Came here for a quick bite. The food was great, the staff was super friendly. Will definitely be returning!

Good food, good service, good vibes. definitely recommend giving this spot a try, the poblano pasta is delicious

La Pena did not disappoint! Service was on point and place looked fantastic. My wings were BOMB too. 30% off during Happy Hour, 2 to 6pm 7 days a week. Beers were cold and both salsas were very tasty as well. Jesse, the owner and his entire crew were friendly, hard working and detailed oriented. Go today, thank me later! read more

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We were seated yet no one came to our table for set-up for 10 minutes plus. We then asked two separate servers for water, each of whom replied that yes, they would bring us water, but then promptly returned to what they were doing before.......clearing tables! Having read reviews from others about poor service, we decided to not waste any more time, and we left. As we were leaving, we passed a table where a woman was getting her check. As she saw us leaving, she said "Wise Choice!" One block away is Guadalajara, where we had a delicious lunch WITH WATER, and 5/5 star service! I can't comment on whether the food at La Peña is good, because we couldn't even score a glass of water in 95 degree weather! We won't be giving La Peña a second chance. read more

Well we visited 2 weeks after opening on a Sat about 1130 not very busy but receiving food took awhile literally kinks not sure ? Ordered desert same delay!!!! Ambiance same layout as previous restaurant with some Mexican flair Lots of staff working so must be the kitchen that is slow? Food overall was ok however was out of items when asked about it on menu ! Overall will try again hopefully the wait for a 2 hour lunch during the week will be quicker?? Salute read more

La Peña Mexican Grill - House margarita - Mexican Near Me - Temecula, California

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This place just recently opened up. It's located in the area with plenty of parking inside. We got there at 11 and only a few people so far. Three of us ordered enchiladas with either red or green sauce with chicken and one ordered chili Verde. The chili Verde was a little tart or sour tasting on the sauce so I did send it back and re-ordered a shrimp enchilada, which was just OK. The other three people got all chicken and two out of the three did not like the chicken because it's lacked seasoning. They said I did try the chicken. It is very moist but yeah, it's more like a boiled bland chicken versus a grilled chicken. Service was good not sure yet if I would go back to try anything read more

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For being a brand new family owned restaurant, I would say we had a good experience. Our server Elaina was the Best. Very friendly, made sure we were taken care of from start to finish. I had the chile verde and my husband had the carnitas plate. Our food was delicious and the portions were good. We finished with the the churros and ice cream recommended by Elaina, holy moly...so Good! read more

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Very new restaurant in the same building that Bastards used to be in. We heard about it so went in for brunch. The interior is clean with a black theme. They have touch lamps on the tables if you'd like more light. They have a nice, extensive menu with plenty of options. There's a dedicated kids' menu as well. The service was excellent and the owner, Maria, came over to our booth to greet an welcome us. We had a breakfast burrito and a carnitas burrito, both very tasty. We were impressed by the fact that they toasted our burritos. We'll be back again soon to try some of the many other options! read more

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Came in around 7:45 p.m. on a Friday and waited about 5 minutes. The vibe is cool, with colorful décor and a lamp at every table that makes it feel cozy without being too much. Food was hot, portions were big, and everything tasted really good. The shrimp burrito was loaded with shrimp, which was a nice surprise. The California burrito was large and great as well. Only downside: the food took over an hour to come out. That said, it's a new spot, so hopefully they're just working out the kinks. We'll be back! read more

Stumbled on this place while checking out a nearby coffee place. I didn't know it was established just this year (2026)! I ended up coming back to try it the same evening I discovered it. I came in around 8:30 and it was quite busy! I was seated quickly (table for 1) and was served fresh-made chips and salsa, both of which were good. I was between the La Peña burrito and the combo plate, but I ended up ordering the La Peña burrito with chicken with waitress Lexi and I understand it was a busy night, but it took some time for the food to come out, 20-30 minutes. I noticed that many of the other tables nearby were also experiencing longer than normal wait times. My food came out piping hot and the flavor was pretty good. I definitely think they give you bang for your buck on portion size. I would definitely come back and try the combo plate. It's good to see they're having such good business! read more

