Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows the meaning behind the name.
“The most important thing, from Mexico to here – is working hard. Ritchie Valens’ mother, she was cooking for people on the border, trying to give kids a good education. We think like that too. It’s history. In Mexico and in different states, the food is not the same. But we’ve got the best recipes and hope to be different from the normal restaurants around,” said “La Bamba” co-owner Sebastian Percy.
He and partner Juan Diego Morales are confident they will draw in customers to their 600 Portion Road, Ronkonkoma-located operation because of the name on the marquee, a reference to the signature song of Ritchie Valens, the tragically fated 1950s teen superstar. They trust those customers will become regulars thanks to the “nice and healthy” menu items La Bamba will offer, and the environment they will provide.
As The Messenger documented in its entertainment section to commemorate 63 years having passed since the February 3, 1959 “Day the Music Died” flight which also took the lives of Buddy Holly and “The Big Bopper,” the Mexican-rooted Valens fascinatingly did not speak fluent Spanish. Despite this, he single-handedly and defiantly introduced the language to the top of the nation’s music charts.
All these decades later, the same restaurant named to honor the Latino legend is committed to bringing the community together over their shared adoration for Mexican cuisine and culture. Even those who don’t speak Spanish recognize food as the universal tongue.
“I know a lot of people here, been in the business for 35 years; opened a lot of restaurants to success in the past, and this will be just one more,” said Percy. “My partner Juan Diego has also had kitchens everywhere. He’s always said, ‘one day, I’m going to open a Mexican restaurant.’”
And, as of this past Saturday, here it is.
Their menu in large is broken down into the following categories: “Signature Burritos,” “Burritos,” “Tacos,” “Mexican Wings,” “Tortas (Mexican Sandwich),” “Botanas (Appetizers),” “Salads,” “Quesadillas,” “Nachos,” “Potato Bowl,” and “Chips n Dip.”
Percy has seen former establishments he was involved with since-replaced by word-of-mouth hidden gems turned chain operations like Del Fuego; therefore, he has plenty of experience absorbing what will be needed to turn their single-town storefront into a mobile organism.
“We’re going to start with this one, and see how the community responds. We’ll do what you see all over, but also what only we can do.”
This includes: their “Burrito Loco” promotion, extensive gluten-free options, and the small but thorough brain trust behind the Mexican cuisine magic “preparing everything fresh, daily, without using anything canned or from pouches.”
An assortment of wraps, vegetable sides, and grilled entrees are absolute guarantees. And dessert delights are on the way as well, such as fried ice cream, Mexican churros, and potentially even tres leches flan.
As far as delivery driving goes, “all applications are in.” A local radius coverage is to be expected. Additionally, La Bamba is UberEats and DoorDash-certified. They plan to cater parties and events, hopefully by the summertime takeout surge.
In the collision of Brookhaven, Islip and Smithtown, you can’t go wrong. Happy Cinco de Mayo to our readers who celebrate, welcome to the community, Percy and Morales, and welcome La Bamba!
“La Bamba Mexican Grill” is located at 600 Portion Road in Ronkonkoma. Call: (631) 676-7200 for all delivery, takeout and employment opportunity inquiries.
