I think I was the only person in Vegas who has not part-taken from this hidden local gem. Â I've heard all great things from everyone over the years but never had the chance to experience it. Â
We met some friends there on Friday night. Â The parking was a nightmare. Â They had a huge section chained off where I believe alot of their customers usually park. Â We ended up parking at the 7/11 and our friends had to park across the street in a vacant lot. Â There was a 20 minute wait and there were people everywhere inside and outside waiting. Â We decided to get a drink at the bar. Â The bar is big however every seat was taken. Â There were some 2 seat high tables on the side so we decided to grab one and just order drinks at the bar.
So taking a look around I felt like I took one step into Mexico.  Colorful flags draped the ceilings. The décor is fabulous.  I was already sold one minute into the place. There were a couple large parties which occupied a lot of their tables and a lot of their attention...which is probably reason for everyone waiting in the front.
We were finally seated and immediately served fresh chips, salsa and bean dip. Â All of it was fantastic. Â The warm bean dip was my favorite. Â The BF and I ordered the chicken fajitas to share and the tortillas were fresh and homemade. Â It was just enough food for us with all the chips we ate! ;). Â
Ambiance - Beautiful authentic Spanish atmosphere! Â Service - as quick and attentive as they could be being there was a full house and large parties. Â Food - a definite score. Â And Parking - a bummer but we lived. Â Overall good time had by all! Â It wasn't just a meal it was an experience! Â Totally whole heartedly recommended!
We will be back soon.
Husband and I were looking for a fiesta of flavors- this place was decent, however for the price it was a bit of a let down. The opening snacks of chips and salsa and refried beans were amazing and very addictive. Salsa had good flavor and spice. Then came the complimentary soup that comes with every entrée. This was pretty good as well- at most places it has an overly tomato taste, but it was more subdued here which I like. But nothing to run home and rave about- at the end of the day it's just a little broth with some noodles. Now to the main course:
Tacos de pescado- The fish was breaded and fried served in a flour tortilla. Just because something is fried doesn't mean it has to completely lack flavor. There was absolutely zero seasoning. I had to drench the tacos in the sauce that came on the side in order to get any flavor, and then all I ended up tasting in the end was the sauce.
Beef Fajitas- again the meat completely lacked flavor. We were looking for spice or something and just got overdone chewy pieces of steak. For a $17 entrée we were very disappointed. And the meat to pepper ratio was horrible. There was barely enough meat to make two tacos and the plate was piled high with so much filler- onions and bell peppers.
Overall- these two dishes weren't home runs, but I can see that this place has the potential to produce delicious dishes however I probably will not be returning to find out.
Went for dinner for the second time on the one on craig rd , parking is bad bad  and the food was not so hot . Asked for a chile Verdi  burrito and it looked like a enchilada rolled on my plate . Was bad food  I have had better Mexican food at other places . Won't be going back and also pricey they raised their prices on some dishes that are valued at 2 or 3 dollars less .
Review Source:Best mexican restaurant ive been to in a long time. The service is always attentive & friendly. They always have a live musician and the atmosphere is kinda old style. The food, while a little on the pricey side is delicious. I always get the shrimp in garlic sauce. Freshly made tortillas. And the bottomless chips, beans and salsa are the best in town. The parking can be tough but its well worth it. Great place
Review Source:We have been coming here for over 8 years. We totally love this place. The décor is part bar part Mexican. My kids love the bean dip (given at the beginning with chips and a very spicy salsa) and the fideo that comes with most meals it very tasty.  We haven't had anything that we didn't like. My kids also love it in the evenings (especially weekends) when there is a guy there who plays the guitar or electric piano. We always have a few extra one dollar bills for the kids to go give the performer. Fun for all!!!
Review Source:This was my first visit as I've heard great things about this being one of the few great places to eat Mexican food and I wasn't disappointed. Â One thing I always find that's a hallmark of a great restaurant is great service from being greeted at the door to when you sit down and how you're attended during your meal and Viva Zapata was all those things and attentive to my drink, chips, salsa, and bean dip. Â I just want to mention that bean dip with chips is something few places offer but always wins me over in a Mexican restaurant.
