Havana Sandwich Shop

The owners are not Cuban, they are Central American and use their cooking skills that are unrelated to the wine based and tomato based sofrito cooking in old Cuba. Not authentic. There are 3 authentic cuabn cooking restaurants in Atlanta, Las Palmeras, Palomillos, and Havana South. Pros: location Cons: Not authentic Cuban food more

The food is cheap and tastes good, but does not taste like it should. I guess you could say this is the best place in Atlanta to get a cuban sandwich, but does not even compare to Miami or Tampa. more

We went there this past weekend after reading the reviews. We were sadly disappointed. This place does not even come close to the cuban you can get in Miami. My husband is cuban. The black beans were from a can and merely warmed up. The cuban sandwich was tasteless and as best we could tell used a processed swiss. The bread was good however. The picadillo was not very good either. I thought the yucca con mojo was good but they could have done a better job getting the hard stingy things out of it. The tostones were just fine, but its kind of hard to mess those up. What is up with serving yellow rice with black beans????? It should be white rice for one and two, if you are making yellow rice (which is typically only served with chicken) at least make some real yellow rice with saffron and not just the powdered yellow seasoning. Now on to the mojo. It was from a jar and was no where near the taste and quality it should be. It really should be made from scratch. The place itself and the staff were what I expected. If you really like real cuban, I would have to say don't go there expecting it. The food filled the hole but was nothing to get excited about. If you go down south, try Mangu's in Hialeah near the Holiday Inn express. It is an awesome hole in the wall. more

I have been eating at this little hole-in-the-wall for years. It has a great atmosphere and the food's taste is very consistent. Up until about a year ago it was cash only but now they allow credit card. Pros: Authentic, low-cost, good taste Cons: Parking can be a pain when it is busy more

This is the best cuban sandwiche I have ever had. It looks like a little hole in the wall. I honestly wouldn't have gone there if someone hadn't of dragged me there b/c they loved it soo much too, and I'm so glad they did. The inside looks just like I would imagine a cuban resturant in cuba to be like. The staff is always friendly. The black beans and rice are my favorite and to top your meal off you must get a little banana milkshake. They are like no other I have ever had!! more

Disappointed in the food after reading the previous raving reviews. We order the sandwiches with pork, and the fried steak. I must say the frijoles were okay however nothing to recommend. The restuarant was not clean, tables were dirty from previous customers and the staff were chatting as though they were at home in the family kitchen, while the customers were just bystanders. Not impressed, although I wanted to be because I love Cuban food. Tasteless sandwiches with a pickle. Sorry, thumbs down, Havana. Pros: Beans were okay Cons: Lazy service, bland food more

The sandwiches and Black Beans and rice cannot be beat! One warning! To really enjoy this fantastic fare be sure to sit down and eat the food at the Havana Sandwich Shop! I carried two sandwiches home and they do not compare! The crisp and hot bread was soggy and soft....... I did an ""injustice"" to the best sandwich in ATL... Pros: The best sandwich ever! BB & Rice can't be beat! Cons: Eat there, the takeout cannot compare... more

I found this place years ago after returning to Atlanta from living in Miami for three years. While in Miami I fell in love with local Cuban food. This is like being back in Hialeah at my favorite sandwich shop. The only difference is here you have to ask for white rice otherwise you'll get yellow (the preference of most gringos apparently). Love it! Pros: Great food! Reminds me of Miami Cons: Parking more

Being a Miami native, I was thrilled to find an authentic Cuban restaurant. I've had just about everything on the menu and stated simply, it's all good. The food is great, service is fast and prices very cheap - in every way it's just cool.\r \r The only things that aren't cool are the location (it's hard to get into the parking lot and even hard to get out, and it's often crowded) and size. Pros: Food quality, promptness Cons: Parking, Parking, Parking more

I was in the N.Druid Hills/Buford Hwy. area today, and came across an old friend. The Havana Sandwich Shop has been here for years. Still looks so run down from the outside, but it's what's on the inside that counts. Still the best Cuban Sandwich in Atlanta, period. We just splash on some Mojo, and bite down into that crunchy Cuban Bread with melted Cheese and Meats. So good, and priced just right. Love the Empanadas also, and always get a side of Black Beans and Yellow Rice. The place needs a makeover bad, maybe add a dollar onto the price of the sandwich, and get some new paint and lighting. Pros: Atl's Best Cuban Sandwich! Cons: Gritty Run-down Building! more

I always drive by this place and decided to stop in for lunch one day. I had the cuban sandwich....and it was AMAZING. I intend to keep going back and trying different things. It kind of looks shady from the outside, but it is a clean restaurant with great food. If you are looking to try something new, stop in for a sandwich! more

Havana is such a yummy place! It has the the best Cuban sandwich and the prices are so affordable. The location is shady and the place is basically a shanty but trust me, beyond those walls is some of the best Cuban you will ever eat! Definitely recommended!! Pros: Food, Service, Prices Cons: LOOONG Lines @ lunch more

Not a true Cuban sandwich!!! The floors and area are not the cleanest. And do not check the bathrooms. Pros: good prices Cons: dirty more

Don't be put off by the exterior (burglar bars, auto body shop next door) this place is the real deal! The price is right and the food is excellent. Cuban snadwiches warm and crunchy, plantains, (sweet or tostone), batidos and cafe con leche, are we in Miami? Pros: Excellent Food, Cheap! Cons: Not Much Parking, Can be crowded more

I couldn't eat it every day, but this place is a welcome change from burgers and tacos when you want great carry-out food. One of those places where everything is good, especially the beans and rice, empanadas, and Cuban Sandwich. It is a little run down on the inside, but the place ain't about the amosphere. It is about good food and plenty of it, and I have never been in the place when it wasn't busy. That should tell you something! Decent location, too, right off N. Druid Hills and Buford Highway Pros: Inexpensive, Tasty, Different Cons: Long lunch lines more

I like it every now and then. Good beans and rice. Pros: good food Cons: takes to long, no parking more