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    La Bamba

    4.3 (179 reviews)
    InexpensiveSpanish, Cuban
    Closed Closed

    La Bamba Photos

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    LA BAMBA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - La Bamba

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    Media Noche sandwich
    Felix A.

    Not fancy - just flavor! Yes, the Media Noche sandwich had lettuce on it, but the flavor of the pork paired with the sweet bread easily made me forget all about it. Great café con Leche, too. Friendly service, clean and simple cafeteria style setup definitely geared towards the lunchtime crowd for the office buildings nearby, so don't expect any frills. What you can expect is good food, Latin music softly playing in the dining room, and your hunger satisfied!

    Myra Y.

    This was our first stop for lunch after landing from the airport on recommendation from our rental car driver. It was pretty busy when we came, but then that guaranteed that food was hot and fresh. My food was mostly great but both the rice +beans and roasted pork had a bit too much salt. I would come back and try the picadillo with white rice instead.

    Cuban Breakfast Sandwich
    Ryan H.

    My daughter thought best Cuban ever and she may be right. Delicious. . We came a day earlier and got a breakfast Cuban. I loved that as well. We flew back home and reheated it in air fryer. Still great.

    Yoga con arroz
    Margarita B.

    The Cafe con leche was perfect, my Cuban sandwich was great but my Ropa Viejo con arroz was just ok. The staff were friendly, the food had generous portion sizes, and there was plenty of parking around the building and plenty of inside seating. I enjoyed my lunch visit and will be back when in this downtown area off Westshore in Tampa.

    Rice and beans, picadillo and ribs
    Andrew T.

    I had a little lunchtime visit before a flight on a recommendation. The ladies at the counter were extremely nice and very accommodating bang for the buck. You can't beat it. It's cafeteria style, but the food was amazing.

    Amarillos amazing so was the soup
    Anibal O.

    Hole in a wall cuban food served school lunch style.... Loved this place, food was beyond amazing, quick service and friendly staff... You walk in and see the sandwich maker you can order wich from her or grab ur tray, free piece of bread and start ur line like if you where getting school lunch... then you look to find a spot to sit just like in school lol... food was fresh wonderful and great. I would recommend for people to try it

    T C.

    We came by for breakfast for a quick breakfast. We ordered at the counter cafe con leche (sm $2.75/lg $3.25) and cuban cheese toast (3$) and breakfast sandwich ($5.25). They brought our coffee and a few minutes later our breakfast. I like the cut the toast long ways for dipping in my coffee. The sandwich and toast were both very good. The dining room was clean and along with the bathrooms. We will come back to try lunch.

    Cuban BarBQ Pork sandwich
    Rhonda F.

    It's location is within walking distance so it's frequented by co-workers quite often. I've eaten her only 3-4 times within a two-year span and have to say, the food is good but it's quite lackluster. Maybe I just don't know Cuban food, and it is definitely authentic Cuban food; but I always hope for a little more spice. The restaurant overall is small and there isn't much parking on site. But they do keep the serving area and the dining room clean. Most recently I tried the barbecue pulled pork sandwich. The pork was tender and juicy, layered on Cuban bread with cheese. I never had pulled pork with cheese but it was good. It was the barbecue sauce was oh so subtle so you really just got a hint of it so's not to overpower the flavorful meat. In fact, I had to remove the bread to be sure there was barbecue sauce on it!@ And to their credit the plantains are awesome! If I know someone's going down to La Bamba, I'll ask whomever to bring me back an order. We also pop over for breakfast run every once in awhile. I'll have the sausage, egg & cheese sandwich and it is huge! Satisfies that breakfast craving and you still have have of the sandwich left over for lunch.

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    3 months ago

    The cuban sandwiches are the best around, in my opinion even better than the Floridian restaurant. Keep it up.

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    5 months ago

    Good for fast lunch Latin food , good prices for the area , you have to take your food to the table . They don't serve you

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    1 year ago

    10/10 best Cuban food in the area great breakfast 7-10:30 then they serve lunch 10:30-3 100% recommend trying it if your in the area

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    1 year ago

    this is the best amazing prices amazing flan especially amazing breakfast and huge portions

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    Columbia Restaurant

    Columbia Restaurant

    4.0
    (4.5k reviews)
    5.5 mi
    $$

    A resounding YES! We came here for the first time a couple…read moreof years ago and it was such a pleasant and memorable experience, we had to come back. We were told that it would be a 30-40 minute wait, but it was hardly a 20 minute wait. The ambiance of the place is so homey, and the staff is generally pleasant. First of all, do not underestimate the BREAD. It is probably, hands down, the best baguette bread I have had in the US. We had croquette and stuffed mushrooms as appetizers. They were good. For my main course, I had the mahi mahi varadero and it was really good. It came with crab and Spanish rice, and was breaded with crispy plantains. It was good, although I generally don't like Spanish rice. HOWEVER, if I had to recommend a dish, it would be the mahi-mahi cayo-Hueso. It was marinated with citrus flavors and it was divine. Now I don't know who in our party ordered the fries, but they were amazing and felt as good as home fries. Now to the dessert, we ordered almost one of each and it was some of the best dessert I have had in my life -not too sweet, made well, and with real ingredients. I would have ordered my own cafe con leche but it was too late for me in the day but man did I wish I could have had my own cup instead os stolen sips. A record would not be complete without aknowledging the staff. Our waiter was Alfredo and he was such a nice, sweet, and accommodating waiter. He was also patient with such a large party. Thank you, Alfredo!

    Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City is absolutely stunning. If those walls could talk I'd sit and…read morelisten for hours! The tiles, floors, and history everywhere you look are incredible. Our server Enarxis was amazing and made our entire visit! He made us feel like family right away, shared the history of the room we were in, and gave us great tips and things to do while traveling in the area. His food and drink recommendations were 10/10: Red Sangria & Salad: The sangria was delicious and the tableside salad was so unique and flavorful. Cuban Bread: Oh my gosh... warm, perfectly crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside with butter. Divine! Pollo Manchego: Huge portion for lunch! The citrusy sauce with the crispy chicken and yellow rice was so different from anything I've had and super delicious. Mahi Mahi with Blue Crab: My husband devoured this. El Combo de Cuba: My dad cleaned his plate trying all the Cuban flavors. We loved every second from start to finish. I can't say enough good things about Enarxis--he truly made our experience. We will 100% be back next time we are in the area!

    Photos
    A dining room
    A dining room
    Crab bites (appetizer)
    Crab bites (appetizer)
    Gem of the ocean cocktail. Yes!

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    Gem of the ocean cocktail. Yes!
    La Teresita Cafe

    La Teresita Cafe

    3.9
    (1.3k reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    **Quick, solid Cuban food right by the mall**…read more Heading to the mall and wanted something better than food court fare -- La Teresita was right down the street, so we popped in. Skipped the sit-down cafeteria side and grabbed the counter seating instead, which had a fun bar-style setup. Service was fast -- they got our water order in immediately, and we followed up with a large café con leche. Plenty of coffee for the price, though the red plastic cup was a letdown compared to a proper mug. Food came out in under five minutes, which is impressive for how good it was. I got the Milanesa -- a breaded steak in red sauce -- with yellow rice and black beans on the side, and it was excellent for the price. My wife had the Ropa Vieja with yucca and Moros rice, and it didn't disappoint: tender, soft beef with rich tomato sauce and just a hint of olive coming through. We also added a side of tostones with their garlic sauce, which were absolutely delicious. For a quick stop before the mall, this exceeded expectations -- great flavor, fast service, and solid prices. Would go back even without the mall as an excuse.

    My tummy is happy!…read more It's been a while since my last visit but oh boy itch scratched! One of the best and very reasonable Cuban food in the Tampa Bay Area. Ordered ropa vieja which isn't available on weekends but they checked with the kitchen and got it for me. Yucca and rice and beans to complement it. Cafe con leche is a must! It was a bustling weekend so we sat at countertop. Still plenty of seats. Good came out very quickly and servers were very accommodating even wi tv my broken Spanish lol

    Photos
    La Teresita Cafe
    La Teresita Cafe
    Where you go in

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    Where you go in
    Columbia Cafe on the Tampa Riverwalk

    Columbia Cafe on the Tampa Riverwalk

    3.7
    (685 reviews)
    4.7 mi
    $$

    Drinks only review. Stopped here after Riverwalking over to History Museum, and decided that a…read moreproper mojito would make the museum visit even better. Sat at the outdoor bar, and received prompt service. My mojito was tall, well muddled (if Columbia Cafe can't get a mojito right, who can?) and had all the right components, just a bit too much ice. Offspring's strawberry daiquiri was also quite refreshing. We didn't realize there's an entire other bar and seating area (air conditioned!) up on the second floor museum level - the bar up there looks quite ornate and fits in with the museum-oriented atmosphere.

    So my wife and I came in around noon on June 25th for lunch. Food was very good but a couple issues…read morethat ruined my experience. My wife ordered the empanadas and the half 1905 salad and I ordered the half and half......half Cuban and half 1905 salad. My wife should have added 'bring them together' but she didn't and the server didn't bother to ask so the empanadas came out and everything else came out 15 minutes later. My wife had a cocktail and the bill was $60.20. Issues to fix: 1)I ordered a Coca Cola, $4.00 and in 92 degree weather it melts in 5 minutes. We were there for an hour and not one time did she ask if I'd like a refill. 2)When she made the 1905 table side she literally 'dropped' a handful of salad ON THE FLOOR between my wife's and my seat......she kind of chuckled, gave us our salads and walked away. She literally left the SALAD ON THE FLOOR THE ENTIRE MEAL! During the course of our meal probably 20 employees walked by and never bothered to pick it up. That in itself was the epitome of laziness and complete lack of respect to the customer. Our bill was $60.20 and I tipped $12 which normally I'm a 30% tipper and I could kick myself for giving her 20%. She deserved zero. I know I will never get a response from management but do you think I will ever come back? Nyet.

