Having lived in Austin and San Diego this place is not comparable to a decent place there as their price is high compared to the taste and flavor of the food. The staff is professional and attentive The ambience is nice read more

The food was pretty good, but I was annoyed they have a plate splitting fee. Normally, partner and I split food because we're small people and these plates have lots of calories with all the cheese, etc. server was nice to tell us about the plate splitting fee in advance, so we ended up each ordering something. read more

one of the best places for mexican food -- each time i try a new thing, and it never fails to amaze me. enchiladas al sol is my new favorite, coz it gives you two delicious recipes in one order. read more

Vive Sol - Enchiladas Al Sol - Mexican Near Me - Mountain View, California

I was completely wow-ed by this restaurant! It seems like a very small place with little to no parking, but if you drive toward the back,, there's more parking spaces behind the restaurant! I went here (based on numerous recommendations) several weeks ago with some coworkers and had such a great lunch. We were all so happy by the end of our meals that we probably could've gone there the very next day. This place is kind of an upscale Mexican restaurant with cloth napkins and dimmed lighting. Right after we ordered, we were brought chips and a trio of salsas. Based on our server's recommendation, I ordered the Lomo de Puerco (grilled pork tenderloin stuffed with chorizo, Manchego cheese, spinach and Poblano sauce). Now, I'm usually not huge on Mexican food, but I will happily bring others here just so I can eat it again! On top of the delicious food, customer service was top notch. :) Looking forward to trying other items on their menu! read more

Vive Sol - Mexican Near Me - Mountain View, California

Came here on Wendesday night, it wasn't that busy. People seems not aware they are actually.open. That is my guess The margarita was really The enchilida sauce was good. Meat just tasted like slow cooked chicken Overall their food don't have much flavor going on. Very simple and blend a bit salty I ordered fajita it was big disappointment Just bean and rice with three pieces of tortilla on the side. Nothing was really fun it wasn't sizzling like I expected. A lot of juice staying under the plate which made my beef dry and not flavorful. I thought I ordered something wrong at first. The salsa trio was pretty awesome. The chips were on point. Service was good. Food came out pretty slow. Outdoor dining is beautiful and nice ambience. read more

Vive Sol - Fajita - Mexican Near Me - Mountain View, California

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We love this place. Amazing salsa, really good margaritas and delicious food. Husband always gets cilantro shrimp and I go for the enchiladas al guajillo. So good! Highly recommend. read more

Place used to be good. Now it's overpriced food. They also charge you for additional baskets of chips. $7 for chips is crazy!

My sister and I made a pit stop here to grab dinner on a weeknight. We luckily took the last parking spot in the back. But getting out was painful. (Just a heads up, they have very limited parking) We sat at the bar and were offered chips and salsa immediately. The chips might have been my favorite part of my meal. For my main course, I ordered the wet chicken burrito with verde sauce; the green sauce. I was super excited because the chicken was white meat! My first bite, however, had a bone in it. Bummer. The verde sauce, on the other side, was not my favorite. The sauce had a sour taste to it. Service was alright. The servers came up to my sister a few times asking if she was done but she had a full plate in front of her. I'm assuming they want customers in & out since it does seem to get busy. That was a slight turn off. read more

Vive Sol - Wet burrito with verde sauce - Mexican Near Me - Mountain View, California

Probably still the best margarita in Mountain View/Los Altos. Their mole is very good, and if you're feeling under the weather, get the caldo de pollo. read more

It is ok... Nothing to complain but probably won't come back. The chicken is dry and no flavor. read more

Food was good.. I'm just wish our server was nicer.. it was our first time there and he was kinda rude.

