La Buena Vida ("The Good Life") - Raleigh I've driven past this restaurant many times and saw their $6.99 lunch sign, but never stopped till today. I will admit that walking in I was a little intimidated because this is a lively Mexican restaurant that provides a festive dining-and-drinks 'experience' at night. It is known for its energetic, colorful space with music, TVs, and a nightlife feel. I did not know what to expect. We were seated and asked for the '$6.99 lunch menu' (although their normal lunches are just a few dollars more). They brought complementary seasoned chips and salsa that were a delight. I picked the Enchiladas Verdes (normally $11, but is on their lunch menu for $7) and my wife picked the Enchiladas Supreme. They both came with rice and lettuce. Fresh, light, and full of flavor. I had a sweet tea and my wife an unsweetened tea ($3.25 each). We moved here from California and have been to great Mexican restaurants there, and La Buena Vida is right up there with the best of them. The rice and lettuce were fresh, the Enchiladas were freshly made with excellent layers of wonderfully flavored sauces! Not heavy, absolutely delightful servings. If you are looking for a great find for a light lunch at an excellent price, then visiting La Buena Vida is something worth stopping by for. Our bill would have been about $10 per person (Each of us had 2 Enchiladas and a drink). With Tax and tip figure about $26 (there is a 3% surcharge for using credit cards), but we split a Tres Leches cake for dessert ($10). So with a large tip and taxes our full meal, drinks and dessert ran $40. The staff was wonderful, they checked on us often. During the day, the setting is quiet and you can hear others speaking (important for us older folk). read more

See all

I came here for a birthday party, it was amazing and the vibes were high! The music was bumping and the staff were nice. I got the Birria Tacos , as you may know those are my favorite! They tasted really authentic , they were a little greasy, but it's ok! Again, the flavors bursted in my mouth! For drink , i had a Shirley Temple, pretty good! Thanks La Buena Vida (the good life) ! read more

La Buena Vida - Raleigh - Quesabirrias - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

La Buena Vida in Raleigh was the perfect spot for our bachelorette celebration! The food was delicious--fresh, flavorful, and exactly what you want when you're craving good Mexican cuisine. The drinks were on point, and the overall vibe was lively, fun, and perfect for a girls' night out. The music, energy, and atmosphere really made the night feel special. Definitely a great place to celebrate with friends--I'd absolutely come back! Great service! read more

La Buena Vida - Raleigh - Flautas chicken - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The classic case of: what I ordered vs what I got! I was there with a large group to celebrate a friend's birthday. Please look at the picture of what I ordered based on the description on their menu and the picture on their website vs the dish that I was served. The waiter stated that he could not take back the dish because I had eaten off of it. I had only scraped the onions to the side and looked through the dish for the missing avocados. The manager was no help initially but after a lengthy conversation replaced the dish. Their excuse was that the picture was old and they are updating their menu. Not sure how that makes it my fault. They also tacked on a gratuity of over $8.00 on a $25.00 tab which is 32% instead of the 18% that it was supposed to be. One compliment: their drinks are very cute and unique. I can't speak on how they taste because I drank water. read more

La Buena Vida - Raleigh - The picture of their Ribeye Aguachile from their website. Note: I ordered because of the pickled red onion and avocado. - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

See all

While in the area celebrating my birthday, I decided to try the brunch at La Buena Vida. The manager was great with answering questions I had about the menu offerings. I have known this location to have a reputation with offering a lively atmosphere. What I failed to realize is that is only offered at night apparently. My friend arrived ahead of our group and the host at the front was glad to still seat her before we arrived. When I arrived I did not hear any music or much of anything from outside. There were a lot of children and families dining. I knew then I had made a wrong choice on the day to visit. The seating was terrible. The tables were lined like a lunchroom close together. I noticed that they portioned off the nicer part of the restaurant for the night life and squeezed us into the worst side of the building purposely. Disappointing. We ordered cocktails and the waitress made recommendations. I went with La Toxica. This drink was mostly crushed ice. Not much alcohol. I decided not to purchase any more drinks. I ordered the " breakfast fajitas" they are supposed to come with fried eggs. What arrived was dry overcooked grilled chicken and tortillas with toppings. No Bueno. I gave up at this point and decided not to order anything else. My friend sent back her French toast that was overly seasoned with excessive amounts of cinnamon. She changed her order to the ACP bowl. Some of the staff was very nice and offered to take photos for us for the occasion. Many of the LED signs were broken and not working we were told. Disappointing. No one ever checked in to ask, are you enjoying your meal ? The service was not to my standards. I love Latin food but this missed the mark. No bueno. Lo siento. read more

