Food, ambiance, price, decor, spirit, outdoor seating, consistency. An Ithaca essential.

Amazing cheese dip! The burrito chicken mole was good, but a but heavy on the mole sauce. Also the goat margarita was amazing!! -- came a second time -- Worst food ever. It was just gross. I ordered the same thing as before and didn't even eat much of it. Maybe had an off day .... read more

Incredible, fresh and delicious food. Went for lunch today and the 3.5 overall ratings is just wrong. Major injustice. If you're a lover of Mexican food, it's the place to be. And oh the staff!! Just so darn nice. One went out of her way to get us 3 types of spicy sauce to taste and have; the other for me the vendor name for soft tacos .. and chased us down the street to give it to us. Go & enjoy !! read more

Hands down my favorite restaurant in Ithaca! Smothered burrito with a Phoebe margarita is my go-to but I haven't had anything on the menu I didn't like. Can get super crowded on weekends. read more

super yummy authentic mexican food and even better margs. not too sweet not too bitter just right for a casual drink. service was also awesome food came out in 5 minutes! read more

We were there tonight, party of 4. We sat outside. Our waiter took awhile to ask for drinks. I ordered a Diet Coke and was very specific that I did not want a lemon. Drinks come and sure enough there is a lemon. We ordered chips with guacamole and salsa. There are a handful of chips thrown in a plastic bag tied in a knot. We order 3 tacos, a tofu burrito no mole sauce, one stuffed quesadilla with chicken and one stuffed quesadilla with pork. The burrito had mole sauce and the quesadilla that was supposed to have chicken had none. Our waiter wrote nothing down and this is probably why all the mistakes happened. I asked for some sour cream for my quesadilla. It was severed with a sliver of a radish and a lime. It was the most bizarre thing I have ever seen. All quesadillas are served with sour cream, well guess what never came. He did bring out a quesadilla with chicken after my daughter had finished eating her cheese one and after arguing that's not what she asked for but she specifically did. I was very disappointed to the lack of attention to our order. The food was good but given the lack of care I doubt I would go back. read more

Our waitress was so freaking sweet! I wish I remembered her name. She is the highlight of this review- attentive, knowledgeable on ingredients/food allergies, super friendly and brought out coloring stuff for my little guy (which we always appreciate). When we first walked inside, the place smelled like toilet water. Seriously, it was freaking gross. Luckily, it was a nice day outside and we got a table out on the sidewalk- score. The food was your standard, not even close to being authentic Mexican food. Honestly, I didn't expect much- I'm from Vegas. We have the best mom and pop places. The guac was decent and fresh. Portion size for the price was nothing to write home about. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't out of this world. It seems to be a solid choice for university students and locals. read more

Great restaurant to go to with friends and family! I came here with my strictly vegetarian parents and sister (who is also severely allergic to eggs, whey, and peanuts.) Everyone found something to eat and absolutely loved the food! My sister had a vegan burrito, my dad the smothered burrito, and my mom and I had enchiladas. Excellent service too! The only reason I give this 3 stars is because it can be hard to find parking and there tends to be a long wait to be seated. Also there isn't a great area to stand in while waiting to be seated, and the hostess isn't always accurate with how long your party will be waiting for a table. read more

Viva Taqueria - Mexican Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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Food was gr8. Fab service by a guy server. The frozen marguerita was reallygood, I wud defo come back here again. Yum read more

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Swipe right on Viva! They're dependable, fun and are conveniently located downtown in an area with a surprisingly open street parking situation just up the hill. Try the Mucho Nachos. They come highly recommended and are my go-to order. Guac, sour cream, your choice of meat and all of the fixings. They have a variety of sauces as well for you to try. The burritos are great as well. My favorite is the chicken mole, which has just a hint of a spicy, lemony flavor. Service here is friendly, warm and approachable. Try the margaritas and tequila! They have a surprisingly developed bar area that compliments the restauraunt theme well. read more

Perfectly average little restaurant. It's definitely gringo territory but hey, so is Ithaca. I'm on the wagon, so I can't speak to the margaritas, but also means I'm giving you a sober take on the food. Their tacos come on corn tortillas which makes this a step up from Chili's, so it's got that going for it, which is nice. Enchiladas are just fine. The feel of the place is your run-of-the-mill slightly-run-down joint where collegiate life and townie life collide. Not much for character, but hey, in its generic nature I guess you can pleasure your frat boy cousin and your hippie gramma in one fell swoop? I have neither of these members in my family so I'm going to keep searching for a food place that feels more like home. If it's innocuous tex-mex you want, swing on by here. If you're expecting Mexican food, you may need to drive a long long way to find it. read more

