Ancho's is one of those places I honestly don't know if it's considered a hidden gem or not, but after living in Riverside for the past 3-4 years, I can't believe I've never been here until now. I found out about it through my cousin, who's a UCR alum, and I'm really glad I finally got to try it. The staff were super nice and attentive, constantly coming by our table to check if we needed more water, tortillas, or anything else we might want. Even with how busy it was, they still made sure everyone was taken care of, which I really appreciated. The restaurant was packed, and it actually surprised me because I don't usually see that many people at restaurants in Riverside. The energy inside felt lively but still comfortable. One of my favorite parts was the fresh tortillas. They come out hot and fresh from the oven, and you can literally watch them being made right in front of you, which made it even better. And the best part is they're free. We ordered the carne fajitas and chile relleno. The fajitas were incredible, the meat was juicy, tender, and packed with flavor, with that perfect smoky sear that comes from being cooked fresh on a hot skillet. Everything came out sizzling and stayed flavorful with every bite. The chile relleno was also really good, with a nice balance of savory and slightly creamy filling that paired well with the sauce. It was actually my first time trying fajitas, and I can confidently say I'll be ordering them again the next time I come back. I definitely plan on returning while I'm still at UCR to make up for all the years I didn't know this place existed. read more

Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar - Fajitas (carne Or Pollo) And Chile Relleno - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

Im not fully sure about how we felt about this place. It wasn't bad but My family decided to come to this restaurant to celebrate my grandfathers birthday. First time coming to the restaurant for all of us. The ambience was cool and I liked the fact that they made the tortillas fresh. The food was cool I guess. My grandmother got the chicken fajitas but there were no bell peppers with it, just onions. The tamale was mid. My Dad and myself ordered a basic bean and cheese burrito. I did not like the fact that it wasn't mentioned that the beans are made with bacon until AFTER we received our food! My dad doesn't eat meat and the rice is made with chicken as well. The server did bring him something else but this needs to be stated on the menu or upon ordering! We were sat right next to where they made the tortillas and can see them being made since they had glass windows around it. However, there was one gentleman that was making tortillas who was on his cell phone texting or whatever CONSTANTLY at the same time while doing this. He had a glove on one hand and no glove on the other, and was touching the tortilla dough.....We all know how dirty a cell phone is! And what made it worse is at one point he itched the inside of his nose with his finger, and didn't even wash his hands or have gloves on after that. Definitely made my stomach turn and what caused me to go and write this review. I suggest a camera be placed at the tortilla station, add the notes about bacon in the beans and chicken in the rice, and add bell peppers to the fajitas. Also, maybe give the option of meatless beans and rice for the non-meat eaters read more

If I could rate separately for service I would give it a 5. This place is not lacking any help in the waiter and waitress department. We have not been here since the 90's and I have to say, it was much better back then. All in all, there is just no flavor. The salsa tasted like watery tomatoes, our waitress gave us a little side of habanero salsa to incorporate with it but that heat is the extreme for me. We ordered the Mesquite chicken and steak fajitas which were less than average. Not sure if it was just a bad day, but the taste of the protein did not match up to the wonderful smell of BBQ outside the restaurant. The tortillas were just ok, first batch was not even warm. My Michelada was good though. Bummer visit after being away for so long. Looks like the interior could stand a makeover. read more

Fine here 7/28/2025 about 8pm. Sat at the bar with Justin. Very personally bartender. Great service. Seemed a little over-staffed in terms of servers as they could've definitely cut some people. Posting this review a year later..... just found it in my drafts. read more

Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar - Lemondrop - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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I ordered Two Shredded Beef Enchiladas, Beef Taco, And Tamale. I would say order both sauces, red and green if you enjoy your food with more sauce. The taco was good and the tamale, I wish it had more meat but overall it was a decent meal for the price. Now the service? The service was amazing! We had a server named Nixon and he was just super attentive and constantly making sure everything was okay and drinks were filled. He had great energy and beautiful customer service. read more

Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar - Two Shredded Beef Enchiladas, Beef Taco, And Tamale - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