I ordered the Torta de Pierna which is a pork sandwich that came out with some time that shows it wasn't just heated up and made with care. Â The bread was perfectly toasted and the meat was tender, juicy, and flavorful. Â I didn't feel a hot plate nor was warned about one and that's something that always makes me feel great before a bite. Â
I'm looking forward to future visits and trying more plates from this place due to the food, service, and overall atmosphere.
Mexican food is a love it or hate it outcome. Â You have no choice but to LOVE absolutely everything about this place. Staff and service are excellence, very nice, polite, fast, just amazing! Everything we have ordered here has been so delicious! The guacamole is made in front of you and the chips and salsa also come with a bean dip that is great and I don't even like beans! The live music is fun and entertaining and not overwhelming. They have fresh homemade lemonade that is so refreshing. So clean and well taken care of. This place would get 6 stars if it was an option!
Review Source:Solid!
The Chile Relleno Camarón is a wonderful taste adventure that you must take your mouth on. You'll be a better person after eating it.  The soup. I'd come just for the soup. The house tomato soup was the best thing I ate on our vacation. The Habanero Salsa is just hot enough to have a little kick but just mild enough where I was happily eating as much of it as I could before our meal came. When our meal did arrive it came with  fresh, homemade, tortillas!
The food easily deserves five stars and the service is superlative. Our drinks and chips were always full. Did I mention the soup?
When we arrived around 3:30 on a Monday afternoon every seat was taken and there was at least three parties in front of us. There is tiny place for about four to five people to stand in the door but after that you can wait outside in the shade. This San Francisco kid can't handle 108 in the parking lot. I don't mind waiting for an excellent meal, and it was worth the wait  but I need some place to wait that has A/C. I'd still come back in 100+ degree heat and stand outside in the shade for an hour, it is that great! I'd love more than anything to give this a five star review because I'll never forget how amazing it was but there were tiny little things that need minor improvement.
When I'm within 100 miles of this gem there is a 99.98% chance I will be back.
It was my first visit here, and I was solo, so naturally I took a seat at the bar so as not to take up an entire table or booth. Â The bartender/waitress was super nice and the salad I ordered was amazing (chicken, avocado, something delicious in a ranch cesar type dressing)! Â I was only drinking an Arnold Palmer since I had to drive but I was not rushed from the bar and that was much appreciated. Â There was also a great singer with his guitar (not too loud and complementary to the atmosphere). Â There seemed to be many happy hour specials on drinks and I hope to partake on my next visit into town.
Review Source:Emiliano would be proud!
This restaurant is located near Nellis AFB and I've passed by it a million times. Â From the outside it looks like a small bar type restaurant but surprisingly it's a nice little decorated place that serves up some great meals!
Chips and salsa were very good and you also get a side of hot dipping beans.
The service was so wonderful. Â Speedy and friendly and between the waiter and the bus boy they were always checking in on us and refilling our iced teas.
We ordered off the lunch menu and everything was under $10.
I had the enchiladas and they were tasty and full of flavor.
I'm so glad we finally stopped in and I can take it off my bookmarks list and put it on my "Regular's" list because I will be back!
Viva Zapata! Â What a great name!
Military discount too! (Thanks for the tip Kate!)
Move-over, Lindo Michoacan! These guys are legit! Ask for the guac dip, AMAZING! Love the decor, the Tia Maria making the hand made tortillas in the back, the music, the staff is wonderful.
I love absolutely everything on their menu. I've tried almost everything. Green Chilaquiles, Carne Asada, Fideo Soup, yummmm....Everything is good.
I hate that to come here I have to drive 45 + minutes from Henderson. :-( If ever in the North side of town and in the mood for some good, authentic Mexican, try this place.
What is the one thing everyone looks forward to when going to a Mexican-style restaurant? Â Chips & Salsa! Â And, of course, drinks!
