![]() If you want good Mexican food in the middle of northwestern NJ, or you want to try Mexican food for the first time, I think you can't go wrong with Riviera Maya. Tamales and tender pork take a long time to prepare. Some of the sauces have over ten ingredients. If this place was in a city no one would complain about the prices but since its on the side of a rural road, I think some of the reviewers expected to pay breakfast special at Yetters Diner prices. I think the prices are very reasonable for the portion size. The tamales are moist and the masa is very flavorful. Now there has been occasions the the Mole has had too much cinnamon for my liking but most of the time it is one of the best moles I have had (sorry Abuela Montanez). I think the standouts though are the Tamales and the Steak served with Mole Enchilada (Bistec Jalisco). The Enchiladas Suizas are very good, all their pork dishes are well prepared and flavorful, and Texmex fare like Nachos and Taco Salads are always solid. I love the salsa but it does have a kick to it. Riviera Maya certainly holds its own in my experience. I think I know Mexican food pretty well since its one of my favorites, I worked at a Mexican restaurant while in college, and my wife is Mexican so I have eaten homemade tamales, mole, tortillas, tacos, rice, and beans. The interior is quite nice with an ostentatious Mexican flair and a very nice bar area with booth seating. Riviera Maya is located in a nondescript yellow steel building and has a gravel parking lot. Riviera Maya is one of these places with an address in Branchville near a small market and a Dairy Queen. Interspersed between long stretches of forests and farms are your typical New Jersey farm stands selling fresh produce, used car dealerships, and inexplicably several rather good restaurants and diners. It is just a two lane road that runs about 30 miles from the PA and NJ border to I-80. The service was exceptional.I have been going to Riviera Maya for about five years now since for a long time it was the only Mexican place within about 30 minutes from my home. Rice was just the way I like it and the beans - which after 12 years of Catholic School Cafeteria food - were also delicious beans are something that I shy away from as they bring back bad food memories :) Overall, I would hit this place again if I was ever in that area. The Deep fried chimichanga was not oily or greasy. I'm always getting compliments on my cooking but this was amazing. I make a mean ground beef to eat with rice, and a different ground beef mix for when I want to cook mexican. I had chosen the ground beef in the Chimi. My daughter could only finish 1/2 of her meal and we packed the rest for home! My wife and I had the combo with the Chimicongas and Enchiladas and man they were delicious. ![]() Everything, from the chips and salsa through the main course were delicious. This place looked to be getting some good reviews so we decided to stop. We stopped on the side of the road and checked various review sites. On the way back home, the parking lot was FULL. ![]() On the way up, I noticed this restaurant but it was early and it was empty. ![]() We went up to the Sussux County Sunflower maze and left there rather hungry.
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