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    El Rio Verde

    4.2 (315 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Closed 9:00 am - 8:00 pm

    El Rio Verde Photos

    Business Info

    EL RIO VERDE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - El Rio Verde

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    Reviews With Photos

    Charley B.

    I was looking for a good meal in a divey spot and this is what the locals suggested. I think they charged me for chips and salsa. Anyway - their specialty is the "Wet Burrito" and they knocked it out the park. Chicken, rice, lettuce, beans and cheese wrapped in a tortilla bigger than your forearm, smothered in salsa, melted jack and cheddar cheese and topped with guac and sour cream. I ate most of it. I probably could have finished it off, but I'm trying to take it easy these days. Note - this is a small place and it was busy when I visited at an off time. Please beware that there might be a wait during busier moments.

    Sarah D.

    I have been wanting to eat here for years, so finally got the chance to do that recently. I was in the mood for tacos, so I ordered two crispy tacos. I really wanted ground beef, but they only have shredded beef or steak, so I went with shredded. I also ordered a shrimp taco and two tostadas - one with pork and one without meat. I also got guacamole and queso and two Mexican cokes. My order cost me $31 - which is really reasonable! Unfortunately, when I tried my food, it wasn't very good. That's probably my fault since I ordered to-go. There chips and guacamole were were good. Everything else wasn't that great. I will try again by eating at the restaurant.

    Wet Burrito w/ shredded beef
    Andrew F.

    First impressions aren't great. Old rundown building with gravel parking lot. But when we pull up and there's 25 to 30 cars outside, you know it's gotta be good. Once you walk in you can tell it's a quaint old diner that's been converted into a Mexican restaurant but still has the swivel barstools at the front counter. The menu is simple, one page front and back, but as I learned, it's very authentic. On this trip, I tried the signature wet burrito with shredded beef as it comes highly recommended and a classic Mexican taco with Al Pastor. Both are out of this world. It left me wanting more as I couldn't get enough of this authentic Mexican food and this little restaurant. It's off the beaten path, but definitely worth the side trip to this little quaint restaurant for out of this world Mexican.

    Vampiro taco and tostada taco

    Love the food here! We come here every time we visit Tulsa. The vampiro taco is amazing and the staff are great! The beef cheek meat is soooo tender and tasty. Prices are very affordable and there's a big parking lot in the back.

    Torta Ahogada
    Anne M.

    Fantastic place for authentic Mexican food their carnitas flautas were crispy, hot, and perfect. The next winner is their refried beans and cotija cheese... yum! Seriously though the crispy chips and salsa made me happy wiggle! My husband had the torta Ahogada with carnitas and it was so delicious. Our server was so very attentive and nice. The place was clean and quite busy. Definitely excited to keep coming back and eating our way through the menu.

    You have to start with chips and salsa.
    Patt G.

    Loved it, loved it, loved it! I found this out-of-the-way restaurant listed on Trip Advisor and it wasn't far from where we were going for karaoke, so I decided to give it a try. The recommendation had been for the Wet Burrito, so I ordered that, with shredded beef. You can also get it with chicken or several other options, but the shredded beef sounded good to me. To begin with, the burrito is about the width of my arm. It was huge (for a burrito, my arms aren't all that). And it had both sour cream and guacamole on top, so I could try both and decide which was better (the sour cream won). The "wet" part is the sauce that they cover it with, also delicious. The place is as authentically Mexican as you can get outside of Mexico, and the people are very nice and attentive. If you've never been here, give it a chance. You'll find good food and a good price with nice people. They have a parking lot with free parking, so that's an added bonus.

    Stinky cheese and sour beans
    Mary H.

    Gave it another chance...been so long. Not happy. Dry Mexican taco with pastor meat, pork stale and dry maybe couple days old. Vampiro was like tostado with melted cheese and carne, pretty decent. Beans and rice. Basic no flavor. Waitress never came back for refill or asked if I needed anything after dropping my plate. The 2 waitresses older Hispanic women just dry not friendly no smiles. Charge $1.50 for stale chips and salsa with no flavor, added Valentina but still nope. Had water, yea bc no refills here. Tipped but I won't be back. I knew it when I pulled in but decided let's try again. Nope

    My empty plate--was so excited forgot to take pic of the food!
    Martin W.

    I hadn't been here in 20+ years and it seems as if nothing has changed. Still great food and reasonable prices. Still excellent service. Still a little hole in the wall joint on the questionable side of the freeway. But it's still one of the best places to go in Tulsa for authentic Mexican food. Highly recommend! I forgot to take a photo of my Mexican Burrito because I was so excited to have it again--so the only photo I have is the empty plate as evidence as to how good it was!!!

    Spike S.

