We happened upon Palenque Kitchen by Mezcal on our way back to LA from Palm Springs and I'm so glad we did. From the moment we walked in, Victor greeted us and also ended up being our server. He was attentive, friendly, and gave us great recommendations throughout the meal. Truly excellent service from start to finish definitely ask for Victor if you go. We ordered the enmoladas, fajitas, churros, flan, and aguas frescas (Jamaica and sandía), and everything was spot on. Muy bueno todo. The ambiance great vibe overall. This was such a great unexpected find and we'll definitely be back next time we're passing through. Highly recommend! read more

This was a cool place to try out. Our server Jose was very attentive and friendly! Food presentation was beautiful and flavorful. Atmosphere was very modern and upbeat decor. Location is near Mission Inn on Main Street. Price is on the higher end so plan to pay an average of $30/person. The only thing that was a bummer for us was the loud music for lunch hour experience. The music was loud and made me think it would be best for a club atmosphere? Maybe it was just me but I felt anxiety eating because the music was so upbeat and loud. Music is a big part of the eating experience. I know some people may be fine with it. For example, we had breakfast at Tio's Taco and the music was spot on for the dining experience. read more

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Came here on a Friday for lunch. It was not at all busy. I believe our waitress was Iris. She was super sweet and extremely helpful and attentive. The restaurant has a fun vibe and beautiful bright decor. I imagine it being pretty fun at night. The chips and salsa were excellent, the chips had a seasoning on them that was so good and everything was fresh. I got a fish taco and asada taco because I couldn't decide between the two. The fish lacked a little flavor and the asada was a little greasy but the rice and beans were good. My husband got the Huevos Rancheros with asada and he ate the whole thing up, I tried his food and the flavors were bomb! We also got the mimosa flight which was perfect Overall, I would come back and check it out again. read more

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Tried the margarita flight and taquitos at Palenque Kitchen The margarita flight was fun to try and the drinks were strong with great flavor variety. The taquitos were crispy, well-seasoned, and perfect for sharing. Great spot for a lively girls night in downtown Riverside -- would definitely come back. read more

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Such a fun spot for drinks and happy hour. The vibe was really nice, the drinks were good, and the whole place had a great energy. Service was friendly and fast, and it felt like a perfect place to catch up with friends or start the night. I would definitely come back for the drinks and atmosphere. read more

Palenque Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

We were out there for Christmas lights and decided to get a quick dinner. Being holiday time, it was super busy and crowded. We had to wait to get a table. Service was quick and ambiance was cool. We order enchiladas with shrimp, carnitas plate, and queso. Everything was great and tasted good. Food came out a bit cold with was unusual. Probably because they were super busy? But still strange to not have served hot food if it's just coming out of the kitchen. Overall, a good place to check out.. might give it a shot again when it's not a holiday week. read more

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It is comfortable seating inside. They also have seating outside in the front patio. We did not have a long wait for a table. The waitress was very friendly and the service was adequate. We ordered Baja fish tacos and pozole. Pozole was chicken soup. it was NOT Pozole. The fish tacos had lots of batter and very little fish for the first bite. The batter overwhelmed the fish taco. Tasting on the greasy side. The side of beans = meh Truthfully I can see how going to Baja /Rosarito& Ensenada area has made me more critical of places that claim to have Baja Fish Tacos. The best fish tacos are simple and delicious. Ummm it's not available North of the border. ‍ oh well - read more

Palenque Kitchen - I added the cabbage, red onions, cilantro and lime juice... still chicken soup not pozole. sorry this is not a great picture. - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

Stumbled upon this place post drinks from another nearby venue and immediately fell in love. I am from the OC and adore the palenque in Costa Mesa so I was glad to experience the IE restaurant! The restaurant aesthetically is beautiful and spacious. Perfect for a night out with friends or a date night. Sonia at the bar was so kind and immediately greeted us upon entry. My girlfriend and I were here for drinks and the margarita sampler($36) did not disappoint! It was flavorful and had a kick to it. Sonia also recommended dessert which was delicious. We did the tres leches and the churros. So good. This was a total win in my book and will recommend palenque riverside by all means! read more

