This place is amazing! Best Mexican food I've had in this area yet, and I'm from San Diego. I've been here about 3 times, always had the same server Elvia, and she already remembers me. She is so friendly and welcoming! I always order the carne asada plate and it's so good, don't even know if I can try anything else on the menu because I'm obsessed with this. After, I get the churros for dessert. The food is amazing, the service is awesome, I really love this place. read more

We'd stayed away from here since the original owners left to start another joint in Bothell. Since reading the reviews on Viva Jalisco (formerly just Jalisco), we thought we'd give it another try. We were SO glad we did it! I had chicken fajitas, when which first arriving, looked very bland. Just grilled chicken on top of green peppers & onions. The chicken was very flavorful, despite the look. They were generous with sour cream and guacamole as well. Hubby had a shredded beef taco & said it was oustanding. He said it was like falling apart pot roast. He also had a chicken enchilada, which he said very good & we shared a tamale because of everyone's comments on them. The tamale was great...though I'd have rather it had beef in it. The rice & beans were good. The rice was not dried up and the beans not too runny. We will definitely go back as our go to Mexican place near home. I held back 1 star because the service was so-so. We were the ONLY people in there, at 3, on a weekday. The server was busy watching her novella on t.v., so, she paid no attention to us, which is fine, I don't want a new best friend, but, a refill on iced tea would have been nice!! read more

On a recent trip I got the mole chicken. It was decent, but not their strongest dish and not the best iteration of mole chicken I've had. It was flavorful, but the mole sauce was quite thin. I may try a few other things before I get this again. read more

Viva Jalisco Mexican Restaurant - Mole chicken - Mexican Near Me - Bothell, Washington

Not going back. I really wanted to like this restaurant. Perhaps I hyped this place up to be something its not. I have visited a dozen times since my last review and each experience seems to be getting worse. The staff is friendly, but it isn't a good value for the quality of food. The drinks are way over priced, and so is the food. A combination platter around 14 dollars includes beans, rice, and your item (enchilada, tamale, etc.) No sour cream, no guac, no lettuce, tomatoes, nothing. 14 dollars worth of food should fill any reasonable person up, but it doesn't. I have tried more than 10 items on the menu. 60 dollars (including 15% tip) for two drinks and two entrees, not worth it. If they lower the prices I may consider going back. read more

This place has good food, but the service is a bit ummm no friendly. The two waitresses we did have seemed to be standoffish!? Maybe just the Seattle Chill!? Go for the food maybe you'll catch a smiling face... or not!? read more

Our wonderful neighborhood (american style) mexican restaurant. Service: Wonderful. They are so nice, and they always remember us. If my husband goes in, they ask about "his wife", have him bring me mints, flowers (they had on Mother's day), etc. So awesome. Chips, salsa, and water are always full. They're kind, just quick enough, and friendly. One time we got food to go, they forgot the lettuce/sour cream/pico de gallo that comes with fajitas, and we called them. When my husband went to pick up the rest, she was waiting outside in the rain, saying "we're so sorry! will you still come back?" Then when he got home, she had included an appetizer! We love them. Food: Wonderful. Chips and salsa are great. Salsa can be a bit inconsistent heat level wise, but always delicious. Enchiladas are delicious. Veggie burrito is so great and chock full of perfectly cooked veggies. The fajitas are fantastic! Wasn't a fan of the nachos with meat/beans--too many toppings in my opinion, but that may just be a preference thing. Prices: Pretty good. Not super, super cheap, but definitely worth the price. And definitely cheaper than the other comparable mexican restaurants in the area. Fajitas are about 14.25, burritos around 10. read more

We arrived about 7:30pm, so maybe the staff was exhausted as it was certainly busy. However, it felt like the frantic nature was typical. Just not well run. Server was cordial but not friendly. Two taquitos with a spoonful of guacomole and sour cream, rice and pinto beans for $13.95 and then to charge $1.50 for 3 corn tortillas!! They get three stars only because they carry Negro Modelo!! read more

This is probably the best Mexican food I ate and I used to live in California. The food is light and big portions with fresh ingredients! Friendly staff and welcoming vibe. A must visit spot! read more

