Excellent food, friendly staff, huge serving. I had the Greek salad with chicken, it made 2 meals. Not fancy, but clean and great food.

Great quality food. Always good although menu can be limited at times. Coconut cake is amazing!

The food was delish. I had the chicken salad waffle..I was kinda on the fence about that combination, but to my surprise, it was great. Now I'm recommending it to others! read more

I've been there five or six times. Unfortunately, I never got anything else. Other than the royal rooster. It is absolutely amazing chicken sandwich and it comes out perfectly prepared every single time. It's amazing. I don't recommend this place enough. read more

Cute little place with great food and service. Will definitely return again. Chicken Cuban Sandwich was delicious! read more

As usually everything was delicious! Great service also. A new treat was the purple yam cake...quite unique flavor. Loved it! read more

Ricos World Kitchen - Purple Yam cake... - New American Near Me - Buford, Georgia

I'm never disappointed when I order food here. They had a burger special and it hit the spot! The hash brown casserole is a must to try! I wish they had more options on their menu, but the quality of the food is always good and flavors are nice. read more

Been coming here since they opened. It's been fun to see how they've caught on with the community over the years. Stopped by the other day for lunch. Even with a full house and about 10 tables ahead of us, we got sat within 30 minutes. Always great quality, always tasty. I've eaten through the menu several times over. Not a bad thing on it, but now I go straight for the special, whatever it may be. This time it was a habanero fried chicken over truffle mac and cheese with green beans and my guy got a pork chop over gorgonzola potatoes. Both were spectacular. Very relaxed place and great service. Highly recommend! read more

*Please note***I meant highly likely to visit again, NOT highly unlikely. I am a bit fan and visit both his restaurants on the regular. read more

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Tried the chicharrones, po-boys, eggplant, and green tomatoes. Chicharones were skin only tossed with cajon spice- served with a mignonette. Po boys were a huge disappointment, way different from several years ago. Bread was the size of a hot dog bun and was stale. Protein was scant at best. I ordered an oyster PoBoy and had one shrimp, and two oysters total on my sandwich. The remoulade was great. Eggplant was meh- lacking character. Fried green tomatoes were slightly pink, undercooked with a moist coating that fell off completely. Poor execution, small portions, much better Po Boys available in Gainesville. Atlanta Highway Seafood Market offers 4x as much protein for comparable prices on a legit sized roll. Don't think this 15 year Rico's customer will be returning. Been dining there since they were at Mall of Georgia. Things have changed for the worse. read more

Great sandwich shop in old town buford. We enjoyed our time on the patio with occasional train passing. The food is well prepared and delicious. Sandwiches salads and specials are the menu. They also offer a good selection of wine and beer. I really enjoyed a chicken Cuban sandwich served with chips. read more

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Rico's is great but not worth the hype. The menu has a lot of sandwiches, and while they're delicious I wish there was more variety!

I loved everything about this place! Its in the heart of Buford city and it just feels real local. The place looks like an old car garage that turned into a classic and rustic restaurant. Parking is a bit limited so its best to get there early and enjoy the specials. For appetizer we had the Ahi Tuna nachos. This thing is crispy and Delicious! I love the Asian fusion that went in the dish. Tasted fresh and a bit of tradition. The menu is simple. Mostly people get the sandwiches and honestly i wanted to see a bit more but the portions are generous. We had the shrimp po boy and the chicken Cuban. Both were winners in my book. The shrimp was crispy and flavorful. They come with chips that were pretty good. The chicken Cuban came with a tangy dipping sauce that made the experience interesting and flaverful. I opted to upgrade my chips for some classic southern green fried tomatoes and did i hit the jack pot. Wow it was really good and worth it. I highly recommend getting some and also eat it when it hot and fresh. For dessert we had the Boston cream cake. It was a good ending to our new favorite local restaurant. Overall when we were done there was a line. I can't wait to come back and try their other specials and sandwiches. read more

Ricos World Kitchen - Ahi Tuna Nachos! Was so good. Worth it! - New American Near Me - Buford, Georgia

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Great place to eat. It has very wide selection of menu items from obviously different cultures so unless you're an experienced food eater, it can be quite a different experience that some are used to when it comes to dining. My and my partner very much enjoyed the elegance of the overall restaurant. Every plate was made perfectly. The only problem we really had was the wait time, and when I say wait time I mean our server was talking to and starting conversation multiple times with other servers. This unfortunately made us have to call the server over ourselves multiple times. However, that seems to be the only problem we had with Rico's World Kitchen. Thank you for having us, we will be coming back. read more

