La Buena Vida - Raleigh

This place is one of a kind. From the amazing dishes to the great service. I can’t say enough about the excellent service I received from Ammerly & Excarli. They are very professional, knowledgeable, kind, & great at their job. Every business will either succeed or fail depending on their service even if the food is not that great. Luckily this place amazing food and service. Ammerly & Excarli are assets to this establishment and will only come back when they are working to great excellent service. This place is also well decorated and I love the ambiance. I dine here at least once a week. I have been here many times for lunch and also celebrated a birthday at night which is a different experience from the day. I can’t wait to try other dishes but so far my favorite is the rib eye steak tacos with that delicious sauce and tender meat following up with churros for dessert.

First Visit and Definitely Not the Last! This was my first time visiting La Buena Vida here in Raleigh, recommended by my parents — and it did not disappoint! The atmosphere and décor immediately set the tone for a great dining experience, and the service was friendly and attentive throughout. I ordered the carnitas dish, and the pork was cooked to perfection — tender, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The rice and beans were delicious, and the fresh chips served at the start were a great touch. I also tried one of their margaritas, and it absolutely hit the spot! Everything from the taste to the presentation and even the pricing felt just right. Overall, it was a fantastic experience, and I’ll definitely be coming back again. Highly recommend! 🌮🍹

Make a reservation! Now that's out of the way. This place is awesome! A very dear friend of mine took me here for my birthday. I had such a wonderful time, I was back within two weeks. The atmosphere, food, and the staff were just perfect. Definitely a hidden gem. Perfect for all size groups and celebrations. See you soon!

Visited La Buena Vida in Raleigh with a friend I hadn’t seen in a long time, and it turned out to be a really fun night out. The restaurant has a lively, upbeat atmosphere — full of energy, music, and color. Definitely a great spot if you enjoy places with a party vibe! The food was fresh, flavorful, and well-presented — everything we tried tasted great, and the menu had plenty of tempting options. You can tell they care about quality and presentation. The drink selection was impressive, and while the drinks themselves were good, they could’ve been a touch better to match the high standard set by the food. Still, no complaints overall — they were enjoyable and complemented the meal nicely. The upbeat music and TV screens around the space kept the vibe lively and fun throughout the evening. It’s not a quiet dinner spot — it’s a place for good times, laughter, and catching up with friends over great Mexican food. Overall, La Buena Vida lives up to its name — “the good life.” I’d definitely recommend it if you love flavorful Mexican cuisine and a festive, social atmosphere.

Absolutely fantastic experience. What a wonderful vibe! Every dish was bursting with fresh and balanced flavors. I especially enjoyed the juicy chicken fajitas. Portions are generous and presented with care. Staff was super hospitable and made us feel welcome from start to finish. Knowledgeable and helpful. The ambiance here is stylish but comfortable. Great for couples and groups. Simply delicious. Would love to return!

Fantastic. The vibe is lively and a little loud, so come prepared to be social. The decor is as lively as the food and flavor. Awesome menu and drink selection. Everything we tasted was good and they have special touches that make each item unique. We came with a large group and had excellent service. Will definitely be back!

Buena Vida is truly a gem! The food, cocktails, and staff are absolutely the best — and you can tell the excellence starts from the amazing bosses leading the way. Every visit feels like the best experience, and it’s rare to find a place that has it all. Whether you’re looking for brunch, lunch, dinner, or nightlife, Buena Vida delivers every time. I highly recommend it for any occasion — you’ll always leave happy!

Candy with Offline - Quick trip for work and stopped into this place. Such a vibe! The food was amazing! Drinks were super cute. I'd come back if I were to visit RDU again. We had the surf and turf roll, ceviche and camarones diablo. Chef's kiss!

