I have been passing Viva Taqueria for years and never stopped to eat. Last month I met my cool aunt and her husband for lunch at this fun restaurant. The wait staff is really nice, they didn't rush us and we had a delicious meal. Hope to return soon. Great for dates !! read more

Located in downtown ithaca, viva taqueria serves up Mexican food. We got a Super Smothered Burrito veggie style and a chicken taco. The burrito was good but not so much on the taco. I've had Mexican food from a lot of places and I wasn't that impressed. I felt that it lacks some core taste. This taste is very average to me. read more

Stopped over here twice - once on a busy Sunday night in the area dedicated for quick eating (taqueria), and then again on Monday afternoon for a relaxed sit-down meal (cantina). Generally inviting decor and lots of bustle with waiters/bartenders doing their thing. First go around, shared the Super Nachos ($8) - a pile of warm chips, salsa, guac, sour cream, jalapenos, and cheese. Chips were a little burnt but everything on top covered that taste. Washed it down with a Mango Frozen Margarita ($8) which always helps matters. For the sit-down meal, ordered the Steak Fajitas ($17) - several slices of steak, grilled peppers, onions, and a pile of soft tortillas. Okay collection of ingredients, could have used some cheese or sour cream. Can be a little hectic at night; way easier to get around in the morning/afternoon. read more

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

The wrapped burrito was excellent. It was hot and well filled. Service was good. It was a great day to sit outside too.

Good service, really nice waiter. Food is beyond mid, you could easily make this better at home. Burrito was cold the second it came out. There is nothing worth the menu price at this place you're better off going to old Mexico where the food is much better. read more

Either the restaurant is straight up closed, the bar is not open for seating that particular day (weird) or there's a hour wait for a table. There is no in-between. Take my money dammit, I need a margarita! read more

Let's start with the positive. The outdoor dining here is excellent, with plenty of people watching to go along with your food. The prices are fair, the portions plentiful. The only true issue we had was service. It was lunch, and not overly busy. The server was absent for the most part, and would forget the items that we requested. (Like napkins when eating fajitas...). This didn't detract from enjoying lunch, but did add some annoyance to our visit. read more

Please do not patronize this restaurant! I had been going here for the last 15 years and once or twice a month for the last two years. Something has changed and I will never go back. About two weeks ago, I stopped in as I usually do, as a lone, single late 50's white woman. I asked for a table outside. Mind you, it was 2:00 in the afternoon on a weekday, and there were no more than 3-4 customers in the place. The host, who was not the usual gentlemen who seats me, informed me that " I was told not to sit single people at a table or outside. You are welcome to sit at the bar or get it to go" (said in a very condescending tone). Apparently he could tell by the look on my face that I was not okay with that and he offered to go "double check". When he came back he told me he could seat me, and took me to a table outside. I proceeded to order my usual of vegan nachos and an iced tea. As I ate my meal, my anger at this treatment grew. By the end, I couldn't even finish my meal and felt that I couldn't be cordial to discuss this treatment with the manager. A few weeks went by and I was in town again and decided to go back and talk to the manager and see if this is just a one-off or in fact a new policy. The same host was there when I walked in and again, condescendingly asked " Can I help you?" I asked to speak to a manager and he walked away and came back after a few moments to inform me that no manager was available. He asked what the issue was and I told him. He offered no apology for the treatment and would not assure me that I wouldn't encounter the same treatment if I returned again. He did offer to have someone call me. I left my name and number and never received a response back. If this had been a busy, full house Saturday night, I could well understand asking a single person to sit at the bar or get a "to go". But on an empty, weekday afternoon this treatment is insulting and rude. I will never go back and I would hope that others would not patronize an establishment with such an overtly discriminatory policy toward single patrons. read more

Viva is an institution to me. Being an alum of Ithaca College, this place is a must if you're a college kid, parent of a college kid, an Ithaca local, just passing through, and more. Their tequila selection is extensive. Their food is fresh. Service is always polite and courteous. There's options for most dietary restrictions, and all are delicious so bring your friends! A rather small establishment, it can be a wait to grab a table and it's almost always packed to the gills, so call ahead if you can. My absolute favorites are the macho nachos, chicken fajita quesadilla and the Goat Margaritas. Order any one of those and I promise you can't be too disappointed in me. read more

