I've really enjoyed the changes at Viva Taqueria since they moved across the street and came under new ownership. The new space feels like a nice refresh, but they've kept what people love about it. The Ranchero sauce is a standout--really flavorful and easily my favorite thing on the menu. I also appreciate that the food consistently comes out quickly, even when it's busy. The staff has always been friendly in my experience, and servers Dina and Maya are great. I also really enjoyed the bartenders working this past Tuesday. Overall, it's become a reliable go-to spot in town for a quick, satisfying meal, and I'm glad to see it continuing to improve in the new location. read more

The hard tacos were SO dry with absolutely NO flavor!!! The chicken mole enchiladas were spicy, but once again not a good flavor and very skimpy on the sour cream! Rice and beans were dry as well!!! The chips and salsa were not good as well as the salsa was just chopped tomatoes and onions with very lil to no flavor!!!! The only good part of the meal was the blue hippo margaritas! We brought our 7 pound Pomeranian and were told that it was a health violation to have her in a chair, so I kept her on my lap while sitting outside... Needless to say...I have NO idea why there are good reviews for this place as we thought it was horrible!!! I'd prefer Taco Bell vs $89 bill at Viva!!! read more

I ordered the spring quesadilla. It came with marinated tofu, julianne sliced carrots, red cabbage, cabbage, and some broccoli. The ingredients tasted delicious. However, the quesadilla bread tasted undercooked. The dish came with lime and rice. Joseph ordered the chicken mole enchiladas. We arrived at the right time. Viva Taqueria filled up pretty quickly as many came with their dates, and families. We noticed the server took our order and gave us our bill. She did not check up on us during our meal. read more

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Prime location, probably best for cheap college kid booze. The food was ok but pretty mediocre, the was something about the food the tasted like it came off the buffet. The mole sauce was ok but undercooked. Everything was well portioned and good enough to finish but I'll say this place is a good value. Service was friendly but they only stopped by for the order and check. No check in in between. It's ok given limited options. Collegetown might have more read more

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The office ordered takeout and I selected the beef taco salad. More than enough for one meal. I ate it all afternoon. I forgot to take a picture but it was put together well, the dressing was good and the ingredients were fresh. Would like to try again, but eat at the restaurant. read more

Subpar taqueria with an oddly memorable aesthetic. We were first drawn in by the quirky decor, especially the masks with their tongues sticking out (see photos). Sadly, the vibe was the best part of the experience. When we asked our waitress a few basic questions about the menu (it was our first time), she looked visibly irritated. You'd think if you're in food service, answering a few clarifying questions wouldn't be such an ordeal. Later, we watched her jog over to another table, forget their order, and then loudly declare "That's what I thought" when the customer reminded her. My girlfriend and I looked at each other, stunned. I got the green enchiladas; she got the quesadillas, which were more bean than anything else. The Tequila Sunrise we ordered was watery beyond belief. My girlfriend compared the food you'd get at Trillium, aka dining hall food but more expensive. read more

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Food is fair, not good not bad just fair. High salt content and the marinated vegetables were so strong of vinegar they were left of the plate. Service was adequate. This place is nothing special. Great location is the one thing it has going for it. I will say the place was mobbed. Both the bar and the dining room. So, dinner conversation with your dining companions was at a near yell. read more

Roaches. Multiple roaches when I commented this on the other website the owner took down my review. My friends tried commenting about it too. read more

Viva Taqueria - Roach - Mexican Near Me - Ithaca, New York

I have been coming here for over 10 years with my husband. We came again tonight since the new dreaded menu change.... The food was terrible . No flavor to the guacamole , the orange limeade tastes different like they're cutting it with a powdered lemonade, and the beef super smothered burrito ( now $17!!) was utterly tasteless. I KNOW when things are changed my husband usually does not but tonight he even said the same. WHY THE HELL are the new owners ruining this place? Y'all better wake up before you don't have a business left ! I read so many Google reviews that say the exact same thing. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Please go back to the way it was and bring the old menu back ! I'm going to give this place a rest for a longggg time . read more

