On the concord trail! This place is family owned and you can tell. When you get in there, it's warm cozy and small so you have no choice but to feel the love. Anyway I've been here two time before and food still good. Shells are homemade(with love) food is always fresh and I love how the beans and rice are separate. Seasonal watermelon Fresca(is good here) I got the mango this time and it was perfect. Service is always top tier! If you go be nice! read more

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Always great service. Today I've had the same thing I've always had, their signature fried quesadilla and they are consistent. That's all I came back to report. Still kicking out good food and drinks. 10/2026 Also, a family owned business. That's nice to see and support these days. read more

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We stopped in for lunch after running the Spartan up in Sac and needed some good food and some good drink s as a reward. This place was amazing. First off, the food is delicious. Everything is made fresh, the tortillas are phenomenal, the chips are super crispy and its all so freakin good. The fried Quesdilla and the Mulitas were both something I had never had but both delicious. Plus, its a family run place and everyone was so nice. You can tell they are all committed to making this place special. Also they have a full bar but some very good cocktails too. The Pineapple Heat Margarita was good but the El Viejito is a sneaky winner. All in all, loved coming here and can't wait to come back. read more

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Cocina Hijole Maria is located at a spot off Colfax in Concord Downtown adjacent area, is a pretty well known spot for restaurants as this particular location has changed quite a few times over the years. One of the earliest spots was a sushi place, but since then have been basically South American cuisine in all the follow-up versions prior to this current form. Was here on a Tuesday around the corner waiting for something else to finish so I decided to pop in to try them out as I had not yet. The place is pretty small, but that's been true ever since its earliest form as a restaurant here. What is different now compared to its original form way back when is that there is a place to sit next to the restaurant now, which previous places kind had, but were not committed to it, while this place seems to be committed to it so that's a plus. Service was okay for the most part. Wasn't good, wasn't bad. Just was. They were certainly much more focused with the people at the counter they were chatting with than to me, but it's fine I just wanted food that day so sort of worked out. Prices of everything was alright. Considering that there's a huge amount of options in this area just a walk away, or a 2-3 min drive away, it's definitely not cheaper than those other spots. So how's the food? Honestly, it was incredibly mid, and really tried to give it as much of a benefit of a doubt as I could, but these were not tasty tacos at all. The chicken was chewy, tasted funny, and just not good. The other tacos were just okay, at least they didn't taste like they were on the line of something going on with the meat, but just not flavorful enough, and really bland for tacos. Even the one with all the visually cool pickled garnishes was a disappointment. Honestly, not sure I would ever go back again, it just wasn't it for me as again, there's so many more places in this area that will serve similar cuisines, including the birria aspect of it, that you don't have to just go to this one spot for it. read more

Food: ALL fn Delicious ! Authentic too I like to go on Friday/Saturdays when they have their fish tacos on Fridays and shrimp tacos on Saturdays . Price: Slightly higher side (not overpriced tho) but definitely WORTH it for the quality, flavor and portions! Vibe: Hella Chill and feels like I'm at home with family. Service is great and they recognize you by name even, I always feel welcome. I highly recommend this small family owned business. They are also very highly rated on Yelp and were highlighted as one of the top taco spots in the country. read more

Cocina Hijole Maria - Fish taco - Mexican Near Me - Concord, California

Food is amazing! Totally worthy of 5 stars without hesitation! Inside is small, well decorated, full stacked bar, TV, a few bar stools & a few tables. They have a large patio in the back for out door seating as well. We had the best homemade huge corn tortilla quesadilla. I highly recommend it! Their chips & salsa were totally worth the $8.75 we were charged for them. I took off a star for the front staff. Major attitudes. Not sure if they were mad, we were sharing a dish & not drinking. But we were just trying it out because we were going to buy lunch to go for my cousins. We sure would have bought a lot, because their food was EXCELLENT. Both our losses. I paid cash for my $25 bill. I left them a $10 tip in hopes they will be more pleasant toward other customers. read more

