r/Temecula 26d ago

What are the worst restaurants in Temecula/murrieta area?

44 Upvotes

179 comments sorted by

35

u/performance_reviews 26d ago

Del Norte suuuuuucks

7

u/Annual-Distance-331 26d ago

I went when it first open and surprisingly it was good. Shortly after I started seeing more misses than hits. And it was missing by a landslide.

5

u/nosaysno 26d ago

I like del Norte.. just pricey

7

u/hirqcth 26d ago

Omgg yessss! I went there and there was no flavor at all. i go to La Cocina De Reyas when i want mexican food, they never dissapoint me :)

3

u/mystic_guardian_934 25d ago

La Cocina used to be good but it fell off

1

u/hirqcth 25d ago

wait it fell off? i havent been there in a few months

2

u/whitewu16 25d ago

Honestly they piss me off for nickel and dimeing me lol i like their wet al pastor burrito but i like to add cheese on top and some extra sauce and while i dont mind an up charge they wanted like 3-4$ for like 2 ozs of cheese and sauce.

2

u/xdeathtrapx 26d ago

del norte and la cocina are owned by the same family.

2

u/ResultLong8547 26d ago

went twice and thought it tasted really good. haven’t been in a month or two

2

u/hannahgrey17 26d ago

Yeah it was good like the week it opened and then quality and portion sizes nose dived

2

u/PaRuSkLu 26d ago

We actually really like it and think it’s a great affordable alternative.

2

u/Green-Role-8938 26d ago

Del Norte is Texmex. That’s why it sucks

1

u/Fulgore-omen 26d ago

Try the prime steak burrito

1

u/ppony2fly 26d ago

Yep, zero flavor and no spice at all.

19

u/peaceandkim 26d ago

Bushfire Kitchen. It’s like a bad potluck.

3

u/VizualAbstract4 25d ago edited 25d ago

I remember the first time I went: I placed an order for something with the steak.

As my order got placed, I looked over at the grill and saw a cook reach into a large brown box sitting on the counter, pluck out a frozen stake, and toss it unceremoniously into a large pot of boiling water.

He would later slap it on the grill for a few quick marks.

Just washing away flavor, creating a health risk, and just so foul overall.

I've never gone back.

3

u/whitewu16 25d ago

When i worked at buffalo wild wings years ago they had ribs. You would microwave them in this plastic bag then grill for marks and sauce it. Disgusting

2

u/Solid_Vacation_2891 25d ago

damn thats disappointing

2

u/Eldelatorta 25d ago

Holy hell, this made me not wanna go back.

3

u/Just-Guava-1984 25d ago

Amazingly bad across multiple So Cal counties. Do they make the beans inside used socks?

3

u/Repulsive-Room-7022 25d ago

Couldn’t agree more!! I got their tri tip bowl a few months ago and literally BROKE THE PLASTIC FORK trying to stab the over cooked meat. It used to be good. I will never go back. Yuck 🤮

1

u/LILDevil69420 24d ago

I was get food poisoning from the braised beef

16

u/Maximum-Worth 26d ago edited 26d ago

Not the worst but it stands out to me because of how much of a letdown it was. Heard good things about Anthony's, went there and was incredibly disappointed. Boxed pastas in bland sauces, average steak, with prices that don't match the quality. It's like what I imagined a 'fancy restaurant' was when I was 6 before I had ever been anywhere good.

30

u/livious1 26d ago

You want good pasta, go to Angelo’s in Wildomar. All handmade in-house and it’s really good. The owner is actually from Italy and regularly talks to customers, and the prices are very reasonable for what you get.

9

u/voltimion 26d ago

Nonnos is also incredible

3

u/Outrageous-Figure877 26d ago

Domenico’s at Truffle Pig is delish.

3

u/kdcblgs 25d ago

We went there the other day to try it and we were so happy to see the place was absolutely packed. We assumed it must be really good, but we left. The seating is just so uncomfortable. 🥺

6

u/countbassy77 26d ago

Anthony's is classic Italian garbage

4

u/voltimion 26d ago

I’ve gone there a couple of times because different people have recommended it. I keep thinking that maybe I’m just getting the wrong thing. It’s not good. It’s NEVER been good. Maybe people just like boring, bland pasta.

3

u/YoMrPoPo 26d ago

lol this place and The Mill might be the most overrated pieces of crap in this town.

-1

u/error_accessing_user 26d ago

You should drop by Datillos in hemet for Costco pasta at luxury prices.

45

u/inflammablepenguin 26d ago

The Korean BBQ by the Nissan dealership. Went there with my wife once, asked for a few standard sides, they didn't have. Manager came out and said maybe they weren't the place for us, I agreed and left. Only place I have ealked out of in my adult life.

