Viva Zapata's Mexican Restaurant & Cantina

The food was very delicious and my wife and I enjoyed everything. They made the flour tortillas fresh while your food is being prepared. This restaurant has a nice upscale ambiance without the price and would love 2 return, being that I stay on the east of America!!

Incredible flavors and authentic vibes! The salsa alone is worth the trip: fresh, vibrant, and just the right amount of heat. We had the vegetarian tacos, beef taco and a cheese enchilada, and all were absolutely delicious. You can tell everything is made from scratch with care. Great service, cozy atmosphere, and truly satisfying food for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike!

Zapata’s is a lunch favorite. Really good authentic Mexican food here. The salsa is excellent and really never had a bad meal here. You’ve got to get there by 11:10 or you’re going to need a long lunch break. This place fills up fast. I’m a Relleno junkie so I get that often. It’s not the absolute best ever but it’s quite good and better than many others. They do a great torta and fajitas as well. I like the old feel atmosphere for just an anytime meal but I’m not taking my date there for a special night out. Overall I highly recommend it for a good meal.

Viva Zapato. A name that sounds catchy. But can just as easily be overlooked. And if you look closely, it appears like an old Vegas term Viva Las Vegas. A place in time where food tasted authentic. A casa where service felt genuine. A cantina with a combination as exciting as the wild west. Where you exit feeling as satisfied as a smooth southern saloon.

Great place, great ambiance. You can tell the people who work at the restaurant are happy. Fun live music, food felt authentic and fresh. Quantity is on the higher side for those who don't eat a lot. The place is better for larger groups. We had the fresh guacamole for appetizers, which was made live at the table and a Avo taco plate, which included rice and beans and a soup. Overall taste of the tacos were okay-ish. I would go back for more. Wish they had more vegetarian options.

OMG! I’m still full from eating lunch there earlier! Their lunch special is so affordable and such a good portion. I got all of this for $12.50 with a free drink refill. The staff were friendly. Checked on me occasionally but not overdoing it. Perfect place for a solo lunch or even with friends/family. Don’t pass on this. Must try.

We discovered Viva Zapatas 20 years ago! Today we came back after all of this time. Still the same delicious food, and service!! The chips, salsa, bean dip, sopa de fidello sooooo good. Not to mention the main dish, absolutely delicious! Any time we come to Vegas, this restaurant will be on our list!

This is one of the most impressive local Mexican restaurants. The service is always nothing short of spectacular, courteous, and very nice. The food is always a 10/10 and you always end up taking some home anyway because they have the best chips and salsa with beans. Plus they serve you a great fideo soup to start. Overall it is and will always be our go to spot whenever we want some great food. Shout out to our server Gerardo for the excellent service!

The delicious Mexican food combined with a warm, lively atmosphere and the mindful service makes Viva Zapata's a must visit spot for people in Vegas!

I'm so super mad I hadn't been here before and after 25 years, I'm moving! Office took me to lunch for my last day and they know I LOVE Mexican food so someone suggested Viva Zapata. We came in for lunch and it was amazing! The lunch specials are on point! The chips, salsa and bean dip:PERFECTION! That salsa is EVERYTHING! The service was fast and great, we were in and out. I felt like I was in Mexico, definitely old school feel and I loved that! Nice wood decor. They have HH 3-6pm, I totally would have hit them up once a week! They made homemade tortillas right on sight! Support local!

I used to enjoy Viva Zapatas, so I chose it for my birthday dinner this year. Big mistake. We were seated quickly and I ordered a Tamarindo margarita right after our drinks were taken. Chips and bean dip came out--great--but the margarita I was craving never showed. Halfway through my meal, I had to ask about it. Meanwhile, the staff was busy singing happy birthday to what felt like every other table. My boyfriend had even told our waitress it was my birthday. When I finally got my margarita, it was alongside the check. I figured they might still sing--especially since the waitress told us "no rush." When I brought up the missed birthday mention, she said she thought my boyfriend was joking. Really? So now I'm supposed to beg for a birthday song? No thanks. The food was forgettable, the service was flat-out bad, and the experience was a letdown. I might be back someday, but not to celebrate anything.

It's right across the street from the pilot truck stop. I came in for dinner since the review was good. I was greeted by them right away once I walked in. They took me to my booth. Nice restaurant, suitable for dates. Their food don't play. Even the frijoles they served with the chips were on fire. The lengua (tongue) dish was recommended by my friendly server Nayeli, since I told her I want something real Mexican and I like menudo and stuff. She did a great job by helping me pick this dish. It was so tender it can melt into my mouth. I can see why people love here. Definitely another visit in the near future, will recommend to others too!

