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Kuba Kuba
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 9 am - 9:30 pm
Fri-Sat 9 am - 10 pm
Sun 9 am - 8 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
159 reviews for Kuba Kuba
Review Highlights
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"It comes with tasty fried plantains as well." In 24 reviews -
"California Huevos Rancheros = my last meal on earth." In 9 reviews -
"...shared the avocado salad, black bean soup, and cubano." In 11 reviews
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158 reviews in English
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Review from Donna Y.
5/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
I ordered the vegetable paella enough to feel a family of four.... literally it was huge!
Kuba Kuba gives you a lot of food... at such a low price.. can't be beat -
Review from Shalini H.
Richmond, VA
I wish I lived in the same neighborhood as Kuba Kuba!!
My husband and I decided to try out their brunch this past Sunday. We arrived around 1:30 and there was about a 5-10 minute wait. I noticed the bar had two open seats so we grabbed those seats instead of waiting. I think we got the best seats in the house. They were right by kitchen so we saw all the different plates of food. The waitress was also the hostess so we waited a few minutes until we got our menus. I ordered the cafe con leche with sweet condensed milk. It had the perfect amount of coffee and the perfect amount of sweetness. It really reminded me of the cafe con leche I used to get back home in Miami.
For my meal I ordered the California Huevos and my husband ordered the Tortillo con Chorizo. I have never seen or had anything like the California Huevos. I devoured it... I managed to offer a bite to my husband and spared a piece of bread for him too. :) He offered me a bite of his but i refused. The California Huevos has everything but the kitchen sink... eggs, beans, tomatoes, onions, cheese, enchilado sauce, lime sour cream and bread. Oh the bread.... the bread soaked up ALL those mouth watering ingredients. The prices were very reasonable for the amount of food served.
We were definitely pleased with the service, food and prices! The restaurant is not huge but the flavors make up for that! -
Review from Anna P.
Los Angeles, CA
5/6/2012
Kuba Kuba is amazing. Every time I go I'm extremely satisfied. If you haven't been yet, definitely check it out.
Their fried plantains are a must try. Ask for a side of honey and lime sour cream to dip them in. At first I was skeptical since it seems like such a strange mixture but it's surprisingly fantastic. -
Review from Alida H.
Cheap, quick and quality delicious food. But beware, they are busy for a fairly small restaurant.
I have had the Kubanaso Sandwich (cuban sandwich with chorizo), which is pretty good, but the fried plantains that come with it are subpar. The BEST dish to get here in my opinion is the California Huevos. It is described as a dish with two eggs over red beans and cuban bread topped with monterey jack cheese, lime sour cream, and enchilado sauce. It tastes even better than it sounds, YUM, my mouth is watering just thinking about it!
The Empanadillas are a popular appetizer, and for a good reason. They're bomb! BUT, the spinach and ricotta is ten times better than the picadillo (kuban beef hash) in my opinion.
During one visit, I ended my meal with their Cafe Con leche with condensed milk and vanilla tres leches cake. The cafe con leche was quite possibly the smoothest coffee I've ever had, and is very delicious. The Tres Leches Cake however, was just okay in my opinion. It wasn't moist enough, and the frosting was too thick and overwhelmingly sweet.
All and All, a great restaurant, but you just have to order the right things to have a good experience ;P -
Review from Marie S.
Henrico, VA
5/18/2012
Today was the 2nd time i went to Kuba Kuba, i am a true died in the wool foodie. ( If you have ever seen the size of my ass you know i speak the truth)
The first time I went, I had the spinach empanadillas, with a lovely glass of malbec. If you like spinich all I can say is that it tasted like someone had freshly picked the spinach and then stuffed the pastries then cooked them. They were divine. i am a bit of a spinach snob. These did not seem like they were made with old or frozen spinach. They were fresh and tasty. I knew i wanted to return!
