Cafe Habana

We had the fish tacos and the cubano sandwich. The tacos were just OK. Felt like the seasoning needed to be tweaked. The cubano was good with perfect cubano bread. the Pork was a bit dry, like it spent too much time in a crock pot. Service was attentive and good. The place is a bit dark, so you might have a rough time reading the menu.

Came for a late lunch. Service was great, food came out hot and fresh. A little skimpy on the avocado and the spanish rice was lightly flavored but it still made for a great meal. Get the dessert ice cream churro, even if you're full, its not that big but deliciousness is over the top!

I tried this place about 6 months ago when I was in search of a Taco Tuesday deal. Unfortunately, this place had no such thing. I ordered two tacos (steak and salmon) and they were served with beans and rice. I got a beer with it and my bill totaled about $25, which wasn't really ideal, but I really enjoyed the food nonetheless. The meat quality was very good. Both had a very soft texture and it seemed to just melt in your mouth. They were also seasoned very appropriately; not too much and not too little. The texture of the beans were so smooth that they were almost creamy. Even the rice was nice and moist with lots of flavor. The chips and salsa were pretty good as well. I really liked the atmosphere of this place. It had somewhat of an elegant, high end appearance inside, but had more of a cozy feel as I was sitting at the bar. The bartender was very personable and friendly. The place was not that crowded, so we chitchated about hiking, basketball, and some other things about the LA area. It's definitely always good talking to locals about what to do in the area. Overall, while this wasn't particularly the kind of place that I had in mind, the food was very good. The prices aren't low but the quality does kind of make up for it.

This place doesn’t get enough attention! Cafe Habana is a great spot for casual v delicious food: dinner/drinks. Great management, great staff made the experience wonderful! - Margarita was made w freshest lime juice (really different!) - Kale* salad (w separate on a side) salmon was rare-delicious, salmon was perfectly cooked: moist, tender, buttery, just perfect! **prep urself for some jaw work with any kale salad, haha. - Chicken enchilada was also tasteful, all of their ingredients were super fresh and (personally-surprisingly) all Organic. Pics were taken after 30 mins being in a box. Would def recommend this place for spontaneous great dining/lunch/drinks!

The food was SO GOOD (all caps). Go here!! You can also make any of their alcoholic drinks virgin. Service was friendly and atmosphere is so cute and charming. Definitely insta worthy.

Been wanting to try them out for the longest but unfortunately not much of a vibe if any. Staff seemed checked out and not happy to be there as well. Dark lit with low energy team has lots of potential for some good tunes and a fun after dinner vibe. Some live music and or a DJ on weekends would be sweet! Malibu needs some more energy!

I visited here for the second time and in summary it's a decent meal with some great drinks. Nothing about this place has a wow factor, although I do get a sense that it has some heart... at least the bartender does. I think it's a decent experience without too much effort in the sense of you just show up and get sat right away. The staff is nice and attentive but not your typical corporate server type. If you're out shopping and looking for an easy meal, check it out! Foodies may not be impressed.

asked for an inside table and they sat us on the on the patio. i’m sure it’s really nice out there on a warm summer day. restaurant was busy on a saturday evening. waiter was nice, but mostly kind of ignored us. strawberry basil margarita just tasted like a regular margarita. looked nice though. carne asada was delicious. wish it came with plantains, but you have to order it separate.

We had the fish tacos and the cubano sandwich. The tacos were just OK. Felt like the seasoning needed to be tweaked. The cubano was good with perfect cubano bread. the Pork was a bit dry, like it spent too much time in a crock pot. Service was attentive and good. The place is a bit dark, so you might have a rough time reading the menu.

Came for a late lunch. Service was great, food came out hot and fresh. A little skimpy on the avocado and the spanish rice was lightly flavored but it still made for a great meal. Get the dessert ice cream churro, even if you're full, its not that big but deliciousness is over the top!