I visited La Buena Vida on a Sunday around 12 p.m. after it was recommended by a friend who lives nearby. While I've heard the vibe gets more lively and party like at night, our daytime experience was pretty laid-back, which I enjoyed. There was music playing, not too loud, and no DJ at that time. The décor was super cute, with plenty of IG worthy spots. My friend and I were seated right away, and later, two more friends joined us. Now, the drink menu? It was extensive! Honestly, a bit overwhelming at first, (which is a good problem to have) but I eventually landed on the Pachita, and I'm glad I did. It was strong, flavorful, and refreshing. It had wayyy to much ice though. One of my friends ordered a drink served in a bathtub shaped cup, which was such a fun and unique touch! I also witnessed a birthday celebration where a flight of drinks was brought out on a mini airplane with staff singing in a line headed to the birthday table. That was super cute and creative. I can only imagine how fun the vibe is at night! As for the food: We were given complimentary chips and salsa to start. The chips were tasty. It had something like Tajin on them and the salsa tasted fresh. I ordered the mango habanero wings, but unfortunately, they fell flat for me. They lacked the crispiness I expected and the sauce was a little too mild for my liking. I also had the ground beef chimichanga, which came as two smaller pieces rather than the typical large one. They were very saucy and not crispy at all, which was disappointing. Also, the side of rice was soft. I was expecting more of the filling to be inside the chimichanga itself. Our server, Caly, started off attentive and friendly. However, once our food arrived, the service dropped off. We didn't get checked on for a while, and when we asked for more chips, they never came. It wasn't overly busy, so I'm not sure what caused the delay. Lastly, I ordered the strawberry Tres Leches. It was good, but not amazing. Kind of reminded me of a strawberry shortcake. Presentation was nice though. I had to ask Caly after 15 minutes of ordering it because it was taking forever to cond out. The first one he brought out was in an unclean dessert dish. So Caly replaced it. Overall, I still liked the place. The drinks were definitely the highlight, and the ambiance was great for hanging out with friends or taking cute photos. While the food didn't wow me, I'd still come back. Especially, to experience the nighttime energy I've heard so much about. I'd like to give it a 3.5 because it wasnt quite a four but not a three.

I would like to share my extreme disappointment with this establishment with how they treated my family and I coldly. Our family formally made dinner reservations for our family reunion with the manager and followed up multiple times (including the day before!). The manager confirmed that everything was set. When we arrived on time for our reservation around 8pm, we found out that they gave our tables away to other people. Not only that, but the hostess stated that she DID NOT KNOW there was going to be a large party (it was 25 of us). How is it that multiple conversations with the manager on the reservation have been lost in communication to the front door staff? This is ridiculous. The staff were not empathic or accommodating at all. They did not seat us at all. I guess being an establishment with integrity goes out the door when you're hungry for money. What a DISGRACE! I will also note that while I was waiting, I decided to use the bathroom and--my goodness!! It was DISGUSTING. Tissue everywhere and an overflowing trash can. It didn't even look safe to use the bathroom. Cleanliness was at a low. Yikes!

Decided to try this place out again during the week when a little less busy. It was half price wings Wednesday and 6.99 pitchers of sangria. The sangria was good not too sweet could've been a bit stronger though. The wings also needed to be more seasoned before being tossed in the sauce.

While in the area celebrating my birthday, I decided to try the brunch at La Buena Vida. The manager was great with answering questions I had about the menu offerings. I have known this location to have a reputation with offering a lively atmosphere. What I failed to realize is that is only offered at night apparently. My friend arrived ahead of our group and the host at the front was glad to still seat her before we arrived. When I arrived I did not hear any music or much of anything from outside. There were a lot of children and families dining. I knew then I had made a wrong choice on the day to visit. The seating was terrible. The tables were lined like a lunchroom close together. I noticed that they portioned off the nicer part of the restaurant for the night life and squeezed us into the worst side of the building purposely. Disappointing. We ordered cocktails and the waitress made recommendations. I went with La Toxica. This drink was mostly crushed ice. Not much alcohol. I decided not to purchase any more drinks. I ordered the " breakfast fajitas" they are supposed to come with fried eggs. What arrived was dry overcooked grilled chicken and tortillas with toppings. No Bueno. I gave up at this point and decided not to order anything else. My friend sent back her French toast that was overly seasoned with excessive amounts of cinnamon. She changed her order to the ACP bowl. Some of the staff was very nice and offered to take photos for us for the occasion. Many of the LED signs were broken and not working we were told. Disappointing. No one ever checked in to ask, are you enjoying your meal ? The service was not to my standards. I love Latin food but this missed the mark. No bueno. Lo siento.

Took my daughter here Thursday for my daughters 18th bday . It was only my daughter my son and myself . we ordered tacos and an appetizer. my daughter ordered a virgin drink but the bar gave her a non virgin drink .. after several sips she asked me to take a sip and it was full of tequila. they replaced the drink but offered no apologies the food was horrible they did the happy song like any other restaurant but when we got the 178$ bill... it included the 35 cake we did not ask for i would not recommend this place ..completely over rated

The margarita was delish! The chicken enchiladas verdes were fantastic, the service was very good. It's a little dark, bar ambiance, but very nice and fun with cute signs and touches!

