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.

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!

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.

A great atmosphere with awesome food and beer. It also maintains authenticity which is great.

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.

Great date night place!

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.

Firstly, the drinks. My mojito was made with lemon rather than lime… not so good. My wife enjoyed her margarita, though.

We started with the tortilla chips and bean dip. Nice, but not a boatload of flavour.

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.

I loved the bitter orange chocolate dipping sauce they provided with the churros, too! My wife wasn’t a fan, however.

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.
Praise to the friendly Argentinian who was at the desk to charge us.
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.

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.

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]
I liked their corn chips (I ordered again!) and salsa. Lots of mayo on main dishes. why do they not have Corona???

[customer service]
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.

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.

Fantastic evening was had by all. The food was excellent.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The staff were really chilled out, in a good way, professional but chatty and friendly without being intrusive.

Food was great – the res burrito was delicious, as was the ginger and tamarind waddington’s icecream – the latter was also nice and cheap

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

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.

Have tried a lot of the menu enjoyed it all. Breakfast is a stand out as the burrito will flip your lid.

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.

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.

The quantity was certainly lacking on all the courses we ordered. My wife had the chili realano special……one chili and some filler lettuce.

We ordered the ceviche which was primarily cucumber and a small bit of seafood in a small bowl.

The pork tacos were also small and without the additional “plato” would only be considered a tapa in most restaurants.

The chips and guacamole was again a very small bowl with chips.

The food taste was mostly good with the exception of too much cucumber in the ceviche.

The ambiance ok. Lots of families though.

We were there on a 545pm booking which was the only one available until 830pm on a Sunday.

Having experienced quality Mexican food in Mexico the overall score was 4 out of 10.

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.

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 & 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
4 stars for a fantastic and large bloody maria (a bloody mary made with tequila, try it!)
2 stars for the food
1 star for the prices-to-portions ratio
3 stars for seeing Al Brown and his friends dining here last night

Average: 3 stars

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.

Positives:

- Great bartender who knows how to made a cocktail
- Nice waitstaff
- Adult and child friendly, especially earlier in the evening

Negatives:

- 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?

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.”

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.
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.

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!

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).

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.
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.

If you want tasteless beans, cold rice, bland salsa and raw meat go here…if you want nice Mexican food, go elsewhere!

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.

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!

Had dinner there with my partner. Brilliant food. We sampled the Fish tacos & Burrito de res for mains. Very impressed. Tasted like no other Mexican i have tried! Guess this is the way its meant to taste. Fresh products with top notch meats. Also had a fried banana with cream and sherry ice cream dessert which was dreamy. Staff were friendly and chatty. Food was served in about 5-10 min intervals. Crazy fast. All in all a great restaurant experience. A must if you live in the eastern suburbs.

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.