamed yucca instead of the fried I had ordered. These were served with a heaping mound of chopped garlic. Oh well. I never minded a food adventure. Steamed yucca is similar to a boiled potato, bland and sticky.
Carlos' Zarzuela came with huge crab claws, a generous portion of sea bass, prawns, lobster and a single clam that didn't open during cooking. (This should have been discarded and replaced in the kitchen.) He said it was good but really wished he could have tasted the clam.
Ashley enjoyed the garlic sauce but said her prawns were rubbery, cooked too long. "The boiled rice is perfect though, just like we do it in the South" she said. She also enjoyed the fried plantains. I reached over and tried one of her fried yucca. They are good, just like french fries.
Ashley and I are dying to know what's in the Sangria. Ashley firmly believes it's wine from a box. Carlos had a different theory: You know all those bottles they have to open to serve just one glass? Okay, so we asked one of the bussers. Wine, orange juice, lemonade, sprite and canned fruit. Canned fruit? We decided to skip dessert.
50% Off Dining Certificates at these locations...
Avg Rating:
Number of Reviews: 2
September 26, 2006 @ 6:05 PM
a diner from San Jose, Ca
A lot of us love this place. Many family members and friends pick this place for bday and celebrations. The good thing about it for parties is it is a long dinner. Do not go here if you want to eat and run or get to a movie on time. This place is about slow cooked, slow enjoyment foods. You will be here for a few hours if its a group.
The chicken soup rocks. I advise getting that instead of the salad that comes with the entrees. Yeah there is a boned piece of meat and a corn cob in it but its fabulous. We always get the tostones and the garlic with it keeps people away the next day but its worth it. We highly recommend the carne con papas, tortilla espanol, and any of the seafood dishes.
Only difficult thing about this place is it is pricey. And if you add buckets of beers and mojitos to the bill, oh my! But we always say it is well worth it.
The chicken soup rocks. I advise getting that instead of the salad that comes with the entrees. Yeah there is a boned piece of meat and a corn cob in it but its fabulous. We always get the tostones and the garlic with it keeps people away the next day but its worth it. We highly recommend the carne con papas, tortilla espanol, and any of the seafood dishes.
Only difficult thing about this place is it is pricey. And if you add buckets of beers and mojitos to the bill, oh my! But we always say it is well worth it.
September 22, 2002 @ 10:55 PM
a diner from san jose
The other night found Carlos, Ashley and me at Habana Cuba for a much anticipated Cuban dinner. We arrived around 8pm on a Saturday night with no reservation. We waited about 10 minutes for a table. The dining room is bright, a little on the noisy side with Cuban music playing in the background and prints of Cuba on the walls. Romantic dinner restaurant this is not.
Our server came and introduced herself. We ordered a pitcher of their homemade Sangria and an appetizer of croquets. No menu description, just croquets. We'll take a chance.
While we were waiting for our drinks and appetizer we were brought a basket of dinner rolls. No water, just rolls. Our drinks arrived, glasses of Sangria all around. It's a beautiful deep burgandy with bits of fruit floating in it. Ashley takes a sip, makes a face. I take a sip, uh-oh. It tastes like cheap wine with grape juice added. Just then our croquets arrive and our server takes our order.
All entres are served with your choice of fried plantains, yucca (steamed or fried) or black beans, soup or salad. Carlos orders Zarzuela de Mariscos. Mixed seafood in a light tomato sauce served with boiled white rice and plantains, Ashley decided on the evening's special: Camarones al Ajilo, prawns sauted in a garlic sauce and olive oil with boiled white rice and fried yucca (cactus root). I ordered the Arroz con Calamares (rice and squid) "cooked in it's own juice with onion, green olive and green bell pepper" the menu stated. I also ordered fried yucca.
We all dig into the croquets. They are deep fried and served with lime wedges and salsa. I squeeze a little lime on mine, take a bite, pasty and bland. Maybe a little salsa will help I think to myself. Nope, the salsa tastes like it's from a jar. We are not off to a good start.