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I went a couple of weeks ago with my family for my bday breakfast so this review is a little overdue! I had a long night prior so I wanted a hot yummy caldo, so we decided to visit this family business to try their pozole. When I tell you this pozole was above and beyond my expectations, it is no exaggeration! They had the option of pork or chicken, i had the chicken while my mom and a family friend had pork. We ALL loved it. The side dishes were super tasty as well! Everything felt homemade, and the friendly staff was the icing on the cake. We were served by a young attentive gentleman, so Thank you again to all of the staff who were very welcoming and provided amazing customer service! I can't wait to go back to try more meals off their menu! read more

And this is my first time in Concord and I had to stay for work. I was hungry looking for a good restaurant for me and my girlfriend to eat at and we came across this wonderful family own restaurant. The server Anthony was a simply amazing. The food was great. He helped me pick a nice drink. Recommended the special. His mother martha was an amazing cook, and the bartender is his brother at the end of the evening that I thought would only be about an hour turned into easy 2 1/2 hours they flew by because the conversation was amazing. The food was spectacular. The drink was exceptional. I'm looking forward to my next stay in Concord. This is a must have return. I give it 5 1/2 stars. read more

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Went for a girls day brunch on a Saturday around 11am. Not very busy at all. Parking can be a bit difficult to find especially if the small lot behind the building is full. They have a spacious and comfortable outdoor seating area that we enjoyed. Service was okay. They were friendly but not very attentive. Everything was very tasty except for the guac and pico. Not sure if you need to request the guac to be salted and limed because it was definitely lacking both. The salsa also wasn't very flavorful or spicy. Maybe just a bad batch for both that? We ordered the three street tacos (asada, 2 pastor, and fish) The fish isn't listed as an option but we were able to add. The fish taco was my favorite. My friend ordered the fried quesadilla. For drinks we ordered the el viejito and paloma. Both perfectly made! read more

Cocina Hijole Maria - three street tacos (+an extra taco) one asada, two pastor, & fish taco added - Mexican Near Me - Concord, California

Delicious family-owned place! New favorite tacos in the area. Very good rice and beans too! read more

Cocina Hijole Maria - Carne asada tacos, rice and beans - Mexican Near Me - Concord, California

Great location. Extremely friendly staff. Nice inner restaurant area with a bar you can also sit at as well as a lovely outdoor seating area that has nice lighting. Definitely a place you want to hang out at long after you've devoured these amazing entrees! I recommend the Torta Whateva, incredible! The chorizo, the tender steak, the frijoles, and all of these amazing ingredients and flavors had me eagerly awaiting for my stomach to have room for the other half. Thank you I'll be back! read more

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Great food. Guac was excellent and fresh. Chips are house made. Generous portions of meat on their tacos. Delicious too! read more

Cocina Hijole Maria - Taco Tuesday special- one of each of the three varieties! Delicious - Mexican Near Me - Concord, California

Good tacos... but I loved the beans ‼ I will be back for more. This is just to satisfy yelps 85 char bullshit read more

Cocina Hijole Maria - Street tacos... but star of the show were the beans. Soupy tasty refried beans of my southern az youth - Mexican Near Me - Concord, California

Food was delicious and very authentic. Staff was very friendly and helpful in assisting us with the menu

Free chips and salsa that are tasty. All the tacos were really good! We tried the Al pastor, tinga, chicharrón, and quesabirrias. The birria and broth was REALLY good, as were the Al pastor and chicharrón tacos. I expected the chicharrón tacos to be a dry/crunchy meat as chicharron usually is, but I was pleasantly surprised when it came out nicely seasoned and cooked with some sort of sauce? Also really liked the pickled onion they serve on the side and the homemade tortillas really gave the tacos a home made taste. read more

Cocina Hijole Maria - Pastor and chicharrón tacos - Mexican Near Me - Concord, California

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Really great spot. Handmade tortillas. Everything we ordered was delicious. Loved the salsas and totally homemade. The mango Fresca was refreshing. Service was wonderful. They put together a table for 5 for us very quickly. Will totally come back when in the area. read more