Viva Taqueria - Artwork - Mexican Near Me - Ithaca, New York

We waited to be seated even though tables were open, then waited again to order. Water came without ice, and over an hour later, only one dish arrived, but it was wrong, with the sauce I asked to leave off. Our other dish was never entered, and I couldn't wait another hour since my 5-year-old was starving. When I mentioned the long wait time, I was told that every customer was experiencing the same delays. This is not acceptable because it shows poor management and lack of preparation rather than an occasional delay. Customers should not have to suffer the same slow service as a standard. While we waited, I noticed several concerning cleanliness issues. Kitchen staff were coming in and out wearing gloves while touching other surfaces, then going right back into the kitchen with the same gloves on. It felt unsanitary and careless. Staff looked overwhelmed, and cleanliness was questionable throughout. Won't be back. read more

Overall terrible experience, do not recommend. We were greeted by a sassy teen hostess (greeted being a strong word seeing as she didn't acknowledge us) and we were asked to wait outside while many tables were open. We were seated for 45 minutes before we put in our order- during this extended wait we noticed some challenges with the atmosphere- bright lighting, chaotic decor, and booths that felt like a bad bowling alley. Eventually we got our food (another 40 minutes later- it was 9:30pm at this point) and the order was not done correctly. The chicken burrito with no beans was instead a bean burrito with no chicken! Sad experience, laughable for the whole group read more

I absolutely love Viva! I always have a great experience and it's one of my top choices when going out to eat in ithaca. The food is fresh and as close to authentic as you can get without being authentic. The servers are generally inviting, friendly, and check in often. The ambiance gives you the feel of a Hispanic restaurant with culture surrounding you. One of my top favorites. And their new spot is proving to be better than the original place they were at across the street. read more

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Used to love coming here once a week for nachos. I'm so sad the new owners have made the food so much worse while also raising the prices. I can understand price increases but not when coupled with bad food. read more

Atmosphere was nice. Food was completely flavorless. Got the guacamole, the fajitas and enchiladas platters. No flavor at all, not even salt and pepper Very disappointed read more

Found a small rock in my tofu burrito. Obviously we agreed it's prob from the beans but they will have to find a new way to inspect the beans because I literally could have lost part of a tooth biting down on this. Manager was pretty nonchalant about it stating that this happens on occasion. Really? Well do better food prep work then. Thanks for the offer to refund me at least because I won't be coming back to spend any credit given. Still charged me over six bucks for a spindrift seltzer! Owner should be glad I didn't send them a dental bill. read more

Viva Taqueria - Rock about 1cm in diameter in the burrito . Bit down on it. - Mexican Near Me - Ithaca, New York

After 20+ years of dining here, I recently experienced a steep decline in the quality of food and pared down menu offerings. Found out there are new owners. They have taken a beloved Ithaca restaurant and ruined it. The food is not flavorful - beans taste like they are right out of a can, rice is awful, portions way smaller, just not what it used to be. Ordered House nachos on my last visit, 7/29 and was served chips with a blob of refried beans on one side, two jalapeno slices and cheese. Not what the menu described. Server actually told me that IS what the House nachos are, had to have them bring a menu to point out the description. I was told "ooops, I will bring out the other ingredients to you." WTF?!? I insisted the nachos be remade properly as it was the kitchens job to construct the dish, not my job. Never going back. Go to CDMX in Press Bay alley- best tacos and tortas! read more

We stopped in here while we were visiting downtown Ithaca. The menu looked so good and I was excited to meet my in-laws here. Overall experience was just average, but to be fair we came on a Friday night at 5 pm when it was busy. The waitstaff seemed...disinterested. Food was average, nothing especially out of this world. The restaurant had a nice drink menu and we did enjoy our margaritas. Another heads up, parking is tough in this area and it's mostly on street. Be sure to give yourself an extra few minutes to park. read more

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The food was great and so was the staff this is one of my favorite Mexican places and every time I visit my family friends it's always a must visit read more

Viva Taqueria - Chicken rancheros quesadillas - Mexican Near Me - Ithaca, New York

What happened to our favorite spot in Ithaca??? Last night at Viva we waited nearly an hour for our food. As did every other disgruntled customer we spoke with. What a shame! This used to be such a great place to go. What on Earth have the new owners done?? So sad to lose this place. read more