Viva Zapato. A name that sounds catchy. But can just as easily be overlooked. And if you look closely, it appears like an old Vegas term Viva Las Vegas. A place in time where food tasted authentic. A casa where service felt genuine. A cantina with a combination as exciting as the wild west. Where you exit feeling as satisfied as a smooth southern saloon.

Had a taco chicken salad very tasty, could not eat it all Service was great had a strawberry margarita, chips and salsa and refried beans dip was okay Very nice atmosphere makes you think you're in Mexico, lady there making home made tortillas

Cruzin through Vegas and needed some Chicken caldo soup to doctor up this spring time cold. This location is just perfect, literally right across the street from Pilot truck stop. The restaurant is very kept up and I consider it on the fancy side. The menu is a little pricey, but where isn't these days? I just love the fancy decor and the staff here. Everyone is very helpful and kind. My chicken soup ended up being delicious and had big pieces of chicken, carrots, cabbage, potatoes, and corn on the cob. It was very hot and hit the spot today. Thank you for providing hot, delicious, quality food to the truckers. I'll definitely be back.

Good Mexican food that I had the opportunity to try while at a friend's party...the street tacos were very good as was the rice...the guacamole was outstanding and was the perfect compliment to the chips and salsa....cannot speak for the service or ambiance as I was not physically at the location, but, based on what I tried at the party, I would be interested in giving the restaurant a go at some point...RECOMMEND

Our food was great we had a cocktail de camarón una campechana . Plato de pescado , un plato de chile relleno . Todo muy delicioso. the service was amazing and staff very friendly . We went to eat there recommended by friends in californi

It's a good restaurant, really good food and service. The ONLY issue is parking. During lunch it has insufficient room to accommodate the number of cars.

Literally stumbled upon this restaurant when making a wrong turn. Best wrong turn ever. Viva Zapata's is a warm charming restaurant with great service. It was taco Tuesday after all, so I had tacos! The taco shells were just the right amount of crispy without falling apart. They were filled with flavorful white meat chicken and the fixings. The rice and beans? Like mamma makes them. They serve salsa and bean dip with their chips.Both excellent. Made my day! When in Vegas look for Viva Zapata's!

We were in town last weekend for a family memorial, and my dad had the idea for a large group of us (20+) to meet "somewhere" for a late lunch after the graveside service. Being the professional event planner of the group (who me?) I immediately volunteered for the mission of finding a place that could accommodate a large group...in less than 24 hours. I narrowed the list down to a few options, checked out their Yelp reviews, and landed on Viva Zapata's. We called and they promised they'd have our 20-person table ready and waiting by the next afternoon. And they didn't ask for a deposit or anything. Amazing! We arrived at the appointed time and, by the time everyone in the family arrived, they had a huge table set up for us. Soon, we were all seated and enjoying chips and salsa and some good drinks (much needed after what has been a stressful time). The service was amazing and the food came out fast. I got the shrimp tacos, which were "grandma's secret recipe" and were quite delicious. The mango margaritas, rimmed with a generous sprinkle of tajin, also hit the spot. I am so thankful to this restaurant and their staff for going above and beyond to make us feel welcome and feed us well. Bonus points for really cool decor - it had an old west feel and I really liked it. Thank you Zapata's!

Don't miss this great restaurant! Authentic and interesting menu, excellent service, and reasonable prices make this a not to miss meal.

Viva Zapata's deserves 5 Stars for their service, fresh tortilla maker, food and live entertainment from Wednesday- Sunday. This is my go to Mexican Restaurant in North Las Vegas. I've tried a handful of dishes which I don't know what they are called but look at my photos. I enjoy the complimentary chips with salsa and refried beans. The chips are perfect and the salsa has a little spice to but not hot. I've been to a handful of Mexican Restaurants in Las Vegas, more so in the north area and this is by far my favorite. Great location right off of I 15 on Craig.

When you walk in the decor is all over the walls, feels very cozy to me. I had their second combination plate on their menu which included a shredded beef taco, shredded beef enchilada, shredded beef tamale and rice and beans. They bring you chips and salsa and beans out and also fideo. The fideo was blan in my wifes and i opinion. The salsa has no kick but the flavor is not too bad. The beef taco was my favorite out of the food i had. The red sauce wasn't terrible but id prefer my tamale without it next time. The tamale tasted very authentic, the sauce just overtook it for me. Everything priced out very well. The service was great, we were helped always, even if it wasnt our server, they helped each other out. Will try this place again.

