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    Mariposas Mexican Restaurant & Cantina

    4.2 (194 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Open • 10:00 am - 10:00 pm

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    MARIPOSAS MEXICAN RESTAURANT & CANTINA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Bianca A.

    I love coming here regularly and using open table to make our reservations. Today we came in for the World Cup game Mexico Vs England and it did not disappoint. The energy and ambiance of the staff made the game that much more entertaining and engaging. Our waiter Nancy did an amazing job taking care of us through our time making sure we were satisfied and had our refills. My son enjoyed some quesabirrias while I had my regular taco with grilled onions and nopal. Will continue to support this amazing place always feel welcomed and it's nice to be recognized by the staff...

    best drinks ever

    The service and drinks are the best And the sushi the best dragon roll Best food wver I'm in

    Enchiladas de Camaron
    Chelsea M.

    WOW. I was in Riverside for the weekend and I stopped by for lunch here and it was such a great experience! My server gave me chips & salsa to start and gave me a great recommendation for drink which was the 'verano sin ti' and it was amazing, not too strong which is what I like :) I also decided to order the enchilada de camaron and their esquite (which i'm craving just thinking about). Overall, everything was DELICIOUS, the staff were all super kind/attentive to me, and the atmosphere was so fun & friendly and it's a great place to go with some friends/family. If you're in the area, I highly recommend checking them out!! 10/10!!

    Tacos al gobernado
    Joy B.

    Water tasted fresh and filtered but no lime in it like i asked. Free chips were good. Food was good too. I would give them 4 stars but the decor and my waitress really pushed it to 5 for me. She was super sweet. Maybe will be back... but the food was just so so. Almost too much cheese on the tacos. Pretty greasy. I like it when they taste a little more crispy/fresh. Some cabbage in there for crunch woulda been a nice touch. Or a little more cilantro/carrots. But it wasnt bad. It was good.

    Today is my 3rd time here - this restaurant has yet to disappoint me ! First time I ordered enchiladas 2nd time - aguachiles 3rd time - tacos Literally amazing spices and flavor every time ! This place is being slept on for sure ! The prices are good too ! Something affordable for todays economy

    Derek N.

    I tried this spot because the tacos were only $2, which is honestly hard to beat. They are pretty small though, so keep that in mind you'll probably need 10 to feel full. The sauces were alright, nothing super special. The avocado sauce was surprisingly really sweet with a little spice to it, which wasn't exactly what I expected. The other sauces were very spicy; like next level spicy. So just be careful if you're not big on heat. I got togo with my friends so I can't speak on the service but it was alright when I ordered in person. The meat itself was decent. The asada had good flavor, but some pieces were pretty tough. The birria was okay, but it didn't really taste like traditional birria to me, it was more like regular shredded beef without that rich, slow-cooked flavor you'd expect. Overall, not bad for $2 tacos, but not somewhere I'd go out of my way for.

    Chilaquiles breakfast buffet with barbacoa
    Vanessa C.

    I went on a Sunday morning right at opening for the breakfast buffet ($27.99). Even though they're supposed to open at 10am, we weren't let in until about 10:10, which was a little annoying. Food-wise, it was a mixed experience. The chile relleno and potatoes were good in flavor but both were cold, which kind of killed it. The chilaquiles were delicious and made exactly how I wanted them. The barbacoa was seasoned really well too. The pozole had good flavor, but there were just too many fatty pieces. If you love the fatty parts, great -- if not, prepare to pick around it. One thing I thought was crazy: you have to pay separately for coffee. For a buffet, coffee should honestly just be included. Paying $4 for something that tasted like watered-down instant coffee was wild. On the positive side, the music was nice and not too loud, and the inside is very pretty. Lots of booths and a comfortable setup.

    Green chilaquiles
    Viviana C.

