This place has weird hours, so it's been hard to eat here. Finally had a chance on Tuesday. The menu has a weekly rotation so this is for the week of May 12, 2026. The staff and kitchen are all student students of RCC. The service was generally good although a bit uneven. For example, we didn't bread at the start and they just never brought it despite realizing later. But everyone was very nice and you could tell they were trying hard. The menu is interesting and there is always a burger, pizza, and salad option. Other stuff rotates so that's what I tried. The trout was fine but nothing to write home about. The burger was also meh but serviceable. The Cuban bean soup I got with it was tasty but too salty. Desserts were both good (see photos). The ambiance is actually surprisingly nice. Well lit and most of the clientele are professionals out for lunch. I will end on the most important point, which is that the prices are really cheap compared to sit down meals pretty much anywhere else you would go. You are also supporting the RCC culinary school students get practice at their trade. We definitely come back. read more

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This is such a fun place to experience in Riverside. It is run by culinary students and although it is sometimes very obvious this is the case, I really enjoyed being part of that learning experience! The food is good enough and with the great prices, it's well worth it! The menu rotates every week with a few staple items (burgers, side salad, etc.). It's posted on their website every Tuesday. When I went the two entrees were fried chicken and trout ($10.50). Both were good and came with a side soup or salad. The chicken came with beans, collard greens, and corn bread. The tout came with potatoes and greens. The desserts were ok- the banana pudding was standard, the "cheesecake" wasn't as expected. Note that they close during the Summer! read more

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Pro's - students are learning how to work in the restaurant industry - sometimes the food is great and sometimes they miss the mark- the food is always a great price. The restaurant is very clean. Be patient with them. Give feedback. It's ok to ask for corrections if called for - they're learning. I've had tuff rolls - heavy handed salt as well as under cooked potatoes. Con's - parking sucks. It could be more clearly marked where the public entrance is - I have gone into other doors by accident. read more

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I have loved going to the RCC throughout my times as a student in Riverside. Their food is affordable and usually very good! Sometimes the service takes a while but for the price it has always seemed worth it and been exciting to help young chefs and waiters get hands on experience. However this time I was pretty disappointed. I ordered the Hawaiian pizza and what came out did not even come close to a pizza in my books. It was 4 small slices of bread that had been doused in tomato sauce and had some topping throwing haphazardly on top. It didn't look good and it didn't taste good. Date of visit : April 16, 2025 read more

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I went to the RCC culinary restaurant for the first time and i will say i was skeptical at first but they definitely changed my mind. I had a wonderful experience and everything we ordered was amazing. The restaurant is way bigger than expected and has a clean elevated look. The service was amazing and we didn't have to wait long for our food. We went for breakfast and i got the eggs Benedict which was really good. My bf ordered the blueberry pancakes which were all cooked to perfection. Also priced are sour affordable. They aren't opened for long so you do have to make sure to get their early to not feel rushed but i do look forward to returning soon. read more

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Had this place bookmarked for quite some time and finally got to have lunch here. Was informed that they got busy this past week since being featured on' social media. This is a culinary student run restaurant, and its menu changes weekly. Pricing is extremely affordable and the food portions are just right. I look forward to coming back next semester to try their breakfast. read more

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Be aware this is a practice restaurant, servers and chefs are all learning. That said, food is of decent quality at a fantastic price considering it's a training institution. Their menu changes weekly on Tues so check out their website before visiting. Service is severely lacking, you can tell they are in training, and some are more capable than others. Your experience will be different depending on your server, but be sure to flag others down if you're waiting long as they often forget requests. Ambiance is nice, a good sit down restaurant with high traffic, but not too noisy and no TV's or speakers. 3/5, it's fine. read more

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My BF and I, took our elderly neighbor out for her birthday dinner. The restaurant is conveniently located right in downtown Riverside, and the prices are low, so you can have a really nice meal without breaking the bank! Cons: The hours are limited and the front waiting area is small and gets crowded easily. But we can't wait to go back, id definitely recommend this place to Friends! read more