Second time dining at Rico's and an excellent experience. Service was excellent with the right amount of attention from our server. The menu is an excellent choice of southern comfort food. Specials are hard to choose from because they all sound fantastic. I got the salmon special which was cooked to perfection and accompanied by rice which was seasoned just the right amount. Veggie was some sort of broccoli ... not quite broccolini but tasty. The house salad was practically a meal in itself for only $5! The Asian pear dressing is a must try! We ordered the egg rolls as an appetizer and they we excellent as well. Cute little egg rolls with a tasty sauce ... we got the combo so they were pork, beef and chicken. The restaurant itself is small with limited seating and no reservations so there's typically a wait for a table. The atmosphere is casual however the restaurant can be a bit noisy with the train tracks and train whistles alongside the building. Didn't impact our dinner at all. Sort of adds to the casual, local feel. Highly recommend! read more

Very disappointed - asked for the special COD sandwich and it was not Cod - probably Tilapia - not any amount of fish to charge what they did- there was more cheese on the sandwich than the very thin piece of fish. Not happy!!! read more

Best service, best sandwiches, best spot in Buford hands down. The chicken Cuban is so good I can't seem to venture out and try anything else because it's just that good. Everyone that works there is so sweet, knows the menu like the back of their hand and gives awesome recommendations. Have yet to go for dinner yet but that is next on the to do list. Best lunch spot ever!! read more

I was looking forward to their special fried scallops, white truffle mac&cheese with green beans. It was awful. It tasted like a day before not fresh. My husband ate some of my scallops and didn't finish it. Our server is always nice. He asked if I wanted a to go box and I said no. Obviously he had to know I didn't like my meal. I will not be back for the near future. Should have gone to Mellow Mushroom but changed at last minute because of scallops! Bummer! read more

There's always great specials, great appetizers, and great service. We've never left disappointed.

This is one of my favorite local places to eat. If you're in the area you definitely will want to stop by and eat an early lunch or dinner (they don't serve breakfast). The menu is fairly small but it's the daily specials that are the best. The Chef's mom is from the Philippines so there are several traditional dishes from that country on the menu (lumpia, chicharronea). I've had seafood, steak and chicken dishes from the specials menu and have never been disappointed. Chef Rico really blends several flavors together for a unique taste so don't be afraid to try something new. Drink prices are reasonable - most beers are $5! If you have space after eating your dinner you have to try the desserts which are freshly prepared each day so they will vary daily. The Hummingbird cake is delicious. So if you're tired of the standard mall or chain food then definitely it this place on your list to dine and afterwards enjoy an evening stroll down Main Street Buford. read more

I have been dining at Ricos for as long as I can remember. The menu has some of the best creative comfort food I've ever had. But beyond that his daily specials are to die for. Whether you go for lunch or dinner be prepared to have one of the best meals ever in a cozy, friendly environment with a great waitstaff and an incredible owner. I've also used Rico for his catering service for numerous events over the last seven years. I actually just left an event that I used Rico for his catering services. The cheeseburger meatloaf was absolutely amazing. And nothing goes better with meatloaf than mashed potatoes and green beans. Thank you Rico as always. I wish I could give more than five stars for this review. You can count on me returning to Ricos regularly and using his catering services often! read more

Love Rico's Everything about this place is fantastic. Right now sitting on the outside patio, it's raining, I am dry and there is a train going on by, lovely ambiance. That said what is even better is everything they serve. I have been coming here for years and everything and I seriously mean everything they offer is stellar. Amazing flavor profiles and everything is always seasoned and prepared to perfection and it's been there way consistently for YEARS!!!! Just had a friend green tomato salad with grilled Citrus Shrimp, outstanding. Come you will thank me. read more

I know that this place gets super great reviews....but... I didn't think it it was all that... I sorta liked what I ordered, but there was nothing that "regular" people may like...I'm not a foodie...just a regular Buford resident...I just thought this place tried to be more than the regular Buford resident may want...it wasn't bad...don't get me wrong...I just think it tries to be MORE than it is.... read more

