Asi Es La Vida Restaurant

An amazing Mexican restaurant, period. The food is super delicious, from the pineapple water to guacamole chips to Cecina to the dessert, everything was so flavorful and well cooked. The servers were all very polite and pleasant. They speak fluent Spanish and English. Loved their energy and service. Would love to come back for sure.

Absolute GEM. If you are looking for an authentic Mexican restaurant - look no further! The furnishings are beautiful and everything was SPOTLESS (no dust on any of the wine bottles - that's a big deal). If you're looking for tacos and a burrito, this is not your choice - these are upscale, authentic, FANTASTIC dishes! Bottom line - there's a clear reason why the reviews are so good - they deserve them. Forgot to take a picture of the flan which was INCREDIBLE!

The waiter was top notch. Precisely explained every dish. The food was fresh and delicious. The place is quite small, make reservations. We’ll definitely be returning

We had a wonderful time at this restaurant! There’s so many items on the menu we want to go back and try. Their live music was so relaxing.

Our first stop in Phoenix-authentic Mexican restaurant. Beautifully decorated and warm, friendly service from the hosts. Tasty mole, fresh guacamole & Margaritas! Stop in for a great experience!

Good, calm, and quiet place to enjoy dinner! Service is something that we need to highlight. waitress went the extra mile to get sure that we got a good experience, we ordered the tampiquena plate and a ropa vieja/mole plate, they give us the option to pit to different proteins in one of our orders, ropa vieja beef it's ok, but the mole is a must try item in their menu. They have live music with a guy singing some relaxed/romantic music. Salsas are good, and prices ok, only thing they meed to improve its on their tortillas they are regular Commercial packed tortillas, if they change that it will be a great plus to your experience. The restaurant is decorated with frida khalo vibes.

Great ambiance. We went during lunch service. A good place to sit, have good food and a good conversation.

Lovely little place! My food came out fast and was absolutely divine. I'm not even a mole person and I enjoyed it here! Sangria was delicious, not too sweet or too strong, and the ice cream crepe was unique and a great end to a great meal. Staff was very friendly and didn't mind me just sitting alone reading my book while eating :)

A tiny, romantic, absolute gem of a restaurant serving complex, beautiful, innovative versions of Mexican food classics. It's the food your abuela would make if she had spent a little time in Europe, gone to culinary school, and possessed a Wild imagination. This is not a chips-and-salsa Mexican joint. But don't let that dissuade you. It was here that I had some of the best food Ive had in the Phoenix Valley. It's that good. Think of it as Unique, sophisticated food with a Mexican flair. The menu is not huge, and changes. You'll find delectable dishes like Borrego Azteca (leg of lamb), carne tampiquena (flavorful top sirloin), ropa vieja (a Cuban favorite), and the untouchable cochinito pibil (a slow-roasted suckling pig). There are selections that bring a Mexican foundation to an international-inspired dish. And everything on that darned menu is amazing. Maybe better. The owner, Irving Rodriguez, knows his food and his clientele. You might find a celebrity quietly dining here, or a couple On their first date. The ambiance is dark and romantic and cozy. In fact the restaurant is TINY. In fact, anything more than a party of 5 is really too much. It's an old converted house, and a small one at that. So don't expect bring your 10 work friends here for lunch. The food here is insane, as I mentioned. If special note are the shrimp (camarón al mojo de ajo). It's a garlicky concoction that will bring you to tears it's so good. Tender, huge prawns smothered in an out-of-this-world sauce and perfectly baked in a garlic and olive oil base. They will send you to taste heaven. Also of note is the carne tampiquena, which is a crazy-tender top sirloin served with a cheesy, unctuous poblano pepper (not spicy). I'm drooling just think of it. Oh, and the queso fundido "dip" is the best Ive had. This restaurant is located in the only bright-fuchsia building on 24th street. You can't miss it. Parking is good and secure, and the area is fine. In fact this place is down the street from the old Barrio Cafe which has, sadly, closed. So check this place out. But again, this isn't a burrito place. There is none of that on the menu. Bring a date or someone you love, and enjoy the live Latin guitar player and the soft lighting. And then settle in for one of the best meals you've ever had.

