I'm honestly not sure why this place has so many negative reviews. It's one of the few local restaurants where you'll still find Olga making fresh, handmade tortillas right in-house, and that alone sets it apart. They don't cheap out on drinks or food, and the quality is consistently great. Portions are generous, and you get far more sides and extras here than at most Mexican restaurants in the area. The staff of ladies who work here are phenomenal--warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. There is only one older gentleman I've seen be rude to customers, but aside from that single exception, the service is excellent across the board. I judge Mexican restaurants heavily based on how they make a Cadillac margarita, and this place absolutely delivers. Everything that comes out of the kitchen is perfectly cooked, plentiful, and clearly made with care. For me, this restaurant is a solid five out of five. It's one of those spots that deserves far more credit than it gets. If you're looking for quality, authenticity, and great value, it's worth a visit. read more

See all

I ordered the chicken salad. The staff offered me a choice of ranch, Italian, or thousand island for dressing. I chose Italian, however she said they were out of it when she brought me my salad. I like that the salad came with avocado but the chicken was dry. The mariachi playing right in front of my table created a very lively ambiance. The restroom door distinguishes the gender. An Aztec woman was carved on the woman's room. read more

Gloria's Cocina Mexican Restaurant has been a family tradition for celebrating birthdays and special occasions for many years. We've been coming here since they first opened, and the food has always been delicious. Over the years, we've seen a lot of changes, but the friendly service has remained consistent. One thing I've noticed recently is that the salsa served with the chips isn't the same as it used to be. It seems much more watered down now, which takes away from the flavor we used to enjoy. Another issue is the restroom situation. There is only one restroom stall, and on busy days the wait can be quite long. It can be inconvenient, especially when the restaurant is crowded. Overall, the food is still very good, and this restaurant holds many special memories for my family. I hope they consider improving the salsa and restroom accommodations to make the dining experience even better. read more

See all

Its my wife's birthday she chose to come here because ceviche the last time we came. Host staff very friendly and our wait staff also very welcoming and prompt. A young lady is taking pictures of customer I guess it's so you can have memories of your time at this establishment I sort of remember be a minute since we been here. My wife ordered ceviche sort of a combo pay a little extra for shrimp, I ordered a fajita combo chicken, beef and shrimp. Our meals came promptly wow love the plating and the portions! The ceviche great portion, my wife loves the lemony to it. The fajita trio wow great mix portions of each rice and beans and guacamole it's own plate. Food was cooked well and very tasty price to product well matched in my opinion The flour tortillas are made in house freshly made. Served hot. The atmosphere has Hispanic music flowing and usual customer conversation and they also have a cantina side as well My wife enjoyed her birthday read more

See all

Great food great service great atmosphere. Definitely worth it just for the fresh handmade tortillas! read more

Gloria's Cocina Mexicana - Combination of Three - Mexican Near Me - Downey, California

It was super packed towards the evening. Staff was really nice. Food was ok at best. Meat has really no seasoning. Beans tasted like they were left out for over a day. Rice was decent. The drinks were good. Something they can't control is who is next to us or who we are next to, which is understandable, but the ladies next to us were starting mad at us the whole time like we interrupted their space and time. Vibe is nice. Mariachi was great! Prices are up there. I wouldn't necessarily come back unless it was for an event. read more

Gloria's Cocina Mexicana - Carne asada plate - Mexican Near Me - Downey, California

Gloria's is a popular Mexican restaurant in Downey. It has a dining room side and a bar side that plays fairly loud music which is fine if you don't mind it. The bar is first come first serve which is a pro. I've dined here in the day and evening and both times were busy. The service is friendly although they tended to be busy. We had no issue with getting assistance when needed though. The salsa that comes with the chips has a kick but is good. I recommend the tacos which are bigger than your average tacos and full of meat. Those were really tasty. The carnitas plate was pretty good, average I would say. I also tried the pozole which was tasty but very rich and heavy. I do appreciate that it had a lot of meat and not too much hominy. The tortillas are handmade and super fresh. Make sure to get a side of creamy guacamole. On weekend nights inc Fridays) there is a DJ in the bar and a small mariachi band in the restaurant. read more

