Palenque kitchen by Mezcal

my family and i came for mother’s day dinner and it was such a great experience! the drinks were delicious and refreshing, the food was A+, and our server Eddie was so kind and attentive! would definitely come again for dinner or to try their famous brunch next time :) 10/10 recommend!!

This is my go to spot for upscale Mexican in Riverside. Service is always spot on, the food is flavorful and the atmosphere is great. Eddie did a wonderful taking care of us for an early Mother’s Day celebration! Will definitely be back soon!

Our waiter was Christian. He was very helpful with every question we have on the menu. Great service was provided! He made out experience wonderful!

Was there for Brunch last Saturday celebrating my Nephews Birthday. The vibe was lovely! Dj Ralphy was dope! Probably one of the best DJ sets I've ever heard and the food was excellent! What in the fuck did you put in those Blueberry pancakes!? Lemon crack?! Because if I wouldnve gotten so full I would've ordered another stack! Even our server was very pleasant (sorry I forgot his name) and attentive. As a restaurant manager who's been in the industry for years, I was very impressed by the establishments commitment to it's excellence. Exceptional indeed! Stay Great!

Celebrated an anniversary here and it was great. The food portions were big and there is a great atmosphere. Our server Eddie was quick and attentive.

Had chicken tacos and they were delicious. So flavorful and I am picky about flavor. The meal also came with a margarita and a dessert. I got the pound cake and was in love at first bite. It was almost too buttery but was just right and it was warm when served. I kind of want to go back for more! Only downside is they're a little pricey but worth it if you want to treat yourself because the food is delicious!

This restaurant was incredible! Our server, Eddie, went above and beyond—he was attentive throughout the meal and made sure we had everything we needed. He even let us in on a few off-menu specials, including the Patron Margarita Tower, which was a standout. Excellent service and a great overall experience!

Delicious margaritas.. the Chile Pepino & the Mercadito were absolutely refreshing and delicious! Christian, our server Christian was extremely friendly!

The food was great, ambiance exciting and our waitress was excellent! Thank you Sally!

I came on a Monday night and it was very lovely, we came to celebrate an early Valentine's Day dinner date with my wife and the service was amazing! Sally was out waitress and she was very helpful and welcoming and brought us everything we asked for In a timely manner! The food was also amazing their torta cubana was so delicious. If you're ever in the area I recommend coming here!!!

Absolute the best service. Sally was the best. Loved my time here. I would definitely come back again. Drinks are delicious.

Situated in the culture and arts area of Riverside, this place was easy to get to from the hotel I stayed in for the week on business. Inside was beautiful and gave you Mayan heritage feel. They didn't have happy hour, however their drinks were reasonably priced. There were 4 of us so we ordered several things to try. The taquitos, ceviche w/ tortillas, fried octopus, queso were amazing! Our waiter was so nice and gave us a history lesson about the name of the restaurant and helped me figure out which mezcal I was going to try for the first time. Their chicken fajitas were really good also. They played good music which made the vibe even better along with the food and drinks. I would go back here for sure and try other dishes.

The waitress was very attentive and checked on our table frequently. My favorite thing at any restaurant is what they serve complimentary. Whether if it's bread or chips and salsa. That's what people look forward to and it was disappointing that you have to pay for chips and salsa here. They give you very little chips and small cups of salsa that doesn't pack any heat. The cubana sandwich was good. I think it can be shared between 2-people. The atmosphere is cool and I can understand why people come here. Nice decor and is a place you want to take pictures with your friends. It definitely isn't a place for me. I like quiet place to have dinner and to be able to enjoy conversation. Also it's a one man restroom so you have to wait in line to use it.

Service was great! Irene was on point. Recommend tacos and drinks and all were great! Fish tacos were the best!! Had two rounds of them, didn't disappoint. Beer was cold and top shelf alcohol did the job. Give this place a chance!

I'd been wanting to try this brunch place, and it was pretty good. The food was tasty, way better than I even expected. Seriously, the flavors were bomb. The environment was fun and energetic. They had a DJ playing, which made it perfect for a Sunday Funday brunch with friends. Just a heads-up, though, it might be a bit too loud for little kids - toddlers might get a bit overwhelmed. And yeah, the food was awesome, but it was a little on the pricey side. Just something to keep in mind if deciding to dine here.

