I've been searching for good Mexican food near me and I have to say this is the closest Mexican Restaurant to me and it is very authentic! They have great prices and they have awesome specials almost every night of the week! I went on dollar taco day and it was LIT. I got six soft tacos (oink oink), half chicken, half beef and they were awesome! Both meats were seasoned very well and tasted very authentic. The tacos were also pretty big. I also got a margarita which was okay but it wasn't the best margarita I've ever had. I wanted a frozen one but for some reason they couldn't make frozen ones. Overall I was pretty pleased with my experience here and I will definitely be going back for some more tacos!! This place wasn't super busy when I went but I felt like it definitely should have been so hopefully more people will go try it! read more

The food is just decent, the service is terrible. During one meal you get served by 4 different people, all of whom take an order and probably none of whom will bring you what you request. I have had my order brought to the wrong table, someone else's drink brought to me (different occasions), I will ask for another drink and it will never come, and don't ever expect them to split a check! The only time La Bamba is worth it is dollar taco night, and even then, you have to be completely open about how many tacos you will get and what type of filling might be in them. Beef, bean, chicken? Eh, you get what's served to you. The enchilada sauce tastes like marinara. read more

Great $1 tacos. Tasty margaritas. Their rice is really good. Chips are fresh & hot. Salsa is spicy but its good. I put it on my tacos as well. Fajitas are delicious. The space is kind of small. They have good customer service. There are televisions in there as well as a bar. They have special nights during the week. You get your food fast. They have a small parking lot (better than nothing). read more

La Bamba - Peach Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Awesome Mexican food!!!! My ultimate go to spot! I'm a huge fan of Mexican food! My quick fix when I don't feel like cooking. Great family oriented staff that gives great service. I will become a regular. I had the shrimp and chicken fajita that came to me sizzling!!! Love it!!! read more

Truly awful Mexican food. I ordered a Burrito Mucho Hambre (or some Burrito Hambre). The waitress was not helpful when I asked whether there was sauce inside the burrito (there was), and I asked for cheese inside the burrito, but she kept insisting that there was a melted cheese sauce on the outside and that's NOT what I wanted. I think there was a language barrier, even though using Spanish didn't seem to help. Also, who the HELL puts melted cheese sauce on Mexican food?!!?! It seems like it was all the dishes that had melted cheese sauce. It was so disgusting. It was like a lump of chickeny mac and cheese with awful flavors and no noodles. The beans were lukewarm, the rice was mushy (and had peas for some reason), and the whole dish made me feel very bad afterwards. My food was appallingly low quality. I only went for convenience, and I'm never going back again. read more

Still so frigging delicious. I love that they have an entire section of the menu devoted entirely to mole-based dishes. My favorite at the moment is their enchiladas poblanas, which is a huge amount of delicious Puebla-style enchiladas that ended up being two filling meals for me. I went in last weekend and had one of their huge chicken burritos, and remembered a few small details that really set La Bamba apart from other Gringican restaurants: the food is not swimming in unidentifiable, overpowering sauces, the ingredients always taste fresh, and nothing tastes like it was reheated in a microwave or sitting under a heat lamp for an unholy amount of time. Service is always prompt, albeit a little tepid. Prices are fair. Food is delicious. AND, they have horchata! Always a solid option. I don't know why a tacky margarita place opened up next door, but they probably aren't going to last long having to compete with La Bamba... read more

I've longed for La Bamba since I first had it 2yrs ago.....maybe I should blame it on being especially hungry that night or just having a great night out in Richmond, but this place was heaven's Mexican food on Earth. Food was tasty, with offerings out of the realm of traditional Mexican restaurants, and came of hot & fresh! Vegetarian offerings are on par with best. Stop in to La Bamba and treat your taste buds. read more

