You know it's great if it's a random day and the locals are there. The food and service were great! The restaurant was clean. Staff were attentive. Wish I took more pictures but I was hungry lol. read more

Rivas Taqueria - Guacamole and chips, such a pretty presentation, it reminded me of a sunflower - Mexican Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

I love tacos, and this place was pretty darn good! Service was very quick, the restaurant was clean, and the tacos were a pretty good deal. The only reason I did not give 5 stars is because the tacos were just a tiny bit dry. However, I would totally eat here again. I did have some of my husbands sopes, and they were delicious. read more

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The food is freshly made and delicious. The staff is very friendly and the drinks great. I come here whenever I am in Wallingford. Top notch Taqueria! read more

Got take out here after checking out the local Walmart. NJ walmart is not as organized as the Conn. Walmart. Boo boo and worked up an appetite browsing through. We ordered 2 burritos, 5 tacos, and a horchata. One burrito was chicken and the other was al pastor. 2 cow head, 2 carne asada and 1 lengua. Very tasty tacos with cucumber, radish and chip and salsa. Plenty of salsa verde and red hot sauce. Unfortunately, carnitas is weekend only and they ran out of chorizo. Hit the spot for authentic mexican food. Cc accepted. They called our cell phone when our food was ready. We killed 5 mins next door at the Mexican bakery. Hit this place of you walked a marathon at Wally mart, or even when you're only a little hungry. Great food. Too bad no indoor seating yet. read more

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Great authentic Mexican food, also very affordable. Prices did go up due to inflation but compared to other restaurants it's still great prices for the amount of food you get. I've had several different tacos before but today I tried the carne asada gotta with everything on it, it was really good and flavorful. The chips here are also tasty! read more

Rivas Taqueria - Carne asada torta - Mexican Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

I just paid $5 for two tacos plus fresh chips with salsa, one chile, and cucumber and radish slices. What a steal. It was all quite tasty too. I really lucked out as I was looking for something quick before I had to prepare for a wedding. My only regret is that I did not have time to sit down and try more. Check the photos on Yelp to see all the food choices! read more

Tacos are very good and authentic with a good variety of meats. Tables and floors need to be cleaned more often. read more

So so good. I just love this place....it's busy, has good vibes, and is currently my #1 taqueria choice in CT...I love how the tortilla chips are cut in strips, I could drink their salsa it's so good and they always include the yummiest, spiciest roasted pepper along with radish and cucumber. read more

I was in the area and this place popped up on Yelp. I ordered 1 carne asado burrito, 2 carne asado tacos, and 2 al pastor tacos. The food came with a little baggie of cucumbers, radishes, green (mild), and red (hot) sauce. I love spicy so I was happy that the red sauce actually had some kick. Oh and I forgot, a bag of chips and salsa was included! The burrito and tacos were both great! No frills or thrills, just meat topped with cilantro and onions. Wish this place was closer to where I live! Be mindful that it's not fast food, took about 20 mins for my order to be ready. So either call ahead or take a seat and wait! read more

SOPES! The ultimate Mexican food. It's a fried corn patty with a layer of beans, meat, lettuce and cheese. Sopes are the bomb and Rivas makes an excellent sope. This small eatery does it right. Nothing fancy, but incredible food. You order at the counter, sit down, enjoy some free chips, then about 10 minutes later they bring you fresh, authentic, delicious Mexican food. If I worked nearby, I would eat here every day. read more

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I've been to this location many times. Staff is very pleasant and food is amazing. Have never had a bad experience.

