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Palenque Kitchen - Riverside, Riverside, CA

Palenque Kitchen - Riverside

4.4
4.4
395 Reviews
$30 and under
Mexican

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 8 times today
  • Good for business meals
  • Good for groups
  • Great for creative cocktails
Right in the midst of downtown Riverside, California, is Palenque Kitchen. It is said to have the best Mexican in downtown Riverside. The funky atmosphere features colored lighting, lounge areas and some Mexican art. The private dining area is also ideal to book your celebration or event. The hip and fun staff will help you choose from all the amazing dishes on offer.

Palenque Kitchen serves up authentic regional Mexican cuisine but with a modern twist. Start with one of handcrafted margaritas we offer or a beer if liquor is not your preference. Our Ceviche baja style is the perfect starter to share with the group. Fish tacos, carnitas and carne asada and El Patron our signature dish, are just feature some of the many amazing entree options. Top off your meal with our Palenque Cake or some authentic churros.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Latin / Spanish, Mexican / Regional American (Southwestern)
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–2:30 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–12:30 am Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (951) 888-2240
  • Website
    http://www.palenquekitchen.com/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Rolando Rubalcava
  • Private party facilities
    From 15-350 guests capacity, private dining rooms available, two patios and separate atmospheres, custom menus and banquet menus, on site banquet coordinator, we can cater to most requests, Palenque Kitchen amazing decor transport you to Mexico and makes your experience unforgettable delight
  • Location
    3737 Main Street, Suite 101, Riverside, CA 92501
  • Neighbourhood
    Riverside
  • Cross Street
    University Ave
  • Parking details
    Park on the building's structure on Market St. between University Ave. and Mission Inn Ave.
  • Entertainment
    Live music, hispanic art, special events.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Dancing, Delivery, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Menu

Appetizers

  • Papas BravasUS$14.70

    crispy potatoes chile Morita cotija cheese scallions crema

    • add CarnitasUS$4.00

  • Queso FundidoUS$17.00

    Mexican cheese blend, shiitake mushrooms, flour tortillas, choice of homemade chorizo or rajas poblanas

    • Shrimp CevicheUS$21.00

      Mexican shrimp, cucumbers, red onion, tomato serrano pepper, avocado, lime, soy

      • Shrimp AguachileUS$24.15

        Lime cured mexican white shrimp, spicy citrus broth farmers market tomato, cucumber, avocado

        • GuacamoleUS$17.85

          avocado, spicy pepitas, pico de gallo, cotija cheese, corn tortilla chips

          • EsquiteUS$14.00

            Yellow corn, butter, cotija cheese chile morita ai-oli

            • Chicken TaquitosUS$16.75

              Chicken Tinga, pico de gallo, queso fresco, crema, tomatillo sauce, black bean puree, cotija cheese

              • NachosUS$21.00

                Melted cheese, pico de gallo crema pickled onions, jalapeños, chipotle ai-oli, queso fresco

                • Chips & SalsaUS$5.00

                  SOUPS

                  red chile chicken broth, hominy, shredded cabbage, radish, red onions, served with tostadas

                  • Pozole VerdeUS$13.65

                    red chile chicken broth, hominy, shredded cabbage, radish, red onions, served with tostadas

                    SALADS

                    • Caesar SaladUS$19.95

                      Romaine hearts, croutons, parmesan lemon, caesar dressing

                      • House SaladUS$17.85

                        Spring mix, cherry tomatoes, pepitas, cotija cheese cucumber, house chili balsamic vinaigrette

                        House Specialties/Main Entrees

                        • Chicken MilanesaUS$25.00

                          ABF breaded chicken breast, lemon aioli, arugula, shallot, fried capers

                          • Asada SteakUS$35.00

                            Grilled 8oz flat iron steak, cebollitas, market vegetables, black beans, chile toreado, warm tortillas

                            • RareUS$0.00
                            • Medium RareUS$0.00
                            • MediumUS$0.00
                            • Medium WellUS$0.00
                            • WellUS$0.00

                          • Tampiquena SteakUS$47.00

                            3oz choice black Angus steak, chicken taquito avocado, esquite, refried beans, corn tortillas

                            • RareUS$0.00
                            • Medium RareUS$0.00
                            • MediumUS$0.00
                            • Medium WellUS$0.00
                            • WellUS$0.00