I went to la bamba recently, and I'm pleased to say it was a very delightful experience. We went around 3:30 on a weekday, so the crowds were absent, not sure how popular it gets during crunch time really, I wouldn't be surprised if it gets pretty busy. First, the salsa was probably one of my top 5 favorites (homemade included) however the menu suggests they charge you $2 for any extra salsa, but we got a free refill, possibly because nobody else was there. We got the chicken nachos for an appetizer, and their chicken was fantastic. Marinated, and slow simmered in seasonings and thus very juicy and flavorful. The cheese sauce they put on top was by far the best I have ever tasted. I got the chicken chimichangas, 2 deliciously crispy burritos filled only with the aforementioned chicken (generically topped with sour cream, guac, lettuce, tomato, however I got these on the side so as not to soggy up the crispiness) smothered with the aforementioned cheese sauce. Fantastic! And a generous portion of refried beans to boot. My dad got a tostada with virtually nothing to it, some hamburger, some lettuce, a bit of cheese, and the shell fell apart so bad he had to use a fork and knife. His meal also included a stuffed pablano pepper, with a rather tasty pepper sauce that I suspect included cocoa. There was one other item on his plate I can't quite remember. The portions were enough to fill us, but not so much we walked away waddling, even after cleaning every plate. I could not get enough of the cheese sauce and chicken. The prices were fairly modest as well, I highly recommend this restaurant, just steer clear of their tostadas and you will be good :) read more

Definitely authentic. Good prices and you get exactly what you order. Cool vibe inside although somewhat small booths. Little patio on the side that would be nicer in cooler weather. I'd definitely go back. read more

La Bamba - Chips and salsa. Authentic - Mexican Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Panchito's and La Bamba are the best to me! very authentic!!! love it! read more

My husband and I make it our business to find the best tacos when we move to a new city. We just moved to Richmond July 1, and this is the first taco place we tried. I would give this place 2.5 stars if possible. It started out at a 2: the margarita was made with rum rather than tequila, which I thought was strange. The service was slow even though our server (who also seemed to be making the drinks everyone in the restaurant ordered) was friendly. Chips and salsa were free, and the salsa was above average. I was worried when we ordered tacos. They come with pico de gallo, and when I requested just the traditional cilantro and onions, the server looked at me like I'd grown another head. But she tried to please us, and I thought that was very nice: she brought out the naked tacos with two LARGE bowls filled with cilantro and chopped onions (like, more than would normally be served to an entire table). The tacos were really tasty on delicious corn tortillas. They promoted this place to a 3, but when I got the bill I thought the place was ultimately overpriced, so back down to 2.5. I liked the tacos and the salsa, and I really feel like this place aims to please, but ultimately it's just okay for the money, and I don't think I'll go back. read more

No, it is NOT okay for you to serve my and my guest's completely separate orders ON THE SAME PLATE. Who does that?? Staff also needs an attitude adjustment. Dollar tacos super soggy. But it's open til 3 am, soooo they've got that going for them. read more

Here's the disclaimer: My visit here was solely based on $1 Taco Thursday. Second disclaimer: A 3 star rating is absolutely fine. In my book, a 4 star borders on special and 5 star in the superb category. This means food, service, ambiance, price, the whole thing. Since there's no sliding scale, 3 stars can be construed many ways. In the case of La Bamba, I can only rate the tacos, and they were fine, not great, but I'd certainly come back. For a buck, you're not -- and can't expect -- getting a brilliant taco. You want a culinary masterpiece? Order up in price or cook one yourself at home with the fixings of your choice. These tacos are meat and cheese. Period. Not hefty in size, average. I guess that's by design to help you pound down eight of them. For an inexpensive night out, you'll be fine, just not blown away. Ordered a guacamole appetizer. Small, fresh offering in a small saucer and unfortunately pretty plain tasting. It cost almost three times a single taco and didn't taste three times better. La Bamba can do better, I'm sure. Good guacamole isn't that hard to make (tip: add some seasoning). I feel like I need to sample a burrito or other menu item for the full experience. My hunch is it might add a .5 to the rating. read more

Visited this restaurant on a Saturday night and the service was very poor. When we first entered the restaurant, the waitress did not greet us and just pointed at a table. She came over and threw menus down on the table (still not saying a word to us). The entire time we were there the waitress was preoccupied with the table behind us and constantly standing at their table having conversations. She literally came over to bring us our food and she stopped at that table first to talk while holding our food in her hands. Not once did she come back to check on us (mind you, she'd been by the other table at least 5 times). The other waitress ended up having to finally come check on us and take our payment. 2 stars because the food was decent and the other waitress seemed nice. Will not be back. read more

Average Mexican restaurant in Shockoe Bottom. Kind of divey dark atmosphere. An ok meal if you are in the area that is not expensive.

