La Rumba Restaurant Latino — Restaurant in Asheville

My wife and my 17 month old and I came to today (Sunday, July 2) La Rumba after I saw good reviews about the lunch menu and hospitable atmosphere. We never know how well received we will be when we bring our little one with us, as we are aware that not everyone is excited about toddlers in restaurants.

Rey and his family were so kind and accommodating to our needs and made us feel very welcome.

Now the food!!

When we sat down I was expecting the usual chips and watery salsa to arrive and have to pace myself so that I’d still have an appetite by the time our meals arrived… however my low expectations were shattered when our server brought us two small plates that had street corn on them. I thought that was a gutsy move in breaking with the old traditional chips & dip concept, and that it was either going to be amazing or very disappointing. Thank God it was some of the best street corn I’ve ever had.

Our food arrived in a timely fashion. I got the meat wrap (Chicken Tinga) and my wife got the Baja Tacos with grilled veggies.

Everything had a fresh taste to it, and the recipes were not hiding behind a huge glob of enchilada sauce or queso. We could actually taste the ingredients within the dishes, instead of just tasting salty meat and fillings.

We are a health conscious family with sensitivity to high sodium foods, which usually means that going out to eat is a guessing game for us. After sharing my impression with Rey, the owner, he thanked me for sharing and stated that he has observed that most families, especially those with nutritional health considerations, struggle to have an experience at restaurants that each family member of varying generations can enjoy and appreciate, which is why La Rumba focuses on not over salting the recipes and allowing customers to be the decider on that at the table.

When discussing the use of street corn as a starter for the meal service, Rey shared a wonderful story with me about his grandfather teaching everyone not to over indulge on things before the actual meal arrives or you won’t enjoy the food the way it’s meant to be enjoyed, and you won’t eat what you’re really paying for on the plate.

We walked away from today’s experience with satisfied appetites. We didn’t feel sluggish, overly stuffed, or regretful for overeating.

We walked away saying we found a new lunch and dinner spot that we would feel zero hesitation in bringing our loved ones, friends, and extended family to. We also walked away feeling like we’ve made new friends in the Asheville community that is still welcoming us as new residents. We walked away believing in what Rey, his beautiful family, and his amazing team are working passionately to offer the AVL area. You can throw a baseball and hit 5 places that will give you bottomless chips & salsa, burritos soaked in melted cheese, and salty fish tacos with a not-so-fresh lime on the side in the entire Southeastern US. Do yourself a favor and give this place a try and taste food that is breaking with norms and offering recipes that are ingredient-forward and quality focused.

Thanks Rey and family for the great dining experience and for the warm welcome and kind conversation you offered us today.

See...

We just discovered La Rumba today it and I think they're flying a bit under the radar as a real gem.

The food is delicious, and the restaurant is clean, and pleasant, and friendly. They have several more traditional options, so you won’t find every familiar dish on the menu that you do at the gajillion other Mexican joints around here; but some of them. It was nice to have something new to choose from.

We spoke at length to the owner, Rey, who gave us a lot of info about his ingredients. I have a lot of dietary restrictions and the moment I asked about options or recommendations for me, the owner provided tons of detail and gave me a lot of confidence that he knew his food well and took pride in it. They buy most of their produce locally.

Instead of tortilla chips they serve Mexican street corn as their complimentary appetizer, but they are happy to just provide grilled corn instead for anyone who doesn’t want dairy.

The margaritas are excellent and the mix is house-made. A lady on the way out said it well when we heard her proclaim "I can tell your drinks work because I'm effusive!"

The side salad is made with super fresh Spring greens with tomatoes, sunflower seeds, mandarin oranges, and a couple of other things.

They also house make their sauces and dressings, and many things are from-scratch family recipes. You can taste it. I had the Enfrijoladas and highly recommend them!!

If you also have restrictions, the GF options are labeled and easy to find. I just had to ask to learn about everything else. Here’s what I learned is AND gluten free: Vegan chorizo, black beans, white rice, excellent corn tortillas, nopales, all veggies, salsa, guac, and several of the appetizers.

I think the location makes this place a little off the map and a missed opportunity for people who don’t know to try it. The owner said he thinks some folks don't give it a shot because they're looking for same ol' menu items you can get anywhere. It definitely satisfies the craving for Mexican food, though! Plus the lunch menu dishes...

[A Vegetarian & An Omnivore, Eating Out Together] We're always excited to find a restaurant with vegetarian options that go beyond an obligatory one-item "choice." And La Rumba is a shining example of how to do vegetarian options right. A solid number of dishes are vegetarian or vegan in and of themselves. But an impressive number of meat dishes also have a vegetarian option. The meat dishes we've ordered were not only tasty and well-seasoned, the meat itself was tender, neither fatty or stringy. The folks in the kitchen at La Rumba go beyond the supermarket shelf in their seasoning and preparation of dishes on offer. There is a depth of flavor you won't find in a lot of places that have dumb-downed their menus to appeal to TV dinner palates. If you've eaten authentic Latin food and loved it, you'll find plenty to enjoy at La Rumba. Some favorites include Enfrijoladas, Chile Rellenos, the Creamy Mushroom dishes, and the Carne Asada. As others have mentioned, Street Corn is served up when you arrive, but chips and salsa or queso is also on offer if you'd prefer to order that. There's also a very nice array of options for your sides, including 2 types of rice, nopales, yuca, and maduros. The wait staff is lovely and accommodating, providing as much detail as you may need about the various dishes. They are quick and attentive without hovering or being intrusive. The tables are nice and large, able to accommodate the variety of dishes you'll accumulate. And those tables are nicely spaced so you are sitting near your neighbors and not with them. This is a place to recommend to anyone looking for a nice meal out, or something new for take out. We've done both several times, and been pleased with...