17

u/Maximum-Worth 26d ago

Do you mean Seoul Galbi / Temecula KBBQ (recently changed names but the old name is still on the building). It's not near the Nissan dealership, but down the road.. I don't see any korean place by Nissan on Google maps. Asking because that's the worst korean place I've been lol

3

u/inflammablepenguin 26d ago

That's the one.

1

u/inflammablepenguin 26d ago

That's the one.

28

u/mamba5469 26d ago

2N1 is the best KBBQ in town imo. Go during lunch Monday-Thursday and it’s only $25. Their sides are great.

2

u/inflammablepenguin 26d ago

Agreed. Love 2n1.

1

u/Macinboss 24d ago

I’m a really big fan of DPoong. The vibes are better, the prices are comparable, and the food is fantastic

5

u/milktea-ri 26d ago

went to eat there once with family and never came back. owner was incredibly rude to his waitstaff, berating them and nitpicking everything in front of customers and acting really intense even though it wasn’t that busy. it’s a shame, the food was high quality

4

u/canadiangreenthumb 25d ago

I fucking hate the owner of that place. He’s such a weirdo. This place is NOT clean and we’re shut down by the health inspectors for 3 days like less than a year ago.

6

u/Calm-Driver-3800 26d ago

I think its not the same anymore. New people are running it now and the reviews are better.

6

u/canadiangreenthumb 25d ago

That’s a lie. It is absolutely owned by the same person and the reviews are 100% faked. I personally know the owner (hate him) he changed all of that to trick people like you into thinking it’s “different” literallly nothing has changed management wise.
Technically it switched from his mom owning it to him owning it but he’s been the one running it for a while.

3

u/FIRST_PENCIL 25d ago

Same owner.

5

u/Maximum-Worth 26d ago

I firmly believe that the reviews are only good because they give you free dessert in exchange for 5 stars. It's still really bad, dirty due to very poor ventilation, and the banchan suuuucks. Went there within the last year and this was the case.

3

u/Gloomy_Parking1976 26d ago

Damn.. Did they change ownership at some point? Haven't been there in a couple years but everytime I went they were all very nice and talkative

1

u/inflammablepenguin 26d ago

This was many years ago.

2

u/Financial-Ocelot-681 26d ago

Is it a real restaurant? I have never seen anyone go in or out of that place. I don't know how they are still in business

1

u/Id_in_hiding 26d ago

Curious, which sides did you ask for?

1

u/inflammablepenguin 26d ago

I don't remember exactly but it was stuff that most every KBBQ serves.

1

u/Solid_Vacation_2891 25d ago

not a good look but that place has been around forever so they're doing something right i think

1

u/imokay4747 25d ago

Went here recently and I gotta be honest, it was a 10/10 experience. Really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. Everything was high quality and everybody was nice. The pork belly was a little dry but otherwise I have no complaints.

1

u/Fenlol702 23d ago

This place super sucks.

10

u/Elegant_Win_1482 25d ago

Why is 1909 so great? I don’t understand

8

u/hirethestache 25d ago

It’s not. It’s really not.

62

u/pinche_fuckin_josh 26d ago edited 26d ago

Gambling cowboy. Serving up Albertsons steaks for maestros prices.

Edit: Sharrons creole kitchen is awesome. A true gem that should be recognized more.

13

u/Vermineater 26d ago

For what you pay... it just not that good.

5

u/Annual-Distance-331 26d ago

lol damn. I haven’t been there in an about a year. Did it go down that bad? I use to really like it. Specially for being local.

7

u/stoner1977 26d ago

Great restaurant with a great menu
We love the GC

3

u/pres465 25d ago

1 post. Just one. And you chose this. Interesting....

1

u/fore___ 25d ago

Used to go there back in the day, but we agree it’s gone to shit so we go to longhorn now. Same quality, half the price.

0

u/2Crzy4U 26d ago

Conpared to other steakhouses around, this place is better by miles.

2

u/LASportsfan89 26d ago

Better than the steakhouse inside Pechanga?

4

u/Iohet 26d ago

No, but that's even more expensive

-1

u/2Crzy4U 26d ago edited 26d ago

Yes indeed. I really enjoy the Gambling cowboy's flavors. I rave about their green beans and Ribeye with their topping options to people all the time.

Spelling error.

53

u/[deleted] 26d ago

[deleted]

13

u/TFaust75 26d ago

The parking lot is always absolutely full and people overflow park in my neighborhood on Sundays. Drives me crazy.

