Barrio Chino — Havana's Chinatown

Havana's Barrio Chino was once the largest Chinatown in Latin America — founded in the 19th century by Chinese contract workers brought to the sugar plantations as cheap labor. Today, the Chinese community is largely assimilated, but the area around Calle Cuchillo (Knife Street) preserves a few remnants: a Paifang (gate), some Chinese-Cuban restaurants, and a nostalgic atmosphere.

Culinarily, Barrio Chino is a curiosity: Cuban-Chinese fusion cuisine — Fried Rice with black beans, Spring Rolls with plantain, Cuban-style Chop Suey. Not authentically Chinese, but a fascinating testament to cultural mixing. The restaurants on Calle Cuchillo are affordable (3–8€) and a welcome change from the heavy Creole cuisine.