The guiso is lovely and the tamales are so tasty! A no frills place, you order your food at the front, choosing what you'd like by sight. The folks are super helpful and were patient with us! A lot of food for the price, we'll definitely go again! read more

I read so much about this reputable establishment, finally went during Father's Day weekend, much to my disappointment, the food had basic Mexican flavors but did not blow my socks off. Beans and stewed chicken were watery. The food temperature was warm, should have sent it back but didn't because I didn't believe it would have mattered. Perhaps another time, for a comparison Chicken Fiesta and Chicken Canastas are superior both in flavor, ambience and food quality. In case you have been to these two, then Abuelita's does not come close. read more

I really enjoyed my meal here. The fried corn tortillas was the highlight of the mix. The customer service here was also great all of the workers were constantly on task and keeping the place in motion. This was important as the place was packed with almost all tables filled and a long line. The feel of the restaurant is what brought it down for me, I didn't really feel that it was that great compared to what I had heard about this place. Great spot though! read more

Abuelita's - Chilaquiles - Mexican Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I love Mexican food, so I found this spot while I was in the area. I ordered the birria tacos and grabbed a tiramisu cake for dessert. The birria tacos were really good, definitely a 10 out of 10. I had never tried tiramisu before, so I wanted to give it a shot since I've heard so many people love it. I'd rate it a 7.5 out of 10, it was decent overall. read more

Abuelita's - Mexican Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Recently moved to a new area in Richmond and found this place off of Midlothian. Love that the menu provided many food options I have not tried before like the ramen birria! My husband enjoyed the dish but wished it had a little more beef. I got the quesabirria and it was delicious. (Could have used some wet wipes afterwards). And the Coronitas-didn't know that existed! Service was great! You order first and then they will bring out the food. If you get chips and salsa, there's a salsa bar. The place had plenty of seating and love the decor. Painted detailed tiles and kitchenware hanging on the walls and ceiling. Also plenty of parking! Would definitely come back and try other things on the menu. read more

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The menu is above the counter and it changes too fast for reading. This is a cafeteria style restaurant so you order at the counter above premade food. I got Birria tacos, the tortillas were requested to be corn. Hubby got Birria en Caldo which was a Birria soup also served with corn tortillas. We strolled further down the counter to pay. We found a variety of salsa toppings for which we were provided four tiny paper thimbles. At least we had those. An employee brought over meals to us when we were seated. Crispy tortillas with obviously a filling of beef that had simmered for hours. I had the option for cheese, Monterey Jack and mozzarella, but I opted out. Hubby's soup was delicious. The ambiance was not where you would take a date to so it lost a star. The total was steep for what we ordered. read more

Abuelita's - Quesabirria Tacos (3) - Mexican Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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First time getting this I was super excited ! I got the mini birria tacos and a hot tamale , mango Fresca , side of rice and beans - everything was so delicious ! The drive thru window taker was so kind and patient ! Very thorough for my first time , I wasn't able to go inside although I heard it's nice ! I will definitely come back I wanted to turn around and get more when I left read more

My first time eating at this establishment, and I must say that I was pleased with the food. I had the birria taco, rice, and refried beans. The food was great, portions were nice, and the flavor was on point. The ambiance was inviting, and the service was friendly and hospitable. If you are looking for genuine Mexican food, this is the place to go! read more

Abuelita's is my new go to spot when craving Birria tacos. First off, the customer service here is so good. The owner, Carina is the best! She was really nice and helpful when explaining some of the dishes. You'll often find her working the register or helping out! The tacos are around $15 for 3, which is on the pricey side but I will say that is so worth it! The ambiance is also so cute! Plenty of seating and really cute for the area. The tacos are really flavorful. Tender, packed with beef. Such delicious consume. This is one of the better places for birria in Richmond. They also have stews which I haven't tried yet. The birria ramen is also really good, just wouldn't recommend if you are health conscious. On Tuesdays, they have taco Tuesday and they have mini birria tacos for $1. read more

