This was our first visit back to La Rioja since the ownership changed, and we had a fabulous meal! La Rioja has been one of our favorite Mexican restaurants, and they still create some of the tastiest dishes we've had in the region! The atmosphere of the restaurant has changed just a little, but the cooks are the same and the food is delicious. La Rioja is a little different from most local Mexican Family restaurants in that the dishes are a bit more up-scale and refined, with an emphasis on finer cuts of grilled steak and delicious sauces. You will not see ground beef used here - the tacos come with grilled strip cuts, and they offer a range of steaks which are delicious, served with an excellent chimichurri, on a sizzling stone, with ample sides. Portions are large! My chili rellenos were well prepared, sauced, and twice what I could eat. There were left-overs for everyone in our group! The horchatas were delicious. The food was well seasoned. The dishes came with cilantro and onion, pico de gallo, salsa, or habanero sauce if you wanted it. I did, and it was potent but perfect. The desert custard was talked about all the way home! Service was excellent. Francisco was delightful, attentive and made sure we were getting anything we wanted. If there was a hiccup after the change of ownership, it looks like it has been fixed things nicely. We loved all of our meals and can't wait to go back. The menu is a considerable step up from the typical "taco, enchilada, fajita" fare, but still robust and delicious. With the emphasis on steak cuts and great meat dishes it may be more expensive than many typical Mexican Restaurants but it is well worth it. We will be back! read more

3.5 stars, but not quite 4. Pros - decorations are nice, the staff were nice and came across as warm, casual. They had a taco guy set up outside so we got tacos de carnitas, which were very good, and a mix of cabeza meats. The queso tasted good, and the steak marinade was different but good. Husband is hard to please with salsas, but he liked these ones. Horchata was great, but again, the price was exorbitant. Cons - a $6 coke and my husband's tacos being served on a random paper plate...prices are crazy for the area this restaurant is located at. I got the feeling that the restaurant was a fancy cover for a casual taco place, meaning fancy looking but the staff kept calling out to each other, kind of yelling, obviously not caring about the plating, etc. The queso fundido came with a random piece of tripa, which kind of grossed me out, but I understand cross contamination is bound to happen with an outside cooking station. The steak marinade reminded me of a rice/Asian marinade, so while it was good, it didn't quite fit with the Mexican cuisine for me. Also, I kept burping it up 2 days after, so clearly it didn't sit right with me. Husband felt they skimmed on the chorizo sausage, as his plate came with a piece of sausage, not a full one. read more

See all

Service was good but food was not worth all the hype or prices. Nice ambiance, but a bit too warm inside. We got the bone marrow, asada vampiros, asada tacos and 2 queso fundidos one with chorizo and one with adobada. Presentation 8/10 - flavor 2/10. The best way I can describe it is that they are just trying too hard. Instead of serving the queso with chips they bring mini corn baked tostadas with no seasoning or flavor. It's just bleh. Chips would have been just fine. One plate came with a small side of whole beans, also no flavor. The only plus is they are very generous with the meat portions. The queso fundido had the consistency of chewy rubber and was serviced in a way where the cheese did not stay hot. Versus other places service with a hot cast iron skillet to keep cheese soft and warm. Service was B+. friendly but not very knowledgeable about the menu or add-ons. I would say probably just inexperienced. No beer or spirits available because they don't have their license yet. They the final blow was when the check came, they added an automatic 18% gratuity without saying anything to us. Overall not worth the hype and definitely not with price. Sorry. Buyers remorse :( Wish I could get my money back. read more

We came in for lunch around noon on a Saturday and were seated right away. We chose La Rioja because of the high reviews, and I was really craving chile rellenos. I ordered that, and my wife ordered one of their soups. The location was a bit surprising. The strip mall looks almost abandoned, with faded signage and empty storefronts. It's not the kind of place you'd expect to find a restaurant. We later learned the restaurant recently changed ownership, which helped explain some of what we experienced. It's possible that reviews were tied to the previous owners. Unfortunately, the food didn't quite match the reviews. My chile relleno came with a sauce that was overly sweet, even though it was meant to be spicy. Once I mentioned it, the staff tasted it themselves, apologized, and were very polite about it. My wife's soup wasn't much better. They offered us a dessert to go, which we appreciated, and we paid our bill and left a tip. It's possible we just ordered the wrong dishes. Maybe their steaks are where they really shine, but based on our visit, we didn't find the standout Mexican meal we were hoping for. read more

