This is our go-to Mexican restaurant in the area. Have been here more than 10 times and have figured out which items we like and which are just meh. We love the spicy salsa and chips that they give on each visit. The level of spice varies each time, so sometimes it is REALLY spicy, but we're into that. Some of our go-to's include the table-side guac, ceviche (all three from the appetizer list), nachos locos, chicken or shrimp taco salads, sangria, and coconut margaritas! We're always satisfied after we visit! read more

I like to go here about once a week, and like to bring my friends and family to experience it as well. A buddy of mine had gotten a job within the area about a year and found this place and it has been my go to Mexican food place ever since. Whether your getting the nachos locos. a chimmy, the enchiladas, or the fajitas your in for a great fresh authentic Mexican meal. The service is both friendly, and the whole atmosphere there is great. If your into Margaritas also, I suggest you get one as they are a tasty treat. read more

Went there Friday night with a party of 6. Wait was quoted at 30 minutes and they were right on. We hung out at some tables by the bar and had their wonderful $5 margaritas. Bar service was very slow. Only able to get one round of drinks during our 30 minute wait. There were 2 bartenders working but only one seem to be taking care of the bar. They are definitely losing money at the bar as we would have had at least 2-3 rounds while waiting. Once seated the waiter came right over and we ordered drinks. Chips and salsa were brought to the table. Chips were hot and fresh, gotta love that. Drinks took a while to come, again a money loser for the business. After our drinks came we ordered our entries. Their menu features the standard mexican fare and also some amazing specialty dishes. Our food arrived so quickly we thought it wasn't our order, but it was. One item was wrong but was quickly corrected. The food was delicious, a generous quantity but not heavily weighed down with sauces. Everyone cleaned their plates. Only issue was trying to get water for the table. We had to ask twice and even after it was brought no one came by to refill. Overall we had a great meal and a great time. As stated in other reviews service is hit or miss but not for the lack of effort on the waitstaffs part. Will definitely go back. Maybe try a week night instead of the weekend to avoid the wait. Place is actually fairly small inside so maybe there will always be a wait. read more

I was happy when I heard about this Mexican restaurant opening up in town. There always seems to be an abundance of all other cuisines in this state, except for Mexican fare. I tried Riviera Maya for the first time in early April and thought that it was pretty good...and since then I have returned one more time, on Cinco de Mayo. I was a bit turned off the first time we entered and were awkwardly ignored by the guy who appeared to be the host at the host desk, but luckily this was not a recurrence. Upon first glance I wasn't sure if I was feeling the interior décor of Riviera Maya, but after some careful reconsideration I changed my mind. Initially I was comparing the inside to that of Don Jose's in East Hanover, which has beautifully carved and colorfully painted tables and chairs. I then told myself that this isn't THAT place, and if Riviera's looked the same and had all Mexican restaurants been a duplicate of Don Jose's then every place would look cliché. I like the ambiance at Riviera Maya's, DOWNSTAIRS. It is simple, but nevertheless colorful and fun. Rows of intricately patterned doilies line the ceiling, rotating from one bright color to the next...I admire looking at the many different cut-out pictures in them. However, when we came back for the second visit we were sat in the upstairs dining room which lacks ANY personality. I was shocked to find that no effort whatsoever was put into the upper half. It is a completely blank canvas, which I liken to a typical party room or office conference room. Had one been blindfolded and led inside and upstairs they would never know that they were even in a Mexican restaurant. The only thing that I found positive about this room was that the owner was smart enough to install a second bar there, which would make delivering drinks to patrons much more efficient. And the fact that they even have a liquor license is a big plus, since I have encountered many Mexican restaurants that do not. The mariachi bands present (in the main dining room) set the mood and sounded great, and to my surprise were even there on a weeknight. The fresh salsa was very enjoyable. It was heavy on the onions which was unique, and had a nice "kick" to it which I like. The first time I wished that it had a stronger tomato flavor, but the second time it did. The chips were lame though since they were completely void of salt, which I always consider to be a very poor choice. Even a little salt goes a long way when it comes to tortilla chips. I was very disappointed that jalapeno poppers were not an option on the appetizer list. I think that would definitely be a popular hit and I do hope they decide to add them. The beers were a bargain at $4...it doesn't get much better than that! Both times I ordered the cheese enchiladas which were so incredibly cheesy, and whatever kind was used was absolutely DELISH! The type was not listed on the menu so perhaps next time I will inquire. I wish that instead of giving rice as one of the sides that they would incorporate jambalaya into their menu. In my opinion most restaurant rice is a bore. But then again this is Mexican fare, and not the Creole that I enjoy at Jose Tejas in Fairfield...I just have to keep reminding myself this since I lust for their jambalaya. Although I initially thought that the portions appeared a bit small here, it turned out being the perfect amount in the end. I have received more at other places but the problem really lies in the fact that we Americans are waaaay too used to eating ourselves into obesity! I too am guilty of overindulging much too often! I did have a good time on both visits despite the fact that my food was not exactly hot the second time around (on Cinco de Mayo)...but the festiveness of the evening with the passing out of free sombreros, beads, and t-shirts definitely made me smile and look forward to my return. read more

