The absolute best Dylan and I think her name was Naoimi were the best as well as the entire staff July 4th I hosted a party for 25 guest there and from start to finish it was amazing, it was for my auntie 65th birthday her theme was SHADES OF MARILYNDA MONROE her name is Linda and Marilyn Monroe is her favorite icon we had a blast, Dylan ensued that everything was set up how it should be, the food came out fast and was delicious The bottle & cake shows were both amazing. I can't say enough about this place & I will be returning read more

I'd give La Buena Vida in Cary 3 stars. The environment was fantastic, definitely a 5. We went for two friends birthday, and they did some shots for the table on the house as well as a really delicious cake. The cake was hands-down the best thing I had to eat by far. The staff really get into celebrating the birthdays, and that part was really fun! However, it took close to an hour for the server to ask us for a food order - including appetizers. Service was around a 3.5, friendly but slow. We wanted to start with the dip trio, but after waiting about 55 minutes from when we sat down, we had to flag down our waitress and ask if we could put in the order. She then came back to take the regular food order, not leaving a whole lot of time between the dip coming out and our food coming out. The dip trio was OK, the queso was the best part. I'm not sure if the dip was supposed to be a cold dip or a hot dip, but it was like a lukewarm. I got the chicken and steak fajitas, which I would give a 2.5 out of five. The meat was a bit chewy. Overall I'd give the food a 3. The drinks were a bit too sugary and not well balanced--more filler than alcohol--so I'd give them a 2 (tried a sip of friends, the house marg, mango marg, and drink that comes in a little bathtub). It's a really nice spot for a party/celebration atmosphere, could be very fun for a bday, but you'll need some patience and to keep your expectations at bay for food. They also add a 3% credit card fee when using card, which I personally dislike. In general, I don't tend to patronize businesses that do that. read more

See all

Disappointing overall. All of the meat in the steak fajitas was tough and gristley. The guac was very soft, had no texture, and little taste. The music during the frequent birthday celebration was so loud that my watch warned me about high sound levels, and interestingly the music started each time with that classic Mexican song, the theme from the movie "The Godfather". They turn all the light off for it, so each table is provided with a tiny lamp so you can see your food. The chips were fresh and crisp and were refreshed. The salsa also very good, but one small cup for the two of us ran out quickly and was not refreshed. Service was not prompt, and kind of unsure. I suppose in the spirit of transparency they clearly posted a 3% credit card surcharge, and a recent $2 increase on all items on the menu. No recommended. read more

La Buena Vida - Cary - The Big Deal fajitas. Oddly includes roasted Brussels sprouts, and some gristley beef. - Mexican Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

See all

The food was delicious! There is a large parking lot but if busy like today, you may have to park a little far away from entrance. Wait for the hostess to sit you, even if you want the bar area. The place is really spacious just doesn't seem like it from outside. A lot of tables and booths. The attention is excellent! The floor manager is very active and super courteous. The bartenders were friendly, knowledgeable and fast. The vibe is party with good food and TV 's. Which right now World Cup time, I am very happy to have made it here. Met some cool dudes at the bar too, super funny. One from Chile and one full American. We had an awesome time. I have to come back because they have the absolute coldest beer in town. I have no idea how, but it is. I'll bet anyone. Check them out! You'll enjoy it for sure. There's also an airplane, shots, flag situation that goes down but you have to be here to be a part of. You're welcome. read more

See all

Absolutely delicious food and the greatest service! We were so impressed with Rodrigo and Dania today as they made us feel very welcomed and were very attentive. We were celebrating a birthday so they made it very special! read more

La Buena Vida - Cary - Tinga Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Top notch experience. Came Friday night, the food was the absolute best I've ever had (Birria quesadilla, Buena vida burrito, and avocado ranch salad). They were completely packed but the food still came out relatively quick. The music and vibes were so much fun. read more

La Buena Vida - Cary - Mexican Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Came here on a Friday night for appetizers and drinks with a girlfriend, and it was such a nice spot to catch up. The ambiance and music really set the tone - fun, relaxed, and perfect for a girls' night. Our waitress was incredibly patient with us as we took our time chatting and didn't feel rushed at all, which we really appreciated. Service like that makes a big difference. Parking was also easy, which is always a plus for a night out. Overall, a great place to unwind and enjoy good company. read more

