This place was pretty good. They have two locations, one in the fan and one out toward Bon Air, next to the Walmart. The one by the Walmart was more crowded than the other, but worth the wait if needed. The other location, I do not plan on going back even though it is a lot closer to my house. (I'd give that location one 2-3 stars) They were a lot more friendly and willing to make adjustments to your meal. I'm on a limited carb diet, and they have this monster Burrito with a cheese tortilla. Yum!! It was huge, more than enough for one meal (the portion by the fan were smaller). It comes with tater tots and barbecue sauce, which they were willing to put on the side. (The one in the fan "forgot") The waitress was extremely helpful, and said I could order other tacos with a cheese tortilla next time I visited. (Sadly my second visit was to the one in the fan, and they didn't care enough to even tell me they couldn't... which I was even willing to pay extra for?????) I plan on going back to the one by the Walmart soon, it was busy but worth the wait. read more

Quick, easy pickup for food, even though they only take to-go orders so it was chill and not busy. The guy was operating solo and had all three of our foods ready within 5-7 minutes, so excellent service. The food itself was alright and enjoyable, nothing too out of the ordinary. Although, I would have to say their appetizer tater tots were delicious and well worth. Would definitely go again if we are around. read more

Boka Grill - Honey Truffle Tater Tots Asian Style Boka Tako - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I had heard this location closed shortly after the one on Robinson but that is not the case!! Boka is open! And while the decor is pretty basic, brown/tan tables, chairs and booths, the food is a familiar favorite Before ordering I asked if I could sub out flour for corn tortillas. The waitress had to check but they ended up having some. Seemed like it wasn't a regular thing but not sure. Regardless, I had the bulgogi beef Asian style, sambal pork Mexican style and the seared tuna. Also ordered the dip trio. Everything was really good! I will say I think they put a little too much sauce on their tacos .. but not enough to warrant a bad review. I would prob ask they go easy on the sauce for the next go round. read more

Boka Grill - Bulgogi beef, sambal pork, seared tuna on flour tortillas with dip trio - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

My girlfriend came to visit for my birthday and suggested that we try this place for lunch. We each got the Gauntlet sampler to try the different proteins and styles. Both of us loved the Asian beef -- the kimchi is a flavor explosion, and the beef was cooked to perfection. The bulgogi pork was good though a little greasy. The letdown was the chicken, which was bland and lackluster in comparison. We also had expected something special in the drink department, maybe agua frescas or something a little more exciting than canned sodas, but the food was so good we won't hold it against them -- in fact, we'll be back! read more

Boka Grill - The Gauntlet Tako - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

We decided to come back here after talking about what to eat for dinner and ultimately decided on burgers and takos, two of our favorite foods. We got here about 5:45 PM and were worried that we might not get a seat because this is normally a pretty busy time for dinner. We were surprised to find that when we got there, there were only two other parties dining in. We waited a bit to be seated at the door, and after about 5 minutes, the party of two got up, told us they had been waiting 15 minutes without a menu (and we did in fact notice they didn't have a menu), and left. This wasn't enough to cause us to leave as we came specifically for their food, but it was a little surprising. We were seated shortly after and given a menu pretty promptly. The staff member that seated us didn't really say anything though, and appeared to be talking on his phone, though it appeared to be business related. Our actual waiter came by within a few minutes and got us some water and took our orders. He was nice enough the whole time. While waiting for our food, we decided to read through some of the recent reviews here since the last time we visited, and were surprised to see so many negative ones. Our previous experiences had been pretty good, and while service was never stellar, it was never offensive. After about 30 foodless minutes, we started to wonder what might be going on. During this time, a couple other parties came, but weren't as fortunate as us to get a menu or their order in as quick as we had. The group behind us started talking about leaving as well. At one point we were told that they were having computer problems, but I'm not certain that computer problems really should be affecting a waiter's ability to stop by, make sure that people have drinks or their orders in, and in general provide, well, service. Now, our food was good. It's always good. It's never not been good, and that's why we return here. If it wasn't good we absolutely would not be back. My fiancee did say that the tacos were a little more messy than previous visits, and wasn't sure how to pick them up as they were all overlapping and in their own ingredients, but she still enjoyed them. My BBQ Bacon Burger wasn't quite as magical or visually appealing as it was when it was called a Cowboy Burger (see previous review), but it was still a satisfying dinner. For the price, it was still worth it. We love their Tako Truck and the menu is inspired, unique, and tasty. We left satisfied after eating a good meal. This has never been the problem. The problem, and reason why I'm updating my review, is most definitely the service. When we were given our bill, we overheard that the party of 6 across the room was just getting their food, and they were there before us, making it at least an hour wait for them. While our dinner was a little slow to the table, of the four other parties there during our stay, one left, one was talking about leaving, and one was incredibly patient. There were a couple people that came for pickup, which seemed to go far more smoothly than dining in, so maybe that's the way to go. I'm not sure what exactly what might have been going on tonight. If the staffing is short, please hire more instead of disregarding customers. A "computer problem" shouldn't affect the ability of a waiter to stop by and check in or the chef's ability to make food. We'll be back since we do enjoy their food and we keep each other company so we didn't really mind the wait, but we are hoping that tonight was just an off night for them. read more