                          • CarnitasUS$29.00

                            Confit natural pork, jalapeños, house pickles, mexican rice beans, fresh tomatillo sauce, warm tortillas

                            • Camarones a la DiablaUS$34.00

                              Sautéed mexican shrimp, habanero butter, house rice, market vegetables

                              • El Jefe PlateUS$58.00

                                Grilled pork chop, bacon wrapped shrimp, house rice, papas bravas, sour cream, scallions

                                • Torta CubanaUS$22.05

                                  Locally sourced toasted telera roll, ham, refried beans, carnitas, pollo milanesa, queso blanco, lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado

                                  • EnchiladasUS$24.00

                                    Two enchiladas, mexican cheese blend, chile verde, queso fresco, cream, mexican rice, refried beans

                                    • Add ChickenUS$7.00
                                    • Add BirriaUS$7.00
                                    • Add ShrimpUS$10.00

                                  • FajitasUS$23.00

                                    Sautéed poblano mixed peppers, onions, mexican rice, beans warm tortillas, guacamole

                                    • ChickenUS$4.00
                                    • SteakUS$6.00
                                    • VeggieUS$2.00
                                    • ShrimpUS$7.00
                                    • ChickenUS$0.00
                                    • ShrimpUS$0.00
                                    • SteakUS$0.00
                                    • VeggieUS$0.00

                                  Tacos

                                  • Asada Steak TacosUS$24.15

                                    Steak asada, pico de galllo, avocado sauce, cilantro

                                    • Bacon Wrapped Shrimp TacosUS$24.15

                                      Bacon, white shrimp, rice, house made thousand island spread, topped with arugula shaved onion salad

                                      • Baja Fish TacosUS$22.05

                                        local fish/ beer-battered, slaw chipotle aioli, black beans

                                        • Campechano TacosUS$24.15

                                          Flour tortillas, frijoles, steak, chorizo habanero sauce, red onion

                                          • Carnitas TacosUS$22.05

                                            Confit natural pork, jalapeños, house pickles, fresh tomatillo sauce

                                            • Prime Steak TacoUS$26.25

                                              Angus steak, caramelized onions, bacon, cheese, pico de gallo

                                              • Quesa Birria TacosUS$24.15

                                                2 corn tortilla quesadilla/ loaded with slow-braised beef birria, served with consome

                                                Dinner Sides

                                                • Black BeansUS$7.35

                                                  • Market VegetablesUS$7.35

                                                    • Mexican RiceUS$7.35

                                                      • Palenque RiceUS$7.35

                                                        • Refried BeansUS$7.35

                                                          • Sour CreamUS$3.15

                                                            • $ Side Pico De GalloUS$3.15

                                                              • $ Side GuacamoleUS$7.35

                                                                • $ Side HabaneroUS$3.15

                                                                  • $ Side MoritaUS$3.15

                                                                    • $ Side Salsa CrudoUS$3.15

                                                                      • Side Avocado SauceUS$3.15

                                                                        • Side FriesUS$6.30

                                                                          • Sliced AvocadoUS$7.35

                                                                            • Side Flour TortillasUS$4.20

                                                                              • Side Corn TortillasUS$4.20

                                                                                • Side Rice&BeansUS$6.30

                                                                                  • Chile ToreadoUS$3.15

                                                                                    Dinner Desserts

                                                                                    • BrownieUS$15.00

                                                                                      Warm delicious dark chocolate brownie, mezcal cajeta, toasted nuts

                                                                                      • Churros Con ChocolateUS$14.00

                                                                                        Golden brown dough, cinnamon sugar, chocolate dipping sauce

                                                                                        • Palenque CakeUS$15.00

                                                                                          Toasted pound cake, piloncillo glaze, almond fresh cream, orange segments

                                                                                          Last updated: November 23, 2024

                                                                                          What 395 people are saying

                                                                                          Overall ratings and reviews

                                                                                          Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

                                                                                          4.4
                                                                                          4.4 based on recent ratings
                                                                                          • 4.4Food
                                                                                          • 4.3Service
                                                                                          • 4.3Ambience
                                                                                          • 4.1Value

                                                                                          Noise • Moderate

                                                                                          Loved For

                                                                                          • Inland Empire

                                                                                            Innovative

                                                                                          • Inland Empire

                                                                                            Healthy

                                                                                          • Inland Empire

                                                                                            Lively

                                                                                          • Inland Empire

                                                                                            Mexican

                                                                                          Review summary

                                                                                          AI-generated from verified diner reviews
                                                                                          Palenque Kitchen - Riverside offers a "fun and trendy" ambiance with a diverse and inclusive staff. Guests rave about the "deelish" food, "amazing" drinks, and "top notch" service. Perfect for family gatherings, the atmosphere allows for conversation without overpowering music. Ideal for brunch and special occasions.

