Mama Roomba is a fun place to eat. The atmosphere is warm and inviting and our server was very friendly. We had empenadas, jerk chicken, arepas, fried shrimp, and a side of beans with plantains. It was all pretty good, but nothing really blew me away. I really like the jerk sauce on the chicken, but the chicken itself was just a slow cooked breast without much flavor or texture. The arepas were just cornmeal and cheese, without any of the other ingredients I've usually seen in the past (although they did come with a tasty green salsa). I think my favorite item was the salt and pepper shrimp, which had a really good flavor. Plantains and beans are also delicious. There were a few other dishes we wanted to try, such as the ceviche, but unfortunately they were out of it that night. I would come back again to try some other dishes in the future. read more

See all

There's something special about Momma Roomba. With friendly service and a Guy Fieri stamp of approval (see photos) this spot fits perfectly into the "dive" category in the best possible way. We kicked things off with their signature mojitos, a bargain at just $9 each. Ordered tapas-style and were blown away by the delicious beef empanadas (3), served with a rich, succulent dipping sauce carrying subtle hints of clove and nutmeg. The sweet potato fries arrived hot, crispy, and paired with a spicy sauce that was pure YUM. The complimentary bread tasted just like it came fresh from our local Pyrenees Bakery. For the finale, we enjoyed the grilled sea bass, served atop a flavorful onion-tomato medley of pure yumminess, complete with half a dozen shrimp. A fantastic finish to a memorable meal. read more

See all

I was in town for work trip craving Caribbean food & discovered this gem. The reviews and the menu led me to try it with two of my coworkers and it surpassed my expectations. The energy in the place is very warm and welcoming- almost as though you went to a friends family house for dinner. The menu had so many options to choose from even for me as a pescatarian who doesn't do dairy. The food was 10/10. Everything was absolutely spectacular, full of flavor. Every single bite was delicious. The food was cooked to perfection and each dish we ordered was hot and fresh and promptly served. We tried so many different menu items and i would order it all again, and then some. The staff was very friendly and polite and provided great service. If I am ever in Bakersfield again, going back to this restaurant is a MUST. read more

See all

Delicious ropa vieja with perfectly seasoned black beans and sweet plantains. Authentic Caribbean flavors done right--will definitely be back! read more

My husband and I dined here with some friends recently and we really enjoyed it overall. A tapas style restaurant where every single thing we ate was delicious, the fish chicharrones, shrimp, tri tip, and more. We will definitely return. The only thing that knocks my rating down one starvis the smell. There is a mild persistent sewage stench throughout the restaurant, which is most prominent in the restrooms). Of this could be remedied, it would make this a 5 start experience for me. Good ambience, fast and personable service, attentive staff, excellent food, and a small dining room make this a great restaurant. read more

I've been coming here for over 10 years and it never disappoints! Visited Saturday night and everything was perfection. We ordered the empanadas to start (creamy corn and cheese filling, with a flavorful dipping sauce), the Fried Chicken (boneless w/ a spicy kick) and the TriTip (OUR FAVORITE- the chimichurri IS THE BEST) as our entrees. Cannot recommend them enough! read more

I popped into this place three years ago when I first moved to Bakersfield. It seems that the restaurant may have changed hands since then, and unfortunately, the food was not as good as I remember. The restaurant is small and decorated with Latin and Caribbean flair. The staff seemed friendly, but at the same time not... Almost like they expected you to know how they work so I felt a little bit uncomfortable as if I was bothering them. When I walked in, no one really greeted me, but someone saw me from the kitchen area and pointed at the tables gesturing that I could sit wherever I wanted, but it wasn't friendly. I cautiously entered the restaurant and thought well I'm here so let me try it. The first thing I noticed is they changed their menu and definitely raised their prices. The menu is now a lot smaller and before I ordered, I compared it to prior reviews on Yelp to see what the food looked like however, I could not find a lot of the dishes on the menu. I asked my server if the menu was changed, and she confirmed that it did. I could hear the people talking in the back with each other, at times it sounded like Spanish and at other times it sounded like some Asian language and I figured it was Tagalog or something like that. It was as though I could understand every other word. I'm fluent in Spanish. I ordered the beef empanadas. When they came out, they looked a little well done, and they definitely were not fresh. They were also made with corn masa. I did not care for these, and only took a couple of bites. The meat did not smell fresh on the inside of the empanada, and I was slightly disgusted by that. I ordered the ropa vieja plate... which is a Cuban dish with tomato, garlic, red or green peppers, and other spices. I was surprised when the server told me that everything is sold a la carte, and the dish did not come with the side of rice, black beans, and maduros, which are sweet plantains. I ordered a side of black beans, and rice in the same bowl and lucky for me because they serve maduros during lunchtime, they were able to fry some up for dinner, so that was nice of them. Similarly to my first experience at the restaurant, the food failed to meet my expectations. The empanadas were very bland and did not seem fresh, and while the rope vieja was tasty, it lacked that Cuban sazón! The beans and rice were very plain and did not have much seasoning. The restaurant serves bread and butter when you order. The bread was nothing special, it was very generic and probably bought at the local grocery stores. If you want extra bread and butter, they charge $3.50. Overall, I don't think I will be going back to this restaurant, as much as I want to like it. I don't know why I was thinking that it would be different than the last experience... But now I know for sure! Other people seem to like it, so I hope your experience is enjoyable! read more

