There is a Spanish saying "El Sabor lo dice todo," that translates to "The Flavor Says It All." In…read morea nutshell that is the Mission of QDOBA. They believe that flavor inspires flavor and that is why they celebrate guests like us in their mission to make the world a more flavorful place. After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I was also awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Photographer of the Year Award at their Yelpies 2025 Award Ceremony, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, and where last year I was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year Award, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and businesses, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And QDOBA Mexican Eats in Salem, Virginia is a perfect example. Located on W Main St across from Lowe's, this modern fast-casual restaurant delivers on its flavorful mission as I found out today when I visited it for the very first time. I had an opportunity to attend the Grand Opening of their branch in Roanoke and in that occasion was so impressed with the brand that I downloaded their app and joined QDOBA Rewards. In the meantime I had made so many delivery orders that I qualified for a free entrée, so today I decided to give this new QDOBA who had very reasantly opened a visit and use this reward before it expired and in the process see how true to their mission this branch was. I arrived in my pearl white Lexus in the late afternoon to find the parking lot empty. After parking and entering the restaurant I was delighted at how nice it looked and how clean it was. Its simple yet modern decor created a relaxed environment in which to enjoy some flavorful food. I was warmly greeted by a friendly young lady whom I immediately told about my free entrée offer and showed her my app with it. She quickly replied that I was good for a free entrée and asked what I would like. I decided to try their Grilled Quesadilla and she pointed out all the proteins from which I could choose. They all looked so fresh and appetizing. I could almost taste their flavor with my eyes. I chose the Pork Carnitas, and she proceeded to go around asking me what other items I wanted in eat and then finished it off pouring all this cheese that later I found out how flavorful it tasted after being melted by the grill. She then gave me a small container with the free Guac and I proceeded to the cashier where another very friendly and welcoming lady whom I think was the manager scanned my app with the free entrée offer. She then asked if I wanted something to drink with my food and when I answered in the affirmative gave me a cup so that I could choose the fountain drink of my choice. This friendly gesture might have cost them a little more but really meant a lot to me and was greatly appreciated. I felt treated like a guest and right at home. Needles to say I truly enjoyed every bite of my quesadilla, and while I was eating the establishment was blessed with many customers. As I was about to leave the manager gracefully made a gesture like acknowledging my satisfaction with the food and dining experience. Outside the parking lot was full of cars and people getting out of their cars going to ate there. I most fervently recommend this casual counter-serve restaurant and am sure that after trying it out once you will want to return and become a steady customer.

First time visiting this new fresh-mex restaurant. Fast food with flavor and fresh ingredients…read more The employees were super nice to tell us about the options (similar to mod pizza where you pick all the toppings you want) and we loaded one bowl. The two of us shared and could only eat half for $10. Best of all it was DELICIOUS. Felt satisfied and that we ate nourishing food. Restaurant was clean, bright, but needs an "open" sign to show in the window. Bowl, two sodas, tax, total $20. We will definitely be back! Located on a road with half a dozen Mexican style places, from Taco Bell to Alejandro's. A better option than chipotle's down the street.

My kids loved the nachos supreme and the enchiladas supreme. The food was great. I had the ACP,…read morethey gave me way too much chicken. The service was great!! They were friendly and sang happy birthday song and fed them cake to some of the customers. The restaurant ambiance was clean and very decorative.

Ok, this is the best Mexican restaurant I've tried! I'm cautious w them as I've felt portions were…read moresmall and options are generally an enchilada or taco something and lots of soupy bean "sauce." New to the area, we went for dinner. It was busy, but we were instantly seated. The vibe was fun, with many families and groups present. The menu is comprehensive with many options. I ordered a Choose Three Combo of chili relleno, enchilada, and chimichanga. She had the Choose Two and had two chili relleno. After munching the standard tortilla chips and very hot thin sauce, our orders came quickly. The entree plates were huge, food was very hot (temperature) and included rice and beans. So here's where I became a convert... helpings were huge, and very yummy! The menu huge with variety! We both gobbled down our dinners, and brought home boxes! The chili relleno are the best we'd ever tasted. My enchilada and chimichanga delicious! I'm definitely humbled by the quality, the portions, the service, and overall experience with this Mexican restaurant! I'll be back...

On a rainy Sunday evening at around 6:45pm I arrived at this small Mexican restaurant and the first…read morelesson I learned was to "Never judge a book by its cover," for when I entered I found an almost full restaurant with just a couple of empty tables. As I waited in front of the Host's station to be seated, a friendly lady came out from the kitchen, greeted me with a warm welcome, took me to one of the few empty tables and handed me the menu. It was four pages, but designed very colorful and creative with lots of tiny photos of some of the food items. To drink I ordered an Iced Horchata (Sweeten Rice Water). This cold non-alcoholic drink tasted sweet, creamy, and refreshing, with a prominent cinnamon flavor. First time I had it but I immediately fell in love with this very unique and comforting taste. As an appetizer I ordered a dish with shrimps, which I had seen being served to another table. As the main dish I ordered a Chori-Pollo, which was basically a grilled chicken breast filet topped with Mexican sausage and cheese dip. And a side steak taco. And for dessert I had the Churros. Everything tasted delicious with an authentic Mexican cuisine. Even the loud background music gave the place an authentic Mexican flavor and atmosphere. In conclusion, this is a local Mexican family restaurant where you feel at home in a relaxed environment, enjoying genuine Mexican food prepared by natives of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

We went in on a Tuesday when the restaurant was mostly empty. They had $2 Birria taco specials…read morewhich you can't beat. They were pretty big and delicious! The apps were just ok- queso seemed watery , salsa very mild. The corn bowl was good but not out of this world. Service was very friendly , waiter checked in on us multiple times. There was some music and some soccer games on. Would def return for the taco deals.

