Viva Mexico Mexican Cuisine

Well I usually think that most Mexican restaurants are the same and the food is always the same but…read morefrom time to time I am surprised by a standout. This is one of those places. I have been to dozens of Mexican restaurants in the Lexington area and there are two that stand out. This one and the me in Midway, KY. This place is like the Cheesecake Factory of Mexican -it's a big menu. If you talk to Latin American people or the employees of the restaurant, they will tell you that this place is exceptional. I had the Camarones A La Diabla and it was spicy!! Great flavor! Most Mexican restaurants don't show any heat or spice in most all of their dishes, but this is fire! Not only do they have a large menu but also have a lot seating. There are so many tables and they open another room on the weekends. They have a great patio when the weather is right and it is covered! We were there on a Tuesday night and the place was packed. They also had margaritas two for one and I don't know when they offer that but they had it when we were there. I look forward to going back and trying more dishes!

This is probably my favorite Mexican restaurant in Lexington because of its authenticity and the…read morefood and service is always amazing. Ordered a lingua and barbacoa taco and the steak tacos with cheese sauce. Plenty of meat on the tacos and the lingua was very tender. The steak tacos are always great mostly because of the cheese sauce and good amount of steak. The chips and salsa always hit the spot also

Margarita tower

Tacos Dorados De Barbacoa

See all

Tortillería Y Taquería Ramírez

4.7(243 reviews)

5.8 mi

One of the three best taquerias that I have ever eaten at in the state of Kentucky. We had a…read moreselection of authentic tacos and burritos. Pastor, asada, tinga, lingua, and barbacoa. Everything was incredible and the service was even better. The place isn't fancy, but it doesn't have to be, it looks like it literally hasn't changed since the mid 90s and usually that is the sign of a great place to eat when it comes to authentic taquerias. Next time we are in Lexington this is where we'll eat, again. PS there are wicked good homemade refrigerated table hot sauces. The Habanero is straight fire.

Feels like you are in Mexico. Authentic food with so many types of different meats. I got the…read morelingua, barbacoa, carne and cabeza. I'd say barbacoa and lingua were my top 2 because of the immense flavor. I will warn you that after eating this food be prepared to feel a bit sluggish. Got a small cabeza burrito also and was good but would recommend using a different meat than what I chose because it gets lost in the fixings. Also, the tacos had too much cilantro but I just took what I wanted off. This spot reminds me of the taco stands on side of the road in California. I wish they had a few more sauces to choose from

Restaurant dining area.

See all

Small burrito

Corto Lima

4.4(559 reviews)

3.3 mi

This place was the place of the week as far as overall food, service and ambience…read more Beautiful decor and a busy place. We were place on 2nd floor with just a place for 1 family. Glad they got us in. Pork tacos Shrimp tacos Empanadas Guacamole Peruvian chicken Special margarita Modelo Papa's pork All was great especially the chicken, pricy but a lot The tacos were great. Definitely a place to stop in Lexington if you like Spanish cuisine!

Dropped in for a quick bite at lunch and was stunned by how good it was. They have a lunch special…read morethat is both affordable and outstanding. It comes with chips, a bowl of salsa, and three street‑size tacos. It also includes a dessert. Everything was simply outstanding. I plan on returning. The service was very good, and the atmosphere was nice and quiet since there weren't many people there. I will warn you that the dining area is quite small, so if you plan on going during a typically busy time, you may want to join the waitlist.

Interior

Corto Lima is a mid-scale Latin inspired restaurant specializing in a new brand of Latin cuisine with a modern interpretation...

See all

The front door

La Taquiza

4.5(164 reviews)

4.6 mi

Amazing food and service in a quaint space. Initially they were slammed with everyone grabbing food…read morefor dinner but we took advantage of the 2 for 1 margaritas and hung out. I ordered the shrimp empanadas and they were great! Flaky and delicious with the perfect amount of rice and beans to complement. Definitely will return.

Ordered fish tacos to go. Where was the fish? An utter fail! Won't return to the Tiverton location…read more 41

Cheese Dip

See all

Order area

Maria's Mexican Cuisine

4.7(231 reviews)

1.7 mi

Amazing food and service. The staff was knowledgeable about the items on the menu! We will…read moredefinitely be going back!

My brother kept telling me I needed to try this local Mexican spot, and I'm so glad I finally did…read more I started with the fresh guacamole served with crispy tostada chips, then got the pork tamales covered in melted cheese, a shredded beef taco, and finished with a slice of tres leches cake. Everything tasted so authentic and full of flavor. I also loved the environment and decorations throughout the restaurant- it felt warm, welcoming, and very true to the culture. The only downside is that it is a little pricier than some other Mexican places I've tried. My meal came out to around $47 just for me, but honestly I didn't mind because you can tell the quality is there and I'm always happy to support a local business and the people behind it.

Guacamole

See all

Hours

Mazunte Bodega - Lexington

4.6(56 reviews)

4.1 mi

I came with friends for my birthday dinner and had a great time! We started with the salsa bar,…read morewhich was a fantastic way for our group to split and sample all the fun salsa flavors on the menu, a great touch for a table looking to try a little bit of everything. The guacamole was also top notch; fresh, creamy, and full of flavor. The coconut margarita was absolutely fire with such a unique and refreshing flavor that the whole table loved. For my entrée, I tried the house specialty blue corn quesadilla and it was beyond amazing. It comes with two large quesadillas, and I chose to do one with chicken and the other with mushrooms and zucchini. Everything about it was fresh and flavorful, from the perfectly seasoned fillings to the blue corn tortilla , iit truly made for an authentic and satisfying Mexican meal. Overall, the food was outstanding and the service matched it every step of the way. Such a great Mexican restaurant, I highly recommend!

What an awesome find! Went for lunch on a weekday and it was quiet in there. Full bar which was a…read morenice addition. Had a cold Pacifico. Hubby ordered the Beria tacos and said they were some of the best he has had. I had the chicken empanadas and they were amazing and enough to feed two people. Waitress was super friendly and gave us ideas for places to go while we were on town. Seriously considered going back for dinner but wanted to try more things while we in town. The prices were unbelievably good too. It would be fun to see it on a busy night full of life too. Definitely would recommend this place!

Quesa Birria

See all

Papis Mexican Restaurant & Bar

4.2(140 reviews)

2.3 mi

This place is yum! I definitely want to come back here to try more. I got the poblano and cheese…read moreappetizer and also tried some rice and beans as well as chips and dips. It was delish. The service is good and it's super fun in there!

They don't take American Express…read more Dinner was good, not great. The chips were fresh and tasty but the salsa was a fine thin purée that lacked in flavor. I ordered Chile Verde which is pork in a green or tomatillo sauce. The pork was smaller chunks but still juicy and the sauce was very good holding a little heat and plenty of flavor. The sauce still had the seeds from the tomatillos which I think enhanced the flavor. The plate came with rice which was fair and a black refried bean which I also liked. The tortillas were corn at my request and were good. I would eat here again. The place is upstairs in a community of bars and restaurants. The ambiance was just OK

See all

México Mi Amor

4.7(34 reviews)

3.4 mi

Generous portions, I enjoyed this carne asada, the beans were tasty. I know what am ordering next…read moretime.

Great food. Atmosphere. Drinks. The employees are very friendly. I can walk here from my house and…read moreI can't wait to come back weekly.

Bar Area

Fajita taco salad

See all

Bar area

El Asadero

3.8(116 reviews)

4.4 mi

I've always skipped this spot when at the mall and I'm not sure why... I finally got convinced to…read morego out for girls night with the promise of soft served margaritas. The place is beautiful from the outside and the inside. It is a very modern establishment however, they have some unique qualities I hadn't seen in Lexington. For starters, they sat us right away even though it was busy. Next, we ordered a guacamole appetizer and someone came with a cart and made it fresh in front of us! I thought that was super cool since you also get to pick your toppings. The margaritas tasted amazing... it was truly a good ice cream base; I've had nothing like it. Their food is good, they have so many options and the portions are good but it is pricey. The vibe is super fun, it's like a genuine party. Definitely recommend to anyone who hasn't been. 10/10

Rating: (3.7/5) We…read moreabsolutely love El Asadero and have been here hundreds of times, which is why this review is tough to write. This is only my second post, and unfortunately this visit was disappointing compared to our usual experiences. Our server was very friendly and attentive, which we appreciated. However, the beer came out warm, which was a rough start. We ordered the lettuce tacos and a cheesesteak quesadilla. It seemed like the food sat in the service window a bit too long -- the lettuce wasn't crispy and we had to ask for new lettuce for the tacos. The quesadilla itself was good, but it could've used some extra flavor. We also ordered hot sauce, but it wasn't spicy at all, which was a letdown. That said, we know what this place is capable of and this visit felt more like an off night than the norm. We'll definitely be back to give it another shot, because El Asadero is usually one of our go-to spots.

Front looking into the dining room

Tres Leches

See all

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

3 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Beth M.

0

1

0

3 years ago

My wife and I went to Viva Mexico tonight for dinner. My wife had been there for lunch numerous times but this was my 1st visit. The food was very flavorful and good. The service was very attentive and courteous. We will certainly return again. Please give it a try if you like great Mexican food. read more

Mikey2x G.

0

1

0

3 years ago

Food was wonderful , service was friendly and very attentive and the atmosphere was fantastic. Highly recommend viva Mexico

Michael G.

0

1

0

3 years ago

the food is amazing . great taste ! the service was also amazing . would 100% recommend this restaurant to everyone

Viva Mexico Mexican Cuisine - mexican - Updated September 2026

People who viewed Viva Mexico Mexican Cuisine also viewed

El Charro Authentic Mexican Cuisine

4.1

(115 reviews)

Food was best I've ever had and great service, I'm from Michigan and I will drive back to Kentucky…read morefor the birria tacos again, very clean and well maintained as well

Very disappointing experience. The food was cold, the service was slow, and the staff was not…read morefriendly. I won't be coming back.

Durango's Mexican Restaurant

3.8

(123 reviews)

Me encanta Durango's!!! This is one of the best Mexican restaurants in town. All the staff have…read moredeep rooted connections with the customers, which adds to the dining experience. Service is quick and polite (Lalo es increíble!). Food is delicious. The prices are good. Portions are huge! I started eating before I could get a picture of my fajitas, but you can't go wrong with any of their quesadillas, enchiladas, tacos, etc. I'll be back!

I chose this place for lunch when we were in Lexington on our cross-country trip. We hadn't had…read moreMexican food for days. I opened with Tortilla Chips and fresh Guac served on a plate, which was smooth and very mild. Red Salsa was also excellent. Then I addressed a Super Pork Burrito with Refried Beans and rice. The burrito was covered in Red Sauce, where Verde Sauce seemed more appropriate. A Beef Taco with lettuce but no tomato was small and crispy. But other portions were big for a reasonable price. Diane's Fried Shrimps were a little overcooked. Our server was friendly, and the restaurant's ambiance evoked authentic Mexico. XXX-1/2 stars overall!

La Cabana

4.4

(23 reviews)

We absolutely enjoyed our time at La Cabaña. It was a slow start, but our waiter eventually came…read moreover to give us chips and salsa. He was absolutely pleasant as can be and joked with us a bit, making our experience a great one. It can get kind of loud in both the indoor and patio section of the restaurant, but once larger parties began to clear out, it became calm enough to hear each other. We ordered an appetizer bowl of the chorizo queso, and this queso definitely stands out as the best queso we have ever had. The hillbilly quesadilla, chimichangas, tacos, and burritos are all excellent choices; the portions tend to be a bit larger, so I recommend going when you're really hungry (but the leftovers were just as delightful). All of the proteins were cooked well, and the classic lime margarita was perfect. We would go back to this restaurant if we had the chance.