See all

Second time here, but this time we went to try their food and was disappounted. I asked for a fruit infused mojito and was told they didn't have the fruit.then asked for shrimp tacos and was told that they didn't have tacos. Customer service was okay, husband asked for a water and never brought the water. read more

All right went to Mama roomba's on a Wednesday night wasn't real crowded at all The atmosphere was really nice did the core was really nice The food was really hot The only drawback that I have is they don't bring all the food all at one time when it comes to your entrees That was kind of different I don't know whether they were short cooks or what maybe that's the process My date got her sweet potato fries first and then about 10 to 15 minutes later she got her entree and then about 10 minutes 15 minutes after that I got my entree I thought it was kind of weird The alcoholic beverages are good also they have a full bar I didn't take a picture of it because I forgot to but they have a full bar so if you love Cuban food this is the place to go read more

See all

I ordered cheese and corn empanadas. They were delicious. My friend ordered salt and pepper prawns, which were also delicious and had a kick to them. We split the sweet potato fries. The waitress, Julia, was very friendly and attentive. The cooks had our food out quickly. We are very happy with Mama Roomba. read more

See all

Food was excellent. Shared the following food. Corn and cheese empanadas with chimichurri. Mixed green salad with toasted cumin vinaigrette. Black beans and plátanos. Sauteed mushrooms with garlic and white wine. Skillet Shrimp Soul Style. E everything was excellent. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable of the menu items. The ambiance is very chill and low key. Will come back 100% next time I'm in Bakersfield. read more

See all

Have heard good things about this place so decided to go for something new for the palate. We have been eating quite a lot of Chinese, Indian, and Mexican food lately but not quite a lot of places with Carribean food in town. First of all, ambiance - I love it. I love the small, homey, intimate feel. The server we had was sweet and very helpful. The food, I could have be a bit biased because I was not feeling too well at that time but I found the beef empanadas a bit dry. The cassava fries were okay, though nothing really extraordinary or unforgettable. I probably need to go back, and hopefully, I would be feeling better, so I can get to try other dishes that they offer here at one of Bakersfield's classic establishments. read more

Mama Roomba is a cute little restaurant nestled into a corner building downtown. There's a tiny bar, and festive, colorful decor in the small dining room. We've tried several dishes here over the years, and most were really good. We recently chose the Peruvian style Ceviche, which was so-so. It needed a touch of spice, and more seafood to avocado ratio, but it was refreshing. I was surprised it wasn't served with chips or anything to scoop it with. Next up was the Skillet Shrimp 'Soul Style' in Spicy Cream Sauce. This dish was very tasty, but not spicy. I would definitely recommend getting a side of rice for this one. The highlight of the lunch was Mama's Latin Fried Chicken with Mango Chile sauce. YUM! The boneless chicken breast was crispy and juicy, and that sauce was so good I would buy it bottled. There are several other items I'll go back again to try. (The flat iron pork salad looks promising, and the empanadas are always a draw.) read more

See all

So I'm here in Bakersfield for a couple weeks and I'm working downtown and have a hankering for some Caribbean fare. I see that Mama Roomba has Jerk Chicken so I make a dash there. I was seated and served right away. They do give you bread and butter while you wait. The ambiance was of a rustic diner in the old southwest. They also have a cocktail bar at this place. This is a tapas restaurant. I ordered the Jerk Chicken (which was not on the lunch menu) & black beans. So... I would have given this a much lower rating, but I did ask for something that was not on the menu. The chicken was rubbery, the "jerk" was a sauce they doused on top. The black beans didn't have much taste to them and they didn't provide me with any sweetener for my tea (I guess it's a "ask not, want not" establishment). I don't think I'll try this place again. Not my style. Price: ($34.25 w/ 18% tip) read more

Mama Roomba - Jerk chicken, black beans & ice tea - Caribbean Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Beef empanadas came with three meaty filled with out a bunch of peas and a sweetness form the raisins. The empanadas are accompanied with tamarind sauce that made this appetizer a great start. Roasted jerked chicken is moist. Comes with five strips and has a kick to it. All in all, a great meal. Wish I would've saved some of my slices of white bread from the beginning to soak up some of this amazing sauce. I'm stuffed. There's a beef with mango sauce that I'd come back to try on an another day. Service- just one lady to take care of the in and out locations of the restaurant. Jamie, she's wonderful. read more

