We really wanted to like Buena Vista, but it was disappointing overall. The poblano shrimp was way too salty, and the empanadas were a letdown. They barely had any meat, the filling was mushy, and they tasted like frozen, premade empanadas instead of homemade. They also only have one empanada option. We also got Combo #26. It had good flavor, but the portion was much smaller than expected, especially for the price. In general, everything felt overpriced for what you get. The service didn't help either. We had to flag someone down for water refills after waiting quite a while, and we asked for no sour cream but they still put it on our food. The one bright spot was the atmosphere. The restaurant is colorful, festive, and really cute inside. Overall, the food and service just didn't justify the prices. Unfortunately, we won't be coming back. read more

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I will admit, Buena Vista was not our original destination, but we were thankful they could seat us on a Saturday around lunch time. The restaurant has a festive vibe but also some huge TVs for the sports fans. There were an overwhelming number of food options. The portions - except for the guac, I guess - are huge! The bathroom is down some very steep stairs, so be careful. read more

Buena Vista - Guacamole 4 oz. - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Seen this place for a while and been wanting to try, so we decided to head there last week after leaving the park nearby. This place did not disappoint! We were lucky it was a slower night (random Monday night), so we got seated immediately. Decor is typical of what I think of a cantina/similar cuisine restaurant - wooden chairs and tables, bright flags and similar decor around. They have a bar area and tvs throughout (no sound) so able to watch games that might be on. The staff were very friendly and accommodating, with our waiter automatically offering a booster seat and the option of the highchair for our little one. Now, to the best part - the food and drinks. The food and drinks were soooo good! We got the chips and queso to share, which our little one mostly ate the chips. They were clearly homemade, right crispy, came out hot and fresh with the queso have the right level of taste and cheesiness. We got margaritas for us (passion fruit and mango) and a apple juice for her. The apple juice was actually an apple juice soda, but worked out as she seemed to really like it. The food was delicious! I ordered Chicken Enchiladas with Mole, he got the Birria Tacos and we got Chicken Quesadillas with a side of rice. She didn't eat her food but we tried a bite. Just like our entrees, it was very good. Greta portion sizes, seasoned well with balanced flavors, came out hot and fresh... So good! And the pricing wasn't bad considering everything we got. We definitely plan to come to try more off the menu. Highly recommend checking them out! read more

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Took a 5-mile walk through Fairmount Park and worked up an appetite, so I searched for tacos nearby and ended up at Buena Vista. The wait was short I walked in, placed my order, and had my food in less than 15 minutes. The space was clean, nicely decorated, and even had some cute photo ops. Plenty of seating too, which is always a plus. Now, I was a little shocked when my order of birria tacos, a side of guac, and wings came to $55 definitely on the pricey side. But honestly? These tacos were some of the best I've had in Philly in a long time. Worth the splurge! read more

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Service & staff friendly, helpful, engaging. Very accommodating. Our 2nd time in 4 weeks. Drinks are fun, tasty & well made. Guac & chips-freshly made, warm! Excellent. Our entrees were Mole Poblano excellent, enough for delicious lunch next day. Steak Enchiladas also recommended. Definitely save room for dessert: frozen ice cream & churros for us Decor is bright colors of Mexico & fresh paint recently in restaurant. New mural coming when artist confirmed. Bar area is warm & inviting. I am especially looking forward to warm weather to enjoy their coming outdoor patio read more

Nice addition to Fairmount with cute interior, friendly staff and service. Would have liked a bit more zing to the flavors, but food was solid overall. We started with chips (still warm!) and salsa (pureed) and guacamole, which could have used a bit more seasoning, but were generally tasty. The fajitas came out sizzling hot, the shrimp tacos looked picture perfect, and the al pastor burrito bowl (which wasn't the prettiest) was quite tasty. For our group of 7, service/tip was included in the bill*. *Splitting of the bill is limited to 2 credit cards. read more

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Great service. Great atmosphere . Authentic homemade amazing food ! Fajitas and jalapeño poppers were best ever! Margaritas were awesome!! Made with fresh lime !! #NeighborhoodGem read more

