Finally -- an authentic Mexican restaurant in Murrieta that doesn't require battling traffic just to enjoy a good meal. Yes, there are other spots around town, but I'm just happy to have great Mexican food close to home without driving into Temecula, San Diego, or LA. I've visited a few times before writing this, and the menu has a solid variety. It's primarily Mexican dishes with a few American options mixed in. Their menudo has become one of my favorites, the large bowl is big enough to share and always hits the spot. The birria tacos are well‑seasoned and flavorful, and breakfast here is another win. The omelettes and chilaquiles were both delicious. I will be honest, the La Bestia Mex burrito was a big disappointment... this is so far the only thing that I was so disappointed in. It was a salad wrapped in a burrito, we paid the extra for carne asada and we couldn't find the meat. It was missing the meat..... not worth the price. I'll still them 5 stars overall! They also have a full bar and plenty of seating indoors and outdoors. The patio is nicely spaced and perfect for warm summer evenings. Service has been consistently great. Miguel and Paulina have taken excellent care of us every time. If you're looking for authentic Mexican food without the long drive, this place is definitely worth checking out. read more

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I have to say I've been to this restaurant before, it was called Carnitas express. Not sure if it's the same ownership or not. But the last couple times, which includes 30 minutes ago, my wife & I came in to order a breakfast. That wasn't a whole lot of people there and definitely had sufficient employees to attend to everyone, unfortunately, that was for everyone but us. We sat and took probably closer to 10 minutes before we did not receive any water, chips or even acknowledgment so we got up and decided to walk away. Being a Hispanic descent, trust me, I can tell authentic Mexican food, from the so-called other Mexican food just step up from Taco Bell and Del taco. I've always said, do you wanna know good authentic Mexican food,?..then look at the customers. If you see old first generation Hispanics eating there...then you it's real Mexican food! This place, I have to give two thumbs down ! read more

I wanted to love it. I really did. But it was not working out. I ordered the Chorizo skillet and fruit for my side. My husband ordered the beef enchiladas with a side of beans and rice. To drink we ordered water, iced tea, coke, and cafe de olla. My skillet was okay. The potatoes were well cooked. The food tasted fine, but dry. The side of fruit was not fresh. I thought it tasted old and had a cottage cheese smell. My biggest two issues were the dryness and that it didn't come with tortillas. Tortillas weren't listed as an option for the side either. Paid $5 for 3 small tortillas. I feel like tortillas should come standard with the skillet along with some salsa or guac. The skillet comes with pico de gallo, but it's mixed into the omelette. My husband finished his entire plate of enchiladas even though they brought him chicken (instead of beef). The only drink I was iffy on was the cafe de olla. It was pretty stale. Probably since they opened at 8a for breakfast and we came in around brunch time (1:30p). Service was really great. I'd still like to come back and try again. Perhaps when they're more busy so the food tastes fresher. Plenty of parking in the parking lot. read more

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My wife and I have been here 3x since the name change, and all 3x have been the same. Awful service ! They need some new management here. The place has 630 pm Saturday night plenty of employees place is empty. It just took over 10 minutes just to get water. RIP to this place. read more

I love this place for breakfast. It is totally under rated. The food is consistent it is really good and good customer service. It's nice and clean in there you definitely get the feel of a mexican restaurant. They have changed name a couple of times but they have the same servers. I will definitely be returning. read more

What a disappointment! Don't fall for their free margarita if you fill out their survey! I filled it out and got a code emailed to me for my free margarita. Went tonight and was told sorry we cant give out free alcohol. So offer something else. More people were coming in with a code just for the server to say sorry, no. I'm thinking it was away to get customers in the door. We wont be coming back. read more

La Patrona Mexican Kitchen - Sign - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Murrieta, California

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Had breakfast here. Can't bet the prices. It was also yummy. Definitely coming here again.

