We have truly enjoyed Maria's every time we have come here. This trip started out a little shaky. We were seated by a very friendly young man. When our server arrived is when it got a little dicey. Our server Cindy F seemed very rude and condescending. I never tip less than 20+% but this time I did. We all loved our food and Beth the manager truly made up for our servers rudeness. If it wasn't for Cindy this would have definitely been a 10 star experience. read more

Visited April 17 2026. See my receipt as always. It was a beautiful day in Grass Valley so my puppy and I enjoyed the dog friendly outside patio ( FYI..Grass Valley and Nevada City are VERY dog friendly!). I ordered my favorite..steak fajitas! Great sear on the steak and comes with rice and beans. SO good! As always enjoyed all their different salsas ( especially the habanero) and warm chips which are complimentary! Plenty of leftovers! All the employees are very friendly creating a great experience! Full bar and plenty of seating. My puppy enjoyed the calm atmosphere! read more

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The tacos were delicious, everyone in the family. Age one to sixty seven, loved tasting each other's plates. Definitely shareable. Our server had complete control over his station. Every question answered without hesitation, we will definitely try takeout. The vibe was just fun filled aromas mixed with smiles. read more

By far the best Mexican food in the area. Cinco da Mayo is HUGE in this state they were amazing given the situation. I ordered a crab enchilada a la cart, amazing! JUST had a crab taco in Jalico, Mexico couple weeks ago it fell short. The only reason I gave it a 4 not 5 is because of little things, but as a whole if it was outta 10 you got a 9. Thank you. read more

Maria's Mexican Restaurant - Crab enchilada a la cart. - Mexican Near Me - Grass Valley, California

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This is a very relaxing atmosphere to stop by for lunch, dinner or drinks. Everything we ordered was very tasty and easy to enjoy: all but the kick at the end of the cilantro dressing! Caliente! I may not have noticed if it was listed as spicy, so it very well could have been my oversight. Our servers and the rest of the staff were all very friendly and helpful. Cadence was super sweet! I'd definitely recommend stopping by if you get the chance. read more

Maria's Mexican Restaurant - Mahi mahi tacos & a side salad - Mexican Near Me - Grass Valley, California

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Had a large party but our waiter was very efficient! The food overall was pretty good, I think everyone enjoyed it! The portions are huge,especially the burritos! Lots of seating and wasn't too loud overall. read more

We called for a to go order after a long afternoon at the Empire mine and then a 3 mile hike. The restaurant is one of my partner's favorites and my first time trying. The restaurant itself is super cute on the outside and on the inside. It is decorated wonderfully. As soon as we got inside the restaurant the smell of yummy food was overtaking. I could not wait to get our order. The chicken taquitos were perfect and crunchy without the grease. The churros are the best I have ever had in my life. They come with caramel sauce and a side of vanilla ice cream. Seriously, it was like having cinnamon French toast but then with the crunch and the caramel sauce was out of this world. I have tried a lot of churros and I have never been so impressed. read more

Maria's Mexican Restaurant - Churros that could bring world peace - Mexican Near Me - Grass Valley, California

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Customer service was excellent!! The food was exactly how we ordered it. This is the best Mexican restaurant in this area so far!

Maria's is a nostalgic spot for me... I grew up eating here, so when I came back to town for a funeral, it felt right to stop in. Unfortunately, I left mourning more than just my uncle. My sister and brother-in-law got the carnitas, which gifted them 18 straight hours of diarrhea. So I'm giving Maria's two stars... because they "gifted" my family with more #2's then their individual posteriors were built for. I myself had a burrito that ended up being about 5/7ths cheese... hope you like chewing forever. And can we talk about the chips??!!!?! Man, the chips used to be these thick, flavorful triangles of love... now they're thin, sad, and dissolve before they even make it to your mouth. Fully transparency, There were two bright spots. The salsa recipe hasn't changed in 30 years and it's still perfection. And the blackberry margarita slapped the taste buds right out of my mouth. I wish those items were enough to win back my childhood, But yeah... probably not the homecoming I was hoping for. read more