Forty minutes later we are still waiting for our salads. Meanwhile two tables seated after us have been served. Ashley catches the server's eye. "Um.." She gestures at our still empty table. "Your dinners will still be a few more minutes" says our server. "No, no" Ashley says "our salads..."
Our entrees finally arrive. My calamari looks and smells delicious. The calamari is quite good with a meaty texture, not rubbery at all. Unfortunately the whole dish tastes like a green olive and not a green bell pepper to be found. For some reason there are green peas scattered throughout the dish. Still, I enjoyed it. I happen to like green olives. I was also served steamed yucca instead of the fried I had ordered. These were served with a heaping mound of chopped garlic. Oh well. I never minded a food adventure. Steamed yucca is similar to a boiled potato, bland and sticky.
Carlos' Zarzuela came with huge crab claws, a generous portion of sea bass, prawns, lobster and a single clam that didn't open during cooking. (This should have been discarded and replaced in the kitchen.) He said it was good but really wished he could have tasted the clam.
Ashley enjoyed the garlic sauce but said her prawns were rubbery, cooked too long. "The boiled rice is perfect though, just like we do it in the South" she said. She also enjoyed the fried plantains. I reached over and tried one of her fried yucca. They are good, just like french fries.
Ashley and I are dying to know what's in the Sangria. Ashley firmly believes it's wine from a box. Carlos had a different theory: You know all those bottles they have to open to serve just one glass? Okay, so we asked one of the bussers. Wine, orange juice, lemonade, sprite and canned fruit. Canned fruit? We decided to skip dessert.
Our server came and introduced herself. We ordered a pitcher of their homemade Sangria and an appetizer of croquets. No menu description, just croquets. We'll take a chance.
While we were waiting for our drinks and appetizer we were brought a basket of dinner rolls. No water, just rolls. Our drinks arrived, glasses of Sangria all around. It's a beautiful deep burgandy with bits of fruit floating in it. Ashley takes a sip, makes a face. I take a sip, uh-oh. It tastes like cheap wine with grape juice added. Just then our croquets arrive and our server takes our order.
All entres are served with your choice of fried plantains, yucca (steamed or fried) or black beans, soup or salad. Carlos orders Zarzuela de Mariscos. Mixed seafood in a light tomato sauce served with boiled white rice and plantains, Ashley decided on the evening's special: Camarones al Ajilo, prawns sauted in a garlic sauce and olive oil with boiled white rice and fried yucca (cactus root). I ordered the Arroz con Calamares (rice and squid) "cooked in it's own juice with onion, green olive and green bell pepper" the menu stated. I also ordered fried yucca.
We all dig into the croquets. They are deep fried and served with lime wedges and salsa. I squeeze a little lime on mine, take a bite, pasty and bland. Maybe a little salsa will help I think to myself. Nope, the salsa tastes like it's from a jar. We are not off to a good start.
Forty minutes later we are still waiting for our salads. Meanwhile two tables seated after us have been served. Ashley catches the server's eye. "Um.." She gestures at our still empty table. "Your dinners will still be a few more minutes" says our server. "No, no" Ashley says "our salads..."
Our entrees finally arrive. My calamari looks and smells delicious. The calamari is quite good with a meaty texture, not rubbery at all. Unfortunately the whole dish tastes like a green olive and not a green bell pepper to be found. For some reason there are green peas scattered throughout the dish. Still, I enjoyed it. I happen to like green olives. I was also served steamed yucca instead of the fried I had ordered. These were served with a heaping mound of chopped garlic. Oh well. I never minded a food adventure. Steamed yucca is similar to a boiled potato, bland and sticky.
Carlos' Zarzuela came with huge crab claws, a generous portion of sea bass, prawns, lobster and a single clam that didn't open during cooking. (This should have been discarded and replaced in the kitchen.) He said it was good but really wished he could have tasted the clam.
