Equelecula Cuban Cafe

Great spot for some authentic Cuban food. Felt like home and literally everything tasted great. Fresh pastelitos and bread! 😋 Group of 11 and we tried most of the menu and everything felt fresh and flavorful. Hands down a must for us!

Cozy place to enjoy Cuban coffe and pastry. Cuban flag key chains also sold there.

Love it here, the bread is fresh and good... The 3 leche cakes is AMAZING!!!! Potato balls are awesome!!!!!

I love this place! Food is really good and a good variety. The service you try there is very kind . I think the juice is very fresh and good here!

This place is amazing!! My girlfriend and I spend 3 days looking for good coffee, till we found this place, best coffee in all LA, really really good coffee, and the guava and cheese pastry is amazingly good and fresh, I haven’t had it like that in such a long time. I recommend it 100% and the staff was really nice!

Cute place to come for a pastelito and cafe con leche. Part bakery, part restaurant, part cool hangout among Cuban drum and palm tree lined walls!

Loved it. Excellent food. Woman who served us was very friendly and appreciative. Had the cubano and croquettes. If your in Hawthorne stop by for delicious authentic cuban fair

Very CozyCuban culture. Great food

The yucca fries were fried to perfection! Crispy on the outside fluffy on the inside. The pork tamale is one of the best I’ve had in LA so far, there’s a sauce on it that’s tangy and savory which adds so much. The prices are so affordable, like a guava cheese pastry less than $2 are you kidding me? Prices I’m used to before covid and this place stayed the same. A+

I went on a random weekday morning: fabulous staff and service, fantastic music and energy, and indeed authentic tasty dishes!

Great little cafe with authentic Cuban food. The pork looked dry when it was served, but it was actually tender. The guava pastries did not have enough fruit in them, so it did taste like you were eating a dry Phyllo. Although there was only one person serving, our meals were good. It took quite a while to get service, and there was a lady getting takeout that kept being asked to sit down in order to serve others. They would get to get and then someone else would come in and she's be asked to wait. As a business owner, I would have offered her a drink and pastry. She should have been taken care of first as she waited the longest.

Delicious Breakfast in a Friendly Cafe environment. Chorizo and Eggs with potatoes and toast was delicious and I was able to take my time while enjoying my meal. Started and ended with Guava and Cheese pastry and coffee. I'll work on my breakfast Spanish for the next visit.

You know when one loves a place because it feels like home, but better, one kind of doesn't want a lot of people to invade it So, am gonna say this once: Respect this place, treat their servers right and appreciate one warrior. A family owned business serving better food, handcrafted, homemade food in this time when workers aren't "all there" for a variety or reasons, small business owners who manage to deliver are indeed heros and role models for us all, dissapearing middle classers. Congratulations on the ambiance, great music, exceptional good, friendly service, and the flavor of Cuba la Bella that almost brought tears to my eyes, recalling memories long lost in time. Thank you.

The coffee with milk is absolutely spot on! You must try the guava filled pastries. The carne con papas is a must. A Cuban friend told me it is as authentic as it gets! Price is affordable too!

🇨🇺 CUBA (via Eat the World Los Angeles) - They have all the favorite Cuban sandwich options like pan con bistec, milanesa, lechon and of course the cubano itself. If you prefer the medianoche ($11.95), the same sandwich ingredients as a cubano but on a sweet egg-y soft bread, you will be impressed by the one here. What makes this one of the best Cuban sandwiches in town is the perfect ratio of ingredients and pickly-ness. If someone compares this to a ham and cheese sandwich, they deserve a slap in the face. Despite having both of those items, the keys to a delicious cubano or medianoche are the juicy pernil, which is excellent here, and a layer of crisp pickles.

If you're looking for an authentic Cuban food experience outside the realm of "Versailles Restaurants ". Then this is the spot for you. As close to the real deal as you'll get here at this small unassuming cafe. Prices are modest. Taste is genuinely authentic Cuban food. 100% The cafe coraditio was spot on. Even the american coffee was good. Service was warm and catered to my coffee needs. I didn't have a chance to try the pastries. But I'll definitely be back.

fantastic food. incredibly delicious coffee. great smoothie. family atmosphere. it was a good choice for a late breakfast with my Daughter.

It was authentic and had a strong, genuine Cuban feel and setting. The chefs and hostess were super helpful and always smiling ! Made me feel at home!

