Isla Cuban-Latin Kitchen & Rum Bar
Our top pick for Cuban in Orange County ideally balances flavors, plating, and pricing
Over the past year, we’ve re-evaluated what we’re looking for from a local Cuban restaurant, in part because Habana’s prices became impossible for us to justify. It’s okay to drive a little further, and we actually prefer to enjoy our food in a setting that’s less like an exclusive club but still quite nice. That’s Isla in a nutshell: Located in La Palma, this “Cuban-Latin kitchen and rum bar” has an indoor-outdoor dining room reminiscent of late 1950s Cuba without going overboard, recalling The Godfather II’s famous scenes on the cusp of the Cuban revolution.
On balance, Isla is the best overall Cuban restaurant we’ve found in Orange County. From the bistec encebollado (steak and onion) plate to a tropical shrimp and mango ceviche with plantain chips to the plantain, garlic, and pork rind mofongo, dishes from Cuba and the broader Caribbean arrive with just the right flavors and looks to consistently impress. The prices here aren’t low: At Santa Ana’s Bella Cuba, you can get a Cuban sandwich for $15 at lunch, versus $18 at Isla – but they’re also not Habana-style high ($26), either.
While the entrees here consistently impressed us, the before and after dishes were slightly different stories. At Isla, we thought the appetizers tended to be good rather than great, but we were actually wowed by some of the flavors and presentation in the desserts. Our favorite was an ethereal Tres Leches cake – a vision of white and shadow with no attempt to splash colors or garnishes, unusual (but here, wonderful) for a high-quality dessert. The Arroz con Leche and flan were also really, really good, which meant a trifecta for three desserts that are very easy for restaurants to offer in more mediocre ways.
Isla’s location near Buena Park is off the 91 freeway, close to Orange County’s first Porto’s Bakery location and The Source dining and shopping collection. It’s not as well known as these culinary attractions – or nearby Knott’s Berry Farm – but it deserves to be part of the same conversation when choosing a place for a memorably great meal.
Stats
Price: $$
Service: Table
Open Since: 2019
Addresses
30 Centerpointe Dr. Suite 12
La Palma, CA 90623
714.735.8597
Instagram: @islacubanlatinkitchen