Yum. Or, as we would say in the old country, ¡qué rica está la comida!
We ordered croquetas as an appetizer. I was a little disappointed - they didn't really taste fresh/authentic (a little bit like the Goya Croquetas that I purchase from the grocery store). However, I've only ever had croquetas in Puerto Rico, so maybe they are different?
I ordered the Cuban sandwich for my lunch, served with tostones (patacones, mis paisas) and arroz blanco con habichuelas (white rice & beans). ¡Delicioso!
Our server was very friendly and had the most adorable accent. They have great lunch specials here, so I definitely recommend it for that. Also, the food comes out fast, so if you're on a short lunch break (we had one hour), it's perfect!
The food was really good and a very friendly staff.
I thought it was a little pricey for what it was and for the ambiance (or lack of) in a strip mall restaurant.
I had garlic chicken and it was really delicious. Â The other Cuban places I go too give bread, salad & plantains with a meal but those were all "extras" at Havana South.
GET THE EMPANADAS!!! They are AWESOME - both the beef and the chicken! Â They come with a cilantro cream sauce that my wife can't get enough of (I'm fairly confident if it weren't for the children she'd leave me for the chef here). Â The other MUST HAVE menu items include the Picadillo A La Cubana (Cuban style beef with olives and lots of spices) and the Ox Tails (the gelatinous cartilage between the bones is the best part).
Review Source:First time going here and it was outstanding. It takes a lot of skill to cook up great Cuban or Latin food. I had the Masitas De Puerco. Let me say it was delicious. There is no other way to  describe it. The flavor was great. You could taste the different herbs and the pork was cooked perfect. It was what you would expect for pork chunks. Not firm, not too soft. The flavors and the aroma was outstanding. I haven't been to many Cuban/Latin places that can perfect the cooking right away, but this by far blew me away. The location is away from the Mall of Georgia area which is good and bad. I think there is less traffic for this place due to that but at the same time it is great cause you are avoiding the traffic. The staff was very friendly and very helpful. I would definitely recommend this place and I will definitely be back for more in the future.
Review Source:It's a pretty average to above average place. Â The Cuban sandwich not pressed (as a traditional Cuban would be). Ropa vieja and chicken/steak dish good and big, though we picked out a lot of bay leaves. Â I think they're known for having good cocktails; we found them to be okay, but we were there on Sunday and the regular bartender was not there; the waitresses were making all of the drinks. Â We'd give them another shot though, that's for sure.
Review Source:It was alright... Service was decent. But to be honest it was disappointing! I didn't hate it but didn't love it. I'll probably never go back. I think their chef has no passion in the food bc there was nothing exciting within our party of five that was worth saying! Their cubano sandwich was made with some of the crappiest quality ham and pork. You know when you eat a sandwich that is so bad but so worth it, well i think most of their food we had that day was bad but was not worth even gaining the weight for!
Review Source:Great dish I had last night here. Oxtail with rice and black beans. I've had oxtail many times at different restaurants and Havana's had the most meat on the bone I've ever seen for oxtail. They were HUGE and delicious!
I also ordered an appetizer(forgot the name) and it was soooo tasty. It was a fried mash potato ball stuffed with beef. Really really good!
Service was excellent! I had numerous waiters checking on my table each very professional and with a smile on their face.
I've eaten here a few times and I always leave with a smile on my face and a full belly.
Great food and very inexpensive. I had the lunch special Sandwich Cubano which comes with half a sandwich, beans & rice. Excellent taste on the sandwich and the sides. Staff was great and friendly with Latin music coming from above. I would recommend checking this place out if you are in town. Hidden in a strip mall but great.
Review Source:My exposure to Cuban food has been limited, but I love it so far. So of course, I was up for a trip to Havana South, even if it was all the way up in the boonies (Buford).
I ordered the ropa vieja ($12) so I could compare it with Papi's and Lario's. Strangely, Havana South's version did not come with maduros (plaintains) like the other two did. Thankfully, our server let me substitute the beans for maduros. Otherwise, you can order a separate side of maduros for $4.
