Vallarta Mexican Restaurant & Cantina

I've been going to this restaurant for years! It was previously called Durango's. I always ordered the crispy chicken tacos. After they changed hands, I was afraid the tacos wouldn't be the same. I am happy to say that they are still wonderful! They offer complementary chips with salsa and bean dip which are very tasty. I moved out of state but every time I'm in town I have to stop for the tacos. I can't find any good tacos where I live. The people are nice and I love the atmosphere. I will always be back for the chicken tacos!

I've been coming here a lot. Every single time the food has been top notch. Service is great. And it is a nice venue. Also has outdoor seating under these really cool shade cabanas. I've ordered the Birria tacos many times, the street tacos, and the combo plate. You always get the chips and salsa for free and a unique bean dip; I've never had anywhere else. Full bar too.

We stopped in for dinner on a Friday night. The website showed hours open until 9:00. We were seated at about 7:50 and about 5 minutes later a waitress rushes to our table to ask us if we are ready to order because the kitchen closes at 8:00. We say that we can be and lucky for us we just made it before the kitchen lights go off. Our food comes out quickly and we proceed to start our meal. I ask our waitress for additional chips and bean dip (the dip is good) and she said unfortunately the chips and dip were put away... what???Then a couple minutes later she brings them out and said she dug the chips and bean dip out. The experience was bizarre and probably soured the taste of the food but that just goes to show how important service is. We will not go back.

I stopped on in with a group to grab a bite to eat. The five of us were in Placerville. We landed on Vallarta Mexican restaurant for a early weekend dinner. I haven't been here since they changed ownership and restaurant name a few years back. I'm happy to say Vallarta food and drinks were good... no complaints. I wouldn't drive out of my way to get here. But def' a solid option if I'm in the area. They have a full bar. That's a plus. The ambiance is casual and welcoming. The menu is diverse, lots to choose from. Varying price points. They even have a kids menu. We were given complimentary chips, warm bean dip, and red salsa. Yum! All delicious. I got the shredded beef crispy taco plate that came with refried beans and rice $11.33. It was tasty, pretty good, not extraordinary. Others got burritos and margaritas. No complaints. We all left happy and content. As we were wrapping up our dinner. I eyed the couple at the next table digging into a huge cast iron pot of assorted meats in a white creamy looking sauce. All looking just so scrumptious. We asked the waiter what it was and he replied molcajete. It's chicken, steak, and veggies served in their signature creamy Chipotle sauce. That same sauce that my dining companions thought was heavenly delicious on their burritos. The molcajete dish is served with beans, rice, and tortillas. The serving size serves two easily, maybe even three. $28.84.Tip: The restaurant parking lot is one way. So pay attention to that when entering the lot.

We have gone here twice now and both times have been excellent. The food is very good and the service is top notch! The chips and salsa and bean deep are really good. Tonight our server was Al. He was super friendly and very attentive. It's hard to find good service these days so when I find good service it's only right to let others know. We will def be back and I recommend others to try.

This place used to be durangos and it was much better then. WWe just visited this place which has been renamed to Vallarta and decided to sit in bar..maybe 7-10 folks in dining area, and only two others in the bar..We sat at a table and waited for a bit before the lone bartender came over with menus, chips n salsa and setups..took our drink order, water for me and a house margarita, for my wife. We waited for our drinks, which tood about 10 minutes to reach out table..I looked over to the bar and the bartenders gone..I then noticed him in the dining area, carrying out food plates to customers there..when he finally came back with our drinks, he said, he was sorry for delay because he had to wait on tables..if he knew that, why not bringthe water and margaritas to us before disappearing and making us wait, eating chips n salsa with no beverages..He took our order, sampler plate, which came in a few minutes, but it looked like the chicken wings and taquitos had been over done..somewhat burnt and without any flavor ...when our drinks went empty, we looked at the bar again, and he was gone..we had to wave him down to get a water refill..we also noticed the menu had been paired down and the prices all ended in odd numbers, ie 5.21, 8.47, 11.13...kinda wierd. We thought everything was overpriced and not that good...Any way..we will not be back..

Don't know yet need to check it out getting rave reviews from all the locals sounds promising. Stephen AYour galloping gourmet for gold country I know giving 5stars to a restaurant I'be never been to is really dumb but yelp made me do it You can't Post Reviews without giving a star rating Silly Huh

The staff was friendly, but this is probably the worst Mexican food we've had in Placerville. My wife's burrito had a tasteless white sauce that didn't even have a hint of Chipotle in it. The chicken was flavorless. The salsa that came with the chips was flavorless, too. No spice or heat. Pretty disappointing to spend so much on a meal that just wasn't very good. We won't be back.

Although we go to Vallarta regularly, I just noticed I hadn't Yelped! it in over two years. My Bad!Anyway, we dropped in again a few nights ago. We had their usual good food. And, as usual, the drinks were excellent and the service was wonderful!Bonus! The owner, Jorge Gracidas, sat down with us, had a drink, and brought us up to speed as to "the local news."They have, therefore, maintained the coveted "Ben & Gigi Gay Seal of Approval."Give it a try!

Service could be better. Food cold and not authentic. Waitress long dark hair, behind bar rude. Needs customer service lessons. Food truly just okay. Lots of regulars catered to at the bar over those dining in the restaurant.It's a big skip for us coming home from visiting family in the area.