El Rio Verde is authentic Mexican food, not TexMex. It's in an older neighborhood near I-244 and Utica and doesn't look like much from the outside (or the inside), but the food is great! It's well-worn but clean. Staff is quick and friendly. The prices are very reasonable. You'll leave full, but not bloated. I've been a fan of El Rio Verde for many years and always look forward to eating here. It's not a large place and only has perhaps four or five booths and a half-dozen tables, and it fills up fast at lunch. They're known for their "Wet Burrito," but the enchiladas and burritos are also outstanding. The refried beans are fresh and made in-house. The salsa is freshly made too and very good, but not memorable like the food. You'll see people from all walks of life eating here - couples, single moms with children, police officers, business people, blue collar workers, and everyone in-between. If you want really good Mexican food that is not TexMex or from a chain restaurant, try this place! You won't regret it! One of my favorite places in Tulsa. However, as of this review, be aware that Utica Avenue, just east of the restaurant, has been blocked to north-bound traffic only for water main replacement, so getting into the neighborhood is easier than leaving. Plan to go toward downtown on the service road next to I-244 for most efficient egress. read more

We tried the coctel de camaron-it was full of shrimp and tasted so fresh! The food was delicious and service is always attentive and friendly. read more

El Rio Verde - Coctel de camaron - Mexican Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

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It's been some years since I had last visited this local hole in the wall kind of spot, but glad I went back. It truly was better than I remember. The normal salsa that is brought out is good, but if you get the spicy salsa... now that is memorable in more ways than way with flavor and spice. Of course we got the queso and honestly this was probably one of my favorite white queso's I have had in a long time....and I get queso pretty much every Mexican spot. I ordered the vampiros and a normal crispy taco... it was awesome!!! Service was good and honestly I didn't have any complaints. The prices are on point and you're going to have a great meal for a great price. Go check it out!!! read more

El Rio Verde - Vampiros and a crispy taco - Mexican Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

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. read more

El Rio Verde - Mexican Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

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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. read more

El Rio Verde - Mexican Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

This place is special. It's got a warm inviting family atmosphere, and it's usually pretty busy during lunch which is a good sign when you're looking for good food. El Rio has something that's not seen much in other Mexican restaurants in the Tulsa area. It has "The Wet burrito". This burrito is amazingly delicious. They soak it in an awesome tasting red sauce and cover it in the perfect amount of cheese. The other food is good too, but I come here specifically for the "The wet burrito", and I also refer friends and family to this place just for this burrito as well. Give it a try, you'll not be disappointed. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

El Rio Verde - Vampiro taco and tostada taco - Mexican Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

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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. read more

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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. read more

El Rio Verde - You have to start with chips and salsa. - Mexican Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

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 read more

El Rio Verde - Stinky cheese and sour beans - Mexican Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

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

Great Mexican food, made fresh! This place is always a win. I'm convinced the servers are vampires because they have all been there for 20+ years. Wet burrito is a staple...and it's huge. If you have never been, you are missing out! read more

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!!! read more

El Rio Verde - My empty plate--was so excited forgot to take pic of the food! - Mexican Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

Love this hidden gem. Food is always good. The service is great. Traditional Mexican made from scratch. read more

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

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. read more

El Rio Verde - Mexican Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

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. read more

El Rio Verde - Bitch please - Mexican Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

This place is fantastic! Ive never not loved my food. I truly dont believe you can have a bad visit here. I will warn you, its not your americanized food. Its legit mexican food. The service is always great and the ambiance is a bit loud. I will go back for sure and you should go too! read more

This is not the easiest place to order vegan items from yet I've been coming here regularly since they opened. In all of that time (since ~1999?) I've only experienced 1 (one) mishap with the food that was received [the exchange for what was ordered was quick and easy]. I've recently come to understand how big of a deal this is! English is a stupid language that has -rules- that are basically meaningless, pronunciation of English words is anyone's guess and still with so many of the wait staff having English as their non-primary language, they absolutely nail it every time. Mad respect for the care the staff takes to make certain they get everything right. Our orders aren't simple either e.g., "a veggie wet burrito without rice, cheese, or sour cream" or "a torta without meat, mayo... [this is what my spouse orders so I'm unfamiliar with the exact specifics to make this vegan], add beans." The amount of wait staff for whom English is their primary language that cannot get orders right at so many other places in Tulsa- at every price point- makes this extra special. The staff care, they want to get the order right, and they always do! The salsa is tasty, the guac is a good time, they serve Coke with actual sugar. This place is ab fab. Our omni friends, our vegetarian friends, everyone like this spot. The prices are more than fair, especially when one experiences such great service from the staff. I'm always happy when we eat here and am always looking forward to the next visit. read more