La Peña Mexican Grill - La Peña burrito - Mexican Near Me - Temecula, California

If you're in Temecula, you have to check out the new Mexican spot, La Pena! It's such a great experience, especially for a place that just opened. Their margaritas are definitely on point--some of the best I've had around here. The food was excellent, too. The Chili Verde was incredibly tender and flavorful, and the combo plate with the cheese enchilada and Chili Rellano hit the spot. I especially loved the enchilada sauce. The Chili Rellano came with a unique, flavorful sauce, though be prepared for a little bit of heat! Since they are still in their early stages, be patient if there's a wait--they're just working out the kinks. I can't wait to see them succeed! read more

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This place is fairly new so they didn't have a bar menu but I asked for a margarita flight. I was thinking it was gonna be a few little cups like the one I seen this other lady have, but little did I know it wad going to be 5 tiny patron bottles on a huge tower. The drinks were good, I wasn't fond of the blue one. The salsas were good as well the green one I think would be good on some breakfast eggs. The 2 reds were really good mixed together. The mango ceviche was really good. The tamale and enchilada had good flavor and the sauces were adequate. Overall we had a good meal and would go back again. Inside was nice and clean, staff was friendly but service was a little slow. read more

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Great food with authentic flavors and tasty drinks. They have a variety of classic dishes that hit home created with family recipes. The staff and ownership are super friendly and welcoming. The chili relleno and poblano chicken enchilada were packed with flavor, I can't wait to come back and try all the dishes. If you are looking for great tasting Mexican food this is the new spot in Temecula, I highly recommend you give them a try. read more

La Peña Mexican Grill - Chile Relleno and Chicken enchilada with Poblano sauce. - Mexican Near Me - Temecula, California

In my opinion Temecula has enough American Mexican restaurants. You can add La Pena to that list. If you love Guadalajara you'll love this place too. The service was great but the food was mediocre. I had the Fajitas trio and the food was tasteless and the beans were dry. It has a nice vibe, with lots of people at the bar. I was hoping for a better outcome, I was a bit disappointed. read more

food was amazing. I had the chilaquiles and the server gave the best service by checking in on us a few times and keeping our drinks refilled. We sat in the both and it was very comfortable. if your into sports this place has lots of Tvs to watch the games. read more

La Peña Mexican Grill - red chilaquiles with grilled chicken and scrambled egg. - Mexican Near Me - Temecula, California

I stopped by La Peña for a drink and a small bite, and I was not disappointed. I ordered a skinny margarita made with CaliFino Tequila and the potato tacos. Unfortunately, I ate the tacos way too fast to snap a picture, but they were absolutely delicious. The margarita, on the other hand, was pure perfection. Jesse welcomed me as soon as I walked in and immediately made me feel at home. Daniel and Jose were incredibly attentive and friendly, taking the time to chat with every guest sitting at the bar. Their hospitality really elevated the experience. The ambiance was fantastic. The space feels much warmer, more inviting, and far more comfortable than when it was Bastards. I'm already looking forward to coming back to explore the rest of the menu. Highly recommend checking out La Peña! read more

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I had enchilada combo plate with red sauce - sauce was excellent, rice was good, beans were runny. My wife had salmon plate - salmon was 8 out of 10 and it had cauliflower, rice, and broccolii. Music was loud and not relaxing and made it hard to carry on a conversation. Service was a solid 10 out 0f 10 though food took a little longer than expected. Definitely will go back again. read more

We went there last night and ordered dinner. My wife had two chicken enchiladas and I had something that I had never had before a fajita type burrito. It was excellent. I chose steak as my meat and it was lean no fat and very tasteful. I really enjoyed it. The service was excellent the place is clean as a whistle and everybody is very attentive. One thing I liked was the waitress came back not once not twice but four times to check on us to make sure that we were okay or needed anything. This is the type of service that deserves a good tip. Parking is excellent especially if you're bringing a large group entrance is easy and service is very good read more

Highly recommend the cumbersome jalapeño margaritas! Very friendly staff, great service, and amazing food! read more