Don't tell anyone that they are open for lunch with its own menu. Tasty dishes. If you are a late night type you already know all the deets.

It was our first time at La Buena Vida (North Raleigh location). I decided to try it after seeing ads for new local restaurant openings. The interior and décor were very nice, and the staff was polite, but not particularly attentive. My order was incorrect at first, and I had to wait quite a while for a replacement -- just a plate of oysters, which, unfortunately, were nothing special. My husband's nachos were mediocre as well. The real issue came when we received the bill. The bartender brought over a handheld payment device showing only the total amount -- no itemized receipt. My husband paid and left a tip. At a glance, the total seemed high for what we ordered (two appetizers and beer/wine). I asked for an itemized receipt and noticed we had been charged an extra 18%, supposedly for checks over $100. Our bill, however, was only $68. When I confronted the bartender, she said the extra charge was a "tip for the kitchen staff" and that "they always do it." On top of that, we had also left her a separate tip. The total tips ended up being around 38% -- quite excessive, especially for mediocre food and poor service. We called management, and they did remove the charge, but future customers should be aware of this dishonest practice. There are far better places in Raleigh with both good service and integrity.

Came to La buena vida last night and had very good eats. Had the crack and camarón roca sushi which is very affordable and big enough to fulfill. My server Luna was very attentive and kept me informed about any delays. Highly recommend!

La Buena Vida has a vibrant ambiance and amazing food. I visited on a Sunday because I was craving tacos and I'm glad I chose this place. I had the Ribeye tacos and my friend had the Smokey asada tacos. Both were so flavorful and tasty!! The chips and salsa were also fresh and delicious. Our server was great and attentive, overall I had no complaints about the dining experience. I will warn you it can get loud due to the live entertainment and party vibe they are intentional about creating, but it is a nice switch up from a traditional Mexican restaurant.

I went to La buena Vida on Friday and let me tell y'all the food and drinks were so good. My server Luna was so sweet and really helpful. I definitely recommend going.

This is not just a restaurant, it's an EXPERIENCE! They play music and the waiters dance and play music all through the night. Every drink is crafted by different ingredients and a fancy disruptive "cup". This is a must visit multiple times but make a reservation, they get crowded fast.

My wife and I were stopped here because they have a crowd at night during the weekends. We visited La Buena Vida during the day and was shown to our table by the host. When our server showed up and asked what we wanted to drink and we gave him our drink list. We asked for chips and our server had to ask the Manager if he could serve us chips. I don't know what the trouble was about that because it was some time ago. When our server showed up to take our order, I ordered a shrimp dish and my wife stated that she was not very hungry from the chips and ordered a child's size quesadilla, but the server stated he could not serve that to us. I asked for the manager and asked the question and she stated that they could not serve my wife a child's size quesadilla, only a regular meal. My wife stated again so you will not serve me anything only a regular meal and the Manager said yes. My wife said then I do not want anything and I wanted to go but my wife being a concerned wife told me to order for myself and she would get something some where else. This policy makes no sense, when did the customer be denied food at a restaurant? Needless to say we will never visit that place again.

Oh, La Buena Vida...a new favorite restaurant added to the list! I found La Buena Vida via an Instagram reel and was amazed by the wild festivities at night! I happened to be driving to another restaurant and saw La Buena Vida's building THE SAME DAY I saw the reel. So I decided, no...we're going there instead and turned around and let me tell you!! That was the best decision I could have made because this place is everything!! It was honestly too good to be true that I watched the reel in the morning and just so happened to pass by the restaurant in the afternoon, it was a sign. La Buena Vida is beautifully decorated with plants everywhere, marble flooring, neon lights, beautiful paintings on the wall, and the perfect amount of lighting to set the tone. Fun music played in the background throughout the meal. The atmosphere is *chefs kiss.* The food, though! It's authentic Mexican food! None of this Tex-mex you get here in NC with all of that cheese sauce. No no no...the food here is made with LOVE, my friends. It's delicious and memorable, makes you want to come back (or even indulge even more while you're already there). Now, I'll be honest, the real reason I was interested in trying La Buena Vida is because of their bathtub with a rubber ducky drink. And let me tell you!! The drinks don't disappoint either!! Deliciously made, enough alcohol to have your S.O be the designated driver, and fun containers for every drink! Ever since we visited La Buena Vida, I've been raving about it to my friends and coworkers. I don't think anyone has gotten the hint that "I think we should hang and get some good food and drinks." Did I mention the service was spectacular? Our waitress was so incredibly helpful and informative...and quick! Also, don't forget to use the restrooms because they're marbled and have chandeliers. Classy if I do say so myself. TLDR: What are you waiting for?! Go to La Buena Vida and get your grub on!!!