Boka Grill - Three American style chicken tacos, ordered without onions and sherry aioli. Tasty! - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Great little restaurant, off Forest Hill, but have been closed for more than a few months... Very sad as the soft tacos are AMAZING!!!! They have a good truck, also, but sometimes it's nice to sit down with friends to enjoy a good meal. read more

I'm leaving this 1 star for the restaurant owner. Food is ok but at the end of the day customer service isn't good I'm not coming back. Anyone can make okay food. I had left a review before and the owner asked me to change it. I did but then I thought about it a review is my opinion. I shouldn't have to change it. The owner continues to message me. He even found my blog and my Facebook. Becareful when you leave a review he will harass you and make multiple account to contact you with. read more

Really appreciate the take on food. However execution needs work in terms of service and taco menu items. This place just opened; I'm hoping that as the restaurant matures it will be able to improve! There are some really worthwhile ideas that haven't completely come to fruition. Kale salad: Bf and I agree this was the best kale salad we've ever eaten. Sadly beats my own! Dressing is light but POW flavorful, with hint if blue cheese, infusion of bacon, right amount of sweetness to tanginess that really complements and cuts the strong flavor of kale. So well done! Accessories on the salad were simple, roasted pine nuts, blue cheese crumbles that weren't too overpowering, lightly picked tangy red onions. Honey truffle tater tots: Pretty great. Some fresh cheese crumbles on top with mayo based sauce, honey came through and was delicious in a savory way. Tacos: Mixed reviews. We tried one premium taco ($6 a pop), the shrimp and grits taco, and that was hands down the best. Sweet and savory, southern classic in taco form. What's not to like? Then we had the "gauntlet" sampler of three: tuna American style, pork Mexican, beef Asian. Tuna was the worst, just tasted like mayo. Overall the meats were just over shredded, resulting in a heavy dense consistency. The shrimp and grits taco was great but I expected all their tacos to be great because of their taco truck, and that wasn't the case. Fish and chips sandwich: Fried fish on a sandwich. Not bad, fish was super tender but started falling apart when you picked it up in the sandwich and applied any type of pressure. Fried fish and homemade chips were a bit too oily. The sauce was nice but subtle and lightly applied so we wanted more, or more seasoning. Overall turned out a tad on the bland side and the bread was getting soggy from the ingredients. Could be great with a couple adjustments! In general most of our hot food was only lukewarm. The interior design was a little sloppy, e.g. tiles that were obviously crooked and the light fixture wasn't completely installed. Path to the restroom was strange and unclear. Service was very slow and confusing albeit friendly when they interacted; we sat at our booth for a good few minutes before anyone came to talk to us or give us a menu, so we weren't sure if we were supposed to order at the counter. Love their take on food. Kind of a California mexi twist feel, but still with some southern charm to keep it relatable. A little heavy on the mayo in almost every dish, though. Hoping that these guys can take it further!! read more

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I'm blown away by this place. So yummy and flavorful!! Great presentation with the food. 5 stars hands down. read more

Boka Grill - Left) Signature tako: Bulgolgi with Asian style Right) Premium tako: chicken bacon ranch - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Visited Boka Grill with the family on a Thursday night. They were busy and unable to seat our party of 4 immediately. The restaurant set-up doesn't leave a lot of room for waiting so we awkwardly hovered near the door thankful that no one else came in behind us. After about 10 minutes we were seated. I found our server very pushy. My Grandmother (91 years old) was present and was taking her time reviewing the menu and our server stopped by way too many times to see if we were ready. The restaurant was busy, I get that. But we waited and feel like we should have been given time to look over the menu. I settled on the Gaucho (brisket sandwich with cheddar, garlic aoli, crispy potato, on ciabatta). The sandwich was ok. I couldn't taste any crispy potato but found the whole dish pretty salty. The chips that came with it didn't look burnt but tasted burnt. I also wish there had been a dipping sauce for the chips. Everyone who got tacos enjoyed them. Just during our service I saw two other tables send food back and the manager speak with them. Maybe Boka Grill is still working through some growing pains. read more

