Buena Vida Tapas Lounge
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First time here and it was a good place. The outside was kinda plain, like were we at the right place. The inside was nice, lots of patio seating, and indoor seating. The air conditioning was nice and cool. They have a good happy hour. The drinks were also good, the meals were good. Nothing too fancy or overpriced. I would recommend eating here and would come back.
I visited this place for brunch with some friends and we were looking forward to the good vibes. I have mixed opinions about this restaurant. Some of the food items were hit or miss. The birria omelette, A Huevo Que Si, was absolutely delicious! I was already full but kept eating it because it was just soooo good. I ordered a cantarito for my drink and I loved it as well. The breakfast tacos however, were really disappointing. They weren't very hearty and overall just lackluster. In terms of service, we were overall dissatisfied. Our server seemed to be distracted and had to come back to ask us again what we had ordered for drinks. The food took a long time to come out and when it did, we realized that our appetizer had never been brought out. We called our server over and she admitted that she had forgotten to put that order in for us, so we ended up just telling her never mind. I would like to return and try different items from the menu, and hopefully receive better service in the future.
Buena Vida Tapas Lounge is such a relaxing place for dinner! Went after a big exam and had a relaxing beer at happy hour. We got the street tacos, and fish tacos. This fish tacos are perfect! I will back for those tacos however the asada street tacos were not the best and I cant recommend them. But don't let the street tacos discourage you (im also picky about my street tacos). The waiter accidently poured the wrong beer so they just brought me both beers and that was perfect way to start me evening. The staff is great and responsive and beer is cold.
Was there this past weekend an let's just say ..It's changed a lot when it comes to food quality.. down grade big time ..Had the fish tacos burnt more like Gordon frozen fish on a tortilla ..the shrimp tacos had 3 tiny an a lot cabbage idk why would they down grade on food .. a this place was good .. service was great tho .. just the food was fail
This place is such a vibe! We came in for brunch on a Saturday and it was busy! We were seated quickly tho. The staff is attentive and fast too. We were a party of 5 and order a couple of the Mexican paleta shots, those were so good! Also the horchata colada was really tasty. Food portions are huge. I ordered the tropical ceviche which has mango and only finished a 3rd of it. We also ordered the steak and shrimp skewers, pasta al ajo, and shrimp tacos. The hallway leading to the bathroom has photo ops and the bathroom was also nicely decorated. Had me feeling like I was back in Cancun :)
So delicious there food good ambience and people there , always attentive at the bar section . Service was excellent
Went for happy hour and was not disappointed. Always looking for another to add to our happy hour rotation: Eureka, yard house, flame, Valle, etc and think we found one. All of the food was flavorful ceviche was fresh with a great amount of acidity. The service was friendly and efficient. Maybe only downside was there were several lights not turned on and it was quite dark.
We had dinner, which was Amazing and I had Aguachile with the Margarita Flight! The service was excellent as always even with it being busy. There was great music and soccer was on. If you haven't tried it I highly recommend!
Have eaten here twice, both times were super good! First time was here for my moms graduation and they were very accommodating to a large part size, though it did take a while for the food which was understandable. They have a cute area near bathrooms to take pics which is fun, and the decor is pretty simple but nice. Really cool in there, wasn't hot at all even when it's busy. Second time I came with my mom for happy hour and our server was super nice, we got two drinks, and taquitos with nachos. Both drinks were recommended and super yummy!
Having an old fashioned @buenavidatapas. Great drinks great service great atmosphere. One of the few places in my neighborhood to get at drink and late night eats. Come grab a drink and some great food.
Another fantastic meal at Buenavida Tapas. We enjoyed happy hour margaritas and appetizers, as well as two main dishes for the three of us. We arrived in time to catch a birthday and Sunday Night Football on the big screens with excellent service and a tasty meal.
Our third time at this spot at the old Chuy's. Decorations kind of modern Latin cookie cutter but a fun vibe. We liked our food and had fun. I liked the (spicy) Aquachile verde and queso fundido. My dad had the salmon a la plancha (I didn't try it but he liked it), I tried my mom's sopes de tinga it was "ok". We wished they had some more vegetarian/plant based options such as flor de calabaza, veggie enchiladas, more salads. My spicy mezcal margarita was really good! Our service was good; our waiter was patient with us deciding on our entrees and answering questions. Important to note this place is LOUD for dinner, both from the people and loud music. Not relaxing and hard to have a convo but it's super fun, good place for a fun dinner, birthday if you're not trying to have intimate convos, drinks at the bar with friends etc.
