Cafe Rumba

One of the best restaurants in Bellingham! We walked in and the restaurant was overflowing with smoke and steam from the kitchen so the door was propped open. Now that's authentic! The pork is so tender and flavorful. All the sauces are awesome and it all comes together perfectly on a sandwich. I can't recommend this place highly enough! They also have a bakery/bodega right next door with some unique pastries and other pantry goodies.

This spot was highly recommended in public forums and we decided to have lunch here on a Sunday afternoon. They also have a sister restaurant right beside selling coffee and other quick snacks. There was a line but it moved fast. We got the fried yucas and choripollo sandwich. The yucas were mindblowing - absolutely delicious, I have not had such texture in a fried dish before. The spice mix sprinkled on it and the sauce was delightful. The chorizo and chicken sandwich was smashing - the chimichurri sauce in it was so tasty we couldn’t believe how good it was. I’m glad we found this place on our visit.

Hands down one of, if not the best hot sandwich I’ve ever had. I ordered the Choripollo. The mix of the shredded chicken and the salty, spicy chorizo came layered fresh tomato, chimichuri, peppers, sauce and cheese. It was delicious and well spiced. The lettuce on the sandwich was fresh and crunchy, and created some light freshness which only added to the meat and cheese. It came with a side of potatoes doused in sauce, which was a wonderful, hearty, garlic-y addition to the sandwich. It’s hard to describe this sandwich in words, but to me, it hit every flavor profile perfectly. It was bold, exciting, and left me sad that I didn’t order more from the menu.

My beautiful and talented sister who lived in Bellingham suggested I go here. I always trust her food recommendations . She never answers my texts or calls unless it’s food related for some reason. Yes we love each other. I ended up getting the pollo sandwich and Tuesday it’s buy 1 get one free , so I thought why not. I got a side of potatoes with one of them. From the moment of the first bite with the perfect bread and sauce, I wished the sandwich never ended . It was so good. The only feeling I had in a long time even similar to that was actually the night before when Bad Bunny was announced as the performer of the Super Bowl. He’s awesome just like the sandwich I had. Next time I’m in Bellingham , I will try another sandwich and I can’t wait !

One of that better sandwiches that you can enjoy in Bellingham. I’ve noticed that service has been off both times. Employees won’t notice that there are people waiting to order and they’ll be talking in the back. This has happened both times, but the food quality still makes it worth coming here.

Cafe Rumba was a delightful experience from start to finish. The staff was super friendly and my meal came out without any delay. The pulled pork sandwich was hot, fresh, and super juicy, with just the right amount of spice. Enjoyed every last bite and left me wanting seconds! Highly recommended this place for any and all looking for a satisfying meal. You won't regret it!

Food was unique. Tasted fresh... possibly not my style. Not there is a bakery next to a cafe!! Oreo cheesecake amazing!!

UPDATED Dec 2025: So happy to update my review for Cafe Rumba. I ordered the #4, which is what I ordered in my OG post, and it was phenomenal! Better serving of side potatoes and overall great taste and delightfully crispy bread. The avocado was past ripe but that was my only critique. Highly recommend the passion fruit juice!There was a wait but the staff was up front about that upon ordering. I am glad I came back to give this place a second chance. ORIGINAL REVIEW- 2 Stars Dec 2024: Very small amount of food for the price. Each sandwich is around $20. Entirely too much spice on the Pollo Tocino Y Palta sandwich. Bread was extremely dry as well. The chicken and ingredients were great when I wasn’t overwhelmed by spicy. Potatoes were good but I was only served 2 bites. Large variety of Jarritos sodas to choose from. However, I did leave hungry. The restaurant was dusty and dirty inside, it could use some attention. Attention to the portions and state of the dining area can really make this place great.

Phenomenal flavor....yummy sandwiches So happy to have had lunch here. Highly recommend for a good lunch.

I decided to try this restaurant based on all of the excellent reviews. I love a good sandwich and lots of people said they liked the Cubano. First, there's no Cubano, lol, but that's on me, I should have looked at the menu online. We got a pulled pork sandwich and a chicken sandwich with bacon and avocado. The sandwiches themselves were tasty, but not worth the nearly 40 minute wait. This place is a hole in the wall which is usually my favorite type of restaurant. There were tons of people ordering but since it's a limited menu, I was disappointed by how long each order took to come out. Would be willing to try again on a day when the weather isn't so nice and therefore fewer people out and about which would hopefully cut down on the wait time.