My friend held a Birthday Dinner here. La Buena Vida is very lively and entertaining for those who love this type of scene over dinner. Probably one of the most entertaining and happening places in Midtown that's open til 2 AM. The staff here are enthusiastic and a fun bunch. There was an excessive wait, as they didn't take reservations. Very Poor communication. I feel they skipped over our party. When finally seated we were off in a corner. Seemed like bad seating to my friend but I was grateful for a little peace while having dinner. Things I saw here from some of the customers were pearl-clutching, to say the least. I ordered the Birria Rolls and Brussels sprouts. Delicious! The Brussels sprouts were piping hot as food should arrive. They were bursting with flavor and had a kick of spice. The rolls needed to be piping hot. The food for me was an overall, 4 out of 5 all the way. The No Gym cocktail is a no for me. The French 75 from the bar was perfect. The shots on the airplane carrier were decent. Super sweet! I would suggest pouring a little more time into customer service/satisfaction here. Our waitress told us we could only order cocktails on the menu. I didn't like this treatment. Who are you to tell me what I can order? There are specific drinks I stick with, my preference. The only drink I saw on the menu with my preferred alcohol - Hendricks was a No Gym. When I headed over to the bar for clarification on what could be made, sure enough, most drinks can be made at the bar. A French 75 was made without a problem. I spoke with Management and he seemed pleasant, but only offered 15% off the No Gym. Never acknowledging how I was misled to order only from the menu. I felt defeated. Someone else took the drink since I ended up having to pay for it. Grateful for this experience and fellowship with my friend and the people invited. Overall, my friend was pleased with the experience and the only complaint was the wait and where we were seated. Will I go back? Yes, I'm curious about weekday lunch or evenings at the bar. I'm not rushing to get back here but will give it another try one day.

2 stars for the decor. Food is subpar. And the forced "vibe" is weird... I can see this as a "special occasion restaurant" The service is selective - if you ain't spending bands at a table they ain't looking for you. The waitress was rude and refused to answer questions. Menu was dirty and the writing is so small you can't even see what you're paying for. Drinks were watered down. So much ice. The 18% gratuity on top of everyone's individual bill was also wild. If everyone's total at the table is OVER $100 will add gratuity on top to EVERYONES BILL. Even in the women's bathroom the attendant was selling stuff and asking for tips. I just felt violated after leaving. Like I was in BEGGARS PARADISE.

I got to come here on my birthday and it was such an incredible time!! The place is gorgeous, wonderfully decorated with a great ambiance. The drinks are even cooler, I tried the mango mojito (yum) and the bath tub, they were so fun! I got the steak tacos for my main, the steak was thinly shaved and the entire dish was delicious. For the birthday celebration, it's an extra $35 to get a cake, but it was well worth it. It's a chocolate cake with fruity pebbles on top, with sweeten condensed milk (I think that's what it was), but either way, the cake was 10/10. The staff ramps up the music and they all walk out with strobe lights and sing to you! It's a really fun experience, we can't wait to go again.

I've heard nothing but great things about this place! We arrived and parking was a nightmare. It was completely packed. After finding parking the inside was super packed and dark. Although it was a lot of people the wait wasn't long. The menu is not overwhelming and prices are reasonable. Our waitress was amazing and kept checking in on us! The drinks were great and served so cute. They were selling don Julio shots for $38....crazy. Our food was basic and I was mad that they didn't give us free chips and salsa lol

The New Durham location is so good. We were lucky enough to be able to be one of the first people to experience it. Everything Fresh! Everything top quality! Steak, Sea Food, Birria, Bone Marrow and some of the best cocktails you can order. In North Carolina, where everything is closed by 10 ( Really 8:30pm if you are being honest) you can get a really beautiful meal at one of their locations. I am grateful that they have the newest location in Durham. But they also have one in Raleigh and in Cary and they're open until 2 AM. That's right New York and LA transplants, Kentucky Transplants too; we can order great food with an awesome chef AFTER 10 pm!!! 2 am is music to my ears!

