This is a great spot. Let's start off by saying what this is: it's a great ethnic deli/cafe. It's not a full restaurant with chefs. Nor is it a quick in/out lunch deli. It's a great deli that goes a little extra with some light cooking. What this means is that people expecting a quick in/out lunch counter will be annoyed that they actually take the time to make things well. People who are expecting somewhere where a sous chef from a high end restaurant is taking his skills to bring us the flavors of their homeland. It's somewhere in between the two and it's great. Everything was well assembled and the portions were generous. The spice level varies from sandwich to sandwich and it's fair to say that they could do a better job of letting you know which is which. We had the #5 and the #9 and a side of Cholco. It was all very good. The only problem was the meat itself was a little bland and we agreed that it seems better to focus on vegetarian options next time we visited. This is a place we'll have to try again. Service was good and the place seemed reasonably clean. read more

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The sandwiches at amazing and massive. Be mindful of what you are ordering though, because a few of them have quite the kick!

Was trying to decide between 3 and 4 stars.... Went with 4 because of the freshness of the ingredients and originality of the sandwiches... Sandwiches not as flavourful as you would think with the myriad of ingredients... Definitely need salt and would also recommend asking for extra sauce... Potatoes very good... Juices just OK... Overpriced for the size of the portions but the Lunch and Breakfast Specials are a decent deal... read more

Looking for something new and unique? Check out Cafe Rumba! Quick Take: * Delicious sandwiches! My favorite is the Pavo (turkey) * Try the chicha drink (purple corn juice) or Inca Cola for an authentic experience! This place is awesome - really delicious food in a fun and casual atmosphere. They specialize in sandwiches but also have various non-sandwhich daily specials. I have tried nearly everything on the menu (and it's all delicious!) but my absolute favorite is the Pavo (turkey) sandwhich, because of its unique "black mint" sauce... sounds weird, I know, but it's seriously delicious (I also usually have them add the onion mixture to my Pavo sandwhich). My boyfriend's favorite is the Buttifara (pork), but don't let the description fool you - it says "ham" but it's not like thin-sliced deli style ham, it's big thick slices of pork. Make sure you get some Chicha or an Inca Cola to complete your Peruvian dining experience :) For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of trying Peruvian cuisine - the flavors are unique, but are agreeable enough that they will likely please those who might not normally like various "ethnic" or "exotic" foods. I always hear people here in Bham complain about not having much variety when it comes to food choices, but whenever I mention Cafe Rumba I usually get a "oh, where is that place? I think I've driven by and seen it but haven't tried it". GO TRY IT BELLINGHAMSTERS! read more

Wow, the Pollo Gaucho was busting full of flavors!!! There is no doubt that everything was lovingly homemade - including the roasted chicken that was so flavorful. The sauce that is smothered over the roasted potato slices was awesome - great combo of heat and spices! As you can tell John can't wait to take his first bite! Oh, I can't forget to mention the bread, oh, so good! read more

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Friendly, local establishment with helpful employees and relaxing atmosphere. Food was appreciable, but slightly bland and unexceptional. Ordered the first item on the menu and, while the bread itself was well toasted, the filling lacked freshness and tasted more like cream-coated vegetables and fruit than the chicken-filled stuffing that I was hoping for. The potatoes on the side themselves were pretty good. However, I received five or six wedges at the most; wedges that were overly coated in a ranch-like sauce that depleted the authentic potato flavor. Overall? Staff was friendly, food was mediocre. read more

Food was amazing, we had three sandwiches. In order of amazing was 3. The pollo 2. Rumba pulled pork 1. The butifarra!. The pork is very well done. Not to be forgotten is the side of buttery potatoes topped with their homemade salsa escabeche.....awesome. Even more awesome was the staff getting it done with COVID restrictions and turning out a great experience and delicious food. read more

The Rumba Pulled Pork Sandwich is so damn good! Add in the potatoes and the cheese/guava dessert I ordered and we now have my favorite restaurant in Bellingham! Great spot. read more

Outstanding sandwiches We tried 4 different All were v good Needed go bags Freshly made to order so entailed 20 min wait read more

fast service with a lovely group of gals that work there! the papas rumbas are to die for

Amazing deals almost every day of the week, great happy hour, nice staff, good environment, and most of all delicious food.

Perfect new flavors (to us). My bf ordered #1 and I ordered #4 and we shared. Omg it was delicious! Side of baked yellow potatoes with some spicy dressing definitely pulled the flavors together! read more

Cafe Rumba - #1 and #4 - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Interesting and fairly good sandwiches. The potatoes were great, except too much sauce and the ratio of meat to carbs/bread was 1:2. In others words, too much breading and sauce. Dur to this, the price for sauce and bread is considered in the higher side. Pro: friendly staff, different and good flavor Cons: not health friendly, lacking in drink options and a bit on the pricier side. read more

Our house sitter turned us on to this. Great little spot in downtown Bellingham near the Herald Building. Amazing sandwiches and bowls of potatoes, shredded pork and sauce. read more

The sandwhich i got was amazing feel bad cause i left a mess but that's just to show how good it was!!

Such a nice place to eat. I really enjoyed the staff and the food. Coffee is incredible too read more

Cafe Rumba - Amazing food. Such a wonderful staff to talk about the food - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Well, I now officially have a favorite place to grab a sandwich in Bham! I'm typically not a fan of sandwiches because of the bread, but this place nailed it. Don't let the look of the bread fool you...I thought it would be too "bready", but it was soft and light and was actually a good ratio to the rest of the ingredients. The spices and sauces were AMAZING! I love my food with a little heat in it and they delivered on that. I can't wait to go back and try everything on the menu. Today, I had the peruano (veggie sandwich) and the special of the day, the choripollo (rotisserie chicken and chorizo). The potatoes and salad are both excellent additions to an already perfect meal. I will be back often! read more

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If you go to Bellingham on a regular basis, you're most likely sick of going to the same old boring spots. Cafe Rumba offers some killer sandwiches -- and their menu is a joy to work through. For the first few times, sure, go with suggestions from around here, but after that, start at the top and work your way down. Top tip: go with friend and split 'em up (the sandwiches... not your friend.) The potatoes with aji cream mayo sauce might seem odd at first, but they're fantastic and totally addictive. These are somewhat spicy, but nothing abnormal. I should also mention that it's pretty inexpensive and the staff is really sweet. read more

One of my favorite lunch spots in town. Not a bad choice in the menu, I typically go for the choriPollo with potato and sPicy sauce for the side. read more

Café rumba has the best sandwiches and roasted potatoes in town! Their offerings are super unique, delicious, and makes for a perfect lunch or dinner stop if you are looking for takeout! read more

Oh. My. God... This was good! Got the number two, and number three. The meat was tender and flavorful, slaw was crunchy, and the egg was perfectly cooked. Glad I had extra napkins in my purse, because these were messy. There was a decent beer selection, as well as some soft drinks. Staff was super friendly. I will be back. read more

A friend recommended this place and the menu looked great. We called ahead from the highway to verify what time they closed; arrived 25 mins before they closed and were greeted with "stink eyes" and told that our food would be given as boxes to take out. When we said that we had called ahead for this reason, one server said, "we have to get home too". We took our food to go (after tipping); the food was good (out of boxes) but this place epitomized poor service by young people (I'm in my 30s) with terrible work ethic. read more

I have been here several times and enjoyed the food on site. This time a friend picked up my order of 2 different sandwiches. On arrival something leaked through the bag; it was an open sandwich. Both sandwiches were ordered "sauce on side." Additionally, the sandwich that was supposed to have no spice was totally spicy. I called and was given an apology and full refund. I will return, I do like the food. I recommend eating on site. read more

Discovered this place on a quest one night to get out of the elements and fill myself with some warm coffee. I walked in later in the evening and immediately felt a great vibe with some lovely jazz playing when I got a cup. It was close to closing but the atmosphere was very homey. Yesterday the wife and I ate somewhere and felt a bit cheated on our wallets and our stomach. We spent close to $20 for two drinks and two spring rolls and we definitely weren't satisfied. We wanted something else to go and the wife brought us to Cafe Rumba. We ordered the Quinoa bowl to share and got it to go. We got to chat with Antonio a bit and he was very welcoming and friendly. He had told us about the salsa night they host every other Saturday with a $5 cover and mentioned for the first 30 minutes he personally gives a brief lesson before the more "experienced" dancers come but reassured us that experience or none at all it's a great time to be had. We were so excited we already made plans to come back the following night for salsa dancing which neither of us have done. We got in the car and had just one bite each and we both were blown away. Such flavor and the salsa escabeche is so good we licked up all that remained in the little to-go container. We also felt ashamed we hadn't stayed to enjoy the food in the lovely restaurant that had an atmosphere that makes you feel like you're in Peru. Lovely artwork on display accompanied by great music. Not too loud, soft enough to provide you with a lovely soundtrack for your Peruvian dining like experience. Long story short; the quinoa bowl was so good we came back the next morning and ordered one for each of us. We also intend to purchase some of the salsa escabeche to enjoy at home. Come here! read more

Cafe Rumba - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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I've always loved Rumba :) one of my favorites in Bellingham, their food is just as good to go!