See all

The venu is well decorated. Kind of like an untamed jungle feel meets urban alley. We had a girls night birthday dinner, the food was amazing. We saw people who ordered the tomahawk steak and th itself is its own experience read more

Decided to try this place out again during the week when a little less busy. It was half price wings Wednesday and 6.99 pitchers of sangria. The sangria was good not too sweet could've been a bit stronger though. The wings also needed to be more seasoned before being tossed in the sauce. read more

La Buena Vida - Raleigh - Mango habanero wings - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I visited La Buena Vida on a Sunday around 12 p.m. after it was recommended by a friend who lives nearby. While I've heard the vibe gets more lively and party like at night, our daytime experience was pretty laid-back, which I enjoyed. There was music playing, not too loud, and no DJ at that time. The décor was super cute, with plenty of IG worthy spots. My friend and I were seated right away, and later, two more friends joined us. Now, the drink menu? It was extensive! Honestly, a bit overwhelming at first, (which is a good problem to have) but I eventually landed on the Pachita, and I'm glad I did. It was strong, flavorful, and refreshing. It had wayyy to much ice though. One of my friends ordered a drink served in a bathtub shaped cup, which was such a fun and unique touch! I also witnessed a birthday celebration where a flight of drinks was brought out on a mini airplane with staff singing in a line headed to the birthday table. That was super cute and creative. I can only imagine how fun the vibe is at night! As for the food: We were given complimentary chips and salsa to start. The chips were tasty. It had something like Tajin on them and the salsa tasted fresh. I ordered the mango habanero wings, but unfortunately, they fell flat for me. They lacked the crispiness I expected and the sauce was a little too mild for my liking. I also had the ground beef chimichanga, which came as two smaller pieces rather than the typical large one. They were very saucy and not crispy at all, which was disappointing. Also, the side of rice was soft. I was expecting more of the filling to be inside the chimichanga itself. Our server, Caly, started off attentive and friendly. However, once our food arrived, the service dropped off. We didn't get checked on for a while, and when we asked for more chips, they never came. It wasn't overly busy, so I'm not sure what caused the delay. Lastly, I ordered the strawberry Tres Leches. It was good, but not amazing. Kind of reminded me of a strawberry shortcake. Presentation was nice though. I had to ask Caly after 15 minutes of ordering it because it was taking forever to cond out. The first one he brought out was in an unclean dessert dish. So Caly replaced it. Overall, I still liked the place. The drinks were definitely the highlight, and the ambiance was great for hanging out with friends or taking cute photos. While the food didn't wow me, I'd still come back. Especially, to experience the nighttime energy I've heard so much about. I'd like to give it a 3.5 because it wasnt quite a four but not a three. read more

See all

Took my daughter here Thursday for my daughters 18th bday . It was only my daughter my son and myself . we ordered tacos and an appetizer. my daughter ordered a virgin drink but the bar gave her a non virgin drink .. after several sips she asked me to take a sip and it was full of tequila. they replaced the drink but offered no apologies the food was horrible they did the happy song like any other restaurant but when we got the 178$ bill... it included the 35 cake we did not ask for i would not recommend this place ..completely over rated read more

