Cocina Hijole Maria - 'Oh Whateva' — Restaurant in Concord

Not just some of the best Mexican food I’ve ever eaten, it’s some of the best food I’ve ever eaten period. It’s run by a grandma and her children and grandchildren all of whom are kind, friendly and do a great job.

As I read the other reviews, I see people complaining about 3 things. 1.) "It's loud." This is true. I chose to eat outdoors because the music inside was very loud. It's mostly reggaeton which I can't stand, but I know others enjoy. If I had to offer advice, I would recommend that they turn the music down, and pick a style of music that isn't so polarizing. 2.) "It took a long time to be waited on." This can also be true. They are family owned and operated and probably don't have enough servers to handle a rush of people. This will become a bigger problem as they get more popular. (And they no doubt will.) It would behoove them to staff up a bit. 3.) "Limited Menu." I guess this is true too, but I have no problem with that. I would much rather a restaurant feature a few incredibly delicious selections than give you a huge menu full of mediocre fare. And there's not an item on this menu I've tried so far that hasn't had me saying, "WOW!"

I'm not going to deduct any stars for any of the above factors because of how absolutely OUTSTANDING the food is. When you server up cuisine that fantastic, I'll put up with a lot. My recommendation: RUN, don’t walk, to Cocina Hijole Maria! You will not be...

Probably the freshest Mexican food you’ll find in town. The tortillas took me back to a spot I visited in MX about ten years ago, I’ve been searching for fresh-made tortillas ever since, and not many places in Concord offer them. The service was excellent, and for a newer restaurant, they seem to have things well dialed in.

I went with the chicken special; perfectly grilled thigh served with rice, beans, and tortillas. My girlfriend had the quesabirria taco with consommé, and it was absolutely fantastic. Everything was fresh and thoughtfully prepared.

The only drawback is the small dining area. It was a hot day, and while they do have a ductless mini-split AC, the unit’s placed near the kitchen. Still, it was bearable. I’ll definitely...

I can't say enough about our experience at Híjole Maria! We enjoyed some of the best Mexican food I've had the pleasure of eating in a long time. Being from Mexico I have very high standards and everything we had was delicious. The Mulita with chicken Tinga on homemade tortillas was divine, the torta was exceptionally good, and the chicken tacos my wife and daughter had were excellent as well. Chef Ana Maria and her son and daughter, Francisco and Ana were gracious and welcoming hosts, and I can't wait to go back this weekend for the Pozole Verde and a bespoke cocktail. 10 out of 10 stars. I highly recommend this wonderful new addition to our awesome town of Concord and I know it's going to be a place we go to often....