Honestly I had no expectations.. often overhyped restaurants are not very good, but this was a very pleasant surprise! We came to celebrate my sisters birthday and it was perfect! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance was everything - elegant yet fun; the staff was very professional.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food was truly the surprise because it was DELICIOUS! The birria tacos were so good, the mini elotes had me wishing for more! The "el jefe" plate was sooo good! It was more than enough for my husband and I. The carne asada was very juicy! My only qualm is that our waiter didn't check in on us more than once, but aside from water we didn't need much! I'll definitely be back! read more

My wife and I went here a while ago and we were not impressed. The restaurant was not busy, a lot of empty tables, and the service was still slow. We waited a while just to order drinks, never mind the food. It took a long while to order our food, long enough that we were looking around for our server. Once we were able to order our food, it arrived and we were both disappointed. Neither dinner tasted good and was bland. They were definitely not worth the price, and, again, our we had to look for our server. [[HIGHLIGHT]]During all the waiting and searching both my wife and I suffered with the extremely loud music, and my wife is deaf (not a joke). The music was so loud it vibrated on the table and chair, which bothered my wife, and luckily we use ASL to communicate.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The few other tables had to speak loud enough that I could hear their conversations. Bad food, slow service, and way too loud music, we won't be back. read more

First timer! I was not ready for the vibes hahah it was like a mix of middle-tier restaurant (food roughly $20-$140), a full bar, a DJ, and low key table service (sparklers + lit up sign). The food was great! The wet burrito was delicious, the birria tacos were great, and the octopus was divine. [[HIGHLIGHT]]If you get overstimulated I would advise to sit on the patio portion of the restaurant (away from DJ and lights).[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Be prepared to pay some money (octopus roughly $40) the service was great too! The servers were promptly, helpful, kind, and tended to our needs. read more

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Bomb drinks and modern Mexican cuisine. Food is a bit pricey still but has improved a lot since last coming here around 3 years ago. The tacos, aguachiles and poke nachos were bomb, although the poke nachos could've been more stacked with their chip to protein/toppings ratio. The guacamole with chicharron was really good! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Best thing about this spot is probably the vibes and drinks because it's lit![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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They really get these stars for their service. Our server David was soooo dope! He was on top of it. He gave honest recommendations on food and drops, was prompt, never let a glass go empty and played along with our shenanigans. Shout out David. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance was cool too.. nice brunch vibe with a cool DJ.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Drinks were good Food Honestly not well seasoned and the guacamole tasted like it was store bought. It was cool but the prices are a little high for food that mediocre. I would come back, and try something different read more

Ay Mi Pa - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]First impressions definitely count, and I was impressed right away by the ambiance, vibe, music, colors, and design.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]We came here to have brunch and it was R&B theme. Walking in, it certainly felt like a day club.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]We were seated near the bar and could see the DJ and screens. Music was poppin and people were celebrating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I wonder what this place is like at night? I am sure it will be a blast. Time to order a michelada! We were hungry and ordered: The fajita skillet, A la cart quesabirria taco Eggs and classic pancakes The ssizzling fajitas were a carne asada and chicken combo, plenty for 2, with several sides. The quesabirria was amazing, melts in your mouth, and the pancakes were unfortunately, slightly burnt . Our server, Stephanie was outstanding! She was prompt and accommodating to our many requests. Thanks again! The only reason I am giving 4 starts were the seats. I would describe as sunk patio seats instead of upright dinning seats, so table top seemed higher causing unusual way to eat as you had to lean forward every bite. Otherwise, we will be back for a fun night! read more

