Shout out to the kitchen for accepting our table of 16 before they were closing. (We called…read morebeforehand to verify their hours, and they warmly welcomed us, FYI.) Fajitas and parrilladas, molcajetes, enchies, ceviches, caldos... they serve an array of Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine. Staff is always friendly and energetic--it's def a neighborhood restaurant! And they have a drive thru. I believe they do tequila tastings/tequila dinners. I've only had a few margaritas there, and unfortch haven't really liked 'em (a lil too sweet, even the skinny marg). Though, my fam loves their margs.

Shocker -- they make EVERYTHING here, including the desserts we selected from their bakery section…read moreand thought were really good!!! Given all the shortcuts that so many restaurants take, this place deserves a "5" just for the fact that they do make everything themselves. And our meal was really excellent as well and a very fair price. We started with a Cheese quesadilla and our special request to have onions in there as well. It was good. For brunch we ordered the $12 Concha French Toast because Mr. Picky has a sweet tooth. That is Concha bread soaked in vanilla bean custard, topped with caramel, toasted coconut, cinnamon, whipped cream and berries. Mr. Picky didn't even need the side syrup. I like savory items and I so ordered the El Valle which was also $12. Two cheese enchiladas which I topped with sunny side up eggs, served with white rice and refried black beans. I added seasoned ground beef into the enchiladas and that was an extra $2. I requested white cheese enchiladas, don't know if that was standard or not. I am not a huge bean lover, but I have to tell you that the refried black beans on that plate were delicious. Very filling dish, tasted really good and it was a great value. Brunch is served Saturday & Sunday from 9am-3pm. I think this is the best breakfast/brunch I've had in the past two years. Generous amount of food and I couldn't finish it all. They have a bakery section and we walked over to look and see what we wanted to have for dessert. We couldn't decide between the interesting-looking carrot cake, the praline cheesecake or flan on top of chocolate cake. So we ordered and shared all three! LOL. Our favorites were the carrot cake and the praline cheesecake. I think this is the best breakfast/brunch we've had in the past two years. Generous amount of food and I couldn't finish it all. Five stars for making everything themselves, waiter Eduardo was very helpful, and we're definitely coming back soon!!!

Home-cooked flavor! Quick and friendly service by all service members. Yareli was friendly and…read morerespectful. I loved how she approached me as opposed to my husband. Too many times the ladies tend to him and not me... she knew what was appropriate . This was a first for us! Small restaurant but didn't feel crowded, had a bar, seating was comfortable and place was clean. We loved our ceviche, cheese birria tacos and street fajita tacos mixed with chorizo on home made tortillas. They were loaded with meat! We took the dessert home (tres leches of course). Even the water tasted good! I had the watermelon margarita and it was made with real watermelon juice (no syrup) which I prefer because I don't like extra sweet drinks.

We enjoyed our time here. The server was attentive and quick. We started with the queso blanco and…read morewhile basic was very tasty. Their green salsa was okay but the red salsa and smoky and flavorful. They had a lot of options and we went with the Ay Ay Ay fajitas. They had good flavor but I wish the meat itself had more flavor. Not just relying on the sauce and extras for flavor. However major bonus points that they gave black refried beans. Overall we would try them again but kind of hope the next time is more satisfying.

"My Homework Turned Into Date Night (with Myself)" 02-14-26…read more I came here on Valentine's Day to do a writing assignment my professor gave us, and I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere and the food all the same. When I walked in, the hostess offered to seat me in the private party area. I declined and told her, "I'm here for a writing assignment," and asked if I could sit somewhere with a clear view of the bar. She didn't hesitate. She told me to follow her and led me to a booth with a clean, perfect shot of the bar, front row without having to climb onto a stool. She handed me a menu and told me to enjoy my evening. The bar itself was shaped like an oblong oval ring with gold seats lined up like little lifeboats, almost like a ship's bridge. Above it, about ten flat screens hovered in an oval formation, suspended in the air. Upside-down margarita glasses and champagne flutes hung overhead like delicate chandeliers in an expensive mansion. The bar area was filled with couples and solo diners enjoying the screens, sipping margaritas and champagne, and crunching on complimentary chips and salsa. Customer service was fantastic. My server, Ale, was highly energetic, lively, knowledgeable, friendly, and professional. I felt very well taken care of during this dining experience, which was supposed to just be a writing assignment, but it turned into a rewarding little night out. The complimentary chips and salsa were also pretty good. The atmosphere was vibrating at a high-energy level. There was loud laughter and conversation all around, the sound of dishes clanging in the kitchen, servers moving back and forth, and bussers scanning the room for abandoned tables to clean. For my appetizer, I ordered the shrimp crab cake along with a Cucumber Melon Margarita on the rocks. Both were absolutely delicious. The crab cake was mouthwatering and delectable, and that margarita was refreshingly fruity and strong, so good I ordered a second one. For my entrée, I ordered the beef fajita plate for one with cilantro rice, charro beans, and corn tortillas. I also added a side of the La Viva Shrimp (bacon-wrapped). I don't eat pork often, so I peeled the bacon off, and even without it, the shrimp was exceptionally tantalizing, full of bold seafood flavor. My entire plate was the bee's knees. I can't even explain how good the food was. Food Ratings Shrimp Crab Cake: 5/5 La Viva Shrimp: 5/5 Beef Fajitas: 5/5 Cilantro Rice: 5/5 Charro Beans: 5/5 Overall, La Viva Cantina is an upbeat, lively spot serving delicious comida with great customer service and an inviting atmosphere. I highly recommend it for date night, or even a solo night at the bar. You won't be disappointed.