Viva Taqueria is a pretty passable Mexican place in the Commons - the food is pretty mediocre and the service is almost nonexistent, but what it lacks in frills it compensates for by being pretty inexpensive. Most entrees are around $10, and the portion sizes are pretty massive - a smothered burrito could almost be shared by two people. The last time I came, my sister and I were seated immediately outside. I had a super smothered burrito with chicken, which came with all the bells and whistles (sour cream, cheese, guac, rice, beans, etc.) and I ordered it with ranchero sauce. It also came with some slaw and pickled vegetables on the side, which proved to be a nice and acidic contrast to the heavy, savory burrito. I thought the chicken in the burrito was fairly bland, and my other major qualm is that the ingredients weren't mixed very well inside. However, the ranchero sauce was yummy, and again, for $10 it's hard to complain (although I have to say, gun to my head I'd rather have a Chipotle burrito). Service was fast and friendly but very minimal. Also, our server split our check without us asking, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing in our case since we most likely would have gone dutch anyway but would have been kinda annoying if we had wanted to pay together. Other complaints include the fact that chips and salsa are an additional charge; in my opinion, they should be complimentary at a Mexican restaurant like Viva, and usually are. I've only had the margaritas once and didn't think they were very good at all, but they're very inexpensive and it's possible it was just the bartender on that given night. TL;DR: Better than a lot of the other cheap food in Ithaca, but there are so many great spots in the Commons that I'd rather pay a little more and have a nicer experience. read more

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Food was really tasty. The service with our waitress was great and quick. Sat outside and enjoyed the Ithaca Commons.

My husband has been going to Viva for over 25 years since it was a little take out only joint. We live about an hour away and have been there a few times per year until the pandemic. And we have always LOVED it...until now. We went yesterday, and sadly it was quite average. The chicken mole was so spicy it was hard to enjoy, the calabacitas vegetarian filling which I always loved was bland, and the red sangria tasted more like juice than wine. The best thing we had was the shredded beef tacos, and our kids liked the chicken burritos and chorizo quesadilla they had. Viva has also moved across the street and although the space can accommodate more people it just didn't have the same cozy, energetic vibe. It was 5:30 PM on a Saturday and it was kind of quiet and half empty. Our service was friendly, attentive and fast. We will try it again in the future because you can always have an off night, and hoping yesterday was just a fluke. read more

Was looking forward this , unfortunately the waitress never waited in us, took order for two other tables that arrived after us. Those tables food arrived and we were still waiting . A waitress finally ask us if we were ready and I said "yes we've been waiting a while . She said " good for you " first of all not a nice thing to say and not appropriate. Food came and was cold . We spent 90 dollars. Will not be returning and as others have said in comments before me Staff has a attitude . read more

Viva serves some seriously amazing food! One of the best Mexican places I have tried so far in Ithaca. The super smothered burrito with shredded beef brisket was so amazing. The flavors truly went so well together, from the soft tortilla to the delicious pinto beans and tender/flavorful brisket. Additionally, the sides of pickled jalapeños, carrots, and garlic perfectly cut through the flavor of the burrito with its acidity. We also had an amazingly kind waitress that allowed us to try some of her favorite sauce (the Mole sauce) and she was extremely helpful in helping us make our decision when ordering. Just make sure if you come on a busy night to get there early because you will likely have to wait around 30ish minutes!! read more

Viva Taqueria - Chicken Ranchero Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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If I ever need to hunt down lesbians in Ithaca, I know exactly where to go. And I'm not just saying that because I spent a whole weekend with lesbians on a lake. There were definitely plenty of others at this here bar that came independently from our own very sapphic party. ------- Regardless, Viva has some pretty prime real estate, sitting comfortably close to Cornell, making it accessible to the college community, but also a stone's throw away from the bustling (well, relatively speaking...) downtown commercial area. Considering the limited street parking in the immediate vicinity, this joint was packed both times we rolled in... including the outdoor patio, even in 90+ degree weather. Can't speak much to the food, except to say that their trio of salsas is pretty fine, and that it makes for an ultra-satisfying snack for two. The hearty chips hold up well against the refreshing dips, which came in traditional, salsa fresca, and tomatillo. I was partial to the chunkier pico-like salsa fresca while a friend tore into the tomatillo with relish. See, this trio offers something for everyone (as long as you like tomatoes)! Oh, let's not forget the most important thing: $4 classic margaritas. Sadly, they don't serve pitchers of the stuff, but considering $8 worth of them had me merrily buzzing, I can't really complain. Yeah, they have roughly a dozen other flavors and styles, but why mess with a good thing, right? P.S. Thanks to our server who conscientiously warned us that she'd have to charge us for a full bowl, although we really wanted half of a third refill. Upon looking at the bill, I realized that each honking bowl of extra chips was a staggering (sarcasm) $1. Ah, these are the refreshing moments that remind me that not -everywhere- is as prohibitively expensive as New York City. read more