I tried this place about 6 months ago when I was in search of a Taco Tuesday deal. Unfortunately, this place had no such thing. I ordered two tacos (steak and salmon) and they were served with beans and rice. I got a beer with it and my bill totaled about $25, which wasn't really ideal, but I really enjoyed the food nonetheless. The meat quality was very good. Both had a very soft texture and it seemed to just melt in your mouth. They were also seasoned very appropriately; not too much and not too little. The texture of the beans were so smooth that they were almost creamy. Even the rice was nice and moist with lots of flavor. The chips and salsa were pretty good as well. I really liked the atmosphere of this place. It had somewhat of an elegant, high end appearance inside, but had more of a cozy feel as I was sitting at the bar. The bartender was very personable and friendly. The place was not that crowded, so we chitchated about hiking, basketball, and some other things about the LA area. It's definitely always good talking to locals about what to do in the area. Overall, while this wasn't particularly the kind of place that I had in mind, the food was very good. The prices aren't low but the quality does kind of make up for it.

This place doesn’t get enough attention! Cafe Habana is a great spot for casual v delicious food: dinner/drinks. Great management, great staff made the experience wonderful! - Margarita was made w freshest lime juice (really different!) - Kale* salad (w separate on a side) salmon was rare-delicious, salmon was perfectly cooked: moist, tender, buttery, just perfect! **prep urself for some jaw work with any kale salad, haha. - Chicken enchilada was also tasteful, all of their ingredients were super fresh and (personally-surprisingly) all Organic. Pics were taken after 30 mins being in a box. Would def recommend this place for spontaneous great dining/lunch/drinks!

The food was SO GOOD (all caps). Go here!! You can also make any of their alcoholic drinks virgin. Service was friendly and atmosphere is so cute and charming. Definitely insta worthy.

Been wanting to try them out for the longest but unfortunately not much of a vibe if any. Staff seemed checked out and not happy to be there as well. Dark lit with low energy team has lots of potential for some good tunes and a fun after dinner vibe. Some live music and or a DJ on weekends would be sweet! Malibu needs some more energy!

I visited here for the second time and in summary it's a decent meal with some great drinks. Nothing about this place has a wow factor, although I do get a sense that it has some heart... at least the bartender does. I think it's a decent experience without too much effort in the sense of you just show up and get sat right away. The staff is nice and attentive but not your typical corporate server type. If you're out shopping and looking for an easy meal, check it out! Foodies may not be impressed.

asked for an inside table and they sat us on the on the patio. i’m sure it’s really nice out there on a warm summer day. restaurant was busy on a saturday evening. waiter was nice, but mostly kind of ignored us. strawberry basil margarita just tasted like a regular margarita. looked nice though. carne asada was delicious. wish it came with plantains, but you have to order it separate.

Came with our family, 3 young children, for lunch on a Thursday. This place far exceeded my expectations. The food was delicious!! My go-to meal at any restaurant is a chicken Ceasar salad, if it's good I continue to eat at that restaurant and try other menu items. This restaurant had the best CS I've had in a LONG time. Comimg back ASAP

Many amazing celebrations, occasions, and memories have been made here since my children were little. Now, my boys are in college, and my daughter is off traveling for work. The service, food, drinks, and desserts have been incredible every time! Last night, I had a delicious taco salad and shared a bottle of champagne with the wonderful man in my life. He loved the burrito, and we ended up boxing up the generous portions to take home. We couldn't resist sharing the fried burrito ice cream--it was indulgent and worth every bite. I'm so grateful for the warm greeting from the host and the excellent service from Faith and Dan, who served our champagne perfectly chilled in an ice bucket. A special thanks to the kind young man who checked in on us, even though I can't remember his name. The ambiance on PCH is beautiful, especially at the Malibu Cross Shopping location. The outdoor dining area is pet-friendly, which is a big plus for us since we often bring our dog. I highly recommend making a reservation, especially on weekends when it gets crowded. Valet parking is available too, which is super convenient.

