I first fell in love with Cuban cuisine while living up in Portland, OR.
Who would’ve thunk that I’d have to travel to the City of Roses for authentic, hometown favorites like fried plantains, Ropa Vieja, Arroz con Pollo, and THE BEST DESSERT in all of the land, Tres Leche cake!! *yum..drools*
Habana
2930 Bristol St | Costa Mesa, CA 92626
I remember driving home from work every night watching the brigade spill out the doors of Pambiche’s 20 seat dining room, onto the sidewalk and into the adjacent parking lot of the Laundromat. If you wanted to get a seat here, the only way to negate the minimum 90 minute wait time was to dine during off peak hours like at 3pm-5pm.
Luckily for me, those were some of the happiest hours I spent eating my way through Oregon. I reminisce about my time spent up north and literally have never, ever gotten Pambiche outta my mind. Maybe that’s the reason I’m so super critical of Cuban restaurants.
When you finally find “the one” you’d be hard pressed to unearth any worthy equivalent. Unless you happen to live in OC that is. I’d say Habana at the Lab is a runner-up. Try their weekend Brunch Menu and I’d admit they are a very close second.
Carribean Egg Benedict served with fresh fruit, rum infused hollandaise, grilled corn cake, and spicy lump crab meat. SERIOUSLY. THE. BEST. BREAKFAST. DISH. EVER. I’m sure you’re all aware of my incessant use of hyperbole but this dish is the ISH!!!! I’ve been dining here for years and this is my first time sampling their brunch menu and let me just say, this dish is not to be missed!!! Trust man, just trust ;D
12 Comments
This looks so amazing! I am already making plans to try this place. I love Cuban food too! I have always loved Cuban and Jamaican food, so I am thrilled to hear about this place. These photos have me ready to lick the computer screen…LOL
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yummie, the food looks so delicious!
X
yummmmy! everything looks amazing. definitely checking it out next time i'm down in the OC. xx
Hope you're having a lovely time in Vegas. Those dishes look soooo…. just wow. Works of art they are. I want 'em all.
Your blog is soooo delicious!!!
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yummm 🙂
yummm 🙂
yummm 🙂
omgosh that food looks amazing!!!
Looks so yummy! Best Cuban food in NY is actually in Hoboken, NJ. If you're ever here, make sure to try Zafra's. It's soooo good!
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oh my god. this looks too delicious and now i'm hungry!
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All the food looks amazing I’m just drooling all over the keyboard, almost liking the monitor. I defiantly have to tray Cuban cuisine, if it taste as good as it looks I’m predicting an obsession). I'm a new follower!Hope you'll like my blog and follow back!
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