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The food was great, I had the birria burrito best one I have had in a long time, portion was just right. The service was great, family oriented restaurant and great atmosphere. Food was so food that i forgot to take a picture. Plenty of parking and very well lit. read more

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A 10-minute drive outside of downtown, Abuelita's a popular, family-owned Mexican restaurant. If you love birria, it's worth the drive. Signs in the parking lot ask that you order inside if it's your first time to get the full experience. Once inside, walk to the counter and order. They will bring it to your table when it's ready. The cheese birria came in a trio and was tasty. There's an excellent salsa bar by the soda fountain to spice it up. Service is friendly and there's plenty of tables. They also have clean restrooms. read more

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Coming from a Spanish background, I must say the food here is pretty good and I think my Abuela would agree! The picadillo was rich and flavorful and complemented the black beans and rice nicely. The beans had a slight garlicky taste which I savored! The corn tortillas were firmly textured and held up well. The chips and queso dip was tasty and were plowed through our basket quickly! We also got some coronitas and coronas! My hubby got the shredded pork. They have counter service, and a special where you can pick various entrees and sides. There's also a salsa bar which ranges from mild, the verde sauce, to hot, the picante/jalapeno. There was plenty of seating and the restaurant was clean and the staff was helpful and friendly. Prices were decent and the portions were large and filling! La comida es buena!! read more

Abuelita's - Mexican Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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The food was excellent, nicely seasoned and very flavorful. The decor was okay, nothing too special but clean and comfortable, although tables were very close together. Restrooms needed attention. Was a little put off by the counter ordering along with the pots of pre-prepared food. Also, the video menu kept changing so I had to wait for it to cycle through to resume my view. All-in-all, probably a 3.5 star place. If you're in the immediate vicinity, then okay - but not a destination to travel to. read more

Outstanding food. Stews taste homecooked. Service was great and interior is brand new.

I felt myself coming down with a cold & needed something hot & soothing. I got a homemade stew that was out of this world. I'm convinced it had some medicinal ingredients because I was feeling much better afterwards. read more

Authentic Mexican food served cafeteria style. No table service. Friendly people working! After they found out it was my first time there, they explained the setup. I chose the steak + cactus which I liked. The black beans were ok but I'd try the refried beans next time. I didn't quote follow drink options so I grabbed a bottled drink. read more

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Abuelita's is deservedly a legend for real, real Mexican food. They specialize in home-style stews but have plenty of other mains and sides. And beer. Everything is great, and you'll find things that you'll never see in most/any other local Mexican place. Highly recommended. read more

It's been 5 years since my first Yelp review. Abuelita's continues to set the gold standard by which all others are measured. They embody the American dream. They are the passion of Mexican food realized in a restaurant. The formula is so simple: If you build it, they will come. Abuelita's serves the BEST Mexican food in Richmond Virginia; PERIOD. Nobody comes close. THIS is my #1 in all of RVA. VIVA Abuelita's! Every experience here has been great. The flavors are second to none. The guisos have such depth of flavor and are hearty. It fills your belly with warmth and comfort. Their Spanish rice is flawless. I just can't say enough good things. I only wish the location was closer to my house. read more

Abuelita's - Guiso - Mexican Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Always hits the spot. Menu varies but we've never been disappointed. Service is great, atmosphere is nice.