You need to know this -we had dinner for two and it cost us $11.11. Rivas Taqueria has six tables and is primarily a take-out place. The menu has eighteen tacos that will cost you either two or two and a half bucks a pop. They also sell burritos, quesadillas, and tortas (sandwiches) for 5 or 6 bucks. We ordered at the counter fast-food style, and grabbed a table to wait for our number to be called, Maybe fifteen minutes later, our food was ready but be aware they announce your order in Spanish, so if you aren't fluent (like me), be sure you have your register slip handy to match the order number. Our take-out order of five tacos included a bag of chips, three kinds of salsas (all were pretty hot), lime wedges, and cold cucumber and radish slices to cool our palates. The order was packed up beautifully -the tacos were wrapped into two foil packets that were labeled with a Sharpie. There was a twist tied plastic bag with the lime wedges, salsa packets, and cucumber and radish wedges. There was also a small paper bag of very good chips. We ordered a few different kinds of tacos -Pollo Asado, Carne Asada, Lenga (Beef Tongue), and Pork Al Pastore. They were all "street taco" style, with white corn double tortillas, meat, and a sprinkle of cilantro. They are not Taco Bell style so you won't find lettuce, tomato, or cheese on them, although two came with avocado slices. They tasted terrific. I had a beef, a tongue, and a chicken taco. The only quibble I had was, as so many reviewers mentioned, the chicken was dry and required a salsa bath. What's really crazy to me is that the food was terrific in spite of the rock bottom pricing. If I lived down in that area, I'd be there twice a month for sure. read more

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I was debating for a long time if I should downgrade my review, but I think I've encountered this issue too many times and today's visit was it for me. Don't get me wrong, I love the food and prices here, but I don't understand why they tend to "mess up" my extra salsa orders. I usually order 5 tacos and ask for 3 salsas (not counting the salsa that comes with the chips). However, whenever I get served my tacos at the table, I'm often just given 1-2 salsa cups for the 5 tacos. This tends to happen when I do take-out as well. I think for every one out of my 3 encounters, I would have to remind them to give me more salsa. It's becoming so frustrating!!! I think it's crazy that they think I can split that amount among my 5 tacos. I can handle spice and having salsa gives more moist to the experience of eating tacos. I am patient and polite when they're busy, and often tip when I have cash with me as well. I thought it's just their policy, but I would frequently notice other customers who order an equal amount of food as me or less, they get a stack of 4+ salsa cups at their table. Then I can not help, but think if I'm being discriminated because I'm not their kind. I know it may sound silly, but I guess I have a problem with their customer service at the end of the day. It's just sad because I'm a regular here and often introduce my friends from school to come here during breaks, but I guess it's not enough to get me my requested amount of salsa. :( read more

I got both your chicken burrito and your chicken tacos. I guess they changed their chicken recipe because it looks nothing like the pics online. It's fried until it's rock hard and tastes awful. I was so disappointed. Who is giving this place good reviews? I only gave it a 2 because their service was great. I actually couldn't finish my tacos. read more

Riva's is a no-frills, affordable, and authentic taqueria. You come in, you order at the counter, dish out less than $10, and proceed to stuff your face with some decent, street-style Mexican food! We tried a little of everything. For tacos, we got the al pastor (bbq pork), carne asada (steak), chorizo (Mexican sausage), lengua (beef tongue), and cabeza (beef head). The al pastor and carne asada were okay. The flavors were good but the meat itself was pretty dry. I liked that they add a slice of avocado on the asada, though. The chorizo was pretty yummy and lengua was suuuper tender and good, though just a TAD bland. My favorite unexpectedly was the cabeza. This taco was insanely good. The meat was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I thought about it for days... (wish I was kidding). We also got a carnitas burrito which was awesome, as well as a carne asada torta, which wasn't bad (same deal as the taco). Next time, I'm definitely getting a cabeza burrito! read more

Rivas Taqueria - Lengua, Al Pastor, Cabeza, Chorizo, and Carne Asada tacos! Follow my CT food instagram for more - @mcla.eats - Mexican Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

I came here on a Monday night for dinner and was not disappointed. The tacos here are bigger than your average street tacos. I had a few of the carne asada and a few of the pastor as well. It was a ton of food and if you eat in, you get chips and salsa as well. I found a table easily as it was not crowded at all. The meat was juicy and flavorful. The carne asada was great, but the pastor was just okay. There was too much pineapple for me. I also wish this place had a salsa bar. They brought me both red and green sauce and I only used the green. Parking is easy in the large lot they share with a few other businesses and the staff was friendly. They take credit cards too! read more

