Esmeralda&#x27;s Mexican Restaurant

Excellent food (try the pescado tacos). Chips and salsa -…read moreawesome. Excellent service. The place was spotless. The staff were very friendly. I highly recommend!!

We walked in as a party of 6 without a reservation and were offered a high-top table. We let the…read morewaiter know that we were willing to wait for a lower table instead. We waited patiently for about 25 minutes, only to see a party of 10 walk in **without a reservation** and get seated at a lower table within about 5 minutes of arriving. Meanwhile, we were still waiting. It was frustrating to see a larger walk-in party get seated before us when we had already been waiting and had specifically asked for a lower table. I understand that seating can be complicated, but the way this was handled did not feel fair or like good customer service. Unfortunately, this experience left a bad impression and could have been handled much better.

Bar at Primos on September 7, 2023

Sides that come with the fajitas

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Corn dip

La Mexicana de Ripon

4.4(104 reviews)

0.9 mi

We go for their ready made food items. We love the chili rellenos and the variety of salsas. Best…read morein town!

Food is always super good. Only negative thing is a bit over priced for the amount of food you get…read more Burritos have got smaller and the barely any chicken in the chicken salad.

Hot Plate Menus

The size is a little bigger than a Taco Bell bean burrito.

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A La Carte Menu

Las Casuelas

2.8(119 reviews)

1.1 mi

Good service. Good drinks and food! Their drinks are fun! People are friendly and most of their…read morestuff speak Spanish too!

Mexican cuisine is some of the best food in the world. People should be driving from miles around…read moreto come to Las Casuelas. It could be great but nobody seems to give a *%&! If you don't care, I don't care. I'm not eating here anymore. I'd rather make a bologna sandwich at home. Having eaten at Las Casuelas at least a dozen times, I've gotten the full experience. At best, the food here ever so slightly resembles something truly Mexican. The flavors are muted. The mole, for example, tastes like it was made out of box. It lacks complexity. The beans seem to just sit on hold and have the quality of leftovers. This place is more like Chevys than a real Mexican restaurant. If you want to drink beer, eat salsa, chips, and guacamole then this is the place for you. The service is friendly but that doesn't mean the service can be considered good. Frankly, I don't care if they throw the food at me as long as it tastes good! Just because you serve it with a smile doesn't make it taste any better. The focus seems to be on expediting the food out of the kitchen window instead of considering, "Would I serve this to my mother?" The restaurant doesn't appear to have consistent recipes nor the cooks who are trained and willing to live up to any standard. There is no attention to detail. For the most part, ingredients seem to be thrown together in a sloppy and haphazard way. I've always had to remind the servers to make sure my food comes out hot, please don't overcook the food, can you be sure to bring us some salsa??? This final time, I asked for Chicken Milanese which is essentially a pounded out piece of chicken breast. It's fried chicken. I asked them to please refrain from overcooking it. What arrived was a very, very thin peace a chicken that had been fried to a crisp. It was more of a cracker than poultry at that point. All of the juices and fat had been cooked right out of the chicken breast. Tasteless. If the same chicken had not been pounded down to the thickness of a fingernail, then it would have been harder to murder it in the deep fryer. I let the waiter know and he didn't care. My friend asked for soup without vegetables. Guess what? I spent my dinner watching him conduct soup-surgery, removing the vegetables like he was playing that game, Operation, and dripping broth all over the table in the process. People usually go to restaurants to have the cooks prepare the food for them and, unless you're at a Korean BBQ, most costumers expect the food to arrive at the table, "ready-to-eat". Alright, this is the nail in the coffin. They served me a tomato with the tomato pit in it. Do I need to prep the tomatoes now too? All of you can do better, you just don't.

Claudia's Favorite - Beef Taquitos

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Flat chicken taco salad... missing everything but the lettuce.

Taqueria Ripon

3.6(162 reviews)

1.2 mi

I ordered a bean and cheese burrito. The beans and cheese were tasty. It fell apart after the…read morethird bite. Ok well it wasn't on the menu. A little expensive with a drink, $15. It was a walk up and order and they did bring me the food. Very nice inside.

