Mexican Kitchen

First time here. Cecilia was our server. She made our dinner absolutely wonderful. The food was really good. Music was very nice. But service topped it off.

Food is always delicious and hot. Servers are attentive and efficient. The atmosphere is always clean and comfortable. We go here frequently.

Been frequenting Tio's because it's reasonably good and inexpensive. Well, until they started charging for chips and hired RUDE staff. Maria's IS our new go-to place. Not only was our server extremely attentive, but the food was fantastic. Prices are very reasonable too. This place has been around since I've been a little kid, but we often went downtown to El Sarape or Rubios; and unfortunately, both are long gone now. Not sure why we've always overlooked this place, I definitely won't anymore.

The atmosphere is awesome the workers are normally great only once have I ever been upset. Best restaurant in the woodcrest area. Love the fresh salsa. Everyone is always nice and smiling!

Great service and food delicious 😋

Long time fan! Homemade, fresh salsa and crispy chips. Many food options... soybean tacos are delicious! Always comply to custom orders, and the friendliest, hard--working staff around!

Used to go to the Corona restaurant regularly, so sad when it closed. This was our first trip to the Riverside store and I am happy to report that the menu is the same and the food just as good. We will be coming often now!

My family and i have went here my whole life. The food hits the spot. Its a small hometown Mexican restaurant with good prices good service. Not usually crazy packed. Its a good place to have a quite meal.

Great food! We always enjoyed the one in Corona, but they have closed down that location. We now will drive to Riverside for the wonderful fresh chips and salsa, rice, beans, and entree's!

Cool little spot. I had a couple cold drinks and some fresh tacos. It was cozy and customer service was nice. Support family owned businesses!! I would definitely come back if I'm in the area.

Have a good selection of food. Have been going here for more than twenty years. Staff is always very pleasant. Prices are good. Would and have recommended to many people.

This place is the best ever. Worth the drive. Love it here. Great food very authentic. Friendly staff. Be going here for over 15 years

Really authentic food! very good food! Great customer service. not expensive highly recommended!

Have been going here with my family since I can remember (last 22 years). They have incredible food and wonderful customer service. I’ve had nothing but excellent experiences here!!

Another Great dining experience! Fresh, hot, delicious and quick w/courteous, friendly service a Hidden Jem at the top of Woodcrest. Don't miss it! Just looking for a quick hot bite after a long day of working on the range. I decided to try Maria's after living in Woodcrest for 2 years and driving by her patio frontage. My server was quick, polite, genuine and very welcoming to my request of "how's the Pozole'? He highly recommended the pozole, had chips and salsa in front of me in seconds. The pozole came to the patio table within minuets, steaming hot w/ tortillas, cabbage, lemon wedges and hot tortillas wrapped in foil to stay hot. I won't be driving by anymore and highly recommend Maria's to all my neighbors, friends and relatives. BRAVO!

Delicious food, fantastic service! Our new favorite Mexican food! Love the enchiladas, yum!!! We've also ordered take-out here! Always great!

I had the chili Colorado with beans and rice. The meat was very tender the way it should be. And the price was not overwhelming. It is a smaller Mexican restaurant but with all the atmosphere!

I came in to deliver a load for Tractor supply and had a craving for some Mexican food. I almost changed my mind until I saw one of the waitresses putting some patio chairs away, I asked for a menu and ordered the El Toro burrito with a side of rice and guac. Let me tell you if it wasn't delicious, and Emily the waitress that helped me brought it right out to my truck, I was elated!! I can't wait to come back here again🥰

This place is excellent. It does take a long time to get your food and the place is overall small but it is totally worth it. Their food is so good. It is probably the best Mexican food I have ever had.

We will be back! The service was good. Sorry. I don't know her name! Mom had never had deep fried ice cream before!🍧 The red salsa could be better, but the green salsa was pretty good!

Enchiladas rancheras bomb!! Delish, hard shell shredded beef tacos- yummy!