I came in yesterday for the first time and ordered a sandwich. I came down with horrific food poisoning last night which I am almost 100% sure was from this sandwich.

We have missed Cafe Rumba so much. We've been coming here since 2017, and haven't been since before 2020. It was fun stopping in today. It both took us down memory lane with their flavors, and was refreshing. Their interior has a beautiful mural and they feature art of local artisans that you can purchase. They also have Cafe Rumba shirts and thermoses for sale! The fried yucas were the perfect way to set up breakfast, and these came with the Salsa Escuabeche. Spicy, starchy and addicting. It was hard to split the Rumba Pulled Pork sandwich but we did. The pulled pork was smoky and tender, and this was a saucy and spicy sandwich. There is nothing quite like it. We spread some Salsa Escuabeche for even more heat. We couldn't decide between the traditional and chocolate Alfajores cookies so we got both (SHOULD have gotten 3 for $5, that was our bad). We got both, and they lasted maybe two minutes. This is one of the coolest spots in Bellingham. Check them out!

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!

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.

Love this little Peruvian cafe to have lunch at! We've been here a couple times and have loved the food and flavors. Definitely recommend if you're in the area! They do have a happy hour which knocks a couple dollars off the price of some menu items. Parking is street and metered.

Having never had the chance to go to a Peruvian cafe before, I was excited to try the unique menu of Peruvian sandwiches, light meals, desserts, and drinks at Cafe Rumba, and everything was as delicious as I hoped it would be! I'm vegetarian but liked the sound of the apple slaw which is a topping on some of the meat sanguches but not the vegetarian one, but they told me I could get yam in place of the meat on any of the sandguches. So I got a "Pollo" with this modification, and also a bread pudding and a chicha morada. I don't think I've ever had a sandwich like this! All the textures and flavours from the different components worked together very well and made a really unique and tasty sandwich. Very saucy and a little messy but not to the point where it was drowned in sauce. The side salad that came with the sandwich had a delicious vinaigrette. I also loved the bread pudding - the bread mixture was not too sweet, so the dulce de leche on top wasn't overkill. And the chicha morada was a very interesting drink! It was more fruity than I expected, but the spices gave it a lot of depth. The cafe was much smaller than I imagined it, and they've clearly tried to fit as much seating as possible into this small space, so it's kind of cramped inside which combined with the loud music could be overstimulating. Lots of character though, and the outdoor seating was quieter. I was there around 7 on a Friday and maybe they were just hitting a particularly busy time, but it took my sandwich about 20 minutes to come out, so be prepared to wait. I was starting to get anxious about when my food would come out, but it was well worth the wait. I would highly recommend trying them out if you want to try something new!

Came here day after thanksgiving with some friends before grocery shopping. They were super friendly and welcoming. The owner moved chairs and tables around to fit our group. It's a no frills place. You go up, order your food and pay, and they bring it to your table. They also clear your table for you. We all ordered sandwiches and it was soooooooo good. Comes with side of salad or potatoes. I recomm salad because the sandwich is huge and filling! Really nice slaw and sauces in the sandwiches. The rotisserie chicken in mine was amazing. Very juicy. A few friends got soups too. They said it was tasty. They have a washroom in the back. Lots of street parking.

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

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.

The food was incredibly delicious. Well made and the service was efficient, would definitely go back!

Food was pretty good, service nice- Went here during happy hour and had the corn with chicharonnes and yuca fries and the passion fruit juice. Flavorful but nothing was out of this world. The fries were cut way to thick and didn't really get the usual crisp.

This might be the best food I've had in Bham and easily one of the top 10 sandwiches I've ever had. We ordered takeout so my interaction with the staff was limited, but the service was great. And if we didn't have bikes with us we would've dined in. I regret not dining in because the place was super cute, bright, and vibrant. I cannot describe how freaking good the Choripollo was. You just need to eat it to find out. The Yucas were crisp and delicious, made even better by the Escabeche. These didn't even make it to the house, we finished them off in the car on the drive home. Also tried the Leche de Tigre (Rockfish ceviche). The chunks of fish were generous and the flavor was citrusy, light, and exactly what you'd expect in a ceviche. I originally planned to share this with my partner, but ended up keeping it to myself. I'm looking forward to our next trip to Bham just so to come here again!

