My recent visit to La Bonita left me profoundly disappointed and questioning whether I'll ever return. My first experience at this establishment was delightful, but unfortunately, the subsequent visit was nothing short of a disaster. To begin with, it was evident that the restaurant was understaffed and lacked the presence of experienced personnel. Instead of the attentive owners, the place was overrun with inexperienced students who seemed clueless about the menu and unable to answer even the simplest of our questions. This lack of knowledge about their own offerings set a worrying tone for the rest of the evening. As for the food, it was an unfortunate letdown. What used to be a delightful culinary experience turned into a tasteless and uninspiring affair. The dishes were bland and lacked any of the flavors that made our initial visit so enjoyable. Furthermore, some of the plates were missing items, while others arrived with incorrect items, leaving us to question the competence and attention to detail in the kitchen. The drinks served were equally disappointing, as they seemed to be made with excessive amounts of alcohol, rendering them practically undrinkable. A restaurant that prides itself on its beverage selection should know better than to serve such poorly crafted drinks. The service was abysmal, to say the least. Not only were the staff ill-informed, but they also demonstrated a complete lack of professionalism. Shockingly, they began cleaning up and closing the restaurant at 7:45, well before the advertised closing time of 9:00. This made us feel rushed and unwelcome, as if they were eager to push us out the door. The sight of mops, closed signs, and charity boxes being lifted only added to our discomfort. Overall, I cannot fathom how such a drastic decline in quality and service could have occurred in such a short time. It's clear that the absence of the owners and the reliance on inexperienced staff have severely impacted the once-excellent reputation of La Bonita. Unless significant changes are made and improvements are implemented, I regretfully cannot recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking a pleasant dining experience. I sincerely hope that this review reaches the management, as it's essential for them to understand the magnitude of the disappointment their customers are experiencing. As for me and my companions, we will be exploring other dining options until confidence in La Bonita is restored.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$60–70
Food: 3
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 2
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Free parking lot

We came for lunch at noon on a Wednesday. The restaurant had plenty of seating and parking. The strip mall restaurant is not accessible to wheelchairs. As soon as you open the door, loud salsa music greets you. (Note: it is quieter in eating area near windows) The ambience and decor are very lively and colourful. It smells nice like the little restaurants on Cozumel. Hostess was quick to great us. The waitress brought water to us before taking drink order which was very appreciated. She has good recommendations. She was efficient in getting us served our food. The drink menu is well varied and they have many kinds of beer. They also have a wide variety of non alcoholic beverages. We ordered the burrito with beans and the taco dorados in chicken and pork with rice. The burrito - filled with chicken. My dinnermate said it was moist and tender. The shell broke appart as he ate. The portion was generous. The beans were creamy and tasty. A little bit too salted but a generous portion. The chips were crispy and tasted of corn flour. They were good. Approximately 10 chips. The tacos were tasty. The portion is generous. I had two pork and two chicken. The salsa Verde was delicious on top of the tacos. The pork was tender and moist. It was easy to eat. I enjoyed adding a little hot sauce they brought to the table. The chicken one was ok but a little dry. The rice was good. The prices are on the higher side when you compare it to a fast food restaurant. It is very similar to other sit-down restaurants in the city/urban areas. The restaurant is not accessible to mobility restricted individuals. There is a step to come in the restaurant, no large washrooms. The tables can accommodate a wheelchair however. They have booster seats and a high chair for children. The food is not to spicy and the rice is plain enough for most children to enjoy. The restaurant was clean although some parts like flooring and restroom could use a "rejuvenation". The ambience was nice and my experience at lunchtime was overall pleasant. I would come again. If you found my review helpful, please leave me a thumbs up.

