Abuelita's

I went because of many good reviews online. It was empty when I went. Ordered birria fries, at first they looked good but the fries were cold, the overwhelming amount of cheese that they put on top was also cold so it never melted and the birria was whatever. The pineapple juice was good. Another overrated Richmond place…

Great vegetarian/vegan options! The juice and the salsa bar was amazing. Great flavor. Interior is really nice. Friendly staff.

They have tamales. They have a salsa bar. But come for the Mexican stew. Basically 8 to choose from...served with rice and beans. I chose the medium plate with two half portions of stew refried beans and Mexican rice. Comes with 3 housemade tortillas. They gave me samples of the stews before I had to choose. 13 bucks otd Fantastic!

I'm so happy I found this place. Both beef stews we tried were amazing. The Birria Fries were a favorite, for sure, and the Menudo was great. Will definitely make this a staple during colder months. Amazing flavors, great service, and reasonable prices.

The food is incredible and authentic- made fresh. The menu is smaller as you can appreciate they put the effort into what they choose to put on the menu that day. They have a salsa bar for you to choose your flavor To accompany your meal. The staff is friendly, helpful and responsive. They were happy! The restaurant is clean, modern. Check this place out the food will NOT disappoint it was excellent!

Food was great along with service. I love birria tacos but these have a different flavor than I’m use to. Wasn’t bad honestly, just had more of a sour taste like lime. Will definitely eat here again to try out other food options

Authentic Mexican served in a quick and unique way! They truly have a flavour for everyone with the immense variety of options. The chicken and chorizo cream, the mushrooms, and the tres leches cake, are must tries! The staff are also very welcoming and make you feel like family. 10/10

I can only comment on my experience. They only had 2 tables filled. I informed the girl I was meeting there and she went over all the choices with me. She spoke a little fast but was patient with me. I am from San Diego but this is authentic Mexican food in some parts of Mexico. I thought the food was above average. Some were just ok but other stews were excellent. The beef tacos are very good. Service was great. Mostly clean floors and store. The only problem is the area itself is in the ghetto. But the store doesn’t reflect that at all. I would go again if there was another location was closer to me. I’m in the short pump area so it’s not worth a 30 minute drive to me but if it was 15 mins or less then hands down I would go more often. The burrito itself is good but you don’t taste the meat enough with all the other flavors in there.

The birria tacos with the consommé dip was incredibly delicious! Wonderful flavors! The salsa bar was a nice bonus to enhance my food experience. Had the bottled mango margarita but was a bit sweet and thickly for me. More alcohol and water would be nicer. Will definitely be back.

A 10-minute drive outside of downtown, Abuelita's a popular, family-owned Mexican restaurant. If you love birria, it's worth the drive. Signs in the parking lot ask that you order inside if it's your first time to get the full experience. Once inside, walk to the counter and order. They will bring it to your table when it's ready. The cheese birria came in a trio and was tasty. There's an excellent salsa bar by the soda fountain to spice it up. Service is friendly and there's plenty of tables. They also have clean restrooms.

Their selection of soups and salsas is delicious! Such a reasonable price for an easy date night! The staff were so friendly and kind when we came this evening. It is very obvious why they have such high reviews! We will be back again soon!

It's been 5 years since my first Yelp review. Abuelita's continues to set the gold standard by which all others are measured. They embody the American dream. They are the passion of Mexican food realized in a restaurant. The formula is so simple: If you build it, they will come. Abuelita's serves the BEST Mexican food in Richmond Virginia; PERIOD. Nobody comes close. THIS is my #1 in all of RVA. VIVA Abuelita's! Every experience here has been great. The flavors are second to none. The guisos have such depth of flavor and are hearty. It fills your belly with warmth and comfort. Their Spanish rice is flawless. I just can't say enough good things. I only wish the location was closer to my house.