See all

We love the handmade corn tortillas and the menudo. The menudo has a large portion and will run you about $20 for a large. The bar has a cool atmosphere and the service is awesome, but unfortunately they don't have beer on tap. read more

Stopped by for an early dinner with friends and the wait time was about 25 minutes, maybe less! There's plenty of parking. They have mariachi which is lovely but quite loud. Thankfully when we got seated it appeared they went to lunch. I ordered the red chicken enchiladas which were okay. The chicken was a bit dry, sauce didn't have much flavor. Rice was good, beans were good. Side salad is a nice addition. I got an horchata which tasted like the Ole fountain one, not authentic. The ambiance is so cute, looks like you've been transported to Mexico. Service was good. Food came out fast. However, I wouldn't see myself returning when there's better Mexican restaurants out there... read more

Gloria's Cocina Mexicana - Mexican Near Me - Downey, California

This place has its own parking lot so there's limited parking. Came here on a Sunday afternoon and there was a little wait. We only waited about five minutes and we were sat. They give you chips and salsa, which were OK and then we went ahead and ordered their Molcajete for around $36. It comes with Carne Asada, chicken, nopales, green onions, Mexican cheese, shrimp, side of rice and beans and guacamole in your choice of corn flour tortilla, which are also house made, which were phenomenal. The only thing I did not like about this was that the chicken was super dry and flat similar to a Molanesa. They were quite a few birthdays at which mariachi band comes up to you and sings to you and gives you a cake which I thought was pretty nice. I would come back to try the other items and bring your family. The staff was very friendly and I liked how prompt they were. We ordered our food and within 10 minutes. It was already at our table. read more

See all

This place is massive!! Giant patio and multiple dining rooms inside. I've been here a few times and it's always a good meal with fun vibes. This last visit I had the Diablo shrimp and the flavor was AMAZING!! Must try. Also ordered a skinny spicy margarita and it was giant. The flavor was delicious. Our server was super attentive and remembered all the little things we needed during our visit. read more

See all

When we walked in, we noticed two sections: one for dining and another with a DJ and bar that had a great nightlife vibe. You can grab a drink next door or relax in the lounge while waiting for your table -- even the bouncer was super friendly and set the tone right away. Once seated, our server started us off with chips, salsa, and drinks. Live mariachis walked around playing, which added to the lively, authentic atmosphere. I ordered the carne asada burrito and a spicy margarita -- both came in huge portions and were well worth the price (which I was skeptical about at first). Overall, Gloria's is a perfect mix of good food, great service, and that energetic Mexican home-style party vibe. Definitely will be back! read more

Gloria's Cocina Mexicana - Carne Asada Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Downey, California

See all

Fresh Tortillas, Big Margaritas & Unforgettable Mariachi We had such a great time at Gloria's Cocina Mexicana in Downey! The food is amazing -- fresh corn tortillas made from scratch, huge portions, and really tasty dishes. The margaritas were large and delicious too . The highlight of our visit was the live mariachi, Los Carnales Mariachi. They walked around the restaurant and performed right at the tables -- their voices were beautiful. They played four songs for us, and of course we gave them a nice tip. Definitely recommend showing them love for their talent . The staff and our waitress were super friendly and welcoming. When you first walk in, there's also a cantina to the right with drinks, music, and TVs for sports -- no cover charge, which is pretty cool. Overall, a fun and lively spot for family and friends. We'll definitely be back! read more

See all

Everything was good and very quick service! If you eat Mexican food often this might not be for you because it was good but not great. Ive had better but it was still decent. I would come back for the drinks for sure! read more

See all

The food here tastes so delicious. The frijoles have so much flavor, I think they use lard- which gives it such a home style taste... the chilaquiles I had were too spicy but over all delicious... accompanied by potatoes.. my uncle had two sopes with rice and beans and the fixings on top of the sope including lettuce,cotija cheese and tomato... as you can see from the picture he enjoyed it.... Our waitress was really nice and kept refilling our coffee...they also make their home made tortillas.... We sat in the bar area, where they play music, slightly dim ambiance ... the bathroom was very clean... read more

