Fonda Doña Loca — Restaurant in Temecula

New and outstanding hidden little gem just off Temecula valley parkway! Discovered them after a member of the Temecula Talk Facebook group had shared that they had a great experience here, so my husband and I were eager to check it out. We popped in around lunch time on a Thursday so it was pretty quiet. We actually missed it as we circled the parking lot a couple times looking for it—but just look for the restaurant next to Yo Cheesesteak with the outdoor patio! From the time we entered their establishment until the time we left, the service was absolutely outstanding. We were able to sit wherever we wanted which was great cuz we have a 5 month old baby tagging along with us in a large UPPAbaby stroller that takes up quite some space but they had plenty of room for us here. As we waited for our drinks, they served us an excellent Mexican noodle soup with a salty, delicious broth. Very good! As an appetizer, we ordered the Queso Fundido which comes with mushrooms, onions, and chorizo. When she brought it out, it was sizzling and steaming and smelled OH SO DELICIOUS!…and it was! Every bite of it. And how could I forget to mention the homemade corn tortillas…mmm…so warm and fluffy and comforting! I’m seriously starting to drool just recalling how good they were. For our entrees, I ordered the Chile Relleno Burrito and my husband ordered the Steak Fajitas with cactus and onion. As we waited for our meals, our server brought out three different salsas in bottles—a green one, an orange one, and a red one. I immediately went for the green one thinking it would be the least spicy of the three, maybe a mild verde sauce? I was wrong! It was definitely the hottest haha but nevertheless it was flavorful and very delicious if you can tolerate the heat! All three sauces were very, very good to be honest but none of them are mild so this is your warning lol Man, oh, man were we stoked when our entrees came out after a very short wait! This place is quick, which is great when you’re hungry! My chile relleno burrito was AWESOME!!! But I should note that it does have egg in it, which I was not expecting (it does say that it contains egg in their menu so that’s my fault for not paying attention). I could do without the egg but it was still a super delicious burrito and seriously massive! I think I only got through a third of it and had to box up the rest to bring home. My husband liked his steak fajitas but he thought the pieces of steak were a little thin and maybe better suited for a burrito rather than stand alone fajitas. I agree, they were very thin but they weren’t bad. We’re excited to go back and try some of their other dishes! Overall, great new spot! I hope they do well...

If you're on the hunt for a new, exciting brunch spot in Temecula, look no further than Fonda Doña Loca! This vibrant Mexican restaurant, formerly Baja Cactus, offers a truly unique dining experience with dishes inspired by the owner's mother, Doña Loca.

So far, my top picks include the mole chilaquiles—a flavorful, rich dish—and the nostalgic, presweetened café de olla, which is the perfect coffee to accompany your meal. My team and I have also tried the fajitas, a variety of brunch options, and the refreshing aguas frescas, all of which were fantastic. Today, I sampled the pozole, carne asada fries, and mulitas, and each one was absolutely delicious!

One thing that really stands out is the restaurant’s three-housemade salsas: green (mild), red (medium), and orange (the hottest). They add the perfect kick to every dish.

Owner Linda is not only incredibly friendly but also emphasizes quality in every bite—yet the dishes arrive incredibly fast. Fonda Doña Loca is truly a hidden gem, and I highly recommend trying it before it becomes the next big thing...

Wife and I were looking for a new place to eat and stumbled upon this gem of a restaurant. As you walk in, the first thing I noticed was that this place is CLEAN! They obviously take their time making sure that this restaurant is spotless! 10/10 Food: we’re not big corn tortilla fans, but I have never had a corn tortilla like this. They are thick and fluffy almost but have enough stability to know they won’t break on you. I had the tacos, the carne asada and chorizo were seasoned deliciously! Highly recommend!! Their salsas are also very delicious and home made (you get 3 different kinds to choose from at the table) 10/10 Service: the three times we have visited our server, Esme was professional, cordial and easy to talk to. Always prompt on napkins, water, straws, etc. 10/10

Definitely recommend this restaurant as it is our new favorite restaurant! Check...