This restaurant is a hidden little gem. Great food, great service, great atmosphere.

Maria's is our favorite local Mexican restaurant. We decided at the last minute that we wanted to eat out...so of course we chose Maria's. They were packed, no table empty, but they seated us as soon as they could. So friendly and efficient. Great comfort food as always, good company and a wonderful server. What More could you want ☺️

Courteous staff, nicely located away from primary plaza traffic, and service dog friendly. There's plenty of seating inside, and a patio outside if you would like to enjoy your meal with some sunshine. The food is excellent and reasonably priced. Additionally, they will offer straws for your beverages without first being asked.

We love the chips served. Like them because they're thin and we love the salsa. We always order the steak super nachos. They even do catering. A very quaint little place. Family friendly

This place is not going to win any awards on on new unique dishes, but you will definitely be satisfied with anything you order. My family and I have been going here for many years. We have seen different owners go through this establishment. Currently the restaurant has never been better! They are truly exceeding expectations.

Very good food, amazing service love the environment

We frequently visit this local restaurant for the great food. We love the home made chips and salsa as well as the tortilla soup! The wait staff has a lot on their plate, so please be patient when wait times are longer than what you expect. Be kind and courteous. If you come here often, they remember what your favorite things are to order! Our family will be back and order our favorite meals as always. Chile Toreado De Camaron with beef enchilada all beans please! (My personal fave!)

This is one of my favorite restaurants and my family and I have been going here since I was a little kid. Everyone's nice and friendly, the food is amazing, and the chips and salsa are god-tier. Some of the best Mexican food I've had outside Olvera Street.

Found this restaurant when looking for someplace near the funeral my family had just attended. Except for me, everyone is Mexican. Took a chance on Maria's and it turned out to be the best Mexican food we have ever had from a restaurant. I've eaten Mexican food in Calif.(northern and southern), Nev., Ore., Wash., and Colorado, but this was better than we could have hoped for. Not only was the food excellent our waitress Selia (or Celia, not sure which) made the meal very special. Our group of 6 contained enough rowdies and jokesters to try the patience of anyone and she took it all and gave right back with a sweet smile. By the time the meal was over we felt like old friends, if not a new family member. And amazingly, when we got up to leave, we all got a hug. It has been so long since we have had such great service, and don't forget the fantastic food. We ordered a variety of dishes and no one was disappointed. If you are in the area, even if you are only a little bit hungry, Maria's is the place. Would'nt change it if I could, when I'm thinking Mexican restaurant, this is what I'm thinking. Thank you, thank you, thank you. There is hope for us all.

This amazing little hole in the wall blew my mind. I walked in and immediately felt like I walked in a warm hug. I sat down and was greeted with nothing but sweethearts ready to take me on a journey of taste bud wonderland. I had a carnitas plate with a albondigas soup and let me tell you, I have never in my life sipped on broth like my life depended on it before now. It was like a bowl of happiness warming you up with a swirl of goodness and love. The carnitas were a crunch and half in the best way possible. The atmosphere of this place was so homely and actually creates and angel halo around your head before you leave because the food is so heavenly.

My favorite restaurant. Food is always terrific

Great service all around I love coming here with my parents, Riverside needs more places like this!!!!

My 1st visit. Delicious food and Friendly staff

Sperry family oriented. Great service. Fresh food. Authentic Mexican Fair. Nice for a quiet afternoon on a Sunday. We went about 3:00 in the afternoon.

Best place ever the staff is friendly and quick and they get you everything you could want. The best cherry coke ever with cherries and syrup, the chips are fresh and warm with perfect salsa spicy and fresh. The shredded beef is so tender and delicious and I've tired almost Ed every menu item and never had something bad. Everything is delicious, never had a bad experience. The place is clean and and the lighting is good and the seating is comfy.

Food was great, very tasty, nice atmosphere, nice staff!

Great Mexican food and awesome service.

My favorite local spot! My favorite dish is Pollo Azteca, I order it every time.

