New York Magazine

Skip to content, or skip to search.

Skip to content, or skip to search.

Home > Restaurants > Café Habana

Café Habana

17 Prince St., New York, NY 10012 40.722758 -73.994189
at Elizabeth St.  See Map | Subway Directions Hopstop Popup
212-625-2001 Send to Phone

  • Cuisine: Caribbean, Latin American
  • Price Range: $

    Key to Prices and ratings

    Upscale
    • Almost Perfect
    • Exceptional
    • Generally Excellent
    • Very Good
    • Good
    Cheap Eats
    • Best in Category
    • Excellent
    • Delicious
    • Very Good
    • Noteworthy
    • Very Expensive
    • Expensive
    • Moderate
    • Cheap
  • Reader Rating:

    6 out of 10

      |  

    16 Reviews | Write a Review
View Slide Show
Photo by Andrew Karcie

Share this listing

Official Website

ecoeatery.com

Hours

Daily, 9am-midnight

Nearby Subway Stops

F, V at Lower East Side-Second Ave.; 6 at Spring St.; B, D, F, V at Broadway-Lafayette St.; J, M, Z at Bowery

Prices

$10-$14

Payment Methods

American Express, MasterCard, Visa

Special Features

  • Delivery
  • Lunch
  • Take-Out
  • Reservations Not Required

Alcohol

  • Full Bar

Reservations

Not Accepted

Delivery Area

Canal St. to 4th St., Essex St. to Sixth Ave.

Profile

In traditional dives, taste often surpasses style. Café Habana is no exception. The cramped quarters in this Cuban eatery, located on a residential corner off Elizabeth Street, may scare away patrons desiring cushy seating and quiet conversation. But the perfectly seasoned roasted pork, grilled steaks and sautéed chicken makes this café a delicious dining destination. The Mexican-style grilled corn, a gooey mixture of fresh corn topped with chili powder, melted cheese and lime, is a crowd-pleasing, albeit messy, delight that comes with a cup of individually wrapped toothpicks. Follow the corn with the marinated skirt steak with rice and beans, and a mojito, and soon you'll forget all about the sardine-like setup. — Joy Armstrong

Extra

The space is tiny, so prepare yourself for at least a half-hour wait to be seated. Once you make it inside, settle in and try not to move until after the meal. Otherwise, you'll bump the waitstaff.

Recommended Dishes

Cuban sandwich, $9.75; pollo mirador, $13.50; mango and jicama salad, $8.25

Related Stories

Featured In

Advertising