                                                                                          395 Reviews

                                                                                          1. Angella

                                                                                            Orange County

                                                                                            13 reviews

                                                                                            vip
                                                                                            5.0

                                                                                            13 reviews

                                                                                            Dined 1 day ago

                                                                                            1. Overall 5
                                                                                            2. Food 5
                                                                                            3. Service 5
                                                                                            4. Ambience 5
                                                                                            Food was delicious. Drinks were great and the service was super fast and friendly.

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                                                                                          2. Fred

                                                                                            Los Angeles

                                                                                            1 review

                                                                                            vip
                                                                                            3.0

                                                                                            1 review

                                                                                            Dined on November 10, 2024

                                                                                            1. Overall 3
                                                                                            2. Food 3
                                                                                            3. Service 3
                                                                                            4. Ambience 3
                                                                                            They couldn’t find our reservation! Only bad thing

                                                                                            Is this helpful?

                                                                                          3. Kathleen

                                                                                            Orange County

                                                                                            1 review

                                                                                            4.0

                                                                                            1 review

                                                                                            Dined on November 10, 2024

                                                                                            1. Overall 4
                                                                                            2. Food 5
                                                                                            3. Service 4
                                                                                            4. Ambience 4
                                                                                            Very good food, right by the Mission Inn and walking distance to the Fox Theater.

                                                                                            Is this helpful?

                                                                                          4. OpenTable Diner

                                                                                            San Diego

                                                                                            2 reviews

                                                                                            5.0

                                                                                            2 reviews

                                                                                            Dined on November 10, 2024

                                                                                            1. Overall 5
                                                                                            2. Food 5
                                                                                            3. Service 5
                                                                                            4. Ambience 5
                                                                                            Was looking for a place to have dinner before an event. Found this place and we had a great time. Plenty of space at the time we went so we sat at the bar. Bartender was super attentive and friendly. Drinks came out kick and they were delicious. We had all appetizers but everything had flavor. The octopus was our favorite. Would come again.

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                                                                                          5. Linda

                                                                                            Hawaii

                                                                                            3 reviews

                                                                                            5.0

                                                                                            3 reviews

                                                                                            Dined on November 10, 2024

                                                                                            1. Overall 5
                                                                                            2. Food 5
                                                                                            3. Service 5
                                                                                            4. Ambience 4
                                                                                            Friendly, fast, flavorful, fun. I had a good time with my family. The pulpo and shrimp were excellent.

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                                                                                          6. Cup

                                                                                            San Diego

                                                                                            2 reviews

                                                                                            1.0

                                                                                            2 reviews

                                                                                            Dined on October 6, 2024

                                                                                            1. Overall 1
                                                                                            2. Food 1
                                                                                            3. Service 1
                                                                                            4. Ambience 1
                                                                                            My Pasole soup was served cold--not even luke warm. When I returned it and asked that I get a HOT bowl, the waiter gave attitude and was extremely rude and professional. So much so, that we had to ask for another waiter.

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                                                                                          7. A

                                                                                            Los Angeles

                                                                                            3 reviews

                                                                                            5.0

                                                                                            3 reviews

                                                                                            Dined on September 22, 2024

                                                                                            1. Overall 5
                                                                                            2. Food 4
                                                                                            3. Service 5
                                                                                            4. Ambience 5
                                                                                            We love the ambiance! The decor is beautiful and the restaurant is extremely clean. Staff are multicultural and different genders and ages! This was beautiful to see to be honest. So they are inclusive restaurant. The host, waiters/waitresses were all very professional and personable. Waiter was patient and explained the drinks and food items as it was our first time. The music was very loud which made it hard to speak to each other at first but then it was nice because we could only hear our table with music being so loud. The brunch was really good. We did not wait long after ordering. The food came out hot, fresh and presentable. The steak on the chilaquiles was different and some pieces hard to chew but the flavor was still great. The aqua gets as are refreshing but just packed with ice, ask for light ice. We will be coming back for sure. I highly recommend coming here for brunch if you’re in the area, we surely will be.

