Foods to Try in Havana
Like most Latin American cuisines, Cuban food is a blend of different flavors from the diverse cultures that make up its people and history. Cuban food is influenced by Native American Taino ingredients, as well as Spanish, African and Caribbean flavors. Since tourism in Cuba has increased in recent years, there are plenty of places to find good Cuban food while spending a day in port from your cruise.
While in port in Havana, you will find everything from high-end Cuban restaurants, to privately-owned restaurants run out of private residences called paladares, to countless street food vendors. You should also look out for ventanitas, or informal food windows, where Cubans serve local dishes right out of their homes. If you plan on going to one of Havana’s high-end restaurants, it is a good idea to make a reservation beforehand.
Here are some of the best foods to try while in port in Havana, and where to look for them:
Ropa Vieja
Ropa Vieja is the national dish of Cuba and can be found in many privately owned restaurants in Havana. Ropa Vieja is a chunky beef stew made with tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, and olives. The beef is cooked until tender and served in thin shredded strands in this hearty Cuban dish.
Lechon Asado
A whole pig is marinated in a flavorful Cuban mojo sauce and then roasted on a spit for hours until tender to make lechon asado. You can find this popular Cuban dish served by various street vendors, or offered by local ventanitas in Havana.
Moros y Cristianos
The name Moros y Cristianos is a play on the colors of the ubiquitous combination of black beans with white rice. Moros y Cristianos, or beans and rice, is commonly served as a side dish with most entrees in Havana.
Chicharritas de Platanos
These crunchy, savory chips are made from plantains fried in oil to produce a crispy, delicious snack found all over the streets of Havana.
Frituras de Malanga
Frituras de malanga are made from the root vegetable malanga, also known as taro. Malanga is similar in flavor to a yam, and is grated and fried in a seasoned batter to make savory fritters. Frituras de malanga are often served with a tamarind-flavored ketchup. Find these malanga fritters served by many street vendors in Havana.
Tostones
Also made from plantains, tostones are another popular food to try in Havana. Tostones are thickly sliced plantains which have been fried, then smashed and fried again for extra crispness.
Tostones are a delicious snack or side dish, and can be found anywhere from Havana’s many privately-owned paladares, or its many street food vendors.
Churros
Who doesn’t love fried dough? Churros are long strips of fried dough that are sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. The perfect street food, churros can be found from street vendors all over Havana during your day in port from your cruise.
Flan
Flan is a popular custard-like dessert made from milk, eggs and sugar, then covered with caramelized condensed milk. Most restaurants and bakeries in Havana serve this delicious sweet treat.
Ready to try the flavors of Cuba? Browse our selection of Cuba vacation packages.