    They opened a little after 10 today (like 8 minutes after opening hours) and had quite a crowd waiting to be let in. Once inside I instantly felt like I had stepped into a fairy-tale food forest--colorful, whimsical, and giving enchanted brunch vibes. It was buffet style with MANY options but I went straight for the chilaquiles which were made fresh right in front of you and honestly? 10/10 flavor bomb. I'd come again just for these chilaquiles alone. The cheese enchiladas rolled up with the same flavor profile, which normally I'd side-eye, but nope--still delicious and still worth putting on my plate. Not to mention they had spaghetti AND chicken pasta. Although the chicken pasta was covered in some green sauce which was good in its own way but still a little questionable for me. Definitely wasn't expecting to see those dishes displayed for breakfast but I'm not complaining. Now, fair warning: the AC in this place is fighting for its life, meaning the food can cool off faster than expected. Not a dealbreaker, but definitely a "bring a sweater and eat fast" situation. My cousin got herself the ceviche and said it had a mysterious aftertaste, like the seasoning couldn't decide who it wanted to be. Not terrible--just... interesting.... Dessert time redeemed everything though. The churros? Yummy, fluffy, crunchy, stuffed with a cinnamony filling and honestly the main character. The conchas on the other hand were a bit on the dry side, but nothing a cup of hot chocolate couldn't fix. (You'd have to pay extra for the coffee if that's what'd you'd prefer) Overall: a colorful, fairy like, flavorful experience with a personality of its own--just maybe keep your jacket on and your expectations playful.

    Pepino margarita
    Kesly B.

    The location is so nice, lots of parking available. Bartender was very nice and attentive.

    Genesis B.

    From the outside, the restaurant looks colorful and lively. It gives off club vibes. Ive stopped here for some drinks and a quick but to eat with some colleagues. We had no reservation, and the host was able to seat us quickly. There were a couple people inside enjoying dinner. The inside definitely looks like a club. Theres dim lighting, hanging trellis, neon butterfly lights, and cultural murals on the walls. Definitely feels like I was transported to a magical land. The waitress gave us our menus, water for the table, and chips and salsa. I decided to order amor de la Mexican drink and after some thought, the pasta à la diabla. It's shrimp pasta Our waitress had said that the drink I had ordered was like strawberry milk with rum. It did take a bit for everything to be served. Our drinks came first. It was so pretty! There were flowers on the side of the glass and strawberries on top. It was yummy! After a while, food was served. My plate looked appetizing. The sauce with the shrimp really tied the flavors all together. So good! It came with some bread as well. Everyone, not just our waitress, was always checking in on our table. Once it was time for payment, my order was $46. They also add a gratuity for larger parties automatically. After some chatting, I realized this place is well known for their brunch. I will definitely be back for brunch! Very enjoyable experience!

    Chicken enchilada, Chile roja, and Chile relleno. Just plate of the day lol.
    Amber M.

    10/10 recommend the bottomless mimosas for only $14.99! This place is great for the whole family, girls day out, dates, etc. The all you can eat brunch is a steal at $27.99. They have a nice variety of food options. The food is fresh and kept hot and was never burnt or dried out like most buffet food I'm used to. The had a guy making fresh omelets and chilaquiles. They had aqua frescas, a dessert table with arroz con leche and conchas. It was such a great way to try their food for the first time.

    Carne asada and jarito loco  Delish!!
    Ulises R.

    Great service Easy freeway access Great parking Fast seating excellent drinks . Quality ingredients beautiful atmosphere. Great for a date or family gathering ! Fatima best server ever ! Nominate her for Employee of the Month ! Make that employee of the year!!! AAA+++

    The staff are super friendly & attentive. The drinks are great & we received our food quickly. Would come again!

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    15 days ago

    Amazing customer service ! Very attentive and friendly, I came for the first time today and I enjoyed!

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    3 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    14 hours ago

    Food was okay. Service was worse , I waited a long time to pay and the place wasn't even full. Would come back.

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    3 months ago

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    15 days ago

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    6 months ago

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    19 days ago

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    7 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    1 month ago

    Terrible brunch. Food trays always empty and overpriced. Food was about a 6. Not good at all for the price.

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    9 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    30 days ago

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    10 months ago

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    15 days ago

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    4 months ago

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    3 months ago

    The food is delicious. They have great lunch specials and can't go wrong with Taco Tuesday. Our server Sandra was super nice and attentive

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    2 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    4 months ago

    This restaurant looks like it entirely is set up for Sunday brunch and some strange karaoke/lounge singers. Food was very meh at dinner.

