Adriana's Cocina, Mexican Fusion Cuisine, Expanding Hours In Temecula

TEMECULA, CA—There's a hidden gem and some of the area's finest Mexican cuisine in South Temecula if you plan and know when to go.

Adriana's Cocina is located off Temecula Parkway and Meadows Parkway in the Villages @ Paseo Del Sol shopping center. Reservations are available through Open Table from 4 to 8 p.m., Thursday through Saturday.

Owner and chef Adriana Dominguez tells Patch that they will soon be open on Sundays in the coming weeks.

"Everything we serve is authentic, Jalisco-style Mexican cuisine, with my own creative fusion," she told Patch in a recent interview. Dominguez likes doing things the way her grandmother taught her, paying attention to the details and flavors of Jalisco, Mexico.

Dominguez is a lifelong chef who studied traditional cooking on her grandmother's side. She is a caterer turned restaurant owner and has methodically grown her business with the help of her family. Walking inside Adriana's Cocina feels like stepping inside a friend's home, from the bright pops of color on the wall to cozy family-style seating.

The restaurant first opened four years ago, filling the space of the former Which Wich Sandwich shop, facing the plaza, near Richie's Diner and Baja Fresh.

With the coronavirus shutdown, Dominguez opted to move slowly. She still caters and holds private events, but her hours of operation have been narrowed down to three days a week.

Open Table shows consistent five-star reviews for Adriana's Cocina. Many recommend specific dishes, unique cocktails, and friendly staff. Most offer the highest praise: that they will be returning. Dinner service is family-style, and the menu is designed to be shared.

When you go, order from among her most ordered menu items: the Chipotle Honey Salmon with Mango Salsa—blackened salmon in honey tamarind chipotle sauce, served with cilantro jasmine rice.

The sharable menu includes guacamole, Mexican corn, Oaxacan Queso, taquitos stuffed with chicken and potatoes, served with queso fresco and avocado, and Jalapeno Poppers served with a chili lime dipping sauce.

They will open on Sundays soon, starting with a prix fixe menu for Mother's Day.

"My daughter runs the front of the house, and I run the kitchen," she says. They serve mocktails, beer, and wine behind the small bar. Recently, she hired a new chef to train her on the menu, which changes with the seasons.

"Our goal is to provide our guests with an unforgettable dining experience," she said. "You won't find anything fried here. No fried tacos or chimichangas. Everything is made fresh and is flavor packed."

It has taken a village to open her restaurant, and her friends and fans have kept the doors open while she continues to run her catering business on off days.

"I began catering when my son was at Chaparral High School," she said. "That business grew by word of mouth, and before 2020, everyone always asked, 'When are you opening a restaurant?'" That sort of support from friends and family kept her going.

To gain inspiration, they took a family trip across Mexico to her grandmother's native town, Jalostotitlan, a Pueblo village near Jalisco, Mexico. It was "an experience I'll always remember,” she said.

Shortly before she opened the cocina, Dominguez's beloved grandmother died, she said, her voice filled with emotion.

"She taught me what I know about food, and visiting where she grew up in Mexico taught me so much about her."

Dominguez pointed out her favorite part of the decor: a set of framed photos that pays homage to her grandmother's hometown. Her grandmother still plays a large part in her business and is never forgotten.

"Families take care of each other. It's what they're supposed to do. My grandmother always took care of us and still does."

For more information, visit Adriana's Cocina online or make a reservation on Open Table.