Had to eat here for sure after seeing it on Yelp. 20 minutes from my house and in a cute corner of Buford right across from the train tracks. Only real problem is there honestly are a small handful of parking spots. I'm sure that's frustrating for everyone considering they are BUSY! First impression is how cozy and cute it is super friendly staff from the second we walked in! Our server Ally-P, was so helpful and genuinely excited about the food. She suggested things and was very pleasant to chit chat with. The food!!! First let me take a second to recognize the crushed ice!!! Yesss score in my opinion. Like Chick-fil-a ice. Got Lumpia, Crab Cakes, Ham and Brie sandwich, Fried Green Tomatos and The Royal Rooster. Only thing I wasn't totally in love with was the Green Tomatoes and Crab Cakes were just ok. The salad and sauce that was with them was excellent tho. Ham and Brie was so juicy creamy and sweet! It lasted like 2 second. Loved it! Lumpia was delicious and flakey. My kids devoured the Royal Rooster which says it all. Perfect spot so glad we went! Can't wait to go back. But right now I need a nap! read more

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Small place, Big flavor! Group of six hard to please! They delivered six great meals. Two kids cleaned their plates. Great cake after for dessert. read more

One of my boyfriend and I's favorite spots! We do take out and sometimes we dine in and both experiences are great. The fried green tomato sandwich is a favorite, along with the sweet potato tots. When they have banana pudding, it is a must get. Easily recommend! read more

Always, consistently the best food, best service, best atmosphere of any place I go. Try the specials... but everything is top notch, even their house salad. I love the peach sweet tea and my partner loves the cheer wine. Our favorite server is Claire but everyone who works there is kind, pleasant, upbeat. It feels like going home! read more

Absolutely delicious. Had Sunday lunch here and it was fantastic. I ordered the fried green tomato and grilled portobello sandwich with remoulade and sweet potato chips. Hubs ordered the special of the day a fried whitefish bahn mi sandwich and sweet potato chips. OMG it was all delicious. Chips were light and dusted with powdered sugar. Sandwiches were both perfectly executed. Just the right level of seasoning and sauce for both. Coffee was also tasty and strong. Atmosphere is eclectic, relaxing and inviting. They had live music playing ... low key acoustical guitar that was the perfect background noise. The decor features photos from travel all of them world (conveying the reason for the name). Would definitely return. Had a hard time choosing what to order because all the dishes looked delicious. read more

Was here on a Thursday and the parking situation isn't the best. That's my only issue with Rico's World Kitchen. The first time I came I only had egg rolls and they were the best. The next day I came back and ordered more egg rolls. I need to go back and see what's new. Im vegan now. read more

Love this place. Been coming here for years and have never had a bad meal. Never. I do miss Mom's Banana Pudding Cake. read more

I always make a point of getting to Rico's when I'm in town. Delish food that has a unique flavor profile. Ingenious combinations that leave me thinking about the dishes for months! read more

Lumpia was excellent. The grilled fish poboy had perfectly soft buns. Banana pudding cake was a treat.

THE SCENE My wife and I had a rare opportunity to have lunch together 'just the two of us' (cue corny music). My last visit wasn't all that great, however, she enjoyed the leftovers I brought home. So I thought it would be a good time to give Rico's another try. Maybe this time would be a better experience. Not to sound all romantic and cheesy, but I do tend to enjoy things much more when she is in my company :-) ---------- - - - - - - - - - - THE DETAILS Date & Time: Tuesday, August 8th, 2012 @ 12:30pm Dining Companions: a beautiful woman What to expect: small quaint space, friendly service, makeshift patio Decor: simple, with calming colors and scenic pictures Service: Great! Lauren was prompt and kept our drinks full Liquid: Sweet tea (perfect), Coke Ordered: Egg roll Lumpia ($5), Daily special ($10), Portabello/FGT sandwich ($10.50) Dislikes: cold mashed potatoes (2.5/5), gravy (2.5/5), hashbrown casserole (2.5/5) Total: $31.27 ---------- - - - - - - - - - - THE EXPERIENCE It was packed and the wait was going to be at least 25-30 minutes, but the hostess offered us a few outdoor tables that were available immediately. It was a little hot out today, but there was ample shade plus they had a large fan to help create a breeze. The patio turned out to be very comfortable, but really just a gated extension of the parking lot with a few decorative planters. While we waited a few moments for our table, we spotted a couple at the bar eating the "daily specials" and I decided right away THAT was going to be my lunch. After being seated and placing our order, I was uber disappointed to have our waitress come back and tell me the kitchen had just sold the last special. You ever get your mind and taste buds fixed on something and nothing else will do? That was me, and that was today. Long story short... I must have looked like a wounded puppy with the news, because amidst my disappointment, they managed to scrounge up one more special and the balance of the universe was restored. THE FOOD *Mixed Lumpia appetizers ($5)- were great. I enjoyed the beef and pork lumpia more than the chicken. They smelled incredible and were perfectly cooked. The dipping sauce was sweet and very good. (3.5/5) *Country Fried Chicken w/mashed potatoes ($10) - Chicken breast was moist and nicely seasoned. Gravy was thick but could have used a little more flavor. Mashed potatoes were luke warm on the outside and cold on the inside. This was a real shame considering they had a very nice taste. (3.5/5) *Portabello & Fried Green Tomato sandwich w/hash brown casserole ($10.50) - The beauty of being married to a women who eats little to no meat is I sometimes get to try a dish I would never order on my own. This was a seriously DEEEE-licious non-meat sandwich. It left such a good flavor in my mouth after my first sample that my wife generously offered me half. If all veggie dishes were this good, I would be willing to go meatless at least 5 days a week. (5/5) THE VERDICT Not really deducting anything for the cold potatoes and average gravy, Rico's deserves a star upgrade from my original review. I am officially excited to try another meal here in hopes of achieving the 5 star experience so many others have reported. Thanks Lauren for the complimentary dessert to make up for the cold potatoes. It was a very nice gesture. read more

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In Buford's historic district, reminiscent of a time decades past, one would not expect to find a restaurant slinging international-inspired foods - in a converted auto garage across from the railroad tracks no less. Parking may be limited at the property, but not to worry - there's plenty more not far down the street. To say that Rico's is eclectic may not be giving the word justice, or perhaps merely betrays a habit towards gross understatement. The interior decor is appointed with scenic nature photos from around the world hung on the walls and an ever-watching "life-size" Yoda faithfully standing watch high up in one of the corners. So, to recap: historic Buford, international food, converted auto garage, nature photos, and a green swamp muppet. Makes sense. Execution; restaurants live and die by that word (if you'll pardon the pun). If a restaurant is going to offer a limited menu, they better be sure that those few menu options truly shine. At Rico's World Kitchen, they do just that. While only offering 5 starters, 3 salads, 6 sandwiches, 3 sides, and a couple desserts (and about 3 or 4 specials), they have certainly made the most of it. The Nett's Lumpia appetizer, with your choice of pork & beef, chicken, or mixed, is the perfect fried snack to get things started. The homemade sweet & sour dipping sauce is like honey with a slight tang. Do it. The Royal Rooster, a habanero fried chicken sandwich, is what Chick-Fil-A dreams that they could do (though the potato bun had a hard time holding up to all of that chicken, lettuce, tomato, and swiss - have your knife and fork at the ready). The lettuce used here is by far the freshest and healthiest that I have ever seen in a restaurant. Homemade potato chips? Yes, please. My wife ordered the Pacific Rim Crabcake (listed as a starter) as her entree. She ranked it on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being garbage, 10 being the best crab cake she's ever had) as a 7. Coming from someone who lived on the Emerald Coast of Florida for several years, that says something. In any case, judging by the food being delivered to other tables around us, everything appeared to be high quality. I have no doubt that whether I ordered the Apricot Ham & Brie, Mojo Pork, Chicken Cuban, or Fried Green Tomatoes, I would have left just as satisfied. Side note: This is exactly the kind of place that belongs on an episode of "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives". Guy Fieri would be pleased. read more

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My wife has been a big fan of this place and I finally got a chance to check it out with her and agree it is a Came on a Friday night the wait for a table was 20 minutes and the waiting area is not as comfortable as I would expect, but can partly blame that on the holiday crowds and decorations. Staff was super friendly and seating and decor was nice, but was a little surprised by the quality of the printing for the menu. I enjoyed the shrimp po-boy, but was not impressed with the fried green tomatoes. Wife enjoyed the chicken Cuban and the bread pudding. Good spot for sure! read more