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Went looking for a really good and authentic Mexican restaurant. Ended up reading the life story of the owner who put more thought into their Prologue than the menu and the executions of the food. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Sure owners. Reserve the 4 front spots for you and just say a big EFF you to your customers eh? Sorry if you're resorted to parking around the back where it smells like piss and decomposing meat[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. Great start to a meal huh? But you keep those 4 spots, I'm sure your empty restaurant needs it. Now-why in gods name are your chefs serving RAW shrimp that isn't even marinated/cooked in citrus juices?! First step in any ceviches or aguachile. Have your chefs go to Gonzales market and learn the right way. Also, such a small little piece of pulpo for $40?! Get off your pretentious High horse and come down here with the other Hispanics and you tell me what's going on. Don't list Birria in an "upper scale" restaurant and have it be BEEF! That's barbacoa my friends. GOAT for birria. Go visit Jalisco and learn how to Get it right. "MR. I immigrated here and I'm bringing the culture", no you're not. Try again. Your short rib tacos were really good and your chipotle salsa the guys in the back made was amazing. Pero No tuve bueno. read more

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This place was fun and great. We celebrated my sis in laws birthday there and she enjoyed it so much. We had a party of 7 and it was so much fun. Food was tasty and made fresh, drinks were solid. Service was great. Our waiter checked in on us often, refilled drinks, and provided great customer service. Thank you for a fun and memorable night. read more

Ay Mi Pa - Jefe plate that was shared between two ppl - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

I forgot my servers name awwwe so sorry because he was awesome friendly outgoing funny and always kept my glass full. The food was delicious but the mixologist out did the chef in my opinion Jayden???? I think he said his name was. Best martinis ever made in my life as of right now. Thanks for the best valentine day I've had in a long time. read more

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It went from bad to worse. I've been here twice. And this was the second time. It went from bad to worse REAL quick. This place has hype. And that's all it is. It's riverside. Not many "high end" places if you can even call it that to be had. They label themselves as such and it's far from it. Entrance as a wannabe red carpet feeling. Not kidding there's actually a red carpet at the door it's super tacky. I was greeted right away. And was shown to my seat right away. Started off decent per usual. I was a party of 8. And had a birthday girl they knew was here as well. Ready paying customers. As a business you'd think that's something to be grateful for, but that's NOT how the staff felt and they will be more clear going into this. First a two dozen oysters were ordered. ALL sent back. Extremely watery and fishy. THEY WERE BAD. Your establishment is going to get someone sick! BEWARE. Since we were hungry we thought ok.... It can't be THAT bad maybe they'll get something else right. So we thought... chilaquiles aguachiles Steak Pomegranate martini ( urgent care could be involved ) Chilaquiles came and the steak with it? Looked like beef jerky. Driest and old at least 4 days old steak I've ever seen. DO NOT GET THE STEAK ON ANYTHING. Aguachiles? Actually pretty good. I can't hate on it. This they got right. We had it with green sauce. Pomegranate martini? Questionable fruit used. Questionable alcohol used. Resulting in one of our attendees having alcohol poisoning. But let's get into things before this all happened also. Waitress took the orders. Never came back to check in waters or anything. Straight up disappeared. Eventually the MANAGER had to come by and help our table. Agreed that the steak would be something not even she would eat. And that it was completely unacceptable. Plate was returned. Brought back with me steak still the same plate of everything else ( that's fine ) But the steak was still old, maybe a little better and extremely overly salted. Also the birthday girl ordered pancakes. And that arrived after EVERYONE else's food. Completely unacceptable. Prices are completely outrageous considering the quality. This place is all for hype and social media. Sold to people who don't know any better on how food is actually suppose to be prepared, made and displayed. And that's not talking bad about the customers. This place is just a scam. One of those restaurants that attracts photos and hype. But doesn't live up to it at all. With that said? Highly recommend DO NOT GO. This place needs to step it up. Any restaurant that is family owned and an owner isn't present will degrade quickly. There's a reason the restaurant business is considered one of the worst to be involved in. This place displays that. Go at your own risk. read more