My husband and I went in there today for our anniversary dinner I wanted something that was close to home and I was really in the mood for Mexican food and so we tried it. I absolutely fell in love with the food and the service. The prices were good and I highly recommend this to anyone that has had a bit of a budget that loves Mexican food. Please give this a try you won’t be sorry

10/10 all around I came in at time where I was craving mexican cuisine and Maria's hit that mark harder than any other restaurant, and the servers were great even though it was just one. Shout out to you Anthony for making my dinner experience special!!

Good food at a busy place on a Tuesday! The service was impeccable. We never wanted for anything. It was difficult to not fill up on chips and salsa, as it is so good. We were a party of 7 and everyone enjoyed their dinner. I gave 4 stars on Food as there's always room to improve. Then 4 stars on Atmosphere since people may not like the smallish size of the restaurant. We have found that most "hole in the wall" restaurants are Mmm, Mmm good! I hope you enjoy Maria's! You can purchase to go!

It was breakfast on a Sunday morning. Very quiet and tranquil place. The waiter was amazing since we arrived, always attentive to our needs. The place inside is very tastefully decorated

Our to go restaurant about 1 mile away. Always good food and awesome service. Going since 2003.

My husband and I went for dinner and I ordered the shrimp and chicken fajitas. It was extremely flavorful and you get what you pay for. They did not skimp on the chicken and shrimp. It came with beans, rice, tortillas and a side salad. The service was great. The server made sure we always had our drinks and that everything was okay. The place is very nice with dim lighting and very clean.

Lovely Mexican comfort food that was the perfect venue for our graduation celebration. Friendly prices and friendlier staff make this place a great place to be. Highly recommend! ☺️

We enjoyed great food and caring, friendly service on our first visit to Maria's. I enjoyed the tacos, enchiladas, chips and salsa, but the real standout is the chile verde. I'll definitely be getting El Toro Burrito on my next visit. The server was very considerate, and really went out of her way to create an enjoyable experience. I look forward to many future visits to Maria's. The restaurant is accessible, and there is van accessible parking nearby.

Nice little restaurant. Food, service, atmosphere were all really good. Decent price, too. Would go back

I love their chicken tortilla soup...chips and salsa..sopapillas and fried ice cream for dessert! Delicious!! Love the cozy environment..music is nice too.

It's refreshing to come to a Mexican restaurant that claims to be authentic...and it really is. Growing up in a home with a fiesty, home grown, 4'9", proud Mexican mom, I know what good Mexican food should taste like. This is the place! Great classic music playing in the background. The service was amazing! Cecelia the server was amazing, never let us go without. This is probably the first time I give a five star review. Very good.

First time here and the service was great and the food was yummy!

I enjoyed the carnitas plate. They also have some great combinations. Friendly staff.

Food is amazing! The carne asada wet burrito, I just can't get enough. They are the most bestest mexican restaurant that I have had in a long while. Bit on the pricey side though. Be ready for that but it's worth it

jaime a

It was breakfast on a Sunday morning. Very quiet and tranquil place. The waiter was amazing since we arrived, always attentive to our needs. The place inside is very tastefully decorated

Brigitte Little

Our to go restaurant about 1 mile away. Always good food and awesome service. Going since 2003.

Benjamin Khachaturian

Lovely Mexican comfort food that was the perfect venue for our graduation celebration. Friendly prices and friendlier staff make this place a great place to be. Highly recommend! ☺️

Jessica J

My husband and I went for dinner and I ordered the shrimp and chicken fajitas. It was extremely flavorful and you get what you pay for. They did not skimp on the chicken and shrimp. It came with beans, rice, tortillas and a side salad. The service was great. The server made sure we always had our drinks and that everything was okay. The place is very nice with dim lighting and very clean.

Rick Rhay

We enjoyed great food and caring, friendly service on our first visit to Maria's. I enjoyed the tacos, enchiladas, chips and salsa, but the real standout is the chile verde. I'll definitely be getting El Toro Burrito on my next visit. The server was very considerate, and really went out of her way to create an enjoyable experience. I look forward to many future visits to Maria's. The restaurant is accessible, and there is van accessible parking nearby.