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

See all

I would like to share my extreme disappointment with this establishment with how they treated my family and I coldly. Our family formally made dinner reservations for our family reunion with the manager and followed up multiple times (including the day before!). The manager confirmed that everything was set. When we arrived on time for our reservation around 8pm, we found out that they gave our tables away to other people. Not only that, but the hostess stated that she DID NOT KNOW there was going to be a large party (it was 25 of us). How is it that multiple conversations with the manager on the reservation have been lost in communication to the front door staff? This is ridiculous. The staff were not empathic or accommodating at all. They did not seat us at all. I guess being an establishment with integrity goes out the door when you're hungry for money. What a DISGRACE! I will also note that while I was waiting, I decided to use the bathroom and--my goodness!! It was DISGUSTING. Tissue everywhere and an overflowing trash can. It didn't even look safe to use the bathroom. Cleanliness was at a low. Yikes! read more

Food was good service was slow and the music was too loud for me. Other than that I would go back. But not for a meeting with my people

It was our first time at La Buena Vida (North Raleigh location). I decided to try it after seeing ads for new local restaurant openings. The interior and décor were very nice, and the staff was polite, but not particularly attentive. My order was incorrect at first, and I had to wait quite a while for a replacement -- just a plate of oysters, which, unfortunately, were nothing special. My husband's nachos were mediocre as well. The real issue came when we received the bill. The bartender brought over a handheld payment device showing only the total amount -- no itemized receipt. My husband paid and left a tip. At a glance, the total seemed high for what we ordered (two appetizers and beer/wine). I asked for an itemized receipt and noticed we had been charged an extra 18%, supposedly for checks over $100. Our bill, however, was only $68. When I confronted the bartender, she said the extra charge was a "tip for the kitchen staff" and that "they always do it." On top of that, we had also left her a separate tip. The total tips ended up being around 38% -- quite excessive, especially for mediocre food and poor service. We called management, and they did remove the charge, but future customers should be aware of this dishonest practice. There are far better places in Raleigh with both good service and integrity. read more

La Buena Vida - Raleigh - This is check with silent upcharge for kitchen stuff - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

La Buena Vida has a vibrant ambiance and amazing food. I visited on a Sunday because I was craving tacos and I'm glad I chose this place. I had the Ribeye tacos and my friend had the Smokey asada tacos. Both were so flavorful and tasty!! The chips and salsa were also fresh and delicious. Our server was great and attentive, overall I had no complaints about the dining experience. I will warn you it can get loud due to the live entertainment and party vibe they are intentional about creating, but it is a nice switch up from a traditional Mexican restaurant. read more

La Buena Vida - Raleigh - Ribeye taco - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The margarita was delish! The chicken enchiladas verdes were fantastic, the service was very good. It's a little dark, bar ambiance, but very nice and fun with cute signs and touches! read more

La Buena Vida - Raleigh - Enchiladas Verdes - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The music is so loud you can't visit or hear the staff, the bass is so loud the the seats vibrate. I placed my order for shrimp tacos and it came back with none of the toppings I ordered, just lettuce and tomatoe and the supposedly grilled shrimp was tasteless and mushy. They give you a tiny bit of chips and salsa. They add a tip depending on the total of the bill not the number of guests then give the opportunity to add more since they dont tell you its already added. There were 4 of us. Our simple meal was $78 for 2 of us. We won't be going back. Its more like a night club. read more

My fiancé and I had an amazing night at La Buena Vida! The food was so good, The Smokey Asada Tacos were our favorite and our server Excarli was wonderful! Will definitely be coming back more regularly. read more

Oh, La Buena Vida...a new favorite restaurant added to the list! I found La Buena Vida via an Instagram reel and was amazed by the wild festivities at night! I happened to be driving to another restaurant and saw La Buena Vida's building THE SAME DAY I saw the reel. So I decided, no...we're going there instead and turned around and let me tell you!! That was the best decision I could have made because this place is everything!! It was honestly too good to be true that I watched the reel in the morning and just so happened to pass by the restaurant in the afternoon, it was a sign. La Buena Vida is beautifully decorated with plants everywhere, marble flooring, neon lights, beautiful paintings on the wall, and the perfect amount of lighting to set the tone. Fun music played in the background throughout the meal. The atmosphere is *chefs kiss.* The food, though! It's authentic Mexican food! None of this Tex-mex you get here in NC with all of that cheese sauce. No no no...the food here is made with LOVE, my friends. It's delicious and memorable, makes you want to come back (or even indulge even more while you're already there). Now, I'll be honest, the real reason I was interested in trying La Buena Vida is because of their bathtub with a rubber ducky drink. And let me tell you!! The drinks don't disappoint either!! Deliciously made, enough alcohol to have your S.O be the designated driver, and fun containers for every drink! Ever since we visited La Buena Vida, I've been raving about it to my friends and coworkers. I don't think anyone has gotten the hint that "I think we should hang and get some good food and drinks." Did I mention the service was spectacular? Our waitress was so incredibly helpful and informative...and quick! Also, don't forget to use the restrooms because they're marbled and have chandeliers. Classy if I do say so myself. TLDR: What are you waiting for?! Go to La Buena Vida and get your grub on!!! read more