Cocina Hijole Maria - Mexican Near Me - Concord, California

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Great Food, Wonderful Service, Family owned & operated establishment. A great place to either eat there or take out. read more

It was lit drinks were good the vibe was right the bartender dope and knowledgeable dope spot I highly recommend

Finally got to try Cocina Hijole Maria, and this place lived up to the expectations! The restaurant is located on Colfax Street. It is small, but they have a lovely patio. During the summer, it would be perfect to spend summer nights. It was busy and we had to wait a little bit to get seated. The staff was very attentive and checked on us frequently while we waited. They also checked on us several times during our dinner and kept bringing us refills. They were amazing! There were a lot of people inside, the music was great, and the atmosphere was fantastic. Now for the food, these were some of the best tacos I've ever had! Everything tastes very homemade and authentic. This is not a regular Mexican restaurant. The menu is small, but every dish is exceptional. -I ordered the 3 street tacos dish 5/5: pastor, asada, and fish tacos. The fish taco was my favorite but the flavor on the pastor and asada steak was also delicious! My husband had the same dish with the same tacos and he loved them! Each taco has a lot of meat, and we were very full after finishing them. -We also shared an Asada Mulita 4/5, and this was good, but the best were the tacos. It was a bit heavy for us but we were also very full by the time we ate it. It comes with two tortillas, cheese, meat, cilantro, and onions. -Guac, Salsa, and chips 5/5: delicious and homemade! The salsa and chips are complimentary. The salsa tastes fresh and tasty, and the chips are freshly made. We ordered the guac on the side and it was very flavorful. We also had the guac with our tacos. -Agua Frescas 5/5: horchata and watermelon. Both have lots of flavor, are not too sweet, and are very refreshing. Several people had cocktails and I would love to come back to try them. Overall, the experience and the food were extraordinary. I am very excited to have this place in Concord. Give them a try if you are in the area. You won't be disappointed! read more

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I am so impressed by this little restaurant! We came on a weekday and it was pretty busy. The team was so attentive and answered all our Qs about the menu. I like that it's a very short menu for their dinner options! There's actually a pretty long breakfast menu so definitely something I want to check out in the future. The birria tacos and torta we got were incredible! There's a decent amount of indoor or outdoor seating on their covered patio. My only little complaint is the fire pit thing (?) in the center of some of the outdoor tables that takes up so much room - maybe it would be worth it to have a different set up/layout. With so many choices of Mexican restaurants in Concord, this is such a great addition and probably one of the best! read more

Cocina Hijole Maria - Birria tacos and torta - Mexican Near Me - Concord, California

My second visiting at hijole maria my chicken mole Enchiladas was awesome, and my Micheladas was great also, this little places is becoming my favorite place. read more

This family owned small business has amazing food, drinks, and service every time. Everything is homemade, and you can really taste the difference. The staff and owner make you feel like part of the family the second you walk in, which makes the whole experience even better. Service is always quick and attentive, and the restaurant and patio are both comfortable, welcoming, and beautifully put together. It has the kind of atmosphere where you actually want to sit, relax, and stay awhile. They also have fun music and sometimes live music! The torta is absolutely amazing and one of my favorites, but honestly, everything on the menu is so good it is hard to choose because whatever you order ends up being delicious. The margaritas are also great and made with fresh lime juice, which makes a huge difference. Definitely one of those places you keep coming back to. read more

Fantastic family run resturaunt. Mom cooks, son was mixing cocktails. You can tell! Mu quesabierra was really tasty. I would come back for these. The other order was their unusual but really tasty and satisfying fried quesidia. My Aztec Old Fashioned was great. We will be back! read more

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Our group left service was bad this time around. We let them know of our group and no one came out. We went in 3x asking for order or at least water. The last time we checked in no one was inside the restaurant (no workers). That was our signal to go. Sad our first visit was great not sure what happened. read more