This is my go to favorite restaurant to bring my family to when they come visit me at UCR. The absolute star of the show is the fajitas and the fresh hot tortillas. They're perfectly soft, tender, HOT, and yummy. My go to is always the skirt steak fajitas so I can wrap little tacos with the fajitas and the free tortillas. read more

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Very busy place on a Saturday night. The staff was HOPPING and working in unison. They are generous with chips and salsa. They make their tortillas on site and they met in your mouth they even bring butter to the table if you like them that way. The food is good, my salad had fresh lettuce, not from a bag. Kids meals come with their choice of ice cream. read more

Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar - Taco salad - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

I was brought here by a friend & colleague of mine whose whole family loves Anchos as it was his father's favorite restaurant. My first thought upon seeing the exterior and entering was, "OK, definitely old school", and I was right... Anchos has been around for an amazing 37 years and counting! The large open space is nice 'n brightly lit, yet somehow not too much so. As our hostess walked us to our table, we passed an enclosed tortilla-making machine where the freshest of the fresh tortillas seemed to be popping off the whirling dervish like Mexican hot cakes (which... yeah, duh). After ordering, we were quickly served a huge container of them-- so fresh, one could barely hold these 1000 degree piping hot discs. It was demonstrated to me that the classic way to enjoy the tortillas was to spread a little butter which melts almost instantaneously due to the sun-like hotness of the vessel, a quick dash of salt, and a dollop of their super freshly made mesquite-roasted tomato salsa makes for a yummy appetizer. While that was delicious, for me, the true test of a tortilla is to try it plain first. And boy, did it deliver! The style is slightly more risen than traditional, but tasty none-the-less, and I would soon find out why its actually the perfect tortilla for our main entrées-- the CARNE mesquite grilled plump skirt steak fajitas! Now I am always dubious when a restaurant calls out that one of their items is "FAMOUS" and actually prints it right on the menu, but in this case I truly get it. These thick juicy slices of mesquite grilled skirt steak are mind-glowingly muy delicioso, and YES, they are plump indeed. We ordered medium-rare, and they came out to perfection! Years ago, I wrote the steak fajitas at the Rio Grande restaurant in Boulder, CO had "the absolutely unequivocal best steak fajitas I have ever tasted in my life!", and I tell you, these really put that statement to the test. If I'm being honest, the steak itself at Anchos is truly on another level. It's not that it's the best "fajita steak" I've ever had, it's possibly the best "steak steak" I've ever had. OK, that's probably an overstatement, but it's not too far off. While I still think the accoutrements of the Rio Grande fajitas (mainly their phenomenal grilled peppers & onions) are standouts, the carne asada here at Anchos is nothing short of amazing! And those tortillas... yup, the slightly extra thickness holds up well when you fill it with with the extra thick cut carne asada, and their tasty arroz con frijoles, onions & peppers. Mi plato was WAY too much food, and I happily ate every single bite :-) All-in-all, Anchos still delivers after almost 4 decades of serving the Riverside community, and I hope it's around for decades to come because as I looked around, not only were my friends enjoying Anchos, but everyone in the restaurant seemed to be beaming with the excitement of the great food & service from this wonderful family gem. read more

Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar - Mesquite grilled plump skirt steak fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

Got the Caesar Salad with Carnitas instead of Chicken. The caesar dressing borders on a vinaigrette BUT is very pleasantly acidic tasting. The FRESH MADE, WARM flour tortillas are great to the point of being addictive. This gets added to my "good list" for anytime I am in the area. read more

Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar - Carnitas Caesar Salad - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