Today I went and had the entremes ( an antipasto salad) and a glass of malbec, The tasso ham in the salad was complemented perfectly with the malbec. The salad was well wonderful. It was chunky and hearty, I know generally not 2 words you would associate with salad. but chunks of chorizo, tomatoes cucumbers and artichokes along with a variety of olives, roasted peppers and sweet mango pieces. It didn't stop there but there was so much to it, you can appreciate the description of chunky and hearty. i defiantly recommend this place. The prices are moderate and the food is fresh and delightful! -
Review from James H.
Washington, DC
4/23/2012
By far my favorite place in Richmond. Avocado salad, Kubanaso, and Tres Leches cake with a cafe con leche is my idea of the perfect 3-course meal. Love this place!
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Review from Emily K.
Richmond, VA
1/11/2012
Dear Kuba Kuba, you are delicious.
I am not a huge fan of Cuban food, nor have I had it too often, but I must say that the few times I have eaten here, it has proven to be a quaint, friendly, neighborhood restaurant with an awesome waitstaff. I have had the pleasure of eating salmon on coconut risotto cakes, a chicken pineapple sandwich, and a portobello press, all of which have been quite good.
My least favorite among the three dishes I mentioned was the chicken pineapple sandwich. Though it was fresh and the pineapple grilled to a crispy sweetness, the chicken was thick-cut and perhaps a little dry, making the sandwich a little hard to eat. It probably would have benefitted from some sort of dipping sauce or dressing, imparting some much needed moisture.
My favorite was the salmon dinner special with those amazing coconut risotto cakes. Rich flavors, varied textures, and that hint of coconut sweetness from the risotto and the corn salsa made it an amazing meal.
The vanilla tres leches cake was incredible, as well. I usually steer far away from anything even slightly resembling a cake as I find the dessert to be starchy, dry, and lacking in flavor. Tres leches was such an exception to all of the above. Spongy in the best way, with a milky vanilla flavor that was rich and absolutely wonderful, it surprised me.
The prices here are so reasonable, and the service is fast and friendly. The atmosphere is another unexpected perk, as the restaurant seems a bit randomly placed, on the corner of Lombardy and Park, and in the middle of the Fan.
I will be back, probably soon! -
Review from Ken T.
Bayside, NY
3/9/2012 3 photos
had a local friend recommend us to go here, HE WILL REMAIN ANONYMOUS. lol
he was really hyped about this place and yelp had good reviews
kubanaso - 2.5 star - tasted good, little dry, nothing special
Kuban Roast Pork - 2 star - flavor was there, but pork was WAY TOO DRIED
Seafood Sofrito - 2.5 star - cooked well, sauce not incorporated well, boring
I've definitely had better Cuban food / Spanish food. NEXT PLEASE. -
Review from Lisa H.
Sterling, VA
12/26/2011
I must've passed this place a hundred times on bike or while walking to campus... one night, for dinner, I decided to give it a whirl. I enjoyed the decor; this quaint little restaurant has a lot of personality. The atmosphere almost makes it feel like you're taking a vacation from Richmond, VA.
Cafe con leche was delicious! I was very pleasantly surprised at the smooth and rich milky texture. So much better than Starbucks; I would go back to Kuba Kuba just to have another cup.
As for my actual meal, Huevos Rancheros, I was very satisifed. The gooey egg mixed with the delicious Kuban bread and cheeses combined wonderfully to create a dish unlike anything I've ever tasted before. I even had leftovers (which was easy to heat up, i just popped it in the oven).
It's been awhile since I last ate here, but I'd definitely like to go back and try some of their other menu items. -
Review from Chantelle A.
Woodbridge, VA
10/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Drove by here on Saturday evening with a heavy Cuban meal on my mind! My friend and I waited for a table at this cute spot for abt 30 min. Not too bad because there was so much activity among the staff and patrons and so much beautiful art on the walls...the minutes just kinda flew by. We were finally seated and had the opportunity to study the menu...ooh and dont forget to look up...they have some pretty amazing dinner specials on the chalkboards.
