Taqueria La Penca Mexican Restaurant
Timothy Noyama-Zee · 25 Google reviewsTaqueria La Penca Mexican Restaurant — solid, no-fuss mexican in North Riverside. No shortcuts. You can taste the intention. The staff makes it feel personal, and owner-operated. "The menudo is fantastic every single time — rich flavor, great portions, and always fresh" — Nick
What 885 diners keep saying
What 885 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“Very good mole con pollo special👍 have been going here for years for the consistent and strong real margaritas, but this afternoon they were weak or forgot to add the tequila altogether. Not sure what happened, just tasted like sweet juice. Food always great”
“I’ve driven past Taqueria La Penca more times than I can count and somehow never realized it was a Mexican restaurant. After church one Sunday, we decided to finally give it a shot, and I’m honestly mad at myself for not stopping sooner. This place did not disappoint. The food was really good and you can tell it is locally owned and made with care. The owner was extremely friendly, super nice, and very attentive without hovering. The kind of service that makes you feel welcome instead of rushed. The horchata was really good, fresh tasting, and done right. The food overall was excellent and way better than I expected. I ordered the taco soup and it came with a cheese quesadilla that was amazing. The masa was so fresh you could taste it immediately. Not dry, not heavy, just perfect. We also ordered taco dinners and steak dinners, and everything was cooked fresh and served hot. No shortcuts here. This was exactly the kind of food you want after church on a Sunday. Comforting, filling, and made the right way. Overall, this place surprised me in the best way. Great food, great service, and a reminder that some of the best spots are the ones you almost miss while driving by. I’ll definitely be back.”
“My favorite spot for the BEST Margaritas Ever! Everything is delicious here so you can't go wrong! So many items to choose from! If In the area, this is your spot! Super friendly, local owner, highly recommend!”
“We did a to-go order which included a taco dinner and two tostadas-one Al pastor and one ceviche. It was incredible! We were greeted warmly upon arrival and the food took no time at all. Would recommend this spot and we can’t wait to go back.”
“Susana pick up the phone for an order. She’s very pleasant on the phone. & Met Max. Awesome service. Thank you for everyone who make this place possible from the cook to the server’s. Mari-Juana.😊👌🙏”
“I stopped in to try the fried quesadilla, a carne asada tostada and a chicken sope. I would definitely come back for the fried quesadilla. The carne asada was good and the chicken was just ok. The chips and salsa were ok. The staff was friendly.”
“The owner is a local and is in house often which has kept the food and service at a high quality.”
“La Penca has been our favorite place for years now. The atmosphere is always welcoming and friendly. The service is excellent—they know our regular orders and the food is delicious! The food is so good that we’ve even had them cater for special occasions. If you could use a night out to a friendly place with the best margaritas —La Penca is for you! Favorites: Tortilla soup, Gorditas, Burritos, cheese enchiladas, guacamole, Al pastor tacos, margaritas, fish tacos, tilapia à la plancha, refried beans and fantastic fries!”
“I've eaten at this restaurant many, many times over the years and honestly this neighborhood is lucky to have it. It's farther from me now so I don't get to go as much but I will stop by if I'm in the area. The burritos ranchero suiza is to die for.”
“Primera vez q venimos a este restaurante y la verdad todo esta muy rico el menudo ni se diga muy rico, los tacos de asada y pastor igual un 10 de 10”
“What a great guy Maximo is! Incredible story and food is DELICIOUS! You can tell he uses quality ingredients, meat is tender and seasoned just right!”
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