Pamela Olesen

Nice little restaurant. Food, service, atmosphere were all really good. Decent price, too. Would go back

Sally Munoz

I love their chicken tortilla soup...chips and salsa..sopapillas and fried ice cream for dessert! Delicious!! Love the cozy environment..music is nice too.

Josue Barragan

It's refreshing to come to a Mexican restaurant that claims to be authentic...and it really is. Growing up in a home with a fiesty, home grown, 4'9", proud Mexican mom, I know what good Mexican food should taste like. This is the place! Great classic music playing in the background. The service was amazing! Cecelia the server was amazing, never let us go without. This is probably the first time I give a five star review. Very good.

Jean the Bean Gallegos

First time here and the service was great and the food was yummy!

Amazing experience at Maria’s Mexican Kitchen! Came in from Calabasas and immediately noticed the friendly atmosphere and great ambience. They served chips and salsa while I waited for my food chips were perfectly crispy and fresh, not stale at all. The salad was delicious and super fresh, and the steak fajitas that followed were absolutely amazing tender, flavorful, and cooked perfectly with vibrant veggies. Definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for authentic, quality Mexican food and great service!

Friend of mine who works nearby treated me to lunch here. It's one of his favorite spots. Solid Mexican food at very reasonable prices. Service was good and friendly. Definitely worth a visit!

Chris Roderick

Friend of mine who works nearby treated me to lunch here. It's one of his favorite spots. Solid Mexican food at very reasonable prices. Service was good and friendly. Definitely worth a visit!

1olovato

Amazing experience at Maria’s Mexican Kitchen! Came in from Calabasas and immediately noticed the friendly atmosphere and great ambience. They served chips and salsa while I waited for my food chips were perfectly crispy and fresh, not stale at all. The salad was delicious and super fresh, and the steak fajitas that followed were absolutely amazing tender, flavorful, and cooked perfectly with vibrant veggies. Definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for authentic, quality Mexican food and great service!

Martha Botello

This amazing little hole in the wall blew my mind. I walked in and immediately felt like I walked in a warm hug. I sat down and was greeted with nothing but sweethearts ready to take me on a journey of taste bud wonderland. I had a carnitas plate with a albondigas soup and let me tell you, I have never in my life sipped on broth like my life depended on it before now. It was like a bowl of happiness warming you up with a swirl of goodness and love. The carnitas were a crunch and half in the best way possible. The atmosphere of this place was so homely and actually creates and angel halo around your head before you leave because the food is so heavenly.

We enjoy our Sunday menudo and pozole at Maria's. The staff is courteous and friendly. We have not tried other menu items, so other customers will be better able to discuss Maria's menu.

Got up with the craving for menudo! Was going to my normal spot but they ran out. Googled looking g for a place and this was close by. They still had menudo at 10:30 am and ordered it! Menudo was served in a 16 oz or 32 oz bowl! Of course 32... menudo was good! Ordered with coffee and knocked it out! Ambiance is good...cool decor, ac was running and you can wat I doors or on patio! Price was good, service was good and menudo was good! Not bad overall. I will return.

Nice dark/cozy restaurant. People are nice. Food lacks flavor. I paid over $50 & was very unhappy with my purchase. I won't be back. My brother is in the hospital & I was buying him lunçgxxx

I had not been to Maria's kitchen in a long time. And I remember the last time I was there I was not impressed. After several years later I joined friends for lunch there. My food was good this time around. When it comes to Mexican food I am very picky. I grew up in LA where authentic Mexican food was a food of choice. I would recommend coming here for a good lunch or dinner.

