Highly Recommended 🇨🇺 Japanese Restaurant in Cuba

After days of feasting on stews, fried plantains, and black bean rice in Havana, my stomach ached for a taste of Asia—until I stumbled upon Restaurante Gourmet "La Bella Cubana" on the first floor of the Miramar Hotel on 70th Street. It was so good that I immediately wanted to return! 😍 🍱 Dish Reviews: A Taste of Familiar Warmth Omurice: The absolute standout! The golden egg wrapper is as smooth as silk; when gently sliced open, the rice inside—mixed with ham cubes and green peas—carries a subtle soy sauce aroma, each grain distinct and non-sticky. The perfect blend of egg and rice instantly revived my Asian taste buds 🍚, which had been "overwhelmed" by heavy Latin flavors, making me feel like I was in a local Japanese restaurant back home. Teriyaki Beef: The sauce glistened enticingly as it arrived! Thick-cut beef tender enough to tear with chopsticks 🥢, coated in a rich, slightly sweet teriyaki glaze with a hint of char. Each bite felt like a "sauce explosion," pairing perfectly with rice to make me eat an extra Sushi Platter: I didn’t have high hopes (after all, eating Japanese food in Cuba feels a bit "risky"), but it was surprisingly good! The salmon and tuna were fresh with no fishy taste 🐟, and the vinegared rice had just the right acidity. While the sashimi wasn’t as thick as in high-end Japanese restaurants, enjoying such sushi by the Caribbean was more than enough to delight. 🌟 Dining Experience: Popularity with a Small Catch Packed House: When we arrived at 7 PM, the restaurant was nearly full—locals chatting over drinks 🍹, foreign tourists diving into their meals—bustling like Havana’s "Asian food hub." We waited 10 minutes for a table, a testament to its popularity. Minor Flaw: The thick menu boasts a wide range (from sashimi to ramen), but we learned many dishes were sold out that day (likely due to unstable ingredient imports). It’s best to ask the server for "today’s available specialties" before ordering to avoid disappointment 😟. In a country where cuisine leans toward hearty stews and fried treats, savoring such satisfying Japanese food in Havana felt like a little blessing during the trip. I made a point to return before leaving Havana—truly, nothing comforts like the taste of familiarity. ❤️ #CubanFood #HavanaFood #HavanaRestaurants #JapaneseCuisine #HavanaEats #CubaTravel #AsianFoodCraving