Review La Boca Loca - Wellington

Some of the best Mexican in town can be quite busy some days. The menu extensive and they go out of their way to offer homemade and Gluten Free options

Lovely staff! Amazing food, the boca loca salad with smoked fish is highly recommended!

Man, the flavors here are fantastic. We had some delicious food that I would most definitely rate at 4-5 stars. The burrito I had (the special for the week) consisted of steak, bacon and some kind of cheese I've never had, but made for an awesome flavor. The biggest issue I had was that the portion sizes were so small for the very large price. Otherwise, a great place for some delicious food.

I love this place. The food is full of flavour and it's great to know you're paying for ethically sourced ingredients. A great range of local craft beers, relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff - sometimes singing in Spanish :) Share a few plates and salsas between you and try a range of their amazing food.

I went here with a large group of 14 several months ago, after struggling to get a table elsewhere. It had been the 7s weekend, and the first thing they did was apologise profusely for missing 2 things on a very expansive menu. They were so genuine in their service, which was friendly and attentive. We were served by a man who's name I believe was Ossa (spelling) and I have to say he is probably the best waiter I have encountered. The food was fast, and fantastic, considering the size of the table. I got one of the taco options, and my girlfriend got the breakfast burrito, both of which were incredible. My girlfriend is half Mexican, and was very impressed with the food. The food, service, and ambiance was enough to get a 5 star rating, but when it came to payment, they discounted our bill due to the menu missing items, and then also gave us some free corn chips to try (one of the things they had been missing that they had just finished preparing when we left). This is service. This is what you want when you go out. Well done, and thank you.

The staff were super helpful and the meal was great. There is a good selection of beers, a cocktail of the week and wide range of tequila and margaritas. The carnitas were a highlight for me, the sides were good and all the desserts were great. And they offer takeaway as well, what more could you want.

Really great, obviously the place to eat if your catching a film just a few doors down. Nice meals and decently priced, order 2 alcohol drinks. Starter, 2 mains, 2 sides, and 2 Mexican hot chocolates with a total of $95. Not a lot of Mexican in Wellington and this one being a fair bit more authentic than Mexico off cuba. A+

Authentic Mexican at a great price and it's delicious, what more could you want? Loved our host who knew lots about the menu and offered us a chewable snack while eating our margaritas. Will definitely return

Went there for some really good Mexican food, and found it, albeit a really limited menu for lunch. We each had pork and beef taco as well as chips and guacamole. Also had some questions about their cookbook (where to get products for the recipes) and unfortunately did not get answers. The restaurant is a $30 cab ride from the CBD which will make the meal quite expensive. But it was really good food.

Best Mexican in Wellington. It is a favourite for our family. Food is fresh with clean, moreish flavours. Salsa verde is delicious. We like this place because food is how it should be - uncomplicated and authentic and priced very reasonably.

I've had good Mexican and unfortunately this place doesn't come close. The staff were genuine and chill, but everything was just messy, from the chip:dip ratios, asking for drink refills, serving mains before others, and just the general taste. Also the ice cream was actually sorbet which didn't help, and the biscuit was super hard. No le gusto from me.

Went as a group of 5 on a friday evening, service was excellent, food arrived in good time and everyone loved the food, fish tacos were amazing.

This Mexican food is delectable! The corn cakes with spicy beans, burritos, fish tacos, fajitas, guacamole, red rice, horchata, homemade tortilla chips -- everything was mouth-watering good! The bartender made up a new drink (a hibiscus mojito) that was so good, I hope he permanently adds it to the menu. We also appreciate the sustainable fish, meats, produce, dairy and stainless steel straws to prevent single use plastic pollution! Bravo!!!! I've asked Santa for the cookbook & I have stocked up on their tomatillo sauce because I use it when I make guacamole at home!

Atmosphere is good and staff are friendly but everything else left a lot to be desired. Food took forever to come out, was overpriced and very underwhelming.

Went there 2 years ago for dinner my first and last time utter disappointment that they didn’t do nachos saying it was American $15 for a margarita felt robbed of my money, don’t know why so many people go there basically they’re getting ripped off

Note this is a review of  Boca Loca's WOAP Hangi only; it is not a review of the regular restaurant.  The event was overpriced, and meagre servings wiped out any feelings of conviviality: participants, realising that the food was running out, started hording and not sharing.The pre-dinner 'canapes' consisted of chips and dips only. The main meal was one type of meat (lamb), two types of veges (mostly potato, with a tiny bit of kumara), and one side (rice, which ran out before everyone was served). Asking for more felt a bit like Oliver Twist ('please, sir, can I have some more?') The desert was about two churro sticks, before the plate got taken away from us to serve another table. This was not a feast, and certainly not worth the 100 buck fee. Very disappointing.

My girlfriend and I came here on a Sunday and highly unlikely that we will return.<br/><br/>Staff were friendly but the food ... it would have to be the worst Mexican food we have ever had, dry, lacked flavour, more rice then meat ... it was just really not good

Came a few weeks ago with a few friends and unsure what the fuss is about!<br/>The service was average, things were pretty slow from the start.<br/>Food was average, had no burst of flavours or textures and portion is quite small for a main.<br/>Guacamole starter was alright. Chicken (enchilada) was dry and the sauce ontop just tasted like it was out of a jar with no real flavour to the dish.<br/>Pretty disappointed as I had heard some alright reviews. <br/>Won't be back.