This is the last time I go to this restaurant!!! If your reading this, don't order from here. We call and did a complain about the food one my order was wrong two the rice was uncooked Which seem they don't care if their customer gets sick. Me and my parents always order emboladas de mole form this restaurant. Even do in my opinion they put a lot of Chicken. I ask on one of my order less chicken. It gets even worse we call ask for a manager to talk about my order. He said they would talk to the cookers which don't make sense. would appreciate if they would apologize or remake my order. read more

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The restaurant's decor was colorful and inviting. Overall the food was delicious. The chicken tortilla soup was yummy and the size of the serving was a complete meal. The cheese enchiladas were good. We ordered a beef burrito which looked like an over size enchilada and had little flavor and was cold. Overall, a good place to eat. Parking is limited. read more

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I love this place. My favorite Mexican restaurant in the bay. The inside is nicely decorated and the outside patio is inviting, such a fun place to sit and eat. I've always had consistent and friendly service. During the pandemic, I've ordered takeout and it was packaged to perfection. The portions are huge, even the drinks are well packaged and you get your money's worth! The complimentary chips and salsas are delicious. I love the variety. My go to dish is the enchiladas al sol. You can choose from meat or veggie. I tend to get one chicken and one veggie. It's so flavorful! The side of rice and beans are also great. The margaritas are tasty and there is a nice selection to choose from. I highly recommend this place! read more

I can't believe I have not yet written a review of this place. I swear I did after my 5th visit, but I guess #9 is the time. I usually get the Tampequeña or Pablas Rajas, and they're excellent, but I went for the Pollo Negro this time to switch things up. It was the bed of spinach that sold me: I could feel somewhat healthy after stuffing myself with fresh chips and 3 kinds of salsa. The sauce that made up the Pollo Negro reminded me a bit of a spicy Marsala, and it was amazing. You might think the spinach is an odd choice, but it came together well with the chicken, bit of goat cheese and sauce. I would definitely order it again. The rice was cooked well, but not much of an event compared to the main dish, as it should be! I spruced it up with some of the red salsa. The black beans were good, but, like the rice, not the star of the show. I opted to get their flan this time in place of a beer, wine, or margarita. It was a solid choice. I don't make mine with cinnamon, but this one tasted like there was some in the caramel, or at least a bit in the custard. It was very tasty and a worthy end to my meal, if a bit pricey. Probably worth it if you are sharing; I didn't need to eat the whole thing, but wouldn't let it go to waste! read more

Vive Sol - Pollo Negro... a garlic-chili-cream sauce with a touch of wine... on a bed of spinach with goat cheese. Wow! - Mexican Near Me - Mountain View, California

I love this place. Pollo negro is delish and the service is really good. Only complaint is around the noise level- if you want to have a conversation over dinner maybe avoid because you can't hear even at a small table. Go early or late but avoid the rush. read more

I went on a date here on a Thursday night and had a great time seated outside the main entrance. It was a pretty hot day so getting to enjoy the food and drinks outside was awesome. The location of Vive Sol is a little odd, it's in a little strip mall type place that also has a flower shop and vacuum store. Even though it's on El Camino, it's set back about 50 feet or so, which is nice because sitting outside the traffic noise isn't too loud. When we arrived, we were originally quoted a 20 minute wait time, but they ended up finding an outside seat for us in about 5 minutes! Awesome service. We had just ordered two of the "famous" margaritas and they brought them out to our table soon after we sat down. I ordered mine without salt and it was exactly how I like my margaritas, not sweet but also not overly sour, and very fresh tasting. In addition to the fresh chips and three kinds of salsa, we ordered two appetizers, guacamole and Queso Frito con Salsa Verde. The chips and salsa probably would have been sufficient, but since this was my first visit I wanted to get a better taste for the place. I really liked the thick red salsa, although the other two were also nice, maybe just a little too thin if I had to nitpick. The guacamole was essentially just a really well done variation of guacamole, not breaking any boundaries but very solid. Fresh, bright, creamy, it was as good as standard guacamole gets. The Queso Frito though was really standout, big chunks of fried cotija cheese smothered in a tangy green salsa... I kind of wish they had an entree portion. The salty cheese and tangy salsa go perfectly together, and while cotija gets a little gooey, it doesn't melt completely like cheddar, so it retained a little chewiness. I've never seen this appetizer before, but it's my new favorite. For entrees my date ordered the Sonora with the optional cheese and sour cream, and I ordered the Camarones a la Diabla with extra hot peppers. I didn't try much of my date's dish, but it was visually very appealing, and she ate most of it, so it must have been pretty good. My dish was great, the shrimp were cooked a little past perfect but with the onions and spices it was still fantastic. I do kind of wish they would take the tails off, and of course it never hurts to add a few more shrimp, but the flavors were explosive, very strong and very much to my liking. They only gave 2 tortillas with this, which I think was a little stingy, but nevertheless I cleaned my plate. Speaking of stingy, our total was $99.20 without tip. It was a special date so I don't mind paying more, but... you know, a few extra shrimp and tortillas wouldn't have hurt for that price. For $120 out the door the value is not quite there, hence the 4 star rating. I came to Vive Sol expecting decent Mexican food, but they are way above average. With great drinks and a nice patio, I'm looking forward to coming back on another hot day for more margaritas and more Queso Frito, although it will have to be when I'm feeling kind of spend-y. read more

Vive Sol - Camarones a la Diabla, I ordered it with extra peppers but don't worry, it's not that spicy - Mexican Near Me - Mountain View, California

Their outdoor seating is nice during warmer nights. My cousin who was visiting from UK wanted to try cal-mex and he liked the place. His favorite was the mole sauce. They have good options for folks who like spicy food. Their margaritas are really good. Considering I'm not a fan of drinks with tequila, that's saying something. read more

Vive Sol is hands down my favorite restaurant and has been for years. Everything is always so delicious and the staff is always lovely. My favorite thing to order is the guajillo chicken enchiladas! Their green salsa is also the best salsa I have ever tasted. I will come here again and again and again and again. read more

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You are very hard-pressed to find bad Mexican restaurants in the city of Mountain View. I am so amused by the number of people that think the best Mexican food is in the Mission. Vive Sol is just another in the vast list of amazing Mexican restaurants in Mountain View: La Espuela, La Fiesta, Fiesta Del Mar, Blue Agave, etc. They serve three different types of salsa with chips which has pretty much become my standard with any Mexican restaurant. The also have any amazing selection of margaritas, also another standard of mine in a Mexican restaurant. No matter what you get here for your meal, you are not going to be disappointed. Everything is full of flavor and delicious. The location is a little awkward, it is tucked away along El Camino Real, but the restaurant itself is pretty big and usually full. If you are craving Mexican food and are in Mountain View, this place is one among many that will not disappoint you! read more

Very disappointed last night Service very slow My dish was cold, seemed skimpy, not the standard from previous visits Ran out of peppers for Relleno Charged 50 cents for my wife's sauce; really!? $3.95 club soda for designated driver Tables seemed closer together What happened? read more

Food and service were excellent. Restaurant was clean and nice. Wait staff very friendly.

The beans here. Better than any other beans. Also good margaritas. Fast service and fun energy. I also like getting takeout here!

This is one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in the area, it is great for birthday celebration, a nice dinner out with friends, or to go to for a happy hour. I LOVE their margaritas,, especially their jalapeño margarita, it has a just the right kick that lights a little fire in your mouth, but not strong enough where it burns, but fiery enough that you enjoy the taste. I have been to this restaurant multiple times and it never disappoints. I have tried their veggie and carne burrito, as well as their mole. Their enchiladas are amazing too. Also you get to try 3 different kinds of salsa with their chips which is on the house. I love the fiery salsa they offer. Anyway it's a great place, a bit pricy, but overall a good place to enjoy a nice meal. read more

