Viva Zapata's Mexican Restaurant & Cantina — Restaurant in North Las Vegas

Ambiance 4/5 The place actually looks very quaint and cozy. It has a lot of elements that makes you feel like you're truly inside of an old school "Mexican cantina". I actually really enjoyed the decorations. The music was not too loud and patrons were pretty soft spoken

The Service 3/5 Not that I had an issue with the servers themselves, but they will try to upsell you into their tequilas, and it was a little discomforting having to hear the whole upsell pitch when I just wanted to look at the menu.

The Drinks* 0/100

To start off : They have NO DRINK MENU. Which means you have no idea how much a drink is. Could be $5, could be $35, welcome to the mystery game! Even fine dining restaurants will give you a menu with prices, because who orders things blindly, especially in Vegas? Horrendous.

The standard Mexican Cocktail is a Margarita, so I ordered one because I always judge a Mexican restaurant based on their margaritas.

The lady dumped some mix from a plastic bottle into ice and served it to me. It tasted like Pine Sol, the floor cleaner.

It was beyond HORRIBLE. It is absolutely the worst margarita I have ever had in my life, I had one sip and had to throw it away. My girlfriend said the same thing. The server would not take it back though even though it was awful. I had to take it from her tip then because there was no way I was paying for that toxic waste from a plastic bottle.

I can never respect Mexican restaurants that makes their margaritas from pre-made mixers.

The Food 3/5 Their chips and bean dip was probably the best part of the whole experience. The chips are fresh unlike their margaritas and the bean dip it comes with is perfectly seasoned.

I had the steak fajitas, guacamole, rice and beans. It was nothing to write home about, the steak was tender but lacked flavor, the vegetables were well cooked, and rice and beans were pretty standard.

The Price 2/5

It came out to about $56 before tip + taxes for two people. Two entreés and a cocktail. While not bad, it was incredibly overpriced for the quality of food.

Conclusion

There is nothing that shines here. Nothing that stands out and in the end of the day it's just an overpriced Mexican restaurant that serves drinks from plastic mixers. Would NOT go again even if it was...

𝕍𝕚𝕧𝕒 ℤ𝕒𝕡𝕒𝕥𝕒𝕤 𝕄𝕖𝕩𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕟 ℝ𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕦𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕥 & ℂ𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕒

📍3826 E Craig Rd North Las Vegas,NV 89030

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...

This place is ok for lunch specials with the standard items like tacos, burrito, or enchiladas. This time I came for dinner and wish I hadn't. We walked in around 6:30 pm and we're told a 45 minute wait. As we started walking away we were offered high chairs, thinking it was on the bar. They took us to a tall really small flimsy table with high chairs barely room for our chips salsa and drinks. I asked a server if a table opens to let us know. About 10 minutes later he offered us a table saying he wasn't supposed to but sat us there anyway. I tried to order drinks and apps and he told us in an irritated manner he'll come back when we're ready to order because now we've put him behind. He made sure to make that comment each trip past our table. I decided to treat myself to the Mar y Tierra rib eye version listed at $35 comes with gulf shrimp. A little pricey I thought but should be excellent. Me and a friend both asked for medium. Food arrived and meat was well done smothered in a sour cream base sauce. Shrimp was dry and the cognac sauce it was in was burned. Reminded me of a dish I tried making when I was 10 years old. Got the bill and saw I was charged $48 bucks for this less than mediocre meal. I decided to speak up to the server about the mistake. He said new steak prices were on the 1 sheet page given with the main menu. The sheet shows my steak at $25. Now I'm really confused, and no one mentioned this to us. They literally just plopped them menus down and walk away. I decided to call the next morning to ask about this price difference and the girl on the phone said it was $45 bucks. I used to think this place was decent but I'm not so sure I can...