The food was not authentic at all. I've eaten a lot of Mexican food. I got the tostadas which were nothing to talk about. I'm sure this passes for Mexican food in Ithaca but not anywhere else... read more

Viva Taqueria - Tostada - Mexican Near Me - Ithaca, New York

The food is kind of bland and the service is 100 times worse than any place I've ever seen don't go there go to Simeon's's across the street. Honestly I can't believe the attitude of the staff and the management. They could completely care less about you or your food or anything. And as they say the fish sticks from the head read more

Was pleasantly surprised by this restaurant. We sat in the the "takeout" section outside. They have good margs. The spring roll taco was delish. And their salsa was so fresh and yummy. It was a great meal. read more

Viva Taqueria - Mexican Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Very good food! Service was fairly quick despite it being incredibly busy. I just wasn't the biggest fan of their margaritas. I was also bummed when they didn't have complimentary chips and salsa like most Mexican restaurants. Otherwise our meals were very good! read more

Probably not the worst Mexican restaurant I've ever been too, but I have too many complaints to give it 3 stars. The corn tortillas were on the verge of becoming stale in all of our dishes, and many of our dishes lacked flavor. They messed up my mom's drink and didn't bring her a tall, so when she pointed it out to the waitress, the waitress went to the bar and brought her more tonic, expecting her to mix her own drink herself at the table... The experience was just generally disappointing. read more

Visiting a small city like Ithaca, we were thinking Americana food but decided on Viva Taqueria because of their happy hour specials. The restaurant was very down to earth, relaxing and the food was excellent. Being tired and hungry as we were touring Cornell University, Viva Taqueria was the perfect dinner choice. We recommend their frozen Mango Margarita... read more

Great food and ambiance! Their chorizo queso is to die for!! I got the Tres Amigos tacos and my boyfriend got a huge smothered burrito. The tacos were delicious and interesting. Only complaint is that the beans were left in his burrito despite the fact that we saw the waitress make note that they should be omitted. Beans are a big "no-no" in his book but they were easy to take out, plus it was a busy night on the day after Christmas. No big deal. We enjoyed trying a few different margarita and getting a better understanding of what tequilas we enjoy the most. We will definitely be back! read more

It pains me to write this because we've been coming here for years and have always enjoyed our meals, drinks & service. We had a large party of eight for dinner here last night. Out of our eight, six were vegan or vegeterian. They have a clearly marked menu with plenty of veg options. About 3/4 of the way through my vegan plate, I bit in to a piece of chicken. I proceeded to put it in my napkin. My son saw my face and asked what was wrong. He then shows me the piece of chicken he found in his rice (his meal was vegeterian.) I called over our server. He was very apologetic. He took off our two meals and talked to the kitchen staff. Yes, I appreciate them comping our meals. Yes, our service was good. Yes, everyone else enjoyed their meals but it'll be hard to trust the kitchen not to make the same mistake in the future. read more

My boyfriend and I stopped in here today while traveling through Ithaca and we're pleasantly surprised! First of all, I always appreciate when a restaurant has vegan/vegetarian options. This place had THREE veg-friendly protein choices, which made me ecstatic (beans, tofu, and some sort of pickled veggie mix I believe). We each ordered a smothered burrito; I chose tofu, he got chicken, and we both opted for Ranchero on top. When our server brought our food over, my boyfriend's burrito had tomatillo on top instead of the Ranchero, which was kind of annoying but not annoying enough to send it back. Our server also gave us each other's burrito, and I'm really glad that I double checked after cutting mine open or else I would have taken a huge bite of chicken. Other than those few hiccups, the food was REALLY good. I'm not sure what it's called, but the pickled cabbage stuff on the side was delicious. I would have loved to try a margarita but we weren't really in the mood to drink since we were traveling. I'll definitely stop back here if I'm in the area again! read more