I regret not finding this spot sooner. The food is incredible and the drinks are tasty. I go every weekend for an iced coffee and pastelitos. The beef and cheese are my favorite.

GREAT Mom & Pop Cuban cafeteria. Call in your order to save time. Happy they are close to me. Feliz que esten serca de mi. Gracias👍🏼😁

Delicious treat’s! Good service and reasonable prices!

Tiffa Cakes

The yucca fries were fried to perfection! Crispy on the outside fluffy on the inside. The pork tamale is one of the best I’ve had in LA so far, there’s a sauce on it that’s tangy and savory which adds so much. The prices are so affordable, like a guava cheese pastry less than $2 are you kidding me? Prices I’m used to before covid and this place stayed the same. A+

Grecia Vargas Meléndez

I went on a random weekday morning: fabulous staff and service, fantastic music and energy, and indeed authentic tasty dishes!

Nayda Fugee

Great little cafe with authentic Cuban food. The pork looked dry when it was served, but it was actually tender. The guava pastries did not have enough fruit in them, so it did taste like you were eating a dry Phyllo. Although there was only one person serving, our meals were good. It took quite a while to get service, and there was a lady getting takeout that kept being asked to sit down in order to serve others. They would get to get and then someone else would come in and she's be asked to wait. As a business owner, I would have offered her a drink and pastry. She should have been taken care of first as she waited the longest.

Athena Press

You know when one loves a place because it feels like home, but better, one kind of doesn't want a lot of people to invade it So, am gonna say this once: Respect this place, treat their servers right and appreciate one warrior. A family owned business serving better food, handcrafted, homemade food in this time when workers aren't "all there" for a variety or reasons, small business owners who manage to deliver are indeed heros and role models for us all, dissapearing middle classers. Congratulations on the ambiance, great music, exceptional good, friendly service, and the flavor of Cuba la Bella that almost brought tears to my eyes, recalling memories long lost in time. Thank you.

AJ Fanning

Delicious Breakfast in a Friendly Cafe environment. Chorizo and Eggs with potatoes and toast was delicious and I was able to take my time while enjoying my meal. Started and ended with Guava and Cheese pastry and coffee. I'll work on my breakfast Spanish for the next visit.

Enoc Garcia

The coffee with milk is absolutely spot on! You must try the guava filled pastries. The carne con papas is a must. A Cuban friend told me it is as authentic as it gets! Price is affordable too!

Jared Cohee

🇨🇺 CUBA (via Eat the World Los Angeles) - They have all the favorite Cuban sandwich options like pan con bistec, milanesa, lechon and of course the cubano itself. If you prefer the medianoche ($11.95), the same sandwich ingredients as a cubano but on a sweet egg-y soft bread, you will be impressed by the one here. What makes this one of the best Cuban sandwiches in town is the perfect ratio of ingredients and pickly-ness. If someone compares this to a ham and cheese sandwich, they deserve a slap in the face. Despite having both of those items, the keys to a delicious cubano or medianoche are the juicy pernil, which is excellent here, and a layer of crisp pickles.

Muhammad Azzalarab

If you're looking for an authentic Cuban food experience outside the realm of "Versailles Restaurants ". Then this is the spot for you. As close to the real deal as you'll get here at this small unassuming cafe. Prices are modest. Taste is genuinely authentic Cuban food. 100% The cafe coraditio was spot on. Even the american coffee was good. Service was warm and catered to my coffee needs. I didn't have a chance to try the pastries. But I'll definitely be back.

Rudolf Zwoliński

fantastic food. incredibly delicious coffee. great smoothie. family atmosphere. it was a good choice for a late breakfast with my Daughter.

Tarsis Ruiz DeSoto

It was authentic and had a strong, genuine Cuban feel and setting. The chefs and hostess were super helpful and always smiling ! Made me feel at home!

Johnny

I regret not finding this spot sooner. The food is incredible and the drinks are tasty. I go every weekend for an iced coffee and pastelitos. The beef and cheese are my favorite.

OG Mister G

GREAT Mom & Pop Cuban cafeteria. Call in your order to save time. Happy they are close to me. Feliz que esten serca de mi. Gracias👍🏼😁

GALILEO REOYO

Delicious treat’s! Good service and reasonable prices!

Best Cuban food I've had in LA by far. Great prices, quality baked items, and calm atmosphere. Just wish they were open later.

I've been going to Cafe Cuba since it opened up. Never disappointing foods. Always good prices they can be a little steep on occasion, but it's worth it. Always get birthdays catered. As a fella, Cuban, it is good to taste authentic Cuban food. The chef is outstanding!