Authentic taste for Mexican food. The sour cream you can tell they use la creme for making it. It's an overall really good Mexican restaurant for homemade authentic taste at a price you can't beat. The carne is very good as well as the chicken enchiladas and the toquitos. The salsa could use some work but it's still good. Make sure to bring your flashlights, it's dark in there🕯️ 🔦

Good food, ordered carryout and called it in ahead. Only reason for 4 stars and not 5 was there were no utinsels or napkins in the bag, also received a large side of salsa that I'm not sure if it came with the meal or what, I'm not complaining, it was good salsa, but for how much they gave me they didn't give me anything really to dip in it, I got the chili verde... good food!!

We have been going here for more than 10 years. Until one of our kids was recently diagnosed with Celiac, this was our go-to, at least once a week. The food is yummy, the service is Never bad, the staff members are warm and friendly and it has family friendly atmosphere. Only wish there enchilada sauce was made gluten free. Then we could go back.

Crowded this Friday night. Short wait for a table. Service was slow. Thank goodness for other servers pitching in. The food was tasty but did take longer than I'm used to to be served. Worth going back but not the greatest food but still worth going back for. Still looking for that place, the one that has it all.

The strawberry lemonade wasn't the best... so instead I got a horchata. Soooo good. (Free refills on almost every drink) And our server was very attentive and polite. The menudo was delicious too.

Tried it while house sitting. Definitely will go back next year again. Good authentic Mexican food. Mom and pop place which always wins in my book

Super homie place. Little whole in the wall most things I've had are delicious. Tortillas soup like no other, shredded beef tacos bomb. Salsa not much spice. But flavorful. Everyone there is always so nice and treat you like family.

I’m in between 3-4 stars on this. My first time coming here I got good portions but my food was a little bland. This time the flavor was SO good but the portions were pretty tiny. My burrito looked flat. For $15 I feel like maybe I should have a little more….

Good tasting food . Portions not too large or small . Super fast service. The salsa is very good, not too hot, with a hint of roasted peppers and cilantro.

First time here tonight and it was an overall very good experience. My kids both ate well (I appreciate the vast options on their kids menu) and I was in the mood for a bean and cheese burrito so I got one a la cart, and it hit the spot. 5/5 good flavor on the beans, right amount of cheese. Their crunchy tacos were also good, and their chips and salsa were decent. Service was good- very friendly but they were busy so food took a while. We’ll probably be back when we’re in the mood for some gringo-style Mexican food. 🤙🏽

Nice old school appeal here with authentic cuisine and an atmosphere to match. Everything was prepared nicely and delivered with a smile. Thank you for having us we will be back.

Nice actual sit down Mexican restaurant. Clean authentic environment. Forgot to take a picture of my Chicken Chimichanga, beans and rice but I loved the shredded chicken. The rice was good. very plump yellow rice with vegetables. The beans were not the best, kind of dry, topped with cheddar. I would come back and try something else. Very nice waitress.

Cyrena Scott

I’m in between 3-4 stars on this. My first time coming here I got good portions but my food was a little bland. This time the flavor was SO good but the portions were pretty tiny. My burrito looked flat. For $15 I feel like maybe I should have a little more….

David Layman

Good tasting food . Portions not too large or small . Super fast service. The salsa is very good, not too hot, with a hint of roasted peppers and cilantro.

Christina Ocampo

First time here tonight and it was an overall very good experience. My kids both ate well (I appreciate the vast options on their kids menu) and I was in the mood for a bean and cheese burrito so I got one a la cart, and it hit the spot. 5/5 good flavor on the beans, right amount of cheese. Their crunchy tacos were also good, and their chips and salsa were decent. Service was good- very friendly but they were busy so food took a while. We’ll probably be back when we’re in the mood for some gringo-style Mexican food. 🤙🏽

Brandon Trust Montana Realtor

Nice old school appeal here with authentic cuisine and an atmosphere to match. Everything was prepared nicely and delivered with a smile. Thank you for having us we will be back.

