Zivaz Mexican Bistro
4590 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85711
Zivaz Mexican Bistro Menu
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Address :
4590 E Broadway Blvd
Tucson, AZ, 85711 - Phone (520) 325-1234
- Website https://www.zivaz.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Dr Tim L L.
3.5 stars ........ wait staff was excellent. I used a coupon from Entertainment Book - made for a great price. Chicken Fajita - vegies were great but the chicken was dry. Weird looking dressing on salad and it was rather sharp tasting. Chicken enchilada was good. The guacamole had too bit much lime in it. Do NOT get the margaritas unless you like really pucker tart drinks with just a hint of alcohol. I would go back for the chicken enchilada.
(3)Rob R.
New favorite place in tucson. It's a nice place, order up front and get your drink then they bring out chips and salsa before your food. So service is quick. Defintely like just being able to get my own refills and they have Gatorade which I find nice in the heat lately. But lets get down to brass tax The food. The food alone would get this place 5 stars. The burger is fantastic, taste like it's grilled more then pan fried. Really juicy and fresh tasting. I got it topped with Chile relleno which has the benefits of coming with cheese too. The cheese is melted, gooey, and perfect. I also had the chicken poblano burrito. Might be my new favorite burrito. Chicken, black beans and rice as the basics and then poblano sauce and I think either a poblano pepper or maybe a green chili with some salsa in there and the cheese was just starting to melt and become stringy . It was super filling and tasted amazing. Can't wait to try the other options. Service is super friendly as well and I can't recommend this place enough, as if it needs it lol.
(5)Cherée E.
Meh. I wasn't impressed. I had the Asada burger and it wasn't that great. It wasn't bad, but it also wasn't best burger in town good. Everyone else in my group ordered the same thing and felt the same. The service was fine. You order first with a self serve drink area. They do bring a small bowl of seasoned chips and salsa. They bring you your food but mixed up mine and my husbands burgers (he gets his med well and I ordered med rare).
(2)Monica F.
The takeaway from Zivaz seems to be that they use surprising and unexpected flavor combinations on certain things, which in theory is exciting, but in reality meant that most of the food might not be exactly what you want. It doesn't taste quite right, or it doesn't have a lot of flavor because it's depending on something else in the dish for taste. You order at the counter and get a number. The burgers are a big deal here, and everyone who ordered one got a free slider featuring a beef-lamb mix. I tasted that, and it was OK. Not a big burger fan. You get a tiny dish of seasoned chips and 2 mild-medium salsas (red and green) when you sit down. Food came out sort of randomly. I chose the mole, which didn't do anything for me. There was a ton of sauce that was a bit too sweet and the chicken was dry. Beans didn't have a lot of flavor. Salad was nice. I tried my friend's orange chicken, which neither of us enjoyed. The kids' quesadilla was a little soggy but the cheese was very good. Ditto the enchilada, which didn't really taste like an enchilada. The cheese was good but the tortilla was mushy and seemed undercooked. The best part of the meal was the carne asada, which is big chunks (not shredded) of steak, cooked well. The meat was decent; it didn't seem to have any seasoning on it, though. Salt and pepper are available by the drink station, which helped. We also had 2 flans for the table but no one really liked the flan. The ones we ordered came with mandarin oranges and whipped cream, and, like everything else, didn't really seem to go together.
(2)Brian S.
Good burger joint. Asada burger is solid...definitely the way to go. Chipotle ailoi, Carmelized onions, guac...need I say more??
(4)Chametria D.
Ok so, asada burger was absolutely to die for!! This is definitely a great local spot! When we walked in we were greeted immediately and chips and salsa were brought to our table which I didn't expect because I was thinking more of a fast food place then a restaurant. The service was great the food was cooked the way I ordered it and I will be back for sure!
(4)Jo W.
A $5 off coupon for this restaurant that advertised winning Best Hamburger in a Tucson competition got us visiting Zivaz Mexican Bistro. We've only lived here 7 months and so have not tried a lot of burgers elsewhere, but I must say this one was excellent. Juicy and cooked to perfection (Med. Rare per my order). The 1/2 price Margaritas all day Saturday sealed the deal. The added Chili Relleno "topping" was the bomb. Ciabatta roll was a welcome bun choice. A good burger isn't only about the meat although the meat quality was top notch. Added a pork belly burrito to bring the tab up over the requisite $20. Cheap AND delish! The only reason I gave only 4 stars is that it seemed that the margaritas had very little alcohol.
(4)Ashiana K.
Zivaz is hands down, a great local spot to eat at when in Tucson. The restaurant is very clean the interior decor is contemporary. The customer service rocks not only because the hostess was sweet and pleasant but also because she knew all about gluten free food items and the risk of cross contamination. I think that's very truthful which is what I appreciated! I ordered the guacamole and chips for an appetizer and it was soooo good! It was real guac with incredible punch of lime flavor. My entree was the shrimp tacos on corn tortilla. It needed some additional flavor only because corn tortilla tends to decrease flavor rather than compliment like the flour tortilla does. So, I poured the salsa verde sauce onto the insides of my tacos. The overall experience was very positive and I will definitely be back when in Tucson!
(5)Vickie S.
The "bistro" styling is key here. This is Southwestern Pei Wei. Orders at a counter with a hanging menu, booths and small 2-top and a few 4-top tables, drinks self-filled at a station with fountains and a little bucket of lemon wedges. Our service, such as it is for this set up, was great - ordering was fast and simple, they removed plates as we finished with them promptly, my sister got a refill on her wine without having to get up (they dropped off a ticket), and they checked in on us and our food. There isn't a ton of variety on the menu and I didn't think anything looked or sounded innovative but I like chiles rellenos and enchiladas, too. We ordered guacamole for sharing and it was pretty good, but I was surprised how little for the price. Our entrees were packed on the plate with rice and beans so you will have ample food. The margaritas were huge, but just okay. My mom thought her pollo en pibil, which sounded delightful on the menu with pineapple and achiote, was kinda meh. My sister liked her tacos but picked at them. Considering they both hadn't eaten a real meal since 6am EST, I don't consider this a great sign. I had the chiles, which were okay. A little more breading than I'd like, not the most flavorful sauce going on. I would have gotten enchiladas but it looked like you got one choice - either red, mole, or green, no mixing. Without trying your mole, I'm not going to make that commitment. Let's just call it "okay".
(3)Amanda M.
So we stopped in because my husband had to try Tucson's best burger. We love burgers and have always been fans of monkey burger so we had to try it. I was shocked to see they only had one burger on the menu. He had his with a chile relleno on it. It was good, but not great. I would hardly call this Tucson's best burger with all the places we've tried. The mexican food was so so. Lots of plates to chose from. Nothing that really stands out to me though.
(3)Danielle E.
Food was spot on but a staff member came, literally as we were standing up, to look for a tip. I proceeded to spend the next fifteen minutes of my life arguing with her and waiting for a contact number for management. It was a friday and we had spent $100 in five people. I had never expected to be treated this way! We were in two cars and i was trying to say goodbye to my husband as he was getting my family, who had flown into phx that day, home and to bed. We still had a margarita to finish and food to finish. It bothered me so much i went to the restaurant on monday to speak with the owner. Turns out it was not the owner i was speaking with and this person seemed less than interested to fix the problem or offer us a chance to come back and have a better experience. You order at the front and pay at the begining. They justify tipping since they use china plates and metal utensils, yet they have a self service fountain and no waitressing. Set up of restaurant is same as panda express or chipotle. Since mgmt didnt seem concerned enough about their staff's rudeness we will not be patronizing them again. Which is too bad bc the food was pretty good!
(2)Jerry M.
Once I saw the "Voted Best Burger in Tucson" sign I just had to try for myself. I must admit, they do have a unique twist on Mexican dishes. I wouldn't say the burger was anything to rant and rave about. It was juicy and cooked well, but just more of a fancy ingredients burger that just didn't make my mouth water. I actually preferred the Poblano Burrito which had chicken, rice, peppers and corn. For dessert we tried the Cheesecake and it didn't disappoint. Overall the service was quick and friendly, the prices were very reasonable but the food was just an A-OK.
(3)Josh P.
I love this place. My wife and I had our first Valentine's dinner here when we were just dating and then we did our rehearsal dinner here before we got married. It's a really great place and holds a very special place in our hearts. The food is very creative, which fits the Mexican Bistro name. There's a Mexican take on an eggplant parm and a delicious carne asada burger just to give a couple examples. It won't be for everyone, but it is very good. Everything we have tried has been outstanding and there are frequent specials where the chefs flex their muscles with new ideas. Definitely worth you giving it a try.
(5)Kala W.
Horrible service! We had to ask for chips and salsa and a high chair. The food made me sick to my stomach. I find it sad that they use frozen veggies. Will never go back there!
(1)Maxine E.
Had an entertainment book coupon (bogo)and still spent $40 for 3 of us. We aren't picky, but seriously couldn't even stomach the food. Sorry it just was not good, at all. People were nice, it was clean, but nothing else good to say.
(1)Jon K.
Visited Zivaz with family because they had visited before and had a positive experience. I had pretty high hopes based on their recommendations and on the great ratings it gets from all the local newspapers. Maybe I tried the wrong dish but no one else seemed very excited about their dishes either. The quality just wasn't there this time around. This was probably about the blandest Mexican food I've had in Tucson. I don't know if I'd even call it Mexican, or tex-mex for that matter. Chicken tasted boiled with no spice, the green salsa was sweet for some reason, rice was as plain as day, the beans were just beans, and to top it off my burrito was stuffed with way too much cheese, covering up the little flavor it had to being with. This is the kind of quality I'd expect from a mexican restaurant in like Wisconsin or.. some other midwestern state where bland is preferred, not in Tucson, AZ. Chipotle is cheaper and tastier, and I don't even really like Chipotle that much. So the food wasn't great. My dining partners agreed their food was either cold, dried out, burnt, and a whole host of other issues. Seems like there wasn't really any dish without issue among our party. One friend's asada burger was burnt, to the point of being inedible, despite asking for medium rare. He opted not to get another burger and asked if at least part of it could be comped. The manager attempted to force him to have another burger cooked for him, even though he did not want to wait, and certainly did not want to have the food come out when everyone was already finished eating. While they eventually relented and did not charge him for the burger, the experience overall left a bad taste in my mouth. The regular employees were very kind but almost nothing about the rest of the experience was redeeming. I'm willing to give Zivaz another try eventually, but it'll be awhile.
(2)Mark S.
I had been to Zivaz years ago and not been impressed with the food. Enough so, that I had not felt the need to go back. Until... they won best burger in Tucson in a recent burger challenge. Of course, we had to try it. The burger seems out of place on their Mexican inspired menu. I imagine this conversation in the kitchen at Zivaz: Cook: Hey Joe, did you order this box of burgers? Manager: No, I think they gave us that by mistake. Think you can do something with it? And the Asada Burger was born... a flame grilled burger topped with grilled onions, chipotle aioli and menu-described "greens". The requested medium burgers were overcooked and all I tasted was the char. I appreciate the effort on the aioli but I thought it fell a little flat. The burger starts at ten bucks and, with add-ons like cheese or bacon, can set you back almost fifteen. Best burger in Tucson? I'm not sure about that... Better than some, but I have a feeling I am still looking for the best burger in Tucson.
(3)Cam W.
This was a good meal at a fair price. The menu features a strong range of familiar mexican dishes, but there's also some non-traditional items as well. Our meal was satisfying and flavorful, however some parts of the same plate were served at inconsistent temperatures. The sides were lukewarm. The rest of the menu remains to be explored at a later date. I'll be back to try the "Best Burger in Tucson" as they advertise, at a later date.
(3)Alicia D.
I've only tried their asada burger which was voted best burger in Tucson and I see why! It's juicy, has great flavor, and you can really customize it to your taste... At a price of course. My only compliant is it is pricy and it's an extra price for everything. I always get avocado and the chile rellano (which is a must!) added which is an additional price of $3.50, so burger is usually around $13 with tax which does hurt a little bit. But it is delicious so it's worth it. Fries come with it but if you want the "upgraded" version it's ANOTHER $3. I've always decline so I'm not quite sure what makes it worth $3. The fries quantity that comes with the burger is good enough for me (even though the server acted like it was a super small amount). I don't usually order my burgers with the bun but their ciabatta bread is delicious and compliments it perfectly! Even though their burger may seem pricy, they do have a decent kids menu at $3.95, which honestly could be enough for an adult. You get a good serving of rice and beans with whatever you choose which is nice! I haven't tried anything else there so I can't really comment on the rest of the menu but my friend did order their guacamole salad yesterday which looked pretty delicious and was huge. I will for sure be trying that soon! We always come with our kids and they seem pretty accommodating. You get chips and salsa and they will refill it by request. You order at the cashier and then sit down. Food doesn't take too long to come out and they bring it to your table. The place has always been pretty clean when we go. The service is just mediocre, the employees don't always seem to thrilled to be there but it's not like a full sit down resturant with a server doing everything, so it doesn't really matter too much. I'm giving it 4-stars because of their delicious burger. If I would base of pricing and service it would be more 3.5 stars.
(4)Alan A.
Huge banner out front says it was voted the "Best Burger in Tucson" I didn't find it to be that, exactly... You would expect a place that puts the burger forward like that to have a selection. This was not the case. Carne Asada Burger was the only burger on the menu, and while there were a number of customization options, they came at an unreasonable premium driving the price a bit higher than one would expect. I know that Carne Asada is technically any grilled meat, but somehow I expected there to be fried bits of steak on the burger - the sort one might find on the carne asada burrito. To be fair, this was my fault for making an assumption. The patties were not impressive in size, quality, or flavor. We ordered our burgers medium well, and they came out hockey puck charcoal. Perhaps it was the preparation, but I would liken the burger's quality and dimensions to a standard frozen foodservice patty. Hat's off to Zivaz for doing the best job stuffing the ballot, but this is not the best burger in Tucson, the best burger in this zip code, or even the best burger on Broadway in this zip code. A burger starts with beef, and this one gets it wrong right out of the gate. By any criteria you could name, be it quality, price, or value we would have been better served by a stack of double doubles from In-N-Out - and I do not hold that establishment in particularly high regard. Odds are, you are not as picky as I am, and that's fine. Plenty of people seem to enjoy this place, so I hate to put you off trying it. But if you do try it, and it's not to your liking, don't give up on Tucson's burger scene too quickly. Your experience may be different, and I hope that it is, but this was the worst burger I've had in years.