Palenque Kitchen - Tres leches - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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Made a reservation for 9 on a Sunday at 5:30 and fortunately, it wasn't just and we were seated right away. Important to note that reservations hold a card for cancellation. Our server was helpful and kind, especially for us being a bigger party. And the food came out quickly for the size of our party too. I got the Baja tacos which comes with rice and beans. The fish tacos are pretty standard and decently tasty but nothing standout. I don't know what kind of fish they use but it didn't seem like a meaty fish like cod or pollock. The beans were too salty and the rice was good but some was overcooked/dry. It is a good portion size (was able to save 1 taco) but it's on the pricier side. Maybe I should've tried something else but wouldn't plan on coming back or recommending it read more

Palenque Kitchen - Baja tacos with rice and beans - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

Papas Bravas (2/5): The papas bravas were a bit disappointing as it lacked flavor. The appetizer came with crema and green onions on top but honestly it did not add to the taste. The dish was overall quite plain and just tasted like potatoes dipped in sour cream. We dipped the potatoes in the chicken enchilada sauce and it made them taste a little better. If you're looking for an appetizer I don't recommend this one. Carne Asada Fajitas (3/5): This dish was neither good nor bad. We were very excited when it was brought to our table but unfortunately it lacked flavor and was dry. Before we ordered, we asked if we could choose how the meat was cooked but was told it was only cooked one standard way. It comes with guac, beans, mexican rice, and pico de gallo which helped give the dish a bit of life. Chicken Enchiladas (5/5): Everything about these enchiladas was so delicious. The chicken was cooked just right, they added the perfect amount of cheese, and perfect amount of green salsa and crema. The plate was clean by the time I was done with the dish. I would absolutely order this dish again. The interior was nicely done and our waiter was great! Something you should know is if you reserve a big party you have to pay $20 per person to hold your place. If you don't show up it will be deducted from the card you put on file. read more

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I came here with some friends for an R&B event and absolutely loved the vibe. People were singing along, drinking, and laughing it was such a fun atmosphere. I really enjoyed myself and the food. I had the shrimp tacos with chipotle sauce so good! And the margaritas were STRONG read more

Palenque Kitchen - Shrimp Tacos Refried Beans Spanish Rice - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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Came in to celebrate friend going away and was please with the attentive service and suggestions; food was great and drinks were on point. Our server made sure we always were taken care of. It's a great environment and our waiter made sure we were please with everything. Thanks Eddie for providing great service; wished we would have gotten a quality picture of our table. We will definitely be back! read more

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We decided to switch things up on Christmas evening with a walk through the Mission Inn's Festival of Lights. No agenda--just fresh air and a change of pace. That's when we noticed this spot was open... and surprisingly BUSY. On a whim, we went in. Best unplanned decision of the night. The patio felt intimate, the staff was awesome, and the vibe was just right. We shared a couple of drinks, ordered their delicious tres leches and a seriously crave-worthy brownie, and settled in to people-watch as the crowd walked by seeing the lights. One of those chillest nights that ended up being exactly what we needed to slow down in the middle of a busy night before getting back to everything. read more

My husband and I came here for a lunch date yesterday. We parked in the structure next door. The decor inside is beautiful and we were immediately seated at a corner booth. We were given both the brunch and dinner menu. I ordered the ceviche and fish tacos and my husband ordered the steak tampiquena. Our host Victor was amazing and was always checking up on us and was super helpful since it was our first time dining here. Everything was delicious and definitely a place we'd return. read more

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Love this place. 2nd year in a row we have been to the Benedict Castle Concours and followed up with a great meal here. I think we need to start a tradition! The ambiance here is great and so is the service. My husband and I both love their cocktails, would highly recommend just asking to switch from tequila to Mezcal if you're a fan - awesome. Even their house margaritas are fantastic. They have this one margarita that is a little spicy, with hints of cucumber - so refreshing. Then there's the food. Their house chips and salsa are so fresh, need to be careful on overloading before your actual food gets there. My husband had the shrimp enchiladas- all I can say is wow. This has got to be the star. I got the carne asada steak - also grilled perfectly. Highly recommend this spot. Great place to go when you're in downtown Riverside, then after this meal maybe take a walk to the Mission Inn! I work in Costa Mesa, there's another Palenque there as well - will have to give that a try. If it's a good as this one in Riverside, it'll be a real temptation not to go there during my lunch hour. We'll be back for sure! read more