The portions were huge. I got yellow rice and three pieces of maduros for my sides. I thought the portion of maduros was a bit skimpy, to be honest. They were really tasty, though. The yellow rice seemed to be a tad undercooked as there were some hard bits. The ropa vieja was good, though not as tasty as the one I had at Lario's.
Our server was extremely enthusiastic, friendly and accommodating. We had two Groupons for $25 off the bill, and he let the four of us use both of them, provided we were on two separate checks. So in the end, it was a very cheap and satisfying meal. However, my search for Atlanta's best ropa vieja continues.
This is without doubt the best Cuban restaurant in the Atlanta area. It is in a nondescript strip mall near Mall of Georgia, but it is wort a visit if you love great authentic Caribbean food. The usual Cubano sandwiches are great, but when I explored further, the Paella and Masitas de puerco fritas are excellent as well.
Just for fun, drop in after 9 on a Saturday night and party with local Cuban's ! They were so welcoming to a gringo I had to go back several times!
They have the best wait staff and bartenders. Service is a little slow if the place is packed, but this is not a place anyone wants a fast meal and then rush off when there is a great time to be had.
The food is still awesome and authentic here.  Their Lechon Asado is my favorite and the yucca side (different than the appetizer) is outstanding.  Their ropa vieja is tender and served in an excellent spicy/sweet sauce.  The plantains are sweet and juicy and the garlic sauce used for dipping is outstanding. Nevertheless, I must downgrade my previous rating.  Why?  Because the service was horrific my last couple of visits.  Seemed like they were understaffed and we went long periods of time without the server stopping by to check on us and refresh our beverages.  Our order was served incorrectly with the wrong sides, etc, etc.  Then on one  of my more recent visits I ordered the Mojito and it was terrible.  GASP!  How does THAT happen at a Cuban restaurant?!?  I mean seriously... that's the quintessential Cuban drink.  There's NO excuse for that mistake!  Yeah.... screw up a gin & tonic or an Old Fashioned... but a Mojito?!  C'mon!!
I'm Cuban... if you get nothing more from my review, get this: Â there's a trifecta of Ms on which to judge all Cuban eating establishments. Â The Mojitos, Moro & the Maduros. Â I've spoken about the first in the paragraph above, Moro is the white rice and black beans cooked together (as opposed to being served side by side), and the ripe fried plantains are the Maduros. Â There should be no compromise on any of the three Ms! Â Havana South used to do all three correctly-- now they're only getting 2/3 right. Â Not good enough.
Finally... my very last visit was on Father's Day. Â My choice for a place to eat and I choose here. Â I was really wanting a drink and the server tells me the law in the area says there's no serving alcohol on Sundays in a restaurant. Â What- whaaaat? Â I live in the area... EVERYPLACE with a bar serves on a Sunday. Â That was a... how shall I say... a misstatement. Â Look, if a business doesn't WANT to serve booze on a Sunday, they don't have to, but at least advertise it on the door or something. Â But it's really not cool to say the law prevents it, because it simply isn't true.
I'm still rooting for you, Havana South. Â But you can't retreat from excellence.
A friend recommended this place when we talked about the fact that I'd never had the nerve to eat in a restaurant alone. So on my way back home after our visit I got up the nerve and went. It was the best first solo meal I ever had!!! I bellied up to the bar and immediately my drink order was taken before I barely had a chance to sit down. I ordered a Mojito and it was super delicious! Even made with fresh mint. I could of had several more!! Then my order of fried plantains with mojo came with my order of beef empanadas. Presention simple and appealing. The plantains were light and crispy. The mojo sauce was tangy, adding just the perfect kick to the plantains. The first bite of the empanadas...i could cry it was so savory! The dipping sauce just made each bite more festive. I tried empanadas at a place close to home and you might as well have pulled them out of the freezer section at WalMart. Havanas empanadas were fresh, hot, filled unselfishly with a yummy beef, potatoe, and green olive mixture. Yes i was quite excited sbout the green olives! Overall the service, friendliness, atmospjere, food, and bartending were off the map fabulous! I heat the Lechon Asado is slap your granny good. Thats a step above slap your momma good.
Review Source:Back for our Havana South bash, well if four people can be considered a bash??? :-)
To start, The Yuca Con Mojo and Marquita's.