Kris C

Nice actual sit down Mexican restaurant. Clean authentic environment. Forgot to take a picture of my Chicken Chimichanga, beans and rice but I loved the shredded chicken. The rice was good. very plump yellow rice with vegetables. The beans were not the best, kind of dry, topped with cheddar. I would come back and try something else. Very nice waitress.

I just moved to Woodcrest and decided to try Maria's. I wasn't disappointed at all. I ordered the shrimp cocktail for dinner, and while it seemed a bit light on the shrimp, the flavor was outstanding and I ate every last bit of it. Their chips and salsa were great to snack on before dinner arrived. The chips were light and fresh with the perfect amount of salt. My friend ordered the chili verde plate and it was delicious as well. They didnt skimp on the cheese, making it delightfully gooey with each bite. I am looking forward to going back and trying other items on the menu. Good food. Good price. No waiting on a Saturday evening. Service was quick and our waitress was very attentive. It wasn't too loud or overly crowded. Nice atmosphere. Give it a try. You won't be disappointed.

CHERYL RICHARDS

I just moved to Woodcrest and decided to try Maria's. I wasn't disappointed at all. I ordered the shrimp cocktail for dinner, and while it seemed a bit light on the shrimp, the flavor was outstanding and I ate every last bit of it. Their chips and salsa were great to snack on before dinner arrived. The chips were light and fresh with the perfect amount of salt. My friend ordered the chili verde plate and it was delicious as well. They didnt skimp on the cheese, making it delightfully gooey with each bite. I am looking forward to going back and trying other items on the menu. Good food. Good price. No waiting on a Saturday evening. Service was quick and our waitress was very attentive. It wasn't too loud or overly crowded. Nice atmosphere. Give it a try. You won't be disappointed.

Today was our 2nd time. I ordered machaca breakfast and the meat combined with scrambled eggs too dry and overcooked. The meat had no flavor. Very disappointed. Don't think we will be back. My husband chicken tacos were also overcooked. Some of the food wasn't hot. Refried beans warm.

All is good and plenty of servings except for the chili rellenos it was really small

I just went in for a simple carnitas burrito to go. The carnitas was very dry, which wouldn't have been so bad if the burrito wasn't almost ten bucks. They wouldn't even give a side of chips for the to go order. This place is usually busy so I know it has good food somewhere on the menu, I just haven't found it. Maybe okay for a pricey sit down, but for quick, good food, you better find someplace else.

Taquitios over cooked and hard but Pozole was good. Rice and beans left in warmer way to long. Young Men serving were confused and bumping into eachother. 4 people ate normal combos plus drinks for $89 plus tip $100 total. Pricey

if your looking for amercian style mexican food then this might be your cup of tea. It is far from authentic mexican food. Not saying food is not good just has particular taste similar to Acapulco or El Torito restaurant.

One of my favorites but lately service is becoming the downside unfortunately. Soup was forgotten about until the three meals we ordered came and served not all at the same times. I didn't believe it when one of our party had said his experience has been good food but service was slow. Unfortunately I experienced it first hand. For years I've raved about this place but not so sure I can if those I tell to go there will experience the same thing.

The food is ok. It's not traditional Mexican food, mostly whitewashed. The people are super nice, and the environment is cozy. I'll continue going there but only with my white friends. I won't bring my Hispanic family.

Ozzy Avalos

if your looking for amercian style mexican food then this might be your cup of tea. It is far from authentic mexican food. Not saying food is not good just has particular taste similar to Acapulco or El Torito restaurant.

The food is great. The service tonight was horrible. The waitress talked to her friends instead of waiting tables. I would usually give this a great review, but not tonight

We had some tacos and a burrito and it was the most unseasoned mexican food I've ever had. They used ground beef for the tacos. They gave us a side of tortilla chips and the salsa tasted like wet tomatoe sauce. It makes me doubt a Mexican is even in the kitchen. The burrito was the only decent thing about the whole order which is why I gave it 2 stars 🌟

If you like microwaved food that's way overpriced with servers giving you unwelcoming looks and service, then go for it.

Crap service, Lady had an attitude the whole time.

