I'm not sure what I was expecting from a place in a ghost town, but La Keva absolutely blew me away. We stopped in after a long day at Big Bend, and it ended up being one of the highlights of our whole trip. Let's start with the beef nachos. I've had a lot of nachos in my life, but these are on another level. The beef was incredibly flavorful--seasoned perfectly and piled on generously. Each chip was individually loaded instead of just dumping toppings on top, so every single bite had that perfect balance of crispy chip, melty cheese, tender beef, and fresh toppings. Do not skip these. I'm still thinking about them days later. For my main, I went with the shredded beef sandwich, and wow. The beef was so tender it practically fell apart, slow-cooked to perfection and piled high on what I think was a fresh-baked bun. It came with these seasoned fries that were crispy and well-salted. My partner got the enchiladas (also great), but honestly I couldn't stop stealing bites of my own sandwich. The view from the patio is ridiculous--you're looking straight at the Chisos Mountains while eating some of the best food in West Texas. The cocktail menu is legit too; the mezcal margarita paired perfectly with everything. Service was friendly and laid-back, exactly the vibe you want in Terlingua. A heads-up: it gets busy around sunset, so either show up early or be prepared to wait a bit. Totally worth it though. If you're in the Big Bend area, do yourself a favor and eat here. Get the beef nachos. Get the shredded beef sandwich. Thank me later. read more

La Kiva Restaurant & Bar - Stage Area - Bars Near Me - Terlingua, Texas

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I wouldn't waste your time coming here. Staff was rude and food is bad. Margarita was awful and just tasted like straight up lime juice. Nothing was special about the side salad - Lacked dressing. Pizza had like one pepperoni on it per slice. Wasn't worth spending $80 here. Beef sandwich also wasn't anything special. read more

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Only serving pizza for food currently but it's fantastic! I had the pickle margarita and loved it. It was a busy night but service was good. I only saw two bartenders, but they were keeping up and were friendly. The entrance is fun, like walking down into a cave or a mine. We sat at the bar and were very comfortable there. The low lighting and decor carries through this cavelike vibe. We had a great time. read more

Not a lot of places in the area that aren't Tex-Mex but this place has alternatives. Nice place - interesting vibe; space is like a cave. You order and pay @ the bar, seat yourself, and the food is brought out to you. I ordered the pica pepperoni pizza which was different, but good. No frills. Bar - but selection of alcohol is a little disappointing. Only one choice of bourbon, only one choice of whiskey, etc. so if you prefer a specific brand, you're probably not going to find it here. Note that after 10 PM, they only serve pizza - nothing else that's on the menu. read more

La Kiva Restaurant & Bar - Pics pepperoni pizza - Bars Near Me - Terlingua, Texas

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Cute place but the "owner " at least I think she was . Was so so rude . Our server was great tho! . We have never been and walked up at 5:05 they open at 5 and my Husband opened the door and she was on the other side of it opening up for the night and said "don't touch the door" She barked at him . Then we ordered a pizza had a few beers. My husband asked for a few pieces of foil to wrap the pizza in and she looked at him kind of weird he said "why you're looking at me crazy "she said I'm trying to get to your level " so rude we won't go back read more

I know I will probably never find a place like this again. It truly feels like you're in the coziest cave, and after a long day of hiking at Big Bend, it was such a nice place to unwind. The food was excellent, the service was excellent, and if I lived closer, I would come back! read more

La Kiva Restaurant & Bar - Beer Cheese Mac - Bars Near Me - Terlingua, Texas

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This restaurant is not closed. La Kiva reopened on October 20th, 2025. We visited the restaurant on October 30th, 2025. It is such a cool restaurant that is dog friendly with a very nice staff and reasonable drink prices. The food options are very limited, basically just pizza. I wouldn't say the pizza is bad, but it did disappoint me a bit, being that pizza is about the only thing they are making. It is worth the visit to have a few drinks with friends at a unique location after a day of hiking. This place is full of potential with private event rooms and even a stage for live music. I am moderately optimistic about it. I definitely recommend a visit, and I will happily visit again the next time I'm in the area. read more