The service was good, friendly, offered opinions on the menu. The feel was nice inside the restaurant. The food however left me with food poisoning. And the waffle was so dense I really hope they just switch to a pancake/waffle mix. And $10 for a juice? Would not return. read more

La Rioja in Auburn is always such a treat to visit! Unfortunately, it's a bit too far from where my family lives, otherwise we'd be here all the time. We're pretty picky when it comes to Mexican food, but this place never disappoints, it's very authentic and delicious. The owners and staff are incredibly friendly and welcoming, which makes the experience even better. It looks like they've done a remodel since the last time we were here, and the space feels even more fresh and inviting. Today we stopped in after a long day hiking at Mount Rainier, we were starving, and this was the perfect spot on our way back home. The food hit the spot, and the service was just as amazing as the food. Definitely worth the drive whenever we're in the area! read more

See all

Outstanding customer service, clean, delicious food, and great presentation of food. The salsa is delicious. This restaurants food is an upscale authentic Mexican food. read more

See all

2nd time here and we are still very impressed and happy with both service and food. Reasonably priced and no dishes we order thus far has disappoint us. Highly recommend this place. read more

See all

The service was very attentive. With that being said I have never experienced the pain in my gut after going here for breakfast. We were very excited with all the pictures of the food on the internet. The social game is strong on this establishment How do you burn bacon on the edges and yes the center remains greasy and undercooked? The potatoes we undercooked. Over medium eggs means cooked both sides with yoke remaining in the center. Basically flip a sunny side egg over and put it on the plate. Not flat hard scramble or bust open the yoke and cook it hard. The pancakes were dry. Zero flavor. No butter served or offered. I made it to the muckleshoots bathroom and dit he'd my underwear and left commando hoping the mess was not detectable. I haven't wiped my ass with a sock since my days in the service. Thank you for texting me to see if I could still do this. Bubble guts. Won't ever go back. Breakfast 76 bucks. Tip 18%...new underwear and socks. 26 bucks. read more

MUST TRY MEXICAN FOOD! Worth the drive too! A little hard to find but once you're in the little strip mall you'll find it. What an amazing little restaurant, you will feel like you stepped into Mexico with the beautiful music, the great culinary pieces and the AMAZING food! read more

Excellent food and service. Had the steak torta which was excellent. Great margarita as well. My son had the baked potato and loved it. Huge portions. read more

My first impression was that they just threw together a restaurant overnight because the interior was very rough looking. The floors were literal concrete that matched the outside sidewalk. We were seated quickly, but it took some time for the waiter to arrive. He was really nice, but slightly awkward. We ordered guacamole and two dishes. The total was over $100 with tip and I felt that was way too high for the food and experience. We won't be returning. read more

The food was sooooo good! Genuinely felt like I was back home. It's a hidden and looks shady asf from the outside but the inside has very good vibes/ambiance. The only thing missing was some vegetables like I need lettuce :33 read more

La Rioja Mexican Cuisine - Mexican Near Me - Auburn, Washington

I'm just sorry it took us so long to try this place. The exterior does not lure you in but the reviews did. The interior is very nice and the food was excellent and authentic! The owner was super nice. There aren't a lot of vegetarian options, though I'm sure most anything could be made vegetarian. I tried the grilled cactus and vegetables which were excellent. Came with fresh tortillas. We also got the guacamole appetizer and loved the chips, guac and pico de gallo. We will be back! read more

La Rioja Mexican Cuisine - Grilled cactus and vegetables w/ warmed tortillas - Mexican Near Me - Auburn, Washington

Literally the best hidden gem. We stopped here tonight to avoid traffic and we were so impressed. Beautiful restaurant. EXCELLENT food. Wonderful service. read more

La Rioja was recommended to us so we came to check it out. I'm very particular about my margaritas as I hate the margarita mixes. This margarita was the best I've probably ever had! The chicken asada was so clean and seasoned perfectly! The service was excellent and so nice. I cannot wait to come back and try some of their other dishes! read more

La Rioja Mexican Cuisine - Best margarita ever! - Mexican Near Me - Auburn, Washington

See all

Very disappointing after our first visit. First visit was 5 star. Tonight, our table was too small for our food, the bone marrow we ordered was barely two spoon fulls. I regret not taking a picture. We let the staff know and were told we would get a discount which was not honored. Steak was really good but the mole enchiladas were cold and lacked flavor. I would recommend Cuerno Bravo or the steakhouse in house in Kent for quality and price. Hope they fix this read more