So let me start off with saying the lady that served us was very pleasant and attentive. With that said let’s get down to why we are here the food. We have been searching for an authentic Mexican restaurant and when you walk in you get just that very feeling, BUT when you get the food you realize there is not much authentic about it. We had the chilaquiles and Chile verde. Let’s start with the chilaquiles I’ve been Mexican my whole life, LOL and never have I ever seen yellow cheese on chilaquiles and most importantly the chilaquiles had no heat or flavor. The Chile Verde was cooked well. It again had absolutely no heat and it should be one of the spicier items on the menu. The place is authentic looking the service is good the food in my opinion not authentic Mexican food.

Not very good. Service was bad. It took an hr to get "nothing" we just ended up paying our drinks and we left.

This place is absolutely terrible we waited over an hour for our food and for my wife her dad and 2 young kids it was over 100$ for 5 plates no add ons no dessert no special drinks 102$ for microwaved food. I've never had chilliquilles with scrambled eggs and microwaved chips for 100$ I wish I could give no Stars for their attitude and price!!

My husband and I have been coming here for YEARS (even before it was Maria’s) and after tonight, we will NEVER come back. Not only were we there with 2 babies, but we had to wait 45 minutes for our food to be served and it was seriously disgusting (and no, it was not busy - it was a Tuesday evening). My husbands beans were burnt to the point they were an entire solid, flat piece, plus my toddlers burger was black, and my nachos were terrible (no cheese, also burnt chips, and 3 small pieces of chicken). None of us even finished half of our meals. We are so disappointed and sad that this place turned into this. We can’t even believe the waitress and chefs would even serve us the food that they did.

They don’t have breakfast on menu. Ok but don’t offer to make breakfast burritos when you want to over charge for it. $39 just for 3 burritos. Holy Batman. Disappointed.

I live about a block from Maria’s kitchen. I’ve eaten there one time a few years ago and I was not impressed whatsoever. So I thought I’d give it another shot and try it again the other night. I’m still not impressed. If you want good authentic Mexican food go to Casa Mota on Arlington in Riverside or for that matter you can go down the street to Miguels Jr just before Valero gas station and Circle K they are a lot better than Maria’s kitchen! Or go to the taco shop in the Albertsons shopping center on Trautwein Rd Thumbs down on maria’s kitchen

This is not the same restaurant that I've been to in the past. I had a very poor experience in my recent visit to this restaurant. First off I would like to say that the servers at this restaurant were very attentive and very pleasant to deal with and in no way does my views of this restaurant lay with them. I visited this location maybe about 4 years ago on a Saturday night and it was busy and we had to wait for a seat and we managed to get a seat after an hour we ate the food. There was lively music and good food. However, that was then, This is now. This restaurant at one time was named one of the best Mexican restaurants in Riverside, California. We ordered the chips and salsa and the salsa was very mild and lacked flavor. The guacamole was pre-made but it did taste rather good so I have no complaints there. We had a side salad and the salad was very lifeless. It looked like the ends of a salad that had seen better days. The salad was not very fresh + the best way I could describe it was pretty wimpy. This is the type of salad that you might see on the side of a plate but not as a side salad or something that would be used as a main salad. I ordered the Carne Asada plate with rice and black beans. The plate came out fairly quickly which was probably about the only good part of the meal. I have cooked Carne myself and I have to say I am not a fan of this razor thin Crane Asada. I do like mine a little more thicker so there is some actual flavor to it. If I were to say that this Carne Asada steak was even half an inch thick, that would be probably lie. It was the thinnest Carne asada steak I have ever seen in my life. This is not something that any restaurant should be proud to serve to its customers. It was dry, lacked flavor and felt like it was 3-day-old leftover steak. I'm not saying that it is leftovers. I'm just saying the preparation of it was very poor. The rice was dry and reheated and overcooked, Spanish rice tasted like Rice-A-Roni and certainly not something that was even good.Bkack beans were fine and the tortillas were good. My wife's meal was not very good either but it may have just been a poor choice on her part. The restaurant looks very tired inside, however I don't mind that it updated as long as the food is good. I can personally say that for a restaurant that was rated one of the best in Riverside at one time. It's a former shell of itself. There is certainly nothing to think, but the restaurant was one of the best. The menu needs refreshing and the quality of the ingredients need rethinking.. if people are going to spend their hard-earned money to come to your restaurant up, you expect good quality food and unfortunately that is not what we received. I'm not looking for a refund. I'm maybe looking to hopefully inspire them that they need to reevaluate their menu and the quality of their food. You can't offer substandard food and hope that you're going to fill a restaurant or be successful. It was a Saturday night and there was barely nobody there and honestly when I walked out I understood why I and wondered how much longer they could continue to do this. I can't say that I would want to return and that I had a bad one-off experience. You can tell if it was just a bad meal I would have sent it back and asked for a new plate but it was obvious by the entire dinner that this was the level of food that they thought was acceptable for their customers. Hopefully in the future things will change but they're five star and four-star recommendations are a thing of the past in my mind and I won't be returning until I see that the restaurant has changed.

