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Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe ico

Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe
- 292 S Michigan Ave, Kenilworth, NJ 07033

Cuban restaurant ★4.0 (138)·$10–20

292 S Michigan Ave, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA

4.0
This one of those small family joints where the food is cooked to order and you absolutely feel like home eating there. The ambiance, the kid taking orders and the sound and smell of your steak and onions frying is crazy. I can’t wait to go back and try the fish and like the sign says it isn’t fast food - George Betances
Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe Overview Intro Menu Detail Photos Location Reviews
$10–20 per person Reported by 138 people$1–10$10–20$20–30$30–50$50–100

Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe Introduce

If you're looking for an authentic taste of the island right here in the Garden State, look no further than **Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe** in Kenilworth, NJ. Located in an area of New Jersey that is rich in Cuban American culture, this family-owned and operated establishment is a true hidden gem dedicated to sharing traditional Cuban family recipes. Named after the fast and upbeat Cuban dance, the cafe lives up to its name with a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere that transports you away from the everyday.

The cafe was born out of a family's desire to find authentic Cuban food close to home, and since its opening, it has become a beloved local spot. The cuisine here is a rich and flavorful blend of Spanish, African, and Caribbean influences, characterized by a foundation of seasonings like onions, garlic, and peppers in every dish. Whether you're a long-time fan of Cuban food or new to the experience, Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe offers a warm, cozy, and trendy environment where everyone is treated like family.

This commitment to quality and authenticity hasn't gone unnoticed; the restaurant was voted one of **Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in 2025**, a testament to its delicious offerings and exceptional hospitality. From the brightly decorated interior, complete with vintage Cuban photographs and posters, to the sound and smell of classic Cuban cooking, Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe offers a genuinely immersive dining experience for the New Jersey community.


Location and Accessibility

Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe is conveniently situated in the heart of Kenilworth, making it an accessible destination for residents across Union County and beyond. The address is **292 S Michigan Ave, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA**.

The location is designed to be welcoming to all members of the community, offering several accessibility features:

  • **Wheelchair accessible entrance**
  • **Wheelchair accessible parking lot**
  • **Wheelchair accessible restroom**
  • **Wheelchair accessible seating**

For those driving, **free street parking** is available, adding to the convenience. The area is known for its safety and family-friendliness, aligning with the cafe's cozy, family-focused atmosphere. It’s an ideal spot for a quick bite or a relaxed meal with family and friends.


Services Offered

Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe aims to accommodate a variety of needs and preferences, offering multiple ways to enjoy their authentic Cuban cuisine. Whether you want to dine in and soak up the festive atmosphere or grab a meal on the go, they have you covered.

Key services provided include:

  • **Dine-in:** Enjoy table service in the casual, cozy, and trendy atmosphere. Ideal for family-friendly visits and groups.
  • **Takeout:** Perfect for quickly picking up your order and enjoying it at home.
  • **Delivery:** Convenient service available through various online platforms, bringing authentic Cuban flavors right to your door.
  • **Catering:** Available for events and gatherings, allowing you to share the taste of Cuba with a larger crowd.
  • **Lunch Specials:** A dedicated menu with smaller portions and adjusted prices, available for a selection of main dishes during weekday lunch hours.
  • **Payments:** Accepts Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and NFC mobile payments for hassle-free transactions.
  • **Children's Amenities:** Provides a good environment for kids and offers **High chairs** for the little ones.

Features / Highlights

The cafe is celebrated in the New Jersey community for its authentic approach to Cuban cooking and the high-quality experience it offers. Several features stand out, making it a must-visit culinary destination.

Highlights of Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe include:

  • **Authentic Cuban Cuisine:** Serves local specialty dishes based on treasured, generational family recipes, including their famous Cubano sandwich, **Ropa Vieja**, and **Masitas De Puerco**.
  • **World-Class Desserts:** Known for its fantastic dessert menu, featuring the delectable **Flan** (plain or with coconut) and the highly recommended **Guava Con Queso Empanada**.
  • **Great Coffee and Refreshments:** Offers authentic Cuban coffee like **Cortadito** and **Cafe Con Leche**, along with traditional Cuban milkshakes (**Batidos**) in flavors like Mamey, Mango, and Guava.
  • **Cozy, Cuban-Themed Ambiance:** The interior is decorated with vintage Cuban photographs, posters, and unique furniture (like bar stools made from drums), creating a festive and transporting environment.
  • **Friendly and Welcoming Staff:** Customers consistently praise the staff and owners for their kind, attentive, and welcoming nature, creating a genuine sense of being treated like family.
  • **Varied Menu Options:** Caters to different dining needs with offerings like **Comfort food**, **Quick bites**, **Small plates** (Appetizers), and options for both **Lunch** and **Dinner**.
  • **High Local & Critical Acclaim:** Recognized as a top New Jersey eatery, including the honor of being named one of **Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in 2025**.