See all

Unbelievably amazing experience, not just the incredible food, atmosphere or service but the true pleasure of a uniquely beautiful space. I was blown away by the food, authentic and flavor overload in a spectacular way. I don't live in Raleigh but I will make it a point to come back. Do yourself a favor and go but don't expect same ole same ole, this is next level awesomeness! Thank you to the owner for special attentiveness. read more

La Buena Vida - Raleigh - Bar area stupid good drinks! - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

See all

My friend held a Birthday Dinner here. La Buena Vida is very lively and entertaining for those who love this type of scene over dinner. Probably one of the most entertaining and happening places in Midtown that's open til 2 AM. The staff here are enthusiastic and a fun bunch. There was an excessive wait, as they didn't take reservations. Very Poor communication. I feel they skipped over our party. When finally seated we were off in a corner. Seemed like bad seating to my friend but I was grateful for a little peace while having dinner. Things I saw here from some of the customers were pearl-clutching, to say the least. I ordered the Birria Rolls and Brussels sprouts. Delicious! The Brussels sprouts were piping hot as food should arrive. They were bursting with flavor and had a kick of spice. The rolls needed to be piping hot. The food for me was an overall, 4 out of 5 all the way. The No Gym cocktail is a no for me. The French 75 from the bar was perfect. The shots on the airplane carrier were decent. Super sweet! I would suggest pouring a little more time into customer service/satisfaction here. Our waitress told us we could only order cocktails on the menu. I didn't like this treatment. Who are you to tell me what I can order? There are specific drinks I stick with, my preference. The only drink I saw on the menu with my preferred alcohol - Hendricks was a No Gym. When I headed over to the bar for clarification on what could be made, sure enough, most drinks can be made at the bar. A French 75 was made without a problem. I spoke with Management and he seemed pleasant, but only offered 15% off the No Gym. Never acknowledging how I was misled to order only from the menu. I felt defeated. Someone else took the drink since I ended up having to pay for it. Grateful for this experience and fellowship with my friend and the people invited. Overall, my friend was pleased with the experience and the only complaint was the wait and where we were seated. Will I go back? Yes, I'm curious about weekday lunch or evenings at the bar. I'm not rushing to get back here but will give it another try one day. read more

See all

I got to come here on my birthday and it was such an incredible time!! The place is gorgeous, wonderfully decorated with a great ambiance. The drinks are even cooler, I tried the mango mojito (yum) and the bath tub, they were so fun! I got the steak tacos for my main, the steak was thinly shaved and the entire dish was delicious. For the birthday celebration, it's an extra $35 to get a cake, but it was well worth it. It's a chocolate cake with fruity pebbles on top, with sweeten condensed milk (I think that's what it was), but either way, the cake was 10/10. The staff ramps up the music and they all walk out with strobe lights and sing to you! It's a really fun experience, we can't wait to go again. read more

La Buena Vida - Raleigh - Dining area - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Everything was great. Went when the first opened. Food was delicious, and staff was friendly.

Don't tell anyone that they are open for lunch with its own menu. Tasty dishes. If you are a late night type you already know all the deets.