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    7 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Great time, spent my sister in laws birthday. Super fun. Can't wait to com again. Would recommend

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    30 days ago

    Food is amazing, drinks are good, the margarita swirls are sooo good would definitely recommend!!!

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    4th time in about 5yrs. Food was "ok". Sorry to say, you…read morewon't find real "street tacos" thedse are soft tortilla or hard shell. I guess with the theme of "homemade tortillas" they use them for everything including chips. Tacos hard shell, taste more like "flautas". Drinks are way "overpriced" for the size. We will never get an alcoholic beverage again. Table Salsa needs a fast makeover, it taste very blah, very mild and had a preservative/chemical taste. Quality vs. Popularity is taking over.

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    Stopped in for brunch on a Sunday and the place quickly began to fill up with groups celebrating…read morebirthdays. Very spacious location, decor has you feeling like you're in Cancun, really good setup. Music is BLASTING, there's a Dj and large screen playing music videos and the music selection when I was there was on point! 5/5 for the vibes! We started off with a mimosa, standard drunk so nothing out of this world about it. Chips and salsa were brought out for the table and both were really good! Chips were warm and made in-house so they were perfect. Salsa was a pico de gallo finely chopped. For my main course I ordered the huevos rancheros and that was a 3/5. Overall flavor was good I will say but the dish was a little cold upon the first bite. Loaded with sour cream and salsa, it was a little too much. The dish came with asada (steak) inside and the meat was really chewy and only a few pieces of it. I was too thrown off by the food being slightly cold but otherwise, it wasn't terrible. Very modern take on Mexican food. Service was quick and our waiter, Jose was super nice! No complaints there whatsoever. This place is definitely more for the vibe itself. Good spot to grab some appetizers or a quick small bite, or just drinks themselves. Overall, 3.8 stars from me!

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    3.3(1.7k reviews)
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    I've read up on reviews saying some of the food is bad, etc SO I did my research on what multiple…read morereviews say tasted GREAT! Their Mojarra for one, is amazing with some corn tortillas, beans and rice, and lettuce. The lime garlicky sauce on that one, is what I've been dreaming of. It was THE star of the show. And we also got their wet supreme burrito mojado, with the mole sauce all over it Also tried their agua fresca, loved the cucumber and lime flavor! Great size for two to share, and we had a blast just eating and enjoying the sights laid out to see. Their pickled onions got a spicy kick to it! I loved the added crunch instead of just having the typical hot salsa. Service was great, with the waiters and waitresses checking in on us every now and then, and I liked that we pay first then eat, so we just leave after we're done! Excellent experience as the weather was perfect too, the outdoor seating has some mosquitoes but be sure to go when it's not molting hot outside! After food we got to go on a photo spree and it was wonderful.

    Terrible customer service and a menu that doesn't explain their own rules…read more We ordered the potato tacos and asked if they could be made hard shell. The woman helping us immediately gave us attitude and said they "can't" do that because the potato tacos are premade. That explanation made even less sense once the food came out. My girlfriend's potato tacos were served flat/open, while my dad's meat tacos came out hot in hard shells. So they clearly have hard shells and are actively serving them--we were simply asking for potato instead of meat in one. And nowhere on the menu does it explain that this isn't possible. In fact, the menu specifically labels other items "2 SOFT TACOS" and "2 HARD SHELL TACOS," while the potato option simply says "2 TACOS." It doesn't say soft, doesn't say they're premade, and doesn't say hard shell isn't an option. If there's some legitimate kitchen reason they can't put potato in a hard shell, that's fine. Just explain it politely and put it on the menu. Instead, the woman acted like we were asking for something completely ridiculous and was unnecessarily rude about a very simple request. Customers shouldn't be expected to know your kitchen's unwritten rules and then get an attitude for asking a question your own menu doesn't answer. Fix the menu or fix the attitude. Preferably both. We definitely won't be coming back

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