I often travel to Mexico City for business and this reminded me of many of the wonderful casual restaurants there. The interior is colorful, comfortable and festive. The food, particularly the "street tacos" are delicious and the service is gracious. Cant wait to go back and try more dishes. read more

I am a Californian missing good Mexican food. While this is not up to west coast standards, it's the best around here. The salsa was great. The service was good and setting was surprisingly nice for a converted dinner. Slightly overpriced, but worth coming back for. read more

Worst service ever! Walked in and was seated almost immediately. A young man brought some chips and salsa in about 2 minutes and that was the end of the service. No came to ask if we wanted a drink or even a glass of water. 22 minutes after being seated we walked out. Never going back again. The Hacienda in Berkeley Heights is much better anyway and worth the drive. read more

Mango margarita's were too sweet. Salsa and the tableside guacamole were good. Ordered the sopa negro. The soup was salty and looked and tasted like it came out of a can. The entree's came out a minute after the soup arrived. My hanger steak fajita was so chewy I left half of the meat on the plate. The green sauce on the fajita was bland. My wife's enchilata carnita's were pedestrian. No freshness whatsoever. Won't be back. read more

Drinks At bar awesome, chips just so so ,salsa to much heat makes you drink more! Sad part we went there two weekends in a row the air condition was not working according to our server.We were going to stay and order dinner but the air was 84 degrees inside and stuffy. read more

This restaurant is amazing! The chips and salsa are to die for, the service is great, the food is even better, and you can't beat $5 regular margaritas! I will always come back here. read more

Food was tasty, authentic and reasonably priced. The waiter was very attentive and friendly. Great atmosphere. Floor was a little sticky in bathroom was only down side. read more

Beautiful decor with polite fast and maybe too fast service. We ordered a pitcher of red sangria (just ok) and before we could finish our first glass and snack on the chips, they were bringing the food to us. I would stay away from the salads. My wife ordered a steak salad. The shell was small but more importantly the steak looks like alpo or purina. Instead of just serving clean looking steak, it is treated with some alpo looking exterior, not too appetizing. I would stay away from the steak pieces completely and just get shrimp and chicken. I ordered fajitas and the same alpo-like steak pieces were in the dish. Ughh....but overall the fajitas, vegetables and sides were excellent. Refried beans on the side were great but microscopic portion. And now back to the red sangria. This is not spanish Portuguese sangria. Maybe the worst I have tasted in 25 years and I have been everywhere. They just missed the boat here....they must use cheap ingredients. They need to try some different recipes. My advice. Get a glass of the sangria not a pitcher. Avoid the steak pieces in your salad or fajitas or any dish that does not serve a whole steak. Prices were reasonable and service excellent. They should also Time the food delivery. Way way too fast. Will we go back..? Doubtful. Not high quality Mex food. Compared to Cinco De Mayo in Bloomingdale, this rates a 5 on a scale of 1-10. Cinco a 10. Maybe even "On The Border" franchise food is better. If you don't know any better you might think this is good food and sangria. read more

Really good Mexican. Better than its competitors. Once you get over the decor and focus on the food it's smooth sailing.