La Buena Vida - Cary - Mexican Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

We came here on a Friday evening and it was very packed. We had to park in the lot away from the business. The restaurant is spacious with many booths and tables inside. We came here for a bingo event at this location. We waited for some time to be seated by the hostess after being checked into the event. We were not seated all together but randomly throughout the restaurant so it was kind of hard to hear what was going on during the game as it was loud music being played in the restaurant. They did turn down the music at times times during the game. Our server was attentive while we were there. The chips and salsa were ok. The restaurant does make a big deal for people celebrating their birthdays there. read more

Being an out-of-towner, I had some time to kill and was on my way to another restaurant when the outside of this place caught my eye -- so I turned right into the parking lot. Even in the daytime, it was inviting. I went for lunch on a Thursday, so there weren't many people there at first. It's cute inside! The only reason I deducted points was because no one came to check on me after dropping off my food to see if everything was okay. I was waiting for them to, since I needed a knife to cut my chicken. I ended up eating it exactly as it looks in my picture - strips and all. They don't include knives in the wrapped silverware with the napkin. Also, it was a tad salty. Overall, it was cute in there, and I would definitely go back again. read more

La Buena Vida - Cary - Mexican Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

See all

Went to La Buena Vida for the TSITP watch party and honestly it couldn't have been a better spot The atmosphere was such a vibe. fun, lively , and full of energy all at the same time. It felt like the kind of place you just want to stay and hang out for hours. The staff was so welcoming too, which made the whole night even better. Now the food... wow. The birria quesadillas were next level so cheesy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. Pairing that with the Spanish rice (which was honestly some of the best I've ever had, so fluffy and seasoned just right) made it the perfect comfort meal. Everything just hit the spot. If you're looking for a place with amazing food, great atmosphere, and good energy, La Buena Vida is definitely it. Already planning when I'm going back! read more

La Buena Vida - Cary - Birria Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

See all

They have so many fun drinksand cool dishes that you don't want to miss out on! Some even come with "shows" which the kids + adults all enjoyed~ One of the drinks My favorites from our visit were bath time that came with a rubber duck (the bubbles were so fun and tasty) + plátanos rellenos It was THE BEST dish of the evening. If you get nothing else , get plátanos rellenos!!! read more

See all

Food was spectacular, highly recommend the carne asada as well as their super fun cocktail menu. The tres leches dessert was a bombshell. You can always judge a Mexican restaurant by their trees leches and they even have a strawberry version! The service was great! Went in a Friday and the place was packed but had almost no wait to sit. The ambiance was great!, it felt kind of like a hip club with modern music and a more modern style with paintings of famous Hispanic people on the walls like Frieda Kahlo read more

See all

This place is an amazing vibe! If you're going out somewhere to eat, looking for entertainment, music -- the works; it's truly a great time out. We came in with a party of 18, where it turns out that whoever was handling the reservations seemed to not put us down (or at least didn't put us in the right day); it was overwhelming, but they were extremely accommodating and fast to come up with a solution for us. For that, I truly give them points -- Shoutout to Oscar (presumably the manager) and Manuel, our server. The entire experience is super fun! But be aware of what you're coming into (for dinner, at least). There was music blasting, which can be overstimulating. When you order a flight, those come with lots of cheering, lights flashing, etc. Overall, we had a blast with our party, looking for a celebration. Food was good! We got flautas and the birria quesadillas, which were honestly super delicious. The portion for rice was on the tinier side, I will say. But the food was cooked great. One thing I will say is I wish we had all received complimentary waters, we did not receive waters and those who did, did not receive refills. I will give grace since there was A LOT of us, and a LOT going on in general at this restaurant. Thanks for the fun time! read more

I'd heard of this place but never visited the Cary location. I'm so glad I did. The staff and service were exceptional! The food was a bonus! Everything was delicious and left me wanting more!! The decor and art give this place a very upbeat and sensational vibe. I will definitely be back to try more drinks and more food. I started with the guacamole and birria roll apps from the lunch menu and had the Tiras de pollo which to me was the star of the show! P.S. Margarita Mondays mean house margs are on sale on Mondays! read more