Really good food, the customer service is always amazing and I love the environment. Although the food is great, it's really expensive. 2 plates and a drink to-go for $40+. And most of it was rice and beans (still good though). Not sure how their portion sizes are when you eat-in vs take-out-- but the prices feel too high for their to-go containers. They also have events sometimes (with music and games and special event menu items) which is really cool- but make sure to get there closer to the start of the event. They had an event from 4-9pm, we get there at 8pm and they're packing up the event. Totally fine, not mad or anything, just something I wish I knew sooner. Again, food was REALLY good, just expensive. I def want to check out their taco Tuesdays! They have some $1 tacos read more

The Pazole and the Berria are off the chain! excellent margaritas and salsa bar too! price is right , food is righteous! We will be back read more

Abuelita's - DELISH! - Mexican Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

To start, I had high hopes for this place. The employee who explained how the guiso station worked was friendly and helpful, which gave us a good first impression. When it came time to order, the portion sizes were disappointing. The smaller plates seemed reasonably portioned, but when ordering a large plate, you receive the same amount of rice with only more guiso. It felt like the serving was simply spread out to make it appear larger rather than actually providing a noticeably bigger meal. The food smelled great when we walked in, but unfortunately the flavor did not match the aroma. The beans were bland, the rice was bland, and the food overall lacked seasoning and flavor. Even the chicken drumstick seemed unusually small, more like it came from a very small bird than a typical chicken. The most disappointing part of our visit happened while we were eating. My kids started feeling droplets falling from the ceiling, and we realized water was dripping directly onto our table and food. When I brought it to the employees' attention, I was told, "Oh yeah, we know. It's just the AC." That response was concerning. If staff already knew water was dripping in that area, why was the table still being used? The issue was treated as if it wasn't important, despite the obvious sanitation concerns. Allowing water to drip onto customers and their food, then casually dismissing it, makes me wonder what other maintenance or cleanliness issues might be overlooked. Unfortunately, based on the bland food, disappointing portions, and especially the unsanitary conditions, I would not recommend this restaurant and would not return. I've honestly had better meals served from the back of someone's car in a construction site. This restaurant needs to take cleanliness and customer safety much more seriously. read more

Family of 5 stopped in because the Yelp reviews looked good and we were in the area. We all wanted birria with the exception of dad. It wasn't bad but also wasn't as flavorful as birria should be. Just ok. But the worst part is that they charge for chips and salsa!! Our bill for 5 was almost $100. If that business model works for them, great! But it's a turnoff for us. Won't go back. read more

Food was amazing! Service was great! I had the quesa birria tacos and the queso dip. 10 out of 10 would recommend this place. read more

Abuelita's - Quesabirria Tacos (3) - Mexican Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I love Abuelita's- fast becoming one my favorite Mexican restaurants in town! The three areas I like to review when considering a restaurant experience - atmosphere, service and food- are all on point here and it makes me want to come back again and again. Here's the details: 1) The restaurant itself is an immersive experience. The owner here has paid particular attention to details that make the decor and atmosphere here really stand out. From unique and Mexican styled floor tiles to the order counter and the wall/ ceiling decor, everything in the restaurant is purposefully placed and selected to create a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere. 2) The service is awesome. Super friendly and accommodating, the staff are there to take care of people. You can feel the positive engagement here. 3) Abuelitas is all about authentic Mexican stews- real comfort food. Choose from 8-10 different stews, served with beans (black or refried), rice (Mexican or white) and fresh homemade corn tortillas. There are stew options here for everyone: All different proteins, some vegetarian, some spicy, some not, and all crazy good! The staff allow you to try samples before you make your selection. The restaurant also serves hand rolled tamales in various options. Sodas and beer are available. Finally, there is a full salsa bar with multiple salsa and pickled vegetable options. Abuelitas is an order at the counter service style and drinks are self-served. A medium sized restaurant it can accommodate ~20 parties. Tables can accommodate 2-4 per table and tables can be pushed together if needed. This is a unique dining experience- a must try especially for those who love Mexican food. Happy eating, see you there. read more

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The birria tacos with the consommé dip was incredibly delicious! Wonderful flavors! The salsa bar was a nice bonus to enhance my food experience. Had the bottled mango margarita but was a bit sweet and thickly for me. More alcohol and water would be nicer. Will definitely be back. read more

