I went to celebrate my birthday yesterday and I couldn't have chosen a better place. The surf and turf burrito and plantains appetizer were to die for. My friends had mezcal and when they asked the owner for the brand because they liked or so much, they realized it is imported from Mexico and not available to buy here. The employees were super nice and sang happy birthday to me and brought a delicious red velvet cake. The put a Mexican hat on me, it was fun! The music was amazing! I wanted to get up and start dancing so bad. I am Colombian and they played Merengue which is not common to hear in LA. Even though it is far for me, it worth the drive. read more

La Bamba Island Cuisine - Surf and turf burrito, plantains and chicken enchiladas - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

Good afternoon! I wanted to share my experience at La Bamba restaurant in Burbank, California, on May 16, 2026, where my friends and I gathered for lunch, inspired by a friend's positive memories from a previous visit. I ordered the La Bamba Special, which features slow-roasted, shredded pork seasoned with a Caribbean-style marinade and is usually served with rice and beans. I was looking forward to a flavorful Cuban-style dish, but the meal turned out to be quite unexpected. Instead, the plate included chunks of pork topped with raw red onions, accompanied by Mexican rice and refried beans, which didn't align with my expectations. Overall, the dish was disappointing and unappealing, both in flavor and in the combination of sides. I ended up eating only a quarter of it. The refried beans had no flavor, and I chose not to eat the rice because I prefer different styles. One of my friends ordered fried yuca and fried plantains. While I appreciate the effort to include these items, the yuca was quite dry and could benefit from more seasoning. The plantains, which resembled regular bananas, seemed to have too much oil. As someone who enjoys Caribbean cuisine, I believe the restaurant would benefit from focusing more on traditional flavor combinations. Mixing elements of Mexican and Caribbean cuisine can be a challenge, especially for those familiar with both; there's great potential for improvement by keeping these cuisines distinctly represented. I recommend assessing your kitchen staff; they may need training. I wanted to share some positive recommendations with family and friends about visiting this restaurant, but I recommend exploring other options for now. I hope that constructive feedback will help enhance the dining experience. Thank you! read more

Really enjoyed everything about this place. Definitely coming back soon. Service 10/10 it isn't wheelchair or stroller friendly BUT one of the gentleman working there helped me lift my stroller up the two small stairs. Very kind of them. It is a tight fit but there are a few tables you could sit at if you decide to take yours in. Good 10/10 I ordered La bamba chimichanga and it was oh so delicious with a little heat to it. They have many good choices and it was hard to pick just one. read more

La Bamba Island Cuisine - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

Been to La Bamba a few times now and I've never been disappointed. Walking into La Bamba is like walking into my mom's house. The space is humble but cozy, simple but inviting. It's the perfect spot to grab a meal on a warm and sunny California day. I wish I could say I've tried most of their menu but I can't ever bring myself to order anything other than their Jamaican steak plate because I love it THAT much. It's strip steak cooked with tomatoes and peppers, served with choice of black or pinto beans, and rice. It's so, so tasty and I look forward to it every visit. Service has always been fast, attentive, and friendly. read more

La Bamba Island Cuisine - Jamaican steak - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

The garlic avocado burrito is amazing. Garlic avocado is actually a holy revelation to me. I knew I loved both ingredients, and I am no stranger to guacamole, but it never occurred to me garlic and avocado as a duo. And it's so obvious too! I got this burrito to-go-- actually my friend ordered and picked it up for me. My friends who live near here recommended this place, and I am so glad they did. read more

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I loved all the vegetarian options! I ate a veggie quesadilla with rice. I had the deep fried ice cream for dessert. Service was excellent and I love the outside patio. There is some covered area but, the outside was refreshing. read more

So random, but I absolutely love their black beans! They have this subtle sweetness that pairs perfectly with the red rice. The garlic shrimp? Out of this world! And don't even get me started on the salsa - they serve it complimentary with fresh chips (who doesn't love a free snack?). My brother swears by the chicken fajitas and he always asks for melted cheese on top. The portion is super generous...he literally shares with his two kids and still has leftovers. Service is consistently great! They're always so accommodating. We came here for my mom's birthday, and they even opened up a small room in the back for us, which was really thoughtful since the patio is on the smaller side and we had a party of 6. Just a heads-up: the bathroom is teeny tiny, so plan accordingly. There's usually street parking available, which is convenient. All in all, I'll keep coming back. This place is a true Burbank staple in my book! read more

La Bamba Island Cuisine - Everything is good here - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