My family and I were in town for my husbands birthday. It was our first time in this area and we were having such a great time. One of our friends, who travels and stays regularly around this area, gave us a list of recommended restaurants to try. We decided on Cuban food from the list, and started walking over. We were seated right away. Immediately after that things just started going downhill. Let me start off by saying that if you are coming here for actual Cuban food, don't. I think the only thing Cuban about this place on their menu was a Cuban sandwich. Everything else on the menu was more like Mexican cuisine. Nothing wrong with that since we love Mexican food, however that's not what we came for. And The food was also ok at best. It lacked flavor but we still ate it. Now the service was where things took a left turn. After being seated, the 1st guy who helped us, asked us if we wanted any drinks to get started. He then proceeded to throw napkins down at our table as if they were frisbee's. His energy was way off and it seemed like he didn't want to be there or even help us. That should have been our first sign to get up and leave but we ended up staying. We then had a second man tend to our table and his service was horrible. He gave us dirty looks the entire time. Even my kids noticed. He hovered over our table the entire time. Every time he refilled our water, we would say thank you and he would roll his eyes without a word to say and then proceed to walk away. He seemed disgusted, annoyed and angry literally the entire time. He was standing right by our table as if waiting for us to hurry up and finish our food. When it was time to remove our plates from our table he turned over us, annoyed he asked if we were done and halfway through us saying yes, he just picked up the plates and left. It was such an awkward experience. We were so excited to try this place but left so disappointed. I wish we would've chose another restaurant from the list we were given. We felt so unwelcomed and that really sucked. I hope that if you do end up trying this place out, you have a better experience than my family and I had.

Pros -Quick service -Cute ambiance -Large menu to satisfy all cravings, diets, etc. -Strong margs (ordered the 818 prickly pear one) Cons -Hostess had an attitude

Cafe Habana is without a doubt one of the nicest decorated restaurant I have been to and I am glad I finally was able to visit this hidden gem while in Malibu for business. Everything from the Chips and Salsa to the Cubano Sandwich and the Roasted Plantains were the bomb! 5 stars for reasonably priced and tasty food, plus friendly service!!

The food was amazing in the place. I really liked the chicken tinga tacos. Only thing is that the corn tortillas fall apart which is expected. The service was great the waiter was very attentive. Sat outside in patio. The ambiance was great, I liked the wall painting and fresh plants bordering the patio.

Enjoyed dinner with friends, and was pleasantly surprised by their signature Margaritas, Carne Asada Entrees, good service, reasonably priced, and cool, hip, atmosphere vibe! Glad we found Cafe Habana, and will be going again! We sat in the patio dining area, next time we will sit in the bar area.

This is one of my favorite restaurants to visit in Malibu! Conveniently located close to some of the best beaches in Malibu, especially for those looking to surf the world famous First Point by the Malibu Pier and Lagoon, this restaurant serves as the perfect place to relax & dine, post surf. The ambiance here is incredible with super comfortable seating in their open air spaces, great music, attentive staff, and wonderful menu. You can't come here and not try their classic Cubano sandwich, which I have to say as a Native Floridian with Cuban family all from South Florida, checks all the boxes! Drinks are always refreshing & mixed perfectly and their coffees are exactly as the islands would order. Don't forget to try and save room for their deserts which are never disappointing.

First time coming here, and it was super amazing. Thank You Dave K!! Everything was super good. Fish tacos and the sticky chicken sandwich yum

We were looking for a place to eat and with two children under 2 and a dog, we were definitely looking for something a bit more laid back. Cafe Habana looked like it'd fit the bill. The patio looks cozy and a great place to hang out. The hostess was nice enough to give us the large table in the back so we had some space to spread out as well. Unfortunately the food was lackluster. First of all, majority of the menu was Mexican rather than Cuban. Second the prices are a bit higher but given the location that's not surprising nor would I count that against them. But the food is a solid 2 star for us. Chips for the table was nice but the salsa was watery. The Cuban sandwich was decent but the fish taco was disappointing. Everything on the kids menu was $15+ and frankly nothing special.