Delicious food that is perfectly priced. Great happy hour deals and excellent service. Love the chille relleno!

After hearing great reviews from friends, I decided to give Riviera Maya a try. A lover of Mexican food, I was excited to eat here but was quickly disappointed. The food was soggy, and quite frankly gross. My mother order a sad wilted salad in a taco shell, I ordered chicken quesadillas (the worst I ever had) and my husband order a burrito that was a size of a children's burrito and upon trying it, cringed immediately. Service was slow and silverware was filthy. My husband asked for a new glass because the one he had was gritty with food, only to receive a glass that literally had lipstick stains on it, smelled, and clearly appeared to have been a "dump and rinse-" there was no way that glass ever saw a dishwasher or soap and sponge in between my husband and the person before. Upon asking for the manager, hostesses looked at me with blank stares and said "I don't know where he is." After informing that I need to speak with him I was told "his office is upstairs go check." This is the long story short, suffice to say that Riviera Maya is not a restaurant I will go to again, nor do I recommend it at all. (P. S. No a/c when I went!) read more

We've watched this place go down hill over the past 6 months. Tonight was the last time we'll give it another chance. I can tolerate a drink mix-up but the totally tasteless rice and beans, the overly hot salsa, and the dried out chicken chunks and BIG piece of bone (1/2+") in the enchilada were unacceptable. It is like there was not seasoning (onions, salt, anything) in all the food and to make up for it, they made the salsa unbearably hot. Really sad since we are big Tex-Mex fans. read more

Food is generally good. Excellent service. Festive ambiance.Varied menu. Many selections to choose from, for sure. Parking is good. Easy access right off route 46. I come here about once a month. read more

Took my wife and three kids there, in August, 2017, for my wife's birthday. It was extremely loud. We had a good half hour wait until we received menus and service. I ordered steak fajitas. After another 50 minutes, we received our food. My entree had about one tablespoon of beans, two tablespoons of rice and some lettuce. There was about two ounces of steak, a few onions, a pepper, then...CARROTS, CELERY and CAULIFLOWER? I've never, in my life, heard of those foods in a fajita. I told the manager that, after picking out the strange ingredients, I had barely a cup of food and was not happy...he LAUGHED at me and said "Your fault for not reading the menu!" There was no mention of any of this in their menu, so I told him I did not want the entree. They removed it and I went without anything for the night. No one else, in our party, was happy with their meals. When it came time to finally get the bill, they were still charging me for the meal I never touched. I told them I did not want to pay for a meal I did not eat, but they refused to take it off the bill. So, our party of five had lousy meals, except myself who had nothing, one round of plain sodas, no desserts and it cost me a bit over $200. Never ever again! read more

Awesome Mexican food. It is a little pricey but totally worth it. The other places around here are about the same price if they have a wait staff. I had the chimichanga and it was $12.95 but I was stuffed. The wait staff is fantastic!!! They really know why they are talking about, they make it seem like you came to their house for dinner. I have been there twice already and will go again. read more

Great food and great service! We are vegetarian and cheese enchilada and salad were very good!

Really 2 and a half stars. Really wanted to like this place. Mediocre food . Had mole and it tasted ok but a little like bbq sauce. Really packed. Their other place in branchville is better. Go to el tapatio in Dover or don Jose in east Hanover both much better read more

The first time we went the food was great and the service was great. Next time it was very busy the food was not so good service was lousy and it was a horrible draft coming from the back door. Service is also slow and other than the fajitas everything was very mediocre. It took over an hour to get our food and we thought this may be the last time we come here for a while. Too bad as we need a very good Mexican restaurant nearby. read more

Being from San Diego, And visiting my mother I wanted to see new jerseys version of Mexican food. To be honest....the food was so authentic I felt right at home. It's not chills and it's not chi chis. It's home cooked authentic great food! read more