I always love coming to La Bamba! A true Burbank hidden classic. The food is always amazing and I don't think you can go wrong with anything on their menu. I always love getting their Cuban Sandwich with a side of Yucca. Their burritos are amazing too and you get more than what you pay for! The Papa Sampler is great as well and can easily feed 3-4 people. I can go on about all the different dishes but like I said , you can't go wrong with anything. Service is always great! Everyone is so welcoming and hospitable. The ambiance is a so nice with a chill vibe. It's an outdoor restaurant and fresh air and sun really adds to the whole dining experience. 10/10 spot and highly recommended. read more

La Bamba Island Cuisine - Surf and Turf burrito - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

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I love coming here every time I'm on this side of Burbank. I've been coming here for 15 years. Outside seating, but covered. The vibes are very chill and relaxing. Great Latin music always playing in the background. They have awesome sangria and spicy margaritas. Their food is amazing! You can't go wrong with anything here. My favorite is the La Bamba special, which is pulled pork with onions. They have an amazing selection of burritos, any style you desire. They have taco plates, enchiladas, shrimp plates, Cuban sandwiches and plantains. Service is always great, and it feels like you're eating in your family's kitchen. Their fresh tortilla chips with guacamole and salsa is also a can't miss! Love this place! read more

La Bamba Island Cuisine - La Bamba Special - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

It has been a long time since I've had La Bamba and I have to say it was just as delicious today as it was that many years ago. I got the pollo plate and the chicken was marinated well and was juicy. The beans and rice were very good as well. My daughter's favorite thing here is the carne asada grilled cheese with fries. She says it's the best thing on their menu. My husband got the veggie burrito and he loved it. We ordered this via uber eats and we got our food quickly and it arrived warm and ready to eat. We will absolutely order from here in the near future. read more

Came here for lunch, their seating reminds me of eating at a friends house. Their seating is basically outdoors. The service was quick. They provided free chips and salsa. They had a variety of fish tacos. I felt the price was reasonable and the food was well seasoned. I appreciated the quickness of the food as well. read more

La Bamba Island Cuisine - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

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I finally got to go to La Bamba-- and it's a solid establishment. Good food (nothing amazing but good), very accommodating and fast. If you're lucky, the outdoor seating is covered well and on a pleasant day it's such a nice atmosphere to spend lunch or dinner. Truly! The staff works hard and make sure your chips and salsa are full (they usually come around to check). It's like a well-oiled machine this staff. Maybe not the most personable staff, but they work hard here. I think it's probably one of the many businesses in Burbank that mainly the locals all know about. The food is tasty, a mix of Cuban and Mexican eats which are pretty satisfying! I love a good meal with a nice chill vibe and this place has it. So if you're a local, pay another visit. If you're visiting, add this to your list of places to dine :) Not bad La Bamba! Keep it up! read more

Serving up great Cuban food, La Bamba Island Cuisine is a stand out amongst the food scene in Burbank. Located about 5min away from the 5 freeway and at a triangle corner (you'll know what I mean when I see it.) There is street parking along the main street and in the neighborhood. La Bamba's menu is pretty extensive ranging from the typical Cuban food you'd expect to Mexican style burritos. I've ordered both and they are incredibly delicious. They give a ton of food for the price and I am actually shocked that this place isn't more popular than it already is. If you haven't eaten here before I'd suggest the Cubano with the plantains OR the Garlic burrito! You really can't go wrong with either, they both are hella tasty and will leave you feeling full! read more

The food and service here is incredible! We walked in for dinner, group of 6, and even though the restaurant was busy they still found a spot for us! Such a great vibe and atmosphere! read more

I grew up in Burbank and grew up with La Bamba. Everything is dialed in from the food to the drinks and desserts. Some of my favorites include the bistec, Jamaican steak/chicken, sunshine salad, carne asada tacos. They also make great banana smoothies. I think I've eaten/ ordered take out almost 1,000 times in my life. La Bamba is more than a restaurant to me read more

I had the Shrimp Tostada and it was so good. I am looking forward to going again next time I am in the area.

I haven't been to this place for years. Actually, it was about 35 years ago. I'm not sure when it switched from Cuban to Cuban/Mexican but it's definitely not Cuban any longer. I had the La Bamba Garlic chicken sandwich. It was good if your not expecting it to be a cubano type sandwich. If you want Cuban, I would suggest eating somewhere else. If you want a decent meal and your taste buds aren't set on Cuban cuisine, then it's a great casual option. read more