See all

Quite possibly the best fried chicken I've ever had! Had my first experience at Mama Roomba recently for our annual team lunch together. Started out with some bread which was delicious and the house made house sauce is so so good and really goes well with the bread. The fried chicken was fresh, juicy and just packed with flavor. Just the right amount of heat and perfectly crispy. I ate every bite and even though I was full I was wishing for more. I'll definitely be a repeat customer here and can't recommend the chicken enough. read more

Okay, okay! 10 years after my original visits to Mama Roomba, I had the *privilege* of revisiting. So, this time I walked in on a Tuesday evening. It was practically empty. The waitress recommended the Tuesday special of Lamb Pops and a Peruvian beer. Daaaaaamn! ... The food lived up to recollection of 10 years past! Lamb was tender and flavorful and on top a bed of delicious salad. The bread served ahead was, somehow, amazing ! Especially in soaking up all the flavors of my main. The tunes in the background were the perfect vibe. Come eat here or be square. read more

My husband and I came in for an early dinner on a Monday. We were seated immediately. Ordering a mango Bellini, Jerk Chicken and Caribbean beef after being told they were out of salmon. I feel like the menu has changed but I have not been here in a long time. They did not take long but I guess I got the last jerk chicken for the night as they started telling all the tables that cam in they were now out of salmon and jerk chicken. I was surprised by this sine it was only 5:30. The inside is cute but cramped. Another patron kept hitting his elbow on the door molding and the waitress just laughed. The food was decent and the beef was a little spicy, my husband said it was dry. read more

Mama Roomba - Caribbean beef - Caribbean Near Me - Bakersfield, California

See all

Food was good are first time there. The service was amazing. Ambiance was lay back and friendly will be back read more

See all

Fantastic food served by fantastic staff. The venue was happy to accommodate our large family gathering. Many relatives have served as missionaries in the Caribbean, and the menu left them happy and satisfied. read more

Mama Roomba - Extended family gathering served delicious family style feast. - Caribbean Near Me - Bakersfield, California

The bartender was very out going and nice. The food was amazing and unique. Really cool vibe in the place. Definitely will be back! read more

Delicious! I came on a recommendation of a friend and am so glad I did. I should have ordered the extra bread so that I could get every bit of juice from the grilled sea bass. I also got the cassava fries. Amazing!! To top it off friendly, prompt service. Not to be missed!! read more

Outstanding food and service every time! For my money, Mama Roomba is the restaurant in town.

2025 Menu. Service was friendly and fast. The vibes were very nice and chill. I can see why ppl recommend this place. read more

Mama Roomba - Menu 2025 - Caribbean Near Me - Bakersfield, California

A chance to experience Latin America without leaving Bakersfield. We had the corn and cheese empanadas filled with ricotta cheese and corn as well as the Venezuelan cheese arepas were filling and tasty. Combined with a red sangria and cassava fries, we left full and content. Located near 18th and Eye St near the Convention Center, it wasn't hard to find and worth the search. We sat at the bar and the bartender was very helpful explaining all of the dishes on the menu we had questions for. Will be back next time we're in Bakersfield. read more

Mama Roomba - Caribbean Near Me - Bakersfield, California

The Yuka Fries + Prawns are my fav w the mango soda Cute lil place to eat / have dinner. read more

Mama Roomba - Caribbean Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Fabulous Latin Caribbean cuisine from savory shareable tasty skillets like the shrimp in a creamy sauce, to their steak chimichurri. House made spicy sauce to add extra flavor to any meal and soft bread before your meal is a treat. Salads are out of this world with flavor like my favorite pork salad to the warm spinach salmon salad. A must drink is their house made Mojitos!! read more

Mama Roomba - Pork salad with guava mojito - Caribbean Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Every time I eat at Mama Roomba's the food is excellent!! I always get the same thing, the tri tip , mamas fried chicken, Peruvian ceviche, warm spinach salad, black beans with plantains and rice Never have I been disappointed!! My Go ~2~ spot in Bako!!! read more

I'm a big fan of Caribbean food! Amazing Tapas & great service! People rave about the fried chicken (which is really good), but there's other great items on the menu. A must try while in Bakersfield! read more

Mama Roomba - Beef & Cheese Empanadas - Caribbean Near Me - Bakersfield, California

It's been a while since I've been here, but I enjoyed their empanadas! They had cheese and corn in them, and they were brilliant!

