I can't believe I haven't written a review about Rubamba yet! I've been stopping here for a few years and they've always been consistent with the Arepas. I like to switch up the type of arepa that I get and this time decided on the orange Cuban, which came with rice and sweet plantains. I almost wanted to lick my plate. It was so delicious!! Their tacos are pretty popular too, and some of the arepas are big enough to split. There are a couple of tables inside, but I know most people opt for a takeout. read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Orange cuban arepa - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Nachos: I third-wheeled to Rubamba with my couple-friend, and we got seated next to two more couples on a double date. All of a sudden I was ninth-wheeling. I felt like a lab rat mid-experiment, having a sudden moment of clarity that this fun maze might actually be a death trap. The older gay men beside me glanced at my empty seat before smiling at me with mischievous curiosity. They led with kindness and asked "how are those nachos?", but I knew they meant "why don't you have a date". When I answered with explicit detail about the flavor composition of the nachos and they burst into laughter, I watched the "ah, that's why" land on their faces in real time. Fair. A girl's gotta get her satisfaction somewhere, and in that moment, it had been from the even cheese distribution. The nachos were quite nice, actually. Could've used a bit more beans. And a lot more heat. Incidentally, and according to the four gay wise men, so could my love life. All else: a familiar redhead walked past the window and I said, "I know that redhead from somewhere", turns out it was Conan O'Brien. Second-tier celebrity sighting of the night. First tier was our waiter, sweeping the floor with a little rhythm in the hips. I love when people are so caught up in their own world that the noise fades out. It made me smile. read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Nachos - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Had a craving for guac and arepas and found this gem. They didn't have a liquor license but the drinks were refreshing and plentiful. Started off with the guacamole, corn, and shrimp. Great sizes and we shared. We both got the arepas and needed to bring home because the serving was really big and got to enjoy it again the next day. Limited ibdoor and outdoor seating and limited street parking. Service was quick and very friendly. read more

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I've been here a couple times for the empanadas which i absolutely love! Got a toogoodtoogo order from here a couple weeks ago and it was absolutely delicious! The chicken was so flavorful and the portion size was surprisingly large! I was greeted with warm Smiles when I picked up my food. I'm excited to try other items from their menu! read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Lunch plate - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Rubamba Restaurant was a wonderful spot to get some arepas! My friend and I knew we were in the mood for them and stopped by on a Friday night. There was no wait at all and we were able to promptly order our arepas and we sat outside as we waited. Everyone on staff that we interacted with was super nice! We got our food quickly and the arepas were both delicious. The tinga arepa was amazing, served with plenty of everything (rice, chicken, plantain, dough, and a bit of avocado!). The vegetarian arepa was also great, it was nice and cheesy and delicious. We had jarritos with our meal as well! I will absolutely be back, the service was wonderful and the food was everything we wanted and more. read more

Rubamba Restaurant - La Vegetariana Arepa - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Was excited to try this after a friend recommended it and it did not disappoint. We were able to find parking a couple blocks away at a good price. The menu has a variety of options that all sounds delicious. The inside is small but we were able to get a seat on a Thursday around 1pm. Had a hard time deciding what to get but decide on the barrio tacos to split and chancho columbian style arepas. Loved them both! Flavors were incredible! So much food and was able to bring home leftovers. I think the prices may seem a little high but they are fair for the amount of food and quality. Very glad we got to try! read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Birria tacos - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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So glad we decided to Lunch on a beautiful afternoon! I'm An Arepa lover and they had Arepa from Venezuela and Colombia. The portions are huge! My friend and I got 2 dishes and 1 app and split everything and we still had leftovers. Everything was full of fl. Presentation was lovely and inviting. Music was great. They don't sell alcohol so you'd be getting Mocktails or soda/ juice . Service was excellent. I definitely will come back to have breakfast arepas or perhaps tacos. They have many options on the menu! Everything was so worth it! read more

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Came on a Monday at 5:30pm and it was empty so we were seated immediately. The menus from a few years ago showed a happy hour from 3-6 but they no longer have that. But they do have daily specials and Monday is 20% off arepas so that was a happy accident! The place is small, not the cutest ambiance but the food is very good!! We waited less than 8 minutes for food and were very happy with how flavorful everything was! read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Reina Pepiada Arepa - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Tasty and authentic! Enjoyed their colombian style arepas. We had the birria arepa and chicken tinga arepa, would get both again read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Birria Arepa - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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I spent an afternoon wandering downtown Connecticut, and happened upon this "blink and you'll miss it", restaurant. I eat a LOT of Spanish food, so I was trying to do something different, but the photos of the food on the menu posted to the door, & the fact that it had begun to rain, made me rush inside. I'm glad that I did! The food was on the pricey side, but it didn't disappoint in flavor nor portions. I ordered a horchata, chips and salsa, & a chicken quesadilla. Everything came out quickly, and it all tasted delicious. I also really enjoyed the rice as well as the house made guacamole. Check this place out, it's definitely worth the trip! read more