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 read more

El Rio Verde - It's like a Steak ranchero type - Mexican Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

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!!! read more

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We went again. This time I had the fish taco and a street taco. Still 5 stars! I love the peppers growing on the side of the building. Very good food. You like authentic Mexican food, then this is the place for you. read more

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Great little Mexican restaurant off the beaten path. Sounds like a place the locals know and well worth the visit. Good food, great service, and very reasonable prices. Will definitely eat here again. read more

I used to visit El Rio Verde a lot. Their food is reasonably priced and served in hefty portions. The other plus (or impulse-buy spot ;-p) is at the front with the sweets. Get the wet burrito. No disappointments will be had!! read more

Was craving for a torta ahogada and this was one of the few restaurants that offered it so decided to go torta was good salsa was hot just the bread needed it to to be the original for the tortas ahogadas read more

El Rio Verde - Torta ahogada - Mexican Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

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

Can't believe I haven't yelped for El Rio Verde yet. Basically El Rio Verde is life. Chips and salsa+guacamole+shrimp fajita burrito+chicken and spinach quesadilla+shrimp taco+torta asada+are a few of my favorites lol. Posole on the weekend is a real treat. Treat yourself to a cup of black coffee and a de la Rosa for dessert. read more

It's the real deal ya'll. Authentic Mexican food. Been there for years. We love it. They start you out with great chips and salsa. My husband will often have a beer that's from Mexico. The servers are friendly. I usually get the beef taco (it is shredded beef), cheese enchilada and rice and beans. My friend got the chicken enchiladas. It was so much food she took half home. My husband and friend got the bistec encebollado-basically Mexican style steak and onions. He loved it. It's not a fancy atmosphere, but welcoming. Love the oilcloth tablecloths. They always seem to have lots of business. read more

El Rio Verde - Casual! - Mexican Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

Fast service is the plus. But we were not a fan of the food. My mom has a passion for fish tacos but these just tasted like fish sticks stuck in a tortilla. Super disappointing. They also confirmed that the fish was grilled but it was not. There was definitely a language barrier there. I adore mom and pop shops, but this one left me unsatisfied. read more

El Rio Verde - Mexican Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

Definitely a hole in the wall kind of place! The outside is unassuming, but yes, there's a restaurant in there! Everyone working here is super sweet and friendly. They seem like they have a love for each other and what they are doing. It is definitely on the smaller side, with a few booths and a few regular tables. I think there may also be one or two small tables outside as well. Overall it seemed fairly clean, not necessarily "spick and span" by any means, but it didn't seem dirty either. Honestly I wasn't a big fan of the chips or the salsa. The chips were the thicker kind that aren't my favorite, and the salsa was pretty thin. It wasn't totally flavorless, but it could have been better for sure. I'd say it was a mild to medium spice level. I didn't ask if they had any spicier options just seems like they probably wouldn't but maybe I'll do that next time. Aside from that, they did also have two hot sauce options on each table: valentina brand and tapatio brand. Two of my favorites! We uncharacteristically ordered queso. I thought it was good. Nothing unique that stood out about it, just your typical super cheesy flavor and a nice consistency, with just a tad bit of some heat. I was so tempted to go for their (locally famous) wet burrito, but given that I wasn't totally in love with the salsa, I felt like it wouldn't be worth it to get something where "wet" was described as "drenched in their salsa (and queso)". So instead I got chicken fajitas. You get to choose between corn or flour tortillas. I decided to ask our waitress what she thought was best (just seems like the kind of place to take recommendations from the people there) and she said corn, so that's what a did. Plus, that's what I normally get anyway, too. I was a little sad it came on a regular plate instead of a skillet like many other places, but at the same time it was nice that doing it like that saved a bit of room on the table. The rice and beans were also on the plate, so in general it was more efficient I guess. I thought the beans could have used a bit more flavor. They tasted a little watered down to me. The rice was pretty standard. The chicken was tasty and also very tender! Not sure I've had chicken that soft before haha! Good sized chunks of meat too. The peppers and onions were fine. The only part I didn't like were that they included tomatos in the mix, just because I'm personally not a fan of warm tomatoes... though I'm sure if I was they would have been fine. Just more of a personal preference there, I guess. The portion size wasn't huge (compared to sometimes how massive fajitas can be) but the price also seemed to match the meal pretty well for what it was. Not as amazing as I was maybe expecting (based on how great and super authentic people say it is) but it's not bad either. I'd probably come back, but not a place that will be a first choice. I think for me at least, what could take it up several notches is better salsa! Just one of those make or break things for me... read more

