Great tacos but a little pricey. This restaurant has improved over time since opening. Their chicken and rice dinners are very good also.

I came with a friend and it was an average level of busy for dinner time - almost no one inside, but about 15 tables were seated outside. They seemed to be understaffed, only 1 or 2 people were servicing outdoors, and only one bartender was working. It did take a very long time for my table and the table next time mine to have the opportunity to order, and also a while to get our drinks and food after ordering. My waiter had also forgotten to put in our appetizer, so it did arrive after our entrees came. However, the waiter was incredibly nice and had great customer service, I think they were just really understaffed. As for the food and drinks, the drinks were great and appropriate for the price. I had gotten the fajitas as my entree, and it was a disappointing meal, especially for the price. Fajitas usually come out steaming, and these didn't. The chicken was also dry and the overall dish was under seasoned. My friend did get the trio of enchiladas, and she enjoyed that. I would probably come back for drinks and maybe an appetizer, but I don't think I would return for a full meal. read more

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Food was k, service was just ok. Would not visit again based on poor service. But food was good.

We were sat at table - waited 20 min, no service whatsoever. So we moved to the bar, once again - not even offered a menu. Truly astoundingly bad experience. Finally we got up and left. read more

The inside atmosphere was very lively with all the vibrant colors and live music. Decided to sit outside. The staff were friendly and the food was very delicious. Good portion sizes and was very excited with their non-alcoholic selection. read more

VIVA Tacos & Tequila - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

I visited Viva tacos for brunch on a Sunday morning and we had no trouble finding a table on the patio, however it did get busier later in the day when the football started and the speakers started blasting the games. The brunch menu has a lot of exciting options , I tried the Guava mimosa which was a great variation from the traditional and really enjoyed it. For my main food I had the enfrijoladas , and unfortunately they did not hit the mark . The flavors were muted and edible , but totally unremarkable. The decoration inside is very pretty to look at and perfect for instagram pictures. read more

We so wish we could turn back time and found somewhere else where we would have actually enjoyed our dinner date! What a HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT IN EVERY WAY!!! First of all, it was extremely loud inside and outside. We could barely hear each other or our server. Second of all, it was an extremely small and limited menu. Thirdly, the portion sizes were laughably, small, especially for how much we paid. Fourthly, our server never brought us silverware, so when our food arrived, we had nothing to eat it with, and had to practically tackle someone down to get their attention to bring us some silverware. We asked for extra napkins as we were only given one that was wrapped around the silverware, but the napkins did not arrive until we were pretty much finished with our meal. The food was extremely non-descriptive and very average and subpar. For me and my husband, a fajita entrée and a mini chimichanga meal and one fruity cocktail came out to be about $70!!! We left hungry, frustrated, and extremely disappointed. Never again! read more

While Viva is a regular weekly spot after soccer practice with the kids, we tried brunch a few weeks back and were surprised at how awesome the menu was! The chilaquiles were massive and super flavorful, and the eggs were on point on the huevos! Mimosas were reasonably priced and the waiter was great with the kids. We love to sit outside under the covered patio - fans, TVs and shades if needed make it a really great spot, plus run around space in the courtyard for the kiddos! read more

VIVA Tacos & Tequila - Chilaquiles - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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The aesthetic is cool. Drinks are good. Did not like the food. Thought I'd give it a second try and ordered on DoorDash. It does not give you the option to customize so I called and let them know I had just put in an order and if I can remove the onions and cilantro. The gentleman said yes he'll let them know. Of course when my ordered arrived it was not modified. I could have had a better Torta elsewhere. read more

The last two deliveries failed to include the ordered items! To me, this is a fundamental check that should be happening that isn't. Like the food, but the operation isn't focused on quality. read more

Great ambiance. I sat at the bar and ordered Chicken Vallarta. Great flavor and just the right portion. The bartender was great.

Needs better customer service and assistance with food allergies. Atmosphere is good.

Viva is one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Charleston! The food is great! And you get so much! Definitely try the fajitas! The server was super fun and down to have a chat about the best tequilas! He also made me the best spicy margarita! Viva is also super picturesque inside if you want to do a photo-op! The elote was my favorite dish but all the food was good and I had plenty of leftovers the next day! I was very happy with Viva and can't wait to go back! read more

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This might be my new favorite restaurant! The food came out quickly, and dinner was fantastic. I didn't try any drinks, but the people next to me seemed to really enjoy theirs. The space is well-decorated yet still feels open and roomy. Excellent service and amazing food overall! read more

VIVA Tacos & Tequila - Arroz con pollo - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Food and drinks were great! We had the tacos, a holiday drink and the skewers. The food Was plentiful. The service could be a little quicker, but over all a great experience. The ambiance of the restaurant was nice. It was festively decorated for the holiday, but also well decorated in general. read more

VIVA Tacos & Tequila - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Great mexican food and drinks on DI. They recently renovated the inside and changed the menu and it's even better! Love the vibe inside.

This place is horrible. Slow service. Can't cook the food correctly. Ordered ribeye chimchurri medium rare which took over 40 mins to come out and the restaurant was not busy. When the Steak arrived it was well done. I sent it back a 2nd time and it came out rare almost tare tare style (still frozen in the center) Bar tenders don't pay good attention customers at the bar. Drinks took forever to be refilled as they kept passing by cleaning. Don't recommend this place to anyone read more

Great place to go before a concert! It was packed but they were pretty efficient in getting tables turned over. We did have a wait, but we're able to grab some drinks from the bar, which were amazing! We had a pineapple, habanero margarita and a regular lime margarita, with jalapeños added. The bar service was great! Once we were seated the server came to the table within minutes and took our order. The food came out pretty quickly and was delicious. The venue is huge and can handle the big crowds very well. We will be back! read more

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We came before a concert so obviously the place was packed. I was not super thrilled with our waitress who had this horrible, Im so over this look on her face the entire time. We all ordered and my Mexican street corn never came out so I had to ask again. It took a while and I thought It had been forgotten. Everyone's meal was well over by the time I got it and for $6 to have a mini corn on the cob was pretty pathetic. I like that they have a lot of choices for margarita flavors but the fruit ones are very sweet. The only saving grace was that the peach jalapeno had the jalapeno in it to cut the overwhelming sweetness. Overall the food was good, I highly recommend the mini chimichangas. It's a perfect portion size. Its a little too pricey for what it is and the staff need a serious attitude check. I saw a bus boy walking by with a full finger picking his teeth while carrying his tub. EW! read more

VIVA Tacos & Tequila - Interior - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Great option on DI with a huge menu made from all fresh ingredients! All margaritas are made of fresh muddled ingredients, no mixes! Wow! I tried the Zona Rosa - strawberries, kiwi, basil if you like a sweeter base, this is the one to try! Can't go wrong with the Millionaire Marg- for an upscale traditional margarita (grand mariner and Don Julio)! Food- I highly recommend the beef birria taco- it is soooo delicious and packed full with beef and cheese. I was stuffed with just one! Chips and salsa are perfect - chips served warm and salsa is flavorful! The traditional queso is amazing! Hubby got the shrimp bowl which had rice, beans, veggies, pickled onions etc. He snagged the salsa verde from my taco to elevate the heat! The restaurant itself is bigger than we expected. There are outside & upstairs bars and seating! Overall we are happy with this addition to DI restaurants! read more

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Viva is our go-to for Mexican food!! The steak fajitas are my favorite. The queso and margs never disappoint! The inside was recently redone. It's a fun atmosphere, and the service is always quick! read more