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The chancho (pulled pork) arepa was constructed unexpectedly as the middle of a pyramid: Red rice on the bottom. A crispy and quite sweet arepa with whole kernels of sweet corn. A big pile of pork. A dollop of guacamole on top. Surrounded by turrets of sweet plantains. The portions are big (thus the prices are fair), but the dish just made us scratch our heads a little. Why was it so sweet? Am I supposed to eat plantains, rice, and corn all at once? Should there be more sauce? The chicken empanada appetize had a dough shape that was unfamiliar and the taste was only okay. The preparation may have been rushed because it came out greasy. read more

The arepas are pretty good! There is sometimes a great deal on Snackpass, so I recommend keeping an eye out for that. The inside and small and cute. The staff is super nice. I got the tostones which was super nice and crispy. If anything, a little salty. Much less expensive than soul de cuba, so this a great affordable option. I'm excited to try more items on their menu. read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Tostones - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Wow, this place knocks it out of the park. I had this on my list for years and it did not disappoint. The food was amazingly fresh, and I would call it upscale Latin cuisine. There aren't many seats here, however. I think there were 14-16 seats in all, and also a bar area. But they do take reservations. I will go back. read more

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Great to-go Colombian/Venezuelan spot. My boyfriend and I stayed at The Blake Hotel and were happy to find something new to try, but that we could share. We ordered the Carne Arepa Colombian style, which comes with rice, plantains, and the arepa toppings. Delicious! Excellent customer service. They also offer student discounts! read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Authentic South American food, coupled with great service, made dinner at Rubamba a wonderful experience. The Birria Tacos had a sufficient amount of birria meat, and a more than sufficient amount of cheese, making them taste more like quesadillas than tacos. The meat was so tender and juicy that the additional birria sauce wasn't even necessary. The Columbian Chicken Arepa's sweet corn base supplemented the tender chicken. The sweet plantains came as a part of the Arepa dish, but were so delicious that I would order them as a side next time! There was very limited indoor seating, and not the greatest indoor space, so I would definitely recommend going on a sunny day to sit outside. read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Tinga Arepa - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Great food, service, and a cute small outdoor seating area with a space heater! Found this place when searching for a restaurant with BYOB and was impressed by the quality of the food and friendliness of the staff! Highly recommend! read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Trio Empanadas - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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I loved this place. It's small, tables are too close, its oddly layed out, however I really enjoyed it. The arepas were perfect. The Jamaica (hibiscus juice) was fantastic. Presentation on everything was thoughtful. Our server was friendly. Few restaurants can successfully fuse so many cultures of Latin cuisine but they did a great job. The fried ice cream had a coating that was thick and not my favorite, otherwise no complaints at all. I will definitely return. read more

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This place was such a surprise. Inside doesn't look like much but the food was amazing. Prices weren't too bad for what you get. My meal was $20 but it was way worth the price!! read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Carne Arepa - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

One of the most disappointing places I've been to in downtown NH! My friends and I would always walk downtown, see this place, and really want to try it out. In June we all decided to. When seated and given water our cups were dirty. The next biggest thing for us were the prices. For what we were paying we expected the food to be some of the best we ever had(or at least have more flavor). For (around) 18 bucks the arepa wasn't as good as any of the ones we've had in the past. I found that the meat in the tacos barely had any flavor and the same for the rice and beans (which was extremely small for 8 bucks). Overall wouldn't recommend and would suggest to try some of the other Hispanic food places around! read more

One of New Haven's hidden gems. Delicious food every single time. We had pescado arepas, the shrimp appetizer, and chicken tacos for dinner. Outstanding. I could eat their arepas every day. Churros and tres leches for dessert. Reasonably priced, very nice staff. Limited seating, including a few tables outside. read more

Amazing food, excellent service, very cozy ambiance! Very small dining area but you could easily take food to go or order ahead. Definitely recommend stopping by for a bite. I wish I could try everything on the menu. Thank you for a great meal! read more