Another 5 Star restaurant revelation!! Wow! Not sure why I've never been here!? Cuban/Mexican inspired food-Located in the very popular Malibu Country Mart which faces PCH, on Creekside in the Lumber District (south/west section) trendy cool vibe-rustic spot! The indoor dining also has a full bar, we sat on the patio in a comfy couch like booth, very "woodsy" and nicely shaded... also dog friendly! Our server Cole was very sweet and super helpful with the menu, really knew it well! Sharing his thoughts on many different items, which my husband and I love!! Always helps us decide what to order! We LOVED the calamari appetizer! Thank you Cole for helping us decide! Cooked just right! Light & crispy Yum! My fried chicken sandwich was delicious! It had a spicy slaw on it, pickles and a spicy honey sauce. Definitely reminded me of a cubano-awesome flavors! My husbands asada steak was fantastic! Topped with a little Chimichurri sauce (the best!!) and he asked for more...Served with black beans, rice and a little salsa. Cooked perfectly (medium rare). An excellent meal from start to finish! Highly recommend! Locals! Outta-t owners! You must try it!

Absolutely delicious meals with a great atmosphere. The staff were attentive. The menu had a lot to choose fromfrom. My absolute favorite item was Mexican style corn. This place is good for a date, and also great for large groups and events. The parking might be a bit challenging.

The service here is terrible. Save your money and go elsewhere. We sat for 15 min without being greeted by anyone. Finally a server came be and we got some chips and salsa and the he vanished Then a nice bartender noticed we were looking around and came to take our order. Ordered apps and mains at same time. Fish tacos (the main) came first after 5 min. Then it took probably another 15 min for hamburger sliders the awful excuse for a salad pictured in review for $17. They also brought my bowl at the same time. Why do we order apps if they come with the main meal.!? I mean this isn't a 5 star restaurant but at least have some BASIC STANDARD OF SERVICE. Manager said there was a kitchen error and that no one wanted to work cause it was a holiday. Welp, not the customer's fault, sorry. I don't understand how a ticket can be screwed up that much that you bring fish tacos, the main meal, before a salad ( the appetizer). I'm shocked a place like this is allowed in that Malibu shopping area. The host were nice and looked for silverware for us since our server was MIA. Manager did comp the apps which was nice but honestly, it shoulda been done without being said.

Walked into bar to pick up a to go order. Was ignored and had three kids in tow. Said to someone who worked there I believe that order is mine. He proceeded to fill a water pitcher, he was not doing this prior, I did not interrupt. When he finished, asked my name. I told him. He didn't even look at me when handing me the bag. The place was not busy at all. Felt very ignored.

the best cuban food in malibu I will be coming here every time I come to Malibu for the freshest seafood and great tacos. Service is great cute venue to come and enjoy the ocean breeze and the local shops. i love this decor and atmosphere as well. Cheers

We were a little hesitant to try this place due to the low rating. We were a party of eight with kids and adults and everybody loved the place. I can't understand all the negative reviews. The food is great, the service is great and it was totally reasonably priced. we had an awesome experience. Recommend the enchiladas and steak tacos.

Wow! So DISAPPOINTED!! I've been to this place multiple times before and our service was always pretty decent. I love their steak salad but this time around our service was just AWFUL!!! Like it was REALLY REALLY BAD! It took a while for our server to even greet us. Our food finally arrives and we don't have utensils - server is no where to be found so we have to walk up to the hostess and ask for utensils. Fish tacos were below average but my steak salad was good. Chips and salsa was good but guacamole was average. I wanted more dressing and my bf needed a refill on his Diet Coke and surprise our server was still no where to be found. Asked another staff member to bring it out. We wait and wait for our check and our server is literally gone- no where to be found. It's unbelievable. I've always liked their Cuban coffee so we decide to order it to go and it was not good- definitely didn't taste like the past times I've ordered it. We flag our waiter and he seems defensive and says he made it and added condensed milk - it's sweet. We ask for a new one. LOL he brings back the same to go cup without adding any more sweetener. Unbelievable. What a waste of our time and money! This waiter should have been stiffed but we were kind enough to tip 15%. Never ever coming here again. Please get better servers.