    Date of check in 3/22/23 Over the past years, I have dined at hundreds of Mexican restaurants in northeastern Oklahoma. An area I define as within the boundaries of I-40 on the south to I-35 on the west. I was searching for a Wet Burrito that would rival the Wet Burrito that has made El Rio Verde a legend and for several years, rated as the best Mexican restaurant in Tulsa. Well, nothing comes close. It is not only the best wet burrito in Tulsa, it is the best in NE Oklahoma, Period! It is what put El Rio Verde on the map. Ok, let's get down to the beans and rice of this issue. And that is a good place to start, beans and rice. Especially now, this burdening inflation has many restaurants stuffing their burritos disproportionately with rice. A cost saver, that will cost the restaurant customers. Too may times you can't find the meat. El Rio Verde continues to provide customers with an equal balance of filling: rice, beans and meat. The meat is fabulous. My top choices are the carne asada, carnitas, shredded beef and the chicken. Carnitas and shredded beef being the top two picks. Wrap all of that up in a large soft flour tortilla. The makings of a nice well-balanced burrito. The defining attribute that sets El Rio Verde apart from the competition; it is truly a wet burrito. There is a plentiful amount of tasty sauce. The menu uses the appropriate word "drenched" in salsa, not smothered, not covered, or with. There is a difference. Look at the pictures. I have had wet burritos in other restaurants that would be more appropriately called stained burritos. Very little salsa. The ample salsa does a couple of things. It softens the fluffy flour tortilla even more and allows you to dunk and sop it up with a big fork full of beans rice and meat. Enjoyment in every mouthful. There is enough tangy tasty tomato salsa to last beyond the last bite of burrito. That's a wet burrito. That's what to eat at El Rio Verde! The best! Spike's inessential commentary and misguided, unsubstantiated opinion. Some restaurants offer burritos "smothered" in queso, that are passed off as a wet burrito. Diners with little expertise in the matter, fall for the deception. So, what's the difference between wet and smothered well, think biscuits and gravy. Have you ever had wet biscuits. Or a wet chicken fried steak? No, they are smothered in gravy. I rest my case. A burrito covered in queso is not a wet burrito. Don't be a victim of this common Mexican restaurant scam! You know what a real wet burrito is and you know where to get the best.

    Bitch please
    Chris M.

    Could not have enjoyed the food more than we did. Chips were golden crispy and the salsa was good. Everything after was delicious also. We will be back if we are in Tulsa again.

    It's like a Steak ranchero type
    John S.

    Drove from BA which was about 25 minutes drive didn't work a drive food was okay I will not be going back nothing personal just ain't worth it

    Vampiro tacos
    Precious G.

    One of the BEST Mexican food places with authentic food. The food was super delicious and filling. The wet burritos were served with lots of delicious meats. I loved how they put a piece of meat/shrimp on display in the sauce so you can know which is which. The Vampiro tacos were amazing and the sauce for them was just the right temperature! Definitely going back!!!

    Best Queso in the world!

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    4 months ago

    22$ for 3 tacos, chimichanga w rice and beans, extra side of rice and beans, and chips and salsa. And great service!

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Good food excellent atmosphere away from the hustle & bustle. Service is prompt, food is served quick

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Wet burrito is legit. I get carne asada and love it. Really enjoy going there. Glad we have in Tulsa.

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Authentic Mexican cuisine & excellent service always. Highly recommended. Go off prime time because it's not very big.

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    3 years ago

    Great food and service. Cool old restaurant. Give it a try. Their wet burrito will put you in a food comma.

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    El Rio Verde Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Rio Verde

    Searching for chivo? (Goat)

    No they do not. Might want to call and suggest! I will also ask the next time. Would like to see it also!

    Does this place have a happy hour?

    No, just cerveza and sangria to go with a great meal!

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    Dos Panchos Tequila Bar & Mexican Grill - Queso, nachos and more

    Dos Panchos Tequila Bar & Mexican Grill

    (58 reviews)

    I'm surprised to see that this place is listed on here as permanently closed? I eaten here recently…read morewith my family, party of 6. There's a parking lot in this plaza, and we were seated immediately upon arrival. They offered complementary chips and dips (salsa and queso). We ordered additional guac. The chorizo queso is sooooo good! I ordered the birria taco plate and I'd say this is very authentic compared to food back home (California)! They were generous with the birria and the consome is chefs kiss!!! The staff did a wonderful job in assuring our needs were met and that we were satisfied. I hope this place is just renovating and hopefully will reopen in the foreseeable future. I would love to see this place continue to thrive!

    Doing four stars for the food. I would do 3.5 for staff. :(…read more I loved the salsa (fresh and spicy) and the complementary queso like dip. I loved the shredded beef enchilada! Really good and would order again. Rice and beans were probably above average. My dining partner asked how the chile relleno was prepared. (He doesn't like the eggy batter.) We were literally told that it came premade and frozen and was "just fried." Obviously, he ordered the street tacos instead. We sat at the bar and it took a bit to get waited on but the manager jumped in and gave us water and silverware. I liked my Blackberry-Rosemary Marg but I honestly didn't feel like it had much tequila in it. The regular marg was just OK. Since it is a tequila bar and we sat at the bar, I would have liked to have discussed tequilas but my bad for not asking. Would have loved to have done a tasting. The menu was informative. I would go back when in south Tulsa. Not sure I would make it a destination. (Well, maybe. Those enchiladas were good! It is a cute place.

    La Tertulia - Chips...

    La Tertulia

    (221 reviews)

    $$

    Downtown

    FINALLY got to try this spot out & it was perfect timing. Even though the website suggests…read morereservations, we called to check if they accepted walk-ins, which they did so that's good to know that both options are available. As what was stated over the phone, the moment we walked in, we were seated. The place is very intimate in space, I'd recommend for dates. I went with the Enchiladas, something I've been craving for a couple of months & La Tertulia helped that fix. There were a few meats to choose from & I went with chorizo. The wait on the food wasn't long (people were starting to fill in as well & it didn't stop the servers from being on point) & the food was really good. Coming in with 3 enchiladas, stuffed with the chorizo & the fixins, I was left full after I finished. The spanish rice & pinto beans were good as well, paired good with the enchiladas. The chorizo looked more like breakfast sausage more than the chorizo that's more on the dark brown + reddish tint I'm used too. The enchiladas also come with chiles (I picked green) & plenty of cheese. Side Note: Chips & salsa were also super good, my favorite type of salsa. Kinda like a Taquera/Molcajete style. I was so hungry that the chips & salsa didn't slow me down from running through my main entree.

    I can't honestly get enough of this place…read more Amazing ranchero new mexican food, good price, good quantity and great staff! Setting a reservation was easy, and I can NOT GET ENOUGH TAMALES IN ME FROM HERE! SOOO GOOD!

    El Rio Verde - mexican - Updated May 2026

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