This might be the best sando I've ever had. Got the #2 Royal with egg and carmelized onions. It was AMAZING! Bread awesome. Pork awesome. Egg awesome. Caramelized onions super awesome. Potatoes on the side were boiled with a spicy sour cream sauce. Was very simple but super delicious. Like a mix between mashed potatoes and potato salad. Service was super nice. And they have a hot sauce that is FIRE read more

Cafe Rumba - #2 Royal with potatoes - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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I would come back to Bellingham just to eat here. OMGoodness, the sandwich I got was absolutely amazing! I got the Butifara Royal with a salad. Freaking amazing. It's very hearty but so tasty. Everything worked really together. It's a large sandwich and very filling. I am sad I live so far to not eat here often. My only "complaint" was I stood in front of the register for a few minutes before anyone even acknowledged me. Not a huge deal except there were people literally right there. I thought maybe they weren't open, but they had opened a half hour earlier. Maybe they thought I wasn't ready, who knows. But the food is absolutely worth a visit! I would love to try other things on the menu... next time! read more

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

Amazing sandwich shop! There was a line at lunch hour, but it moved fast. We waited for the sandwich for a bit, but it was worth it!!! It was so juicy and the chimichurri sauce was so tasty . It was a decent sized sandwich and great for the prize. I recommended this place to many friends. I had 6. Peruano Sandwiches read more

Cafe Rumba - 6. Peruano Sandwich - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

The restaurant is small but packs in a bunch of tables. It's cute and comfortable to eat it. We ordered and got our food pretty quickly. They are friendly. Two adults both ordered the Butifarra Sandwich. I asked for the sauce on the side just in case it was spicy. It was spicy, so I'm glad I did that. The sandwich was really good though. The bread was very fresh and not tough at all. I also asked if they have a kids menu. They said they didn't but that they could make a grilled cheese. It was a really good looking sandwich and the kid loved it. There is some street parking and also a parking lot. We parked in the lot and it wasn't too expensive. read more

On the left hand side (looking from the street) is a restaurant called Café Rumba Peruvian Deli. To the right of that is Café Rumba Bakery. They have separate hours (the bakery closed mid-afternoon when I was there), and entirely different offerings. Speaking of hours, the cafe hours have changed (see my photo, in case the hours haven't been updated on yelp). The bakery offers a LOT of different, interesting (delicious) looking desserts. Too many; I'm afraid we way over bought (and ate)! Prices were quite reasonable compared to "European style" bakeries I went to in Bellingham. That made it even worse ("too cheap not to try that one, too!"). You can look through my photos to get an idea of some of their offerings. Everything looked sooo delish. Not everything met my expectations, based on looks. That is, I thought something might taste one way, but it actually tasted quite a bit different (sometimes regarding texture, sometimes flavor, sometimes both). Their offerings are unique (to me); you just have to try them yourself to find what you like. After buying too many things (but not having eaten any of them), we then went next door to the deli. I had a veg Papas Rumba (my one side was extra avocado). My husband had a veg Quinoa bowl (his side was yams). Our food was ready in under ten minutes. The entrees were beautifully presented, and tasted as good as they looked. read more

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I have liked Cafe Rumba for years. I always enjoyed their excellent soups and sandwiches. However, I haven't been in their pastry shop next door for a while. Today I decided to change that. It is Wednesday morning at 9:30am and I am the only customer in the shop. I was promptly greeted by a smiling young woman. I asked about the "Breakfast sandwich & coffee" special advertised prominently on several signs posted around. She pointed to a case where numerous sandwich choices were available. I chose the egg, cheese and spinach on an English muffin version. She heated it and went to get my coffee. The interior is nicely decorated and very comfortable and peaceful. There were several convenient tables placed around. Even the music was soothing. Nice! Unfortunately the coffee was rather lacking.... pretty tasteless. But, the sandwich was fresh and tasty. I would get that again. My breakfast visit was very enjoyable and I will make this stop again. read more

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Loved my sandwich. I ordered the pollo tocino y palta. The bread was super crispy and buttery. The chicken was great and all the ingredients worked well together. The potatoes were so flavorful and soft. read more

Cafe Rumba - 4. Pollo Tocino y Palta Sandwich - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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Far and away the best sandwiches in Bham. Try the fried Yuca as well. So far I've only explored their sandwiches but I'm excited to try the ceviche in the near future. The pulled pork sando is the best kind of mess you can ask for. Many a napkin has met its end at this place. read more

Stumbled across Cafe Rumba while in town for an event. I love Peruvian cuisine so I was excited. It's a small unpretentious locale with just a few tables and bar sitting which is where I sat. Their menu has lots of things that looked yummy to me but I decided to go with a quinoa and pork bowl. Really good and tasted fresh. I also had the passion fruit juice that the lady at the register recommended and it was delish. She told me about the bakery next door so of course I bought some alfajores and a milhoja. Alfajores were fantastic, the milhojas not so much. I definitely recommend this place and would love to go back to try other of their dishes and sandwiches. read more

Cafe Rumba - Quinoa Bowl - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Highly recommend the pulled pork sandwich. So good. The #1 is also really tasty. Service was quick and easy and we were able to sit outside with our dogs and eat read more