Check out Palenque in Downtown Riverside to enjoy traditional Mexican dishes with a different twist, in a more upscale, modern setting. The food had great flavors that went well with one of the signature cocktails. I started off with the Sandia Pepino, A Margarita with watermelon infused tequila, house citrus, blue agave, tajin rim. I tried the combo Fajita plate with sautéed poblano mixed peppers, onions, butter, sour cream, mexican rice, beans, warm tortillas, and guacamole. We were welcomed and seated right away. Great service! Definitely will be back the next time I'm in the area.

I booked reservations for a Saturday night and we were seated within a few minutes. Service was nice, our waiter was friendly despite seeming very busy. The restaurant is just a quick 5 minute walk from the Mission Inn. The inside is on the smaller to medium size with aesthetically pleasing neon lights in dim lighting. The food was just okay to me. The best thing was the guacamole but they such a little scoop in a big bowl. The presentation looked a bit disappointing because of that. I ordered the chicken enchiladas and the verde sauce had too much acidity for my liking. The chicken was moist but the flavor was okay. The Spanish rice was undercooked and hard with a funny chlorine taste to it. The margaritas were also a better a highlight as it was strong and pretty to look at it. Although the atmosphere is fun for a night out, I've had way better Mexican food at higher end places that cost just as much if not less.

Was in the area for the Riverside Mission Christmas lights and wanted a bite to eat. Located in the center downtown Riverside, definitely a great spot for Mexican food. Given how many people were in the area for the lights we were pleasantly surprised at how quickly we were seated by the hostess. Our server Jose is the sweetest! He came by immediately and brought us waters and got our orders for food. He even gave us some suggestions on popular drinks! He came by a couple of times to check on us and always has a smile on his face. Watermelon margarita 10/5 - took Jose's suggestion and got the margarita. Even comes with a slice of cucumber! Delicious and super addicting. Could've drank 10 of these. Fish tacos 5/5 - 2 beer battered fish tacos were delicious. Fish tasted fresh and seasoned well. Comes with a side of Mexican rice and beans. Fajitas 4/5 - comes with all the fixings of a fajita plate including meat, Mexican rice, beans, guacamole, sour cream, and tortillas. The meat was a little watery for my taste. Other than that flavors were great. Will definitely come back to try more stuff on their menu!

We visited Riverside last night for the Festival of Lights at the Mission and decided to grab some food beforehand. I had initially booked a reservation at another restaurant, but this place caught my eye and looked way better--so glad we switched! We arrived just before 5 PM, and they were able to seat our party of four right away. Perfect timing, because shortly after, the restaurant completely filled up, and a line started forming outside. The Festival of Lights clearly draws a crowd, and without reservations, we were lucky to get in. Had we arrived any later, we might've missed out on this gem! I consider myself a Michelada connoisseur, so I have to say the drink was just okay--but that's the only thing I wasn't wowed by. The carnitas plate? Phenomenal. Everyone at my table ended up stealing bites from my plate after seeing how good it looked and confirming it tasted even better. The fresh guacamole was another standout, and the esquites were pretty tasty as well. The service was excellent, and the staff was both attentive and (bonus points!) very good-looking. They made sure we had everything we needed throughout the meal. This spot is definitely worth a visit. I'd love to come back, but it'll likely be next year during the Festival of Lights again. Highly recommend this place if you're in the area--just be sure to arrive early!

We recently stayed at the Mission Inn and found Palenque on Yelp and decided to give it a try. The place is very close to the hotel so you can easily walk here. It's located in the Main Street mall with outside and inside seating. The restaurant has a club vibe (very sleek and modern) and has a good size bar in the middle. My bf and I both ordered tacos. I got quesa birria and he got asada. The menu says you get two large tacos with beans and rice for $25. I was hoping these tacos were on the bigger side but they were about your average size tacos. Everything on my plate was good, just pricey. Service was great. We got seated right away and our food came out fairly quickly. Our server was very friendly, too. It was a good dinner but the portion was quite small for the price.