(Name of restaurant recently changed from carnitas express). The food was high quality and the service was good, and prompt. The chile verde omelette was more precisely an avocado omelette with a few spoons of chile verde on top. It tasted good, although I would have liked to see more of the course highlight on the plate, more specifically inside of the omelette. read more

La Patrona Mexican Kitchen - Chile verde omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Murrieta, California

Ferrari was my server today. What stood out as I ate was the way Ferrari treated each customer, with a genuine love and desire for people. I've trained and observed thousands across the military and the civilian sector, and Ferrari carries herself and this restaurant in a professionally personal manner. I'll be bringing family back‼‼ read more

Visited this establishment on 7/16/2026. What started out as a very pleasant girls' night out quickly became an unnecessarily frustrating experience. This establishment advertises "unlimited" chips and salsa; however, we were advised that only the first two baskets are complimentary and that a charge applies beginning with the third basket. By definition, that is not unlimited. While a charge after multiple refills may be understandable for an individual diner, there were three of us dining together and splitting the bill equally. Based on the explanation provided, each guest would effectively be entitled to two complimentary baskets, yet we were charged for the third basket shared by the table. When we questioned the charge, we were directed to "read the front of the menu." Upon reviewing it, we identified several discrepancies. One member of our party works in compliance and risk management and reviews policies and disclosures professionally. We then asked the shift lead whether she had personally read the language on the menu before referencing it, to which she replied, "Not really." At that point, the issue was no longer about a $3 basket of chips--it was about the principle. Had the three of us been seated at separate tables, each guest would have received two complimentary baskets without issue. Additionally, we were told that split checks were not permitted for parties under six, which was inaccurate, as the restaurant does allow up to six separate checks. To be clear, the food was excellent, the drinks were great, and our server--who was a new hire--was personable and attentive. Unfortunately, the shift lead's approach was loud, condescending, and misinformed. My advice to management is simple: ensure your staff fully understands company policies, terms, and conditions before directing customers to rely on them. It is difficult to cite policy with confidence when the policy itself has not been read or is not being applied consistently. This experience had all the makings of a great evening, and it is disappointing that a $3 dispute and poor leadership overshadowed what was otherwise an enjoyable night out. read more

La Patrona Mexican Kitchen - Menu discrepancies - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Murrieta, California

Food was really good, but if you guys want to get more customers, stop using mission or i don't want brand you use for your corn tortillas, those are nasty that taste of medicine is really horrible, there is out there better brands for the tortillas. Tbh the tortillas are making me think on going back again read more

First time here. The have outside seating here. I ordered a Carne Asada Buritto (wet style). It came with rice and beans. However there was more rice and beans than there was meat. I was a bit disappointed. Over all it was a decent Buritto. They severed chips with salsa. The salsa had good flavor. The service was pretty good as well. Next time I visit I'll try something else and update my review. read more

La Patrona Mexican Kitchen - Outside - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Murrieta, California

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All 3, food, service and ambiance, excellent! Breakfast/brunch this morning but it's served all day. Berry crepes for me, menudo for hubs, both delicious! Crepes are large, about 12" long. Menudo tripe was very tender, not rubbery, and the broth very tasty. Will try pozole next time. read more

La Patrona Mexican Kitchen - Menudo - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Murrieta, California

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The food is terrible. We have given it 3 trys since they changed hands. The foodbl used to be good. One of our favorites. I got chicken enchiladas. It tasted like canned meat. Dark canned meat. So nasty. They don't refill your chips. We tried. But, won't be back. Its just not good now. I am going to have to go home and brush my teeth to get that nasty canned chicken taste gone. read more

La Patrona Mexican Kitchen is clean, comfy and perfect for family meals as well as date night. After being seated in a big, comfy booth with nearby tv, we were welcomed with menus, warm chips and tasty red salsa. On the menu, you'll find offerings for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I was craving a crispy taco and ordered something new for me, the Quesabirria plate. It was meaty, cheesy crispy deliciousness. Comes with rice but I asked for beans, limes, onions and cilantro and birria for dipping. It's a bit messy but worth asking for more napkins. The carne asada tacos come with plenty of seasoned meat, served with rice and beans. Yes, I will return and it will be difficult to choose something other than the quesabirria but this time with rice to have with the birria. Tough decision though since they have good rice and beans. Friendly, attentive server, thank you Becca, pleasant atmosphere, good food at a reasonable price makes for a good dining experience. read more

La Patrona Mexican Kitchen - Two Carne Asada Tacos Combo - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Murrieta, California

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This used to be Carnitas express it is under new ownership they have made a lot of improvements their patio is so much nicer than it ever was they have amazing chips and salsa I do love that they are flexible with how you can order your meals I like to order a house salad with grilled shrimp it is not on the menu read more

