Maria's Mexican Restaurant

Bookguy asked neighbors to recommend great taco restaurants and many people suggested Maria's in Ralston. We were shocked to discover it has been around since 1976! How had we not known about this excellent Mexican restaurant?? It's family owned and if you haven't been here, what are you waiting for? We enjoyed the ambience because the tables were not packed in. They have a heated outdoor seating area in addition to a large separate room to accommodate groups. Julie was our server, and she was great. She has been working here a long time, and is very knowledgeable. We both ordered the #8 combo with a puffy beef taco, rice and beans, and with an enchilada or a burrito. My burrito was meatless and Bookguy's was beef. The puffy tacos were wonderful and a sure antidote to the boring, tiny tacos from fast food places. We both added the salsa for a spicy kick. Puffy tacos are one of the signature dishes here. Our burritos came covered in gravy. Yes, gravy! I had expected red sauce but the menu called it gravy. And it worked! It wasn't salty and was the perfect accompaniment for our burritos. There's a full bar too, so I had one the best margaritas I've had in a long time. Our neighbors were right-- Maria's is the place for great tacos!

Yay! We find a new favorite taco Tuesday spot! Available as a pair of chicken, beef or mixed tacos in a puff shell, these are delicious, filling and not boring. We also ordered chips and queso, and added the hot sauce that was on the table to both the chips and the tacos. The margarita was served in a glass and was quite tasty. Open since the 1970s, and we can see why!

I wish I could give more stars. The place was PACKED. The parking was sparse, and the wait was about 45 minutes for a party of 2. Service was great and super friendly/attentive, but I just wasn't a fan. This isn't the kind of place that brings chips and salsa for free up front. The queso was good, and the rice and beans were good but everything else was bland like some other reviewers mentioned. The taco shell was a unique experience but I'd prefer a corn tortilla or normal crunchy taco shell. The meat and filling was pretty meh as well. Truthfully, you'll get more flavor from a Taco Bell Gordita or something similar. Also not a fan of the gravy on the burritos. If you're looking for an Americanized, kids-will-like-it, type place with extremely strong margaritas, this a good choice. If you're looking for some more authentic Mexican food with a lot of flavor, I'd pick somewhere else.

American Cheese on the nachos. Really? At a sit down Mexican restaurant. My kids wouldn't eat them. What a ridiculous cost cutting measure.

It's such a fun place. 8 of us had a very enjoyable time. Excellent Margaritas plenty of tequila. Delicious puff tacos with chicken breast shredded. Terrific bean dip and corn and pita chips. Salsa Good location ample parking

Decided to try this tucked away place in Ralston. The outdoor, with the string of lights, open air way to sit outside, etc definitely drew me in. Parking is a bit sketchy, as you'll have to park in other businesses lots but it works.Food wise, I've got to be honest, it didn't blow my skirt up. We always split meals, so one picked the fish taco (some sort of white fish possibly), another snagged the carnita taco, and both decided to try the famously gravy smothered burrito. First glance the look of them aren't all that pleasing to the eye, as we all know we eat with our eyes. Flavor wise, it was unique with the regular brown gravy; nothing special. The flavor of the carnitas definitely didn't have any traditional Mexican flavors or spice. Almost tasted like pre made, with a little side of gravy? Both were very salty sadly.I'll come back and try their chili relleno, that supposedly takes 30m to make. That'll be the real test.

Had no idea this area even existed. We had high hopes going into the restaurant. But it just didn't meet our expectations. The location is cute and the family photos are awesome. But it's the food that let us down. It was rather bland. The Sopapillas were the highlight. They could have been cut a little larger so they would be a little softer when fried. But they did help us take a walk down memory lane. Many people like this place but I dont think it will be a place we revisit b

The food is ok. It wasn't anything special. The margaritas were good. Always looking for a good margarita. The room we were in was quite dark and very cold. They had us sitting directly under a large duct with holes in it where the air comes out. You would think they could think of something else. With all that said the waitress we had was wonderful. She was attentive, funny, and pleasant. She made our experience and good one.

Idk what everyone else is talking about in these reviews. The food is exactly as advertised. Why you would come here thinking it was anything else is beyond me. Service is great, and I get exactly what I expect when coming here.

Always fast and consistent food, I've tried a lot of the menu and while very Tex Mex, it's very consistent and a style that is pretty unique for the area. Staff is always very helpful, and if you have a takeout order it goes very quickly.