I hate to do it, but Costa Vida, you are not that good. I watched the little flyers show up at my door late last year, advertising a fresh new Mexican place opening up around the corner. To my surprise, they even advertised making their own tortillas! What could go wrong, right? The restaurant itself is nice. Fresh, pretty clean, a nice water feature between the counter and seating. It took me a second to find their menus, though, which are located on 3 screens at the far end of the counter. What struck me as odd, was the text on the screens was small, and I found myself having to be almost right next to it (and blocking the ordering line, mind you) to read it. Right away, having pressure put on me to quickly find what I want on a large menu, while customers queue up behind me and wait, is not something I was expecting. Their prices are...steep. It's $4.99 for a single taco. SINGLE, ONE, UNO. I've eaten at a multitude of taco places over the years, and this is by far the most I've ever seen charged for a taco. I decided to go for a daily special, a burrito for $5.99, and chose the sweet pork for my protein. If only I had known my mistake before I paid. The sweet pork is SWEET. VERY SWEET. Cloyingly sweet. I couldn't taste the pork, and hardly tasted any other ingredients over the sweetness. Oh, and my tortilla wasn't "made fresh" it was pulled from a stack of stuck together ones, and put on the same warming machine as other burrito places. One thing you should know before ordering a burrito; it will possibly be poorly rolled, falling apart, and placed in an aluminum take out container (ya know, the kind you get from the pizza place when you order a pasta dish). The gentelman assembling my burrito happened to drop half of my rice/beans/sauce out the bottom while trying to roll it. I was then asked if I wanted it "smothered" (his english wasn't great, took me a few times to realize what he was asking) or covered in cheese and sauce. I said no, and my burrito was placed on a quiznos-esque conveyor oven. Everything about this burrito was...meh. Unremarkable, overly sweet, no spice. I felt immediate buyers remorse when I paid for it. I have NEVER felt this way about purchasing food. It was like I just bought a cheap knock off of a burrito I could have gotten 2 blocks down at Chipolte (and had a better meal). On principal, I forced myself to eat more than a couple bites, and made it half way before I felt sick, and stopped. Pretty sad, as I was hoping for a nice place, fresh tortillas, and Mexican flavors. Instead I got a snazzy lobby, gummy tortillas, and an abundance of sweetness. read more

I am not impressed especially for the price. I got the steak burrito and my girlfriend got chicken tacos. -Food was just okay -Cilantro had no flavor at all -Hot sauce tastes like enchilada sauce -Very unorganized -They never asked, "what else would you like on that?", and then when we asked for other stuff they acted a bit annoyed and said they would have to add it on the side since they already closed the burrito up. -Sour cream is an extra 50 cents. Really? The food isn't already expensive enough? -They don't sell beer. Pros: It is a cool looking place. Its at a nice location with nice outdoor eating, and the I liked the decor. They do deliver, which makes them probably the only Mexican restaurant in existence to do so. I hope this place gets it together, but either way, the food just wasn't good enough for me to go back. My advice is go to Chipotle instead. read more

Excellent stuff! It is a little on the pricey side, but our meals were great. My wife got the sweet pork burrito and I got the raspberry chipotle chicken nachos. Both of us were blown away by the deliciousness of our meat selections. This "Chipotle" style restaurant has, in my opinion, more variety and different kinds of meats We will definitely be back and are already recommending it to others. Our entire order was; sweet pork burrito, raspberry chipotle chicken nachos, chips and guacamole, and one medium soft drink. Total of $22.36. read more

Costa Vida - Mexican Near Me - Lee's Summit, Missouri

Weird service, tedious preparation processes, inadequate portions, not worth the marginal food and high prices. Better luck next time!! read more

Okay. I've been here twice. I really did want to like it but the only thing I can really say good about it is the cool fountain drink dispenser. Oh... and they do make their own tortillas and they are good. But the rest of the food is merely "meh". I ordered a salad both times. The first time, they put all... ALL the "toppings" UNDER the lettuce. That was when they were new so when I returned today, I expected they'd remedied that weird serving order. No. The guest ahead of us ordered a salad too and I noticed them piling on the toppings FIRST and putting the lettuce on top. When it was my turn to order, I asked for the lettuce to be put in the bowl first and the toppings, you know, on top. You'd have think I'd asked for them to perform brain surgery. Another issue... food allergen-style this time. They obviously are aware of food allergen issues since I saw an ad promoting their GF options several times on their in-store television feed. And yet... when my husband (who is intolerant of all things cow... i.e. cheese, sour cream, beef, etc) was ordering, the employee asked him about every choice she put in his bowl... until she got to the giant tongs full of shredded cheese. He and I both spoke up with "NO CHEESE" at the same time... before she'd actually dumped the cheese on his order... and there went the cheese.... all over his food. Not ONCE did she ask him if he wanted cheese even though she'd just finished grilling him over every other food choice on that burrito. While many of the employees there were nice there was always the one... both times... whose general unpleasantness made it MUCH harder to overlook all the little issues... that just add up. And on top of it all, the food just isn't that great. Sure, it's fresh, but not very flavorful. It's all fairly bland and unexciting. For instance, the cilantro vinaigrette that barely tastes of cilantro. Sure it's green but it mostly tastes like a boring store bought vinaigrette. It's new to Lee's Summit with local owners so I really wanted to like it. But I guard my limited "eating out" food budget and two visits is my limit. read more