I have found another good Mexican restaurant in Lexington…read more The location is not fancy and it is at a run down part of the town. But the food is great. Their tacos are really good and they accommodate with the meat of your choice. I could only see Chicken and Shredded beef as options in the menu. But I asked for Chorizo and Asada and they were happy to do it. The cheese dip was great. If there are any downsides, I would say the lack of authentic taco sauce. I have been to many Mexican restaurants and they offer two sauces for your tacos. Here they offered only one, and it could have been better. Other than that, everything else was great!

Tres Amigos

4.0

(47 reviews)

Good food, great margaritas, EXCELLENT' Staff…read more and being able to sit outdoors is awesome. Did I mention the excellente' staff

Love this place. Food and service are excellent. Probably the best Mexican food I've had in…read moreCentral Kentucky

Perico's Mexican Restaurant

3.5

(60 reviews)

Food is delicious and great service. Some folks think the portions are getting smaller, but for the…read moremoney it's reasonable (less than $20). Mexican food prices at restaurants in Orlando were all in the high $30's to $50.

Took a drive into Paris just for this restaurant. Lots of parking available. We all enjoyed our…read moremeals!

El Rancho Mexican Restaurant

4.4

(26 reviews)

Delicious. From street tacos to the other vast menu of items. Friendly staff. Definitely…read moreworth a stop.

Best tacos in Nicholasville, hands down. Sometimes the service is a little slow as they do a lot of…read morecarry out and have a small kitchen. But the staff is always super friendly and the food is always so good. I've taken to getting two Al pastor and two chorizo tacos as my "thing" if I want to get out of the house for lunch some days. On occasion, they have this ABSOLUTELY STELLAR Pozole soup with the same style as the Pozole in Mexico City. My daughter is also a huge fan of their Horchata.

Fiesta Mexico

3.6

(45 reviews)

Can't beat the portions of food you get! Every time I have been, I have been seated immediately and…read morealways leave with a smile and full belly. Love the food and the promptness of the restaurant.

The fam and I were here last week. The waiter was new and our orders got a little mixed up, but…read morereally, anything you get here is yummy. We started with tortillas and salsa. I like that the salsa isn't too spicy and the warm tortillas are so good. I had the beef burritos, rice and beans--all hot and fresh. Everyone else's food was just as good. I live in Lex, but will come back whenever I have the chance. The service was fast and the waiter had help from another gentleman to sort it out. The restaurant and tables were all super clean and the whole place was tidy and inviting. All in all, great food and experience!

Taqueria San Miguel

4.4

(27 reviews)

Service was quick and server was friendly, my food was hot and delicious as always,I've been going…read morehere for 8 years Now and I love the all the food there

This place rules!! My favorite is the Consommé (lamb soup). It is to die for. To those who are…read moreleaving reviews crying about "it's too spicy" They have clearly never had a good Consommé. To the same token, paying after you eat is a tradition upheld pretty much only by Hispanic culture. Once again, reviewers referencing this as "weird" have probably never eaten at a traditional place, as this is quite common. Go see for yourself, you won't be disappointed!

El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant & Cantina

3.4

(66 reviews)

Impressive operation,seated quickly,ordered drinks they came out fast…read more Once we all decided want to eat , food was out in a flash. First time having Tex Mex in the area,very impressed with service and staff and quality of food.. Will be back next time I'm in town.

Are you looking for a great place that serves excellent flavors and a 2 for 1 margarita on Monday,…read moreTuesday and Saturday and yes guys this packs a punch. You will want to try this out. If you are traveling from anywhere hotter, Lexington is one of those wonderful places that cools down at night so enjoy sitting outside. Bring the pup and enjoy the flavors and the chips. While the salsa was a little bit generic or definitely generic (spring for the habanero salsa (if you are after flavor). We ordered the ceviche and tacos pastor and pollo ranchero and everything was flavorful and delicious. Can't wait to come back

Clamatos

3.4

(37 reviews)