This is a cute family restaurant with authentic delicious Mexican food. I had the chicken fajitas and my mom had the tacos. The tortillas tasted like they were made 5 minutes before they came to the table. The chicken was juicy and was obviously marinated overnight before being grilled. The veggies were all so fresh and the sauces seemed homemade. We were treated like family and will definitely be coming back! read more

La Rioja Mexican Cuisine - Chicken fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Auburn, Washington

I've been coming here for 2 years now and let me tell you that I've never been dissatisfied! I LOVE coming here with my family to have authentic Mexican food! It's clean and service is always great! I highly recommend this place, you have to try a little bit of everything when you visit! read more

La Rioja Mexican Cuisine - The doraditos with carne asada - Mexican Near Me - Auburn, Washington

See all

Cute ambiance inside with a nice heart wall. The server was very nice and checked on us often. The guacamole was packed with great flavor! I had the chancla and it was presented so nice! The steak in it has a great charred flavor. The green sauce that came with the food was amazing and I wanted to take a bucket of it home! read more

La Rioja Mexican Cuisine - Mexican Near Me - Auburn, Washington

See all

The food here was amazing! It was at first hard to find, since it is a small section of a big building although it was incredible. I got the papa rellena which was perfect and extremely filling. My dad got the ribeye torta and the meat was cooked and seasoned to perfection. I highly recommend this place if you live, or are visiting auburn. read more

Food was great, lots of different dishes not normally found in a Mexican restaurant. Service was excellent. My group sat and talked for quite awhile and the server kept checking on us. He stopped and explained about the restaurant having new owners but they'll be keeping many of the current dishes on the menu. He told us to not worry and to sit and talk for as long as we wished. We will be going back for sure. read more

The food was incredible, every flavor tasted thoughtful and the plating simple and intentional. I feel like I tasted authentic Mexican food for the first time. Service was kind and attentive, and the atmosphere is warm. read more

My boyfriend and I popped in here before going to the theater in Auburn. We didn't really know what to expect going in, but were both pretty stunned. In the three years I've been with my boyfriend I've never heard him compliment food beyond "it was pretty good." So when he said "I think that's the best molé I've had" you could have knocked me over. I loved my burrito and the sauces they provided were extremely yummy. Also, the staff was lovely. Highly recommend. read more

Stopped in here tonight for dinner before a concert down the street. A very cute spot with not your typical Mexican restaurant menu. The staff was great, our server was so sweet and kind. So much food for the price and the margarita was fantastic. Guacamole was great too! read more

This place is a hidden gem. We tried it once on a whim and have been going back twice a month for the past several months. Get the Quekas and Vacio!! Amazing place, food, and the owners and staff are so nice! read more

The food was delicious and the people were friendly. We will definitely be back. It's our go to on the south end: papa loca is a whole meal alone! Love the sauces and they have a really good guacamole! Family dining, and friendly staff. Thank you! read more

This place is just ok and I probably wouldn't rush to get back there. Went there for the first and only time and at a Mexican restaurant that I've never tried, I always get the burrito which seems to be a standard and sometimes signature dish. First of all, it was the most expensive burrito I've ever purchased at nearly $20. Pretty high for a strip mall divey family operation. And the burrito was nothing special. The service was just fine and friendly. Perhaps I'll give it another shot and order something else but everything on the menu looked expensive. read more

This place deserves 10 stars for their customer service. I had been hearing about this restaurant for over a year now. I've heard nothing but raving reviews and I couldn't wait to come check it out for myself. The restaurant itself is smaller than what I expected. It's cute and clean. They had a sign at the door that they were only taking cash payments on this day. Probably a huge inconvenience for most people. We were seated right away. The waitress was very nice however spoke with a very soft voice and it was hard to hear her over the other people in the restaurant(lots of small children crying and yelling on the day I went). Menu options are great and not overwhelming. I will say I was a little shocked to see the prices but we figured they must be great portions. Food arrived quickly and came with freshly handmade tortillas. Food portions were not what we expected. The burrito was large but was stuffed with a ton of sour cream and lettuce. The pollo Asado has thin dry pieces of chicken with about 2oz of beans and 3 different salsas. The chiles I would say were a good portion. My mom got tacos de asada that came with 2oz of beans and salsas. The horchata tasted like cold thick atole. I waited for my ice in the cup to melt before drinking it. For dessert we tried the flan. Flan was a good portion and was good but nothing I would buy again. I don't think we will be back. The service and people were amazing but it's overpriced and the amount of food doesn't match what you pay for. I really wanted to fall in love with this place after waiting all this time to try them out. read more