Unbelievably amazing experience, not just the incredible food, atmosphere or service but the true pleasure of a uniquely beautiful space. I was blown away by the food, authentic and flavor overload in a spectacular way. I don't live in Raleigh but I will make it a point to come back. Do yourself a favor and go but don't expect same ole same ole, this is next level awesomeness! Thank you to the owner for special attentiveness.

I love everything about this restaurant. I really think Raleigh needed a fun restaurant that people would come to for any occasion and people from out of town would recognize too and I think it should be this place. The restaurant is fun from the minute you park. There were lights beaming all outside of the place, and the entrance before the main door was decorated and had neon lighting with angel wings for a cute photo opportunity. Then you step into the actual restaurant with music blasting, nice seating, art, moss walls, and cool lighting and you're even more intrigued. I LOVE that so many menu items and drinks here come with a whole show. We saw an airplane full of shots, a car with shots, flamed shrimp, smokey drinks, food in cases, and more before we even started eating. The menu is super long and a little confusing but our server was super helpful. Everything looked good to me. We got the brussels sprouts, queso and chips, and birria rolls for appetizers. All were great. For dinner we got chicken tacos and then ordered a rib-eye with a side of shrimp that they flame table-side. It actually ended up coming with bone marrow too and it was all flamed table-side which was even better. Everything was 10/10. Someone in our party got the lobster pasta later too which they enjoyed and it looked super good. We got 3 drinks that I don't know the names of but they came smoking with cool lights inside the drink. Everything was so fun and entertaining. I already want to come back here and probably will very soon. I would recommend making reservations. Also everything is priced super fairly and the portions are great.

La Buena Vida has an amazing vibe during the weekends -- these are also the days that they tend to be the busiest. The food is not the most flavorful or the best I've ever had, they are mainly selling you the presentation. They have quite the array of drink options, again, their drinks aren't the strongest but they're good and the presentation never fails. In my experiences, the service here has been okay. The bottle service is fun but not consistent, one time we had ordered a bottle and got a fun bottle service, they went all out. Ordered the same bottle at a different time and the service was your basic swinging around glow sticks. Overall, if you are looking for a place to catch a vibe and take pictures for your socials, this is it. I wouldn't really recommend it for their food.

Ahhhh some places have the vibes, some have the food. This, ladies and gentlemen has both. La Buena Vida has somehow mastered a brunch ambiance that can balance mocktails and shot planes, birthdays and great music. This is about my 4th time here and I can tell you the food is consistently good and we always have great service. Special shout out to our amazing server Patty for taking such good care of our large party. Service was smooth, and the food was timely! I also hear they have live music on some evenings so I'm gonna check that out in the future. Hopefully we can snag Patty again! Gracias por todo!

First time popping by. Wanted a quick bite to eat. We were promptly seated and our drinks were ordered. I had the Tulum Vibe which was Tequila and a peach-mango mix. Very tasty and very tropical..reminiscent of our Mexico trip. Huns ordered a steak fajita. The steak was thinly sliced and cooked on the grill and had a just the right amount of char. The onions and peppers were also grilled. Perfect! I ordered the Ceviche Tropical which was shrimp red onions cucumbers mango cilantro cebolla and tomato and plantain chips. Yummy deliciousness! They have a wide range of otems on their menus--one for meat lovers one for mexican sushi and one for traditional Mexican fare and of course a drink menu. The.servung portions are huge! Lively happy atmosphere accompanied by Latin music.

This place has a vibe you can not beat! The energy is incredible. Food came quickly and was amazing! Carlos took care of of us!

La Buena Vida is all about the vibe and venue...... The service wasn't too bad as long as its not on a busy night... Food was meh.... nothing to crazy to write about, but good thing is its not over priced like other places in the area. So La Buena Vida is like walking into a night club but but with food! Blacked out windows, loud music, and flashing lights everywhere! So if you want a place to go to with a fun crazy vibe than this place is for you! Do not go here if you are expecting a quiet dinner to hold a conversation lol I went on a Sat afternoon around 1pm and was like damn this place is packed and it was raining out so I guess people wanted to get out of the house like I did. Didn't want to wait for a table table to sat at the high tops around the bar... they definitely need to fix that situation because trying to get on those awkward high chairs while the table is sliding and seat is sliding is like a lawsuit waiting to happen. when you are finally at your table you will find your lil mini table lamp a bag of Chicharrones De Harina and a bottle of their hot sauce ... do yourself a favor and break that bag open and pour that hot sauce on it and eat it all! That stuff is pretty tasty! The drink menu is cool here and the cups they serve it in are pretty unique and fun, so if you want some specialty drinks go for it! each one is themed appropriately with the vessel it is served in! So onto the food! Ordered the La Buena Vida Ceviche... it was pretty tasty and pretty good in size... but not enough fish in it, flavoring was ok. next up was the Tacos Buchon which was ok.. basically brisket taco with bone marrow covered in gold flakes... you yield about 2 tacos from it ... over all place is ok for fun night out ... with ok food