After spending a few hours outdoors performing, we kicked back here for a late lunch. It was positively delish. Bonus points for accommodating gluten free & vegan! Every plate (generous serving size) was finished. read more

Viva Taqueria - Delish! - Mexican Near Me - Ithaca, New York

We are hosting a graduation party this weekend, and my sister's favorite food in Ithaca is Viva tacos. She really wanted tacos from Viva for her celebration, so we followed their instructions to place a catering order and emailed twice with all the details--only to receive no response. I then called two more times asking to speak with a manager and was completely disregarded. Finally, when I got through on my third attempt, the manager casually told me, "Yeah, I saw that email. We're going to be too busy to do your order," with no apology and no effort to inform us earlier. They had no intention of letting us know they couldn't fulfill our order until I chased them down. This was incredibly disappointing and unprofessional. Terrible customer service, and truly not what you'd expect from a local favorite. They had a chance to make someone's special day better...and completely dropped the ball :( read more

I have loved Viva for probably more than 20 years, and I am sad to say I will probably not go there again after my most recent experience. I've been ordering the same chicken taco salad for ages. I went there this week and was SUPER disappointed that it now costs $20 before tip, AND it no longer has vegetables on it??? Its chicken, beans, and lettuce. For $20. I know times are tough, but a few peppers and tomatoes go a long way. read more

The wait was a very long for a table. They do not text when your table is ready so you have to hang around. And then there was an excessive long wait for the food after we ordered. The guacamole was tiny. The salsa bland. The food overall was bland. What mole sauce??? No flavor. No spices. Tacos. You would think no one could mess up tacos. We all had tacos. Even the pickled garnish was under-pickled. The margarita was small and watery and was supposed to taste like pomegranate. The only thing good about the restaurant was our waitress. Who had nothing to do with the tasteless food or the excessive wait? She was completely delightful. The only thing I would improve about the service is serving the hungry teens their meals first. read more

Definitely check out Viva Taqueria if you're ever in the south of the border mood, or need your spirits lifted. The three of us had a really wonderful meal. Tacos were great, margaritas were delicious and the deserts were killer. Definitely ask the hostess to seat you in Madegan's section, if possible. She's magical, and made sure we had everything we wanted, exactly as we ordered. She also checked on us regularly, and moves a gracefully as a ballerina. Definitely worth the money! Rick read more

Very mediocre. There are so many stellar restaurants in Ithaca, this one was a disappointment. The black beans had zero seasoning- we think they took them out of a can, rinsed them and put them on the plate with no seasoning. The rice was dry and boring. Felt like instant. The curtido- pickled carrots, onions and peppers- should have been pickled longer (days/weeks, not minutes). The guac was boring, blender made, no chunks of avocado, no cilantro... the chips were the highlight but scant for four people. Around the table, we had enchiladas (1 vegan and 1 chicken mole)- they were meh. Our friends had burritos (one fajita and idk what the other was). They like their meals. Desserts looked nice in the case but we skipped it. One huge plus point- you can have a conversation as the ambiance is nice and allows it. Wish the food was up to par. read more

Great margheritas. I've been coming here for 12 years and I still like their food when I have that Mexican food craving. Grew up in California but this is still my "go to" for Mexican food. Consistently good and fulfills my craving every time! Also like the atmosphere both old and new. Good service and if you have to wait there's always chips and margaritas to please your palate. They have a large bar for drinks while you wait for your table. Definitely recommend! read more

Noticed they has some menu/website updates. My usual taco salad now seems way less nice, like the base is bagged? No longer has fresh tomatoes or green peppers and it's $15. I know stuff is expensive to make but I won't order this anymore, it's not worth it. Very sad. read more

Told them we wanted to sit outside. They had us wait even though there were free tables. More than 5 minutes later they asked if we wanted to sit outside. Sigh. Ok. No ice in water in fact my water touched the servers ungloved hand as she placed it on the table with her palm covering the top. Asked for refried beans - got beans but not refried. Rice was clumped in bits clearly microwaved. Burrito stuffed with ingredients but no seasoning. Bathroom was smelly and sticky. The Village Goat (drink) saved the day. We will only come back for drinks from now on. read more

