viva mexico

partner and i had a weekend getaway in wellington. with so many dining options on offer, it's hard to pick, but i'm so glad we found viva mexico. whilst we only popped in for a taco and margarita, we loved it so much that we went back for more the following night. 

i like that viva mexico's food looks, smells and tastes what i imagine to be "authentic" mexican cuisine. unlike other mexican places that add layer upon layer of garnish and "extra bits" to make it look bright and fancy, these tacos were simple, with lots of meat and one or two garnishes that really added to the flavour of the meal. 

the rockmelon agua fresca was delicious, and at $4.50 was the more affordable drink option on the menu. 

we will definitely be coming back the next time we're in wellington.

nice (albeit smallish) mexican main courses, but we usually go mostly for the stuffed jalapenos which are served as a starter - the best in town, absolutely delicious!

friendly staff and great location, just tucked a little way from the crowds of cuba street. the pork tacos are very tasty. i stopped for a light dinner, and the taco really hit the spot. i'll be back for more.

what a disappointment! the staff were rude and clearly didn't want us there. we ordered 3 tacos each ($6 per taco), which we thought would be plenty as we aren't big eaters. however, while they were nice, they were absolutely tiny and we all left hungry... annoying as it turned out to be a pricey night out. definitely won't be going back.

we went to the petone outlet (no option on zomato to leave a review for that outlet), and we were so happy we went!!!! the food is just beautiful!! we got the beef and lamb tacos and they tasted so good - loved the guacamole! we also go the churos to share and wish we got the bigger plate of them as we didn’t want them to finish - the caramel sauce that goes with them is so yummy, and it was fantastic they weren’t covered in chocolate (and this is coming from someone who loves chocolate). will happily recommend this place as it’s worth your money!!

super tasty tacos and great margaritas. home-made salsa was a highlight. everything we had was delicious though, and was even given free churros for when. we return as they had sadly sold out. we will definitely return.

this used to be our favourite mexican place but its completely ruined now. the menu has changed completely and not for the better. they only serve tacos as mains. the chilaquiles were awful, tasted like it was canned chicken, no flavour. the tacos were tiny! like an entree size for the price of a main! again, there was no flavour except the vinegary green salsa. absolutely the worst mexican place now. =(

for a start, i was very happy there were a good range of options for vegetarians. the tacos are a little bit small but very tasty with an interesting range of flavours. the music was quite loud but the staff were friendly.

they only do tacos and churros, and we couldn't figure out the pricing ($3 for 1 churro, or 3 for $10??). tacos were bland and mushy.... super underwhelming. not even copious amounts of tequila would make it revisitable.

not as good as it used to be, they only do tacos now and they don't come with salad or rice. $15 seems quite steep, might be ok if you want tapas with some drinks late at night but not for a regular meal. i feel like they should retain some of what they are known for, good hearty food with nice portion sizes. see photo for example

fabulous time at this joint i had the spinach and feta quesadilla and it was amazing and i found the smaller portion filling! super quick and lovely service and reasonable pricing.

good flavors, spicy salsa. chips and salsa are $15 which is over priced for the 15 chips you actually get. food came out fast and service was polite.

closest thing to authentic mexican food you will get in welly (for now???). the owners are from ensenada, mexico instead of the faraway lands of whakatane or timaru. definitely leans towards food on the northern side / border food, but the soups especially are very good and flavoursome. also the dudes pop the cap off your jarritos with a lighter from their pocket, so it's true authentic.

i ever knew viva mexico had a branch here. been here six years apparently.

love the back alley feel to this place. inside decor is eclectic mexican and rustic. felt like we weren't in wellington.

we opted for the jalapeño starter to share and two veggie tacos each for main.

we ordered only two tacos each as we thought it would be a light meal. it was much larger than we expected.

i loved this meal. it felt authentic (never been to mexico so can't honestly say) but it wasn't processed or westernised. great flavours. i enjoyed the refried beans on the side, nice consistency and seasoned well. generous sized salad.

i asked for some chilli sauce and received a small dish with some chilli salsa which ended up costing me $2, which felt a little cheeky but it wasn't a big deal.

i ordered a corona and my partner a glass of margarita which was lovely.

superb tasty and filling meal. will return for sure.

it's a quite small place with i think just 4 or 5 tables. but, the food is tasty and the price is lower than some other places. perfect for friday night since the night market is just outside the restaurant.