I've read the reviews over the past couple months and it's interesting to see how few have said this place is So-So. For us i trying Don Ricardo's Bar and Grill for the 3nd time It's always very satisfying the staff is very attentive The bartender comes checks on your drinks Chef Julian is always on point on everything coming out of his kitchen Great portions fresh ingredients Your meal comes hot right out the grill or stove/oven Their chips are the best the Salsa little too much onions but it's fine . I guess and I think they've improved a lot - Thank you Chef Julian - for having us at your restaurant. read more

We came to Don Ricardo's Bar & Grill in Arcadia for Cinco De Mayo and there was a live band. [[HIGHLIGHT]]While I appreciated the live music, it was VERY LOUD.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The servers were nice but food service was very slow. They do serve food and drinks during happy hours from 5pm to 7pm which I am going to try to take advantage of next time to try their food. Their happy hours drinks were not very good. The complimentary chips and salsa on the other hand, were delicious, especially the salsa! I got the Steak Picado: Steak sautéed with tomatoes, onions, bell peppers and potatoes, garnished with cilantro, served with rice and beans. Frankly the steak quality was poor and it was overcooked even though I asked for medium. My partner got the Rib-Eye Platter and the steak quality was much better. The mocktail lasted like poor quality lemonade and wasn't original or inspirational. The churros were overly sweet. The place has limited on-site parking but you can usually find free street parking on 2nd. read more

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I gave it a 5 star just not to talk down on this place, only thing that they should work on is their food quality.. I ordered mole and it is not mole sauce.. mole is dark dark brown not orange... does not have the taste.. nice place but you need better cooks... change cooks and believe me, you will do better... staff is nice... get new cooks period.. ok Ricardo Don read more

Came in on a random Saturday night and my we were seated in a comfy booth immediately. Friendly staff, but just absolutely horrible food. There's nothing Mexican about the food, and it certainly doesn't pride itself in the freshest ingredients. I must be honest about my experience, everything was very unfortunate. Chicken mole enchiladas 1/10 The Mole sauce tasted like it came out of a can, and the shredded chicken could've passed for cat food. Queso 1/10 A salty glob of glue :( Espresso Martini 2/10 Way too strong, I could hardly taste anything other than alcohol [[HIGHLIGHT]]The bar was filled with locals who appeared to go there often to get their heavily poured cocktails. And they seemed to be buzzed enough to not care if the food tasted good.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] But for myself, this place just won't do. To make matters worse, when it was time to pay, their system was down and so we had to wait a few minutes for them to process our payment. Save your time and money, and skip this place. read more

Don Ricardo's Bar & Grill - Way too strong, could hardly drink it - Mexican Near Me - Arcadia, California

For the price you can't go wrong! We came for happy hour and our food came out to under $35 with tip. They were very tending, the food came out quick, I also really liked that they brought out chips & salsa & beans to dip your chips in! It was really good. After I have my baby I will definitely be back for a margarita cause I've heard they're really good. Definitely will come back for more food during happy hour though! read more

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Went here yesterday for a late lunch. Missed out on the specials but was not disappointed at all! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is very welcoming inside. Very clean and authentic decor[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. The waiter Jesus was a young guy and very helpful. West in the back at a table. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The chairs seemed to have been recently reupholstered and are not comfortable at all. They sit way too high for the tables. The booth was no different[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. We ordered off the regular menu and ordered combinations. Mom ordered the beef taco, chili relleno with rice and beans. Ok that's combo. I on the other hand ordered beef taquitos! Yummy. With rice and beans. Not sure how one offered item is a combo ?? The chips and salsa are great tasting and hot. The salsa although great was way too watery. The appetizer bean dip was delicious and spicy. I definitely recommend this restaurant it was authentic and fresh. read more

Don Ricardo's Bar & Grill - Chili relleno with the beef taco. - Mexican Near Me - Arcadia, California

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I've always wondered about this restaurant since I passed by to everyday. Came with some friends on a Friday night and we finally gave it a shot! Parking is definitely limited so prepared to park on the street. I'm not sure if it was because of the birthday reservation, but the wait took longer than I expected. Servers were still attentive and always made sure our chips and water were filled. I absolutely LOVED the enchilada and tamale combo. The carnitas and chicken did not feel dry at all and I enjoyed the flavors. And the rice!!!! read more

Don Ricardo's Bar & Grill - Mexican Near Me - Arcadia, California

I was a bit iffy on ordering a shrimp cocktail because the last time I ate here I didn't like my food BUT I would definitely buy another one from here again! It was exactly what a Shrimp cocktail should be! Flavor on point which to me is a big deal because some places have NO business making them lol read more

This place is def a spot to come check out if you're in the Arcadia area! I got the beef taquito plate with rice and beans nice and crispy taquitos perfect amount of food! Come with chips & salsa you will def walk out of here with a full belly and a smile on your face! read more

Don Ricardo's Bar & Grill - Mexican Near Me - Arcadia, California

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$22 for a burrito with almost no meat and very little guac or sour cream. It was basically a giant bean and rice burrito. I would not recommend read more

Meh. I couldn't believe how busy this place was. We had an event in the area so dropped in. Chips & salsa were the best thing they had going. The Don Ricardo app platter had cold beans and cheese dumped on top of chips and they called it nachos. The taquitos and flautas were also cold and oily. The chicken wings were oddly the best tasting thing at a Mexican restaurant. The chili verde came out ice cold. We had to wave down servers if we needed something, including water. The bar was busy...margaritas and sports seemed to be the magical combo. Unfortunately, that was one and done for me. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Don Ricardo's is always packed.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Parking lot is tiny and service is a bit slow. Thursday 7pm we waited 15 minutes to order and another 20 minutes for food to arrive. Food is decent enough but the wait is unbearable. Will try takeout in the future. read more

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Super good food , friendly service lots of parking spaces well served portions I highly recommend this spot and the drinks are off the wall made to perfection read more

Don Ricardo's Bar & Grill - So delicious - Mexican Near Me - Arcadia, California

I don't know what it is, but taco Tuesday goes crazy. They were also really attentive in service

Lol, i just happened to be there when those kids that wrote the bad reviews were there. They were being unruly to say the least. Ive been here twice and my mom is a regular and ive had nothing but a great experience with both the service and food. Plus their happy hour menu is one of the best deals around town. Will be back soon for more taquitos. read more

Don Ricardo's is by far our favorite Mexican restaurant. If you're looking for authentic, flavorful, mouth watering varieties of food and drinks, this is definitely your go to spot! Some of my favorite dishes are the camarones al mojo de ajo, carne asada plate, & chilaquiles plate for breakfast! The micheladas & margaritas are delicious as well! Everything is a 10/10! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The only complaint I have is the table of kids who were being very obnoxious, causing trouble for the staff, and who are most likely leaving false reviews.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I've dined into Don Ricardo's many times and have had nothing but great experiences with all the staff & manager. Thank you Gumaro & the Don Ricardo's team! read more

Love the happy hour chicken taquitos, chips and salsa, and the drinks. The service is quick and great. read more

Don Ricardo's Bar & Grill - New Happy Hour hours - Mexican Near Me - Arcadia, California

Servers passive aggressive and food is dry/bland. It's not like a terrible joint and they do an ok job on drinks but yeah as far a Mexican place is considered and server doing their job I just am gonna say "eh" read more

Please bring back Pacos with their menu and margaritas. The food here is terrible. Soooo sad that they took away another great restaurant....:( read more

The service was exceptionally friendly, and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the ambiance was warm and inviting.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We tried the caldo and a burrito, both of which had enjoyable flavors. While neither dish reached the extraordinary heights of a first-time food experience, they were still satisfying and definitely worth trying for a delightful meal. read more

Food always very good, great Mexican food! Pricing about average and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the kids love it there.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

Came in for an early Cinco de Mayo lunch and had a great experience! Simple, delicious lunches, lovely chips/salsa, unique homemade bean dip, and cozy, welcoming vibes! Staff were very upbeat and friendly - definitely a solid choice for Mexican food in the SGV. This used to be Paco's but changed owners some time ago and we've been meaning to come try it - now I'm wishing we had come sooner lol. The restaurant has a lovely, warm ambiance and all the staff were very welcoming. They start you off with warm chips with fresh salsa and their homemade bean dip which I've never seen at any other Mexican spots - it was fantastic!! Both dips were very flavorful and their chips were crisp and fresh. I really loved their salsa - had lots of fresh cuts of tomatoes/onions and was just the right amount of heat. For our lunch, my hubby got the combo #5 that comes with an enchilada and a tamale, traditional rice and refried beans. For the choice of meat he went with pork. He loved it and I tried some too and it was excellent. The pork was soft and flavorful and the green sauce is what you'd expect- very nice! I got the Enchiladas del Mar - comes with two enchiladas packed full of large, supple pieces of quality shrimp, smothered in their yummy green sauce and topped with cheese. The plate comes with a lime/cilantro rice and charro style pinto beans. The lime rice was fantastic and definitely superior to their traditional rice imo - but my hubby had the opposite take so it's personal preference lol. They have quite a large menu with prices you'd expect nowadays- but their weekday lunch specials sounded great and those prices were impressive! They have taco Tuesday specials too and also have a Yelp check in offer for your first visit which is very generous (15% off) - and they even honored it on Cinco de Mayo. They have a small amount of parking in their lot but there's also surrounding street parking. This was some of the nicest Mexican food I've had since I left Texas - Lovely experience and we'll definitely be back! read more

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What an amazing place. The food, the cocktails, and the overall service is impeccable. I come here often, and there's a reason for that. I tend to see the same regulars who frequent, Don Ricardo's, as much as me, and that speaks volume! Love this gem! read more

I found in an order for chicken soup. I told him I didn't want any tortillas or chips. I told them I would be there at 3 PM to pick it up. When I got there, no one was at the front greet or help. I waited a bit and finally someone came out. The bar is visible from when you enter there was a bartender there waiting on people. It took a bit for them to bring my chicken soup. I looked in the bag. It looked like it was intact. However, I live 10 minutes away and had a meeting on zoom when I returned and found the soup container leaked all over my passenger floor with all the liquid of the soup and the vegetables on the floor. There was one carrot left and the chicken itself. I immediately called. They transferred me to the manager, whose name was I believe Gabino. He basically told me he packed the soup himself, and there was no way the soup had leaked. I told him I had no reason to lie and it was all over the floor of my front passenger seat. All I was requesting was to return after my meeting and get just the broth with some vegetables nothing else. He refused and basically called me a liar. I would like the owner to call me back or to contact me. I do not recommend this place just based on my treatment there. I was not asking for anything unreasonable. The soup cost was.$18.73. There was about 2 tablespoons of broth left and one piece of carrots. With some chicken. I feel very ripped off. BEWARE AND DOUBLE CHECK YOUR ORDER! read more

Let me start by saying everything was terrific. However. Im not sure why every Mexican restaurant in Southern California is so overpriced. Quest was $15!! Seriously? Why? I just find it odd. read more

Don Ricardo's Bar & Grill in Arcadia, CA serves up an over-seasoned (read salty) Chile Verde burrito. Not very good at all. They do a great job with their complimentary chips, salsa, and refried beans starter. While the aqua frescas are limited, the staff is friendly and welcoming. 2 stars for them and the complimentary appetizer. Do yourself a favor and hit Mercado in Pasadena for the best carnitas or El Arco in Lincoln Heights for a better Chile Verde burrito. read more

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Excellent breakfast with Great service. Also the coffee was very good along with the tasty salsa and the wonderful bean dip. Would definitely eat there again, read more

If I could put no stars I would. My mother and I have been coming here my whole entire life since it's down the street from us but we will no longer be returning unfortunately. They changed the menu and the food is just no longer what it was, probably to cut costs. I asked the manager for an extra side of ketchup and he seemed annoyed by my request - something I have never experienced from any restaurant manager ever. And then as the cherry on top, the table next to us got into a full blown argument with the same manager and the waitress. Not totally sure what the issue was with that table but from what I could hear, it was once again due to the manager's poor attitude and the restaurant's poor food quality. Something has definitely changed with this establishment and it is no longer what it was. We will now be exclusively going to Casa Del Rey in Sierra Madre as our local Mexican food restaurant! read more

Definitely 10/10 !!! Food was great ! Drinks are in point ! Super ice cold beer every time I'm here ! Very friendly staff ! I got the fajitas and came out steaming hot ! Super good ! Highly recommend if looking for some good Mexican food ... definitely will be back ! read more

This place is solid. Nothing super specific stands out but it's a nice spot with a lot of space to have a standard meal. They give you chips at the beginning with salsa and spicy bean dip which is nice. Their Cadillac margaritas are pretty trash. My stepmom couldn't even drink hers it was that bad. If they hired better bartenders it be a good spot for their happy hour which has great options of appetizers like taquitos and nachos. Overall it's an ok place. read more

We've been here a few times now, and it's been great to see the progression. Our first visit was right after they took over Paco's a few years back. At the time, the food was fine not bad, but still finding its footing. Fast forward to now, and they've really dialed it in. It's not exactly like eating in Zacatecas, but the flavors are solid. We love the sizzling steak fajitas they come out of the kitchen sounding like a steam train and smelling even better. The steak is always tender, and the veggies are cooked just right. I usually go for the chicken mole. It's not exactly like grandma made it back in Baja, but it scratches the itch when you're craving mole and it definitely beats anything nearby. Also worth mentioning: they've got a strong chips, salsa, and refried beans game. The cocktails are solid too, but I'd recommend asking for something a step up from the well liquor. All in all, a great local spot that keeps getting better. read more

Sat at bar where Gilbert was my server who was outstanding. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Music and atmosphere just right for a Saturday afternoon.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Had appetizers and soup just perfect. Had been here for Arcadia Chamber event and glad to be back. Thanks read more

Great Ambiance,love the decor Love the El Rey Margarita much better then the house margarita. Service was okay Love the small dish of beans offered with a side of chips and salsa. I asked for a small sample of their mole sauce hoping I would love it since I love & follow mole dishes . It was okay very thin/light not much flavor actually missing some seasonings. I order Chile Colorado ,had a very good flavor with a spice kick to it enjoyed it -good rice and beans The red enchiladas was good very basic sauce , more tolerable flavor for kids no big spice. I did enjoy a flavor able flan read more

Don Ricardo's Bar & Grill - Red chicken enchiladas with rice & beans - Mexican Near Me - Arcadia, California

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One of the Worst Dining Experiences I've Had - Stay Away I've driven past this place countless times, always wondering if I should give it a shot. The reviews were mostly bad, but I saw a recent one claiming it was worth trying--so I went against my gut instinct. Big mistake. The experience was awful from the start. I ordered three hard shell chicken tacos, and the moment they arrived, I could tell something was off. The chicken was full of cartilage and bits of bone, making the tacos completely inedible. I tried a second one hoping it was a fluke--same issue. It made my stomach turn. I let the waiter (an older gentleman who wasn't friendly to begin with) know I couldn't eat them and tried to explain why. He literally walked away mid-sentence, and when I asked him to let me finish, he just rolled his eyes and stood there. I showed him the bones and cartilage, and instead of apologizing or offering a solution, he just took the plate and brought me the check--charging me for all three tacos. When I asked to speak with a manager, I was ignored multiple times. After asking several times, the same rude waiter finally came over with an attitude, telling me the manager was "too busy" but had given me a 15% discount. That discount didn't even cover the cost of one taco. He claimed it was because I had taken a bite of the food, which I only did to try and give it a chance. I left feeling disgusted--not just by the food, but by the way I was treated. It felt like they're used to complaints and just go through the motions. If I could report this place to get it shut down, I would. I can't imagine what the kitchen looks like based on what I was served. Please support the many clean, respectful, and delicious restaurants out there instead of wasting your time (and stomach) on this one. read more

We love dining with and ordering takeout from Don Ricardo's. The service is always friendly, [[HIGHLIGHT]]the restaurant is cozy[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], and the food is always delicious. We called to place a catering order 24 hours in advance and the manager was extremely helpful and made great suggestions. It made our party a success. If you want great Mexican food, visit Don Ricardo's. read more

It was awesome and smooth dealing with Gumaro! He definitely helped our high school band from the valley, with a great deal - even putting each person's name on each order, and throwing in some chips & salsa as a bonus! Even though we're not from the area, he made it so easy for us to have a great experience during our competition day! I'm so glad I found you guys online! Thanks for all your help Gumaro! =) read more

This used to be Pacos Tacos, yes? I loved the happy hour food and prices. Those margaritas and chicken crunchy tacos were bomb. I hope those are the same. I'm stopping by soon! read more

The food was awful.Both items, I don't know which one was worse. The service was mediocre at best attitude. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance not a good taste all in all.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I will never be back!!! The best thing about it was my company.She's been my friend for a long time.And we always have a good time no matter what. read more

So I went on a Saturday with my mom. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The lighting is real low so that kind of threw me off a bit.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Like what you trying to hide lol. The chips, salsa and beans were good. The service was not great mind you we were the first customers and then about 30 mins later more customers started coming in. My server checked on us maybe once after he served our food... Food: either I had an off day or the food was not that great. I ordered the chorizo and egg breakfast burrito and it just wasn't good. It lacked flavor. My mother ordered the menudo and she did not like it at all. Even after putting in tapatio and cholula. So I'm gonna give this place a 3 for now and try it one more time. But just off of this visit I wouldn't recommend it. read more

I would say the ratings are pretty accurate. I came for $2 taco Tuesdays. They were ok. I ordered a regular taco with asada and fried taco with shredded beef. The meat was well cooked and moist but relatively bland. The highlight of the meal was the free chips and salsa. I especially enjoyed their chips, which seemed to be homemade. Overall, I may come here again, but it's not a go-to. read more

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