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Palenque Kitchen - Riverside, Riverside, CA

Palenque Kitchen - Riverside

3.6 (423)
$30 and under
Mexican
3737 Main Street, Suite 101, Riverside, CA 92501

Make a reservation

2 people
7:30 PM
Booked 1 time today

About this restaurant

  • Innovative
  • 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.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Latin / Spanish, Mexican / Southwestern
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–2:30 pm Lunch Fri 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–12:30 am Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • 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
  • Neighborhood
    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

What 423 people are saying

Palenque Kitchen - Riverside reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

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

3.6
3.6 based on recent ratings
  • 3.5Food
  • 3.7Service
  • 3.4Ambience
  • 3.2Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Inland Empire

    Innovative

  • Inland Empire

    Good for groups

  • Inland Empire

    Hot spot

  • Inland Empire

    Great for outdoor dining

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Palenque Kitchen - Riverside offers a vibrant atmosphere with standout "watermelon margaritas" and "delicious" cocktails. While some dishes like the "carnitas" and "campechano tacos" shine, service can be hit-or-miss. The ambiance sets the tone for a fun evening, and repeat visits are likely for those seeking generous portions and "excellent" food.
423 Reviews
  1. Kim VIP

    Los Angeles27 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    I visited Palenque Mexican Restaurant on Father’s Day with my tres amigos, and overall, it was a great experience! From the moment we walked in, the host who seated us was warm and welcoming, setting the tone for a good time. The real star of our visit was Sally—the bartender and our server—who was absolutely amazing. Her energy made the evening even more enjoyable, and her watermelon margaritas were next level. We loved them so much we each had about four! As for the food, it was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I ordered the camarones a la diabla, which I’ve had in the past and really enjoyed. Unfortunately, this time the sauce didn’t quite hit the same—it tasted reheated, and the consistency was off. It was still decent, but not what I remembered. On the bright side, my friends made better menu choices. The steak fajitas were flavorful and perfectly cooked, and the carnitas were hands-down the best dish at the table—crispy, juicy, and full of flavor. The bathrooms were clean (always a plus), and the atmosphere overall was vibrant and fun. Despite my so-so entree, I’ll definitely be back—especially for the drinks and to try more of the menu.

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  2. FrancoisG

    New York City20 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on May 11, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    Super overpriced...insane 300 dollars for a 140 meal...Never...NEVER going back to this back stabbing place.. NEVER AGAIN...

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  3. David

    Los Angeles1 review

    1.0

    Dined on May 11, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    The service was terrible. They didn't refill our waters, and they still made us tip an automatic gratuity of 17 percent even though there were only three of us. They don't serve dinner until 4, and we made a reservation at 2. Nowhere did it say that it was brunch at 2. Who eats eggs at 2 p.m.?? The ambiance is loud and obnoxious; they blast music. On top of that, it's expensive. Four enchiladas, a steak, and eggs were $120. We would not come again.

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  4. Jennifer

    San Diego1 review

    1.0

    Dined on May 11, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    We had a bad experience. We will never return to this restaurant. They took almost 2 hours to serve us our food we really wanted to have a good time and celebrate my birthday but it was a total opposite, we had  the worst experience we have never been treated so unfair. They literally served over 10 people before us, and the bill was still high for what we had to pay for. We will Definitely not Recommend this restaurant to anyone since the service was so poor

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  5. Gerardo

    Orange County1 review

    4.0

    Dined on May 3, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    The food was very good, and the portions were generous. A bit pricey, especially for the add-ons, but overall a good experience.

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  6. Cheryl

    California Central Coast3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 6, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We enjoyed our experience at Palenque. It was definitely a date night vibe. Our first time there and our waiter took time to explain the menu items and drinks with us.We be back again! '

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  7. Marycruz

    Los Angeles16 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on March 22, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was great drinks good service was ok wish it was a little better bartender wasn’t to happy when we asked to remake a drink

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  8. Landy

    Orange County5 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on March 16, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    I went for the Sunday Brunch. I had RSVP'd but my table was given away. They said it was a 10 minute grace period. They only had 1 line to get to the door person instead of 2 lines (general admission & RSVP). When I got to the door person I was 12 minutes late. I was in line a good 7-8 minutes of the 12 minutes. So I had to wait (about 40 minutes total). The menu is very limited. Not really any Breakfast items to chose from. The 2 breakfast items they did have (Pancakes or French Toast) didn't come with syrup. Yes they had no syrup or ran out of it. The vibe was good, but that was it.

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  9. TeeTee

    Los Angeles2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Jose great server who served my table. Reserved 2 and having a time of our life for my lady. The birthday girl. Food was good also great customer service. You will see us back soon

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  10. OpenTable Diner

    Los Angeles1 review

    3.0

    Dined on March 15, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I went in on a saturday without realizing they only serve brunch until 4pm which was a bummer bc i was looking forward to having some lunch but overall it was an okay experience

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Palenque Kitchen - Riverside offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (951) 888-2240.

Palenque Kitchen - Riverside is rated 3.6 stars by 423 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Los Angeles
  4. Inland Empire
  5. Riverside

Make a reservation

2 people
7:30 PM
Booked 1 time today
Google Map for Palenque Kitchen - Riverside

3737 Main Street, Suite 101, Riverside, CA 92501

Additional information

  • Cross street
    University Ave
  • Neighborhood
    Riverside
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–2:30 pm Lunch Fri 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–12:30 am Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Latin / Spanish, Mexican / 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
  • Phone number
  • 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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