Had lunch from here today, and it was a great experience. My co-worker picked up our order for us to enjoy at work. The gluten-free nachos were absolutely amazing--I loved the Rancheros sauce! One of us has a gluten allergy, so it was very important that the meal be prepared gluten-free, and the staff took the time to double-check everything, which was greatly appreciated. The carne asada street tacos were delicious and full of flavor. The chicken street tacos were decent. Overall, it was a very positive experience and definitely worthy of a return visit, whether dining in or ordering takeout. They were generous with the salsa and included extra chips, and the presentation of the food for pickup was good. I look forward to coming back. read more

Pepitos - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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1st impression is the absolute fucken worst visit!! I'd never return here, nor would I recommend it to anyone Ordered the Albondigas soup, had to ask if I could have tortillas because they were not on the plate, nor did the waiter ask what choice I wanted. The most disgusting rotten potatoes were in my soup. Who the hell would think that this would be acceptable?? It's quite obvious your cooks knew that they were cooking with rotten potatoes! The Riverside health department most definitely should make a pit stop for an immediate inspection. Service was sub par, I had to tell the waiter Do Not Charge me for the Albondigas soup, you'd think that he would have had a better judgment than to think I would pay for this. I showed him why as I was taking pictures for this review. Overall this is not worth the 1star review given. Absolutely no excuse to serve your customers bad food!! read more

Pepitos - Rotten potatoes in the soup - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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I'm so sad about how downhill this restaurant has gone. We go about once a month because the drinks are good and you can't mess up a kid's cheese quesadilla, right? Wrong. The service has been ridiculously slow the last 6 months or so, tonight was no different. It took forever to get water! My margarita was fine, father in law's Cadillac margarita had zero alcohol in it. He ordered a shot to add, that came out right away. Brown tequila. He ordered another and it took 30 mins to come. Clear tequila. We had 6 people ordering dinner, 4 adults and 2 kids. Meals came out 2 at a time, with the kids coming out LAST. Fries were barely cooked at all. One quesadilla came out 15 minutes before the next one! If this was my first time at this restaurant, I wouldn't come back. So disappointed. read more

Terrible Chicken Fajita meal. The chicken was burned and not chicken breast. The beans had a strange taste, and the guacamole was old dark green. Terrible service and the Manager Luis didn't even mention that the chicken quality was terrible. The chicken looked like dinosaur meat. Will not go there again it was a terrible experience. read more

Pepitos - Guacamole old food. - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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At first, service was wonderful and the food was very good until I put my AirPod back and it's case and I thought I had put my AirPods in my purse, but I think I left them on the table. When I came back, they were gone yes this was my fault and unfortunately, the person who stole them will not be able to use them, but they are still in that restaurant 700 feet away and I can see the location and the manager stared me dead in the eye and told me I need to get out. Don't go there and leave your things on the table. The employees are thieves and the manager will cover. I will never go back again. read more

Pepito's is our go-to lunch spot when my friend visits me. It's always a fun place with great service. We came on a Friday for lunch and were seated on their lovely patio. Javier took care of us. His service is always friendly and attentive. Complimentary chips never disappoint. The salsa has a nice kick to it. We ordered from their lunch special menu, the carnitas tacos and the carnitas fajitas. Both are reasonably priced, however, the fajitas appear to be the far better "deal," as the portion size, and particularly the quantity of the meat was way higher. We also had some skinny margaritas. They had a nice punch. Unfortunately, they are also quite pricey. If you can, they do have happy hour, M-F, 3-6pm, for better drink deals. Overall though, a great experience, and we will definitely be back! read more

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Pepitos is an absolute gem. From the moment we sat down the atmosphere stood out. The restaurant is filled with beautiful cultural paintings and stunning decor that give the place so much character and warmth. Paola was an amazing server. She knew the menu extremely well and explained everything in a way that made the food sound even better. She recommended Taco Tuesdays and I already cannot wait to come back and try the handmade tortillas. As soon as we were seated they brought out warm crispy chips and salsa without us having to ask. The salsa has a little spice to it and was absolutely perfect. Great service great food and an awesome atmosphere. We will definitely be back. read more

Pepitos - Enchiladas Morelia - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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Great spot for Mexican food, cold beer and great staff all around, the manager know how to hire them. Can't miss taco Tuesday or Sunday brunch or come hang out at the bar read more

Super cool place in Riverside, all the decor inside is super beautiful. It's like a little snapshot of culture inside. The food is also fantastic. You can see them heating up the tortillas right in front of you which is really cool. The server was super attentive and was there whenever I needed. The vibe inside is homely and lively, makes you feel very welcome. Overall, I very much enjoyed my experience here and would come again. read more

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We've been coming here for about a year. The food quality is really good, tasty meat, refreshing drinks and we have always gotten great service. The ambience is casual, theres a bar area and there's even a loft type area. Would recommend this location. read more

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This is our favorite spot for Margaritas & bacon wrapped shrimp! The vibe is good, service is even better. Ryan is attentive and as a waiter as well as a bartender. The patio area is perfect for this summer evenings read more