Friendly people and delicious food. I much prefer it to Chipotle! Everything is made fresh. Love the sweet pork enchiladas and the raspberry chicken. A very clean and well run restaurant. read more

Much better than the Overland Park location. Service is always top notch. Food is outstanding. Usually get the cheese enchiladas or tacos. It's always fresh and delicious. read more

I like this place. I'm not a big fan of Chipotle, but I like this. I find the meet offerings more flavorful and interesting. Not a fan of the steak, but the other meat is fantastic. Pulled pork has a sweet flavor that is very pleasing. I typically get the burrito but have had nachos and salads and both are very good. A little pricey on e menu but there are enough discounts all around that you can typically save a few bucks at this place. I also like the way they support the local area. They have a presence in supporting schools, local organizations and local communities. Gotta update this as the service has continued to slip. Once again, the food is good, but the issue is the service time and time again. Unlike Chipotle, they cannot get their process of making to order and delivering quickly, and most importantly, hot, under control. The line staff are repeatedly running around confused by orders and cannot get the process moving down the line smoothly and quickly. I've seen this mentioned in other reviews and they simply cannot, or will not, improve. Management needs to step back and watch. Pay attention to your customer's feedback. There is enough right there directly on the line! Fix this, please. You have a great product but you are pushing good customers away. read more

One of the rare times I have great service and I forgot to upload a photo. Well the food was so good, I started eating before I remembered to take a pic. My nephew told me about this place and I'm glad he did. This is my second time coming here and I'm never disappointed. So much food, which I can never eat all my food in one sitting but the burritos are huge and the servers are so friendly. Although I did take out, The atmosphere is pleasant and clean. It sits backs in a cubby away from the walk-way, kinda catty-cornered. During the warmer months I'm sure it's a lovely outside dining experience. If you like chipotle, you'll kick them to the side and Costa Vida will be your new go to spot. read more

We eat here on a regular basis and I can't say enough great things about the wonderful food. Fresh, tasty and made to order right in front of your eyes. Friendly staff and engaged management makes a difference. Great variety of meats, beans and toppings.Sweet pork enchiladas with queso! Yum! read more

Not sure how this place has lower than 4 stars but to each their own. I really like this place I always get a small shrimp salad, the hubs get a chicken burrito, my son gets a shrimp taco (yes sadly I order an adult size meal for him because all he wants is shrimp), and my daughter gets a quesadilla. This is one of the only places both my kids will eat all their food. We probably go at least once every other week. It's your typical build your own chipotle style place. read more

Had a great experience here the facility was clean as always and the staff was friendly and helpful Jake V helped me choose something vegetarian and was very knowledgeable of what had animal products in it. Will come back soon. read more

Came highly recommended... And we enjoyed our lunch. Something a bit quirky but we'll be back. Think I just need to try some other options. Kinda hidden away unless you walk back between the buildings...but the sign is right there. Had a good lunch and reasonably priced. read more

If you think you can eat well in Great Britain, or in other words if you like bland food this place is for you. Even for Tex-Mex, how can you go so wrong? The place sort of reminds me of that other Generation Jones joint called Freebirds (another bland Chipotle version). If you have a stomach ailment and can't handle spice and some flavor in your life then you should go to Panera Bread. read more

We went in excited - went through the line scared and came out extremely happy with out experiences here. When you are going through the line, the food does not look appetizing at all. Get out of the line and sit down and the food is incredibly good. The deserts like Flan and Key Lime Pie are excellent as well. Can't say enough good things about the items I have tried and I will continue to go back regularly to continue trying new things! read more

A friend introduced us to this place. It's probably one our favorite Mexican food stops now. Would recommend to anyone looking for a new place to eat. Great food, great customer service and great atmosphere! read more