I'm from out of town DMV area! Here to visit friends!!…read more Rodeo Grande was awesome! The food was delicious, and the customer service was great from start to finish. The women's bathroom was PRISTINE -- super clean and well maintained, which I definitely appreciate! And most importantly... my cup stayed FULL! The Diet Coke was BANGING. Y'all are definitely changing those filters because it was crisp, fresh, and hitting exactly how it was supposed to! Great food, great service, clean restaurant, and top-tier Diet Coke. I'll definitely be back!

It was my second time here. Friendly and quick seating. The menu is much smaller than I recall it…read morebeing but we got the chimichangas. They are much smaller than they were but still good. The rice was a bit bland and the salsa tasted jarred. Overall it wasn't a bad visit, just not my first choice of mexican in this area. It's a lovely restaurant but the food didn't match the prices. I would come again. Would try something different next time. Plenty of parking and room to use a walker or wheelchair. I forgot to mention that table had been cleaned but you can see food bits embedded onto the tables that won't wipe off unless you scrub it.

Tacos Rojas is one of the major family-owned chain Mexican Restaurants here in Roanoke, Virginia. I…read morehave visited several of them, and they have gotten mixed reviews. Today while I was driving down 13th Street looking for a place to have lunch, I drove by this tiny Mexican restaurant that at first seemed like a run down shack, or a hole in the wall eatery, with only two cars parked in its small parking lot. I missed seeing the restaurant's sign with its name. But for one reason or another, I decided I had to turn back to try it out. After being awarded the NC Triad Yelp Squad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, celebrating their contributions and accomplishments throughout the year, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and businesses, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And this what I first thought was a no name Mexican Restaurant in Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. When I turned around and drove back, as I got closer and closer to the restaurant's sign, I saw it was pretty new, and had a Mexican Hat, a Guitar, and some maracas, and read: "Tacos Rojas Mexican Grill Authentic Mexican Cuisine." Little did I imagine that this place was where it all started. Afterwards, after doing my research I found out the whole story about this place. Primary, that it was that it was the first Taco Rojas Restaurant, and where it all started. How appropriate that to conclude Hispanic Heritage Month, I ended up eating and reviewing this Hispanic Historic Restaurant in the history of Taco Rojas. Tacos Rojas was founded by Octavio Rojas, who moved to America from Pueblo, Mexico, 20 years ago. He opened this first restaurant on 13th Street, 12 years ago which had been a convenience store, and has since then expanded to six locations in the Roanoke Valley, including a location in Salem, which features a party room.The family-run business serves authentic Mexican food and has seen growth, including during the pandemic, partly due to its popularity for takeout. The business is family operated, with Octavio's wife, daughter, brother, and other relatives all involved in the restaurants. As I went inside, even though you can tell the place was once a convenience store because it still contained a wide display refrigerator with bottles of bottled drinks, it was clean and well-maintained, painted with lively colors, and different posters on the wall.The small dining area contained a combination of tables and chairs and some booths.The ambiance was warm and relaxed. One that made you feel at home. A young lady came out to greet me and gave me a warm welcome. I took a seat in the first booth and she handed me the menu and took my drink order. I ordered an Horchata. Afterwards I ordered a Carnitas Burrito as my main entrée. While I waited my server brought a basket of Chips and Salsa. Even though in the menu it was listed as an appetizer, it seemed like the first one was complementary. When the food arrived it was amazingly delicious. The shredded pork inside the burrito was seasoned and cooked to perfection, it was nice and hot, and the sauces on top were very tasty without being too spicy. Now I better understood how the humble beginning of Taco Rojas in this place had taken off and grown so quickly. Octavio's mother's recipes for the food were not only authentic Mexican food but delicious. They gave the cuisine here that special magical touch of satisfaction the first time you came, that made you want to come back and tell your family and friends about it. Sometimes it is in places like these that one can have the most extraordinary dining experiences.

Food is delicious. Ambiance is nice as you can sit inside or out. Weather was great so we choose…read moreoutside. Service was great and food came out quick and hot.

Decent portion size for the price. The burrito( carne asada) was delicious as was the sauce. The…read moreonly issue I had was there was so much gravy in it that it was soupy. Friendly service. Located in the same building as marathon gas but they have a private lot around the corner and private entrance.

Great, authentic, Mexican food, great for takeout or dining in. anything on their menu is great,…read morebut I especially love their burritos.

Drink was great for $10. Loved the options on the lunch specials. FOOD WAS 6/10 based on flavor…read more Great portions and service.