How in the world have I missed this simply gorgeous eatery all these years? This is not your typical local Mexican place in the valley. It is upscale, charming to luxury decor, and live music playing softly in the background. I guess you can say it is romantic but I was alone. I don't want to deter anyone from trying it based on that description as a date spot only. It is of course a lovely date spot too. Asi, specializes in Mexico City style food. And let me tell you the food is out of this world! it is a small menu but what they have is fantastic. An amazing meal was had here recently. You could say this is a special occasion type of place too since the couple at the next table was celebrating a wedding anniversary. I happened upon this place quite by accident with no plan and was so happy I did. It is pricey but lunch is much more reasonable. I definitely will be back. Oh, and the service was some of the best table service I have ever had ever anywhere. Very spoiley.

Came here recently with a friend. The aura of the restaurant is cute, it is date friendly. They had a live musician as well, and we went on a Thursday evening. Although, it was confusing at first coming into the restaurant, because there was no guidance from anyone. I ordered the Borrego Azteca, which was lamb leg, rice and beans. It was pretty delicious. I do wish the presentation was a bit better. Although, our server was very nice and attentive.

5 stars everyone we go! The special was the lamb chops tonight and they were incredible, service was top notch. The Cadillac margarita is our favorite

I wouldn't necessarily call ASI Es La Vida a hole in the wall as its pastel colored pink building is distinguishable and more upscale than other Mexican restaurants nearby. It's a white table cloth, date night spot. The menu is traditional. We shared a sampler which was tasty. I ordered the cilantro soup which was tasty but on the small side. Service was great. Definitely on the more expensive side for Mexican. I prefer more low key Mexican spots, but glad I tried.

Visited family in Phoenix last week. We are from Indianapolis. The food was amazing, service was great, and the ambiance was awesome. Live music great and not too loud. Clean. Authentic. I am very happy they recommended it!

I have driven past this place hundreds of times and always been curious but for some reason never went. Then my husband went to an event with yelpers who recommended it. We came 30 mins before their closing time and they were kind enough to let us dine. I was underdressed and had no idea it was more of a date kinda restaurant. I thought it was casual but the ambiance is really nice. They had live music on a Thursday night. Service was friendly. The tomatillo sauce tasted so fresh. We shared a platter that had cochinita pibil, chicken mole and cheese. I liked the cochinita pibil the most. I tried the cilantro soup and it was also good - per our server it's the only place in the Valley that serves it. I had the shrimp with garlic as my main - really tasty. I would come back, this time dressed appropriately.

This place is a real gem in Phoenix. You certainly will not miss it as it stands out as a bright pink beacon on 24th! This is an intimate space so definitely call them for a reservation. We received a warm welcome and were taken care of! There wasn't a single item I didn't enjoy! Their salsas and guacamole are wonderful. The queso fundido and ceviche Acapulco all hit well. Do not expect to find tacos and fajitas on the menu. They do know how to treat thinly sliced sirloin and serve it with flavorful sides including their award winning molé sauce! And the tres leche...WOW! My one critique is their cocktails lacked. However, the Modelos were cold! Grab some friends, order several items and share with friends in a Frida Kahlo decorated space that is quite special!

So much flavor!! What a gem. There are so many good places to eat in Phoenix but I want to come back to this one and will be thinking about it until the next time I get up that way. The Ropa Vieja and Tinga were excellent as were their house margaritas. The different salsas served with tostones also delicious. 10/10 all the way!

We came here for my mother in laws birthday on a Sunday around 4 and there was not a wait for a party of 7. The restaurant is beautiful and service was really great. we got the sample appetizer plate that came with mole, cochinita pibil, nopales with cheese, and poblano shrimp and cheese. It was delicious we cleaned the plate. The salsas weren't hot but they were so flavorful and delicious. 3 of us got the carne tampiqueña and we all finished our plates. Very delicious and balanced plate. everything was so good we forgot to take pics of the actual food. highly recommend this spot in general and can't wait to come back and order the cochinita pibil.

I found this restaurant while searching for a date night location and we were not disappointed. Very quaint and romantic. The gentleman who was playing live music was very good and we appreciated it not being too loud. Service was good and our waiter was very informative. Our food took a little longer to arrive than we expected, but my wife and I still like each other and have wonderful conversations. I ordered the ENROLLADO DE RES, which was good, but too saucy for my taste. The sauce overpowered the rest of the dish. My lovely wife had the special of the evening (a shrimp dish) and she really enjoyed it. She said the shrimp was delicious and cooked perfectly. A pleasant experience and we will return.