Ordered with a co-worked for lunch delivery with Grubhub. I can honestly say I've never had an arepa before but my lunch was ridiculously good! Like I'm craving a return already good. I ordered the pollo arepa lunch special which was a corn cake (arepa) topped with semi spicy tender chicken (good quality chicken), sour cream, rice, veggies, plantains, and guacamole. It was an explosion of goodness in every bite. The rice was perfect. Nice chunks of guacamole. It's on my list for sure. read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Pollo Arepa - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Great food here! Was able to sit down immediately, there was no wait. We were started of with crispy chips and guac. Because this is an Arepa Bar we decided to Try Two different arepas (pork and beef) it was Amazing! We also had the Elote (Mexican street corn) and sweet plantains. Everything tasted great and very flavorful. I would have loved to try some of there alcoholic drinks but there was a sign that there alcoholic license had not been renewed. bummer! read more

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did a group snackpass order from here and with the 30% discount really felt the arepa was good for its price! overall everything was very flavorful and filling. comes with a lot of rice, the arepa itself, and on top of that sweet plantains. the only thing i think that could have been done better was the plantains. they were slightly undercooked and lacked a bit of flavor. overall though, would go again as it really hits the spot if you are craving latin american flavors. read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Pollo Arepa - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

My boyfriend and I came here for lunch one Sunday because I was craving arepas and saw there was a restaurant in New Haven. I ordered the chancho (pulled pork) and he got the Pescado (tilapia fish). Both were extremely tasty and I can't complain about the large portion size, but we both ended up taking home leftovers. Aside from the corn cake, the Venezuelan style arepas came with rice, sweet plantains, veggies, guac, etc. Another plus, since we were one of the first few customers that day, the bartender gave us a free drink that she made to test out as a special. All in all, I was very happy with the delicious food. Oh, and they give free chips and salsa too! One last thing, we found out that the Venezuelan style arepas were 25% off on Sunday, so that was a nice surprise! read more

Rubamba Restaurant - great plate presentation - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Pricy, but god is it ever worth it. Fully the best arepas I've ever eaten, and the portion sizes are massive! The service is also great! A wonderful place to go on a lunch date, especially with Loose Leaf so close by. Great with Snackpass as well! read more

I wonder why it took so long for me to leave a review for Rubamba. I have dined here umpteen times before as I am a huge fan of Colombian arepa ever since I tasted the first one from their food truck (Ay Arepa) a couple of years ago. It's a tiny spot in downtown New Haven. I liked the friendly staff there and their service. I always try their vegetarian arepa and while it mostly tastes good but at times, it disappoints me. So it's kind of a hit and miss experience for me. But I will surely back to the place as far as my knowledge goes, this is the only Colombian Arepa place in New Haven or Fair Field. read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Decided to try a new place for lunch with a coworker. The place is small and cozy. Wasn't impressed with the food. I will go back and try the arepas which I read great reviews about. Service could of been faster there was only one more party in the restaurant and it took 20 minutes to gives water and chips and salsa. read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Another awesome night at Rubamba. Second time in a row and it's been a hit. I got the same entree (veggie portobello) along with the plantains. It was a good time and our waiter/bartender is so sweet. He used to work at house of naan but he's here now and he's just as nice. Safe to say I'll be back. read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Went on a Wednesday- the burritos were a daily special so my table of four each ordered one. These things are huge! Stuffed with tasty rice, beans, and meat choice. The pork, chicken, and steak were all very good. The sauces were thin and runny- but this is what they should be authentically, and they were complementary and not overwhelming. Server was attentive and friendly. Only three tables for inside dining, one outside. So get takeout instead. Mid-high pricing, burritos worth it. Chips and salsa good--warm chips and guac were excellent! read more

We came here on a Sunday evening for dinner and drinks. This place is much smaller than I thought it was. With the summer heat wave New Haven is experiencing, it was HOT inside by the time we finished eating. As for parking, we found street parking a block over on a Sunday evening. The service was prompt and friendly the entire time. Our glasses for water were never empty and every stage of the meal was snappy transitioning to the next. We ordered, between us, two Colombian style arepas and one Venezuelan style. The Colombian style is the way to go. My partner had the other, and he wasn't a fan. However, both of the Colombian ones that my mom and I had were delightful. The meats (pork and lamb) were both so moist and flavorful. I was honestly surprised by the quality after seeing the cramped interior. We had the orange-pork and the rosemary-lamb arepas. Thinking about them now, I want to go back. We also got drinks. They were good, but not mind-blowing. My partner passed on his margarita, but my mom and I liked our drinks. I'm not a big drinker, I like drinks for the craft, but I prefer not to taste any tinge of alcohol (and am very sensitive to tasting it). The drink passed the test of not being just a cup of liquor with a dash of something else, but I'd come back for the food, not my drink. Atmospherically, I wish it was a bit more comfortable, but it's a casual place serving food of a high-quality spot, so I'd come back. read more

Food wasn't what was expected. Not authentic arepas. Place seems more a take out spot fast food for the students near by vs a real eatery.