SNEAKY! REMEMBER THEY CAN DELETE BAD REVIEWS ON GOOGLE! GO TO YELP!!! Will tell you things are included when they're not!! We had a birthday and came in to celebrate everything was going fine super loud music vibes were on top it was really amazing for a birthday spot truly! But then our service started coming through food was okay nothing to write home about, drinks were the selling point they expect you to get drunk. Our server comes over later and says I heard there's a birthday and asks if we wanted a flight (airplane with like 8-10 shots and there's this whole light show and dance with sparklers). She asked if it was included with the birthday and he said YES! He then starts to upcharge her for top shelf liquor and she asks again are you sure this is included HE SAID YES!!!! We thought it was weird and talked about it. We just were like whatever maybe they just make a lot of money here and they can eat it? No wrong that is not the case! If you're questioning it you're gonna be charged. We got the bill and it's 100 for the flight that was supposedly "included" we talked to the manager and he straight up was telling us they couldn't split it or take it off the bill. We went back and forth until he just walked away. We ended up getting it taking care of thankfully but we were not expecting to spend no 100 on a service that was "included" I talked to the manager one more time just to try and he said it doesn't matter that we were paying for it. I told him to train his servers better and to make sure they know not to scam consumers that are coming to spend at their establishment. Clearly it doesn't matter since there are a myriad of people that are getting scammed including a family (mom, son and newly 18 year old daughter) celebrating her birthday on Yelp that was served alcohol and then was charged for a cake they didn't ask for? SAVE YOUR FUCKING MONEY AND GO SOMEWHERE YOU'LL BE SAFE WHILE INEBRIATED!! It's bad enough that adults are getting scammed but on top of that they're trying to poison children? THIS IS NOT A SAFE SPACE!!! read more

The ambiance was nice and the food was good, but it wasn't worth the $300 we spent. We mentioned we were there celebrating a birthday and they didn't even ask if we wanted dessert...it was pretty odd considering I've heard people come here and feel waited on hand and foot. That just was not our experience. The waiter did not know the menu very well and had to leave to ask a bunch of questions (figured maybe he was new so nbd) but then he barely checked on our table. I went my entire meal without a drink (after even asking for the bar menu to select a new cocktail). The food was good, but the service was definitely lacking. Cool vibe, but definitely a "been there, done that" kind of place. read more

An Unforgettable Evening at La Buena Vida! Our party of 10 was made to feel like absolute royalty from the moment we stepped through the doors! The hostess, our waiter, and the entire staff were perfectly in sync, delivering what I can only describe as a superior customer experience that sets the bar incredibly high. From the cocktails to the appetizers, entrees, dessert, and even the entertainment--every single element transported us to another world. It wasn't just a meal; it was an immersive experience that engaged all the senses. The flavors, the ambiance, the energy--everything came together flawlessly. A special callout to Carlos, who provided white glove treatment that truly made our evening memorable. His attention to detail, genuine warmth, and impeccable service elevated an already outstanding experience to something we'll be talking about for years to come. We absolutely LOVE this place! If you're looking for more than just dinner--if you want an experience that stays with you--La Buena Vida is where you need to be. Our party of 10 left feeling like we'd been somewhere truly special, and we can't wait to return! Gracias to the entire team for making magic happen! ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

A group of us went for the $6.99 lunch specials. Everyone seemed please and certainly thought it was a good value. I splurged and had the grilled fish tacos! Tasty!! The service was also good! read more

El fin de semana fui con mi familia al restaurante Buena Vida y la verdad la pasamos increíble. Desde que entras, el lugar tiene una vibra súper buena: luces cálidas, decoración con estilo y música de reguetón sonando de fondo que le da un ambiente alegre sin ser molesto. Se siente moderno, divertido y con ese toque latino que te pone de buen humor al instante. La comida estuvo deliciosa, todo muy bien servido y con un sabor espectacular. Se nota que cuidan los detalles, desde la presentación hasta el sazón. Pero lo que realmente hizo la diferencia fue la atención de Astrid, nuestra mesera. Fue súper atenta, simpática y siempre pendiente de lo que necesitábamos. Nos recomendó varios platillos y todos estaban buenísimos. Entre el ambiente, la música y el excelente servicio de Astrid, terminamos quedándonos más tiempo del que pensábamos. Sin duda, Buena Vida es un lugar al que vale la pena regresar -- buena comida, buena energía y muy buena atención. read more