This was a delightful little date night spot that was recommended to us by several of our friends. After trying it for myself, not only does it receive my date night stamp of approval, but it is also a spot I can genuinely say has some of the BEST authentic Mexican dishes I have tried in Phoenix. The place has a lot of character, something you take notice right away by its pink, eye-catching exterior. Inside, the walls are decorated with portraits of Frida Kahlo, crosses, flowers, and other trinkets that set it apart from many other restaurants of its caliber. White linen on the table and perfectly placed cutlery, you know you are about to eat at an exceptional place. Yet there is a homey feeling, all thanks to the waiters and cooks that serve the establishment. A very attentive staff that knows the menu like the back of their hand. They take the time to know your preferences and make suggestions accordingly. Many stopping to chat up customers who appear to be happy regulars that know the staff by name. We knew we were in good hands. To start off our evening, we went for their queso fundido and side of guacamole. Both were devoured in minutes. The guac was paired with crispy chips. The queso fundido paired with tortillas. I will say the one flaw was the tortillas. Not terrible, but also not at the standard I would expect from an establishment that serves authentic Mexican cuisine. I guess I was expecting tortillas that tasted homemade. Instead, they tasted like a stack of warmed up Guerrero tortillas, which isn't necessarily a bad thing depending on your personal preference. We ordered drinks. I went for a glass of sangria and my husband requested a paloma. Both met our expectations. Everything was served promptly. For our main course, my husband got the combo plate which allowed him to choose two stews served with rice and beans. He chose mole and cochinita pibil. My husband said it tasted like one of his tias from Guerrero, Mexico had made the dish. I went with the Chef Special, a shrimp dish with peppers in a cream sauce. It was delectable. I understood what my husband meant when he compared the dish to something his tias could make. The kind of dish you order when you are feeling homesick. We left nothing on those plates. We went home contemplating our next visit. If you are thinking of going, I would say do not hesitate. You have no idea what you're missing.

Gorgeous food: loved the sample platter of cochinita pibil, chicken mole, and a cheesy nopales dish. The guacamole was fresh and the shrimp ceviche delicious. Refreshing margaritas as well! Kind service, good prices. Can't go wrong here!

Staff is attentive and friendly. The food is fresh and so tasty. Love the sangria. I had their version of a chicken quesadilla and it was the perfect size. Not greasy.

I'm from El Paso, Tx and this was some of the most authentic Mexican food I've had here in Phx. 10/10 service feels like you're in Mexico. I will be coming back. Ambiance super cute for date night as well!

Ambiance: Such a cute spot with Frida Khalo decor everywhere I loved it Service: Cindy was so kind and helpful!! Food: we ordered the pescado veracruzano and omg it was so delicious and then we also ordered the mole poblano and it was alright lacked some flavor Drinks: the sangria was amazing and not too sweet which I liked

Great food, good ambiance, wonderful service. Our server was hilarious and super accommodating. I'm so glad we found out about this place.

Literally the best mole in Phoenix! I always try to make it here when I come in town! Their drinks are so fresh! They most likely will have a one person band singing and it's always great! What a great local restaurant you must visit!

We're visiting from California for Spring training. Found this place via Yelp search and so glad to see tried it! The food was authentic comida Mexicana. Ambience was wonderful, live beautiful music by guitarist. You can hear and appreciate the music but can still have a conversation. Staff was very friendly. Enjoyed everything we had. We will definitely be back!

I've been eating at Asi es la Vida for 20 years. I love this cute, quaint place. It has always maintained quality, consistent service and consistent menu. The quality surpasses Barrio Cafe much of the time as their quality control is lacking. This is a great date place with great ambiance.

Ambiance was so warm and inviting - Frida Kahlo galore! The food was delicious and our server was so friendly. The watermelon agua fresca and horchata were mouthwatering. For lunch we all had the enmoladas. My dad, who's from Mexico, would not stop saying how it's the best mole he's had in AZ. We'll definitely return!

My three positives and a negative because the world needs more positivity: + Wow! Fresh, non-greasy, just lovely food. I do not have the vocabulary to describe how spectacular the food tasted. And, such a cozy, homey feeling. Perfect for a date + the guacamole and salsas were perfection. Both the smoky red sauce and tomatillos green sauce had such depth + my shrimp dish screamed homemade- not a frozen fillet to be found - go off peak. There are not a ton of tables or parking

What a great restaurant! Food, service, atmosphere all great. Can't wait to go back. We were so pleased with everything from our drinks to our desserts.