It was my first time at Palenque this evening. We ordered papas bravas for our appetizer and for my entree, I ordered the quesa birria tacos. The papas bravas were slightly spicy with a good crisp, very flavorful. My quesa birria tacos were tasty, but on the oily side. The meat itself was tender and juicy. The ambiance was great and the inside had such a fun vibe! Also, our server was nice. It was a good time for a Sunday evening dinner!

I really dislike having to give places mid reviews because I know how hard everyone works. With that being said, I'll just state our experience. Hostess was very kind and so was our waitress. They were busy so it could be why things were a little all over the place but here we go. We wanted to order a bottle of the Terrazas Chardonnay, and when the bottle was brought out to us, it was Robert Mondavi. The waitress didn't even present the bottle to show us the wine, and I only noticed it when I went to pour it. I asked her about it and she said "oh I didn't even notice, I'll go ask the back about it". When she came back, she said they gave us the Mondavi bottle because they were out of the Terraza. Shouldn't she have come back and let us know that, before giving us a different bottle of wine? Of course the issue is not the wine being different, the issue is that there was no communication about it. The food was alright, I got steak fajitas and my parents got chicken fajitas. My steak was very tough and made it hard to chew. We were also not told that the tortillas were extra?? $3 for corn and $8 for flour??? We noticed once it was on the bill. Again, why would you ask us what tortillas we want and not bother to tell us that they''re extra? I didn't even eat mine, and I still had to pay $8 for them. Not to mention they only gave 2 small tortillas per plate. I dont know, overall it was a pretty disappointing experience. Maybe we just ordered the wrong things? Maybe everyone was having an off day? Either way, communication should have been better. Wishing this place continued success.

Came here with a reservation on new years eve and sat outside. Their patio made for good people watching but was pretty bland in terms of decor overall. We had the queso with chorizo to start which was good but only came with two tiny tortillas for almost $20....umm....okay? We were also surprised that they didn't have any chips and salsa (not for free and none on the menu either...) My husband got the asada plate and I got the carnitas tacos for dinner. The person who brought out our food gave me the wrong dish and it took about 10 minutes for our waitress to be spotted so we could make it right. My husbands food was getting cold so he went ahead and ate it and was practically done by the time my correct dish showed up. Two tiny tacos for over $20 with a tiny side of rice and beans. The carnitas tacos were dry - there was no sauce or salsa. The margarita flight was good as was my husbands cocktail. The bill before tipping was just shy of $120. Ridiculous for the tiny portions and the nothing-special food. You're paying for the location for sure. We won't be back.

I've only ever gone here for their weekend brunch and it's always been fun. The restaurant is lively, filled with patrons during this time. The service is quick, we do hit some bumps here and there about items not being available, but we just adjust the order and it comes right out. I like the enchiladas the most and crave them from time to time. It's a good place to meet up with friends for brunch and drinks.

Thank you Sally for the amazing service you provided. The food and drinks were amazing. Can't wait to come back again. Sally was so attractive and welcoming.

What a cute date night spot. My boo took me here for our first date. He ate his plate before I could take a picture but he had the carne asada plate. I have the chicken enchiladas. The plate was amazing. Each bite was full of flavor. The server was very kind and attentive to our needs. The hostess got us a table very quickly.

Came in with my daughters for early dinner, the service and food was great. Sally was very attentive and friendly. The location has a tropical and modern feel. Highly recommend the birria tacos! We also indulged in dessert -- churros & the Palenque cake.

Hostess was friendly however told us would be a two hour wait unless we sat at bar; but there were couple open tables. The music was good, bartender was friendly. I enjoyed the my drinks.

I had an early dinner on Sunday. The host and our waitress were nice, and welcoming. The restaurant itself was clean and good for photos. The food was also good, the potatoes were decent- missing some flavors but when I added a piece of carnitas it tastes better! The enchiladas were spicy but good flavors. I would come back! A little overpriced.

Well I haven't been out here to Riverside in a while, and I'm glad I did because this place was great me and the family took down everything an there desserts were amazing just getting away from O.C to try some good food. Definitely coming back to this spot

No please! 2 tacos 25 dolars and u call that a taco whit nasty chorizo, May you guys and cookers need to travel more to CDMX and learn what's a Taco. And the cesar salad it's a jock and nasty too. How something very simple can be nasty.