For some reason, I craved coffee so my friend and I ordered Cafe con Leche with sweetened condensed milk (50 cent extra)...it was probably one of the best decisions I ever made.. EVER.
I ordered the dinner special Roja Vieja..(for those of you who didnt take Spanish 1 in High School..that is basically stewed and pulled flank steak with rice) along with blanco queso (...paying attention? That's white cheese) and a side of fried plantains. The beef was so tender and so flavorful....and the rice was perfectly prepared. Unfortunately, that meal left absolutely no room for dessert :( awww...but, please note that there will be a next time :(
Well boys and girls, I hope you enjoyed reading my review and little Spanish lesson. Now log off and visit Kuba Kuba :) -
Review from Gunther W.
Mililani, HI
I only came here with some coworkers for some tres-leches cake and coffee. It was phenomenal. I found this on an app on my phone which was food tv maps. I had the coffee with the sweetened milk. I would say that this is one of the best desserts I have ever had. The cake was nice and moist and the coffee was the perfect creaminess. The place is a little hard to find but is well worth the trip. I took a 2 hr trip from Norfolk just for this, so I would do it again if I had the chance.
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Review from Trupti T.
Cary, NC
3/13/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Wonderful place, the food is made to order. It comes nice and hot and you can see the individual attention that has been paid to your food. There are a lot of vegetarian options here. I would highly recommend this place, the food here is delicious and the people are nice and friendly.
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Review from Holly P.
Richmond, VA
Two words: tres leches! Do not leave here without ordering this desert. We had to get it to go because we were super full from our amazing brunch (huevos california and chorizo tortilla). But a couple hours later, we were home, fighting over this huge piece of cake, we should have ordered two!
About my Huevos California, its my new guilty pleasure: black beans, salsa, avocado, eggs, all over cuban bread covered with mexican cheese, with a dollop of their lime flavored crema. Hello tummy ache! But totally worth it.
Negativos: Service was not so hot, in fact there was lipstick on my glass, and I sat thirsty until my food came because that was the next time we saw our server. Also, my chair was uncomfortable because it was some type of unsupportive wicker on bottom and then the back was like wrought iron or something. Charming to look at, but ouch. -
Review from Jeff Y.
12/9/2011
I came here when some friends called for a spontaneous Sunday brunch.
I really liked the atmosphere and decoration of this place! I haven't had much Cuban food in the past though, so I can't comment on the authenticity of the food.
Nevertheless, I ordered the Paella Valenciana (which admittedly is a Spanish dish) that came out piping hot in a HUGE bowl. I tend to eat a lot, so the fact that I was quite full after finishing this dish says a lot! xD But based on all the other dishes my companions ordered, the portion size at Kuba Kuba is quite generous. =)
It's not exactly an inexpensive place, but there are definitely dishes under $10 that are more than satisfying. I look forward to coming back to try more of their food, perhaps some of the specials on the blackboard or their desserts! =D -
Review from John E.
Richmond, VA
3/12/2012
Everything has been said by this point. The straight-up Cuban sandwich is my favorite.
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Review from Byron B.
San Jose, CA
12/27/2011
I'm giving Kuba Kuba 2 stars, one for the Tres Leches cake, and one for the empanadas. In my opinion the service and the food was not what I expected based on the raving reviews. Obviously the people that gave this place high marks have never been to an authentic Cuban restaurant before. For my entrée I had the arroz con pollo, a basic Cuban dish that couldnt be messed up right? wrong. The rice had no flavor and the chicken was dry. The place wasn't that crowed yet our server took forever to bring our appetizers and she seemed overwhelmed. I was just visiting VA and wanted to stop by because I saw the piece on the food network. The cake was delicious but not worth a repeat.
bb -
Review from Nguyen V.
Midlothian, VA
2/6/2012
Amazing coffee. Get the coffee with condensed milk, so good you'd almost believe you were in New Orleans sipping on a cup of Cafe Du Monde coffee.
The dinner is generally very tasty and the rotating specials are always a welcomed sight. Brunch is amazing so get there at 9 AM or else you won't get a seat. -
Review from Aaron W.
Henrico, VA
Okay...
First of all, I have to start off by saying that there are those in an uproar about this place not being completely "authentic Cuban food" and that the food is inconsistent. As far as the inconsistency goes, I have no logical argument with which to dispute such claims, yet, I have not had either poor food or service here; rather, both have been wonderful.
As for the authenticity of the food, I wish to point out one thing: this is a business. Despite whatever you feel should or should not be done, and regardless of any single person's opinion as to what constitutes authenticity or not, a business will do what is necessary to stay...in...business.
Admittedly, New York has better Cuban food, and Miami (Little Cuba) is home to what is arguably the best Cuban food you will get in the U.S., but that is due to the high concentration of Cubans! Here in Richmond, VA, Kuba Kuba is still in business, therefore, they must be doing something right. Keep in mind as well that businesses only survive as long as they are progressive and willing to change. No place is this rule more necessary than in the culinary world.
The menu has items on it that are classically progressive, however, some items are still done the old fashioned way, as it has been proven to be the best way. The sandwiches are good, the entrees are ample, and everything else I've had is, well...quite tasty. My wife (who is Latina and a native of Miami) has thoroughly enjoyed everything that she has ordered as well. The service has always been good, if not great, and the owner makes you feel very welcome.
The spot is intimate, like a lot of Richmond locations, but there are several booths and a bar in addition to tables. The parking is...well, it's the city. Expect to walk.
Oh, and in closing, there is one additional note.
In America, respect is thought to be earned, not given. In Latin culture, it is the other way around. Hospitality, as well, is a way of life. You may find that you will get better service if you keep these things in mind, as you will have shown your hosts that you respect them, and appreciate their hospitality.
In the end, if you are looking for a recommendation, you've got it. I believe this place is a hit. -
Review from Julianne G.
Richmond, VA
8/17/2011
I love Kuba Kuba! Haven't had a bad meal yet, and I've now experienced KK three ways: catering, take-out, and dinner (in house).
As a vegetarian, I love the fact that not only can I eat here, but I can eat freakin' delicious food. I'm guessing the spinach and ricotta empanadillas aren't exactly authentic Cuban cuisine...but, hey. I can put away too many for my own good. The black bean soup is served with a big hunk of cornbread (not too moist so that it tastes like cake, not too dry so that it tastes old; i.e.-perfect). I ate one of the veg sandwiches (pesto). It was ok; a little too much bread. Did I really just write that--too much bread is a bad thing? Stick with those black beans, man. Tasty and full of protein.
The hubs enjoyed the "Kuban" roast pork and preferred it over the traditional Cuban sandwich (he claims NYC's Cuban sandwiches cannot be topped).
Prices: Decent. In the middle.
Service: Ours was great. It seems like other Yelpers have had issues, but I have no complaints. Waiter was observant but not overbearing.
Atmosphere: Fun. Expect a wait if you have a party of 4+. There are several signs that read: "Booths only for parties of 4 or more"....so....bring a book and try not to stare or drool at other customers' food. -
Review from Bridget M.
Norfolk, VA
2/19/2012
We visited on a Saturday about noon. The place was teeming with people - so expect a wait (but it's worth it!). Our server, Amanda, definitely earns her keep. Although she wasn't the only one working, it sure seemed to be the case. Not once did we see her get impatient or even frown.
Unless you love to gorge yourself at every meal be prepared to have leftovers.
I had Salmon and Spinach Tortilla (basically an omelet with salmon, spinach, and various vegetables). Don't think of your usual American-style omelet but instead it is a circular mound of loveliness. The salmon was smoked but it did not overpower the the green peppers and onions.
We had a side of tostones and Moros y Cristianos (red beans and rice with red pepper and onion). The tostones were prepared differently than how I usually have them in that they are not mashed and a little dry. If you're used to having your tostones with ajo y aceite (garlic and olive oil) you'll have to ask for it separately but at no charge.
