Good Food: Cafe Habana – Malibu, CA

Cafe Habana is best known for serving up their famous roasted corn in New York, so when they opened one up in Cali, I was excited to say the least. Although the Cafe Habana in Malibu is more like the 1/2 Mexican stepchild compared to it’s Cuban parent in New York, the food is still top notch. Unfortunately, of the multiple times I’ve been here, the service has usually been lacking. It either takes forever to get seated or to be served. The only reason I put up with it is for that Cali beach weather and of course, the corn. The random celebrity sightings is a plus also, which is pretty often considering you’re in Malibu. Another bonus is that it’s literally across a parking lot from the only West Coast location of Grom Gelato. Overall, if you’re looking for a traditional Cuban place to eat, this is not it. But, if you want to enjoy the So Cal/Mexican version of the famed New York Cuban spot, then this is the place. Expect good food, a long wait, a heavy bill, and a celebrity sighting. Then, get Grom after.