We happened upon Palenque Kitchen by Mezcal on our way back to LA from Palm Springs and I'm so glad we did. From the moment we walked in, Victor greeted us and also ended up being our server. He was attentive, friendly, and gave us great recommendations throughout the meal. Truly excellent service from start to finish definitely ask for Victor if you go. We ordered the enmoladas, fajitas, churros, flan, and aguas frescas (Jamaica and sandía), and everything was spot on. Muy bueno todo. The ambiance great vibe overall. This was such a great unexpected find and we'll definitely be back next time we're passing through. Highly recommend! read more

This was a cool place to try out. Our server Jose was very attentive and friendly! Food presentation was beautiful and flavorful. Atmosphere was very modern and upbeat decor. Location is near Mission Inn on Main Street. Price is on the higher end so plan to pay an average of $30/person. The only thing that was a bummer for us was the loud music for lunch hour experience. The music was loud and made me think it would be best for a club atmosphere? Maybe it was just me but I felt anxiety eating because the music was so upbeat and loud. Music is a big part of the eating experience. I know some people may be fine with it. For example, we had breakfast at Tio's Taco and the music was spot on for the dining experience. read more

See all

Came here on a Friday for lunch. It was not at all busy. I believe our waitress was Iris. She was super sweet and extremely helpful and attentive. The restaurant has a fun vibe and beautiful bright decor. I imagine it being pretty fun at night. The chips and salsa were excellent, the chips had a seasoning on them that was so good and everything was fresh. I got a fish taco and asada taco because I couldn't decide between the two. The fish lacked a little flavor and the asada was a little greasy but the rice and beans were good. My husband got the Huevos Rancheros with asada and he ate the whole thing up, I tried his food and the flavors were bomb! We also got the mimosa flight which was perfect Overall, I would come back and check it out again. read more

See all

Decided to come in for 1 strawberry margarita and maybe a appetizer. Ramon was the bartender and talked up the additive free tequila even for the well. Pretty nice touch not having to have Cuervo, Sauza or a tequila written in crayons. I ended up having a watermelon and a Guava margarita. I would of took a picture of the queso fundido but it got crushed. I tried steak empanadas and Ramon brought out a chipotle sauce that was perfect for them. I'd come back for sure because of Ramon and everything else after in that order. read more

Palenque Kitchen - Fresh Strawberry Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

Food was great but service with Artemiza was even better. She was awesome really spoke on the fabulous things to do around here and spoke really well on food and restaurant. The atmosphere was good. Definitely recommend if you have not tried. read more

Palenque Kitchen - Inside of restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

The service was phenomenal. Food is quality. Environment is chill, but fun around 10ish. Special thanx to Artemiza for being super sweet and an amazing server!!! Highly recommend this place. read more

Palenque Kitchen - Chicken mole!! - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

The vibes here and food was good! Our server was nice and friendly her name is Artemiza. I really enjoyed the restaurant. Lots of fun!! read more

Palenque Kitchen - Chilaquiles - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

Tried the margarita flight and taquitos at Palenque Kitchen The margarita flight was fun to try and the drinks were strong with great flavor variety. The taquitos were crispy, well-seasoned, and perfect for sharing. Great spot for a lively girls night in downtown Riverside -- would definitely come back. read more

See all

Great food and excellent service! Everything was fresh and flavorful. Our waiter, Artemiza, was friendly and attentive and made our experience even better. We'll definitely be back! read more

Came to brunch! Victor was awesome and attentive! We did bottomless mimosas and he was filling us up! Had enchiladas and they don't miss. Good music! read more

The best Mexican restaurant I've been to in Riverside. Also, our server, Artemiza, was amazing!!!!! She provided great service and hospitality. Also, I'm marrying my date next to me ;) read more

We were out there for Christmas lights and decided to get a quick dinner. Being holiday time, it was super busy and crowded. We had to wait to get a table. Service was quick and ambiance was cool. We order enchiladas with shrimp, carnitas plate, and queso. Everything was great and tasted good. Food came out a bit cold with was unusual. Probably because they were super busy? But still strange to not have served hot food if it's just coming out of the kitchen. Overall, a good place to check out.. might give it a shot again when it's not a holiday week. read more

See all

It is comfortable seating inside. They also have seating outside in the front patio. We did not have a long wait for a table. The waitress was very friendly and the service was adequate. We ordered Baja fish tacos and pozole. Pozole was chicken soup. it was NOT Pozole. The fish tacos had lots of batter and very little fish for the first bite. The batter overwhelmed the fish taco. Tasting on the greasy side. The side of beans = meh Truthfully I can see how going to Baja /Rosarito& Ensenada area has made me more critical of places that claim to have Baja Fish Tacos. The best fish tacos are simple and delicious. Ummm it's not available North of the border. ‍ oh well - read more

Palenque Kitchen - I added the cabbage, red onions, cilantro and lime juice... still chicken soup not pozole. sorry this is not a great picture. - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

Such a fun spot for drinks and happy hour. The vibe was really nice, the drinks were good, and the whole place had a great energy. Service was friendly and fast, and it felt like a perfect place to catch up with friends or start the night. I would definitely come back for the drinks and atmosphere. read more

Palenque Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

Artemiza was the best server, she has the best personality and very friendly! Helped me and my husband with the best service, coming back to see her ! read more

Came for a friends birthday night out... Our host Artemiza is the greatest ! She is so sweet and has the brightest smile can't wait to come back ! read more

Palenque Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

Stumbled upon this place post drinks from another nearby venue and immediately fell in love. I am from the OC and adore the palenque in Costa Mesa so I was glad to experience the IE restaurant! The restaurant aesthetically is beautiful and spacious. Perfect for a night out with friends or a date night. Sonia at the bar was so kind and immediately greeted us upon entry. My girlfriend and I were here for drinks and the margarita sampler($36) did not disappoint! It was flavorful and had a kick to it. Sonia also recommended dessert which was delicious. We did the tres leches and the churros. So good. This was a total win in my book and will recommend palenque riverside by all means! read more

Palenque Kitchen - Tres leches - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

See all

Made a reservation for 9 on a Sunday at 5:30 and fortunately, it wasn't just and we were seated right away. Important to note that reservations hold a card for cancellation. Our server was helpful and kind, especially for us being a bigger party. And the food came out quickly for the size of our party too. I got the Baja tacos which comes with rice and beans. The fish tacos are pretty standard and decently tasty but nothing standout. I don't know what kind of fish they use but it didn't seem like a meaty fish like cod or pollock. The beans were too salty and the rice was good but some was overcooked/dry. It is a good portion size (was able to save 1 taco) but it's on the pricier side. Maybe I should've tried something else but wouldn't plan on coming back or recommending it read more

Palenque Kitchen - Baja tacos with rice and beans - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

Palenque is the go to brunch spot in Riverside! Artemiza was an amazing server! Food was amazing and the service was even better! I will definitely be coming back! read more

Papas Bravas (2/5): The papas bravas were a bit disappointing as it lacked flavor. The appetizer came with crema and green onions on top but honestly it did not add to the taste. The dish was overall quite plain and just tasted like potatoes dipped in sour cream. We dipped the potatoes in the chicken enchilada sauce and it made them taste a little better. If you're looking for an appetizer I don't recommend this one. Carne Asada Fajitas (3/5): This dish was neither good nor bad. We were very excited when it was brought to our table but unfortunately it lacked flavor and was dry. Before we ordered, we asked if we could choose how the meat was cooked but was told it was only cooked one standard way. It comes with guac, beans, mexican rice, and pico de gallo which helped give the dish a bit of life. Chicken Enchiladas (5/5): Everything about these enchiladas was so delicious. The chicken was cooked just right, they added the perfect amount of cheese, and perfect amount of green salsa and crema. The plate was clean by the time I was done with the dish. I would absolutely order this dish again. The interior was nicely done and our waiter was great! Something you should know is if you reserve a big party you have to pay $20 per person to hold your place. If you don't show up it will be deducted from the card you put on file. read more

See all

Came to try the Riverside location and it did not disappoint! Vibes are great and service was amazing. Our waitress Artemiza kept checking on us and was super sweet. Will definitely be coming back! read more

Came in to celebrate friend going away and was please with the attentive service and suggestions; food was great and drinks were on point. Our server made sure we always were taken care of. It's a great environment and our waiter made sure we were please with everything. Thanks Eddie for providing great service; wished we would have gotten a quality picture of our table. We will definitely be back! read more

See all

I came here with some friends for an R&B event and absolutely loved the vibe. People were singing along, drinking, and laughing it was such a fun atmosphere. I really enjoyed myself and the food. I had the shrimp tacos with chipotle sauce so good! And the margaritas were STRONG read more

Palenque Kitchen - Shrimp Tacos Refried Beans Spanish Rice - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

See all

Great service! Artemiza is so sweet and goes above and beyond! Drinks are good as well!

Had a great dinner at Palenque! We sat at the bar and Ramon took excellent care of us :) I had the Birria tacos and my husband had the steak and shrimp and both were delicious. We had the margarita flight and the cucumber watermelon was our favorite. We will definitely be back!! read more

We decided to switch things up on Christmas evening with a walk through the Mission Inn's Festival of Lights. No agenda--just fresh air and a change of pace. That's when we noticed this spot was open... and surprisingly BUSY. On a whim, we went in. Best unplanned decision of the night. The patio felt intimate, the staff was awesome, and the vibe was just right. We shared a couple of drinks, ordered their delicious tres leches and a seriously crave-worthy brownie, and settled in to people-watch as the crowd walked by seeing the lights. One of those chillest nights that ended up being exactly what we needed to slow down in the middle of a busy night before getting back to everything. read more

My husband and I came here for a lunch date yesterday. We parked in the structure next door. The decor inside is beautiful and we were immediately seated at a corner booth. We were given both the brunch and dinner menu. I ordered the ceviche and fish tacos and my husband ordered the steak tampiquena. Our host Victor was amazing and was always checking up on us and was super helpful since it was our first time dining here. Everything was delicious and definitely a place we'd return. read more

See all

Love this place. 2nd year in a row we have been to the Benedict Castle Concours and followed up with a great meal here. I think we need to start a tradition! The ambiance here is great and so is the service. My husband and I both love their cocktails, would highly recommend just asking to switch from tequila to Mezcal if you're a fan - awesome. Even their house margaritas are fantastic. They have this one margarita that is a little spicy, with hints of cucumber - so refreshing. Then there's the food. Their house chips and salsa are so fresh, need to be careful on overloading before your actual food gets there. My husband had the shrimp enchiladas- all I can say is wow. This has got to be the star. I got the carne asada steak - also grilled perfectly. Highly recommend this spot. Great place to go when you're in downtown Riverside, then after this meal maybe take a walk to the Mission Inn! I work in Costa Mesa, there's another Palenque there as well - will have to give that a try. If it's a good as this one in Riverside, it'll be a real temptation not to go there during my lunch hour. We'll be back for sure! read more

See all

I was very excited to try this Resturant. But unfortunately it wasn't what I expected. The food was mid and the prices are pretty high. They took too long to bring out all our food. All The food came out at different times so we couldn't eat together.The Resturant it's self it's really nice and clean. Staff was nice. read more

Palenque Kitchen - Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

See all

Thanks Christian !! You are the best! Had a great afternoon at this bar/ restaurant in Downtown Riverside. The Espresso Martini is DELICIOUS and the music was amazing.. a little noisy but actually fun to have drinks and you can still have a conversation. Highly recommend! read more

Palenque Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

See all

Our server Artemiza was so attentive and friendly. she helped us quickly and made sure we had anything we need .

Artemiza was the best server. Very attending, very nice and so friendly. She was so sweet and so relatable! We loved her!!

I had celebrated my birthday there! Such a cool vibe. Dj was playing all the good R&B jams. The Sandia pepino was so good! Big shout out to our waitress! She did a great job handling all 12 of us! She went above and beyond. You're the best Artemiza! read more

An amazing experience from beginning to end! Our server, Victor gave us great recommendations from delicious drinks to apps and mains. Our food came out within an appropriate time and Victor immediately noticed our daughter's food had a sauce on it which we had asked to be on the side. He took it back and brought out the right plate without our asking! If we lived nearby, we would be here all the time! 5 stars! read more

This place is amazing! It's a family friendly restaurant with great music, food and ambiance. I highly recommend trying the pulpo appetizer and the quesa birria tacos. My wife loved their pozole, guacamole and their churros. Special thanks to our server Iris for being a part of celebrating our special evening. read more

Palenque Kitchen - Pulpos appetizer - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

What a great place to celebrate my birthday our server was Christian he took our table and made us feel special. Loved the drinks and the ambiance. Christian is now our preferred server. read more

Great place for people watching on a Friday or Saturday night. Lots of clubs and bars in the area and this restaurant also owns the club next door. Nice ambiance and decor. Boutique style plating. Service was good. Fajita portion was rather small, rice was about two teaspoons worth and was stuck together and hard. Steak was tough, rubbery and fatty and itbwas only two small corn tortillas. Chips and salsa was $5. The enchiladas had a decent flavor and the portion was cool. Says open until 1am on the weekend on yelp but they were closed by 12am. They should allow free admission to the club with purchases at the restaurant of a certain amount after a certain time. Ive frequented several restaurants that also had a nightclub attached that allowed that. Makes patronizing a little easier and fun. read more

Came in on a date tonight and had the best time! First time here and will definitely be back again. Our bartender Ramon was excellent! I am so happy we came in and were so excited to make this place a date night spot as long as he's here! I truly hope management realizes they have a gem with him! read more

Great experience. I had the Camarones Al mojo d'ajo and churros for dessert. The restaurant itself has a great vibe and food was delicious, the best margarita also, I think juice had to be fresh squeezed read more

Palenque Kitchen - Churros. The best I ever had - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

I went to Palenque by Mezcal twice last week -- once on Thursday with my fiancé, then again on Saturday with friends. Safe to say: we were hooked. Thursday night: My fiancé had the Torta Cubana (he LOVED it) and a beer. I went with the shrimp tacos and a Paloma cocktail. The tacos were tasty but spicier than expected -- I had asked for no spice, (if you have read my reviews you know I can't have spicy food) so that was a small miss. However, the real surprise was dessert: the tres leches with lemon and blueberries -- absolutely delicious! Not too sweet, refreshing, and such a nice twist on the classic. Saturday: We came back with a group and ordered a variety to try -- carne asada tacos, birria tacos, and octopus. Everything was solid, but the octopus? Next level. Perfectly cooked and packed with flavor. It stole the show. Prices are on the higher end, especially for Riverside, but honestly... YOLO. The vibes are great, the food is elevated, service is fair and it feels like a special night out without leaving town. read more

See all