La Peña Mexican Grill - The bar. - Mexican Near Me - Temecula, California

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We decided to see for ourselves if the hype was justified and it didn't disappoint (I'll be honest, I thought it would). I'll start with the drinks - they were delicious and well crafted. As Mexicans the first thing we always judge are the rice and beans; they were delicious as was my asada and pastor. The service was also excellent and the ambiance is lively but pleasant. The prices were reasonable also. We will definitely return. read more

La Peña Mexican Grill - El Luchador - Mexican Near Me - Temecula, California

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Came here for the first time just this past Monday 8/17 and I'm sorry to say I was not impressed with the latest attempt at a Mexican restaurant. The service was spotty at best and that's strange given that it was a Monday and not very busy. Took awhile to get our drinks and we didn't order any alcohol. The food was the same typical substandard Mexican food that describes most of the Mex restaurants in Temecula. I mean it wasn't bad, just typical. Maybe they have some things to iron out as far as the service and the food and maybe it will get better but, it will be awhile before I come again, if ever, to find out. read more

We had such a great experience! The food was delicious, the atmosphere was fun and welcoming, and the service was excellent. One thing that really stood out was that the owners came around to introduce themselves, check on us, and make sure everything was going well. It made the experience feel much more personal, on top of our server being so attentive. Everyone on the staff was incredibly friendly, and we're so excited to finally have another great Mexican restaurant in the area. We tried the La Peña Burrito, the fajitas, and the molcajete, and every dish was flavorful and cooked perfectly. We'll definitely be back! read more

We were excited to try this new restaurant. Recommend you save yourself some money and go elsewhere. When we arrived we could see a number of empty tables, but were told the wait was 15-20 minutes. I would think it would be better to seat us and let us order drinks, but no we had to wait. They brought the chips and salsa and the salsa was thick and sweet. Not a fan of it. We ordered the chicken fajitas and a burrito. The fajitas were just ok, just average. Now the chicken burrito had beans, rice and chicken and was extremely bland. No seasoning at all! They didn't even have salt and pepper on the table to try to improve it and the server was not around. So disappointed, we will not be returning. read more

Very nice staff. Casual dining establishment. We enjoyed the Chili Verde Enchiladas plate & the Chicken Fajitas dinner. We will come back after 2:00 for Happy Hour on drinks & appetizers read more

La Peña Mexican Grill - Chicken Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Temecula, California

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Finally a great place to have some good Mexican food. Chilaquiles are great for breakfast. On another day I had the peñasco cheeseburger, delicious! The servers are so nice. The place is very chill with lots of TVs. read more

La Peña Mexican Grill - The peñasco cheeseburger - Mexican Near Me - Temecula, California

The service was excellent, as it being the first week of opening. The staff were attentive and friendly. Food came out fast and very fresh. The soft shredded beef taco had a soggy tortilla. The chicharron was still popping. Loved the crispness of the tostada. The mango ceviche was refreshing, would get again. read more

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Fantastic owners, great food and service! Came here on Taco Tuesday and was greeted by smiling owners. I felt so welcome, like I was a part of the family! I can't wait to come back! read more

La Peña Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - Temecula, California

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This is the best Mexican place around!! The service, food, drinks and environment is perfect. They have TV's and music playing and it's at a perfect volume so you can still enjoy talking at the table because it's not extremely loud. If you are looking for real Mexican food this is the place!! read more

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I can't give any mexican restaurant 5 stars if they don't have black beans... Their prices are a little high, not sure they can take much business away from across the street, Guadalara grill...but they do have decent price on their Taco tuesday. For 2.95 very reasonable and they offer a great selection.. Good but nothing to write home about. I do like that they have 3 salsas available...my wife always asks for green and I always ask for spicy, and they had both in addition to their regular salsa, which is very tasty by itself. Without having black beans, I don't think we will be back except for taco tuesday though. I liked their crispy ground beef taco....the others had a good portion of meat, but for $2.95, i will probably just get 2 street tacos and go home for my own black beans. read more

