Greer's OC

Habana turns 25 with way back lunch and drinks specials on September 15-20 from 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. daily at Habana at the LAB in Costa Mesa, and Habana Irvine Spectrum.   

Habana’s menu features 1995 pricing for these among other dishes, including Vegetable and Chicken Empanadas (both at $4.95); the Cuban flagship shredded beef dish Ropa Vieja ($7.95): Medianoche, the legendary pressed and jamón “Cuban Sandwich” ($7.95); Lechon Asado: slow-roasted pork, garlic mojo, pickled white onions, sofrito black beans, buttered white rice, and maduros ($8.95). The featured cocktails include red and white Sangria, made with red (and white) wine, rum, dark spirits, and marinated fruit. The Mojito a La Habana features Bacardí Superior rum, lime, mint, cane sugar, soda—offered at $5 each all day.

For nearly 25 years, Habana has been the ultimate destination for contemporary Cuban cuisine in Costa Mesa, located in The Lab, a former night vision goggle factory that remains one of the coolest shopping and dining enclaves in the OC. The restaurant is reminiscent of pre-Castro (and post-Castro) Cuba, offering award-winning dining on a heated outdoor patio.

A few miles further down the road, Habana Irvine opened in the Irvine Spectrum Center in 2017. Suited to its expansive location, Habana Irvine sprawls from a massive central plaza, massive chandelier and bar where Hemingway might have been quite at home, serving its sister restaurant’s selection of Cuban dishes.

Habana at The LAB, 2930 Bristol St Costa Mesa. 714.556.0176.

Habana Irvine Spectrum, 708 Spectrum Center Dr. Irvine. 944.419.0100.