See all

My boyfriend and I came in because I heard about this place from a coworker. The decor is very fancy, and it seems upscale as a result. The menus had really small font, and the restaurant was pretty dark. That might not be the best for people who can't see well. I ordered the platano relleno. It was good, very flavorful. The plantains were delicious, and I'm not sure what all was on top. I ate the whole plate clean. Our server was Viviana. She was pretty attentive and recommended a bacon-wrapped shrimp dish. Unfortunately, they didn't have it in stock anymore, which was disappointing. All in all, good experience. Food is a little pricey tho! But the quality is good. I think I still prefer Esmerelda Grill for more authentic and less expensive options. read more

La Buena Vida - Cary - Platano Relleno - Mexican Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

See all

I enjoyed my time with my buddies there. Amazing food and great service from Greyber! read more

La Buena Vida - Cary - Receipt - Mexican Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

My fajita burrito was barely edible; the meat was either gristly or very overcooked, and the sauce on top tasted like tomato sauce straight from a can. The tortilla chips and salsa were tasty, and my husband's fish tacos were pretty good. The margarita was only average. The host was nice but a little smarmy. Our servers were attentive and polite. The atmosphere there felt like a Miami nightclub tried to move north. It was dark, covered in fake plants and the music was loud. Overall not pleasant. read more

This is a nightclub, not a family friendly restaurant. They placed us by the speakers. We will need to get our hearing checked after this. Even the server had a hard time hearing us taking our orders. The food was not worth the pain. Also, very dark in there. The vibes were off in there. Maybe because we were there late after a flight read more

Consistently great food, drinks, and service! A little more than some other Mexican restaurants in the area , but you're paying for quality. read more

La Buena Vida has a vast menu with lots of options and selections. They have a very nice interior and vibes for a fun night out. I think the food was alright, but the drink menu and energy inside make up for it. I got some enchiladas and thought they were alright. They have these "shows" you can order, where the staff come out and do a dance to music and present several drinks to the table, it was really fun to watch, and I think it would be really fun for a special occasion. Overall, it was an interesting spot, I wouldn't come just for food though. I would come to have a good time and order some drinks. read more

La Buena Vida - Cary - Mexican Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

See all

This is a lively and vibrant restaurant, perfect for a fun night out. We visited on a Saturday evening and had a great time. The DJ started around 8 PM, adding a fantastic energy with music that kept the atmosphere upbeat. The Mexican food was delicious, with some unique and creative twists that added plenty of flair. We opted to sit at the bar since the restaurant was busy with large groups, likely due to holiday gatherings. The service was generally good, though a bit slow at times--but we didn't mind, as it gave us more time to enjoy the experience. For dessert, we tried the flan, which was an interesting take on the classic. It served and had a texture more akin to cheesecake and was topped with Fruity Pebbles for a fun twist. While it wasn't the traditional flan we expected, it was still enjoyable. read more

The decor of this restaurant was so much fun! The vibes were lively and it almost felt like I was stepping into a dance bar. Service was relatively fast, especially given how busy they were. I got the chicken empanadas and the mole enchiladas. The empanadas were pretty good, it was your standard fried empanada. The mole enchilada was also just ok - my only complaint is about the multiples pieces of bones and cartilage I had to pick out. I'm giving this restaurant 4 stars instead of 3 because of how fun it was inside. I'd definitely come back for drinks with friends! read more

La Buena Vida - Cary - Mole enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

See all

Everything was great! Upon arriving and leaving, 2 gentlemen opened the doors for me and my friends. The food was delicious!! Highly recommend the chilaquiles So many fun looking drinks and tasty also. The churro sparkler display was really cool! Loved that the server was on top of things. The aesthetics inside were really cute and vibey! read more

La Buena Vida - Cary - Mexican Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

See all

Went during daily happy hour specials - VERY reasonably priced during this time. Good service. Fun atmosphere as the music is either off or low in volume. Would return again for these specials read more

I wanted to love it since I love the Raleigh location. The food consistently changes as does the customer service experience. Celebrated a birthday, party of 13 and all of us received our food at different times which sucked! The food presentation is always a hit, portions are just right and selection of food is good: read more

See all

This place has an amazing vibe! If you're going out somewhere to eat, looking for entertainment, music -- the works; it's truly a great time out. Good food and service. read more

Food is good and the drinks is spectacular Service is good as well, our server is pretty nice and friendly. Ambiance is nice as well. read more

La Buena Vida - Cary - Lobster pasta is delicious and the ribeye as well - Mexican Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

See all

They serve chips and salsa up front now! The shredded chicken is so flavorful, and I appreciate that their bowls are filling and put together with more fresh produce than rice. read more

La Buena Vida - Cary - Lunch Quesabirrias - Mexican Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

See all

The food was great! Service was excellent. Atmosphere is awesome! Greta place to go for a friendly lunch or business dinner!