The food was ok...nothing special. We got a chicken quesadilla and carne asada tacos. The tacos were slopped onto the plate and they were soggy. The quesadilla was and average quesadilla. The service was horrible and the man that sat us was very unfriendly. We also sat without a refill while others were taken care of. We couldn't get their attention to get a refill for a good 10-15 minutes, so we grabbed two sodas from the fridge upfront. We were charged for the drinks. We payed 40 for a horrible dining experience. read more

When your waitress pronounces your drink "Co-kuh", you know you're in a genuine Mexican Restaurant. While the Coca-Cola wasn't that great (darn!). the food was pretty good. The pico de gallo is delicious - first time I've chosen it over salsa - which either says a lot about their pico de gallo or a little about their salsa, I know. I chose a simple meal - cheese enchiladas. Served traditionally with refried beans and rice. It was tasty, but the tortillas oddly had a slight crisp to them that I don't think was done intentionally. Full of cheese, topped with more cheese... can't go wrong. Lunch with my drink was less than 10 bucks. Will return to try more items on their menu! read more

This is our favorite Mexico restaurant. Close to home and the food is really good. We are regulars so they pretty much know what we want when walk through the doors. Always friendly. read more

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Um...YUM!! We started our meal with the Chicken Taquitos, they are BIG,and stuffed full of shredded chicken, and they were not crunchy. They certainly get kudos for not making these to resemble the frozen taquitos you can buy at the grocery store. They are also served with a heaping amount of sour cream and guacamole. $10.95 and totally delicious!! For my entree I ordered the seafood chimichanga - $13.95 - It's a HUGE chimichanga stuffed full of shrimp, scallops, fish, and topped with a spicy cheese type sauce. It comes with a bunch of rice, and beans. The spicy cheese type sauce is not really spicy, my six-year old kept asking for bites of my food. Because it was super yummy. If you are in the mood to order a drink from the bar. Get yer big boy pants on...'cause OH BOY they like to give ya the booze. Their drinks are the speech slurring, headache creating, dehyradation having, drink spilling, charm killing, so you think you can dance - kind of drinks. The salsa and the chips are fantastic. They are also served with a side of cilantro, onions, jalapenos, and whatever else they mixed up on a separate plate. Oh hell, I can't remember...I ordered drinks - remember? They only thing that really bugged me - was that our waitress (who speaks English perfectly fine) chose to speak to us in Spanish. We understood all of the things she said, but that bugged me. Okay, hurry up and grab your sombrero, and go eat here! Ole! read more

Pretty delicious! The salsa was on par with most of the Mexican food places in the area. I didn't happen to try the pico de gallo, but I appreciated that they served it with the chips and salsa. I ordered the nachos with picadillo and they were easily some of the best nachos I've ever had. Lots of gooey cheese, picadillo, jalapenos, beans. So yum. My husband had the pollo a la crema, which he loved and said it was the best he'd had. Our friend had one of the combos and liked it as well. The restaurant was nearly empty, with the exception of a very large family having lunch. Not sure if this is normal for a Sunday afternoon, since it was also Superbowl Sunday, but it was kind of nice. Only real downer about the place is the location. Slightly out of the way strip mall next to a storage facility with lots of closed businesses. Kind of weird. Didn't seem like there would be enough parking if the other stores in the strip mall were rented out. Delicious though! I'm a little sad I never made it in when I actually lived nearby, probably would've gone all the time. read more

Very good Tacos al carbon, the rice and beans especially flavorful. The waitress brought out a dish of rice and beans almost immediately after seating us to appease our hungry toddler without being asked. A hole in the wall sort of place that is worth a visit Excellent friendly service, we will be back read more

I'm going to preface this that we LOVE the Pasion Tequila in downtown Bothell but couldn't go to sit in and eat because not everyone in our party was vaccinated. That being said we will never again visit Viva Jalisco. A hole in the wall restaurant with very bland and disappointing food that honestly is way overpriced for what you get. There is little to no flavor. My taco was set down in a bunch of liquid in the plate and soggy. No sour cream and guacamole came with the meal. I'm sure it would have cost extra since they charge you for everything. The kids meals were already overpriced but then you had to pay $2.00 more for their drinks. Was surprised we had to pay 3% of the bill just to use our debit card. They had no signs posted anywhere for that and didn't bother to tell us either. The waitstaff doesn't listen and is disinterested in hearing what you say. We asked to take my daughters nachos home but she took the plate away anyway. The experience is not pleasant at all. That being said Pasion Tequila has 100 times better food and lower prices and honestly much better service. I guess lesson learned here that when we want Mexican food we will stay with The Pasion and get takeout versus going to this little place with bland nasty overpriced food and bad service. read more

Well now...this restaurant IS at the end of a mini strip mall, BUT, I have been eyeballing it ever since we moved up one exit and now have to drive by it everyday to take my boys to CPJH from the other direction. My wife and I finally went (on our 19th anniversary for dinner :), and boy did they deliver. When we arrived, I asked if they were part of the Jalisco's chain, they said 'oh no....no no...' I thought 'okay...this might be pretty good, if I read her sarcasm correctly!' We ordered a triple item 'house' special, that included, skirt steak, an enchilada, and sauteed prawns (with mushrooms, onions and good heat). I also got a side ground beef taco (which I always do to grade their beef). We really wanted to try the chile relleno, because how that's prepared says a lot about their integrity. The waitress offered to swap the enchilada for the relleno..."just this one time" she said. FANTASTIC chile relleno, skirt steak was juicy and cooked perfect, prawns were just a tad overcooked, but satifying to so the least, and the pepper flakes in the sauteed oil hit the spicy meter spot! Ground beef in the side taco was better than above average, and they use top notch cheese. When I eat out, my STAR rating is directly proportional to how my brain interprets the quality of my meal AFTER I am completely 'stuffed', and I couldn't stop eating until I had to take on an over-inflated stomach that was uncomfortable for a good 45 minutes after I took my last bite. Kudos 'Viva Jalisco', I'm glad you're in my backyard. read more

As long as you're not expecting to be amazed with anything resembling gourmet food, this place is nice and straightforward for grabbing a burrito or whatever other standard American/Mexican dish you might crave. Always has friendly service, great for large groups/outings with coworkers. read more

I love this place enough to choose it as my birthday dinner spot. The service is super friendly, cheerful. The food is amazing. The margaritas were awesome. It's in the most random spot, an awkward strip of stores. If it wasn't in Bothell (we're in Bellevue) I'd go all the time. This is a favorite and I'll definitely go back. read more

Great food and service. The owner makes you feel like family. CHIPS AND PICO DE GALLO are top notch. Ordered the POLLO MEXICANO, which was delicioso. read more

Yum! Parking: Strip mall parking, lots available Ambiance: Typical Mexican restaurant decor - bright colors, booths Service: The best imaginable - they are SOOOOOO nice and friendly here - they really make you feel at home! Food: They refilled our warm chips and yummy salsa and slaw several times. I could have just kept eating and eating... Large entree portions, LOVED the Pollo Chipotle - amazing flavor and had enough left overs for 2 other meals! Hubby had the lamb, I tried a bit, it was okay, I liked the chicken much better. My son had the nachos - $1.25 kids meat nachos on Saturdays - I was amazed at the price - it would cost $5 anywhere else! Recommendation: I can't wait to go back! You should too! read more

We were in Bothell to run a couple of errands and hungry for lunch when my husband mentioned Jalisco's... thinking it was part of the small chain. Come to find out it's not... but the food and service were better than average... so much so that I wanted to write them a review. I ordered the Sopa de Pollo and my husband ordered enchiladas... my toddler also was with us and when our server noticed she was trying to eat the "too spicy" salsa, she brought her a small bowl of refried beans to dip her chips in and she loved them! (For the record, I did too and beans are how I judge the quality of a Mexican restaurant!). The chips and salsa/pico were also super delicious. I could totally make a whole meal out of just that! The soup I ordered came in a bowl that was bigger than my head (okay, close), but filled with real (not sketchy) chicken, fresh, perfectly cooked veggies, and they bring a side of rice, jalapenos, and onions for you to "customize" the ingredients in your soup however you wish. We will definitely be driving down here anytime we want Mexican food. (This coming from 2 Texans who moved here a few years ago!). Thanks for the delicious lunch and excellent service Viva Jalisco! read more

