La Bamba Mexican and Spanish Restaurant
1901 Cordova Road, Fort Lauderdale, 954-306-3746, LaBamba123.com
This 28-year-old South Florida chain has opened its sixth location in the Harbor Shops.
Behind the Tex-Mex and Cuban-inspired Spanish dishes are 30 family members originating from El Salvador.
“The older brothers got their first jobs in Florida off 17th Street,” co-owner Manuel Martinez says. “It’s a dynamic area.”
The ultra-contemporary, wavy architecture bursts in kaleidoscopic colors. Some traditional elements are also juxtaposed under the soaring teal ceiling, such as Mexican wood furniture, punched tin blue lighting and embroidered artwork of animals. Artists spent five months crafting a gigantic circle of tequila bottle caps on the wall to replicate La Bamba’s mariachi logo. A Mexican wood canoe hangs over the bar on the side patio.
“The idea is to tie in the Mexican with the beach/ocean feel,” co-owner Rey Molina says.
Margaritas ($8-$12) and mojitos ($10) complement fajitas ($12-$20), pollo a la plancha ($15), carnitas ($15), palomilla steak ($15), steak a la Mexicana ($18), carne asada a la Tampiquena ($19.50) and red snapper a la Veracruzana ($20).
Lunch and dinner are served daily. DJs and musicians perform on the weekends.
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