Ay Mi Pa - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

Ay Mi Pa ended up being one of my unexpected FAVORITES on this trip ...I liked it so much I went three times in two weeks! Visit #1 - Saturday Night: Wow. Total Miami nightclub energy. Live DJ, loud music, flashing lights, and a super fun crowd. It was popping! Dinner was delicious and the cocktails were on point -definitely a spot to go if you want a vibe. Visit #2 - Weekday Happy Hour: Complete 180 from Saturday. It was basically empty... like four people total. No DJ, no energy, quiet. But you know what? The happy hour birria tacos were AMAZING. Honestly worth the visit even without the party vibe. Visit #3 - Weekend Brunch-ish: More of a family-friendly atmosphere. No club vibes this time, just a chill, busy brunch scene. Good food again and solid service. Crazy that all three visits felt like totally different restaurants, but honestly? I'd go back in a heartbeat. Great food, great drinks, and depending on when you go- you can choose the vibe you want! read more

Ay Mi Pa - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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This place is gouging people and running their business like a club. In order to enjoy the bar or dinner on a night they have live music. They have a prerequisite of $40 pp or a $200 minimum for a table. GTFOH. GREED IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL. Ill take my business elsewhere. To an establishment who appreciates their customers. read more

Wanna-be high end place. "Wait is 40 minutes BUT your table is not guaranteed... " Yeah, neither is me eating at this trash ass restaurant. read more

i think on maps it said it was closing at 11 on sunday (the sunday before memorial day) but they actually closed at 10. the hostess was really nice though and tried contacting us prior letting us know the kitchen would be closing soon, but it was okay since we only came for drinks. however, the drinks were strong AF LOL. we got a marg flight of strawberry, mango, and lime. The strawberry one was the only better tasting one imo. it was hard for us to finish our drinks. I swear on the menu it said it was $40 but it ended up being $50 ? We really didnt check the breakdown since the restaurant was closing and we just paid and left [[HIGHLIGHT]]the inside is cute tho![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Ay Mi Pa - strawberry margarita - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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Shrimp tacos were excellent! Plump whole shrimp in a beer batter with pico and lettuce on top. The beans and rice were average. White rice was more of a pilaf. My date ordered the chicharron ribeye plate. Average portions for slightly above average price. Drink menu was phenomenal. The heart straws are chefs kiss! Service was a tad slow. It wasn't too busy yet for a Saturday night either. Ambiance is a little "chaotic". They have a DJ late nights, but even at 5:30 the background music was very loud. It is less of a casual place and more fun and upbeat. It would be a GREAT place to celebrate something. read more

Ay Mi Pa - Shrimp tacos - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

Had a reservation made way in advance, and received a call that now there is a minimum of $800 to spend for my party of 8 because of the World Cup. I have been to this restaurant plenty of times, so receiving this call was upsetting. Telling me I have to spend a certain amount AFTER making my reservation is not okay. Companies like this are so greedy, especially in this economy. I would not recommend this place. read more

Came for my birthday and had the time of my life! Mckenna, our server went above and beyond to make sure our experience was more than anything we could have asked for. She truly made sure that our party had fun, excellent service and we were for sure taken care of. We had tacos, tons of drinks, ceviche and endless chips, salsa and guac. The food was delicious and the drinks were amazing as well. This place deserves all of the hype for fun experiences! They really have the right perfect ambiance to make every occasion (even just a Friday night with friends) magical. Riverside needs a gem like this. I love it! We will definitely be back and make sure to ask for McKenna! read more

Ay Mi Pa - Gorge! - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

I have tried to go here two times. This time I made a reservation. There was no one at the hostess area. All the workers were standing in the back talking to each other. Finally after about 10 minutes I walked over and asked a worker if someone could seat us. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The whole restaurant was empty.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Finally a lady came to the front and asked if we had a reservation. I said yes. Then she said we will call you to be seated. I was like WHAT?????!!!!! The whole restaurant is empty what are you waiting for ???? After that I just went to Yard House next door. read more

