Viva Zapata's Mexican Restaurant & Cantina

If I could, I'd give 0 stars. We've been going to the restaurant for a year now and this is the third time we experienced terrible service. Tonight was the worst and I will NOT be returning. We first ordered drinks which took about 25 minutes to get and they brought 2 off the same drink instead of what was ordered. The drink was supposed to be a frozen watermelon margaritas instead of was just a glass of chunky ice you couldn't even drink from a straw. They were upset about making the other drink correct so I didn't complain about mine bring trash. When the food came out one dish had green sauce instead of red and the other 2 were cold. Instead of fixing the order they handed us a check and basically kicked us out forcing us to pay for food that wasn't eaten. They seem to treat their Mexican customers with much better service than other races. Disgusting and not how a business should be ran. I will never go back.

The food was fantastic, but the atmosphere was dark and service was great.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 4

Dear management, you listen to me! Those carne asada nachos were incredible. I am upset that I ate it all in one setting. 5/5

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Ask for waiter, FILO. Fun atmosphere with very good service and terrific food. Chimichanga, relleno, flautas, margarita… delicious. Highly recommend.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

A Masterclass in How to Ruin a Chile Relleno

I came in hoping for a classic, comforting dish and left with a culinary lesson in what can go wrong. The chile relleno was, without exaggeration, one of the most disappointing I've ever been served.

Let me break down the tragedy:

The Chile: The poblano pepper was sad and floppy, with zero evidence of any charring. It had no smoky flavor, no subtle heat, and no structural integrity. It tasted like a boiled vegetable, utterly forgettable.

The Filling: Instead of a flavorful, melting cheese, it was filled with a runny, bland cheese (a no-note Monterey Jack or possibly mozzarella) that added nothing but texture—and not a good one.

The Battering: The coating was a goopy, soggy, breading-like blanket that had clearly soaked up all the oil from the fryer. It was heavy, greasy, and separated from the chile like a wet sock.

The Sauce: The sauce had the color of a salsa roja but none of the soul. It was flavorless, doing nothing to tie the elements together or provide any vibrancy. It seemed to be the primary reason the already-sad batter was so soggy.

A great chile relleno is a harmony of smoky pepper, rich filling, and airy batter brought together by a bright sauce. This was a discordant mess of textures and absences. I cannot recommend this dish. A truly let-down experience.

Unforgettable Experience at Viva Zapata

I came to celebrate my 50th birthday at Viva Zapata, and I couldn’t have chosen a better place. The cilantro steak was absolutely delicious, and my wife and I enjoyed a Cadillac and a Bulldog… wow, incredibly good!

The service from José and Silvia was exceptional — friendly, attentive, and always making sure our celebration felt special.

Thank you for making such an important occasion truly memorable. We will definitely be coming back! 🎉✨

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I was a regular here from 2012-2023, and this used to be THE best Mexican restaurant in Las Vegas, but as of 2025, it’s actually bad. Not even decent, but bad.
Watery salsa, stale tortillas, flavorless carne asada, bland beans and rice… the pescado Zapata, one of their signature dishes, was so toxic tasting I had to send it back!
I remember being able to order ANYTHING off their menu knowing it would be amazing, but the Viva Zapatas I knew is dead. This place is a shadow of its former self.
The mint after dinner was the best part.

Good food. Good service. Fun atmosphere. Home made tortillas.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

One of only two times in my life I've been unable to eat the food. Got the 3 beef taco plate and the tacos were filled with nothing but large pieces of cubed fat. Waiter didn't understand enough English to communicate the problem so I gave up.

Food and service was excellent always!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Very friendly and attentive staff, great sized portions and the specialty drinks were amazing!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Staff are very nice and friendly food was delicious

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The food was excellent and the service top notch. The atmosphere was pleasant and comfortable.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I wanted to thank the 2 young ladies that served my husband and I karen & Madeline best service ever! I will come back to have dinner at the bar and drinks highly recommended💙💙💙💙

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great Mexican Restaurant near Supernats. This is our second time here in three days. Really great variety and unique recipes from Morelia. Good service and amazing food. Guacamole made at the table.