So glad me and my family stumbled upon this place when we were headed home to the hotel for the night while visiting Las Vegas. Food was delicious and portions were generous. The place was busy but we had good service. They serve bean dip with the chips! I can't remember the last time I went to a place that brought you out bean dip and salsa with chips. I haven't seen that since my childhood. That alone made me fall in love with this place. lol.

We stopped here on our way out of Las Vegas and it was the perfect spot for a tasty and hearty lunch. The interior is festively decorated with colorful decor and a fun ambiance. You're immediately served chips, salsa and beans, which we appreciated. I ordered a fish entree topped with onions, peppers and garlic. My partner ordered a similar steak dish. Portions are generous and flavors are tasty. Perfect stop if driving out of Vegas.

From the moment you step inside, you're transported to another era, surrounded by captivating antiques from the 1900s. The heart of Viva Zapatas lies in its dedication to fresh, homemade ingredients. Their home made tortillas & their recipes inherited from multi generations. are a testament to this commitment. Owner Lorenzo and his exceptional staff, including Karen, Alex, and Carlos, ensure every guest feels like family. The drink menu is a vibrant celebration of flavors, featuring the refreshing El Botanico (cucumber, lime, and a hint of intrigue), the tangy Fresh Tamarindo, and the unforgettable Blueberry Margaritas bursting with fresh blueberries. The culinary adventure continues with the appetizers. The Pulpo Estilo "Viva Zapatas" is a must! A whole octopus, cooked to juicy, tender perfection, adorned with a spicy special sauce and served with potatoes. The Gorditos de Camaron offer a delightful crunch, with shrimp, tomatoes, onions, and a touch of jalapeño nestled in a deep-fried tortilla, topped with cheese and served with guacamole. For a comforting start, the Sopa de Fideo is a warm embrace in a bowl. The entrees are where Viva Zapatas truly shines. The Carnitas a la Coca-Cola estilo "Morelos" is a revelation. Tender carnitas simmered in a Coca-Cola sauce infused with Pasilla chiles, fresh garlic, black pepper, cloves, and Lorenzo's mom's secret spices. It's a dish that evokes memories of home and tradition. The Lengua en Pipian, my fav here, features fresh beef tongue sautéed in a special green mole, a nod to Aztec culinary heritage. And of course, the Birria, a rich and flavorful stew, is a testament to the restaurant's authentic roots. We had the pleasure to have both goat and beef! To conclude your meal, the Flan is the perfect sweet ending. Also, keep an eye out for their future girls' night! It sounds like it'll be an event you won't want to miss!

I love menudo and I know how menudo has to taste like. This has to be by far the worst menudo I have ever tried in my life and I'm not even exaggerating. It was missing something. The broth tastes like they didn't wash it good. It was watery. The service was really good though. I also don't like the music they only place mariachi songs it's annoying.

This is my employer's favorite lunch spot. It's somewhat tucked away and easy to overlook from a distance, but the food is great, and the menu offers a wide variety of options. The prices are reasonable, the service is fast, and the staff is excellent.

Food and service is excellent!! Authentic Mexican food with great tequila selection!!

I haven't been to Viva Zapata's in a few years or so but was over at the base for work so stopped in with a few friends for lunch. It's a fairly small place with some tables for dinning around the outside wall and a bar area on the inside with TVs. The decor is very nice and the staff is always helpful and friendly. The chips and salsa came out quickly while we looked over the lunch specials. The chips were good and the salsa had good flavor but not much heat so I asked for some Habanero salsa. The Habanero salsa delivered in both flavor and some really nice heat! I was thinking about getting some tacos but saw that they had Chile Verde which is one of my favorites so I went with that. First out was the Fideo, which comes with all meals, and it was yummy! The entrees came out fairly quick after that so I dug right in. The rice and beans were both delicious, but the Chile Verde left a lot to be desired and I was quite disappointed. The pork was cubed and looked like it wasn't cooked or stewed very long and was a bit dry and also tough. The Verde sauce was like an afterthought and basically just tomatillos without the full Chile Verde flavors and spice. We are a Mexican family and my wife cooks a lot at home so I'm a bit spoiled and have pretty high expectations but this Chile Verde is probably the least favorite of anywhere I've tried it. One of my friends got tacos and said they were great and they looked good as well. My other friend is Vegetarian so they made a Veggie enchilada and some other stuff for him and he loved it. Viva Zapata's has a great vibe and outstanding service so give them a shot if you are in the area and try for yourself.