Food was good and server very friendly and knowledgeable with recommendations! Restaurant clean and not loud but wasn't super crowded either!! We both had leftovers for the next days lunch!!! Will be back!! read more

Came here for my son's birthday.We had a party of fifteen. Called 20 minutes in advance. Got to the restaurant and the tables were already set up. Every single plate that was ordered was absolutely delicious. Some of the best Mexican food we have had. I highly recommend the Mocajete, Birria tacos, bean and cheese burritos, enchiladas and fajitas! Everything was hot and fresh. Our service was absolutely wonderful. I cant say enough about what a wonderful experience we all had. If you want great Mexican food with fantastic service, you should definitely try them out. read more

Had the best experience!! Sunshine was my waitress and she really knew what she was doing! The food was good came out quickly even added on avocado and sunshine brought it out immediately!!! Thank you so much sunshine for the amazing service I will be back again! read more

La Patrona Mexican Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Murrieta, California

Well we were here before when they first bought out Carnitas and it was fine but this time, you only get 1 basket of chips then you get charged which is ridiculous to me. There's really not options to make your own 1 item combo which I don't like. I usually am able to make my own off à la carte options but this is not available. Probably won't go back. read more

This was a great restaurant. We were heading back to OC after spending the night in temecula. I wanted some comfort food, and everything was wonderful. My husband had the chile relleno and ground beef taco combo. I had the shredded beef nachos, and my grandpa had the cheese and avocado omelet. The patio is cute, but we sat at a booth inside. The bar area was very nice. Portions are huge and we took home a box of leftovers. Service was great. I'd eat here again. read more

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Our family met up at La Patrona for late breakfast and enjoyed every bite of each dish served. Amazing meaty Pasole, green chili, carne asada, fajitas, beans & rice. Expensive yes, restaurants are struggling these days with inflation like the rest of us. But at least the quality is excellent, as well as the atmosphere & service. Highly recommend! read more

We went in today to have breakfast. The food was delicious and Alondra our server was very sweet and attentive. We will definitely be coming back soon! read more

I eat there frequently and wife and I order different things. Tonight she wasn't too hungry so she ordered a taco and rice and beans. Pretty simple. The waitress brought the taco but forgot the rice and beans. I told her and she promptly brought them out. Here's the problem. They charged me $10 for the rice and beans! Not only should it have come with the meal as requested but their cost couldn't have been more than ten cents! I realize that prices have gone up but this was a pure ripoff. read more

La Patrona Mexican Kitchen - My receipt - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Murrieta, California

Not impressed at all. The two stars is for the ambience. Service was not attentive at all. And the food was bland. We ordered the molcajete and the chicken was not seasoned at all. Definitely won't be coming back here. Go to the Italian spot next door instead. read more

La Patrona Mexican Kitchen - Molcajete - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Murrieta, California

Today we opted for Carnitas Express, but upon arrival we noticed the building now reads La Patrona. Curious, we asked the host, who explained that La Patrona had purchased the facilities. While the customer service was friendly and attentive, the food was unfortunately a major disappointment. Everything we tried lacked flavor and seasoning. The café de la olla was easily the worst we've ever had, bitter and unbalanced. The carnitas were dry, and the quesabirria was simply not good at all. We left feeling unsatisfied and certain we will not be returning. read more

My wife and I like to visit this spot on Sundays after our Church service and we usually come with a group, this last Sunday we showed up with 12 folks and later 6 more came and sat at a separate table which was fine. My experience at "La Patrona" has been really great, we love the food and service, our waitress "Sunshine" has been very helpful and patient, but this past weekend it seemed like they were very short staffed and it affected our service, waitress was running every where and it took a long time to get drinks and even later to place our order. I hope management can adjust better in the future, this hasn't stopped us from returning, just a bit frustrating when inviting new customers and we tell them how great the food is. Thanks for sharing your cooking talents with us. read more

I ordered a Taco Salad and I can swear, the chicken tasted like a freezer burn aftertaste. The taco was chewy not crispy. That's was my downfall! The after taste was horrendous! I was hoping to like this place since it's close to home and Mexican, my favorite foods. At least we got a free margarita, code is on Facebook under their name. Looking for a better Mexican restaurant if you guys know of any. read more

