RESTAURANT REVIEW:

For some time now I have been trying to get up enough courage to go salsa dancing. I have no clue how to do it, but for some reason I feel the need to go.

Maybe it is my love of Hispanic culture. Family vacations to several different cities in Mexico cemented those feelings. The food has also long been a favorite of mine ever since an old girlfriend’s aunt made me a traditional Puerto Rican dinner.

Habana Cubana has some of the best Cuban food in Orange County and when I saw they were offering free salsa lessons on Thursdays and Sundays, I headed over there.

It was the second time I had been there in a week. I came in alone and watched the lessons from afar, too scared to join in, leaving before the band fired up for dancing.

I had been there a couple of days before with my friends and frequent dining partners, Mark and Diane. When I mentioned the restaurant to them they were both eager to try it.

The reason it is one of the best Cuban food places in the county is one dish they serve that I think could be in my top 10.

The Paella Valenciana is worth the hefty $25.95 price tag that comes with it. The dish varies from place to place, but one constant is the flavorful saffron yellow rice that makes up the base of any paella dish.

After that, imagination is the only barrier. I have seen everything from pork to Chinese sausage in paella dishes. It is really hard to go wrong.

The saffron and garlic are the main ingredients in Habana Cubana’s. After that they sprinkle in lobster chunks, clams, shrimp, Spanish chorizo, ham and chicken. Other fish is also put into the dish that could easily feed two people. The restaurant also has a two persons’ dish for $45, but that could easily feed four.

Plus any chance of finishing my paella was nullified when we ordered the Cuban sampler as an appetizer.

I think we would have been better off with the La Picada, which had Spanish chorizo, mariquitaas and croquetas. The Cabana platter was a variety of plantains and while they were good, we were looking for something with a little more variety.

Mark ordered the pierna de puerco asado, which is marinated pork topped with onions and a garlic sauce. The pork was incredibly tender and the garlic sauce was not too runny or smothering.

Diane had the shrimp and vegetables and the jumbo shrimp came with bell peppers, onions, zucchini squash and carrots. It is a good dish with firm, well-cooked shrimp and vegetables that are cooked al dente.

The rice and beans are not to be missed and come with most of the dishes. There is also a garbanzo bean soup that is quite good as well. Of course if you are going there you have to have a mojito, a traditional Cuban drink with rum, mint leaves, club soda and sugar.

After our meal I grabbed a flier for the free salsa dancing lessons and vowed to come back. The stage is at the far end of the main dining room and late diners are treated to students of all abilities trying to learn the steps. The lessons begin at 8:30 p.m. and dancing is an hour later.

Not having a partner may have prevented me from joining in dance lessons; it was more likely terrible shyness. The paella will definitely bring me back to Habana Cubana, but I will just have to work up more nerve to go onto the dance floor.

HABANA CABANA

Address: 18552 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach

Phone: (714) 968-1133

Cuisine: Cuban

Specialty dish: one of four lobster dishes

Alcohol served: full bar

Dress: Casual to dressy

Family friendly:Yes, kids menu with four items

Credit cards accepted: American Express, Visa and MasterCard

Rating: ***

JOHN REGER reviews local restaurants for the Independent.