This place would be better if they could get their process down better and lower their prices. I visited this location on 11/27/2011 around 1pm. I was looking forward to having a new and different Mexican place in Lees Summit. When I walked in the line seemed long but I've seen longer at Chipotle that hasn't taken that long to move through. They make the tortillas fresh so it seems to add wait time but 45 minutes later I was ordering my food. I wanted Tacos and you can order One or Two tacos which seems weird but I ordered one Taco. The man making the tortillas took my order and then passed the food down the line. When I got to the next person he was visibly angry and exclaimed that he didn't know what he was doing because he worked in the back. At the same time the cashier asked the person taking the orders for items that a customer did not receive. The person taking the orders then proceeded to argue with the cashier in a particularly rude way stating that he had already given her those items. She then again told him that they didn't have the items. He kept telling her he already gave them to her. He was causing a scene that made all the customers uncomfortable. Finally I received by food which included an order of nachos an queso. The taco was not bad and the rice was ok. The queso wasn't bad it is a little chunky. I'm not sure if that is on purpose. The chips were horrible! After putting the chip in my mouth I began to gag from the amount of salt that was on the chip. There was so much salt my fingers were covered with salt and grease from picking up one chip. I had to pick through to find a few that were encrusted with salt. While I appreciate the approach the restaurant takes I cannot see paying $5.79 for one taco and a little rice. I think this place has potential but I waited way to long and paid way to much for food when some of it was inedible. read more

This place has several things going for it, and at least one big thing against. They sponsor local kids sports, and kids eat free on game days. I like places that do this. The food is great, if you are into "fresher" baja Mexican cuisine. The salsas and salad dressings are excellent, as is the sweet pork. Everyone should be able to find something they like. narrowing it down to one is the problem. The price is pretty good. they have a loyalty card which usually gets you something free. They have outside seating which is nice because you probably will not want to sit inside. The concrete floors and lack of interior walls make this restaurant slightly louder than the interior of a jet engine. I am serious, it is headache inducing loud inside. That is the only real flaw. read more

Sorry Costa Vida, but I made the mistake of going to Chipotle tonight and it reminded me of all the reasons that I come to Costa Vida. I had my 3rd terrible experience in a row with them. Your food is better, service is infinitely better, and you have adapted to Covid which is something that they cannot seem to master. It's you guys from now on! read more

This is kind of a hidden gem. The facade is not very visible from the street and hidden in a strip center. The food is prepared as you order at the counter. We especially like the salad option which has beans of your choice and rice on the bottom....ask for the large freshly made tortilla on the side. The nachos are also great although they are usually stuck together when they pass them through the oven and the cheese melts.....eat with a fork. Entrees are large so ask for some plates and share. Fun for families or groups of friends. We ordered five entrees for seven adults and we were stuffed and couldn't finish it all. read more

I went there with some volunteers from the young adult ministry that I participate with. We were grabbing lunch and I got a grilled chicken burrito with cilantro lime rice and black beans inside (I had them include enchilada sauce too). And got it smothered with more enchilada sauce and cheese. I got sour cream on the side and it came with a chip. This now can contend with Chipotle. read more

I come to Costa Vida a lot and spend @ $40 weekly there. Today I decided to order online for me and my coworkers at the hospital. I had my son pick it up and as he is outside the store I tell him to check it to make sure the order is right. He tells me there is no lettuce on both bowls. I tell him that I am going to call and ask them to throw lettuce on it so wait outside. Well I call and explain to the guy who is named Jake and claimed to be the manager what happened. He then says to me...well at least it was something minor and not a big mess up on the order! Didn't want to make things right and all he had to do was throw some lettuce on top! Me and my coworkers at Saint Luke's Hospital will not order from Costa Vida anymore! What poor customer service! If I was a total bitch and was rude then yea but this young kid that works there needs to go!!! read more

Food is A M A Z IN G. if you're expecting chipotle then go to chipotle it is NOT the same!! Stop comparing the two! They're both great but have almost nothing in common. Every single employee I've had interaction with is either on drugs or from space, I've been there a hundred times and they're all clueless. Food is worth it though. Try the sweet pork !!! read more

It's simple for me. I love eating out but will not go to a place with critical food handling violations on their inspection. Some may tease me about this but maybe they have never had food poisoning. Inspection from April of this year shows that chicken was being held at 115 degrees. I was planning lunch there today but will be waiting for at least a 90 day clean bill of health. Is this considered an actual "review"? Well, if the rule is you have to actually eat there then I am not willing to take that risk - for now anyway. read more

I enjoyed the raspberry chipotle chicken but I would recommend asking them to go easy on the sweet sauce they dump on it or perhaps skip it altogether. It's not gross, just a little heavy for my tastes. The whole wheat tortillas are great and they make them (the tortillas) right in front of you. People keep asking me if Costa Via is like Chipotle and its hard to compare them. Yes, they are both gourmet burrito joints but their approaches are quite different which yields a different experience. I love them both. read more

Absolutely terrible. The service was slow. No one knew how to make the fish tacos my friend ordered. They kept running to the back, couldnt find the sauce. I got a chicken burrito. It was terrible. The sauces all had a sweetness to them. Too sugary. Its really hard to screw up mexican food but they found a way to do it. I went for the homemade tortillas which they cooked right there in front of you but they were tastless. My buddy said his fish tacos were really bad as well. Never returning. Waste of money. read more