It's a bit far from my office so I don't get here too often, but I always feel like it's a workday lunch treat when I do. The menu is typical Mexican restaurant menu. The food comes out fast, and tastes fresh and flavorful. I like to get the Tamal, Chalupa and Chile Rellena. I just love that it's really affordable, tastes delicious and the service is good. read more

Still my favorite go to Mexican restaurant. Food is really good and ready very quickly !

Yay! I'm a fan. I Stopped for lunch on my way through town and had the Carnitas burrito. It was great. The place is a bit of a dive, but the food is great and great service. read more

Delicious food and great service! The staff is so nice, definitely recommend! Went with friends, we were a big table and they were so accommodating! read more

Stopped in here after a rousing night of revelry on a Wednesday night on the recommendation of one of our company. The queso and guacamole was on point, as were the carnitas, los tres amigos, and chimichangas we ordered. Bonus: no hangover the morning after! Prices were also very reasonable and the serving staff were very amicable and put up beautifully with the more rowdy individuals of our group! read more

This place is so good! Their margaritas a huge and tacos were super filling! I will be back!

I have ate here a total of no less than two dozen times. Every time i have come home stuffed and ready for my next visit. I truly enjoy the atmosphere as well as the staff. Everything is good. Their chimichangas are the best. If you can eat a lot I definitly recommend getting a dinner entree then adding a single item. It will cost you about 15 or so but it is totally worth it. Takeout only takes 10 minutes or less. read more

For the price, the food at La Bamba was an excellent value. The carnitas were tender, and overall the food was terrific. Hailing from the West Coast, I can certainly appreciate good Mexican Food and La Bamba tastes just like home. However, the service was terrible despite there only being two other tables occupied in the restaurant. The waiter seemed put off when I asked for chips and salsa, never brought me water, and charged me extra for one additional tortilla. Overall I can certainly see myself ordering takeout but wouldn't want a repeat of my experience dining in. read more

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So delicious! By far the best Mexican food I've had in Richmond. You really can't beat these flavors. Every time I go somewhere else I'm always upset because I know I wouldn't be disappointed at La Bamba. Everyone is really nice and it's family owned! read more

This is my go-to "simple" Mexican restaurant! Love the chips, salsa, cheese dip, and food is always yummy, greasy, and exactly what I crave when I want classic Mex dishes. The service can be hit-or-miss, but the delivery I ordered this last weekend arrived quickly with a whole 12-oz cup of salsa (!!) and was still hot. I recommend! read more

Great Mexican food, nice staff, great prices, delicious salsa. 5 stars, best Mexican in Richmond. I have no clue why people gave this a bad review, it honestly makes no sense. You can run all around and pay more for less, this place got them all beat! read more

This is the worst Mexican food I've ever had. The beans were pale and tasteless. I'm pissed that I tried this place. I didn't think it was possible for Mexican food to be this gross. DO NOT SPEND YOUR MONEY HERE. These other people in the comments must work for them or something, because its no way someone thinks that this shit is good. read more

Terrible service. Food will make you sick. If you eat here and thinks it's authentic you probably think mayo is spicy

The BEST mole and chorizo pollo we've had in a LONG time. Owners are amazing and care about the patrons. Super friendly!!

This is my go-to Friday night dinner. The staff is friendly and they always remember my order and the food is delicious every time.