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I was very excited to try this Resturant. But unfortunately it wasn't what I expected. The food was mid and the prices are pretty high. They took too long to bring out all our food. All The food came out at different times so we couldn't eat together.The Resturant it's self it's really nice and clean. Staff was nice. read more

Palenque Kitchen - Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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An amazing experience from beginning to end! Our server, Victor gave us great recommendations from delicious drinks to apps and mains. Our food came out within an appropriate time and Victor immediately noticed our daughter's food had a sauce on it which we had asked to be on the side. He took it back and brought out the right plate without our asking! If we lived nearby, we would be here all the time! 5 stars! read more

Thanks Christian !! You are the best! Had a great afternoon at this bar/ restaurant in Downtown Riverside. The Espresso Martini is DELICIOUS and the music was amazing.. a little noisy but actually fun to have drinks and you can still have a conversation. Highly recommend! read more

Palenque Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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Great place for people watching on a Friday or Saturday night. Lots of clubs and bars in the area and this restaurant also owns the club next door. Nice ambiance and decor. Boutique style plating. Service was good. Fajita portion was rather small, rice was about two teaspoons worth and was stuck together and hard. Steak was tough, rubbery and fatty and itbwas only two small corn tortillas. Chips and salsa was $5. The enchiladas had a decent flavor and the portion was cool. Says open until 1am on the weekend on yelp but they were closed by 12am. They should allow free admission to the club with purchases at the restaurant of a certain amount after a certain time. Ive frequented several restaurants that also had a nightclub attached that allowed that. Makes patronizing a little easier and fun. read more

Came in on a date tonight and had the best time! First time here and will definitely be back again. Our bartender Ramon was excellent! I am so happy we came in and were so excited to make this place a date night spot as long as he's here! I truly hope management realizes they have a gem with him! read more

What a great place to celebrate my birthday our server was Christian he took our table and made us feel special. Loved the drinks and the ambiance. Christian is now our preferred server. read more

This place is amazing! It's a family friendly restaurant with great music, food and ambiance. I highly recommend trying the pulpo appetizer and the quesa birria tacos. My wife loved their pozole, guacamole and their churros. Special thanks to our server Iris for being a part of celebrating our special evening. read more

Palenque Kitchen - Pulpos appetizer - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

Great experience. I had the Camarones Al mojo d'ajo and churros for dessert. The restaurant itself has a great vibe and food was delicious, the best margarita also, I think juice had to be fresh squeezed read more

Palenque Kitchen - Churros. The best I ever had - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

Good food. Enjoyed their happy hour food and drinks although we had to ask for the menu. The tacos were so delicious and margaritas were good quality, the ambience is great and service is quick and attentive. read more

Palenque Kitchen - Asada taco and Tonga taco. Margaritas. - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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They state online they offer so much for the guests but when I went in with a group of business associates to work on our laptops while we are eatting they said they didn't offer any WiFi for guests EVEN THOUGH they promote online they do have WiFi available for guests this ruined our experience we CANCELED OUR ORDER AND LEFT! I wonder what else they DONT HAVE AVAILABLE FOR THEIR GUESTS read more

Love love this place! MUSIC On point DRINKS Awesome! FOOD Always good. Come by and say Hi to Victor he's amazing! read more

Palenque Kitchen - Victor! - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

