La Buena Vida - Raleigh

Reviews

• PB

  Paola B

  1 day ago
  2.0
  Service was good the waiter was always on top of our drinks and super friendly. However, I got the molcajete paisa and it wasbt all that for the price. The whole plate had no taste needed some seasoning. The meet where dry with no flavor and tasted like it wasnt fresh. The pork chicharron was soft instead of crunchy which it tells you it has been seating there for a while. I dont think ill go back. Is not worth it.
• MM

  moth

  6 days ago
  5.0
  Juan was hands down one of the best servers I’ve had at La Buena Vida. From the start, he was welcoming, professional, and very attentive without being overbearing. He had strong knowledge of the menu and gave recommendations that ended up being some of the best dishes we tried. Service was quick, everything came out correctly, and he checked in at the right times. The whole experience felt smooth and well taken care of. Highly recommend asking for Juan if you go.
• JC

  Jetonia Carr

  Apr 20, 2026
  5.0
  My very first time and I had Grisleidy as a hostess and waitress. She was very sweet and even recommended a drink that was to our liking based off what we said that we liked in a drink. Our table/area was clean, and our food was great! I went after work but I would definitely like to come back in the evening on the weekend. I strongly recommend to anyone who likes authentic Mexican food and drinks!
• KC

  K Connolly

  Apr 15, 2026
  3.0
  The food is pretty solid but the service is hit or miss. They brought us a POS with no breakdown of cost and tried to charge for dinner portions when we specifically asked for lunch items. Drinks are hit or miss as well, and we were told "they're working on it" (the recipe) as an excuse for a frozen solid drink that was literally more like sherbet than a beverage and I needed a spoon to eat it. The people behind us complained about dirty plates and the waitress told them "yeah sometimes they come out dirty because they're stacked together" which is ridiculous. I've waited tables. You are supposed to check the plates before you bring them out so that doesn't happen. We keep coming back because the food is pretty good and it's close by, but every time we go we think it could use improvement.
• BB

  Brett Bilbrey

  Mar 31, 2026
  5.0
  La Buena Vida ("The Good Life”) - Raleigh I’ve driven past this restaurant many times and saw their $6.99 lunch sign, but never stopped till today. I will admit that walking in I was a little intimidated because this is a lively Mexican restaurant that provides a festive dining-and-drinks 'experience’ at night. It is known for its energetic, colorful space with music, TVs, and a nightlife feel. I did not know what to expect. We were seated and asked for the ‘$6.99 lunch menu’ (although their normal lunches are just a few dollars more). They brought complementary seasoned chips and salsa that were a delight. I picked the Enchiladas Verdes (normally $11, but is on their lunch menu for $7) and my wife picked the Enchiladas Supreme. They both came with rice and lettuce. Fresh, light, and full of flavor. I had a sweet tea and my wife an unsweetened tea ($3.25 each). We moved here from California and have been to great Mexican restaurants there, and La Buena Vida is right up there with the best of them. The rice and lettuce were fresh, the Enchiladas were freshly made with excellent layers of wonderfully flavored sauces! Not heavy, absolutely delightful servings. If you are looking for a great find for a light lunch at an excellent price, then visiting La Buena Vida is something worth stopping by for. Our bill would have been about $10 per person (Each of us had 2 Enchiladas and a drink). With Tax and tip figure about $26 (there is a 3% surcharge for using credit cards), but we split a Tres Leches cake for dessert ($10). So with a large tip and taxes our full meal, drinks and dessert ran $40. The staff was wonderful, they checked on us often. During the day, the setting is quiet and you can hear others speaking (important for us older folk).