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    La Bamba

    3.6 (152 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Closed 4:00 pm - 8:30 PM

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    The Bar
    Daniel L.

    This place has AURA! The food is truly made fresh and not frozen. I am 100% eating homemade authentic Mexican food. This is a family owned business with generations of family recipes. Every time I eat here the food is AMAZING! The service is wonderful and the owner Christian makes sure you are having a good time; they are always treating us like family. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place has awesome ambience and makes me want to be there every day!![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] This is the best Mexican food I've ever had! I ordered the Chimichanga La Bomba, which was done perfectly. The crispy outside yet still tender is the perfect chimichanga you could ever order. I've been to other places where the chimichanga is just too crispy or crunchy, but this place makes the BEST and most PERFECT chimichanga I have ever had in my life! I will always come back to this place and eat the best Mexican food in the world!

    Heather H.

    Absolute worst dining experience of my life. The food was bad, but we truly do give that a pass in Truckee.. It's the service that dropped our jaws. Way too many details to share, but the highlight was someone swinging by to check on us, and me, completely deadpan and calm, saying, "I have to say, this is the hands-down worst dining experience of our lives," and having them respond with a plastered-on smile and an, "OK, well, thanks for coming in!" Since I didn't order a burrito, and they insisted I did, and the only option they offered was to "guess we can take it back into the kitchen and slice it open to take the insides out and stick it on a tortilla for you," attached is a photo of my $15 meal.

    Holy half a chicken mole! Fantastic!
    Joel G.

    We showed up early before the rush rolled in and got one of the few tables outside. There is a fair amount of indoor seating and a bar. They have a great selection of affordable beers and other drinks. They also have a daily happy hour at the bar. The chips were pretty basic and the salsa for me was not good but the other three at the table out voted me on this one. The meatball soup is a must try. The mole special is a half a chicken and tasty indeed. Yes, a half chicken, I'm not kidding. The beef tacos were tender, the chimichanga was delicious and the tamales were flavorful. Everything was great. The folks waiting on us fall into the amazing category, friendly, efficient and all around good people. The parking lot is limited so plan accordingly. Great place!

    Tacos and avocado sauce
    Becca L.

    Great taco Tuesday spot with big $2 crunchy tacos. They even have a margarita punch card!

    Clean and neat

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    Review Insights

    4 years ago

    The best family run Mexican food. Kid friendly. We love going here! I always get the chimichanga.

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    5 years ago

    Nice people but food is average or less. Low quality ingredients. Needs a little help with the revamping of the menu.

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    12 years ago

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    4 years ago

    We have been going there for 15 years, it's always been good but tonight was excellent. Love going to our local restaurants!

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    7 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Amazing daily run business with traditional dishes. Everything is amazing and the albindinga soup is crazy good.

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    7 years ago

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    7 years ago

    I love this place. I always sit in the bar area and get the enchiladas and a couple of margaritas.

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    Page 2 of 4

    La Bamba Reviews in Other Languages

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    COMO

    COMO

    3.6
    (384 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    A few great things about this place. We were lucky to get a table quick during lunch time on the…read moreweekend. They really serve their drinks and food with fresh ingredients. The fish tacos tasted delicious with the combination of salsa and toppings on it. However, the fish was overcooked and my friend's corn tortillas were not pan fried enough and she had food poisoning from the chicken tacos. Shrimp tacos were amazing and i love how they had a thick hot sauce which looked like the diablo sauce. My mango sin mocktail was delicious as well. The shrimp quesadillas were great. My daughter enjoyed it! The server is pretty nice, but a bit slow because they only have one or two when they are very busy.

    We came here on a midweek for a late lunch after exploring the quaint downtown Truckee…read more We chose to be seated outside so we can still people/ dog watch while devouring our food and enjoying the fresh air. Service is on point: friendly, fast and attentive. And that means a lot as we were close to getting HANGRY. Ordered Baja Fish Tacos and husband had carne asada which were seasoned and cooked to perfection. Husband needed another serving of tacos as the serving seemed small for him but it was perfect for me. They are kid friendly and offer kids' menu. I also enjoyed their refreshing mocktail: hibiscus fresca and crunchy churros paired with chocolate and caramel dip. Bathrooms are clean and well stocked, however they didn't have a baby changing station. Other than that, it was such a great casual dining experience. We would definitely be back!