3 months ago
Food was plated so beautifully and the flavors were so authentic ! we had dinner at the bar area the bartenders we're awesome making us fill welcome and comfortable watching them make they're signature drinks from scratch and maid with love it's all in the little details the entire restaurant is definitely a vibe! From the music to the decorations everyone in there was in their own energy I'd say it's a must try! read more
3 months ago
4 months ago
First time here and it was a good place. The outside was kinda plain, like were we at the right place. The inside was nice, lots of patio seating, and indoor seating. The air conditioning was nice and cool. They have a good happy hour. The drinks were also good, the meals were good. Nothing too fancy or overpriced. I would recommend eating here and would come back. read more
3 months ago
4 months ago
I visited this place for brunch with some friends and we were looking forward to the good vibes. I have mixed opinions about this restaurant. Some of the food items were hit or miss. The birria omelette, A Huevo Que Si, was absolutely delicious! I was already full but kept eating it because it was just soooo good. I ordered a cantarito for my drink and I loved it as well. The breakfast tacos however, were really disappointing. They weren't very hearty and overall just lackluster. In terms of service, we were overall dissatisfied. Our server seemed to be distracted and had to come back to ask us again what we had ordered for drinks. The food took a long time to come out and when it did, we realized that our appetizer had never been brought out. We called our server over and she admitted that she had forgotten to put that order in for us, so we ended up just telling her never mind. I would like to return and try different items from the menu, and hopefully receive better service in the future. read more
1 year ago
Buena Vida Tapas Lounge is such a relaxing place for dinner! Went after a big exam and had a relaxing beer at happy hour. We got the street tacos, and fish tacos. This fish tacos are perfect! I will back for those tacos however the asada street tacos were not the best and I cant recommend them. But don't let the street tacos discourage you (im also picky about my street tacos). The waiter accidently poured the wrong beer so they just brought me both beers and that was perfect way to start me evening. The staff is great and responsive and beer is cold. read more
8 months ago
Was there this past weekend an let's just say ..It's changed a lot when it comes to food quality.. down grade big time ..Had the fish tacos burnt more like Gordon frozen fish on a tortilla ..the shrimp tacos had 3 tiny an a lot cabbage idk why would they down grade on food .. a this place was good .. service was great tho .. just the food was fail read more
This place is such a vibe! We came in for brunch on a Saturday and it was busy! We were seated quickly tho. The staff is attentive and fast too. We were a party of 5 and order a couple of the Mexican paleta shots, those were so good! Also the horchata colada was really tasty. Food portions are huge. I ordered the tropical ceviche which has mango and only finished a 3rd of it. We also ordered the steak and shrimp skewers, pasta al ajo, and shrimp tacos. The hallway leading to the bathroom has photo ops and the bathroom was also nicely decorated. Had me feeling like I was back in Cancun :) read more
3 months ago
So delicious there food good ambience and people there , always attentive at the bar section . Service was excellent read more
Went for happy hour and was not disappointed. Always looking for another to add to our happy hour rotation: Eureka, yard house, flame, Valle, etc and think we found one. All of the food was flavorful ceviche was fresh with a great amount of acidity. The service was friendly and efficient. Maybe only downside was there were several lights not turned on and it was quite dark. read more
1 month ago
Not only was food outstanding but the location is beautiful in all its details, our server was so great we never needed a thing, i will come here again & again to see the lovely people and have the tastiest steak!!! read more
3 months ago
We had dinner, which was Amazing and I had Aguachile with the Margarita Flight! The service was excellent as always even with it being busy. There was great music and soccer was on. If you haven't tried it I highly recommend! read more
4 months ago
Have eaten here twice, both times were super good! First time was here for my moms graduation and they were very accommodating to a large part size, though it did take a while for the food which was understandable. They have a cute area near bathrooms to take pics which is fun, and the decor is pretty simple but nice. Really cool in there, wasn't hot at all even when it's busy. Second time I came with my mom for happy hour and our server was super nice, we got two drinks, and taquitos with nachos. Both drinks were recommended and super yummy! read more
2 months ago
Another fantastic meal at Buenavida Tapas. We enjoyed happy hour margaritas and appetizers, as well as two main dishes for the three of us. We arrived in time to catch a birthday and Sunday Night Football on the big screens with excellent service and a tasty meal. read more
Our third time at this spot at the old Chuy's. Decorations kind of modern Latin cookie cutter but a fun vibe. We liked our food and had fun. I liked the (spicy) Aquachile verde and queso fundido. My dad had the salmon a la plancha (I didn't try it but he liked it), I tried my mom's sopes de tinga it was "ok". We wished they had some more vegetarian/plant based options such as flor de calabaza, veggie enchiladas, more salads. My spicy mezcal margarita was really good! Our service was good; our waiter was patient with us deciding on our entrees and answering questions. Important to note this place is LOUD for dinner, both from the people and loud music. Not relaxing and hard to have a convo but it's super fun, good place for a fun dinner, birthday if you're not trying to have intimate convos, drinks at the bar with friends etc. read more