This place was so good we went back a second time during our four day visit to Bellingham. We ordered the same thing the second time around and it was as delicious as the first time. read more

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I love this little hole in the wall lunch spot. Peruvian sanguches are some of the tastiest morsels you'll ever have, and Cafe Rumba is a staple in downtown Bellingham. I usually get the Butifarra Royal, no matter how many times I say I'm going to get something else. I just can't help it - it's my favorite. It's pork with onions, potatoes, an egg, and cheese/lettuce/sauce. It's not the neatest sandwich in the world, so grab a fork, but it's well worth it. I also love the yucca fries (separate but worth it). They also have chico morado, which is an incredibly delicious spiced purple corn drink, which you can get made into a mimosa. It's my absolute favorite. Parking is eh, like all parking downtown it's expensive and rare to find a spot near the building, but after eating you might want to walk anyway. They make the sandwiches to order, so they're more of a "take your time" place than grab and go. But go there, have a delicious sandwich and a Peruvian mimosa, and enjoy your lunch hour! read more

Great lil place Good people good prices Beautiful area and amb iance. Would definitely recommend it to everyone read more

Amazing food. I asked to have a sandwich turned into a salad and it was pretty good. The yucca fries were also delicious! Definitely coming back! read more

Cafe Rumba - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Metered parking in front of the store but you can usually find free street parking just around the corner. This Peruvian shop has specials every day and an especially good day on Thursdays where all sandwiches are only $11. We asked the waiter what the most popular sandwich options and she said #2 and #4. I personally preferred the #4 more because of the chicken with a creamy chipotle aioli but both sandwiches were delicious. read more

Cafe Rumba - 4. Pollo Tocino y Palta Sandwich - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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Came here after a long work day with friends. The sandwiches are very yummy and on Thursdays they are cheaper! the workers are very nice and provide assistance on what to choose. The spot has limited seating as it is a small area, but many people order to-go so you can likely find a spot to sit. read more

Simply stated, this is solid three-star food. The service was very good, bordering four stars. Ambiance was meh. 2 stars. Had the door open on a very chilly day. I probably won't eat here again. read more

Ridiculous wait time- better have a 2 hour lunch break if you have any hope of getting served with time to actually eat

Thrilled to have come across Cafe Rumba. I didn't get a chance to try their bakery, but ordered take out lunch. Absolutely delicious Peruvian food. Good portion sizes, in particular our pork dishes were amazing. Great yucca fries. I don't think you could go wrong with ordering anything off their menu. read more

Always good! Not sure how many times I've come here now, but I think every time I've gotten something new and never been disappointed. Food is delicious, and one of those places where it's best not to think to hard, just assume whatever their special is that day is incredible and go for it. Be adventurous! Service is great, and to be honest the ambiance is so rad. Last time I was in there it was kind of smokey and smelled amazing, just a place you know they're making great food. read more

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! read more

I enjoy the unusual flavors at Café Rumba. I recently had a special that was great, chicken fried rice with the delicious flavor of allspice. My husband loves the pulled pork sandwich and potatoes. read more

The sandwiches and papas rumba are amazing. A must stop for anyone visiting or living in Bellingham!

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! read more

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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. read more

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Nothing short of five stars. Delicious! The yams and pork and salsa and potatoes are all delicious. Great service. The restaurant space itself is small and loud though so to go is preferable. read more

Absolutely amazing. So much flavor. I will definitely be back. Had the #2 sandwich with roasted pork, mozz, chimmichurri, egg,etc. Egg yolk perfectly drippy, melty cheese, soft bread. Perfection! read more

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! read more

Cafe Rumba - Yam Pollo Sanguche, Bread Puddingc Chicha Morada - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

The food from Cafe Rumba is always amazing. However, my experience with the staff there this afternoon was nothing but utterly disappointing. I called in an order for pick up, and the woman on the phone was so short and rude I was truly shocked. She hung up before I was given the chance to place my order the first time I called, and was incredibly rude when I went to pick up my order as well. I have never had such a horrible experience with staff at a restaurant before, and as someone who worked in customer service for years, my jaw was on the floor with such an interaction. She truly looked and sounded like she would rather be anywhere else. I hope the owners think long and hard about who they have interacting with their customers because although the food is phenomenal, this interaction was enough to have me hesitate to go back. read more

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. read more

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. read more

Cafe Rumba - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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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. read more

Cafe Rumba - a fruit salad in a glass bowl - Peruvian Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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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. read more

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

The quality of the meals have worsened since the last time I was there They charge a lot for 1 topping and don't include the meat into the price even though it says choice of a meat. I will not return. read more

Fries are great but the service was lacking. Stood there for a while before someone asked if I had been helped (staff was chatting with each other, on the phone, looking at me and walking away) and the person who finally assisted me seemed quite disinterested in providing good service. The fries also took quite a while, being served after other people who were in line after me. read more

Any sandwich with pork is packed with flavor, juicy and delicious, although it's a tad bit spicy. I would not recommend the ceviche. It lacked flavor and it was super spicy! read more

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

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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