Rosa Maria's Mexican Food — Restaurant in Highland

I went to Rosa Maria's #2, located on Boulder Ave. in Highland for the first time today, Friday, March 8, 2024 at 4:55pm (receipt attached). I ordered a chile relleno burrito. I asked if they can add carne asada and Oscar, the cashier, said they can only add pork or chicken. I told him no thanks I just want the Chile relleno. As I was driving home eating my burrito in traffic, I came across what felt like meat. To my dismay, I look down and see what looks like pork meat (picture attached). For religious reasons I do not eat pork and have not had any for more than 5 years.

I called the establishment and spoke to Alex and she said they can issue me a refund and replace it with something else for my hassle of time and gas. I don't live in Highland so I had to get off the freeway in heavy Friday afternoon traffic.

I went back and found out from Alex that they don't ask customers if they want chicken or pork . They assume that if a customer orders a "chile relleno burrito" that they want pork in it. They don't bother to ask customers. I asked Alex, how was I supposed to know that? I am a brand new customer, so how was I supposed to know that is how Rosa Maria operates? Not to mention, I did tell Oscar that I only wanted a chile relleno after he told me that they don't use carne asada, only pork or chicken. I told him I only wanted the Chile relleno.

I am so upset and absolutely shocked that such a large establishment with multiple locations can be so unprofessional, unethical, careless with their menu, terrible customer service and sloppy food preparation. There are many people that don't eat pork for religious reasons and it is NOT okay for them to just ASSUME that everyone is down with eating pork when you order a "Chile relleno burrito."

The menu states we have an option for chicken OR pork but the employees do not bother to ask, they just assume you want pork when you order a "Chile relleno burrito."

To void this problem they should consider being more specific and clear on their menu and have a category on the main menu just for pork burrito and a category just for chicken burrito written out. Currently they just have Chile relleno written on the main menu with very small font writing at the very top of the menu saying chicken or pork inside parenthesis. But it doesn't matter because the cashier Oscar never asked me which meat I wanted and he never confirmed with me what meat choice I would have. The number they give you for your order doesn't have anything on it except for the number. The receipt they gave me doesn't say exactly what I ordered either (attached picture of receipt). So there is no way I would have known that they were going to give me pork. This isn't right to mislead customers. They have to be direct and clear with their communication. The cashier can't just decide for themselves what customers will have to eat. They MUST obtain CONSENT from the customer ALWAYS.

Alex mentioned when I returned for my money back that their green sauce also has pork in it. She wanted to give me another burrito and she refused to give me anything else, so again she mislead me because that is not what she said over the phone. I do not trust their food preparation anymore because it sounds like they just add pork so carelessly to their food. I turned down another burrito from Alex and I just got my money back.

Needless to say, I will NEVER return to any Rosa Maria establishments and I will be advising people not to go there. I lost my time, my gas, missed an important meeting appointment, and walked out feeling violated of my religious convictions. Feeling so angry 😡 and extremely disrespected from my first experience at Rosa Maria restaurant. The way they mislead with their menu and their horrific customer service...

I've been all around California (and the rest the U.S.); this is still the best menudo I can find.

First thing -- most important -- Rosa Maria's restaurant only serves their menudo on the weekend; this is one of the main ways to tell if a business prepares their menudo fresh or simply reheats a frozen stock.

The tripe used is the reticulum section, or "honeycomb", the best type of meat for the stew -- no grease, no gristle. They boil away the fat, ensuring the meat and stock aren't oily and clouded, add the most tender hominy and give it the time it requires to properly stew.

By the time it makes its way to you, this menudo's been properly seasoned and the additional spices and trimmings the staff provide simply make an already amazing dish even more mouthwatering. To top it all off, they'll even add a meaty, tender pork bone, the perfect way to finish off such a satisfying meal.

This place is excellent. Sometimes, the beans have little rocks, but that's just another sign of freshness.

Keep it up, Rosa Maria's! I'll see you...

I had to take my 5 star down to a 1 star today. Wow $9 for a small bowl of menudo. And on top of that they charge you for extra lemon and tortilla? Every Mexican food place in the surrounding area don't charge for any of that and the portions are nearly double the size. I will not be coming here for menudo ever! Very disappointing!

Update: so I found a place with a worse off price for menudo. I will say rosa marias has some of the best tacos around. The burritos are also great. I'm not sold on their menudo but to each is their own. With that being said I bring their review up to a 3 star

UPDATE taking my review down to a 1 star. $3.50 for a taco that's looks like I got served left overs. Yea I won't be returning for a while. Save your money...