This place used be the Mediterranean Brick Oven (where my husband and I had our first date), and boy has it changed for the better! On a whim my husband and I decided to try this place, it's been on my list. The interior is small and trendy, they can sit 30-40 people max. We both started out with a cold Bold Rock, which was reasonably priced at $4 a pint. We then ordered chips and salsa. I thought the chips were great, but my husband thought they were stale. He wasn't a fan of their white and red salsa either, but I thought it was okay. The white salsa wasn't as good as your typical Mexican restaurant, but the red salsa was better. Next, we moved on to entrees. I ordered a shrimp curry noodle dish with feta cheese and tomatoes. I don't know why all those flavors worked together, but they did! I ate the entire thing. My husband ordered the gauntlet, which is 3 different styles tacos. The first taco was an Asian influence, the second American, and the third Mexican. We both agreed the American was the best, but the the Asian taco was a close second. I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone in the area. The food was great, and our server was fantastic! She went through the menu, described her favorites, and gave us recommendations. This is the perfect place for a date night or catch up with a friend. It's not too loud, and it feels cozy. I will be returning. read more

Boka Grill - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Three chicken tacos one of each flavor. The flavors were bland except for the Asian. The chicken was dark meat. Presentation was nice but it needs some pizzaz definitely needs salsa. Not what I was looking for. read more

Boka Grill - Three chicken tacos one of each flavor. - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I was so excited for Boka to reopen. We had a less than stellar experience but the owner was quick to respond and make it right. Food was still good. read more

And I thought my first experience with Boka was bad... Since posting my review, I have been called 5 times by the owner. He has tracked me to two different employers to harangue me about my review, even after he was asked to stop. When he was told more firmly that this was inappropriate behavior, he became hostile and began making amorphous threats. I don't know how to get him to stop, but it seems illegitimate to remove my warning in the face of attempted intimidation. After this interaction, I scrolled through other reviews and saw that I share this experience with many others who had a miserable meal. In short, be careful about going to this place. After nearly three months, I'm still filled with regret about ever walking through the door. And please, Patrick, don't respond. I'm not trying to start a dialogue; I'm trying to save people. read more

I can't even remember the names of the tacos I had. I had five of them, and they were all delicious. The one that stands out the most is the Cubano taco. That's right ham, pickles, and cabbage on a taco. Top that son of a gun with mustard and you have a winner. Must try!!! read more

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AMAZING!! That's all. SHRIMP AND GRITS taco or just get the "Gauntlet". ( 3 taco platter) You will not be disappointed!! read more

This is for the Mommas Barbecue truck just wanted to say we got to meet the best two guys today even with everything going on they where very nice happy to be out doing their jobs food like always A+ (Wellesley location) read more

I just discoveted this place in Kathy Graziano, 4th disrtict paper and Im so glad I did. Had the fish tacos and a mocha creme burlee and both were excellent. This place on Shelia Lane just hit the top of my list. Exellent food and our waitress was very helpful with information on their catering. Love....love...love!!! read more

Oh my gosh shrimp and grits tacos. After finding the perfect wedding dress for my daughter. I should have gotten some to go. Great.... read more

Boka Grill - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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I'm not sure what happened, honestly. Went with a friend and decided we'd try something other than the tacos for a change- those are always so good, surely everything else would be? The answer is not really. The empanadas were postage-stamp sized [which for eight dollars, when I can get a taco for four, is distressing] with mushy but not untasty filling, the fish and chips was some sort of oversized hunk of fried fish with salsa and I don't know what all that was difficult to fit into the mouth despite being presented as a sandwich and didn't actually come -with fries- unless you specifically selected them, and the viet-nomnomnom was... I don't know. The slaw on top tasted weird and the patties in the sandwich were a little dry. The side of broccoli was drowned in I don't know what sort of butter-flavored sauce to the point I couldn't even eat it. All three dishes came across feeling like they'd been cooked by someone who'd never -had- fish and chips, or empanadas, or even a real burger before and was trying to make food from a foreign country that someone had told them about a year or more ago. And the service? It was... lackluster at best. The visit itself was probably worth two stars, but previous experiences were better, so I we'll average it So... stick with tacos, my friends. Honestly, get them from the truck, then you don't have to sit awkwardly and be ignored for lengthy periods of time while the waitstaff does a whole lot of not much in a mostly empty restaurant and refuses to make eye contact. I am intensely disappointed, though I will probably return for the tacos again at some point, because they have yet to fail me, and the location is pretty convenient. read more