Food is always mid , enchiladas are gross very Americanized food . [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place looks terrible , missing ceiling tiles bathroom smells terrible[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] . Customer service can be hit or miss . The taste of the food definitely doesn't match the price . read more

Amazing service and a great atmosphere. The food is always delicious, and Daniel Bedolla truly stands out he's excellent at guiding you through the menu, whether you're in the mood for something sweet or savory. I highly recommend asking for his suggestions. I find myself coming here every chance I get. If I lived closer, I'd probably end my workdays here grabbing a bite, enjoying good music, and sipping on a cold brew or my favorite, the El Jefe. I feel lucky to have found this spot. They also offer brunch and fun Banda nights, which makes it even better. read more

Ay Mi Pa - Not to mention ADA Service Animal friendly are welcome in the patio Area. - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

This was the first dinner of 2026 and it was absolutely delicious everything from our drinks to food to service was top-notch. Looking forward to coming back again. read more

Ay Mi Pa - First drink of 2026 bottoms up - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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A group of us went to celebrate a co-workers birthday. First time there and my experience wasn't bad. Ambiance was fun. The DJ was playing old school. People were dancing and having a good time. The banda started playing about 10:30 pm. My plate was good. I ordered it no beans extra rice. I wish it would have had more meat but the meat was super tender. I'd definitely go back. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Such a great vibe and outstanding service![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food and drinks are amazing. They have a whole fried fish that reminds me of being on vacation in Mexico!!! The bartender Susset made my visit extra special just by simply smiling and engaging in conversation. Customer service is EVERYTHING read more

Ive been meaning to try this place. It is right next to Yard House near the AMC next to the Tyler mall. I came for my birthday dinner with my family around 4pm on last Friday. Prior to this, I had made a reservation over the phone since I saw they did not have website. Ay Mi Pa should get on that. I checked in with the host and let her know I had a reservation. She took us to our table in the middle of the restaurant. It seemed very luxurious and high end. Music was loud, but not too loud. I was surprised, since from the outside, it doesn't seem like much. The restaurant had several people inside, either drinking or at the bar. Our waitress gave us our waters, chips and salsa, and the menus. She was very friendly, polite, and was bilingual. She let us know the types of drinks we could order and what dishes were popular. I ordered a strawberry agua fresca and the shrimp enchiladas. The drink was very sweet and came with Tajín around the rim and a strawberry. My mom and brother got the salmon and my stepdad got the squid. After maybe almost half an hour, dinner was served. My shrimp enchiladas were great! They were two and came with rice and beans. Every dish we ordered came with that as well. I ordered the cucumber agua fresca afterward which came with pieces of cucumber in the water. After we were done, the waitress came with a piece of chocolate cake with ice cream and a sparkler. It was unexpected! It was on the house. My whole family enjoyed it. I definitely need to come back to try their brunch! Thanks for the meal! read more

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This was my first time here and came for a birthday celebration. Our server was very attentive and checked in on us multiple times. The drinks were strong and I ended up getting an alcoholic drink that was actually called "Bitch Please". The drink was strong and sweet. The ahi nachos were the best thing out of everything that was ordered. The tuna pieces were huge! I also got the California burrito which was about $22 and it was smaller the standard size of a typical California burrito. The rest of the table got the empanadas and the shrimp tacos. The restaurant had a DJ playing throwback music which I liked but the music was really loud where it was hard to have a conversation with the table. read more

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Everything from The hostess to the service and music was beyond amazing R & B Brunch DJ was off the hook !!!! Best of all Jesus took care of us welcomed us Ladies as it was our first time and it won't be our last !!! Thank you Jesus !!!!! read more