Myself and a friend, we had our usual Masitas De Puerco, white rice and black beans. My wife had the veggie sandwich and Tostones. Our other friend dined on the Pollo Al Ajillo.
As the norm, everything was cooked well, service was top notch, and we all left fat and happy!
I have been here about a dozen times and hooked on the Masitas! Oh yes, once dinner is finished nothing is complete without the Tres Leches cake!
A wonderful family owned establishment! Give it a try.......
We have eaten at Havana South probably 10 times over the last two years and their food and service are consistently excellent. Â
Ricky, our fave server is always friendly and accommodating. Â The restaurant itself is always clean, but could use some 'sprucing up' since it looks like the seats of the booths (never sat at a table) have been there since the beginning of time. Â They could also use some brighter lighting, but we come for the food and the good service.
Good service ALWAYS wins over food of comparable style for us. Â It just shows how much the restaurant actually values their customers. Â Cuban food is pretty basic in its preparation, and we're not picky, picky, so pleasing us is usually easy.
I always order Pamillio (sp?) which is a very thin type of steak, pan fried and served with yummy black beans and choice of white or yellow rice. Â My husband varies his selections and has always been satisfied with the flavors but has yet to find a dish that wows him. Â We both love the mudoros, fried plantains, as they're always sweet, crisp and yummy. Â I believe there are 6 pcs. to each order.
Their portions are ample and we've never gone home hungry. Â We don't drink but every time we have been there Mojitos have been flowing. Â I believe they come in different flavors and I've seen other customers reorder after the first one.
Dinner for two, with one soda and 2 Cuban coffees is around 30.00. Â We don't usually order appetizers, since the meal portions are ample, but will definitely try the Ham Croquettes since other reviewers consistently rave about them.
We will definitely return to Havana South......they absolutely quench my taste for Cuban food.
Havana South caught my eye before a hike and on the way back we stopped to try this place for lunch on a Sunday Afternoon.
Very spacious restaurant, friendly staff, and yelp friendly, posting their yelp sticker on the front door. Â If you're not one for checking in via the yelp app, do so here to get 10% off your meal. Â
I ordered the Fried green plantains, which were sweet, slightly crispy and the highlight of my meal here. Â Very tasty!
I also ordered the Pollo Al Ajillo (chicken in garlic sauce), which came with yellow rice and black beans (standard for all entrees). Â Presentation looked delicious but the chicken was simply "okay", lacking any real flavor. Â I enjoyed the black beans but i've had better rice, although I found it to be MUCH more flavorful when combining it with the garlic sauce of the Pollo Al Ajillo.
I also was able to try some of the Vaca Frita (Fried flank steak in garlic sauce), which was very tender, and had a little more flavor than my chicken, as well as the Croquetas (Ham Croquettes) that had great flavor with a dipping sauce it didn't really need.
For two people with two entrees and two appetizers, you'll spend about $35 (lunch menu is only available Mon - Fri) and the meals are all large enough that you'll likely need a to go box.
So that's Havana South...fantastic appetizers, okay entrees (that i've tried so far) and a solid little restaurant to quench your Cuban needs!
I'm kinda mixed about my review, because there were definitely things I enjoyed and other items were only ok. It was a slow Sunday with only a few diners. One poor table had the pleasure of having their waitress spill a drink not once, but twice (or maybe it was the customer). We had Alejandra as our server and she was very good.
At her recommendation I ordered the Vaca Frita, which was a grilled Flank Steak with rice and beans @ $11.95. The flavor was very good, but not as flavorful as I was expecting from a Latin restaurant. If you don't like cilantro (which tastes like soap to me), be sure to ask them not to put it on your meal. The yellow rice was not flavorful at all and I was also not a huge fan of the black beans. Overall I would give the steak  3.5 stars and the rice and beans a 2.5 for lack of flavor. Everything was cooked and presented well.
For an appetizer I ordered the Ham Croquetas and they were FABULOUS!!! They were so great I placed another order to go. Never had anything like them, but will definitely be back for more (4.5 stars).