Hidden gem. Don't tell anyone!! Good, service, value and ambiance just perfect. Small and intimate feel to this restaurant.

Terrific food, charming and fun atmosphere, great service.my favorite is the enrollado de res. Get the sampler appetizer too.

Good place for a date night or to just enjoy the light Mexican music in background and the food , yes the food is good !

Beautiful restaurant inside mole was good a bit sweet the carne asada plate was really good aguas frescas were good too. Service was great!

We visited this restaurant for the first time during date night! The food here is absolutely delicious! Every dish we tried was bursting with flavor and cooked to perfection. Highly recommend the Ropa Vieja and Carne Tampiquena, their guacamole had a special flavor and the homemade tortillas were the cherry on top for this amazing dinner. Their drinks are made with real tequila! what made this whole experience so much more special is that they offer life music, they had a guitarist singing beautiful romantic Spanish music and this just brings the whole experience to another level. I forgot to ask our waitress's name but beautiful lady with long black hair and beautiful smile, fun and so outgoing, recommended her best drinks and dishes and checked on us several times. We 100% recommend this restaurant.

Absolutely fantastic lunch at this authentic 'Mexico City' restaurant. Couple things based on comments in other reviews- yes you come in the back door- just keep walking past the first dining room to the second and ask the bartender for a seat. There are two dining rooms and we counted about 16 dining tables and five seats at the bar. We didn't have a reservation for lunch and walked right in, so that was nice. Can't miss the building- I can't believe how many times we have driven by this place- way too many times! We started with the Guacamole and Salsa for two- very fresh and I've never tasted a chipotle salsa that was so spicy and smokey. Give it a try. I had the Recalentado and it was amazing. A perfect portion of the chicken mole (very chocolatey and smokey!) and the pork cochinita. Served with rice and beans. Absolutely wonderful tasty meal. Hubs had the Cesina- thin sliced sirloin and he loved it. He had a couple Tecate (one Micheleda style) and I had a glass of wine. Total for lunch was $59 before tip. Friendly and efficient service as well. This would be a great spot for a date night, so we will be back.

Accidentally found this place on yelp. Might be my new favorite mexican restaurant in AZ. The food is sooooooooo good!!!! There was live music as well, and the atmosphere is very romantic for a date night.

My favorite sit down Mexican restaurant in all of Phoenix. A lot of places tend to go for the American version of Mexican food where they offer a lot of taco, enchilada, or smothered burrito options. Not this place! They keep 100% authentic and the fresh ingredients really show. They got a bunch of lovely dishes on the menu that I would encourage you to try if you feel a little intimidated. The food is delicious, the presentation is wonderful, and the service is outstanding. They really take care of you here and go out of their way to make you feel welcome and wanted. They don't take any customers for granted. The spot is really small and intimate so keep that in mind when planning dinner here, there's not a lot of tables and the few that are....they're very close to each other. I like it cause it reminds me of eating in Mexico but I can imagine some older people being made uncomfortable here if they're used to having a lot of personal space. Come here! It's cute, delicious, and wholesome!

Everything was delicious 10/10. Attention was amazing, cochinita and tampiqueña taste the same as mexico

The food is delicious and great ambiance! The cilantro soup was very good. Overall everything was great.

Im Mexican and this is true authentic food. The mole is so rich in flavor and the alcoholic drinks are fire.

THE most authentic food you will eat in the Phx metro area. Staff is friendly and very welcoming; service is prompt and the location is in a great area if you are Downtown out and about.

Delicious. I've tried the chefs special twice the past times I've came here and it's been so delicious. My husband and I had the sangria, yum! Service is great, very welcoming and just a great atmosphere we went Saturday night they had live music not loud just right. Love it here

I drive by this restaurant almost every day on my way to work and finally I decided to go for lunch with coworkers. I'm so glad I did. The decor is so cute. I would go back just for the ambiance. We were greeted right away and told about the special. They have different aguas frescas. I tried the cantaloupe one and it was delicious. We shared some guacamole and chips, I'm not a big guacamole fan, but it was good. Both my coworkers ordered the special which was 3 shrimp tacos with rice and beans. They both enjoyed their food and said it was very good. I ordered the enchiladas verdes. The green sauce had a little kick, but it wasn't too spicy. I really enjoyed my food it was really good and flavorful. Our server was friendly and checked on us often. I would definitely recommend this place.