Welcome to downtown Bakersfield meets The Carribbean. Finally was able to try this place for lunch and wasn't let down. My favorite was the corn and cheese empanadas. Sooo freaking good. Two orders next time please??! Lunchtime was perfect only a few other tables occupied. Service was fast and food was hot and delicious. Devoured the empanadas and forgot to take a picture... oops read more

See all

4 of us had dinner on a rainy Wednesday night. We had a reso but didn't need it. Nice to have the place all to ourselves--quiet, roomy. As others have mentioned it can get a bit tight and noisy when crowded but not for us this night. Perfect service, great sense of humor. We had drinks, nice sangria (not too sweet), corn/cheese empanadas and took the waitresses suggestions and got the special--lamb lollipops. They were scrumptious--nice and meaty, perfectly cooked and the marinate/glaze was to die for--to call it teriyaki based is an understatement; a tasty salad came with the lamb. They were so good we got a second order for our main course complimented by the always delicious tri tip. Black beans and plantains excellent as always. Sorry it took so long to return--see you on another weekday for specials!!!! read more

The hubby and I decided to come and try this place. We knew it had been on DDD and they was a big draw for us. It did not disappoint. We got the beef empanadas, shrimp ceviche, the pasta in creamy jalapeño sauce with shrimp, and the banana and ice cream dessert. All of it was amazing and we loved all the different flavors that pop in your mouth with just the right amount of kick. One small let down, their soda machine was Brooke. And they didn't have iced tea. I'm on a medication that can't mix with alcohol so my only option was water. Other than that, it was great. Service was great and highly recommend. read more

Great place! Nice view, clean, great customer service by our waitress, and the chicken is really good! read more

Mama Roomba - a bar with a menu on the counter - Caribbean Near Me - Bakersfield, California

See all

I don't really like spicy foods but the food was flavorful with just a little kick. I especially loved the arepas! My partner does like spicy food and loved the habanero ketchup with the sweet potato fries. I loved the fries on their own! I also usually don't like vinaigrettes, but their toasted cumin was very tasty. We hope to go back and try their other specials! read more

Mama Roomba's is always a fav. Go with friends because the tapas style serving makes for a great opportunity to share more of delicious dishes they offer. The jalapeño chicken pasta is one of my faves. The empanadas are all good. Everything here is a win. There ambience is intimate because it's a smaller seating area and the servers are so nice. The mojitos are pretty good, just sayin! read more

My friend and I lunched at Mama Roomba's. I haven't been here in many years. I will certainly be back soon. Julia was our server. She was helpful, prompt and polite. My friend had the warm Salmon Salad with the carrot vinaigrette. It was on a bed of spring mix with avocado, cucumber and cherry tomatoes. The salmon was grilled to perfection. The vegetables were fresh and tasty. The vinaigrette was excellent! I had the Shrimp Salad with avocado vinaigrette. It was on a bed of spring mix with cucumbers , cherry tomatoes and roasted corn & peppers. The shrimp was moist and succulent. The vegetables again were fresh and flavorful. The avocado vinaigrette was delicious. The presentation of their dishes is beautiful. I love to start a meal with a beautifully designed food presentation. It makes a meal all the more special. The interior is so colorful and attractive. Quite music in the background. The menu is unique to Bakersfield. Next time I'm coming in to dine from their creative Tapas menu. I highly recommend Mama Roomba! read more

See all

Great Caribbean food in Bakersfield! There's not a lot of options when it comes to Caribbean food here in town, but if you're craving some jerk chicken or other Latin American dishes, here is your spot! It's located in a cozy downtown spot but packed full of life! The service was okay, when my mother and I came on a different occasion, we were the only ones in the restaurant and they still took a long while to get to us, we even considered leaving! The inside is a bit small but don't let that stop you from bringing the family. They have larger tables as well for everyone! Also, the food was delicious. My fiancé had the Caribbean Beef in a Pineapple Adobe Sauce and it was so delicious! It was a bit spicier than I thought it would be since the "pineapple" in the name but it was packed full of flavor! I was picking off his plate more than mine! I definitely recommend it if you don't mind spicy. I ordered the Jalapeño Cream Pasta and it was pretty good, I would say it's a little bit lacking in flavor comparing it to the Beef dish, but still good nonetheless! I recommend this spot if you like to try different cuisines and love flavor! read more

See all

we were just passing through on a trip from Baja to Washington, and found a place with inspired and inventive food, a comfortable and unique setting, and informed and helpful service. The corn and cheese empanadas were beyond amazing. The fried chicken and tri-tip were delicious, the platanos were among the best I've ever had, and the mixed vegetables and sweet potato fries were merely excellent. Yes, we ordered too much, but in our defense everything was too good to pass up! We're now considering how to re-route our coastal route return to dine here again. read more

Food, service and quaint ambiance is on point. I really do love tapas style eating! Run, don't walk to Mama's!