A place you must visit!!!!!! We saw policemen getting food. We saw firefighters getting food. You know it's gotta be good if all the local rescue people are coming here for their break. And let me tell you, this stuff was sooooo good! You can either do their specialties like birria and such, or you can do the guisos plate style choosing out of the prepared stews of the day. These switch daily which is super cool. We did the plates, and omg I felt like I was filling my plate at someone's house. The flavors were so homey. My husband got the bistec en salsa verde and cheesy pollo with black beans and yellow rice. I got the tinga de pollo and the puerco en chile colorado with refried beans and yellow rice. Our favorite was the puerco en chile Colorado because of the rich flavors. Everything had a wonderful flavor of spices. We also got the sweet potato and pumpkin tamale which was super interesting, tasting like Thanksgiving in a tamale. Super unique! The salsa bar was super cool, and I really liked the pickled habenero. I wish things were a little more spicy. But otherwise everything was so good, I felt so happy that day. The inside is nice and quiet. The service was amazing and everyone was so nice. They explained the menu well! A must try!!!!!!! Delicious Mexican cuisine!

Went to Abuelitas the other day and I got birria ramen and birria tacos. OMG the birria ramen was amazing and they give you a lot!!! The birria tacos were good but not great IMO. They added tooooo much cheese. I like an equal amount of cheese and meat. The flavor was amazing! I highly recommend this spot.

I love Abuelita's- fast becoming one my favorite Mexican restaurants in town! The three areas I like to review when considering a restaurant experience - atmosphere, service and food- are all on point here and it makes me want to come back again and again. Here's the details: 1) The restaurant itself is an immersive experience. The owner here has paid particular attention to details that make the decor and atmosphere here really stand out. From unique and Mexican styled floor tiles to the order counter and the wall/ ceiling decor, everything in the restaurant is purposefully placed and selected to create a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere. 2) The service is awesome. Super friendly and accommodating, the staff are there to take care of people. You can feel the positive engagement here. 3) Abuelitas is all about authentic Mexican stews- real comfort food. Choose from 8-10 different stews, served with beans (black or refried), rice (Mexican or white) and fresh homemade corn tortillas. There are stew options here for everyone: All different proteins, some vegetarian, some spicy, some not, and all crazy good! The staff allow you to try samples before you make your selection. The restaurant also serves hand rolled tamales in various options. Sodas and beer are available. Finally, there is a full salsa bar with multiple salsa and pickled vegetable options. Abuelitas is an order at the counter service style and drinks are self-served. A medium sized restaurant it can accommodate ~20 parties. Tables can accommodate 2-4 per table and tables can be pushed together if needed. This is a unique dining experience- a must try especially for those who love Mexican food. Happy eating, see you there.

Loved Abuelita's! My husband and I went for dinner and everything was so fresh and delicious. They also have a huge selection of homemade hot sauces/salsas.

Authentic, Fast, Nice ambiance, Friendly, not overpriced or overly crowded. A nice size menu with changing meats(full of flavor). And if you need more flavor, there is a salsa and pepper bar to add that zing to the no spice level food. Something for all! You can choose the menu or just beans, rice, and a meat or two or three. (S,M,L) There are a few choices of Mexican bottled beer, bottled drinks, and fountain drinks. The inside does not match the outside or the area. It's clean and really done. Don't let the stinky exterior, I'm talking about the grease traps/sewer in front of building that will have your stomach in knots before you walk in, keep you from visiting. The bad smell stays outside. Love to see this in a better area of town.

Food and service were good. Employees explained the menu very well for first time customers. The Barbacoa Tacos were very good. I would definitely recommend. I will go back.

I have no clue why it took me so long to finally visit Abuelita's. This place is absolutely delicious. Everyone I've spoken about it with kept saying how great it was, and I didn't want to have such high expectations. Thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised when I realized how delicious it was. Abuelita's is the perfect name for the cozy and delicious food you can find here. They rotate their guisos (stews) daily which guarantees they'll be fresh. I came here with my partner and we ordered the grande plate, flan, a tamale, and a guava Jarrito. I loved the guava Jarrito and highly recommend ordering it with your meal. We got a mushroom guiso and chicken guiso. I absolutely loved the chicken one with the beans and rice. The meal was so wholesome. It was a cold day when we visited and it really warmed us up. We got a spicy tamale that was alright. The flan was a bit too plain for my liking. It was very light, but I wanted more flavor to it. If anything, come for the guisos. Our bill came out to only $30 for all that food. Abuelita's is a tasty and homey place that you won't want to miss.