Viva Taqueria - Mexican Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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I think this place is just the cat's sombrero. It is always lively, they have the lovely option of sit down service, bar service or service yourself. There's outdoor seating with the option of service or not. The food was surprisingly really varied. I ordered 5 different tacos and each one had a different degree of heat and unique flavor. The "spring roll" tofu had a lot of acidity. The pork was flavorful, the black bean spicy with the poblano, the chicken and beef tender and delicious. read more

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An Ithaca Staple. If you can snag a spot on their patio on a summer day, you better make the right choice and mine is usually the taco salad with buttermilk dressing and chicken. Once I switched it up with beef and that was a bad move but just because it was super salty. Spent my 21st birthday here with my family years ago and I remember eating the enchiladas with mole sauce and those were goooood. Can't imagine not having this place in town. read more

Viva Taqueria - Taco Salad With Chicken - Mexican Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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Chipotle has better quality food. They messed up my order. It's just overall mediocre.

While visiting Ithaca and looking for a nice, casual place to have dinner, I stumbled across Viva Taqueria. The wait to get seated was over 45 minutes (good thing I was able to wander around the neighborhood to kill time). I ordered the Enchiladas Tomatillo. It was two enchiladas, and I was able to order one filled with chicken, the other beef. I thought they were both excellent. It came with rice and beans on the side. I also ordered chips and guacamole. The waitress mentioned that the guacamole was made in-house, but I thought they tasted ok, and not as fresh as I expected. I ordered the flan for dessert, and it was very good. Overall, I really liked the food and atmosphere here. It's a nice place to come with a group, or on a date. I will try to go back next time I'm in the area. read more

Viva Taqueria - Enchiladas Tomatillo - Mexican Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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I'll start by saying that I like how this place is decorated. The other thing that I really liked was the multiple options in the menu that also included vegan and vegetarian. I went there on a Friday evening and it was packed but the waiting wasn't long for a party of five. We tried out the nachos and they were superb. However, the food that I ordered (cantina platter and house margarita) was lacking in seasoning/spirits. Since I liked how some of the plates from my friends looked, I hope to try something different on my next visit. read more

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I lived in San Diego so I know I can't quite compare Mexican food but like....Viva is not it. I've tried Viva twice since being back in Ithaca and both times the food has been incredibly bland. Tastes like there is no seasoning or they forgot to season the food and the salsas are also bland and tasteless. I know they say they aren't authentic Mexican but I feel like some type of seasoning could be used to give it some type of flavor. Disappointed. read more

Awesome authentic Mexican food!! We ordered some beers and they brought out some chips, salsa and guacamole (the quac was REALLY good). We ordered our meals, I had a selection of tacos, and the food came out extremely quick! Everything was hot and fresh! The bill was very reasonable and I would recommend anyone to go to this restaurant read more

Viva Taqueria - Mexican Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Not friendly to senior citizens. Neither the new facility or the service. The interior stairs are difficult for those with hip or knee problems. When I walked in, four or five young women at the hostess station just stared at me. I said I would like a table. One at gave me a nasty look, picked up a menu, and pretty much ran down those stairs. As I made my way down, I saw that plenty of tables were available. When I got to the bottom of the stairs I turned as the hostess had, but she was nowhere to be seen. I saw a menu on a table and realized that was where she had seated me. It was a tiny table in a dark windowless corner at the back of bar and we'll away from the actual dining area. Lots of personnel ran back and forth and it was noisy. The waitress seemed to find the situation amusing. The loud and clear message was that old people are not wanted. read more

Had a great time! Great tacos and drinks, the staff was very nice and helpful! great overall resteraunt! Would definitely recommend! read more

Viva Taqueria - Taco platter, Chips & Salsa & Guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Amazing experience here :) very chill and nice service and we had a comfortable seat by the window overlooking the street. The vegan nachos were a great choice. Burritos and tacos are very affordable. Odd mechanism to get water out of the sink. read more

Viva Taqueria - Vegan nachos - Mexican Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Honestly the best in ithaca Good atmosphere, great service, amazing food, good prices. I'm obsessed. read more