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The hours are a little difficult here as it's not open for service as much but breakfast is 8-9:45 and lunch is 11:00am to 12:45pm sharp we arrived at 12:20 and were told there was a 20 minute wait for a table. I t seemed to be like 5 minutes and we were called. The food was terrific! My chips were not all crunchy but I liked them a lot and the tuna was really good with carrots and parsley as well as other healthy ingredients in it. My husband is usually hard to please but he agreed that for the money, it's wonderful! He also joked that "we've had worse food at real restaurants " I also ordered a dessert with apple and he noticed an unusual "Indian" type spice taste that was also in the apple raisin oatmeal cookies we bought at the register. It was so good that I shared pictures of this weeks menu to my facebook page and told all my friends. I honestly hope to come back weekly! read more

Riverside Community College Culinary Academy - Tuna sandwich with homemade chips & beyond burger and fries - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

They are open Tuesday through Friday for breakfast and lunch. They are open a little over an hour for breakfast and almost 2 hours for lunch, but even with the limited dining time a visit is worth it. The restaurant is student lead so it's great supporting the young culinary community. I was able to visit for lunch and I was not disappointed. I had an entrée and dessert. The wait staff is also comprised of culinary chefs in training. Inside the ambience is casual, but more upscale than fast food. read more

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We're always talking about stopping by RCC Culinary Arts restaurant at work and then forget about it. Well today we finally stopped by and we walked over since it's about a 10 minute walk from work. There's is a parking garage across the street if you decide to drive. They have a different menu each week with a couple of regular menu items that don't change. I went with their entree shrimp tostada salad that came with shrimp, corn, black beans, & jalapenos and drizzled with a lime cilantro dressing and came with housemade tortilla chips. It was tasty, I just wished it came with more black beans and corn. I also wished it came with a creamy cilantro dressing instead. I also had the berry cobbler with ice cream and it was so yummy! Love the low prices on everything too! I'm guessing it's because it's students cooking and the wait does take awhile. Luckily we weren't in a rush. My friends got the muffuletta sandwich with cajun sweet potato salad, chicken parmesan sandwich, and the roasted chicken with pan gravy, green beans, and cranberry relish. Everyone enjoyed their meal and we for sure will be back! read more

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This place is great because of the prices and you don't have to leave a tip. You get gourmet food for cheap because it's a school and the students are learning. The service might be a little slow so keep that in mind. The restaurant is always busy and the food is mainly made from scratch so I would recommend checking it out. They are only open Tuesday-Friday and limited hours for breakfast and lunch. read more

Yummy food, low prices and extremely courteous student staff. Loved the Greek pizza! Planning to visit for breakfast next time. Open Tue-Fri 8:30a-9:45a and 11a-12:45p Any time there is a teaching invironment, you know hygiene and cleanliness are of the utmost importance. The restaurant was impeccable. It was busy, but efficient and no wait. read more

Ooh! The students did it again!!! The food was really delicious and dessert was super tasty. Applaud the teachers for what they do!! Keep it up RCC !!! read more

Excellent service! Staff is very friendly and professional. Dishes are always Delicious. I recommend to everyone. read more

Riverside Community College Culinary Academy - Chilaquiles - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

I went with my dear friend Dee last week. I've never heard of this before. The service was excellent from the moment you walked in the door. The food was amazing not to mention the deserts. The ambience was wonderful. So much that I can't wait to go back with my husband and make it part of our eating out routine. The prices are fantastic. $8.50 and under. The breakfast menu is the same each week however the lunch menu changes weekly. Many that's to Dee's G'son Mason and the whole staff. They are leading every aspect of the restaurant business not just cooking. You won't be disappointed! read more

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Great value, gourmet meals on a budget. Table service is a bit scattered and took longer than normal, but friendly service. Come early, they ran out of the chile relleno at noon. We'll be back, all the dishes came out beautiful read more

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Great deal for the money; and it help the students showcase their skills. They should be open for dinner though.