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5/5 Stars -- Outstanding food and top-tier service! I brought my grandparents here, and let's just say... WOW! My grandparents are as old-school as it gets and extremely picky about Mexican food-their motto is usually, "If I want Mexican food, I'll just cook it myself." They only accept truly authentic flavors, but this place completely blew them away! Not only was the food incredible, but the service was phenomenal. Our server was so attentive, warm, and friendly; she truly deserves recognition for making our visit special. She mentioned they are a fairly new restaurant, and I have no doubt that if they maintain this level of amazing quality and hospitality, they're going to be a massive success We live 50 minutes away, but we will 100% be making the drive back very soon. Thank you for a wonderful meal! read more

This restaurant is posed to become the best Mexican restaurant in town! This evening I had the carnitas plate, with delicious rice and whole beans. The carnitas were perfect! CRISP, perfectly prepared. THE BEST CARNITAS IVE EATEN IN TOWN. read more

I was really excited to try La Pena Mexican Grill because it has such great reviews, but unfortunately, my experience was quite different. The service was good, and the margaritas were enjoyable. However, I ordered the three-item combo with a chicken taco, chicken enchilada, and cheese chile relleno, and sadly, everything was extremely bland and lacked flavor. I was really disappointed, especially given the restaurant's reputation. Unfortunately, based on my experience, I won't be back. For Mexican food with much more flavor, I'll stick with Guadalajara's and The Mexico Cafe. read more

Service is amazing. Owners are extremely nice. The food is incredible. My husband and I went. Normally he doesn't like green enchiladas sauce but absolutely love it! Will be back. Thank you for the great food. read more

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Thank goodness this place finally opened! This area has been needing a real Mexican restaurant, and this one absolutely delivers. The food was incredible, the drinks were even better, and the service was outstanding. With Jesse and Maria behind it, this restaurant has the kind of experience and passion that gives you confidence from the moment you walk in. The atmosphere was perfect--the music was at just the right volume, and the décor is beautifully done. Everything came together to create an amazing dining experience. I can't wait to come back. This is going to become one of our regular spots! . read more

Disappointed, we saw some nice reviews and had high hopes, always looking for a good Mexican restaurant. Chips and salsa left much to be desired; the salsa was blah. My dish was a two-item combo. The rice was lumpy, the beans had no flavor, the taco was not hot, and the chile relleno was just okay- not much flavor. My wife had chicken taquitos; they cut two taquitos in half, and the chicken was tasteless. The margarita was strong, but the mix is basic no lime on the rim, etc. Service was good; the waitress was too eager and checked on us way too many times. I don't think I would go back. read more

If I could give zero reviews I would! Very small portions! Terrible flavor! Canned chicken! The manager should be helping his servers instead of bopping around! The music is blasting like it's a club! Paper straws! You need salt and pepper on the table because the food is flavorless! I'm not going to complain about the service because they are working and doing the best they can do! This is small portions, big price, and lack flavor! Another bad Mexican restaurant in Temecula! read more

I'm not really good with words, but I'm good at eating a lot of food. The was tastes like how someone's mom or aunt would make at home. The portion sizes are gigantic! That wasn't really expect coming out of the gate, but it was a genuine surprise. Combine the food and portion this place is a total killer imo. Food kinda takes a while, but I'd rather get my food well made rather than waiting and it being inedible. read more

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La Peña Mexican Food is such a unique addition to Temecula! The atmosphere has its own charm, and it's refreshing to have a place that feels different from the usual Mexican restaurants in the area. The food was delicious, with fresh ingredients and great flavor in every bite. There was a bit of a wait, but that's completely understandable for a new restaurant that's already drawing a crowd. It was definitely worth it, and I look forward to coming back to try more of the menu. Wishing them continued success! read more

From the time we walked in until the moment we left, we had top notch service! The food was authentic & flavorful! It's very clean with a fun vibe! The trio fajitas wth beef, chicken & shrimp were beyond good! If you're in the Temecula Valley area and want excellent authentic Mexican cuisine, La Pena Mexican Grill is the place to be! The owners Maria & Jessie & daughter Blanca will take excellent care of you! read more

This place just opened up and the food is wonderful. I really enjoyed these tacos in the House margaritas. I was pleasantly surprised when I got my bill It was very affordable not only delicious but affordable. I highly recommend this restaurant the service and food was excellent! read more