Contact Information

For inquiries, to place an order, or for any other information, you can contact Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe using the following details:

  • **Address:** 292 S Michigan Ave, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
  • **Phone:** (908) 486-6000
  • **Mobile Phone (Alternate):** +1 908-486-6000

What is Worth Choosing at Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe?

The decision to visit Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe is an easy one for anyone in New Jersey seeking quality, authentic Cuban fare served with warmth. What makes this establishment particularly worth choosing is the combination of its **culinary authenticity** and its **sincere family-run hospitality**.

The menu is packed with flavorful classics, all cooked to order and based on cherished family recipes, ensuring a level of authenticity that can be hard to find. You can't go wrong with their signature dishes:

  • **The Cubano:** The classic Cuban pressed sandwich, a customer favorite and a cornerstone of the cafe's legacy, is a perfect balance of savory pork, ham, Swiss cheese, and pickle.
  • **Ropa Vieja:** The deeply flavorful shredded flank steak in a savory Creole sauce is a must-try entree, often cited as one of the best around.
  • **Empanadas and Croquetas:** Excellent choices for appetizers or a quick bite, with options like Beef, Chicken, Ham & Cheese Empanadas, and the creamy, savory Croquetas De Hamon. They even offer a **Vegan Empanada** option.
  • **Batidos (Milkshakes):** A perfect way to cool down or complement your meal with a taste of tropical fruit in traditional Cuban milkshake form.

Furthermore, the cafe is highly recommended for its genuine, personal touch. As many patrons share, you are immediately greeted with a sense of friendliness and belonging, feeling like you’ve stepped into a family’s kitchen rather than a typical restaurant. It is ideal for a solo lunch, a family dinner, or a gathering of friends. When you choose Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe, you’re not just getting a meal; you're getting an authentic, heartfelt piece of Cuban culture, tradition, and hospitality right here in Kenilworth, NJ.

Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe Menu

  • APPETIZERS

  • Empanada - Cheese $4.50
  • Vegan Empanada $4.50
  • Ham & Cheese Empanada $4.50
  • Appetizer Platter $23.95
  • Empanada - Chicken $4.75
  • Empanada - Beef $4.75
  • World's First Cuban Rice Ball $6.95

    Our Ropa Vieja or creole seasoned shredded chicken stuffed in a ball of yellow rice & deep fried.

  • Tamal $6.50

    Cuban style corn tamale with chunks of pork inside.

  • Croqueta De Hamon $3.95
  • Papa Rellena $4.75

    Stuffed potato ball with seasoned ground beef.

  • SANDWICHES

  • Cubano $15.95
  • Fish Sandwich $15.95
  • Ropa Vieja Sandwich $18.95
  • Pan Con Lechon $15.95
  • Frita Cubana $13.95
  • Croqueta Preparada $13.95
  • Choripan $13.95
  • Grilled Chicken Sandwich $13.95
  • Breaded Chicken Sandwich $13.95
  • Pan Con Bistec $17.95
  • ENTREES

  • ROPA VIEJA $24.95
  • Chicken Tenders $15.95
  • Grilled Chicken Salad $16.95
  • Masita De Puerco $23.95
  • Fricase De Pollo $19.95
  • Cha Cha Cha Fish $23.95
  • Chuletas $20.95
  • Lechon Asado / Pernil $21.95
  • Vaca Frita $23.95
  • Bistec Empanizado $25.95
  • Bistec Encebollado $24.95
  • Pollo Empanizado $20.95
  • Pollo Encebollado $19.95
  • Rabo Encendido / Oxtail $29.95
  • Lunch Specials

  • Pollo Empanizado - Lunch $16.96

    Breaded chicken cutlet served with your choice of rice and beans.

  • Grilled Chicken Salad - Lunch $15.95
  • Masitas De Puerco $18.95

    Cuban marinated chunks of pork served with your choice of rice and beans.

  • Fricase De Pollo Lunch $16.95

    Chicken breasts and potatoes in a creole tomato sauce served with your choice of rice and beans.