Had to leave a review after the delicious lunch I had yesterday! My compliments to the chefs! They had an Asian inspired menu this past week and had so many delicious sounding options that it was hard to choose. I went with the bulgogi sandwich, the tangerine chicken with rice, and for dessert the mango sticky rice and the Thai tea crème brûlée. Everything was so good but the star of the show was the Thai tea crème brûlée. It was so unique and tasty! Highly recommend coming here for lunch which is Tuesday to Friday from 11:00am to 12:45pm. They have a rotating menu each week and you can even do takeout! As others have mentioned, this is a culinary school so you do have to keep that in mind. When it gets busy the students may be overwhelmed so I advise asking about the status of your food as I have had an experience when our food fell between the cracks and never arrived. Also, keep in mind they do have many holidays when they are closed. As long as you come with those expectations I think you will have a great experience! read more

Tried this place out today for breakfast for the first time and the food was on point! Their chilaquiles are probably some of my favorite!! Hubby had the French toast, also super delicious! Will definitely be back! read more

Riverside Community College Culinary Academy - French Toast - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

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We used to come here all the time. It steadily slipped into the gutters for the last year. Be prepared to wait over an hour for food even if they don't forget to put in your ticket and no one comes to ask if your orders been taken even though you're sitting there with an empty table for over an hour. Be prepared to get the wrong order. For everyone at your table. And now expect to get pizza with raw dough. Actually two pizzas with raw dough because the first one was the wrong pizza, along with the wrong sandwhich. We hace classes in the building next door but I'd rather not waste money here anymore. Check your order before you leave the building, especially if you're buying for a group. We were missing two whole meals before. read more

Great prices, amazing entrees, don't leave without a cookie. Whether take out or dine in, this is a must stop when you are in downtown Riverside. I make it a point to eat here every time I am in court in Riverside. read more

This school's restaurant is a must try even just once. If it was a "true restaurant " I would give it 3.5 stars for food quality and price. (A full meal cost $8) bread, butter and soup or salad included) The restaurant is run by the students learning to be chefs. It can be pretty slow sometimes getting your food. But the overall quality is great. read more

Everything was great, and the students were working really hard. My salad, pizza and tikka curry were all great. Everything was quick and fresh and it was surprisingly busy for a Wednesday afternoon! read more

Riverside Community College Culinary Academy - Buffalo chicken pizza - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

I'm almost hesitant to post this as this is almost a best kept secret in Riverside . Went here for breakfast for the first time with friends who are regulars. Food was excellent-I had a build your own omelette which came with Potatoes and toast. Wonderful omelette and potatoes. My experience was students were uniformly providing excellent service and on top of that were very sweet. Seating was quite nice and had a nice clean atmosphere-and I'm sure part of the ambience was due to really sweet students starting out their lives and careers. They were all professional- nothing flubbed or awkward. I think all meals were under $7.00. Parking is available at the downtown library which is almost across the street. I believe a portion of the parking is free. I'm Going again today for lunch so I'll find out. read more

We lost over $60 of food because the chef instructor doesn't care about his customers. He had no patience when we called to say that this is the second time they've given us the wrong food, food that we can't even eat. He said "there's nothing I can do," blamed the students then hung up on us. It's hard to believe that it's the students fault since he's yelling at them all the time. It's not a healthy environment. The one star is for the chef because we feel bad for the students and all of whom pay to receive what they order but end up with the wrong order and no compensation. All this to say, check your food if you order to-go. My last five star review deems true, as far as the food goes. It's not always consistent but when it is, you're getting excellent food. The fish dishes and their handcrafted creamy sauces are *RCC student chefs kiss* perfect. They require you to be vaccinated to eat inside and there's parking across the street. read more

Great spot. Love the staff -- they're all students and are very eager and happy to help. Food is pretty good here and you cannot beat the prices. read more

This place is such a gem in Riverside. What a neat way to connect with locals and immerse yourself into the community. Keep in mind their working hours and know their menu changes weekly. My bestie and I went around 11:30 and noticed we beat the lunch rush. We were seated right away and offered water. A server took our order and was semi-knowledgeable about the menu. We both ordered: focaccia sandwich (2), tomato soup (2), and a side of fries (1) to share. It was nice to have dinner rolls at the beginning of our meal. Bread was accompanied by butter and it was good. Tomato soup came by next. I do wish the soup was a bit hotter in temperature, but we both agreed the soup lacked flavor. It was very mild in the tomato taste. The fries came out next and omg...they were SO crispy. Very light, not oily, and had the perfect crisp. I couldn't get enough of them! Then came the focaccia sandwich which took us both by surprise. The portion was HUGE and it even came with a veggie mix, which was very appreciated. We both could barely finish half of our sandwich. The focaccia was very light and not heavy. Overall, we really enjoyed our lunch time here. It was also cool to see how diners seemed like locals too. The ambiance was lively and I felt like my bestie and I were able to have conversations without worrying about being too loud. Cant wait to come back and try more of their menu! Notes: If seated, you have to take your tab to the front and pay. read more