Love this place!<br/>The home made corn chips are amazing and the service is always on point!! <br/> Great equipped bar.<br/>Make sure you book as this place is always busy!

The food is fancy Mexican with smaller portions but still fills one up. The staff are friendly and attentive and the ambiance is great with all of the Mexican modern decor. My one complaint is that you have to order beans and rice separately. They are always as staple part of the Mexican meal in my experience.

Dined here recently and the experience was good. Prompt friendly service, short wait for a table and super quick food delivery on this visit. The drinks menu is good - great range I thought. The food menu is small but I prefer a more limited choice. All of our meals were absolutely yum. Great fit out, nice colours and very clean. This place is fun and buzzing.

Went out last night with a group booking including a couple of young kids for a birthday. The young waitress serving us clearly wasn't interested in being there, kept on asking all of us to repeat what we were ordering and was quite rude and abrupt. We asked for a coke, got "Don't have coke".....umm the supermarket is across the road !! Okay,..so when we got our food, there was a lot of confusion as to who got what but we got there in the end. Were disappointed that the kids hot chips were last and they had to wait well after the adults got theirs. However, the food was excellent, really tasty !!! All in all was nice food let down by poor service. Would I go back there again or recommend? Unsure.

Never disappoints. Not only the best Mexican by far in Wellington, but one of the best generally.  This is not your standard Mexican stodge.  Food is so fresh, real care over sourcing and ingredients, service is very cool and love the commitment to a living wage.  The smoked fish burritos are subtle and strong, the salsas are a variety of tastes and there is no ducking the need for a bit of heat where required. One minor suggestion would be a couple more specials to give variety.  But love it, and will again.

I really love the food here and think la boca deserves a place not only in Miramar but throughout wellington and NZ. But on a recent visit for Saturday brunch we came when it was moderately filled (not packed) at 12:40, ordered our food by 12:50, and as I wrote this review at 1:45 we are still waiting for our food to arrive, as we were told it'll be 10 more minutes. There is at least 4 people on staff, no idea about the amount in the kitchen, but this is unheard of even for New Zealand standards. And not even an explanation from the staff. This needs to be remedied for us to continue frequenting this establishment.

Popped in for lunch and a beer! Ordered the beef and pulled pork tacos which were excellent and great hot sauce to accompany the meal , would recommend to anyone who enjoys Mexican food 👌

The food was average-bland, and for what it was maybe a little over priced. The staff made my experience feel very judged and uncomfortable due to an annoyed looking eye roll that was directed at my friends and I on arrival (note that we were waiting patiently to be seated and were not loud or rowdy.)

Just. Fabulous. Authentic Mexican food in a warm friendly environment and fantastic service. Highly recommend the goat burrito and the smoked fish tacos.

Having to head a little out of town for dinner at La Boca Loca means that eating there is not without a sense of 'this better be worth it' and, honestly, it always is. I had birthday dinner at LBL last night and it was so, so good. My favourite meal there is the smoked fish burrito - it has a great balance of flavour and just the right amount of heat. The totopos (corn chips) are another highlight. You can taste the dedication to fresh ingredients. Go there for the totopos, stay for all of the other delicious things.

Picked my partner up from the airport and went for dinner. Drove into Miramar and saw Boca Loco. Have heard good things so decided to give it a go.<br/><br/>It was a Sunday night and reasonable busy with a good, busy atmosphere.<br/><br/>They were busy and we had no reservation. We had the choice of sitting at the bar or in the window. We chose the window which was a good spot and the bench space was more than spacious enough.<br/><br/>We ordered and meals arrived in 20 mins.<br/><br/>We ordered two each of the House-made Organic Corn Tortillas: Barbacoa de Borrego and Pescado. I also ordered a side of Papas Fritas.<br/><br/>All dishes were fresh tasting with nice ingredients and good portion sizes.<br/><br/>The lamb was the most flavoursome of the dishes but lacked something. The fish was bland. The fries were a little chunky for my liking and a touch floury.<br/><br/>I would have welcomed stronger flavours but overall the meal was ok. Did expect better though. Note: I didn't add any sauces to the dishes.

I've been going to LaBocaLoca religiously since they opened in 2011. The flavours are so fresh, wonderful, and I love that they don't have a microwave! Organic goodness served with a smile by great staff (I especially love the little Latina spitfire FOH manager, reow!)<br/>LaBocaLoca will forever be a Wellington favourite. The only good Mexican food in the South Pacific for sure!

Heard all the hype and a couple of friends said this place was good. Decor is nice and the waitress was ok that took our order. I think the tacos were bland, there was no explosion of flavour that I am used to for Mexican food, or that feeling after like you have eaten something fresh and healthy. I don't get the hype of this place and I normally really enjoy Mexican food.

We love our local restaurant La Boca Loca especially because it is a living wage employer and uses organic ingredients where possible.  I like knowing that While I'm eating delicious food I'm also supporting an ethical business that looks after its staff and customers.<br/><br/>My son and I went for a light meal and both ordered the Sopa de tortilla (soup with roasted tomatoes, avocado, feta, chillies, crispy tortilla strips).  Amazing flavour - this is our favourite and have had this before.  He also had a great, rich hot chocolate.  On previous visits we have loved the Enchiladas Potosinas (chicken) and Enfrijolades de Calabaza (pumpkin) both gluten free.  We often order several dishes and share.  <br/>PS I have heard the tequilas are great but we haven't tried these yet.