What a Gem !!! I was so excited to try this place, I have heard from the locals that this was a good place for a Peruvian sandwich. The place is small but cozy , the menu was simple along with weekly specials . I decided on the Tuesday special -Pollo also a side of the potatoes with its special sauce ! When my order was served I could not believe the size! They were not shy with the serving of chicken and sauce. It packed so much flavor , oh and the potatoes !! I really enjoyed the spicy sauce . The two girls at the counter were very friendly and fast . The vibe was nice too , I love the decor in the wall and the seating was perfect for a sunny day ! read more

One word: Yuccas. As a side, as a scramble. So good. Desserts look yummy, self-mix mimosas, good. Prices, reasonable. Downsides: Seating is a bit awkward, tables are self-bus (staff don't even try to clean them--they are usually gross), the $20 water jug is broken and owner may be too cheap to replace it. Staff are friendly, good vibes. read more

You want: - butifarra royal - pollo tocino y palta - papas con ají escabeche - alfajores If you don't like spicy: let the staff know, they have a range of sauces. read more

Had the special, which was a "Peruvian sirloin," with grilled veggies and a tasty sauce. Overall, it was average. The ensalada that accompanied it may actually have lacked dressing, or it was so little as to be indistinguishable from the flavors of the sandwich. Also, the bagged greens were kind of wilted. The place itself is colorful, and a little bit dirty (clean off the window sills at the front booth!). There is proof here too that if you leave the front door open, flies will enter, and buzz around. Finally, while I like classic rock, how about some Peruvian music? read more

Delicious legit Peruvian food in Bham! I like to get the pollo brasa as a sandwich or as a salad, any sandwich can become a salad which is nice. They make really good alfajores which are a peruvian cookie with caramel, a must try! Friendly owner and staff. read more

Ridiculously good Peruvian influenced food! And not only is it delicious, it's reasonably priced. If you've never experience Peruvian food, this is a great "easy entry" into some of the flavors (although not an extensive education). Try the Chicha Morada, a purple corn juice made with cloves, cinnamon, and lime juice (which made me think of a similar drink from Ecuador, colada morada - even though the latter is hot and thick). Or try the maracuya (passion fruit juice). The yucca is honestly the best I've ever tasted. Somehow it's not stringy, delightfully crispy on the outside but melt-in-your-mouth buttery on the inside. The accompanying salsa criolla is definitely spicy but just wonderful. My husband had a soup, my aunt had the pollo sandwich, and I had the choclo peruano with more salsa criolla, feta cheese, Purvian corn kernels, and onions. I can't say enough about this cafe and I hope it continues to flourish so I can come back the next time I'm in B-ham! read more

Cafe Rumba - Interior - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

I walked through a snowstorm cause I was craving some yucca. I'm a big fan of deep fried yucca and was sad to find out they don't have a deep frier anymore. However, I can safely say their pan fried yucca is also quite good! The staff were very nice and helpful. Wearing masks which is nice to see. Worth the walk. read more

What a fun place to find new wonderful flavors and fresh food. I must have told 3 people about this since eating here yesterday. It's THAT great. Thank you for your hard work and incredible food/people! read more

Favorite sandwich spot. I find myself craving Cafe Rumba more than any other restaurant in town. The side of potatoes AND THAT SAUCE *chefs kiss* read more

They make unique sandwiches! I'm vegetarian, so usually the variety in the sandwich department is limited. Though I still love sandwiches more than any other food. It was just so nice to go somewhere that has something unique to offer! And their potatoes are delicious too! We always get extra. They aren't the fastest, but perhaps that speaks to the quality of actually having to prepare food as it's ordered. My only complaint would be the temperature in the place. I've been several times and I always freeze (never been in the summer). Though that's not entirely uncommon for me. I don't understand why places keep it so cold. Also, very friendly service. Though I live in Vancouver, so I'm used to terrible customer service (it's true) generally, so maybe I'm easily impressed. Still... very friendly at Cafe Rumba. read more

Came here the first day of a trip to Bellingham and had a good feeling the moment I saw it. This place very well seems to be the best sandwich place I've ever been to. Their use of sauces and flavor is absolutely superb and like no other, with endless delicious possibilities. Every part of the dish was bursting with flavor that kept me wanting more, whether it be the sandwich itself or just the potato side. They are friendly and very accommodating to anyone's diet preference regarding dairy or meat. This place is a must have without any doubt. read more

Cafe Rumba - Number 2 on the menu. Delicious! - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Best Peruvian sandwiches in Washington! I make the drive to bellingham just for this, the potatoes on the side have an amazing sauce that has the perfect blend of spices. read more

Cafe Rumba - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

I've been to Cafe Rumba a few times for takeout during COVID 19. I usually get the pollo sandwich. It is consistently a great sandwich with a lot of flavor. It comes with roasted potatoes (small portion) that go well with the Aji Escabeche sauce. Customer service has always been good too. A bit pricy but worth the price for a different and delicious flavor. read more

Very disappointing. Lousy food, rude crap service. Not worth eating there if they were giving the food away.

Just had their Pollo sandwich with potatoes and escabeche sauce. Great sandwich with chicken, slaw with aji Huacatay sauce, fried shoe string potatoes. The sandwiches here are so good and so much better than the usual sandwich or sub. Highly recommend this place!!! read more