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A very OK place. Good music, margaritas were just OK, not the best balance., bartenders the same, service could have been better

Got the fish tacos and guacamole and chips. Really loved the chips and guac and I usually don't go for guac. The guacamole was very fresh and seasoned. When I went there my group was the only group there. It's cozy and inviting. The draft options are strictly beers and only about 5-6 options. There are multiple locations in the area. All the food was great. The menu was very expensive tho for 3 tacos it was around 21 and the chips and guac were 14 I believe. As mentioned we were the only 3 people in the restaurant so service was very quick. I think you could find just as good for a better deal but overall really enjoyed it here. read more

Buena Vista - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Good Mexican food with huge portions! I highly recommend their guacamole - I usually don't order guac because I can make it myself, but the guac here is spectacular. We went to this place with 7 people on a Saturday night and were able to get seating despite not having a reservation, so if you need a last minute dinner spot this is perfect. There were other people there, but most customers dined quickly and left so you won't have to wait for very long. read more

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We stopped in for drinks. Bessy made rock star margaritas and sangria. She's very skilled. Highly recommend for authentic cocktails. read more

Local restaurant with cute decorations. Food came out quickly and was filling but could have used some more flavor. Not far from me so would probably go here again to try Happy Hour menu. read more

Buena Vista - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I was excited to try this new addition to the neighborhood. We came in during an awkward between meal time but was hoping we'd still catch the lunch menu specials. We tried ordering at 2:50pm and the lunch special ended at 3pm but the waitress said it was already too late to order from the lunch menu - then proceeds to say the only difference is the portion size but they still have all the ingredients to make the meal. If that was the case then maybe they should just say lunch special is from 11am-2:30pm instead. Our group ended up ordering: 1. Puntas con nopales (beef, cactus, bell peppers) 2. Quesa-Birria tacos 3. Shrimp fajitas Everything was good. The Puntas con nopales was a dish I've never had and I enjoyed trying it. However, it was a bit salty for me. The presentation of the dishes are all appealing. The one thing that I didn't like was lack of guacamole as a side for all the dishes. I'm so used to pico and guacamole being part of the side dishes whether it's for fajitas or rice platters that it felt a bit disappointing to have to pay extra to include that as a side with the entree. The place is clean and staffs are all really friendly! Definitely come give this place a try - they have such a great selection you're bound to find something you enjoy. read more

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Walked by and saw this spot was finally open. I had just missed the lunch specials by a few minutes so I ordered the burrito bowl with added guacamole from the regular menu. The chairs are comfy and I enjoyed the booth space. Quick service once I ordered, but since it was a shift turnover I didn't immediately get served even though the place was empty. In terms of food quality, I did enjoy the carnitas meat and the portion size was right for a late hungry lunch. Price was 24 bucks though for a burrito bowl and diet coke, so will try the lunch special next time to see if that seems more well priced. Happy to have a new spot for tacos nearby. read more

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really good happy hour menu. Tacos are 3 dollars and margs are 8. The taquitos were really yummy and crunchy and I liked the chicken tacos. The service was really good and the bar tender was very attentive and nice. The interior is really cute as well. The place was kind of empty when we got there but that's most likely because happy hour is 3-6 so it was a bit early read more

Buena Vista - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The food at this place is so amazing! Everything is well seasoned and very flavorful. I had the quesa-birria tacos, and would highly recommend it. My friends had the enchiladas and a burrito, and everyone loved their food. The decorations are so cute, there's so much attention to detail in the design, down to the cute parrot lamps! The vibe is really fun, the food is phenomenal, and the service is great, so definitely check this place out! read more

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Food was alright but nowhere near good enough for the $60 we paid on 2 meals... queso dip is bland and flavorless ($11 for that is crazy). the enchiladas were good but the rice was not unfortunately. we will not be going back to this place and i wouldn't recommend it to anyone. read more

The fajitas were awesome. I got the mixed and the servers and the chef was really nice.!

