The bad: 1. Double margarita tasted like a virgin margarita. And I'm not exaggerating. My partner was also very dissapointed. 2. The quesadilla meal was more like an appetizer size. 3. The free wifi was virtually unusable. The good: 1. Service was good. 2. The atmosphere was good. We arrived with a small amount of luggage, and believe they mistook us for tourists. Hence the nearly virgin double margaritas. I suppose it's partially my fault for not returning them when I had the chance. read more

This place was suggested to us by some locals for margaritas. The margaritas didn't disappoint. We also ordered ceviche which was OK. Not the best I've had. read more

Cafe Mexico - Mexican Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Place looks good, but the server/hostess was pretty rude when I had questions about ordering to go. Confused why she couldn't have just been pleasant. read more

This used to be our favourite eatery but after going there today for the first time since the fire it is definitely not the same place. What Mexican restaurant doesnt serve chips and salsa when ypu sit down what place doesnt give you salsa with your quesadilla or Burrito and what place doent serve Mango Margarita's? Cafe Mexico doesnt and all she kept saying is the chef was from Mexico. The foid was a little less than ok and the prices are mucho expensive, would not recommend this place. read more

The decore inside is really cool! Christmas lights everywhere and lots of bright colours. The food was tasty, fresh and a good value. The drink prices were not bad either. I don't remember much about this place, since it's been a few years, but I had a great meal here and will probably go back the next time I'm in Victoria. read more

We were visiting from our cruise and wanted Mexican food. People questioned us about going to Canada and eating Mexican food. It was the best decision we made. I had the chili relleno and my husband had the fish tacos. The presentation was good, the food was delicious and the service was excellent. I would highly recommend this place. read more

Great drinks but food bland. Soggy quesadilla. Tacos okay but no mexican spice or flavour. Just go for drinks and chips! Great atmosphere.

I tried to get my friend to give his number to the waitress, but he said that was inappropriate. Ah well. The Santa Fe Chimichunga was tasty but way too filling. I'll be burping that up for weeks. The mojitea was fab as well. On my out I noted that not one of the ladies there were Mexican. But that's Canada for you. Oh wait, those breath mints utterly stripped my palate raw. I don't blame them - I blame myself. read more

Cafe Mexico serves flavorless, pedestrian Mexican food for vacationing Albertans. I also didn't feel spectacular after eating at this place, but that could be due to an allergy or a sick co-worker whom I ate with. I had a vegetarian Chimichanga. This place has its positives: 1) Drink Specials 2) Festive decor 3) Kind servers Dinner is far more expensive than lunch. Margaritas and Nachos are probably the way to go here. read more

Was excited to hear that one of my fave restaurants had reopened after major fire damage couple years back. It is not however the old Cafe Mexico. A much more hip, upscale restaurant now with full bar, unfortunately means higher prices. Appetizers (tapas) are very small. That said, the food is very tasty. Although the menu has been completely reworked there are a few of the old classic spreads left like chimichangas, burritos, etc. but again, higher prices. The bartenders here are some of the most entertaining I've encountered in Victoria so try sitting at the bar to watch them in action. TEQUILA LOVERS TAKE NOTE! Probably the most extensive tequila list in the city! Am glad I tried it but unfortunately can't afford to frequent this place as much as I used to. read more

Great mexican food in a town clearly lacking mexican food. I quite enjoyed the vivid & colorful decorations, other than the offensive sign for the place. The food was overpriced, but I guess normal relative to other restaurants in the area. - Enchilada Plate: The plate comes with only 1 enchilada (where other restaurants for that price would serve 2), but it's semi-large. The enchilada sauce is really really good. - Vegetarian Soft Tacos: The tacos themselves are on the small side but combined with the rice & beans it makes a normal sized meal. The tortillas are not fresh but still soft, and the tacos were covered in an excessive amount of cheese. Cafe Mexico's black beans are soooo good - super full of flavor! The rice is standard, the guacamole is ok. - Chips & Salsa: They make you buy them for $3. The salsa is pretty good, the chips are normal. It's worth it if you're hungry, because the food took awhile to come out. read more

I'll be honest, I probably never would have checked out this place if not for a recommendation from our dining companions. We were in search of "cheap and cheerful" dinner, and we succeeded. The food did not blow me away, but it was tasty, well-portioned, and well-priced. I had enchiladas, others had burritos, and the boyfriend had something grilled on a kebab that looked and smelled pretty great. Throw in $5 margaritas, and I'm happy enough to return anytime. Bonus points on the decor - very bright and inviting, and when you walk in, they've kept some of the original street, manhole cover and all. Pretty cool. read more

Date: 18 Apr 2011. Time 6.30 7.30pm Fist tacos were OK. Quite small for the price I paid. Very Friendly people. Felt really welcome to the place. Food arrived in a reasonable time. read more

The highlight of a solid restaurant is quality after a number of years. Cafe Mexico still offers quality after 20+ years read more

Cafe Mexico - Mexican Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Our server was very friendly and spent time to explain the menu to our friends visiting from France. The food itself was fresh, and the meat all the dishes we ordered was amazing. We found the restaurant by fluke and definitely recommend to anyone who appreciates fresh, spicy Mexican food! read more

We love going here for margaritas and vegetarian tacos! Great atmosphere and the staff are always friendly!

A friend recommended me to visit this place while I was in Victoria since they have a late night happy hour (until midnight) and my overall experience was just O.K. The food was good, but we were expecting to get a bit more food for the price of their happy hour. Our waitress was nice but the rest of the staff was not as pleasant. My friend and I kept noticing the bartenders rolling their eyes at us and it seemed as if they were talking rudely about us while we were eating. The late night menu is available until midnight and we arrived at 11 PM, but noticed all of the staff seeming disappointed that we arrived to order food. The food and margarita tasted fine, but felt uncomfortable noticing the staff's attitude towards us. read more

Overall a pretty terrible experience. Admittedly, we came in a little late on a Sunday evening. They close at ten and we came in just after nine. We knew it was late so we asked if it was too late to place an order to go. The hostess said it wasn't too late and she went to let the kitchen know that we were going to place an order. Soon after, someone in the kitchen yelled at the top of their lungs "that sucks!" So loud that everyone heard it clear as day. It was pretty awkward and embarrassing. Look... I get it. On slow nights kitchen will start to close early. Maybe try being honest and just say the kitchen is closed for the evening. That would have been fine. However, this was probably the rudest thing that has ever happened to me at a restaurant. Not that they care, but we will obviously never go back. read more

Absolutely fantastic food and staff. Sat at the bar, quality margarita. We eat Mexican food a lot and we're thoroughly impressed w Cafe Mexico. My wife and I shared 4 of their small plate, chips w Salsa and guac - good. Brussels Sprouts - AMAZING! Chicken taquitos - so light and crispy, chicken had great flavor, and one of their tamales topped w beef short rib - also incredible. It's obvious the folks in their kitchen take time w each dish. Great value and incredible food in downtown Victoria. Nice change of pace from lots of similar menus at lots of great pubs and breweries. read more

Great service. Happy hour runs 2-6pm and again later in the evening. Good drinks and chips and salsa are $2 for HH. read more

Cafe Mexico - Mexican Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

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Aw, come ON! Why do fairly successful restaurants, that we recommend and take visitors to, end up sabotaging their hard won reputation?!? I agree with most of the other posts - fairly good Canadian-ized Mexican, disappointing that you have to add the rice and refried beans, but all around OK ....... but what have you done to the chili relleno recipe?!? An internet search turns up dozens of relleno photos, ALL with the delicious egg white batter coating! Other wise, IT'S JUST A STUFFED PEPPER! And not a very good one at that - the pepper was some big old tough skinned thing. And so the downhill slide begins.......(I hope not!) read more

The food is way to greasy. The beans aren't good at all. Rice was okay. The food wasn't very good over all. The tacos were to expensive.

Eatable food when you are hungry. Definitely not authentic Mexican food. A litthe bit pricey.

Solid, tex-mexified Mexican food. They do good chips and salsa, and decent food. It's a bit overpriced for what you get, but it's tourist mecca, so I guess that shouldn;'t be a surprise. It's decent and tasty, but for better Mexican in Victoria I'd definitely choose Hernandez or La Taquisa. Still, you're not going to leave Cafe Mexico hungry - that's for sure! - and it's a good place for groups in a fun atmosphere. read more

It's a little on the expensive side, so I only go once or twice a year, but it's always fantastic and you leave absolutely stuffed! Cheap margarita night is the time to go. The chimichangas are excellent, as well as the nachos. Service is friendly. The restaurant is alway busy around dinner time, so expect to wait a little while. It's worth it. read more

Great service, delicious food, generous portions and amazing drink menu. One of my favorite casual places downtown Victoria. Best refried beans ever! read more

Friendly staff, great food. The place was packed so we sat at the bar, but still had a very pleasant experience. Our water glasses were never empty :). Highly recommended. read more

We stumbled upon this place when we were walking around the streets of Victoria starved for an early dinner before heading to the Clipper. The service was wonderful. We enjoyed our many margaritas, the atmosphere and all loved our food! I think all 4 of us cleaned our plates. This is a fun, casual Mexican restaurant perfect for lunch, dinner or just drinks/happy hour. read more

Absolutely delicious food. Lots of vegetarian options. Street Corn and Tortilla Soup is a must.

Really good food for a good price. Always have amazing service and really nice waitstaff.

Free chips and salsa. Strong drinks. Great flavors. Patio dining in the summer. Quick and courteous service. Can't complain at all.

