Arriola's Tortilleria - Indio

I stayed in Indio for a while and found this gem on Google Maps. I'm so glad I did! Their tamales are some of the best I've ever had—better than any other restaurant I've tried. They offer a variety of meats and the portions are generous, reminding me of my grandmother's cooking. I also had the Chile Verde, and it was excellent. I just wish this place was closer to me; I would be here all the time. It's a must-visit when you're in the area!

WORLD'S. GREATEST. Homemade tortilla chips with nacho cheese, red salsa, and chile rojo meat.... that's my go-to order.... I absolutely refuse to share my nachos! This place is a tiny hole-in-the-wall located next to a fleet store. There’s no sign; the building is plain white with a white door, and there are no chairs or tables—just walk up to the counter and wait for your order. The smell when you walk in is pure Mexico, like my Abuela is cooking up heavenly dishes all over again. Their tamales are fantastic—oh, and you must try the Tamale Boat, which is a tamale topped with nacho cheese and salsa... you won't regret ordering it! The menu is simple, featuring nachos, tamales, breakfast burritos, and Menudo. These aren’t the traditional entrees served with rice and beans. They also sell canned goods, and since Arriolas is a tortilleria (tortilla factory), they have some items available for a little extra that are incredibly delicious. This place is DEFINITELY a hidden gem in Indio and has been for over 30 years!

The restaurant offers a limited but impressive selection of dishes. There are no rice options, but you won't miss them or regret your choice!

Great service with good food. The Chile Colorado Burrito was full of juice, but somehow the meat was dry.

My family and I have been coming to this place since at least the 70s. They make all of their chips, salsa, and tamales fresh in the building. Their salsa is the best, the longer it sits the hotter it gets. This place will always be a must-stop when I come back home. I highly recommend getting their chips and salsa. They also have some nachos with chile verde, which were yummy. The single serve chips and salsa is good in the styrofoam container, however I really miss having them served in the small paper bag. It was so nice to get that small paper bag with all the salsa poured on top and work your way through the bag, trying to keep your hands clean on the way down. I know this way is much cleaner, but for some reason I do miss the nostalgia of that bag. I will definitely return in the next couple of days, and again on my next trip to the desert. It may be a small hole in the wall place, but it is the best!! FYI, no seating inside, it literally is a counter and a couple of coolers. However, just know everything is freshly made there and it is definitely worth the journey.