    Photos
    Columbia Cafe on the Tampa Riverwalk
    Columbia Columbia's Original"1905" Salad with "Shrimp Al Ajillo"
    Columbia Columbia's Original"1905" Salad with "Shrimp Al Ajillo"
    Patio

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    Patio
    Sal Rosa

    Sal Rosa

    4.0
    (37 reviews)
    4.2 mi

    I only came here for a drink before heading out for festivities but it was a solid experience at…read morethe bar that is located in the main hall of what was the old courthouse where Le Meridien now resides. Located on the second floor, accessible by the front entrance, the stairs from the lobby, or the elevators on adjacent sides, Sal Rosa comprises a coffee bar and ice cream parlor, a full restaurant, and a bar and lounge. They offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week if you aren't looking to leave the hotel property in downtown Tampa for a day or night. The dirty martinis are ok but I felt they could be dirtier, especially since I asked for extra -- for some reason, bartenders in more than one establishment tend to still be sparingly with the olive brine. But the service was attentive regardless.

    Excellent breakfast offered by the Le Meridien's restaurant. Great deal, I could not finish this…read moremassive stack of pancakes even though I tried. Everything was hot and tasty, coffees were delicious. I'm excited to see what other offerings they have here.

    Photos
    Sal Rosa offers Latin-American dishes, craft cocktails, 
and an exciting line-up of events and happenings.
    Sal Rosa offers Latin-American dishes, craft cocktails, and an exciting line-up of events and happenings.
    Located in the heart of downtown Tampa with an eclectic dining experience that combines classic Latin cuisine with a modern American twist
    Located in the heart of downtown Tampa with an eclectic dining experience that combines classic Latin cuisine with a modern American twist
    Where bold flavors meet Tampa's social heartbeat, 
Sal Rosa offers Latin-American dishes and craft cocktails

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    Where bold flavors meet Tampa's social heartbeat, Sal Rosa offers Latin-American dishes and craft cocktails
    Columbia Restaurant

    Columbia Restaurant

    4.0
    (1.6k reviews)
    18.5 mi
    $$

    The Columbia Restaurant in Sand Key Clearwater has pretty water views of the inter-coastal and…read morefeatures a vintage interior style blending old-world Spanish charm with relaxed coastal energy. You can watch boats cruise by while you eat. The best spots are on the open outdoor deck or at a table next to the large windows. Inside, the dining room is decorated in a Mediterranean style. It features colorful Spanish tiles, lush tropical plants, and authentic artwork. The famous historic 1905 salad originally created in 1905 was made table side by Tossing 4 cups of chopped iceberg lettuce, 1/2 cup julienned ham, 1/2 cup julienned Swiss cheese, 1 ripe chopped tomato, and 1/2 cup green Spanish olives. Top with Romano cheese, Worcestershire sauce, fresh lemon juice, and a tangy garlic dressing. The flavor is great and it's a nice light healthy option. 9/10 The Ropa Vieja was Originally introduced to Cuba by Spanish sailors. The name means "old clothes" because the choice beef is shredded, sautéed and simmered with onions, green peppers and tomatoes. Served with platanos and white rice. 9/10 The Shrimp Salteado came with Jumbo shrimp sautéed in exra-virgin olive oil, sliced Spanish onions, green peppers, fresh garlic, mushrooms, diced potatoes, chorizo and red wine. Served with yellow rice. 9/10 For dessert, the flan is one of the best I have ever tasted. The recipe dates to 1935 when the Columbia opened Tampa's first "Conditioned Air" dining room, the Don Quixote. Our grandmother and great-grand-mother, Carmen Hernandez, helped the Columbia gain national fame with her great recipes, especially her flan. Spanish caramel egg custard, prepared the old-fashioned way, using only the best natural ingredients. 9/10 Our server was friendly and informative and our food came out in a timely manner. If you're in the Sand Key or Clearwater area and craving some authentic Cuban food in a classy atmosphere with a nice view of the water, i highly l recommend visiting the Columbia Restaurant.

    This is just over the bridge from Clearwater Beach. Different cuisine and things to choose from…read more Tip: Parking is limited in the strip mall this is in. Suggest valet for $6 or a couple of trips around the lot to find a spot. We sat outside, which was enclosed and heated and your are right on the water. Super cool and great views. We started off with the toasted bread and butter and the devil crab croquet. Not a fan - full of crab but the flavors didn't sit well and really needed some type of sauce to pair with it - we only had hot sauce. The original salad - is a must we shared it across four. It's made table side has cheese and olives in it and was really good. We got ours with a side of shrimp. Main courses - Cuban - it's a classic sandwhich which we shared. Comes with fried plantains which were ok. Again would have been better with some kind of sauce to dip it in. Steak Salteado - good flavor l, was expecting thin sliced steak and it was more like stew meat. Paired with rice and was good. Palomilla - would be better as the sandwhich version. Again this one needed a sauce for dipping. Shrimp "Al Ajillo" - this is a must and the oil garlic mix is perfect for dipping you toasted bread.

    Photos
    Interior of Restaurant
    Interior of Restaurant
    Boliche criollo
    Boliche criollo
    Main dining room at Columbia Sand Key.

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    Main dining room at Columbia Sand Key.

    La Bamba - spanish - Updated August 2026

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