Cafe rumba is a small, unassuming restaurant with huge flavor. I tried Butifarra Royal while my partner had the Rumba Pulled Pork. Both were delicious. We came around 1030am on a Thursday so we were the only customers. The food came out in a reasonable time so I'd wonder how they'd do when it's busy. However, I'd risk it in order to try one of their tasty sandwiches again. read more

Cafe Rumba - Butifarra Royal. Very good. - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Note that Cafe Rumba IS OPEN during COVID for TAKEOUT and DINE-IN. They have a few outdoor seating tables as well. My family and I stopped by here this past weekend to pick up food on our way to Boulevard Park (less than a 5 min. drive away). This was our first time having Peruvian sandwiches and so we decided to give it a try. We ordered the #1 Butifarra, #2 Butifarra Royal, #3 Pollo, & #5 Rumba Pulled Pork sandwiches. We also opted for side salads instead of potatoes. Each sandwich was about $12 each (if you come on weekdays they have discounted sandwich specials) and so our total came to a little over $50 including tax. The sandwiches were EXTREMELY SAUCY and messy. I must have used at least 5 napkins by myself. My Rumba Pulled Pork sandwich was oozing with apple coleslaw, spicy sauce, and some other salsas. While the spicy sauce (which I had got on the side instead of in the sandwich) was tasty, there was already so much sauce on the sandwich that I didn't know where to put it. My mom had the same issue with her rotisserie Pollo sandwich, opting to eat it with a fork instead of by hand to decrease the saucy mess. Out of the four sandwiches, my dad was the only one who really liked his Butafarra sandwich- mainly because it was the only one that wasn't gushing with sauce. He also liked the thinly sliced pork and the flavor of the yams. I wish I had gotten what he had, but oh well. The salads were on the smaller side and came with mixed greens, carrots, and a brown dressing . The hostesses were friendly and had our order ready within 15 minutes or so. They also were wearing masks and gloves and had a plastic shield over the payment countertop. Overall: 3/5 for food, 4/5 for service read more

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so yummy!!!! one of my favorite Bellingham spots, the fish tacos are the best I've had in town and the pulled pork is so yummy as well. Get the purple juice it will blow your mind! read more

Delicious pulled pork sandwich with a generous portion and wonderful apple coleslaw. Prices were good and the atmosphere is very relaxed and comfortable. The open kitchen design is a nice touch. It was a great stop on our recent road trip. read more

On Mother's Day 2020 I chose my lunch to be from here and honestly it's my new favorite place! We got the #1 #2 & #3 and could only eat half these were just amazing I cannot tell you how well the flavors come together just so very well made! Butifarra the Butifarra royale and the pollo a la brasa!First time ever trying Peruvian and we were absolutely blown away cannot wait to come back! Love the staff and vibe here so very thankful they are open during this pandemic! Thank you for making my Mother's Day awesome! read more

Cafe Rumba - Salsa Night when things can open a little more - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Great small sandwich shop. Large sandwiches with the flavors of Peru. I stopped by just before the lunch hour and ordered the Choripollo sandwich. A combination of spicy chorizo and chicken with greens and spicy sauce and shoestring potatoes. The bun is a nice combination of slightly crispy crust and a soft inside. Sides are a salad or the Peruvian staple of boiled potatoes with a mayo-based spicy sauce. Beer, wine and juices are available as is free water. What this place lacks in decor and gloss is more than made up for by the great food and friendly staff. Take out is available. Did I mention they also have breakfast sandwiches available until noon? Great local business worth a stop read more

Cafe Rumba - Choripollo sandwich - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

One of the best meals I have had in a long time. I will be back again. So comforting and satisfying. Well done!

