MU
majeuia uajheuuae
2 days ago
Finally got around to trying La Buena Vida in Cary and im glad we did. Food was really good and had way more flavor then i was expecting. We got some tacos, chips and queso and shared a couple other things and honestly didnt have one bad thing.
The margaritas was really good too. They wasnt watered down like some places and went really good with the food. Portions was decent and we actually had enough left to take a little home.
Service was awesome. Everybody was really nice and checked on us a few times without bothering us every 2 minutes. Food came out pretty fast even tho they was getting busy.
The place has a cool atmosphere too. Nice spot if your meeting friends or just wanna go out for dinner without it feeling too fancy.
We'll definitely be back cause theres still alot on the menu we wanna try. If your around Cary and looking for some good Mexican food this place is worth checking out.
WM
Will Moreno
Jun 20, 2026
The food was delicious! There is a large parking lot but if busy like today, you may have to park a little far away from entrance. Wait for the hostess to sit you, even if you want the bar area. The place is really spacious just doesn't seem like it from outside. A lot of tables and booths. The attention is excellent! The floor manager is very active and super courteous. The bartenders were friendly, knowledgeable and fast. The vibe is party with good food and TV 's. Which right now World Cup time, I am very happy to have made it here. Met some cool dudes at the bar too, super funny. One from Chile and one full American. We had an awesome time. I have to come back because they have the absolute coldest beer in town. I have no idea how, but it is. I'll bet anyone. Check them out! You'll enjoy it for sure. There's also an airplane, shots, flag situation that goes down but you have to be here to be a part of. You're welcome.
was told to leave a review, so i will. guess waitstaff doesn't communicate about experiences.
not to blame any of the servers, but they seem new or poorly trained, not their fault. definitely going to put the onus of that on management and supervising staff. getting half the meals wrong with minimal, if any, modification is pretty bad. help your people out, don't put them on the floor before they're ready.
drinks were refilled maybe 2 or 3 times in the span of 2 hours. not a difficult thing to notice, especially when the restaurant is 80% empty.
food took a while come out, willing to let that slide. sometimes it takes a while to make fresh food. except the food wasn't particularly fresh. everyones meals were different temperatures, like they were left out at handoff, or maybe reheated. not sure why this was, but everyone's food should be piping hot when it comes out. especially at a Mexican restaurant - i expect the plate to burn me.
when the food did arrive, a good portion of it was dry or had sat too long and had become soggy (for the breaded or fried dishes). not super high quality, but again willing to let something like that slide - it's all going to the same place anyway.
besides all the above, the fish tacos were. what's a nice way to say this. rancid. imagine fish that has been left in your car, on a 100° day, that you came back to eat a couple hours later. it was definitely out of date, or left out, or just a bad batch. but hey, these things happen. that's why the cook or chef samples the dishes he makes after they're done cooking (i don't believe they did that). i felt sick after eating one taco, and afterwards vomited on the side of the highway.
anyway, i'd be willing to let all of this go, if it weren't for the simple fact that this is masquerading as an upscale Mexican restaurant when i've had better food, service, and value for money from a truck in the middle of nowhere.
it is offensive that the meals cost more than $8-$10 a piece when the food and experience is worse than sitting outside on a hot day in july for 45 minutes waiting for 2 tacos. nevermind the fact that each cocktail is over $14 which is highway robbery unless you're at a fancy steakhouse.
all in all, i would never recommend anyone go here whether they're starving and it's the only place open, or they just got a fat check and want to blow it at an overpriced restaraunt.
if you've read this far, i'm not sure who they paid to have a 4.6 rating. but it is not even on par with a 3 star hardee's. this place is truly abysmal.
thanks for reading, no owner/management comment needed.
RF
Rob Fitzsimmons
Jun 13, 2026
Didn’t really care about the 3% increase to process credit card transactions but upon being seated and opening the menu, I discovered there was a $2 increase on all menu items. Only then to be corrected by the kind waitress who explained it was actually a $3 increase…?! Huh?!
Tip 1: Fix your menus and stop pulling wool over people’s eyes.
Final prices should be printed in the menu. If you can’t afford to do this you can’t afford to be a restaurant.
I should have walked out at that point but the Litmus test for a good Hispanic restaurant is always the Chorizo Dip.
Welp! That was a major disappointment and the saddest $11 ramekin of dip I ever ate. (see sad picture)
….Rice and beans were also cold… I could go on.
Tip 2: You dont need to completely shut off all the lights when doing your birthday chants! Also the “mob made” music from the sound system was insanely loud.
Felt like I was at a dance club from 2010.
TLDR- wayyyy overpriced for sub par food. Weak cocktails. More of a night club than a restaurant.
DP
Demitri Palumbo
Jun 9, 2026
Joe provided outstanding service from start to finish. He was friendly, attentive, and made sure everything was taken care of throughout our meal. Our drinks stayed full, the food arrived promptly, and he checked in at just the right times without being intrusive. His positive attitude and attention to detail made the experience even better. If you have the chance, ask for Joe—you won’t be disappointed. Highly recommend!”“Joe provided outstanding service from start to finish. He was friendly, attentive, and made sure everything was taken care of throughout our meal. Our drinks stayed full, the food arrived promptly, and he checked in at just the right times without being intrusive. His positive attitude and attention to detail made the experience even better. If you have the chance, ask for Joe—you won’t be disappointed. Highly recommend!