Abuelita's - Mexican Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Their selection of soups and salsas is delicious! Such a reasonable price for an easy date night! The staff were so friendly and kind when we came this evening. It is very obvious why they have such high reviews! We will be back again soon! read more

We visited this restaurant after reading about it in Richmond Magazine. We tried the barria tacos, rice and beans and churro cheesecake. The server at the drive thru was kind and gave us great service considering it was our first time and we didn't know that the drive thru speaker was functioning. Great flavor and not too salty. read more

I have no clue why it took me so long to finally visit Abuelita's. This place is absolutely delicious. Everyone I've spoken about it with kept saying how great it was, and I didn't want to have such high expectations. Thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised when I realized how delicious it was. Abuelita's is the perfect name for the cozy and delicious food you can find here. They rotate their guisos (stews) daily which guarantees they'll be fresh. I came here with my partner and we ordered the grande plate, flan, a tamale, and a guava Jarrito. I loved the guava Jarrito and highly recommend ordering it with your meal. We got a mushroom guiso and chicken guiso. I absolutely loved the chicken one with the beans and rice. The meal was so wholesome. It was a cold day when we visited and it really warmed us up. We got a spicy tamale that was alright. The flan was a bit too plain for my liking. It was very light, but I wanted more flavor to it. If anything, come for the guisos. Our bill came out to only $30 for all that food. Abuelita's is a tasty and homey place that you won't want to miss. read more

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Food is ALWAYS on point! The service is great and they graciously let you sample anything of interest to help you make a palate informed decision :). I should and enjoyed a variety of their menu items, including the Barbacoa tacos, chicken tinga, quesabarilla, and more! This is always a stop when I'm visiting family in Richmond. Be sure to check it out!! read more

I guess I'm in the minority group here because I was not a fan of abuelitas. It's not a full service restaurants like I imagined-theres no waitstaff. We got birria tacos and birria fries. The food came out quickly. I've heard great things but to me they were very average. My favorite part was the cheese. The sauce and salsa they offered didn't taste like much. The fries were very soggy at the bottom, there was no seasoning and the meat didn't have much flavor. I tried two different margaritas, I don't know the flavors because they were labeled but I wouldn't recommend. The green one was plain nasty. The orange-ish one tasted like a thick juice. You don't taste any alcohol in either. I wouldn't ever come back here. read more

Abuelita's - Mexican Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

A place you must visit!!!!!! We saw policemen getting food. We saw firefighters getting food. You know it's gotta be good if all the local rescue people are coming here for their break. And let me tell you, this stuff was sooooo good! You can either do their specialties like birria and such, or you can do the guisos plate style choosing out of the prepared stews of the day. These switch daily which is super cool. We did the plates, and omg I felt like I was filling my plate at someone's house. The flavors were so homey. My husband got the bistec en salsa verde and cheesy pollo with black beans and yellow rice. I got the tinga de pollo and the puerco en chile colorado with refried beans and yellow rice. Our favorite was the puerco en chile Colorado because of the rich flavors. Everything had a wonderful flavor of spices. We also got the sweet potato and pumpkin tamale which was super interesting, tasting like Thanksgiving in a tamale. Super unique! The salsa bar was super cool, and I really liked the pickled habenero. I wish things were a little more spicy. But otherwise everything was so good, I felt so happy that day. The inside is nice and quiet. The service was amazing and everyone was so nice. They explained the menu well! A must try!!!!!!! Delicious Mexican cuisine! read more

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I've never seen another place that does quite was this place does (even during my brief Texas trips). Mexican stew. Served in fast casual fashion, generally with rice and tortillas and perhaps a few other items. They rotate stews and typically have one or two vegetarian ones. When I finally found the right time to drop by, the one I liked was a chickpea and cactus stew. I was given various options for rice (white or yellow) and a side of additional beans (pinto or black). I had to peruse the menu in detail in advance to figure out that the vegetarian choices were white rice and black beans, but at least the information was available. Though served in cafeteria style, the plates were quite nice ceramics. My stew was tasty, enhanced even more by a toppings bar that had that crumbly white cheese often used in Mexican cuisine, plus a variety of salsas. The tortillas to mop things up tasted like quality nixtamalized corn. The food here makes the case to me that the indigenous cuisine of the region was actually pretty good and pretty vegetarian-friendly before Europeans arrived and messed it up, and while I might make a few tweaks to the menu, I liked what I got. read more