Went in for the first time in over a year. Getting expensive in this place, $11 for a small burito bowl with no drink, I did add Guac for extra but still prices seemed to have gone up from what I remember and I did use to eat here quite a lot. read more

Yum Yum! Have sent many clients to this little darling place. I love the food, all the drink choices and the atmosphere. I have eaten here sometimes up to 4 times a week. Crazy but it is that good. I like it so much better than Chipotle, they do not serve dark chicken meat with fat on it like Chipotle, Costa Vida serves grilled chicken breast . Pricing is very fair and I will be a long time customer! read more

Absolutely LOVE this place! Delicious and authentic! And everyone is super nice!!! And the kids LOVE the Coke freestyle machine! And the Horchata is delish!!! read more

I really want to like this place, but I'm torn due to the horrible ordering procedures. If the line is long, be prepared to wait. It seems to take each person in line several minutes to place and receive his or her order. If they can't process orders as fast as Chipotle, they should probably take your order and give you a number for pickup when your order is ready. Our first visit was opening week and we thought they just didn't have time to train everyone, but we decided to give it another shot on Wednesday and the ordering process has not improved. The food is actually tasty and the décor is setup to look like a beach location. They have a great Coke machine that allows you to select pretty much any Coke product (including flavored water). The prices are very reasonable and comparable to Chipotle, Baja Fresh, and Qdoba We will be back, but if the line is long I'll leave and go someplace else. Pros: Chicken tacos, nachos, black beans, chips & queso Cons: the only con is the ordering process read more

As I recommended in 2015, this is an awesome place for getting takeout. The salads are way better than those other burrito chains. The fresh tortillas are delicious, the variety of toppings is superb and they never disappoint. read more

After giving this place a big no... I tried It again. Still a no. We got it for carry out. The order makers seem like they are from another planet. The food is extremely greasy. Flavorless, weak in Mexican standards of tex-mex or authentic. Weird vibe all around. Not sure how it has survived. Maybe a write off for the Mormon church.? Still a no. Do not bother. read more

So the raspberry chicken nachos are the best thing ever!! Food is always fresh, portions are big, people are nice! Fresh and delicious ...that's what matters! I recommend anything on the menu. Oh and queso is amazing and I don't even like queso! read more

I had the steak burrito with extra cheese, but I think they forgot to put any cheese on it, no big deal cause the food was actauly very good. it took them a little long on the delivery ( yes they deliver)!!! and offered me chips and 2 different kinds of salsa . it was a little pricey , over all good place, read more

This place is awesome!! Everything is fresh, delish, reasonably priced and kids eat free on Mon and Thurs. The rewards card is an actual reward that gives you back .08 of every $1 spent. I think I have over $30 on mine now. And don't even get me started on the key lime pie. That sinfully good key lime pie. read more

First, the food is great however the management has the worst customer service! The GM of the store messed up my daughter's burrito and then was RUDE to her about it! Then to top it off when asked to put guac on it but no sour cream the GM then took the scoop out of the sour cream, dipped it in the guac and it on her burrito with a smile that said....how'd y dropped ou like that! I called corporate to complain which led the GM to call me and tell me that she was sorry that we felt there was some kind of miscommunication! Nice back-handed apology! read more

Been here twice, can't say I'm a fan. I felt like there were a lot of inconsistencies from one time to the next. Food was rather bland. Their sweet pork meat option is sickeningly sweet in my opinion, so if you don't like sweet don't try this! read more

My grandkids live in Lees Summit and have been raving about Costa Vita for a year or more. I am staying with them and so decided to try it. I am plant based and so when I spoke with the GM Kaci she share that all the food is made on site fresh each day. Dried beans, rice and proteins are cooked, fresh heads of cabbage and lettuce are cut up and the sauces, pico and salsas, including guacamole are made in their kitchen and not packaged. In fact, everything is prepared fresh. They don't even have a freezer onsite. They also make all their tortillas fresh and even whole grain and gluten free options. So I tried my first all plant based burrito and it was wonderful! I see that there are some bad reviews and Kaci shared she has only been with Costa Vita since January 2014. All I can say is she is doing some good things. I will come back. The food in my humble opinion clean, fresh and tasty. Not too salty, lots of green and herbs and overall fantastic. read more

My favorite place to go in LS for a casual meal. Always delicious, always full of friendly people!

I was actually on my way to Chipotle, but remembered that this place was around the corner. I ordered the daily special, which was chicken or beef nachos (I chose chicken). They were really good and they give a pretty good size portion. The guacamole was not that flavorful and I like at little more spice in my pico de gallo , but other than that I will go back to try some of the other menu items. read more