We've been here a ton of times and it's probably our favorite in salem. The short rib enchiladas will change your life.

As a Californian spoiled with great Mexican food, I was thoroughly impressed with the freshness and strong flavors of la Vida Catrina. The food was less oily than Cali-Mexican food, and the special seafood options stood out. The clear highlight dish was the shrimp and crab enchiladas, stuffed to the brim with juicy seafood and not too overlathered with sauce. Make sure to ask for hot sauce, because the food is not very spicy. Definitely worth a try if you're in the areas read more

We just had lunch and I had to leave a review before we left so I made sure I did it! We had the chicken fajita salad and combo special w crispy taco and pork tamale with a grilled elote, and wow. Delicious!! Fresh, flavorful and beautifully plated. Plenty of room inside to sit, but we chose to sit outside in the sun. Perfect for the weather! Service was fantastic. I highly recommend. read more

La Vida Catrina - Chicken Fajita Salad - Mexican Near Me - Salem, Oregon

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Coming from California, I have high expectations for Mexican food, and La Vida Catrina did not disappoint! While some of the flavors were on the less spicy side, all the food was very flavorful and well prepared. I ordered the shrimp and crab salsa verde enchiladas, and my family got the grilled chicken fajitas salad and some pork carnitas. The enchiladas were stuffed with seafood, and the shrimp was so bouncy and fresh. I really liked the tangy salsa verde sauce that went with it, and the tortillas kept their structure. The carnitas came with pico, guac, refried beans, and some corn tortillas. Juicy meat that pulled apart and not too fatty. I was really surprised to find such great Mexican food in Oregon. read more

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We tried this restaurant for the first time on a Monday at lunchtime, and we were very impressed! The menu has lots of options without feeling overwhelming, and there are several unique entrees that caught our eye and already have us planning a return visit. The salad options in particular look amazing. We each ordered a two-item combination. One of us had an asada street taco and chicken enchilada, while the other had a street taco and pork tamale. The meals came with a choice of beans and rice or a side salad, so we ordered one of each. The small side salad was outstanding, so fresh and flavorful. I chose the apple vinaigrette dressing, and it was phenomenal. The pork tamale was another standout. It had a generous, thick layer of masa and was absolutely delicious. We were there for lunch, so we stuck with water, but the cocktail options looked really tempting. We're already looking forward to coming back for happy hour and trying some of the other dishes on the menu. Everything tasted incredibly fresh, which makes sense because the menu says everything is freshly made - and you can definitely tell. This is not fast food Mexican; the quality and freshness really come through. Service was also right on point - friendly, attentive, and efficient. Overall, a fantastic first experience. We'll definitely be back to explore more of the menu! read more

La Vida Catrina - Pork tamale, asada street taco, side salad with apple vinaigrette dressing. - Mexican Near Me - Salem, Oregon

Once a home transformed into a restaurant what a vibe for sure. Loved the look exterior look. The service was great. Our waiter was amazing. The food was a delicious and the drink was even better. read more

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Mexican birthday food... what could be better, right? When my friends wanted to take me out for my birthday, this was the top choice on the list. La Vida Catrina is good food no matter what you're celebrating. With plenty of items on the extensive menu, you'll find something that you'll be glad you ordered. I ordered the Shrimp Crab Enchiladas with beans and rice, my friends ordered the Chicken Nachos and a Chimichanga. Oh those shrimp crab enchiladas were super tasty! The green sauce was the best! My friends said their food was just as good as I said mine was but I didn't taste-test their food so I'm just going on their report. Our server was charming and friendly and our food arrived in a reasonable time after ordering. The dining room was clean with plenty of seating. La Vida Catrina has a full bar with many creative drinks to choose from, as well as an impressive list of tequilas. They serve breakfast so if dinner isn't your thing, go check out their breakfast menu. I'll be going back soon because I'm not waiting for my next birthday to try something else on their menu. read more

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Great food! Some of the best high scale mexican food have had. The place is cute and has plenty of seating. The staff isn't the most friendly, depending on which waiter you get. Price is appropriate for the quality and refinement of their dishes. Great place! read more