Riverside Community College Culinary Academy - Focaccia Sandwich, Fries, and Tomato Soup - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

Got here right when they opened (because they're open less than 2 hours for lunch) and service was great! A good meal for 2 plus soup or salad, drinks and tip for about $20 - you can't get that anywhere else! We were so full, we had no room left for dessert, but they sounded delicious. If we lived closer, we'd come here all the time to try everything they serve! read more

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I have come here multiple times to try the rotating weekly menu options and every time I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience! The food is excellent and well-priced. The restaurant is usually bustling with local residents and it is definitely a gem of downtown Riverside. read more

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I am giving 4 stars to support the students for making such an effort to provide their service with reasonable food and a give away price. The service is very fast, the place is very clean, the food is fine for school however there are still room for improvement. I had the bbq sampler: pork ribs, pork and chicken, I loved the way how the pork was prepared it was really good, I found the ribs and the chicken breast was way too dry also the salad that comes with the dish was very fresh and great balsamic vinaigrette. Also we had the burger sliders 2 of the 3 burgers was pretty good but one of them was just ok. I do recommend the place it's good enough for the price and to support the students, also the menu changes every other day so it could be different each time. read more

Riverside Community College Culinary Academy - House salad that come with the main entree - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

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A client insisted I meet him here for lunch "on him." Not gonna say no to that. I was shocked at the quality of the food and its inverse correlation to the price. I'll be returning, often. read more

I love this place! The food is delicious and so reasonable you can't go wrong. It's the students that are slow but they are learning so I cut them some slack. What they lack in service, they make up in food and prices. I'm a big fan. I love their rotating menu. read more

This is the place to support aspiring chefs - culinary academy, RCC. They have always accommodated the food since I do not eat meat. They use their meat alternative. Super economical food for generous portion. Had a nicoise salad for under $10!!!! Unheard of! I used to pay well over $20 at department store cafe. Expect wait times. Review the menu beforehand. read more

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I had been wanting to come here for a while but my schedule didn't allow. The students were all very welcoming and attentive. Customer service was great! I did go towards their closing time, so they were busy. Food qwas great and fresh. Will definitely be going back again. read more

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The fact that the culinary students themselves are the ones cooking the food, guarantees that the food have to be made pretty well! And they are! For the price that each dish/entree is, it's totally worth eating here & the portions are just right. They also use better ingredients than a regular diner would offer. I've had their breakfast and lunch here (they only have these 2 meals though at certain hours of the day). I love their eggs benedict & their brioche french toast. So bomb diggity haha! Hits the spot in the morning when you've been craving a good breakfast! For lunch, I've had different meals from time to time, since they like to rotate their menu/change it up once in awhile---and their pizzas & sandwiches are definitely delectable. I've had a salmon dish which was only about $7! ORDER A SIDE OF FRIES if they don't already come with your meal. They are so good! Also, ask for FREE BREAD REFILLS which also come out warm from the oven. Take some buddies from school/work on a weekday (if you're in the area). Totally beats Denny's/IHOP in my opinion. It gets pretty busy during lunchtime, but I'd go here any day of the work week! I like breakfast over lunch though, but both have good eats ;) read more

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Talk about value... and getting to support your local culinary students.. win/ win. The food is pretty darn good too! read more

Good food so that means good students. The lunch selections here were outstanding and the food was delicious. Price was very affordable for the food you get. Service was not so great but they are training chef students not training waiters so that's okay with me. read more

We enjoyed a great lunch for a great price. My son got the burger special and said it was really good. The soup du jour was a butternut squash that was rich and creamy. I had the salmon. It was well seasoned but a bit over cooked. Overall a great experience. read more

Riverside Community College Culinary Academy - Great desserts - New American Near Me - Riverside, California

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I have never had a chorizo burger(specialty burger) but OMG, this burger is delicious. I never want to eat beef burgers again. I was astonished. I was a big skeptical but I ate a $8 burger that taste like a $26 burger. I will definitely be back. read more