La Bamba

I order Tuesday taco special, while chef cooking he mumble asking me «do u want everything on it?»
Sure I said «yes», I like to make it easy by not asking for ingredient I don’t mind having in my taco. Later I was charged full price when I ask for TuEsday Taco special. I ask the cashier «why?» she said it pork. I told her but I want Tuesday taco special, oh well don’t mind paying extra $ 1 but not happy with miscommunication here every time I’m here. Been eating here last 10 yrs. It’s Bloomington/​Normal I do felt like I’m back in L.A. But unlike L. A have great Mexican food, here comprisable because I’m here in Illinois.

I only came here for the sushi, and it was incredibly good! They have a wide selection on their menu and will also let you know if it will be cooked or raw. For the amount of sushi you get, it is a great price– around $ 12. I will definitely be coming back for the sushi. I have never tried their Mexican food before, so I can’t say much about that.

Workers barely understand English so that already makes it complicated to order. Food was dry and bland, ordered two burritos one steak and one chicken. Chips came from a bag and the «famous» La Bamba Salsa tasted like Pace from the grocery store. Really expensive for the quality of the food. I won’t return and I advise you not to as well. The only good thing was the cup sizes, but don’t share or you can’t get a refill.

Very expensive food, its barely «average». Go to los potrillos if you want good mexican food. I got a burrito and a drink it was 11.25. And it was not even the size of my head as they promised.

I have gone here Mexican and sushi separately and sometimes for both. The burritos are pretty good and have some size to them. The sushi is surprisingly good too but didn’t blow my mind or anything. Good selection and made fresh with a good taste. Sometimes can be a little slow if there are a lot of people in line for sushi.

Boring! I gave it one more try and the results were the same. Bland and boring. For the price of the «super» burrito and two cups of salsa that I got, I could’ve went to chipotle and got a burrito the same size but with tons of flavor & a bag of chips. Never again la bamba, never again

This review is for the Japanese offerings.
The sushi rocks and is cheap. They updated their prices so it is 3 rolls for $ 12.95 and for a dollar more you get miso soup. The rolls are not just cheap small rolls like a California roll or tempura sweet potato. The options include anything from a tiger roll to a monster roll to a Godzilla roll. They are well plated and have great tastes. Everything is made fresh and brought hot (if it is a cooked roll). Even if you don’t like raw fish, there are plenty of Options (see picture for three amazing cooked rolls).
Note: forgo the miso, bland and from a bag. Not even worth a dollar.

Great sushi. Awful delivery service. Only one of my two rolls was delivered, and when I called back, whoever answered the phone was playing 20 questions with me instead of figuring out what went wrong with the order. All in all, I did get my other roll… 45 minutes later…

Their burritos here are SOOOOOOOOOO much better then Chipotle Grill. The food here is nice and spicy and the staff has always been very friendly.

This review is 100% for the sushi. There is no way the Mexican food here merits five stars.
So everyone who frequents Uptown has been too scared to try the sushi at La Bamba, the «How could a Mexican place we usually associate with 2am drunk food possibly have sushi that won’t give you dysentery/​ebola/​a tapeworm?» question. After trying it today and posting about it on Facebook, two responses where «OMG you tried it?!
I did try it, with two friends, and it was EXCELLENT. We started with two rolls each (a great deal at $ 12.95 for two rolls) and ended up ordering three more. The menu is diverse, with a fantastic identification of what’s cooked, what’s raw, and what’s spicy, and all ingredients presented were fresh, flavorful, and well assembled. I had at least a piece of everything on the table, from basic California rolls (perfect, with black and white sesame seeds) to a Godzilla roll with tempura shrimp, and all were delish. The guys behind the counter know what they’re doing (we asked questions) and the fish they are sourcing looks and tastes very fresh.
We will definitely be back.
(FYI, the sushi bar is closed on Monday)

The sushi here is good. They usually look gorgeous. And they have a very good deal of 3 roles for $ 12.99. I’m always full after eating those 3 rolls.

Used to go here after a night of cocktails when I was at ISU! It does the trick late at night to soak up what’s already in your system! Reminds me of my youth!!! Great memories of the past! Probably would not eat there now because my body could not process the food! Ha!

I honestly would give this one star if it wasn’t open late. I didn’t have high expectations per say, but it was a disappointing experience.
I went in on a Wednesday night around 10 pm, and I didn’t expect it to be bustling but it was completely empty, with only one employee. I ordered a carne asada burrito with everything. When I but into it everything just kind of tasted the same, there wasn’t any distinct seasoning anywhere so I just kinda drowned it in hot sauce to get it down. It was really lack luster and although it’s not «authentic» I would rather go to chipotle, because at least there you get SOME flavor.
I hear they have a sushi bar now, but if a Mexican place can’t even do burritos right I’m hardly about to trust them with raw fish.

Worst service everrrrrr. 6 of us walked into a completely empty place. The first couple ordered, got their food, paid, then they skipped the 4 of us, who were standing at the counter with them, and started taking orders from the people that walked in after us… No clue where the logic was in that… We were told at that point to go to the end of the line or leave…

Unfriendly service, mediocre food, and constant attempts to nickel and dime you. If for some reason DP Dough and Primetime and Jimmy Johns all get nuked then maybe eat here. Maybe.
Be ready to pay for refills in yr over-​iced cup. Also, everyone in there will be a loud, drunk shell of a human so don’t bother eating there (if you can even figure out their hours. They close when they want to.)

The «old school» employees are starting to migrate away and it seems the new employees are not properly trained. Five stars are now three. Twenty year run!

I have been going to La Bamba on Beaufort for 20 years. It is fresh, rice and beans are on spot. Hot sauce is unique and tangy. Ask for some salsa with nachos, very flavorful with lots of cilantro and a little heat. One of my favorites is a combination burrito with chicken and chorizo — got to try it. Avocado and bean burrito taco is awesome also.

It is not bad but it isn’t really all that good either. There are other places in the area I would rather eat at for a late night meal.

Yuck disgusting! I used to go to ISU and have eaten here drunk at night and during the day time. This place sucks ass, and the food is shit, no better than dog food! Only drunk college kids eat here because they do not know any better, I always refused when my friends went here, because this is crap «Mexican» food. I only like the hot sauce cups and that is all. College kids are better off going Domiblows down the street past 2 am!

Late night food, very greasy, expensive for what you get. Havent been here in the longest time. and theres a reason for that.