Habana Express Cuban Restaurant & Bakery — Restaurant in Pleasant Hill

FINALLY! Delicious, traditional Cuban food in the East Bay.  Habana Express in Pleasant Hill has been open a few weeks and we had dinner there last night.  It's not a fancy dining place, but the excellent food more than makes up for it.  I am half-Cuban and this food ranks up there with some of the best that I have eaten in Miami and Los Angeles.  The generous portion of ropa vieja was savory, flavorful, moist and very tender.  The black beans and yellow rice that came with it were quite filling.  (I had an aunt who claimed she could tell the quality of a Cuban restaurant after one taste of their black beans.)  And the Cuban sandwich: A thick slice of the lechon roast pork, tasty ham, cheese, pickles, mustard, all on a toasted, crispy sandwich roll.  Again, one of the best I have had in a long while.  They have chicken, steak and shrimp on the menu and I will return soon to try them.  There are a few places around for Cuban "fusion" food, but for honest, delicious, traditional Cuban food, this is the...

I had an amazing time, eating amazing authentic Cuban food. This was my 3rd time coming here and I gotta say I loved it. Food is original with real Cuban flavors, eating this food takes me back to my years in Miami where I learned about Cuban food and enjoyed it ever since, fortunately I found a Cuban place when I can continue to enjoy Cuban food. I really hope you guys never close. This time I brought my sister, her boyfriend, my mother in law who’s Cuban-who’s visiting from Miami , my sisters best friend and family, about 8 people, and the other two times I brought some other friends. I am beyond happy to know about this place , I will continue to come and brining more people to enjoy your food because honestly food was great and service too. We got everything we order correct and the cashier was very Kind too. Thank you to the person making out food which I heard is Cuban, I’m not sure if is the owner of the place but food tasted like original Cuban food. Plus we all loved that we can write...

Absolutely incredible! We tried dish #5, and it completely blew us away. The flavors were rich and comforting, like something you'd enjoy at a family gathering. It felt like every bite was made with love and genuine passion for cooking, and that’s not something you find often. As a fan of Cuban food, this place has officially taken the top spot for me—nothing else compares.

What really made the experience stand out was the hospitality of the owners. From the moment we walked in, they made us feel like we were guests in their home. Their warmth and kindness were so genuine, and it created a welcoming atmosphere that made the meal even more memorable.

I'm thrilled we found this spot—it wasn’t our original destination, but now it's a place we’ll be coming back to regularly. The food, the atmosphere, the people—it all comes together to create something truly special. If you’re looking for amazing Cuban food and a place that feels like...