Gave Viva Zapata's a go for a lunch in with a few coworkers. There was an hour wait but had some seating at the bar top. To start off the bring our chips with salsa and beans. There were really good. For lunch I went with the campechana. It was served cold and all ingredients were fresh. It contained oysters, shrimp, octopus and a bunch of veggies. I did have to add some ketchup for a bit more flavor. But other than that it was good.

Amazing food and service! Always 10/10!! Fresh food and always very fast! It's my fav Mexican spot in town!

Chile verde was the best I've ever had. Carnitas were different - more stewed than crispy shreds. I won't order that again. I will gladly go back for the chile verde, though!

We've been here a few times and this is absolutely one of our very favorite authentic Mexican restaurants in Las Vegas! Alex was our server at the bar and he was delightful. Karen also helped us at the bar and she's fantastic! We had a bit of a misunderstanding with our order tonight but Esau, the manager, made everything right. We love the beans, chips and salsa that we are served once seated! Tonight we tried the Queso Fundido and it was not too spicy which I LOVE! The live music tonight had a wonderful upbeat vibe! I absolutely recommend this restaurant and look forward to returning again someday soon!

If you are looking for authentic Mexican cuisine with a Mexican atmosphere, this is the place! Lilianna was our waitress and WOW is all I know how to say. She was so attentive and overall super amazing!!! The whole place works together to ensure you have the best experience. The food is very very good and authentic. They make you feel like family! The parking lot is small and I would highly recommend you make a reservation on a Friday/Saturday night.

The waiter was gracious but the busboy/assistant waiter was rude arrogant and sarcastic. It's been 4 years since we visited because we lived elsewhere. We thought to make this our 3 times a month restaurant again. No. We. Won't. We will find another venue, or two.

First time trying this restaurant. Two for one margarita during happy hour. Excellent ambiance and food service. Fresh guacamole prepared table side.

Dinner | $20-30 Really bad waitress! Her name was Daniella. The bus boy was doing all the work. I will not be coming back, worse part was we where here for a birthday dinner.

First time trying it out and we were not disappointed. The food, the service, the ambiance, and specially the price during lunch is a two thumbs up. I ordered steak ala mexicana, and I really enjoyed it. Very savory and the portion is filling.

They have no drink menu. I ordered a mango margarita and got charged $24. It's $10 at Juan's. Ambience is great. Service is good. Food is mediocre.

Service was good but the food was ok, I got lengua en salsa verde. Everything was tasty except the lengua. It was more nerves than meat, I just ate the beans and rice. I told my waiter about it and he charge the whole amount and said that he would let the chef know for next time

I went here today for lunch and was beyond pleased. They were very busy but, our server was still very attentive. Their lunch specials are vey affordable and tasty. Even full the restaurant is not loud, you can still maintain a conversation without yelling

We love coming here for date night. The service is always amazing. The food is quick and delicious. We love to sit at the bar and they have the best michaladas and margaritas around.

The food here is off the charts! Foodie heaven if you love wholesome fresh in-house crafted meals. What makes this place truly remarkable and special is the story of the namesake of this restaurant. I recommend taking the time to eat IN the restaurant, look at the props, read the story on the menu, and enjoy the experience. Everything here is made in-house, and the service is compassionate, kind, and thorough. As long as you're not a narcissistic prima donna, demanding this place provide 5star obsequious treatment, you will love it. I cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough.

I happened to meet a friend for lunch, and she suggested Viva Zapata. I was happy to oblige as I love Mexican food and love even more to support locally owned restaurants. Viva Zapata did not disappoint. Everything was delicious. Their menu is extensive and when given more time, I will be returning to try more dishes. My friend and I opted for two different lunch specials. I was impressed with how generous their portions are and their price points are more than fair in this strange economy. The servers were outstanding as they were attentive and kept our beverages refilled. On 100-degree weather days, ice water is more welcome than anyone realizes. There was a nice luncheon crowd there. I will definitely be returning and soon! Thank you to the entire staff for your fantastic efforts.

Good Great!! Service Great! The ambience traditional and very pleasant we live in Henderson and can't wait to get back and enjoy this amazing restaurant..

Absolutely loved this gem. Can't believe I haven't tried them before! Went here with my work colleagues after a volunteer event. They had a very extensive lunch special menu. The guacamole was great- they make it table side. I had sautéed shrimp with butter and garlic and the portion was large and the shrimp was cooked perfectly. The server was friendly and attentive.