We finally tried Buena Vista last week. It was a great experience as a bright and casual date night restuarant. Our server, Lorena, was super friendly and patiently answered all our questions regarding the menu. The menu is very extensive and authentic! I had the Enchilada trio (steak, chorizo, and chicken) and my hubby had the flautas. Everything was cooked perfectly and served at just the right temperature. Staff was very attentive and welcoming. We will definitely be back to try happy hour and to experience more items from the dinner menu. read more

My go to Mexican spot in philly -- I frequent all locations and it's always amazing. The staff is SO nice here and the food is a 10/10! Definitely get the mojito! read more

Buena Vista - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This is my new favorite Mexican spot in Philly. We got the Molcajete and it was SO good!! I literally can't stop thinking about this meal. Order some extra rice and it's the perfect meal for two. Great service and ambiance as well :) read more

The food here is quite good. I would've been much happier if they had an actual bar. There's nothing I enjoy more than an ice cold michelada with my tacos. They offered the first margarita free which was delicious and a nice surprise. I had the spicy margarita and my date had the regular margarita. Both got us fairly tipsy. Do try the guacamole. I loved it. The birria tacos and the steak tacos were average quality and no real complaints. Biggest downside- PARKING I don't know if the hassle of parking is worth the effort to go back. read more

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We went on Friday night and had no wait for a table! That's not to say they weren't busy, they have a lot of seating. We started with drinks and chips and guac. There's mango margarita was fantastic! And the guacamole was great; freshly made. I got the choro-pollo, which was chicken and chorizo covered in a cheese sauce. It came with Mexican rice, beans, and a salad on the side. The portions were huge and it tasted great. The music inside was full of throwbacks from the 2010s. A nice lowkey vibe read more

Prices are expensive to begin with, especially for Mexican food, but the real kicker is the vague "fee" they seemingly tack on arbitrarily, including for takeout. Food is great but I just cant justify the prices and the additional fees are shameful. Sad because it's right around the corner. Good service and friendly staff at least. read more

Way too expensive! I had a soup, 3 steak tacos, and a Mexican coke $4 (b/c coke isnt on tap or there was something w/the cups)....oh w/a side of sour cream and cheese. Why was my bill almost $50!? Including the 18% gratuity thats added in and the credit card fee. Like, huh?! $3 each for a side of cheese and sour cream too? Sorry, there are plenty of Mexican spots around w/better food for a lower price. read more

I ordered the chile relleno and it was very good! The agua de Jamaica was also very tasty. Unfortunately, it took very long for us to be attended and sat down to eat, despite the restaurant not being too full. We ordered chicos and guacamole, but didn't receive them, so we had to ask them to be taken off our receipt. We also had to wait a very long time to get our check. The waitresses and waiter seemed stressed and disinterested. One waitress was asking another waitress to attend nearly all of the guests because "she couldn't do it". She seemed just very annoyed with everyone. None of the waitresses were mean however, so that is not a complaint. I just feel that there was some lack of interest. The restaurant itself is very cute, relatively small. Their music playlist is very good, some classic Mexican hits. Very happy to see it is a Michoacán-owned establishment! read more

Buena Vista - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ate here for the first time, figured I would give the new place a shot. I had steak fajitas and chips & guacamole. All of the food I tried was lacking in flavor, and tasted very "American" if that makes sense. Service was kind of slow with the place being pretty much empty. For how expensive it is too, definitely doesn't seem worth it. There are much better AND cheaper places in North and South Philly. read more

It was very cold on Saturday night. No heat. The food was average, but expensive. The help was nice.

Had a taste for Mexican food and heard about Buena vista. There was no crowd, the place was very clean, and traditional music played in the background. The server took our order and the food was ready in less than 15 minutes. I ordered the Cream of Crab soup and the Tortilla soup. Typically, soups are hot or warm once you begin, and by the time you are done, it's cold. NOT THIS SOUP!! The soup was hot from beginning to end. The entrees was also smoking hot til the last drop. Al Pastor Fajitas was very flavorful. The peppers and onions added a nice season with the meat. I also ordered the Quesa-Birria Tacos. I didn't need the meat stew dip. It was a bit too greasy, but the tacos were very good. Besides all of the food being delicious, I give this place 10's because the food was hot. That tells me that it was cooked fresh and not warmed in a microwave. Well folks, till we eat again... read more