The Moros y Cristianos was a little low on flavor but very filling.
The coffee (un Cubano) in typical Cuban fashion was strong and done to perfection. My wife had limeade (sparkling water with a little sugar and fresh lime) was very satisfying.
An overall great experience. One we wouldn't hesitate to repeat. The food was good quality Cuban food. -
Review from Jeremy W.
Richmond, VA
12/18/2011
Enjoyed a great brunch at Kuba Kuba, food was great as usual. The portions are a good size and the food is delicious. I had the egg, chorizo and swiss sandwich and sampled the huevos rancheros and the salmon omelet. We also got an extra side of the fried plantains. The cuban sandwiches and tres leche cake are amazing too. The only reason they are getting four stars instead of five is because of their seating policy (all members of your party must be present to be seated) and the waitress was slow on the refills. I'm sure we will be back soon though.
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Review from Sarah G.
Kuba Kuba, what happened?!
I traveled 3,000 miles with a main goal of eating at one of my favorite restaurants of all time...only to find that it's not longer as good as I remember.
I thought, well maybe my palate is more sophisticated since the last time I've been here. But that's just not the case, as the people in my dinner party were also aghast at how things have slipped.
The plantains were dry and overcooked, the arroz con pollo was sloppy and the empenadillas were over-fried. Perhaps it was a bad night? The only fare that was good were my friend's sandwiches, which are pretty hard to mess up.
The worst part was the service. Our waiter was the only one on duty and he looked a little scrambled. He kept forgetting things and walking around looking a little harried. It was also unbelievably hot inside the restaurant, and during a typical east coast summer night that's a no-no.
Well, Kuba Kuba, it looks like this will be the last time I see you since I don't want to waste a perfectly good trip to Richmond eating here. There's better elsewhere.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/13/2010
Whenever I come to Richmond, I pretty much demand that my friend take me here because it's so… Read more »
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Review from Alan H.
Richmond, VA
7/24/2011
Well well well where to start with Kuba Kuba. Fresh ingredients, huge
portions, excellent Cuban food! What more can you ask for? Although, I can't say that I am a Cuban food connoisseur, I believe that this is the
closest I've had to authentic Cuban food. They really know how to blend the flavors of the ingredients in such a simple way that hits the spot every time I visit.
I've tried the pork and rice, paella, chicken and rice, another pork
entrée, bbq Cuban, sloppy jose, and the huevos ranchers. All dishes were very tasty but if I had to pick a favorite, I'd pick one of the pork
dishes. The pork is so tender and moist that it always leaves me wanting more! Out of the sandwiches, both were good but I'd have to give the trophy to the sloppy jose. It pretty much reminded me of a Cuban French dip sandwich. The pork was so tender and the bun was moist with an au jois sauce. I'm salivating just thinking about it! The only caveat is that it was a special so keep your fingers crosses that it's there when you visit.
There is one thing I've been dying to try and it's the tres leche cake! It
was featured on the food network and unfortunately the past two times they ran out of cake. =( sad day. But that means it's legit. I'll be back!
The one knock I have is that the service is slow. The place itself is
small but I like that aspect of the restaurant. It gives a little Richmond
culture to the atmosphere. When you come here, make sure you have time so you can just enjoy your meal. Good food takes time to prepare and it's definitely worth the wait! -
Review from Amanda H.
Richmond, VA
1/27/2012
Love love love this place. My boyfriend who lives out of town demands that we eat here when he visits, because he craves it when he's back home.
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Review from Derick K.
Richmond, VA
4/18/2011
Guess who is never coming back into this place. This guy here. Substandard service, food that is "m'eh" OK. The girl serving my friend and I put me in such a mood that actually laser beams shot from my eyes and split the table in two. Well not really, but if I had such abilities, she would have sparked them.
