• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Press
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Shop

Honey, Whats Cooking logo

June 29, 2016 6 Comments

Chef’s Tasting: Asia de Cuba | NYC

Once featured on HBO’s Sex and the City at the Morgans Hotel in the Murray Hill neighborhood, owner Jeffrey Chodorow and executive chef Luis Pous reopened its doors to Asia de Cuba in Manhattan’s Noho district.Asia de Cuba New York

Chef Pous’ vision of Asia de Cuba is essentially what Asian-influenced Cuban food would taste like, hence you will find the dishes here to be innovative.Asia de Cuba New York 2
The restaurant’s interior is a contemporary space that evokes a chic, sophisticated and an intimate setting.Asia de Cuba New York 3
I loved the bar area with all the uplighting. Bar - Asia de Cuba
* NOTE: I visited Asia de Cuba during their “Chef’s Hour Tasting,” thus the portion size on a few items below are smaller than usual. IMG_6580


Cocktails
El Cristiano: Essentially a margarita prepared with Espolon Tequila, lime, celery, honey, jalapeno, pimenton, salt and a large ice cube. A well-made cocktail that tasted a little like bacon with a hint of spice.
Mango Mojito: Mango mojito made with rum, mango juice, lime, sugarcane juice, mint and pebble ice. The mojito was succulent and not too sweet. El Cristiano, Mango Mojito - Asia de Cuba


Ceviche
Snapper: The snapper in combination with Thai chili, red onion and cilantro was presented in a pasta bowl with plantain chips over the top. The snapper itself was fresh and light, and the plantains added a nice crunch. The ceviche was just okay for me since I’m not a fan of raw fish to begin with, but there are always exceptions.Snapper Ceviche - Asia de Cuba


Salads
The Crispy Calamari: This was one unique salad. The calamari was tender and crispy, however it was on the salty side. Having said that, when the fried calamari was paired with the greens, banana slices, and orange-sesame vinaigrette, the salad balanced out perfectly. I’ve never experienced banana slices in a salad, and it was a great addition to offset some of the saltiness with a little sweetness. The Crispy Calamari - Asia de Cuba


Small Plates
Tunapica Tartare: As mentioned above, I’m not a fan of raw fish, however the Tuna Tartare Tacos are an exception to the rule. Filled in a crispy wonton shell with tuna, Spanish olives, currants, toasted coconut, almond and avocado ceviche, this light appetizer was beyond delicious. There were complex flavors in this dish that flawlessly came together with the perfect blend of crunchy, sweet, and savory in every bite. I absolutely loved the addition of the sweet currants which really stood out from the rest of the ingredients. This appetizer is a must do!Tunapica Tartare - Asia de Cuba
Casabe Cakes: The pulled pork cooked in a sweet guava barbeque sauce was tasty, but also slightly chewy. The pork sat on Yuca Fritters topped with onion and Fresno peppers. Overall, a good appetizer that you can’t go wrong with. Casabe Cakes - Asia de Cuba


Large Plates
Snapper: The snapper was tender and sat on a bed of coconut ginger carrot broth that was on the thicker side due to the creaminess from the coconut. Additionally, below the snapper were two yuca dumplings that were quite bland and some delicious bok choy. This dish was topped with vegetable escabeche. The snapper was very slightly spicy and one of the my favorite dishes of the night. With that said, a side of coconut rice would have been a great addition to this dish.Snapper Large Plate - Asia de Cuba
Short Rib Vaca Frita: I’m not a big red-meat eater, but lately I’ve been enjoying short ribs. They’re quite amazing to say the least. Here you have a generous sized portion of tender short ribs that were lightly fried. This unique dish had a plethora of flavors and started off with carrot puree at the bottom topped with perfectly sweet plantains (maduros) over the puree. The short ribs sat over a bed of plantains which are then topped off with a spicy cilantro sauce. The cilantro sauce when paired with the short ribs was truly exceptional.Short Rib Vaca Frita - Asia de Cuba


Sides
Yuca Fries: The fries were good, a little bland, but when bathed in the buttery, garlicky, limey mojo sauce, it was delicious. Yuca Fries - Asia de Cuba
Plantain Fried Rice: Whoever came up with this concoction is a genius! This dish right here is where Asia meets Cuba. The savory flavored Asian fried rice consisted of bean sprouts and edamame combined with a few pieces of Cuban sweet plantains (maduros). This dish was then topped off with avocado ceviche, which is essentially guacamole. A highly flavorful dish of where Asia meets Cuba that came together brilliantly. Plantain Fried Rice - Asia de Cuba