I'll start with the good part. The food was good. Could have had a bit more flavor, but overall was good. We had the Tacos Bravados con Pollo and the Enchiladas Verdes con Pollo. Pictures are attached. Now for why it was a 3-star. The service was rough and expectations were not voiced. The server came by once after we ordered to fill up waters, even though they were empty and several times the server had seen that. Ok, no big deal, but then we watched and heard as they turned away 4 different couples or small groups even though there were tables available. There was no option given for a wait time. These groups were flat out refused and told to come some other night. It was pretty rude. After we finished dinner, we sat at our table for about 10 mins with no service. We finally flagged down a different server and found out that we had to go to front to pay. We were never told that nor was there signage to indicate that. All in all our experience was confusing, the staff wasn't friendly with guests because they were "full" (had four open tables when we left), and the food was ok.

Lots to say about this beautiful authentic Mexican resto! As many of the photos portray so well, the brightly colored walls are covered in fun and inventive decorations to which each room seems to have a theme of its own. With that being said, I'd still have to say that the beauty of the interior still pales in comparison to the delicious authentically made platters! I personally ordered the Quesabirrias, which I can't recommend more! So much flavour in that long marinated beef and the consumé alongside it was so good I sipped the rest after dunking the birrias in the while way through. Great spot to consider if you're looking for delicious food with great service in and around the area. I would honestly consider a linge drive just to expire their food again! Please stop by and treat yourself!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Super Burrito, Enchiladas Verdes, Carnitas, Mole Con Pollo

Just visited La Bonita in Gloucester for the second time, and it was just as phenomenal as the first time. The tacos are amazing - we have now sampled the cochinita pibil, nopales, chorizo, barbacoa & al pastor. All fantastic! Flavours, textures, sauces, garnishes, even the tortillas themselves: A+. Enchiladas Mole - excellent. Chalupas - outstanding (both chicken & salsa verde and beef & salsa roja) Rice, beans, chips - 5 stars. I'm assuming the hot sauces are made in-house and they're great - I should have asked what was in each, but they all had such depth of flavour (and spice of course!) Cocktails are so creative and delicious, and their garnish game is beyond impressive. A little on the pricy side, but you get what you pay for - delicious, vibrant, authentic Mexican fare made with fresh ingredients and prepared with love. Run to this place, don't walk.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

As a visitor to Ottawa, I had the pleasure of dining at La Bonita Mexican restaurant, and the experience was a mix of highs and lows. The food was undoubtedly tasty, living up to its reputation. The soup was flavorful, the quesadillas and tacos were delicious with their well-seasoned fillings and fresh toppings, and the Margarita added a refreshing twist to the meal. However, it’s worth noting that while the food was enjoyable, the overall experience was somewhat dampened by the high prices. As a visitor, I had hoped for a more budget-friendly option, but La Bonita proved to be on the expensive side. On the brighter side, the service was good, with attentive and friendly staff creating a welcoming atmosphere. Despite the cost, the quality of the service helped to make the dining experience more enjoyable.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$30–40
Food: 4
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5

I recently visited La Bonita for the first time with a friend, and I was pleasantly surprised. I had never heard of the restaurant before, but upon arrival, I found that they had an enormous selection of mixed drinks - over 150 options! The drinks were strong, and I enjoyed both of the ones I ordered (though the one served in a skull was a bit too salty for my taste). We shared a plate of nachos and dip, as well as chicken and beef quesadillas, and all of it was absolutely delicious. The food was reminiscent of the kind of meals my grandmother used to make, which gave me a warm and cozy feeling. Overall, I had a great experience at La Bonita. The drinks were fantastic, and the food was delicious. I loved the homey feel of the restaurant, and I will definitely be returning in the future.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30

What a pleasant experience from the moment we walked in, until we left at closing. Let me begin with the decour. It is peaceful, colourful, and an authentic blend of country and family. The staff are so kind, patient and thorough. No question was left unanswered and the detail they applied to our table has not been surpassed, to date, anywhere!!! The food was vibrant, fresh and so lovely to look at!!! Sooooo delicious, nutritious and settled quite nicely with all of us. Our margaritas were magnificent works of art, and oh so yummy!! The prices so reasonable, as were the portions. We shared nachos as a starter. The chips are made in-house, and so lovely and light....the garnishes were full of flavour. In fact, everything was full of flavour, without a lot of sodium!! Highly recommend this superb little gem....A++ #localguide

First time going to La Bonita, for lunch, and was simply blown away, by the food, the presentation, and the service. Even the ambiance and decor was exceptional, very vibrant, very jovial, very fun. All the food was well made, and well presented and most importantly tasted awesome, some of the best Mexican food I've ever had. The cocktail menu was very unique, some of the traditional drinks (like lime margarita, mojito, etc), but there were also some quite unique options -- scorpion bowl (32oz of pure goodness :) ). The staff was very friendly. Prices are a little on the higher side, so expect to pay around $100 for 2, with a app, a drink and a desert, but well worth it. Overall a great restaurant.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch

Heard many great things about this place, as have others. I came in wanting to love it but it fell short on a couple of aspects. I had a Mojito, which looked great but tasted of perfumed water, and the super burrito was just okay. Rice and lettuce were of minuscule portion and not fresh. My friend had the tostadas, which were quite better, and much cheaper. But his cocktail also tasted of a watered down rum and coke. Overall the aesthetics are beautiful, and the ambiance is right. But for $50 each, there are better alternatives with similar taste, minus the "pizzazz".
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$40–50

Overall experience and vibe was lovely, vibrant and fun. The drink menu is posted on a bottle on the table which is a lovely touch, the drinks themselves are quite strong and really nicely decorated. (pictured is their pina colada) The food tasted excellent and was brought out quickly. The only complaint I have is that the churros were very doughy and undercooked inside, the waitress also tried to ask us how we wanted to pay our bill before we got a chance to ask about desserts but they were about an hour to closing time so that could have played into it.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30

Update: Better than ever!! Finally had a chance to revisit La Bonita, and I'm so glad I did! Their tortilla are gluten-free (which is important to me now), and I noticed that many restrictions are catered to. Looking forward to another meal soon. Amazing and authentic! Can't wait to come back. Staff is wonderful, too
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$30–40
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Super Burrito
Vegetarian options
Several vegetarian options
Dietary restrictions
There are gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian options

My first time here with a friend. The food was amazing and I was very pleasantly surprised. The service was mediocre. They were lovely but slow and forgot our drink order. We had to remind them... it was just beers. Also 4$ for a tiny bowl of additional sour cream is a bit outrageous. Sadly they were also out of Churros at 6pm on a Friday. But.... I will be back. The food was incredibly good.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Golden Tacos Dorados
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Free parking lot

This is not your typical tex-mex restaurant. The atmosphere and the food are authentic. The interior elaborate decor starts your experience. My meal started with a Margarita (see picture) which was well balanced, not watery and well garnished - so tasty. My main meal was a chicken enchilada platter, again perfectly balance with generous portions of beans, rice, corn tortillas and green salsa. The service was impeccable. There's easy parking. I thought the prices were reasonable. Highly recommended.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

We has amazing lunch time. The service is great and I believe everything is freshly prepared in the restaurant and I have to say the chef is amazing. I had the best burrito in here and looking forward to have it again. Also has guacamole on the side. That's fresh and awesome. Ambience is cozy and nostalgic . Wall is filled with art and decorations . You will be amazed with the amount of details gone in to this ️. Background music is also great. They don't have much of parking space to begin with. Check the side street on your way here first.

I would have given a better rating since the food was really good here. Sadly the service wasn’t that great the evening we went. The service was a bit slow, individual dishes weren’t timed well and our table wasn’t being cleared. We had our appetizer plater and (empty) basket still on our crowded table even after leaving. We might have just had a bad night so we may come back in the future.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$30–40
Food: 5
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 4

Went to the Gloucester location. This place is such a little gem. A bit on the pricey side, but everything was amazing! My margarita was very good. The guacamole was delicious, but could use a bit of spice for my liking. The quesabirria was SO GOOD. Service was good as well. Attentive, but not over bearing. Do not sleep on this place. A must try
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$60–70
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Guacamole

I love this place, its so cozy! Food is great and the portion is so large for the super burrito we started splitting it between two. Make sure to get the chips and Pico de gallo! The Sangria is a must try. We also tried the scorpion bowl. Only order if there is 4 people, trust me. The nachos were really good as well! Love this place!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Nachos, Super Burrito

Absolutely delicious food. Amazing service and the atmosphere is very cute, lots of different pictures around, nice and colorful subtle music that is fun to dance to. The food was amazing. Had the quesadillas and hubby had the quesabirria. Also had their aopa azteca and Le Luna to drink.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Carnitas, Pollo, Chicken Quesadilla Plate, Sopa Azteca

Best authentic Mexican restaurant in the city (and personally, as it’s the OG location, I find it has more charm and better ambiance than the Westboro location). I’ve been going here for over 8 years and my only wish is that they convert some of that parking lot into a summer patio. All in all though, La Bonita Cadboro is perfection!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Nachos

Heard great things about this place so was looking forward to trying it out. Started off with the nachos, very tasty and big portion. The guacamole was incredible. Also ordered the shredded beef super burrito and by far one of the best I’ve had. The Mexican rice was also very fresh and had great flavour. Only dish that wasn’t a favourite was the pork tacos, the meat was a bit dry for my liking. Definitely recommend this place for authentic Mexican food.

The prices have really gone up since last year! Over $25 for every entree! It's just tortilla, chips and some meat.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$40–50
Food: 3
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 3
Recommended dishes
Parking space
Somewhat difficult to find parking
Parking options
Free parking lot
Parking
It's in a strip mall, the east end location

Great authentic Mexican food, great atmosphere, the service was not the best but the night was busier than usual and the only waitress and the manager were clearly working their butts off so they get a pass for that, also one of our quesadillas was the wrong one but they gave us one at no extra cost when we reported the mistake. Great dining experience, highly recommend
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5

Awesome place for mexican food in Ottawa! I've been to Mexico (in the cities, outside of resort) and this is one of the closer restaurants to more authentic mexican food instead of tex mex. I recommend the mole
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Enchiladas Verdes, Mole Con Pollo, Sopa Azteca

Delicious food and drinks, lots of attention to details, authentic Mexican food, feels like a home cooked meal. Was so impressed, went twice in the same week.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Quesadilla with Chicken
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Free parking lot

When I think "good mexican food", I think of La Bonita. The enchiladas are my favorite thing on the menu--I recommend the chicken enchiladas verdes or the beef enchiladas mole. The cocktails are STRONG. If you're planning to drink, don't plan to drive. Their weakest cocktail is 3 oz of quality tequila. La Bonita is always a special treat!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$30–40

I was very pleased for a first time at this restaurant. Unassuming and relaxed ambience. Menu is straightforward. Food is tasty and fresh yet not too spicy. The 50¢ premium for soft tacos ("quesadillas") is worth it, but it would be better with homemade shells. One downside was the wine. We tried a Chardonnay (30$ for 1 L) and it was one of the blandest wine we ever drank. Stick to beers and drinks.

Great atmosphere for a date night or small gathering. There is no kids menu, there is not a ton of space for a large group, but staff is very friendly and accommodating. Food was very good, fresh ingredients, flavourful, well priced and good portions for average person.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Disappointing food- the tacos with mole sauce did not have anything on them recognizable as mole sauce, in fact they had something that tasted like caesar salad dressing??? General lack of flavor and sogginess in the other dishes. The server did not check on us even once or come to fill our waters. Very cute decor though, loved the ambience.
Food: 1
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 5

We have been customers of both locations for over 3 years. We especially like coming to the Cadboro location - not only is the food always amazing, the service is stellar! Sandy and Marisol always treat us like family. It's hard to pick our favorites when everything delicious, but we usually get the Sopes, Caldo Tlalpeño, Golden Tacos, or the Mole. Their aguas frescas are also great!

Enchalada wasnot steaming hot Waitress was excellent! Music was too loud, had to ask to turn it down so we could hear each other talk. I drove in from out of town to meet old friends... might go back next time in the area but I won't go out of my way.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$30–40
Food: 3
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4

The absolute best Mexican in Ottawa! And trust me I've tried them all. If you want real authentic Mexican food try this place and definitely definitely get a margarita or one of their fabulous drinks. You will not be disappointed I promise
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5

Look at this margarita art piece!!! Everything was excellent from the food to the presentation. You are missing out if you don’t try this place.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Golden Tacos Dorados, Super Burrito, Burrito Platter

Tasty food, beautiful presentation, slightly pricey but not ridiculous. I'll definitely go back. We really enjoyed the hot sauce; we tried the mild and it was not spicy, just a bit of heat with an almost smoky flavour.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$30–40
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 4

This place is a hidden gem! It’s authentic, great service, the staff is constantly smiling, the food tastes exactly like our trips to Mexico and the drinks were amazing with a huge selection. They have something for everyone. We’ve been to this restaurant many times and we will be back again!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Food and drinks were amazing! I has the enchiladas verde, a piña colada and tres leches dessert. Service was great as well! The decor was also beautiful
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$30–40
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Enchiladas Verdes, Tres Leches Cake

Excellent as always! The Quesabirrias were AWESOME, and the atmosphere is cozy and warm. Service was friendly and accommodating. We'll be back again, since you're in our neighborhood. :) Olé
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$40–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

We had a lovely dinner here with my family. The stars of the night were Tres leches cake and Sangria! They were soo delicious! We also enjoyed our quesadillas and super burrito. Service was excellent. We also felt safe in terms of Covid. Will be back!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner

Such a wonderful place, a real hidden gem! Amazing decor and ambiance. Best sangria I’ve had in Canada! With real fruit, not overloaded with fillers and sugars. Taste of the summer for me. Wonderful service and excellent food. I’ll be back for more!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner

I found it a little bland. I expected more spice from a Mexican restaurant. Atmosphere is fun, staff were friendly, service was quick. I didn't get a chance to try their drinks but they have an impressive and unique cocktail menu
Food: 3
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

We left in a food coma. We sampled several plates and had Mexican people with us who confirmed, it was authentic and delicious!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$100+
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5

Absolutely delicious! Go check out this authentic cute little place tucked away in the heart of Gloucester. Nice decor and lighting. Great food, and the drinks were incredible!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
$50–60

This was my first time at La Bonita and will certainly not be my last. The service was very friendly and the food was absolutely amazing... Amazing flavors for all dishes.... Even my picky kids loved it. Drinks were also really good and very creative.

One of the more authentic Mexican restaurants here in Ottawa. I had 2 visitors from Mexico and they found it close enough to Mexican food at home. Server was really nice and it's a very bright and vibrant restaurant.
Service
Dine in

Amazing authentic Mexican cuisine... amazing service and great smiles! Prices are on par but very very good food! I would definitely eat here again... we were a table of 8 with 2 kids and the kids menu was delicious! Enjoy!

Consistently great food and very good service. Music is a touch loud.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Such a colorful Cafe. Loved the ambience! I tried Veg tacos, the dressing was yummy, if you like spicy, it's a good dish to go for. Quite filling as well.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch

Service was extraordinarily slow. Food was decent but expensive. I was there long enough to take all these pictures. Tacos are your best bet. Kids liked it. Especially the rice. But hey $3 tequila.

Seats are empty and they ask you to do reservations .. I drove 5 hours to get here , I don’t think all the reservations are coming in the same time …

Absolutely amazing! Beautiful place! The mole is exquisite! Loved it!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5