Los Zapatas Mexican Restaurants — Restaurant in Moreno Valley

Been going here for years, many many years, even before they had moved from the old place on Alessandro and Perris.

In the past 2 years the quality has been going down hill, service is a hit or miss. Keeping in mind the waitresses and waiters aren't the issue in general. Seeing the Owner work with the employees isn't proper, you shouldn't berate your workers for any reason in front of customers. My Wife and I have worked in the food industry before and for many years, so we understand how it can get busy and overwhelming for the staff.

I called the other day to place an order for pick up. The phone rang and one of the waitresses answered and said hello and asked to wait. I said yes and waited for about 5 minutes. The phone hung up, and i called back, phone was picked up and then hung up. I checked the closing time it showed as 10 pm, it was about 8:30 pm. So i called back and the Owner picked up and very rudly said Yeah, what to want?. I said I'd like to place and order to pick up she said No, we're closed. And hung up. I called the next day and ordered 3 burritos, nothing wrong with them and no issues for the same time of day.

Went and placed an order today (around 830 pm) for a large order, 2 burritos, 1 number 2 (chicken enchilada and chicken taco), fried fish and 7 seas soup. The amount of salad given with the two meals was very small, smaller than normal. The burritos seemed fine as they were for my kids when they get home from work. The combo #2, the taco had little meat (jack in the box taco had more meat), the enchilada was very small like a taquito. The soup was bland, small shrimp, like ones used in a salad; the crab was lackluster and small, 1 mussle (small), tiny pieces of fish. The amount we paided for this and the meal was not worth it and could have went and got a better seafood meal for less. We spent $81 on this order far too much for what was received for a take out order.

Other times with the food have been similar, menudo was lacking the flavor it used to have, the pata in it was small and when asked for extra (additional charge and have times not received it) it too was a small piece. Other enchiladas were lacking as well in chicken and flavor. Along with similar issues with the soups. We've gotten old rice and beans, burritos have been the wrong meat and tasted bad and or old, we do get cold food from time to time. Meat has been dry and or tuff and no flavor. Sides of items like salas, chips seem to be limited, items you'd get for soups and such are missed or a small amount and not enough for what you would have gotten if you went in to the store. We also feel that you are getting smaller amounts for more money, both going into the restaurant and pickup. We generally do not complain about these things, so that could be on us, but seeing other reviews it seems a moot point.

We've been giving Zapatas a lot of chances and its just not happening anymore, this was the last time.

I've added a few more photos for the food we ordered today.

Reading a few reviews and the unnecessary replys from the "Owner" has helped with this decision. It's doubtful that our orders will hurt the establishment, but reviews can help other make choices to go or not. Honestly, service is generally decent there and can be hit or miss, but it can be slow and lacking in overall care, due to either being short staffed and busy. So we don't necessarily blame the wait staff. Reader looking for food, take care in your choice and take this review...

Waitresses must have better things to do.

We were seated in the back of restaurant, to accomodate us with a stroller. Literally sat there for 20 min with no service. At this point I went to the cashier to send someone to take our order.

Ordered Queso Fundido with chorizo as an appetizer and carne asada burritos with drinks.

They served it all together so burrito got cold as I tried to eat queso fundido. Dont know what type of cheese this was, but it did not melt nicely and was a huge plate of disgusting. What a waste of chorizo.

We ordered one burrito wet, and they forgot the salsa on it. They just brought over a condiment bottle with what looked like tomato juice, bland and watery.

There was no service to table, we had to flag down busboys and random people who worked there for water and soda refills and for more chips.

Then when we left the cashier had the galls to ask if we wanted to leave a tip. A tip?! Replace your wait staff, ban cell phones during work hours (saw waiters all checking their phones instead of checking their tables) and google how to make a decent queso fundido. For $8 I expected a whole real block of cheese on...

Just left , walked out after 5 minutes of placing my order. I ordered a side of beans/rice with grilled onion and bell pepper then i asked what other vegetables do you have, she stated they are pre cooked and already blended together...i found that VERY odd because my dad is mexican (even though i look white) and we have been to MANY mexican restaurants and never had a problem, so i said "you mean to tell me a restaurant can't take a bell pepper and onion and grill it? She then said ok and went to the back...again because i look white she probably assumes i can't speak/understand Español. She just Fussed and fussed to the people in the back about me... i found that really strange that a waitress is complaining to people in the back about me a customer.. didnt even bother bringing my drink out, instead fussing about me for 5 minutes..i left after her ranting 5 minutes and still going. Went to taqueria 2 potrillos and had NO PROBLEMS... WILL NEVER RETURN not because of the onions/bellpeppers but because of the entire scene she made and i heard/understood in...