2 stars for the decor. Food is subpar. And the forced "vibe" is weird... I can see this as a "special occasion restaurant" The service is selective - if you ain't spending bands at a table they ain't looking for you. The waitress was rude and refused to answer questions. Menu was dirty and the writing is so small you can't even see what you're paying for. Drinks were watered down. So much ice. The 18% gratuity on top of everyone's individual bill was also wild. If everyone's total at the table is OVER $100 will add gratuity on top to EVERYONES BILL. Even in the women's bathroom the attendant was selling stuff and asking for tips. I just felt violated after leaving. Like I was in BEGGARS PARADISE. read more

I love everything about this restaurant. I really think Raleigh needed a fun restaurant that people would come to for any occasion and people from out of town would recognize too and I think it should be this place. The restaurant is fun from the minute you park. There were lights beaming all outside of the place, and the entrance before the main door was decorated and had neon lighting with angel wings for a cute photo opportunity. Then you step into the actual restaurant with music blasting, nice seating, art, moss walls, and cool lighting and you're even more intrigued. I LOVE that so many menu items and drinks here come with a whole show. We saw an airplane full of shots, a car with shots, flamed shrimp, smokey drinks, food in cases, and more before we even started eating. The menu is super long and a little confusing but our server was super helpful. Everything looked good to me. We got the brussels sprouts, queso and chips, and birria rolls for appetizers. All were great. For dinner we got chicken tacos and then ordered a rib-eye with a side of shrimp that they flame table-side. It actually ended up coming with bone marrow too and it was all flamed table-side which was even better. Everything was 10/10. Someone in our party got the lobster pasta later too which they enjoyed and it looked super good. We got 3 drinks that I don't know the names of but they came smoking with cool lights inside the drink. Everything was so fun and entertaining. I already want to come back here and probably will very soon. I would recommend making reservations. Also everything is priced super fairly and the portions are great. read more

See all

I've heard nothing but great things about this place! We arrived and parking was a nightmare. It was completely packed. After finding parking the inside was super packed and dark. Although it was a lot of people the wait wasn't long. The menu is not overwhelming and prices are reasonable. Our waitress was amazing and kept checking in on us! The drinks were great and served so cute. They were selling don Julio shots for $38....crazy. Our food was basic and I was mad that they didn't give us free chips and salsa lol read more

See all

My wife and I were stopped here because they have a crowd at night during the weekends. We visited La Buena Vida during the day and was shown to our table by the host. When our server showed up and asked what we wanted to drink and we gave him our drink list. We asked for chips and our server had to ask the Manager if he could serve us chips. I don't know what the trouble was about that because it was some time ago. When our server showed up to take our order, I ordered a shrimp dish and my wife stated that she was not very hungry from the chips and ordered a child's size quesadilla, but the server stated he could not serve that to us. I asked for the manager and asked the question and she stated that they could not serve my wife a child's size quesadilla, only a regular meal. My wife stated again so you will not serve me anything only a regular meal and the Manager said yes. My wife said then I do not want anything and I wanted to go but my wife being a concerned wife told me to order for myself and she would get something some where else. This policy makes no sense, when did the customer be denied food at a restaurant? Needless to say we will never visit that place again. read more

The New Durham location is so good. We were lucky enough to be able to be one of the first people to experience it. Everything Fresh! Everything top quality! Steak, Sea Food, Birria, Bone Marrow and some of the best cocktails you can order. In North Carolina, where everything is closed by 10 ( Really 8:30pm if you are being honest) you can get a really beautiful meal at one of their locations. I am grateful that they have the newest location in Durham. But they also have one in Raleigh and in Cary and they're open until 2 AM. That's right New York and LA transplants, Kentucky Transplants too; we can order great food with an awesome chef AFTER 10 pm!!! 2 am is music to my ears! read more