Came here for brunch on a Sunday. Nice restaurant, fairly big. Friendly service from our waitress and staff. Our son and I both ordered the chilaquiles divorciados with carne asada and my wife got the enchiladas suizas. They were even accommodating enough to let her add an egg to her dish because she wanted it to be sort of a breakfast. LOL! The food came out fairly quick. Portions were big in our opinion. And most important, everything was delicious! And we all had at least half of each dish to take home! read more

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I don't say this lightly--La Patron is hands down the best Mexican food I've ever had. Every single time I've come here, the experience has been consistently amazing. The service is top-tier. Every server I've had has been incredibly friendly, attentive, and genuinely makes you feel taken care of. On top of that, the food comes out fast, hot, and fresh every time. And the food itself? Absolutely unreal. Everything I've tried has been flavorful, well-made, and honestly just hits every time. You can tell they really care about quality here. If you're even thinking about trying this place--do it. You won't regret it. read more

Amazing food amazing service Sunshine helped us out and we never needed for anything. She looked out for us 100% prices are very reasonable you can get three tacos and a soda for less than 20 bucks. Goodbye, McDonald's. Maria and Sunshine are the best. Been coming here for 12 years before they were La Patron and their service has never disappointed. read more

La Patrona Mexican Kitchen - Yes SIR!!! Fresh chips and a marg? Yes all day!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Murrieta, California

The establishment was very clean. The welcome was very warm. The hostess/waitress brought the four of us salsa and chips immediately. Drinks quickly followed and we placed our orders. The food was delicious and the portions were very adequate. We definitely will be returning in the near future. read more

This place has recently changed its name. I am unsure if it is the same management or not. It's across the street from Best Buy in Murrieta. Same shopping center as savors. We were sat down pretty fast. The place is small but can fit a decent amount of people. However, we were not acknowledged for a good 15min. As we got ready to walk up a waitress came up to apologize and take our order. I have been to many places that get more packed and their service is excellent. It took a great amount of time for the food to come out but it was a bit of a disappointment. My son ordered a side of beans but those never came out until we asked again. His birria tacos didn't have much flavor and the shell tasted rubbery. My husband got the chili verde burrito and it was blame. I ordered pozole and that was actually good. However, the radish was old and brown. The chili with the chips was like tomato paste. I asked for a hotter chili and they did make me a new one. It had better flavor but was still not hot. I'm sad to report this place was not great. And I would not return. With service like we experienced and the quality of food. I would NOT recommend anyone to come here. Good luck if you decide to try. FYI- the people next to us had there food come out and the girl brought their tortillas after they where done with the food. SMH read more

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Great food and service. Andrea was awesome. I love the esthetic of the place as well.

Food was delicious, Cadillac margarita was perfect and the service Sunshine gave us was excellent. The atmosphere was great and authentic to the culture. read more

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I ordered to go, spent about $70. When I got home to open my $8 bean tostada. This what I got. WTF!! read more

La Patrona Mexican Kitchen - Bean Tostada - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Murrieta, California

The food was outstanding! I love Eggs Benedict. I never expected a Mexican kitchen to make one of the best Benny I've ever had. The CarneAsada was a little bit bland, but the red sauce and salsa made up for it. Service was instant and pleasant. The restaurant is open with awesome natural light. read more

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I ordered their chili rellano and the eggs a caballo plates for pick up. Their service was excellent. When I arrived, the food was ready and nicely packed. The server was delightful. Very welcoming and friendly. I always enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant. Very charming. The food was outstanding. The eggs were perfectly cooked and the enchiladas were delicious. The chili rellano was unbelievable. Unmatched by any I've tried in other places. My wife gave both dishes an enthusiastic two thumbs up. She actually wished she had more thumbs to point up. Excellent job! read more

First time here , I got the chile verde omelette my dad got the huevos divorciados sooo good, our server Paula was amazing very sweet and attentive can't wait to come back ! read more

As you walk in the restaurant you're nicely welcomed , and the place looks nice and clean. Chips are served nicely warm and the salsa is great. My littles enjoyed their Mickey Mouse pancakes, teen had French toast loved it and my husband and I had the Mexican breakfast which was delicious! Definitely will be coming back! read more