4 stars for food 1 star for service Food: We stuck with what we knew and ordered the tacos. You really can't go wrong there. You pick a protein (I went with tofu), and then a style. I had American and Mexican and they were both delicious. Next time I want to try some of their other sandwiches, though. Service: It was awful. Our waitress disappeared for long stretches of time. We asked to sample beers and she kept forgetting. Instead of apologizing, she made it sound like we were cool to keep waiting. She royally screwed up our bills. None of us was charged the correct amount. She had to keep redoing the bills. By that time the place had cleared out, so the ridiculousness couldn't even be chalked up to being overwhelming busy. Not much in the way of ambience, but the food and beer are good and definitely worth a try. read more

Tried the Boka truck a few years ago & was not overly impressed, but Boka grill left more of an impression on me. Not sure if it was the tentative nature of my waiter or the hunger that had been looming for hours prior to my arrival, but I was very pleased & I'm looking forward to my next visit. I ordered the truffle tater tots, they were good, I want to try the empanadas next time. My takos of choice were the Asian beef, fish (favorite) & beef brisket. All unique & delicious. Kids friendly, casual, quick & clean! read more

Boka Grill - Asian beef, beef brisket, fish tako (my favorite). Bottom pic, truffle tarot tots- yum! - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

First impressions address lasting. This small new restaurant was crowded on Friday night and diners were waiting in the dining room and out the door. The staff seemed somewhat overwhelmed. The beer list is good, but I will never understand why so many restaurants refuse to serve even one non- craft beer. It always seems a little snobby to me, as in take what I give you, your undeveloped tastes don't matter to me. All that said, once seated after about 20 minutes, the food and service were outstanding! Get the fish and chips sandwich and sweet potato fries, but if you're not a fan, be sure to tell them to hold the cilantro, its on EVERYTHING. I'll be back and sitting at one of Kiki's tables for a smile and perfect service. read more

The food is AMAZING. The based lamb shank more than worth the wait and I appreciated that the cook/owner mentioned it would take a little longer. It is a new restaurant venue so there are some minor restaurant management issues to address but the owner has been very proactive in addressing them. I can't wait to go back and try another dish! read more

I just lived their tacos and tater tots are the bomb. I phoned ahead but ran late in picking up my order so it was kind of soggy. London and Stephanie completely remade my order - and it was my own fault! They have great customer service and it's a real treat for take out night, especially after working the UCI Cycling Championship all day. Definitely 5 stars for service AND their fish tacos! read more

Boka Grill - Best customer service. This is the super nice guy who remade my order. Stephanie helped re make my order too! - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

The food was good, but it will take them forever to bring your appetizer, food and drinks. Don't dine in, call in for carry out. And by all means call them in order to confirm your order is ready for pickup. read more

Went back for another shot at Boka recently. It's not bad. Not my favorite restaurant in the area, but I wouldn't not go back if the opportunity presented itself. The food is good and the beer selection is great. The Crab Rangoon dip was delicious, but the wontons were extremely salty. I also had three of the Mexican Signature Boka Takos, one with each protein. They were good, but they had way too much Chipolte Crema on them. Aside from being really messy, the sauce overpowered the rest of the ingredients. I ended up trying to remove much of the sauce. Thank you to Stephanie for her kind offer for us to return to the restaurant. read more

Thrilled to have Boka Grill and Growlers here on the south side. They've really livened up the old Mediterranean Brick Oven space, although I'd like to eventually see the generic old tables and mismatched chair replaced with something cooler. Still, great tacos and an amazing beer list! Can't wait to come in on a weekend and put back a few pints, So far I've only tried the standard tacos that are also available on their trucks. If you know them, you'll be happy. Very consistent. Looking forward to trying some specials and different entrees on another visit. My only complaint about the tacos is they need more zip and zing! Fresh jalapeno slices, maybe? Fresh hot sauces on the tables (Note to the world: Sriracha is getting boring). Still, the bottom line is, the place is a wonderful addition to the area! Glad to see you here Boka, keep it up. read more

Just tried Boka Grill & Growlers for the first time aside from trying something at their food truck once and it was... Okay. I tried The Gauntlet because I thought it would be the true taste of the three types of tacos they're known for. The "mexican" chicken taco was bland in my opinion, the "american" pork taco was AMAZING and lastly the "Asian" need taco was just not edible (again, in my opinion) overall I wouldn't say it's horrible, it's kind of one places that you just find what you like and never stray. read more