The Pink Building Offers A Relaxing Atmosphere Asia Es La Vida was recommended by a friend and after reading the Yelp reviews, we thought we would give this place a try. Asia is not your typical Mexican restaurant. Asia is a small cozy, elegant Mexican restaurant, that is inviting, with amazing food and service. As we entered the restaurant we were greeted quickly and led to the back room. Once seated, we were promptly given the menu and had water/drinks brought to us immediately. The menu at Asia is small but fresh and executed very well. On this visit we shared the Guacamole/Chips, Chicken Enchilada Verdes, Farolitos Al Carbon, Cesina, Rice, and Beans. The entrees were deliciously amazing and the plating and delivery were beautiful. The food was wonderfully flavored and well proportioned. If you're looking for a unique dining expeirence with delicious food, relaxing atmosphere, and superior service, give Asia Es La Vida a try, you won't be disappointed.

I'm very fussy when it comes to Mexican food. This is because I lived in El Paso for about 15 months, and they surely have the best Mexican food in the country there. I've found a very few restaurants in the Phoenix area that are decent to good. This place is as good as the food in El Paso. Really superb! I've tried 4 dishes there: the Chicken Tinga is very good. The lamb and potato stew is excellent. I'm usually bored part way through eating shrimp smushes, but theirs is spectacular from first bite to last. But the best is their "filete asi es La Vida". Wow! Easily the best Mexican dish I've eaten in my 38 years since leaving El Paso. My wife doesn't eat meat but loves their fish dish, which is Chilean Sea Bass. I've tried it and it's really good. The portions aren't huge but are certainly enough food for most. I think their most expensive dish is $32, so, for what you're getting - gourmet Mexico City cuisine - it's very reasonable. You won't find a taco, burrito, or enchilada on their dinner menu. The $9 marguerita is not a happy hour special. The restaurant is very cosy inside. It's family owned, extremely friendly, and with wonderful service. The live music is very quiet - a guitar player who sometimes sings. We always tip him. So far, there has never been a loud table here, so you can have a conversation without shouting over noise. Always a wonderful experience, and thoroughly recommended!

Platillos y servicio como en México, gracias por conservar esta suculenta variedad y sazón de platillos.

Fantastic service. Great date night spot with incredible food. Authentic, delicious and attentive staff. Will be back soon. Highly recommend if you need a unique date night spot with great atmosphere and tasty drinks.

10/10 food, ambience and service! The waitress was so nice and engaging. They had live music at dinner and was the best experience. Will definitely be back again.

Food, service and ambiance is first rate! Their sangria is unique and delicious:) on several occasions I have rented the back room for a birthday celebration. I would definitely recommend.

Love the building, ambiance is awesome, service is as though you are a guest at there house. Food was excellent, good ole fashioned platters with all that's needed.

Got some carryout from here and was not very impressed. While it's likely that dining in would have resulted in much better food, I still expect restaurants in this price range to have fairly good results when carrying out as well. The ceviche was done alright with a little too much acidity for me. The onion and cilantro did mix well with the avocado but all felt a bit more like distinct elements rather than one assembled dish. The Borrego Azteca had fairly tender meat but I felt like the garlic, herbs, and spices were a bit flat on the sauce. The Carne Tampiquena was almost a bit rubbery and the mole and cheese combination felt a bit underseasoned. While ingredients were fairly fresh and high quality overall, I wasn't too impressed with the execution of the cooking on the carryout.

We had been to Asi Es La Vida a few years before and had been delighted with the service, food and ambiance. This time we were disappointed in the food. It did not feel different and every dish we got seemed to be covered in either a sauce or smothered in cheese. We walked away feeling like they had "mailed it in" on the food. The service was good, but not as we remembered. We were a bit disappointed in the entire experience.

Authentic cuisine, amazing service and the ambiance is perfect! They also have live music on the weekend and it is such an added bonus!

Delicious authentic Mexican food! Small menu but there's options for everyone including vegetarians (me ). Loved the ambiance and the food, felt like I was having lunch at my grandmas. Our server was super attentive and sweet. Definitely recommend this place .

Margaritas were just terrible. We got a Cadillac and a Jalapeño. The Cadillac was nothing special and the Jalapeño had way to much fresh Jalapeño. It wasn't spicy but it was overly vegetal. We ordered the largest guacamole and it was pretty small. The mole was a bit sweet for my liking but the cochinita pibil was excellent. Flan was also very good.