My friend and I sat down at an open table. Well actually all of them were open, so we sat at what looked to be the most comfortable of all the tables, the booth. She snaps at us that we aren't allowed to sit there, those tables are reserved for parties of 3+ (nowhere was this posted), and that we had sit in the middle of the dining room at one of the tables. It was actually like she was saying, "how dare you sit here in this NOT BUSY restaurant and take up tables that aren't in use, and only might be in use." I was ready to leave but I was assured that the food is amazing and blah blah blah. So I ordered Huevos Rancheros and a Cafe con Leche. I can't lie, the coffee was uh-mazingly delicious. I love a strong cup of coffee and this was definitely IT. The food, however, were overcooked eggs. And I already had inherited a pretty stank attitude from my server.
A lot of my friends swear this place is delicious and probably the best Cuban food that they've ever had. Methinks not. -
Review from Lisa G.
12/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love the IDEA of this hole in the wall more than I love it in actuality. Love the atmosphere (don't even mind waiting in the line out the door or grabbing a seat at the bar), love that it's always bustling, love the decor, love the tres leches cake... I just don't love the food. My Cuban sandwich was dry. The plantains were not very flavorful. The pan seared salmon is just okay. Service is not exactly friendly, but they don't mean any harm. They're just always so damned busy. That said, I know I'll be back.
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Review from Jessie P.
Washington, DC
12/14/2011
The entrees are great and reasonably priced, but the prize? The Tres Leches cake. There is an elderly woman slaving away over her oven at home so I can enjoy a slice of this cake. (You can order a whole one of this homemade masterpiece as well with a 3 day notice.) The service is friendly and attentive. Once we even came 15 minutes after closing for a coffee (do you know how impossible it is to find coffee at 9pm on a Sunday?) and she whipped one up for us -- which reminds me, try the Cafe con Leche.
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Review from juan g.
Richmond, VA
3/25/2011
Where the fuck are the black beans?
The GF and I made a visit to Kuba Kuba with pretty high expectations given our fellow Yelpers' reviews. Fail, Kuba Kuba, fail. The stupid chair I sat in was wobbly, the stupid table was wobbly, the stupid waitress kept bumping into me every time she would pass by because it was so cramped. I felt bad for the people waiting in the entry way because I knew one of them would share my wobbly fate as well.
Anyways, onto the food. My biggest issue was the moros and cristianos. They are supposed to be fucking black beans. That right there cost them a star, folks. I am not sure why it is such a big deal, but it is. Moros and cristianos are meant to be rice and black beans. It is the equivalent of ordering buffalo wings with ranch and getting buffalo wings with a vinaigrette. Close, but not really.
You can do a lot better than this place. If you really are in the mood for some Cuban I guess you have to bite the bullet. If you are considering your options, look elsewhere. Oh, and the spoiled cherry on top, parking is a bitch. -
Review from Bianca C.
Richmond, VA
Really enjoyed my roast pork mojo but my husband said his paella was bland. Best flan I've ever had. Huge portions. Fun, lively atmosphere and great prices. Will definitely return for more.
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Review from Amanda M.
Richmond, VA
1/12/2012
I love you, Kuba Kuba. You know I do. I am w you almost once a week.
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Review from Amie L.
Henrico, VA
We visited Kuba Kuba this weekend for lunch. I enjoyed the cozy feel of the place and loved the music that was playing.
I had a really hard time deciding to rate between a 2 or a 3. I went with a 2 because I don't see us coming back to dine here, at a 3 I would try it again. If I was rating on the Cafe con leche alone it would be a 5 star, damn that stuff was good!!!
Cuban Sandwich - The pork completely ruined this sandwich, the meat was very very dry and didn't have much flavor except for the distinct flavor of reheated leftover meat. uck I enjoyed the mild taste of what seemed to be homemade pickles. The pork had such a terrible flavor I actually could not bring myself to take anpother bite. Luckily this dish wasn't mine :/ The tostones served with the sandwich were good. They were served hot and fresh but they were not too flavorful and I felt like I wanted to be dipping them in something creamy & spicy.
Huevos ranchers were ok but nothing to write home about. I would have expected black beans in the dish but it seems quite a few of the dishes with beans were made with red beans instead.