Ahhhhh, what to say... really great outdoor vibe, good cocktails, but the food was just three stars. The Carne Asada was small and needed more chimichurri -and more asada as well haha.

The food is good, not exceptional, the atmosphere is fine but the service is terrible. I've been here several times hoping it would be better, but there just doesn't seem to be anyone in charge. Ever. Wait staff hangs out with each other and pays very little attention to their diners.

The food was lacking seasoning and took over 2 hours to get out. We got there and were helped after waiting for an hour and a half. We didn't get water after asking multiple times. The Mexican corn was okay but was over priced. Asked for bbq sauce and didn't come out until the check came.

The food mediocre. BUT THE SERVICE from the So-called "chef/manager" had very unprofessional manners. We had reservation at 7 didn't get our food till 8:15 with food that is like-warm to cold. We asked for us to pay for the calamari but needed to leave for another reservation at 9 in Santa Monica. He was talking back, starring me in the eyes like he was trying to check me, & saying "how about you never come back?" HAHAHA honey why would I wanna come back for a poor cook and even sadder "manager". Your food is gross and mediocre just like your attitude.

Food is always amazing The slaw on the burger is what makes the burger. Service is always great but Sharon is always the nicest & tentative even when they're busy.

Service was amazing - really kind and attentive servers. Food we ordered was just ok. The guac was had to start was good, but for entrees the rice and beans were a bit dry and I wish my fish tacos had some type of slaw for texture and flavor balance. My friend and I had a pitcher of the strawberry basil margarita to share which was pretty good. We were seated in their outdoor area on a nice day so it was a plus that the beach was walking distance. If I came back again I'd probably just get some appetizers and drinks.

Something happened at Cafe Habana that left me feeling very perplexed. I ordered a salmon burger with no bun, and the waitress asked me, "how would you like that cooked?". I wanted to say, "cook it enough-not under, not over." Who wants fish that's under or overcooked? Nobody! Well, unless it's supposed to be undercooked like seared ahi. Anyways, I actually said, "The salmon?", and the waitress said nonchalantly, "yeah, like medium, medium-well, well-done." So, I said, "umm, medium, I guess." It was a middle-of-the-road answer, for I didn't want sushi nor a filet that was dry as cardboard. Can you see why I was perplexed? The salmon was cooked nicely-medium, like I requested. It came with tasty fries. DH went with chicken tinga tacos, which were pretty good but a bit spicy. Service was friendly albeit a bit aloof-what do you expect in the heart of Malibu? The ambiance is very relaxed and cozy. The patio is lovely. They had sports on the TV at the bar, very relaxed atmosphere. This is not really Cuban fare- it's more Mexican with some Cuban dishes like a Cubano sandwich and plantains. Parking is behind the restaurant in the Lumberyard. In the afternoon, the lot might be guarded and blocked by security. You just need to tell him where you're going, and he'll open the driveway for you.

Such a shame that this place has really gone down hill. Use to come all the time with friends but now I most likely will never again. I read some of the other reviews and realized that we all have shared the same experience, staff would rather talk to each other, go on their phones, and literally Im not joking pick their nose (I saw the receptionist dig and then wipe it on her pants). barf. so unsettling and gross. Waited a super long for my res on Friday, we were a group of 4 and I made our reservation two days before. The drinks were ok, the bartender looked super mean and just not happy to be there. Now our waiter was clearly overwhelmed with serving but not overwhelmed enough to stop talking to everyone at the reception. Our food felt really cold tbh it seemed that stayed under the hot lamp and the waiter just didn't check on it. Sad because I have had a birthday here before but the staff is really just ruining the vibes. I will definitely telling people not to come :(

Always love this place recently got their tofu bowl it was SO good. I was shocked I never imagined they could do tofu. Love their margaritas you can get them to take home in a mason jar one of my fave things bc so cute!

