Chava's is one of my favorite places to eat in Soulard, this is one of the best Mexican restaurants around. When you arrive, there is a lot of parking. I usually end up parking on the street right around the restaurant. The restaurant is casual, yet nicely decorated. The wood accents bring a homey feel to the space, while still emphasizing Mexican culture. After being seated with my friend, we were brought chips and salsa. The chips were warm and fresh, and the salsa was chunky and spicy. Our server was so friendly, and we had excellent service. I ordered the BBQ Chicken Quesadilla. It was delectable! The smoky flavor, tender and juicy chicken, and the nicely-sized portion made this an excellent meal. For dessert, we ordered the Churros. And wow! They were warm, sugary, and filled with gooey cream cheese! The Dutch chocolate on the side was such a complimentary touch. I am excited to come ba read more

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Very good visit that was highlighted by our server, Maricela. She was so friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. My vegetarian wife had the Bean Tostada and I had the Chicken Fajitas. My wife loved her tostada and my fajitas were good...not great. The chicken seemed to not have a lot of flavor. The Margarita's on the ricks were good...again, not great. What is odd it that I was charged for Vegetarian Fajitas as well. I did not look at my receipt until I was 2,000 miles away. The Manager of Chavas credited my Visa was he informed of the issue. Again, Maricela was key in rectifying the issue. Chavas was very good and we would return if in the area. read more

When I say this is a placed full of delight and deliciousness!!! It screams FLAVOR!!! The service was great!! The setting was so quaint & cozy!!! The food was soooo plentiful and well worth the price!!! A must try for visitors!!! read more

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Chava's!! You have my heart. Delicious, fresh food and kind service. Their salsa is some of my favorite in the area and you'll definitely be getting refills! You won't be disappointed by anything you order, but I Highly recommend the fish tacos--it's one long, wide piece of fish instead of a bunch of small pieces. It's breaded, seasoned and cooked to perfection. The tortilla soup is great and their margaritas are stellar too. No notes! read more

Chava's Mexican Restaurant - Salsa, tortilla soup and fish taco - Mexican Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Classic go-to Mexican spot with quick service and good food. Variety of margarita flavors (on the rocks or frozen). Well decorated with cultural wall art. Lively environment but not loud. I got the chava's fajitas which I would recommend--an honorable portion of meat compared to most places! Pretty large menu to choose from. read more

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My coworker and I came here for lunch and we were seated at soon as we walked in. The service was pretty good and the food was great! The establishment was clean and very nice inside. I had the chimichanga with steak and it was so good. The steak was fresh along with everything else. My coworker got the beef tacos and really liked them. I'll definitely be returning. read more

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A local favorite of ours, the food is great, servers are super cool, nice lil neighborhood restaurant in Soulard. We have been here before and normally get fish tacos, steak tacos, or the fajita steak nachos all great. We decided to try something new, the steak chimichanga and a grilled chicken plate with steak added. The new dishes worked out well. Try this place if you like Mexican you'll love it. read more

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Taco Tuesday really is therapeutic. Take what you need today--whether it's a chimichanga, fried tacos, chips & queso, or a marg on the patio at Chava's in Soulard! We jumped at the chance to sit outside, and Chava's patio setup didn't disappoint. Even though it runs alongside the building where there's plenty of street parking, thoughtfully placed greenery makes each table feel tucked away--like our own private spot in the middle of the city. The service matched the vibe too: welcoming, attentive, and quick, without ever making us feel rushed. read more

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We are from out of town. I can hands down say this is the best Mexican food I have ever had and the service was phenomenal. Highly recommend. Great way to start our trip! read more

Delicious lunch on the day after Thanksgiving! I enjoyed the enchiladas with chicken and my boyfriend enjoyed the tacos with steak. Generous portions and accompanied by tasty beans and rice. We each had a margarita on the rocks which were good too. read more

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Still as good as it always was!! I've been trying something new each time (their fried tacos are bomb) and my husband loves their chimichanga. Never a bad night here. read more

Chava's Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Real Mexican food , i enjoyed the enchiladas and excellent margaritas, Service and ambience was also great! read more

Was craving Mexican and decided to check out Chava's. It was a Saturday, early evening, so not too busy, we got in and were seated quickly, chips and salsa came right away with water (and they are still free folks!) If you have never been to Chava's, they make their own salsa, which is fantastic! So we ordered and the food came out quickly and as usual was wonderful, one of these days I will actually remember to take pics before I'm halfway through my meal... If you are looking for great Mexican, Chava's is the place! They also have great margaritas, we just didn't have any this trip.... read more

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Chava's was such a wonderful little place I found when I visited St. Louis. I loved the unique decor and they played sports games on the TV. Although it was very busy when I went, we were seated and served very quickly. We always had warm/fresh chips and salsa at our table, even without asking for more! The food was incredible with other portion sizes that seemed to be fairly priced. I was very impressed and would absolutely recommend you make a stop here if you're in the area. read more

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My colleague, who lives here in St. Louis, recommended that I visit Chava's when I was in town for vacation. I found myself in the area, so stopped by at lunchtime for a mid-day meal. It was not crowded at all and we were seated immediately. I noticed that there was patio seating, but I don't think anyone was out there when we visited. Everyone was indoors. Service was quick and attentive. Staff members were friendly and kept the chips and salsa and water full. The food was terrific too! I enjoyed a taco with beans and rice-there was plenty to save for later. As always, a recommendation from a local didn't lead me astray. read more

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AMAZING AMAZING EXPERIENCE!!!!! Favorite thing that made them get a review from me which is why you don't have a plated version of my meal and it's in a to go container because that's when it hit me they needed a review! From the drink recommendation to the food chefs kiss!! What makes this place top tier is when you walk in it's someone counting heads and getting your water chips and salsa together they literally meet you at the table with everything I watched them do it like 3 times back to back I said "ohhh they showing out!" Lol I love to see it!! Everyone hard at work it's a nice intimate spot meaning we're a little close but trust me it's okay!! No knees touching or anything that deep but definitely more intimate with the lighting and coziness of the place if your ever in SOULARD I 10/10 highly recommend read more

Chava's Mexican Restaurant - Chicken tostada and 2 pieces of chicken spinach quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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I've been going to Chavas for years and it's a great local spot. The margaritas are the best! They are made with fresh fruit and super refreshing!! They have ample seating indoors and a few patio tables that I love to sit at in the warmer months. The food is good but the menu is small. I wish they had more classics on the menu. Since this is in Soulard, there is street parking but I never have an issue finding one. read more

Hey so. I love this place. I love 99% of all Mexican restaurants. Haven't had a bad one except one when I was a kid. I imagine this place gets crazy on Mardi Gras, the foot traffic. Drunk people. Anyway, the menu is pretty simple id say, the have good choices & despite not having to much it only shows how they perfect the food. This is was my third time eating there, the place is not too big. Not too small. salsa margaritas location staff. Muy bien 10/10 id eat there again. read more

Chava's Mexican Restaurant - Vegetarian quesadilla! - Mexican Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Chava's is my favorite Mexican restaurant and you can tell they use good quality ingredients- especially meats. I really love their classic margarita on the rocks and the pitcher is perfect to share! I typically go for the Chava's quesadilla and my husband really likes the bbq chicken quesadilla. This place tends to get really busy on the weekends, but the waits are never long. All the servers are really great and quick! read more

Chava's Mexican Restaurant - Chava's quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in all of St Louis. Salsa is home made fresh and zesty. I don't know how they marinate their chicken but it's amazing. The big salad is plenty big for 2 people. read more

Great house made salsa to start, the stuffed peppers were delicious! I can see why they sell out. I'm a Texas girl and love good Mexican food. read more

Free Chips and Salsa and great (big) portions!! The fish tacos weren't anything crazy but solid flavor and filling. The service was excellent and very efficient. I think we sat down and left within an hour and were very satisfied with our experience. The inside is cozy and well decorated. Plenty of seating and seem to be accommodating to various party sizes. read more

Chava's Mexican Restaurant - Fish Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

I would highly recommend this place. Food was AMAZING, the staff were great. The service is quick and very attentive to your needs. Beautiful atmosphere and decor also. read more

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We go to many restaurants in the area, and Chavas is the standard I base them on, All restaurants owners should take their employees to Chavas to see how a restaurant should be run, from the greeter, waiter, bus boy, to the cooking staff, like a well oiled machine, everyone professional, super quick, and all the food fresh and delicious. read more