My lunch buddy ordered the Pollo Ajillo which I personally thought was 'just ok' after tasting a sample. The chicken was a little overcooked and also not very flavorful. The Maduros (fried green plantains) were excellent and had a great golden color and sugary glaze. I was a little disappointed they charged $3.25 for extra yellow rice (table buddy ran out and wanted extra). Overall I though the prices were reasonable, the service was good, and the food was decent. The decor has nice murals but feels a little sparse, maybe it's because of the wide use of black paint.
I plan to try their Cuban sandwich on my next visit and hopefully I will enjoy that a little more. Be sure to CHECK-IN on Yelp to receive a 10% discount on your total bill.
We ordered:
Paella -- Salty. Frozen seafood, did not taste fresh at all, very small mussels/shrimp, some squid, chorizo. Rice flavorless and overcooked to point of mushy. Clearly no saffron used. Â Huge portion, so unfortunately we took it home. I think most of it is going to end up in the trash. Most expensive thing on the menu and not worth it. Will not order again.
Oxtail -- Salty. Well cooked and tender. Ordered the moro with it and together the salt content was too much for me. Could be tasty with plain white rice.
Cuban sandwich -- My dining partners had this dish and they said it was OK. Not the best cuban sandwich they've had but OK.
Maduros -- OK. Again, not the best I've had but it's not bad.
Appetizer samples - Ham croquettes - tasty. Fried yucca - tasteless on its own but very good with the garlicky sauce. Fried mozz sticks - blah. Empanada - not bad. Â Plaintain chips - OK
Service -- Excellent. We liked our server who was polite and attentive. The food just didn't wow us. Â Had much better Cuban in NYC/NJ.
I'm not sure if we will return, but I want to give it one more try for some of the other dishes Yelpers mentioned here.
The food and atmosphere are great. If you're in the mood for something that's fun and not a chain-restaurant cookie-cutter boring experience, this definitely needs to be on your list. Sometimes there are salsa dancers there and they are so much fun. The Media Noche is my favorite sandwich, but I've been truly impressed with everything I've had here!
Review Source:I found out about this place via Groupon. Â But Groupon somehow didn't process my deal and I didn't get it. Â So 0 stars to Groupon. Â But this is about Havana South.
We just got back from an afternoon on the lake and I wanted to try this after learning about it. Â The place was fairly packed (a good sign!) with a couple of open tables. Â During the meal several tables turned and by the end of the meal it was completely packed. Â And now you know, and you'll know why too.
We each tried a different entree - Churasco (skirt steak), Masitas (pork) and Chicharon (chicken). Â We all got the black beans and rice (moro) and also a side of Maduros (fried plantains...my fav). Â Unbelievable. Â Everything was sooooo good.
We still had a small bit of room so we squeezed in a slice of Tres Leches (the best I've ever had!) and Arroz con Leche (rice pudding) and quaffed down some Cuban coffee (a bit too sweet for my taste, but sooo good also).
Definitely will be back, the lake beckons....
I'm from the NEast. Latin food is prevalent. I have enjoyed Cuban cuisine in Miami, Key West, NYC and by CUBAN friends who cook quite authentically. Therefore, I feel I am a solid judge on authentic Cuban food.
With that said- I loved Havana South!
We had dinner on a quiet Tues. evening. The service was friendly but lacked the enthusiasm I was expecting.
I had the Chicharon de Pollo con Hueso_ very tasty, marinated in a citrusy garlicky marinade- also served on the side. The Black beans were excellent! The white rice had just enough starch & olive oil to make it slightly sticky to accompany the beans. Also, I had the sweet sauteed (not deep fried) plantains- Maduros- very good too. My friend enjoyed the Pollo Hemingway- she enjoyed that too.
The prices are much less expensive than Fairfield County CT. My dinner was like $12!
They have a full bar BUT no wine- strange. They also serve Cuban soda.
The decor is colorful w large paintings/prints in vibrant colors all depicting classic sceans of CubanHavana.
If I lived here I would frequent this spot. Surprising!
Private parking lot.
The food and service at this restaurant has been going downhill for a while, and what happened to us last week convinced me to never return. Â The waitress served my wife the wrong entree, and even after we told her she just looked at us turned around and walked away. This is totally unacceptable, when the waitress screws up the order is her responsibility to correct it. Also, the portions are so small yet prices are relatively high.