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Great little spot with plenty of covered patio seating and easy street parking. The menu is quite expansive ranging from tacos, burritos, seafood, and even Cuban sandwiches. I opted for the Cuban sandwich with a side of fried yucca, while my friend grabbed a few fish tacos. There's complimentary chips and salsa provided while you wait for your food to arrive. Staff are friendly and helpful. Bathrooms are to the left side of the counter area. Definitely enjoyed my Cuban sandwich with very flavorful pork. The friend yucca was amazing with seasoning and garlic. They also provide a special dipping sauce for them. Definitely will stop by again as my friend and I were eyeing the sizzling fajitas at the table next to us. Super chill vibes and great atmosphere for a weekend lunch or dinner! read more

It was about time i tried this place after living in burbank for 10 years. Food and service were amazing and surprisingly very fast. The torta was fire read more

La Bamba Island Cuisine - Beef Torta Sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

An oldie but goodie. La Bamba is one of Burbank and surrounding areas oldies but goodies. I'll admit that it had been quite a while since I had visited this place but on a drive towards home we decided to stop by and so glad we did! The service is great and the food is amazing. I can honestly say the food has even gotten better than we remember it. If you're looking for good Cuban food, make sure to visit La Bamba. It's nestled in a cute corner location in Burbank, CA conveniently off of Glenoaks Blvd. You get chips and salsa to start and we ordered some fajitas, the st Thomas burrito and the Cuban sandwich with sweet potato fries. All were impeccable. Even their free salsa and garlic dip dressing is phenomenal. How about the prices you ask? Very affordable! I plan to go here at minimum once a month with the hubs and kids honestly. I took some pics to share. Thank you for having an awesome place, friendly service and amazing food. We'll be back soon! read more

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If you're looking for good, casual dinner, La Bamba is a great place go go. The food is good, not great. The service is very good, and the atmosphere is super casual - perfect for a lazy meal. I was excited for the Cuban and Island Cuisine, though it's also Mexican. Seems to be a mishmash of all types of cuisine but not sure there is any expertise in any of them. I had the La Bamba Garlic Chicken Sandwich with plantains/maduros and husband had the pork torta. Husband liked the torta, I found the chicken sandwich just ok. The maduros were just ok as well. Pretty sure the margs were just sweet mix. Parking is street parking but we had no issue parking right outside the restaurant. read more

La Bamba Island Cuisine - Cuban sandwich with plantains - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

I have driven past this place for years and finally met friends here for lunch! I enjoyed the Strawberry Colada and ordered the Plantain Combo and it was so yummy! The staff was super attentive and checked on us offering refills of water and made sure we didn't need anything else. It was warm outside, but they did turn on misters for a bit to help cool everyone off. I plan on coming back to try more items off their menu! They also have Happy Hour from 2-5. read more

La Bamba Island Cuisine - Mahi Mahi Grilled Tacos - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

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Cold Delivery Burrito Tacquitos average Green salsa was too spicy Sandwich so so Red salsa no bueno read more

The food and service is always wonderful whenever I go. I love their happy hour margaritas. Highly recommend you try this place if you haven't. Their garlic sauce is my favorite dipping sauce of any restaurant. read more

La Bamba Island Cuisine - Garlic Avocado carne asada burrito. Served wet. - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

03/22/25 Oops I didn't mention what kind of meat I wanted in my burrito. Automatically it's pork and I wanted asada. Went back to the counter (take out) and the man took charge of the situation and told the cook to prepare asada for me. I offered to pay the difference and he said it's no problem. I absolutely loved the wet style burrito. read more

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This is overall a very disappointing experience, but only when it comes to the food, the service was great and I didn't enjoy the ambience. It was really cute. We were optimistic and excited because we love Caribbean food the menu leaned more towards Mexican food and and the Cuban sandwich was probably the worst that we've ever had. We also asked if could be served steaming hot because I can't eat deli meat right now and it came cold. The lemonade was really good, but I was kinda surprised that you paid $15 for a sandwich and you don't get any sides with it. It would've been nice to have just a few plantains or some french fries additionally the salsa was incredibly bland --we asked for hot sauce and they did bring a spicier salsa. but the flavor was very one note. In terms of wait staff I have no complaints. I would not recommend this restaurant unless you don't know or like carribean food. read more

Been coming for about 10 years, and the quality and service does it every time. A cute location for a casual lunch or happy hour. Their burritos and sandwiches are amazing. Can't go wrong with anything you get! read more

La Bamba Island Cuisine - Tilapia garlic avocado burrito with no cheese. Really good! - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

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First off, I LOVE the ambiance and the romantic lights. The food has always been good quality here, and the service is great! It's a very friendly and down-to-earth environment. A shout out to Celerino who served us on our last visit! :)))) (Notes from boyfriend- the food portions were hefty and the restrooms were clean) PS- get their Sangria, it's amazing! read more