Came for a solo lunch, I really did enjoy the chips and salsa more than my meal. Knocking two stars because I ordered a skinny margarita and it tasted like margarita mix, just way too sweet. I would try something else if I came here again while being in the area, but I'm not going out of my way. One last thing to know - there's an up-charge that varies in price if you want steak as your protein. They have this notice in the table for your convenience. read more

Chava's Mexican Restaurant - Chimichanga - Mexican Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Chava's service is amazing. They are constantly bringing you more chips and salsa. The chips were warm and salsa is always fresh. I ordered the steak tacos. My mom did the build your on burrito. Their burritos are huge. You get to pick your add-ins. They have indoor and outdoor seating. read more

Chava's Mexican Restaurant - Steak tacos - Mexican Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Came here to watch the football games and have a taste of some Mexican food in St. Louis. Arrived and sat immediately. ASI was sitting, a large group of noisy customers were seated right next to me. One drunk loud lady was allowed to scream the entire time, all nearby customers were annoyed. These customers were friends of a worker there that allowed them to behave this way. I Ordered two bean tostadas, side of rice and beans and a side of queso. The tostadas had this shield of melted cheese over the top of the beans, not the greatest. Overall, very disappointing, it could have been a nice experience. read more

Chava's Mexican Restaurant - Queso and chips - Mexican Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

I have been here so many times and I will continue to go many more times! My favorite plates are the chimichangas and the enchiladas! I appreciate the complimentary chips and salsa that comes immediately once seated. If you have no self control, you will easily down 3 servings of chips and salsa lol! The margaritas have good flavor but the consistency is not what I care to have. The drinks separate after while which tells me they use ice to blend them. Service is always speedy and even while it's busy, the service is never slow! You should be prepared to wait for a table because the place is certainly popular but for a good reason! read more

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Chava's is my favorite Mexican restaurant in STL!! I love their food, drink, and people! Our waitress was super attentive, fast, and made us feel welcome - even though we were a big group. The chips and salsa here are free and 15/10 - the house chips and salsa are so flavorful and the best appetizer before a big meal! The portion sizes are great Vs price. I enjoyed gigantic build your own burrito (it did run me up to upwards of $20 because I got so many add ons but it was worth it!). The fajita veggies and guac are fresh, flavorful, and delicious! Also we got a fried cheesecake for my friend's birthday and I will never go to Chava's and NOT get that! It was incredible!!!! Would absolutely recommend! read more

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One of the best all-round authentic mexican places in St. Louis!!! Environment: Crowded front entrance but spacious dining area. The decor is as expected for a Mexican restaurant and the music fits the vibe. The restaurant is always bustling with conversation which should be evidence of great food! The service is fantastic; the staff is knowledgeable and are good at sensing the vibes of the group. We've never not shared a laugh with the Chava's team! They are accommodating with dietary restrictions, requests, and large parties which makes it perfect for most occasions. Food/Drink: Didn't get appetizers this time, but their queso is fantastic with notes of spice. Chips and salsa are fantastic as always. Their salsa today was on the spicer side, but is milder other times we've visited...evidence that they make their salsas in house! The classic cantina style chip is salted perfectly and makes it hard to stop eating them. I got the Enchiladas de Crema with Chicken, which was amazing! Definitely fresh ingredients and their chicken was still moist and seasoned well. Highly cravable meal. The spice from the chicken cooled down with the crema and cheese on top made for perfect bites, especially in combination with the pico and lettuce on the side. Pro tip: put some of the salsa from the chips & salsa on top of the enchiladas for extra flavor!! Also highly recommend the Mango Margarita... it's strong, mildly sweet, and absolutely refreshing. Rating: 4.5/5, there are other Mexican places in STL with richer, deeper Mexican flavors, but this place consistently hits the mark when it needs to, every time! Great ambience too and service is fantastic. Our definite go-to authentic Mexican spot because of the full experience you'll get here! read more

Chava's Mexican Restaurant - Enchiladas de Crema with Chicken - Mexican Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

This was our first time eating here and everything was great! We recommend eating here. Everyone there was very friendly. We had the beef Chimichanga and fish tacos. They were fantstic! We will be back read more