We arrived on for Wednesday's fajita special and during happy hour. We had two beers and shared a…read morequeso. The queso was warm and thick. Our chips kept breaking off in the dip. Our beers after happy hour were $9 each. The fajita for two special appeared to apply only for beef and chicken together. There was a $10 add on if you order all beef. The fajita meat is cut super thick to make you think you're getting a lot but it was maybe 4 tacos. Pappasitos has a fajita special on Wednesday and it's much better than this food. La Viva is over hyped and over priced. It's also super crowded.

This is one of my families favorite restaurants. We've been here time and again and will continue…read moreto return. This spot is always busy and the service is always good. Food flavor and quality is always consistent. Restaurant is always clean, bar area and restaurant is spacious as well as patio area is covered and has fans. You can't get on the wait list ahead of time you have to be in person. Happy hour has such good deals on food and it's a great way to try new dishes Happy hour is Monday all day Tuesday 2-7pm Sunday 7pm - close

The hostess had a terrible attitude. She was rude, gave me awful looks, and even walked away while…read moreI was still talking to her. Imagine the very first thing you experience when you walk into a restaurant is being treated like that. It completely ruined our evening and our entire dining experience.

I am from Idaho and went here for the first time at the recommendation of my brother, who lives in…read morethe Houston area. I can't say I have ever had better Mexican cuisine in my life. This place is absolutely amazing! We started of with the Caldo Luchador soup. This soup was the absolute best soup I have had in the last decade. For lunch I had the Sonoran burrito and ordered a side of Mole. When I took my first bite It was like I was transported to Mexico City and I was eating at one of the cities culinary masterpieces. The Mole is imported directly from Mexico and is by far the best I have ever had. The service was spectacular. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone with a love of real Mexican food. I will certainly be back any time I come to visit my family.

Where do I even begin? This place completely exceeded our expectations! From the moment we walked…read morein, we were impressed by the warm, attentive service. If you're looking for authentic Mexican food--not Tex-Mex--this is the place. As San Diegans now living in Houston, we've been craving the flavors we grew up with, and this hit the spot. You can truly taste the quality and freshness of the ingredients in every dish. The pork in chile verde was incredibly tender and packed with flavor, and the green salsa on the chilaquiles was absolutely delicious. We also ordered the menudo, and it did not disappoint it was rich, comforting, and full of flavor. One thing that really stood out was the owner, who stopped by several times to check on us, make sure we were enjoying every dish, and see if we needed anything. That level of hospitality made the experience even more memorable. The restaurant is clean, casual, and very family-friendly, making it a great spot for any occasion. We'll definitely be back, and we've already recommended it to our family and friends.

Call me basic, but I love me some Gringo's Tex Mex. The flour tortillas dipped in queso? Yes…read moreplease. The bacon wrapped jalapeño and shrimp dipped in ... melted butter? Oh yeah. The fajitas? Good but even better when you order a side of roasted veggies. The kids love their play areas when waiting to get our table ready and of course, the free soft serve ice cream after a great meal is never a bad thing. Pro tip: add your name to the Yelp waitlist when you're on your way to the restaurant as they don't take reservations.

7.5/10 I tried…read moreGringo's Mexican Kitchen for the first time and ordered the chicken pastor quesadillas. The food was good, flavorful, and satisfying, but I would not say it stood out as amazing or the best Mexican food I have had. I would compare it to the Chili's of Mexican food. It gets the job done, it tastes good, but it is not super authentic or unforgettable. What really stood out was the service. It was truly extraordinary. The staff was attentive, friendly, and made the whole experience feel welcoming. That level of service is honestly the main reason I would come back. Price wise, it felt a little high for what you get. I cannot say it was much better than something like Chipotle, even though it was about double the price. That said, the environment makes a difference. The restaurant has a fun, lively vibe, and it looks like they have great drinks and margaritas, even though I did not try any this time. Overall, I would recommend coming here for the atmosphere and excellent service. The food is solid and dependable, just not top tier Mexican cuisine. I would give it another try mainly because of how well we were treated.

Highly recommend the raspberry margaritas, the tartness from the raspberry blended beautifully with…read morethe agave from the tequila. Also loved the cheese enchiladas. Service was fast and friendly.

I needed trays of enchiladas for teacher appreciation week and I called around and got prices, not…read moreonly did they have the best prices but the manager was so friendly and accommodating! We decided to eat there and then pick up our order. The food was so delicious and well prepared.The queso flambeado was prepared table side. We ordered fajitas, and quesadillas. They were super generous with the meat. Fantastic place, will definitely be back!

They've been in Cypress for decades- and their food is super consistent, delicious, and good value…read more I really dig their combo meals- makes it easy to feed a family, and everyone gets a bit of all the things they want.

The atmosphere has a wonderful Spanish heritage, accompanied by beautiful artwork. The staff has…read morealways been incredibly friendly and attentive to their services. Their queso flameado with chorizo is, without a doubt, my favorite among all places I've tried. It's served sizzling, and the cheese is melted perfectly, not thick or cooling down too quickly. I also ordered the carne guisada; the beef was tender and juicy, the sauce was flavorful, and the rice was light and fluffy. We also tried the Texas Burrito, and let me tell you--everything is indeed bigger in Texas! I could barely finish it; it was fully stuffed and packed. The taco carbon was great, with the flour tortilla tasting homemade and the beef fajita perfectly seasoned. The chimichanga came out piping hot, topped with melted cheese, while still maintaining a crispy texture. I will definitely return. Their lunch special is an excellent value!