Tried this for the first time, i ordered the La Bamba burrito. It was sooooo delicious! The chips they serve were fresh and hot, salsa was so tasty. Also loved the passion iced tea. Very friendly people working. We came in a rain storm and they rolled a heater over because it had outside seating that was covered. Had a great experience and would highly recommend. My new go to place! read more

IYKYK. I've been a regular monthly diner at LaBamba for 15 years. I don't live in LA but I work there and this (along with In-n-Out) is my MUST HAVE on every visit. The food is delicious and fresh and the atmosphere is fun and semi-outdoor. They do Cuban-style sweet black beans and their pork carnitas are AMAZING (I get it extra crispy and they cook it perfectly every time). There are so many great dishes that I regularly enjoy: fajitas, chimichangas, wet burritos and my groups of diners have NEVER been disappointed. Their friendly staff and gracious hosts will make you feel at home on the covered patio! Also try one of their signature "cocktails"... their daiquiris and piña coladas rock! Can't say enough good things about LaBamba!! Gracias!!! read more

My wife and I met good friends at La Bamba on their recommendation and because they dined there regularly. The place did not disappoint. The choices my wife and I made were delicious and I know that our friends ordered the items they normally enjoy. For such a small kitchen, the smells and plates of piping hot food being served is a testament to the experienced staff and the owners. My photos don't do the meals justice. The Jamaican chicken plate was plentiful. The shrimp tacos were huge. The shrimp with garlic plate looked amazing and I will get that on my next visit. My garlic avocado burrito with shrimp was fantastic. The place is super casual and we were able to sit and converse for almost two hours. Customers came and went and I got to see other items that I want to try. We will be back for sure!!! Can't wait! read more

La Bamba Island Cuisine - Shrimp tacos. - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

Customer service is fantastic! Very attentive and kind. The food is wonderful my sister and I split enchiladas and tacos . I prefer the pinto beans while my mom prefers the black beans, so if you are there with other people I recommend doing splitzies. Happy hour has $4 beers and $6 margaritas. Highly recommend read more

La Bamba Island Cuisine - Cuban Near Me - Burbank, California

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Always a go-to for some of the best Cuban I've had in LA. Haven't had a bad dish in the 8+ years I've been eating here. Lovely outdoor, while limited, patio seating makes for a great lunch or dinner spot. Located in a Burbank neighborhood with a good amount of street parking. Staff is always kind as well and I can't recommend La Bamba enough. read more

I came in for lunch with a colleague and opted for the "Sunshine Salad" with grilled salmon. It's nice to have a place that serves a large fresh salad. All of the ingredients were fresh, and the portions are nice and large. I can't comment on the other menu items yet, but I'd love to return to try other options. Service was great, complete with complimentary chips and salsa. A lovely patio on a warm day. What's not to like? read more

We had not visited this place in years. With Covid and all that stuff, we just never made our way back. We went today, and the food was delicious. I had the Pollo Plate and it was very good. The beans and rice were excepional, and the plantains were top notch. It is obvious that La Bamba uses quality ingredients and that they take pride in their food. Would have been a perfect score except for the service. While most were nice, our server was not very polite. He rushed our group and seemed to get frustrated and upset when we asked a simple question. When every single person in the group (it was a large group) comment during the meal about how the server was a bit rude and pushy....you know it isn't just me or one person. Is it a deal-breaker to return? Absolutely not. The food is really good. However, it does keep it from being a keeper and an instant returner because there are so many quality spots in Burbank that treat you so well when you dine there. read more

The food is great!The service is excellent.big menu to choose from..Best crispy tacos! Best Huevos Rancheros!I love the casual atmosphere.The staff is super nice.. read more

Tried the Cuban sandwich and it was great. I got the guacamole on the side with chips and salsa plus plantains, the plantains though delicious were very sweet and super fresh mushy sorta of you like you plantains like that. Great service from the gentlemen waiter and very cool atmosphere with the covered outdoor seating. read more

Prices are fair. Chips and salsa are fresh and bottomless. Food and drinks are on the sweet side. -Garlic Avocado Burrito with mahi mahi: It was good till I got to the dressing in the burrito, then it became too sweet. If I had known, I'd have asked for the burrito without it. It also was a bit lacking with avocado and garlic. -Chicken Tostada Salad: Also a bit on the sweet side with their dressing and black beans. -Pineapple Lemonade: Good on a hot day but tasted watered down lemonade with a hint of pineapple. read more

FAVORITE CUBAN SPOT IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY!! Fight me on it! Best food, service and vibe every time I've gone and have been going there for at least 4-5 years now this places tops a lot on my list read more

DELICIOUSNESS! I was stunned. This joint has the best chips and salsas and margaritas and beans and enchiladas!!!! Great service, no frills, you will not be disappointed. read more