Vive Sol - Mexican Near Me - Mountain View, California

Best authentic Mexican food I've had in a while! Started off our meal with complimentary fresh, homemade chips and a trio of salsas. The salsa verde was to die for. I didn't try one of the margaritas from the bar, but watched the bartender making them. They looked delicious and legit with large pours of good tequila - no faux margarita mixes used here! For my main entree, I got the Shrimp Enchiladas - they served me one with Chipotle sauce and one with Nueva sauce, with a generous portion of shrimp in both. The chipotle sauce was smoky and spicy, but I preferred the creamy nueva sauce. The entrees come with a side of rice and beans, both of which are delicious. In addition to the good food, I enjoyed the attentive service. My only complaint is that they don't take reservations, so it can get crowded quickly after working hours (even on weekdays!). Overall strongly recommend for a nice Mexican dinner out in Mountain View! read more

Had a date with a girlfriend and she loves Mexican food so I suggested Vive Sol based on all the great reviews. I knew the restaurant was a little tucked away so I made sure to drive slow. We arrived right when the place opened at 5pm so there wasn't a wait. The service here was wonderful and very attentive. I liked how they immediately brought out a bottle of water and chips and salsa. For drinks my friend got their house margarita on the rocks. I got their x-rated margarita and it was super sweet, just the way I like it! For food my friend and I both got the same thing: beef quesadilla. I know, I know, so basic... but you can't go wrong with a classic! It came with a side of sour cream and guacamole. I will say, their enchiladas sounded delicious, but we weren't hungry enough. The ambiance here was lovely. Candles, mood lighting, very romantic and cozy. I would love to come back here with my boyfriend some time on date night. The only thing that deters me from coming here is the limited parking, but I can get past that considering the size of their margaritas lol! read more

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This is what I call a kind of old school Mex spot. You know what I'm talking about. Hard to find in a back ally. You could be in little Tijuana and this place would fit in. You walk in and it's full of dark tables, a bartender sitting there waiting for tequila shot drinkers to show up. And then there is the main restaurant where it's all happening. It's all kind of cool and I've taken many friends here because it's kind of a place that nobody heard about so that scores it points for sure. It's also got friendly outdoor seating where you can have a beer or Marg while eating up on their chips and salsas for free. They give you three salsas to choose from and the green one is the best of them all. The chipotle one is too runny and average and the roasted one is just ok. Chips tend to be stale but they work if you drench in the salsas and mix with beer. Food for me here is a bit limited. The menu is big but like I said it's mostly old school rice beans and meat dishes of your typical Mexican fare. They do have a veggie burrito and enchiladas they can make vegan for us who are on the plant scale but it's really mostly rice and beans and more rice and beans. That said I do have fun here with friends because it's a no rush place and they do have old family recipes they use that are not bad. It's way above Taco Bell grade so I don't want to under rate the food here just saying it's not to blow you away. I pretty much order the veggie burritos or enchiladas with the chipotle sauce and it's not bad. Their retried black beans are really good here. The burrito comes with veggies rice and beans lettuce and then smothered with your choice of red, green or mole sauce. I like the chipotle one the best but just to warn you it's super salty. I think you need to down one of their pitchers of water with your meal to survive. The plates here are big so I can never finish my meal. I usually don't take leftovers to go just because.. People who I've come here with seem to all like their dishes. They do a lot of "grandmas secret" type of recipes but for me they are made mostly of cream and cheese, like I said it's old school so I've never tried. Lastly I will say that this place Is pricy for old school Mex. the cheapest thing on the menu is a plain salad for $8 and all dishes start at $15. That's fine if the quality was super good but the food is just what it is. I will come back here when in the area just because I like Mexican but I would recommend La Fiesta down the street for just as cool an atmosphere, more veggie options, and better more tasty food and they are just as much old school with a bit hipper veggie options available. read more

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Main Course Enchiladas Al Sol: Eat Drinks X-Rated: Skip La Donna Skinny: Drink read more