    Photos
    Fish taco
    Fish taco
    Fish taco, special for fridays $2 each
    Fish taco, special for fridays $2 each
    Menu 1 of 2

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    Menu 1 of 2
    La Mexicana

    La Mexicana

    4.2
    (582 reviews)
    12.1 mi
    $$
    25 years in business
    Locally owned & operated

    If you're in Kings Beach and craving legit, no-frills Mexican food, La Mexicana absolutely…read moredelivers. Easy 5 stars. The fish tacos were LOADED with large pieces of deep-fried fish. They were excellent. Like, the kind where you pause mid-bite and nod. The enchiladas were exactly what you want after a long Tahoe day: cheesy, saucy, and piping hot in the best kind of way. Comfort food perfection. Everything tasted fresh and made with care. A couple quirks to know going in: * Beware the green salsa. It is SPICY. Do not mistake it for guacasalsa. It's actually spicier than the red salsa and has some serious kick. * Chips aren't free and only come in one large size, so plan accordingly if you're just looking for a small side. Overall, fantastic food, generous portions, and totally worth the stop. We'll definitely be back next time we're in town.

    Solid We stop by…read morethis hole wall in call La Mexicana/ grocery store after Sand Harbor Beach to pick up some street style tacos togo. We ordered a total of 7 tacos and one tacos plate that comes with 2 tacos and rice and beans. Each tacos was $3.99 each. Don't let the price fool you like i did. Their street style tacos are a lot bigger then what we are use to in LA and very generous with the meat. You can definitely make 2 tacos with one. As for the meat we ordered the Asada, Pastor,Lengua, Buche and Cabeza. The pastor was just ok but the rest of the meat was delicious. Their salsa are were fantastic with a kick and they have 4 different types they give you. Ask for extra red salsa. Service was friendly and simple. You order from the outside and they'll call you number when it's done. Overall, food was solid and satisfying.

    Photos
    All of our breads are made fresh daily on premises
    All of our breads are made fresh daily on premises
    Bread right out of the oven
    Bread right out of the oven
    Ready for the oven!

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    Ready for the oven!
    Old Town Tap

    Old Town Tap

    4.3
    (981 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    Full service, sitdown restaurant in a casual atmosphere. Indoor, outdoor and bar seating. Good luck…read morewith finding public street parking if you're there during a popular time. If I recall, parking is free after 6pm, which is when we went. Fast and friendly service! All their food items are meant to be shared. We got 4 items split between 4 adults and it was enough. Not stuffed by any means, but definitely weren't hungry after. Curds, brusselsprouts, sausage and kale mac, and meatball pizza. Other than the brusselsprouts, which were too large so that the middle of them had no flavor, the rest was bomb. Loved the other dishes so much!

    We arrived just a little past lunch time, around 2:30pm on a Wednesday. There were a few diners and…read moresomeone waiting for their pizza takeout. We were seated at a booth in the middle of the spacious restaurant but decided on another for more privacy. We were given a bottle of water and glasses without prompting. Looks like they repurpose liquor bottles for this purpose and I like that very much! We decided on Fried Cheese Curds, Pork and Padron Pizza, and Los Olivos Pizza. They all came out quick. The cheese curds were delicious! Crispy outside and chewy inside, sweet and salty, and the dipping sauce was so tasty we asked for another. We enjoyed both pizzas too, with their flat dough. We were hungry so this hit the spot for us. We weren't able to finish all tho so we brought some leftovers back, which tasted fine cold for dinner! Staff were attentive and friendly. Prices seem reasonable for the unusual ingredients, quality, and portion. 4 stars.

    Photos
    Old Town Tap
    Mushroom pizza
    Mushroom pizza
    Help wanted cocktail

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    Help wanted cocktail
    Truckee Brewing Company - Restaurant

    Truckee Brewing Company - Restaurant

    4.1
    (226 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $$
    Established in 2022
    Family-owned & operated

    Delicious food and warm and friendly people!…read more Had dinner here tonight. Ordered a beet salad, meat lovers pizza and a flight of beer tastings (4 flavors) First off the Server was wonderful! Very warm and very friendly to talk with. She was always checking on me to make sure my water glass was full and how b my meal was. Super nice person!! The beet salad is "To Die For!" The dressing on this fabulous! So tasty it's addicting! The beets, candied walnuts and cheese mixed with the arugula was such a fantastic and delicious combo! I'd drive 4 hours just for this salad! The all meat pizza is delicious! The tangy tomato sauce is a very welcomed change of flavor when compared to other pizzas. The sour dough crust is a welcome change too! Very tasty with the tasty meat toppings! The beer flight I had was delicious! I liked the first one a lot! I'm not a very big drinker but I liked the first one. The stout is very delicious too with a fairly strong coffee flavor. All the beers were very yummy! Great ambiance to just hang out all day or night long passing the day drinking tasty beer and eating delicious food! Please see the pictures below and let your eyes do the feasting!!

