Havana Sandwich Shop

It’s cliche to use palm trees as a beacon to find Latin-Caribbean food in Atlanta. But it also happens to work since this squat yellow building adorned with painted palm trees stands out on a busy Buford Highway strip. Inside, walls of press clippings and winding lunchtime lines are the only thing that’ll prepare you for the Cuban flavors you’re about to experience here. They all tout Havana as one of the best restaurants in Atlanta. And they’re not wrong. 

Havana has attained their status of greatness by sticking to a simple formula: making standard, classic Cuban dishes that taste like a comforting hug with the kind of warmth and soul that only generational recipes can bring. They’re most well-known for their Cubano. So when you make it to the order counter, engage in this rite of passage and get one of the city’s finest takes on the classic sandwich. And once you become a regular (and you will), there’ll be time to explore every inch of the lengthy menu from their light, flaky empanadas to a tender ropa vieja. They’ve been churning out these types of classics since 1976, and while longevity isn’t always the best indicator of quality (cough, cough The Varsity), in this case Havana Sandwich Shop is tried and true.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Amy Sinclair

The Cuban

We don’t usually like to be bossy. But this is the best thing on the menu (thinly sliced pork and ham, cheese, pickles, and mustard on perfectly crispy bread), so just get it.

Medianoche

This sandwich takes all the classic Cubano filling and piles it on sweet, soft egg bread. After double digit taste tests, we’re still unsure if we like this or the OG version more.

Ropa Vieja

This is great Cuban comfort food. It’s a cup of shredded beef with onions and peppers and a tomato-based sauce. It's served with rice that we often leave untouched because the beef is perfect on its own. There’s no hope of leftovers with this one.

Black Bean Soup

How can a cup of black beans and onions taste this good? We’ve worked our way toward the bottom of countless cups, and we still don’t have an answer.

photo credit: Amy Sinclair

Chicken And Jalapeño Empanada

This crust is so light and airy we wouldn’t be surprised to learn it had levitating capabilities. The inside oozes with cheese and the little bit of spice from the jalapeños keeps us on our toes.

Piccadillo Plate

The mixture of tender ground beef, onions, and green olives has been slowly simmered to perfection to maximize it’s savory, tangy flavors. The side of yellow or white rice makes the dish more filling.

Arroz Con Pollo Plate

This isn’t your everyday plate of chicken and rice. Every time we dig into moist chicken that effortlessly falls away from the bone, we wonder why this never happens to chicken we cook at home. Paired with yellow rice, sweet fried plantains, and a slightly spicy red salsa this quartet deserves a green room and entourage.

photo credit: Amy Sinclair

photo credit: Amy Sinclair

photo credit: Amy Sinclair