Ashley enjoyed the garlic sauce but said her prawns were rubbery, cooked too long. "The boiled rice is perfect though, just like we do it in the South" she said. She also enjoyed the fried plantains. I reached over and tried one of her fried yucca. They are good, just like french fries.
Ashley and I are dying to know what's in the Sangria. Ashley firmly believes it's wine from a box. Carlos had a different theory: You know all those bottles they have to open to serve just one glass? Okay, so we asked one of the bussers. Wine, orange juice, lemonade, sprite and canned fruit. Canned fruit? We decided to skip dessert.
Habana Cuba Map
Recent Habana Cuba Reviews
September 26, 2006 @ 6:05 PM
a diner from San Jose, Ca
A lot of us love this place. Many family members and friends pick this place for bday and celebrations. The good thing about it for parties is it is a long dinner. Do not go here if you want to eat and run or get to a movie on time. This place is about slow cooked, slow enjoyment foods. You will be here for a few hours if its a group.
The chicken soup rocks. I advise getting that instead of the salad that comes with the entrees. Yeah there is a boned piece of meat and a corn cob in it but its fabulous. We always get the tostones and the garlic with it keeps people away the next day but its worth it. We highly recommend the carne con papas, tortilla espanol, and any of the seafood dishes.
Only difficult thing about this place is it is pricey. And if you add buckets of beers and mojitos to the bill, oh my! But we always say it is well worth it.
The chicken soup rocks. I advise getting that instead of the salad that comes with the entrees. Yeah there is a boned piece of meat and a corn cob in it but its fabulous. We always get the tostones and the garlic with it keeps people away the next day but its worth it. We highly recommend the carne con papas, tortilla espanol, and any of the seafood dishes.
Only difficult thing about this place is it is pricey. And if you add buckets of beers and mojitos to the bill, oh my! But we always say it is well worth it.
September 22, 2002 @ 10:55 PM
a diner from san jose
The other night found Carlos, Ashley and me at Habana Cuba for a much anticipated Cuban dinner. We arrived around 8pm on a Saturday night with no reservation. We waited about 10 minutes for a table. The dining room is bright, a little on the noisy side with Cuban music playing in the background and prints of Cuba on the walls. Romantic dinner restaurant this is not.
Our server came and introduced herself. We ordered a pitcher of their homemade Sangria and an appetizer of croquets. No menu description, just croquets. We'll take a chance.
While we were waiting for our drinks and appetizer we were brought a basket of dinner rolls. No water, just rolls. Our drinks arrived, glasses of Sangria all around. It's a beautiful deep burgandy with bits of fruit floating in it. Ashley takes a sip, makes a face. I take a sip, uh-oh. It tastes like cheap wine with grape juice added. Just then our croquets arrive and our server takes our order.
All entres are served with your choice of fried plantains, yucca (steamed or fried) or black beans, soup or salad. Carlos orders Zarzuela de Mariscos. Mixed seafood in a light tomato sauce served with boiled white rice and plantains, Ashley decided on the evening's special: Camarones al Ajilo, prawns sauted in a garlic sauce and olive oil with boiled white rice and fried yucca (cactus root). I ordered the Arroz con Calamares (rice and squid) "cooked in it's own juice with onion, green olive and green bell pepper" the menu stated. I also ordered fried yucca.
We all dig into the croquets. They are deep fried and served with lime wedges and salsa. I squeeze a little lime on mine, take a bite, pasty and bland. Maybe a little salsa will help I think to myself. Nope, the salsa tastes like it's from a jar. We are not off to a good start.
Forty minutes later we are still waiting for our salads. Meanwhile two tables seated after us have been served. Ashley catches the server's eye. "Um.." She gestures at our still empty table. "Your dinners will still be a few more minutes" says our server. "No, no" Ashley says "our salads..."