(1)Selina S.
Favorite place EVER ! margaritas are delicious and refreshing ! The sopa de tortilla is my favorite ! Friendly staff ! I'm a regular
(5)Ryan N.
Had dinner here for the first time. It won't be the last. The asada burger with chile really was one of the best burgers I've ever had. The other menu items look great too.
(4)Christian M.
The search for Tucson's Best Burger.... OK--I read the Daily Star's results saying that Zivaz, yes Zivaz, has the best burger in town. I was skeptical to say the least--burgers are a big deal to me and my family and to the American Way of Life--and they beat out some pretty decent burger places. I was also intrigued--and decided to recruit my wife to try this out and see if the someone stuffed the ballot boxes in the Star's survey. This is a upscale Mexican bistro, I would liken it to the Mexican version of Pei Wei--you order at the counter, get a number, and they deliver it to your table. The service is prompt and attentive. The burger arrives--it is super thick and juicy, on ciabatta bread, with lots of options to put on it--I went with bacon and cheddar. The burger was perfectly cooked, REALLY juicy, and quite flavorful! I have to tell you--it may not have been the best burger I have had in Tucson, but it was in the Top 5! The fries were fine--but not spectacular. Definitely go and give the burger a try and let me know what you think!
(4)Christina G.
Had such an annoying experience turn out great thanks to management. There was a miscommunication and my order wasn't in the take out bag that we had. Once I got back to work and realized my food was missing, I called and talked to the manager. She drove my food to my work which was so nice considering they don't deliver. The chicken tacos are the best things I have ever had and the flour tortillas are amazing. Presentation of the food always looks beautiful. Glad this mishaps didn't cause much of a headache.
(5)Diana I.
Delicious carne asada burger! Lots of choices. Very friendly staff. The owner even came up to us to see how everything was. ( super friendly) we will definitely come back!
(5)Bard D.
I am at a loss as to how Zivaz was voted best burger. Med-rare burger almost burnt on outside. Flavor is bland with little seasoning. Advertised with caramelized onions but there were maybe two rings. Not a fan of chiabata as a bun as well. Overall uninspiring. Aioli adds nothing to the flavor but it could have been masked by char on the burger. Wife said fries are good. Maybe they do have good Mexican dishes as we seem to be the only people here for burgers.
(2)Brad B.
Service was great, everything we requested we received in a timely manner. Okay chips and salsa. We ordered the Chile relleno , chicken fajitas and the Burger. First off, no way best burger in town, not even close. The other dishes okay but nothing special, had much better other places. But it was fresh and somewhat tasty.
(2)A P.
We went here a while ago. The prices were reasonable and the atmosphere was fine. However, the most important part-- the food-- was somewhat mediocre for both of us. Neither one of us was that impressed with what we ordered. In fact, both of us were pretty disappointed with the food. I wouldn't mind giving them another shot, but based on our initial experience we've never had an urge to go back.
(3)Richard Z.
I didnt think these modern day Mexican restaurants that keep popping up everywhere would keep having good food but this restaurant was very very good i had the zivaz tour and i was really impressed the burger was also as tasty as they advertise id recommend this place to anyone wanting a fresh take on old world food.
(5)Frank M.
Salmon Asado was great with a cold Bohemia to wash it down! Wife had the Tortilla Soup and calabacitas, yum!
(5)Christine B.
So it seems everyone is reviewing the burger. I guess I'm not different. It is damn tasty. Juicy but not greasy, served on a soft chibata roll, and topped with quality ingredients. The fries were pretty tasty too. My husband had the burrito, his review was it was very good, but a little light on the chicken. The green chili salsa was really good. The previous reviewer who said it was like a Mexican Pei Wei was right on the mark...except the seating was more comfortable. Staff was friendly.We will definitely go back, I'm looking forward to exploring more of their menu.
(4)RT S.
The restaurant is very trendy not like a typical mexican restaurant. They have a decent menu list and alcohol. I ordered the fish and shrimp tacos. The food comes with 3 large tacos, small salad and chips. Portion is large. It's decent mexican food.
(3)Ts B.
Under rated, bit sterile environment, good value
(4)Larry B.
Zivaz is an unheated Mexican restaurant that has the feel of a locally-owned franchise restaurant. The staff was very friendly, but it couldn't make up for the ambience of a Mexican Panera Bread store. I went to see what the fuss was about the championship Asada burger. It's the only non-Mexican item on the entire menu, and sure enough, it tasted like an afterthought -- something for the one kid in the crowd who doesn't like Mexican food. The Asada burger was large and juicy, but completely lacking in flavor. I salted the burger heavily to give it some taste. I strained to imagine what the championship judges liked about the burger. Maybe they liked its drippiness, which required wiping off your hands after every bite. For me, the taste was "meh." Maybe Zivaz does a better job on Mexican food, which you order from large standing menus, like those you find in Noodles. But this place is too far away to go back a second time. For a great burger, go to Fini's Landing, which placed second in the championship.
(2)Stuart T.
For what we received, great food, kindness and service including follow up, lots of vegetarian choices on the menu, we rate this restaurant with 5 stars. Oh, and the view north of the Catalina's from Broadway isn't too shabby either.
(5)Saba B.
How could I have missed Zivaz? The menu, a delicious Mexican/Native fusion of flavors, consists of small and larger items, although when our food arrived, my "little" chipolte chicken, delicious chunks of savory grilled chicken smothered in melty roasted chile tomato sauce, was just as big as my partner's pollo en pibil. His cost twice as much as mine, and while the pibil sauce, a spicy, rich deep red chile with pineapple that must have come from the owner's Venezuelan roots, was delicious, it wasn't twice as delicious. Zivaz' casual, clean, open interior and laid-back but professional service make this a great lunch destination if you order wisely from the "simple" selections that won't drain your wallet. The Broadway corridor cuisine decisions are getting tougher.
(4)Lorena G.
Great friendly service, however.....mediocre food. We got the carne asada hamburger. They asked me how I wanted it and medium rare was my response. It was secretly overcooked! No flavor whatsoever! No salt and pepper at least! I also asked for the chile relleno and again, lacked flavor! When another reviewer said that the plate only came with 20 fries, he wasn't kidding! We got 21 and 18 on the other. So then we asked for a beer and we asked for a glass, ten minutes later we got one. Our food came 25 minutes after that! Will not be going back or recommend to my friends. Do not waste your time!
(1)CJ H.
This place is awesome! Everything on the menu is great, but I strongly recommend the carnitas. Locally owned, and they have gone a step above by offering Eco-friendly leftover containers. (Ok, they still use some styrofoam cups; hopefully they are in the process of changing that). Although I bring my own containers with me, I prefer to patronize the more Eco conscience businesses. I'll be back!!
(5)Rebecca F.
My love and I both ordered the Asada Burger and it was delicious! The only downfall was the portion size of the side of fries. There was literally 20 fries and since they were perfectly cooked and hot out of the fryer, we had to order another order. Back to the burgers, we ordered them med-well but received both well done. We didn't send them back because they were so juicy and delicious. We got the burgers with add on's (guacamole, crispy jalapenos) and will skip them next time because it's delicious without them and by the time you add them, you practically have a $15 burger! We'll be back!
(4)Mrs M.
My Husband and I love this place not too bad on the pricing which is nice, there ASADA burger and soups amazing !!! they also have 1/2 margaritas.
(5)James G.
Went back and still happy with the food and the service. Locally owned, with a family member there every time we've been there. I keep trying something different, so Tacos this visit. OK these were really good, not tiny like the 3letter place downtown, and you actually get enough to eat for a great price. Oh and the drinks are Consistently good, and less than that downtown place. Again it's the food, that's why this place got the Best of Tucson award for its Hamburger. Yes I have had a few and yes they are very good.
(4)Ingrid T.
I was so disappointment with this place. One star for cleanliness and another for the staff(they were super nice!) However the food was way under par for the prices and my veggies tasted a weird sweetness. On top of it for 4 people $100 way too much! We wanted to try it and my margarita was meh...I was not happy with my fajitas. My daughter's shrimp was gross The corn was bad(I mean I think the corn went bad :( ) The carnitas were bland better at Chipotle...gasp!! The tortillas were good Chips stale Salsa overly sweet and tasted like tomato paste Margarita overpriced for the quality The good parts...clean service was prompt and the guy didn't kill me for changing my mind 5 times! Guacamole was actually really good For the queso fundido save your money its better elsewhere. Sorry Zivaz you didn't do it for me. Onto the next place...
(2)Liz W.
Appearance- Clean interior, beautiful shimmer tile vases with decorative twigs and glass displayed at the entrance. The menu is easy to read and employee's are very helpful to answer your questions on their food. I ordered the grilled corn on the cob with a spicy southwest sauce drizzled on top along with crumbled cheese. It was delish, the corn wasn't over done and still had a slight crisp when I bit into it. for $3.00 for some corn I'll take it, I made mine my meal. Not sure about the other food because I'm not a fan of mexican food, so give it a try yourself :)
(3)Gorge L.
I've only had their chicken burrito and it's pretty good. I give the chicken burrito a 5 star.
(5)Lee P.
Great at happy hour - half price drinks and apps! Good chips and salsa, too.
(4)Shay R.
I love Zivaz. I started coming here about a year ago and I've tried many things off their menu. Everything I've tried has been delicious, but my faves have been: the Milanesa and the Guacamole salad with salmon. I also like their fresh tortilla chips and salsa verde. I spend a little more than I prefer to, for a lunch, but it's definitely worth the extra few bucks :)
(5)Cynthia E.
I am a full Mexican grew up in Mexico this is my number one restaurant
(5)Bianca A.
I had a Groupon so my sister and I went here for lunch this past week and we were pleasantly surprised. We had the carnitas and chicken fajitas along with a Negra Modelo and hibiscus margarita. The carnitas were very tender and delicious and fajitas looked really good. The atmosphere is simple and chic I think they would do well if they turned into a sit-down and order restaurant and stayed open later. The margarita was also very tasty and we're looking forward to going back for more and trying other things.
(4)I H.
My Dad and I go out to dinner every Friday night and Zivaz is on the top of our list of places to eat at. I usually get the Carnitas or the rib eye tacos. Lots of flavors and textures and im never let down. Also enjoy the chips and salsa before the meal. During the winter months the most common dish I order is the talapenio soup. Nice and spicy and it will clear your sinuses. The staff there are always friendly and very professional.
(5)T A.
This is a cafeteria style place that has about twenty items on a huge list to your right when you enter. I expected more--so I wandered over to Kon Tiki.... You might as well go to a Nico's.
(1)Rich M.
No wasted calories here.... The most flavorful, tender and meaty carne asada that I have ever had, and I grew up eating the stuff in So. Cal. Expect something a little different that what you may be use to. This is not your typical greasy mexican food. It's (dare I say it) gourmet despite the casual atmosphere and counter ordering (I'm not sure why they opted for counter ordering? I would rather have been waited on, but that's a minor negative). We were just passing through Tucsan, so I'm not sure when I'll be back, but I will be back.
(5)Peg P.
I've enjoyed every meal I've had here. The veggie quesadillas were out-of-sight delicious with a wonderful mix of flavors and served nice and hot. The small sides of guacamole and pico de gallo added a nice flavorful touch to the meal. My partner had the veggie frijitas with marinated tofu. She feels the tofu here is about the best in town but the frijitas were a bit too oily. Generous portions and relaxed atmosphere and all for about $16. About the only suggestion I could make to them would be to replace their dinnerware: Our plastic water glasses were cloudy-looking and didn't appear clean...though I know they were washed. My dinner plate had a crack in it and that should definitely be tossed in the trash. What an easy thing to upgrade.
(4)M M.
This may be a bistro, but its definitely not upscale mexican. It's more the TGI Fridays of "mexican bistros." The food was bland and under-seasoned. And they dont make their own tortillas. To be fair, I appreciate that its not the usual greasy mexican (though thats good sometimes) but food can be flavored with spice as opposed to grease -- and seasoning is what's missing here.
(1)Nick W.
Set up as a fast casual restaurant, Zivaz seems like it is either a corporate franchise or something opened up by a restaurant group. In truth it is neither... it's just a delicious place opened up by some people who make damn good food in a classy little restaurant. Little things like the refried black beans and tasty salad that accompany a lot of the dishes make up the little bit of difference to set the place apart from most of the competition. The food comes quick, it doesn't cost a lot, and is really delicious. Don't pass up the Chile Rellenos.
(5)Raul S.
FAST Review 3.5 out of 5 Food (3/5) - Pollo en Pibil, which is marinated chicken with grilled pineapple, was decent, if a bit dry. My wife had the chicken enchiladas, which were also OK. The portions are plentiful and the presentation is nice. Only thing that kind of bugged me was the cold salad is sitting on top of the hot food, so lettuce gets a little wilted and warm, and the dressing kind of runs into the sauce of the food. Yeah it ends up in the same place anyway, but the sweet dressing seemed to overpower the flavor of the marinade. Ambiance (3/5) - Crooked tables! haha, not really an issue for me, just something my wife and I noticed. Nothing special about the decor. Order at the counter and they bring the food out to your table. Would not want to be the table right next to the water machine. Someone slips up and you could have water/soda on your head. Service (4/5) - Service was fine. The waitresses were courteous and made sure our water was filled and we had enough chips. Total Impression (3.5/5) - I like the concept (kind of like a Mexican version of Sauce or Pei Wei). The portions are plentiful, albeit the food was just OK on this trip.