Bottomless chips and salsa is the first thing served to you after you are seated. Â The staff is efficient and nice, and are always happy to give you more chips & salsa! Â A lot of places have become cheap with their chips, bread, whatever it may be that is usually free. Â But not Viva Zapata's. Â
The Chile Relenos are excellent. Â Definitely my go to place for Mexican food. Â
I dare you to eat your entire plate of food too. Â It's enough food for today and tomorrow.
The location is awkward, as it's right across a gas station; but definitely worth, at the very least, checking out.
Finally getting around to reviewing this godsend of a restaurant. Â I've had Mexican food in Tijuana, Texas, California, and Florida. Â This place is simply amazing! Â Starting off with the chips, salsa, and bean dip the food here is excellent. Â Their salsa has a unique flavor...very distinct and tasty! Â Everything is served fresh! Â The staff works very well together and will gladly assist even if you are not their table. Â Whoever is running this place is doing a great job. Â We came here at least 5 times during our visit and always left satisfied. Â Everything we tried was good. Â We only visited for dinner so I can't comment on the lunch. Â My personal favorite was the tacos al pastor. Â I highly recommend this place.
Review Source:Atmosphere, Service and Food!
This place hits the marks on all three, from the moment that you enter the place you feel instantly relaxed, like your in an old mexican cantina, the service is top-notch! very team oriented, from the second that you take your seat a server is getting your drinks while another  is bringing you chips with two types of dips which are both awesome btw followed by yet another person with tomato soup! really well orientated. The food is delicious, I've had the fish tacos and camarones adelita there both great! bursting with flavor served in oversized portions, come hungry and be prepared to roll out of this place. My only gripe is the prices which can be a little on the high side, the camarones adelita is almost in the $20 range.
All in all, some of the best Mexican food I've ever had.
I ate here with my family and it was a great experience. We were immediately greeted and seated so it wasn't too busy on a Sunday afternoon. Their service was AMAZING. Our waitress was super nice and our chips, salsa, and water kept getting refilled when needed. It took a while for our main entrees but it was worth it. I ordered flautas with beans and rice. The flautas were crispy but soft at the same time. It had a nice balance to it. The rice and beans weren't too bad as well! I was soo full but it was from eating too much of those chips!! lol Overall my fam and I enjoyed the meal, service, and ambiance of this restaurant. I would definitely come back again and hello...there's live music too!! :)
Review Source:Went in for lunch and ordered a carne asada torta. Â For some reason they actually serve it with fries...I'm still trying to figure that one out. Â As for the torta, it wasn't bad but the meat tasted more stewed than grilled.
One thing that's not good at all is the parking...forewarned is forearmed. Â
Overall, serviceable Mexican food but nothing special.
I really liked this place! A small, authentic Mexican restaurant/cantina tucked away in the unlikely place of East Craig Road, you go in and the decor is comfortably rustic. The noise level was not an issue at all, very acceptable.
The food I received was perfectly done; it was a simple chicken breast marinated in lime juice and some other things I'm not certain of...BUT, the chicken was moist, not undercooked, not overcooked. Perfect!
Prices were also extremely reasonable, even the drinks weren't that expensive.
I am really looking forward to coming back here to try some more of the awesome-looking Mexican dishes...I think I may try the molé next! :)
I have always driven past this place, and wanted to give it a try. Last night I was finally able to try this place, and I can't say enough good things about this place!
The decorations and atmosphere of the restaurant seems very authentic. As we walked in, we were greeted by two beautiful smiles. We were seated within 10 minutes. It was quite crowded for a Sunday night.
I ordered the shrimp enchiladas and sangria. My husband had the beef tongue tacos. They give you as much chips and dips as you want, and our order also came with a delicious tomato noodle soup.
All of the food was delicious: Zapata's food is one of the best Mexican foods I have had. Whenever I get the munchies for Mexican food, I know where to come from now on.
Excellent service, and great food and drinks. Definitely would like to come back for my birthday celebration dinner!
Sorry guys- I can't be one to give this place 4 or 5 stars. The restaurant decor is very cute and the service was great. The food was too heavy for me. I got a carne asada burrito and my boyfriend had the seafood cocktail campechana along with some tacos. He said the campechana was good. I thought my burrito had too much stuff in it and that was without the pico de gallo and beans. I am sticking to mi familia for quick and easy Mexican food.
Review Source:Great food & service. Have driven by there for years and finally decided we needed to give it a try, glad we did.
Guacamole as a starter. Had the Chile Verde "Mauser", superb! Pork cooked to perfection, verde sauce tantalized my taste buds, some of the tastiest I have had anywhere.
Grandson's loved their meals and the fried ice cream.
Lucky for me the two women that I had a meeting with on the north side of town have eaten here..On the industrial side of Craig & I-15, chances of finding this on my own are slim. Â I'm also very picky when it comes to Mexican food, not disappointed, this was a great find.
Then again, that was obvious when we had to wait a few minutes for a table. The place was packed and the aroma filling the air was mouth watering.
After being seated we were served chips with a bowl of salsa and a bowl of beans.
The salsa was very flavorful and this is the first time I have ever had bean dip that was seasoned (very tasty)
For lunch my client and I both ordered the Ensalad Marinara - large salad for less than $10, a great price for shrimp, avocado and pico de gallo. My business partner ordered the ceviche which she also said was very flavorful.
Food was good, service was great and everyone was very friendly.
Will definitely be back when on the north side of town!
4 1/2 stars. I arrived during the late lunch hour which was a mistake. I parked in the back and was getting looks from the tennant so decided to move. I lucked out BC it was close to 1:00 and someone was leaving.
Once seated I received their signature warm bean dip, salsa and tortilla chips - so addicting. For my entree I selected the lengua with red sauce rice and beans. The portion was generous and the taste was delish. The home made corn tortillas hit the spot as I made my own lengua tacos. Â
The service here was spot on - friendly and refills without request. I can understand why Zapatas Mexican restaurant was voted best of Las Vegas and will certainly return.
WOW!!! This place is a amazing. My husband and I have been here several times and it has never disappointed!! As soon as you sit down they bring you yummy chips, salsa and a spicy brean dip! Make sure you order the fresh avocado dip...they literally cut the avocados and make the dip right at your table!! This place is SO clean and the service is so on point it will blow your mind. Make sure you tip The guitar man!!!!
Review Source:Holy authentic! I think my search for authentic Mexican food is officially over!
Their chips are super addicting, we ate two whole baskets. Comes with a side of the normal spicy and bean dip (mixture of both is amazing!)
I love the decor in this place with the colorful paper banners everywhere.
Got the usual Chile Verde (= lean pork stewed in green chile sauce) and it was extremely tasty and full of flavor. Â Probably the best I've ever tasted, just because it really tasted like it had been marinated and then stewed in the chile verde. They brought it out piping hot with the normal sides of spanish rice and refried beans.
The el burro burrito was massive! Way bigger than an over-stuffed chipotle burrito, so for $9.99 you definitely get your money's worth.
Each of the meals came with Fideo which is like a pasta/tomato soup. I thought it was okay, not really for me. It was more like a watered down version of stringy spaghetti O's to me.
Service was awesome. The minute my glass of water went empty, they topped it off right away. They even pack your left over food at your table, so you're not left alone trying to pack it yourself.
I will def come back when I get a craving for some real good chile verde.
One of my favorite Mexican food places!
The service varies, but the food is always delicious. Â Very flavorful and prepared well. Â My current favorite: the shrimp tacos. Â The tortillas are made on site; I could just eat them plain, they are that good. Â
They offer a military discount for cardholders and there is a children's menu.
Pretty darn good! I had the carne asada burrito a la carte smothered in red sauce and I really enjoyed it. It wasn't the best I've ever had but definitely one of the better alternatives here in Las Vegas. Rarely do I make it this far north but I would definitely go again if in the neighborhood.
Review Source:A good portion of my last trip to Vegas was spent looking for a taqueria. Where was all of the Mexican food?! This time around I remembered to use Yelp and found this place.
Why three stars? I found the food to be disappointing and lacking. While the rice and beans exceeded my expectations it was the main entrees that didn't cut it for us.
Parking can be tough if you are coming in the evening during the weekend. Drinks are great and guac is made right in front of you from fresh ingredients like the tradiational Mexican restaurants typically do.
Decor is adorable and service was fine.
My quest for awesome Mexican food in Vegas continues!
I am gonna be as honest as i can reviewing this restaurant. It appears that I am the only one in the party of 15 we had that didn't really like this place. We came here on the recommendation of my father in law, who figured we'd all need menudo to cure our hangovers this past Saturday morning. Maybe it was because I wanted a good ol' fashioned American breakfast or maybe because I have certain restaurants back home, but this place just didn't do it for me. With that being said, this is what I found:
LOCATION & DECOR
It was beautiful both inside and out. Bar area took up most of the restaurant. Major selection of tequilas. Seating for big parties wasn't the best and we must have taken up about 1/4 of the restaurant. Location is good for those visiting or stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, but bad for people staying on or near the strip, as it is a good 15 minutes from the Dowtown Las Vegas, 20 from the strip.
SERVICE:
Seating- We were seated right away, rare for such a big party, but we were there around breakfast time, so beat the rush.
Wating- Our server took the drink order right away, brought them out right away and the beers were ice cold, as well as the mugs we asked for, and the margarita drinkers in the party said that they were poured generously. This is where my low stars come into play. IT TOOK TWO HOURS FROM ARRIVAL TO DEPARTURE! We must have waited a good 45 minutes before all the dishes began to come out. We were brought out salsa, which was OUTSTANDING, refried beans w/ cheese, also pretty good exept for the big glop of cheese in the middle, and those kept coming out, but by the time the food had arrived, I was full!
FOOD:
I didn't like my machaca. I had the pork after being given the option of pork or beef. I should have went with my gut and gotten the beef. It was okay, but not a dish that said, "WOW". Although, I have to give credit to the waiter because when I asked him what was better between the machaca and the chilaquiles, he said go with the machaca, and even though it didn't wow me, he was able to recommend something to me, which alot of waiters can't or won't do. Now If I would have only asked him if the pork or beef were better, I might have enjoyed my meal more.
Some in my party ordered campechanas (seafood cocktails) and they were pretty much licking the sides afterwards, so they all seemed to enjoy it. My wife had a grilled chicken breast in a garlic sauce, and it was pretty tasty. A good friend ordered the Pipian, and she said it was some of the best she's ever tasted that isn't her mama's.
Overall, I think this place would be good for drinks and watching a game, as they had the Charger game on that day. It might even be good for a smaller group then ours, say 2-4 people, maybe no more than 6. Two hours is a long time to be in a restaurant, especially when most of that time is spent waiting on food to come out, and maybe it could have been because our group is so large, but I've had faster service in other restaurants with a group just as big. I might give it another shot one day, but not anytime soon!
I have to be real and blunt I absolutely love this place but there are some big con's that forced me to dock some stars.
Atmosphere:5/5 It doesn't get more authentic than this. When you walk into this restaurant you feel like your in Mexico. It looks like an old Mexican tavern. Dim lighting with a guy in the corner with a guitar jamming away. Honestly the vibes of this place was awesome! The bar was more than fully stocked. With your "American vodka's" and a WIDE WIDE selection of Tequila's.
Service: 3/5 The service felt very homey, like I had a Mexican mother cooking me home made Mexican food. The food was very wholesome in HUGE portions. I literally had no Idea where to begin. So I started in the middle and ate my way out. LOL Service at the bar could've been a bit better. I went during peak dinner hours so I guess that's why they neglected us. I noticed my group didn't get any bar tables stands for our plates like other groups so we ate directly on the bar. Â Also our complimentary salsa, chips, and pinto bean dip ran low. I wasn't sure If I could as for more because it was complimentary "well so I thought it was"
Food: 4/5 First the salsa, chips, and pinto bean dip. OMG was super delicious. The salsa was average but the bean dip was very tasty. but don't fill up on the chips. Next comes the pre dinner soup, not sure what it was but it was very bland. It looked spicy but it wasn't. Now the meal, it was very heavy, when I say heavy. I mean fatty, cheesy, and oily. I literally had to push around the cheese to get to anything. It was EVERYWHERE kind of an over load. The cheese enchilada lacked flavor, and on my 3 combo plate (1 tostada, 1 beef taco, 1 enchilada). The beef on the taco was shredded like pulled pork. It seemed more like a carnita. The tostada was very fresh because it was topped off with a big glob of guacamole. YUMMMM
Drinks: 4/5 The drinks were just right. Not too strong, not too weak. A perfect blend. I ordered a margarita because I felt.. I needed to indulge fully into Mexican culture. It was a perfect combo to my meal.
Pricing: 3/5 My order was $13.95 a bit pricy for the Area of town it's in. But It was understandable because the food was good. The atmosphere complimented the food well. Plus it came with complimentary salsa and chips, with also this intro dinner soup.
Suggestions/Advice:
- Don't go during peak dinner hours if you want impeccable service.
- Don't fill up on a lot of chips,salsa, and pinto bean dip.
- Portions are huge
- TRY THE PINTO BEAN DIP it was heaven!!!
- Parking might be difficult its a very small limited area.
Real good authentic Mexican food is not limited to tacos. There is such a wide variety, and it differs from east to west and north to south! Viva Zapatas has definitely hit that note straight on! The food is based off of traditional cuisine from the state of Morelos in Mexico. So it does tend to be heartier, earthier foods since Morelos is landlocked, and not as much of the seafood stuff. But they do offer a variety of shrimp dishes, and a couple of fish ones.
The ambiance is very unique. Tons of old "ranchero" artifacts adorn the wall. Colorful picados hang in the halls. And of course lets not forget the man himself Emiliano Zapata (for whom the restaurant is named) in a vintage frame!
Now - to the food. Before you plan your visit for dinner - starve yourself for most of the day! (or be prepared for lots of leftovers)!! :D Haven't been there for lunch service but just might have to one of these days.
Once you are seated, you immediately are brought tortilla chips, refried beans, and salsa (red). Now, I will warn you - don't finish the tortillas off! (they bring you more, it's the neverending pit of chips!) So unless you want to fill up on chips and dip, back off them! (I prefer to add a splash of lime to mine, so they definitely accommodate). You are also brought an appetizer soup - I don't know what it is. But the best way I can think of it - chicken noodle meets tortilla soup!
Last time I had eaten here, I had the mole served up with beans and rice - and it was superb! Portion was HUGE so everyone in the group had doggie bags heading home.
This time round I wanted to do something a little different - so I went for the 'Pollo con napoles" (Chicken with Prickly Pear Cactus). VERY deeeeeelicious! Had just the right touch of heat, and seasoned beautifully with the cilantro and other veggies. ($14 entree) Now here is the part that had me craving the "tortillarias" that I used to see on the streets of mexico - fresh, homemade, tortillas! And when I say fresh - I mean they have a gal working her tail end off mixing the dough up portioning it out, and cooking it all up on a traditional griddle. So if you have a small enough party and want to entertain your little one, ask for the table close to the tortilla zone so the little one can watch the tortilla making process! And yes they offer you the choice, corn or flour for your tortilla.
I can't remember what the other members had in our party, one had the combo 2, another had the fajitas i think. But all I can remember is hearing everyone going - "wow, this is REALLY good food!" And yes we brought home all the leftovers! Had them for our lunch today, and both hubby and I still have more leftovers for lunch tomorrow! So yeah $14 entree spllt into 3 meals! :)
I know this is a longwinded review - but have to just really lay it all out on the line for you! Almost done - just got the service to go over, and you'll be done.
Service: impeccable! Everyone from the entrance to the bus boys are extremely professional and EXTREMELY polite! They do everything they can to ensure you are satisfied with your meal, and are very quick to refill your glass (or ask about it) if they it is going on empty.
Still want more?
Well, stop reading and go drive there and discover this place! :)
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