After our family photoshoot down the street, we were sure craving some good Mexican food! We…read morewandered in here, and there were a few people sitting down to eat, but it was overall pretty quiet. The littles were asleep in the truck already, so we just ordered 3x carne asada super burritos and a kids quesadilla to go. Service was fast, friendly, and on par with our expectations. The carne asada was way more flavorful and moist than expected, and the burritos were delicious. The kids quesadilla, was just that- plain tortilla and cheese. Two (8 inch?) tortillas and a little bit of cheese melted in the middle. It wasn't much cheese and was surprisingly expensive for what it was, in my opinion. I definitely think this place has some yummy food and the service was good. Overall, I'd recommend Taqueria Ripon if you're in the area.

Self-serve salsa bar

Literally no meat

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Front of the restaurant and outdoor seating

Aguililla Mexican Food

4.3(128 reviews)

4.2 mi

Service was fast, food was tasty, and the beer was cold. Hubby and I shared a super burrito and it…read morewas delicious! The chicken tender and moist with a slight smokey taste. The beans soft and well seasoned and the guac perfect!

Well.. its closed Mondays and Tuesday temporary..I'll just have to come on one of these other days…read moreto give my reviews..

Aguililla

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Ede's Taco Shop

3.1(101 reviews)

1.0 mi

Walked in with my Pops for lunch. Walked out grinnin'. Ede's IS good, plain and simple. Did not do…read moremy usual bathroom check so I can't really say they have one. The restaurant itself was clean and maintained. I noticed a patio outside but we chose to sit in and peruse the menu while we ate. Bebidas(Drinks): Negra Modelo on tap is like winning the lottery, well close anyway. Bohemia IS like winning the lottery! Any Mexican joint that serves Bohemia is already ahead in the game as far as I am concerned. Sadly, many do not so Negra is more common. But I win on this day :) Comida(Food): Chips, Salsa, Frijoles(Beans): Chips are hot, fresh and crispy. Thin style similar to Chevy's. Salsa had great flavor but needed more heat for my dad and me. Understandable considering the demographic of Ripon however. Holy Frijoles! Beans are critical to any self respecting Mexican establishment. Unfortunately, Lard is a bit of a pariah in this day (of yoga) and age (of No GMOs). Mexican cuisine is NOT diet/health food by nature so you're kidding yourself if you think a few grams of lard is gonna be the straw that broke your burro's back. Relax, that's what Diet Coke is for right? Lay off the chips or save up your daily points/calories and treat yourself. We only go around once after all. Besides, you can't get any better on the flavor/texture scale than lard. If the beans are runny, that's oil. If the beans are like wet cement, that's just gross. Most places don't do it right, Ede's does. Tacos, Tacos, y Mas Tacos: Between my Dad, Me and My Mom's To-Go Order, I think we got em all. I ordered the small Taco Truck Tacos and Dad got the Regulars (American size). Regulars have extra ingredients like lettuce and onions. And of course, they are larger. I got those sweet little numbers you get off a legit Mexicano Truck. No Fuss, No Muss. As they had Lengua, Pastor, and Chorizo, I felt it necessary to do my part for mankind and get all three. They also had the more common Asado (Beef), Pollo (Chicken), and Carnitas (Pork) Lengua: Perfect flavor and Tenderness simply dressed on a fine corn tortilla. Flavors complemented each other while keeping the Lengua in the spotlight. Pastor: Pastor, for those who don't know, is marinated pork that is vertically spit-roasted like shawarma or gyro meat. Not sure if this particular piggy was cooked in such a manner, but it was tasty nonetheless. Again, simply dressed on the same little corn tortilla. Chorizo: Mexican Chorizo is a childhood favorite of mine and in this case, and really hit the spot.. Pan Fried to a point where it was crispy but moist. Chorizo quickly turns to carbon if you orvercook it and you are left with a pile of acrid tasting charcoal. Not good. Ede's simple yet well balanced Chorizo Taco is dressed like the previous two on the same corn tortilla and fired on all cylinders. Dad ordered Lengua Tostada and a couple Tacos like mine. The tostada looked like a tostada and my Dad looked like a happy man. We asked our server, Yavida (sorry if I got that wrong), who was very gracious and friendly. I would not hesitate to go back to Ede's even though there are two more Mexican joints yards away.