Food here was great and came out fast. The drinks were pretty solid too. Only issue I have was with the service, our waiter was very inattentive and was difficult to flag down on what seemed like a slow night. The manager constantly reprimanding his staff in the middle of the restaurant for everyone to hear was a buzzkill.

So I have to say I hadn't been here for a while and I was really grateful to enjoy a decent lunch with an old friend. Of course they brought us a basket of chips and salsa which were good, I ordered the usual which was a shrimp protein bowl and a drink and my friend ordered the shrimp with kale salad. While my bowl was really good, it did lack flavor and I remember the shrimp being larger with less of them. If I had to re-order I would've ordered the kale salad with shrimp versus what I did. The drink was OK again just OK. I wanna say I like this place more than I did and I'm hoping that it will return to what it once was.

I came here years ago and had a really positive experience so I thought of this restaurant when looking for a place to eat in Malibu. Unfortunately, I didn't read recent reviews ahead and really should have. Although the restaurant was near-empty when I arrived for lunch there was a line to get seated for a table yet no one at the host stand. We were then seated after which we were not helped for about 15 minutes. We tried to order coffees only to be told the espresso machine was broken, which is fine, but we ordered regular coffee and it never came out. The man helping us seemed out of it and completely uninterested in serving us. Eventually a different person came out to take our order, he helped us to order new coffees but another member of the party had to ask three separate times for a Diet Coke. We ordered the corn to share as an appetizer and were not given plates, and no one walked by or checked in so we couldn't ask for them. After eating it also took an odd length of time to get the check. The food was fine, nothing great but not bad, but the service was truly terrible. The ambiance was odd as well. Although I liked the patio decor, a citronella spray went off every few minutes that I found nauseating, and there were so many dogs eating with patrons, none of them service dogs. The bathroom was also much less clean than I would expect at a restaurant like this. One overall gets the impression the restaurant is about to close permanently, and maybe it should. Sad due to how nice I remember this being, but I won't be going back.

We love Cafe Habana! It makes for the perfect end to a great day in Malibu. The yellow rice, shrimp burritos, guacamole & plantains are fantastic! The service is always kind & quick with your food; plenty of seating and the patio is really beautiful! Pair this place with walking around the country mart, grabbing some wine at Strange Family Vineyard (two shops down!) & visiting Malibu Lagoon and you've got the best day! Definitely recommend this place!

Went here off of a recommendation and was extremely disappointed. The host sat us at a terrible table and when we asked for a different one, she said they were completely booked. Then the restaurant remained empty for the entirety of our time there. We sat at our table for 15 minutes without anyone coming over so we flagged down a bus gal and then a waitress came over. She had absolutely no interest in us or our experience, it was awful. We asked for multiple things that we never received. She didn't apologize for never coming over. When we were using the card reader and paying, she just stood there silently with no attempt to make conversation. The food was average. My mahi on my fish tacos was over cooked and dry. Would not recommend due to poor service, no energy or vibe, and the food was nothing special. With how many amazing restaurants there are in the LA area, we were disappointed to waste money here.

Won't accept cash. Ambiance is lovely (particularly the outdoor area on a nice day.) Their food, like their service, is good enough--but no one is going to go the extra mile for you because they are too cool for that. I took my leftovers home, added some sour cream and some hot sauce and gave it some pizazz. Otherwise, the food is good and clean but could use some spice and some friendly service. Even the drinks are good but "meh" and somewhat small for the price. The fact that they refuse to accept cash now is a major turn off.

I will never eat here again. Food is good, service even better, why then won't I eat here? The most Un-American restaurant I have ever been to. They would not take my cash, that's right they would not let me pay using American Currency. Well, this debate went on with the waiter for ten minutes, when I finally told him, take my cash or my business card and send me a bill, but I'm leaving in two minutes, your choice! Guess what? They took my cash. I host many a lunch and dinner with up to 50 people, many of the restaurants in Malibu have soon business with me, this place will not get a second chance. K. Lombino

Food was good, The service total was fine. And lovely. But from the beginning they don't want let us in and sit. Maybe because of kids I was with my two little ones. The lady told me they don't have empty table and the waiting list it's around 50 min. I ask her what about this empty's table. She told me this all for reservations in 1 hour. So I don't understand the logic

Thank You Israel!! We all truly enjoyed our lunch!!! We Love Cafe Habana - You Rock - The Service - The Food - The Lovely Vibe - Many Thanks - A Gem in Malibu!!!

