Tio's Tacos — Restaurant in Riverside

Have you ever heard that quote “Jobs fill your pocket, but adventures fill your soul?” This week I took a trip to Riverside and spent hours wandering around Downtown. My eye caught a glimpse of something so interesting and I followed it. Over the years I’ve found some amazing things walking cities, taking me places a car could never. When I tell you those beautiful butterflies led me to the best damn tacos of my life I mean it. Tio’s Tacos takes up an entire city block and is filled with cool recycled art, amazing food and just plain fun. If you find yourself nearby or planning your own adventures add this to your list. Riverside has so much history. I grew up in the IE, but moved away forever ago. Whenever I get a chance to visit I welcome it. I was lucky to meet some of my family here for lunch to check it out close up. There is a small parking lot off the side road that fills up quick, but there is street parking as well. Worst case there’s also a parking garage fairly close. Most of the seating is outdoors on the their two patio areas, but there is also limited seating inside. Which I’m thankful for because it was pretty windy and cold when we arrived. When you walk inside if coming from Mission you are met with the register/cashier and an overhead menu to look over. The lines gets long fast so be prepared. They have so many agua fresca flavors, horchata, licuado, margaritas, michelada, mimosas and so much more. When I say the food menu is just as vast I’m not lying. I opted for two shrimp tacos with rice and beans and an order of chips and guacamole. They have a salsa bar as well that of course includes cucumber, carrot, pickled onion and all that jazz. It smells like pure heaven inside and out. My family members ordered things like burritos, carne asada, as well. Once paid you’re given a number told to pick up your drink at the counter once ready and if ordering chips etc they’ll give them to you there as well. Everything else is brought to you. Service was wonderful. Even with the long line we were able to order fairly quick. While waiting I snapped a few pics of my favorite things. I am in such awe of people’s talent. Where someone might see junk others see art. I love that everything here is from recycled items. Growing up there was always a painting in my house my mother had painted with a monarch butterfly. To this day it hangs in my home. My mom passed many years ago and whenever she’s on my mind I see them. This two day trip I founds hundreds in some shape or form. You may or may not believe in those type of things, but to me they symbolize peace and love. Our food came pretty quick. The guacamole was to die for and chips crispy. One order was enough to share between the four of us. When my eyes met with the shrimp tacos I was wowed. They were so huge. The tortillas were filled to the brim and I could barely fit it in my mouth for a bite ha ha. So much was falling out. They definitely don’t skimp here. The sauce was so flavorful, toppings fresh and with two tortillas as the base I didn’t have to worry about it breaking and falling apart. The beans were yummy and topped with cheese. The rice was good as well. We all really enjoyed our food. The best part is I got some extra time to chat with people I love most. There is a time limit on parking in their lot so if you really want to experience the lot and take pictures etc I’d recommend parking in the street or nearby to have the full experience. If you find yourself in downtown riverside or even driving through this is a must stop. It’s easy to find, right off the freeway, delicious and definitely...

For me customer service is everything. I have been wanting to visit this place for a while after seeing TikTok’s showcasing the art in the restaurant. Today was my first time here, when I got to the door there was a line out the door, I thought “oh this place must be good!” As I waited outside, an employee walked outside. She is Hispanic with gray hair, she started moving 2 posts outside and said, “ the line needs to be on this side”in a very short tone. The guy behind me told her, we’re here to buy food and you scold us? She sort of laughed and said she didn’t mean it that way and walked away. When I walked in a short Hispanic girl with very red hair took my order, I told her it’s my first time here and I don’t see it on the menu behind you but I was looking online that you have fajitas? She said yes chicken, steak, shrimp or combination. After paying for my order I asked the cashier where should I wait for my take out order, she raised her hand and pointed to her left. I again asked, where? She again raised her hand and pointed to her left. I walked to where the girl pointed, I saw a bench and sat down. I didn’t see or hear any one calling orders so I stood up and asked the same Hispanic lady who scolded us outside “hi it’s my first time here, is this where I wait for to go orders? As I pointed to the bench, she said just sit right there. I thought to myself that, no one could accuse them of good customer service. When I got my order I didn’t know how to exit, so I approached the counter and said excuse me, to the same lady who scolded us and asked me to sit down, she turned and looked at me and then turned around without acknowledging me, I said excuse me one more time but then I saw someone exit the door next to the bench I I was sitting in, which I had not seen, and walked out. There were so many misses opportunities today. The Hispanic lady who scolded us outside could’ve said, “welcome, please bring the line closer to the restaurant window for safety or something like that. When I ordered and said it was my first time there, the cashier could’ve said welcome, then she could’ve said there is a salsa bar behind you, please help yourself. I didn’t notice the salsa bar until after I had sat down to wait for my take out order. The older Hispanic lady should not be working in the front with people if she has 0 customer service. The food was okay at best. If the customer service had been better, maybe I would’ve enjoyed my meal better. I do not recommend this place and will not go back. I did not feel welcomed or appreciated, I would rather spend my...

Sadly i have to give this place 2 stars for their food. It could have been less but the two stars are based on price compared to the portion size which is good -The problem is the food. For some the food will be fine but i expected mexican food to have the flavor, taste and texture similar to the delicious food of Sahauyo Mexico. Sadly the food was bland. I ordered the wet carnitas burrito and specifically asked that the rice not be put in the burrito but instead on the side. Sadly the burrito came and it was stuffed with 2/3 of rice. The rest was beans and just a very small portion chunks of meat. Found it interesting that the meat was not shredded, normally it is easier to eat in a burrito. The meat also didn’t seem like it was cooked the way carnitas are usually made. There was no flavor to them and looked like it was just cooked pork instead of fried. They were also extremely salty. I was also asked if i wanted the buIrrito wet with red, green or mole sauce. i asked for mole because there are certain flavors of mole that surpass any red or green sauce. Whatever was poured on the burrito was not mole and i wouldn’t say it was red sauce either except for the color. The sauce had a somewhat sweet flavor and not mole sweet. It tasted like sweet canned tomatoes. I was very disappointed, i will give this place one more try and order maybe the tacos next time but if the meat is as tasteless i will have to just enjoy the ambience of the patio while having a beer or agua fresca. There is a reason Mexican Cuisine is one of only couple in the world that are actually listed in Unesco and considered a cultural heritage of the world and that is because of it’s unique flavors. Sadly this menu does not...