Our entrees finally arrive. My calamari looks and smells delicious. The calamari is quite good with a meaty texture, not rubbery at all. Unfortunately the whole dish tastes like a green olive and not a green bell pepper to be found. For some reason there are green peas scattered throughout the dish. Still, I enjoyed it. I happen to like green olives. I was also served steamed yucca instead of the fried I had ordered. These were served with a heaping mound of chopped garlic. Oh well. I never minded a food adventure. Steamed yucca is similar to a boiled potato, bland and sticky.
Carlos' Zarzuela came with huge crab claws, a generous portion of sea bass, prawns, lobster and a single clam that didn't open during cooking. (This should have been discarded and replaced in the kitchen.) He said it was good but really wished he could have tasted the clam.
Ashley enjoyed the garlic sauce but said her prawns were rubbery, cooked too long. "The boiled rice is perfect though, just like we do it in the South" she said. She also enjoyed the fried plantains. I reached over and tried one of her fried yucca. They are good, just like french fries.
Ashley and I are dying to know what's in the Sangria. Ashley firmly believes it's wine from a box. Carlos had a different theory: You know all those bottles they have to open to serve just one glass? Okay, so we asked one of the bussers. Wine, orange juice, lemonade, sprite and canned fruit. Canned fruit? We decided to skip dessert.
Our server came and introduced herself. We ordered a pitcher of their homemade Sangria and an appetizer of croquets. No menu description, just croquets. We'll take a chance.
While we were waiting for our drinks and appetizer we were brought a basket of dinner rolls. No water, just rolls. Our drinks arrived, glasses of Sangria all around. It's a beautiful deep burgandy with bits of fruit floating in it. Ashley takes a sip, makes a face. I take a sip, uh-oh. It tastes like cheap wine with grape juice added. Just then our croquets arrive and our server takes our order.
All entres are served with your choice of fried plantains, yucca (steamed or fried) or black beans, soup or salad. Carlos orders Zarzuela de Mariscos. Mixed seafood in a light tomato sauce served with boiled white rice and plantains, Ashley decided on the evening's special: Camarones al Ajilo, prawns sauted in a garlic sauce and olive oil with boiled white rice and fried yucca (cactus root). I ordered the Arroz con Calamares (rice and squid) "cooked in it's own juice with onion, green olive and green bell pepper" the menu stated. I also ordered fried yucca.
We all dig into the croquets. They are deep fried and served with lime wedges and salsa. I squeeze a little lime on mine, take a bite, pasty and bland. Maybe a little salsa will help I think to myself. Nope, the salsa tastes like it's from a jar. We are not off to a good start.
Forty minutes later we are still waiting for our salads. Meanwhile two tables seated after us have been served. Ashley catches the server's eye. "Um.." She gestures at our still empty table. "Your dinners will still be a few more minutes" says our server. "No, no" Ashley says "our salads..."
Our entrees finally arrive. My calamari looks and smells delicious. The calamari is quite good with a meaty texture, not rubbery at all. Unfortunately the whole dish tastes like a green olive and not a green bell pepper to be found. For some reason there are green peas scattered throughout the dish. Still, I enjoyed it. I happen to like green olives. I was also served steamed yucca instead of the fried I had ordered. These were served with a heaping mound of chopped garlic. Oh well. I never minded a food adventure. Steamed yucca is similar to a boiled potato, bland and sticky.
Carlos' Zarzuela came with huge crab claws, a generous portion of sea bass, prawns, lobster and a single clam that didn't open during cooking. (This should have been discarded and replaced in the kitchen.) He said it was good but really wished he could have tasted the clam.
Ashley enjoyed the garlic sauce but said her prawns were rubbery, cooked too long. "The boiled rice is perfect though, just like we do it in the South" she said. She also enjoyed the fried plantains. I reached over and tried one of her fried yucca. They are good, just like french fries.
Ashley and I are dying to know what's in the Sangria. Ashley firmly believes it's wine from a box. Carlos had a different theory: You know all those bottles they have to open to serve just one glass? Okay, so we asked one of the bussers. Wine, orange juice, lemonade, sprite and canned fruit. Canned fruit? We decided to skip dessert.