WOW. If you want authentic, homemade, fresh, and made-to-order Mexican food then look no further than La Vida Catrina. My husband and I are Mexican and as a result we are very picky with Mexican restaurants. La Vida Catrina did not disappoint. I do want o mention that because everything is made to order, you will be waiting a while to receive your meal. We waited about 40 minutes for our main meal but it was worth it - I promise! This place is so cute, the staff is super friendly and attentive. There is lots of seating as well as a FULL bar and the drinks - STRONG and tasty. You get complimentary chips and salsa and this salsa is spicy. They also come with a small side of refried beans which was warm and full of flavor. I really don't know which I liked better. It was really difficult not finishing either especially because we had ordered a lot of food. My husband and I ordered shrimp ceviche to start and OH MY GOSH. I was not expecting a huge plate. I thought we would get one tostada but omg, it was enough to feed us both. The ceviche was the definition of fresh! It was tangy and spicy, truly some of the BEST ceviche I've ever had. I ordered the seafood trio which came with a shrimp and crab enchilada, shrimp and lobster Chile relleno, and shrimp taco. OMG truly the most delicious seafood meal I've ever had (not in Mexico). Every bite was perfect. The textures of the shrimp & crab plus the spiciness of the enchilada were perfect. The shrimp taco had the perfect crunch and the tortilla was as authentic as it gets. The Chile relleno - better than my moms (and I never say that). My husband got a combination plate with a crispy taco, Chile relleno, and mole enchilada. Everything was equally as good. I would 100% return here and hope to do so in the future! read more

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First time visit and shrimp/crab enchiladas were excellent and flavorful. Def will return. read more

La Vida Catrina - Elote corn and park tamale - Mexican Near Me - Salem, Oregon

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great food and clean place. service was spot on and very friendly. will be going back again

The food is delicious! I had the steak fajitas. They were perfectly seasoned. . The order was a decent size and came with a side of rice, guacamole, pico de gallo and tortillas. It's a very nice, calm, family friendly ambience and the service is great! I recommend this place. read more

Food, Drinks, Service spot on! We moved from California and have struggled to find a Mexican restaurant that is authentic...the 40 minute drive to Salem was well worth this place. The roasted elotes was my sweet spot. The Margarita flight was delicious. The fajitas were on fire! Even their guacamole was delicious! Don't judge a book by its cover, this place has got to be one of the best spots if not the best we've had since moving here!! While the decor and the building could use an update, this is hands down one of the better places to enjoy drinks, food and familia!! The waitress was excellent!! read more

After a full day of wine tasting, this spot hit the reset button just right! We stopped at La Vida Catrina after a long day of wine tasting. Good food, good drinks, and friendly service made for an easy win. And it was exactly what we needed. The chips and salsa, carnitas, steak fajitas and shrimp and crab enchiladas all came out fast and full of flavor. Only downside, bathrooms are upstairs, which can be tough for those who are mobility challenged. Still, the place was clean, had plenty of TVs, and parking in back made it simple. With fair prices and big margarita and tequila list, this place is worth a try. read more

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Hands down the best Mexican food in Salem. The food is seasoned and marinated well and the presentation is top notch. Taco Tuesday is also a hit. Get the pork verde. It is amazing!! And literally every drink I've had here is fresh and to die for. read more

La Vida Catrina - Guava margarita - Mexican Near Me - Salem, Oregon

Amazing food...as always Ordered Shrimp Taquitos, Stuffed Jalapeños, Chimichanga and Trio Del Mar(seafood enchiladas. Great service. A+++ read more

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Our new favorite restaurant for quality ingredients, beautiful presentation, wonderful flavors on some signature style dishes and the nicest staff. Say hi to America and definitely order the shrimp taquitos. Oh and the sauces all worthy read more

Good food, good drinks. Vibes were ok. The wife and I were 1 of 4 groups/pairs dining on a Friday night. After hearing such positive reviews of this establishment, I finally decided to stop in. We both ordered the combination plate. The wife ordered a tamale and chili relleno, I got the taco and chili relleno. For the sides, we both opted for the street corn. All of it was really good. The carnitas in the relleno!! For drinks, the wife ordered the pink rose and Isabel margarita. She isn't a big tequila drinker and she said the Isabel was good. The pink rose was ok. I got the black diamond and Llorona margarita, and they were both spot on. Overall, it was an okay experience. The hostess and bartender were nice, but it also felt like we were an inconvenience in a sense, even tho it wasn't busy to some of the other workers. Still, check them out, enjoy some good food and drinks and maybe your experience will be better! read more