See all

Inedible jaiva. To go Order of tostada ceviche Cameron and they gave me the botana portion, it was good as always. Also, Ordered tostada de jaiva to go and it was terrible. When I got home the texture was dry and off tasting. I couldn't even eat a second bite. It was gross. Please do not order jaiva to go. If you order it to eat at the restaurant maybe you can tell the server uts not good and they can accommodate. But to go orders are more of a hassle to say it was bad food and inconvenient to drive back. I hope management reads this and offers a least a gift card to use next time we go the eat there because we've been going to Gloria's for years. read more

See all

Authentic Mexican food and live music on weekends. Hand made tortillas and delicious Molcajete. I also tried the Gloria taco, it has nopal and queso so yummy! The crab tostada was loaded with crab meat however not my fav. Servers are always attentive to what we need. read more

See all

One of the hostess had an attitude when we asked her to seat us at a table instead of a booth, her response was "we normally don't give those", I didn't say anything back to her but I was left wondering then what do you do with all of the empty tables in the middle of the dining room? Our server was great and the food was good. I will be going back but will definitely be looking for another hopefully better Mexican restaurant. read more

My parent's favorite place! They come here for little breakfast dates almost every weekend! The staff already know them and seat them at their favorite table all the time! I thank them for being so nice and patient with them! This morning my sister and I decided to stop by and join them! They make FRESH corn tortillas!! So good!! You also have the option of flour but not sure if they are made there. They also offer chips and salsa, which can get you full fast since they're so addicting! My dad ordered the Caldo de Pescado with corn tortillas and said it was delicious! My mom ordered a molcajete (cielo mar y tierra; but asked with no chicken) it came with rice and beans on the side with corn tortillas! She loved it! My sister ordered their birria (chivo; goat) with rice and beans with corn tortillas! She thought it was bomb! I ordered their mojarra frita al mojo de ajo and it came with rice and beans (you can sub fries if you want; fries are crispy and delicious!). The food was great and the service always attentive! read more

See all

Great food horrible service. The girl with the blonde hair was horrible we were celebrating my husband birthday and she didn't care she just dropped off a slice of cake and left and it took forever to get our checks. read more

Food quality isn't the same anymore. Watery refried beans, the potatoes served during breakfast had no flavor and were oily. It's so unfortunate because their food was flavorful and well portioned. read more

Uppon entering the establishment the ambiance was very welcoming and culture friendly. I ordered the Molcajete which included Chicken, Carne Asada, Chorizo, Queso, and Nopales which was all topped over with a delicious salsa, it also included Rice and Beans with guacamole. The service was a solid 10/10, Thank you to the waiter Wendy, her service was A1 and a big shoutout to Eusebio, such a friendly character and very amazing service. read more

Gloria's Cocina Mexicana - Original MolcajeteFamilyPak - Mexican Near Me - Downey, California

I've been here twice so far now, both times for the lunch special from 11AM-2PM. They have some pretty great deals and there's always seating right away around lunchtime. Absolutely love the vibe inside, it feels very authentic, down to the homemade tortilla station you walk by when getting seated. The service here is top notch, they'll continually check on you throughout your meal with such upbeat and welcoming energy. Yadira, Selene, and Adilene all deserve a shoutout for their service. Now the food here is phenomenal (from what I've tried so far). Their enchiladas hit the SPOT and the portions are super generous including the rice and beans. I was absolutely stuffed afterwards. Next time around I decided to go a little lighter with their chicken salad which was really good too. The chicken was super flavorful, albeit just a bit dry because the strips were so thinly sliced. I liked the wide variety of vegetables they include in the salad, which they make sure to wash beforehand and all tasted like high quality produce. All in all, this place is definitely worth a visit: the food is delicious, the service is outstanding, and the vibe inside is one worth experiencing!! read more

Gloria's Cocina Mexicana - Enchiladas Suizas - Mexican Near Me - Downey, California

See all

My brothers and I dined here after golfing nearby. My sister recommended the place but cautioned that it was years earlier when she last ate here. There was no need to be cautious. The restaurant was lively at 12:30pm and we were seated promptly. The service was quick and attentive. My margarita was delicious and my brother's spicy margarita was equally good. They ordered from the lunch special menu that was loaded with options. They had the carne asada plate. I ordered the chili verde. All the food was prepared quickly and served piping hot. Warm tortillas rounded out the meal. If I am in the area again, I would definitely dine here again. read more