So we were referred to come try this little restaurant by a family member here in Vegas and let me tell you being a restaurant owner I must say this is probably hits the five star mark the service the food Quality it was delicious. I can't wait to come back and try something different with even homemade tortillas

Viva Zapata is a Mexican restaurant, bar, and gaming type of place. They started us off with complimentary chips, salsa, and bean dip. Today maybe someone slipped with the salt in the salsa...It was as salty as those extra thin pretzels. I tried the chipotle caesar salad with chicken. They gave me a generous amount of moist chicken breast that was good and the dressing was good. For my taste the sweet soft corn cake was good but didn't go well with the salad. Something crunchy and savory would be a better choice. My husband tried the steak picado. The steak came out tender but this steak had little flavor to it. We plan to try again because this restaurant offers a lot of seafood and mole dishes that might be better. Service was excellent. Three stars is a positive review on Yelp and translates to A-OK.

The historic decor centered around the theme of Zapata was visually intriguing, and the menu options were immense. One of our party of four doesn't like Mexican food so he brought in pizza to eat. The waiter told him he couldn't eat with us and needed to eat outside. Tacky. We protested and he asked the manager who authorized our son to eat "just this once." We were grateful for the approval but the fact that it was even an issue with three paying guests left a bad taste in my mouth. The air temperature in the restaurant was chilly and two of our party had to don sweatshirts to stay warm. I ordered a tasty shrimp dish off of the lunch menu (see photo). Five stars for the food, four stars for the ambiance, three stars for the service.

One of the most authentic mexican spots in all of Las Vegas, everything is good here!

Great authentic Mexican food! I loved my margarita and my enchiladas suizas Will definitely come again next time I'm in Vegas

This was absolutely HORRID I tell you! My name is Randy W and I came to this location with my wife (very hot) and our 2 kids. We came in our best attire because we thought it was gonna be amazing service. MY FOOD WAS MESSY! MY WHITE UNDIES THAT I WAS GONNA USE TONIGHT WITH MY HOT WIFE GOT RUINED. After I finished my dinner me and wife went to pound town and I had crazy diarrhea. Good food tho.

I enjoyed another fine dinner here with Diane and a relative. This time it was not on Cinco de Mayo, so was not as festive as before. But the food and service were just as good. A complimentary Bean Dip was excellent slathered onto Tortilla Chips, well augmented by salsas, fresh Guacamole prepared tableside, and a gooey, luscious Queso Fundido, which is Diane's new favorite Mexican dish. Two Shredded Beef Tacos heavily topped with Shredded Cheese for me were excellent, and Diane enjoyed her Shrimp Quesadilla, while our guest liked her Cheese Enchilada. Booth seating was comfortable, and the ambiance reminiscent of native Mexico.

I don't know where to start other than this has been my favorite Mexican place for the last 10 years. Not only is the food amazing and it is always hot and fresh but all their employees are super friendly and welcoming and always open to my special requests, which I cannot share on here because then I'll never get it lol. The manager Jose and Silvia has become good friends and every time we visit they always make sure that we are taken care of and always ask me if they (servers) have been made aware of my special request. The lighting is a little too dim for my liking but it sets for a relaxing environment. You can choose to sit close to the bar and enjoy the sporting events on tv or you can sit in the outer area and enjoy the live singer, which I believe comes nights on weekends. My favorite dishes are the wet burrito with my special tortilla, the creama y rajas tacos, or the green sauce chicken enchiladas. My boyfriend always orders the fajitas or the fajitas burritos and it's always been consistently good... BUT... here is the BEST part, they have the BEST salsa in Las Vegas and even on this planet I don't care what anyone says lol. Once you taste their salsa it's hard to compare it to any other. It looks like what sets it up apart is roasting their peppers or tomatoes but whatever it is can't even explain it but it's so good it so addicting and it'll have you asking seconds or comi Jung back just for the chips and salsa. Thank you Viva Zapatas and staff for always welcoming me and Josh like family and always making sure we are comfortable and taken care of. I'm constantly recommending this place and everyone that's tried it feels the same. PS earlier today we tried new dishes and browsed through Yelp to see if anyone had updated the pics of the food we wanted to try but there went any. So here is an updated review to reflect the new dishes and to give a shout out to Silvia for being awesome.

The green wet burrito was fire! I had to hold the lettuce though, because that is disgusting, imo. Came into town and it was so good I had to get it again. I had a dog and a baby with me, so even took it to go and it was delicious. Wish I had one in Cali!

The food is not only delicious but also authentically made that reminds me my home town, the experience was truly exceptional. Highly recommended.