There's plenty of seating inside, along with two private restrooms. A nice touch is that the sinks…read moreare located outside the bathrooms, making it easy for customers to wash their hands without waiting for a restroom to open up. Their menu is fairly extensive and includes all the typical dishes you'd expect from a Mexican restaurant. I did find the prices to be a bit higher compared to similar spots, but I don't mind paying more when the quality and flavor justify it. They also offer Taco Tuesdays from 3-9 PM, Thursdays from 4-9 PM, and happy hour Monday through Thursday from 4-8 PM. We ordered the carnitas street tacos and chicken rolled taquitos. Shortly after being seated, our server brought out complimentary chips and salsa. The chips tasted fresh, and the salsa had great flavor. The tacos were enjoyable overall, but unfortunately the taquitos fell short. They had a good crunch, but were pretty bland on their own and needed salsa to add flavor. This probably wouldn't become one of my regular spots, but I'd come back occasionally to try other menu items.

Neat and clean, but .....

Carnitas tostada

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Restaurant and service dog welcome signs.

El Jardin

3.9(868 reviews)

5.0 mi

This is our go-to Mexican restaurant now. If you're a volume eater, go here!!! They have high…read morequality food at a high quantity (the plates are HUGE). Everything is priced very reasonably, too. Food: Two enchiladas with carne asada: 5/5 -- I prefer the salsa verde, but you can do red or both! Their big plates come with rice and refried beans. Bean dip: 5/5 -- I could come here just for this! Warm refried beans with crema, queso fresco, and salsa verde. Chips & Salsa: 5/5 -- Some of the chips are nice and puffy, which is a fun and different texture as you go through the basket. I always ask for extra salsa to eat with my meal! Service: Our servers have always been friendly and attentive! Ambiance: They play a mix of different Latin music, and they don't blast it through the speakers. The decor is cute and their bathroom is always clean!

I thought I'd get some lunch to go. Ordered what I wanted…read moreplus the drink. I asked if I can get a couple of slices of Limes or lemons with my burrito that I had ordered at the counter.... The front counter lady said it would have to be an extra cost for a couple of slices of lemons or limes.....I asked her to run that be me again. She said it will coast extra for slices of limes or lemon. She said that Is their rule...it blew my mind That asked for limes for Mexican Food At charge . That was Greed and lacked any customer Satisfaction for 2 slices of lemon or lime. It is common practice that all Mexican Latino restaurants, taquerias, That serve Mexican food will Not charge for 2 slices of lemon or lime Cmon el Jardin you lost a good customer Over charging for lime slices...unbelievable It's the point of them just being greedy . Also on all Honesty el jardin manteca is priced way over the top for average Mexican food. !

Dining room

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Carne asada

Taqueria Ripon El Molcajete

4.7(32 reviews)

3.1 mi

The food truck parked in this lot at Jack Tone Rd & CA-120, is called El Jacalito, contact…read more#209-657-8125. These folks have been parked here for a while now. There is a separate Yelp page for them. I don't know exactly when the two trucks in question changed. Maybe I've been confused and never did have food from Taqueria El Molcajete. I never thought about it much. I just walked up to the truck, looked at the menu, ordered my food, and enjoyed the hell out of it. I am certain I have been getting great food from the truck, El Jacalito, for sometime now and highly recommend it.

El mejor menudo del área 209 y los burrito mojados,the best menudo in the 209 area and the wet…read moreburritos are very tasty

Quesadilla

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Tacos Chapala

4.2(193 reviews)

4.5 mi

We showed up on a Sunday to have some breakfast around 11 am. And I'm glad we showed up when we…read moredid. That place got packed quick. We ordered the nachos and the birria ramen and weren't disappointed with the taste, presentation, and price. Definitely worth a visit if you're looking for a new place to try your favorite dish.

