Riviera Mexican Cantina — Restaurant in Redondo Beach

Riviera Mexican Cantina offers the usual food that would be seen in most mexican themed restaurants. The location of the restaurant is a great spot to enjoy scenery (Reservations to be seated outside for a better view) as you'll be given a nice ocean view.

However, the quality and quantity of food offered at this restaurant is incredibly disappointing. The seafood is flavorless and rubbery such as the shrimp and lobster that I've experienced. If you happen to order a main course, be prepared to be given an abundance of very dry "mexican" rice to compensate for the portions given.

This restaurant claims to be "mexican", but it is by far the worst mexican food I've tasted as the seasoning and sauces are mediocre at best. For anyone considering visiting here, please do not expect this restaurant to be your full mexican experience. I assure you that you'll find better mexican food elsewhere. I do hate to compare, but I find it necessary when a restaurant decides to promote their food by culture.

The service itself is great as you will be greeted by kind employees, but do prepare for the long wait for your food. Disregarding the wait, the servers do their best to provide a great dining experience such as never letting your drink go dry.

Nonetheless, I will once again say that the location is fantastic to sit down and drink, but changes are definitely needed in the quality of food if the quantity can't be changed for the sake of operating costs.

In short, the food is...

I went on July 2, 2024 at 11:00am The waiter was excellent The problem was the cook was in a bad temper. The food that my guest ordered (Carnitas cooked in oil), was being refused to be cooked by the cook, the Carnitas cooked in oil, simply because he is not a chef. My order of Carne Asada was cut in different size chunks, (by the cook), some tiny and some medium not in strips or straight strip cuts. The Carne Asada looked like they were cut days before for tacos and not to be plated for a Carne Asada Plate. This is not my first time there, this is my second time and the food was terrible today, even the tortillas were delivered burned, like they were yesterday tortillas recooked. Makes you wonder if they were recycled from yesterday guests. I ask for the manager and he comes in with a bad attitude. Tip for the owner, I know you spend alot of money putting this all together of a restaurant. My tip is you must have someone over looking how the food comes out and no problems at home from the cook bring it to work, or you will close, I am sure not returning to a low grade/class cooking for a 5 star price, there are other restaurants. Too bad 1 bad cook, employee, manager can destroy a restaurant and prevent other people from coming in, even the loyal customers. NO ONE NEEDS RECYCLE FOOD TO BE SERVED TO THEM, NOT ME, I DON'T...

Would give this lower but I can't. FIrst off, somehow my drinks came out before my water, it took 20 minutes for the margaritas to come out, we had to get a different server for the waters. Second, the food took over an hour to come out and their excuse was that they were busy. Mind you there was no one waiting for a table so they were not busy at all, the staff is just poorly trained. Third, the queso at this establishment is one of the worst things I put into my mouth. It is simply $15 store bought cheese with no additional seasoning or flavor, DO NOT ORDER THE QUESO!!!!! (if you ordered it and now you are looking for reviews on it you should have read this first, sorry pal you're a victim, I'm right there with you.) I was with a few different people and all of our orders were incorrect in some capacity. We also somehow received 3 different checks when it was time to close, one of which had someone elses card and information in it. Overall an absolute disaster of an experience, for over $100, very disappointed. This is my first review EVER, which should speak volumes, and last time...