Excellent service. Fresh salads. The chicken, cheese and rice is decadent. The chicken was tender and seasoned perfectly. I had a big fresh salad and the ranch dressing is the best in town. I was here 10 years ago and it was even better than I remember. Great Mexican food in the heart of Soulard! read more

This is a hidden gem if you love Mexican food. This is my third time and have yet to be disappointed. Service was great. Sydney was amazing. She had multiple tables but let up with my group at all times. Very quaint south of the border feel as you enjoy your delicious entrees. I had the fried beef tacos. Highly recommend. Amazed with flavor of the meat mixed with the lettuce/tomato and the texture of the crunchy shell. Another of my party had the enchiladas and he raved about them the whole time. Also the salsa and chips are delicious. Think my guest was ready to drink the salsa right out of the bowl. Growing up in the south. I tend to judge Mexican restaurants on their beans and rice. All I can say is "you won't be disappointed". Tasted great and fresh. If you are in the mood for great Mexican. Recommend you try this Soulard Gem. read more

We were quickly seated at Chava's on a Sunday night. We passed this restaurant the day before on our way to the Soulard Market and knew we had to stop by. To start, we split a pitcher of the house margarita among 4 people; this came out to about 5 servings. Free chips and salsa were given which were delicious. Based off the waitress recommendation, I split the El Mirkeo and De Guadalajara with someone in my party. From the entrees to the rice and beans, everything was delicious and well seasoned. The fried taco surprised me and I would definitely recommend eating it fast while it's crispy. The chicken burritos were also heavenly. I highly recommend both dishes. Overall I had a great experience at Chava's and will be back. The portion sizes were large and we all left stuffed. read more

Very good food. Great service. Good ambience. I have to write at least 85 characters in order for my review to be excepted so I hope by the time the sentence - there will be enough characters to send. read more

Whether you want to sit at the bar and get a quick bite alone or you're looking for a place for a group to have dinner & drinks, this is the place. The service is excellent and the food is always fresh & delicious. read more

Chava's Mexican Restaurant - Chicken enchiladas de crema - Mexican Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

I'm not a huge Mexican food fan, but I'm a fan of this place. As soon as you sit down, you're provided with a huge bowl of fresh tortilla chips and salsa, which I appreciate. Who doesn't like snacking while waiting for the main meal, right? I had the 2 steak soft taco plate, which was so good. Service was quick, portions were generous, and the staff is super nice. The margaritas ain't too shabby, either. It's located on a cute little corner in Soulard, and there's a small outdoor area to dine in the nice weather. Prices were decent, as well. We'll be back, and I highly recommend. read more

Chava's Mexican Restaurant - Steak soft tacos yummmmm - Mexican Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Been here a few times and the food, pricing is great! The chips and salsa and the best in town and it's free! Chips are fried in house and come to the table warm. Salsa is a bit spicy but you could still eat it all night. It has a nice kick. Servers are attentive. We were given more salsa without having to ask. Margarita I had this time was really strong but delicious. The vegetable fajitas were great but it's really too much food for the 3 flour tortillas. Boyfriend regularly gets the fish tacos or something with shrimp but got beef and liked these better. We normally sit outside but due to the heat it was indoor seating only. Had to wait about 25 mins for a table. It's a very lively, loud place. Just right for a popular Mexican spot. read more

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Very tasty. Ended up coming here because the place next door didn't open at the time published. I'm so glad this was a better choice. My husband had the fajita nachos with steak and chx and he loved how each chip was loaded and provided the perfect tasty bite and crunch . I had the veggie quesadilla and it was great with cheese and assorted veggies , beans and cheese. Appreciate the consideration for folks who choose no meat. The chilli con queso was delicious . The complimentary salsa was ok when you added the poblano, habanero sauce on the table. Daughter had torta with sirloin steak which was well marinated and seasoned well. The chipotle dipping sauce was good too. Loved the window seating and comfortable tables . Small but accommodating space. Augustine was a great server. Lots of us showed up at the same time and he made it happen. Thanks Sir. I'll be adding this to my downtown dining places. read more

The atmosphere here is truly inviting, and the service really makes you feel valued. I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious the food was--it exceeded all my expectations! read more