I've been here many times and it never disappoints. My go-to is the Birria Quesataco--two of them…read moreis plenty to fill you up! They come loaded, cheesy, and absolutely perfect for dipping in that birria. It's usually not packed when I go, which is nice, although the music can get a little loud at times. Still, that's a small price to pay.

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Pretty table decor with my large Horchata!

El Mayita Tacos y Birria

4.2(154 reviews)

5.6 mi

Was in the area visiting friends and decided to try this gem! I ordered a super burrito and I…read moreordered the fried fish plate and it was by far the best Mexican food in this area that I've tried. I placed a phone order. It was ready to go by the time I arrived in the service was great. You guys gotta check this one out!!! everything was super flavorful, and the burrito was the size of the takeout platter. I'm so surprised this place is not more busier than it was. But I hope if you're ever in the area you're able to check this out. Unfortunately, I did completely dig into my meal and did not take a photo which I'm super sad about but when I go again I will definitely be uploading a photo.! I am also excited to try some other menu items.

The food is disgusting!!!! Not recomend this place…read more Also service is super akward instead of gretting the coustumer the girl just looks at you hella confused...

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Dining room

Rice and Beans

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Front door

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24 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Foodie M.

9 years ago

THIS PLACE HAS HORRIBLE SERVICE AND HORRIBLE FOOD!!!! Came here on Saturday with 12 family members. We arrived around 6:15pm. The place had maybe 3 tables that were being used....so not that busy. They took our drink order right away and gave us chips/salsa/bean dip. Then the crap started happening. I ordered a breakfast burrito with no meat because I'm a vegetarian. My nephew ordered a shrimp burrito supreme with green sauce. My other nephew ordered a chicken burrito supreme with sour cream on the side. IT TOOK OVER AN HOUR FOR THE FOOD TO START COMING OUT!!! INSANE!!! My breakfast burrito with no meat came out as a chicken burrito...my nephews shrimp burrito HAD NO SHRIMP...and they forgot to give my other nephew his sour cream on the side, so we had to ask for it. I'm not sure what happened to the rest of the group's food...but ours was horrible. I had to ask where the egg was in my breakfast burrito...she said it was mixed in there....YEAH RIGHT!!! I will NEVER return to this place. I've been here and didn't like it before, and that was years ago...so I gave it another shot....WHAT A MISTAKE!!! read more

Laura C.

103

2 years ago

I dined here yesterday afternoon. Overall I had a pleasant experience. The atmosphere was casual and comfortable. The food was decent. While it wasn't exceptional, it was tasty enough. I had the Carnitas, and while the flavors were good, it was a little on the drier side. The portion sizes were reasonable, but nothing stood out as particularly memorable. The menu had a variety of options. The service was also decent. The staff was polite and efficient, though there were moments when we had to wait a little longer than expected for our server's attention. Overall, the service was friendly, and the food arrived in a timely manner. All in all, Esmeralda's offers a solid meal with good service. It's a decent spot for a casual meal, but there's room for improvement in both food and service. read more

Beth A.

7 years ago

Terrible experience came in for dinner and it took forever to get seated. The servers don't even acknowledge you they walk right by and leave you standing there. Food was ok nothing special. Very similar to the other mexican restaurant chains here in The Valley "La Morenita, El Rosal, Las Casuelas". Even the red salsa that comes with the chips. These places must purchase pre made cans of this stuff. It taste exactly the same. Anyways your better off going somewhere else if you like this type of chain food. You might get better service. read more

Elle S.

10 years ago

I've been here a few times to finally write a review. *the food is okay if you don't want to drive out of town. *The cleanliness of the place needs to improve. Every time I've been here it's filthy. For as many people working here you think someone would help clean the place. After all they are serving food I am about to eat. Do they handle our food with the same attention? Owner/Manager the pictures posted show what I've noticed every time I've been here. read more

Robert G.

10 years ago

The food is fair however i always enjoy fresh coffee with my meal at Esmeralda's my experiences is they will service old left over coffee instead of fresh if on hand. even one time was cold the person said "forgot to microwave it". (it is oblivious they want to serve bar drinks and soda) The servers and staff are very friendly, . It's always something. There are always gracious apologies, but no improvement. "if you want good coffee bring it with you". read more

Alejandra R.

Elite 26

298

719

1 year ago

This Mexican restaurant offers a solid and enjoyable dining experience, with food that is generally flavorful and well-prepared, though not particularly standout. The ambiance is pleasant, and the service is commendable--staff are consistently friendly and attentive. Prices are reasonable, making it a good value overall. While the dishes are satisfying, I have yet to encounter a menu item that truly stands out as a must-have. read more

Dave M.

4 years ago

Ordered two item combo. Chicken Enchilada and Chili Relleno. Chicken Enchilada was very good, just a tad small. But, the Chili Relleno was a flat piece of cheese that had melted and brown was fried in oil. No Chili!! Couldn't believe the waiter would even serve that! read more

Luis F.

130

18 years ago

I love mexican food so i thought I would try it out. We were seated in nice booth and the surrounding was decorated intensely. The food was decent compared to other places i have been to but I believe it could be prepared to taste even better. read more

Vanessa G.

9 years ago

food here isn't that great and what got us made the most is that their is bunch of waitress that just walk around flirting with men and hit attending people because their to busy being hoes ... read more

Vicky H.

13 years ago

The chips & salsa are amazing. I loved the spicy beans and chile relleno. The green sauce is GREAT! I would recommend this restaurant to EVERYONE :-) read more

Jane D.

7 years ago

Never mind. This place is still horrible. Food is ok. Service is terrible. I've given this place too many chances. No more.

Amandeep S.

2 years ago

I go to this place all the time. Amazing food and vibe. The people are great. Best Mexican food spot in Ripon

Tim W.

2 years ago

I meant to type, Noe is the best! Ezmeralda's is very much a favorite! Will be going back, for sure!

Jassi S.

10 years ago

This is my favorite place for Mexican food. I love there food. Definitely be coming back

Wanny L.

11 years ago

Been there several times with my daughter, she loves and I think it's pretty good also!

James C.

8 years ago

Been here 3 time and the food was all bad and The service sucks but the bar is great read more

Elena C.

3 years ago

My favorite place in ripon to grab Mexican. My son and I both give it a 10 out of 10

Jade G.

14 years ago

Don't know which is better...the service, or the food. Great food. Wonderful people.

Rich D.

13 years ago

Excellant Mexican food, very authentic with an excellant menu.

Mark S.

8 years ago

Good food, nice atmosphere, they just expanded their seating.

Esmeralda's Mexican Restaurant - mexican - Updated September 2026

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Panchito burritos had zero flavor--No seasoning, not even salt. My wife and I had to add…read moreseasonings and salt to the burritos in order to eat them because they were so bland that they were difficult to eat. The nachos were soggy with 90% refried beans (I thought nachos were mostly chips and cheese? Where was the cheese?!?! ) I remember when Frank used to run the restaurant and his wife would cook--Those were the good old days. Unfortunately, I'm writing a review because this has once again been a below par meal we've had from here and may not chance our money here again. Sorry Frank, but it's just not the same place we used to love when we started going 23 or so years ago. Anyways, I wish the best of luck to you guys. Please strive to take this place back to its original standard.

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My husband and I have stopped here once before because we had heard that the burrito Guerrero is…read moredelicious (it is!!). The staff is so kind and the restaurant is so cute and clean-- we really enjoyed dining in. Today we stopped for a to- go order on our way through town. We again ordered the burrito Guerrero and it delivered deliciousness yet again. We also ordered the ceviche appetizer, which was to die for! Again the staff were so kind and food was so fresh. We will definitely be back!

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Just had the most delicious carnitas tacos here-they just opened. Give them a try, you won't regret…read moreit!

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Muy salada la marqueta que pidi y tardan mucho en a tenderte los ostiones más chiquitos a mirado me…read moresirvieron

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