Recently, I realized that I have been trying a lot of great restaurants in Atlanta - and completely dismissing the fact that we have some gems up here in Buford! So a quick Yelp search led me to Rico's World Kitchen. When I told my sister about this place and asked if she wanted to check it out with me for lunch, she said she had heard great things about it! We went for lunch on a Friday, so we were surprised to find out that we had to wait about 15 minutes for a table! They were super busy! While we waited for our table, I checked out the awards they had posted up on their wall, along with their collection of old soda bottles! I thought that was neat. As we were seated, I glanced around the restaurant and noticed that all of the walls were decorated with framed photographs of various sizes. They're photos from all over the world, which I guess is appropriate for this "World Kitchen." I thought this, along with the mini Eiffel Tower, tiny flags from around the world, and Yoda (?!) along the top of the wall by the kitchen, was cute! Since so many people on Yelp and Foursquare seemed to love and recommend the Cuban Chicken sandwich, that's what I decided to order. My sister got the Royal Rooster sandwich. The sandwiches come with their "house potato chips." They're basically plain, kettle cooked chips, which I'm not a huge fan of. They're alright, but I wished they had fries. My sister and I both wanted to try both of the sandwiches, so we split them in half and had half of each! I'm so glad we did. Cuban Chicken (Marinated & Smoked Chicken, Baby Swiss, Mayo, Pickles, Mustard, Mojo Dipping Sauce, Grill & Pressed Bread) - I guess my expectations for this were too high, but I was really disappointed. I asked for no pickles and no mustard. The chicken was very moist, but it was tasted pretty plain and lacked flavor. I was expecting an "explosion" of flavor since it's supposedly marinated, but I didn't get that. I also didn't like that it kind of tasted like shredded chicken, which I'm not a fan of. The "Mojo" sauce is a citrus-flavored dipping sauce, but this didn't do much to make the sandwich taste better. I would give the Cuban Chicken 1 star. Royal Rooster (Tender Fried Habanero Chicken Breast, Baby Swiss, Lettuce, Tomato, Mayo, Potato Bun - Choose the Grilled, Blackened, or Buttermilk Fried Chicken) - My sister chose the Buttermilk Fried Royal Rooster, and boy was this tasty! Our server told us that the habanero sauce would make it spicy, but it really wasn't. However, the flavor was excellent! It tastes kind of like a buffalo chicken burger, but much tastier. I asked for a side of ranch to go with it, and it made it absolutely perfect! The Royal Rooster gets 5 stars easily! Overall, I feel that Rico's World Kitchen deserves 4 stars - mostly because I loved the Royal Rooster! And it's a huge plus for me that they're located up in Buford! Although our server wasn't particularly friendly, I thought service was decent, and prices weren't too bad. However, I noticed that the menu on their website needs to be updated because it reflects prices that are 50 cents less than their current prices. Since Rico's is only about 15 minutes from my house, I will return to have the Royal Rooster again. But I would love it if they added fries to their menu! Fries would be perfect with the Royal Rooster, which I highly recommend over the Cuban Chicken! [Review 014 of 366] read more

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(Updated 7/2014.. )Was very pleased and enjoyed every bite. Service was also great. First try at this eatery was a disappointment! I Drove over to Rico's ready for LUMPIA...I found a space,parked then decided I would call in my order. I called and actually watched the female answer the phone...she laid the phone down when putting me on hold! I saw her taking orders...she comes back to the phone..I then ask her do they have LUMPIA! Victoria is her name! She then places me on hold again....come back 1min and Sayyyyyyyys,WE ARENT TAKING ANY 2GO ORDERSSS! I ask for her name and told her I saw her every move...and that she never asked anyone anything...all she did was attend to the inside diners..who were smiling and getting their grub on! Yes! They were busy..but SHE/HER/Vicky! Didnt wanna jot down my 2go order. I will try and go again! Im looking for My Girl vic after im all full OFCOURSE. read more

This is probably one of the only places worth eating at around this area. The ambience is casual, and almost feels like you're not in Georgia. It has a coastal, CA feel and the food is amazing. They ran out of lumpia when my family and I were there, and we'll definitely be back to try it! The specials were amazing, but my FAVORITE was the shrimp 'n mussels appetizer! The sauce was so good we needed extra bread and almost licked it clean! Nothing was overly salted or seasoned, which I loved! We'll be going back most definitely! read more

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Rico's is consistently good. I've come a bunch of times in the past 2 years and the service and food is always great. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. Every time we've come there has been a wait but I like that because it just goes to show you how good this place is. While you wait, you can have a drink or two. They have a good selection of beer and wine! One of our favorite things to order is the Fried Eggplant- I guess anything fried is good but these things are packed with flavor. We usually get Lumpias as an app but today we ordered their special which was a fried/breaded cheese with what I believe was a mango sauce and it was good! I then had their seafood puff special which was a big, delicious plate. My fiancé had the Fried Oyster app Boy and he loved it. We didn't have enough room for dessert but I know Ricos mom makes them and they have never let us down. read more

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World famous Ricos World Kitchen. We are so fortunate to have this restaurant in our town of Buford, Georgia. It really is world famous. There are so many great things to say about it but you just have to go. Everything is good and friendly service. It is a smaller venue and don't worry, there is parking available. It may not look like it upon arrival but there is adjacent parking. Service is fast and friendly. Beer, wine, drinks and dessert are served. read more