Yesterday, at another spot had a waitress I was lamenting about the lack of proper Mexican food here and she said I should try this place... that their barria taco is pretty good. She is born and raised here, but agrees the Mexican food scene is weak, so I thought I'd give it a try as I am desperate for some flavorful Mexican...! (I have given up on trying to find anything comparable to Southern California/West Coast... just want something that doesn't suck....) First thought: VERY impressive tequila selection... and their menu feels like it wants to be Californian Mexican in style.... The chips were light, but warm and crisp, so that's a good start... Got the Jalapeño peach margarita.... Was ok, a bit sweet for my taste, but tasty...! Ceviche: I judge places on their ceviche. It's a love/hate for me... and this place... strong hate. Was a bowl of line juice with a little (tiny) but of meat (whisch was fresh and delish, what there was), pickled onions, cactus, and lettuce (?!?!).... The flavor was SO BAD... but I ate it cuz it was bloody expensive. Chevys has a better ceviche... Not deterred, ordered a single barria taco.... It came out hot, wet, full of meat, extra sauce on side and the salsa was a nice addition... there was flavor and spice and even the corn taco was good, def the most impressive I've had here... one tiny gripe would be more cheese, but being "cheesy makes it go down easy!" (IYKYK!) Then for some reason wanted the mini chimichangas.... They came out and I judged. Yeah, I totally judged how drenched in cream and queso they were... I got chicken and well..... WOW. Lots of moist, well flavored meat, and i actually loved the gringo style sauces.... I'd go back for those and more tacos...! Oh, and cuz I'm a fat a$$, got a grilled chicken burrito to go..... not what I am used to, def needed pico... but tasty. They have an eclectic menu... and interesting items such as a rose water margarita, or a pineapple chicken burrito.... And the decor was great!!! VERY Newport Beach!!! I'll give it another go. 8/10 read more

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We decided to eat here because it looked super nice from the outside. The decor inside is cute as well but unfortunately that's as good as it gets. The food is less than mediocre. Nothing had any flavor at all. They brought us the wrong nachos. My drink was completely watered down. My entree was missing avocado. They forgot to bring us our street corn that we ordered as well. I had to ask if it was still coming and it came after all of our meals were cleared. Definitely will not return. read more

A girlfriend and I have a goal of trying new restaurants in the area every time we get together and this spot did not disappoint!! We both ordered mixed drinks (blueberry margarita was my favorite!) and the meal was fantastic. Our waitress was super helpful in suggesting foods, didn't rush us as it took a while to order and overall it was just a great first impression. We'll definitely be back! read more

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It was great and I loved their Tacos and their service. I had a great time at viva and it was so fun

Yuck! Maybe an off night because the other reviews are good ‍ the service was almost non existent despite servers standing around looking at their phones with the exception of Richmond who brought our food out. He was engaging and upbeat! The shrimp in the quesadilla had a strong freezer burn taste. We couldn't eat it. We told the server and she said "ok" Thought we might get, would you like to try something else or I'm so sorry.. the Patron rep and free tasting was fun! LOTS of dead flies along the window and on the floor by our table. I will not return read more

VIVA Tacos & Tequila - Lots of dead flies by our table - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Great Daniel Island spot for Mexican food! Casual atmosphere but the interior still feels nice. We've sat at the bar both times we've come, they have a dual indoor/outdoor bar. We got the Mexican Caesar salad and the chicken quesadilla - neither were overly greasy and both had a nice flavor! Wide variety of margaritas, we had the Spicy Margarita and the Blueberry Basil Margarita and both were delicious. read more

VIVA Tacos & Tequila - Spicy Margarita (left) and Blueberry Basil Margarita (right) - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Theee stars because I absolutely loved the berry and basil margarita, and I love that they have an outdoor bar, but I waited almost 20 minutes before being greeted. They were busy and I know things happen, especially in a new restaurant, but the wait seemed really long being at the bar and being just one person. I also want to add that I won't return to this restaurant until Covid is gone. There were SO many people and no distancing. Extra seats were pulled up to the bar so it was even more crowded, staff had masks pulled under their nose, even people standing around drinking and chatting so it was impossible to social distance. Some reviews here say they're taking precautions so maybe it was a fluke, but not worth the risk for me, so if this is important to you just keep it in mind. read more

VIVA Tacos & Tequila - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

This review isn't about the food or service, both of which were OK but not great. No, instead this is about what happened AFTER I left; the waiter changed my Tip amount and increased it by several dollars! Yes, the waiter committed CREDIT CARD FRAUD, which I only spotted a few days later when my CC bill came due. Even worse, when I went back, the MANAGER seemed completely unsurprised and uncaring that his server had committed fraud. Yes, he gave me back my money but KEPT MY RECEIPT so that I no longer had the evidence of his server's fraud! As you might think, I will never go back to this place. Mediocres service is one thing, but stealing from customers and then stealing from them again when they catch you is the line I draw in the sand. read more

The manager is rude and had been every time I have been. Service is slow and his answer is essentially "we are busy"

I honestly can't say enough. The location is prime. The decor is awesome. The food is excellent. I went with a large party last week and they accommodated us easily. The server was great and the food was delicious and on time. The portion sizes were huge!!! The guacamole was to die for and so was the queso. 5 stars read more

VIVA Tacos & Tequila - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Review on their takeout- Good birria, but not worth the price in my opinion. I birria taco with a small cup of consome for dipping was $11! One taco! It tasted very good and delivery was pretty quick via Uber eats (I live 2 minutes away and it arrived in 30-45 minutes). Street corn was good but not life changing. Overall everything tasted good but I expected more for that price. read more

VIVA Tacos & Tequila - Mexican street corn - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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The food never disappoints! The Queso-Birria, Ground Beef, Lengua, Fish, Shrimp, Al Pastor, Chorizo, or the Taco of the month always hit the spot! Although the food is great the drinks....umm...are on the money with presentation and flavor. I have yet to have a bad drink since they opened. I will say this is my favorite spot in Charleston. The atmosphere is chill, and any day you can sit on the patio at the outdoor bar. Lastly, the staff is super nice and knowledgeable about the restaurant. read more

VIVA Tacos & Tequila - The Tulum (Guava, Passionfruit, w/ a Mezcal Floater) $15 #DrinkOfTheMonth - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Holy guacamole!!! The BEST carnitas I've ever had IN NACHO FORM! Delicious! *drool* A must try at Viva! read more

VIVA Tacos & Tequila - Nachos Tradicional with CARNITAS. - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

I've been to VIVA a couple of times for both brunch and dinner. Their outdoor dining is wonderful, and I felt we had great service both times. It can be pretty chilly inside though. The best option for parking is on the street directly outside the entrance. They have great drinks and don't shame you for ordering more queso! We'll be back. read more

VIVA Tacos & Tequila - Mexican Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Ok, so it's been months since the first time I reviewed Viva and I still have to say I will be giving it 3 stars. The good: The margaritas are delicious! They have so many to choose from and they even offer $5 margaritas on Tuesdays which I had no idea about! The Margarita I had for the Tuesday special was a strawberry basil margarita, it was so delicious I had to get two! The birria taco was delicious too! The meat was juicy and well seasoned and I enjoyed the sauce you dip it in! The bad: The service. The service is super slow. I have been a bartender, a cocktail waitress & a food runner in past jobs. The bartenders were more concerned about trying the drinks they just made you(which really should not be happening right now) and drinking their own than checking on you. I was never offered a water in the hour and a half I was there and I had to wave two of them down for my check. My taco also took about 25 minutes to get, which was ok since I was having a drink, but it still shouldn't take that long on a Tuesday afternoon that was not very busy. I also watched one of the bartenders drink a drink and blow her nose without washing her hands afterward. This is especially worrisome since we are still in Covid. I saw a food runner grab some berries with her bare hands and eat them without washing their hands and then serve food. I think if they taught everyone food and health safety and focused more on customer service, Viva would have a lot of potential. read more

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Fun and festive pick for cocktails and tacos at the bar. Drinks were delicious and food came out quickly. Free Chips and salsa fresh and tasty. Good date night pick. Birria Taco was delish. read more

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Food: meh, I had quesa birria tacos they were greasy and not flavored. Everyone else In my party seemed to enjoy their food but we all agreed the food was average. Service: for one woman working a pretty section god bless her soul she's working her butt off. I know they are understaffed and it saddens me. Drinks: I don't consume alcohol so I can't say how the alcohol drinks were but 2 other people in my party got drinks and that's what seems to be driving this establishment. Overall i wouldn't come back to this restaurant until I was dragged by family members cause it's convenient to where we live. read more

Not good :/ I ordered the cilantro lime salmon, and my mom ordered a few tacos. Everything was either bland and unseasoned, or poorly seasoned (bad flavor combinations). My mom's fish taco came with a piece of fish that was half the size of her pinky; when she called the waitress over to let her know, they just brought another tiny piece of fish instead of remaking the taco. I'd probably only consider coming back for happy hour to order a drink. Wouldn't waste my time or money on the food. read more

Inattentive service. Mediocre food. Drink was made with store bought lime juice instead of fresh (I ordered a tequila and soda with lime juice, so the metallic taste was very obvious). Blah. Go somewhere else for a memorable meal. read more