The tacos here are amazing! The tacos are fresh and flavorful and not greasy. Simple toppings of raw onion, cilantro, and slices of avocado make these the tastiest tacos you can find here in CT. 6 tacos and two Jarritos for under $15 is a deal you can't beat. The staff here is super friendly and the place is very clean. Caution: the jalapeño they serve with the tacos is very hot. Don't try to impress your friends by biting off a huge chunk of it like it's nothing. Be sure to stop by the Mexican grocery store next door - great selection of paletas, Mexican candy, and tortillas! read more

Rivas Taqueria - Four chicken and two beef tacos - Mexican Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

I had a quesadilla with chicken that came with a side salad. So tasty and reasonably priced! The service was pleasant and food was out quickly. The space was full of families and has a very cozy welcoming vibe. I'll be back! read more

Excellent authentic well prepared Mexican food. Quesadillas, Tacos, Burittos. Fresh ingredients, excellent guacamole. Highly recommended!

The food is great, and the service is amazing. I would highly recommend. The tacos I ordered were amazing. The sauces give a good warmth to the food. read more

Completely positive experience. Friendly service and food was delicious, tasted very authentic, prices are fair, place was clean. Loved the fresh 'aguacate' slices. We had one of the traditional juices & we were pleased! Will go again when in the area! read more

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I still come here regularly every time I come home to Wallingford. This is my absolute favorite Mexican joint in town. Their breaded chicken torta is amazing. The staff are also very friendly and lovely to talk to. Thanks so much! read more

Good basic no frills taqueria. Our family ate dinner here last night. It is a small local plan, very good basic tacos, very heap. We had vegetable quesadilla, 3 tacos (chicken, steak, chorizo), and of course chips and salsa,. The chips are excellent! read more

Since moving to Connecticut from the west coast, I often found it hard to find a Mexican food place with such high quality while not being intimidated by the language barrier. It always feels like you have to trade one for the other. When I found Rivas, I felt just that. The tacos here are up to par with the quality I have had in Southern California and even Tijuana. Even better, I didn't have to pay plane ticket prices to get these tacos! For about $2 per taco and complimentary chips, this place is my go to for my Mexican fix. Heads up though, not a lot of seating inside so you may not get a seat during the lunch hour. Ambiance: 4 Food: 5 Service: 5 Overall: 4.7 read more

Such authentic Mexican food at such great prices. I can't think of a better Mexican place in CT.

Best tacos in Wallingford. This is a must-try eatery. My wife and I order from here almost weekly. Everything is great: the tacos, burritos, quesadillas, chips and salsa -- everything. The portions are huge and the ingredients are super fresh. Riva's is understaffed, so getting through on the phone to place an order isn't always easy. But Riva's is always worth the wait. read more

Chorizo and pastor tacos were pretty good. Chicken in the chicken tacos was very dry Horchata was really good read more

Say it ain't so, I think I found my new taco spot. I drive by Rivas daily yet kept my loyalty to a joint down the street. I give Rivas a try today, and wow, fantastic fantastic grub! Chorizo and carne asada were spot on. Great tortillas, generous and filling. Served with a refreshing slice of cucumber and radish. El pastor was very good, but a bit dry, hence the 4 star instead of a perfect 5. The guacamole!!! Best ever, and I've mastered the art of good guac. Affordable, clean, and the staff was very pleasant and helpful. Check out their market next door for Mexican essentials! Largest tortilla selection I've ever seen. Picked up some raw el pastor and chorizo to try at home too. Came back again, everything was fantastic, and again, the guacamole was out of this world. read more

Rivas Taqueria - $5.00 and change..cannot beat that! - Mexican Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