Gloria's Cocina Mexicana - Spicy margarita! - Mexican Near Me - Downey, California

See all

This restaurant was my family's and I go to when we'd be in the mood for Mexican food. Today we were very disappointed.. the beans were old & the taste was absolutely disgusting we let our waiter know and she made an ugly face towards us and went to go tell the cook, they sent another waiter out to our table and tried to say it was the "chorizo taste" when they aren't made with chorizo. She came out soaking to us very rude and just gave us rice as our side, the rice had zero flavor and was dry. My father ended up with food poisoning up due to the beans he ate. I will not be coming back and I definitely do not recommend coming here. read more

Be very careful when you want to spend your money in this place, and check very well what you consume because they are going to overcharge you, they are going to inflate your bill and they do not give you an explanation you just have to pay, in other words they scam you. Check your bill very well, or to avoid a bad time better not go read more

Are you kidding me?! Only 3.5 stars on here!! The food is absolutely delicious! The enchiladas de molé con pollo was incredible! The home made salsas and tortillas were bomb. The atmosphere was authentic and so was the food. Knocked a star off because we sat a while before getting any drinks or anything. We'll definitely be back! read more

I love it here, one does wait specially on a Sunday breakfast or brunch but the food is great ! The only reason I gave it THREE STARS is whyyyyyyy do they allow children in the Bar Area read more

Such a great local spot. The food is delicious and you can tell there's a lot of care put into what they do.

"Come for the molcajete, stay for the mariachis, and leave talking about how even the kids cleaned their plates." We had one of the most delightful dining experiences recently at Gloria's Mexican Food--and honestly, every detail called for a standout review. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere felt warm and inviting without a hint of pretense--just a cozy, hometown‐style energy that wrapped around us like a favorite blanket. As we settled in, the lively strumming of guitars and harmonious vocals from a mariachi band instantly transported us. And get this--the mariachi serenades run every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 6 PM until close, turning dinner into a mini celebration. Our culinary journey began with my husband digging into the molcajete, served sizzling and brimming with rich, savory meats, melted cheese, and vibrant veggies. He declared it "out of this world," and after one bite, I totally agreed. I had the shrimp cocktail--absolutely packed with plump, juicy shrimp in a flavorful tomato-lime broth that struck the perfect balance of savory and tangy. My aunt enjoyed the bistec con rajas--tender steak with roasted poblano strips in a creamy, savory sauce--and she said it reminded her of home cooking. Even the kids were happy, giving a big thumbs-up to their chicken nuggets and fries. But the food was only part of why the night was so enjoyable, the service deserves just as much recognition. Our waiter was clearly busy (I'm not sure how many tables he had), but he was incredibly efficient. He made sure our food came out promptly, checked in on us when needed, and never let the busyness stop him from being attentive. He had an assistant, a busboy, an older Latino gentleman, who was wonderful. The older gentleman in particular was so kind and quick to clear our table as soon as we were finished, keeping everything tidy and comfortable. I didn't get their names, but I truly hope they get recognized for their hard work and great teamwork. As the evening wore on, the mariachi band kept the energy festive, giving the whole night a warm, hometown feel that made us want to linger. The combination of excellent food, attentive service, and live music made this an experience worth sharing. All in all, Gloria's hit it out of the park. From the molcajete magic to the shrimp cocktail delight, from the bistec brilliance to the kid-approved nuggets, every dish delivered. Pair that with hardworking, efficient service and the joy of live mariachi music, and you've got a restaurant we will absolutely be coming back to again and again. read more

See all

We come here for special occasions such as birthdays because it is a bit pricey. But the food is 10/10! On Fridays they have live mariachi (maybe weekends to not sure) and the restauraunt actually pays for the mariachi but you can tip them as well. We took my son for his birthday and he requested La Cucaracha cause it's his fav. Service is maybe 7/10 they do get very busy and after taking your order check on you maybe once before bringing the bill. But food is good overall read more