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Food was great. Bar staff is incompetent, untrained and generally not suited for their jobs. Absolutely worst bar service I've ever witnessed in over 40 years of working in and owning restaurants What a waste of a great location read more

he Mexican Margherita pizza here is the best I've ever had. The crust was insanely top-tier and I don't typically eat crust. It was thin, with a slight crisp, a slight chewiness/bite to it, wasn't overly sweet like some places have it, and was very, very well prepared and fermented. I can't even exaggerate how good the crust is, it's insanely good. And that's just the crust. The tomato sauce and cheese with herbs and a lime to cut through the savoriness of the pizza, never had lime with a pizza before, was truly amazing. The limited time menu with the banh mi pork belly and some beef sandwich, forgot the name, was alright. Nothing to write home about with those and wouldn't get it again. But the pizza! The pizza, yes! The owner was very nice as was the bartender when they chatted with us. The owner was super passionate about the food on his menu and I could tell. We sat at the bar and food took about 15-20 minutes to come out and service was friendly and educational. I would definitely come back. read more

Really cool place! Stopped in for a beer, but had to get an okra basket after I saw it. It was soooo good and different. The service was great and friendly. We got there before they opened and there were folks waiting. Definitely recommend stopping in here! read more

Here is the updated menu from La Kiva. Can't find it anywhere online for some reason. They really need to fix that as lots of the online pictures show pizza, but there isn't any pizza on the menu now. We got the prickly pear and kiva ranch water. Prickly pear was pretty good, but the ranch water was way too acidic. I love ranch waters but this was too tart. The chicharonnes were delicious here. We got the chingon grilled chicken sandwich and aloha grilled chicken sandwich. Both were fine in general. The ambiance itself was the best part of this place. Not only is the inside great, but outside has amazing views. Hope they can work on a few of the menu items and this restaurant has serious potential. read more

La Kiva Restaurant & Bar - Bars Near Me - Terlingua, Texas

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Really fun spot. Very unique and well worth stopping in. The food was great. Glad we went.

I went there with a friend last night, while we were visiting Big Bend National Park. In the past, I had heard it was a very good restaurant. Upon our visit, and after entering the restaurant, we were handed menus which entailed all "pizza". We were told we could sit anywhere we wanted and to put our order in at the bar. We ordered a pizza and some beers. The service was just "ok" since it was walk up and order style. The pizza was mediocre at best. The ambiance of the restaurant was very good due to its unique venue, decor, and style. Overall, I was not impressed with the food, or the wait staff, as such I would not go back. read more

Awesome atmosphere with eclectic patrons. The environment is quiet and hip. The service good. You order food and drinks at the bar and enjoy the rustic scenery. Food is good, drinks are great. read more

I brought my boyfriend to Big Bend for his first visit, and we stumbled upon La Kiva bar. The atmosphere from the moment we walked in was charming. We were greeted by a friendly pup outside on the way in, and walked into a dimly lit, open space with beaded curtains and soft lighting. Customer service was excellent and the patio was spacious with beautiful plants and string lights. We played 2 free rounds of pool and sang karaoke. It was a welcoming and enjoyable experience- highly recommend! read more

Wanted to like it. The atmosphere of this bar is cool but the service AND food was subpar, at best. I understand they are short handed, which I get. I really do & I'm probably one of the most understanding people...but I waited close to 20 mins sitting at the bar for anyone to even ACKNOWLEDGE me. When they finally welcomed me and gave me a menu, I ordered a coke and ahi tuna... first off- the coke (poured from a can) was served in a well glass with ice... which is fine and all, but they literally poured the coke and didn't even let me keep what was left in the can... they kept it behind the bar to use for other customer's mixed drinks. I paid for a full coke and got maybe 25% of the total can. The ahi tuna was also super dry but that's partially on me. I shouldn't have ordered seafood in west Texas. Overall wouldn't come here again. read more

Service is quick. But Yelp menu needs to be updated. No pizza here. Just burgers and random dinner specials. Got the contraband with a beyond meat patty, this was decent nothing wow. My husband got the chilli burger. This was okay as well. They do have music playing in the lounge which is nice. read more

The atmosphere must be why people go here. I really liked the inside ambiance however disappointed that all they served was pizza. I wish them well and hope they update their menu soon because they would capture the historic area of Terlingua. read more

Salads are delicious! Very fresh. Ambiance is super cozy! Love the attentive service too! read more

La Kiva Restaurant & Bar - Inside the cave - Bars Near Me - Terlingua, Texas

I was disappointed in the dinner menu. Salads, wraps, chicken sandwiches and burgers. This is Texas and no steak or baked potato . Service was fast and very friendly and helpful. read more