Very rarely does one find a Mexican restaurant of this high-end class. Maybe in large cities like…read moreMiami, New York, or Chicago. But who would ever imagine that here in Christiansburg, Virginia, I was able to discover this gem of a Mexican restaurant. After being awarded the Triad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And this El Gran Rodeo Mexican Restaurant located in Christianberg, Virginia is the perfect example. This Mexican Restaurant is in a class of its own. With an exclusive contemporary decor that gives an air of elegance and distinction, and an outstanding Mexican gourmet cuisine, one can say this restaurant is above the rest in classy ambiance and in perfected, high-end Mexican cuisine. From the time you arrive at this restaurant, and admire the beautiful contemporary architectural design of its building, which embedded in its design is the greatness of the majestic Mexican pyramids; and view the magnificent outdoor patio dining area surrounded by a fence of solid stones and containing elegant outdoor furniture appropriate for dinning; one can become aware of the uniqueness of this restaurant. As one enters the restaurant through its majestic entrance one uncovers a clean and elegant contemporary interior design made exclusively with quality materials, creating an amazing atmosphere of distinction, that will contribute to the excellent dining experience there. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review for a better sense of the restaurant's decor. We were greeted very graciously by the Host at the Host's station and led to our table which was actually a comfortable and elegant booth with granite table. Our server was soon to join us after the assistant server had brought us a basket of warm Tortilla Chips with a Red Salsa and a White one as well. We both ordered Iced water with a slice of lime to drink and a Steak Super Burrito. The Chips and Salsa, both the red and the white tasted delicious. And the Burrito tasted amazing. The pieces of steak inside was quality meat marinated with ingredients from a gourmet recipe and cooked to perfection by a knowledgeable and experienced Chef. Our server came by at the appropriate times to see how we were doing and refilled our water. We already had plans to go somewhere else for dessert but next time we will definitely try the dessert here for they looked nice in the photos of the desserts menu. I highly recommend this very unique Mexican Restaurant for an extraordinary dining experience like no other you've ever had.

After almost a year of waiting while renovations were completed, Luna Negra Restobar finally opened…read morelast Wednesday and you can still see the colorful balloons on the restaurant's front. I found out about its opening yesterday night, and today I was there at three o'clock for a late lunch. Conveniently located next to the GoMart off Williamson Road in Roanoke, Virginia, this new Mexican Restaurant is not your ordinary Mexican taco spot. This place is in a league of its own. After parking my pearl white Lexus in its ample parking lot, I headed over to the front door. Along the way a covered walkway had the ceiling full of colorful flags from around the world as well as a line of balloons held by two columns in front of the entrance. Inside, I was greeted and welcomed by the owner himself, whom I later found out was an experienced restaurateur, who is also the owner of the well known El Costeno Mexican Grill in the Hollins area of Roanoke, Virginia. He took me to one of their elegant and comfortable booths and handed me a copy of the menu. Just by reviewing it with so many one-of-a-kind finds, I knew I was in for something special. Immediately after he left, a friendly young lady brought me a contemporary basket filled with tortilla chips and a little black bowl filled with their delicious salsa. Then another friendly young lady, my server, Gabriela approached, gave me a warm welcome and took my order. To drink I ordered a Mandarin Jarritos softdrink. (They are waiting to receive their liquor license shortly). As appetizer I ordered a Cocktel de Camaron. And as my main entrée, their Molcajete, the most expensive item on the menu. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the high-quality of their food. While I waited for the food to arrive, I enjoyed their chips and salsa, while listening to great Latin American music being played in the background. Across from me was their contemporary looking bar with four metal bar stools, which didn't look too comfortable. The ceiling was full of colorful flags that helped provide a festive ambiance. While the front dining room was full of elegant booths, the back dining room was furnished with tables and chairs. While some of the chairs were wood and looked very comfortable, others were black steel that I wouldn't like to seat at. They also have an upstairs dining room which can be used for private functions. The Shrimp Cocktail was like none I have ever had before. It had many cleaned, boiled shrimps, without their tails, inside a large glass cup full of Luna cocktail sauce which was not too thick, but contained cilantro, tomatoes, and pieces of avocado. It was so large, that it was practically a meal in itself. It was accompanied by saltine crackers. The Molcajete was served in a square rock and included chicken breast, premium steak, shrimp on the shell, chorizo, pork ribs, onion, queso fresco, and served with rice, refried beans, and flour tortillas. Everything tasted so good and was plenty, so I ask that my server place what I couldn't eat in a takeout container to enjoy later at home. For the Grand Finale of the meal I asked for the dessert menu, but at the moment they only had Churros served with Vanilla Ice-cream. The churros tasted amazingly delicious, so I can imagine when they have a dessert menu, how wonderful the rest of the dessert will taste. I highly recommend this very unique Mexican restaurant for its elegant yet relaxed ambiance, wonderful selection of Latin music played in the background, amazing one-of-a-kind food, exceptional customer service, and all this adds up to an extraordinary dining experience.

Delicious and amazing! Great new spot on Williamson- attentive staff, nice atmosphere, and the food…read morewas DELICIOUS!! Will be a frequent customer!