This place is, simply, an absolute shitshow. Sun still up, family dinner with a 3 year old, and there's a lady twerking on her table while the waitstaff parties instead of checking on guests. We left after our 3 year old broke down in tears. The website advertises this a family friendly spot. Shut it down. read more

We walked in at 12:05 and there were only 3 occupied tables. We requested the table away from the loud music and the waitress looked annoyed but moved us to an equally loud place. She said they had to keep the music loud so we decided to leave. On the way out she said that she was waiting for the manager because she didn't know how to lower the music. She could have led with that. Anyway we ended up at Aquí Mero down the street which is excellen! Just light background musi, pleasant staff and delicious food. read more

I don't know why the reviews are relatively low but the food, service, ambiance, and did I mention the food are all amazing. They did a great job here. The food was so fresh and tasted like scratch made recipes. Great job with this place. Cary needs this place and I hope more people will go here and keep this pace not only in business but thriving. read more

La Buena Vida - Cary - Smoky Asada tacos with Jalisco Old fashion in the background. So tasty! - Mexican Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

See all

At first I was super sad to see that Topopos wasn't here anymore but then we tried La Buena Vida and it was great! I thought the decor was fun before but I love what they've done with the place now. It looks like it was decorated by Justina Blakeney of Jungalow. I loved the music videos on the screens throughout as well. Oh, and the food and drink - fantastic! The manager came by our table to ask how everything was going and seemed genuinely interested in our impressions. Can't wait to go back! read more

La Buena Vida - Cary - Mexican Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

See all

Colorful vibrant atmosphere. Food was nothing special. My enchiladas were not served warm - they were cold. My meal came out significantly after those that I was dining with. So waited awhile and then was still cold when it was served to me. That was disappointing. read more

Great party atmosphere on a Saturday night. In house DJ played great up beat music to set the vibe. Birthday celebrations are definitely a hit! We had the guacamole which was excellent and very refreshing. The mango passion sushi roll was a wonderful! The agave chicken tacos had a great blend of ingredients with a perfect amount of char to the chicken. We will definitely return for the fun high energy experience! read more

See all

I visited for lunch on Saturday, April 26th. The restaurant was not busy; only a few tables were occupied. I ordered the Enchilada Suprema's. The first bite was the cheese enchilada, it was ice cold, YUCK. The mouthfeel was terrible, so I unrolled the enchilada, and it was an unmelted cheese stick rolled in a corn tortilla with a little sauce on it. Never knew cheese enchiladas were made from a cheese stick. On to the ground beef enchilada and it was ice cold as well. After several minutes of waiting on our waitperson I returned the dish. The manager visited and asked if I wanted something else so I ordered chicken tacos. They were okay. My partner ordered the taco salad and left half of it. Two lunch entrees, an iced tea, and a water for $26. The complimentary chips/salsa were good. Side note, the two chicken tacos were $5.50 each and while tasty, they were nothing special. $11 for two chicken tacos, really? The vibe of the restaurant was a little out of the norm and might be fun for a drink in the evening. Bright colors, loud music, neon lights. Bottom line, we will not be returning. read more

The space itself has potential, but that's all they have going for them unfortunately. Bad service, sad food, overall a bad experience that makes me wonder how long they have left. Also, the smell of the heavily soiled and dirty bathroom drifted into the dining area for added ambiance. Be warned on this one. read more

The staff here is outstanding! I ordered a Door Dash and wrong order was delivered. I contacted La Buena Vida and they couldn't have been nicer. They remade the order and Oscar personally delivered it to my home. Highly recommend! read more

This is one of my favorite places to eat at! Love the food here and the portions are great. The space and decor is very fitting with the theme and the drinks are amazing as well. The staff is very friendly and helpful with any questions you may have. read more

The drink menu is great. Try the La Tóxica. This is a great place for groups and celebrations as well as a date night. read more

La Buena Vida - Cary - La Tóxica - Mexican Near Me - Cary, North Carolina