Went for $1 taco Thursdays. Pretty good, super cheap, and the margaritas were amazing! Will def go back for the Mon-Thurs nightly specials! read more

La Bamba - Delicious 32oz margaritas for $10.50! - Mexican Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Just an OK Mex restaurant. Dos Equis on tap served in a large mug. Guacamole was good. Chix tocos just OK. Meat flavorful. Served on a bagged tortilla (cold, mealy and not grilled). Salsa OK. Server and staff excellent. read more

This was a last resort and the soda was watered down, my tostadas were all broken and honestly could've been made by a 3 year old and I wouldn't be able to tell the difference. The chips were flavorless and the salsa was warm I wouldn't come back if I was starving and the last meal on the earth was here. Also the price was outrageous for what we were served and the bill wasn't broken down so we couldn't tell if it was the proper amount. After we left we totaled it up ourselves and there was about a $10 difference from what we paid to what we calculated from looking at the menu online. I would give 0 stars if I could. read more

This is my first review after having Yelp for years, so you know it's going to be a bad anecdote. It was my first time seeing this restaurant, but it was near my new place, so my girlfriend and I did an online order to pick up. We got to the place about 15 minutes later and not a single person was in their restaurant, and the host at the bar asked who I was here for which I told her, then told me I owed her the money for the order. I said I ordered the food online through their website and my card was already charged, which they said was fraudulent. I said from your own website? And they said yes you need to pay us more and refused to give us the food. In fact, the owner said "take me to court if you'd like." Like I said I was the only person in the restaurant during their "happy hour," so seems like business is not going just great for them. Unfortunately can't comment on the food because they refused to give it to me without giving them more money. Most confusing and crappy restaurant experience I've literally ever had read more

I went to La Bamba on Thursday night for taco night. Once you're seated, the waiter brings chips and salsa to your table. The chips were hot and the salsa was tasty. There are different options for the $1 tacos. Customers can choose between beef, chicken, cheese, or bean. I ordered the beef, cheese, and chicken tacos. The tacos were tasty. The dollar tacos are definitely good bang for your buck. I ordered a side of queso as well. The queso was tasty and not too spicy. I had sangria to drink. The sangria was flavorful but the glass size was small. The soda and water cups are huge. The employees were nice. The service was fast. The restaurant isn't very big. There's a small parking lot next to the restaurant. The decor in the restaurant is cool. On certain nights, La Bamba has different specials. I haven't eaten anything besides the $1 tacos.I will explore the menu more on my next visit. If you're looking for cheap tacos in Shokoe Bottom, La Bamba is a good choice. I give La Bamba a 3.5 rating. read more

La Bamba - Mexican Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Go to La Bamba if you want a margarita or two and just to hang out. Located downtown, it's definitely a college-esque restaurant; cheap with lots of alcohol. You can't really go wrong with the dollar tacos on Thursday since hey, es un dolar. With a choice of chicken or beef, I personally prefer the crunchy chicken taco. The tortilla chips are pretty good too. read more

It's real my friends. Semi-authentic food, with a semi-authentic menu. I was very satisfied. The service was great, and the food had a little spice which i liked. Everything was very hot and fresh. I am a FAN. read more

I wanted cheap fast Mexican take out and I got it. I love chips and salsa so asked for the big bag. For six bucks it will feed a village. Oops! They needed salt but otherwise fine. I really liked the fried chimichangas. I've had the burrito and just too many beans for me. I'd go back just don't expect to be blown away. Nice people too... read more

Fast, easy, authentic Mexican food. Every time I've been there everyone is very friendly and the food is always hot and fresh. Definitely recommend. read more

I went here today with my boyfriend for $1.00 taco night. We arrived at 4:48 and were the only ones there. The owner came over and said it started at 5pm and we agreed on the technicality to wait the 12 minutes to order...well he took our order and told us we arrived too early for the deal. My order of 3 soft tacos came out wrong. He gave me 3 hard shell and instead of acknowledging he misheard me...he said it was my fault and that I didn't say that...so instead of taking my order back he brought 3 soft tortillas to the table to make my own then charged me for the mess up!!! The rudeness was unbelievable, specially for the owner himself to be so unprofessional. He was of course sitting at the bar so the mess up couldn't be of course that he'd been drinking. read more