I used to come here all the time growing up like 20 years ago, and I remember this place being my favorite restaurant. I'm proud to say it's just as good as I remember - the decor looks to be unchanged too! I came here as a party of 4 the Saturday before Mother's Day around 2:30 PM. We were told it'd be a 30 minute wait but it ended up being 10. We were served chips and salsa while waiting. I greatly appreciated that since I was starving so I indulged in the thin, crispy chips. The salsa was fresh (not spicy). The service here was absolutely exceptional. I didn't get the waitresses name but she was blonde and so, so kind. Seriously, she was on it. She was taking our drink orders right away and running to get tortillas, always checked in throughout the meal and kept hustling to get all our requests (butter, an extra lid, sets of utensils, a plastic bag, napkins), boom, boom, boom! She always anticipated our next needs like dessert or drink refills. I'm blown away! Five stars for the service, hands down. Looking around the restaurant, I could see every employee was keeping busy and helping customers!! The tortillas... My God, the tortillas. They're homemade, soft, crazy warm on arrival and served with butter. They're so nourishing AND they're unlimited! Their steak is crazy flavorful and tender. The chicken fajitas were okay, some pieces were better than others flavor-wise. The veggies (onions and bell peppers) were overall a little underwhelming and I do wish the guac was more flavorful! If you're vegetarian or vegan, be warned that their beans have bacon pieces. Their portions are huge and everyone in my party left with leftovers. I truly can't wait to come back here again to re-live my Ancho's dreams. read more

Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar - The unlimited tortillas are undeniably divine. - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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Went back in and had great service. Tortillas are refilled at a great clip. Went during midweek around 12 or so. Plenty of staff on site during daytime hours. The stars for me were the anticipatory tortillas drop off being brought to the table. The chicken was tender in the taco; next time I think I'll try the burrito on the specials board to mix things up. The beans were hot and tasty and the rice was moist as well. Pro Tip: go during the daytime and get the special on the board at the entrance to save some money, read more

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Food is a bit bland. I like it now but you have to know how to order. The guacamole is great, the portion sizes are big, and the salsa is very good. But they do not have taco sauce or any kind of Mexican hot sauce so I have to bring my own. Weird I know. The nachos are 8 chips, layered with beans, cheese and chicken not a pile. The fajitas although HUGE portions are very dry. They don't have pickled jalapeños only fresh so that's a bummer. Their cheese enchiladas are decent, their beans are great and they make their own tortillas in house. You get a warmer with a few tortillas and butter to start, with your chips and salsa. Those are free and they will bring refills. Prices are decent. It is VERY LOUD inside so you have to yell to talk. Staff is great. read more

Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar - Restaurant inside Cheese Enchiladas rice and beans and Guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

Marissa took separate orders and bills accommodating our party of approx 30 on the patio. That's not common anymore. Smooth. That is reason alone to book a large party here. After a short wait, we were seated and drink orders were immediately taken. Chips, salsa and fresh homemade flour tortillas and butter were already on the table. Huge value. I hadn't been to Anchos in a while but remembered the steaks fondly. Tonight we had steak fajitas for two. Wonderfully flavorful beef, charred to tender perfection. It came with onions and bell peppers on a sizzling grill. Pinto beans, rice, pico de gallo and guacamole on a bed of shredded iceberg lettuce. Impressive presentation and value added additions to the meal. Full bar and several drafts on tap. The Cadillac margarita seemed to be the favorite. I am having visions of visiting for the tortillas, butter and salsa and a nice cocktail. Would be nice if you had more televisions. Wonderful place for a celebration without worrying about being too loud. Thank you for your service, hospitality and food. Well done. read more

Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar - Table top fajitas tacos - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

I've been here twice in two months. Both times I sat in the same general area.This time I actually sat only one table over from where I saw my first visit. I ordered a combo that came with a chili relleno and a shrimp enchilada. I definitely had leftovers with this combo. It was a lot of food. The tortillas come from a machine that they have in the middle of the restaurant and they serve them with a container of butter. The table will also receive chips and salsa. The salsa is not hot at all. My friend knew that they also have a hotter salsa so we asked for it. They serve the hotter salsa in a small container. I didn't try it, but I heard that it was like level 10 spicy. So the small container made more sense. The shrimp enchilada flavor was kind of light to me . The next time I came, I ordered a chicken enchilada à la cart and just ate the chips and tortillas that were offered. I ordered the chicken enchilada Christmas style so both red and green sauce. It was light so I did not have any leftovers . I noticed a lot of people celebrating birthdays, and when I went to the hostess station to let them know about my friend's birthday, they were able to accommodate. The crew came over singing and brought out a lit ice cream treat. They have a really big parking lot with lots of free and easy parking. The restaurant is an open concept model .They also have covered outdoor seating. read more