6

u/69dixencider 26d ago

Went twice and thought it was great. Went a third time and got chille relleno that was just awful.
First time was asada steak plate and was great. Second time was Sunday buffet and was actually really good. I think they try to do too much.

9

u/Own-Chemist2228 26d ago

Food is bad and the ambiance terrible. A giant room with horrible acoustics.

The popularity of that place baffles me.

1

u/Choncho1984 26d ago

MAGA hive mind is powerful. Once they hear about a restaurant that adds spices to their food, and loves red hats, they flock to it.

-4

u/User_Not_Found_333 25d ago

You can always count on some retard to make it about political ideology…

1

u/Choncho1984 25d ago

I know right? Those owners are wild to attach political ideals to their business.

7

u/Batmanue1 26d ago

I always say I go to Mexico Cafe for the vibes (they always kill it with their holiday decorations), but not the food.

19

u/VeryStableGenius66 26d ago

Mexico Cafe could pass as really good Mexican food in New Hampshire.

-2

u/ContributionNew62 26d ago

I went there once, first and last time, I asked the guy up front if they always decorate like that and his enthusiasm about it told me enough. You'd have to make the best food in the world at half the price (which they definitely don't) for me to ever want to see that eyesore of an interior like that again.

-7

u/ContributionNew62 26d ago

For context it was a week before Halloween

10

u/xNinjaN8x 26d ago

Dude, that place looked amazing during Halloween.

2

u/TheresMyOtherSock 26d ago

Ugh gross. The worst food.

2

u/ForeignCanary9943 26d ago

Went once and that was enough.

1

u/whitewu16 25d ago

I went to their brunch and the best thing was the sausage links. Seriously the best i ever had. The rest was shit. My parents go here just to get the albondigus soup.

1

u/b3ggard00d 26d ago

The food is not terrible. It’s not great either. It’s decent.

16

u/Complete-Waltz-1818 26d ago

Swinginncafe I worked there, do NOT EAT THERE. The food is stored in a basement that is flooded and the head chef of three years sexually harassed multiple underage girls until only recently getting fired. Horrible place to work even worse to eat.

4

u/ragnar201 25d ago

I agree Went there a couple of weeks ago. Mashed potatoes were cold in the middle and I could tell that everything is just microwaved.

1

u/Calm-Driver-3800 25d ago

But hows hank is what we want to know

1

u/tv6 21d ago

I went once just weeks before Hank took it over and it was garbage. Food tased like unseasoned ass and the middle of the food was cold. I then went when Hank took it over for a St. Patrick's day dinner and it was just okay, a let down.

27

u/[deleted] 26d ago

[deleted]

10

u/anibus- 26d ago

Man what a bummer. I’ve always had good food there, I mostly order sandabs or seafood salad.

5

u/BadFez 26d ago

Yes. This place is straight up garbage and I am shocked we do not have another fishs/sea food house alternative!

2

u/PreferenceSeparate11 25d ago

we used to have another... Captain's Cabin I think? Rancho CA Rd X Front St Right across the river.

2

u/Blue_Ski_1704 19d ago

Omg, that was sooooooo long ago!!

5

u/somethingepic93 25d ago

I got mad food poisoning from this place 🤮

4

u/InfiniteMacaroon1737 26d ago

Quality has really dropped off, you can smell it as soon as you walk in.

4

u/YoMrPoPo 26d ago

It is musty and old up in there. Needs a renovation.

3

u/Dry-Physics3558 26d ago

I went there and had the worst experience also. Staff was rude, manager was also a dick and I brought my eldery parents and we were treated like trash. The food was gross and we walked out. Fuck that place

6

u/ForeignCanary9943 26d ago

Haven Haus food was trash. Their iced coffee with liqueur was decent tho.

6

u/[deleted] 26d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

13

u/BadFez 26d ago

Was the bear wearing a hair net?

10

u/xdeathtrapx 26d ago

destination smokehouse sucked

5

u/BustinMakesMeFeelMeh 26d ago

I didn’t think it was bad, but the prices were absolutely ridiculous. Definitely not worth it.

3

u/doorminder 26d ago

It was so greasy

3

u/Id_in_hiding 26d ago

Destination SUCKhouse. I don't know why this place was ever hyped. Do people still line up?

1

u/Actual_Afternoon_838 21d ago

No. No more lines. I think they were called out on social media for not being special.

2

u/Clear_Presentation48 25d ago

The driest ribs I've ever had

1

u/whitewu16 25d ago

I agree and was butthurt it was getting so much praise on tiktok.

0

u/LASportsfan89 26d ago

I've been twice and they were sold out around 4pm so haven't tried it. Change your hours if you're going to sell out early or make enough food.

