La Ristra

2/22/25: yep, still good! unbeknownst to me, I ordered the same menu item as last time (stuffed sopapillas -- very tasty, though!), but my sister ordered something different: fajita burrito chimichanga style. We thoroughly enjoyed both. We tried to sit outside, but although it's a shaded patio, our table was in the sun and it was frying my back. Our server, Delaney, was very understanding and quickly got us a table inside. She was very attentive and friendly, checking back with us a number of times to see how things were going. If you have not yet tried La Ristra, get 'er done!

LA Ristra, Gilbert, AZ - A Fiesta for Your Taste Buds (and Your Instagram Feed)Reviewed on February 19, 2025If you're looking for a dining experience that's as bold and spicy as a desert sunset, LA Ristra in Gilbert, AZ, has got you covered--literally, with enough melted cheese to make a queso volcano jealous. I recently sat down to a plate that looked like it jumped straight out of a Tex-Mex fever dream, and I'm still dreaming about it (or maybe that's just the lingering kick of their salsa).The star of the show? A mouthwatering dish featuring a hearty chunk of tender meat, smothered in a rich, red chile sauce and draped with enough gooey cheese to make any carb-lover weep with joy. It's the kind of dish that demands a tortilla on the side--not just for scooping, but for soaking up every last drop of that flavor-packed sauce. Paired with a side of cheesy veggies (zucchini, corn, and potatoes, if I'm not mistaken), it's a symphony of Southwestern goodness that'll have you questioning why you ever settled for plain ol' tacos.The atmosphere at LA Ristra screams "authentic yet approachable"--think rustic wooden tables, warm vibes, and a menu that doesn't shy away from heat but knows how to balance it with cool, creamy toppings. Service was as friendly as a neighbor at a backyard barbecue, and the portions? Generous enough to fuel a desert trek--or at least a siesta afterward.Pro tip: Save room for their chips and salsa--they're dangerously addictive, like a spicy siren song you can't resist. If I had one nitpick, it'd be the wait time during peak hours, but trust me, it's worth it for a plate that looks this photogenic and tastes even better.LA Ristra isn't just a meal; it's a celebration of flavor. Five stars for making me question my life choices--namely, why I don't eat here every day. Olé!

We love this place! The chips and salsa are great + the food has so much flavor! Only thing we didn't love was the Cadillacs margarita.

I went here with my daughter because a coworker of her husband recommended it. The atmosphere is casual and they have a pretty decent selection of meals. They start you off with 3 different salsas for your chips (which were warm...NICE!) I went with the shrimp tacos. It had good flavor and good sauce. Our server forgot to ask us for drinks, but I'm guessing it was because it was a little busy, so I can't really fault her for that. Otherwise we got our meals relatively quick. Price for 3 people wasn't bad. I'll probably give them another shot if I'm in the area again.

Brought the family here as we were talking about other great authentic New Mexican restaurants in the east valley. I had been here & to the sister location in Chandler a few times with coworkers/friends so wanted them to try out. The variety of tequilas are always a discussion point for us adults and I went with the seasonal Witches Brew Black Berry Margarita. I'm typically not a big fan of Jose Cuervo, but I did notice it was there Tradicional Reposado being used and that is one I can do. The 3 salsa's to start were good, however the chips we got seemed be the bottom of the stash as they were small pieces and made it hard to really enjoy the salsas. We did request another round and some fresh chips and that came right at the same time for our entrees. We had the Birria Tacos with rice and beans, Green Chile Asada Burrito "Christmas style" aka red & green sauce (my choice and it was GREAT as far as portion & flavor profile). 3 Shrimp & Avocado Tacos (recommended if your looking for a hint of seafood for dinner). Last item was a traditional Asada Burrito. It was noted that the meat was tender & good.This location is a bit far for me vs the chandler one, but I'm planning to keep in rotation as I want to check out some of the Happy Hour Specials and events they host. Ladies Night on Thursday had a few of my friends interested & Sat/Sun $20 Unlimited Mimosa Brunch from 10am-2pm may be the right way to kick of a weekend of College or NFL Football!

This is New Mexico cuisine. We've had a variety of their dishes now. Overall, they are pretty good. Not spectacular, but good. They haven't changed since my first review. The rice is still bland, not much seasoning. Adding the red salsa helps. The burritos are very similar. The chili Colorado probably has the most robust flavor. But the green chili is pretty good. Not my favorite place, but it's nice.

I came here for lunch with some work colleagues and was looking forward to trying this place out. They started us off with chips and salsa, which were good, but nothing special. I ordered the 2 item combo and got a crunchy beef taco and a small cup of pazole with black beans and grilled corn. I was kind of disappointed they didn't offer traditional refried beans. You can either get pinto beans or black beans. The taco shell was kind of thin, but it was stuffed with shredded beef and some shredded cheese. They put some shredded lettuce and tomatoes on the side. I forgot to mention that we ate all of the salsa with the chips and they never asked if we wanted more salsa or not. I was kind of disappointed that they didn't give me any salsa for my taco so I just ate it dry. They also didn't season my roasted corn and there was no salt and pepper at the table. The red pazole was good, but nothing special. It wasn't served with any radishes or a lime wedge like traditional pazole. The corn was good but it wasn't served very hot and it was kind of over cooked and a bit chewy. The black beans were just ok and not seasoned very well. All in all, I was disappointed in La Ristra and didn't think their food or service was worth it. Our server was very nice but I didn't get salsa for my taco because she disappeared for about 10 minutes and I didn't want it to get cold. This was a one and done for me.

Came for date night - we've never had "New Mexican" before, so take the review with a grain of salt.We started with blue corn and white corn tortilla chips and a trio of salsas of ranging spice levels--all were good. We also ordered a frozen house marg and a spicy marg on the rocks; both were delicious but on the sweet side and could've used a little extra alcohol. The service was fast and the server was friendly. For food, my partner ordered the Adovada Short Ribs and I ordered the Blue Corn Stacked Enchiladas (with shredded chicken, Christmas style, with sides of rice and black beans). The short ribs had great texture and flavor, but the sides were meh. The flour tortilla in particular just wasn't good - comparing it to grocery store tortillas, it was better (but close) to the shelf-stable ones, which are light years behind the uncooked ones. The enchiladas were good but it was all very similar textures and flavors, which made the overall experience very average. Not "bad" in any way, but not worth doing again.

Don't do take out or come here if you want to waste 20$! On small portions!! I came in a couple weeks ago and sat down and ate and thought the portions were huge! And now i do a take out and i guess they just give you less! and this side of salsa was 4$ for it to be half full! waste of money

Very disappointed! Growing up on New Mexican food there was nothing that tasted authentic besides the beans and guacamole. Food didn't even have a chili taste, salsa had too much n lime almost tasted like pickles. Tried, didn't like.