We've been waiting for Barbacoa El Jefe to open, and we were excited to try it out last week.
We were not disappointed!
We had a great experience, and the Mejia family are great hosts. Everything is fresh, delicious, and authentic.
We started out with large bowls of consomme, made with the drippings from their barbacoa meat. Oh. My Goodness -- It was fantastic! The broth was rich and so flavorful, and it had garbanzos in it as well. I doctored mine with some cilantro and onions, too. This would be a great item in the winter, but it was to die for in June, too!
Bowns were brought to our table with two kinds of fresh house-made salsa, chopped onions, and cilantro, plus chips and guacamole, and my dish came with handmade tortillas as well.
I had the carne asada plate which came with rice and beans, guacamole, and the handmade tortillas. The carne asada was tender and flavorful, and it was a generous enough portion for an entire second meal the next day.
My husband had the shrimp and carne asada quesadilla, a thick, substantial treat loaded with shrimp and meat with tons of cheese that was also too big to finish and came home for the next night's dinner.
While there, I had my first experience with horchata, and it was SO good! Rice, cinnamon, and condensed milk blended together, strained, and served over ice is an incredible combination. I think I'm now hooked on horchata!
The horchata was made in-house like the salsas and the tortillas, and you can really taste the freshness of all the ingredients. This isn't gringo Mexican food -- it's the authentic, real deal.
The restaurant was taken over in May from old owners, and the Mejias have knocked it out of the park! I saw people coming in at a steady stream the entire time we were there. Many were picking up orders to go, and some ate there like we did. They close at 7 p.m., so come after work or at lunch and enjoy a killer meal.
I'll bet this place will be jumping during the World Cup matches. They have several TVs in the seating area, and I heard there are plans to get an extra-large TV for just this purpose.
We really enjoyed everything we ate and drank at Barbacoa El Jefe, and we'll definitely be back. It's a great addition to downtown Riverside and should become the new neighborhood hangout. I love to see local businesses thrive, and this place deserves to be supported by Riverside residents. We came from Redlands, and it was well worth it. read more