  • Fish Sandwich - Lunch $14.95

    Bassa fish flies on a toasted sandwich.

  • Ropa Vieja Sandwich $14.95
  • Chicken Fingers - Lunch $13.95

    Comes with fries

  • CHA CHA CHA FISH $17.95

    Our bass fish filet served with your choice of rice and beans.

  • Pan Con Lechon $12.95

    Cuban roast pork with sautéed onion pressed sandwich.

  • Lechon Asado / Pernil - Lunch $16.95

    Our house roast pork served with your choice of rice and beans.

  • Bistec Encebollado - Lunch $19.95

    Sautéed steak with onions

  • Pollo Encebollado - Lunch $16.95

    Sautéed chicken breast with sautéed onions

  • Chuleta/Pork Chops $15.95

    Cuban style pork chopsserved with your choice of rice and beans.

  • Frita Cubana - Lunch $12.35

    Cuban style pork/beef burger served with potato sticks and comes with fries.

  • Grilled Chicken Sandwich $11.95
  • Pan Con Bistec - Lunch $14.95

    Cuban steak sandwich - comes with sautéed onions and potato sticks.

  • Cubano - Lunch $13.95
  • Choripan - Lunch $12.95

    Spanish chorizo sandwich with cheese and onions panini pressed.

  • Croqueta Preparada $12.95

    Croquette sandwich panini pressed.

  • Ropa Vieja $20.95

    Shredded flank steak in a cuban creole sauce served with your choice of rice and beans.

  • Vaca Frita $19.95
  • Breaded Chicken Sandwich $12.95
  • SIDES

  • Side Salad $9.95
  • Beans - Large $6.50
  • RED SAUCE $0.78
  • Congri - LARGE $5.75
  • Congri- SMALL $4.50
  • White Rice - LARGE $5.15
  • White Rice -SMALL $4.15
  • Yuca Frita $5.95
  • French Fries $4.95
  • Tostones $5.50
  • Beans -Small $3.50
  • Yuca Con Mojo $5.95
  • Yuca Fries $4.95
  • Maduros $4.95
  • Yellow Rice - Small $4.50
  • Yellow Rice - Large $5.75
  • SAUCES

  • Rafa Sauce Bottle $11.95
  • Santana Sauce Bottle $11.95
  • Red Sauce $0.65
  • Green Sauce $0.65
  • Drinks

  • Seltzer $2.00
  • Cortadito $2.95
  • Malta $2.50
  • Cafe Con Leche $4.95

    Cuban coffee milk condensed milk and evaporated milk

  • Water $2.03
  • Bon Bon $2.86
  • Double Espresso $3.95
  • Espresso $2.95
  • Coke $2.03
  • Sprite $2.03
  • Materva $2.03
  • Malta $2.35
  • Batidos - MilkShakes

  • Guava - Batido $7.95
  • Papaya - Batido $7.95
  • Trigo - Batido $7.95
  • Guanabanana - Batido $7.95
  • Mamey - Batido $7.95
  • Mango - Batido $7.95
  • Pineapple $7.95
  • DESSERT

  • Empanada - Guava Con Queso $4.50
  • Flan Con Coco $8.50
  • Flan $7.95

Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe Details

  • Service options

  • Delivery
  • Takeout
  • Dine-in
  • Highlights

  • Great dessert
  • Serves local specialty
  • Popular for

  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Solo dining
  • Accessibility

  • Wheelchair accessible entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Wheelchair accessible restroom
  • Wheelchair accessible seating
  • Offerings

  • Coffee
  • Comfort food
  • Quick bite
  • Small plates
  • Dining options

  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Catering
  • Dessert
  • Seating
  • Table service
  • Amenities

  • Restroom
  • Atmosphere

  • Casual
  • Cozy
  • Trendy
  • Crowd

  • Family-friendly
  • Groups
  • Payments

  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards
  • NFC mobile payments
  • Credit cards
  • Children

  • Good for kids
  • High chairs
  • Parking

  • Free street parking
  • Parking

Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe Photos

Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe Picture 1Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe Picture 2Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe Picture 3Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe Picture 4Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe Picture 5Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe Picture 6Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe Picture 7Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe Picture 8Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe Picture 9Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe Picture 10

Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe Location

Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe

292 S Michigan Ave, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA

Cha Cha Cha Cuban Cafe Reviews

An average rating of ★4.6 from 518 user reviews.

cuban sandwichropa viejaempanadasmomcongrientreeencebolladovaca fritafeelbeef empanada

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

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