Abuelita's - Garbanzo bean and cactus plate - Mexican Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Food was excellent and the staff was very friendly. The options were rather overwhelming! We opted for the chicken stew - tasty, but needed some hot salsa to spice it up - and the spicy cabbage stew - which didn't - both with black beans and yellow rice. Excellent. read more

First visit and we were definitely impressed. We were greeted as soon as we walked in, and again at the counter. They asked if we had visited before and when we said it was our first time, they walked us through the menu and meal options very clearly. They offer a variety of Mexican stews served with rice and beans ( white or spanish, black or refried) They also have several different types of tamales and a variety of salsas I ordered the chicken tinga and a poblono tamale. Both were delicious! The inside is casual and was very clean! Presentation: Atmosphere/vibe: Value: read more

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I was visiting in Richmond and craved Birrio Tacos- Abuelita's popped up with a good rating. I went in and it was more that Tacos- The gentleman behind the counter asked if it was my first time there. I said yes- they had at least 5 different dishes you can try and add beans, rice etc. He explained them all to me. The all sounded delicious- but I wanted the tacos- They were delicious, hot, melted cheese a great consommé. Some of the best I have had, they were a little greasy- but geoid. I ordered the side of black beans with it- also very well seasoned and good. They give you three little cups to taste their sauces or add cheese. I will definitely go back next time I am visiting and try some of their other dishes. They serve canned alcohol. You order at the counter and then sit to be served. Cute ambiance and very clean as well. read more

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While out in RVA, I decided to look for local food spots to try. I stumbled upon Abuelita's on Yelp and decided to go. It is a nice a spacious restaurant that you order from the front first then go find a seat. The cashier recommended the quesabirria tacos. I decided to order that with a plate of chicken, rice, and refried beans. The tacos were pretty good but we're lacking a bit of flavor. However, the plate of chicken and rice was amazing. The refried beans were my favorite part. Overall, had a great experience here and would swing by if I'm ever craving mexican food! read more

Abuelita's - Birria Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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So delicious and reasonably priced. The cashier was very welcoming and asked if we had been before. When we said it was our first time, he walked us through the entire menu, showed us each dish and told us we could sample anything we'd like. I loved the full salsa bar with so many options & to-go cups! read more

Abuelita's - Mexican Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

One of my absolute fave restaurants in Richmond! They serve guiso (which is stew) and the chico size, comes with a side of Spanish or white rice, black beans or refried beans, homemade tortillas, and access to their homemade salsa bar! I came in hungry and was glad I was convinced to go with the smaller portion, because it was still A LOT of food and I was so full afterwards. You really get your money's worth here! I've never been here before so the staff was very welcoming and even let me try out different guisos before I picked the one that I wanted! Honestly, everything tasted so good I couldn't even make a decision so I let one of the staff members make it for me and boy, I'd highly recommend the chicken in chorizo cream. Everything just pairs so deliciously together. I'd really recommend trying their salsa bar. We also got the horchata and it was perfect - not too cinnamoney or overly sweet. Can't wait to return to try some of the other items on their menu! Staff was super sweet and constantly checked in on us. I'm glad I stumbled upon here because it's definitely authentic and very reasonably priced. Don't hesitate to go give them a try! read more

Abuelita's - Chicken tinga - Mexican Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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My abuelita would be disappointed. I was so unimpressed w my food. I had to toss it, my food looked like nachos not chilaquiles. Service was friendly though. This is targeted for a different demographic. It's almost like a chipotle. read more