Pricey for mexican but if you try their tortilla chips, your life will be changed- super fresh and delicious, possibly the best tortilla chips I've ever had. ORDER THE NACHOS WITH CHICKEN. the chicken was super tender and juicy. HUGE chunks were on top of some pretty bomb crunchy chips. the nachos were super cheesy- there were some crumbles of some different kind of cheese (sort of like a sharper cheese that tasted like feta) that was a nice addition to the classic nacho flavor. beans that came with the chips were super creamy and full of great spices. Definitely will be returning soon. read more

Great margaritas. If the place seems a bit expensive compared to the average Mexican restaurant, keep in mind that this place is ABOVE average. Try the mole enchiladas or guajillo sauce enchiladas. Also the Rojas poblanos. We drive more than 40 mins every 2-3 weeks to get our fill. I take off 1 star because the milanesa, while very tasty, gives me a stomach ache. read more

I don't know how I've never written a review for Vive Sol. This is honestly one of the best restaurants in the South Bay area. Definitely the best Mexican restaurant. I've been eating here for the last decade and love it. One of my biggest regrets in moving to San Jose from Mountain View was that Vive Sol would no longer be within walking distance. Pollo Enchiladas al Guajillo That's all you gotta know. read more

I would have never found this place if my colleague had not mentioned it. It's on El Camino but its tucked inside a bit. They have a decent sized parking lot. The restaurant has a nice and clean ambiance. Food and service is pretty good too. It does get pretty crowded during peak hour so get in early or reserve a table ahead. read more

Eh. Major letdown given the reviews...but I guess that's on par for the area. The whole experience was very mediocre. Service wasn't bad, but it was generally slow and the entrees took 40 minutes to come out. Our ceviche was sent to the wrong table, and they didn't notice until we asked about it. Then the waiter moved it from that table to our table without offering us a new dish. Hm. They were also pushy about drinks, when we just wanted to order food. The food itself was very average. The complementary chips and salsa trio fell flat. I'm usually easy to please with salsa, but found all three to be very forgettable. The ceviche was the worst ceviche I've had in recent memory. The rockfish was tough, not fresh, and tasted off. There wasn't enough seasoning either. Chilpachole De Mariscos (seafood soup) - This had more of that iffy fish from the ceviche, only three jumbo shrimp, and way too much miniature shrimp as filler. The depth of flavor just wasn't there. Did I expect it to be as good as the seafood soup I had in Playa Del Carmen? No, but Vive Sol's version wasn't even on the same playing field. Disappointing. Pollo Guajillo - Chicken was way too dry with no seasoning. The sauce was tasty, but the flavor was completely separate from the chicken. It tasted like they reheated plain chicken and poured the sauce over it. Lomo De Puerco (pork tenderloin) with chorizo and manchego cheese - This was the only tasty dish. Good flavor on the pork and from the Poblano sauce. Rice and bean sides were below average. We didn't try any of the staples - enchiladas, burritos, etc, because we wanted to get a feel for the Puebla specialities. Seems that like was the wrong call. read more

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What can I say? Vive Sol has amazing food and an amazing atmosphere. I've been coming here for 15 years. I've since moved to Southern Cali but ALWAYS make sure I find time to dine here. Some of the best Mexican food I've ever had. Make a point to stop in and try it. My favorite is the tortilla soup and the burrito verde. They give you three tasty salsas to embellish your entree. read more

Excellent Mexican restaurant. Arrived with a large group on a weeknight and was easily seated. Solid margaritas, chips with three different salsas for the table. Tasty guacamole. I got the enchilada combo which had one mole and one other traditional style. Both were delicious and served with rice and beans. Highly recommended and will return! read more

Vive Sol - Enchilada combo - Mexican Near Me - Mountain View, California

If you're in the South Bay area this is a must-try Mexican food spot - I've been coming here for years. My favorite dish hands down is anything with the guajillo sauce. I usually get the Enchiladas Al Sol which allows me to get one enchilada with the guajillo sauce and another with the mole. Don't skip out on the margaritas. They are strong and delicious, and pair well with the free chips and (awesome) salsas. read more