There is no one who can tell me with a straight face that this place is true Mexican food, or even unapologetically Southwestern. This is "Mexican" food aimed a vegan/vegetarian crowd. Sure, it's a taqueria by virtue of selling tacos, but so what? I visited a couple of times, but was never impressed; this place had the level of authenticity I have often seen at restaurants where White people try and sell me their version of Indian food. If you want meatless options that pretend to be Mexican, this is the place for you. read more

This is a great place to grab food at anytime. Wether you are looking for a tasty burrito, need to quick place to eat, or are looking for an inexpensive meal, Viva Taqueria is the place for you. The food is delicious and extremely affordable compared to the surrounding restaurants. It is also a great place to stop by for drinks. With $2 off draft beer and only $5 margaritas. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who is in the area. read more

Looking for vegan options the vegan nachos were delicious! Also got a vegan burrito which was equally as good. The nachos are def worth a try! read more

If this joint was in California or Texas, it would have gone bust in ten minutes. But Toto, we're not in the South anymore, and here we are in Ithaca, with burrito and nacho cravings to assuage. Viva Taqueria splits into two parts: the sit-down restaurant style on the left and the take-out on the right. I went to the take-out with my friends because we were short on time, and despite my skepticism (bad history with take-out places in general), we were not disappointed as we ordered our nachos and rice. I would like to try going there to actually sit down and eat one of these days. Definitely one of the standout restaurants at the Commons. read more

I love this Aurora Street Staple. Obviously, it's best to go when the weather is fine and you can get a table outside, sit and people watch, enjoy a beer and a tequila and some "mexican" food. Oh yeh, about that: this is not Mexican Food per say - so if you're looking for "authentic Mexican Food" I would suggest looking elsewhere. Though you may have trouble finding that anywhere in Ithaca. Viva's food is Mexican Food, with a unique and often delicious Ithaca-Hippy Twist. I call it Itha-Mex, similar in style to the old El Coyote Loco. All the sauces, salsa's and even the margarita mix are house made from fresh ingredients so the flavors are truly unique. So along those, lines, I would leave your expectations at home if you have never been to Viva before. Prior reviews are correct in that the Chorizo and Shredded Beef often disapoints if you have had the real deal out in the southwest. For something different, try the calabacitas. I'm a carnivore and love meat, but the calabacitas are so good here (and the meats just so-so) that I usually go that route. I think that is where Viva really shines - with it's healthy vegetarian choices, and laid back, friendly service. Highlights include the queso fundito appetizer, the Taco Salad (order both types of dressing and mix them together -trust me),and the Enchildas Rancheros. Also, a fairly extensive Tequila list and a Tequila Flight option - always fun. read more

- house margaritas: awesome - chips and salsa: awesome - tomatillo enchilada: awesome - service: awesome - server friendliness: awesome - decor: awesome - location: awesome - everything on the plate except for the main entree: not so awesome (carrots? whole pieces of garlic? dry beans? dry rice?) oh viva. you could totally have a 5 star ranking from me on yelp.com if you didn't have such wierd things accompanying my enchiladas. read more

I LOVE Mexican food and this is my favorite place in the country! I come back to Ithaca at least once a year to get my Viva fix. Fresh, healthy, simple, homemade ingredients fuse together to tantalize all your senses. If you are lucky enough to find a table in the cute, vibrant interior then be sure to snatch it up. If not then order off the to-go menu. The burritos are orgasmic and a steal at six dollars with all the fixins. Other not to miss items includes the quesadillas and tostadas but you will be happy with anything on the menu. If you are lucky enough to be around during the chili festival, join the long line and try their amazing award winning chili, it will blow your mind and your senses! read more

I really liked this place, though I was a bit bored by it. Had pretty decent tacos and a mediocre burrito here. I was pretty happy with my mango margarita, but doubt there was much alcohol in it. Viva would be a convenient, filling, and somewhat tasty spot for lunch if I lived and worked in Ithaca. Since I don't and since I've had WAYYYYY better tacos, burritos and margs elsewhere, I wasn't that impressed. The place is cute and they have cool seating options. Plus, I liked that you could order from the counter OR have a sit-down meal and regardless of which you chose, could still order drinks at the bar and take them to your seat. Pretty cool. read more

The taqueria side in general produces bad Mexican/Southwest food. Every time I have walked in the burritos have been bland. I had to pour chili sauce all over them just to add some flavor. The things that saved this place from getting one or 2 stars is that the Cantina side has affordable and reasonably tasty margaritas, nachos, and fajitas. Also on the Cantina side getting the burrito wet really improves the flavor. Its unfortunate that tomatillo sauce or red chili sauce is required to make the burrito tasty, but its tasty enough with the sauce to warrant an extra star. I also like the traditional pickled carrots, garlic and fresh radish that come with the dishes on the Cantina side. The food is quite filling on both sides as the burritos are relatively large. Lesson: pay the extra buck or two and go to the Cantina side Cantina side: 3 stars Taqueria side: 2 stars read more

As far as I can tell, there are three reasons to come to Viva. The first is for a margarita. The second is your second margarita. The third is your third margarita. The margarita menu itself is ample, and any of their extensive tequilas (and mescals) can be made into a margarita for a reasonable surcharge. Knocking a few back on the patio on a warm day is why we invented tequila and the outside. The burritos are generous, but uninspired. Each time, I've been satisfied, and nothing has been wrong per se, but I find myself wishing they were more flavorful or more interesting. Mexeo, up the hill, is definitely the better place to go if you're just picking up something for lunch (especially if you're coming down the hill to get to Viva's anyway). What this means is that if you need food, the burritos are just good enough that you won't complain about them while enjoying your one- or two-too-many beverages and people-watching downtown. read more

Three stars considering we are in upstate NY. If Viva Taqueria were in California we are looking at 1-2 stars. That said, I have eaten at both sides and the sit down side is definitely "better." I initially recommend the Mole, however upon a second visit I rescind that recomendation. Even now, I am still surprised that anyone even knows what Mole is in upstate. There are some definite positives, they have Jarritos, a decent tequila selection, negra modelo. Negatives: well the food is not that great, its not really Mexican food, and it's strangely popular, as in you may have to wait. If Mexican food is your heroin, Viva Taqueria might be your methadone, at least until you can get back to your dealer in California. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Ithaca. It's not without some issues, but the atmosphere, service and food knock anything "bad" right out of the water. So here it is... The Good: The food is fresh, delicious and plentiful. I usually eat more food in one sitting than most people eat all day, so it's hard to get me full and yet I leave here sated to the brim every time. Although I would not necessarily call this "authentic" mexican food, I also don't care. I'm not really hunting for authenticity here, and what I get is always tasty and hits the spot. I also really like that I don't feel like a total slug after I finish because there is not a brick of cheese weighing me down. Everything is healthy, yet filling, exactly how food should be! The decor and general feel of the place is also very fun. It's laid back and funky, there's a lot of things to feast your eyes on, even if you're a regular. This is clearly a restaurant tailored for Ithaca, but that's what makes it so great. The servers are equally as funky and charming, and I've never had a negative experience with service here. Everyone is friendly and attentive and the food comes out SHOCKINGLY fast. The (slight) Bad: It can get very crowded here and the wait can be ridiculous. But, hey, you can't fault a restaurant for being well-liked and frequented. This is really just something to keep in mind if you're craving a burrito on a Saturday night. When it is crowded, the seating layout doesn't leave much room for personal space and you end up eating dinner with some strangers, unless you're lucky enough to snag a booth. Finally, and this is really the only legitimate complaint, some menu items seem to be almost intentionally confusing. For example, there are several nacho items on the menu, some of which are vegan and others that aren't, yet even the non-vegan ones have "vegan" in the title. The "screaming cheating vegan" nachos have tons of meat in them! Yes, obviously we are all big girls and boys and should be able to read through the item description and no, I have never once ordered something on the menu that did not jive with my dietary restrictions, however the stickler in me has to ask why? Why use the word vegan in the title if the item is very obviously NOT vegan. If you are reasonable person and go in knowing what you're in for, there is no reason why Viva should not give you an amazing experience. read more

I do not like Mexican food. Yet I LOVE this place. They have the BEST chicken quesadilas ever. I've been searching all over trying to find a place as good as this one and fail. Every time. Despite having visited every place with 'Taqueria" in its name. I will need to give up on my quest one of these days particularly since I don't like Mexican food and keep having to eat it. P.S. Skip the take-out; it just doesn't taste as good. read more

