Cabana Forest Hills Review: Generous Cuban-Latino Food Worth Trying?
Quick Summary
This was my first time having dinner at a Cuban restaurant, and I really enjoyed the experience. I visited Cabana, a Cuban-Latino spot in Forest Hills, Queens, to try dishes I hadn't eaten before. I ordered the Tostones Rellenos, Coco Cabana Pollo, and Banana Fritters for dessert.
The Tostones Rellenos were my favorite savory dish, featuring crispy fried plantain cups stuffed with various meat and seafood fillings. While the Coco Cabana Pollo coconut curry felt underwhelming flavor-wise, the Banana Fritters were easily the best banana dessert I've eaten in New York City. Spending $57.70 before tip for generous, shareable portions made this a solid dining experience.
Overall Rating: 8.7/10
Food: 8.5/10 | Service: 9.0/10 | Atmosphere: 8.8/10 | Value: 8.8/10
Price: Moderately priced ($$)
My Favorites: Tostones Rellenos & Banana Fritters
Best For: Families, couples, groups of friends, and casual Latin-inspired dinners in Queens
Good to Know
📍 Address: 107-10 70th Rd, Forest Hills, NY 11375
🍽️ Cuisine: Cuban-Latino / Nuevo Latino
💵 My Total Spent: $57.70 (excluding tip)
🚇 Subway: E, F, M, or R train to Forest Hills–71 Avenue Station (~5-minute walk)
🅿️ Parking: Street parking available along 70th Rd and Austin St
⭐ Don't Miss: Tostones Rellenos & Banana Fritters
Watch My Experience
Jump to:
- Quick Summary
- Good to Know
- Watch My Experience
- Why I Tried Cabana in Forest Hills
- Atmosphere: Colorful and Casual
- Service: Attentive and Professional
- Location & How to Get There
- What I Ate at Cabana
- Price & Value — Is Cabana Expensive?
- What I Think & Would I Return?
- Final Verdict: Is Cabana Forest Hills Worth Visiting?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Cabana Forest Hills
- Cabana Forest Hills Restaurant Information
Why I Tried Cabana in Forest Hills
I've eaten at many restaurants around Queens, but Cuban food was something I hadn't really explored before. That's what made me interested in visiting Cabana.
The restaurant serves a mix of Cuban and Latin American dishes, including plantains, rice dishes, grilled meats, and seafood. Since this was my first Cuban restaurant dinner, I wanted to try something different from my usual orders. I was particularly curious about the Tostones Rellenos because the platter came with several toppings rather than just one.
I've also tried Calle Dao near Bryant Park in Manhattan, which combines Cuban and Chinese influences. Cabana offered me a different opportunity to explore Cuban-Latino food in a casual Queens setting.
Atmosphere: Colorful and Casual
Cabana has a casual dining atmosphere with colorful Latin-inspired decorations. From the outside, the restaurant is easy to recognize because of its red storefront, illuminated CABANA sign, and matching red awning.
Inside, I noticed yellow walls, colorful framed artwork, decorative masks, and dark wooden tables. The green-cushioned chairs and orange napkins also add vibrant color to the dining room. There's a bar area toward the front and a dining space farther inside.
I liked that the restaurant had personality without feeling overly formal. It was a bit crowded during my dinner, but I still felt comfortable enjoying my meal. I think the setup works well for families, couples, and groups of friends who want a casual dinner together.
Service: Attentive and Professional
The service was another positive part of my visit. The servers were attentive and professional, and I had no complaints about how I was treated.
I appreciated the service, especially since the restaurant had a decent number of customers during dinner. I didn't experience any major problems, so I could simply focus on enjoying the food.
- Getting a table: Seated promptly upon arrival.
- Table service: Attentive, polite, and professional.
Location & How to Get There
Cabana is located at 107-10 70th Rd, Forest Hills, NY 11375.
If you're taking public transportation, you can use the E, F, M, or R train to Forest Hills–71 Avenue Station. From there, it's approximately a five-minute walk to the restaurant. Cabana is also located right beside Kuku Korean Cuisine, another Forest Hills restaurant on 70th Road.
(If you are exploring other cuisines in the neighborhood, check out my review of Tikka N Talk nearby.)
What I Ate at Cabana
For my first visit, I ordered two savory dishes and one dessert. One thing I noticed immediately was the portion size. The food was generously served, and I think some of the dishes could easily be shared.
Tostones Rellenos — My Favorite Savory Dish
- Price: $19.00
My appetizer was the Tostones Rellenos, and this ended up being my favorite savory dish of the evening. Tostones are fried green plantains, a popular staple in Cuban and Latin American cooking. At Cabana, they were served as flattened fried plantain cups topped with different fillings.
The platter included shredded spiced beef, shrimp, chicken, and picadillo (seasoned ground beef). It also came with crispy plantain chips and a mildly spicy dipping sauce.
I really enjoyed having different toppings on the same platter. Instead of ordering just one type of filling, I could try several combinations. The presentation was also generous, featuring four topped plantains along with a good amount of plantain chips. For $19, I thought this was a satisfying appetizer that I would recommend trying first.