J C

Best Cuban food I've had in LA by far. Great prices, quality baked items, and calm atmosphere. Just wish they were open later.

Jamal Saleh

Amazing Cuban coffee worth a visit and the prices are amazingly affordable. Great customer service. Place is really clean aswell.

Cuban James

I've been going to Cafe Cuba since it opened up. Never disappointing foods. Always good prices they can be a little steep on occasion, but it's worth it. Always get birthdays catered. As a fella, Cuban, it is good to taste authentic Cuban food. The chef is outstanding!

Homey spot for Cuban sandwiches and baked goods. Came here for lunch with my boyfriend on a weekend and we originally tried splitting one cubano, but it was so good that we ended up getting a second one. If you dine-in, the sandwich comes with a side (which in this case, were fries). We also got Batidos - you can get this with milk or water. We had a mango one with milk and a strawberry one with water - both were very large portions and very well mixed. The sandwich is made to order and you can get take-out or dine-in. Credit cards are accepted. They speak primarily Spanish but can speak some English.

This place is amazing! I love eating here. When I want real Cuban food, this is where I go. Two waitresses name Paola and Silvia are very kind and professional. They always greet their customers and provide the best experience. They always make me want to come back. There's a waitress there also that is very rude and doesn't have the same attitude as everyone that works there. Watch out for her! When you come here make sure you ask for Paola and Silvia. You will be able to identify them as soon as you enter because they approach you with a smile!

Having been to Cuba, I can definitely see how this is an important place where people go to connect to the culture and vibrancy of the island nation. The coffee, the sandwiches, a few grocery items - really took me back to my visit and the Cuban coffee was just like I’d had both in Cuba and at cafes in Miami. The free WiFi is nice if you have to work for a few minutes while there! Lots of seating makes it easy to find an open table and if you pay by cash, you can avoid the small fee added to card payments.

Had the Cubano sandwich with frijoles. Very pleased with both. Especially the frijoles. Not sure what the coffee and desert I ordered was but both were excellent. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Really enjoyed the relaxed decor. Decent on-site parking. Steel chairs were a little uncomfortable. But nothing to keep me from going again. Definitely recommend.

This place was amazing pre Covid. It’s so empty now and no more pastries like before… They still got the amazing mamey shake though 🙂

The classic Cuban sandwich is getting smaller. The bread quality is not good. And to top it off doesn't include fries. At $13.95+tax, is not a good value. The "completa" with rice, beans, maduros and meat is not a big portion either.

Cafe Cuba & Cakes on Hawthorne Blvd is a delightful spot that brings a taste of Cuba right to the heart of the city! The atmosphere is warm and inviting, making it a perfect place to relax with a cup of coffee or enjoy a meal. I tried their classic Cuban sandwich, and it was amazing—perfectly pressed with savory pork, ham, and melted cheese, all packed with flavor. I also couldn't resist sampling their pastries, and the guava turnover was a standout—sweet, flaky, and absolutely delicious! The staff was friendly and attentive, ensuring we had everything we needed. The prices are very reasonable for the quality of food you get. If you're in the area and looking for authentic Cuban cuisine and tasty cakes, Cafe Cuba & Cakes is a must-visit! I can’t wait to come back and explore more of their menu!

Thiis place is nice to have a breakfast.

G S

This place was amazing pre Covid. It’s so empty now and no more pastries like before… They still got the amazing mamey shake though 🙂

ADRIANO SANCHEZ

The classic Cuban sandwich is getting smaller. The bread quality is not good. And to top it off doesn't include fries. At $13.95+tax, is not a good value. The "completa" with rice, beans, maduros and meat is not a big portion either.

Chinyere Okoli- Azzalarab

Cafe Cuba & Cakes on Hawthorne Blvd is a delightful spot that brings a taste of Cuba right to the heart of the city! The atmosphere is warm and inviting, making it a perfect place to relax with a cup of coffee or enjoy a meal. I tried their classic Cuban sandwich, and it was amazing—perfectly pressed with savory pork, ham, and melted cheese, all packed with flavor. I also couldn't resist sampling their pastries, and the guava turnover was a standout—sweet, flaky, and absolutely delicious! The staff was friendly and attentive, ensuring we had everything we needed. The prices are very reasonable for the quality of food you get. If you're in the area and looking for authentic Cuban cuisine and tasty cakes, Cafe Cuba & Cakes is a must-visit! I can’t wait to come back and explore more of their menu!