I decided to stop by for lunch and once walking in the interior of the restaurant looked amazing. Employees were welcoming and seated us describing where to find the menu and checked back frequently to take our order. The food tasted great the birria tacos were delicious and the chorizo bowl was flavorful and authentic. I'm definitely coming back for a dinner date.

Can you give a place 0 stars. Service, no such thing, it was a struggle to get someone to wait on you, had to get up to find some one to ask them for everything. Food, they have you 2 tortillas with a plate of Queso Fondido, had to order two more tortillas and got charged for a side of tortillas. The saving grace was the food was taste. Drink, how can you mess up a Modelo and a chili Pepino, those were tasty. Value, over price, I don't know much more to say. Overall experience, I wanted to give them 0 stars, but force to apply at least one. They could have gotten 2 if they would have just cared.

Came for Anniversary Dinner and our server Sally was great!!! Our food was delicious. And the Margarita Flights are a must have.

The food is nothing short of exceptional.The ambiance was warm and inviting making it a great place to unwind and enjoy a meal.

If you're on the hunt for an unforgettable Mexican brunch, this spot is a must-visit. I was thoroughly impressed with everything I tried, starting with their expertly crafted michelada. The mix was perfectly balanced, offering a refreshing and flavorful kick that set the tone for the meal. The chorizo and egg scrambler appetizer was a standout. Each bite was bursting with savory flavor, and it was the perfect prelude to the main course. Speaking of which, the huevos rancheros were phenomenal. The habanero salsa elevated the dish with just the right amount of heat and bold flavor, tying everything together beautifully. I can't recommend this place enough for brunch lovers. The dishes are fresh, flavorful, and authentic, with an inviting atmosphere that makes it even better. Don't miss out on their michelada--it's a game changer!

First of all Victor was AMAZING. So kind and professional. We asked about the agua chile dish and he said it's only served at dinner but he would check. He came back and said the chefs were willing to make it! Amazing service and gave great recommendations to where to go next. I can't say enough amazing things about Victor!

Decided to go last minute and to our surprise we waited 10 minutes max for a table! Our waitress was great! I wish I would've remembered her name. We ordered drinks which were really good. Our food was served fairly quick and was authentic. Carnitas, shrimp fajitas and grilled octopus. Good vibes both inside and out and as an added bonus, it was Christmas time so the atmosphere was great! We'll surly be back!

We came here on a Friday night and were seated right away. The food was really good the steak tacos were fire!! And the patron tree was so fun and actually really good!! The environment was fun and the lights are nice. The only downfall is the one restroom and having to wait but other than that this place is really good!

The ambience is so cute I love how they have the lights dimmed it's the perfect environment for date night. I love football so I'm glad to see the establishment had those options available. That french toast was some of the best I ever had 20/10 exceeded my expectations!

We ventured out in search for new eateries and we ended up in Riverside's Palenque restaurant. The restaurant is located on the high street surrounded by other food spots. The restaurant played loud music outside so it definitely drew our attention from a distance. Unfortunately, the same loud music was played inside which is not ideal if you want to have conversation with your companions during dinner. The food we ordered was tasty. The plates were presented well and arrived in timely manner. The flavours of Mexican cuisine were present. The food had good amount of seasoning. Jumbo shrimp in my dish were well cooked and tasted good. The sauce paired well with shrimp, rice, and vegetables that were soft but also retained some crunch. Fajita plate was equally tasty. Fresh pico, tender pieces of meats and warm tortillas. The restaurant offers different drinks as well. You can opt for cocktails, wine, or beers. Our dining was enjoyable thanks to professional waiter who attended our table frequently and took good care of us during our stay.

They were so busy, I honestly thought they wouldn't be able to accommodate us. They were able to seat us right away. Drinks went down way too easy. Our server, Sonya, was so sweet and friendly. Food came out quick. Everything tasted wonderful. DJ was amazing. We loved the atmosphere.