Gloria's Cocina Mexicana - Mexican Near Me - Downey, California

See all

Ordered for pick up I placed an order for birria en caldo and enchiladas suizas. The birria salsa was already expired and it smelled disgusting. The enchiladas suizas were plated with the side salad on top of the enchiladas. When the box was opened the salad had been cooked because it was placed on top. Aside from that the receptionist are very rude saying that they have new employees. Never ordering from here again. This used to be my favorite restaurant it's trash now. read more

Food is really good, Service wonderful ambiance friendly Love everything come and have fun!! read more

Gloria's Cocina Mexicana - Milanese - Mexican Near Me - Downey, California

Horrible service very crowded. Food was not even great. Too crowded The food was not the way I expected to be heard a lot of reviews, but from my opinion, I would never go there again read more

If you're ever around the City of Downey, and your craving some authentic Mexican food. Then look no further, and come try this place. They don't get stingy with their sides and the food is delicious. They serve hand made tortillas. The weekends is mostly full, so plan ahead because you might have to wait a bit, if you put your name on the list. I believe they have mariachi on the weekends. They also have a small sports bar to the right when you walk in just in case you're in the mood for that ambiance. I love this place, and I think you will too. read more

Truly authentic Mexican food! They make their tortillas by hand right there on site in view at the tortilla station counter. I love the interior decor and ambiance. It's like you're dining outside in a little South of the border town. The chips are perfect, the carnitas are super juicy, and the mole is extra flavorful! They have a $2.99 Taco Tuesday deal, although it excludes seafood, and the Gloria's Taco. And to make this dining experience even more true to my culture, they have live entertainment in the evenings! Love it! Love it all! read more

See all

Worth the drive from LA -- authentic, flavorful, and made with love! I drove an hour from LA to check out Gloria's Covina Mexicana, and it was so worth it. From the moment we walked in, we knew we were in for something special. Right up front, you can see someone's mom hand-making fresh tortillas--it doesn't get more authentic than that. The smell alone had us excited. We started with fresh guacamole (perfectly seasoned and creamy) and a blended strawberry margarita that was one of the best I've had--sweet, smooth, and just the right amount of kick. My girlfriend had a cheese quesadilla with a side of avocado, rice, and beans. Simple, comforting, and delicious. You can really taste the difference those fresh tortillas make. I ordered a combo plate and got a little bit of everything: a small cheese quesadilla with juicy carne asada, a chili relleno that was cheesy and full of flavor, and a cheese enchilada, all served with rice and beans. The portions were huge and the flavor was incredible--true comfort food that hits every note. Our server Adriana was so sweet and welcoming. She took great care of us, and the service matched the quality of the food: warm, attentive, and genuine. If you're craving authentic Mexican food made with care, Gloria's is absolutely worth the trip. We'll definitely be back! read more

Gloria's Cocina Mexicana - Combination Plate with Chile Relleno, Cheese Enchilada, Cheese Quesadilla with Carne Asad Cheese Cheese Quesadilla, Rice, Bean Guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Downey, California

See all

Great food, good service, the ambiance was good for the evening and the music at the bar a bit loud.

Gloria's is more than a Downey staple; it is a cornerstone. If you're looking for substance--good food in good portions at good prices served by good people with all the good vibes--with none of the faff, you're home. My husband and I have been coming here 15 years, and we have never once been served a bad meal or had a bad experience. If you want a sure thing--good food and a good night, it's here. The parking can be a bit tight, but if you're having a margarita served in a fishbowl, you're Ubering anyway. read more

Gloria's Cocina Mexicana - Carne tampiquena - Mexican Near Me - Downey, California

See all

Today my husband took me to this restaurant for New Years and let me tell you, IT WAS ALL BAD! We ordered Oysters and they were nasty! They smelled and the taste like they went bad. I called the waitress and told her to pls smell them. She refused but came back after I walked in the restroom (feeling sick) to my hubby and said that's what they smell like but would gladly remove them from our order.. I'm sorry but I've never had bad Oysters and I've ate them in many places. The fact that she came back to say they were good is beyond me. Finally , their food was not good at all. We will definitely never come back here. Overall a bad experience. Ps my hubby and I are feeling a bit sick so be careful pls . read more