(3)Claire O.
This is is one of our very favorite restaurants in Tucson. My husband and I go here about twice a month - more than any other restaurants in our rotation. We love their appetizers and they have a great Happy Hour. We usually go on a Friday for Happy Hour and get 3 or 4 half-price appetizers and a couple of Margaritas -- and we have enough to bring home for a light and tasty lunch the next day.
(5)Carlos S.
I went to a private party that used them as caterers. I loved the food so I hired them for an Xmas party. The response was so good that I've used them 3 more times. The "pollo en rajas" can't be beat. One more thing- they are owner operated, which is a big plus for me.
(5)Ashley H.
So there I was...Waiting for the bus when I looked across the street to this place. My tummy was a rumbling and though 'Hey this place is open..and had food' So I stopped in. Much to my surprise it was far nicer than the strip mall it's next to. It a bit classier than one would think and the menu has some amazing updated traditional Mexican food dishes. They look beautiful plated, it's a good amount of food, and shockingly enough it's a great price...and to sweetin' the deal the food was AMAZING. I had a few Mexican dishes that week and their food really out shined most of them. It's a great place and a must try in the area.
(5)Funkdoobiest B.
Arrived around 7:40 for dinner. It was dinner for two and we ordered a combo plate with enchiladas. Gotta say the poblano chicken enchiladas are pretty good and also you get a nice salad included too. The main problem was the rice was completely cold. Both of our plates had this problem. It was like it was taken out of the fridge and put on our plate. I then found out they close at 8p which may have been why the food was not that good at all. Also the beans had no taste. Service was good however.
(2)Jim P.
Zivaz has become a favorite place to return to. Zivaz serves Mexican food, but with a style unlike most other Mexican restaurants. It's a Tucson Original, a one-of-a-kind place. The decor is spare and modern, with a bright airy feeling. This extends to the background music, as well, which I assume is modern Mexican - though I'm no expert. You place an order upfront, and find a table. Fountain drinks are self-serve. Once seated, someone brings a basket of tri-colored chips and two salsas, red and green. Both are moderately spicy. If you've ordered a drink, this arrives shortly after. Zivaz serves beer, wine and margaritas. I've had the classic margarita, and my wife likes the frozen version. They are largish, and arrive in great looking glasses shaped like a classic martini glass. The menu has selections that are for the most part different from the ordinary. A number are offered in a smaller lunch size portion, which is what I usually get. My favorites are the chile con carne, shredded beef with peas and carrots in red sauce, and the carnitas. My wife likes the pollo en pibil, chicken with grilled pineapple. My daughter has gotten the flautas, a favorite of hers. The guacamole is also good. Items on the menu are marked as "favorites", "spicy" or "vegetarian". In the evening, Zivaz offers a "tour de zivaz", which offers the chef's choice of a number of Zivaz items. I've ordered this a few times and have never been disappointed in any of the included items. It's a lot of food, though, and invariably involves a carryout container for leftovers. There is usually a special as well, often promoted with a bit of humor. Maybe this sums it up: I like everything I've tried at Zivaz. Most of the dishes come with some salad, black beans and tortillas. We took someone to Zivaz, and her comment was "even the tortillas are really good". This place get my recommendation.
(4)Cindy N.
I have to think long and hard about how many stars Zivaz deserves today. We've been here before when the place first opened about 7 or 8 years ago. At the time, it was a bit of a different concept from the regular Sonoran style Mexican food that I love. I liked the idea of ordering first and getting your meal brought to your table which eliminates tipping. It didn't feel like fast food Taco Bell. I ordered the tortilla soup and enchiladas with dark chocolate mole sauce, rice and beans as usual with a small green salad on the plate. I am an aficionado of good chips and salsa and theirs was really good. Especially liked the salsa verde with big chunks of tomatillos. Chips were warm, slightly salty and non greasy. This is the perfect combo for great chips. Next, the tortilla soup came. After taking one sip I knew this was awful. It tasted like dish water, lots of veggies in it but no chicken. I had to return it. They apologized and said that it must have gotten watered down since lunch. OK. Let's see what the rest of the meal is like. My enchiladas were OK, they use corn tortillas which I am not a fan of. The mole was pretty good. Rice and beans also fit in the same category. Pretty average. My other half ordered the Milanese de berenjena which is lightly breaded eggplant with queso fresco and tomatillo salsa. Very tasty dish and a little different than you would expect in a Mexican restaurant. When I returned the soup they credited our card and once again apologized. I have to admit we did have a coupon from the newspaper for buy one dinner and get one free. I would have been a little bit upset if I paid full price. I am not sure whether I would go back again. The place is very clean and nice ambiance but I'm not so sure about the food. It's probably a great place for lunch and suspect they do a really good business at lunch time because there are lots of offices nearby.
(2)Eric C.
I've already written one review, but had to follow up with a review on Zivaz' catering. I have eighty-five employees and have to occasionally cater training lunches, and I've used lots of places around town. Felipe, the owner, told me about their catering when I was in there for a meal (which, by the way, is always superlative - in over a hundred times of eating there over the years I've never had a bad experience). So, I tried them out, and it was the best catering experience I've had to date. They worked with me on the price, had AMAZING quality in their ingredients - like artichoke hearts and fresh squash in their chilaquiles - and had everyone at the lunch asking for business cards. Zivaz easily beat the old-time Tucson establishments, including the pricey ones, and they were such a pleasure to deal with. Felipe's mom handled my order, and when I explained the fact that we had a bunch of vegetarians that would be attending, she informed me that she was also a vegetarian and made sure all of our requirements were met with precision and verve. For less than half of what we paid for a similar catering job we got food that was infinitely better quality: real black beans pureed with cream and queso fresco, the best chilaquiles I've ever had (and I've traveled all over Mexico), amazing rice, and all sorts of other deliciousness, all made to the highest standards. And if that wasn't already a phenomenal value, we ended up having at least a third of it left over after everyone went back again and again for more helpings. We even had staff in from our Florida office who wanted to take some back on the plane when they were done! When you factor in the seconds, thirds, and leftovers, it really ended up being just a couple bucks per person, which is simply unbelievable, and this was just one of many catering options they offered. I saw some reviews that say it isn't "upscale Mexican," but I'd argue that the freshness of their obviously premium ingredients and the creativity with which they prepare everything sets them WAY apart from the typical south-of-the-border cuisine so ubiquitous to Tucson.
(5)Sally B.
Although the food was good, the ordering and paying system is unorganized and inefficient. It is all done at the counter. Upon checking our receipt after we left the restaurant, we ended up paying twice for our drinks. I would recommend taking orders at the table and giving the customer a bill.
(2)Simon E.
Chile rellenos in the Tucson Area rated according to the Homeland Security Advisory System with three word descriptors. Zivaz Mexican Bistro: very good sauce. Red See photos.
(5)Dan C.
I got the carnitas plate and made some demanding requests. They were all met promptly and with good grace. I wanted the hottest peppers they had as well as the spiciest sauce and both were provided without any complaint. I loved the service here, even if it was odd that it was counter style. My pork was juicy and tender and pulled easy from the center of the meat. Delicious. Not too salty either! The rice was good, although it did taste a little like it was Uncle Ben's, but no worries. My salad was covered in spicy sauce, which made my whole meal a satisfying experience. My margarita was huge, and I couldn't drink it all because it was just so-so. But I care more about the food than anything else, which comes at a great value!
(5)Brennan M.
We went to this place because all the reviews said that it is underrated, but I've gotta say that those people are seriously overrating it. I had the red chile enchiladas, and my fiance had the carnitas. My enchiladas were dried out, as though they had been reheated from earlier in the day, leaving the tortillas and sauce dehydrated. I thought the flavor was nice, but it's just careless to give a customer something so obviously reheated. My fiance liked the carnitas though. They were moist and had a good flavor, but they weren't any better than the carnitas elsewhere in town. The guacamole left much to be desired, as well. They put WAY too much lemon/lime on it, clearly trying to preserve it and keep it from turning brown. I'm sure this guacamole was made much earlier in the day, maybe even the day before. With so many employees standing around, why can't they make guacamole fresh? and put some fresh sauce on my enchiladas? The hibiscus margarita was yummy though. ...just not quite good enough to make it worthwhile to go back!
(2)Mike P.
We had dinner here one night while visiting Tucson. We enjoyed it. First thing, it is not a full-service restaurant. "Bistro" is a misnomer. You line up,order and pay at the counter, then the staff delivers the food to you. I had carne asada; my wife, shrimp. Both were good but not astounding. I can see why some reviews have complained that the food is bland. We also had margaritas, which tasted good, though no one would accuse the bartender of a heavy hand on the tequila. Prices are neither exorbitant nor cheap. For two margaritas, an ear of corn, two entrees, tax, and a 10% tip, the bill came to about $50, which seemed slightly high, given the limited service. Then again, we're from Oregon, which has no sales tax. The thing that I really liked about Zivaz was finding it less greasy than the typical Mexican restaurant. There was plenty of food -- we didn't finish everything -- but when we got home, we didn't have that bloated feeling that too often comes with restaurant food of any variety. For that quality, I've given them an extra star (4 rather than 3). Recommended for less heavy, but plentiful, Mexican food in pleasant surroundings, as long as you don't mind the limited service.
(4)Steve Z.
This place has sunk way down on the ladder of desirable Mexican restaurants in Tucson. What is it with Groupon lately? They seem to be offering deals for restaurants that USED TO BE quite good and are now just plain substandard. The entrees for the three of us were just plain bland. One can do much better than this for supposedly upper-end Mexican food in Tucson.
(1)Daniela S.
One of the best places for true Mexican food in Tucson! Highly recommend the Carne Asada, Chipotle Chicken, and the Margaritas! You will not regret checking Zivaz out.
(5)joel e.
I'm fairly tolerant of bad service as I once waited tables and I know what's it like sometimes but the service here that day was simply unacceptable. We were a group of six, two ordered, two other small groups of customers ordered, then the rest of our group arrived and ordered. Two dishes came out, then about 5 minutes later two more, then about 5 minutes later a fifth. The sixth? Arrived when we were all done eating. Then it was totally wrong so back it went and we waited even longer. I talked to the cashier who gave excuses, I talked to the manager who gave the same excuses "Oh your party didn't order at the same time". So explain why the guy who ordered FIRST, was one of the last to get his meal, so that excuse went out the window. Then all I got was apologies. When I used to wait tables and then as assistant manager, if a customer got that horrible of service I would never offer excuses and I would discount or even comp the meal. For the price they charge, the food was simply ok, nothing special. Chips seemed stale. Had fajitas, two small tortillas, small spoonful of meat (again, not great), beans and rice and a salad with a horrible tasting dressing. I will never go there again.
(1)Jeffry G.
My wife and I love this place - she normally gets the Carne Asada and I'm a fan of the Asada Burger. For an upscale Mexican place, the burger is really good! The prices are a little high, but it's a tasty meal and the staff, overall, is very good.
(4)Kinga H.
Do not come here expected typical south of the border greasy refried beans and taco stand Mexican grub... oh no! What you will get is Fresh Local Ingredients which make for an ahhh-mazzzing meal!! So many great flavors combined for authentic dishes... and a plus for my Veggie friends, the tofu served up here is delicious and can be substituted in most entrees (if they already are not veg friendly)! Recommendations are the enchiladas, carnitas, carne asada, milanesa de berenjena, fajitas, tacos, or calabacitas.... mmmmm mmmmm good.
(4)Aurore L.
Probably the best culinary surprise of my time in Tucson. So - it's probably not a REAL 5-star experience. But I was so impressed by this unassuming-looking little place that I get carried away and give them the royal treatment, the supreme reward, the whole constellation of the Yelp sky. Tucked away in a mall Zivav looks a lot like a Mexican fastfood....a close cousin to Chipotle, Baja Fresh and co. You even have to order at the counter. That sounds bad, right? But the first redeeming aspect of Zivav gets obvious pretty quickly. Home-made drinks. And more specifically: hibiscus margaritas. Oh gringos....these are just incredibly good. Dangerously so. Not too sweet or strong, they are just the perfect drink. Get there early for dinner since they close at 9 - you will want to sip on a few of these before leaving and hopefully go to bed a content man. More surprisingly perhaps was the food itself: so fresh and high-quality that I couldn't believe my plate. I chose the beef fajitas - and was blown away by my meat....juicy, perfectly cooked AND cut....so much better than in many classic restaurants I have been to. Galores of fresh peppers, onions, Oaxacan rice, refried beans and a side of salad dressed with a yummy chipotle-honey vinaigrette made for a wonderful dinner. My dining companions had the same great things to say about their carnitas. We didn't linger there too long and left with the musicians that entertain the crowds every Saturday night, but I would come back any time. Too bad I am hundreds of miles away!
(5)Nick P.
Twelve thirty rolls around in the office of Son of Veggie Girl and I suddenly realize that I am very hungry. Something that I realized much longer ago, however, is that I am also very lazy. Being that I am hungry, lazy and a long-time vegetarian (Mom is so proud!), my options for an afternoon meal are somewhat limited. Lucky for me, Zivaz Mexican Bistro is spitting distance from my desk. One of my favorite things about Zivaz is the wide-array of options they offer for the carnivorously disinclined and my choice today was the milanesa de berenjena; a lightly breaded eggplant cutlet is topped with a layer of queso freso and a mild tomatillo salsa. That layer is then topped with more delicious white cheese and fresh chopped squash. As I wait for my meal to arrive, the polite and unobtrusive server brings a bowl of tortilla chips and two kinds of salsa. Both are tasty but not nearly spicy enough for my palette. The milanesa arrives and I dig in: the first thing I notice is that the lime in the tomatillo salsa is slightly overpowering, something that I personally enjoyed but might be a turn-off for others. The eggplant is, to my surprise, well-prepared and not too mushy or firm. The squash is also well prepared and tastes like it was picked fresh from a garden right before my meal. All in all, a delectable dish rounded out by a black bean paste and hand-made tortillas. The inexpensive and well-prepared vegetarian plates combined with their rare ability to make a proper mojito make Zivaz an easy choice to make. Though watch out for the rice, fellow lettuce heads, as they prepare it in chicken broth. Just let the server know that you 'd prefer no rice and they'll substitute a double portion of spring green salad topped with an enchanting vinaigrette.