It was my friend's birthday and she wanted to come here. I went on Yelp and saw mixed reviews, but this is where she wanted to go. I tried to make reservations but nothing was available for Saturday night at 9:00. Me and two other friends from the group decided to go early to reserve a table. (Yelp reviews stated a 60-90 mins wait) We arrive there that 8:00 and wait is 45 mins. It is very loud, I feel like it's a club atmosphere that is also a restaurant. They have a 90 min limit on eating in, even though it took 20 mins to receive your drink.The waitress came and said "There is a 90 minute limit and you have been here for two hours, I'm not sure if they told you that up at that front" it had been an hour, and that's counting the 30 min wait for food and drink. I ordered the asada tacos with rice and beans, it was okay. I wait that long and it should be hot, it was lukewarm. I would take some people there for the music and vibe & grab some drinks and eat elsewhere.

This place is a party!! Leave the kids at home! They had people dancing on the bar at 7pm! Lol We sat at the bar cause there was a 45 minute wait! We ordered "capri sun" drink which was good! The food was extremely quick, fresh and quite tasty! I had the al pastor tacos they were actually a good size and not miniature!! Hubby had the fajitas which was a good portion and also tasty!! I would definitely go back!

We went for Cinco De Mayo and it was a fabulous time!!! The shows where they bring out alcoholic beverages and bottles of alcohol is such an experience. If you take a group of people, you definitely have to try one. The food is always good. I tried the chicken rolls and wings. Delicious. Cinco de Mayo was a whole vibe. Music, people, beads, t-shirts, etc. For the place to be packed with a 2-hour wait, their service was phenomenal. They didn't skip a beat. We went early because we knew it would be packed soon.

Let me start by saying this is not an inexpensive Mexican type restaurant. It is more of a splurge, get dressed up a little, and have a delicious meal and a wonderful night out type of restaurant. Our waitress Camilla was a star from the start. She explained the dishes, was attentive and sweet. We started with mojitos, which was large, but $14, so don't get sticker shock. They were delicious. Then we shared two meals, the ceviche tropical and the grilled chicken fajitas. Let me start with the ceviche tropical. I would like to take a bath in this. It was so flavorful and lots of seafood. It was amazing. After I finished the fish, I drank the leftover liquid. The lime was perfect as was the mangoes. This was one of my fav ceviches on par with Miami and Lima, Peru. The chicken fajitas were so good. The chicken and veggies had grill marks and were cooked perfectly. The rice, salad and refried beans were all great sides. Hubby and I finished everything on both plates, only minor suggestions would be larger plantains to pick up ceviche and more than two tortillas to roll up the fajitas. We will certainly return as the restaurant is gorgeous, the booth was comfy and I want to try the drink in the bathtub a neighboring table had. Super upbeat atmosphere and welcoming weight staff.

Really only went here because I didn't believe my friend when they said how bad it was. This place is so weird and trashy and way overhyped in their social media pages. Off putting, wannabe Miami club vibes on the inside, but a 20 minute drive to DT and main nightlife of Raleigh? The location is weird for this type of restaurant, if you can even call it that. Food wise, there are FAR better options for MUCH cheaper in the area. Drinks were not worth the prices either. In fact, everything was overpriced for what we got. Music was so loud that we couldn't even enjoy conversation over the sub par, half warm food we were served after an hour of waiting for it. Don't even get me started on the less than stellar service or the fact they add 18% gratuity to bills over $100 when they can barely do their jobs. Also learned while I was there that the owner of this place is the same creep who used to own Wonderland in DT. Give the owners name a google if you don't know what I'm referring to. He's a real piece of work. The fact that he fronts the worn out "godfather/padrino" vibe, is honestly comical considering the overall low quality of this establishment. This place is a money grab if I've ever seen one and owned by a locally known weirdo and scammer, do your self a favor and don't give them your business.