See all

Our service was great as our server was very attentive and so sweet. I love Mexican food and was a underwhelmed by the tamales. They were pretty dry; both the meat and the masa. The rice and beans were great and so were my husband's tacos. read more

See all

Oh my gosh!! I did Uber this delivery on Thursday evening. It arrived before the estimated time delivery. The food was just amazing. I'm not a refried bean dish person but I actually was disappointed when I had finished it. I'm looking forward to actually eating in the restaurant next time. The containers were more than exceptional for the delivery. This is now going to be my Mexican restaurant! Yum read more

Second time here having the papa rellena again. My wife and I agree, it is on the best thing I've ever ate list! Every bite, I can't believe the flavors. Even when I got full, I couldn't stop eating. We saw a few carne asada rib eyes go by and the steakhouse torta! Both look so amazing! This is such a hidden gem. If you are going to the casino or going to a concert at the white river Amphitheater stop by la rioja. read more

La Rioja Mexican Cuisine - Papa rellena - Mexican Near Me - Auburn, Washington

See all

The food was okay but we had a group of people and they would not split the check for us. It took us 45 minutes to figure out the check and it was enough for me to not want to revisit the restaurant. It was a huge hassle. I feel like when your charging a prearranged tip of 18% the service should not stop when the food is finished. Disappointed and wouldn't recommend. read more

If you want to leave satisfied and full come eat here!! Very clean and very friendly staff! The food is fabulous! Hand-made tortillas!!

We visited La Rioja for the first time tonight and let me tell you, the margaritas are on point! Thank god for a proper margarita (scratch, none of that BS mixer)! Food and service was great too. (We forgot to take pictures of our food, boo!) Definitely recommend! read more

Staff is friendly, food is good, but the pricing seems a little too much. I will go here if I have a major Mexican food since it's the closest to my work. Would frequent it more often if the pricing was just a little lower. I got some chips and guacamole today and it was $9.99. They give you a "decent" amount of guacamole but definitely not enough of the chips part. Also they charged me an extra fee for "Togo". read more

La Rioja Mexican Cuisine - Mexican Near Me - Auburn, Washington

See all

Was excited to try this place based on reviews stopped in with my son for a quick bite. The food was great tasting but for the prices it was disappointing. You get no sides, no chips, portion size of entrees is on the small side, sodas cost a ton. If they brought down the prices or added sides , some chips and salsa it would have potential. I think they need to rethink their target customer especially for their location. read more

See all

If you've ever been to Asadero Sinaloa in Kent or Ballard..this place will feel really familiar to you! The menus are extremely similar. The benefit of La Rioja is that since it is still pretty new and unknown, there is no wait for a table (for now). I love Asadero and the food at La Rioja is nearly identical in presentation, quality, and taste. I took my mom here for an early Mother's Day dinner and we ordered cocktails, jalapeño rellanos, two orders of bone marrow, and the carne asada platter. All of the food was great and the bone marrows were huge with tons of soft marrow which made me really happy. Our server was friendly and very patient with us as we took awhile to make our minds up on what we wanted to order. We left extremely full and with a to-go box full of carne asada and tortillas left. I am really happy I tried this place. If you are craving Asadero, but don't want to struggle to find parking and wait an hour + for a table, go to La Rioja! read more

See all

Not your usual Mexican restaurant. This one has more real authentic dishes yet in a visual pleasing atmosphere. I ordered the vegetarian cactus dish. It did taste good but I was surprised at the amount for the price. So know that while the price will be more expensive than a typical Mexican restaurant the quantity of food of the plate will be a lot less. Even appetizer I ordered guacamole but it came with a good amount of guac but only 4 or 5 round (3 inch) tortilla chips. Service and delivery of food was slow as well. But it does taste good. read more

La Rioja Mexican Cuisine - Vegetarian Cactus - Mexican Near Me - Auburn, Washington

Good food and super friendly service! Also nice music We ordered bone marrow from appetizer and carne asada plate and taco plate. All good read more

La Rioja Mexican Cuisine - Mexican Near Me - Auburn, Washington