I went to Palenque by Mezcal twice last week -- once on Thursday with my fiancé, then again on Saturday with friends. Safe to say: we were hooked. Thursday night: My fiancé had the Torta Cubana (he LOVED it) and a beer. I went with the shrimp tacos and a Paloma cocktail. The tacos were tasty but spicier than expected -- I had asked for no spice, (if you have read my reviews you know I can't have spicy food) so that was a small miss. However, the real surprise was dessert: the tres leches with lemon and blueberries -- absolutely delicious! Not too sweet, refreshing, and such a nice twist on the classic. Saturday: We came back with a group and ordered a variety to try -- carne asada tacos, birria tacos, and octopus. Everything was solid, but the octopus? Next level. Perfectly cooked and packed with flavor. It stole the show. Prices are on the higher end, especially for Riverside, but honestly... YOLO. The vibes are great, the food is elevated, service is fair and it feels like a special night out without leaving town. read more

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Everything was great. Sally was our host and couldn't ask for better service. Ordered the papas bravas as an appetizer and it was amazing. Entrees were amazing as well couldn't as for more. Highly recommend to anybody in the area. Will definitely be returning soon read more

The waitress was very attentive and checked on our table frequently. My favorite thing at any restaurant is what they serve complimentary. Whether if it's bread or chips and salsa. That's what people look forward to and it was disappointing that you have to pay for chips and salsa here. They give you very little chips and small cups of salsa that doesn't pack any heat. The cubana sandwich was good. I think it can be shared between 2-people. The atmosphere is cool and I can understand why people come here. Nice decor and is a place you want to take pictures with your friends. It definitely isn't a place for me. I like quiet place to have dinner and to be able to enjoy conversation. Also it's a one man restroom so you have to wait in line to use it. read more

Palenque Kitchen - Cubana - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

Situated in the culture and arts area of Riverside, this place was easy to get to from the hotel I stayed in for the week on business. Inside was beautiful and gave you Mayan heritage feel. They didn't have happy hour, however their drinks were reasonably priced. There were 4 of us so we ordered several things to try. The taquitos, ceviche w/ tortillas, fried octopus, queso were amazing! Our waiter was so nice and gave us a history lesson about the name of the restaurant and helped me figure out which mezcal I was going to try for the first time. Their chicken fajitas were really good also. They played good music which made the vibe even better along with the food and drinks. I would go back here for sure and try other dishes. read more

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Service and ambiance was good. Very small portions for the price. We ordered shrimp and steak fajitas and only got 3 shrimps and a few pieces of meat. My father and I ordered the Caldo Tlalpeno and it was super salty, not edible. Overall not worth it for how expensive it was, especially because the food was not that good. read more

I booked reservations for a Saturday night and we were seated within a few minutes. Service was nice, our waiter was friendly despite seeming very busy. The restaurant is just a quick 5 minute walk from the Mission Inn. The inside is on the smaller to medium size with aesthetically pleasing neon lights in dim lighting. The food was just okay to me. The best thing was the guacamole but they such a little scoop in a big bowl. The presentation looked a bit disappointing because of that. I ordered the chicken enchiladas and the verde sauce had too much acidity for my liking. The chicken was moist but the flavor was okay. The Spanish rice was undercooked and hard with a funny chlorine taste to it. The margaritas were also a better a highlight as it was strong and pretty to look at it. Although the atmosphere is fun for a night out, I've had way better Mexican food at higher end places that cost just as much if not less. read more

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We weren't sure if Palenque required a reservation, so I called ahead. The man who answered said it was a slow night and that we could walk in, which we did. My friend and I arrived, picked a table, and were greeted by our waiter, Hailey. At the very beginning, the service actually seemed fine--she was attentive and checked on us regularly. Things started to change once the rest of our group arrived. We initially told Hailey it would be four people, but two additional friends joined, making it a party of six. From that point on, the energy noticeably shifted. Hailey became far less attentive, and when we asked questions, her responses felt awkward and dismissive. She would laugh in a way that felt uncomfortable, like there was an inside joke we weren't a part of. I can't pinpoint exactly where everything went wrong, but overall the experience was very underwhelming. We did not feel welcomed in the space at all, and the change in service made the night uncomfortable rather than enjoyable. Unfortunately, this isn't a place I'd return to or recommend. read more

