Habana — Restaurant in Irvine

Habana: A Slice of Havana's Soul in Irvine's Fashion Island

Stepping into Habana at 708 Spectrum Center Dr, Suite 708, Irvine, CA 92618, is like a mini-vacation. Forget the pristine, sometimes sterile, atmosphere of Fashion Island for a moment. Habana injects a vibrant, almost chaotic, energy that's distinctly Cuban. It’s not just a restaurant; it’s an immersive experience.

The ambiance is a carefully curated blend of vintage charm and lively bustle. Think aged, sun-faded walls, eclectic artwork, and the constant hum of conversation, punctuated by the rhythmic pulse of Latin music. It’s a sensory feast, a deliberate departure from the typical upscale dining experience. Online reviews consistently praise this atmosphere, noting the "authentic feel" and the "transporting" quality of the space. This isn't a place for quiet, intimate dinners, but rather for celebratory gatherings and lively evenings.

Now, let's talk about the food. Habana's menu is a love letter to Cuban cuisine, offering both classic dishes and modern interpretations. I started with the “Croquetas de Jamón,” those crispy, creamy morsels of ham that are a Cuban staple. They were perfectly executed, each bite delivering a satisfying crunch followed by the rich, savory filling.

For my main course, I opted for the “Ropa Vieja.” This shredded beef dish, slow-cooked in a tomato-based sauce, is a testament to the power of simple ingredients. The beef was tender, the sauce flavorful and slightly sweet, and the accompanying rice and black beans were cooked to perfection. Many reviewers highlight the Ropa Vieja as a standout dish, praising its authenticity and robust flavor.

Of course, no Cuban meal is complete without a cocktail. Habana’s bar is a masterclass in mixology, offering a wide range of rum-based drinks. I chose a classic “Mojito,” and it was a refreshing, well-balanced concoction that perfectly complemented my meal. Online reviews frequently mention the excellent cocktails, particularly the Mojitos and Daiquiris.

The service, while sometimes a bit rushed during peak hours, is generally friendly and attentive. The staff is knowledgeable about the menu and happy to offer recommendations. Several online reviews mention positive experiences with the waitstaff, highlighting their enthusiasm and helpfulness.

While Habana’s prices are on the higher side, especially considering its location within Fashion Island, the quality of the food and the unique ambiance make it a worthwhile splurge. You're not just paying for a meal; you're paying for an experience, a taste of Havana in the heart of Orange County.

In a world where many restaurants strive for generic perfection, Habana dares to be different. It’s a place that celebrates the vibrant, sometimes chaotic, beauty of Cuban culture. It’s a place where you can escape the ordinary and immerse yourself in a world of flavor,...

EXQUISITE FLAVORS OF CUBA ! My wife and I are always on the lookout for new places that serve really good food with flavor. A few days after we moved to Irvine in late 2022 we came here for lunch......never tried Cuban food in our lives. SUPER DELICIOUS ! Since then we have been here a number of times.....all the food is well made and full of flavor. Not to mention the very attentive service and very relaxing surroundings. We arrived here for lunch around midday on Saturday and our friend Rey the GM gave us a hearty welcome at the host desk. Rey is really great....he treats every customer like his best friend. A complimentary glass of Rose for you guys....thanks Rey. A sweet hostess named Marie showed us to a comfy table booth on the sheltered patio. Soon after Deema our server came by to take our lunch order. HUGE MENU ! Even though they were serving brunch we could order anything on the lunch menu. We asked for glasses of water while we thought about our lunch choice. SOMETHING NEW ! We have our favs on the menu but it is always fun to try something new. AND WE DID ! When our server Deema returned we ordered 1 x BOCADITOS DE PICADILLO ( handmade pastries filled with beef picadillo, capers, olive, tomato, raisins, mango slaw, jalapeño cream ), 1 x PORK CROQUETAS ( slow roasted pork, Manchego cheese in a crispy croquette, pickled onion and fire-roasted tomato sauce ) and 1 x CROQUETAS DE JAMON Y QUESO ( traditional croquetas made with ham and Manchego cheese, Carribean aioli ) from the Appetizer Menu. At this point I went for a walk to the fancy restrooms....trust me they are fancy. I could see barely a vacant seat in the entire restaurant and it's a very big restaurant. Soon after I returned to our table our lunch order of 3 delicious looking Appetizers was delivered by a male food runner. It's always great to have small plate dishes because we get to have variety. OMG ! The cute little ham & manchego cheese croquetas tasted mouth watering, the pork croquetas with side of grilled bread tasted fabulous..the fire-roasted tomato sauce completes it. YES PLEASE ! The delicate hand made pastries filled with beef picadillo and so many tasty things was a real winner. DESSERT ! Lunch was so good and so filling we had no room in our tummies for dessert. BUT ! The house baked Chocolate Cake they serve here is about the best anywhere so we ordered the EL PASTELITO ( A decadent chocolate cake with golden candied cherries ) in a box to go. Ok so we missed out on the amazing delivery to the table presentation....a lit roman candle atop the beautiful looking cake on a cake stand. We had a great time.....fabulous lunch, wonderful service from our server Deema. And decadent Chocolate Cake for dessert...

Manuel C, that's the name of the waiter here at Habana Irvine. DO NOT COME HERE. Awful and disgusting service from Manuel. Came in on a Thursday night. Not busy at all. Three tables occupied in the bar area and 7 outside in the patio. Manuel was our server at first he was sweet but then once he heard we were only going to order appetizers he immediately turned his smile into a frown and I quote "so no one will be ordering an entree, oh WoW" I mean who says that. We immediately got this body language of just "hurry up and leave. It was a party of 6 woman, who three were visiting from out of town. Once I ordered a chile mango mojito (which is delicious) I asked if he ask the bartender to make me another one except make the drink in the mixer and just pour the liquid into the cup over ice no inclusion etc. well as soon as I said that OMG his face was as if he saw a ghost he immediately said "no, we can't" it's like are you a bartender do you have your license? Like go ask the bartender at least. He said if we do make it for you then you will only get a little bit we cannot make you a full drink because it's mandatory we add everything with the drink. I gasped. He then asked do you want it or not. That when one of my fiends responded with "sir you don't need to be rude she is paying for the drinks you are not just go asked" he then said "no it's ok how about I bring you wine, are we in a twilight zone. I said forget it. Next issue was the food. I did end up ordering the rum pepper shrimp however I asked him please have the kitchen remove the tail his response was " it has not tail " I said ok, but if it does please have them remove it, he just smiled. To everyone guest who ordered an appetizer as a meal he kept saying "are you sure it's very small it won't fill you" and it's like the guest were not that hungry we just wanted something light and drinks, and just socialize. Well we get our food and the shrimp has tail, I said "oh it has tail can you please have them remove it" his response "no it doesn't your just seeing things" I literally had the shrimp in a fork and showing it to him and he thought I was making it up? Haha this guy is a joke like completely out stupid and rude. We were not even done with our plates like some of us still working on it and he was already asking "are you done" like clearly if someone is stuffing their face and picking the food off the plate no we are not. Utterly disgusting service. DO NOT COME TO HABANA! Save yourself some money and go somewhere else or if you want authentic Cuban food drive to Downey because Habana Irvine is a joke, over priced and...