Havana Carolina Cafe — Restaurant in Kannapolis

Where to begin?? First, let me provide some context... we are originally from South Florida and have lived on the west coast, Atlanta and are now currently residing in Connecticut - no (good or legit) Cuban food thus far. There is nothing like Cuban food in Miami. We're in North Carolina on vacation and out of curiosity I yelped Cuban Food. And lo and behold, Havana Carolina popped up. Not only did it pop up, but it had rave reviews! So obviously, I had to give it a try. Oh, sweet baby Jesus... Havana Carolina's did NOT disappoint!!!

Cafe con leche: gave me liiiife!!! This is liquid crack! There is no Starbucks or gourmet coffee shop that could ever come close. Believe me, I've tried.

Sandwiches: we tried the Cubano, lechon, and croqueta sandwiches. Each and every one a masterpiece! The table was silent!!!

Picadillo plate: ground beef, rice, black beans and sweet plantains...mic drop

Pastries: we tried the beef and chicken empanadas, guava and cheese pastries - mouth wateringly deliciousness!

If you have never had Cuban food and are considering trying it, or even if you have, Havana Carolina is a MUST try... this...

There are many Cuban restaurants that claim to be authentic that definitely don't meet up to those standards (I grew up in a Cuban household so I'm extremely particular when it comes to Cuban food). Havana Carolina is not one of those, in fact this is probably the most authentic you can get anywhere in the US outside of Miami or the Island nation of Cuba itself. The Cuban bread is baked to perfection. The pastries (pastelitos de guava are my personal favorite) are just like my Abuela used to make. The coffee is on point, and I highly recommend ordering the Maduros (fried sweet plantains). I only stopped in for breakfast, but I'm making it a point to stop by everytime I drive through the area. I found this place by accident, but from my experience that's how you find these places, and they most certainly didn't disappoint. Muchísimas gracias Lisandro, y a todos en la cocina! Definitely...

I recently started a new job here in Concord, NC. While waiting on housing, I’ve been forced to eat out for every meal. So I tried to diversify my options by trying out Havana Carolina. The only other time I had Cuban food was in Miami and it was great. With this said, I ordered grilled chicken breast sautéed in onions with a Congri (black rice and beans) and fried plantain patties. Initially, I thought the food would be mediocre because I chose the takeout option. But once I was able to get back to my hotel and open the box, everything was well prepared and organized. There was even a garlic oil-based sauce to garnish the food. The meal preparation was delicious and even better than my first Cuban eatery experience-...