Vive Sol - Enchiladas Al Sol -- $13.95 - Mexican Near Me - Mountain View, California

Anyone remotely near the Bay Area needs to visit Vive Sol -- hands down the best chile rellenos I have ever eaten in my entire life! I used to make chile rellenos from scratch -- a culinary endeavor that requires a good amount of patience and time -- and these taste even better than homemade! They are as fluffy as a cloud and so incredibly tender that every time I eat them I want to eat them for every meal the rest of my life. I have even had foodie dreams about eating at this restaurant. That's how good it is! The margaritas are on deck and the salsa trio with chips is excellent as well Keep up the good work!! Please open a location in Orange County!!! read more

Vive Sol - Best chile rellenos anywhere! It's like a fluffy cloud melting on your tongue. Simply amazing. - Mexican Near Me - Mountain View, California

Nice little hidden restaurant with fantastic decor and outside seating area. The menu has some good options and the food! Chips with 3 different kind and if salsas were simply amazing. I never fill up on chips, here I ended up doing that. We ordered enchiladas Mexicanas with green sauce. Portions were right for one person per entree. The service is one of the best. I strongly recommend trying this place out when you get a chance. read more

~3.5 stars It's unusual for hubby to request Mexican food, he had good experience here for lunch with his work buddies and fell in love with the fish tacos. We arrived around 6 PM on a Sunday evening, parking in the lot was fairly easy, we waited about 15 minutes for our seats. The restaurant was nice with an old school kind of ambiance, a little too dark for us to study the menu and a man with booming voice a few tables away got quite loud probably due to the acoustic ceiling. The chips and salsas were great, we liked the crispy thin tortilla and the milder salsa which went so well with the very tasty margarita. Our entrees were hit and miss, ranked below based on how much we enjoyed them. Fish tacos were our most favorite, a good amount of grilled fish in a pair of soft tacos served with black beans and rice. Every thing in the plate was yummy including the beans and rice. It was however a bit pricey at $25 we thought. I wanted to try the mole sauce but didn't like chicken breast, the waiter suggested a special order of shrimp enchilada with mole. Not an expert in mole, this dish was just OK, I wish there were more shrimps. The least impressive was the quesadilla, although the guacamole was fresh, the added beef was super salty and the tortilla was pale and soggy, not crispy at all. Good drinks and some tasty dishes if you order right, a bit over priced. read more

Vive Sol - Mexican Near Me - Mountain View, California

After reading all of the reviews from my fellow Yelpers I was really excited to try this place. Vive Sol is a cool looking little Mexican restaurant hidden off of El Camino in Mountain View, real Eye Candy! As I've seen in other reviews; I really wanted to love this place. It is just screaming potential to become great. I mean great look, great staff, great drinks...but the food didn't hit the same levels as everything else. Staff was really quick to deliver chips and salsa along with nice cold water. You get three salsas (Rojo, Verde and Rojo con Vinagre); they were OK but maybe a little watery. Verde was best with a nice bite and smokiness. My House Margarita was a good size and respectably strong. I started with the Ceviche as they were out of the Coctelde Camaron. As it is described on the menu; the sauce is delicate...maybe too delicate. I felt it could have used more citrus or something to make it pop. The fish was not as fresh as I expected either; no firmness and a little too squishy. For my entree I chose the Enchiladas Al Sol con Polo which included both the Mole and Guajillo sauces over enchiladas. Unfortunately this plate also missed the mark. The sauces were very good; I especially liked the Mole which was nicely spiced and flavorful but they didn't stand a chance against the very dry tortillas and polo. Rice and frijoles negros quantities were pequeña. Come on Vive Sol; I want to LOVE YOU! I'll be back for another try but for now 3 stars. Cheers! read more

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