Coffee & Dessert
Coffee: Good, solid cup of hot coffee.Coffee - Asia de Cuba
Guava Whipped Layer Cheesecake: Our waitress took the liberty of surprising us with the chef’s favorite dessert. I was secretly hoping it would be Coconut Cake, but alas, it was Guava Cheesecake. Right off the bat, I was very impressed by the presentation of this dessert, it reminded me of a Napolean, you know, layers and all. When I finally had a bite of this heavenly dessert that consisted of crunch, sweetness, and creaminess all in one bite, I was very happy our waitress surprised us with this light and refreshing dessert. Guava Whipped Layer Cheesecake - Asia de Cuba


RESTAURANT REVIEW: Asia de Cuba
COST
: $$$
CUISINE: Asian Fusion, Cuban, Latin-American
FAVORITES: The Crispy Calamari | Tunapica Tartare | Snapper Large Plate | Plantain Fried Rice | Guava Whipped Layer Cheesecake
VERDICT: 4.25 / 5
My experience at Asia de Cuba was extraordinary. The decor here is trendy in an intimate, dimly lit setting. The food is unique and innovative, the flavors are fresh and tasty, and the service by our server, Gina, was exceptional. My absolute favorites of the night were easily the Tuna Tartare Tacos, Plantain Fried Rice and Guava Whipped Layer Cheesecake. Keep in mind, if tuna isn’t your cup of tea, opt for the Beetpica Tartare appetizer instead which is a vegetarian spin on the Tuna Tartare. Next time I visit Asia de Cuba, I would like to try the Chicken Chicharrones, Black Cod, Chili Scallops, and that divine Coconut Cake everyone keeps raving about. Overall, the innovative food and seductive atmosphere at Asia de Cuba will make your visit a worthwhile one.

Food: Excellent | Drinks: Excellent | Décor:Trendy/Chic | Service: Excellent/Attentive | Value: Good

LOCATION
415 Lafayette St., New York, NY
(noho)

Asia de Cuba Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Have you been to Asia de Cuba recently, or in the past? What was your favorite item?

Recipes You Will Love:

Asia de Cuba @ The Morgans Hotel | New York City (CLOSED) Havana Alma De Cuba | New York City An Exotic South Asian Meal: Spice Market | NYC (CLOSED) Sazon | New York City

Filed Under: $$$, Asian Fusion, Cuban, Food & Travel, Latin American, New York, New York City, Noho, United States Tagged With: Food & Travel, New York City Restaurants

Previous Post: « Affordable Indian: Ahimsa | NYC
Next Post: An Exotic South Asian Meal: Spice Market | NYC (CLOSED) »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tanvi Rastogi says

    June 29, 2016 at 9:36 pm

    Looks like a great place! 🙂

    ∞ © tanvii.com ∞

    Reply
  2. Dixya says

    June 29, 2016 at 11:31 pm

    very interesting and new to me ingredients. i love tartare in general so i bet this one was really really good!!! and i love the guava based dessert + solid cup of coffee 🙂

    Reply
  3. Anonymous says

    June 30, 2016 at 6:34 pm

    What happened to you??? Three reviews in less than 8 days :O :O :O

    Keep up the spirit and write more recipes too, will you?

    Reply
  4. Rose Jessica says

    July 4, 2016 at 9:21 am

    Hi! Thanks for the great information you have provided! You have touched on crucuial points!
    * google mail

    Reply
  5. Alice Taylor says

    July 7, 2016 at 2:01 am

    I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article.I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article.
    monkey go happy| yahtzee with buddies| | mahjong | | defendyournuts 2| superfighters 2 |

    Reply
  6. Shay Laren says

    July 8, 2016 at 3:17 am

    Vielen Dank für Ihre Sharing, auch, ich hoffe, dass Sie unsere schöne Produkte zu mögen: günstige Abendkleider online

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar





About

A foodie who is passionate about living a healthy-ish lifestyle, cooking, and traveling. I moved from Jersey City leaving behind my family & friends to beautiful Southern California for love. I'm adjusting to the laid-back SoCal lifestyle and learning a lot about myself along the way. Come join me on a soul searching journey and I'll tell YOU "what's cooking" through my love for food, fashion, and travel.

Subscribe

Don't miss a single post!


Categories

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Healthy-ish Meals
  • Indian
  • Gluten-Free
  • Dairy-Free
  • Eggless Desserts

Trending

  • World’s BEST Spaghetti RAO’s Homemade Marina...
  • Green Moong Dal Khichdi (healthy, gluten-free, veg...
  • Mexican Pizza Taco Bell (vegetarian, 10 ingredient...
  • Gajar Ka Halwa | Indian Carrot Pudding (gluten-fre...
  • Honey Glazed Ginger Garlic Salmon (healthy-ish, gl...
  • Punjabi Kadhi (healthy, gluten-free)
  • 7 Layer Burrito Taco Bell (vegetarian)
  • Creamy Spicy Vegan Pasta (vegan, gluten-free, high...