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Ancho's is truly a gem in the Inland Valley... I have been a loyal customer over 30 years... The best Steak Tacos I ever had... Dean, owner and Saul , manager are great and their staff is amazing... I recommend everything on the menu! read more

Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar - Near bar area... - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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Anchos! I love you! I came here with a large party from work and our waitress was amazing! She made sure our waters were always full and she split our checks, which I know is a pain. Yes, I am that person who asks to split the check, but I always make sure our server knows I appreciate that. Whenever I come here. I always get their steak tacos! They are my absolute favorite! Then I stuff myself with their fresh tortillas! You have to come in for those. The space was nice and clean. Service was quick. There's an abundance of parking and restrooms are clean. I'll keep on coming back. read more

Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar - Steak Tacos Al Carbon - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

This our favorite restaurant, we would keep it a secret, but it's too good not to share. They always great you with kindness, and if there's a wait it's never very long. When you are seating at your table you get complimentary fresh, warm tortillas with salsa.... Yes, you read that correctly. They are delicious. I usually get the Steak Al Carbone (2) tacos. Which is two prime steak tacos (it says 2 but it's more like 3 filled soft tacos) The restaurant is always clean, & the staff team is very friendly. You'll have to go... read more

IFKYK is the saying goes!!! The food here is one of a kind. Everything on the menu is delicious. Try the steak fajitas with your meal, they don't disappoint. Great little hole in the wall but well worth the extra effort. Service is super fast and always friendly. You will not be disappointed with this find!!! read more

Service - 10/10 Atmosphere - 0/10 Food - 1/10 This place is a dive. Everything inside was sad looking and kind of grimy. Looked like it has never been updated and was just a loud room, like a dining hall. The service is top notch. The homemade tortillas were okay--they were fresh and hot which was nice, but not the best and came from a machine. Chips were bagged and stale. Food was absolutely awful. Beans were floating in fat, food was tasteless. Chicken felt like it came form one of those bags of frozen grilled chicken slices. Fajitas were awful. This place was sooooo bad...I felt like I was being punk'd. How can people think this is at all good?!!?!? It was like Tex mex night at the world's worst dining hall. read more

it is a popular place. many white haired people seem to trust this place as i've observed this for the last 13 years. Often a full house. i suspect it's trusted because of low spicy-heat levels or the lack of it. And the food appears on the place visually distinguishable to the gringos. salt is low too. At my most recent trip, i got the entree plate that had a beef taco, two chicken enchiladas, one tamale and one chile relleno. It included rice and beans. the chile relleno was poorly made and was likely made hours beforehand as it came to me lukewarm and firm. The cheese was still in unmelted sliced squares. i had to use my fork hard. And wanted to use a table-knife to assist but I had hopes... my expectations of a chile relleno is this: fork-tender, piping hot, fluffy egg coating that stays on the chile, melted cheeses mixture inside. a good relleno should be easy to use just a fork with very little effort to break through the relleno. The shredded chicken in the enchiladas were clearly breast meat. I suspect it is because the majority of the customers eating there makes sure to ask for "white meat". groan. basically the shreds were dry and chewy. the restaurant use of white breast meat is likely a conditioning occurence. Dark Juicy poultry meat is my preference. The beef taco had a slightly crisp texture from a short and light pan fry. It was not oily. Of course it is healthier than the food trucks' oily and golden dorado tacos that are awesome in taste but will add pounds to your waistline and stress your arteries. the tamale's masa (that corn meal coating) was a little dry and the meat filling in it (i assume un-sauced dry pork chunks or un-sauced dry chicken breast chunks). It was ok ok compared to the super moist (and likely oily) tamale's i've the opportunity to experience elsewhere. the beans came in a cup, simple broken up beans with some light seasoning. the Mexican style rice was on the plate that held the beans' cup. Rice had little flavor to it so it is likely healthier too. Anchos' interior is nice and bright. there is a tortilla making station in the middle of the space that customers can watch through its sneeze guard shield window enclosure. the staff waiting on you do appear friendly and likable. my 45 year old buddy liked his two chicken enchiladas plate and wants to bring his wife there as he knows his wife is strict about sodium levels. me? i am a foodie and ruined by hole-in-the-wall type restaurant food and foodtrucks' flavors, mouthfeel and menu choices. if i ever came back, i will likely ask for moist dark meat fillings, more flavor, and freshly made rellenos. read more