Flavor is the name of the game at Cafe Rumba. The sandwiches are filling. Service was timely and the people working are friendly. I usually compare restaurants with the food I could make at home, I could NOT make this food at home. The meat is done to perfection and that flavors are full. Would go again, would recommend to a friend.

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.

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

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.

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!

We liked the vegetarian sandwich. The potatoes that came with it were not good. We'd eat there again.

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.

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

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 !

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

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!

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.

This cute little quaint Peruvian sandwich shop located in the heart of downtown Bellingham. I ordered the Pollo, which was juicy, flavorful, warm and delicious. I loved the apple cole slaw. We ordered online and it came quick during lunch hour.

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!

Word of mouth was that you had to try this sandwich place in Bellingham. I have never had Peruvian food before, but I happen to be in the area on Labor Day weekend. Oh my was this place amazing! I tried 5 different sandwich's and all of them were very flavorful and tasty. I've had the Cuban sandwich at Paseo in Seattle and I have to say this place, in my opinion, is much better!!

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.

The best mess of a sandwich you'll ever eat. The flavors combined together for culinary joy ! The environment is fun, youthful, and attentive. The owner, Antonio, welcomes you warmly, and the staff makes you feel like family! An absolute must place to eat, again and again

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.

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.

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!

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!

Super cute inside, and the cashier girl was very nice.One of the best sandwiches I had in my life. I got the pulled pork one with the egg on it, I did ask for no egg however and they still put it on.

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.

This is one of those great spots maybe flying under the radar. The flavors are addicting after just one go! The sandwiches are generous in size so I suggest bringing some friends and splitting a few of the options. I went with my brother who loves the place (a local who loves to support small businesses, go on ya bro) and he and I decided to go splitsies. Sandwich #1 was a veggie option called the "Peruano" and it was grilled and filled with yam, avocado, mozzarella cheese, roasted tomato, spinach, aji huacatay (Huacatay is a member of the marigold or tarragon family and is indigenous to Peru. The flavor lies somewhere between mint and basil. They sell their house made salsas if you get addicted!) + aji amarillo and shoestring potatoes. SWOON. Sandwich #2 was a rotisserie chicken stuffed with an apple slaw, shoestring potatoes, romaine lettuce, aji huacatay and salsa. It was super tasty, although I think the yams on the first sammy stole my heart. Also ordered the Papas that came with a side of the Peruvian pepper and herb aioli and I had hot tea. Service was friendly and full of local love. As we ate more community folks came in and ordered and I hope the steady stream of customers I saw that Saturday continues weekly. We have to keep these gems alive and supported. Street parking/meter Good for a couple or smaller group of no more than four Good for take out Tip & support local

Sanguches are amazing!!! Their pulled pork is delicious! Spicy but you can ask for the spicy sauce on the side. The sandwiches come with these very unique boiled (I think) potatoes but they're covered in a delicious creamy sauce! Casual spot. Serves beer too. Maybe wine--not sure.

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.

They have some of the best sandwiches in town. The sauce they put on their fingerling potatoes is divine - I'd put it on everything if I could!

I was really excited to try Cafe Rumba since I've been eyeing it for a few years. I ordered the Butifarra Royal as a salad plate instead of the sandwich, and a side of shoestring potatoes. When the food was ready, the waitress brought out my salad and said " we are out of potatoes but I brought you the sauce that goes with them" and she walked away. She didn't offer a substitute for the potatoes at all. I walked to the front and asked if I could at least get a side of bread since there weren't potatoes available to go with my meal. The people that ordered before me and the people that ordered after me received potatoes as a side? I watched multiple trays of potatoes come out. It was just an odd event to be dropped off your food and not offered anything else or compensation for paying for a full meal and only getting part of it. The salad was very good and I was unsure what to do with the sauce for my potatoes, but I sampled it and the flavor was good.

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

This was my favorite place I ate on my recent trip to Washington! I haven't had much Peruvian food, so I was really excited to try it when my friend and I were staying in Bellingham for the day. I loved my Rumba pulled pork sandwich and soup. I imagine all the sandwiches are just as delicious based on my friend loving hers too! I sent a pic of it to my partner, and his mouth has been watering ever since to try it. Sadly but unsurprisingly I haven't found anything similar yet here in OK. I probably wouldn't have found this place without Yelp, so thanks for helping me find this gem!

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!

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.

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.

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!

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 .

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