1 year ago
Came for happy hour and left sad. Happy hour prices are great but hindered greatly by the abysmal service. We waited 30min before being served after being seated. Then between ordering drinks we had to flag the waiter down, who also kept forgetting what we ordered, after waiting another 30min. Drinks arrive and food preset was taken. Waited another 45 minutes before food. By that time happy hour was over and they no longer would honor happy hour pricing. Food was barely warm and tasted of soap. Lacked any real flavor. The drinks were good. Ambiance is kinda unique but feels somewhat slapped together. The chairs were uncomfortable and felt like they were going to break. read more
3 months ago
8 months ago
The food and service was amazing. Unfortunately, we were unable to have a couple drinks. Due to the fact we were traveling. Definitely will recommend coming here. read more
4 months ago
This spot is located where the old Chuy's was at on new stine rd, It's pretty easy to miss if you're driving by and don't look over into the shopping center. I happened upon Buena Vida after doing a quick search on Yelp. The Margaritas were delicious, to be honest everything we had was on point. The service was exceptional as well as the food. They have happy hour specials that we took advantage of and we're not disappointed by the selections offered. The décor inside reminds of being in Mexico it's really nice and there's plenty of seating for big parties. I would definitely recommend getting the margarita flight with a bowl of Ceviche or taquitos de papa it will not disappoint. read more
2 years ago
This is my favorite place for happy hour! We eat here at least once a week- everything is delicious, they have great portions, the staff is attentive, and the drinks are so good. The music is always on point and they have a live band on Sunday evenings. read more
1 year ago
Everything was AMAZING Service was fantastic, drinks tasted great, and every plate we ordered couldn't have been better. We will definitely be back! read more
5 months ago
6 months ago
The food was really good! I'm obsessed with the salsa flight! The mimosa was delicious! The service was on top of their game! I will definitely be returning to try more foods at Tapas! read more
This place is awesome! Second time stopping by and it was equally as good as the first time I stopped by. Consistency for me is what matters so they seem to have that down. Service has been great the two times I have came by. The design of this resteraunt is also super cute so it's a nice vibe once your in there. Their happy hour menu is awesome. Very good prices for the portion of food you are getting. If your an early dinner kinda person like me, this is PERFECT. I've had almost everything off the happy hour menu and it's all SOO GOOD. Some honorable mentions are the Nachos, Taquitos de pollo, tacos de papa, the ceviche and the street tacos. All of it is very good and I highly recommend you try some of these items. Overall, I am very happy to live so close to this place. I know if I'm craving some good Mexican food, this is where I'm coming especially for happy hour. Make sure to check them out if you haven't already, you will not be dissapointed. read more
At this point I'm a regular here. These are two different times we had the same thing and the flavors always impress me. The molcajete is sooo flavorful but also very spicy! I come here just because of how spicy it is. They come with two tortillas and they're very good quality, you can of course ask for more. Recently we became obsessed with the pollo con rajas, it's not spicy at all but the flavor is insane. It's so creamy, the chicken is cooked to perfectly and seasoned. The only thing is there always seems to be a wait, but the servers are always so so nice. The music is always so good, a good amount of loud, you can celebrate birthdays here as well!! read more
Finally made it to the others side of town to try the Buena Vida and all it's glory! The place is adorably decorated in bohemian style and cute quotes around perfect spot for a mini photo shoot. Francisco took very good care of us ! He was super sweet and super duper fast! He brought us our happy hour street tacos and ceviche bowl each for $8 such a good deal! We also had the cantaritos double shot that were exquisite. It's was so good that we already planned our return! Next time we are trying the margarita flight and the shooters, Francisco recommended the one called piña para la niña. read more
1 year ago
My wife and I stopped in for lunch this afternoon and had a great meal. The ambiance is boho casual and trendy. We shared some Queso Fundido with Chorizo which was spicy and delicious. I ordered off their specialty menu and had their tropical ceviche with pineapple and mango. It had a bright clean flavor and was served with chips and corn tortillas. My wife enjoyed the Tacos de Tuetano. She loved the smoky, buttery flavor of the bone marrow and the juicy ribeye taco combination. Service is always top-notch. One of our favorite places. read more
1 year ago
Great brunch menu, happy hour menu, and regular food menu. Drinks come with a generous pour. It is clean and upscale(-ish.) I recommend the carne en su jugo, ceviche, and enchiladas suizas. We also like the pastor ribs. read more
1 year ago