Chris Yackulic

This is not the same restaurant that I've been to in the past. I had a very poor experience in my recent visit to this restaurant. First off I would like to say that the servers at this restaurant were very attentive and very pleasant to deal with and in no way does my views of this restaurant lay with them. I visited this location maybe about 4 years ago on a Saturday night and it was busy and we had to wait for a seat and we managed to get a seat after an hour we ate the food. There was lively music and good food. However, that was then, This is now. This restaurant at one time was named one of the best Mexican restaurants in Riverside, California. We ordered the chips and salsa and the salsa was very mild and lacked flavor. The guacamole was pre-made but it did taste rather good so I have no complaints there. We had a side salad and the salad was very lifeless. It looked like the ends of a salad that had seen better days. The salad was not very fresh + the best way I could describe it was pretty wimpy. This is the type of salad that you might see on the side of a plate but not as a side salad or something that would be used as a main salad. I ordered the Carne Asada plate with rice and black beans. The plate came out fairly quickly which was probably about the only good part of the meal. I have cooked Carne myself and I have to say I am not a fan of this razor thin Crane Asada. I do like mine a little more thicker so there is some actual flavor to it. If I were to say that this Carne Asada steak was even half an inch thick, that would be probably lie. It was the thinnest Carne asada steak I have ever seen in my life. This is not something that any restaurant should be proud to serve to its customers. It was dry, lacked flavor and felt like it was 3-day-old leftover steak. I'm not saying that it is leftovers. I'm just saying the preparation of it was very poor. The rice was dry and reheated and overcooked, Spanish rice tasted like Rice-A-Roni and certainly not something that was even good.Bkack beans were fine and the tortillas were good. My wife's meal was not very good either but it may have just been a poor choice on her part. The restaurant looks very tired inside, however I don't mind that it updated as long as the food is good. I can personally say that for a restaurant that was rated one of the best in Riverside at one time. It's a former shell of itself. There is certainly nothing to think, but the restaurant was one of the best. The menu needs refreshing and the quality of the ingredients need rethinking.. if people are going to spend their hard-earned money to come to your restaurant up, you expect good quality food and unfortunately that is not what we received. I'm not looking for a refund. I'm maybe looking to hopefully inspire them that they need to reevaluate their menu and the quality of their food. You can't offer substandard food and hope that you're going to fill a restaurant or be successful. It was a Saturday night and there was barely nobody there and honestly when I walked out I understood why I and wondered how much longer they could continue to do this. I can't say that I would want to return and that I had a bad one-off experience. You can tell if it was just a bad meal I would have sent it back and asked for a new plate but it was obvious by the entire dinner that this was the level of food that they thought was acceptable for their customers. Hopefully in the future things will change but they're five star and four-star recommendations are a thing of the past in my mind and I won't be returning until I see that the restaurant has changed.