Check out Palenque in Downtown Riverside to enjoy traditional Mexican dishes with a different twist, in a more upscale, modern setting. The food had great flavors that went well with one of the signature cocktails. I started off with the Sandia Pepino, A Margarita with watermelon infused tequila, house citrus, blue agave, tajin rim. I tried the combo Fajita plate with sautéed poblano mixed peppers, onions, butter, sour cream, mexican rice, beans, warm tortillas, and guacamole. We were welcomed and seated right away. Great service! Definitely will be back the next time I'm in the area. read more

Palenque Kitchen - Sandia Pepino - Watermelon infused tequila, house citrus, blue agave, tajin rim - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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Ratings as follows for the trinity: Food & Drinks: 3/5 * guacamole as a starter was great in itself. However, the chips tasted like burnt oil. The salsa that came with it was delicious. 3/5 * birria tacos were as expected and came with a solid consume and a side of rice and pinto beans. 4/5 * the asada plate was a bit underwhelming. The meat was not cooked to the temperature of our choice and was a bit chewy. Not really a flat meat. The vegetables, however, were solid. 3/5 * watermelon margarita. Very refreshing highly recommend to order. 5/5. Service: very attentive and accommodating. 5/5 Ambiance: lively with music and cute decorations. 4.5/5 read more

What a fabulous experience. Our server Victor was a delight and on point with his recommendations. Everything we ate and drank was absolutely delicious. There were four of us at the table and we all completely cleaned our plates! We will definitely return!! read more

Palenque Kitchen - A delicious suavacito! - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

We visited Riverside last night for the Festival of Lights at the Mission and decided to grab some food beforehand. I had initially booked a reservation at another restaurant, but this place caught my eye and looked way better--so glad we switched! We arrived just before 5 PM, and they were able to seat our party of four right away. Perfect timing, because shortly after, the restaurant completely filled up, and a line started forming outside. The Festival of Lights clearly draws a crowd, and without reservations, we were lucky to get in. Had we arrived any later, we might've missed out on this gem! I consider myself a Michelada connoisseur, so I have to say the drink was just okay--but that's the only thing I wasn't wowed by. The carnitas plate? Phenomenal. Everyone at my table ended up stealing bites from my plate after seeing how good it looked and confirming it tasted even better. The fresh guacamole was another standout, and the esquites were pretty tasty as well. The service was excellent, and the staff was both attentive and (bonus points!) very good-looking. They made sure we had everything we needed throughout the meal. This spot is definitely worth a visit. I'd love to come back, but it'll likely be next year during the Festival of Lights again. Highly recommend this place if you're in the area--just be sure to arrive early! read more

Palenque Kitchen - Carnitas -- highly recommend! - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

No vegetarian options besides salad & sides! So easy to do Mexican vegetarian dishes but not one on the menu.

Was in the area for the Riverside Mission Christmas lights and wanted a bite to eat. Located in the center downtown Riverside, definitely a great spot for Mexican food. Given how many people were in the area for the lights we were pleasantly surprised at how quickly we were seated by the hostess. Our server Jose is the sweetest! He came by immediately and brought us waters and got our orders for food. He even gave us some suggestions on popular drinks! He came by a couple of times to check on us and always has a smile on his face. Watermelon margarita 10/5 - took Jose's suggestion and got the margarita. Even comes with a slice of cucumber! Delicious and super addicting. Could've drank 10 of these. Fish tacos 5/5 - 2 beer battered fish tacos were delicious. Fish tasted fresh and seasoned well. Comes with a side of Mexican rice and beans. Fajitas 4/5 - comes with all the fixings of a fajita plate including meat, Mexican rice, beans, guacamole, sour cream, and tortillas. The meat was a little watery for my taste. Other than that flavors were great. Will definitely come back to try more stuff on their menu! read more

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I was starving with no clue where to go, so I typed "food" into my GPS and Palenque popped up. The photos looked promising, so I figured why not? Little did I know I was walking into more of a club vibe than I expected. I'll be honest, I wasn't in the mood hungry, a headache, and questioning my decision. But then Iris greeted me with such a warm, genuine smile that it instantly shifted my mood. I was a mess, and she met me with kindness and reassurance that I was in the right place and she was right. The food did exactly what I needed it to do. It was flavorful, satisfying, and honestly turned my whole mood around. What started as frustration ended in relief. read more