I had to pork tacos, which came with a side of sliced cucumbers and radishes. They also gave a side of fresh made nacho chips (still warm) with two salsas (red and green). The pork was excellent. The toppings were fresh (onion, cilantro and lime) ... the market they own next door helps with the freshness. For less than $4.00 I had two great tasty good size carnita tacos, a side of fresh tortilla chips, a side of cucumbers and radishes....I was actually full. The service and staff are great and the facility is clean. It's a take out joint for sure...only four tables. Not sure if they give the tortilla chips and salsas for free on take out. Giving them 5 stars because I think they serve the best authentic mexican "food" in Wallingford. Not judging them on facility... just food. read more

Rivas Taqueria - Mexican Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

If you are expecting ambiance and a wine menu, you are in the wrong place: There is not much of an ambiance other than the lariats and horsewhips on the wall. However if you want the best tacos in Connecticut, this is exactly where you want to be. For $1.75 you get a taco - you can choose chicken or beef steak. If you are the adventurous type, you can try out lengua (tongue) or buche (pork stomach). I couldn't stomach the buche (pardon the pun), but did try the lengua. It comes with a chile relleno that needs a heat warning. The carne asada tacos were absolutely delicious. With any order, you get free chips and salsa. This is their best item. The salsa is truly a masterpiece. Polite quick service. All in all, I would come here again and again. read more

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This place is amazing. I'm going to move next door and eat tacos every day. I've been to this place twice (within the span of a week because the taco lure overpowered my will.) I had the beef tongue tacos both times, and I was pleased both times. I really want to try the pork stomach tacos, but they have sold out both times. If I remember correctly, the tacos de buche are only sold on weekends.... I am just going to go at 9 am on Saturday next time. Homie ain't got no taco shame. read more

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2nd stop on my taco journey. Got here at about 215pm on a Friday - there were 2 tables full and while I was there, 5 more groups of people came and went (good crowd considering the awkward time). I went up to the counter and got 2 al pastor tacos, 1 pollo taco and 1 chorizo taco. Alas, the carnitas and buche were only available on weekends. My favorite was surprisingly the pollo, and the al pastor came in a close second. I was not a fan of the chorizo - I'm sorry - it's distinct taste kind of threw me off a little bit. The pollo was seasoned just right and it was moist and juicy, and I liked the addition of the pineapple chunks to the al pastor; it cut through the meat and brought a fresh flavor to it. Tacos came garnished simply with cilantro and onions, with radishes, cucumbers and a jalapeno on the side. Overconfident me thought I could handle the jalapeno but after a few bites, I gave up. I really enjoyed the fresh chips and salsa that came with the meal as well, and the corn tortillas were nice and warm too. Service was friendly and quick, great authentic Mexican joint. minimum $10 for credit card usage. Current rankings: 1) Rivas Taqueria 2) Tacos Mi Nacho Onward and upward! read more

Rivas Taqueria - Chips and 2 out of the 3 salsas. Sorry for the horrible picture - Mexican Near Me - Wallingford, Connecticut

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We are about 30 minutes from Wallingford but from searches it seems that this is the town to get authentic Mexican food, so we made the trip. From other yelpers it was clear that this was not a fancy place, which makes it perfect for us. We Walked in and there were 4 tables, 1 open so we grabbed it. We love tacos that are simple with just onions and cilantro. Perfection. We ordered steak, chicken and carnitas taco. Cheese and chicken quesadillas. Before we even got to the table there were chips and salsa. No guac was available though. The salsa was hot and fresh. I would love to have had a medium salsa or a pico. The food came out hot and fresh. The tacos were perfect. The meat was well seasoned and was complimented by the onions and cilantro. The cheese quesadillas were great, the cheese was not just a bland cheese, it had some good flavor. The chicken ones were not as good, we asked for grilled chicken but we think it was fried. The refried beans were epic and cheesy. The rice was ok- needed more seasoning. We will make the trip again. And hope they have guac. My youngest love black beans but there were none which is ok. She will get the refried beans next time. It is a relief to find a taco place that does not cover up their product with sauces or cheese. These tacos were fresh and well seasoned and needed nothing else to make them worth the drive. read more

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