Pepitos - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

Before I forget ...Paola is above and beyond! Thank you for helping these first timers have an excellent experience. This place is in a cute little shopping center in Canyon Crest with plenty of shopping and food and drinks! I had a carne asada burrito and my wife enjoyed a shredded beef chimichanga. We enjoyed everything and I hope you do too! read more

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First time at Pepitos and loved their service, kindness, and taco Tuesday! Abraham and Luis are amazing. We were in the area to watch the World Cup and they were super busy but the service and staff was so great! read more

This restaurant has nice decor and hidden favorites, but the menu keeps changing and the rice and beans are meh. The staff are wonderful. It feels like it could be so much better, but it's kind of bland Mexican, unless you order the current cook's favorite dish. read more

Very cute little restaurant with great service and good food! Our waitress was wonderful I wish I could remember her name! read more

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Pepitos hosted two large events for me this past May 2026. Each event had at least 30+ people. Luis, the manager, was a pleasure to work with. He was always prompt and polite with each question and concern that I had. Luis was very responsive to all my emails. It was nice to have both parties in the private area on the second floor, which allowed for a more intimate setting for all our guests. Both events were buffet style and all the food was delicious! The service was top notch, especially from our server for both events, Paola, who was very kind and accommodating to all our requests. I will definitely look into booking at Pepitos again for future events. Thank you again for your all your hospitality, Pepitos! :) read more

The food is delicious with big portions and the waitress Rosy was very friendly.. a little too warm upstairs but the ambiance is nice.. read more

Wow ! I just had a Wonderful meal and dining experience at Pepitos on Canyon Crest in Riverside We had an AWESOME Server "Ashley" who was fast, friendly, and knowledgeable If your anywhere near this place you won't regret stopping and enjoy a wonderful meal and service Tell Ashley that Keith sent you ! You'll be glad you did read more

Love the atmosphere and the food is always delicious! Very good customer service! Clean bathrooms.

Service was really good. Our server was very attentive and service was amazing. The ambiance was nice not loud which was very good. The busboy was very very attentive and on point. We order the HH Nachos., the portion was perfect. We came yesterday and one the prices had change which I get it all is going up. But they should have kept the nachos at the same price or make it bigger. It seems the portions are less as well. Hmmm we will come back maybe but not really. The price is not the issue is the portions. read more

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This restaurant is one of my favorites the steak is really juicy with the Chimichurri sauce . The service is great and they are really friendly with my son. The male waiter is really outgoing and takes his time to make sure you're taken care of. Although only thing i didn't like the Order of the angus steak keeps shrinking every time i go last time i went it was smaller by almost 25-30%. read more

Love love love the margaritas, but the bar tender was amazing Carolina was top tier. Not old did she make the best drinks but her personality was the best. I brought my friends from out of town to enjoy and they had the best time. The owner was also very friendly and fun to talk with. Pepitos's for the win always!! read more

Pepitos - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

The girls and I came here for happy hour on a Thursday night. To be clear, I reviewed the yelp ratings and saw that they were a bit slow on service which is never a problem because we like to pace out our time and have a leisurely night together. However, this service was next level slow as in it took us about 30 minutes to get the happy hour drink that we ordered. We can be pretty patient if we're having a little bit of liquid libation, but this was unreasonably long to wait. The appetizers that we ordered came out cold and were just meh. The second drink came out faster and was pretty good. I ordered Camarones a Mojo de Ajo for us to share and we enjoyed it. We ended up staying past closing, which was unintentional, but the service moved pretty slow slowly considering we arrived at about 5:30 PM. read more

So sad. This place has truly gone downhill with food quality and became crazy expensive! Beware prices are not on the menu for drinks. The Cadillac margarita cost more or as much as a plate! $27 and it was mediocre. Food was what we and not worth the price! Service was the worse! She never came to check on us and had to wait forever to get someone's attention! Save your money and visit better Mexican restaurants in Riverside read more

We walked in as a group of six, past the "please walk in" sign. A waitress rudely told us to step back out and wait to be called, so we returned to the waiting area. Meanwhile the restaurant was nearly empty. Seconds later, another waiter invited us back in, so we walked back. The same waitress who sent us out ended up seating us, and it was clear she wasn't happy about the situation. She seemed frustrated and was having words with the other waiter, and that energy carried into taking our order. It was mid-afternoon, around 3 pm, and the restaurant wasn't busy and there were 2 other waitresses. Even so, our food took about 50 minutes to arrive. My wife's meal was missed entirely. They offered to make it, but at that point it didn't make sense, ... I ended up sharing one of my tacos with her. My brother-in-law enjoyed his chile verde, but the rest of us barely ate half our plates and tacos. The food itself was okay, cold meat, not great. The waitress checked on us only once after dropping off the dishes, and we received just one drink refill. BOTTOM LINE (1 to 10): Food: 5 Customer Service: 1 ...and that's a shame because they have a nice place and are found in a great place. You're better off at Taco Bell. read more

