On Washington Street in the heart of Hoboken, New Jersey, a vibrant little restaurant has been transporting diners straight to Havana — one plate of handcrafted Cuban food at a time.
The Cuban Restaurant & Bar has been a beloved fixture on the Hoboken dining scene since 2012, built on the vision of owners who are Cuban themselves and deeply committed to the flavors they grew up with.
It’s bold, it’s soulful, and it has become the kind of place that locals return to not just for the food, but for the feeling it gives you. 🇨🇺
This is how a passionate, immigrant-owned restaurant on one of New Jersey’s most iconic streets became Hoboken’s go-to destination for authentic Latin cuisine.
How The Cuban Won Hoboken’s Hearts
When principal owner Luis Iglesias — who arrived in the U.S. from Cuba as a child in 1971 — partnered with chef Alexis Lahens to open The Cuban, the goal was never to open just another Latin restaurant. 🍽️
It was to bring Havana to Hudson County — and to do it with both heart and elegance.
The two had worked together for over a decade before signing on to the Washington Street space, and their shared Cuban heritage infuses every corner of the restaurant.
From day one, the menu was a love letter to Cuban and Latin classics, featuring slow-braised meats, handmade empanadas, saffron-kissed paellas, and elevated takes on dishes that many diners had never tried before. 🥘
Reviewers have described the experience in glowing terms — “unashamedly bold and perfectly balanced flavors produced by a brilliant kitchen” — high praise that cemented the restaurant’s standing as one of the best spots for authentic Cuban food in New Jersey. 🏆
What has kept locals coming back for well over a decade is the restaurant’s refusal to be ordinary.
The menu regularly evolves, experimenting with new combinations while honoring time-tested Cuban traditions — whether it’s the slow-braised ropa vieja or the grilled octopus with black bean puree.
The Cuban has never stopped trying to earn its place at the top of Hoboken’s dining scene, and locals have rewarded that effort with fierce, lasting loyalty. ❤️
Food Highlights
- Ropa Vieja Plato: Twice-cooked, slow-braised skirt steak in a tomato pepper sauce with white rice and black beans. 🍖
-
El Cubano (Cuban Sandwich): Slow-roasted pork, ham, cantimpalo, Swiss cheese, pickles, and garlic mojo — the gold standard of Cuban sandwiches.
- Croquetas De Jamon: Ham croquettes served with truffle aioli — golden, creamy, and rich with a touch of elegance from the truffle finish. 🤌
-
Vaca Frita Plato: Twice-cooked crispy skirt steak with tomato escabeche, avocado, white rice, black beans, and garlic mojo.
-
Paella Valenciana Plato: Saffron-infused Bomba rice loaded with bay scallops, shrimp, mussels, clams, chorizo, chicken, and garlic aioli. 🥘
-
Churrasco Plato: Grilled skirt steak served with Cuban yuca fries, watercress salad, and chimichurri.
-
Pulpo (Grilled Octopus): Grilled Spanish octopus over black bean puree with manzanilla-olive salsa verde, charred onion, and baby potatoes. 🐙
- El Clasico Plato: Roasted pork shank with Moro rice, garlic orange mojo, yuca con mojo, sweet plantain, and pickled red onions.
- Pollo Criollo Plato: Amish organic free-range boneless half chicken served over chorizo, sweet plantain, and fried rice with garlic onion mojo. 🍗
-
Empanaditas De Pollo: Handmade empanadas filled with chicken ropa vieja, served with charred tomatillo and black bean puree.
Atmosphere
The Cuban occupies a bi-level space on Washington Street that looks deceptively small from the sidewalk, but opens up beautifully inside with intimate lighting, warm décor, and Cuban rhythms playing at exactly the right volume — loud enough to set the mood, soft enough to hold a real conversation. 🎶
Guests frequently describe the vibe as “sultry,” “vibrant,” and “upscale but unpretentious” — a rare combination that makes it equally suited for a romantic date night, a lively group dinner, or a special celebration.
The full bar and creative cocktail menu — including signature mojitos — draw as much praise as the food, making it one of Hoboken’s top destinations for a full evening out.
Bottom Line
The Cuban is a decade-strong, Cuban-owned neighborhood gem delivering bold, authentic Latin flavors on one of Hoboken’s most iconic streets. Elevated classics, a stunning cocktail bar, live music nights, and genuinely heartfelt service make it an unmissable dining experience in New Jersey. 🇨🇺🍹
Address:
333 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030
📞 (201) 795-9899
🕐 Mon–Thu: 5:00 PM–11:00 PM | Fri: 4:00 PM–11:00 PM | Sat: 12:00 PM–11:00 PM | Sun: 12:00 PM–9:00 PM