Food was good! Service needs ALOT of improvement Restaurant only had (1) multi-gender bathroom to service entire restaurant of approximately 100 pple

Came for the reviews and the ambience, mostly Food was just ok. Service was wonderful. The guac was very fresh. I loved the hefty chunks of avocado tucked within and it came with a generous portion of tortilla chips. The fish taco plate (2 tacos) came with a side of beans and rice. The sauteed bell peppers were a great addition to the tacos, but the corn tortilla fell apart pretty early on, so I ended up eating the rest with a fork. The interior is cute and vibey, but there were more than a few questionable characters loitering around the corner from the restaurant.

First time with my wife and daughter for Christmas, around the mission inn. Delicious tacos!!

I went to palenque after a long day of working out in Riverside and it was pretty good! In all, we got queso fundido, papas bravas, and i got the chicken milanesa. The queso fundido both my friend and I were not a fan of. It came with soggy mushrooms that weren't too good. The papas bravas were good but genuinely were just roasted potatoes. Nothing crazy. Lastly, the chicken milanesa had such a crispy coating and the flavor was really good! The service was great! Our server kept coming asking if we needed anything and filling our water. When we didnt know what to order he was super patient with us. The inside is small but plenty of places to sit. The bar is cute and the space is intimate but it was nice!

We hosted our moms 70th birthday at the restaurant and we were pleased with their staff. They provided our party with a private room. Their brunch menu is great and pricing is reasonable. We enjoyed the food and drinks. We want to thank them for allowing us to bring a Mariachi. It was a memorable celebration. Our server Felix was great! Thank you all again for going out of your way. We appreciate it! Our family had a great time.

Fast attentive service with an amazing ambiance. You won't find a better margarita in all the IE!!

Timely and attentive service. Order taken quickly and food came out super fast! Started with the shrimp ceviche and margarita flight. Did not disappoint. My husband got the chicken enchiladas and I got the beef fajita. The food tasted very fresh and flavorful. Would definitely go back!

This place has the hands-down best in-house Michelada mix in downtown Riverside! Definitely love the delicious drinks and their margaritas are so fire! They have an happy hour from 5pm to 630pm, so you can come and get multiple drinks for a great price! The vibe was very upscale and loved the music playing to get you ready for your night out in the town. This is the perfect place to stop before heading to Mezcal and the food is so delicious! please try the posole because it is the best I've had in the Inland Empire! Super grateful to my server, Victor for going above and beyond and explaining all the items on the menu to me. Sometimes I can get picky and like to know recommendation, so I'm happy that he assisted me with a smile on his face the entire time. Nothing's better than delicious drinks, yummy food, and amazing service. i'll definitely be back.

I came in after a long day of work, so the staffs energy helped picked me up. I enjoyed a mango marg, and it was exactly what I needed. The inside is unique, not like another back wash version of everything else, dark, moody and contemporary but not boasting with gaudy decor. Overall stop by, enjoy a drink, and yes the food.

Went to see the Mission Inn Christmas lights on December and stumbled upon Palenque. After checking my Yelp for the reviews...we decided to venture in for some dinner. Palenque has a cool vibe, with a great bar, felt like I was in Miami. We started with the guacamole, very delicious, with pepitas on top. It's a really small portion, more appropriate for one to two persons. The Mexican street corn was very delicious too. My family had pazole, some also had the fajitas, both were very good. One small complaint, the fajitas did not come to the table the way they usually do, with all the fanfare of a sizzling, smoky skillet. Still, they were delicious. I ordered the fish tacos...which were very tasty. I would definitely come back to Palenque, since I was driving I couldn't try the mescal drinks...so next time, I'll make my husband drive. :-)

Loud and obnoxious. Service? Amazing. Food? Decent Cleanliness. Good. Let's get into it! Upon walking home we were greeted immediately. Took about 10mins for them to clear a table for brunch on a Sunday. I realize it was quite busy at this time. However make your new customers know what's going on. Instead of just having us stand in the front looking like idiots. Have more communication. Finally we were brought to our table. Asked to change tables as the first option was crowded all around and oddly placed. They acknowledged us to another table all good. Moving onto the ordering and food. Our waitress was very attentive and cool. She really did make us feel special and made it a personal and great experience. Huevos rancheros. Verde sauce was very mild. Eggs cooked perfectly. All ingredients fresh. Tortillas were tasty. I'd definitely order this again. Chilaquiles Red was spicy and a very large plate. Green was far more mild and a much smaller plate. Not sure how the consistency is with portions. But seems a little off here. Now let's get to the music. So loud I couldn't even hear myself think. And this is during brunch like god damn. Turn it down maybe just by 1 so people can talk? That'd be ideal. So overall. Will I return? Sure and hopefully dinner is a new experience. With a better review and better food and less music. Bathrooms were clean. Tables were kinda clean? Things definitely need more attention with the closing crew for cleaning. Be back soon.