Rubamba is one of my favorite places to eat in New Haven. The traditional arepas are all so delicious. The veggie portabella includes such succulent, meaty mushrooms, and the lamb barbacoa (a special) is divine. The presentation is beautiful. It amazes me that this place isn't more crowded! I tend to stay away from the seafood dishes since they are a little more expensive - and also because everything else has been so good. Very nice people working here. This is also a great place for a quick bite or if you want to hang out and stay a while. BYOB! read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Barbacoa arepa - amazing - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Um, I'm sorry, $18.95 for an arepa? A single arepa? If I am paying that much for an arepa it has better be the best one I've ever had, and it was just . . . not. The brisket was dry, the sauce had little flavor and the corn cakes themselves seemed stale. I guess we found out why the menu in the window doesn't have prices. The couple seated next to us spent a few minutes looking at the menu and decided to give their business to the great Cuban place around the corner. I wish we had too. Will not be back. read more

My favorite meal here is La Vegetariana Arepa- Venezuela style. The fresh ingredients are delicious alone and even better together. The Colombian Arepa is also outstanding and it can easily be two meals. They're 25% off on Monday through Friday, 11am-3pm. That deal applies to all day on Sundays. read more

Rubamba Restaurant - La Vegetariana Arepa- Venezuela style - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Fantastic food!!!! This is a tiny little place. They have three small tables for indoor dining. No liquor license. It looks like a takeout hole in the wall. But if you decide to stay, you're rewarded by some of the best LatAm food I've had in a while. Got the arepa al pastor and it was delicious-- plus an empanada. The free chips and salsa are back (earlier reviews said they had started charging) and the chips are mediocre but the salsa is divine. All of the salsas that came with what we ordered were fantastic. We also got guacamole, which was solid (not fantastic, but solidly good). Will be back!! read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Arepa al pastor - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Came in here for the first time for lunch on 2/1/23 after seeing the menu outside (which does not have it's prices on it). We split a Venezuelan arepa. It took a very long time to come, even though we were the only people in the dining room. And it was fine, good. It was absolutely NOT worth the price. The prices here are astronomical. Absolutely ridiculous and is the main reason we will not be returning. You can get much better arepas for a third of the price elsewhere. read more

Never had arepas before coming to New Haven so having them at Rubamba was definitely a treat. Rubamba is a smaller restaurant, and it was full on a weekday evening dinner. The staff told us it would possibly be a 30 minute wait, giving us the option of putting down our number for when a table was ready. They seemed very considerate about our time but the wait was relatively short. As for the food, the menu is extensive but the orange pulled pork called to me. +CHANCHO AREPA: The arepa (corn cake) had great crispy edges and the pulled pork was extremely tender. I did find the food to lack some moisture, and I liked the bites with guacamole and sour cream. Wish there was more! The food was delicious and the staff was incredibly nice. I felt that they really cared about whether we liked the food and our experience there. All in all, I had a great first experience with Rubamba and excited to try their other offerings! read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Chancho Arepa! - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Adorable location which is easily accessible walking. Also, great food. My partner got Horchata to drink, though I tried the Jamaica. Both were delicious. The Jamaica was my personal favorite: though it was sweetened, it was not overly done. Sometimes I struggle drinking juice because the sugar content can make my teeth feel disgusting. There was no issue here, because it was lightly sweet, which I appreciated. It was similar in taste to cranberry, but more floral. We ordered both versions of Arepa. The Venezuelan Arepa is a bit smaller, and the corn used is fluffy, a tad sweet, and lightly fried. Playa Fresca came with grilled founder, which was excellent quality. The original Arepa is hearty, used with yellow corn, and has more blatant sweet flavor. Carne was delicious and seasoned well. Worth mention that the fried ice cream here is the real deal. I'd recommend giving it a go! read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Playa Fresca Arepa (grilled flounder) Jamaica drink on the side! - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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This place is always so amazing! The colombian arepas are the best! But for vegan options I order the venezuelan arepa vegetariano. This is because the colombian arepas have cheese in them. So delicious and authentic! read more

Rubamba Restaurant - venezuelan vegan arepa - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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