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

Service is SLOW. We were the first customers of the day for lunch at 12:15pm and the only ones for an hour. It took a very long time to get our one ice tea drink order while the entire staff was seen near the kitchen just standing around. When the food arrived, we were given black beans instead of refried. Instead of leaving the plate and getting us the kind of beans we ordered, the plates were whisked away and we had to wait at least another 5 minutes to get our entree. The manager comes to check on us, not knowing of the mixup. He assumed everything was okay and when told of the issues, he had no words. He didn't even seem to really comprehend the situation or know what to say. So, with the slow service, kitchen lacking in correct food prep, and manager not fully aware of the ONLY customers in the restaurant, it was an overall bland experience. The "Now Hiring" sign at the front door is a forwarning..... On a positive note, the servers were pleasant and the food was just okay, but we will not be returning... read more

Packed house but service was still great and food was served in a good timeframe ! Will definitely be coming back

Ahhhh some places have the vibes, some have the food. This, ladies and gentlemen has both. La Buena Vida has somehow mastered a brunch ambiance that can balance mocktails and shot planes, birthdays and great music. This is about my 4th time here and I can tell you the food is consistently good and we always have great service. Special shout out to our amazing server Patty for taking such good care of our large party. Service was smooth, and the food was timely! I also hear they have live music on some evenings so I'm gonna check that out in the future. Hopefully we can snag Patty again! Gracias por todo! read more

La Buena Vida - Raleigh - Kinki mezcal, mango mimosa and mezcalito - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

We went for Cinco De Mayo and it was a fabulous time!!! The shows where they bring out alcoholic beverages and bottles of alcohol is such an experience. If you take a group of people, you definitely have to try one. The food is always good. I tried the chicken rolls and wings. Delicious. Cinco de Mayo was a whole vibe. Music, people, beads, t-shirts, etc. For the place to be packed with a 2-hour wait, their service was phenomenal. They didn't skip a beat. We went early because we knew it would be packed soon. read more

See all

La Buena Vida is all about the vibe and venue...... The service wasn't too bad as long as its not on a busy night... Food was meh.... nothing to crazy to write about, but good thing is its not over priced like other places in the area. So La Buena Vida is like walking into a night club but but with food! Blacked out windows, loud music, and flashing lights everywhere! So if you want a place to go to with a fun crazy vibe than this place is for you! Do not go here if you are expecting a quiet dinner to hold a conversation lol I went on a Sat afternoon around 1pm and was like damn this place is packed and it was raining out so I guess people wanted to get out of the house like I did. Didn't want to wait for a table table to sat at the high tops around the bar... they definitely need to fix that situation because trying to get on those awkward high chairs while the table is sliding and seat is sliding is like a lawsuit waiting to happen. when you are finally at your table you will find your lil mini table lamp a bag of Chicharrones De Harina and a bottle of their hot sauce ... do yourself a favor and break that bag open and pour that hot sauce on it and eat it all! That stuff is pretty tasty! The drink menu is cool here and the cups they serve it in are pretty unique and fun, so if you want some specialty drinks go for it! each one is themed appropriately with the vessel it is served in! So onto the food! Ordered the La Buena Vida Ceviche... it was pretty tasty and pretty good in size... but not enough fish in it, flavoring was ok. next up was the Tacos Buchon which was ok.. basically brisket taco with bone marrow covered in gold flakes... you yield about 2 tacos from it ... over all place is ok for fun night out ... with ok food read more