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Stopped in after shopping at the mall for a quick dinner and was pleasantly surprised. The small but mighty restaurant was packed on a Sunday evening with most patrons sitting at the bar. The server kindly explained the menu options to use and provided complimentary chips and salsa which we happily ate up. -Horchata: my fave horchata consistency which is sweet but not overwhelmingly so, creamy, and you can taste hints of the rice. -Combo torta: this came was a bunch of toppings I can't remember including chorizo. Bread was good. It was also huge. We enjoyed it and took half home. -Chicken Tinga fried quesadilla: I really liked this! Super flavorful and the corn tortilla was handmade and had the perfect crunch since it's deep fried unlike your traditional quesadilla. It was also a generous portion. Their salsas are really good too. I hope you expand soon because it was a full house but for good reason. Next time, I'll try the cocktails. read more

Cocina Hijole Maria - Combo torta - Mexican Near Me - Concord, California

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I was a little late to discovering this place, but honestly better late than never. I ordered the Muletas and ended up having three because they were that good. I tried the chorizo, chicken tinga, and al pastor, all paired with delicious beans and rice. Everything was so well done. The service really stood out. Even on a busy Saturday night with limited staff, the team was incredibly prompt, attentive, and genuinely caring. You can tell they work really well together, which made the whole experience even better. I sat outside with a large group, and the space was roomy and comfortable--perfect for a night out. The menu might be small, but every item is executed so well, it doesn't need to be big. Also, the drinks were amazing. The house-made RumChata and Palomas were absolutely delicious. I can't wait to come back. Plus, it's a small, family-owned business, so definitely show them some love! read more

Cocina Hijole Maria - Mulitas - Mexican Near Me - Concord, California

This place is the real deal! Not a large menu but they don't need it when the dishes are done so well. I enjoyed the mole chicken enchiladas and the Hijole Pineapple margarita. Fantastic combination of spicy and sweet. Chips and salsa are homemade. The service is amazing. It's a cozy space but it works. Make this one place in the area you frequent read more

Cocina Hijole Maria - Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Concord, California

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Visited Cocina Hijole Maria twice now for a work outing. Small menu-- which I really appreciated. The handmade/homemade tortillas are amazing. My favorite is probably the pastor tacos. The carne asada was just ok. The pickled onions and radish they serve on the side and the chips and salsa are a great addition to your meal! This place is small and family owned and the service is great. Will definitely be back. Ps, on Tuesdays they have a Taco Tuesday special- 3 tacos for $10 (usually $16.50) read more

Cocina Hijole Maria - Mexican Near Me - Concord, California

I know a lot of other Yelpers like the small menu but I prefer more options. The quesadilla sounded good but looking at the pictures on Yelp, it was a pass. We could not find an appetizer to share (there are none) so we shared the 3 tacos, which were delicious! The Hijole margaritas were super yummy. We each had 2. We didn't stay for dinner because I didn't see anything else I wanted. I could see coming here for happy hour for the $5 tacos and drinks, or for Taco Tuesday's 3 for $10 tacos and having the margaritas. For a dinner out though, not for me. It's a very small inside (only a handful of tables, which were full) so we sat outside. It was a scorching night, over 90 degrees, and all the tables in the shade were taken. So we sat in half shade, another couple behind us just left because the lack of acceptable seating. I was sweating the whole time. Since most of the seating is outside, I hope they plan to add heaters in the winters and fans, more shade or misters in the summer. There was only 1 waiter for both inside and outside and he was nice, attentive and great all around. The chips and salsa were also good and we got refills of those. read more

Cocina Hijole Maria - Chicken Tinga tacos - Mexican Near Me - Concord, California

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The owner and the staff is amazing. The food is delicious. Definitely recommend . 21 and over they do serve really delicious margaritas.