(4)Richa S.
I figure this place would be mediocre, and something to just fill up on without paying much attention to my taste buds... but I was proven wrong. The layout/style is like Sauce/Lovin Spoonfulls. You enter.. notice the trendy decor... wait in line for the cashier to ring up your order. You're given a number and they serve you at your table, but you get your own drink from the fountain drink area. It's like half service but convenient. Plus you get free chips and salsa like you would at a legit "real" restaurant with full service. The prices are a bit high I thought for some place to just quick dine on for lunch, but once you get the food, you realize that it's a fair price. I had some mushroom appetizer... it was small and wasnt enough to fill up on a small lunch even. A bit toooo many mushrooms, and although I love spicy food-- I know the general public would find it too spicy. Their salads on the side of your entree are so good. I don't know what dressing they use... but I would like to drink it up rather than put it on my salad (yes, I'm gross.. i admit it publicly). There aren't too many veggie friendly places in Tucson, but everything here pretty much can be made veggie. 30 extra points in the bucket!! I love zivaz. I wish it was closer to my house. I'd probably be dining there a few times a month... (okay.. a few times a week if I wasn't a broke college student).
(4)Ran T.
Overall rating: 5/10 Price: $5-$15 (honestly for the quality of the food, I wouldn't want to pay what we paid which is around $20 for two since it's like a fast food place) Quality: The taste is not even close to Mexican food. It's a Chipotle type of restaurant at best except they also serve alcohol. You order food from a huge menu sign. Then you pay at the cashier, take the table number, get the cup for the drink, find a place to sit. The waitress brings your food to your table. You eat it, and then they will clean the table. No tips neccessary. The food is really like Chipotle or other Mexican-style fast food restaurant. Nothing noteworthy. Overall, the food is on the fresh side but the salad is a little bit wilted given the fact they we ordered half an hour before they closed. Service: relatively efficient. Basically a self-serve place. They will refill beer if you raise your hand, but for water or other soft drinks, you have to refill yourself. Ambient Environment: it's fairly clean. Patio seating available. They also play live salsa music on Saturdays (that's what they say. I wouldn't know how good the music is since I don't plan on going back there) Parking/Direction: strip mall parking Pros: clean place, fairly fresh food Cons: expensive for the quality of the food. Not authentic Mexican food.
(2)Jackie T.
My munchies for chiles rellenos led me to this place and I was not disappointed. Prior to the meal, tri-colored (yellow, red, blue/purple) tortilla chips and a duo of red and green salsas were brought to the table. The chips weren't as fresh tasting as I would have liked but the salsas were both flavorful. The chiles rellenos had a soft earthy crisp. The reddish-brown sauce probably has something roasted in it to lend the deep flavor. The cheese inside was rich but mild enough to meld well with the sauce. The beans were seasoned just right to go with the rice and warm tortillas. It was topped with just a bit of a crumbly cheese to add the right amount of salinity. The salad was dressed in a vinaigrette and drizzled with a brown sauce. It is place on the same plate touching the beans and entree but it still managed to taste delicious with some beans in it. Even though this isn't a sitdown-service restaurant, the person who took our order came periodically to check on us and was very friendly. This isn't as cheap as a Betos or Viva but the quality and freshness far surpasses those other inexpensive joints you will find around town.
(4)Mega M.
I have lived in Tucson for 37 years so have eaten my share of Mexican cuisine in every area of town. I am a weekly customer. Why? Simply, this family owned business sets a high stand that I have not found elsewhere. While my favorite is the salmon, every meal I have tried has been exquisite. Truly, one may always expect excellent food, superb service and a friendly smile from the employees and the owners. Once you eat at Zivaz, nothing else compares.
(5)Jack C.
Zivaz is having a couple of special entrées this Father's Day weekend. Went there Friday night to try one of them, the lamb tacos. Shredded lamb with a pasilla sauce and a tzaziki/chipotle sauce. Absolutely incredible! How do they come up with these wonderful dishes? I asked one of the owners to put the lamb tacos on their regular menu. Yummmm.....
(5)Jenny C.
Very vegetarian friendly. The veggie quesadilla will change your life in a good way. The green sauce on the cheese enchiladas was really fantastic. Can't complain about their margaritas either!
(4)Barbara C.
Delicious! Best Mex we've had in Tucson. Would have liked less intense music but that is only improvement. Attentive service even though we were the only patrons at 3 pm. - not always the case elsewhere.
(5)Matt P.
For the price of the food I would prefer a waiter. It is set up like a Pei Wei, which is fine, but not at the price. Staff just hung out talking seemed like they had nothing to do. Also with all the choices of real, great mexican food in Tucson why in the world go to this place?
(2)Stephen V.
Well been here several times before my recent visit and thought it was pretty good. But this time we had a groupon coupon for $30 that we paid only $15. So ordered 2 entree that we had not tried and were pricier. The Ahi and the Chicken Mole and both were disappointing. The Chicken Mole had weak watery sauce with little of flavors you would expect. The Ahi was a nice piece of fish but the sauce or topping was ground re-hydrated dry ancho chile mixed with oil and mushrooms. It was a awful concoction full of pepper skin and seeds. This really needs to be reworked as a preparation. Service is OK except for the register girl who has been there the last 3 times we visited and she is very unfriendly and could care less about it. You know really gets old when you start with someone who hates there job and what you to know it!!
(2)Jes W.
We've been going there for lunch the last year or so and it's always great and the people nice. Everything I've tried has been good!
(5)Kim K.
Not impressed. We went here because of the yelp reviews and we were quite disappointed. Atmosphere non existent....food uneventful, it seemed more like a fast food joint. I will say it was very clean and the service was friendly.
(2)Brad T.
A couple of years ago I would have given this place four stars for good food and drinks but not now. The burrito poblano tasted like a cheap East coast stew with rice and although I have had only one Chipotle's burrito I can say that Chipotle's was better. Milanese de Berenjena has an exciting name but the flavor was so so. I was glad to see that they were open on MLK day and it could have been an off night for the cooks.
(2)Kirsten L.
Great restaurant, creative and delicious meals, fabulous appetizers, and affordable fun Happy Hour. I love Zivaz!
(5)Tami M.
Tasty carnitas, tender and flavorful. Nice beer selection. Refried black beans werea nice change.
(3)Surranna V.
I had a great experience here the other night. We wanted something close to home that wasn't expensive so we went here. I had mahi mahi poblana enchiladas that were very good. The fish was cooked well and the sauce was a perfect fit. The plate was very well balanced, there was a small amount of salad, wonderful rice, black beans, and the actual dish. They serve chips and salsa. the chips are warm and the green salsa is pretty darn good. On Sat. they have a 1/2 price margarita deal. I had the hibiscus marg and it was awesome. The set up is very casual, you order and pay first, which I like because then I don't have to wait around for the bill. At first I thought the prices were high but because of the quality and the amount of ingredients that go into the food here I can understand why the cost is what it is. I dig it for a casual inexpensive sudo gourmet meal.
(4)Leo B.
I am upping my rating to 5 stars. Since my initial review I have been here about a dozen or so times and this place always delivers. It is fast tasty, inventive, stylish and affordable. I really like taking friends there and it is perfect for a quick bite before a movie or event.
(5)Mark K.
Great food at a great price. Love the burger with chile relleno and guac on top. Queso fundido rocks.
(4)N B.
The chicken mole tasted like none I have ever had before. It was inedible. They have taken chicken pipian off the menu and it used to be very good. The guacamole was frozen and the salsa was close to frozen. I will not return. Expensive for what you get.
(1)Gary S.
I have been to Zivaz many times in the past and have relatively enjoyed it. I went back today and have found that their prices have gone up to the point that it isn't worth the money. I ordered the same item I have ordered many times before, the chicken enchiladas. First of all, the cashier must be family, because I can'r believe they would retain an employee so nasty and condescending unless they were family. Sat down, and chips and salsa were delivered. Wish the staff was friendlier than they are. Chips were stale and the red salsa was tasteless. Food arrived and for some reason, also had no flavor. Had to request some hot sauce to get some kind of flavor going. I would have to say at this point in time I probably wouldn't go back, at least for quite awhile. Wish I had better news for the readers. No one is probably more disappointed than me.
(2)Renee S.
Wait--there are vegetables BESIDES tomatoes and chiles at a mexican restaurant? What!? Zivaz serves good, fresh ingredients and creative, flavorful non-greasy mexican dishes. My favorites are the carnitas--delicious marinated and shredded pork, and the pollo en rajas--chicken breast in a green poblano sauce with calabacitas. Mmmm. Both come with black beans, rice, a small salad with a tangy chile vinaigrette, and hot tortillas. And the sopa tlalpeno, with tons of veggies, chipotle, and chicken, definitely warms my soul on one of those (few) cold tucson days. Zivaz is always open, inviting, casual, and clean. You order at the counter and get your own drinks (a la Pei Wei) and your food is brought to the table. Staff are friendly, and no they don't ask you if you need anything 10 times with their hands folded behind their backs--but they do make sure you're taken care of, bringing new margaritas and chips and salsa when you need them. Everything about this place is casual and comfortable. So now I ask you: why does "authentic mexican food" always have to equal waitresses dressed up in traditional embroidered and ruffled flowered dresses, pushing tortilla and salsa carts around to customers?? (no disrespect to guadalajara grill--love their salsa). Mexican food can also equal fresh, good ingredients and a little creativity! Zivaz is high on my list of go-to lunch spots when I'm in Tucson. I recommend it all the time. Try it!!
(5)Michele D.
I really didn't like this place all that much. There are way better Mexican resturants in town. Food was very heavy. Alot of food on the plate. Beans were very clumpy. Not a happy experience. Probably won't go back
(2)Victoria K.
Very good food and delightful, casual atmosphere. I wish that the rice were not cooked in chicken stock, but at least they tell you this when they get the vibe that you are vegetarian. Always a fun time at Zivaz.
(4)Greg M.
Order your food at the front counter, they give you a little stand with a number on it. and bring you your food when it is ready. Experienced the usual air of "indifference" at the front counter. Otherwise the food came within a reasonably amount of time. The burger was hot and cooked exactly the way I ordered it. Fries were hot and tasty. The meal with one Corona was $15.08. I Thought this was a bit high in price since the ground beef was average and not leaner. No salt and pepper shakers on any of the tables. Had to ask for ketchup and mustard, and received a rather strange look in doing so. All and all the food was not bad but over rated for the price.
(3)dawn C.
Yum! First time to eat here and we really enjoyed it. The fajitas were great and enough for 2. Loved the corn tortillas.
(4)Josh J.
I love this place. It's one of a very, very few places in town my whole family enjoys eating at. It's sort of like Pei Wei, in that the layout is similar and there are a good number of delicious vegetarian options. It certainly isn't "authentic" Mexican food, but it sure is good.
(5)Johanna L.
A food adventurer and back in Tucson after many years I was thrilled to be introduced by my neigbor to Zivaz. She had a $30 Groupon (we could eat for free up to $30!) They keep prices down by 'self serve' odering but the cashier came out to walk us through the menu board. He recommended appetizer specials- Calabacitas- a must to try.I had read reviews about the Carnitas which I tried-lovely plate...the black beans were some of the most flavorful I've had. My dining partner had the salmon and unfortunately I could tell it was over cooked and dry when the plate was served. Chips were light and fresh and I liked the 'petit' size of them. The piece de resistance was the Orange Flan. The composition of the plate was visibly beautiful- and since we 'first eat with our eyes' we knew we were in for a treat. A thick triangle of this traditional Hispanic dessert- it looked like a cheesecake..a huge dollop of whipped cream which might have been enhanced by egg whites...oh so creamy and flavorful!.The flan sat atop a crunch flour totilla sprinkled with cinamon sugar...It was a light and flavorful dessert unlike no other and priced uner $6. It's worth the trip for that plate alone. Although there is no table service- servers were quick to take away finished plates and the cashier/host kept an eye out for when we were ready for our dessert...we didn't have to ask. Next to Mom and Poco's this is my second favorite new stop! Bravo Zivaz.
(5)J G.
Amazing Mexican food that comes out almost immediately after you order it. Great for sit down or take out. Lunch and dinner are great. The place closes a little earlier than I'd like, I believe 8:30. It's a little different tasting than the Mexican you're used to. There is a lot of flavor in their food, but very few dishes are spicy.
(4)Toobet L.
the guacamole was especially good. happy hour offers the best deals if you like beer and guacamole.
(4)Alissa T.
I saw a write up of this place in Cooking light, it is definately not light food, some of the sauces are cream based. It was tasty, I ordered the sample platter which is basically shef's pick for the day, it was good. Also ordered the baked cheese for appetizer, also good but lots of oily oil floating on the top.
(3)Jeff T.
If you want great mexican food quickly, Zivas is the place for you! If you are running late for the theatre and can't take the time for a typical sit-down restaurant, check this place out. You order up front in similitude to Pei Wei, take your number, get your drinks and sit down. Your food is brought to your table and it is great stuff. I have eaten there from both the dinner and lunch menus. As with all restaurants lunch is the best value. You get chips and tasty salsa when you sit down. Their Carne Asada plate, grilled steak / one casera cheese enchiladas, is wonderful. You get quite a bit of food on all their plates. Their Pollo En Rajas plate, a fire-grilled chicken breast strips / prepared green poblano chile sauce / cheese / corn, zucchini, squash, red bell pepper & poblano mix, is a personal favorite of mine. In short it is tasty and it is quick. Very recommended! You will love it.
(4)Dr Tim L L.
3.5 stars ........ wait staff was excellent. I used a coupon from Entertainment Book - made for a great price. Chicken Fajita - vegies were great but the chicken was dry. Weird looking dressing on salad and it was rather sharp tasting. Chicken enchilada was good. The guacamole had too bit much lime in it. Do NOT get the margaritas unless you like really pucker tart drinks with just a hint of alcohol. I would go back for the chicken enchilada.
(3)Chametria D.
Ok so, asada burger was absolutely to die for!! This is definitely a great local spot! When we walked in we were greeted immediately and chips and salsa were brought to our table which I didn't expect because I was thinking more of a fast food place then a restaurant. The service was great the food was cooked the way I ordered it and I will be back for sure!
(4)Richard Z.
I didnt think these modern day Mexican restaurants that keep popping up everywhere would keep having good food but this restaurant was very very good i had the zivaz tour and i was really impressed the burger was also as tasty as they advertise id recommend this place to anyone wanting a fresh take on old world food.
(5)Frank M.
Salmon Asado was great with a cold Bohemia to wash it down! Wife had the Tortilla Soup and calabacitas, yum!
(5)Rob R.
New favorite place in tucson. It's a nice place, order up front and get your drink then they bring out chips and salsa before your food. So service is quick. Defintely like just being able to get my own refills and they have Gatorade which I find nice in the heat lately. But lets get down to brass tax The food. The food alone would get this place 5 stars. The burger is fantastic, taste like it's grilled more then pan fried. Really juicy and fresh tasting. I got it topped with Chile relleno which has the benefits of coming with cheese too. The cheese is melted, gooey, and perfect. I also had the chicken poblano burrito. Might be my new favorite burrito. Chicken, black beans and rice as the basics and then poblano sauce and I think either a poblano pepper or maybe a green chili with some salsa in there and the cheese was just starting to melt and become stringy . It was super filling and tasted amazing. Can't wait to try the other options. Service is super friendly as well and I can't recommend this place enough, as if it needs it lol.
(5)Cherée E.
Meh. I wasn't impressed. I had the Asada burger and it wasn't that great. It wasn't bad, but it also wasn't best burger in town good. Everyone else in my group ordered the same thing and felt the same. The service was fine. You order first with a self serve drink area. They do bring a small bowl of seasoned chips and salsa. They bring you your food but mixed up mine and my husbands burgers (he gets his med well and I ordered med rare).
(2)Monica F.
The takeaway from Zivaz seems to be that they use surprising and unexpected flavor combinations on certain things, which in theory is exciting, but in reality meant that most of the food might not be exactly what you want. It doesn't taste quite right, or it doesn't have a lot of flavor because it's depending on something else in the dish for taste. You order at the counter and get a number. The burgers are a big deal here, and everyone who ordered one got a free slider featuring a beef-lamb mix. I tasted that, and it was OK. Not a big burger fan. You get a tiny dish of seasoned chips and 2 mild-medium salsas (red and green) when you sit down. Food came out sort of randomly. I chose the mole, which didn't do anything for me. There was a ton of sauce that was a bit too sweet and the chicken was dry. Beans didn't have a lot of flavor. Salad was nice. I tried my friend's orange chicken, which neither of us enjoyed. The kids' quesadilla was a little soggy but the cheese was very good. Ditto the enchilada, which didn't really taste like an enchilada. The cheese was good but the tortilla was mushy and seemed undercooked. The best part of the meal was the carne asada, which is big chunks (not shredded) of steak, cooked well. The meat was decent; it didn't seem to have any seasoning on it, though. Salt and pepper are available by the drink station, which helped. We also had 2 flans for the table but no one really liked the flan. The ones we ordered came with mandarin oranges and whipped cream, and, like everything else, didn't really seem to go together.
(2)Brian S.
Good burger joint. Asada burger is solid...definitely the way to go. Chipotle ailoi, Carmelized onions, guac...need I say more??
(4)Jo W.
A $5 off coupon for this restaurant that advertised winning Best Hamburger in a Tucson competition got us visiting Zivaz Mexican Bistro. We've only lived here 7 months and so have not tried a lot of burgers elsewhere, but I must say this one was excellent. Juicy and cooked to perfection (Med. Rare per my order). The 1/2 price Margaritas all day Saturday sealed the deal. The added Chili Relleno "topping" was the bomb. Ciabatta roll was a welcome bun choice. A good burger isn't only about the meat although the meat quality was top notch. Added a pork belly burrito to bring the tab up over the requisite $20. Cheap AND delish! The only reason I gave only 4 stars is that it seemed that the margaritas had very little alcohol.
(4)Ashiana K.
Zivaz is hands down, a great local spot to eat at when in Tucson. The restaurant is very clean the interior decor is contemporary. The customer service rocks not only because the hostess was sweet and pleasant but also because she knew all about gluten free food items and the risk of cross contamination. I think that's very truthful which is what I appreciated! I ordered the guacamole and chips for an appetizer and it was soooo good! It was real guac with incredible punch of lime flavor. My entree was the shrimp tacos on corn tortilla. It needed some additional flavor only because corn tortilla tends to decrease flavor rather than compliment like the flour tortilla does. So, I poured the salsa verde sauce onto the insides of my tacos. The overall experience was very positive and I will definitely be back when in Tucson!
(5)Vickie S.
The "bistro" styling is key here. This is Southwestern Pei Wei. Orders at a counter with a hanging menu, booths and small 2-top and a few 4-top tables, drinks self-filled at a station with fountains and a little bucket of lemon wedges. Our service, such as it is for this set up, was great - ordering was fast and simple, they removed plates as we finished with them promptly, my sister got a refill on her wine without having to get up (they dropped off a ticket), and they checked in on us and our food. There isn't a ton of variety on the menu and I didn't think anything looked or sounded innovative but I like chiles rellenos and enchiladas, too. We ordered guacamole for sharing and it was pretty good, but I was surprised how little for the price. Our entrees were packed on the plate with rice and beans so you will have ample food. The margaritas were huge, but just okay. My mom thought her pollo en pibil, which sounded delightful on the menu with pineapple and achiote, was kinda meh. My sister liked her tacos but picked at them. Considering they both hadn't eaten a real meal since 6am EST, I don't consider this a great sign. I had the chiles, which were okay. A little more breading than I'd like, not the most flavorful sauce going on. I would have gotten enchiladas but it looked like you got one choice - either red, mole, or green, no mixing. Without trying your mole, I'm not going to make that commitment. Let's just call it "okay".
(3)Amanda M.
So we stopped in because my husband had to try Tucson's best burger. We love burgers and have always been fans of monkey burger so we had to try it. I was shocked to see they only had one burger on the menu. He had his with a chile relleno on it. It was good, but not great. I would hardly call this Tucson's best burger with all the places we've tried. The mexican food was so so. Lots of plates to chose from. Nothing that really stands out to me though.
(3)Danielle E.
Food was spot on but a staff member came, literally as we were standing up, to look for a tip. I proceeded to spend the next fifteen minutes of my life arguing with her and waiting for a contact number for management. It was a friday and we had spent $100 in five people. I had never expected to be treated this way! We were in two cars and i was trying to say goodbye to my husband as he was getting my family, who had flown into phx that day, home and to bed. We still had a margarita to finish and food to finish. It bothered me so much i went to the restaurant on monday to speak with the owner. Turns out it was not the owner i was speaking with and this person seemed less than interested to fix the problem or offer us a chance to come back and have a better experience. You order at the front and pay at the begining. They justify tipping since they use china plates and metal utensils, yet they have a self service fountain and no waitressing. Set up of restaurant is same as panda express or chipotle. Since mgmt didnt seem concerned enough about their staff's rudeness we will not be patronizing them again. Which is too bad bc the food was pretty good!
(2)Jerry M.
Once I saw the "Voted Best Burger in Tucson" sign I just had to try for myself. I must admit, they do have a unique twist on Mexican dishes. I wouldn't say the burger was anything to rant and rave about. It was juicy and cooked well, but just more of a fancy ingredients burger that just didn't make my mouth water. I actually preferred the Poblano Burrito which had chicken, rice, peppers and corn. For dessert we tried the Cheesecake and it didn't disappoint. Overall the service was quick and friendly, the prices were very reasonable but the food was just an A-OK.
(3)Jon K.
Visited Zivaz with family because they had visited before and had a positive experience. I had pretty high hopes based on their recommendations and on the great ratings it gets from all the local newspapers. Maybe I tried the wrong dish but no one else seemed very excited about their dishes either. The quality just wasn't there this time around. This was probably about the blandest Mexican food I've had in Tucson. I don't know if I'd even call it Mexican, or tex-mex for that matter. Chicken tasted boiled with no spice, the green salsa was sweet for some reason, rice was as plain as day, the beans were just beans, and to top it off my burrito was stuffed with way too much cheese, covering up the little flavor it had to being with. This is the kind of quality I'd expect from a mexican restaurant in like Wisconsin or.. some other midwestern state where bland is preferred, not in Tucson, AZ. Chipotle is cheaper and tastier, and I don't even really like Chipotle that much. So the food wasn't great. My dining partners agreed their food was either cold, dried out, burnt, and a whole host of other issues. Seems like there wasn't really any dish without issue among our party. One friend's asada burger was burnt, to the point of being inedible, despite asking for medium rare. He opted not to get another burger and asked if at least part of it could be comped. The manager attempted to force him to have another burger cooked for him, even though he did not want to wait, and certainly did not want to have the food come out when everyone was already finished eating. While they eventually relented and did not charge him for the burger, the experience overall left a bad taste in my mouth. The regular employees were very kind but almost nothing about the rest of the experience was redeeming. I'm willing to give Zivaz another try eventually, but it'll be awhile.
(2)Mark S.
I had been to Zivaz years ago and not been impressed with the food. Enough so, that I had not felt the need to go back. Until... they won best burger in Tucson in a recent burger challenge. Of course, we had to try it. The burger seems out of place on their Mexican inspired menu. I imagine this conversation in the kitchen at Zivaz: Cook: Hey Joe, did you order this box of burgers? Manager: No, I think they gave us that by mistake. Think you can do something with it? And the Asada Burger was born... a flame grilled burger topped with grilled onions, chipotle aioli and menu-described "greens". The requested medium burgers were overcooked and all I tasted was the char. I appreciate the effort on the aioli but I thought it fell a little flat. The burger starts at ten bucks and, with add-ons like cheese or bacon, can set you back almost fifteen. Best burger in Tucson? I'm not sure about that... Better than some, but I have a feeling I am still looking for the best burger in Tucson.
(3)Cam W.
This was a good meal at a fair price. The menu features a strong range of familiar mexican dishes, but there's also some non-traditional items as well. Our meal was satisfying and flavorful, however some parts of the same plate were served at inconsistent temperatures. The sides were lukewarm. The rest of the menu remains to be explored at a later date. I'll be back to try the "Best Burger in Tucson" as they advertise, at a later date.
(3)Alicia D.
I've only tried their asada burger which was voted best burger in Tucson and I see why! It's juicy, has great flavor, and you can really customize it to your taste... At a price of course. My only compliant is it is pricy and it's an extra price for everything. I always get avocado and the chile rellano (which is a must!) added which is an additional price of $3.50, so burger is usually around $13 with tax which does hurt a little bit. But it is delicious so it's worth it. Fries come with it but if you want the "upgraded" version it's ANOTHER $3. I've always decline so I'm not quite sure what makes it worth $3. The fries quantity that comes with the burger is good enough for me (even though the server acted like it was a super small amount). I don't usually order my burgers with the bun but their ciabatta bread is delicious and compliments it perfectly! Even though their burger may seem pricy, they do have a decent kids menu at $3.95, which honestly could be enough for an adult. You get a good serving of rice and beans with whatever you choose which is nice! I haven't tried anything else there so I can't really comment on the rest of the menu but my friend did order their guacamole salad yesterday which looked pretty delicious and was huge. I will for sure be trying that soon! We always come with our kids and they seem pretty accommodating. You get chips and salsa and they will refill it by request. You order at the cashier and then sit down. Food doesn't take too long to come out and they bring it to your table. The place has always been pretty clean when we go. The service is just mediocre, the employees don't always seem to thrilled to be there but it's not like a full sit down resturant with a server doing everything, so it doesn't really matter too much. I'm giving it 4-stars because of their delicious burger. If I would base of pricing and service it would be more 3.5 stars.
(4)Alan A.
Huge banner out front says it was voted the "Best Burger in Tucson" I didn't find it to be that, exactly... You would expect a place that puts the burger forward like that to have a selection. This was not the case. Carne Asada Burger was the only burger on the menu, and while there were a number of customization options, they came at an unreasonable premium driving the price a bit higher than one would expect. I know that Carne Asada is technically any grilled meat, but somehow I expected there to be fried bits of steak on the burger - the sort one might find on the carne asada burrito. To be fair, this was my fault for making an assumption. The patties were not impressive in size, quality, or flavor. We ordered our burgers medium well, and they came out hockey puck charcoal. Perhaps it was the preparation, but I would liken the burger's quality and dimensions to a standard frozen foodservice patty. Hat's off to Zivaz for doing the best job stuffing the ballot, but this is not the best burger in Tucson, the best burger in this zip code, or even the best burger on Broadway in this zip code. A burger starts with beef, and this one gets it wrong right out of the gate. By any criteria you could name, be it quality, price, or value we would have been better served by a stack of double doubles from In-N-Out - and I do not hold that establishment in particularly high regard. Odds are, you are not as picky as I am, and that's fine. Plenty of people seem to enjoy this place, so I hate to put you off trying it. But if you do try it, and it's not to your liking, don't give up on Tucson's burger scene too quickly. Your experience may be different, and I hope that it is, but this was the worst burger I've had in years.
(1)Josh P.
I love this place. My wife and I had our first Valentine's dinner here when we were just dating and then we did our rehearsal dinner here before we got married. It's a really great place and holds a very special place in our hearts. The food is very creative, which fits the Mexican Bistro name. There's a Mexican take on an eggplant parm and a delicious carne asada burger just to give a couple examples. It won't be for everyone, but it is very good. Everything we have tried has been outstanding and there are frequent specials where the chefs flex their muscles with new ideas. Definitely worth you giving it a try.
(5)Kala W.
Horrible service! We had to ask for chips and salsa and a high chair. The food made me sick to my stomach. I find it sad that they use frozen veggies. Will never go back there!
(1)Maxine E.
Had an entertainment book coupon (bogo)and still spent $40 for 3 of us. We aren't picky, but seriously couldn't even stomach the food. Sorry it just was not good, at all. People were nice, it was clean, but nothing else good to say.
(1)Selina S.
Favorite place EVER ! margaritas are delicious and refreshing ! The sopa de tortilla is my favorite ! Friendly staff ! I'm a regular
(5)Ryan N.
Had dinner here for the first time. It won't be the last. The asada burger with chile really was one of the best burgers I've ever had. The other menu items look great too.
(4)Christian M.
The search for Tucson's Best Burger.... OK--I read the Daily Star's results saying that Zivaz, yes Zivaz, has the best burger in town. I was skeptical to say the least--burgers are a big deal to me and my family and to the American Way of Life--and they beat out some pretty decent burger places. I was also intrigued--and decided to recruit my wife to try this out and see if the someone stuffed the ballot boxes in the Star's survey. This is a upscale Mexican bistro, I would liken it to the Mexican version of Pei Wei--you order at the counter, get a number, and they deliver it to your table. The service is prompt and attentive. The burger arrives--it is super thick and juicy, on ciabatta bread, with lots of options to put on it--I went with bacon and cheddar. The burger was perfectly cooked, REALLY juicy, and quite flavorful! I have to tell you--it may not have been the best burger I have had in Tucson, but it was in the Top 5! The fries were fine--but not spectacular. Definitely go and give the burger a try and let me know what you think!
(4)Christina G.
Had such an annoying experience turn out great thanks to management. There was a miscommunication and my order wasn't in the take out bag that we had. Once I got back to work and realized my food was missing, I called and talked to the manager. She drove my food to my work which was so nice considering they don't deliver. The chicken tacos are the best things I have ever had and the flour tortillas are amazing. Presentation of the food always looks beautiful. Glad this mishaps didn't cause much of a headache.
(5)Diana I.
Delicious carne asada burger! Lots of choices. Very friendly staff. The owner even came up to us to see how everything was. ( super friendly) we will definitely come back!
(5)Bard D.
I am at a loss as to how Zivaz was voted best burger. Med-rare burger almost burnt on outside. Flavor is bland with little seasoning. Advertised with caramelized onions but there were maybe two rings. Not a fan of chiabata as a bun as well. Overall uninspiring. Aioli adds nothing to the flavor but it could have been masked by char on the burger. Wife said fries are good. Maybe they do have good Mexican dishes as we seem to be the only people here for burgers.
(2)Brad B.
Service was great, everything we requested we received in a timely manner. Okay chips and salsa. We ordered the Chile relleno , chicken fajitas and the Burger. First off, no way best burger in town, not even close. The other dishes okay but nothing special, had much better other places. But it was fresh and somewhat tasty.
(2)A P.
We went here a while ago. The prices were reasonable and the atmosphere was fine. However, the most important part-- the food-- was somewhat mediocre for both of us. Neither one of us was that impressed with what we ordered. In fact, both of us were pretty disappointed with the food. I wouldn't mind giving them another shot, but based on our initial experience we've never had an urge to go back.
(3)Christine B.
So it seems everyone is reviewing the burger. I guess I'm not different. It is damn tasty. Juicy but not greasy, served on a soft chibata roll, and topped with quality ingredients. The fries were pretty tasty too. My husband had the burrito, his review was it was very good, but a little light on the chicken. The green chili salsa was really good. The previous reviewer who said it was like a Mexican Pei Wei was right on the mark...except the seating was more comfortable. Staff was friendly.We will definitely go back, I'm looking forward to exploring more of their menu.
(4)RT S.
The restaurant is very trendy not like a typical mexican restaurant. They have a decent menu list and alcohol. I ordered the fish and shrimp tacos. The food comes with 3 large tacos, small salad and chips. Portion is large. It's decent mexican food.
(3)Ts B.
Under rated, bit sterile environment, good value
(4)Larry B.
Zivaz is an unheated Mexican restaurant that has the feel of a locally-owned franchise restaurant. The staff was very friendly, but it couldn't make up for the ambience of a Mexican Panera Bread store. I went to see what the fuss was about the championship Asada burger. It's the only non-Mexican item on the entire menu, and sure enough, it tasted like an afterthought -- something for the one kid in the crowd who doesn't like Mexican food. The Asada burger was large and juicy, but completely lacking in flavor. I salted the burger heavily to give it some taste. I strained to imagine what the championship judges liked about the burger. Maybe they liked its drippiness, which required wiping off your hands after every bite. For me, the taste was "meh." Maybe Zivaz does a better job on Mexican food, which you order from large standing menus, like those you find in Noodles. But this place is too far away to go back a second time. For a great burger, go to Fini's Landing, which placed second in the championship.
(2)Stuart T.
For what we received, great food, kindness and service including follow up, lots of vegetarian choices on the menu, we rate this restaurant with 5 stars. Oh, and the view north of the Catalina's from Broadway isn't too shabby either.
(5)Saba B.
How could I have missed Zivaz? The menu, a delicious Mexican/Native fusion of flavors, consists of small and larger items, although when our food arrived, my "little" chipolte chicken, delicious chunks of savory grilled chicken smothered in melty roasted chile tomato sauce, was just as big as my partner's pollo en pibil. His cost twice as much as mine, and while the pibil sauce, a spicy, rich deep red chile with pineapple that must have come from the owner's Venezuelan roots, was delicious, it wasn't twice as delicious. Zivaz' casual, clean, open interior and laid-back but professional service make this a great lunch destination if you order wisely from the "simple" selections that won't drain your wallet. The Broadway corridor cuisine decisions are getting tougher.
(4)Lorena G.
Great friendly service, however.....mediocre food. We got the carne asada hamburger. They asked me how I wanted it and medium rare was my response. It was secretly overcooked! No flavor whatsoever! No salt and pepper at least! I also asked for the chile relleno and again, lacked flavor! When another reviewer said that the plate only came with 20 fries, he wasn't kidding! We got 21 and 18 on the other. So then we asked for a beer and we asked for a glass, ten minutes later we got one. Our food came 25 minutes after that! Will not be going back or recommend to my friends. Do not waste your time!
(1)CJ H.
This place is awesome! Everything on the menu is great, but I strongly recommend the carnitas. Locally owned, and they have gone a step above by offering Eco-friendly leftover containers. (Ok, they still use some styrofoam cups; hopefully they are in the process of changing that). Although I bring my own containers with me, I prefer to patronize the more Eco conscience businesses. I'll be back!!
(5)Rebecca F.
My love and I both ordered the Asada Burger and it was delicious! The only downfall was the portion size of the side of fries. There was literally 20 fries and since they were perfectly cooked and hot out of the fryer, we had to order another order. Back to the burgers, we ordered them med-well but received both well done. We didn't send them back because they were so juicy and delicious. We got the burgers with add on's (guacamole, crispy jalapenos) and will skip them next time because it's delicious without them and by the time you add them, you practically have a $15 burger! We'll be back!
(4)Mrs M.
My Husband and I love this place not too bad on the pricing which is nice, there ASADA burger and soups amazing !!! they also have 1/2 margaritas.
(5)Ingrid T.
I was so disappointment with this place. One star for cleanliness and another for the staff(they were super nice!) However the food was way under par for the prices and my veggies tasted a weird sweetness. On top of it for 4 people $100 way too much! We wanted to try it and my margarita was meh...I was not happy with my fajitas. My daughter's shrimp was gross The corn was bad(I mean I think the corn went bad :( ) The carnitas were bland better at Chipotle...gasp!! The tortillas were good Chips stale Salsa overly sweet and tasted like tomato paste Margarita overpriced for the quality The good parts...clean service was prompt and the guy didn't kill me for changing my mind 5 times! Guacamole was actually really good For the queso fundido save your money its better elsewhere. Sorry Zivaz you didn't do it for me. Onto the next place...
(2)Liz W.
Appearance- Clean interior, beautiful shimmer tile vases with decorative twigs and glass displayed at the entrance. The menu is easy to read and employee's are very helpful to answer your questions on their food. I ordered the grilled corn on the cob with a spicy southwest sauce drizzled on top along with crumbled cheese. It was delish, the corn wasn't over done and still had a slight crisp when I bit into it. for $3.00 for some corn I'll take it, I made mine my meal. Not sure about the other food because I'm not a fan of mexican food, so give it a try yourself :)
(3)Gorge L.
I've only had their chicken burrito and it's pretty good. I give the chicken burrito a 5 star.
(5)Lee P.
Great at happy hour - half price drinks and apps! Good chips and salsa, too.
(4)Shay R.
I love Zivaz. I started coming here about a year ago and I've tried many things off their menu. Everything I've tried has been delicious, but my faves have been: the Milanesa and the Guacamole salad with salmon. I also like their fresh tortilla chips and salsa verde. I spend a little more than I prefer to, for a lunch, but it's definitely worth the extra few bucks :)
(5)Cynthia E.
I am a full Mexican grew up in Mexico this is my number one restaurant
(5)Bianca A.
I had a Groupon so my sister and I went here for lunch this past week and we were pleasantly surprised. We had the carnitas and chicken fajitas along with a Negra Modelo and hibiscus margarita. The carnitas were very tender and delicious and fajitas looked really good. The atmosphere is simple and chic I think they would do well if they turned into a sit-down and order restaurant and stayed open later. The margarita was also very tasty and we're looking forward to going back for more and trying other things.
(4)James G.
Went back and still happy with the food and the service. Locally owned, with a family member there every time we've been there. I keep trying something different, so Tacos this visit. OK these were really good, not tiny like the 3letter place downtown, and you actually get enough to eat for a great price. Oh and the drinks are Consistently good, and less than that downtown place. Again it's the food, that's why this place got the Best of Tucson award for its Hamburger. Yes I have had a few and yes they are very good.
(4)I H.
My Dad and I go out to dinner every Friday night and Zivaz is on the top of our list of places to eat at. I usually get the Carnitas or the rib eye tacos. Lots of flavors and textures and im never let down. Also enjoy the chips and salsa before the meal. During the winter months the most common dish I order is the talapenio soup. Nice and spicy and it will clear your sinuses. The staff there are always friendly and very professional.
(5)T A.
This is a cafeteria style place that has about twenty items on a huge list to your right when you enter. I expected more--so I wandered over to Kon Tiki.... You might as well go to a Nico's.
(1)Rich M.
No wasted calories here.... The most flavorful, tender and meaty carne asada that I have ever had, and I grew up eating the stuff in So. Cal. Expect something a little different that what you may be use to. This is not your typical greasy mexican food. It's (dare I say it) gourmet despite the casual atmosphere and counter ordering (I'm not sure why they opted for counter ordering? I would rather have been waited on, but that's a minor negative). We were just passing through Tucsan, so I'm not sure when I'll be back, but I will be back.
(5)Peg P.
I've enjoyed every meal I've had here. The veggie quesadillas were out-of-sight delicious with a wonderful mix of flavors and served nice and hot. The small sides of guacamole and pico de gallo added a nice flavorful touch to the meal. My partner had the veggie frijitas with marinated tofu. She feels the tofu here is about the best in town but the frijitas were a bit too oily. Generous portions and relaxed atmosphere and all for about $16. About the only suggestion I could make to them would be to replace their dinnerware: Our plastic water glasses were cloudy-looking and didn't appear clean...though I know they were washed. My dinner plate had a crack in it and that should definitely be tossed in the trash. What an easy thing to upgrade.
(4)M M.
This may be a bistro, but its definitely not upscale mexican. It's more the TGI Fridays of "mexican bistros." The food was bland and under-seasoned. And they dont make their own tortillas. To be fair, I appreciate that its not the usual greasy mexican (though thats good sometimes) but food can be flavored with spice as opposed to grease -- and seasoning is what's missing here.
(1)Nick W.
Set up as a fast casual restaurant, Zivaz seems like it is either a corporate franchise or something opened up by a restaurant group. In truth it is neither... it's just a delicious place opened up by some people who make damn good food in a classy little restaurant. Little things like the refried black beans and tasty salad that accompany a lot of the dishes make up the little bit of difference to set the place apart from most of the competition. The food comes quick, it doesn't cost a lot, and is really delicious. Don't pass up the Chile Rellenos.
(5)Raul S.
FAST Review 3.5 out of 5 Food (3/5) - Pollo en Pibil, which is marinated chicken with grilled pineapple, was decent, if a bit dry. My wife had the chicken enchiladas, which were also OK. The portions are plentiful and the presentation is nice. Only thing that kind of bugged me was the cold salad is sitting on top of the hot food, so lettuce gets a little wilted and warm, and the dressing kind of runs into the sauce of the food. Yeah it ends up in the same place anyway, but the sweet dressing seemed to overpower the flavor of the marinade. Ambiance (3/5) - Crooked tables! haha, not really an issue for me, just something my wife and I noticed. Nothing special about the decor. Order at the counter and they bring the food out to your table. Would not want to be the table right next to the water machine. Someone slips up and you could have water/soda on your head. Service (4/5) - Service was fine. The waitresses were courteous and made sure our water was filled and we had enough chips. Total Impression (3.5/5) - I like the concept (kind of like a Mexican version of Sauce or Pei Wei). The portions are plentiful, albeit the food was just OK on this trip.
(3)Claire O.
This is is one of our very favorite restaurants in Tucson. My husband and I go here about twice a month - more than any other restaurants in our rotation. We love their appetizers and they have a great Happy Hour. We usually go on a Friday for Happy Hour and get 3 or 4 half-price appetizers and a couple of Margaritas -- and we have enough to bring home for a light and tasty lunch the next day.
(5)Carlos S.
I went to a private party that used them as caterers. I loved the food so I hired them for an Xmas party. The response was so good that I've used them 3 more times. The "pollo en rajas" can't be beat. One more thing- they are owner operated, which is a big plus for me.
(5)Ashley H.
So there I was...Waiting for the bus when I looked across the street to this place. My tummy was a rumbling and though 'Hey this place is open..and had food' So I stopped in. Much to my surprise it was far nicer than the strip mall it's next to. It a bit classier than one would think and the menu has some amazing updated traditional Mexican food dishes. They look beautiful plated, it's a good amount of food, and shockingly enough it's a great price...and to sweetin' the deal the food was AMAZING. I had a few Mexican dishes that week and their food really out shined most of them. It's a great place and a must try in the area.
(5)Jim P.
Zivaz has become a favorite place to return to. Zivaz serves Mexican food, but with a style unlike most other Mexican restaurants. It's a Tucson Original, a one-of-a-kind place. The decor is spare and modern, with a bright airy feeling. This extends to the background music, as well, which I assume is modern Mexican - though I'm no expert. You place an order upfront, and find a table. Fountain drinks are self-serve. Once seated, someone brings a basket of tri-colored chips and two salsas, red and green. Both are moderately spicy. If you've ordered a drink, this arrives shortly after. Zivaz serves beer, wine and margaritas. I've had the classic margarita, and my wife likes the frozen version. They are largish, and arrive in great looking glasses shaped like a classic martini glass. The menu has selections that are for the most part different from the ordinary. A number are offered in a smaller lunch size portion, which is what I usually get. My favorites are the chile con carne, shredded beef with peas and carrots in red sauce, and the carnitas. My wife likes the pollo en pibil, chicken with grilled pineapple. My daughter has gotten the flautas, a favorite of hers. The guacamole is also good. Items on the menu are marked as "favorites", "spicy" or "vegetarian". In the evening, Zivaz offers a "tour de zivaz", which offers the chef's choice of a number of Zivaz items. I've ordered this a few times and have never been disappointed in any of the included items. It's a lot of food, though, and invariably involves a carryout container for leftovers. There is usually a special as well, often promoted with a bit of humor. Maybe this sums it up: I like everything I've tried at Zivaz. Most of the dishes come with some salad, black beans and tortillas. We took someone to Zivaz, and her comment was "even the tortillas are really good". This place get my recommendation.
(4)Mark K.
Great food at a great price. Love the burger with chile relleno and guac on top. Queso fundido rocks.
(4)N B.
The chicken mole tasted like none I have ever had before. It was inedible. They have taken chicken pipian off the menu and it used to be very good. The guacamole was frozen and the salsa was close to frozen. I will not return. Expensive for what you get.
(1)Cindy N.
I have to think long and hard about how many stars Zivaz deserves today. We've been here before when the place first opened about 7 or 8 years ago. At the time, it was a bit of a different concept from the regular Sonoran style Mexican food that I love. I liked the idea of ordering first and getting your meal brought to your table which eliminates tipping. It didn't feel like fast food Taco Bell. I ordered the tortilla soup and enchiladas with dark chocolate mole sauce, rice and beans as usual with a small green salad on the plate. I am an aficionado of good chips and salsa and theirs was really good. Especially liked the salsa verde with big chunks of tomatillos. Chips were warm, slightly salty and non greasy. This is the perfect combo for great chips. Next, the tortilla soup came. After taking one sip I knew this was awful. It tasted like dish water, lots of veggies in it but no chicken. I had to return it. They apologized and said that it must have gotten watered down since lunch. OK. Let's see what the rest of the meal is like. My enchiladas were OK, they use corn tortillas which I am not a fan of. The mole was pretty good. Rice and beans also fit in the same category. Pretty average. My other half ordered the Milanese de berenjena which is lightly breaded eggplant with queso fresco and tomatillo salsa. Very tasty dish and a little different than you would expect in a Mexican restaurant. When I returned the soup they credited our card and once again apologized. I have to admit we did have a coupon from the newspaper for buy one dinner and get one free. I would have been a little bit upset if I paid full price. I am not sure whether I would go back again. The place is very clean and nice ambiance but I'm not so sure about the food. It's probably a great place for lunch and suspect they do a really good business at lunch time because there are lots of offices nearby.
(2)Funkdoobiest B.
Arrived around 7:40 for dinner. It was dinner for two and we ordered a combo plate with enchiladas. Gotta say the poblano chicken enchiladas are pretty good and also you get a nice salad included too. The main problem was the rice was completely cold. Both of our plates had this problem. It was like it was taken out of the fridge and put on our plate. I then found out they close at 8p which may have been why the food was not that good at all. Also the beans had no taste. Service was good however.
(2)Jenny C.
Very vegetarian friendly. The veggie quesadilla will change your life in a good way. The green sauce on the cheese enchiladas was really fantastic. Can't complain about their margaritas either!
(4)Barbara C.
Delicious! Best Mex we've had in Tucson. Would have liked less intense music but that is only improvement. Attentive service even though we were the only patrons at 3 pm. - not always the case elsewhere.
(5)Matt P.
For the price of the food I would prefer a waiter. It is set up like a Pei Wei, which is fine, but not at the price. Staff just hung out talking seemed like they had nothing to do. Also with all the choices of real, great mexican food in Tucson why in the world go to this place?
(2)Eric C.
I've already written one review, but had to follow up with a review on Zivaz' catering. I have eighty-five employees and have to occasionally cater training lunches, and I've used lots of places around town. Felipe, the owner, told me about their catering when I was in there for a meal (which, by the way, is always superlative - in over a hundred times of eating there over the years I've never had a bad experience). So, I tried them out, and it was the best catering experience I've had to date. They worked with me on the price, had AMAZING quality in their ingredients - like artichoke hearts and fresh squash in their chilaquiles - and had everyone at the lunch asking for business cards. Zivaz easily beat the old-time Tucson establishments, including the pricey ones, and they were such a pleasure to deal with. Felipe's mom handled my order, and when I explained the fact that we had a bunch of vegetarians that would be attending, she informed me that she was also a vegetarian and made sure all of our requirements were met with precision and verve. For less than half of what we paid for a similar catering job we got food that was infinitely better quality: real black beans pureed with cream and queso fresco, the best chilaquiles I've ever had (and I've traveled all over Mexico), amazing rice, and all sorts of other deliciousness, all made to the highest standards. And if that wasn't already a phenomenal value, we ended up having at least a third of it left over after everyone went back again and again for more helpings. We even had staff in from our Florida office who wanted to take some back on the plane when they were done! When you factor in the seconds, thirds, and leftovers, it really ended up being just a couple bucks per person, which is simply unbelievable, and this was just one of many catering options they offered. I saw some reviews that say it isn't "upscale Mexican," but I'd argue that the freshness of their obviously premium ingredients and the creativity with which they prepare everything sets them WAY apart from the typical south-of-the-border cuisine so ubiquitous to Tucson.
(5)Sally B.
Although the food was good, the ordering and paying system is unorganized and inefficient. It is all done at the counter. Upon checking our receipt after we left the restaurant, we ended up paying twice for our drinks. I would recommend taking orders at the table and giving the customer a bill.
(2)Simon E.
Chile rellenos in the Tucson Area rated according to the Homeland Security Advisory System with three word descriptors. Zivaz Mexican Bistro: very good sauce. Red See photos.
(5)Dan C.
I got the carnitas plate and made some demanding requests. They were all met promptly and with good grace. I wanted the hottest peppers they had as well as the spiciest sauce and both were provided without any complaint. I loved the service here, even if it was odd that it was counter style. My pork was juicy and tender and pulled easy from the center of the meat. Delicious. Not too salty either! The rice was good, although it did taste a little like it was Uncle Ben's, but no worries. My salad was covered in spicy sauce, which made my whole meal a satisfying experience. My margarita was huge, and I couldn't drink it all because it was just so-so. But I care more about the food than anything else, which comes at a great value!
(5)Brennan M.
We went to this place because all the reviews said that it is underrated, but I've gotta say that those people are seriously overrating it. I had the red chile enchiladas, and my fiance had the carnitas. My enchiladas were dried out, as though they had been reheated from earlier in the day, leaving the tortillas and sauce dehydrated. I thought the flavor was nice, but it's just careless to give a customer something so obviously reheated. My fiance liked the carnitas though. They were moist and had a good flavor, but they weren't any better than the carnitas elsewhere in town. The guacamole left much to be desired, as well. They put WAY too much lemon/lime on it, clearly trying to preserve it and keep it from turning brown. I'm sure this guacamole was made much earlier in the day, maybe even the day before. With so many employees standing around, why can't they make guacamole fresh? and put some fresh sauce on my enchiladas? The hibiscus margarita was yummy though. ...just not quite good enough to make it worthwhile to go back!
(2)Mike P.
We had dinner here one night while visiting Tucson. We enjoyed it. First thing, it is not a full-service restaurant. "Bistro" is a misnomer. You line up,order and pay at the counter, then the staff delivers the food to you. I had carne asada; my wife, shrimp. Both were good but not astounding. I can see why some reviews have complained that the food is bland. We also had margaritas, which tasted good, though no one would accuse the bartender of a heavy hand on the tequila. Prices are neither exorbitant nor cheap. For two margaritas, an ear of corn, two entrees, tax, and a 10% tip, the bill came to about $50, which seemed slightly high, given the limited service. Then again, we're from Oregon, which has no sales tax. The thing that I really liked about Zivaz was finding it less greasy than the typical Mexican restaurant. There was plenty of food -- we didn't finish everything -- but when we got home, we didn't have that bloated feeling that too often comes with restaurant food of any variety. For that quality, I've given them an extra star (4 rather than 3). Recommended for less heavy, but plentiful, Mexican food in pleasant surroundings, as long as you don't mind the limited service.
(4)Steve Z.
This place has sunk way down on the ladder of desirable Mexican restaurants in Tucson. What is it with Groupon lately? They seem to be offering deals for restaurants that USED TO BE quite good and are now just plain substandard. The entrees for the three of us were just plain bland. One can do much better than this for supposedly upper-end Mexican food in Tucson.
(1)Daniela S.
One of the best places for true Mexican food in Tucson! Highly recommend the Carne Asada, Chipotle Chicken, and the Margaritas! You will not regret checking Zivaz out.
(5)joel e.
I'm fairly tolerant of bad service as I once waited tables and I know what's it like sometimes but the service here that day was simply unacceptable. We were a group of six, two ordered, two other small groups of customers ordered, then the rest of our group arrived and ordered. Two dishes came out, then about 5 minutes later two more, then about 5 minutes later a fifth. The sixth? Arrived when we were all done eating. Then it was totally wrong so back it went and we waited even longer. I talked to the cashier who gave excuses, I talked to the manager who gave the same excuses "Oh your party didn't order at the same time". So explain why the guy who ordered FIRST, was one of the last to get his meal, so that excuse went out the window. Then all I got was apologies. When I used to wait tables and then as assistant manager, if a customer got that horrible of service I would never offer excuses and I would discount or even comp the meal. For the price they charge, the food was simply ok, nothing special. Chips seemed stale. Had fajitas, two small tortillas, small spoonful of meat (again, not great), beans and rice and a salad with a horrible tasting dressing. I will never go there again.
(1)Jeffry G.
My wife and I love this place - she normally gets the Carne Asada and I'm a fan of the Asada Burger. For an upscale Mexican place, the burger is really good! The prices are a little high, but it's a tasty meal and the staff, overall, is very good.
(4)Kinga H.
Do not come here expected typical south of the border greasy refried beans and taco stand Mexican grub... oh no! What you will get is Fresh Local Ingredients which make for an ahhh-mazzzing meal!! So many great flavors combined for authentic dishes... and a plus for my Veggie friends, the tofu served up here is delicious and can be substituted in most entrees (if they already are not veg friendly)! Recommendations are the enchiladas, carnitas, carne asada, milanesa de berenjena, fajitas, tacos, or calabacitas.... mmmmm mmmmm good.
(4)Aurore L.
Probably the best culinary surprise of my time in Tucson. So - it's probably not a REAL 5-star experience. But I was so impressed by this unassuming-looking little place that I get carried away and give them the royal treatment, the supreme reward, the whole constellation of the Yelp sky. Tucked away in a mall Zivav looks a lot like a Mexican fastfood....a close cousin to Chipotle, Baja Fresh and co. You even have to order at the counter. That sounds bad, right? But the first redeeming aspect of Zivav gets obvious pretty quickly. Home-made drinks. And more specifically: hibiscus margaritas. Oh gringos....these are just incredibly good. Dangerously so. Not too sweet or strong, they are just the perfect drink. Get there early for dinner since they close at 9 - you will want to sip on a few of these before leaving and hopefully go to bed a content man. More surprisingly perhaps was the food itself: so fresh and high-quality that I couldn't believe my plate. I chose the beef fajitas - and was blown away by my meat....juicy, perfectly cooked AND cut....so much better than in many classic restaurants I have been to. Galores of fresh peppers, onions, Oaxacan rice, refried beans and a side of salad dressed with a yummy chipotle-honey vinaigrette made for a wonderful dinner. My dining companions had the same great things to say about their carnitas. We didn't linger there too long and left with the musicians that entertain the crowds every Saturday night, but I would come back any time. Too bad I am hundreds of miles away!
(5)Nick P.
Twelve thirty rolls around in the office of Son of Veggie Girl and I suddenly realize that I am very hungry. Something that I realized much longer ago, however, is that I am also very lazy. Being that I am hungry, lazy and a long-time vegetarian (Mom is so proud!), my options for an afternoon meal are somewhat limited. Lucky for me, Zivaz Mexican Bistro is spitting distance from my desk. One of my favorite things about Zivaz is the wide-array of options they offer for the carnivorously disinclined and my choice today was the milanesa de berenjena; a lightly breaded eggplant cutlet is topped with a layer of queso freso and a mild tomatillo salsa. That layer is then topped with more delicious white cheese and fresh chopped squash. As I wait for my meal to arrive, the polite and unobtrusive server brings a bowl of tortilla chips and two kinds of salsa. Both are tasty but not nearly spicy enough for my palette. The milanesa arrives and I dig in: the first thing I notice is that the lime in the tomatillo salsa is slightly overpowering, something that I personally enjoyed but might be a turn-off for others. The eggplant is, to my surprise, well-prepared and not too mushy or firm. The squash is also well prepared and tastes like it was picked fresh from a garden right before my meal. All in all, a delectable dish rounded out by a black bean paste and hand-made tortillas. The inexpensive and well-prepared vegetarian plates combined with their rare ability to make a proper mojito make Zivaz an easy choice to make. Though watch out for the rice, fellow lettuce heads, as they prepare it in chicken broth. Just let the server know that you 'd prefer no rice and they'll substitute a double portion of spring green salad topped with an enchanting vinaigrette.
(4)Richa S.
I figure this place would be mediocre, and something to just fill up on without paying much attention to my taste buds... but I was proven wrong. The layout/style is like Sauce/Lovin Spoonfulls. You enter.. notice the trendy decor... wait in line for the cashier to ring up your order. You're given a number and they serve you at your table, but you get your own drink from the fountain drink area. It's like half service but convenient. Plus you get free chips and salsa like you would at a legit "real" restaurant with full service. The prices are a bit high I thought for some place to just quick dine on for lunch, but once you get the food, you realize that it's a fair price. I had some mushroom appetizer... it was small and wasnt enough to fill up on a small lunch even. A bit toooo many mushrooms, and although I love spicy food-- I know the general public would find it too spicy. Their salads on the side of your entree are so good. I don't know what dressing they use... but I would like to drink it up rather than put it on my salad (yes, I'm gross.. i admit it publicly). There aren't too many veggie friendly places in Tucson, but everything here pretty much can be made veggie. 30 extra points in the bucket!! I love zivaz. I wish it was closer to my house. I'd probably be dining there a few times a month... (okay.. a few times a week if I wasn't a broke college student).
(4)Ran T.
Overall rating: 5/10 Price: $5-$15 (honestly for the quality of the food, I wouldn't want to pay what we paid which is around $20 for two since it's like a fast food place) Quality: The taste is not even close to Mexican food. It's a Chipotle type of restaurant at best except they also serve alcohol. You order food from a huge menu sign. Then you pay at the cashier, take the table number, get the cup for the drink, find a place to sit. The waitress brings your food to your table. You eat it, and then they will clean the table. No tips neccessary. The food is really like Chipotle or other Mexican-style fast food restaurant. Nothing noteworthy. Overall, the food is on the fresh side but the salad is a little bit wilted given the fact they we ordered half an hour before they closed. Service: relatively efficient. Basically a self-serve place. They will refill beer if you raise your hand, but for water or other soft drinks, you have to refill yourself. Ambient Environment: it's fairly clean. Patio seating available. They also play live salsa music on Saturdays (that's what they say. I wouldn't know how good the music is since I don't plan on going back there) Parking/Direction: strip mall parking Pros: clean place, fairly fresh food Cons: expensive for the quality of the food. Not authentic Mexican food.
(2)Jackie T.
My munchies for chiles rellenos led me to this place and I was not disappointed. Prior to the meal, tri-colored (yellow, red, blue/purple) tortilla chips and a duo of red and green salsas were brought to the table. The chips weren't as fresh tasting as I would have liked but the salsas were both flavorful. The chiles rellenos had a soft earthy crisp. The reddish-brown sauce probably has something roasted in it to lend the deep flavor. The cheese inside was rich but mild enough to meld well with the sauce. The beans were seasoned just right to go with the rice and warm tortillas. It was topped with just a bit of a crumbly cheese to add the right amount of salinity. The salad was dressed in a vinaigrette and drizzled with a brown sauce. It is place on the same plate touching the beans and entree but it still managed to taste delicious with some beans in it. Even though this isn't a sitdown-service restaurant, the person who took our order came periodically to check on us and was very friendly. This isn't as cheap as a Betos or Viva but the quality and freshness far surpasses those other inexpensive joints you will find around town.
(4)Mega M.
I have lived in Tucson for 37 years so have eaten my share of Mexican cuisine in every area of town. I am a weekly customer. Why? Simply, this family owned business sets a high stand that I have not found elsewhere. While my favorite is the salmon, every meal I have tried has been exquisite. Truly, one may always expect excellent food, superb service and a friendly smile from the employees and the owners. Once you eat at Zivaz, nothing else compares.
(5)Jack C.
Zivaz is having a couple of special entrées this Father's Day weekend. Went there Friday night to try one of them, the lamb tacos. Shredded lamb with a pasilla sauce and a tzaziki/chipotle sauce. Absolutely incredible! How do they come up with these wonderful dishes? I asked one of the owners to put the lamb tacos on their regular menu. Yummmm.....
(5)Stephen V.
Well been here several times before my recent visit and thought it was pretty good. But this time we had a groupon coupon for $30 that we paid only $15. So ordered 2 entree that we had not tried and were pricier. The Ahi and the Chicken Mole and both were disappointing. The Chicken Mole had weak watery sauce with little of flavors you would expect. The Ahi was a nice piece of fish but the sauce or topping was ground re-hydrated dry ancho chile mixed with oil and mushrooms. It was a awful concoction full of pepper skin and seeds. This really needs to be reworked as a preparation. Service is OK except for the register girl who has been there the last 3 times we visited and she is very unfriendly and could care less about it. You know really gets old when you start with someone who hates there job and what you to know it!!
(2)Jes W.
We've been going there for lunch the last year or so and it's always great and the people nice. Everything I've tried has been good!
(5)Kim K.
Not impressed. We went here because of the yelp reviews and we were quite disappointed. Atmosphere non existent....food uneventful, it seemed more like a fast food joint. I will say it was very clean and the service was friendly.
(2)Brad T.
A couple of years ago I would have given this place four stars for good food and drinks but not now. The burrito poblano tasted like a cheap East coast stew with rice and although I have had only one Chipotle's burrito I can say that Chipotle's was better. Milanese de Berenjena has an exciting name but the flavor was so so. I was glad to see that they were open on MLK day and it could have been an off night for the cooks.
(2)Kirsten L.
Great restaurant, creative and delicious meals, fabulous appetizers, and affordable fun Happy Hour. I love Zivaz!
(5)Tami M.
Tasty carnitas, tender and flavorful. Nice beer selection. Refried black beans werea nice change.
(3)Surranna V.
I had a great experience here the other night. We wanted something close to home that wasn't expensive so we went here. I had mahi mahi poblana enchiladas that were very good. The fish was cooked well and the sauce was a perfect fit. The plate was very well balanced, there was a small amount of salad, wonderful rice, black beans, and the actual dish. They serve chips and salsa. the chips are warm and the green salsa is pretty darn good. On Sat. they have a 1/2 price margarita deal. I had the hibiscus marg and it was awesome. The set up is very casual, you order and pay first, which I like because then I don't have to wait around for the bill. At first I thought the prices were high but because of the quality and the amount of ingredients that go into the food here I can understand why the cost is what it is. I dig it for a casual inexpensive sudo gourmet meal.
(4)Leo B.
I am upping my rating to 5 stars. Since my initial review I have been here about a dozen or so times and this place always delivers. It is fast tasty, inventive, stylish and affordable. I really like taking friends there and it is perfect for a quick bite before a movie or event.
(5)Gary S.
I have been to Zivaz many times in the past and have relatively enjoyed it. I went back today and have found that their prices have gone up to the point that it isn't worth the money. I ordered the same item I have ordered many times before, the chicken enchiladas. First of all, the cashier must be family, because I can'r believe they would retain an employee so nasty and condescending unless they were family. Sat down, and chips and salsa were delivered. Wish the staff was friendlier than they are. Chips were stale and the red salsa was tasteless. Food arrived and for some reason, also had no flavor. Had to request some hot sauce to get some kind of flavor going. I would have to say at this point in time I probably wouldn't go back, at least for quite awhile. Wish I had better news for the readers. No one is probably more disappointed than me.
(2)Renee S.
Wait--there are vegetables BESIDES tomatoes and chiles at a mexican restaurant? What!? Zivaz serves good, fresh ingredients and creative, flavorful non-greasy mexican dishes. My favorites are the carnitas--delicious marinated and shredded pork, and the pollo en rajas--chicken breast in a green poblano sauce with calabacitas. Mmmm. Both come with black beans, rice, a small salad with a tangy chile vinaigrette, and hot tortillas. And the sopa tlalpeno, with tons of veggies, chipotle, and chicken, definitely warms my soul on one of those (few) cold tucson days. Zivaz is always open, inviting, casual, and clean. You order at the counter and get your own drinks (a la Pei Wei) and your food is brought to the table. Staff are friendly, and no they don't ask you if you need anything 10 times with their hands folded behind their backs--but they do make sure you're taken care of, bringing new margaritas and chips and salsa when you need them. Everything about this place is casual and comfortable. So now I ask you: why does "authentic mexican food" always have to equal waitresses dressed up in traditional embroidered and ruffled flowered dresses, pushing tortilla and salsa carts around to customers?? (no disrespect to guadalajara grill--love their salsa). Mexican food can also equal fresh, good ingredients and a little creativity! Zivaz is high on my list of go-to lunch spots when I'm in Tucson. I recommend it all the time. Try it!!
(5)Michele D.
I really didn't like this place all that much. There are way better Mexican resturants in town. Food was very heavy. Alot of food on the plate. Beans were very clumpy. Not a happy experience. Probably won't go back
(2)Victoria K.
Very good food and delightful, casual atmosphere. I wish that the rice were not cooked in chicken stock, but at least they tell you this when they get the vibe that you are vegetarian. Always a fun time at Zivaz.
(4)Greg M.
Order your food at the front counter, they give you a little stand with a number on it. and bring you your food when it is ready. Experienced the usual air of "indifference" at the front counter. Otherwise the food came within a reasonably amount of time. The burger was hot and cooked exactly the way I ordered it. Fries were hot and tasty. The meal with one Corona was $15.08. I Thought this was a bit high in price since the ground beef was average and not leaner. No salt and pepper shakers on any of the tables. Had to ask for ketchup and mustard, and received a rather strange look in doing so. All and all the food was not bad but over rated for the price.
(3)dawn C.
Yum! First time to eat here and we really enjoyed it. The fajitas were great and enough for 2. Loved the corn tortillas.
(4)Josh J.
I love this place. It's one of a very, very few places in town my whole family enjoys eating at. It's sort of like Pei Wei, in that the layout is similar and there are a good number of delicious vegetarian options. It certainly isn't "authentic" Mexican food, but it sure is good.
(5)Johanna L.
A food adventurer and back in Tucson after many years I was thrilled to be introduced by my neigbor to Zivaz. She had a $30 Groupon (we could eat for free up to $30!) They keep prices down by 'self serve' odering but the cashier came out to walk us through the menu board. He recommended appetizer specials- Calabacitas- a must to try.I had read reviews about the Carnitas which I tried-lovely plate...the black beans were some of the most flavorful I've had. My dining partner had the salmon and unfortunately I could tell it was over cooked and dry when the plate was served. Chips were light and fresh and I liked the 'petit' size of them. The piece de resistance was the Orange Flan. The composition of the plate was visibly beautiful- and since we 'first eat with our eyes' we knew we were in for a treat. A thick triangle of this traditional Hispanic dessert- it looked like a cheesecake..a huge dollop of whipped cream which might have been enhanced by egg whites...oh so creamy and flavorful!.The flan sat atop a crunch flour totilla sprinkled with cinamon sugar...It was a light and flavorful dessert unlike no other and priced uner $6. It's worth the trip for that plate alone. Although there is no table service- servers were quick to take away finished plates and the cashier/host kept an eye out for when we were ready for our dessert...we didn't have to ask. Next to Mom and Poco's this is my second favorite new stop! Bravo Zivaz.
(5)J G.
Amazing Mexican food that comes out almost immediately after you order it. Great for sit down or take out. Lunch and dinner are great. The place closes a little earlier than I'd like, I believe 8:30. It's a little different tasting than the Mexican you're used to. There is a lot of flavor in their food, but very few dishes are spicy.
(4)Toobet L.
the guacamole was especially good. happy hour offers the best deals if you like beer and guacamole.
(4)Alissa T.
I saw a write up of this place in Cooking light, it is definately not light food, some of the sauces are cream based. It was tasty, I ordered the sample platter which is basically shef's pick for the day, it was good. Also ordered the baked cheese for appetizer, also good but lots of oily oil floating on the top.
(3)Jeff T.
If you want great mexican food quickly, Zivas is the place for you! If you are running late for the theatre and can't take the time for a typical sit-down restaurant, check this place out. You order up front in similitude to Pei Wei, take your number, get your drinks and sit down. Your food is brought to your table and it is great stuff. I have eaten there from both the dinner and lunch menus. As with all restaurants lunch is the best value. You get chips and tasty salsa when you sit down. Their Carne Asada plate, grilled steak / one casera cheese enchiladas, is wonderful. You get quite a bit of food on all their plates. Their Pollo En Rajas plate, a fire-grilled chicken breast strips / prepared green poblano chile sauce / cheese / corn, zucchini, squash, red bell pepper & poblano mix, is a personal favorite of mine. In short it is tasty and it is quick. Very recommended! You will love it.
(4)