El Rio Verde - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa's best kept secret. Honestly. I'm hesitant to even post a review because I love it so much and there's not a lot of room inside...the atmosphere feels like a tiny diner inside someone's home. The service is always excellent and the food is superb. My family goes every weekend for Saturday morning posole. So good! Last time I visited, I ordered the single taco plate, basically licked my plate, and walked out with a full belly and ready for a nap. Enjoy!!! read more

El Rio Verde - $1.50 chips and salsa - Mexican Near Me - Tulsa, Oklahoma

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So happy to return each and every time!! I unfortunately don't have pics this time guy's my apologies but on our last adventure I had the pleasure of enjoying the Mojarra in garlic butter sauce. If you're into whole fried fish and absolutely love garlic as I do you're gonna enjoy this!! Accompanied by delicious beans and rice my plate was so damn good. I'll definitely be ordering it again with a extra side of beans and rice. I love their salsa over my rice it's sooo good read more

From out of town and came here solely because of the reviews. I was not disappointed. This burrito is flipping awesome service is great and my unsweet iced tea is actually cold and not water down from melted ice. Everything about this place is five stars. It looks shady as hell from the outside But don't worry it's a top-notch place read more

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This place is amazing! A new fave, for sure! We went in on a Saturday around 1pm and we're lucky enough to get a table. It's always busy, so try to get here early. You get a basket of chips with delicious, fresh salsa to start. We ordered queso as well. Everyone at our table thought the queso was a little too spicy, but I loved it. It did not seem too hot for me, but I enjoy a bit of heat. I ordered the wet burrito, because it is supposed to be their signature dish. You can choose your meat. I went in for the grilled chicken. It was fabulous! I really enjoyed the fresh and vibrant guacamole on top and the chicken was perfect. My wife got the huevos rancheros, so I sampled her shredded beef, and WOW! It was the best shredded beef I have had in my life. When we go back, I'm going to get the wet burrito with shredded beef. I also sampled the refried beans which were super fresh and homemade. Again, the best I've had. Overall, my new favorite go to for Tex Mex! The prices are reasonable, the service was great despite how busy they were and the food was the best. read more

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Another "hole in wall" restaurant located in a "sketchy" neighborhood. Recommend tagging along with someone. But gosh the food is so good here. Highly recommend the wet burrito which has really good flavor. They put the right amount of cheese inside. Most other restaurants would top their burrito with a cheesy sauce which I find is too much for someone like me. Here they top the burrito with a salsa-like sauce making it so much easier to eat. They also sell soda drink in a tall bottle which is awesome. They only downside is they won't take my Discover card...why??? read more

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I have eaten here several times in the past few years and liked it, but I had dinner here earlier this week with a friend and I'm still sick!! I could barely eat the food, it was so gross! Canned beans, horrible rice. I ordered 3 enchiladas...the spinach enchiladas had leaves thrown in, the beef was in big chunks that tasted like charcoal, and the cheese enchilada had NO cheese! I started feeling horrible about 30 minutes after we left. The service was very abrupt and rude. NEVER AGAIN! read more

The best authentic Mexican food in Tulsa. Burritos, tacos and good shrimp. Smothered burritos are good. Sometimes they have Menudo and Pozole. read more

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

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