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Stopped here for lunch and wait time was about 15 mins to be seated. The staff were very friendly and made several trips to check on us. We decided to order different plates to try as many things as we could. We order chicken/shrimp/ beef enchiladas which were $24, they were packed with meat and had really good flavors. We also ordered the Birria tacos which were $18 they also packed with meat and the consomé (broth that's served with birria tacos) was very flavorful. The street corn was $7 it was a perfect balance of spicy and cheese definitely recommend. The ceviche was $20 and also very flavorful and the sauces they use just mixed so well. Overall very enjoyable and delicious but only issue we had was that when we first got to the restaurant they had not turned on the ac and it was very warm inside. Took about 45 mins to cool off. read more

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Vibe was great! Music and great energy. Service was not great. Slow to take orders, slow to get food and drinks, slow to pay check. There were a lot of birthday celebrations so maybe that was it but we were for 3 hours with soooo much down time. The drinks are cute and tasty. Food is good and not too crazy out of the traditional Mexican norm. read more

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I'm writing this review still in the parking lot. We arrived with a reservation for a table of 13. Why were we taken to a table with only 10 seats. We had to chase a server down to accommodate us. When we were finally all seated, we were given chips and no salsa. It was our first time there so I just assumed they were served without until another table beside us were served salsa with their chips. So again we had to chase a server for salsa. The server was non existent. At no point were we asked what every server asks you when you get your food. "How is everything?" "Are you missing anything?" "Do you need anything?" So the service sucked. Parking is tough. The food made up for the bad service. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Also, it wasn't busy so I can't even use that as a maybe that's why.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

This was our second time visiting this location. It has a lot of potential so I reserved making a review until giving it a second chance. Maybe I'm old, but this place is so loud. This is definitely not what you want if you're having a romantic night out or try to catch up with friends. Both times we went, it was unreasonably cold so much so that I sat there with my coat on the whole time. The inside decor is simply beautiful, and you feel as though you could be transported somewhere not in the IE. The service on the other hand, is super hit and miss. The first time we went, they brought the hubs all of his sauces. The second time, we were pretty much forgotten and it took so long just to get refills on drinks and appetizers. I kid you not when I say it took almost 40 minutes for our sushi appetizer to come out I mean it's sushi, it's raw. Additionally, that was the smallest sushi roll I ever had. The salmon was sliced so thin on top it was see-through. With the price tag of $22 it is a hard pass, definitely not worth it. The food was so slow coming out that we decided to pass on dessert. I mean, who wants to spend another 20 minutes waiting on dessert to come out? The first time I went I had the birria tacos. They were soggy and bad. Even the kid at the next table left his untouched. This time, I decided to get a classic burrito. It was good quality, but the sauce on top tasted like plain tomato sauce. It was weird. My husband like the flavor of his dish, but felt the amount was not worth the cost. Also, he felt the fish was a little fishy smelling. With so much Mexican food around, it's hard to find a reason to return. read more

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Terrible customer service at this place. We had a reservation specifically for 7:30-8:30 and even confirmed we wanted 7:30, but then got a message saying it would be an hour wait. When we got there, the girl at the front told us she would help us, but instead completely ignored us and stood there on her phone right in front of us without saying a word while we waited. To make it worse, every time new people walked in, she would go ahead and seat them while we were still standing there waiting to be acknowledged. After waiting long enough, we decided to leave and go somewhere else. Then 30 minutes later they finally realized we weren't there anymore and decided to call us back. Completely unorganized and unprofessional. Definitely disappointed with the experience and customer service. read more

The decor and atmosphere is very lively and when they have a band come in and perform everyone loves it and dances! I got the chicken enchiladas! It's my second time ordering and this meal was delicious! It has the right amount of everything 10/10. I also got a side of the esquite and it was really good, only thing I would say is that it was a bit watery. It tasted exactly how I used to eat them. There was hot Cheetos on top as well and that was my first time trying it like that! 9/10. Im not too sure of the dish name my husband ordered, but the meat was cooked to perfection! It was really good! 10/10 We also got the beach drink to try and it was pretty good. Sweet and strong alc flavors, vacation drink Thank you! read more