Walking into this restaurant was very surprising the first time. So much so that I had to book my birthday dinner. I didn't expect it to be so beautiful! Immediately, the service crew was very polite and accommodating and the food was up to my foodie standards so onto my birthday night. You would never imagine the kind of crowd this place brings. The evening of my birthday dinner, there were party busses pulling up of people with the same idea as mine I guess. It is very loud walking in because of the music. I was a bit frustrated because I made reservations for 10 weeks prior inside of the restaurant with a hostess but when I arrived, I kept being told it was only for 6. I was very clear with the number because my family was flying in from out of town so I HAD to ensure the number was accurate to have seating for everyone. But thankfully they rectified it and got us seated. I was so happy and all was forgiven and the service they provided was never compromised even though they had so much to juggle (I'm sure they're used to it lol) Now, honestly, I felt like I was on South Beach and I WAS HERE FOR IT! They walk around dancing with boats and cars of shots, there's hype music and people dancing everywhere just enjoying the ambiance of good food, good vibes and just a good time without foolishness. Every dish was juicy, tasty, and fresh with lovely presentations. Some of the dishes we had were the birria rolls, guacamole, fajitas, quesadillas amongst many others. My family and I were so impressed and taken aback that a place such as this one exists in Raleigh. They have so many different signature drinks that we all tried and Yes, each one was a hit! I even selected a dish where they came to the table, chopped up the pork and used the torch to give it that charred look but didn't dry it out one bit. I hate that I didn't take more photos but I was busy taking it all in and enjoying the moment. I had such an amazing night and would gladly return.

We had a time!!!! It was amazing. I can't wait to go back to celebrate my friends birthday.

Tonight went out with a few friends to eat here. I know it's a Saturday night and that it is going to be busy but this was ridiculous. For starters we go in let them know we have 7 people and they said it was a 45 minute wait. We waited the time as it was no biggie but we came back in to check after that time frame and they hadn't put in our name. We then had to wait a little longer which was a bit frustrating but it was an honest mistake so we didn't mind. Then, we get seated and order drinks and our waitress skipped one of us. It took my friend 15 minutes to get a chance to even ask for a drink. Then finally we order our food and I decided to order an additional drink. I told the waitress that I wanted one spicy pineapple or spicy mango whatever it was called. She arrived later with two drinks not one and when I told her we didn't order it she still let us keep it which seemed great at the time. We ordered our food and when it came at first only 2 people got theirs then it took another 10 minutes for 2 others to get theirs. One friend didn't order any food but the other didn't get his. He didn't get his even after mentioning it 3 times to the waitress that he hadn't gotten it and that everyone at the had finished eating (this was 45 minutes after we'd gotten ours btw). We tell her to put it as a to go order and asked her if he had to pay for it considering the amount of time we had been there for him not having his food. She says yes and doesn't even try to do something about reducing the cost. Now she asked us how we wanted to split the check and was showing us the items she had so we could point out what we wanted to split (no food of his STILL). This is where I had an issue especially with the rough service. She tried to charge us for his food which he hadn't gotten yet and for a drink she messed up. So we ask to speak to a manager. The manager comes and says she will have to see what she can do and finally after talking to the bigger boss his dinner was taken off (NOT the drink that was messed up but that's not as big of a deal.) This service and pricing were ridiculous. Usually I am ok with certain things like mistakes of waiting on food but I now do not want to go back there.

Second time at La Buena Vida. Not crowded on a Wednesday and we were seated immediately. Unfortunately, we did not have the bagged snacks on our table like other tables did and were never brought any. We also didn't have hot sauce but hubby snagged that from another table. Their drink menu is so fun and such a hard decision. I finally decided on the El Amarre "Love Spell". It came out with a little note on a wooden plate which the waitress burned up! Wish I'd had my camera out. I think it was to induce a love spell but unfortunately it didn't work as I did not get lucky that night. Hubby ordered a drink that came in a pink recycling bin! Both were yummy -- sweet but still strong. For my meal I ordered the tulum ceviche. Beautiful presentation and yummy, too! Just like last time, my meal came out a good seven minutes before husband's. But, I noticed that was the trend around the restaurant. Must just be how they do it there. Makes it hard for the first person who receives their food to be polite and not eat because it always has such an appealing presentation! Can't wait to go back again and try something else!

I stumbled upon La Buena Vida while visiting Raleigh. The place was at capacity at 8 p.m. on a Saturday night. Ambiance was very upbeat. They had a DJ and it seems like everybody was having fun. Nice place for a fun night out.

I went to La Buena Vida for a birthday party. The place is nice it's lively in there. We had a party of about 20 people. Service was a little disjointed, perhaps because of the volume and not enough wait staff. The food was good. The drinks were fantastic and beautiful. Keep in mind I am not a house specialty drink I like my drinks a little stronger. I got the Paloma and I liked it a lot. I would love to come back for some of their other events. Hopefully the drag brunch which I think would be a complete hoot there.

Alimentos excelentes servicio excelente ambiente excelente , me encanta ese lugar la música excelente

Food was ok ambiance and drinks were super fun. We will be back. Service is slow. A little overpriced but your paying for the experience

Food, Service and Entertainment was Amazing. Went for my Birthday and will definitely be back

We had a fabulous group birthday brunch at LBV on a Sunday. We had a large party so Friday and Saturday were not options (first come first served on Fridays and Saturdays vs large party rez). On a Sunday, you can get very personalized attention and all the music, serenading, and theatrics you get other days with lights and props! The drinks are very unique and tasty, with cool names and glasses. The decor is artistic and dreamy, with a bit of gangsta. I highly recommend LBV for a dose of cool and fun any day of the week.

This place is a whole vibe!! I cannot speak for the food but the drinks are delish! I had 2 of the la toxica and could have kept going. Music videos are playing on big screens and the music is very loud like a night club - fog machine helps with that too. The service was great and we enjoyed ourselves. Ordering shots for the table gets you a whole hype crew that brings out the shots. Great place for girls night or just a night out with friends.

Went on a Saturday, the vibe is great if you enjoy loud music and party atmosphere. Service was a bit slow. Time needs to be spent on the menu, food was not enjoyable at all, I only took one bite. Drinks were cute and pretty strong. Highly recommend eating before you go.

The hostess was very rude to me. I came in around 4pm today and asked for a table, she said because I'm a single person I can only sit at a bar, I didn't understand because the place was almost empty and there were plenty of tables available. I mentioned that there was no one there and she went back and fourth with me before finally agreeing to sit me at a table. It was super embarrassing and unprofessional.

Wow & Wow!!! The food was superb and the service was outstanding! My husband ordered the Salmon Tropical & I ordered the Camarones Flameados AL Tequila. I have nothing but good things to say about this place. My husband and I picked a great place to celebrate Mother's Day. I will definitely be paying this establishment a visit again soon. The food was hot (be careful with the Camarones Flameados AL Tequila.) and reasonably priced for what we ordered. Of course we were splurging so we spent a bit more that usual. They also had live entertainment that did not cost a penny. The guys that played the music wore sombreros. I throughly enjoyed the atmosphere, the food, and the music. Please check out the food pictures and video/photo of the Mariachi (Band)! LABUENA VIDA, thank you for a wonderful afternoon!!!

It's official!!! This is my top go to Mexican restaurant in the area! Such a great addition to the Raleigh food scene. Instagram worthy, great ambiance and the food is great. As a Ca girl, I'm super picky and this place doesn't disappoint. Attended a birthday lunch, the menu has something for everyone. Drinks are great, food is authentic and flavorful. The restaurant turns into a club at night. We all had a great time, fellow Californians agree the food was flavorful. Great place to meet friends for lunch.

The vibe in this spot two thumbs. Music, drinks and food 5 stars. This spot is the place to be on a weekend. It's hype the entire time. At times it can be a loud, so that in mind if you're planning to have a date night here. All the drinks are great. Beware of the liquor lady lol. She's serving 1942 Don Julio. It's smooth but it's pricey for one shot. For the food everything on the menu looked good. If you want to take to the next level, get the 24 kilates tomahawk rib eye served w/ Brussels (it's shareable and you won't regret your decision).

YEEEEES YES YES!!!!!!! La Buena Vida es Marciano baybeeeee!! My server Angie was very good! Informative, kind, and seen without being pesky. My friend and I had never been there and the experience today equates to return visits. FOOD: SERVICE: AMBIENCE: COST: Worth the spend

I got the flautas and they were good, they come fast because they're not considered a grill food. The service definitely interesting, I think they struggled badly because we had a group of like 24 people but it took almost 2 hours to get our food and the waiter forgot to take me order at first so I had to wait until he came back. We had fun though. They play really loud music & basically turn into a club on the weekends so be prepared! Nice inside of restaurant too with a cute photo opp by women's bathroom.