After spending 22 years of my life in Los Angeles, CA where there's Mexican food at every corner I moved to RVA and absolutely hated the "Mexican" food Richmond and its outskirts has to offer. Then I stumbled upon Abuelita's and it's become one of my favorite spots. I moved 40 minutes away which is not far but also not convenient and I make time to come get some good food. Worth mentioning: Abuslitas makes the best quesabirria tacos in all of Richmond!

I guess I'm in the minority group here because I was not a fan of abuelitas. It's not a full service restaurants like I imagined-theres no waitstaff. We got birria tacos and birria fries. The food came out quickly. I've heard great things but to me they were very average. My favorite part was the cheese. The sauce and salsa they offered didn't taste like much. The fries were very soggy at the bottom, there was no seasoning and the meat didn't have much flavor. I tried two different margaritas, I don't know the flavors because they were labeled but I wouldn't recommend. The green one was plain nasty. The orange-ish one tasted like a thick juice. You don't taste any alcohol in either. I wouldn't ever come back here.

Love love love this restaurant. Excellent service and the food is amazing. We lived in Texas for a while and this food blows the restaurants there away. The concept is different from most Mexican restaurants as you walk up to order. But they bring the food to you which is awesome. They have alot of different Mexican stews that they will even let you try. Kind of like an nice cream store Please try this place out. You won't regret it

So delicious and reasonably priced. The cashier was very welcoming and asked if we had been before. When we said it was our first time, he walked us through the entire menu, showed us each dish and told us we could sample anything we'd like. I loved the full salsa bar with so many options & to-go cups!

Really loved this place. Homey authentic Mexican food with such incredible flavor. I tried the soups on top of rice and pinto beans. I especially loved the chili pork soup. And the employees were great!

I've never seen another place that does quite was this place does (even during my brief Texas trips). Mexican stew. Served in fast casual fashion, generally with rice and tortillas and perhaps a few other items. They rotate stews and typically have one or two vegetarian ones. When I finally found the right time to drop by, the one I liked was a chickpea and cactus stew. I was given various options for rice (white or yellow) and a side of additional beans (pinto or black). I had to peruse the menu in detail in advance to figure out that the vegetarian choices were white rice and black beans, but at least the information was available. Though served in cafeteria style, the plates were quite nice ceramics. My stew was tasty, enhanced even more by a toppings bar that had that crumbly white cheese often used in Mexican cuisine, plus a variety of salsas. The tortillas to mop things up tasted like quality nixtamalized corn. The food here makes the case to me that the indigenous cuisine of the region was actually pretty good and pretty vegetarian-friendly before Europeans arrived and messed it up, and while I might make a few tweaks to the menu, I liked what I got.

Hmm, it was fine. Generous portions, salsa was AWESOME, flavor was decent but my to go food was cold somehow, I live 5 minutes away. Definitely appreciate the unique options (this is NOT your boring/basic dime a dozen Mexican), but idk, I'm missing something. I will definitely try again but maybe dine in and I am sure this will go from a 3.5 to a 4 or 5.

First visit and we were definitely impressed. We were greeted as soon as we walked in, and again at the counter. They asked if we had visited before and when we said it was our first time, they walked us through the menu and meal options very clearly. They offer a variety of Mexican stews served with rice and beans ( white or spanish, black or refried) They also have several different types of tamales and a variety of salsas I ordered the chicken tinga and a poblono tamale. Both were delicious! The inside is casual and was very clean! Presentation: Atmosphere/vibe: Value:

First ever visit. Food was fantastic, and the service was amazing. Wish I got the girl's name that thoroughly explained how the ordering works. Super friendly and patient. Ordered some pork tamales, shredded beef ramen, and beef tacos. Loved everything we got! Wish there was an Abuelita's in Jersey! I know where I'm going if ever back in Richmond!

Very friendly service. They asked immediately if we had been in before, and explained the menu. Service was fast, and the food was phenomenal. We had quesabirria tacos and birria ramen, and both were excellent.