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                                                                                          8. ADAM

                                                                                            Chicago

                                                                                            4 reviews

                                                                                            vip
                                                                                            4.0

                                                                                            4 reviews

                                                                                            Dined on September 19, 2024

                                                                                            1. Overall 4
                                                                                            2. Food 3
                                                                                            3. Service 5
                                                                                            4. Ambience 4
                                                                                            At Palenque Kitchen Riverside, while the service is friendly and welcoming, the food doesn’t quite live up to expectations. I ordered the steak and shrimp fajitas, which were hot but not sizzling in the way fajitas should be, leaving the dish feeling a bit underwhelming. I also tried the Pulpo and Brussels sprouts dish, where the octopus came out mushy, a texture that detracted from the overall experience. The Brussels sprouts were fine, but the lack of proper texture in the octopus was disappointing. Overall, the meal was adequate, but it lacked the excitement or passion that could have made it stand out. It’s a decent spot for a casual meal, but don’t expect a culinary experience that will leave a lasting impression.

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                                                                                          9. Melanie

                                                                                            Los Angeles

                                                                                            1 review

                                                                                            1.0

                                                                                            1 review

                                                                                            Dined on August 18, 2024

                                                                                            1. Overall 1
                                                                                            2. Food 3
                                                                                            3. Service 1
                                                                                            4. Ambience 3
                                                                                            Sally was a B-word! Sally is not worried about getting fired! Sally thinks she can add extra charges for no reason! Sally was rude and has no experience with customer service although she is well over age. She doesn’t deserve a job or kindness!

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                                                                                          10. Alexus

                                                                                            Los Angeles

                                                                                            3 reviews

                                                                                            3.0

                                                                                            3 reviews

                                                                                            Dined on August 11, 2024

                                                                                            1. Overall 3
                                                                                            2. Food 3
                                                                                            3. Service 3
                                                                                            4. Ambience 4
                                                                                            I enjoyed my time at this restaurant. The servers were pretty standard, but kind the food was OK. It wasn’t the quality that we expected however, the nachos were amazing 10 out of 10

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                                                                                          FAQs

                                                                                          Palenque Kitchen - Riverside does offer delivery in partnership with Postmates. Palenque Kitchen - Riverside also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (951) 888-2240.

                                                                                          Palenque Kitchen - Riverside is rated 4.4 stars by 395 OpenTable diners.

                                                                                          Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

                                                                                          Make a reservation

                                                                                          2 people
                                                                                          7:00 p.m.
                                                                                          Booked 8 times today

                                                                                          Order delivery or takeout

                                                                                          Google Map for Palenque Kitchen - Riverside

                                                                                          3737 Main Street, Suite 101, Riverside, CA 92501

                                                                                          Additional information

                                                                                          • Cross Street
                                                                                            University Ave
                                                                                          • Neighbourhood
                                                                                            Riverside
                                                                                          • Hours of Operation
                                                                                            Mon 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–2:30 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–12:30 am Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
                                                                                          • Price
                                                                                            $30 and under
                                                                                          • Cuisines
                                                                                            Mexican, Latin / Spanish, Mexican / Regional American (Southwestern)
                                                                                          • Dining style
                                                                                            Casual Dining
                                                                                          • Dress code
                                                                                            Casual Dress
                                                                                          • Parking details
                                                                                            Park on the building's structure on Market St. between University Ave. and Mission Inn Ave.
                                                                                          • Payment Options
                                                                                            AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
                                                                                          • Executive Chef
                                                                                            Rolando Rubalcava
                                                                                          • Entertainment
                                                                                            Live music, hispanic art, special events.
                                                                                          • Additional
                                                                                            Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Dancing, Delivery, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
                                                                                          • Website
                                                                                            http://www.palenquekitchen.com/
                                                                                          • Phone number
                                                                                            (951) 888-2240
                                                                                          • Private party facilities
                                                                                            From 15-350 guests capacity, private dining rooms available, two patios and separate atmospheres, custom menus and banquet menus, on site banquet coordinator, we can cater to most requests, Palenque Kitchen amazing decor transport you to Mexico and makes your experience unforgettable delight
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