Quaint, authentic Mexican restaurant in the neighborhood. Food was excellent, we had the shrimp ceviche - good portion, great flavor, tostadas were fresh and crunchy. We also had the shrimp and crab enchiladas, crispy beef taco, and chicken mole enchilada. Great flavors, well prepared, you can tell everything is made from scratch. Paired with a few margaritas that were limey and delicious. Bean dip with the chips and salsa is amazing, nice touch to the initial sit down! Service was quick and staff was attentive, kind and friendly. read more

4.75 stars. La Vida Catrina is pretty special. While I feel I've ordered probably half the menu, the item that really stands out is the ribeye tacos. I remember originally being taken aback at the pricing for La Vida Catrina, and it kept me from visiting for quite a spell. However, when I finally ordered from here, I realized it was worth every penny and then a few more dollars. What is so special about those ribeye tacos? Well, to start, the ribeye! What appears to be almost an entire ribeye's worth of meat is piled into this order along with some amazing marinated mushrooms, caramelized onions, and a surprisingly good guacamole. The cheese is a minor addition with the meat playing the main role. And I don't know what grade they use, but I suspect that is prime ribeye. It's absolutely delicious, and this is coming from a displaced Texan that found literally every other Mexican restaurant in the area to be almost inedible. I'll say it this way - La Vida Catrina and Manila Fiesta (Filipino) stand out as the two restaurants in Salem, OR that I think would literally play favorably on the national scene (there are other fantastic places in Salem with great brews and cuisine like Santiam Brewing but the above two places are the ones that I think leave an everlasting impression). Indeed, with a few aesthetic interior changes, La Vida Catrina would not be out of place in Austin, Texas and would probably be welcome as is in the packed Mexican food scene in San Antonio. But it really reminds me of some of the best Tex-Mex in Houston and Dallas. By the way, while I am personally partial to those ribeye tacos, please explore the entire menu. It's full of incredible dishes, whether it's their amazing seafood items (look for halibut and shrimp), their short rib enchilada (probably more beloved by most people than my personal favorite), or some of their more traditional items. You will not be disappointed if you eat here especially if you're a transplant from a large city that is well known for outstanding Mexican food. If you are from Salem or a nearby city or town, I suggest fully embracing this amazing space and bragging about its existence. It might not be the tasting menu experience at some of the best places in Portland, but it doesn't need to be. What La Vida Catrina does is make approachable Tex-Mex at the highest level, and dare I say that it does that better than any other place in the entire state of Oregon. read more

Overall loved this place. Small but cute. Relaxed atmosphere. Food was in good portions and so yummy. The quesadilla had grilled chicken. Yummy! Drinks are seriously a 10/10. Must try. read more

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So glad we found you!!! Menu is amazing. Service is attentive and friendly. Decor is colorful and fun and the bar is HUGE! Takes a tad bit of time for the food to come out - but it's obviously made to order and you get delicious chips, salsa and black beans to nosh on. We all ordered off the combo menu. Chile rellenos stuffed with cheese and carnitas - amazing!!! Street tacos with al pastor - WOW!!! Green enchilada with chicken - superb!!! Some of the best elotes I've ever had. Highly recommend!! read more

The hibiscus margarita was the yummiest I've ever had! Food was so delicious. Dining here is really a treat.

The food and service are excellent. The ambience is very comfortable. My wife and I are now fans... read more

This is not a cheese enchilada place. It is an upscale menu. We enjoyed the food, the margarita, the service. We will return. read more

I liked the food here. The prices were reasonable. It's a comfortable place to enjoy quality Mexican food without spending too much, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a solid dining option. The servers were nice and helpful as well. read more

La Vida Catrina - Basic meal with beans and rice. - Mexican Near Me - Salem, Oregon

Think they have the best Mexican food in town! Fresh ingredients and great service. Had the short rib enchilada and the chili verde pork. Wonderful flavors. read more