    I had a honeymoon period with TBC when I was coming mostly for the burgers. The burgers are great…read more But I gave up eating beef and things have been a bit mixed since... GREAT: wings, fries, beet salad NOT GREAT: Fish and chips (they're fish sticks) chicken parm sandwich (they're chicken tenders), pizza (sure is a pretty pizza oven though) Also, the dining room is small, and too often the setting for employee drama played out in full view of customers. Maybe schedule a team meeting and hash it out there? Things don't usually improve when the employees are more self-involved than they are concerned about customers. That's not why we visit.

    Photos
    Truckee Brewing Company - Restaurant
    Beet Salad + chicken with bleu cheese instead of goat cheese. Delicious. Generously sized.
    Beet Salad + chicken with bleu cheese instead of goat cheese. Delicious. Generously sized.
    12" MARGHERITA PIZZA

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    12" MARGHERITA PIZZA
    Shadyside Lounge

    Shadyside Lounge

    4.5
    (134 reviews)
    13.3 mi

    We've been wanting to try this place out for months and we're glad we finally did! The service was…read moregreat, the food was amazing, and the live music and lively atmosphere lent to the amazing experience we had. This place is busy for a reason and the wait is worth it. We came in as Walk-ins and despite the fact that there were 17 parties on the reservation list before us, we still were able to be seated and within 25 minutes. Our server Caroline was quick to get our orders in and as first time visitors, she made excellent suggestions to make our night unforgettable. To start, we had two drinks off the menu, the Whiskey Mango Foxtrot and the Spicy Cucumber Mar-tini. Both were excellent, and the marg-tini had an especially good japalepeno kick, which is what I was looking for. We're normally old fashion kind of drinkers but the Whiskey Mango Foxtrot had excellent flavor and was well balanced, with what tasted like a Tajin mango. The real star of the show was the food though. The server wasn't joking when she said the nachos are best shared with two people, and I even opted for the guacamole. The carnitas were buttery tender and the cheese sauce tasted gourmet and incredibly flavorful. I definitely recommend these! They were probably some of the best nachos I've had, and this is coming from someone that's lived in Santa Barbara for 5 years! Next up was the burrito bowl, and the first thing that comes to mind is: generous! We're used to spending $25 an entree in the city and still leaving the restaurant hungry, but not here. The chips were fresh and crispy and truly taste hand made. The birria beef was amazing and tender and flavorful, and the pickled onions and vinegar sauce was the chefs kiss on an altogether amazing dish. We're so glad to have finally made it over here! Bottom line, this restaurant is worth checking out if you're in the area. It's packed with locals every night, but don't let the long wait times dissuade you, they under-promise and over deliver. These are the best drinks and food with Mexican flare this side of the Sierras, and will become a staple during our visits to the area. If you appreciate good food, drinks, and an amazing mountain atmosphere, you owe it to yourself to put Shadyside Lounge on your short list of places to try, I know I did and the only regret I have is not coming here sooner!

    I think I just found the best casual dining spot on the West Shore, hands down. Shadyside serves…read moresome of the most craveable Mexican food I've had! Everything tasted fresh, well-seasoned, and thoughtfully put together. We ordered two encharitos, one with the beef birria and one with the chicken. Both were fantastic, but if you're deciding between the two, get the beef birria. The enchilada sauce is absolutely to die for, and the rich, tender beef put it over the top. The carnitas burrito was incredibleeeee. It was packed with the perfect ratio of carnitas, beans, rice, and all the fixings, so every bite had a little bit of everything. The carnitas were cooked perfectly. It was super tender with great flavor and seasoning. I'm already craving it again. We also started with the guacamole, which was fresh, chunky, and generously portioned. For drinks, we had the House Margarita, the Scratch Cadillac, and the Smoking Gun. The margaritas were refreshing and well-balanced, but a little light on the tequila. The Smoking Gun, on the other hand, had a great spirit-to-flavor ratio. It's definitely smoky (as the name suggests), so if you're a mezcal fan, you'll probably love it (like me!). Service was great. Our waitress was young, incredibly sweet, attentive, and happy to accommodate a few special requests. Just be prepared to wait. It's a small restaurant that's clearly popular, and for good reason. The atmosphere is cute and lively, though it does get pretty loud. That didn't bother me at all, but it's worth mentioning if you're looking for a quieter dinner.

    Photos
    Bar
    Bar
    Birria Burrito Bowl
    Birria Burrito Bowl
    Margarita

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    Margarita

    La Bamba - mexican - Updated July 2026

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