Havana Kitchen quietly ceased operations at 1055 Torrey Pines Road in La Jolla Village, where owner James Torres opened the restaurant in late 2023 after taking over the former Karina's Mexican space. A sign posted to the restaurant's entrance confirms the closure and thanks guests for their support while directing customers to the company's original Temecula location.
Founded in 2006 as a small catering operation in Murrieta, Havana Kitchen grew from humble beginnings when Torres converted the front reception area of an industrial park kitchen into a tiny six-table restaurant. The concept proved popular enough to relocate to Old Town Temecula in 2012, where it built a loyal following serving authentic Cuban comfort food, fresh pastries, Cuban coffee, pressed sandwiches, ropa vieja, lechón, picadillo and other traditional specialties.
When Havana Kitchen announced its expansion into La Jolla, it appeared poised to introduce a broader audience to Cuban cuisine in one of San Diego's most affluent neighborhoods. The all-day restaurant offered breakfast, lunch and dinner, complete with empanadas, plantains, house-roasted coffee blends, cortaditos, Cuban espresso and family recipes that had made the Temecula location a destination for nearly two decades. Instead, the La Jolla outpost joins a growing list of San Diego restaurant closures during an exceptionally difficult period for independent operators.
The timing is especially notable given the recent closure of Havana Grill's original Clairemont restaurant, which cited rising operating costs, difficult economic conditions and the loss of street parking following the installation of a protected bicycle lane as factors in its decision to close after years in business. Although Havana Grill continues operating its larger Mission Valley location, Havana Kitchen's departure further reduces the already limited number of restaurants dedicated to authentic Cuban cuisine in San Diego County.
Unlike Mexican, Italian, Japanese or Vietnamese restaurants, Cuban eateries have always been relatively rare in San Diego despite the city's diverse dining scene. The back-to-back closures underscore just how challenging it has become for independent ethnic restaurants to survive amid rising labor costs, increasing food prices, higher insurance premiums, escalating rents and shifting consumer spending habits.
Fortunately, Cuban cuisine hasn't disappeared from San Diego altogether. Havana Grill continues serving guests at its Mission Valley restaurant, while Havana Kitchen remains open at its flagship location in Old Town Temecula. Still, for San Diegans craving a proper Cuban sandwich, ropa vieja or cafecito closer to home, the options have become noticeably fewer.
Havana Kitchen originally opened its La Jolla location in October 2023. Its remaining restaurant continues operating in Old Town Temecula. The company has not publicly announced a reason for the San Diego closure.
Originally published on July 26, 2026.