The empanadillas were very tasty, we ordered one of each, The spinach one was very good, nice and creamy & cheesy. The beef was pretty good as well, it had a different flavor that seemed almost savory and sweet at the same time.
Service was quite slow, it took me literally choking on a bite that took a wrong turn to have the waitstaff finally refill our drinks. Although slow they were friendly except for the older gentleman who may have been the owner. He seemed awfully perturbed when we nonchalantly grabbed a napkin and swept the crumbs and leftover food debris on the counter from the prior patrons into a neat little pile out of our way.
If I was in the area I might stop in for a cafe con leche to go but I wouldn't bother eating a meal here again. -
Review from Kelly H.
Mandeville, LA
12/2/2010
I was talking to a friend from Richmond and realized that I never reviewed this place - so, here is my belated Yelp...
The overall look of this place is total dive - in a very cool way. Very informal but with really good Cuban food,
In fact I will go so far as to say that it serves the best Cuban sandwich I have ever eaten. Like heaven served on a Krispy Kream. Killer black bean soup. And the Cuban Antipasto salad - excellent and can easily feed say, 3 people. The Cuban Coffee - very strong and mixed with sweetened condensed milk is the closest thing to true Cafe Du Monde coffee available outside of NOLA.
All I can say is Kuba Kuba - miss ya babe. Sorry it took me so long to write about you....Listed in: KB's Best of Richmond
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Review from The Richmond P.
Glen Allen, VA
10/29/2011
Let me start off by letting you know, I have nothing nice to say about this restaurant.
The service was terrible. The waitress failed miserably at getting our order in a timely manner, refilling our drinks and just doing anything in general. She was plain awful and from the other reviews I've read, it seems to be a hit or miss situation. Well, I certainly missed.
Now... the food. I ordered the typical Cuban roast pork. Umm, I thought this was a Cuban restaurant? Well, I was mistaken because the pork I received must have been cooked in water with how bland tasting it was and how watered down the meal was. My rice literally sat in a puddle of the instant rice water it was cooked in. The beans were undercooked and had a lovely can taste. (I thought it was supposed to be fresh or something like that??) I was so shocked at how bad the Cuban roast pork was considering this is staple menu item. Apparently the Cuban sandwich is better, but I just want to let you know, Cubans know how to do more than make a sandwich. (Especially since the Cuban sandwich was made in America) Oh well... sorry Kuba Kuba, you stink. -
Review from Nary S.
Glen Allen, VA
5/19/2011
Delicious. Especially after a rough night with too much to drink. The place is always packed from the time it opens on the weekends.
I usually get the Huevos Kuba which are eggs served over Kuban beef hash with rice and Kuban cornbread (which I don't prefer because it's a tad too dry for my taste) with a cup of black freshly brewed Kuban coffee.
My friends usually get the Huevos Rancheros which are eggs over red beans and Kuban bread, topped with Monterey Jack cheese, enchilada sauce and a lime sour cream. Or the classic Kuban.
I hear that the Tortilla con Langostino which is a Spanish style omelet with crawfish, potatos, green peppers and onions is also good. Something I should try next time.
I prefer brunch over dinner. Something about the comfort of the food early on in the day to soak up the aftermath of the prior night works like a charm. -
Review from Stephanie G.
Brookline, MA
4/14/2011
*4.5 Stars*
The weekend brunch is SO. GOOD. Get the tortilla con langostino or huevos rancheros.
And you can still get the Cuban sandwich. The Kubanaso (Cuban with chorizo) is also excellent. The bread it comes on is very tasty.
They also serve sweet tea, which I very much miss now that I live a little farther north. Oh, and don't forget the tres leches cake for dessert. Apparently it is so good that they often run out of it before lunch time is even finished.
I haven't had anything here that wasn't very very good. It's a must try. -
Review from Robert T.