La Boca Loca is the most interesting and creative Mexican restaurant in Wellington. Friendly staff, great atmosphere and lots of vegan options. If you're in for a big meal, a burrito alone may not be enough. But that said, if I go in for a three course meal I generally only manage two courses. If you're into Mexican food and live in Wellington, try it out some time. You might find you're hooked on something great. Fave: Smoked fish burrito, every time!

Always excellent. I had the great pleasure to dine twice at La Boca Loca this week. It's a favorite, from the low key kicked back vibe and prompt friendly personable service, to the great food. Whenever the food arrives I always think it's a bit on the small side - but once I tuck it I can barely finish - I'm a sucker for the Carnitas Burrito though. My wife had the fish - it was good, but I can't leave the Carnitas Burrito though.  I love their corn chips, the only shame is that the acute angular dimensions mean that I can never get enough of the chilli mayo on my chip. I know, 'first world problem', huh. But really, it is that good. They have also picked up their game on the chop to salsa ratio - that left over salsa also seemed to be begging for more chips. I took two newbie mates (newbie to mexican, and newbie to LBL - and they raved about it.  Sometimes the whole 'ethnic restaurant' thing can turn into a bit of a p%$ssing match about who is the most authentic.  I don't know 'authentic' Mexican food from my elbow, but I can honestly, and authentically, say that this place is my fave when it comes to food, service and style.  Well done Lucas, Marianne and the team.

La Boca Loca recently catered a wedding I attended and it was the best wedding feast I've ever had. DIY tacos with all the trimmings and enough for everyone to have thirds.<br/>Everything was fresh, warming and spiced but still accessible (my 6 year old now thinks Mexican food is the greatest thing ever and would move mountains for more of the flavoured rice). <br/><br/>There was something for everyone and it was the perfect food to share and celebrate with.

Have been wanting to visit for a long time and only heard good things. We LOVE Mexican food and have been to Mexico a couple of times as well so had high hopes. The atmosphere is awesome, great decor, friendly staff and wonderful smells wafting from the open kitchen... we looked over the menu and decided on three tacos each for a late lunch. Im allergic to egg so asked to swap the spicy mayo to guacamole which was met with a no but I could have sour cream.... well ok that was fine but odd for any sort of restaurant... would have paid a dollar or something if it was necessary...ordered the pickled veges and a side of sour cream too.... asked about the salsa but the waitress said the tacos come with different salsa anyway.... waited for the food. Came out looking awesome, only one had salsa though. Flavours were ok but it was like they needed the freshness that comes with a salsa or pico de gallo or something... the chicken was OK, beef mince one wasnt very tasty to be honest so the best was the pork. My beef one had a hair in it too. I told the lady about the hair in my food and she apologised as we left. All in all fifty bucks for that experience, I would probably try elsewhere.

Awesome atmosphere...friendly service and good food. Only let down was the wait time. Our food took over an hour to come out of the kitchen. Hence the low rating. Otherwise good experience

ETHICAL ORGANIC MEXICAN FOOD! YUM! This place is a little on the steeper side however I don't mind paying extra because of their business ethics. Did you know that Boca Loca is a conscious consumers business? They're all about fair trade, recycling, composting, eco-friendly packaging, sustainability, appropriate staff living wages as well as serving up delicious grub. <br/><br/>I was very happy with our waiter as he had a fine eye for detail. He noticed the long black my friend ordered had milk and foam, and hurried over to ask if everything was ok and that he could remake it if she wished. She quickly reassured him she forgot to ask for milk on the side when she ordered, and that she had just popped over to the barista to request a little milk. My Americano was perfect. Because the coffees were so good my mate also ordered a hot chocolate before we left. She was singing about how wonderful it was and made me have a sip! She was right! <br/><br/>For lunch my mate ordered the huevos rancheros, and I had the beef burrito. I love how hot sauce is freely available at Boca Loca - great for chilli lovers! Will definitely come again.

Location is good, service is good but the food does not impress. Mexican isn't high on the gourmet horizon but to eat a burrito and wonder what you ate, doesn't bode well. The meals are tidy and catering for a fussy local market but too far detached from hearty Mexican flavours. Their Mexican hot chocolate however is superb..

Welly trip. Work lunch. Nice little place. Good service. They got all the food for all of us in at the same time which is nice as no one was left staring and having a FoMo lol. The spicy wedges were amazing. Really nice not super hot so we could dig in straight away. We had the burritos n tacos. All were well made.really good flavour. Just the coleslaw with the burritos was pretty useless. No dressing or any flavour. I used the awesome chipotle that came with the wedges to flavour the slaw. The karma cola they got is pretty nice. Tastes different to regular Cola so yeah nice. Have to go back n try other stuff from the menu next time.

Rather disappointing. Heard a lot of hype, but didn't live up to it the night we went. The fish in our fish tacos was really smelly (perhaps not fresh). We had to spend a lot to get full. Not what we thought it would be unfortunately.

Yummy as always! Love that such a yummy and chill place is tucked away in the burbs. Just a warning though, avoid the soup unless you can really tolerate a lot of chilli. Even my folks who like spicey food couldn't bear more than a taste.

The food was fabulous but the experience was spoilt by the poor customer service. Phoning at 5pm for a 6pm reservation, they were only just checking and finding my message when I arrived. They did give us a table but while waiting for desserts to arrive, the manager told us we needed to vacate the table within 10 minutes for incoming guests. That changed the fun, relaxed and enjoyable meal into one that left a bad taste in my mouth. The hot chocolate was cool, less than warm, but the flavour great. Wish we'd had time to resolve that and enjoy it as it deserved to be. Unlikely to return.