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Ay Mi Pa is a trendy, upscale Mexican steakhouse with easy access and a stunning ambiance--lush decor, warm lighting, and the kind of vibe that makes you want to linger. We arrived expecting to be seated, but after some time passed with no follow-up, we ended up grabbing a couple of seats at the bar. I ordered their signature cocktail, "The Purse," and it definitely lived up to the hype--refreshing, light, with hints of Aperol and rosé, served over lots of ice. For food, we shared the Botana Ay Mi Pa, a sampler platter that included esquites, birria tacos, shrimp empanadas, and guacamole with chicharrón. Everything was tasty... until we found a hair in the dish . Thankfully, the bartender handled it promptly and replaced the food without hesitation. Then, as if on cue, a fly took a dive into my fiancé's beer. Again, our bartender came through and swapped it out right away. Service overall was friendly and attentive, though clearly stretched thin--it was a packed Saturday afternoon. The food is solid, a little pricey for what it is, and the space can feel a bit congested. Still, the atmosphere makes up for a lot. I'd consider coming back--hopefully with fewer "surprises" next time. read more

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Love the food the drinks the music the vibe!!!!! Don't skip this place you gotta try. Service was great too!!! read more

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Celebrated Father's Day here and I've been here before and what I can say the food is decent not pricy either. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Vibe is nice but I've never had worse service.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Bertha was our waitress and never brought us salsa or chips or offered until we asked after hunting her down. We were not offered refills once on our water either. I was upset to find out that there's a 18% gratitudity and still be asked to give a tip. I did try to leave a review on the payment machine but she pulled it from me after seeing me leave a thumbs down and said we have to skip that part. Also the "mixed veggies" are just zucchini and onion lol she is the reason I will not be returning. I brought my dad for a good experience based on my first visit to just be embarrassed. read more

If you're looking for aesthetic and good drinks this is a good spot. However the food is hit or miss. Some food is average. The quesadillas and tacos I strongly recommend but as for the enchiladas I would not order again. Servers do a great job at being attentive and prompt. read more

Last week was the first time trying this place with a friend and had a really good experience. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place was packed so we ate outside in the covered patio.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The service was great and the tacos were fantastic! [[HIGHLIGHT]]They even had a DJ there that Saturday night.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Definitely a great vibe and good food.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

I drove over an hour and made an anniversary reservation for me and my wife only for it to be canceled because we were 5 minutes late. The receptionist at the front desk had a very poor attitude and told me she would "put me on the list" and we would have to wait another 40 minutes even though the restaurant was clearly empty with barely anyone inside. They should not be using OpenTable if they are going to cancel reservations and give you some BS excuse when you show up. This was supposed to be a special night for us and it turned into an extremely disappointing experience. Do not recommend coming here. read more

I had a very disappointing experience during my recent visit. I had a reservation and arrived on time, but there was no one at the front to greet or assist us. After waiting approximately 15 minutes, multiple staff members came to the front, yet none acknowledged us--not even with eye contact or a simple greeting. We remained patient, expecting to be checked in, but were continuously overlooked. What was especially frustrating was seeing another couple walk in after us and be immediately acknowledged while we were still being ignored. At that point, we decided to leave. The lack of basic customer service--no greeting, no communication, and no effort to assist--came across as dismissive and unprofessional. A simple acknowledgment or even a brief update would have made a significant difference. I hope this feedback is taken seriously, as this experience did not reflect well on your establishment. read more

Excellent experience at Ay Mi Pa! as usual. The food was delicious. Bertha was fantastic--she was attentive, friendly, and made sure all 13 of us felt well taken care of from start to finish. The food arrived fast as well. Overall atmosphere was great, with good vibes and great music. I highly recommend this spot for hosting parties and work meetings--they cater to larger groups with ease. Smooth reservation process over the phone. The combination of fast, friendly service and tasty dishes makes this place a top choice. We'll be coming back. read more

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