25 Reasons Locals Love Havana Cuban Restaurant
Havana Restaurant is celebrating their 25th anniversary in West Palm Beach, so in that spirit, we’ve put together a list of 25 reasons locals love Havana Restaurant.
Happy 25th Anniversary Havana Restaurant!
1. Cuban Sandwich
The USA Today named Havana’s Cuban Sandwich one of the 10 Best! Expect layers of roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard pressed on Cuban bread and served piping hot.
2. 24-Hour Walk-Up Window
Also known as a ventanita, this is the place to be especially in the wee hours of the morning, and it’s open 365 days a year!
3. Authentic
There’s more to Cuban food than just the Cuban sandwich, and the staff at Havana Restaurant are always happy to help you navigate the extensive menu. If you’re not familiar with Cuban food, just remember it’s not like Mexican. Cuban food is not spicy, not loaded with cheese, and there are no tacos.
4. Family Owned
Roberto Reyes opened Havana Restaurant 25 years ago when Hurricane Andrew “blew” his family from Miami to West Palm Beach. Today his daughter Martha, her husband Rafael and granddaughter Vanessa are at the helm.
5. Cuban Coffee
Hot, sweet and strong!
6. Celebrity Wall of Fame
If a celebrity is in town, they’ll likely make a stop at Havana Restaurant. The walls of the restaurant are adorned with famous folks including Zsa Zsa Gabor, Robert Duvall, James Taylor, Sofia Vergara and more. Martha Stewart is a regular for Cafe con Leche, so you know it has to be a good thing!
7. Community Involvement
The Reyes Family gives and gives and gives to our community! It is a passion to help others that Roberto instilled in his children. According to Martha, “we are so blessed everyday by our customers, we are just sharing the blessing.”
8. Cuban Culture
They love sharing their food and their culture. It’s truly a memorable dining experience.
9. Tropical Fruit Juices
There’s nothing quite as refreshing as a tall glass of passionfruit or guava juice!
10. Guava Pastries
Customers line-up in the mornings for Guava Pastries (pastelitos) and cafe con leche…it’s like the Cuban version of donuts and coffee!
11. Mojo Sauce
It’s more than a marinade, it’s a delicious garlicky sauce that goes with just about everything…meat, rice, beans and more! The ingredients are juice of a sour orange, olive oil, lots of garlic, cumin and oregano. Havana Cuban Restaurant sells jars of this magical sauce.
12. Chimichurri Sauce
Another amazing garlicky sauce that will wake-up any meat or veggie. Just like the mojo sauce, it’s bottled and waiting for you at Havana!
13. Mission Work
The Reyes Family travels to Belle Glade, Florida, Haiti and Guatemala visiting orphanages and churches to give children shoes through a non-profit organization called Shozz.
14. Food Bank
They just keep on sharing! To date, Havana has given over 17.5 tons of food to the Farmworkers Food Pantry in Palm Beach County.
15. Catering
The key to a successful party in West Palm Beach…let Havana Restaurant cater!
16. Cuban Christmas
Of all the Christmas food traditions around the world, Cuba’s Noche Buena just might be the best. It’s a Christmas Eve traditional meal centered around a whole roasted pig, side dishes, friends and family. A few years ago, I was planning to make tenderloin for Christmas dinner, and when I opened the package of meat on Christmas morning…it was rotten! It was Christmas, nothing was open except Havana Restaurant, so we had a Cuban Christmas! It’s a tradition I should continue because it was delicious, easy and a huge hit.
17. Family Recipes
The recipes have been passed down for generations, and on our Historic West Palm Beach Neighborhood Food Tour, you’ll learn about their Sangria recipe and enjoy a Cuban sampler plate.
18. Leftovers
Trust us, always order too much, so you can enjoy the leftovers!
19. THE FOOD
We’ve listed lots of our favorites already, but according to the Reyes Family, #20 through #25 are their most popular items, so consider this your Cuban food bucket list!
20. Cafe con Leche
A shot of Cuban coffee with milk.
21. Cuban Sandwich
It’s legendary!
22. Lechon Asado
Roast pork with sautéed onions and Havana Restaurant’s signature mojo sauce.
23. Ropa Vieja
Shredded beef stewed in a Spanish sauce with fresh pepper, tomatoes, onions and herbs.
24. Flan
Creamy caramel custard drizzled with a rich syrup.
25. Tres Leches
An award winning homemade white cake drenched in fresh milk, evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk, and topped with whipped cream! Delicious!
Happy 25th Anniversary Havana Restaurant and cheers to another 25 years!
Havana Restaurant
6801 S. Dixie Highway (corner of Forest Hill and S. Dixie)
West Palm Beach, FL 33405
561-547-9799