A Richmond Local Favorite: Bamboo Café in the Fan

Q: Where is Bamboo Cafe in Richmond?

Bamboo Cafe is at the corner of W. Main Street and S. Mulberry Street in Richmond's Fan District.

Q: What did Curt and Heather order at Bamboo Cafe?

Curt had the Country Ham with Swiss and Heather had the Roast Beef on a Kaiser bun with Potato Salad, both piled high and reasonably priced.

Curt Reichstetter

Oct 4

2 min read

Updated: Oct 8

Heather and I had to make an unexpected run to downtown Richmond to check on a property. Usually, when we are going, we plan our day out in advance to cover as much ground as possible, and part of that planning is always based around where we will have lunch.

On this trip we had no lunch plans, but I had seen a Facebook post that the Bamboo Café was celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Richmond's Favorite Dive

So, with that tidbit of information, we headed to "Richmond's Favorite Dive" (that's how they describe the café on their website). Located at W. Main Street and S. Mulberry Street, this Fan institution was one of my favorite spots back in the day.

Red Bamboo Café awning and sidewalk tables at W. Main and S. Mulberry Streets

It had been years since I'd crossed its threshold, and the honest truth is that it has not changed one bit.

What We Ordered

I got the Country Ham with Swiss, and Heather got the Roast Beef on a Kaiser bun with Potato Salad. Both sandwiches were piled high with meat, and Heather particularly liked the Potato Salad.

And here is the best thing about the place: the sandwiches were all reasonably priced compared to most of the places we stop at.

Our Take

This place has great food with a dive atmosphere. There are plenty of tables outside for nice-weather days, and the brunch menu looks like something we'll have to try on our next visit. I recommend a stop the next time you are in that part of the Fan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Bamboo Café?

Bamboo Café is at the corner of W. Main Street and S. Mulberry Street in Richmond's Fan District.

What did Curt and Heather order?

Curt had the Country Ham with Swiss, and Heather had the Roast Beef on a Kaiser bun with Potato Salad. Both were piled high and reasonably priced.

Is this a paid endorsement?

No. This is simply Curt and Heather sharing a Richmond favorite as part of an ongoing series on Richmond-area local favorites.