It's an ok place, the service is fast and the people working there are all very friendly. The food was ok, the birria tacos were the best, but nothing super amazing. The place is nice, looks like a fast food cute Mexican place.

Abuelita is amazing! The birria tacos are the best tacos you will find! The customer service was nice. And the restaurant looked cool inside!

Was the best Hispanic comfort food I've found since leaving southern California! My son tore it up and said he plans to take his mom who is from Mexico there asap.

While out in RVA, I decided to look for local food spots to try. I stumbled upon Abuelita's on Yelp and decided to go. It is a nice a spacious restaurant that you order from the front first then go find a seat. The cashier recommended the quesabirria tacos. I decided to order that with a plate of chicken, rice, and refried beans. The tacos were pretty good but we're lacking a bit of flavor. However, the plate of chicken and rice was amazing. The refried beans were my favorite part. Overall, had a great experience here and would swing by if I'm ever craving mexican food!

Great food! Quesabirria tacos are amazing! The Pico is so amazing I genuinely would eat that by itself and be happy--the flavors are so well balanced. Black beans topped with the pico-primo. The restaurant itself is lovely bringing the grandmas home feel to your experience.

The meals are as I would imagine an Abuelita's would be. The stew options have you wanting to ask for a sample plate but rest assured, you won't go wrong with any of the choices!!! The servers are friendly and will patiently identify each item for you. They have a condiment bar with salsas and toppings. The dining area was packed today so you know the food is good!!!

**4.5 This place is the ultimate Hispanic comfort food. What a great warm welcome you get when you walk through the door. That instantly won points. The space is very clean and the decor is warming and cozy in a way. The nice ladies who greeted my wife and I if we were first timers, "yes" we replied. At that point they took the time to explain options and answer questions. More points won. Everything from the plating of the food, the serving dish, the "sauce bar" to the food itself was absolute beautiful and delicious! Another plus is the quick service. Whether you are pressed for time or you're being leisurely you can have food on your plate within minutes. I'll be coming back here MANY more times in the future!

Abuelita's is a hidden gem in Richmond. Clean, friendly service, and amazing food. This is not your typical taco dish Mexican restaurant. This is high quality ingredients and amazing stews. I would highly recommend this place to anyone in the area. I went with my sister and had a pleasant girl's night meal.

The food was delicious and the service was welcoming, helpful and kind. And I just love the name of the restaurant!!

Abuelita's is one of the best fast-food restaurants in Richmond. If you're sick and need some soup or looking for fresh, authentic food, Abuelita's is an excellent option.

One of my absolute fave restaurants in Richmond! They serve guiso (which is stew) and the chico size, comes with a side of Spanish or white rice, black beans or refried beans, homemade tortillas, and access to their homemade salsa bar! I came in hungry and was glad I was convinced to go with the smaller portion, because it was still A LOT of food and I was so full afterwards. You really get your money's worth here! I've never been here before so the staff was very welcoming and even let me try out different guisos before I picked the one that I wanted! Honestly, everything tasted so good I couldn't even make a decision so I let one of the staff members make it for me and boy, I'd highly recommend the chicken in chorizo cream. Everything just pairs so deliciously together. I'd really recommend trying their salsa bar. We also got the horchata and it was perfect - not too cinnamoney or overly sweet. Can't wait to return to try some of the other items on their menu! Staff was super sweet and constantly checked in on us. I'm glad I stumbled upon here because it's definitely authentic and very reasonably priced. Don't hesitate to go give them a try!

I recently visited Abuelita's and it was really nice . We walked in and staff was very welcoming . They broke down the menu for me which was very helpful . Decor was really nice and home feeling . I notice there was a gentleman there and I'm thinking he was a manager or the owner and he was very involved . He helped out in the kitchen and was helping bring the food out . Five star for me . I ordered the ramen birria and the birria fries . The ramen noddles was cooked perfectly! The meat was tender . My only complaint is that I wish it had more meat in it and I wish it had some heat to it , other then that it was good . My birria fries was really good . A lot of meat and the meat was tender , juicy and flavorful . It also had the right amount of cheese . The cheese pull was amazing and the fries had a nice crunch to it . I will definitely be a returning customer because I need to try the birria tacos next !!!