The absolute best Taco Tuesday in Riverside ! Handmade corn tortillas, full salsa bar with all the condiments needed for an authentic taco. For this special they also have complementary ranchero beans (spicy), grilled onions, grilled jalapenos, cucumber salad, mango pico de gallo, guacamolito, spicy and mild salsas. Pair it with a mango margarita and enjoy great ambience hosted by the General Manager Luis Just amazing experience read more

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The restaurant has a strange odor. The service was good. Beware of prices not on the menu. I was surprised with a $50 check for one drink, chips and guacamole. The guacamole was served, smashed down completely in the bowl. read more

Pepitos is awesome! It's everything you want when looking for a quality, sit down Mexican restaurant. First of all it's beautiful inside. There is some really great original artwork. There is sit down inside, an outdoor patio and a bar (cantina?) I had the ranchero burrito and it was amazing! The shrimp in the cocktail and salad are huge! Everything is fresh made, creative recipes with great flavor. The owners pride themselves on seeking out genuine, home made recipes to present, and it shows. I highly recommend Pepitos and I look forward to returning again! read more

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The service is fast, the ambiance is warm and inviting, and the food is good as well! I especially love the drinks! read more

Pepitos - Cucumber Margarita--refreshing! - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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Went here today for my birthday. Ambiance is really nice. However a friend and I ordered margaritas. There was zero tequila in them. They charged us $25 each. Unbelievable. We will not be going back. read more

A couple of weeks ago, I hosted a milestone birthday party for my wife at Pepitos. We had the entire upstairs reserved with a dedicated waiter, Abraham, who took great care of our group. The manager, Luis, made the planning process easy and ensured everything went smoothly. The food was fantastic, soft drinks were included with the menu, and their margaritas were some of the best I've ever had -- and I've tried quite a few at different restaurants. read more

Celebrated my son's graduation party at Pepitos Riverside, in the upstairs banquet room. Rosie and Josie were our servers throughout the entire party. Both were outstanding, kept our drinks full and the buffet filled with plenty of food. Service was excellent. Thank you Luis, Rosie and Josie and of course Pepitos, for a great time! read more

First time here and we weren't disappointed! Great lunch and my wife said the carnitas taco was the best she has tasted in a long time! Cooked and seasoned perfectly! Our server was great and fast! The decor inside takes you somewhere south of the boarder so you feel pretty good! The music plays all the time in the background! read more

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Highly recommend Pepitos for your next private event! We recently hosted my father's birthday party in their upstairs area and it was so fun! Luis assisted with the planning process and was very accommodating and willing to answer all of my questions. We went with their catering service and everything was delicious! The dinner included chicken and steak fajitas, enchiladas, beans, rice, guacamole, salsa, crema, and churros for dessert. Our guests raved about the food and the delicious margaritas! Abraham and Brelyssa were our servers for the night and were so attentive and friendly. We also enjoyed being able to play our own music and showcase pictures on their TV. Don't hesitate to host your next get-together here! read more

We placed a catering order with Pepitos for our office luncheon, and they did not disappoint. Thanks to Luis' relentless patience and understanding, he kept us informed about what they offer on their catering menu and offered cutlery for our luncheon. Their prices are also very reasonable. Above all, we heard nothing but wonderful things about the food. The team at Pepitos did a wonderful job. Thank you, and we will be returning customers. read more

Great service! Booked a party of 60 and was very happy with the outcome! Luis was very helpful and accommodating! Always kept in communication and answered all my questions. Our servers were very attentive and continued to keep things flowing. Food was delicious, our guests also commented on how good the food was. Husband favorite was the steak & chicken fajitas. Our guests seemed to enjoy the atmosphere as it was very comfortable & relaxing environment. Would definitely consider booking future events here! read more

Absolutely disappointing experience at Pepito's. I went for lunch with a group of five, and every single one of us felt sick shortly after leaving. The food was awful, and the quality of the meat was very questionable. I personally was gagging and couldn't even finish my plate. This felt unsafe, not just bad. Service was barely acceptable and clearly understaffed, with only two people trying to manage a full restaurant, which showed. Overall, this place is not worth the money or the risk. We will not be returning. read more

Pepitos - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

Food here is great. our server Ruth is great. She helpful and attentive making sure we are good. read more

Pepitos - Carnitas and fish tacos lunch specials! - Mexican Near Me - Riverside, California

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This place is amazing! We have had happy hour, birthday parties, family gatherings... all here in the front patio. We have come as a family, we have come for date night, we have come as groups and every time they do not fail us. This is the place to host your events! The food is great! The environment is amazing! The staff is superb: Abraham, Luis, Ms. Ruth, Ms. Ruth's sister, and Caitlin- all amazing! Thank you all for the good time! We will keep coming every weekend! :) read more

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My brother and I went there to watch March Madness game and sat at the bar. Paula, the bar tender, made sure we were taken care of through the evening. The food and ambiance was great being served in the bar. It was like being served at the table if not better. Cheers to Paula for taking care of us! read more