A great neighborhood gem. Good food, friendly staff (well, most of them most of the time ... a couple of them are visibly grumpy all the time), and fast service. read more

Viva Jalisco Mexican Restaurant - Carne Asada - Mexican Near Me - Bothell, Washington

Absolutely LOVE the food here. They serve large portions and are very responsive in terms of customer service. The staff run like a well oiled machine. I'm sure it's not cooked to order (considering the quick service) but you can't tell from the taste. Unfortunately, it is overpriced (in my opinion). My boyfriends meal is $17 and this isn't an upscale restaurant. (-1 star) read more

I'm writing this review from afar. Viva Jalisco was my favorite Mexican place when I lived in Washington state (until January 2020). It's almost May and I'm really missing good Mexican food! Folks, this is a very special place. I miss it so much. Wonderful folks, great food. It's what I compare other places to for Mexican. First off, the pico de gallo on the table is yummy and flavorful. I love the spicy fresh crunch against the chips. My standard lunch there was their tortilla soup. Trust me when I say to throw in some of that yummy pico de gallo in the soup. It really brings it up a notch. (Oh, how I miss thee!). The fajitas, enchiladas and quesadillas are good. Yummy specialties are the tacos al pastor, pollo a la crema, borrego, and the carnitas street tacos were yummy and flavorful... all this right down to the rice and beans. Hubby loved their Chile Colorado, carne asada, and the mariscada. Mama y Papa, I miss your cooking and your smiles ! Whenever I get back I'll definitely make it To Viva Jalisco to see my "family." You have a very special place. read more

Semi-Authentic. Carne Asada was burnt. Pollo Ala Creme was soupy. Chicken was way over done. Highlight of the meal was the Pico de gallo and the margarita. Wait staff was rushed. Had to repeat my order several times. Overall not a bad experience but not a good one either. Honestly, the food truck I ate at last week was better (see previous review). $56 for two drinks dinner and dessert. So not crazy high but after getting not so great food .... I wasn't thrilled with the price of the bill. read more

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This is a great, family-owned restaurant. The salsa's are delicious. The pico de gallo can be a tad overwhelming in spice, with fresh jalopenos, but I am known to be the wimp of the family when it comes to spice. I always order the fajitas de pollo. The staff are amazing. After a movie that ended up being MUCH longer than we expected, we arrive here starving. We turned away because it was 5 minutes to closing and had a group of 5, but they graciously welcomed us back in. I have never had a restaurant do this. Usually, you feel rushed too if you walk in so late when the kitchen is about to close. Not here. The wait staff all know my family and even congratulated me on my engagement when I was back home visiting my family. It appears my parents are talkers... read more

It is difficult to find a great Mexican restaurant, and this one definitely qualifies! I've tried shrimp, steak, and vegetable based menu items, and everything has been amazing. read more

My wife and I along with our two small children eat here a couple times per month. It is close to our home. We find every time we walk in it is like we are part of the family. The owners along with their son are very welcoming and great with our kids. All of the employees are willing to help and take great care of us. I recommend the Pico de Gallo, that comes with the chips and salsa... it is the best... The food is great! We usually get a variation of the same thing. They have messed up my wife's order once, and they caught their own mistake, took it back, corrected it and gave us a coupon for next time... They honestly take great care of their customers. They recently expanded, so they have more seating and it is a little more roomier... Not so cramped. The food is worth the drive and visit. The owners will make you feel like family and you will be in and out within 30-45 minutes. STUFFED... I highly recommend them read more

I respect any Mexican restaurant that serves its customers a spicy salsa. I ordered the chicken flautas for lunch, and they were tasty. This place is cute and close to work for me. read more

The service was fantastic, friendly and lively. The lunch crowd was fierce, but they handled it well. I had the pulled chicken chimichanga. Friends had the tortilla soup, tostadas, enchiladas, and mini chimis. The food was okay. I lived in Texas. I've traveled in Mexico too. The food wasn't fantastic, but was priced as if it was. Chalk it up to a southern boy visiting the Pacific North West, but it seemed a bit over priced. read more

