Best Food in Riverside (2026)

oh nice list, you covered most of the heavy hitters. i'd add that the Riverside Food Lab is great but gets packed around 6pm on Fridays, so go a bit earlier if you can. also, the al pastor at Taqueria La Gloria is legit but their salsa verde is the real star, ask for extra. for a cheaper italian fix, Mamma Rosa's lunch specials are $12 and still handmade pasta, the lunch menu is the same as dinner just smaller portions. and Dumpling King is a gem, that xiao long bao is the best I've had in town, but they sell out by 6pm most nights so don't show up at 7:45 expecting a basket

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This is a great guide, captures the essentials well. One thing that surprised me about Riverside is how good the Vietnamese coffee is at a tiny place called Cafe Saigon on 3rd Avenue, just off Market. They do a hot or iced version with condensed milk for $4, and it's strong enough to wake you up the next day.

Also, if you hit the Mercado District for those La Gloria tacos, grab a seat at the concrete bench near the fountain. It's the best people-watching spot in town and the noise from the stalls fades a bit so you can actually hear yourself eat.

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Solid list, covers the essentials. The Riverside Grill is worth the splurge but I'd skip the salmon and go for the dry-aged ribeye special on Thursdays, it's $42 but comes with roasted vegetables and a glass of red wine that actually pairs well. For a quick lunch near the courthouse, there's a pop-up at the Food Lab on Wednesdays called Seoul Sister that does kimchi fried rice with a fried egg for $9, and it's way better than the brisket tacos in my opinion. The churro cart at Mercado is a good call but the one on Saturday mornings is hit or miss, the better one is the brick-and-mortar shop on Elm Street called Dulces de la Abuela that's open all week and makes them to order.

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mt rubidoux at sunrise is worth the early alarm, its a short hike off mission inn ave and you get the whole city below u. for food hit tio's tacos on market st, the carnitas are unreal & its cash only so bring some. also check if the mission inn festival of lights is running when ur there, starts late nov & its free to walk thru

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The Riverside Art Museum on Mission Inn Ave is small but has a good permanent collection and it's rarely crowded on weekdays, plus the building itself is a Julia Morgan design which is a nice bonus. For something more offbeat, the Heritage House downtown does tours on weekends and it's basically a time capsule of Victorian Riverside. If you want a bite after, Mario's Place on Mission Inn Ave does solid Italian and the patio is quiet in the evenings.

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If you're into old cemeteries, Evergreen Memorial Historic Cemetery on 14th St is quiet and full of Riverside history, lots of Victorian headstones and the founder of the navel orange industry is buried there. For food, skip the chains and hit El Trigo on Magnolia, it's a tiny Mexican spot with great chilaquiles and horchata, open early. Also the Citrus State Historic Park out on Van Buren is underrated, you can walk through the groves and it's basically empty on weekdays.

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