By Silas Gwathmey

Have you ever wanted to try something new? How about experiencing new cultures through food? The restaurant for this is Kuba Kuba, an authentic Cuban restaurant in downtown Richmond. 

Mural on the side of the wall of Manny Mendez’s Kuba Kuba in The Fan. Photo credit: Emory Minnick.

My family has been a fan of this restaurant since I was born, but it is not by coincidence. We are lucky enough to know the owner of this restaurant, Manuel “Manny” Mendez. Manny and my parents go back as close family friends to early adulthood, when they all met. Mendez is the most genuine man I have ever met, with the best attitude. To top that off, he is also an amazing cook. One dish Mendez and Kuba Kuba are known for is his tres leches cake, which his mother taught him how to make.

Manny Mendez, sitting outside of his restaurant. Photo credit: Scott Elmquist via Style Weekly.

My sister Laila Gwathmey (‘21), and I decided to get jobs last summer, and we both settled on working for Mendez. I was not able to work at the original Kuba Kuba in The Fan and instead worked at their second location, Kuba Kuba Dos, located in the Tuckahoe Shopping Center on Ridge Road in Henrico.

Laila says, “Kuba Kuba is a restaurant in The Fan that serves Cuban cuisine inspired from the owner’s Cuban heritage and family recipes.” The atmosphere is very friendly and warm, with lots of cultural decorations. Working there was the best decision Laila and I could have made, as we were surrounding ourselves with a new culture and people who would treat us like family. 

Karl Kastembaum (‘23) said his first experience at Kuba Kuba was unlike any other. “The whole staff greeted me with a huge smile and tended to any need of mine and more.” 

Café con leche. Photo credit: Kuba Kuba.

On a recent visit, Kastenbaum ordered a Cuban flan sandwich, and, in his words, “It melted perfectly on my tongue.” Kastenbaum claims to have been a closed-minded eater when it comes to trying new food. To go with this sandwich and in an attempt to try more of the must-haves at Kuba Kuba, he ordered a café con leche and a slice of the tres leches cake. There is nothing like taking a bite of a heavy, moist, frosting-covered tres leches and washing it down with a hot or iced café con leche.

Beautiful empanadas. Photo credit: Kuba Kuba.

My mother Kelly Gwathmey commented that “being inside of the restaurant gives me a sense of community and family. They really share the pleasure of good authentic food.” Kelly has been going to Kuba Kuba since she was in her early twenties and befriended Mendez. According to her, “Kuba is not a place you get tired of; when you meet the staff, it almost feels like they’re family.” Kelly recommends her order, consisting of 50/50 beef and spinach empanadas, a slice of tres leches, café con leche, and either huevos rancheros if it is lunchtime, or a Cuban sandwich around dinner.

Laila shared similar opinions about the business and people as a whole. “Kuba Kuba is the perfect homey cafe that you should add to your list. I would recommend it to anyone, even picky eaters. There is something on the menu for everyone.”

Next time you’re having trouble thinking of where to eat, do not hesitate to visit Kuba Kuba in The Fan or Kuba Kuba Doc in the West End.