Lidia’s Restaurant — Restaurant in Richmond

Lidia's is the best Mexican restaurant in the Bay Area regardless of price range. I say this as a Mexican American with strong memories of my grandma's cooking. Other restaurants lack the deep flavors that you find in good home cooked meals. When I asked the hostell Rosa what their secret was, she said that many restaurants rely on condiments while they focus on the essentials. I agree. This is a lesson for food but also for life. When I go, which is often, I ask for their specials. It could be menudo, caldo de res or pollo, or albondigas which are sometimes made of fish, chicken or my favorite, a mix of beef and pork. If you don't know albondiga soup, do yourself a favor and order it. I also love the mojarra frita, whole fried fish, as well as the fish filet cooked on the grill - filete a la plancha. The meals are served with homemade corn tortillas with real corn flavor, so often missing in tortillas nowadays. The rice is good and the beans are awesome, made properly so you enjoy their subtle flavor. The space is open and comfortable, feeling like restaurants in Mexico, but not the snooty pretentious ones with lousy over priced food. I am talking about the the best ones that focus on good food, good service and fair prices. Try Lidia's. If you do, you...

Wanted to love this place. It's the old home of the legendary La Perla after all. There was only a couple of people dining in and the owner was at the cash register. He couldn't have been nicer. I asked about the old steam table operation that had been there forever and he said something about the old owners took it and he wasn't allowed to have one. I didn't pursue it. I ordered a carnitas burrito as that was as close to the old pork burrito that la Perla used to make, which was just lettuce, cheese, salsa and lots and lots of delicious stringy pork in thick sauce. Fantastic! I went outside to take a couple pictures and the owner actually brought it out to me. Fresh warm chips in the bag, a red and a green sauce in little plastic cups, the burrito was hot and professionally wrapped tightly in foil and was fat and heavy. I was so ready. I quickly torn off the top of the foil and had at it. It was...just alright. I was probably expecting way to much, but it was just kinda like every other regular burrito, nothing special. I really like the people working there and I will go back, but the magic just...

The food and service are really good im a local and me and my family come here a lot whenever we arw hungry. I love the nacho fries because they make them with nacho cheese instead of shredded cheddar. Also ive had breakfast burritos at multiple places in the area and the ones here blow any of those out of the water, the regular burritos are good too. All the food taste fresh and cooked with care not assembled quick and sloppy, the whole menu is solid and i plan to keep coming...