Traditional establishment offers standard Mexican eats amid iron chandeliers & brick ceilings.
Alexandra Whorley
I’m sorry I live so far away, otherwise I would probably be here every week! This was some of the best food and drinks I’ve ever had at a Mexican restaurant. And the service was great too! It’s homey and obviously a family friendly place. The next time I’m in Temecula, I intend to plan my day around a stop here.
… moreKathryn Jones, Realtor
The place was hopping on a Friday night, yet the wait wasn’t that bad. The pomegranate margaritas had a nice kick and the food was plentiful and delicious. Dessert? We had churros with fruit and ice cream. Topped off dinner nicely.
… moreArmando Padilla
The first thing you see entering the restaurant is a sign effectively stating there is a 75 minute cap per table. While unwelcoming, the rest of the physical environment was pleasant, mainly booths. Chips and salsa were served quickly and the salsa was good with a mild kick that built up. That was all the spice we would have. We ordered the pastor tacos and the enchiladas tapatias. My partner found the pastor to be too salty and lacking a pineapple taste. While the plate came with guac and pico (no kick at all, decent flavor), there was no salsa paired with the dish. My enchiladas came out very well, but also didn’t have much of a kick. Despite the lack of spice, the flavor for the enchilada/fajita plate is definitely worth a trip back. . . To go. The food was quick to come, but the service was distant. Staff looks generally discontent and our server specifically checked in our table once, and we had to reach out to get the check.
Tldr: Distant service. Fast decent food. No spice. Decent physical environment.
… moreDavid Jenkins
Asked for extra cheese, tortillas, and chips, and a refill. Waiter went on break, the manager came over and said what can I get for you? We replied “Roght away” and nothing ever came out. We like Mexico Cafe now, unfortunately this will be our last trip here. They also add 20% gratuity to your bill so where is the incentive to give good Service.
… moreSabrina S.
My friends and I stopped by this restaurant after realizing the first place we wanted to go to was going to be a long wait. We were able to snatch a table outside on the patio since our dogs were part of the guest list and a lovely server greeted us. He was entertaining and quite helpful but since we were the only guests sitting outside, he often seemingly forgot about us.
For appetizers, we got the freshly made guacamole to go with our chips and salsa. I finally got a chance to witness guacamole being freshly created in front of me! I was able to add or take away ingredients if I wanted to and I wish I asked for extra salt. For entrees, I wasn’t feeling too hungry so I went with the ceviche de pescado. Other entrees that were ordered but I didn’t try were the carne asada tacos (they strangely didn’t have street tacos), shrimp cocktail, and the chicken salad. Overall, everything tasted decent but nothing really stood out.
When we finally got the check, we were slapped in the face with a 20% service fee that was added onto the bill with no warning or explanation. It was a required fee and on the bottom of the receipt, it mentions that this doesn’t count as tip for the servers. This unfortunately soured our entire experience and we don’t wish to ever return to this establishment.
… moreHaydee Hernandez
Food was delicious, I had the fish ceviche and my mom had the fried fish tacos. The tortilla chips and salsa are also delicious. My mom and I had the jalapeno cucumber margarita. It was good too. The place smells like leather which didn’t bother me. Very nicely decorated and clean. Pretty decent size. Restroom available. Good customer service. Food prices are average to other restaurants with the exception of the Xtra 20% service charge. Each margarita was $15! Large menu good options.
… moreR M
Overall for take out a decent experience. The shrimp cocktail is $26 after tax. It’s only about 16 oz vs 22 oz like the menu shows. I’m sure there’s a more budget friendly option nearby but it worked for what I needed it for. Atmosphere inside was nice. I’ll have to try dine in option next time.
… moreIvy
The place itself was nice and well decorated. My family and I have have been to this specific location twice and we enjoyed it. The food was great and had no complaints about the taste or portion. The drinks were merely okay, I did not care for the Michelada or the Margarita on the rocks. I did try a Modelo on tap and we all know we can’t go wrong with that. They do charge a 20% gratuity fee and taxes on top of your bill. So, if our bill was about $72, with all the extra fees it actually came out to about $95 and this is not including tip. The service itself from waiter/waitress was not too great. I do not feel they were that attentive and forgot things when we ordered. However, there were more pros than cons, so that is why I rate this restaurant 5/5.
… moreAlison Willette
The good was okay, but great salsa and guacamole! I had the chicken chimichanga with rice and beans. The staff was great but very short on time. I think our waiter seemed very over extended. The staff were attentive but overwhelmed. Also, the margarita was the worst I’ve ever had.
… moreNoel A. Alicea Cintrón
OMG, this place is a gem! As a food connoisseur, I can confidently say that the food here is beyond impressive. The flavors are so authentic, it felt like a trip to Mexico with every bite.
The chicken pozole? Better than my grandma’s—sorry, Abuelita! The guacamole is a must-try; they make it fresh right in front of you, and you can customize it however you like. And the carnitas plate? Absolutely delicious—perfectly tender and flavorful! On top of the incredible food, the staff is unbelievably friendly and welcoming. I can’t recommend La Cocina enough—this spot is a true treasure!
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