This place is absolutely ridiculous. It has no business being as good as it is, at everything. It's like a warp in the reality of space-time. The drinks and options make the highest end restaurants/bars seem like they serve dog water. The choices, ingredients and combinations are ingenious. My personal favorite is the mixteca margarita which is tamarindo and mezcal but I haven't had a drink I didn't love. The food is roll your eyes back in your head good, the mole, the tamales, my personal favorite is the short rib enchiladas but everything tastes amazing. Service is super friendly and nice, food isn't fast but tastes like it is freshly made. Prices are reasonable and my only critique is that I wish they were open more and next door to my house. read more

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Delicious creative food, beautifully served; warm friendly efficient service. The place was packed and noisy and dinner a little slow, but that was expected on Cinco de Mayo. Highly recommend. read more

Outstanding food and service! As a Mexican homecook who doesn't cut corners, this placed impressed me greatly! The shortrib enchiladas were amazing. The sauce all homemade and fresh! The seafood trio was great as well! My favorite being the bacon shrimp taco. Was a little disappointed the chile relleno in trio was not battered but it took nothing away from taste! The jalapeño poppers were exactly what you'd prepare in a backyard BBQ, not a frozen and deep fried version. The attention to making things the right way clearly shows through in how they prepare their food and serve it. The staff is personable, caring, attentive and helpful. My husband ordered two margaritas and loved the mescal vs. tequila. This placed impressed us immensely. Go visit and eat Oregon! We are from California and this place would be $$$ with the quality of their food! An epic hidden gem! read more

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This is one of our go to restaurants every time we go to Portland. It's family run and WOW their steak and shrimp sizzling fajitas are GREAT, my wife will order 1 and that fills both of us! The chips and salsa are home made and will knock your socks off.... read more

We went there for the first time last night for dinner, the place is nice, service was good The food was amazing The menu has lots of different varieties The food tastes and looks great Overall best Mexican restaurant A nice surprise for us since it was our first time there We're looking forward to going back again to try other things hopefully we'll end up with trying everything on the menu before sticking to a favorite dish read more

La Vida Catrina - Mexican Near Me - Salem, Oregon

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EXCELLENT service, delicious food, great drinks! We had halibut tacos, shrimp taquitos, a black diamond drink, and a piña colada. All tasty! We will be back when we are in Salem again! read more

Phenomenal food and incredibly welcoming, I've never had such a welcoming experience like my meal at La Vida Catrina! The owner Isobel was so kind, thanks for your hospitality! read more

Not many vegetarian choices, a few shrimp options. Fried Shrimp Taquitos from appetizer side of menu were okay, not great. Margaritas were good but thin on tequila. Service was good. Bathrooms are upstairs - its a weird set-up. read more

My wife and I stopped here after the cherry blossom festival in the capital. She had the chicken taquitos and I had the BBQ short rib enchiladas. Both were quite excellent with of flavor. Possibly some of the best enchiladas I've had. Portions were very good as well. And atmosphere was laid back and friendly. Service was great too. We will definitely be back when we are in town. read more

Had lunch and it was excellent. Food came out quick and was hot. Our server, Isabel, was so sweet and treated us well. Definitely recommend. read more

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Where do I start. This place had changed names soooo many times I never stopped and then one day I said YOLO... do people still say that? I don't know I still do.. anywho so I stop in I sit outside in the patio and boom the waitress comes out not only is she Mexican and not only is the food cooked by Mexicans but she serves me colorful tortilla chips and beans and salsa for free lol Jk most places do it on the free but guys the beanssssss were so good! I decided forget food give me the Isabella margarita and I'm eating these beans and chips all day instead, I really did to. Don't worry I went back for actual food another day and the food was good. The ceviche tostada was on a house fried tortilla and iykyk that ish matters. It was sooooo good. I didn't take a pic cause I forgot to be honest. I will also say the margaritas are kind of pricey but it's worth it. They make their own purées and you can taste the difference. Their drinks are not all sugary and syrupy and make you feel all bloated like other crappy ones.. these were on point and will get you buzzed cause they don't skimp you out of the tequila. read more

La Vida Catrina - Isabella Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Salem, Oregon

The drinks here are 10/10 black diamond super good Food 10/10 breaded chicken with black beans When mexican food this place will be the one ! Service was great . 10/10 read more

Been here 3 times now. My go to for margaritas, bean dip, salsa, and guacamole. Service is always on point. They are attentive and patient. Came her for Diaz Los Muertos. Family friendly dining. Something for everyone here. read more

La Vida Catrina - Freseno Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Salem, Oregon