Ok, so maybe I don't know what "real" mexican food is unlike the people below me, but I love viva for two reasons. 1) Their happy hour is INSANE. House margarita for $3. $4 for a few other margarita varieties. $2 off of drafts. 2) I can get a large burrito with rice, beans, and delicious salsa for 3 dollars. Done. read more

Some facts about Viva: 1. Viva's food is great. It's delicious. There's a lot of vegetarian and vegan options. Viva's the type of place that understands what vegan means. 2. Viva is often packed. 3. Viva is cheap. You will be getting a lot of food for your money, especially if you order a burrito. You can make your trip extra affordable by ordering on the taqueria (take out) side. 4. Viva has a bar. This contributes a lot to fact #2. People complaining about "authenticity" really drives me up the wall. The food is delicious. Relax a little. read more

Rush rush rush. This assembly line operation won't let you take a table even if just one member of your party is missing. Then it's "hurry-up and decide what you want". Once done, if you don't want dessert, the bill is in and processed in a jiffy. That wouldn't be a bad thing, if not for the pressure that the waiters start putting on you to hurry up and leave. After a few minutes, a manager-type came by to say "I hate to do this to you...", and you can imagine the rest. Now if the food was any good I may not be as displeased. But the guacamole is slimy/watery and the salsa is mediocre. The dishes are far from good Tex-Mex. read more

Nothing special. The Burritos were bland. I had a regular chicken Burrito. Most of the Burritos of this type I've had are from NYC and these just didn't compare to Burritoville. Edit: I just read the other reviews. I don't know anything about the state of Mexican food in upstate NY, maybe I should give them a third star. read more

I love-hate Viva. Love: outdoor seating, full service or take-out (yet eat it inside if you'd like), vegan & vegetarian options: beans, calabacitas, tofu, multiple sauces, very reasonable prices, casual enough for kids. Nachos are incredibly good!! Hate: the black beans are ALWAYS too wet. Wet like soak through your taco shell and pool on your plate wet. The trash/recycle/compost section is always DISGUSTING, regardless of time of day. And it's right at the front when you walk in. Stomach-turning. So-so: guacamole is meh. Customer service often leaves something to be desired, like, "May I have a side of salsa?" "Yes, but you'll have to get back line and pay for it (after all our food has been delivered & we're already seated, even though we'd happily pay after enjoying our food hot) before I can give it to you." read more

I've been to each half of this restaurant once, with VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES. The taqueria / take out / self service section of the restaurant is simply outstanding. Very sweet servers, great menu, exceptionally inexpensive. All around enjoyable time. Nachos totally hit the spot, simple but tasty guac, and outrageously great chicken mole taco. in fact, I liked it so much that the next day I came back... but I made the mistake of eating in the sit-down restaurant half of Viva's. The more formal section of this restaurant is just awful. Servers were unbelievably rude -- refused to seat us when there were tables available, I was yelled at when I tried to order a drink from the wrong server. All around, all the waitresses that evening were hostile and made my family and I feel tense and uncomfortable -- not a nice environment. To boot, the sit-down menu has the same dishes, but everything is nearly twice as expensive as in the taqueria (not to mention tax and tip). We left feeling angry, unhappy and cheated. all in all -- check out the taqueria, and AVOID THE RESTAURANT!!! read more

Viva is one of my favorite places to eat in Ithaca. It has a convenient location and a great vibe. They serve Mexican style, fresh, healthy food for under $10 a person. You can either go to the Cantina for a sit-down meal or to the Taqueria for takeout. First, the food, keep in mind I don't claim to be a Mexican food expert. I have tried most of the burritos and platters on the menu and most of them are solid. The taco salad is also a treat, just make sure you get the buttermilk salsa with it. The Dos Equis on tap and the house margaritas are great to wash the food down. The vegetables always taste fresh and flavorful, despite the season. My only gripe is that the hot sauce they provide at the table. I still prefer the gringo stuff (Cholula / Tobasco). Next, the service. I have never had a problem with the service in the many times I have been to Viva. Just keep in mind that they are trying to get you in and out quickly. It is how they provide their food at such low prices. The bar also has several veteran bartenders that know their stuff. Overall this is a great place with fresh, affordable food. They really don't claim to have legit "Mexican Food", so it really shouldn't be held against them. I will continue to be a loyal customer at this great restaurant. read more