Restaurant looks much nicer since the reopening. Before the fire, the quality of food was seriously going into decline. I'm happy to say that now, it is much improved. I got the shrimp taco board. The shrimp were very good. The guacamole and cheese were good, but give a little bigger portion please, it felt a little skimpy. The hot sauce had a weird aftertaste. The rice and beans were just as yummy as I remembered. I also had a margarita and it has much improved as well! It was nicely made. Is this authentic Mexican? Of course not. It's Canadian tex-mex. It's tasty and has nice drinks. Why split hairs? read more

Always good food and lots of it! Authentic Mexican environment and vibrant. My only complaint is that service is a hit and miss. Sometimes service is great, but on an off night, it really really sucks. read more

It took a while to get a table but it was well worth the wait! Highly recommend to those that enjoy good Mexican food.

Not much to eat on the plates unless you want to fill up on side orders of rice. We had to order more food, but sadly our server was not very attentive and I had to get my own menu, and track down my drink order. We won't bother going back. read more

Last fall we had a wonderful and tasty meal and were looking forward to having the same experience next spring. Unfortunately the menu had changed, and our favourites were deleted. The meal was not worth the trip into town. On top of that the margarita was a glass full of ice, lots of salt on the rim, a thin slice of lime, and a faint smell of tequila. Chips before the meal is not part of the deal like other places, you pay more for it. Had to ask twice for a glass for the bottled beer. The take home enchilada looked like it was thrown in the box. No, we were not happy with the food or service and will never darken this door again. read more

This is a review of the newly opened restaurant since it burned down a while ago. It's not anything like the old restaurant, and has lost all its charm. The Mexican ambiance is almost totally lost. It's all upscale and modern and trendy now, with night club music playing over the speakers, and a big bar, complete with hipster bartenders. My chicken burrito was pretty good ($14), and we had Tortilla soup ($8) for an appy and deep fried ice cream ($8) for dessert, but the portions are definitely smaller than they used to be. The waitress was OK but the food took a while, and my burrito wasn't very hot; it had obviously been sitting for a while. So it might be a long time before I go back, especially now that it's crazy busy, even more so than it used to be. This used to be one of my favourite restaurants. read more

Went there for my friend's birthday. They forgot her reservation and we had to wait outside for around 45 minutes. The main dish we went there for was not available and any questions were met by snide remarks from the server. Would not go back read more

The only reason I went to Cafe Mexico was because a group of visiting relatives chose it and I deferred to their judgment (I have my own favourite Victoria joints, but they're probably a bit too... outré for my upcountry rels). I generally avoid Mexican restos north of 49 and Cafe Mexico reminded me of why in spades. After considering the burritos and the chile rellenos, I ordered the steak-and prawn fajitas. Bad move. I should have been tipped off by the corn chips and salsa, which seemed to be having a competition to see who could be the more tasteless and bland. When the fajitas eventually arrived the steak strips, which I'd asked to be medium rare, resembled hunks of leather. The rice was up to Chef Boy-Ar-Dee's usual standards. The prawns were coated in some unidentifiable red substance which, like the salsa, was notable primarily for its lack of piquancy. The refried beans at least vaguely resembled refried beans. Accompaniments included more of the blah salsa (it must have been on sale that week at Safeway), a small ball of sour cream, an equally small ball of soggy guacamole, and a small green salad (?!), along with a container of tortillas, the first of which tasted like it had been used to clean tables. I refrained from sampling the others. Really, how is it possible to screw up a tortilla?? The strips of pepper, while cooked until limp, at least were not without flavour. Not wanting to hurt their feelings, I did not inquire as to how my companions enjoyed their meals, but I noticed several unfinished plates. The capper, at least for me, came as were were preparing to leave; one of the waitresses got a little impatient about wanting us to stop obstructing an adjoining booth so she could seat some new arrivals. As the obstruction was caused by A) a narrow aisle and B) one of our party being in a wheelchair, this attitude was not appreciated. Nor was it appreciated that my cousin and I, neither of whom will see our fifties again, had to lift his chair-bound wife up and down a short set of steps in front of several staff members (including Ms. In-a-Hurry), all of whom merely stood by and watched. We didn't really need assistance, but it would have been nice if it had been offered. There will be those who will say that I should not judge a place on a single visit and they may be right. Unfortunately, I have no intention of returning to Cafe Mexico. Ever. So further judgments are a moot point. I have had far better Mexican food even in Bellingham, and in towns like LA or Tucson, this place wouldn't last a week. Only in a thoroughly whitebread town like Victoria, where people don't know any better, could they survive as long as they have. Just to end on a positive note, though: The decor is pretty good, with some nice Mexican quasi-folk-art touches, including a magnificent pair of giant calaveras above the bar. Whoever was hired for the interior decor did a good job. Too bad the same care wasn't put into the food. read more

Pretty good mex food. I ordered the chicken burrito and it was delicious, my husband ordered the halibut tacos and loved them. The downside is you have to pay for chips and salsa. Bummer!! read more