Walked in for lunch and went to go to were the hostess station was. The server came from behind the counter and said "excuse me" where are you going? You don't just walk in". Told him the hostess station and he said he would seat us. The whole place has 3 tables. He wasn't friendly during our meal and gave us a hard time when we asked for larger containers to take out food home because the ones he gave us would have caused me to smash my food in to fit. The food was good, but because of the service I will never be back here again. Such a shame. read more

I had arepas for the first time and got the Colombian bean arepas. It was sad to know that I would never eat something like that ever again since I was just visiting New Haven. I didn't know what I was missing out on. The corn patty was slightly sweet and paired amazingly with the melted cheese and the rice. The beans were great and I was happy there were vegetarian options. I also had an order of chips with guacamole and it was also really great. read more

The food here is always a hit! I usually get the black bean arepa and never finish in one setting. Whenever I order takeout it is usually done before the expected time (which I greatly appreciate), so keep that in mind if you need to pick up your food piping hot. read more

We went for happy hour and I can't wait to go again. Great service, amazing drinks (fresh mint, line, and very flavorful!) and delicious food all for happy hour prices! This maybe a small bar but it really is a hidden gem. read more

Wowww my bf ran in to get our pickup order and the lady told him "these are the best in Connecticut." I thought that was quite a claim but DAMN she wasn't lying. I had the La De Pernil (Venezuelan style arepa) which is pork shoulder. He had the Colombian style pollo arepa. Both were delicious, the meat was super tender and the corn based bun tasted amazing and had a perfect crunch. Really good flavor. read more

Great little restaurant with friendly service! My friend and I both had the arepa with Cuban pulled pork ("Chancho"). It was delicious and just enough food. The arepa was flavorful and soft and the pork was cooked and seasoned perfectly! I gave four stars because I found the prices to be a little high ($15.75 for the arepa dish), but otherwise, this is an excellent place to eat. read more

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

As a Colombian, I'm not sure that I can say that these are Colombian style arepas. I'm actually a bit embarrassed that people are eating these so called "Colombian arepas". The food is bland and greasy....Please do yourself a favor take the MTA to Queens, ny or even Bridgeport, Stratford or Stamford for that matter and go to the Colombian restaurants there and have yourself a real arepa. Better yet, try making your own, they'll probably be tastier and easier on the pocket. read more

The food here was very good and the wait staff is friendly, helpful and attentive. Food is a bit pricey so look for a Living Social or other coupon. This place is very casual. Hole-in-wall atmosphere. Was hoping to get a Mexican beer, but they do not serve alcohol. I tried the flounder arepas. It is a nice mix of flavors: sweet, salty and spicy! Loved it. My date ordered chicken quesadillas. He said the chicken was very tender. Good portion sizes. Definitely a place to go back to. read more

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

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There are places that from the time you enter it, give you a good vibe. This was one of these places. It had soft music playing, it was not too bright and had a really cool ambiance. We were greeted by a friendly waitress, who sat us down promptly and brought over chips and salsa. Even though the place is small the decor is lovely. Now to the good part, I ordered the pulled pork arepa and my friend ordered the shrimp arepa. Both were beautifully plated and absolutely delicious. The trek through the snow was definitely worth it. It is a little hidden gem I wish I would've known about before now. I will be coming back very soon! read more

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

Visited this restaurant on a hot summer day with a friend and my infant and it was so nice from the service to the restaurants atmosphere.Food prices were reasonable and you got more in food quality, taste,etc. Good dining experience. read more

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Had the chance to be there today for the first time. Food pretty good, service was with a big smile they were busy and the lady did her best to keep up with all. If you looking for something different to eat you should definitely give them a try. Authentic Latin spot. Good job guys read more

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

Ate here awhile ago and still remember how great the food and experience was. Good value for the money and the food was very tasty. And a number of different dishes to choose from. Would definitely come back! One of my favorite spots in New Haven! read more

I came here for lunch mid-day. The place is very small and cute. The food is delicious. The portions aren't huge but they are a good size to have without leftovers. I am vegetarian and had the veggie empanadas. They were delicious! It was a little pricey, but I think worth it for the quality of the food. read more

If you've ever failed to chase down the Ay! Arepa food truck, then you might want to take note that Rubamba is their fixed location. Although many of my friends have had the food truck arepas, I haven't had the chance to try them until I walked into Rubamba for dinner. The restaurant itself is cozy & intimate, with bachata streaming through the speakers. I had the Colombian arepa with beans, & my boyfriend grabbed empanadas because he wanted something "small" (that dish was certainly not small). The entrées arrived beautifully plated--glamorized, almost, compared to the food truck versions I was accustomed to. Better yet, the arepa did not disappoint. It was crisp on the outside, with queso blanco sprinkled throughout. Imagine a dense, griddled slab of cornbread, but so much better. If you really want to treat yourself, drop by Rubamba. Yes, it's pricier than the food truck, but you're really paying for the presentation & ambiance. The service could be a little better, but otherwise, I'll be back to try all the other versions. read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Colombian arepa (with beans) - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Wow. The arepa here (Columbia version) is the best in new haven. By far. Maybe that arepa truck on church steeet is better. But this place is silly good. Mexican corn pretty spicy and worth it too. One of the free places with fish arepa. Get it! read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Delicious fish arepa - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

I'd never realized the difference between Colombian and Venezuelan arepas before I ate here. I'm not a huge fan of Venezuelan arepas (I prefer empanadas) but the Colombian arepa here was quite good; I got the chicken. There were a bunch of other things on the menu that also looked delicious, I'll definitely want to try them at some point. read more

Wow - how does this place not have 5 stars?! I regularly ate their Columbian Arepas when I was a student in New Haven (specifically the fish arepas, but generalizable to all of them) - but have never been able to find a restaurant anywhere in the country that matches the taste of Rubamba's. I think about these arepas more often than is probably normal - and went back to visit, in part just to go to Rubamba. 5 stars all around - please consider selling your arepas for online delivery to other states, or opening up a franchise in other large cities please! read more

Excellent arepas! So tasty and while a bit expensive you get a lot of food! I'll be back again for more arepas. Some of the other menu items I've tried were only mediocre, the burrito left a lot to be desired and the horchata wasn't my taste. But go for the arepas for sure!! read more

This is a go to for authentic and unique Latin American food. I went here with a group of 5 over Easter weekend and they accommodated us easily. We took advantage of the happy hour specials and had some nachos, as well as the guacamole to start. For dinner, everyone in my party ordered various types of the Colombian arepas and enjoyed them. The only downside to this place is that sometimes parking can be a bit tricky. My husband arrived later and had to pay $9 at a nearby garage. read more

They have the best arepas I've ever tasted! The shrimp is my favorite. The restaurant is cozy and they have BYOB!

I lived right above this place for two years while I was a grad student and I miss it every day. I ate here about once a week and have tried pretty much everything on the menu. The corn, the arepas, the quesadillas and the tortas are the stand outs. Especially the torta. I've tried to order tortas at other establishments and they pale in comparison to the tortas at Rubamba. Highly recommend. The family that owns this restaurant is so warm, lovely, and wonderful. You definitely feel that love and family vibe in the service and in the food. If you are in New Haven DO NOT SKIP THIS PLACE. read more

I.LOVE.THIS.PLACE. Found out about this place and have been back numerous times. The arepas, the tacos, the EVERYTHING is so good. I usually get the Jamaica, hibiscus juice, also l known as Sorrel in the West Indies. It's a bit too sweet for me so I add a little water and all is well. Small, cozy, comfortable place. Reasonably priced for the made to order food. Service has been decent, a bit slow if they have a few people dining in but not to the point of annoyance. Keep in mind the food is cooked to order - this is not a fast food place. Ran across their food cart over by Yale and had to stop to get some food from them. read more

Rubamba recently opened in the space that was briefly occupied by Ay! Salsa. The set up and menu are more or less identical to Ay! Salsa, although I feel like the quality of the food has improved over the former location (in other words, it's very good). I've already been three times in a week, and can easily see myself becoming a regular here. So far, both the chancho (orange-tinged pulled pork- had it twice) and the portabello arepas have been simply delicious. The portions are pretty big, and all three times I've had leftovers enough for two meals. The plaintains, which are caramelized to perfection, are highly recommended as well. If I have one negative, it is that I had completed my get-ten-burritos-and-the-11th-is-free punch card shortly before Ay! Salsa closed, and as Rubamba is under different management, they would not honor it. It was only wishful thinking on my part that they actually would, so minus zero points for that. Oh well. read more

These arepas are amazing. Whenever friends come to town, I take them to the exact same places: The Pantry for breakfast, a tour around Yale, Da Legna for lunch, East Rock park, and top it all off with Rubamba for dinner. I like to think that they keep coming back to New Haven for me, but let's be real; they come for the arepas. First, this place's salsa and chips are the real deal (except when the chips were stale, which doesn't happen too frequently). Eat your fill of chips, but leave some room because you need to fully enjoy the glory that is the arepa. I personally like the steak arepa most, but the other meats are tasty as well. Each arepa contains rice, guac, pico, corn, your meat of choice, the arepa itself (best part), hot sauce, sour cream, and some plantains on the side. It is the perfect bundle of goodness. Tips: The restaurant frequently posts Groupon and Livingsocial deals, so be on the lookout for those when you go. Honestly, I don't think the $16 price tag is justified. The food truck Ay Arepa (which I believe is owned by Rubamba) sells arepas for $6, so just head over there if you don't have a Groupon. It pretty much tastes the same. read more

I've had the arepas many times from the cart on Cedar St., and decided to finally check out the Rubamba's sit-down restaurant. I had the carne arepa. It was delicious, even better than the cart. The arepa itself had little charred crispy bits that you don't get at the cart. This gave it a bit more texture, which was nice! The meal also came with chips and salsa. The only downside is that it is more than twice as expensive as the cart, for almost the same meal. Also, on a hot day, it's nice to stop in and just get a horchata to go. read more

The Pollo Arepa and the Pollo Loco Burrito were fantastic-- nice portions and great flavor. The reason why I gave it 4 out of 5 stars is because of the service. There was only 1 other couple in the restaurant and not once did the waitress come over, after being seated for over 10 minutes. When she did take our order, she wasn't too friendly. The whole time, our waitress was MIA. Decided to just get up and pay for the check up front. Other than that, we would definitely come back, but hoping to not have this waitress. read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Pollo Loco Burrito on top and the Pollo Arepa on the bottom-- great flavors/nice portions - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

This place was such a pleasant surprise! What looks like a simple Mexican joint for college students, actually ended up being some of the best Latin American food I've had! The presentation of the food is surprisingly "gourmet" for a place that looks like this on the outside. I'm a vegetarian so I was thrilled to see the delicious vegetarian options they had. I ordered the Veggie quesadillas and they put delicious grilled veggies in there (the mushrooms were to die for!). I also ordered the Hibiscus flower drink which is very refreshing! My boyfriend ordered the pork tacos - they were loaded! He was satisfied with just 2 tacos. I would def go back! read more

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Decided to stop in after passing it by numerous times. I just couldn't bring myself to pay those prices. Today I had a bit of extra cash and decided that I would indulge, unfortunately the flavor just didnt meet the expectations set by the price point. The presentation of my pork quesadilla was impressive. 5 stars easily. But the artistry on my plate is where my impression ended. The pork was moist, but lacked any flavor or seasoning, it badly needed salt. Any flavor that was in the pork was masked by hot sauce liberally poured on top. It lent no flavor to the dish, only heat. The black beans & rice on the side had good flavor and were well seasoned, but the rice was dry and al dente in the middle and almost had the texture as if it was boxed or came out of a "microwave and serve" pouch. Overall a passable lunch, but when you factor in the $13 w/ tax & tip price tag, it didn't meet expectations. read more

Really good food, great service!!! George is such a great waiter, attentive, friendly and just awesome!!

Not a huge fan of this place. The service was great but sadly I can't say the same about the food. Everything we ordered was very greasy and somewhat bland. read more

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

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This place is great. Well priced food with large portions that are definitely satisfying. The only thing I've gotten from here are the arepas, and they are perfection. I love the cornmeal party, and every meat I've tried works great a huge fan of plantains, so it's great to see it on every plate. The ambience is quite intimate, not the fanciest place but certainly good enough for a dinner with friends and family. The wait staff is also super friendly. I'd definitely give this place a shot. It's not your usual burger, pizza, or fast food burrito. It's different, which is the best part about it. read more

Nice little spot. As soon as you walk in you feel like your in a apartment lol I guess the place is to small to open it up more. The server was great in taking care of us. The food was delicious and the prices are not to bad. I will be going back to try something different. read more

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

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Oh baby, arepas! I actually had never had an arepa before suggesting we tried Rubamba for dinner one night. My husband is a fan of them, and eager to try out the Latin cuisine New Haven has to offer since Philly didn't have any nearby options for us that were amazing (or had arepas on the menu). We tried the Chancho arepa with pulled pork, and shared the Mexican salad so that I could feel healthier, haha. The salad was totally fine - mesclun and romaine topped with black beans, avocado (not as much as I'd hoped for), pico de gallo, crema, and apparently hot sauce but I didn't notice any. The arepa, however, was fantastic. The cheesy corn cake was crispy on the outside and sweetly/cheesy inside, which paired really well with the pulled pork that was super moist and well seasoned. I'm a sucker for sweet plantains, and I wish there had been a few more pieces to share because they were yummmmm! Next time, we'll definitely have to get two arepas to "share" - my husband has already been back to their food truck for lunch! read more

I have found a gem! Great food, great service, at my price point! We dined in the back which you cant see when you're looking from the street. The coconut shrimp was fantastic and a beautiful presentation. Plantains, rice, and black bean soup all phenomenal. I will definitely be back soon. I can also use my restaurant.com coupons here. If you want a beverage stronger than soda. Bring it with you and there's a $2 charge to use the fancy glasses. Still for the great service, great food, and great price it's definitely a Spanish restaurant to check out! read more

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

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Rubamba has quickly become a favorite of mine, both for takeout and dining in. They recently expanded their space to accommodate more seating, which seems to have worked out quite well. The arepas, both Colombian- and Venezuelan-style, are delicious. I've tried nearly all of the toppings at this point and it's difficult to pick a favorite, but maybe I'd give an edge to the chancho. It does bother me slightly that the price for arepas at their cart outside YNHH is about half of what they charge in the restaurant, but it's still a pretty good deal. They also make a fantastic pollo milanesa sandwich that has never provided me with fewer than two meals, and their tostones are very good if a little on the greasy side. Overall, the positives of Rubamba far outweigh the negatives. Give it a try if you're looking for something a little different than standard New Haven fare. read more

I know it's basically the same food as the food truck ay'arepa but when served like that, it's a different feeling. read more

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

Delicious, underrated. So many great things to try!

Food is good, but the staff is extremely rude and careless. I walked over to get a menu and sit at a table. After waiting for more than 10 minutes, the waiter told me that I had to order and pay at the front. After that, I sat at the table and they served me the food in plastic containers and a bag, although I never said my order was to go. After 5 minutes, another rude woman told me that I had to stand up and sit at a different table because my table had already been reserved. I sat down at a different, smaller table. Then to my surprise, other people sat down at the table next to me and they were offered a menu and they placed the order without any problem. I asked the waiter why they were treated differently than me, and he told me that they were "busy" to take my order at the table. When I asked about the table and saw that no one was sitting where I was, he told me that those tables were for people who ordered food to dine in (which I did!). So both employees couldn't agree on why I was treated differently. I felt discriminated at this place, which is really funny cause I'm hispanic as the people working there!! NEVER COMING BACK AND WILL WARN ALL MU FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES TO AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS!! read more

Went to Rubamba because the beautiful online photos of their food on their menu looked like they'd be delicious. I've been there twice now and both times the food was surprisingly tasteless. Based on their prices, I was excited to try this slightly more up-scale Mexican restaurant, but really they were all looks and no taste. I ordered the pollo milanesa torta ($9.25) on my first visit and the pollo arepa ($9.50) on my second. I've had excellent versions of both at other Mexican restaurants, and while both meals looked wonderful, they really had no flavor at all. It's too bad because this place has a cute little dining room that seats maybe 15 people max. The server was very nice, and I wanted very much to find my new favorite Mexican joint, but it just didn't happen. I would unfortunately not recommend this place and will not be returning after giving it two chances. read more

Used to go here with coworkers on a regular basis, good food good value and endless chips and salsa helps. Recently the indoor dining is closed, due to covid or not neighboring restaurants all have indoor dining. Prices have also risen along with now charging $6 for a small bag of chips and some salsa. Somehow paying more for take out and eating near what must be a nest of yellow jackets has lost all appeal for me. More than likely will not be returning, which is unfortunate as this was a favorite restaurant of mine in the area. read more