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What a disaster- 30 minutes to get a drink - in a plastic glass - another 30 minutes to place our food order - and it was not great. We drive by on a regular basis- we now know why it always looks dead. I have to say the worst restaurant experience I have ever had in Philly- service bad food bad and even the drinks were bad. read more

Whenever I am in the mood for Mexican this is my place. One of the best Mexican restaurants in Ardmore. The food is always delicious, the drinks are tasty, service is great and I love the design of the restaurant. They sell some of the best wings and that mango habanero sauce is not for the week. read more

Buena Vista - Mojito - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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This may have been the best margarita I have had in the city and I've tried quite a few. Delicious and not syrupy or too sweet. The service was good however, they did end happy hour about 15 minutes early compared to the menus I've found online. They definitely a bit pricey compared to other Mexican spots in the area but the service was good and the food was decent. We tried all of their happy hour tacos ($3 each during HH) and they were all very good. The margs were $8 at HH and $10 for regular ones. We say at the bar and had good service but we were there on a week day and it wasn't very busy. The restaurant is a pretty tight space, and the front door opens into the main dining area, so make sure to bring a coat. It was good, but outside happy hour I'm not sure I'd go back. read more

Buena Vista - Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I ordered takeout from here, you do have to call to place your order because I believe they don't have online ordering for this location yet. I ordered the chicken fajitas and was honestly surprised at how good they were! Yes the food is on the pricier side but the portions were so large that I was able to eat it for 2 meals. I would definitely recommend this place, it's a great local spot! read more

We had a great experience here. We ordered the chorizo nachos, delicious and there were no dry chips on that thing which is always a plus! I got the steak chimichanga which was huge and also great. And my fiancée got the birria tacos which were juicy and flavorful - and I am a tough critic when it comes to those! Overall awesome place. read more

They had the best tacos i've literally eaten in my life. its all i can talk about ive never had tacos like this

Great food. If the portions and prices were reduced, it'd be 4 stars. Too much food for too much money. Also, ditch the tv's. read more

Had the guacamole, the shrimp fajitas, the 21 combo (chicken enchiladas and a beef taco). The ambiance felt authentic and so cute! Friendly staff and the food was good and I felt like generous portions. The guac was worth the price! Definitely will be back :) read more

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Everything about our experience was bad, except our sweet waitress Lorena. When I first entered, I was ignored for 7 minutes while this man ran back and forth by me. I got his attention and he put his hand in my face and said "one moment". Lorena came and sat me. the rest of my party of 3 arrived about 10 minutes later and another 20 minutes later. I asked to have water or put in a drink order while I waited, but none of that occurred. when we finally put our drinks in, Lorena was apologetic for the wait. we ordered apps (two soups) and 3 drinks. So glad we never got the opportunity to order food. the soups came-- one was tasty but the cream of crab was awful and had NO crab. It tasted like guacamole soup. After waiting an hour for our drinks, we asked for the check. Of course, that was when our drinks arrived. They were in plastic cups; everyone around us had cute margarita glasses. the two tequila drinks did not smell nor taste like tequila at all. The vodka drink was requested for Ketle One but tasted like bottom shelf no name vodka. It was gross. we asked for the check again. It came immediately but we waited 10 minutes to pay before I got up and just paid at the bar. For 3 awful drinks and 2 soups, our bill was $70, which was ridiculous. We did leave Lorena a small tip because she was at least friendly, but I will NEVER go back! we met a guy as we were leaving and he said that he has eaten here twice now and the food is awful so it's good we didn't even get to order. I want to support a small business but this place was not worth it! read more

This place is a really wonderful addition to the neighborhood, I hope it sticks around! The service at the bar can be questionable at times but overall the food and drinks are fantastic and you get decent portion sizes for the price. I've tried a ton of different things on the menu and I've never been disappointed. read more

went here on a roll and was pleasantly surprised: pretty authentic & pretty good. service was quick & friendly. price was fair. read more

Buena Vista - tacos a pastor (fast tacos) - Mexican Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania