Buena Vida Mexican Cuisine — Restaurant in Mission

I drove 30 minutes to check out this spot, and it absolutely did not disappoint. From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming, largely thanks to the friendly staff. We started with the fish tacos, which were fantastic—perfectly seasoned and fresh. The trompo tacos were another highlight: crunchy, flavorful, and just the right amount of spice.

The churros were an unexpected treat; they were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, made to perfection. Rarely do churros leave you feeling great afterward, but these did—they were simply delicious.

As a nice touch, they serve a fresh and tasty green sauce with the chips while you wait for your meal. I also really enjoyed the charro beans. They were simple, without the typical bacon or heavy seasoning, which made them feel light and organic—a nice balance to the meal.

By the end, I left feeling full, happy, and surprisingly energetic—definitely...

This is probably our third time coming here. It is a bit hidden in the plaza behind Denny's but if definitely worth finding.

We ordered to share the Buena Vida pack, which has two lonchesitos (bread rolls), two tacos, and a mini sincro (doesn't look or feel mini) with the bistec.

The chips they give you when you sit down to order are pretty delicious, I'm not sure what seasonings they use, but they are unique here in the valley as far as I can tell.

Other than that, the food is savory, the lonchesito bread is nicely baked brown and flavorfull. The meat seasoning is subtle but not without its punch of flavor. The sincro was awesome with that crispy melted cheese.

The baked potato had this creamy sauce that also sets it apart from the tipical loaded potato that you get any most taquerias.

Over all, I would recommend this to anyone looking for a change of typical tacos, lonches, and loaded potatos...

My ranking is based on overall taste and service. This was our first visit to this restaurant, and seating was not an issue. The staff was attentive, frequently checking in to see if we needed anything.

We ordered a botana for two, along with a lemonade and sweet tea. While the food tasted great, my disappointment came when it was time to pay. Our total was $55, which felt overpriced considering the portion of fajita we received. To give a visual—about 95% of the botana was chips, with only 2% cheese, 2% beans, and just 1% fajita. It was flavorful, but for the price, I expected a better balance.

For comparison, I’ve had botanas with significantly more meat at Costa Mesa for a lower price. Because of this, I’m unsure if I’d return, as I felt it wasn’t...