After driving through the downtown strip and seeing few options open, we stumbled across Maria's and decided to give them a try. One side of the restaurant is more of a bar, and one side is restaurant style with booths and tables. We sat on the restaurant side. Cleanliness and overall vibe inside: the restaurant area was pretty casual. Menus were slightly sticky, and it kinda gave eating at a Mexican Denny's vibe initially. I appreciated that the menu clearly specified what was gluten free since I'm limiting gluten right now. Drinks: We ordered a classic lime, and a blood orange margarita, and upgraded the tequila to something a step higher and anejo. They were well blended, but massive. I'm talking, twice the size of what you would expect. They were also overflowing in the cups and made a sticky mess all over the table when they were delivered to us by the server. With that, they tasted delicious so we didn't mind the mess too much. Perhaps this explains the sticky menus. lol Food: My husband ordered the Carne Asada and I decided to try the Poblano Encheladas. Serving sizes were hearty, and the food was solid. The Carne Asada was very well marinated, and the Poblano enchilada sauce was to die for. It was a fair amount of sauce, but I wished I had a little more if I'm being honest. The presentation was taken down a notch or two since some of the fresh veggies were browning and or slightly wilted. I could have gone without it on my plate with how they looked. Service: our waiter was very casual, but she attended to us well. Our drinks were kept full, she brought us a complimentary bean dip since we were first timers, and she gave good recommendations. Overall, I take one star away for minor cleanliness and presentation/wilty veg but we really enjoyed our food and experience and would definitely come back here again while in GV. read more

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It's worth the trip! Headed up the hill to get out of the fog. We landed in Grass Valley and picked the perfect outside eating spot with the perfect ambiance. I split the steak fajitas with my wife and it was perfect. The meal was a healthy portion packed with all the goodies. My brother had the carnitas, which were also on point, and my sister in law had the enchilada. I also had a fish taco as an appetizer and it was great. Pro tip, they serve the taco with 2 tortillas. I use one of them with the shared fajita dish. Worked perfectly. A nice touch was the chips and salsa. They brought out 5 different salsas, on the house, and they were great. The jalapeño and habanero salsa's were my favorite. To finish the deal, we had some solid service that helped insure a "for sure" return to this hidden gem. Don't look at the 3 star rating, it is definitely a 4.5-5 star establishment. I have eaten at a lot of Mexican restaurants, having grown up in the Central Valley, and this is the best "authentic" food spot to date. Give it a try, you will not be disappointed! read more

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We certainly enjoyed our visit to Maria's Mexican restaurant! We were a large group and got seated easily and our server was friendly and helpful in assisting with menu selections. I got a burrito that was entirely too big for my stomach, which was kind of fun I must admit... Relaxing ambience and a great place to just enjoy a happy hour drink at the round bar. Would love to come back next time I'm in Grass Valley. read more

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Surprised by the 3.5 star rating- our meal was great! Super fresh, amazing service, and no wait time. Great ambiance and we will definitely return. The food was delicious! read more

I gave one star in my first review. I am adding a star for the super server who help us . However, I think the serving size is skimpy and I think the prices are high for what you get. We decided to try them one more time because we wanted music with our dinner; however, they no longer have live music. Big disappointment! read more

As soon as we walked in we were immediately greeted. There were 3 small groups ahead of us, but it still only took a few minutes to be seated. I ordered the fish tacos, the other three in my party ordered various chicken related dishes. The food tasted good, the chips were some of the best I've eaten. My only complaint is that both the chicken and the fish were a tad on the dry side. Still good, just a little dry. The decor and atmosphere were very authentic. All in all, great experience. We'll be back. read more

My extended family invited us to join them at Maria's before the Thursday night farmers market in grass Valley. It was a one minute drive from our hotel room so it was perfect. Love the vibe here. Neat looking round bar with a huge outdoor patio. Tammy took care of our drinks for happy hour, and then we were all seated in the back of the restaurant. Franca was our waitress and was extremely attentive and helpful with a great personality! I love how they serve the margaritas. The glasses are beautiful. Nice warm, complementary chips and salsa were very tasty. I ordered the combination plate with chicken taquitos and a tostada and good Lord, those were some fat nicely stuffed taquitos. A lot of chicken! Lovely lovely experience and a wonderful atmosphere! Be back soon! read more

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Elevated Ambiance, Room to Grow The atmosphere is warm, inviting, and well put together -- a great setting for a casual meal. I ordered the carne asada steak salad with black beans, and the beef itself was genuinely impressive in quality. That said, a few tweaks could really elevate the dish: the black olives were overdone, and swapping the standard iceberg lettuce for romaine (which is available for an extra charge) would instantly upgrade the plate's feel. For an American-Mexican concept -- not a traditional Mexican restaurant -- these small refinements could make a big difference. A little more beef wouldn't hurt either. The salsa selection had potential but fell a little flat. They brought out four options: a fresh pico de gallo plus a green, a red, and what I suspect was a habanero. All three had decent heat, but heat alone doesn't make a great salsa -- the depth of flavor just wasn't there. With a bit more seasoning and complexity, their salsa bar could be a real highlight. Overall, a solid spot with a comfortable vibe and quality ingredients. With a few refinements in the kitchen, this place could easily stand out from the crowd. read more

After an exhausting but beautiful almost 4-hour hike, my friends and I were absolutely starving and needed a place to refuel. We searched on Google Maps and found Maria's Mexican Restaurant with a solid 4-star rating, so we decided to check it out. When we arrived, it was clear this was a popular spot for the locals--both the main parking lot and overflow lot were full! We lucked out and managed to find a spot, and despite the restaurant being busy, we were seated right away. The restaurant has charming, authentic décor that gives off a cozy, welcoming vibe. The hostess greeted us with a warm smile and made us feel right at home. Our servers were quick with the chips and water, and this was definitely the highlight of the service--everyone was friendly and prompt. However, as the meal went on, it felt like our server was a bit distracted and didn't check in on us as often as we would have liked. Our food took a little longer than expected, but we kept busy by snacking on the chips and salsa. I had read on Yelp that there was a complimentary salsa sampler and bean dip for first-time customers, so I requested those when placing our order. The server hesitated, explaining that the bean dip was only for first-timers, but after I confirmed we were new customers, he reluctantly put in the request. I ordered the Enchilada After an exhausting but beautiful almost 4-hour hike, my friends and I were absolutely starving and needed a place to refuel. We searched on Google and found Maria's Mexican Restaurant with a solid 4-star rating, so we decided to check it out. When we arrived, it was clear this was a popular spot for the locals--both the main parking lot and overflow lot were full! We lucked out and managed to find a spot, and despite the restaurant being busy, we were seated right away. The restaurant has charming, authentic décor that gives off a cozy, welcoming vibe. The hostess greeted us with a warm smile and made us feel right at home. Our servers were quick with the chips and water, and this was definitely the highlight of the service--everyone was friendly and prompt. However, as the meal went on, it felt like our server was a bit distracted and didn't check in on us as often as we would have liked. Our food took a little longer than expected, but we kept busy by snacking on the chips and salsa. I had read on Yelp that there was a complimentary salsa sampler and bean dip for first-time customers, so I requested those when placing our order. The server hesitated, explaining that the salsa sampler was only for first-timers, but after I confirmed we were new customers, he reluctantly put in the request. I ordered the Chicken Suissa, and my friend tried the Carne Asada fries and Carne Asada street tacos from the bar menu. My other friend went for a two-combo with a tamale and quesadilla. I also added a cup of chicken tortilla soup to warm up after the chilly hike. The drinks came quickly, and I tried their buttered rum, which was a fantastic, warming treat. The chicken tortilla soup was small but hit the spot--it was flavorful and comforting. As for the salsa sampler, it included roasted pepper, cilantro, habanero, jalapeño, and a traditional red salsa. Unfortunately, the roasted pepper salsa was very off-putting (my friend even said it tasted fishy!), the cilantro salsa had an overwhelming soapy flavor, and the habanero salsa was watery with no heat. The jalapeño salsa was decent, but the regular red salsa was the standout--it was the best of the bunch. The chips were fresh, salty, and thin, which was perfect for snacking while waiting. When the complementary bean dip arrived, it was definitely a highlight! The dip was made of beans, enchilada sauce, melted cheese, and olives, and it was surprisingly tasty--definitely something I'd order again. As for the entrees, my Enchilada Suissa was fine, though it arrived lukewarm, which was disappointing. Thankfully, I had filled up on chips, soup, and dip, so I ended up taking my meal home. My friend was not thrilled with the Carne Asada fries, as the cheese sauce was bland. My other friend thought her quesadilla was smaller than she expected, which was a bit of a letdown. Overall, Maria's Mexican Restaurant was an okay stop, especially after a long hike, but it didn't live up to the excitement we had anticipated. The service could have been more attentive, and while some of the dishes were satisfying, others left something to be desired. It's a solid option for a quick meal, but next time, we might explore other choices in Grass Valley. read more

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I hadn't been to Maria's in several months because the last time I came in the food had been inconsistent on tasting good. But Maria's asked me to give them another chance and they did not disappoint. Service was excellent and the food was tasty. Maria's will definitely be going back on my regular rotation of restaurants read more

Food! Great! Service, wonderful! Ambiance lovely. This is a fun place with waitresses who really care about you and food that pleases your palate. read more

Maria's Mexican Restaurant - Poblano Enchilada stuffed with chicken - Mexican Near Me - Grass Valley, California

For grass Valley I would say this one of top Mexican restaurants! Though it can be on a higher price side, you get quite the quantity of food. I've always enjoyed their margaritas! Chips and salsa have never disappointed. I go to is always the enchilada suissa, they are pretty darn good, but you definitely need to ask for extra sauce. Every visit I've always had good service! The decor and space of the restaurant is great, the patio is super cute. This is a great go to for large party events, as well as an easy go to lunch! read more

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Food, service and ambience was just terrific and their drinks and food fabulous!! Shredded beef amazing, nachos and quesadillas are so good!!! Best hot buttered rum - homemade read more

We were in town for a concert and decided to go to Maria's because it is in a very convenient location. It is walking distance from our hotel, the venue we were going to, and lots of shops. The Google reviews are excellent and it seems popular. The host and server were very nice and attentive. The restaurant is very spacious, has great decor and has lots of indoor and outdoor seating. The margaritas are in very beautiful glasses. What was lacking for me is the food. We appreciated the unlimited chips and salsa, the chips were hot and fresh, and the salsa was delicious. However, my boyfriend ordered the shrimp super burrito, and he had unpeeled shrimp on his first bite. The avocado in his burrito was also unripe and hard. I ordered the chicken taquitos, and the chicken was super dry. I liked that were choices on what kind of beans we could have on the side. The pinto beans and rice were good. Lastly, I ordered a $13 jalapeno and pineapple margarita, and it tasted only like margarita mixer! No spice from jalapeno or sweetness from pineapple. I wonder/am hoping they gave me the wrong drink by mistake because that was really disappointing, especially because the presentation of the drink was very nice. The unlimited chips and salsa and great service were my favorite part, but I wish the food was better and matched the prices that it was. read more

Maria's Mexican Restaurant - The chips and salsa were my favorite thing here. - Mexican Near Me - Grass Valley, California

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Maria's is absolutely wonderful! This is the most beautiful and unique Mexican restaurant I have ever seen. The decor and building are breathtaking, and they have a spacious dog-friendly courtyard. The staff was so amazing and took such great care of us, along with giving our dog water. The margaritas are delicious and refreshing, and they have all kinds of flavors for a really good price. I had the pineapple jalapeño, and it was sooo good! They have the ultimate best enchiladas Suissa; I still have not found anyone who has come close to these. The chilaquiles are fantastic! Thank you, Maria's, for such a lovely time. read more

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I came up to Grass Valley with my bestie for a girls adventure and we drove past this place a couple of times as we circled the town like vultures looking for a meal. We both have so many great things to say about this place. Jamie was the absolute best, and took such good care of us, insisting that we take our tasty margaritas into the beautiful patio area that was decorated with statues and had a secret door to an old defunct. I had lavender omg! And she had a jalapeño cucumber. So good! The molé was the best I'd had and their salsa was so good! I only wish I had room for dessert, and will definitely be coming back. read more

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Maria's Mexican Restaurant is my go to spot when I am visiting Grass Valley! The restaurant can get busy, but the service doesn't disappoint. Maria's has exceptional chips and salsa. The chips are very thin and light. You can easily finish a basket or two. The salsa is very refreshing! Happy Hour: Maria's has a great happy hour from 3 to 6 Monday thru Friday with amazing deals. The happy hour menu has something for everyone, from light bites to drinks. Staff: The staff is very friendly and helpful. They are open to sharing recommendations with you. Price: This restaurant may seem on the pricier side when you first look at the menu. After you receive your food, you will realize that it is a good value for what you get. Order: Steak or mahi mahi fajitas. I can't wait to try more items from the menu. Ambiance: The restaurant is very big. There is an outdoor patio with a bar, an indoor bar with some booths, and the restaurant side with booths and tables. The restaurant is beautifully decorated. If you like live music, Maria's often has live music on the weekend. read more