Their food is always so delicious. We always have to make a stop here whenever we're in the area. Highly recommend ordering ahead because the wait can be really long if you don't order in advance. It gets very busy and I don't think there's enough staff to keep up with the demand. It's worth the wait though. There's not a lot space inside for seating so if it's busy it might be challenging to find a place to sit. Highly recommend it here! read more

Wow! What a great "sandwich". Yes, it is diminishing calling them sandwiches. They are rather nice entrees in between bread. The place is small and not necessarily the most welcoming. Nice location. Good service. Great offerings. Very unique personality! A must-try in town! read more

A friend suggested this place and it was pretty tasty. Lots of flavors and authentic too. I order the fish tacos which come with 3 tacos per plate, I definitely recommend adding some of their fresh hot sauce to it. What's cool is that you can practically get any entree menu item made into a salad if you prefer more greens or want to stay away from carbs. They also have a Peruvian passion fruit drink which was delicious! read more

Cafe Rumba - Pollo Tocino y Palta as a salad - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Holy smokes! The Papas Rumba is eye rolling in the back of your head good. I just ordered it to go, and now I wish I got two orders. A must get! read more

Very good food, but the environment is dirty and the wait times are wayyyy too long. I've spent 1.5 hours waiting on a singular sandwich. The cups are gross with food smears and grease. read more

A true taste of South America in Bellingham, which is so hard to find in the Pacific Northwest. This sanguchería has the best sandwiches and potatoes, it makes me feel like I'm in Bogotá enjoying a sandwich and a pile of potatoes in the cold high altitude of the Andes. Get anything and everything with the potatoes. The #3 pollo sandwich will never let you down. read more

Cafe Rumba - Choclo plate with the magic sauce and lime pickled onions - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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This place has taken a significant turn for the worse since two years ago. They jacked up the prices of sandwiches to well over $10 each. At the same time they reduced the portion sizes, changed the bread and found every which way to cut corners. Now, this place tastes no better than other sandwich shops, but will cost you a fortune. For example, the pollo sandwich (chicken sandwich) costs $15 and the bread they use tastes like a hoagie. The are no more apples in their sandwich fillings either. The salad and potatoes are about half the portion size as before. read more

I'm addicted to these sandwiches but I just got home and opened my takeout bag to discover that for the third time in the last year, they got our order wrong. Always the same. I order two Buttifara Royals but get one of those and I think the pulled pork sandwich that has sweet potatoes on it. Love the sandwiches but I'm gonna start checking them in the restaurant before I leave from now on. So frustrating! read more

Very great little spot. We walked in and had service right away that was quick and efficient. I had the sanguche pollo tocino y palta and it was FANTASTIC. Also got a bread pudding from their bakery next door and that was extremely flavorful. Will definitely be back next time I am in Bellingham read more

Head's up! The menu still looks amazing, but maybe ownership has changed. The cook was a bored college student. The fish tacos were chewy & not fresh. My tummy is soooo sad. Would not go back. read more

Do yourself a favor and stop in for a sandwich this place was so delicious! Tried the choripollo . Just visiting town for work, will have to come try the rest of the menu when I come back read more

Cafe Rumba - Choripollo was amazing! - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

One of my 2019 foodie goals is to re-visit restaurants I haven't been to in awhile (and, of course, check out all those yummy local spots I have yet to visit). You can follow my list (and my progress) here: https://www.yelp.com/collection/e264TDcOv3DZRbMzxYYRxg So when a friend suggested lunch I was eager to head to Cafe Rumba since I haven't been there in years. This State Street gem often comes up in my Yelp searches for amazing sandwiches, but all I could remember from my previous visit was being not-too-impressed by whatever sandwich I ordered at the time. (Seriously, we're talking at least 6 years ago!) So it wasn't high up on my list of places to check out again. But I was often spotting their sammies in my Insta feed and knew I needed to go back. We arrived around noon on a Monday. Which, if you know Bellingham, is a bonus in itself since so many places are closed on Mondays. I was waiting for my friend so I had some extra time to peruse the menu and decide what to get. Another customer was ordering lunch to go, and it was apparent she was a regular so I asked her what she suggested. She said: EVERYTHING! Well, that was encouraging! My friend arrived and we decided to each get a different sandwich and split them. I got a #4, which featured chicken, bacon, cheese, avocado, and several other things on my "favorite foods" list. My friend got the daily special, which was a similar concoction but with added chorizo. We also each ordered the side of their famous potatoes, and I got a glass of their amazing corn-based sweet delicious drink. In total my bill was over $15 including tax and tip - a little steep for lunch. (I noticed they usually have almost-daily $7.99 specials but not on Mondays.) We waited quite awhile for our sandwiches to arrive - which was ok since we were eager to catch up anyway. When they came out these sandwiches were hot and AMAZING looking. The house-made bun was seriously delicious, and my sandwich was out-of-this-world tasty (as was my friend's - although I'm not the biggest chorizo fan theirs tasted house-made and was nice and mild). The sauce on each sandwich was creamy and spicy, and the potatoes were tasty too. What was most impressive was that the sandwich was MUCH bigger than I remembered it being on my earlier visit. Yay! In fact, our sandwiches were so big and full of tasty ingredients we couldn't finish them. We agreed that if we went back we'd probably just share one. That would help with the cost issue, too. I'm so glad I re-visited Cafe Rumba and I look forward to returning (and maybe even trying out their weekly salsa dancing classes too)! read more