Went for a walk and came up on this while heading downtown. Small inside with a great outdoor area. Smaller menu which I like and all tortillas were homemade - which is the only way to go. I got the three street tacos (birria, al pastor, and asada) and my wife got a quesadilla. The al pastor took the show for me. Will definitely be going back here for brunch and happy hour! read more

Cocina Hijole Maria - Three Street Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Concord, California

Service was great but food didn't stand out and therefore wasn't worth the price. But I think it could be a nice place to meet and hang out. I don't drink so idk how that is read more

The best thing about this place was the entrees: the quesabirrias and torta were very good. Unfortunately, the rice and beans were bland and super small portions. Salsa and beans were watery. The price was on the expensive side for Mexican food which unfortunately makes you search for better quality or portions which this place lacked. Servers were very nice and patio is a vibe. I think lots of people came to just drink and chill which this place seems well set up for. If I have a very specific craving I'll come back, but it won't be on my list of faves for rotation. read more

The best Mexican food and drinks around this area. Amazing shrimp tacos on Saturdays ! read more

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Wow! It's really hard to find good Chilaquiles (at a fair price) that have a well rounded homemade sauce beautifully balanced with a crispy tortilla and traditional dressings. Cocina Hijole Maria kills it! Their cafe de olla is also well balanced and a delicious treat. This family run business is quaint and very cozy. Their food, service and atmosphere are all the perfect vibe for enjoying your meal (indoors or on their outdoor patio). The chef (Maria) & her children have really created something special in this unassuming corner of Concord. I can't wait to come back & share this gem with anyone looking for something special in the neighborhood! read more

Cocina Hijole Maria - Chilaquiles with egg - Mexican Near Me - Concord, California

We ordered Pozole and a Torta. The torta was huge and very delicious. The pozole was so flavorful and came with additional mix-ins. The inside is quaint with a few tables and several seats at the bar. I'm sure, during the summer, the patio seating gets full. The service is excellent! You definitely feel the family vibe and once you start eating you get a real taste of Maria's talents. read more

Cocina Hijole Maria - Pozole was so amazing and authentic! The beautiful cup held my coffee with special cinnamon and brown sugar. - Mexican Near Me - Concord, California

Rolled in on a fantastic Saturday afternoon and had a great time. Sat outside on the patio and the shade canopy was perfect. The family that own the joint is super friendly and cares about the product that they produce. Quesabirria tacos were very flavorful, nice crunch. Wife thought they were a bit spicy but I didnt get any of that. The 3 taco dish was great. In house made shells were super tasty. We mixed it up with 3 different tacos. Chicken was very mellow, pork was tender and flavorful as was the beef. Overall, a great experience. Menu doesnt have 1000 items like some places but we definitely will be back to try more items! read more

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We've been coming here for a while now, and it never disappoints! The fried quesadilla and fish tacos are absolutely to die for -- crispy, flavorful, and always hit the spot. And let's talk about the drinks -- Francisco is a master behind the bar! Every cocktail he makes is so good. You can tell he puts a lot of care into making them just right. If you haven't been, do yourself a favor and go. Great food, great vibes, and amazing service every time. read more

Cocina Hijole Maria - Drinks by Francisco - Mexican Near Me - Concord, California

I was craving chicken pozole verde and I found the best one I have tasted besides my mother's and the one I eat when I go to Mexico. This had cooked dried white and red kernels, not canned hominy. And you tasted the fresh tomatillos and lots of stewed chicken. It also came with all the fixings to place into the delicious bowl of pozole. I also had cafe de olla (a traditional Mexican coffee brewed with spices) which was not too sweet like most places make it. read more

Cocina Hijole Maria - Cafe de olla and chicken pozole verde with the fixings - Mexican Near Me - Concord, California

I continue to love this place. I want to reiterate: nothing is fancy. But it is all fresh, delicious, and full of love. This tiny space will remind you why it is we as humans long to connect with one another. The service is friendly. You WILL be treated like you are supposed to be there. This little place reminds me that people are good. And these days, that feeling is really important. read more

Cocina Hijole Maria - Double margarita, chips, salsa. Plant. :-) - Mexican Near Me - Concord, California

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