Upon entering La Kiva through the slanted, heavy door and down the steps into the "cave," you are hit with the cool, relaxed atmosphere and vibe of a local gem that truly welcomes travelers. One of the few eateries in Terlingua, this restaurant/bar was our favorite. Our first night in town brought us here, right at opening, 5pm, where there was already a wait. We didn't wait long, although we wanted to sit at the bar, which was already full, so we chose a table in the bar area. The tables are made of rough wood and very rustic. The decor is wild and interesting and fun. Both nights there was live music playing; first in the bar area, and second in the cave. Not so loud that you can't have a conversation, which was very refreshing. Bathroom was also nicely decorated and clean. We ordered pizza and the grilled provolone one night. The provolone dish was delicious. Draft beer was affordable and cold. The second night, we each had a steak dish, which we enjoyed. The staff was friendly and attentive both nights. The second night we got to sit at the bar and enjoyed the bartender's company. We weren't at La Kiva too late either night, just too tired, but I bet it would have continued to be fun! We hope to return in the future! read more

La Kiva Restaurant & Bar - Bars Near Me - Terlingua, Texas

Added some pics from our meal. This place is under new ownership and everything was fantastic. I had the chignon chicken sandwich and others at the table had various burger. Everyone was very happy! read more

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Third time is not a charm. No napkins were provided with the appetizers which then dripped queso and salsa on the table. My prickly pear margarita was dark brown instead of pinkish and when we asked why we were told 'it was the bottom of the bottle." So, it tasted awful and even though it sat on the table (glass full) the waitress asked if we wanted another round never mentioning the full drink. The salads all needed additional dressing and because the burgers can only be served well done we couldn't order them. My Wedge Salad was a head of nice crisp lettuce with not enough dressing to penetrate the lettuce head. I had a wedge salad when LaKiva first opened again and it was wonderful - an actual wedge of lettuce with plenty of toppings. This time we give up. We're finding these days it is much better to eat and drink at home. read more

La Kiva Restaurant & Bar - Hoodoo Burger - Bars Near Me - Terlingua, Texas

This place is very cool and iconic but check the menu. The ownership has changed hands so the menu online may be inaccurate. Mainly burgers and sandwiches. read more

First time to the area and wanted to try La Kiva, based on a recommendation from a friend. We are so glad we did, it turned out to be the best meal we had in the area, by far! I got the Cave Burger with chili cheese fries and my partner got the Terlingua two-step burger. Both burgers were perfect! Thick but perfectly cooked and the flavor is one of the best I've had on ANY burger I've tried! If I would have come here the first night in town, rather than the last, I would have probably come back more than once on this trip! Service was good and the food came out quick and hot! If you're in the area definitely give it a try and if there's a wait, it's worth it! Don't forget to try the chili cheese fries too, so flavorful and delicious that my partner nearly ate all mine since she only got regular fries (which were good too) :) Try La Kiva if you're in Terlingua, we will definitely be back! read more

La Kiva Restaurant & Bar - The Cave burger with chili cheese fries - Bars Near Me - Terlingua, Texas

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What a terrific place! New Yorker here. No it's not gourmet food but what they have is very tasty and properly served! Great staff too......genuine and proficient in what they do. Every tourist in the area listen up.....go see for yourself......it's a one of a kind gem. The owner is very welcoming! I respectfully recommend keeping the lighting low as it adds magnificently to the "cave ambience." In the right light this place is stunning and intimate.....both at the same time! read more

Amazing service, had a young girl who's name I can't remember but she was lit! Cave sauce hell yes?!? Gonna need that recipe a week ago!! Tasted like every sauce under the sun, yet had a special sparkle that wouldn't leave my mouth!! read more

Great beers on tap. Very nice staff. I ordered the chili cheese fries which were a 5 and the cheese burger was 3 stars.