Cafe Rumba - Chicken sandwich goodness. - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

To be 100% honest, I wasn't expecting much from this place. Boy was I wrong! I was initially hesitant because it was so busy and I thought, what could be so great about the pulled pork sandwiches from here, as opposed to all the other places in town. What even makes them Peruvian? Another couple on their way out saw my hesitation and say "They are very good!" So we decided to give it a try. The sandwiches were fantastic! We tried the pulled pork and the chicken sandwiches. Both were delicious in their own way, but our group voted for the pork as their fave. They also have a variety of delicious, unique Peruvian drinks like chicha, guanabana, and also the iconic Inca Kola! Strongly recommended, I can't wait to come back! read more

I will definitely come back! I went for the sandwiches (which everyone raves about), but I fell for the sides. I tried the only veggie sandwich they offer, which I thought was just OK (but I'm not a huge yam fan, so I don't blame the sandwich). The Papas Rumba and the Choclo though were 10/10. I'd come back just for them! I'm a sucker for Aji amarillo, and theirs is great. One thing to note, I went on a Thursday, and there were signs everywhere that said $9.99 sandwiches on Thursday, but I realized later that I was charged full price. A little disappointing, but I didn't even think to check at the time. Make sure you ask for any specials they have going! read more

I got the papas a la rumba with chorizo and it was packed with flavor. I also got a pork sandwich and it was quite good. My wife enjoyed the fish tacos. Overall great experience. read more

Loved the food, though a bit spicy. Love that the took the time to comment on our late arrival, luckily it only took a few minuities to finish our order and we were done in 50 min. read more

I am really glad I finally tried this place out. I have never had anything like this before. I really enjoyed my sandwich and how fresh it was. I really liked the passion fruit juice. read more

Thought the food was tasty, the Wednesday deal was really cool and the food was definitely made with heart. Sandwich was messy to eat, but that's the consequence of pulled pork. Make sure to have plenty of napkins before digging in. The flan was also very delicious and I recommend. The music was way too loud in the restaurant and very over stimulating, but the outdoor seating was a good fix for that. Good portions and reasonable prices ! read more

Cafe Rumba - Rumba Pulled Pork (Wednesday Special) - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Favorite pulled pork sandwich I've had in a really long time! Great placey atmosphere and amazing weekday specials to make it even more bang for your buck. read more

Best place to eat in Bellingham. Love their sauces - order by the daily specials and the price is right!