Disappointing. Let's talk atmosphere and Ambiance. The place is not large, like a regular size restaurant. Tables are set up around a large horseshoe bar in the middle of the place, with TV screens around the walls. So it gives off the vibe of a sports bar, trying to pass off as a higher end restaurant or a bar recently converted to a restaurant. Especially, with dance music being blasted through the speakers. Way too loud. Overall just average. Food: Was nothing to write home about and was overpriced. Better off going to a high-end steak house or El Torito for the same quality food and pay less. Got the steak tampenique with black beans and corn. Ordered it medium well, it came medium, a little on the rare side. It was just ok. The person I was with, got the carne asada with veggies. It was cooked right and the veggies were the best thing on the plate. Meats had little seasoning and lacked full flavor. Appetizer was the queso fundido with rayas de chile. This was good. Comes with tortillas, but it's better with chips. Ordered 2 different aguas frescas and had to return both, because they tasted watered down and lacked sweetener. Again just average. Service: Was also average. We were sat at a very small table, which we made the most of. There was another couple next to us at a much larger table, so when they left we asked if we could move over. Mind you this was before we ordered any food. We were told no, because the they had a party of 24 coming. So it was part of it, and so was our table, so either way that party has to wait until we left and another party next to us. It wouldn't have affected them in any negative way. Instead we were affected negatively by it. Poor customer service. IDK how or why this place has received a high rating, but don't be fooled by it. I don't recommend this place, there are many other better options.

I'm disappointed to give this place a 2 based off my experience. The food and ambiance were 5/5. However, there needs to be improvement to the operations and training of employees. I made a reservation on OpenTable and was marked as a no show which resulted in a $90 charge ($30 per person). I marked it as an error when notified by OpenTable via email but was not refunded because I have to contact the restaurant to get the refund. I called during the daytime hours and the employee who answered wasn't able to help me process the refund. He took down my number and said he'd give me up update but never did. He didn't even seem to feel bad that there was an error on behalf of the restaurant. I had to call again during the evening and was assisted by another employee who was able to process the refund. To add on to the negative experience, we let our server know that we were celebrating a friend's birthday and she said she can offer us a little pastry. Little did we know that there would be a charge for this! We have already left the restaurant and were pretty appalled as these things should be stated as there is a charge ... this item's not even on the menu. The food was good and it's the only reason why I'm giving this place stars. We ordered so much for the 3 of us and had plenty of leftovers. Huge portions. We got the potatoes, guacamole, carne asada tacos, and shrimp fajitas.

Great service and great food. The margarita flight was refreshing and delicious! Sally, our waitress was attentive and welcoming would come back :)

We came by here on a Sunday night when we were in town for the Festival of Lights. It was extremely disappointing. We probably should have taken the hint when we were able to walk in and get a table, but figured it was just getting late. Everyone in our party loves Mexican food, and it was good, but it's never a good sign when you leave feeling like you were ripped off. The portions were small, prices were ridiculously high and they charged for everything, even spicier salsa (which wasn't spicy) when we paid for chips and salsa. I think it's pretty egregious that they charge $7 for steak in fajitas--what? So if I didn't order steak or chicken then I would just get a plate of sauteed onions and peppers for $23? And, it was not a generous portion of meat. Flavor of the meat was fine, the chicken enchiladas (yup, they charge for chicken too) were tasty, but my husband was still hungry since it only comes with two and they're pretty small. Service was okay. Cocktail list wasn't very impressive, so I just ordered a mediocre wine instead. The decor and ambiance reminds me more of a nightclub than a restaurant with bright colors and loud music. I'm really surprised that this place has such great reviews. Maybe they used to be better pre-COVID, but I really doubt we'd come back and I couldn't recommend it to anyone in the area.