Viva Mexico

Food okay way too much salt on my prawns and carrots couldn't eat them. Carne asada was good tender. Pork carnitas bland. But the worst thing was the smell. The entire place smelled like febreeze spray or a laundry mat. The smell was so strong you could taste it. My clothes smelled and I had to change them when I got home. The food was ruined by the smell of the restaurant. Maybe clean the carpets and stop spraying odor hiding sprays in a food establishment. I am allergic to febreeze and tried to stay but had to get my food to go, but now I don't feel like eating because my throat is hurting and my nose is having problems from the stench of the restaurant. Won't be back. Sad because I used to love this place, I will try going back to the white center location hopefully they smell better. The service was good.

Many years ago there was this great little Mexican restaurant in Aurora California. Sadly it closed and we were left traveling the country trying to find a place as good as they were.We just found it!!! Yay, Viva Mexico!!!! We have found our new favorite place. I highly recommend their Deluxe Burrito.

The service phenomenal, the atmosphere perfect. But when you walk in the smell is horrible. The food is bland and lacking in visual appeal.

Absolutely love Viva. This little gem has been in Des Moines for over 2 decades. Its in a small building on busy Pacific Highway. Not as busy as it used to be. The food is delicious. Fresh veggies. My favorite dish is the Camarones Mojo De Ajo. No other restaurant has managed to get it just right. The shrimp are always clean and fresh. They make a mean White Russian and serve it in a huge glass. Another thing that I love about this place is that our server is the same server from atleast 20 years ago. The down side to this place is that there really isnt seating for large parties. Also, the vibe is kind of dated. Doesnt really have a hip modern feel to it. Which is why I gave 3 stars instead of 4.

Best Mexican food north of southern Arizona.

My first time eating here. The parking lot was fairly full, right off Pacific Highway. Walked in, greeted and seated quickly. Chips, dip and water brought out very quickly and menus. Our server did not share any specials or offer any drink ideas. She did take our orders quickly and brought my beverage out promptly. Food was delivered in record time, my chicken enchilada was delicious and very filling. My daughter ordered two tamales and she was pleased with her meal. The server forgot one tamale as she ordered two but remembered as she brought it out that she wanted two. My husband ordered a beef burrito, he was satisfied with his meal as well. Ample food, great taste! Better than Azteca, cheaper and closer to where we live. Service was polite and quick. We will definitely be returning. They do appear to have daily specials that are posted at the table in case server forgets to mention them. Adios and happy eats

Decades ago, mid 80s I'm thinking I first grabbed a taco with my Mexican buddy who I was out drinking with. That was a great time. Drinking lots of rail tequila with lime and table salt! As we stumbled between pitchers of on tap mexican beer, drinks and tacos, another pal, Chad showed up with his dog Thai. Wipe out an ashtray and and set the dog up with his favorite bevvie. Thai was often the decider for the drinking games Chad and I relied on down the road at the Laundromat Tavern during our visits to that fine establishment. When the dog was visibly too drunk more, it was time to settle up. This day we failed that poor dog. We were distracted with the feast (think ZZTOPs Tres Hombres gatefold art) in front of us. We drank and feasted. Toasted and ate. Not just tacos. That day Thai barfed under the table. To this day I maintain it wasn't the booze. I think he consumed a filthy little cucaracha. I'll never prove it. But that day marked the first of a decades long journey where my pals and I ventured into this dump. Food was good enough. Until one day our watering hole was locked. The reason? Health inspector. This revolving door was a joke as the 90s rolled into the 21st century. In the past decade I no longer have any desire to go back inside. Year after year, among my annual trips to the Seattle region, many of which I make myself a wager: will they be open or not?A friend who was a cook there at some point following culinary school where him and I first came together, who I literally just drove to the ocean earlier this week asked me if I noticed whether it was open. I was uncertain. Which brings me to the here and now. I drive passed to learn this information. I shall have to call him later. It's open.

By far The BEST Mexican food ever. The staff is fantastic. The food is amazing and they are super fast. 20plus years we have been coming here and we will never stop.

I have been a customer of Viva Mexico since the 80's, and my family and friends have kept coming back over the decades because of the great food, and service has been good. Well, that is until this afternoon. This is my last visit after being a customer for 3 decades... I came in for lunch and ordered off the dinner menu, and the food was good. Service was slow, and I had to repeat requests during a non busy time, but I didn't pay too much attention to that because there may have been reasons for it that wasn't obvious to a customer. I did notice that they don't fill their little complimentary salsa dishes up all the way (only half way) like other Mexican restaurants do, so I had asked for a couple refills. One of my favorite reasons for going to Viva, is because I have always enjoyed their chips and salsa (one of the best salsas that I've had over the years). While I was browsing the menu, I had run out of salsa fairly quickly, being that the little cup was filled only half way (and I was famished), so I asked for a refill. I realized it was taking a long time, while noticing my wait person was going from table to table, checking on people, so I gestured that I needed her, and she ended up coming over a few minutes later, I asked her again for that refill of Salsa, and a few minutes later she brought the refill. After I ate, I asked to order a large container of salsa to go like I have many times, as my husband and I both enjoy it. When the wait person brought the container of salsa to the table, I thought she got the size wrong, so I said I ordered the large, and she said that was the large. I told her that the containers I've ordered to go in the past are tall, and she argued and said, that was the same size the large has always come in. I just shook my head, and she looked at me like she wasn't about to let me make her wrong. I just told her at that point (feeling a bit irritated) to take it off my bill then, that I didn't want to pay for a large salsa that came in such a tiny container, but she refused, and replied, "I can't just take it off the bill, and I gave you salsas with your food" This would be the complimentary chips and salsas, like all Mexican restaurants hand out with endless refills, and theirs cups are filled full, so requests for more salsa with long waits to get it isn't a problem. Today the Des Moines Viva Mexico restaurant lost a customer of 30 years. I was treated terribly, this wait person (the name on my receipt says Marta) was extremely rude and unprofessional, did not represent the establishment well at all. I will be passing on my experience to my friends and family as well. If you want to go and get good Mexican food, amazing salsa, and most importantly be treated well, go to the other Viva locations, but stay away from the Des Moines location, as long is this Marta is working there.. Sadly she does not have the people skills and what it takes to keep loyal customers like me coming back decade after decade. See photo below, of what she considered a large salsa container, and what she says has always been the size of a large salsa to go. Again, I've ordered to go many times in the past, and the containers were much taller before. It's really insulting that this person had the audacity to basically call me liar. Update: I measured the ounces of salsa, because there is no way it looked like there was 12 oz like I was supposed to receive. Of course the container wasn't filled all the way. See photo below. 8 oz I called and confronted the manager about this, who happened to Marta, to my my surprise. I told her about this 4 oz shortage, and she replied "Oh." She also denied saying that she said that container has always been their largest size, like she told me at the restaurant. Just WOW! Just BAD business...

The service was good, we got our food quickly and the chips were fresh made. Unfortunately the food was bland, the guacamole didn't have any lime or cilantro, the mole was okay. I'd describe it more as 'Washington Mexican' than authentic.