We came here for take out during Covid times. Very easy to order-the website was easy to use and I appreciated the txt updates on my order. The salad with the lime vinaigrette was outstanding-very fresh and tasty. The star of our meal was the nachos-we went with the cheating vegan style and it was easily enough for two. Loaded with guac and sour cream which many places will charge xtra for. The mole tofu burrito was ok-not bad and a very cinammony taste. Also came with avacado and must have weighed a pound. My tummy is happy and I appreciated their policies around pick up-plenty of sanitizer and mask wearing a must! Stay safe everyone read more

Love the Chicken Mole Burrito! Great atmosphere, friendly service and good food. Will often get takeout and it's always quick.

The music being played was about food, witch made me hungry. The burrito I ordered ended up being just refried beans and rice. Strange but tasty. read more

Ordered Margaritas and the Carnitas platter. The drink was right on point and served quickly. The pork was browned more than some people would like but I found it perfect. In our house this is referred to as character and I really liked it. The tortillas that came with the meal were crisp on the edges and soft in the middle. At first I questioned how good they would be, but they were perfect. Everything else on the plate looked real fresh. A real nice, cheap meal. read more

Viva Taqueria - The perfect Mexican plate! - Mexican Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Fun atmosphere with a lot of artwork and colorful paint on the walls. I always wind up getting the same thing, the super burrito with calabacitas as the filling. It's a mixture of corn, zucchini, onions, garlic, and has SO much flavor I recommend it for anyone to try, as it's a more unique filling than the others. They have happy hour prices for their margaritas, staff is always friendly, good place to check out in Ithaca! read more

Viva Taqueria - Super burrito with calabacitas filling. - Mexican Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Service took forever .food was bland for mexican food and it was extremely noisy ..did not like this place ...I don't get all the hype

My friend who attended Ithaca College, as well as our Airbnb host recommended Viva, and I am so glad they did! We ordered chips and guac, and I had the red sangria. Both were delicious, and the sangria came in two sizes. I ordered the larger one and it was only $10 for a huge glass! For our meal I ordered two chicken tacos, rice, and beans. My partner, Chris, had the smothered burrito. We both really enjoyed our meals, which were also very reasonably priced. Our server was lovely and the outdoor seating set-up is very spacious and cute! We hope to visit again whenever we are back in the area. read more

I got take out, and it was quite good, but it's hard to fully evaluate as it was not fresh when we ate it. But it was ready pretty quickly and very tasty. read more

A friend told us to try this restaurant while we're in town visiting, so we did. To start with we ordered the queso fundido and let me just tell ya we could stop there. Never have I seen "queso" that looked like this. It was pure liquid with some chunks of cheese in it, non edible. Should just stick with slamming margaritas down. read more

Viva Taqueria - "Queso fundido" - gross - Mexican Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Entire place was staffed with very young kids, not very professional. The food did not taste that good; you could get a better burrito from Chipotle. Music didn't match the restaurant. Definitely would not come here again. read more

The worst place in Ithaca. Were waiting at the pick up line for 40 minutes and then I reminded them about an order they said they ran out of pork but they just lost my order. Stuff doesn't care about customers at all. read more

Great, authentic Mexican food in a fabulous, colorful space full of Mexican treasures to admire.

Great food, quick friendly service, excellent guacamole and the prices were reasonable. Definitely would come back next time we are in town

Viva Taqueria is one of my favorite restaurants in Ithaca, if not, my absolute favorite. It has such a laid back vibe with speedy, active and great service. The wait staff is super friendly, willing to recommend various dishes to you, and always check up on you to see if you need anything, like more chips and guac or another margarita! The food is incredible; some of the best Mexican food I've had. Whether you order nachos, a quesadilla, a burrito, fajitas or even a salad, you will not be disappointed with your choice. The happy hour specials are awesome as well; I definitely recommend the frozen mango margarita with some chips and guac. The restaurant can get crowded at peak hours, but they have a ton of seating, both indoor and outdoor, so it is worth the wait if there is one! The Macho Nachos and the Chicken Ranchero Quesadilla are two of my favorite options to order. The Macho Nachos are piled high with cheese, meat, guacamole, sour cream, and pico de gallo; there's a ton to share or to keep for yourself! Viva is a hot spot in Ithaca, check it out! read more

Viva Taqueria - Macho Nachos! - Mexican Near Me - Ithaca, New York