Great experience. Friendly service, and food was exceptional. We got a wedge salad which was amazing and split a cave burger, which was also amazing. They split the burger meal and served us on 2 plates, which was so sweet. Often when we split, they give us an extra plate and we split the meal at the table. But them doing it ahead was such an extra measure of goodness on their part; such a treat and so thankful. read more

One of the best bars I have ever been in! The service was just great, thank you Chantal! The food was really good. The menu is pretty extensive. The ambience is just amazing. While this place is family friendly, it's really a place for grown-ups. Lots of locals, and we made several new friends. While we were there, there were groups of golfers, several well-dressed seniors, a few bikers, and even a couple women at the bar in pretty revealing outfits. Everyone was friendly and engaging. From "what do you ride" for the bikers, to "you look spectacular" for the girls wearing less than they might. We'll be back as soon as we can! read more

Such a cool place. Only in West Texas will you find a restaurant in a cave. Sweet!! Don't come here for a fine dining experience. Come for the experience of quirky Terlingua, TX. Where else will find a guy wearing a tie-dye t-shirt and a pirate hat?? Expect a long wait but for everything. One guy is the host, bartender and waiter. But he's awesome!! Go to the bar, relax and enjoy. read more

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I'm embarrassed for the new owners. The new La Kiva is a tacky, hollow shell of what it once was. The food is clearly curated for the convenience of the chefs. It tastes pre-made and underwhelming, though anything will taste fine after a day in the heat. I got a burger, that is not cooked to order, and was a bit soggy. It sullied the bun and was a mess to eat. Another giveaway on the "pre-made" accusation is that our food was out within 10 minutes of ordering. Some may see this as a positive, but I for one would rather sip a drink and wait the normal amount of time to have fresh food and enjoy the A/C. It felt like they wanted to turn over tables quickly, despite the lack of people in the restaurant. Our cocktails were fine. The margaritas were too sweet and full of syrups. If you skip the lackluster "cocktail" menu, they do pour nice ranchwaters. Our server was good no fault on service. The building is very unique and fun to walk through. Wish the Menu and over all ambience lived up to the reputation. Would skip over for dinner but might go again for a drink at the bar. read more

Arrived at Big Bend and felt like I was on Mars. Middle of nowhere but amazing beauty. Checked yelp and saw La Kiva. 3.6 stars? I had low expectations given how remote we are and the reviews. Bruh the food and drinks were absolutely fantastic. I swear these pissed off tourists show up and drop bad reviews for the worst reasons. Everyone was super nice. Fantastic environment. Great food. Great drinks. 5 stars. read more

I've been to a lot of bars over the years and this is definitely one of the most unique ones I've ever visited. In my experience, the draft beer was good and cold, and we had no problems whatsoever with the service. The karaoke being sung by the locals, however, finally drove us out. It appeared these townsfolk could greatly benefit in attending a few voice lessons. Then again, it's not like Terlingua is known for its musical prowess. read more

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Great atmosphere, good prices, stopped by here on the way to big bend and got to see a local band the "Moonshiners" and they were some real west Texas country music artists. I'd highly recommend a stop by here if you can. read more

This was such a good place to eat after a long day, the food was great and the service was even better. It's so cool that it is in a cave, so unique. Wish I lived closer so I could come here more often! read more

The ambiance was really neat, very nicely decorated, and that's the only thing keeping it from being one star. When we arrived, we were told it would be a 30-45 minute wait, and they had a nice waiting area with chess, checkers, and jenga to occupy us. After waiting for an hour and 20 minutes we finally got a table and ordered our food. We ordered an appetizer and it was never brought out, and the service was nonexistent. After taking our order, the waitress never checked on us or refilled drinks. It took 40 minutes for the food to be brought out, and it was very underwhelming, not even close to worth the 2 hour total wait. So all in all a great atmosphere, terrible service, and average food. read more

There is almost no need to review this place....because if you end up in Terlingua at night youll probably stumble in here. Great food. Great atmosphere. read more

We were there in early November for the Chili Cookoff and wanted to get in a first time visit to La Kiva. We did and are happy that we did. My son had been carsick earlier in the day (road from Lajitas to Presidio), so he was HUNGRY. He ordered a steak and ate ALL of it. Said it was cooked perfectly and very flavorful. Potato and veggies were eaten as well (I had a few of the veggies, very well seasoned and crisp tender). I had a pizza. It was very good. Crust had a great flavor and pizza was full of toppings. My husband had a salad and onion rings. Both hit the spot for him. Neat place, friendly people - even though they were fairly busy. Had karoke going on that night as well, but we didn't participate. Looked and sounded like fun, though. read more

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Unique and stinkin awesome atmosphere, check; fabulous service (our waitress refilled our waters at least half a dozen times), check; totally delicious food, check. If you wanted to nitpick I suppose you could say that they really only offer a variety of burgers and chicken sandwiches, but what they offer they have mastered. We also met the new owner and she was very personable. read more