We just had a Fantastic dinner at Buena Vida Tapas Lounge off of New Stine and Wilson (the old Chewy's location). We had the Queso Fundido, Ceviche bowl and Costillas de Elote to start. Ribeye tacos, Taquitos Dorados, Pozole Verde with Chicken, and Brochettes de Ribeye and Camaron. Everything was Excellent! The Margarita flight was on point. Our server and took excellent care of us. We will definitely be back and recommend them to everyone we know. Great Local place!! read more
1 year ago
My friend and I went here for brunch. The mimosa flight is good if you want to try more than one mimosa and something sweet. They were a little too sweet and not cold enough for me. The tapas we had and shared were pretty good. The service was alright, just was a little slow for being not so busy. The inside is beautiful. It doesn't feel like Dirty dusty bakersfield, so that's always a plus. read more
3 years ago
It was sad to see one of the original icons go, meaning Chuy's, but times have definitely changed in Bakersfield and we're seeing it every day and since Buena Vida has taken over Chuy's location, they are slowly trying to hit that mark by bringing a little variety to the area. Lots of outdoor seating is what first caught my eye. Can't wait to eat outside when the weather cools down. Inside decorations are on point. Almost Boho with a little tropical flair. The service was exceptionally good. Our waitress was super friendly and had lots of suggestions. She checked on us regularly and was an absolute delight. If only I could remember her name. Now for the food and drinks. To start, we ordered a salsa flight. Four different salsas and crunchy tortilla chips (see menu pic for options). Fun to play with some heat from the Salsa Macha, followed by a cool down chaser of Piña. I ordered a Horchata Colada and it was so refreshing and delicious. My husband ordered a Margarita flight (see pic of drink menu for options) that gave us a chance to taste four flavors. The hibiscus one and the passion fruit were my fave. Food wise, I ordered a Chicken Ponlano Rajas and I was pleased with my choice. Sauce was tasty. Poblanos were cut into thin slices and the sliced chicken was cooked to perfection. The rice was ok. A little overdone, but ok. My husband ordered two tacos, one shrimp taco and the other a ribeye. So you know ahead of time, the menu says grilled shy, yet my husbands was battered. Not a great taco. However, the ribeye was tender, juicy yams full of flavor. All in all it was a good night. We'll be back to try a few different dishes. Personally, I'd be happy with just a Horchata Colada and Hibiscus Margarita. Yummm-E. read more
This is a really fun place. Nice decor, nice bar, a lot of neon. The waitress was kind enough to let us sit and chat even the the restaurant is not open yet. The drinks are cool, the margarita flights my friends ordered looked like a good time. The appetizer are also innovative. I ordered the octopus, is was cooked well, but it is a tapas place so the portion was on the small side. Overall everyone had a good time. read more
1 year ago
Caesar is a dawg. 10/10 service. everyone vibe is tremendous. Yall need to vibe out here. Love my new spot !!! Caesar is a dawg. 10/10 service. everyone vibe is tremendous. Yall need to vibe out here. Love my new spot !!! read more
I visited this establishment on a Saturday evening. My wife and I called ahead to see if they were taking reservations. The hostess informed us that there were no more reservations available for the evening but that there was currently no wait time when we arrived We were seated quickly, the establishment itself was pretty full and they did seem a little shorthanded on waitresses. But their service was still fantastic even with being shorthanded. My wife ordered the grilled octopus being that you don't see that on many menus. The presentation was beautiful. Everything tasted fresh and made to order and I didn't get the sense that anything had been sitting around for a while. The octopus was excellent. It was served with grilled Brussel sprouts tossed in a sauce on the side. It also had fresh sliced avocado, pickled onions And Mexican cheese all on the side. My wife did make the comment that she did wish that there was at least one item on her plate that was crunchy just to add some substance. I ordered the chicken taquitos Dorados. Again the presentation was beautiful. The taquitos were perfectly crispy. It was topped with Crema and Mexican cheese, and served with freshly made guacamole on the side. Everything was excellent, and again tasted very fresh. We also ordered the salsa flight which had four different types of salsa, and what tasted like freshly made in house. Chips three of the four sauces were excellent. The only one that we did not care for was the pineapple salsa. It seemed just a bit too watery. For drinks we ordered the margarita flight which was pretty good considering it was only $20. The ambience of this place was pretty loud. They did have music playing in the background. I would say this would be a good spot for a first date. They also had multiple TVs with different sports on which was nice and a nice open bar. My wife and I did find ourselves having to speak a little louder than normal to be able to hear each other. So if you're looking for a quiet sit down restaurant, I would definitely look elsewhere . Overall, it was a nice experience, and I would definitely return read more
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Are there gluten free options?
Several dishes that may be gluten-free. However, to know exactly which dishes are suitable for a gluten-free diet, it's best to check with the waiter or refer to the restaurant's menu, as such options may vary depending on the season or menu…
Does this place even have tapas, I don't see anything on the menu that would suggest little plates to share as traditionally done?
Everything is shareable