The family pack at Aubelita's has become my family's new Sunday night staple. So much delicious and authentic food for such an affordable price.

good food.. some of the best tacos in Virginia.. almost like the west coast! Will definitely be back. Service was good and everyone was really friendly.

Service was good but the food was just ok. Compared to the other restaurants which are much better in the area I don't see myself going back.

It was all good. Very authentic and tasty! Nice service and atmosphere. Nice location in Midlothian.

***My Favorites*** Abuelita's is a really special place that feels like you've been invited to someone's home for dinner. They serve guisos which are different varieties of stew, and it's really fun because the menu varies based on what was made that day. From my experiences, I've had delicious tinga, pork and cactus, and picadillo. When you arrive you simple walk up to the counter and decide your portion size (rice, beans and 1 stew, 2 stew etc) and the staff are very friendly and guide you through each of the guisos available that day. You can also add on some tortillas and make yourself some tacos, and there are many salsas to try out. Definitely my favorite place for Mexican food in Richmond. What to order: Ask the staff! And the chicken tinga if available.

Abuelita's is a great choice for good Mexican food. The atmosphere is nice, the service was prompt, friendly and professional and the food was definitely solid. I love Mexican food. It is one of my favorite cuisines and when I travel for business, I find myself heading towards Mexican restaurants more than any other type place. I think Mexican places are more consistently good as opposed to other cuisines. This particular Mexican restaurant was definitely a winner. I would definitely recommend here and I give it five stars.

The service was excellent--everyone was super friendly, patient and helpful. I got the grande plate with 2 kinds of guisos. Very authentic and flavorful 10/10 and absolutely recommend to anyone in the area and it was only $13!

Wonderful offerings of authentic Mexican stews (guisas/guisados) that are flavorful and tasty. Tortillas are house-made and a great accompaniment. Counter service with clean tables to sit at. Options for dessert and assorted beverages as well. Very friendly staff! Will definitely be back!!

Sooo good and everyone is so nice and polite!! Best tacos i've had in my life! The place is super cute

When I discovered Abuelita'a had birria tacos I couldn't wait to get over and try them ASAP! I just know their beautiful abuela was sprinkling love all up in those pots because it's so good. The decor is colorful and welcoming and the playlist made me want to get up dance. They offer a variety of salsa, beverages including beer & Mexican soda and desserts. The quesabirria tacos were next level delicious. Super duper yum! A whole fiesta in my mouth! If you haven't been to visit yet, make sure you go soon! These tacos in particular are available Tuesday-Sunday.

If you're looking for authentic and delicious guiso, then go here! Not sure what the low reviewers were looking for, but they should've been looking for the guiso. Is this place fancy? No. Do they serve craft cocktails? No. Are they known for their margaritas, chips and salsa? No. Go to this place if you're looking for Mexican stew like my grandmother use to make for Sunday dinner, and you'll be pleasantly surprised! Absolutely delicious!!!

Clean, fresh, unique. Really great tres leches and all authentic meals. Menu is short and sweet. Don't sleep on this little hole in the wall spot.

Visiting from Florida, we looked around for a good spot for some late lunch . Came across Abuelita's, walked iinto a beautiful Mexican decorated restaurant and greeted with great energy. She asked us if we have been here before or if you were new customers, informed her we are new customers and she broke down the way that they served and the kind proteins they had from steak , pork , chicken and cauliflower (vegetarian option) which are marinated in different ingredients. They do allow you to taste test which helps you pick out you favorite. This food is definitely homemade cause WOW the flavor and tenderness. The chico plate you get one stew, rice and beans. The tamales amazing not dry at all and the perfect amount of spiciness for those that don't have a strong spice palette

AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD! Trust me! My boyfriend is Mexican :) ...Food tastes AMAZING! Service is great and ambience makes you feel like you are in a family restaurant in a small town in Mexico.

Delicious chicken tinga! Friendly, clean, pleasant atmosphere. Second time here, will be back again.

Not made to order. Food was not made fresh. It was extremely greasy. Consume was watery and flavorless. Not worth it