Had lunch here with friends. Beef Mince tacos were good and so was the coconut flan. Chicken taco was abit dry though. The outdoor area Would be lovely on a sunny day. Only let down was $18 tequila shots & a cocktail my friend ordered. Was a very strong pour of tequila but wasn't balanced properly which made it very hard to drink. Might go back on a nicer day to try other dishes.

Went here after many recommendations from friends. It was mums birthday so my wife, mum and I made our way out from the Hutt to grab what we heard was some seriously good Mexican food served by friendly and helpful staff in a great cosy spot with character.  We were not disappointed.  Loved it.  Food was awesome, full of spice and flavour. Staff were smiling friendly and jovial. There was a raft of different tables for different sized groups with different tastes. Authentic music in the background, clean bathrooms and prompt service with reasonable prices especially when using the entertainment app like we were.  Best Margaritas I've had in ages. It was a great night and we will be back! Thank you!

La Boca Loca has a tasty selection of fresh meal options. They are all organic & ethically-responsible - offering their employees a living wage, which is just another reason to love them. Their signature margarita, alone, is worth the visit to Miramar.

Been wanting to try La Boca Loca for a while since I first saw it really. Cool place with an open kitchen and authentic decor. Went with my girlfriend and got a meal on a Thursday night and we both left very satisfied. The staff were very nice and attentive, other than not knowing what beer was what, but no biggie. <br/><br/>We both got burritos and both were really nice and very flavoursome. Only con of La Boca I would say is it's rather expensive. We both just got a burrito and a beer & cocktail and it was $60. But still walked out satisfied and glad I'd been. If your looking for some decent Mexican food outside of the city other than your usual Te Aro haunts then La Boca Loca is a good choice. Nice place for a date night too.

Myself and 2 friends visited this restaurant this evening.  I had made a point of making a booking for Saturday at 5pm on my way home from the gym on Thursday evening.  In other words, I physically went to La Boca Loca on my way home on Thursday night to make a booking for Saturday afternoon.<br/><br/>I have to say, I have never been treated so rudely and with such arrogance by a restaurant.  And it was not just me but everyone at the table was quite perplexed by the service staff.  <br/><br/>It takes a lot for me to complain and even to go to the trouble of doing a review on this site.  <br/><br/>We were told at 6.45 to basically 'get out' of our table as they had 2 hour windows of table service.  I was not told this when I came in and booked.  <br/><br/>I will never go to this restaurant again and would not recommend it.

Great Mexican food, and not too spicy if you don't want it to be, don't be afraid! Authentic flavours, built from scratch, excellent ingredients, that all come together for some tasty food. <br/><br/>Service is attentive without being overbearing and the staff have a sense of fun. <br/><br/>Book. <br/><br/>Excellent for a drink as well in a quirky environment with bar staff that no their way around the entire range of tequila.

Favorite Mexican restaurant in Wellington! Authentic, very tasty and great service.<br/><br/>Pretty far out (right near the airport) but they set up a booth in the City Market so you have a small preview of what they have to offer. They sell chilangas - veggie/vegan option, beef or salted fish. Sometimes even guacamole. I would literally go there every Sunday before I do my veggie grocery in the harbour side market.<br/><br/>The restaurant itself was nice. Their food was good but a little bit pricey for its size. Really good list of tequila and cocktails! Owner is very passionate about what he does and it really shows!

Nice smiley friendly staff, food was ok a little bland, quite expensive, but the atmosphere was good and the drinks were nice.Its hard to say bad things when the staff are so friendly, really makes a difference.

Four of us went to La Boca Loca as we had recently read a review and heard it was excellent. I'm not a huge fan of Mexican food but it is enjoyable. I had a taco, we ordered a couple of enchiladas too. The food itself was pleasant enough. The entrées were small for the price, as were the main dishes. All in all, maybe not worth the trip to Miramar at that price.

I popped into here on Sunday night after dropping someone off at the airport. I was with a group of four and all we wanted was a nice quick dinner with no fuss. Well this place gave us just that, the staff were friendly and attentive and the food hit the spot. I had the spicy beef burrito which had just the right amount of kick to it not to hot at all and washed down with a Moa pilsner. My wife had a chicken enchilada which she raved about. I finished with a Mexican hot chocolate again very nice. $146 for four people including three margaritas and three ice cream deserts was a fair price.

I wish we had enjoyed our meals more. The staff were pretty good, with the exception of the bar person who thought it was ok to toss empty bottles into a bin in the middle of a busy restaurant - noisy as hell. The enchilada-orderer enjoyed their meal, but the three of us with tacos all found them dry. The steak one was well flavoured, but needed more sauce other than the small dollop on each meat, the taste of the tortilla overpowered everything else. The two who ordered the pork tortilla have both had upset tummies today. Desserts were pretty good; but on the whole it felt La Boca Loca has been really over-hyped.

Nice little hidden gem in the suburbs, just right for a get together with 9 of your best friends. My friend turned 25 and invited us for the celebration. It was a little crowded but once everyone sat down we had a great time. The food was awesome and really authentic Mexican. The birthday girl is on a gluten free diet due to allergies and booked La Boca Loca for the fact that they had a good variety to choose from. Our group will definitely be back and bring our friends! Highly recommended!

Quite possibly the best Mexican in Wellington. La Boca Loca is really, really good. Not a very 'wordy' review, but I think the main point has been made concisely.<br/><br/>Excellent selection of beers, which appeals to me. Entrees and side dishes are ridiculously good! I could fill up before the main meal arrives quite easily!<br/><br/>The main event is everything the lead up promised. It's a veritable fiesta on your tongue from the first to the last mouthful.

We went here on a Friday night and it was buzzing, had heard mixed reviews but decided to try it out for ourselves. I have to say we were rather disappointed! Food portions are small and my partner was still hungry after the enchiladas (they were pretty tasteless as well)! I had the chicken salad and my chicken tasted so burnt that it tainted the whole salad. We did wait close to an hour for the food, although they did let us know that there would be a bit of a wait. For the price it was below average and we won't be returning. I let them know about the burnt chicken but they didn't seem too fussed about it?! Very disappointing!

After reading the latest reviews for this restaurant (and being disappointed with my last visit to a favorite in the city - Pan De Muerto - who, after relocated to Tory St in December 2012, has hiked up the prices and reduced portion sizes) I decided to try it for a family dinner (4 people) on Easter Sunday.<br/><br/>The staff were extremely friendly - coming over promptly after every course to make sure we had enough drinks/food - and accommodating (they even prepared a doggie bag of salsa that seemed a shame to go to waste) and we didn't have to wait more than 10 minutes between courses. We had salsa and chips to start off - deliciously homemade with just the right amount of spice - and I was especially pleased with my main course of spiced beef brisket burritos (Burrito De Res) with black beans and rice. Their desserts were equally as delicious too - a special note to their tequila chocolate cake with strawberries - and I have to say that I've never had a better prepared Mojito than in this restaurant! <br/><br/>It'll definitely be one of my regular haunts from now on :)

I could have had my 40th at any number of places in the city but chose La Boca for its relaxed vibe and great staff. A set menu was discussed and organised making it easy for the guests, including a special request for smoked salmon empandas, seriously yum. Many guests hadn't been before and most importantly to me, everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. All in all, it was a fantastic and memorable night. Many thanks to the team down there!

La Boca Loca is one of my favourite restaurants in Wellington and hands down the best Mexican restaurant.<br/><br/>A great atmosphere with awesome food and beer. It also maintains authenticity which is great.<br/><br/>It is the total dining experience and my wife and I dine their at least a couple of times a month.

Huge fan of La Boca Loca. The food is exciting and delicious. Only quam is that the service can be average. In a previous visit it was very slow. This time, it was better but could have been more attentive. For example, the waitress didn't ask if we wanted beans and rice (yes we could have asked but we forgot) which left us a little hungry, not to say unsatisfied!

Loved this place! Great service, got seated on a busy Friday night within 10 minutes! Amazing range of menu options, we had quesadillas, enchiladas and papas fritas... deiliciisimo! Amazing virgin mojito, just the right combination of tangy and sweet. AND felt welcomed when I clumsily ordered in Espanol, great to feel that love for the language, food and what it brings in terms of atmosphere. <br/><br/>Great date night place! <br/><br/>Gracias, nos lo pasamos muy bien!!!!

This is obviously a very popular place. We should have booked a table, but didn't plan ahead. There were 5 of us, and initially we were standing at the small bar. They moved us over to the big bar (in front of the kitchen), and once a table opened we got to sit.<br/><br/>Firstly, the drinks. My mojito was made with lemon rather than lime... not so good. My wife enjoyed her margarita, though.<br/><br/>We started with the tortilla chips and bean dip. Nice, but not a boatload of flavour.<br/><br/>My wife and I shared our mains, so I got to taste the pork carnitas and the carne asada tacos. I LOVED the carnitas, packed with flavour. And the chorizo refried beans were a revelation. The carne asada was not my favourite. There was something in the marinade that I wasn't liking.<br/><br/>I loved the bitter orange chocolate dipping sauce they provided with the churros, too! My wife wasn't a fan, however.<br/><br/>Service was pretty average. Loved the feel of the place, though.

Phew. Past that excitement phase where finding a table here was nearly impossible, we wad a great time one night. Service was great, food was great, the margarita was awesome. <br/>Praise to the friendly Argentinian who was at the desk to charge us. <br/>Recommended.

Completely over-rated, entrees and all five mains lacked flavour. Disappointed as we were looking forward to some real authentic Mexican food, having visited Mexico and experienced the culture and food I can say LBL has allot to improve on.<br/><br/>The portions were meager and ordering one dish is really not enough. After reading these reviews this seems to be a recurring issue, unfortunately management don’t seem to listen to their customers. You can serve fresh and organic meals but still have decent serving sizes.<br/><br/>We won’t be back and definitely will be letting friends and family know not to bother going to LBL.

Have visited several times, most recently to enjoy their Wellington on a Plate lunch menu. Very good - interesting, fresh, delicious. The mushrooms with a mole sauce made from chocolate, chillies and walnuts were very special. Good service, nice surroundings, meals come out quickly. Great for families too.

[food]<br/>I liked their corn chips (I ordered again!) and salsa. Lots of mayo on main dishes. why do they not have Corona???<br/><br/>[customer service]<br/>I agree with the review of JJ J. we booked (3people), they gave us the seat for 2 (and + 1 chair) even there were empty seats. We ended up to change the table and put 2tables as 1. We didn't get offered it until we asked.<br/><br/>The interior design of the restaurant looks super cool, however I was not a fan of the music there. they played the electronic banging tunes it was quite loud. I guess that was the taste of their employees? I wish there was a quiet atmosphere as able to have conversation with Mexican music as it is a Mexican restaurant which is rare in Wellington or NZ, in a different country!

A small group of us attended "La Boca Fina" last night where chef Will Michel created 5 courses matched with wines from Seresin estate.<br/><br/>Fantastic evening was had by all. The food was excellent.<br/><br/>I love how these special events give a chef a chance to break out some moves. You must get a little tired of making the same dishes over and over, so exercising your culinary chops by putting a meal together like that would be refreshing.<br/><br/>I can't agree more with Richard (from Seresin)'s philosophy on wine making. Let the wine speak for itself, don't go chasing some "classic" characters. Was a great introduction to Seresin's biodynamic / organic / low sulphite wines.<br/><br/>Well done to Lucas, Kim, Will, Richard and all the others who worked so hard to make it a great evening.

I've just read a lot of reviews on here and can agree with both negatives and positives for this place. The food is a bit more expensive considering the portion size but it is very tasty! I wouldn't exactly say it is authentic Mexican, it's more Mexican with a Kiwi twist. The ceviche and tortilla chips are a definite winner in my book, as are the delicious margaritas. Also was star struck seeing Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom while dining here once. I say it's worth the trip to Miramar to decide for yourself what you think!

I've been to LBL on a number of occasions, for lunch. The place has a nice vibe, particularly since they extended the dining space. The food is ok - can't comment on authenticity though as have never been to Mexico. Service was ok - nothing special but I guess it isn't as critical when you're in and out for lunch.<br/><br/>I do however, agree with reviewer Dan, about serving size. They are meagre and ordering one dish is really not enough...and this is coming from someone who weighs less than 50 kgs. A bowl of nachos is miniscule! When they first opened, I emailed them directly, giving them similar feedback, and received no response. <br/><br/>Will I eat there again? Yes, probably, but I don't think that it's value for money and I will probably continue to feel a little ripped off afterwards...and still a little hungry.

Tucked away in Miramar is this delightful place... I could tell from looking at it from the exterior first time i went a few weeks ago that it had style and would be a great environment to have a meal and a drink.<br/><br/>The staff were really chilled out, in a good way, professional but chatty and friendly without being intrusive.<br/><br/>Food was great - the res burrito was delicious, as was the ginger and tamarind waddington's icecream - the latter was also nice and cheap :)<br/><br/>Best thing of all was the coriander margarita - which i thought was a weird idea at first, but man it was so good i had to have 2 :P

Having read 'rave' reviews, I have to say I was disappointed. Staff are friendly enough but for the price- I'm sorry but it wasn't good enough. You can get great mexican fare in the city centre that is more authentic and much cheaper. It was edible but definitely nothing to rave about. I am a fairly slight female and I was still hungry after we left. Steak tortillas that were dry and came with feta? Not very mexican and for a suburban restaurant - very expensive for what you get. Unless they pick up their game, I will not be back.

Highly recommend this place. <br/><br/>Have tried a lot of the menu enjoyed it all. Breakfast is a stand out as the burrito will flip your lid.<br/><br/>Dinner is great too with the bonus of excellent drinks. Personal fav. is the tortilla soup followed by an enchillida w/ some of their hot sauce. M-m-mouth watering. <br/><br/>The Tequila flight is next on my list.

I have been to La Boca Loca several times and each and every time I love it. I have tried nearly every item on the menu and love everything! The service there is always really nice and friendly. I never have waited more than 20 minutes for my meal, no matter how busy it is :)

The restaurant was extremely overpriced in my estimation.<br/><br/>The quantity was certainly lacking on all the courses we ordered. My wife had the chili realano special......one chili and some filler lettuce.<br/><br/>We ordered the ceviche which was primarily cucumber and a small bit of seafood in a small bowl.<br/><br/>The pork tacos were also small and without the additional "plato" would only be considered a tapa in most restaurants.<br/><br/>The chips and guacamole was again a very small bowl with chips.<br/><br/>The food taste was mostly good with the exception of too much cucumber in the ceviche.<br/><br/>The ambiance ok. Lots of families though.<br/><br/>We were there on a 545pm booking which was the only one available until 830pm on a Sunday.<br/><br/>Having experienced quality Mexican food in Mexico the overall score was 4 out of 10.<br/><br/>We wouldn't recommend this restaurant to anyone.

Love this place great ambiance and food! Although I had a burrito meal and it did kind of taste more like a Turkish kebab than a Mexican dish it was still delicious! Easily my new favorite Mexican in Wellington (and there on the rise) but will never replace my childhood love for The Mexican Cafe Newtown which is now sadly closed! I hope you do well and from reading reviews it looks like you are.<br/><br/>Cheers Woody

La Boca Loca is one of my favorite places to dine in Wellington. The food is always delicious, the margaritas are the best, and the staff are accommodating and friendly. Make sure you try the guacamole and ceviche for starters, the potato &amp; chipotle mayo as a side, and love the pork or vege burritos. The House Margarita is always a winner! The portion sizes arent huge but the prices are very affordable. Great atmosphere and decor - a true gem in Wetaville, Miramar. Highly recommended.

5 stars for capturing the taqueria vibe<br/>4 stars for a fantastic and large bloody maria (a bloody mary made with tequila, try it!)<br/>2 stars for the food<br/>1 star for the prices-to-portions ratio<br/>3 stars for seeing Al Brown and his friends dining here last night<br/><br/>Average: 3 stars<br/><br/>I like the fact it's hidden away in Miramar Village, and there's a warm Mexican-Californian vibe once you step through the door. It reminds me of a lot of taquerias in Southern California where you walk in, order, eat and then roll yourself out of the door.<br/><br/>Positives:<br/><br/>- Great bartender who knows how to made a cocktail<br/>- Nice waitstaff<br/>- Adult and child friendly, especially earlier in the evening<br/><br/>Negatives:<br/><br/>- Disappointed with the food last night. We tasted quite a bit and the best thing we had were....wait for it....the potato side dish. I guess you really can't go wrong with potatoes in NZ. The ceviche was fishy and tasted like it was straight out of the fridge (pre-made), and the portions were small. We ordered two different types of tacos and the tortillas were rubbery. The masa flavor was there, but the tortillas could have used a bit more time on the grill for flavor that I'm accustomed to from Mexico/California. The pork shoulder was bland and the fried fish was all right, but still needed some seasoning with the cabbage slaw that accompanied it. The grilled asparagus was all right and it needed a bit more salt, but you really can't go wrong with grilled veg. I also couldn't taste the citrus in the sauce. Perhaps more zest should go into it after grilling for some added citrus brightness?<br/><br/>IDK, so far, La Boca Loca is the best Mexican restaurant in Wellington. I've been to the other places, and they pale in comparison. Still, LBL leaves me wanting. At the end of our meal, Mr. Kiwi leaned over and said, "You make much better Mexican at home." <br/><br/>He's such a sweet talker, that Kiwi man.

Did not find this a very tasty experience. I booked over a week ago and they could only seat us at 6 or 8 and the place was empty on arrival. People were turning up without bookings - very annoying. The food was pretty tasteless - have been to many Mexican restaurants over the years and nothing beats the Mexican Cantina. Would not go there again.

One word: DELICIOUS. I've been to La Boca Loca a few times and it is so tasty and just amazing. The burritos are incredible and the flavours will leave you dreaming of going to Mexico! Definitely recommend and the service was outstanding. 10/10!

Absolutely delicious, fresh and tasty Mexican food. I had the tortilla soup, which was tasty but could have done with a more generous serving of cheese. My mind was officially blown by my Mojito and the chicken enchiladas I had - definitely the best I have tasted in New Zealand. My partner had a margarita, which she enjoyed very much and she raved about her pork taco. We'll be coming back here but it's a shame this little gem is hidden away in Miramar - seems like they would do a better trade closer to the city. Friendly staff and cute décor.

Just finished dinner at Boca Loca. Wow! I didn't book, crazy, but managed to get a seat at the window. I had the awesome tortilla soup, washed it down with a Tuatara Pale Ale and then went on to the veggie burrito. It was delicious and I had to try the Te Mata Viognier... a fantastic match! Thanks to the fabulous staff for recommending it to me. Some rice on the side and a salad meant that I couldn't fit dessert but I found room for the Margarita a la Plata! Some seriously great silver tequila in a margarita on the rocks. I was in heaven. It was a perfect post Roxy snack a' thon. Thank you!! The place was packed but the kitchen and the front crew were so great, calm and attentive, it felt like the best part of a festive fun family kitchen.

A friend and I dropped in on Sunday and sat at the bar. The place was hopping! The friendly staff were so great under all the pressure. They have a fantastic and varied wine list with lots to offer by the glass. I had a fantastic Pinot Gris and my friend a Sauv. Both were delicious and well matched with the food to come. We started with chips and salsa and had some of the house habanero salsa to really spice it up. It was all so fresh and delicious. For my main I had the fish tacos and my friend had the tacos machaca, marinated fish with tomato and chipotle. They were both fantastic, the best I have tasted in NZ. We finished with the fried bananas, a real treat. The lively atmosphere, the fantastic food, the awesome staff, I'll be back again and again. Next time, Margaritas!

A girlfriend and I went to La Boca Loca on Sunday night. It was absolutely pumping when we got there at 7pm without a reservation, but were seated at the stools overlooking the kitchen. We thoroughly enjoyed watching the chefs make our food right in front of us! I had the pork taco which I thought was delicious, and my friend had the tacos machaca which is apparently a new dish on the menu (fish cooked in a tomato, chilli sauce). It was very tasty! The friendly waitress recommended the La Boca Loca habanero salsa to spice things up - excellent. We also had a ceviche to share to start with - this is a must try! The house margaritas are also very good. All in all, a very nice evening out with great service and tasty food. Will be back soon to try dessert!

Seemed like a reasonable place upon first glance. Were seated and offered drinks, which were put out. After waiting 25 mins we still had no one come and ask us for our meal order. Despite some people in our group saying in a loud voice when the waitresses walked past what we wanted. The waiting staff even looked at us with the menu's on the table waiting in front of us with paper and pen in hand and then turned around and started cleaning the table behind them instead of considering serving us.<br/>When I spoke to the waiter behind the counter before we left they seemed completely oblivious to the fact that we'd been waiting for 25 or so mins with absolutely no service with barely an attempt at being sorry.<br/><br/>Will never attend this place again due to such bad service.

I've visited twice now and thoroughly enjoyed it both times. The food isn't the "Kiwi-Mex" that we are used to in NZ (lots of cheese etc) but has an interesting twist. Highlights are the Burrito de Res, it has a really interesting fejoa addition. Also great are the side of fried potatoes, the corn dip and the pork taco. Friendly service and very nice surroundings. No, things aren't super spicy but there is hot sauce provided if you have a hardy palate.

Two of us went on a Monday for lunch and found it really disappointing especially as we had read a great review about it from David Burton....This place was the worst place I have been to for lunch in a long time. It took us over 2 hours to receive our meals which were very average. Every time we asked how long it was going to be we were told 10minutes which then turned into 20,30 and eventually 2 hours later!<br/><br/>When I asked the manager to explain they just looked at me. They didn’t offer any apology at all and no discounts for the very bad service and time wasting. I asked if it was usual to expect to wait 2 hours for one plate of nachos and they just responded with they were very busy and we were a large group…..a large group who were there paying them money for food! I was so disappointed with this lunch and could not believe the lack of skills by the manager

Hola. We went to La Boca Loca 13 July for dinner. We were seated by the toilets/office so next time I'd ask to be seated either by the open kitchen or the middle part of the restaurant. Our waitress was lovely but lacked training with wine knowledge/opening the bottle, the menu and general food knowledge which was disappointing. We both ordered the chicken mole and it was delicious and it just fell off the bone. We also had the awesome tequila chocolate fudge cake with a scoop of the amazing chilli chocolate icecream (a MUST!). This was brought by a different waitress. We did feel a bit 'rushed'. There were a ton of staff working but the Irish Maitre'd was in the kitchen instead of out front so the crucial business basics are missing with regards to general operation/process/training/customer service/food knowledge/menu knowledge. If they improve on this, they will get better and better. Will definitely go back for breakfast and try a lunch and dinner at some stage. Adios

Two of us went on a Monday for lunch and found it really disappointing especially as we had read a great review about it from David Burton. Most of the corn chips for the guacamole were soft/stale and the taco and burritos ordered were so bland with not even a hint of chili or spice to them and served lukewarm. The service matched the food and we won't be going back.

La Boca Loca is great. Fantastic fresh food, friendly, professional staff, and welcoming decor. The popularity of the place is testament to the quality and the tastiness (though it does mean it can get crowded, but it's always a lively atmosphere).<br/><br/>Oh, and they make a mean margarita!

After a poor experience at La Boca Loca, we were provided with good compensation and invited to eat there again. Marianne and her team more than made up for that first experience. The same three of us went back to the restaurant and each of us left feeling satisfied and happy with the service and food we had had there. Marianne made a point of introducing herself to us and asked how our evening was going, the staff were friendly and keen to make our experience a good one, we even made sure the person looking after our table got our tip personally. The food was delicious, looked appetizing and was more than satisfying. The atmosphere was buzzing and the place had a good ambiance, there was a great selection to choose from and likewise with the drinks menu. <br/>The experience has changed our minds about the place and two of our party have been back since and had equally as good a time as that evening, so we know that our first experience was not what to expect from this restaurant. We will certainly be returning to eat there again...and Happy 1st Birthday to you all.

I was looking forward to some authentic Mexican food in Wellington at long last, but disappointed. The stuffed jalapeno was lacking in chili but presented with great ceremony which was probably to make up for the fact it was $4 for just one the size of my little finger. The fish tacos were undersized, greasy, lacking in seasoning, chili and salad veges, and came showered in cilantro even though I had asked for a dish without (allergic). Try the Malaysian across the road if you like food you can taste.

I'm Mexican and moved here from California several years ago. When I heard there was a new taqueria in town, I got super excited. My partner and I went for dinner over the weekend and had to wait nearly 40 minutes just to be seated at the bar because they were so busy. We had high expectations with the great reviews on here. Sadly, it was totally dissappointing. <br/><br/>If you want tasteless beans, cold rice, bland salsa and raw meat go here...if you want nice Mexican food, go elsewhere!<br/><br/>Our meals were cold, our carne asada was literally still raw and we had to send it back to be cooked again. This was a first as we usually eat just about anything! The portions are small, I mean they give you enough chips for two bites. Overall the food was pretty tasteless, which is hard to do with Mexican food. <br/><br/>If you want legit Mexican food head out to the Hutt to Las Margaritas--the guy who owns it is a bit OTT with his sombrero, but their food is yum! Pan De Muerto off Courtenay Place is also decent and if all else fails, Burrito Brothers will do for a good margarita and big portions of tasty food. Although, it's much more Kiwi-Mex or Tex-Mex than the real deal.

This is the friendly, atmospheric, relaxed, vibey neighbourhood eatery that the Eastern Suburbs have been waiting for. Fast, no fuss service and simple but tasty dishes. We will definitely be coming back!

I was there last night with my boyfriend and we both loved the burrito vegetariano, ceviche, and ensalada de frijoles. I loved the fish tacos in particular. The place has a very nice and relaxed atmosphere, just as a taqueria should be. I am Mexican and it was great to enjoy the experience. Definitively coming back!

Just had a holiday in Wellington and managed to squeeze in a few meals at this fab new Mexican. Loved the feel of the place. Hand made tortillas, fresh produce, devine! Very yum! Definately going back next time in windy Wellington.

Altho it had just opened and was packed...my food arrived quickly, the staff were (seemingly) relaxed and professional and the food simple fresh and delicious. Im already a regular....and I live in Raumati! Oh and ....nice loos.