NO! Went here on the recommendations of friends who raved about the place. Really cute atmosphere. I ordered beef fajitas, my son ordered a plain steak, hubby ordered a combo platter and daughter ordered chicken tacos. Hubby said his was good but later was very sick. Son's steak was delicious. BUT....my daughter would not eat her taco - she said it tasted disgusting. My fajitas were the most disgusting fajitas I've ever had. It was like little strips of hard, boiled meat. Salsa was great, but will never go there again. read more

Spicy table Salsa was the best part. I had steak tacos which were ok. The soft shell I did like better than the hard shell. Could have used some sauce on it, not too much flavor. Girfriend had tamales which were also just ok. Meat was dry. Service was good, everyone was nice. read more

Really good casual Mexican. The food is well done and tasty and even the small things like the rice and beans are done well. Margaritas are good and full bar. Best Mexican food I have found in Northern NJ. Nice decor also. read more

I would give this restaurant 2.5 stars. We eat Mexican pretty frequently and we were just not impressed with this place the two times we went. Very good chips, however, all of our meals were underwhelming. Very surprised by the four stars. Definitely better Mexican options in the area. read more

Reasonable Prices, colorful festive atmosphere, friendly and quick service. While I've had better Mexican in southern California and Mexico, the food was definitely above average for northern Jersey standards. read more

Great place! Prompt service. Good food but a little pricey. Noisy place but fun. Lots of variety on menu, courteous and helpful waitstaff that refilled my ice tea without prompting. Enjoyed dinner an. Will definitely go back to try more of their tempting menu. read more

Amazing the attention we got lots a patience and nice decor it really make you feel you in Mexico the chips and salsa are very very good

Delicate balance of flavors in our dishes at the Rockaway Riveria Maya. The cappuccino was perfect; no sugar needed. Our waiter arranged a nopalitos salad for me--not on the menu. The staff was attentive, and the mariachi band made the evening festive. We will dine there again. read more

Went on Sat night for dinner. The inside is set up the same way as the sports bar same tables and bar. We were told the wait would be 20 min for dinner so we decided to get a drink from the bar while we wait. After 15 minutes of the bartendar not acknowledging us we decided to leave. When I told the host why were leaving he said our table is almost ready. Um hello did you hear what I said the bartendars did not serve us and we were waiting. I dont care if the food is good or not that was rude - never going back. read more

One of the worst restaurants I have ever been to. The waiter forgot to put our appetizers in. He didn't ask us how we were doing one time. The food was disgusting. I order crunchy tacos and they came out as the soggiest tacos I have ever eaten. They were sitting in a pool of grease. Would NOT recommend this place to anyone! read more

I went here twice and both times the place was hopping. At first it seems like everyone is running around like chickens without heads, but once you are there for 20 minutes, waiting for a table, you can understand why. The turn over in this place is insane. I thought the food for sure was going to be inconsistent to my first experience, however, I was pleasantly surprised. The food is authentic Mexican food and is worth the 20 minutes for a table. The ambiance is ok. The staff is friendly, chatty, and always professional. Great place for a girls get together. read more

Better than Chevis, Better than Jose Texas, better than Tapatio. Best Mexican food I have ever tried unbelievable!!!

I have been here several times and the food is always fresh and delicious. The wait staff is incredible - friendly, patient, happy to make substitutions, etc. The table side guacamole is outstanding. I will be going back again and again and again... read more

I found this to be an excellent authentic Mexican restaurant and I am " Mexican" and I mean Mexican si señor!! So try it, it's great food!!!

Very Disappointing. Diet Coke was a generic brand. Salsa for the chips way too spicy. Serving sizes very very small. My wife had shrimp fajita and all it had was 5 shrimp! My burrito was the small pathetic size you'd expect from Taco Bell. Only reason for two stars not one is bc the food was not bland. Will not return here again. read more

I got mini changas as an app and they were so good! I got chicken quesadilla and it was awesome !! the décor is gorgeous as well.. reasonable prices! will certainly be back ! read more

I have heard very good things about here but we went the other night and was not impressed. The food was ok but had no flavor. Service was terrible, packed with no room to move, very hot inside and the bathrooms very horrid! I would not go back. read more