I am writing this review as a customer and former employee. The first time going to La Buena Vida Raleigh was for lunch. I was immediately taken aback by the atmosphere, the art and the menus (food and drinks). The service can be mixed, ranging from "top notch" to "horrible". Currently they have 4.4 stars on google. Do not be fooled by these numbers. If you want to know behind the scenes of, one of "the best mexican restaurants in Raleigh" keep reading. If you want to continuously support this business after reading my review, please consider applying and joining the team. Let's begin with the 1 star reviews, take the time to scroll through them as they get lost with the suspiciously highly rated reviews, they are all true and consistent. I found myself researching this restaurant before applying. I was convinced I had won the lottery by being hired. Working for La Buena Vida has been one of the most traumatizing experiences I've lived through, I do not say this lightly. One of the owners, Balu Torres, is a tyrant. Legally known as Juan A. Sanchez, I'd suggest you do a simple google search on "Lady Luck". I'd compare his business to Russia and him to Stalin. Long term employees have been conditioned to endure the abuse so much, new hires are told this is normal and they need to adapt quickly. If HR existed in this place, they'd have a field day. Employees are sexually harassed ranging from managers to kitchen staff. Hazing like in a frat house is prominent. As time went on it got more unbearable to work there. This establishment robs their employees straight up. My experience as a server is getting paid my base hourly rate PLUS tips. Well I missed the part where they told me we ONLY get paid tips and no hourly rate. The server pay in North Carolina is $2.13. I worked 40+ hours a week in this restaurant and was never compensated for my long hours, I only took home whatever tips I made that day. It is normal to have a percentage taken out on servers tips when they have help like food runners, bussers, and barbacks. However the cash out policy for this restaurant is insanely high with 15% on weekdays and 30% on weekends. Yes folks a whopping 30%. The restaurant closes at 2am but servers are there up until 4am, on weekends we are expected to work from 10am-4am with a 2 hour break. Servers by far are the worst treated employees in La Buena Vida. Overworked, underpaid, and emotionally abused. Management has one motto "SELL.SELL.SELL". Alcohol sales are priority, at all costs. There is no regards for human life or safety as they keep pushing the sales even if the patron is visibly intoxicated. I have seen people throw up literally as they walk to the bathroom from overdrinking. It's frankly disgusting to look back and just think how I let my personal morals be coerced because I needed a job at the time. This is a big reason why the people who work there endure so much. They need the job. The GM, a tall big dude with a man bun and the worst BO, doesn't want to do his job and leaves the servers to do the dirty work for him. He is the owner's brother he does as he pleases. Every Friday he calls for a "line up" to tell the servers they need to step up and sell alcohol, the best sales get the best sections, and even competitions that they give money to the server with highest sales in alcohol. Notice the servers wear earpieces. If I could have recorded one night of how servers are actively threaten to sell alcohol to each and every single table, that place would be shut down. The "Shows" (bottle service) are a big signature piece of the restaurant. Reading the reviews and seeing how patrons love the high energy of the staff, I'll put it into another perspective for you, think of it like an elephant in captivity who is on tour with a circus. The competition is the Shot girl, who in a trolley has an assortment of liquors to sell. Half priced. On many nights you will see Torres standing by the entertainment center near the bar, a perfect view of the restaurant. There he obligates servers to keep selling alcohol over the radio or fires threats that the shot girl will go and sell for us instead. The restaurant has a policy of auto gratuity of 18% when the table spends $100 or more, so you can imagine how upsetting it is if someone else is going to your section and selling shots half the price. The restaurant has a policy of "no returns to the kitchen" for a restaurant establishment this is comical. As a server it was explained to me if there was an error or the plate was sent back and the customer refused to pay for the meal, it was my responsibility to do so. Even when it was the kitchen's fault or the patron simply didn't like the dish, I had to pay for it full price. The rule also applies to drinks. Imagine thinking you made $400 in tips and having to take home $250 by the end of the night. The reason being, you must pay for food and drinks you didn't eat and high cash out percentages. read more

First time popping by. Wanted a quick bite to eat. We were promptly seated and our drinks were ordered. I had the Tulum Vibe which was Tequila and a peach-mango mix. Very tasty and very tropical..reminiscent of our Mexico trip. Huns ordered a steak fajita. The steak was thinly sliced and cooked on the grill and had a just the right amount of char. The onions and peppers were also grilled. Perfect! I ordered the Ceviche Tropical which was shrimp red onions cucumbers mango cilantro cebolla and tomato and plantain chips. Yummy deliciousness! They have a wide range of otems on their menus--one for meat lovers one for mexican sushi and one for traditional Mexican fare and of course a drink menu. The.servung portions are huge! Lively happy atmosphere accompanied by Latin music. read more

See all

I stumbled upon La Buena Vida while visiting Raleigh. The place was at capacity at 8 p.m. on a Saturday night. Ambiance was very upbeat. They had a DJ and it seems like everybody was having fun. Nice place for a fun night out. read more