We love this restaurant! Kids eat for $1.25 on Saturdays, and the food has always been fresh and tasty. We love the chips, salsa, and pico de gallo they serve as a free appetizer. It all tastes very homemade. I have had the chicken chimichanga with rice and beans, and it had the perfect crunchiness each time. The kids love the rice, beans, and burritos! It is a small place, but it is cozy and the staff are very friendly and nice. We plan on coming here more often since it is our new favorite Mexican restaurant in our neighborhood. You get enough food to have a second meal the next day, too! read more

Consistently good food and drinks! Local find! Great pico de Gallo! The seasoning of the carne asada is so delicious! Sangria is delightful! If you're in Bothell and crave Mexican food you must stop here. Most days you will see Norma or Jose the owners! Wonderful people! read more

Always delicious food and fast, friendly service. I am always amazed at how quickly the food comes out of the kitchen, even when the restaurant is busy. As soon as you even think about something you need, someone is there asking how they can help or refilling your drink. Highly recommend read more

We went over to Bothell to give this place a try. I can't argue that the service was prompt and attentive, but the food was just OK for me. I ordered a cheese enchilada, they gave me chicken (I'm a vegetarian, so I sent it back). They apologized and gave me my new meal promptly. Things were just kinda salty and not much else to speak of. Just one of those places that doesn't stick out as somewhere we need to go again. Not good, not bad, just meh. read more

Love, love, love this place! So glad I took the chance and trusted my fellow Yelpers:-D When our go to Mexican restaurant was packed to the hilt, I was hungry enough to NOT wait 20 minutes for dinner so I decided to take on my fellow yelpers on their suggestion to come to Viva Jalisco on a Friday night . I must say, I am hesitant to write this review since I can't stand waiting for more than 10 minutes for dinner (the wait was non-existent here) but my need to rave about good food can't go unspoken and I have to share this wonderful discovery. I wholeheartedly support the business in my community and must give this establishment a 5-star rating for its delicious menu - from the chips and salsa to the carne asada and fajitas to the margaritas and dessert (yummy fried ice cream). Have been back for lunch already and I promise to be back for more! read more

I have finally found a place we all love. The waitress was awesome!!! The food was delish. We will be visiting this restaurant more often!!! I had carne asada tacos. They had tons of flavor. My hubby had a tamale, taco and enchilada. I tasted the tamale and it was fabulous. The kids loved it there too!!! read more

Once you enter, you immediately feel like family. The staff is kind & very hospitable. The location is off a dark busy road in a strip mall, next to an old video store. The restaurant is quite small, with somewhat of a weird layout. There really isn't a bar or lounge either. I wasn't very impressed with the chips (which were too thick) or the salsa. I ordered a Melon Margarita which was good, but nothing too special about it. I missed the salt rim! I ordered the carne asada steak strips, which came with the usual rice & beans. The sides were nicely seasoned. But they forgot my scoop of guacamole! The tortillas were good and kept perfectly warm. Overall, the food was standard but nothing stood out to me. Service was friendly but slow on refilling drinks and chips/salsa. read more

They have a big menu selection. The kids menu has EVERYTHING.. From Mexican fare to chicken nuggets... To please any picky eater. They have a few TVs up so I was able to watch the game I wanted to see... Huge bonus there. The server was very sweet to our party, even my cranky son. Salsa and chips were great, drinks were strong.. My flank steak was cooked perfectly for the fajitas. Solid Mexican place. And they were nice to my kid. I'll definitely be back. read more

This is my favorite Hispanic restaurant in all the area! I lived in AZ for years and was sad when I couldn't find good Mexican food here. This is the best in this area! Yum... love this place and the service is great... read more

Yay!! Finally I find a decent Mexican restaurant in the Puget Sound. Since I moved to the area in October 2011, I've tried 6 different Mexican places. This is the very first one that I'll be going back to for seconds!! The service was excellent and the staff are like family and very friendly. The food was fresh, tasty and well prepared. I tried the Carne Asada Burrito, and it was one of the best burritos I've ever had. Generous portions of sour cream and guacamole on the side. They'll also accommodate special requests, such as a side of grilled jalapenos which is not on the menu. I hesitate to give it 5-starts just yet until I have a chance to go back to try more off the menu, but so far I'm a fan! read more