Coco Cabana Pollo — Generous Portion, but Underwhelming
- Price: $26.00
For my main dish, I ordered the Coco Cabana Pollo, a chicken curry made with coconut milk and mixed vegetables. The dish came with chicken, broccoli, green peas, and other vegetables arranged around a serving of rice, alongside black bean soup on the side.
The portion size was huge, and I appreciated how generously it was served. This could easily be enough for two people, especially if you're ordering appetizers. I also enjoyed having the black bean soup alongside my meal to mix with the rice.
However, the chicken curry itself didn't impress me as much as I expected. I've tried curry dishes from several other cuisines, and Cabana's version felt underwhelming in flavor by comparison. At $26, I appreciated the portion size, but I probably wouldn't order it again. I'd rather try another Cuban specialty on my next visit.
Banana Fritters — My Favorite Banana Dessert in NYC
- Price: $6.00
This was the absolute highlight of my dinner. For dessert, I ordered the Banana Fritters, and I loved them.
The plate came with fried banana fritters covered in chocolate sauce and powdered sugar, served alongside banana ice cream, sliced fresh bananas, strawberries, and Nutella. The chocolate and cream were arranged in a decorative pattern on the plate, making it look impressive right away.
The combination of warm fried banana fritters, cold ice cream, rich chocolate, and fresh fruit tasted amazing together. Honestly, this was the best banana dessert I've had in New York City so far. For $6 during my visit, it was an incredible value.
Price & Value — Is Cabana Expensive?
One thing I appreciated about Cabana was that the portions were generous without the meal being overly expensive.
Here is what my food subtotal came out to:
| Dish | Price |
|---|---|
| Tostones Rellenos | $19.00 |
| Coco Cabana Pollo | $26.00 |
| Banana Fritters | $6.00 |
| Food Subtotal | $51.00 |
| Final Bill | $57.70 (before tip) |
My final bill came to $57.70 before tip, including minor additional charges. For an appetizer, a large main dish, and a plated dessert, I thought that was very reasonable for a sit-down restaurant in NYC.
What I Think & Would I Return?
I enjoyed my first Cuban restaurant dinner at Cabana, although not every dish impressed me equally.
The Tostones Rellenos were my favorite savory dish, especially trying the shredded beef, shrimp, chicken, and picadillo toppings. The Coco Cabana Pollo was less memorable flavor-wise, but the Banana Fritters completely won me over.
Aside from the food, I liked the casual atmosphere, colorful decorations, and attentive service.
Would I return? Yes. There are still plenty of Cuban-Latino dishes I haven't tried, and I'd rather explore more of Cabana's menu next time.
Final Verdict: Is Cabana Forest Hills Worth Visiting?
For me, Cabana is worth trying, particularly if you enjoy generous portions and Cuban-Latino food.
My top recommendations are the Tostones Rellenos and Banana Fritters. The Coco Cabana Pollo was just alright, but the overall experience was very positive. I spent $57.70 before tip, enjoyed attentive service, and left with a good impression.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cabana Forest Hills
Is Cabana in Forest Hills worth visiting?
Based on my experience, yes. I especially recommend the Tostones Rellenos and Banana Fritters. The portions were generous, and I found the prices reasonable.
What should I order at Cabana?
My favorite savory dish was the Tostones Rellenos, which came with four different meat and seafood toppings. For dessert, the Banana Fritters are a must-order.
How expensive is Cabana Forest Hills?
I paid $57.70 before tip for three dishes. Individual menu prices ranged from $6 for the Banana Fritters to $26 for the Coco Cabana Pollo.
Are the portions large at Cabana?
Yes. Both the Tostones Rellenos and Coco Cabana Pollo came in generous portions suitable for sharing.
Does Cabana Forest Hills accept reservations?
No. Cabana operates on a walk-in basis and does not accept reservations. Depending on how busy the restaurant is, you may need to wait for a table.
How do I get to Cabana in Forest Hills?
Take the E, F, M, or R train to Forest Hills–71 Avenue Station. From there, the restaurant is a short 5-minute walk.
Cabana Forest Hills Restaurant Information
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Restaurant | Cabana |
| Address | 107-10 70th Rd, Forest Hills, NY 11375 |
| Phone | (718) 263-3600 |
| Website | cabanarestaurant.com |
| Hours | Mon–Sun: 11:30 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Cuisine | Cuban-Latino / Nuevo Latino |
| Neighborhood | Forest Hills, Queens |
| Price | Moderately priced ($$) |
| My Total Bill | $57.70 before tip |
| Favorite Savory Dish | Tostones Rellenos |
| Favorite Dessert | Banana Fritters |
| Least Favorite Dish | Coco Cabana Pollo |
| Portions | Very generous |
| Atmosphere | Colorful, casual, Latin-inspired |
| Service | Attentive and professional |
| Halal | No |
| Reservations | Walk-ins only; no reservations accepted. |
| Subway | E, F, M, R to Forest Hills–71 Avenue |
| Would I Return? | Yes, to try more dishes |
| Overall Rating | 8.7/10 |
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