The chips and salsa were pretty mediocre. Salsa tasted like it could have been from a jar - not flavorful at all. I had the Kale Salad with carne asada. I was shocked by how flavorful and impressed I was by this salad. I highly, highly recommend. I plan to make this at home! My fiancé had the Cubano sandwich which definitely had a great sized portion of meat inside. The sandwich was good but not as great as expected. My fiancé did compliment how great the French fries were multiple times. Would come back just for the kale salad but also was very price once I added steak to it. Ended up being nearly $30+ for the salad.

Stumbled on this place while heading home from the beach on Labor Day and was lucky to get seated right away. First thought looking at the name was this place is Cuban. Not really, had more of a Mexican menu. Chips and salsa come out prior to the meal. My husband and I ordered the fish tacos on 2 separate plates to share. We both got a side of rice and beans. The taco was delicious however the rice and beans were lacking flavor. We decided to order a strawberry basil margarita mid meal to give it a try. Well we ended up finishing our meal and waited another 20-30 min and no waiter or drink. It was so long that the table next to us felt bad and decided they will call the manager for us. He came over and said he would personally go make it himself. While he was making it our waiter came back to the table to ask how everything was to his surprise our drink was still not brought out to us. While he went up to the bar the manager has already came back with the margarita and shortly after they brought another one out. The manager said one was on the house since we waited so long for it. I am not sure why it took so long to order drinks because it was not that busy in the restaurant. Honestly, I think the waiter forgot to put our order in which kinda killed the vibe.

I was in Malibu with my family, and we came by this place. The decor of the restaurant was pretty nice, so it left me with a positive first impression but that, unfortunately, didn't last very long. We were seated almost immediately once we got in but it took a half-hour before someone came in to give us our menus, an extra 30 minutes before someone came to take our order, and I couldn't even keep track of how long it took before our food got to the table. We asked the busboy if he could ask a waiter to come over and he said he would but we watched as he went right back to what he was doing. The restaurant wasn't packed so that left me with a lot of questions though it left me with the hope that the food was going to be great. I was also confused by the menu because a place called Cafe Habana sounds Cuban but the food available was Mexican. I ordered a brown rice bowl without the cheese and sour cream and I had guacamole added even though it was extra. When the food came the quality of it was surprising, to say the least. The guacamole tasted store-bought and the rice tasted like it hadn't been cooked on a stove. I was wondering if that were the case then what had been taking so long in the kitchen? Overall I loved the steak that went into the bowl because it was seasoned really nicely and cooked well but I don't plan on coming here again. The Chipotle right down the street has more flavor. We did see Connie Britton sitting near us from American Horror Story and White Lotus. Maybe she had a better experience? I don't know. I would like to see her Yelp review.

Good food and great service! Came on Mother's Day without a reservation. They were hoppin, but found a place to seat us. Food was tasty. Yummy prickly pear mojito, too. Highly recommend!

Oliver was by far the best server I've ever had because he was super chill, accommodating, friendly, helpful, and he was just a peaceful presence. Food was a little less expensive than expected (given the area). Food was fresh and healthy but could have been slightly more flavorful. Corn appetizer was great tho. And the drinks are awesome. We'll definitely be coming back.