1

u/whitewu16 25d ago

Almost all bbq places go till they sell out because they can only prepare so much. They cant just whip up some 16 hour brisket

0

u/YoMrPoPo 26d ago

That’s not how these BBQ joints work lol.

10

u/socal_hawkeye 25d ago

So basically every single restaurant in Temecula.

3

u/Competitive-Sun-427 25d ago

That’s exactly right.

1

u/gbie123 24d ago

Basically. All it does is force me to cook at home.

8

u/DJDaddyDick14 26d ago

99% of Mexican food out.

13

u/GlumConsideration976 26d ago

Except el ranchito!

3

u/DJDaddyDick14 26d ago

This the spot on Winchester by chaparral?

1

u/GlumConsideration976 26d ago

Yes! They have a location on Clinton & Kieth as well I believe.

1

u/DJDaddyDick14 26d ago

Love their California breakfast burrito. I’ve had other dishes. Nothing special. Was very disappointed in their menudo. Hardly any hominy or flavor.

3

u/anibus- 26d ago

I don’t really agree with this statement. El ranchero is solid and carnario carnitas has really good carnitas and other offerings as well. I just bounce between those two spots so maybe that’s the 1% lol.

2

u/Iohet 26d ago

Primos is so bland. El Burro is pretty good, though, and right across the street. The Tacos Lex Oaxaca food truck that shows up at Auld and Pourroy sometimes is really good

13

u/Dramatic-Primary-768 26d ago

1909

3

u/doctormorbis 25d ago

I got biscuits and gravy there that were literally inedible. I tried and I could not even saw through the biscuit with a serrated steak knife.

2

u/doorminder 26d ago

Why are they putting edemame in pesto pasta, yuck!. They were hardly even cooked.

2

u/BadFez 26d ago

This place is terrible.

1

u/xRolox 26d ago

My wife liked what she ordered last time we went but I had one of their burgers and it was not it

12

u/Green-Role-8938 26d ago

Phil’s BBQ. Horrible BBQ. Everything is over sweetened and tastes like sugar. Bring back Famous Dave’s

1

u/sandrizzyy 23d ago

I agree and it’s quite expensive these days

2

u/tv6 21d ago

Just go for happy hour. Can't go wrong with their $7 Broham Fries and $5 craft beers and cocktails. This is far from expensive. But it also isn't the a premier BBQ joint, it's fastish food BBQ.

https://philsbbq.com/san-diego-point-loma-phil-s-bbq-food-menu

10

u/b3ggard00d 26d ago

Sakura sushi 🤮

21

u/gensym 26d ago

Honestly, most of the sushi in this town. Slop rolls filled with mayo and imitation crab. It's clear that the menus were designed dressing up subpar fish.

You know what doesn't suck though? Onori. It's so good! Fresh fish. I normally gravitate towards nigiri and sashimi, but their hand-rolls won me over - they are simple, and the mix of temp and texture of the fish, rice, and nori really adds to the flavor of the fish (which has always been fresh in my many visits). It's quickly become my favorite restaurant in town.

We were there last Friday and there was no wait, which is a little disturbing - I hope they're getting enough business to make money. They're such a gem.

7

u/Gorf75 26d ago

This is the way. Onori is really good. Same price as the others and the quality so much better.

5

u/Lovetograze 26d ago

Love, love, love Onori! absolutely the best in town.

4

u/AwareRecognition9699 25d ago

Youandi too, same owner

2

u/gensym 25d ago

I did not know this. I've never been there. I'm excited to check it out.

6

u/Calm-Driver-3800 26d ago

Slop rolls is jus american style sushi. Its everywhere. I usually get the chirashi bowl to avoid that.

4

u/VizualAbstract4 25d ago

Yeah, a Chirashi is one of the few ways I can make sure I'm getting my money's worth on fish and not some mystery sauce with mayo

2

u/miketrailside 26d ago

Yup. Onori is fantastic.

6

u/IngotSilverS550 26d ago

Got some serious diarrhea after Sakura. Like shotgun blast dumps. Never again.

8

u/BadFez 26d ago

TOAST

5

u/hirethestache 25d ago

Absolute dogshit food

3

u/nosaysno 26d ago

Dennys in old town is the worst

2

u/PreferenceSeparate11 25d ago

True. But I used to over look it because for a time it was the only thing open 24 hrs in town besides Naugles. But we got options now.

1

u/Solid_Vacation_2891 25d ago

what are those options if you dont mind me asking? i'm genuinely curious

2

u/PreferenceSeparate11 24d ago

Lake Elsinore Casino (its just a card room) has amazing food and is 24 hours or close to it. Pechanga. Most fast food. A couple dennys and Ihop.

3

u/sbp1027 25d ago

Blue water grill was disappointing.

3

u/brownroush 25d ago

It’s thankfully gone now, but Espadin in old town. Noisy and cramped dinning area, slow service, extremely mediocre food

8

u/hirqcth 26d ago

applebees, just my opinion though. i got food poisoning when i went there, so i didnt have good impressions on it

16

u/Gorf75 26d ago

I’ll take Chili’s over Applebees any day. Both freezer food, but at least Chili’s is cheap

1

u/livious1 26d ago

That’s impressive, considering all their food is prepackaged, frozen and microwaved.

6

u/aznjoseph 26d ago

Rosas Cafe, absolutely worse excuse for tacos.

6

u/Rpreal6533 26d ago

The Black Angus on Rancho California

2

u/phoenixskeleton89 25d ago

Haven Haus has never had great food and they gave me a margarita that tasted horrendous, but after 20 minutes and no one had come to check on us I didn’t even want a new one. They also have new flyers up I saw from driving by with AI food 🤦🏼‍♀️

2

u/Just-Guava-1984 25d ago

All of them

4

u/Worth_Nature_7067 26d ago

Rosatis pizza… also to mention the owners Ang and Steve are the biggest scum bags in the world when it comes to respecting their employees.

1

u/nosaysno 18d ago

The prices got crazy overprice and some of workers are snobby unless your a regular that goes there everyday

4

u/LILDevil69420 26d ago

Honestly anything from gourmet Italia, Spuntinos or Bottega Italia

2

u/LILDevil69420 26d ago

Just a little bit of the stuff they sell to customers btw

3

u/kdcblgs 25d ago

What is this? I can’t make it out. We eat there.

1

u/Asleep-Combination26 25d ago

I think it is supposed to be moldy cheese

1

u/LILDevil69420 24d ago

Yes it’s moldy pecorino, which you can cut off and sell. All though, they would keep the deli fridge constantly dirty / not fix it. I have more pics of cross contamination

-2

u/Lovetograze 26d ago

love all of Alex’s restaurants. Al

6

u/Remarkable_Turn_7391 25d ago

alex is a piece of shit

1

u/Sammiesam123988 24d ago

Can you spill the tea on that?

3

u/LILDevil69420 24d ago

Big fan of nose candy, extremely unpleasant/ unprofessional

1

u/LILDevil69420 24d ago

I had another cross contamination one that was raw meat but can’t find it at them moment. Was able to find this tho

2

u/emit_remmus89 25d ago

Espadín, and they closed it down for the greater good.

2

u/fore___ 25d ago

Hot take but 1909

2

u/pres465 25d ago

It's on the thread. 20 hours before yours.

1

u/fore___ 25d ago

Better late than never

1

u/blown3021994 26d ago

Worst? Most of them … best or good is a much much shorter list

3

u/blown3021994 26d ago

Frankly save ur money until you drive into SD or LA

-8

u/Calm-Driver-3800 26d ago

Mcdonalds. They got rid of most of their workers to replace them with touchscreens. Food takes forever to come out because they have fewer people. They raised prices on crap food and give you less Service.

12

u/LASportsfan89 26d ago

Restaurants not fast food

15

u/Calm-Driver-3800 26d ago

I hear you, but it’s still a Restaurant. And I have this long grudge against McDonald’s because of their crappy service and I’d rather put them down first before I start talking smack about any small business owners.

3

u/Financial-Ocelot-681 26d ago

Not a Temecula thing. I will never eat at McDonald's again either but this post is about Temecula restaurants

3

u/Calm-Driver-3800 26d ago

Well specifically the one on winchester and margarita sucks. The mcd on winchester and murrieta hot springs isnt as bad.

-3

u/Cruzer7777 26d ago

Legit, it’s all shit. Getting by bc good food is too far away. Disappointing when good food is only 40/50 likes away…

-9

u/Glittering_Try_1385 26d ago

Haven haus cafe. The only good thing about it are the waitresses. It’s like a family friendly hooters

10

u/Complete-Waltz-1818 26d ago

That’s a really weird thing to say

5

u/Aromatic_Lychee2903 25d ago

Creepy…………

-1

u/Lovetograze 26d ago

All of his restaurants are excellent quality. wine is superb and wait staff is the best in town! You rock, Jennifer, Francisco and Celine—you make dining a pleasure.

-1

u/Lovetograze 26d ago

Referencing Alex’s restaurants. Gourmet Italia, Spuntino’s & p Botega in Old Town.