Rodrigo’s Mexican Grill

Rodrigo’s Mexican Grill
150 W Parkridge Avenue
Corona, CA 92880

What local find has good food, tropical landscaping, covered and uncovered patio seating, a giant outdoor fire pit, and is ready for a party at all times of the year? If you guessed Rodrigo’s Mexican Grill, you’ve either been there or I need to shroud my headlines in a little more mystique.

The amazing indoor-outdoor patio cantina gets first mention because this place has an outstanding ambience for a pleasant dinner for two, right up to a party for over 100 guests. Romantic lights at night and live music (Thurs – Sat) make for a great outing without sitting in any traffic to get someplace “destinational”. The indoor dining does not disappoint, either. The spacious dining areas are very comfortable and Rodrigo’s can accommodate large private banquets for any event where more rigid climate control is preferred.

I have a very simple test whenever I try a Mexican restaurant. The most basic of basics--the cheese enchilada--has to be good. It’s hard to botch that simple offering, yet also hard to get it right. Rodrigo’s nails it. They pass with flying colors. Why this test? For starters, the cheese enchilada is, for me, the comfort food of Mexican cuisine. That won’t make any sense to you, so let’s just move on. What the “cheese enchilada test” will do is tell you if the restaurant can
make a good sauce, whether or not they have fresh tortillas, and if they use a quality cheese. Now right there, you knock out three of the big burning questions that tell you if you are coming back for the food. (Are you beginning to see just how useful this review is to you?) With Mexican food, you really have to pass the compulsories. The rest will take care of itself.

There are additional factors that set Rodrigo’s apart from many peers. They make their own homemade salsa daily. It’s delicious. They even fry their own chips. Rodrigo’s gets extra points for having chips that are served warm and are not greasy or overly-salted. Rounding out the homemade category, you’ll want to try a fresh pork-stuffed tamale. Fish taco lovers can swim in the satisfaction that the fish here is grilled, not fried. Creative salads, sizzling fajitas, and pork
carnitas are other favorites you’ll find when you come. Prices are quite reasonable. Most dinner entrees are below $15, and the convenient express lunch menu on weekdays is under $8.

Conveniently located just off Main Street, the restaurant is mere yards from the Norco border. (I thought it would be cool to talk about a Mexican restaurant and fit the word “border” in there somewhere). Good news for Temecula, too: Rodrigo’s opens a second location there soon.

Put Rodrigo’s on your list for a near-future lunch, dinner, or Sunday brunch. Owner Rod Fraser and his amiable staff have a good thing going. You’ll find good servers who will take great care of you (I said I was going to review the place, and they totally fell for it).

Ryan Keane writes exclusively for MyCityCorona.com

Interested in having your establishment reviewed?
Contact us at reviews@mycitycorona.com