Footer

💛 Golden Hour 💛 Got all dressed up for a spe 💛 Golden Hour 💛 Got all dressed up for a special shoot yesterday. Head on over to my stories for a GRWM using all my favorite makeup products - all part of the @sephora spring sale. Also linked on my liketoknowit. http://liketk.it/3dac5 #liketkit @liketoknow.it ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ ❓What's your favorite makeup/skincare product?⁠⠀
💫 SPINACH GINGER PUDA 💫 Here’s an idea fo 💫 SPINACH GINGER PUDA 💫 Here’s an idea for your weekend brunch scene. Spinach Puda (Cheela/Pudla) that’s super gingery and flavored with green chilies. It’s the perfect combo paired with a hot cup of masala chai. Serve with cilantro chutney and red chili sauce. Healthy, nutritious, and delicious! ⁠ ⁠ NEW Recipe on the blog. Link in bio! 💚⁠
It was nice to get out for a couple of hours witho It was nice to get out for a couple of hours without my baby and enjoy some “me time.” You know I love a good summer salad, especially one that’s sweet, savory, and crunchy. #SPSSZN is back with @PaneraBread’s famous Strawberry Poppyseed Salad. Head over to @PaneraBread to unlock exclusive promos so you can enjoy an SPS salad too! #PaneraPartner
Whenever I visit home, my mom asks me for a list o Whenever I visit home, my mom asks me for a list of things I wanna eat. CHOLE is always on my list because it’s healthy, delicious, and comfort food all in one. On this post, sharing my tip on how to achieve that “dark brown” color when making Punjabi Chole. 😊 Recipe on the blog. Link in bio! 💚
All you veggie lovers, don't be fooled! These TOFU All you veggie lovers, don't be fooled! These TOFU MUSHROOM LETTUCE WRAPS are vegan! People often complain about how tofu has no flavor, I feel you, but with tofu, it comes down to how you flavor it. These Wraps are meaty in texture, packed with so much flavor, crunchy, and healthy-ish too.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ ❓ How do you get that meaty texture with tofu?⁠⠀ Check out my tips on the blog.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Nutrition: 107 calories, 5g protein, 11g carbs per lettuce wrap.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ A quick, easy, and healthy weeknight meal. Recipe on the blog. Link in bio! 💚⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ #tofulettucewraps #tofuwraps #veganlettucewraps #lettucewraps #asianfood #lowcarbmeal #healthydinnerrecipes #weeknightmeal #thefeedfeed #desiinfluencer #huffposttaste #eatbetterfeelbetter #feelgoodfood #tastemademedoit #tofu #tofurecipes #veganprotein #whatveganseat #plantbaseddiet #vegansofig ⁠⠀
Embarrassingly easy THIN-CRUST LAVASH BREAD PIZZA Embarrassingly easy THIN-CRUST LAVASH BREAD PIZZA 🍕 that ended up on my blog anyway. It’s one of my go-to recipes these days since I don’t have a lot of time to cook. For this flatbread pizza, I used Trader Joe’s whole wheat lavash bread topped this pizza with my fave veg toppings - spinach, mushrooms, and olives.⁠ ⁠ ❓ How to prevent soggy pizza when adding spinach and mushrooms?⁠ ⁠ Check out my blog for tips and this recipe! Link in bio! ❤️⁠ ⁠
When I bake, I give away 75% of my baked goods. Wh When I bake, I give away 75% of my baked goods. When I made this ORANGE CARDAMOM FLAN, my husband didn't let me give away any slices. His exact words to me were, "Nisha, this is one of the best desserts you’ve ever made.” 🍊🍮⁠ ⁠ Making flan is super easy. This recipe is just 7 ingredients, gluten-free, and not eggy. It's light and melts in your mouth. I've shared my tips on how to make flan on the blog. Perfect for Easter, Spring, or when you want some flan. Check out my tips along with this recipe. Link in bio! 🧡⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠
Follow Me On Instagram
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Privacy

Subscribe

Don't miss a single post!

Recent Posts

  • Spinach Puda (healthy, vegan, gluten-free)
  • Tofu Lettuce Wraps (vegan, gluten-free, healthy)
  • Lavash Bread Pizza (vegetarian, healthyish, 8 ingredients)
  • Hariyali Paneer Tikka (gluten-free, vegetarian)
  • Mohabbat ka Sharbat | Watermelon Rose Drink (5 ingredients)

© 2021 Honey, What's Cooking.