Food was incredibly bland and in small portions. Plantains undercooked. Got literally 5 French fries with a Cuban sandwich. Coffee was great though! Staff also didn't speak English.

I am Cuban and this is the closest Cuban eatery to me. The food is great but be very careful and pay attention to your bill. I was over charged by $10. The receipts don’t show exactly what your ordering so they input it manually with generic descriptions. Once I got home and compared the charges to the online prices, I was overcharged. What a shame.

This cafe is nice but I barely taste the sweetness in their cakes and coffee. I don't know if I am the one at fault but I totally find their offerings a bit bland. Hopefully, they can suggest their customers to add sugar whenever they want to. Overall, it is still good.

Food is great, but when we asked for an specific plate, waitress literally said "we usually don't have that plate; there's a lot of cuban food that's in the menu and we don't cook". Reallyyyy? The previous day I was helped by a really nice lady willing to provide the best customer service. Again, food is great! They just need to be careful on how part of their staff provide customer service!

We've been here twice. The first time was reasonably decent except for the service being realllllllly slow. Both last time and today, I stood at the register for at least 5 minutes watching both waitresses walk past me repeatedly, ignoring me (no eye contact, no "be ppright with you). Our table was suuuuper sticky With cup ring marks everywhere. I saw some papertowels by the hand sanitizer and wiped down the table as no staff was in the room when we came in. I had a work call scheduled right after arriving and the waitress was extremely rude saying the tables were only for customers even though I had placed an order. She rolled her eyes and gave me a sassy attitude. A brown-skinned person came in and used his laptop right next to me. It didn't seem to be a problem for him to be working--only for me. I'd like to add they have their wifi password hanging on the wall. If they don't want people to use it then they should take it down. We speak Spanish. My daughter is half Mexican, but the waitress insisted on talking to us in barely-understandable English (she spoke to everyone else in Spanish--I guess being half Mexican wasn't dark enough for her taste). The food is "mehhh" at best, little greasy. My daughter waited at the counter for like 10 minutes teying to get menus...they walked past her ang ignored her like she was invisible. It was condescending and extremely irritating. Overall, today we hung out there for several hours while I was waiting for my car to be serviced (We ordered numerous drinks and 2 lunches). For all those hours, I clearly observed all the dark-skinned people being treated with smiles, a pleasant tone of voice, and prompt service. We were the only ones being it ignored. Additionally, they just let our garbage and used dishes pile up. The first tea they brought me was on a saucer. All the subsequent ones, they set the hot cup right on the wooden surface of the table. No wonder the tables was covered in sticky ring marks when we sat down. Finally, to use the bathroom, you have to walk outside around the entire building to the back because they are using the customer bathroom in front for storage.

Horrible customer service. Two Stars for the food. Not worth the trouble.

+4

Very very rude and mean. The young lady who tried to take our coffee order was nice but asked a fellow coworker to speak english to us which she refused. As an American citizen and veteran it was shocking to me to be treated in such a mean and dismissive way. We were clearly the minority in the restaurant and there was no effort at all to make us feel welcome. I’m sure they treat their own kind with the most love and respect. I can see it in the vibe of the restaurant. Unfortunately that warmth wasn’t extended to my husband and I. They refused to help us and I have no other reason than to assume it’s because we are black.

Poor service and rude staff. I went in today to buy some pastries. This was not a busy time, There were two workers in front, and two customers who were already seated and drinking coffee. I had requested the guava tarts without cream cheese, not realizing they had large and small ones. When she reached for the larger ones, I said Oh I am sorry I wanted the small round ones. She proceeded to shake her head, giving me an even more sour look and apparently not realizing I spoke Spanish I clearly heard her mumble "these people have to make me work more". If I wasn't buying these to take home to my daughter for her birthday, I would have walked out. I will find another Cuban bakery and won't be back.

Very expensive, food with alot of grease Waiter not friendly. My check was #68.00 Look at .y statement and was charged extra,ended up paying $72...food in is not good quality nor worth my money. Rather eat at Portos love it there and recommend Portos. Will not go back..

Veronica Alvarez

Very expensive, food with alot of grease Waiter not friendly. My check was #68.00 Look at .y statement and was charged extra,ended up paying $72...food in is not good quality nor worth my money. Rather eat at Portos love it there and recommend Portos. Will not go back..