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I decided to try this place out for lunch on a Friday afternoon. The cashier was pleasant, and took my order right away. While waiting for her to return with my change another worker greeted me and asked if I was being helped. I received positive customer service from the employees. However I ordered the gauntlet which was alright, but I could live without. That was fine, I could always come another time and try something else on the menu. What is keeping me from returning is the way I felt 10 minutes after eating the food which was unpleasant. I'm not allergic to anything and I don't have a weak stomach so when I eat something that makes me feel bad, it's simply because I ate bad food. read more

Boka Grill - The Gauntlet "To Go" - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Super tasty! How can u go wrong w chicken, beans, cheese, ranch lime. Good stuff sucks they are only on Southside. read more

Boka Grill - yum - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

First visit to Boka and not the last! Tried the "Tako" combination and loved the Asian And the American. The Mexican with chicken was kinda bland. Great atmosphere and not over noisy. Service was informative but not intrusive. Menu was creative and want to try other offerings read more

There is nothing better than a Boca breakfast taco at the Forest Hill Farmers Market on a warm summer Saturday morning. I don't know why I waited so long to sample Boca Grill and Growlers. I just needed a little sumpin sumpin and there it was. A beef brisket taco with melted cheeses and tomatoes and crunchy something. The waitress recommended a shot of tequila and lime with the happy hour beer. Perfectly delicious. Can't wait to bring my girlfriends one early evening! read more

Boka Grill - Happy Hour at Boca Grill! - New American Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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my favorite place to get a taco. you have to try the Braised Beef Brisket. my favorite. the nachos with salsa roja are also fresh and delicious. read more

I got a take out order today with the street corn, guacamole, a shrimp and grits taco, a Mexican pork taco and an American pork taco. The shrimp and grits was full of some type of oil, couldn't eat it, the pork tacos were not good, and the guac tasted as though it was 4 days old. Definitely not what I am used too with past visits but after putting 32.00 in the trash its likely will never go back. Very disappointed as I have been a fan since the beginning. read more

Decided to switch up our usual Mexican circuit and try Boka. I'm usually disappointed with the food but, since it's right down the road I figured I'd give it a shot. We were greeted by a less than enthusiastic person behind the counter that acted as if it were a major inconvenience that we were ordering food. While we were ordering, the other person in the restaurant was arguing about labor division within the restaurant and "wanted to get this place closed up so i won't be here all night." We reluctantly ordered and took a seat. The runner came out with our chips and dip with headphones on dropped our food and left. That's fine. Unprofessional but, fine. When our food was brought out the runner was talking on her phone. She dropped the food off on the side of the table and left. Most importantly the food was inedible. I order a fish taco which was probably my mistake but, it just tasted old, like it had been heated and reheated. My fiancé said the same thing about the shrimp taco. We both ordered a brisket taco which was also sub par. Stale and lack luster. I STRONGLY recommend going literally anywhere else. read more

If you want good, consistent food, you need to check out Boka Taco next door to the LOWE's on Forest Hill. Went last night hoping to get Moma's BBQ for the second time (as it was so Good the first time) only to be greeted with a sign at the door saying "We Want You To Meat our New Menu " but guess what...they reverted back to the old menu and no longer have Moma's BBQ Bummer. We stayed and ate anyway...good food... Good neighbor...don't pass it by because of it's location...tacos, tater tots to die for, burgers, and who knows; maybe BBQ sometime in the future PLEASE bring back the BBQ. The Trucks are even parked in your parking lot!!! read more

Had an early dinner on Saturday, saw this restaurant tucked in the corner. What a find! First, $2.00 margaritas and those empanadas .......love the empanadas. Our server was dope - impressed he doesn't write anything down and the food was perfect - I don't eat cheese and avocados - a pain in the ass! My tacos - one Mexican one Asian melt in your mouth, I can't wait to go back. My dude enjoyed his food as well - next time warm the rice trust me it was cold. But needless to say $2 margaritas.. see you again guys!!!' read more

Food is great and the staff is always very accommodating. Kiki is fantastic and always makes dinner easy by entertaining our 3 year old! She really goes above and beyond to serve her customers. Would love to see mixing up the beers on the happy hour menu. read more

On a recent visit, we had the worst service ever! After talking with the owner, though, I was impressed. The problem was actually taken care of, and the owner is a really decent guy. The food is amazing, amazing, amazing! Seriously, check it out. Fantastic food. read more