Mexican Villa Restaurant — Restaurant in Vancouver

KEEP IN MIND - this is a small, family owned, Tex-Mex styled restaurant. Don't expect it to be luxurious or your 'typical' Mexican food. I am never disappointed when I come here. Been coming to Mexican Villa for as long as I can remember. It is mine and my family's favorite Mexican restaurant here in Vancouver. My dad has been coming here since he was a child. It is small and family owned and that's what keeps it so consistent, fast, and unique. Their staff is super friendly and the chefs are very fast so you don't sit there for a long time waiting on your food. They always offer chips and hot sauce ($1) as an appetizer. You can also get a side of beans and/or guacamole for a bit more. They occasionally get too full and you have to wait a little while (downfall of being a small restaurant) but this doesn't happen too often. They don't take debit or credit so you'll want to make sure to have cash or check with you (but if you forget, there is a bar next door with an ATM). Also, you should really try the cookies they sell at the front counter. I don't know why, but I am obsessed...

Slow service. WAY pricey for a slummy hole in the wall place. I was expecting similar taste & value such as Los Tacos Locos. No such luck! They did offer chips & salsa, which I accepted. The chips were just dry, industrial, chips, unwarmed; the salsa from a can or jar. Nothing remotely fresh or interesting. I was startled to find them on my bill $3+? Wow. Just...wow. I'd thought that they were complimentary, like in similar sit-down places. When my food order came, it was just okay, barely passable.

I will NEVER go back.

The ONLY reason that I awarded 2☆'s, instead of one or no stars, was because they exhibited a small amount of patience when I had to leave to get cash from an ATM. Why, you may wonder? Well, it's because of a small, obscure sign posted low on their counter, which I didn't readily observe. Cash or Check ONLY. For REAL, people!

For the money, I could have gone a few minutes away to Muchas Gracias, purchased any menu item plus a drink, &been INFINITELY better fed...

I've been eating at this gem since I was 9, I'm 57 now. My parents absolutely loved this place as I did. It was the last meal out my father and I had with my mother before cancer took her. I recall when I was dating this very nice man for about 10 months. He was great and treated my two boys like his own. He wanted to go to some fancy place to eat but I refused saying the only place I'm interested in going is Mexican villa. I later found out why he wanted us to dress up and go all out at a fancy place.As I was devouring my typical beef enchilada plate with a cono taco on the side, he dropped to one knee and proposed..I'm sure grandma remembers that one hahaha.Both of my boys fell in love with Mexican Villa at a young age. This place has been a huge part of my life. I do need to go back there soon. Like my mother I have cancer now..not the same type, I have mestastic stage 4 colon cancer which is terminal. I plan on and will be eating at this place at least...