Richmond, VA
10/19/2010 60 Check-ins Here
It seems odd to write a review for a place I eat so often; sort of like rating your family's dinner, or gauging Grandma's cookies with a star rating. Nevertheless. The fact that I eat here as much as I do gives confidence to each of the five stars this place so richly deserves.
The food is always phenomenal (including cornbread that may very well include crack as a seminal ingredient- addictive barely begins to cover it) Manny Mendez, the owner, takes great care in selecting quality ingredients for his specials and daily items alike. For example, I have learned a great deal about what fish is safe to serve or not at various times of year and why from the chefs here. The desserts are handmade by Manny's mother, and who could ask for more than that?
If you havent been to this Fan landmark, treat yourself and go! -
Review from Micah P.
1/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place isn't fancy, but I like the local-business feel to it.
If you like avocados and a slightly hearty salad, try their avocado salad! It also comes with Kuban toast which is absolutely delicious! I'm a big fan of their chicken and pineapple sandwich as well. The chicken is grilled and marinated. Also, most of their food comes with some fried plantains which are really yummy.
It's a good place to go to if you're entertaining friends from out of the area. -
Review from T N.
Cary, NC
3/6/2012
Very good food, huge portions and reasonably priced.
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Review from Jess H.
1/29/2011
Like other reviewers have said, this place is small and completely unpretentious, which I love. They could stand to have bigger (and less wobbly) tables, though.
We got here at about 6 pm on a Friday night...PERFECT TIMING because a couple minutes later the waiting area was completely full. Street parking is 1 hour only unless you have a permit, so just be aware of your time!
We started with the empanadillas (one beef, one spinach), tostones, and moros y cristianos. The empanadillas were amazing. The beef is so savory and the spinach and cheese extra creamy. The tostones (fried plantains) were cooked very well, but tasted a bit dry just served on their own...I kept wanting to dip them in something. I could have done without the moros y cristianos (beans and rice). First of all, I thought it was supposed to be black beans? Not red? And the rice was yummy but a little too soggy. It was a humongous serving for a starter plate.
For the entree we shared a ropa vieja. Again with the soggy rice! And no black beans! I was really disappointed, I'd been looking forward to black beans :( The pulled pork was absolutely delicious, though. -
Review from Lenny C.
Potomac, MD
2/26/2011
I had heard a lot of good things about this restaurant from my Richmond friends, so a while back, while delivering some artwork to a local collector, I dropped by and had dinner.
The atmosphere is very trendy and somewhat hip, which is something different from most Cuban restaurants outside of NYC. It looked like a very cool restaurant which happened to serve (I was told) great Cuban food.
I knew that something was wrong when I was served a basket of chips and salsa while I ordered my food.
I rationalized it as the fact that in Richmond, even a Cuban restaurant has to "normalize" and come down to the fact that a lot of people think that Mexico starts south of the border and there are no other culinary traditions elsewhere in the twenty-something other nations in the Americas.
Notice to Kuba Kuba: Cuban food does not include chips and salsa... perhaps a serving of mariquitas (fried, thin chips made out of plantains), but not Mexican tortilla chips - in a Cuban cuisine, a tortilla is an omelette.
I ordered the most basic of Cuban dishes, which of course, came with the staple of Cuban food: white rice and black beans.
There is a long cultural tradition assigned to this dish, and even its Cuban Spanish name (moros y cristianos or "moors and christians") tell you something about the dish (rumored to honor the 100th anniversary in 1592 of Queen Isabella's final victory over the Moors in 1492).
I was horrified when my moros y cristianos was brought to me with the black beans piled atop the white rice.
HUGE cultural gaffe! These two parts of this key Cuban dish are always, always, always served in separate dishes and only the eater can mix them, if he/she desires to mix it.
When cooked together, a different dish, called "congri" is the star.
Overall, the food was acceptable, but far from stellar or memorable, although it is probably one of the few variants of Latin American food available to Richmonders... too bad the owners (I am willing to bet they're not of Cuban ancestry) miss the rich cultural tradition that goes along with Cuban food.
Fail!
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