I believe things must have changed recently, based on our experience. Food was awful, all four entrees. Chips and salsa, offered but was not told they cost $5 .. each refill! Waitress was rude. Service slow. No ice in the water, no ice for sodas.. beer came in a water glass. Very slow service, unfriendly staff.. put us in loud bar, when there was room at the restaurant side. Not busy.. so not an excuse! read more

I've been a loyal customer of Viva's since it opened. Food is always fresh, margaritas are delicious and the atmosphere is welcoming. Service used to be stellar as well. Went for dinner last night with a friend and had probably the worst service I've ever had in a restaurant. Server took forever just to take our drink order, then I guess he just forgot about taking our food order. Same thing with the check. I had to actually get up and go find him so I could pay the bill. He was hanging out in the back with friends and didn't seem the least bit concerned that I had to track him down. Wow. I hope they find better staff soon! read more

Probably more like 3.5 stars. Vegan nachos were really tasty and different. Basic burritos was good too! Would come back in a pinch, nothing was bad but also not amazing read more

Food is always delicious and service is good. We did take out once. It was also fantastic bit we missed the good drinks. lol

the absolute worst mexican food ive ever eaten. if your tastebuds are white, you will love this place. with that being said the server was great. but the chicken was so dry and the burrito was incredibly bland. and tbh definitely NOT worth the price. even the chips and guac were dull and bland. read more

When returning to Ithaca post-graduation, Viva was the first spot my husband and I had to hit up. I feared that my memory of their nachos were better than they would be upon returning but I was wrong! The Macho Nachos were, and still are, the best nachos I have ever had. It is THE item to get here. Don't leave without ordering it. They also have vegan nachos, which I haven't tried, but they sounded delicious! I also got The Purist margarita and it was delicious. Our waiter recommended it as something less sweet and it totally hit the mark. The service was absolutely fantastic. Our waiter was helpful in guiding our choices, super friendly, and attentive to checking in on us. Viva is my favorite restaurant in Ithaca and I cannot recommend those nachos enough! read more

Viva Taqueria - The Purist - Mexican Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Long wait and the hostess seemed annoyed at us asking for updates. They also don't take down phone numbers. Once we were seated food came out very fast and drinks were strong. I got the vegan nachos with tofu which were filling- no vegan cheese though so don't except actual "nachos". Friend also found a hair in her burrito. read more

Viva Taqueria - Vegan nachos a with tofu - Mexican Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Food was great! Highly recommend the quesadillas! Service was excellent and we were seated quickly. Has a great vibe and overall atmosphere for a Mexican style restaurant. read more

First time here and I thought this place was okay. Food: I got the super platter, which comes with 4 soft taco skins, guac, salsa, rice, beans, cheese, and sour cream. I'm not sure if it's because I'm not a big fan of tacos, but the taste wasn't anything amazing. It was sort of bland and I should've used some of the hot sauces to add more flavor. Service: It was okay. Wait time was relatively long. Besides that, there was not much interaction as we ordered the food, waited to be called, grabbed the food, and sat down. Price: I would say for the super platter, it's not worth the $8.50. However, I'm also not surprised that it's priced this much. Portion size was okay. Ambiance: Inside is somewhat nice in terms of decoration. The seating area is somewhat small and lacking. Would I come back? Maybe, but there are probably better options out there. For a first time? Sure, give it a try if you're a vegetarian. There are definitely a good amount of options for you. They can also make things vegan was well, so in terms of accommodating to specific diets, they are pretty good. read more

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Our food was fantastic, service was quick and they have plenty of outdoor seating. Lovely place on the commons. read more

Viva Taqueria - chicken quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Just had dinner at Viva Taqueria with some friends. Food ingredients not fresh, enchilada green tomatillo gummy, filling except for the chicken was questionable, beans and rice no particular taste dried out. Pomegranate margherita had a refrigerator smell. My modelo negro beer was good. Chips were greasy. Enough. read more

Delicious fresh foods. The service is fast, friendly and attentive. Crowded and loud because everyone is having a great time. read more

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