P.S. I called the manager, left message, and he never returned my call.
100% disappointment!
A nice surprise out here in Buford. Â I am originally from SoCal and a latin family. Â I got here and I was craving cuban food. Â While this place isn't home or FL, it certainly will do the trick in a pinch. Â The arroz y frijoles negro is always tasty, the maduros cooked perfectly and even their mojito had the right kick. Â I do think the arroz con pollo needed a little help... all arroz, no pollo =( Â We have tried everything from the shrimp in garlic sauce, oxtail, tostones, croquettas, bistec and even my daughter had the cheeseburger. Â All-in-all, it will certainly feed the beast when in the mood for cuban.
The three stars is because the service is always inconsistent. Â I ordered to-go one day and it took FOREVER! Â The wait staff's courtesy varies as well and I can never tell what I'll get.
After reading the good reviews, I was pretty disappointed about the quality of my food.
Went in for a quick lunch, ordered the Cubano with tostones. I knew a full sandwich would be too much for me, so I asked if I could just order half. Â Server says sure, but when I got the bill, I had been charged for the whole sandwich. Â What?!?!?! Â Why not just tell me you don't do half sandwiches?
The bread the sandwich was made on was chewy, not the usual flaky goodness that Cuban bread is. The true test of a great Cuban imo, is when there are tons of crumbs all over your face, table, lap. Â
My tostones were also chewy, when they are supposed to be crispy. It's like they threw them in the oil when the oil wasn't hot enough and the tostones just absorbed the grease. I won't be coming back. :(
Maybe the other items on the menu are better. Â I just won't be back to find out.
All I have had at this place was the Media Noche Sandwich, a sample of mamey juice, some papaya juice and fried plantains. Â The sandwich is just a Cuban on Sweet bread and boy was it tasty. Â The pork has a very distinct tender flavor. Â The food was very tasty and the staff was very friendly and informative (especially about the mamey juice, which I'd never never had). Â
I wasnt too hungry when I went, so I didn't sample as much as I normally would have, so I'll be going back again...the other pork dishes must be sampled. Â The maduros were on point, but most Cuban places get those right. Â Unless something, goes terribly wrong, Â this review remains at 5. Â The downside to this place is that its near the Mall of Georgia even though I think its worth the trip, even from ITP.
Havana was good but the service was absolutely terrible. Â I ordered the Cuban Sandwich and Black Beans. Â The Beans were delicious although a bit salty. The Cuban would have been much better if the bread was better. Â It seemed like it was a little stale and lacked taste. Â I compared my dinner to the exact same thing I oredered from another local Cuban restaurant. Â I will try it again though tos ee if the service has improved and will also try another dish to give another review.
Review Source:I ventured to this establishment today for lunch with my boyfriend and was pleasantly surprised. Â We were greeted the second we walked in the door. Â The decor is absolutely adorable from the colorful mural on the back wall to the custom blinds made this place feel inviting. Â I ordered the Cuban Sandwich and it was delicious! Â Ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles & mustard on freshly pressed bread. Â And just to let you know how much I liked it and illustrate how picky of an eater I am...I hate ham, I rarely eat pork, & I'm not a fan of Swiss cheese but this was a great combination. Â The staff was friendly as well. I will definitely be going back!
Review Source:Quite possibly THE best Cuban restaurant in Atlanta. Â A run-down of what I've eaten:
Media Noche (the classic Cuban sandwich but made with sweet bread similar to what Lotta Frutta uses) -- filled with thick slices of ham and the tastiest roast pork. Â
Lechon Asado (roasted pork) Â -- Â tender, juicy, and has that cooked-for-hours taste. Â The best I've had in this state.
Arroz con Pollo (yellow rice with chicken) Â -- Â flavorful rice with two pieces of tender chicken stewed in Cuban spices
Chicharron de Pollo (fried chicken chunks) Â -- Â marinated chicken chunks that are crispy fried. Â These are not your usual dry, teeth-shattering, hard to chew variety.
Cortadito Cafe con Leche (Cuban coffee) Â -- brewed individually and freshly made to order; beware, this is addicting
Verdict: Â RUN, don't walk and head on up north for some mind-blowing goodness.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