Very good the churro was amazing. There's also ice cream that comes with the churro and the tortillas are awesome amazing. Awesome that's very good. Awesome. It's just good. They even have rice and beans. They're awesome and they have bacon awesome bacon it's very good. That's really all I have to say. read more

Say no more. Super yummy! Just the right amount of spice. Very filling and you're going to need a to go box. read more

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WOW love the ambience of Maria's. It has that old world charm and makes you feel like you have traveled back in time. We were seated immediately and ordered drinks that were brought to us within 3 minutes. This place is moderately busy, clean and inviting. The menu is not overwhelming and has a great selection of dishes with exactly the food you want and expect from an authentic Mexican restaurant. Beware - their servings are HUGE and the food is delicious! So far so good, Maria's you hit the spot - thank you. read more

Maria's Mexican Restaurant - Enchiladas Suissa. - Mexican Near Me - Grass Valley, California

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Great food and service. We live out of state and always come here with family to enjoy this beautiful place!

A must stop when in town. Good food. Reasonable price. Friendly staff. Nice atmosphere. Parking can be a struggle but nearby lots and streets add to restaurant lot and it's worth the effort! read more

Maria's Mexican Restaurant - Jalepeno cucumber margarita - Mexican Near Me - Grass Valley, California

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I am not a big fan of Maria's chicken dishes, but I have found the other meat options to be really good. Lately everything I have ordered has been great and consistent. Most of the wait staff is great. A couple not so great. One server intimidates me so I always hope I will not be seated in her section. Another is so bad that I don't know how she keeps her job. Most recently she just kept disappearing. I didn't get a drink refill until my food was gone. The server verified that I wanted an item with beef and I assumed that was what I got. I took that portion of my meal home. I found out later that I got chicken, my least favorite. When I looked at the bill, no meat was specified, so I guess the kitchen decided for me. My bill was dropped of and it took 20 minutes for the server to come pick up my bill and card. Again, I don't know where she takes off to. I find the restaurant to be beautiful with so much Mexican tile. The restrooms, tables and floors are always clean and inviting. read more

My hubby and I had a very rare date night and the food and service here was phenomenal! I would give 10 stars if I could... Don't miss this great local treasure. Affordable food and excellent portions. read more

My partner wanted me to try some local Mexican spots in town so we checked out this spot. Went for something a little more basic (nachos) and they were fine, chicken was a little too dry. Taco salad wasn't bad but my favorite was the simple chips and salsa with a side of rice and beans. I will say though, the margaritas here do make it worth coming back to. read more

Maria's Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Grass Valley, California

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The food and drinks were all really good. We are from an area with many Mexican restaurants and this ranked very high for us. Chips were thin and crispy, margarita was large and good taste. Poblano sauce tasted like fresh peppers and the quesadilla was crispy and cheesy. The staff were all friendly and attentive. We would definitely come back! read more

What a waste of money! The chips served before the entree had no taste. My enchilada was barely warm. The rice on the plate had no taste. The meat in the tacos was not hot and had no flavor. The wait person never came back to ask us if we needed anything. A waste of over $50!!! read more

The waitress that served us is the entire reason why my review is so low. Older white female with glasses, she was serving the tables to the far right of the restaurant if you were walking in the front doors. Angry, rude, clearly having a bad day, flustered because it was a little busy I guess. Absolutely disappointed my mom who was the whole reason that we chose this restaurant because she used to live in the area and liked the food. The food is fine, the restaurant was clean, everything is great except for the horrible waitress, even the owner who was there on her day off and had her child with her while she ran food from the kitchen gave better service than our waitress lol read more

Don't order the fish tacos - very dry and tough. The chips were good. I like them light and tasty.

Have frequented for over 15 years and boy is it delicious every time. 10/10, we are always impressed with the vibes, energy, & FOOD!

Over the years I've gone to this restaurant and generally had a good experience but tonight we ordered 3 drinks, three entrees, a bowl of soup and guacamole. $145! I don't mind paying a lot of money for good food but this was in no way good! Average Texmex! I know prices for food has increased but this is ridiculous! I'll never go here again. There's plenty of restaurants in town that manage to have above average food and not rip you off. This place serves standard Mexican food but charges upscale prices. So disappointing. Had to ask 4 times for extra napkins. read more