I don't normally leave reviews but I downloaded this app specifically to come on here and give this establishments some much needed feedback. We have come here as a family many many times because the kids like the chips and beans and rice - truly dozens and dozens of times as we live nearby. And every time, without fail, we leave disappointed. While you don't expect the food to be extraordinary, and that's fine, you do wish for a mildly enthusiastic staff, who might actually want to be there. This place is a mess and it's from the top down. The manager is aloof, defensive, and even his appearance is unkept and seemingly disgruntled. The trickle down has clearly affected the energy of this restaurant staff as everyone displays a nonchalant, underwhelmed energy as they seat you, wait on you, and try to make the fixes in the kitchen. Sadly, there are a need for many. It's too bad because the setting could be great and the outdoor patio otherwise would be a wonderful destination to frequent. But the bathroom stinks, there's no pride in this place, and the manager exudes negativity. Someone please give this place an overall, so we can justify spending our money here ever again.

Today was my 3rd time, well almost! I went there twice before. The food is ok, fresh, but a little pricey. The 2nd time the service was horrible and so slow. I was on a bike ride on the PCH today and decided to have a break. I was in the area so decided to give another try. I sat outside, but my gears down and waited, waited, waited and waited more. The waiter passed in front of me may be 10 times. Everytime I made eye contact. So he knew I was here. Nothing! No hello, no menu, no water, nothing. After 10 minutes waiting for nothing I left. The place was not busy at all BTW If they don't need my business, I don't need that food.

idk why the ratings here are so low! the food is solid, great location, nice ambiance and close to the beach. they could have better food yes but it's not that bad. i think malibu in general doesn't have the best options but this is solid place we've been coming too for years and we love. the service is great too and they accommodated our large party.

Many AWESome celebrations , occasions & memories since my children were toddlers . Now , my Boys are at University & my Daughter on business travels . So far , the Service , food , drinks & deserts have been IncrEDIBLE !!! Last night , Enjoyed Delicious Taco Salad & bottle of Champagne with the wonderful man in my life . He loved the Burrito . Boxed the remaining Generous Entre's . Shared & Indulged Fried Burrito Ice-cream. Greatest Appreciation for the Welcoming Greeting from the Host , Amazing Service from Faith & Dan serving the Champagne & Chilled in Ice bucket . Thank~you to the kind young gentleman checking if we needed anything (water , etc) can't recall his name . Beautiful Ambience on PCH . Malibu Cross Shopping location . Leashed Pet friendly Outdoor dining . Reservations are Highly recommended esp with Major Crowd Volume & wait times during weekends . Valet parking available .

Amazing ambiance, servers are attentive and although some reviews say it takes a little long for drinks or food the quality IS WORTH the wait. Great drinks great food will definitely be back

Pitcher of margaritas was weak. Minimal tequila. Food was solid but uninspiring. Not planning to go back.

Worst service I've received at any restaurant in years! This place needs to rebrand and stop hiring young adults. Our waiter was inattentive & hostess was rude and snobby.

I visited here for the second time and in summary it's a decent meal with some great drinks. Nothing about this place has a wow factor, although I do get a sense that it has some heart... at least the bartender does. I think it's a decent experience without too much effort in the sense of you just show up and get sat right away. The staff is nice and attentive but not your typical corporate server type. If you're out shopping and looking for an easy meal, check it out! Foodies may not be impressed.

I've been here a few times and the service has always been decent. I usually come for the steak salad. This time around our service was beyond AWFUL! Like REALLY Really Bad. Our server could have cared less - he just wants tips. First it took a sec for him to even greet us. We finally get our food and we don't have utensils and server was no where to be found so we had to find the hostess. Salad was good but fish tacos were below average. Chips and salsa were good, guacamole was average. Needed more dressing and a refill on our Diet Coke and surprise server was still no where to be found. We had to flag down another server to get what we needed. We ordered the Cuban coffee which we have had before and it wasn't good. We say something to the server and he's like I made it- I added condensed milk. It's sweet. Umm we're drinking it - it's not how it usually tastes. We ask him to replace it and it's the same lol. He just was not helpful. Server was bad. Our other server was always great. We sit and wait and wait and wait for our check. He's no where to be found. As we pay he stares so he can get a decent tip and my partner tipped 15 percent. He deserved to get stiffed with no tip. Never coming back to this place again.