I really liked the customer service, very nice and understanding. It was kinda crowded so it was packed but overall still clean. The food is alright not great , the tortillas with butter are probably the best part but DAMN the prices for the food u get is TRASH. 30-40 dollars for 2/3 tacos with no cilantro or onions, and with microwaved rice and beans. It could be better read more

Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar - The Steak Tacos Al Carbon - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

As I'm in Tennessee and Anchos is in SoCal, I don't get to eat there very often. However, I will definitely go to Anchos whenever I visit SoCal. The food is some of the best you will find anywhere, doesn't matter what you order. The tortillas are amazing, and I strongly recommend taking some home with you. You won't leave hungry, I promise. As for the service, Like th food, It's amazing, and it's a double bonus if you're lucky enough to get Nicolette as your server. Somehow she just makes the food better. You will want to give her an extra big tip read more

Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar - Can't beat the burrito - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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All I can say is if your foodie this is a place to go they have amazing food great fresh tortillas that they make in the middle with a good amount of selections for drinks and a great atmosphere read more

Good food. Good atmosphere. Amazing host. Always checked on us making sure we didn't need anything. Keep our cups full. Tortillas were fresh and so delicious. read more

Came here after seeing a happy hour online, but turns out that was an error on a separate site,not the restaurant's fault. The restaurant itself was busy with a lively, family-friendly atmosphere and a solid menu to choose from. They start you off with complimentary chips and salsa, which is always a plus. The chips tasted homemade but were a bit over-salted for my liking. On the flip side, the homemade flour tortillas they bring to the table were excellent. I ordered a tamale, which had a pretty standard flavor but was still enjoyable overall. Service was attentive. Staff checked in on us regularly, which made the experience smoother. Prices are a little high, but that's expected for the area. Overall, a good spot for a family meal with friendly service and some nice touches like the fresh tortillas. read more

Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar - Single Tamale - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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This is definitely a white persons Mexican food spot. If you know you know. Our server was great that being that there were 8 of us and 5 of them being starving kids. I ordered a #Three. 2 shredded beef enchiladas, a red pork tamale, and a crunchy shredded beef taco- w/ rice & beans ! It was a lot of food for $22 !! That's the only reason I gave them 3 stars because the quantity and price. But the enchiladas were the driest I've ever had. The CRUNCHY taco was SOGGY ! And the meat was so dry, like a Popeyes biscuit dry ! And the tamale was okay, my husband ending up eating it because I was over the food. Our server kept brining tortillas to the table and they were OK. A little thinner and they would have been like from Mexico. I'm not sure we'd come back, but we had to try it to know. read more

Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar - Crunchy Crispy Tacos (shredded Beef Or Chicken) - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

Anchos never disappoints! The food is always high quality and tastes great. The service is great well trained friendly staff that's always trying to help. The handmade tortillas can't get enough of them. I recommend the ribs and the fajitas are cooked over wood and are amazing. The drinks are great and the over all feel of the place is comfortable. Give it a try you won't be disappointed. read more

I've been coming to Anchos in Riverside for almost 12 years now, and it's still one of my favorite spots. It's one of those places I always end up going back to because the food never disappoints. The carne is amazing--always well seasoned and full of flavor. But the flour tortillas are honestly one of the best parts. They are freshly , soft, and go perfectly with the carne. After all these years, the quality has stayed consistent and the atmosphere is always nice. If you're looking for flavorful food and great portions, I definitely recommend this place. The staff is amazing. read more

I have been wanting to stop by and finally made my way. Me and my husband had the fajitas steak and chicken for 2 and it was so delicious. The tortillas nice and warm freshly made. We also had the queso flamado as app and wow so good. Our waiter was Bonnie and she was amazing and helpful. Very delicious food. read more

Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar - Steak chicken Fajitas (carne Or Pollo) - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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The food is amazing, the freshly made tortillas are superior to anything else I've ever had and the drinks are STRONG!! The service is amazing and the restaurant is clean and welcoming. Highly recommended!! read more

This was our second time visiting this restaurant. The first time was during COVID, and honestly, it wasn't the best experience, but given the circumstances back then, we decided it was worth giving it another shot. I'm really glad we did. We came back mainly because my wife was craving their homemade flour tortillas, and right off the bat, the place was rocking and rolling. Lots of families, a lively atmosphere, and staff hustling everywhere making sure customers were taken care of. Daniela immediately came to our table, brought us chips and salsa, fresh homemade flour tortillas, got our drinks going, and took our order. The service was on point from start to finish. What I really appreciate about this restaurant is that they focus on what they know, no crazy, overcomplicated menu, just solid food done right. The rice (which comes with chicken) was a 10/10. Our food overall was very good, and they constantly bring fresh flour tortillas to the table, almost encouraging you to take some home. Service was amazing, decor was classic Tex-Mex, and while the food was a solid 8/10, the overall experience easily earns five stars. We'll definitely be back. read more

We had heard good things and thought we would try. Staff was amazing. Our server was very nice and helpful. The homemade fresh tortillas and butter were delicious as we waited for our food. Then the food came. Everyone complained that their food was bland. We tried adding salsa to help add flavor. A couple of examples to name: Taco meat was dry. Enchilada sauce (christmas style) tasted like just tomato sauce and the green sauce had zero flavor at all. We really wanted to like this place. Also, a note for vegetarians/ vegans, there are no options for you other than a dinner salad (vegan) or cheese enchiladas. (Vegetarian). Even the rice and beans are made with meat products. The large salads are also made with meat products. Also, within the hour after leaving every single member of our party had stomach issues/ got sick. Literally every single person. If it were one person we could say the food just didn't sit right, but every person? That's just not normal. Again great staff, but we will not return. read more

call it nostalgia or call it the best handmade tortillas you've ever had, anchos is a riverside legend. i've been going here for as long as i can remember, and it still hits every single time. my go to order is the steak tacos al carbon and although it's definitely gone up in price, they are absolutely worth every penny. also shoutout to the waitresses who always give my kids tortilla dough to play with ~ such a lovely thing they always look forward to! read more

Had THE BEST grilled steak fajitas this evening! The watermelon and mango margaritas were fire too! Chips and salsa were perfection. And, when I saw butter for the homemade flour tortillas, I just knew...OH YES! Ancho's understood the assignment! read more

Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar - Chips & Salsa - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

It's a Friday night and it's super busy, but we got the best server. Her name is Shawna. She went above and beyond to help us. She was very polite to my granddaughters since it was their first time here!!! she was very attentive and brought us an awesome ice cream for my birthday! and she went out of her way to give us french fries thank you.! I highly recommend this place because they make fresh tortillas and a habanero salsa is super spicy. If you like spicy, they have the best Carne Asada also. read more

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Service and food was great! I recommend this place if you're looking for a nice atmosphere with delicious food.

What a great find! Our friends recommended this place to meet up and it did not disappoint! My husband and I shared the carne fajitas for two, which was actually enough for 3-4 people. The fresh tortillas with butter was heavenly. The service was exceptional, with our server, Emma, consistently checking in. I ordered a blended watermelon margarita, which was okay. They do have a variety of draught beer, including Modelo. The restaurant is spacious and had patrons from all walks of life. I would come back for the carne fajitas and tortillas! read more

Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar - Carne fajitas! - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

Large portions and fresh made tortillas as well as chips. The service was quick and friendly. It's pretty loud. read more

Service was good but didn't care for the food honestly. Ambiance was fine. I think the best thing there was the homemade flour tortillas. Rice no flavor , same goes for beans. read more

Pretty good Mexican cuisine. Nice atmosphere and friendly staff. Close by in the Home Gardens Community. Ample parking.