The best sandwich in Bellingham. The potatoes on the side are so freaking good but be ready for a little kick with the sauce they put on them. The prices are very fair and you can not go wrong with any sandwich you choose. read more

It has been years since I had eaten here and to be fair I moved away and then Covid happened. How lucky that Café Rumba has survived! I remembered how good it was but boy it was so much better than I remember which is saying a lot. I had the Butifarra Sandwich with house roasted pork, yam, romaine, salsa criolla and aji Amarillo. To start with the roll is different in so many better ways than just bread. Its buttery and crispy and has some chew as well its just perfect! Then the meat is so tender and juicy and porky! the Yam adds some sweetness and then the crunchy vegies with the savory sauce. I was MMMMMing the whole time I was eating! I still love the potato's with the creamy curry sauce. On a whole this place is the bomb! I need to go back sooner rather than later to try another sandwich or dish. Go here you do not know what you are missing. read more

Cafe Rumba - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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First time here and I have to say one of the best sandwiches I've had. Ordered the #2 Butifarra Royal. Messier the better and this was messy! Highly recommend. read more

Cafe Rumba - 2. Butifarra Royal Sandwich - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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Sandwiches are phenomenal and only ten bucks on thursdays. Sides are alright, with the potatoes being way better than the salad. Usually takes a bit but that's alright they're not the biggest place. read more

I usually get the butifarra royal or the pollo and they are both DIVINE. Seriously probably the best sandwiches of my life. I've also tried their vegetarian breakfast sandwich, also, freaking amazing! They sell their sauces in large quantities and I put the aji amarillo on so much stuff I make at home. And just tried the guanaba juice drink, super fresh and yummy, never tried this fruit before! Love this place so much. read more

i am so glad i chose to eat here but so sad that i am only visiting bellingham so i wont be able to eat here more often. i will be thinking of this cafe back home, and next time i visit bellingham its on my agenda to eat here. it was an authentic peruvian atmosphere with authentic food, great tunes, and very sweet staff. loved looking at the different wall art and they were playing fútbol on the tv. got all my senses perked hehe. thanks!!! read more

Cafe Rumba - Chori Pollo - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

I don't know that Ive ever had a better sanguchie ! Second or third time here and its always overwhelmingly good . We had the daily special ($4 less) pulled pork sandwich on crusty warm bread (like I recall in Spain) topped with apple coleslaw & some creamy garlic sauced Escabeche potatoes .. my my my , they have fresh squeezed fruit juices , i chose passion fruit ( of course) and a cup of deep dark espresso paired beautifully with their signature chocolate caramel sandwich cookies as a sweet to finish . We sat outside in the sun, we had great service and you know what? If this place closed, I'd break down & cry . read more

The epitome of "hit or miss" cuisine. The quality, speed, and accuracy of your order greatly depends on who is working that day. At times it feels more like walking into a hookah lounge than a sangucheria. Complete with blasted music audibly blowing out their speakers, the sickly sweet smell of vape juice, and 45+ minute wait times. However, there are some here who can crank out an entire dinner rush in under 30. It's often that these times yield their best food and help me understand why this is my partner's favorite comfort restaurant. Unfortunately, the latter is not as frequent. All that said, when they do it right it's some of the best food you can get here in Bellingham. Packed with flavors and tear inducing comfort slammed between two Safeway buns. One entree is enough for two people to split as well. It can be a perfect dinner for one if you've had a light lunch. In my opinion, the best options are the: Rumba Pulled Pork Choripollo Peruano Choclo Alfajores Escabeche read more

This place is great for dine in or take out. We love their sandwiches and they're always ready quick and the staff is super friendly. Good vibes. read more

Cafe Rumba - 5. Rumba Pulled Pork Sandwich - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Everything I ordered here so far has been really delicious. Chicken/pull pork/veggie sandwich, fish tacos, papa, etc.

Wow what a sandwich. Great service REALLY delish. This may have to become a regular. Had the veggie without the egg. Also SUPER filling. Also taking these two cookies home . Yum read more

Cafe Rumba - Me standing outside Cafe - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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Cafe Rumba is always a great time and very unique for our area! We've tried everything from the leche de tigre to the sandwiches and breakfast offerings and everything is always yummy and satisfying. Our favorites are probably the butifarra royal as either a sandwich or a salad, the leche de tigre and the choclos. Don't miss out on one of the fresh juices/drinks as well! read more

Cafe Rumba - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

This cafe is the cutest! Staff is friendly, coffee is great, and the breakfast is delicious! read more

Cafe Rumba - Yam Bacon Breakfast Hash and Breakfast Tacos! - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington