Reviews of Zapoteca Mexican Grill & Seafood (Restaurant)

Yancy McChesney

Food is amazing as is the staff and management. Highly recommend

Stanislav Volevach

How have I not been to this restaurant sooner?! The cocktails are so delicious and the food is even better! I’m usually pretty stomach sensitive to Mexican food however when I ate here there was no problems. The service was incredible and prices are reasonable. Looking forward to coming back.

D Menava

Hands down the BEST Mexican restaurant that I’ve ever been to. Amazzzing, great service, chill atmosphere. This place hands down is perfección.

Kevin Gillett

Edited after response from Zapoteca: Hi Zapoteca. I provided an accurate review of your service. It’s amazing how defensive you have become. Your staff apologized -that I acknowledged and you also apologized. Your server assumed I wanted the dish to be remade and went directly to the kitchen without asking what he could do to rectify the situation. There was no communication with the server after he cleared the plate. I declined the dish to be remade when I overheard him requesting it at the window. There was no profuse apology and I feel the issue could’ve been handled more directly in a timely manner. I do appreciate your honesty in how the mistake happened. With regards to the free meals and drinks: I’m happy to pay for dinner -I wasn’t looking for a free meal. The fact that you shrugged your shoulders and lacked empathy is what bothers me. I’ve been to other restaurants that have made mistakes and continue to go them because they made things right properly. I’m sorry your ego was hurt by my post. Original post: My husband and I decided to try out Zapoteca one Sunday night and unfortunately left disappointed. The service we received was functional but nothing outstanding considering there were only a few other tables in the restaurant while we were there. We arrived around 7:30 pm (nowhere close to closing time) and we’re seated promptly. We ordered appies and tacos for mains (vegetarian mushroom for me and steak for the husband). The food was mediocre at best but the everything was ok until I bit into my second taco and realized I had just bitten into steak!!! It took a couple of minutes to flag down a server (even though we were the only table in the restaurant at the time) and he promptly took the dish away while mumbling a quick ‘so sorry’. Interestingly enough, the manager was sitting at a table not far from us and didn’t bother to come over right away. After requesting the bill the manager came over to let us know that he ‘zapped’ the charges for us and apologized for what happened. It was the most insincere apology I’ve ever heard. He also mentioned that they normally have 2 spatulas and separate sides of the grill for meats and veggies but on this particular night the cook was trying to hurry up and close the kitchen (they close at 10 pm and we were served around 8 pm). We had order a side of Mexican rice that was also never delivered to the table. Mistakes happen but I feel like this wasn’t just a bad night but an example of the lack of pride the chef takes in what comes out of the kitchen. As the manager mentioned, there were many things they could’ve done better including the lack of empathy shown by the manager. This restaurant is such a waste of time if you’re looking for good quality food and service.

Sommy Logic

The quality of food and drinks have significantly dropped since our last visit. Changing rating from 5stars.

Dave

Very authentic. A nice change from the typical Mexican place :)

Caitlin Jones

Been here many times. Staff and food is always of the highest quality. Cocktails are perfectly crafted and priced fairly. Big fan of the ceviche!

JJ FISHER

Ah yes the Margueritas. Fresh lime juice and a nice tequila. I had 2. I paced myself. My friends had 3. The food was good I cleaned my plate, it was a good portion. I had a burrito. My friend tried the enchiladas. That's what I would try next time. The service is friendly right there when we needed him. I would say service was excellent. Good food good drink good service. I recommend Zapoteca. I think my friends would agree.

Pearl D'Silva

Slow service but very good food!

Pete Dunn

We loved the food and the drinks we ordered here. Tonight was our first time there and I highly recommend this restaurant. Great service and very friendly staff. We will definitely be back again soon! We ordered the seafood plate for two with appetizer and it was perfect. Check the picture that I attached.

Monique Guerreiro

We made a reservation and got a great seat on the extended patio. The atmosphere was great and the service was friendly and prompt. We asked for recommendations to share and ordered what was recommended did which was delicious!The restaurant was clean although I was not happy that there was a dog sitting at the actual table behind us. We will definitely return and would highly recommend.

Kris Doerksen

I ordered a lunch meal for our staff who have been working very hard over the past few months. There were some errors in the order. As mistakes happen with every business, it is the customer service after the mistake that separates the good from the excellent. Zapoteca's team including the staff and the owners made sure that our experience with them would be nothing short of excellent. I am utterly blown away. Fabulous service. Now to the food. Mouth wateringly delicious food. Every bite reminded me of my holidays in Mexico. Would recommend this place to anyone trying out Mexican food even for the first time.

Aleshia Marie

Dine in

Connor Marwick

Small, authentic Mexican restaurant on the Whiterock waterfront. It offers a refreshing alternative to the ubiquitous *Fish and Chip" places that line Marine Drive. My wife and I shared a molcajete Carmel (so named for the head chef) It was a savoury dish of steak strips, chicken and chorizo with grilled cactus,jalopeno avacado and green onions. It's served in a stone dish with cheese and salsa roja. We highly reccomend it.

cyberwarp

Service standards- 5 out of 5 Decor- 4 out of 5 Food Presentation - 5 out of 5 Food Taste - 3 out of 5 Ample parking. Heated outdoor seating. Indoor seating. Alcohol also served.

Ravi M

The location is beautiful and the ambiance is cozy. Their food is good. But the margaritas werenot upto the mark. Overall its a good place to try mexican cuisine.

Erin P.

Cozy place and nice vibe. Great seafood.

Devon Ainsworth

Wife's favorite mine not so much.. I do however enjoy the Happy Hour!

Kimberley Marshall

We ordered: margaritas (SO GOOD), strawberry limeade drink (non alcoholic, tarte taste ),the nacho platter (amazing, lots of toppings to go around. A good serving of food), and shrimp tacos (3 tacos and were a lil spicy with lots of cabbage...). All in all I would come back. It's a great hole In the wall. must try it

Isabella

This was the first visit to Zapoteca Mexican Grill for both us. Unsure if it will be the last. We ordered the Tuna Carpaccio and Ceviche to start - the former was quite good and the Ceviche was particularly fresh and tasty We then shared an order of the Carmela Molcajetes which was savory and delicious. [Slight gripe: the flour tortillas are so small there's barely room to load any food on/in them.] For dessert we ordered flan which was ok but not as special as the other dishes. The only negative was the service - it took almost 45 minutes to get our starters despite specifically mentioning we were starving when we ordered; our server neglected to mention our starters already came with chips when we ordered them separately with a bowl of guacamole after waiting for 30 minutes with no food; and she passed our table numerous times after we'd finished our starters and stacked the plates, yet she and the other servers seemed oblivious to the concept of clearing them. Cost for the meal without alcohol and with tip was approx $120 for 2 people which isn't cheap for a restaurant that's pleasant but not upscale, however the food was good and the service might have just been off that night. Both of us gave it 3½ ⭐

Dan Wilder

Wow, wow, WOW!! What an incredible experience. My husband had the Zapo Skillet and I had the chicken tacos & margarita. The food was *chefs kiss*. Authentic, flavourful and absolutely perfect. Honestly the best margaritas I've had in a while; not too sweet and generously boozy. But, it's the service that will keep you going back. The two gentlemen that served us clearly love their jobs. You can really tell how much love and care goes not just into the food but every aspect of their business. Bonus: They follow covid protocols diligently!

Dan Wilder

Wow, wow, WOW!! What an incredible experience. My husband had the Zapo Skillet and I had the chicken tacos & margarita. The food was *chefs kiss*. Authentic, flavourful and absolutely perfect. Honestly the best margaritas I've had in a while; not too sweet and generously boozy. But, it's the service that will keep you going back. The two gentlemen that served us clearly love their jobs. You can really tell how much love and care goes not just into the food but every aspect of their business. Bonus: They follow covid protocols diligently!

Claudia Ruiz

Absolutely Excellent!!!! Superb service! Food beyond what you'd imagine! You will be completely satisfied & know you'll be back! Thank you Zapoteca!!

Jak 251

Dine in

Joyce Stephenson

The ceviche was very good and fresh tasting, drinks were delicious, and the molcajete was easily the best I've had outside of Mexico. A little pricey but not disappointed in the slightest. Also the server was a gem. Wish I could give a 4.5 star!

John Powszedny

WOW! great mexican very authentic (glad this made up for the the other experience on the beach). sat on the patio was nice night out and busy. can't wait to come back

Tami Kshyk

We went for dinner here, we got nacho as the starter and wine. Which both were great..when it came to the main’s they said no fish taco said it was out, no veggi taco options either. We decided at that point to just eat the nacho’s and leave then magically the fish taco’s were available…how they became available in 45 mins we don’t know. Then finally we asked the bill to be split and was not split. Waited for the server to come back so we can get it split did not come back in timely manner left the machine for us to pay. We paid and then she said we never asked her to split and no apology or anything took machine and walked away. Would we come back here? No. The service was not great and food magically was not available and then available again. Tons of other places to eat in White Rock beach area.

Angie A

The spot is nice, food is great, both times I’ve come I would have left hungry if not for a top up of food, I would love to see bigger portions but it’s a good restaurant.

Bruce Alderson

What a fabulous place for great food, service and drinks!!!! Went for lunch with our son who has been raving about the place! The chicken nachos are exceptional as are the margaritas, tacos and enchiladas!! The staff are super friendly, always polite and helpful without being intrusive. A wonderful experience!!

Bryan L

This is a really charming and fun restaurant with incredible food and amazing service. A great place to relax after exploring the White Rock waterfront. Highly recommended!

Natasha Laura

Great Mexican food and drinks! The tacos were incredible and some of the best nachos around. They use authentic ingredients and pay attention to the small details in the food which makes a huge difference! The service was excellent. Yes it is not the cheapest place around, but considering the area and the quality of the food I personally think it's worth the price!

Daniel Shu

This restaurant comes up on Google when "vegan white rock" is searched, so I called to ask about vegan options. I was told "I just talked to one of you guys. We have NO VEGAN options. Vegetarian, not vegan." I'm curious how their tacos, rice, beans and veggies are cooked, I guess it must all be in butter. Anyways just posting to help any vegans who were on their way here like I was based on Google search. Absolutely nothing is vegan according to the person I spoke to.

B

My fav mexican restaurant ! Best margaritas! Very fresh, everything is authentic. Owners are young and super friendly, great service overall!

James Latchford

Oh my goodness! Just WOW! Zapoteca has the wow factor when it comes to their food and most of all their service! They have THE BEST Sangrias on the block and you have to try their most popular dish on the menu the Seafood Delmar Molcajetes. Droooool* everything on the menu is delicious and authentic. Thank you Gonzo, Deleal and the rest of the team. - Sommy S.

Armand Rashid

So. Fricken. Delicious. Exceeded expectations! Highly recommend the Molcajetes!

Ruben J

Fantastic food, and great service in a cozy atmosphere. Loved the Carmela Molcajetes, and am looking forward to trying everything else. Nice work! PS Those that don't get it never will...send them to Taco Del Mar.

Gord Wall

Shaky table to start with. And soon after follows a list of NO's Chicken tacos - No Fish tacos - We have No fish Vegetarian tacos - No we cannot make it Split the bill - No i did not heard that

mahi

What a delightful experience, its my first visit here but definitely not last. We ordered veggie nachos and grilled shrimp tacos both were great. Service is awesome simply love the vibe here.

D G

Had the funnest lunch here with friends! The food and margaritas were amazing. Get the enchiladas! Our server was the best- she knew the menu inside and out, and was a hoot the whole time adding to our experience! Would really recommend this place!

Karen Tourangeau

Do yourself a favor and try the Del Mar on the dinner menu. Perfectly cooked seafood served piping hot in a rock bowl. The $2 habanero salsa is a great kick of heat if you're adventurous that way!

Raul Carrasco

Food was ok-ish. Not impressed with the temperature inside the restaurant. Way too cold. I had to drape my coat over my lap and didn't finish my meal cause I just needed to go to my warm car. It ruined the whole experience. Might be more comfortable in summer, but food didn't wow me enough to bother.

Veronika Glesc

The secret to a happy life is a spicy margarita - While they didn't have one of the menu, our server had one made for me and it did not disappoint. It was much appreciated and I'll certainly be back.

Marilyn Reichert

My sis and I just had an awesome meal.The service is great,the food was amazing.We are very happy and will definitely become regulars.It's interesting to see some of the low reviews. All you need to do is see the crowd here every night.In the winter months most of the local businesses close shop.Not these guys,they still have a crowd. The proof is in the pudding.

Cassie Morie

The Guac and Salsa Appy was the BEST I have ever had. So tasty and fresh, everything made in house, including the chips. Inspiring presentation. Tacos and Drinks excellent. Service Perfect. We will be back!!

Darcy Mcdonlad

A bit too spicy for me. Not enough corn tortillas that came with the Del Mar. Had to get 2 extra orders of corn tortillas. Good service & good food

Calvin Quaite

The staff is really nice but the food is ok. I ordered a ceviche (because someone in the reviews said it was amazing) unfortunately it was really bland. As main dish I ordered the carmela with my boyfriend and that was actually good. Probably won't be going back but you should still try it as you might like it.

Shawn Kuo

Food was great, but service was terrible. For the price point of the menu, I definitely expected more professional service and attention to details. We had warm salsa verde spilled all over our table and us, including our clothes and got a sheepish sorry from the server who spilled it. No offer of soda water to clean our clothes or even a wet cloth to clean it off our arms. Nothing on our bill was comped for the inconvenience. Often had to flag down our server for more water or tortillas, no one came to see if we needed anything. Later our server was sitting down with other guests at their tables visiting, instead of asking if we would like coffee, dessert or our bill- which we had to ask for. Won’t be back.

Carolyn Ella

Service

Dan Zimmer

Zapoteca was just what we expected based on the pictures and reviews we checked before making reservations. The positive experience began with the cheerful person who took our reservation and with their understanding when we called to say we were going to be delayed. The room was cozy and candle lit Covid-19 separations were effective but didn't diminish the ambiance of the room. Their no mask no tacos sign at the door was effective in communicating their compliance with regulations with a little humor thrown in. Service was prompt, the drink options good and presentation was excellent. The margaritas were delicious, decent size and real not from a nasty mix. Had a cool tequila ginger beer cocktail that was refreshing and the monitor was bracing with fresh lime. The only drink that didn't go over was the tamarind one and it may have been too sophisticated for a teen. The replacement strawberry lemonade hit the mark. Were a bit surprised that the ubiquitous chips and salsa didn't automatically hit the table for free but we all agreed that the well presented and tasty chips, guacamole and pico de gallo boat was worth the price. All the entres were well prepared, nicely plated and just the right size to satisfy. Look out for the habanero hot sauce that accompanies the barbacoa. The server warned us but everyone still got a surprise kick. Still the salsa had nice fruity flavour before the heat came out to bite you. We will definitely return and cheerfully recommend this excellent authentic Mexican restaurante. Wish we had room for dessert. Next time might have the chicken taquitos appie for dinner to make sure I get my flan in.

Bobby Bhinder

We walked down to the beach to go for ice cream and detoured to Zapoteca for some delicious Mexican food ... we had the ceviche and fish tacos and both were excellent. Our waitress was very friendly. Great experience.

Ron Steele

This restaurant did a wonderful job yesterday. In consideration of how busy it was with constant customers on Canada Day. Tables were being cleaned and sanitized, properly. Staff were friendly, attentive and jovial in spite of the above craziness. To add to the experience the food was delicious. Authentic, good portion sizes, varied selections and wonderful quality. Normally, I do not go to White Rock due to the pretentious atmosphere there. However, I am glad a visiting friend convinced me. I will most certainly be coming back here.

Clara Edvi

Had take out lunch today on the beach and it was delicious! Really good quality and everything was super fresh and flavourful. Also appreciated how nicely everything was packaged. Will definitely go again and highly recommend.

More Memorable Events

Excellent food and friendly customer service. Can't wait to visit this place again!

Su Ta

Their location is great, and the patio is definitely where you want to be on a mid-summer night. While the drinks (margaritas and mocktails specifically) and starters were delicious, the mains did leave something to be desired. We ordered fish tacos, barbacoa, and the scallops. The tacos were good, but unfortunately the other two were mediocre. It took well over an hour to receive our food. All of the tables around us, who arrived and ordered after us, were finished eating before we received our food. The staff acknowledged the delay, as our kitchen ticket was misplaced, and they were incredibly apologetic about it, but sadly, the food wasn't worth the wait. I will acknowledge that they were very busy, as it was a Sunday dinner service. The staff were doing the best that they could. The service was good, but the overall experience was average. I wouldn't be in a rush to return.

Melissa Goodwin

Very good service , excellent classic Margarita’s ( not too sweet ). The ceviche and beef/pork tacos were excellent and reasonably priced. Will definitely be back !

Mack Dyck

My girlfriends & I celebrated a few birthdays this past weekend by having dinner at this restaurant, and we were all blown away by how great this place truly is! Our server was great! Very attentive, great with recommendations, and provided us with excellent customer service. The food and drinks were amazing! I highly recommend the Carmela bowl for sharing and their margaritas! Such a great place for a catch up with friends, or a date night! Looking forward to visiting again soon!

Brett Gagnon

A friend of mine who lives in White Rock recommended we try this place for lunch today. She said she enjoyed it the last time she came. Neither of us were happy with what we got. I don't mind corn tortillas, but she did. When she asked our server (who shall go nameless) if they had anything with flour tortillas instead, the server said good luck finding something that has no corn. Is that sass or what? Though we were served water, it was warm. At least our server was nice enough to bring us ice for our water when I requested. My friend and I tried the fish tacos. For $16, those three tacos weren't very big. (We only had one order and split them.) I like spicy food as much as the next man, but the sauce was far too hot and practically drowned out the taste of the fish. My friend paid for our lunch. I hope she didn't give a tip. She didn't like our server and truthfully neither did I. She did tell me they was better service the last time she went and they HAD flour tortillas when she visited. Maybe there was a change in management, I don't know. But enough of that. If you're looking for a good Mexican lunch, look anywhere but here.

Mark K

Awesome, fresh, tasty! And their handmade nachos❤❤❤ Will be going back very soon! Happy hour..margaritas!! Yessss!!

sean ambrose

Delicious Mexican food on the lively Whiterock marine drive strip. They have set up an extra little patio, since the road has become 'one-way' for cars. So that helps provide extra space for those perfect margarita-patio-weather days. Speaking of margaritas; theirs rock! Match it with some fish tacos and your laughing. Plus, the happy hour menu cant be beat. Go there now!

gail starchuk

I'm surprised this place has a 4.5 rating. I had lunch here, and ordered a couple of appies, and suspect there was a chef in training as my order didn't seem as good as the photos and reviews here. The Papas Bravas didn't seem deep fried, but pan fried, then cut into small chunks as you could see the cut sides, even though the potatoes were smothered in the sauce and soft, not crispy. The Chicharrones Mixtos looked meagre on the plate. The shrimp was over-cooked and dry, quite hard to the bite. I didn't detect any fish in the dish, just a couple of squid rings. Batter seemed sparse and coating a bit greasy. And the guac was an odd shade of grey-green. My cocktail looked pretty but I didn't detect much alcohol, plus the mint garnish kept getting stuck in my paper straw, which ultimately broke apart. BUT, the outdoor seating was fantastic on a hot day, and the service was good. I think I just got unlucky with my food order.

John Ganshorn

Really good food, just slow.

Diana OP

The food here was so delicious and savoury. I enjoyed every single bite and I had their Tlayuda Con Mole. The service was fantastic as well. I would highly recommend this restaurant for your visit to White Rock beach.

Jerome Tovillo

Meal type

KOCHANSKI V P

Took a chance here and glad we did. Excellent service and excellent food. Some of the best nachos we have ever had. Not your stereotypical style but still amazing. The Enchiladas Mole was so good! So much sauce too. We live in Kitsilano but will still make the journey to White Rock just to eat here again.

Laura Robles

OMG never been here before best nachos I've ever had , the margarita was amazing can't wait for next week by far best place on the beach service was exceptional

Shai B

Heard about this little mexican place not to bad at all. Margaritas were good , but the food is way over priced !!! Sitting by the washroom while you eat isnt the best location either , but its Covid 19 took what was available.

Claudia F

We started with chips and pico de gallo, very nicely done. Looks like they make their own chips in store. Thick and crispy. Then we ordered fish tacos and taquitos. Both meals were excellent and very tasty. Fast friendly service, highly recommend this place on East Beach.

vamshi krishna sadhu

Delicious Mexican food in a sweet beach side restaurant. We had Totopos for starters. Best chips salsa guacamole ever! Then we shared an order of Asada tacos. All delicious. And for special treat be sure to have a cucumber cooler. Yum! They have classy Covid 19 social distance screens. Friendly and prompt servers. Highly recommend this place!

Kelly Hagen

Food is always top notch, service is always top notch, I cant stop coming here to eat! Definitely worth a visit for authentic Mexican food.

ᦔ ᥇

I ordered online because they don’t accept phone call and i even added tips for take out order. And the estimated time was 40 min but when we came to the restaurant for pick up, they did not even start my order. I don’t understand why they ask me to sign up for online order if they do not pay attention to online order.

Alec M

I've been here twice in the matter of a week and I'll be back again soon! The tacos are to die for and they serve the best margarita you've ever had. If you're looking for a fun patio or a classy date night look no further.

Joe Coastal Ford

Amazing food! I was very impressed with the look and taste. The tacos were very fresh, and not heavy in the stomach. The service was also amazing.

Alana Zelter

Tuesday deal is 15 tacos for 30. Small tacos but lots of meat on corn, not flour tortilla. Very good, we chose asada, chorizo and pork with a little pineapple. Hard to decide but I think I liked chorizo best. My beer was Corona, 6 bucks, a darker Mexican beer was 7, margs started at 9 and up. Server was good. Think I will try ceveche next time.

A L

This place deserves credit for the authentic and delicious food they are serving up. We enjoyed good service in perfect patio weather so I can't comment on the decor/ ambiance because I never made it inside. In the past I have grumbled about the WR beach pay parking but the sunny evening made it worth it. Families w young children were happy to see high chairs. I'd need to see Zapoteca in action again before recommending this place for groups. You can certainly find cheaper Mexican fare but I doubt those places will have food to the same caliber -considering the location you have to expect the prices are higher.

Ben Scott

ELLA is the best server I have ever had. I have tried many restaurants on the beach but ELLA at Zapoteca is an angel. She was so fun and had so much knowledge about the menu. My daughters grad dinner celebration was the best experience I could have asked for. She burst into happy tears when the deserts were brought to our table. I love your extended patio. Thank you so much again ELLA. I also loved your purple shirt super cute and fashion forward!

Michele Hensler

Went here for the first time yesterday and absolutely loved it! Food was visually appealing, delicious and fresh. Service was fantastic, our server came back often to check on our drinks. The enchiladas were especially good, and we loved all the salsas. My only critique was the amount of chips in the Totopos appetizer. Lots of salsa and guacamole, but small amount of corn chips that we had to buy extra or waste all that delicious salsa and guacamole. We will definitely be back! Thank you for such a great dinner.

Ngoc Dang

Very enjoyable lunch last Friday. Good service, the tacos were good too and they have all kinds of Mexican beer. The owner is still very hands on and did confirm he is the same guy we met on our first visit back when Zapoteca first opened.

Josie M

Dine in

Karen Burghall

Nice place to enjoy dinner.... loved their chips but avoid nachos if you are expecting regular nachos with beans n cheese n veggies as they only have veggies n some sour cream. Try their favorites which are good for 2 people.... it's delicious as hell...

Paula Hlavacek

Love this place! Every time I'm in Whiterock for a few days, I make sure to eat here at least twice. Have tried most everything on the menu, and have never been disappointed! Highly recommend the Choriqueso and the Carmela!

Regis Denefle

Love the energy, love the fresh margaritas, LOVE the food (especially the seafood risotto) and love the friendly owners. This is a sweet new addition to the beachside dining scene in WR!

shweta singh

Stumbled across this place right as it opened at 11:30am. The waiter who I assume is also the owner was so nice and not even just food service nice but just an over all genuine human. Him and the chef even offered us samples of cool appys they were trying out. To top it off the tacos were outstanding- even the vegetarian ones. 10/10 reccomend to anyone when in white rock if you want good vibes and great food. Will be back!!!

Kate Hwang

Came across this restaurant on the beach with good vibe so decided to give it a try. We love trying new restaurants and authentic food around the world. The atmosphere was great with good patio seating. Service was ok. The food presentation was top notch. However in my honest opinion, it looked better than it tasted. We ordered the barbacoa and Del Mar. Barbacoa although looked cool with the hot stone bowl, however it dried up pretty quickly. So not sure it was the right way to serve it. A good barbacoa has to be moist and packed with flavors. There was also not a lot of side ingredients to go with the tortilla breads. The Del Mar looked great but it was fairly blend and definitely overpriced. Great place to have some drinks but food was just ok.

Poonamkaur Makan

Such a lovely place to hang out with your loved one. The food is fantastic as it was my first experience Mexican cuisine. The service is beyond my expectation. They are so friendly and care for their guests. Highly recommend

W

Amazing service. Got the nachos, they were different as they had feta cheese, however there were a few of the chips that were stale. Got enchiladas for dinner, was not able to finish it. They give a lot of food! Worth trying.

Caleb Brodie

Meal type

Nikki Tabbert

The food here was great really enjoyed it. But the Blueberry Fizz cocktail I ordered was really sour and not very enjoyable. Thankfully the food made up for it. Definitely on weekends make a reservation as it can be a long wait.

Jeffry Janz

Food portions were more than enough for one person. Should've shared, but delicious none the less. Thank you for your service! ????

Helen Edley

Enchiladas were very tasty, barbacoa not much flavour, margaritas nice. Shrimp good. Liked the mask sign.

Jordan Asher

Best service ever!!! Food ok but little to expensive, the "queso fundido " was more baggies than cheese and quite $$

Ankit Mitra

The only Mexican in this place is the name...not real Mexican dishes. The food tastes more like internet recipes. Miniature margaritas full of ice...not recommended. Some people compain about not getting free chips and salsa but you don't get that either in the real Mexican restaurants in Mexico...just in the tourist places...

Aamir Sayeed

Dinner

Kimm Brickman

really awesome Mexican food! I ordered the arracherra steak it was so good easily best steak, I've ever eaten! The margaritas were also killer! our server was friendly. Really great dining experience! will be back to try the steaming rock bowl dishes

David Cain White Rock

This is a small husband & wife restaurant who fuse Mexican & Indian fare successfully. All dishes are fresh made to order & the proprietors are welcoming and accommodating.

Robbie Dickson

This is the best Mexican joint in White Rock. Not even up for debate. The girls who helped us were super friendly and had amazing service. Apart from Ulis, it's the only place to get good margaritas. And the food is so good, I eat until I'm over stuffed and still don't regret it. Ceviche will blow your taste buds away. Don't sleep on this spot.

Cherie Fauteux

The food was good, authentic Mexican. Service was very good, servers quite friendly. We sat on the patio and enjoyed the sunshine and the beach. Almost like being in Mexico.

Ivana Kresojevic

Delicious meal, we had the fish tacos and the chicken enchiladas. Our server was awesome and helped us with advice on both beers and food which turned out great. Will definitely come back again :)

Jin

Made online reservation. Sat on the heated patio outside. Food was delicious. Tried some mocktails which tasted great!

Theresa Lee

As soon as we walked in, the server was super rude but we let it slide as I understand that she might not be having a good day. We ordered nachos for our entree and surprisingly we found a ‘fly’ on one of the jalapeños in the dish. We let the server know about it and She said and I quote “We can’t control it sometimes”. This is the most hilarious responses I’ve ever heard in my life from a server after the restaurant has messed up. Never visiting this place again :) Note for the restaurant management: Next time if a customer finds an insect in their food, atleast don’t charge them even if they don’t mind paying for it.

Leanna Booth

Happy we decided to try this place .. food was amazing , super friendly staff , beautiful atmosphere! Nachos are a must try! Will definitely be back.

Tina Peng

Good food. Made reservations for outdoor seating but when we arrived they could only seat us inside. Host said they would seat us inside, it would only be temporary and move us outside when something became available. That never happened. Kept seating more people outside when tables cleared and forgot about us.

Hennessey Welch

Amazing food! Amazing service! The waiter Travis made the whole experience so much better! I can only recommend this restaurant for anyone wanting amazing food and have a great time!

George W

Best Mexican food in the entire lower mainland by far, absolutely delicious. Service is always good too.

Mathew Leversage

I love Mexican food! This place ROCKS!!! I’m telling you, one of the best authentic Mexican restaurants I’ve ever been to in my life. Staff are amazing friendly. You have to TRY IT!!????????

Madelyn Kruse

AMAZING Food and service at a great price. East beach has seen many restaurants come and go, but with the amount of buzz and support this small joint has found itself in the community - I hope these guys will be around forever. Expect the real deal, made with experience and recipes that are found off the touristy paths in Mexico.

Frank Wenzel

Food was fantastic. Authentic Mexican. Not just your typical tacos, there's more. We had the Molcajetes, hot stone bowl right to the table. A must try. We split 2 between 4 of us and it was more than enough. Be careful though as they do charge for extra chips and extra tortillas. Margaritas are served proper, on ice. Also tried a couple martinis, very good. Service needs some improvement. Server was very nice and had decent knowledge of the menu, but was not very attentive.

Brent Done

Went here for brunch on Sunday, food was just ok, but service was horrific. We were standing at the front end waiting to be seated, more people arrived and we waited for a long time for someone to finally come out. We were not greeted at all, the girl just stared at us so we asked for a table. She sat us down right away, and just walked away. She came back, was now our waitress and made us very uncomfortable. She didnt greet us, or ask us if we wanted anything to drink, just came back with a pitcher of water and glasses. It would have been nice to pick our own drinks. We ordered tacos and nachos. Food came out right away but our nachos were bland and the tacos really cold. The waitress never came back after bringing out our food, or asked how we were doing or if we needed anything else, like at most restaurants. After we finished, we sat there waiting for our waitress who never came back. The people who walked in with us were still waiting on a server, and were talking about the horrible service out loud. After waiting for a while we walked up to the counter and asked to pay our bill and left. The service was so bad, and unfortunately food was bland in taste this time. I've eaten here before and it was way better the first time. The staff was standing around talking to each other instead of being attentive towards the customers, I really hope management reads this because everyone complains about the service

Sebastian Di Cesare

Went here for dinner with a couple friends a few weeks ago and overall we had a pretty poor experience. I chose this restaurant specifically because they list gluten free options online as I have a gluten allergy, but even after telling our server twice about it, my food was still brought out incorrectly and I had to send it back. My friend ordered his tacos and asked for no onions and his tacos came out with 2 different kinds of onions! There seems to be a breakdown in communication from servers to kitchen staff. I’m lucky that I could tell immediately that my food was not gluten free when it arrived or I could have gotten very sick. Besides the disappointment with the food, I found their drinks to be a little overpriced even for white rock ($10+ for a small margarita) and the service was pretty slow.

Mason Buhler

We had lunch today at Zapoteca, the whole experience was great! The food tasted super authentic and the service was fantastic! Kudos to Christina, Katie, Susan and the whole team! Even though is far from where we live, we will definitely go back. Please open one Zapoteca restaurant in Vancouver downtown ????????

Jamie Lee

Got here around 4:00 on a Saturday. The patio was packed as was inside. We waited maybe 5 minutes for a table. Hubs and I started with totopos- guac, pico de gallo, and chips. The presentation was nice, but the food was amazing. Then he had asada tacos and I had shrimp tacos. Both were outstanding. My shrimp were grilled instead of fried so they would be gluten free. Hubs was gluten and dairy free as usual. One of the sauces on the shrimp was quite spicy in some bites but I couldn't stop eating it. No pictures because we were so hungry. If you like Westernized Mexican food this might not be the place for you. Except you have to try Zapoteca. It's my new favorite. They are also very knowledgeable regarding allergies.

Gillian Larissa

Fantastic! Just don't be in too much of a hurry as everything is freshly made - have a mint martini or lime margarita while you await an amazing meal. We especially like to share a big hot lava bowl Mocajete. If you love grilled meat get the Carmela Mokajete (grilled beef chicken & chorizo with amazing spices and grilled greens peppers etc)at. Be sure to order an extra side so tortillas to wrap it all up. Excellent for 2 even 3 people!!!!

Vic Davis

The nachos are just to die for! So good! The tacos are really tasty but I wish you could mix and match the different fillings instead of having to order 5 of the same kind. It's a really great view and they have really great and personable service.

Dawn Nadeau

Awesome, went there for my birthday lunch with my family. The service was great, our server was polite and very attentive. The food is amazing!! I had fish on a bed of risotto with grilled pineapple, absolutely delicious. I highly recommend if your visiting White Rock. ????

Robert Cathey

A wonderful and delicious lunch. Servers and owner were so lovely.. The food was amazing.

Tracy

We've been here four or five times and it has become our favorite Mexican restaurant in the South Surrey area - not that there's much competition. Great location right on Marine Drive in White Rock - meaning you also have to factor in the cost of rather pricey (compared to the municipal parking in just about every other jurisdiction in the GVRD) parking. Not to mention ongoing construction interruptions related to the city's beach front upgrades. Happily the food and sidewalk patio mostly make up for the hassle. Everything on the menu is pretty good - the Totopos chips/pico de gallo/guacamole with pumpkin seeds appy, plus filled tortillas being some of our go-tos. The Molcajetes bowls are interesting. The owners clearly have a passion for the food, with lots of attention to the small things - like the tortilla chips: super fresh, crispy, on the thicker side, and fried to a perfect light brown.

Sahana

OMG we got take out from this authentic mexican restaurant and the Gringa I ordered was absolutely delicious! It came with extra jalapenos and a wonderful sauce. I wish I lived closer to White Rock so I could eat there more often.

Kaotik Kaliediscope

Fantastic and authentic rustic Mexican eats. I had the asada tacos and my partner had the rainbow enchiladas and both were outstanding. Service was excellent, especially considering we had a party of 8 (everyone was extremely happy with their food). This is our new favorite spot in White Rock.

Mystique Hair Design

pretty good, i didn’t want to get fish and chips, so thought this was a pretty good option

Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan

This place popped up as meeting all our criteria for a relaxing dinner with seafood. We had the Del Mar volcano bowl and a couple of dark Modelo lager. This is the first place I’ve found in Canada that has the volcano bowls and so I’ll definitely be back again! The Del Mar was outstanding and I expect the others will be too!

Leanne Rae

Zapoteca is a must in White Rock! We ordered the mussels to start, which were absolutely delicious. For our main we ordered the Del Mar, which is an amazing seafood dish with scallops, prawns, avocado, squid and more! Our service was excellent and the beers were cold!

jq colonna

We had a delicious dining experience which was enhanced by superior service from all who were serving and cooking. I have to be gluten free and they were knowledgeable and considerate and able to help. The restaurant is not huge so make a reservation. We are very impressed by the quality of the dishes and the value of them. A new beachfront favourite for sure!

Tanya Lind

Great food and pretty good service! Flavours were excellent, portions were generous and the drinks were very tasty. We would have liked our server to be more attentive to our beverages but the food more than made up for this small oversight.

Mia Craft

First visit was a huge success! Vanessa was a most excellent server! Took my pal there who is vegetarian & celiac (must eat gluten-free). We shared the sopas & queso fundido. Was so delicious! Loved the sopas so much that I took another 2 orders to-go for my kids. Wonderful atmosphere & music too! Looking forward to coming back. Gracias!

Theo Francon

So good! Authentic Mexican dishes from a variety of regions. Fresh vibrant flavors and super friendly staff, a great spot for brunch, lunch, dinner, or just some tacos and cervezas.

Lynne Lintot

When I noticed the hand-painted sign hanging at their restaurant, I knew I had to stop by. Zapoteca quickly became a favourite place to eat. You can easily comment on the beautiful view, but the focus should be on their phenomenal menu. I dragged everyone here, from friends and coworkers to family foodies -- loved by all! When the first word out of their mouths is "wow", you know it's good. I always looked forward to the service from the staff, too. I only really had one experience where our waitress didn't meet the average expectations (but have witnessed this with other tables too on other days...). The same visit, I'd say we felt a little rushed but what can you do? Popular place, hardly ruins the other experiences. Not worth a docked star or anything :)

Ken Martin

Love it when you can walk into a restaurant and ask what your server would recommend, you try something new and discover you don’t just like it you love it. The rave reviews of all our clients enjoying Zapoteca made me come downtvabd try it for myself. I was not disappointed at all and will be back soon.

Marisa Ritzen

The food is the most delicious in the area, music and decoration is super cool, the service is great. You feel like home when you are there, margaritas are the best, the dish carmela is amazing!!! I feel like I am in Mexico everytime that I am there, I can feel the sun, the happines, the beach, music, everything!! Mexican people are the best ever! And it is amazing that they share those talents with us! Thank you very much guys!!!

Jack Peters

Amazing food. I’m from Mexico and this is the best Mexican food I have ever tried in Canada. The service is awesome and the atmosphere is very friendly. 7 stars. Recommend making a reservation as this is a popular spot.

Rohit Malik

Everything I expected and more. Love the food, drinks, ambiance and lovely staff.. patio is so nice.. I hope I will come back soon.

Cara Dick

First I tired takeout with my boyfriend on my anniversary and it was amazing so we had to try again inside and it was even better in the restaurant! We had the mussels to start then the Del Mar for dinner it was delicious.

Mr Magoo

So good. Not your typical tex-mex place. Highly recommended

Jason Liu

Zapoteca has become a second home for me that's how often I go there! You feel like you're really in Mexico when you have one of their margaritas, literally the best I've ever had! Gonzo and Jessie have really made this place amazing along side their incredible staff! All their food is so fresh and full of flavor once you start going there you become addicted with the food, atmosphere and everyone's upbeat personality!!

Emilio Finatti Pizzeria

Atmosphere, staff, and location are 5star. Portion sizes are fair. Appy was fresh and tasty. Mains' proteins were cooked perfectly and seasoned fantastic w authentic flavours... but sides were too salty and tortillas were not home made or presented in a way they could stay warm. Re: covid - staff is masked and barriers are in place for patrons - thumbs up there $$$ for a meal for two plus drinks and dessert. I don't find it to be worth the price tag at the moment but I hope they make those adjustments to better side dishes and home made tortillas in warmth preserving dish/basket to put them in line w their price point.

Sherryl Sutherland

Amazing food and service. Love to see young people have this much passion for food. The margaritas are unbelievable! Thank God for this great getaway on the beach, truly felt like a mini vacation.

michael enns

Absolutely phenomenal Mexican food! The grand margarita is a must try as is the Barbacoa. But you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.

Stephen Chan

We had the fish taco and pork shoulder tacos - they tasted just okay. Would try this place again but definitely get a different dish. Space and service was excellent though!

Lizzie Lau

Another amazing night at zapoteca. We have visited them a few times in the past and have always had fantastic food. This time we were luckily enough to have Ella as our server who was outstanding! She had some wonderful recommendations from the menu for food and drinks and we found our new favourite dish.

Tanvir Gill

Best Mexican food south of the Fraser for sure. If you want tacos but something a bit more upscale than sal y limon this is definitely the place to go. Service unfortunately is not great. In particular we put our names down once and the hostess gave away our table without calling us. Even after we called to complain about that they never actually did anything to make up for it. Beyond that their wait staff in general is not great. That being said I still go back, they have great food!

Shara Tweedy

Looking for an Authentic Mexican food and reason priced drinks? Well, this is not the place! Over prices beers $7 and up for a bottle to “Mexican” Food which was bland and no spices! Most Mexican restaurants give free Chips and Salsa to enjoy with you meal! Not this place, they charge you $14 for a few chips and tasteless Salsa with “Feta cheese” and the main course Tacos are a joke! I ordered the breaded Chicken, which was just grilled chicken on corn tortilla with onions and cabbage for topping and a lime! Not satisfying at all! Left a empty whole in my stomach and wallet too! Not work it! Cannot figure out why this place got high review!

Amanpreet Randhawa

Amazing food!! Will definitely be coming back here. Portions were enormous, and everything was super tasty.

Eric Harvey

Each table has a divider where you are separate from others, and with the COVID restrictions it was very welcoming! The food was AMAZING! We will be going back again for sure.

Ally Robertson

Food was tasty but not as flavorful as when I visited a year ago. Patio dining was much appreciated during the heatwave and margaritas brought me back to life. Very glad this place is booming, keep it up!

Danny Kearney

Best Mexican food! It's authentic, it's tasty and it's a very enjoyable place. The staff is always so caring, specially JJ, he made sure my friends and I had the perfect table for our small group without hesitation. As a Mexican I'm a bit picky about Mexican food, but I was really pleased with my order, the entry Totopos were delicious, the drinks were refreshing and original, I ordered a Hibiscus Mezcal, and dinner was just as I wanted, Rainbow Enchiladas, wow! I didn't have room for dessert but at that point I was very satisfied. I highly recommend it to all my friends, looking forward to the next time.

Marc Gage

Dine in

stephkol302

White Rock is one of my favourite places and among our favourite restos is Zapoteca. We love Mexican and they have excellent Mexican dishes in huge servings. I had their fish tacos, the family had asada tacos and quesadillas plus we had nachos to start. Everything was excellent and my son also loved their mock tails. must try it

luke ellis

Dinner

Heather Bernier

Small cozy restaurant. Very authentic tasty Mexican food. Not a taco joint. Not cheap. Good drinks. Good service.

John K

Honestly the atmosphere is loud, the servers are busy. But was floored by the presentation and outstanding flavour of our food!! It was fairly reasonable too! The menu brought us back to our vacations throughout all of Mexico, will 100% be coming back!

bumreprobate

Love going here for Mexican food. One of my fav places to go

Christopher Holmes

I can't say enough good things about this place. Young vibrant colorful food and people!! Amazing fresh margaritas. Best Mexican in lower mainland in my opinion.

Emma

Great drinks and dishes but place is tiny and it took forever to clear drinks and plates. Service was sloppy near the end. Never asked if we wanted drinks refreshed. Offered us the bill before offering dessert or coffee. We ordered dessert and coffee anyway. Coffee never came but it was on the bill! Bill was corrected after we pointed it out.

Stephanie A

This place was amazing! So glad it popped up on google and decided to give it a try. Welcoming, homey, great music and phenomenal food & staff. We had chicken enchiladas and chicken tacos. Some of the best I’ve ever had. Our young male server even brought us out all different salsa options to test with homemade chips! They knew the menu well, drinks were top notch and food was outstanding. Highly recommend giving this place a try!

Mirit Adri

Zapoteca Mexican Grill & Seafood located in beautiful White Rock right on the water is a authentic Mexican restaurant. Offering fantastic dishes freshly prepared. The food quality is fantastic and service is tremendous. Complete your meal with there freshly prepared coffee, it is absolute must have.

Hayley Walker

So good food !! Very good service . Nice Mexican music

Vikram Sian

Have been here a few times and just absolutely love the food! Molcajetes are great for sharing - I've tried the carmela and del mar, and for mains the steak as well as the scallops were fantastic. As for drinks, always a horchata for me :)

Jordon Hope

Amazing authentic food with a great atmosphere like all the other reviews say. But can't give full stars because the one waiter we had was so bad. He didn't greet us when we were first seated, didn't take our order when we were obviously sitting around waiting for him. Then he walked by our table many times without checking on us, but chatted up other tables. The hostess ended up clearing our table and grabbing our bill.

Tasha K

My wife and I were some of the first customers at Zapoteca and we have returned several times. The food and experience is superb. I love the fish tacos here. It can be a bit of a wait when they are super busy, but nothing too bad. And I am certainly happy to see a new business in White Rock thriving!

Jason Brodie

Excellent service! Excellent food! Excellent cocktails! Best quality Mexican food in White Rock!! We’ve become ‘regulars’!! We especially liked their pork and fish tacos and are going to try their their mocajete next! ????

lennie rowley

Food was yummy, authentic and they a great variety of choices! Seating was cozy, presentation artful. But the best thing was the service, professional and genuinely kind staff!

Roger Williams

THE BEST CEVICHE IN THE LOWER LOWER MAIN LAND. GET THE GREEN CARD AND CHECK IT OUT CHICOS AND AMIGOS!

Sara el

Quite spicy , not enjoyable, overpriced fir what you get

Teuh Bousquet

Finally a good Mexican place. This exceeded expectations. Amazing food. You may want to reserve it’s always busy which goes to show how good it is. Will be back frequently

Sarah Z

Cute and lively place where we had a molcajete de queso fundido, which is a delightful combination of cheese and vegetables with nice seasoning, in a hot cauldron, to eat with small tortillas and pico de gallo. Tasty, interactive and fun!

Moira M

Have been there before and really enjoyed it so yesterday we visited again ... We wern,t as impressed this last time. The appy we had was Totopos , We really enjoyed that . The main entre we had Molcajetes Carmela was served in a hot rock , Was a bit too spicey and the avocado was past it's best ... turning black . The service was SLOW , An hour to be served once we ordered

Kimberly Therrien

Love having a new Mexican Grill in the area. The enchiladas were very good, but only come in a large order. We would like to have been able to mix and match a little more, but just ended up sharing plates at our table. Be sure to order a side of Rice!

Margie Bryan

Fun atmosphere, good food, very friendly staff. Fun to be out again semi-normal

Lisa Di Tomaso

I was treated to a birthday lunch here today and what a lovely time we had. The food was delicious, and the friendly upbeat service made the experience even more enjoyable. I would definitely return.

Alyssa Schneider

Was excited to try the food from all the reviews that I read!! Disappointed as it was overpriced and not what I expected...wasn't true Mexican Food! $3 for a side of rice which you might get 3 bites from it!! The Location was Nice!!

Tara Watson

Unbelievable food quality and service! Highly recommend definitely our new favourite spot! The margaritas are a “10” also!

aotm vhiam

Service

Jordan Dixon

Pretty amazing food. Appie Chips and Salsa all made fresh. Battered Fish Tacos were ???? So good! Great service. Nice stroll to walk it off a few steps away. Will be back.

Marlene Guclu

Great people and authentic food. Feel free up explore anything in the menu, you won't be disappointed. When you see Mexicans in the kitchen you know that this isn't your traditional "mexican restaurant". Only difficulty is finding parking since it is at the main strip in front of the beach at white rock

Vernon Evans

The food and drinks were delicious and the staff was very friendly. I felt that their patio setup was very comfortable, particularly under COVID precautions. I will come back!

Michael Mansel

Incredible food! By far the best Mexican restaurant I have ever been to.

Joyce Buchanan

The service is beyond amazing and the food is so authentic. Just like mexico! Definitely coming back here .

Ray Preston

Delicious lunch! My flavourful salad came with the best grilled shrimp I’ve tasted. Hubby loved his chicken enchiladas. Beautiful presentations. Incredible cinnamon bun like dessert. French pressed coffee. Excellent service! Sat out on the heated patio, with tables safely separated. Highly recommend a visit. We will definitely be back.

Solomon Anandan

Easily the best margaritas and tacos around! Last time I came I had such a friendly server and although it was clear she was stretched too thin, she still had a smile on her face and provided excellent service regardless!

P

Enchiladas were on point. Tried the dish with the rainbow sauce, (Verde, Rojo, Mole) combination, and would reccomend the same to sample their tasty made in house recipes. I hear their margaritas are amazing as well, guess we have to go back... A1

Evyn S

Across from promenade. Good tacos. Has sit-down service for folks not speaking moistly.

Scott Van Bolhuis

Super good! Got the bowl to share. Everything was so fresh and delicious! The portions were huge! The service was great! Always a treat to sit on the patio at the beach on a sunny day! Will be going back!

Scott Van Bolhuis

Super good! Got the bowl to share. Everything was so fresh and delicious! The portions were huge! The service was great! Always a treat to sit on the patio at the beach on a sunny day! Will be going back!

Shannon Hunt

They stop offering tacos at 4pm.

Wayne/Brian Steel/Neal

If you love authentic Southern Mexican food....or just an amazing meal where you can actually TASTE THE FRESHNESS of the different flavours....visit here!! We all had amazing meals with excellent service. We started with some unique appetizers...that were delicious. We had a party of 8. We will be returning for another celebration this Month. We also found it was easier to park in this location in White Rock. You can see the passion the owners have here.

Annie Silveira

Hands down the best Mexican food north of Mexico. Absolutely a treat to eat here. The food is delicious and the staff are great. Highly recommended. You will not be disappointed.

Anmol Gill

Really good food, great location, friendly staff. We were in a hurry so we didn't get to try that many dishes, but the enchiladas we had were delicious, including the mole sauce which was unique and tasty. Zapoteca was the only busy restaurant on a quiet street on a cold winter evening - a good sign!

L. Kopola

Delicious food. I'm a vegetarian and ordered the Cauliflower tacos. So yummy. My husband had the chicken enchiladas and really enjoyed them as well. We'll be back!

Steph M

This is the best Mexican food I have ever had...even in Mexico. Authentic Mexican. Great food, great margaritas, great service, good value!

Jim Neilson

My favorite restaurant on the Beach! So Yummy! Good service!

Tamara Langford

The place is nice, the food is OK, the prices srr high but the overall experience is disappointing. I thought I was going to a Mexican restaurant, but when I got the menu there weren't a lot of authentic Mexican dishes.. NO tacos....I'll say it again...NO tacos. For some reason they decided ti open a Mexican restaurant with no tacos. Would I go back? NOT for mexican food, maybe for seafood, but I didn't see the value in it.

Francesco Singh

My wife and I have been eating and trying lots of different Mexican restaurants. This place rocks and is definitely at the top of our list ! Great food and service ....amazing.. 5 stars

Devon Sylva

We're so excited to have a new Mexican restaurant in the neighborhood! We popped in for an afternoon celebration after hearing great things from family members who had been in for breakfast. The margaritas are perfect, and the nachos are the best I've ever had. I can't wait to go back and try more of their menu which is inspired by the Zapotec indigenous cuisine of the Oaxaca area, in southern Mexico. I lived in Mexico full time for 6 years, but never made it to Oaxaca. I do know the area is famous for mezcal, so I'll be checking out the selection of mezcal next time I'm in Zapoteca for dinner!

Celina Anand

Great spot. Really good mojitos. Will be back.

NINA D

Took my boyfriend here for his second covid birthday and they went above and beyond to make it special for him. We had a great patio seat, 2 complimentary drinks as well as a bday dessert. This was our first time here and we will definitely be back and recommend it!

alyssa greenough

Best Mexican food I have ever had. So authentic. Lots of vegetarian options, which do not lack in authenticity or flavour at all. Unreal.

Lindsay Gill

Outstanding service, wonderful atmosphere with a beautiful setting along marine drive. Food was delicious and authentic. Was my first time but will not be my last!

corban scholz

Had a lovely time at zapoteca!! It's a wonderful Mexican restaurant.

Alvarado Ana

This is the one of best Mexican restaurants I’ve ever been to. The servers gave amazing service - friendly and efficient. Got chips & guac - guac was the best I’ve had at any restaurant. Also got chicken enchiladas and asada tacos. They were soooo yummy!! Can’t wait to go back and try more items. You are definitely missing out if you haven’t tried this place yet.

Ariana Duran

Staff were amazing! Couldn't ask for a better place for our daughter to celebrate her sweet 16 with her friends! The food was absolutely amazing! Service was a 10+!

Nick Jaura

Honestly my experience was not the greatest :( the server forgot about my drink order, I had to ask twice and didn’t get it until an hour later. The servers take a very long time to check on the tables (or at least mine) I ordered the enchiladas, they were cold and tasteless (I’m not sure if that’s how it’s supposed to be)

Rick Taylot

The food was very fresh and flavorful. My experience was extremely enjoyable with expedient service. The host and serving staff were very accomodating. The pricing was very good for the portion sizes.

万竹

Food authentic, drinks unique. But our party of 5 will never go back due to awful and rude service by the young Caucasian server who had no clue what he was doing and interrupted a conversation he wasn't even apart of to give his opinion and tell us that what we were taking about was wrong. Also charged auto gratuity when they only charge it for parties of 6 or more. (We were a 5 top) He hoped we didn't notice but I've been bartending and serving for 15 years so of course I notice and then he acted shocked but didn't offer to remove it. We wanted to get the hell out of there so badly that we all just paid it and gave him the mandatory 18% tip when he deserved nothing for how rude he was since we first sat down. We will never go back. I'd suggest getting rid of him. Bad employees/service kill these white rock restaurants!

M Hosk

Seriously, this is a lovely spot. First of all the food is made really well, like I can taste it. I loved the tacos. Staffs were also very welcoming and attentive. And don’t miss the desserts! they’re actually high in quality (honestly which made my day) I’m just sad that I live in Kelowna that I cannot visit this place more often.

Keresna Bradley

Very good authentic Mexican. Emphasis on the word Authentic. Don’t expect Cheddar cheese on your nachos because authentic Mexican food doesn’t have cheddar……. And apparently it doesn’t need it because everything we had was amazing. Can’t wait to go again.

Jane Davis

Excellent food and service. Other customers were speaking Spanish so at one point, I felt like I was in Mexico! I'd go back for sure

Sheri H

Great place! I would only recommend making a reservation, as we had to wait about 1,5 hour to get in on a Saturday night. Service was friendly and food and drinks were amazing, we’ll definitely come back to try other dishes!

Sebastian Iriarte

Upscale Mexican. Very well done, owner really cared about explaining the dishes. Recommended. Very few tables and on busy days reservations may be a good idea.

Veronica Stephens

I have visited this place on my wifes b'day, along with a few friends. I got a spicy jamaica and cauliflower taco and we shared vegetarian nachos, the food has decent portions and good taste. We have picked this place randomly, just based on google reviews and i think it was a good choice

Weeb King

Over several visits I have been impressed by the quality of the food and the excellent service. While the location is small, I recommend reservations, it is intimate for a couple or bright enough for a party of 8. Well done Mexican food is always a pleasure.

Jody Douthwright

Food is awesome here. Great service as well. Gluten-free options available ????must go!!!!!!!

Sunni Black

I really liked the food and drinks. Staff was nice as well. At the beginning I was expecting more like a usual taco & burrito place but I was wrong and it was a good thing. Their have much more options and I recommend Carmela which is a mixed of meats and vegetables served on a hot pot for two.

Lesley Shaw

I've been to this restaurant a couple times since I live in the area, however I did enjoy it far more the first time than the last. When we visited the first time we had a great server with lots of recommendations that we took him up on. The atmosphere was fun and we really enjoyed our food. The second time I went we were sat right underneath their outside speaker and it was hard to actually have a conversation. We tried different things on the menu which we didn't enjoy or enjoy as much as before. My boyfriend and I actually switched meals because he really didn't enjoy his. It just lacked a lot of flavour. I had ordered the fish tacos originally which I had the first time I was there and he quite enjoyed those so I didn't mind sharing. The drinks & service were still good, it was just the food that was hit or miss. It won't deter me from coming back, we just know what not to order now.

Zac Fraser

Service is amazing! The food, drinks and atmosphere are all great! We will be back for sure! Do yourself a favour and try their habanero margarita! Cheers

Iyad Salloum

Great service but terrible food! I had the Barbacoa Molcajete; it was dried out and burnt so badly that it stuck to the stone mortar vessel. It contained chunks of what was supposed to be finely shredded meat. When asked how it was I of course told the server who then responded, "Yes, we've had those complaints before." My wife order Ceviche which was watered down and not much in the way of shrimp, mostly vegetables. And the place was packed, no more than 2 feet or less between people and tables. The pandemic is far from over!

Dana Grigg

Oaxacan? My girlfriend and I became sick from the food nearly 30 mins after we ate. Her and I grew up in Latin American homes here and abroad, so this gastronomy is our own. The food here was toned down with flavour to the max. How can you mess up a fish taco? I had their roasted chicken that was bland at best. The service was not amicable, a Latin American restaurant should be inviting and servers should try and build report with the clientele even at peak hours. Heck, we greeted the Latin server in Spanish and he brushed us off. Chalk this up to another gentrified 'Mexican' spot that benefits from a prime location. Se ven paisanos en la cocina, pero desgraciadamente este lugar no es para hispanos.

ARJ

Nice small restaurant on the white rock beach strip. Great friendly service and good prices. The food here is fresh and served in these hot rock bowls. Tortillas are served warm and fresh. Check it out support your local restaurants.

John Campbell

Amazing place!!! We ate meat tacos,vegetarian tacos and nachos, they were delicious!! I finally tried a real marguerita in Canada! That’s the original one for sure!! Friendly staff, nice place and the location is wonderful!! White Rock is gorgeous!! Nothing to complain. Thanks guys!

alejandro reynaga

Service

Melissa Doyle

Drinks were super good and affordable! the enchiladas are a must try! The service was not the best as the waiter would not come back to our table after long periods so when we needed anything we would have to wait a long time

Jessica Canil

Great service. Fantastic food. Excellent margaritas and red wine. Went on a Friday night and it was so good we went back the next day and sampled the brunch menu. We will be coming back for sure when we are in White Rock again. Highly recommended!!!

corey singer

Zapoteca has become our first choice when family or friends feel like dining Mexican. The food and service is outstanding...the menu is more traditional and interesting than your typical Mexican restaurant...a real treat!

Dan K

Serivce was good but ordered the Enchiladas and it tasted like cheese, rice, chicken wrapped in a tortilla and put into a plate full of Campbells tomato soup.

saoeai brihtu

Zapoteca actually tastes like authentic Mexican food! We haven't been in awhile so the menu might have changed, but I still talk about how delicious the molcajete bowl and chilli relleno with pomegranate both were. All of their cocktails are on point as well!

Kim MacKinnon

Came for breakfast and lunch. To say this food is good is an understatement. It was so delicious! Lots of flavour. Will always come back!

F Inouye

The food is amazing. They have lots of gluten free option. Must try their nachos..there is no cheese in nachos which makes it even more delicious and light on stomach.. loved their Enchiladas For deserts try their Flan

Mica Scott

Amazing place, try and make a reservation if you can as it gets busy. Food is great but the margaritas could be improved a bit in my opinion.

Adam Wood

Amazing flavors and great menu. It’s small and quaint but honestly some of the best Mexican fusion I’ve had. The pork was unbelievable!

Megan Davies

Our first time here. We go to Mexico often and have since 1972 so we wanted a meal that reminded us of true Mexico. The dinner we had tonight was that!! Very authentic Mexican flavor, right from the Ceviche appetizer to the Enchilada main course to the Flan for desert, and of course the Margaritas!!

Wendy McD

I love zapoteca! My favorite restaurant! Great food, staff, atmosphere and drinks xoxo

Scott Starnaman

Great food, great service. We had more people then we reserved for and they where busy. Still managed to fit us all in and make us feel like we where at home with friends!

M Karsanji

Came here with 2 other friends yesterday and it was awesome. Authentic Mexican food, good amount of spice with incredibly fresh ingredients. Don't listen to the low ratings asking "Where's the sourcream?" LOL, this is real Mexican food not Tex Mex.

Robb Stilnovich

Delicious real Mexican food and the margaritas and palomas are ????????????????

Lorraine Guild

Absolutely amazing and authentic Mexican food. We stopped in for dinner one night while we were in White Rock on a road trip, and couldn’t get over how incredible our meal was. We enjoyed it so much that we are stopping again on our way back through! The service was great. We couldn’t recommend Zapoteca enough!

Parveen

This place is a cute restaurant, good food presentation; however, the service was terrible on Sunday July 11th, 2021. Our drink order took 35 minutes after we had already waited a while to place the drink order. We didn't even get offered water. I can understand when a restaurant is busy but there was a lack of communication to even let us know the drinks are coming etc. The food came out quickly after our drinks which was good but the server was SO RuDE.

Hala Sharma

Small little Mexican restaurant....but delivers big time! Started off with a margarita and would say this is probably the best margarita I have ever had. Next had the tortilla soup. Bowl of goodies brought to the table and then hot very flavourful broth poured over top. Yummy. Main course was the chicken enchiladas and were very good. Not laden down with gobs of cheese and sour cream. Feeling like I had some authentic Mexican food here. Will return DEFINATELY. Quieter through off season and hear it is quite busy through summer season.

Dr. Parm Bisla

First time in Canada, the best welcoming ever great customer service and the green enchiladas my god that’s something to talk about!!! 100% recommend to anyone that has a chance to stop by ,you will never regret it!!

Carol Thompson

One of my favourite restaurants of all time! Beautiful location, personable service and delicious food!

Puneet J

The food is amazing and so are the margaritas. The ingredients are fresh and it shows. We got a table pretty quickly considering how busy the strip was. Our server was super friendly and fun.

RONALD MILLER

We checked in with the host tonight and were told there would be a 30 minute wait. After 1 hour and 45 minutes and being abused by watching the so called reservations grabbing every available table we left. We have been there before and the food was average, clearly not worth the wait.

Simi Sandhu

Today, for my birthday, I decided to take my family to Zapoteca for dinner. My wife is from Mexico and we do visit Mexico frequently, unfortunately due to Covid its impossible to visit, for now. We have visited many different Mexican restaurants in greater Vancouver area and it has been challenging to find an authentic place. After tonight's dinner Zapoteca is now our favorite Mexican restaurant, food is authentic, drinks are amazing, staff is very friendly. We can not wait to come back! P.S.: for foodies that know; food recipes are strongly rooted to Oaxaca region of Mexico, hence the name Zapoteca

Emily Firth

First time to zapoteca! We had always driven past to it, only to see that it was constantly busy! We took a chance, went there and we were able to get a patio seat! We were warmly greeted by the host (who I feel was also the manager). He took our name n number (for covid purposes) and sat us immediately! We were greeted by our server who was very prompt. My husband ordered the zapoteca mule and I got a classic Caesar (shown) as I had been craving it!! Both were very tasty, but I wish I saved room for a second drink! We ordered a starter, chicharones de Pesaro, super super tasty and the pickled cabbage was phenomenal! I got the Barbacoa as my main and my husband got the steak (honestly can't remember the name lol) both were great! And the little tortillas provided were soft and light! The entire experience was great! It was nice to see the staff wiping down the chairs, as well as ghe tables once a customer left! We will definitely be back for more!!

skygazer T

Not joining some website to order a taco ...so will never know if they good or not

Sam Jones

Food was excellent, and the service was great. The restaurant was a little chilly when we were there, but this was more a factor of the weather outside. The summer months should be good because of the opening door. We will be back.

Colleen Kerr

Way too expensive. I had taquitos,(4), 1 beer and a side of guac and my bill was $40 without tip.

Suzy Rossi

Amazing food, amazing ambience and music, excellent service and a great time overall. Our server Suzanne was top drawer and we will definitely be back.

Teagan S

I got the enchiladas, the cheese tasted like vomit. The people I was with ordered 2 other entrees and none of them were impressed by their meals as well. The only thing that saves this restaurant from one star is the ambiance and service is good.

norm stelnicki

Had lunch there today was awesome, staff were Great and food was the best Mexican food yet..

Andrea J

Tried Zapoteca for the 1st time today and loved it. Superb authentic Mexican food and very good service. We had a hard time chosing what to order, just given the great selections, but we each certainly enjoyed our dinners and the starter we shared. It'll be a favourite new place for us.

Aaron Matharu

We ordered the Totopos as our appetizer and it was really tasty and refreshing and portion size was made to easily share with three to four people. For entrees we ordered Chilaquiles and Tacos Asada which were also very delicious. My husband ordered the Punch mocktail as well which he enjoyed immensely. The staff were very nice as well. Will definitely come here again.

Moe Pardhan

Just came from happy hour The best margeritas..best guacamole..appies were great! Definitely going back to try more..loved it!

Boyd Bugden

If you're looking for a place enjoy some delicious Southern Mexican cuisine so much you'd want a second meal, this is the place to go. We were greeted by Jesse, who alone adds to the wonderful experience. Took time to go through the menu for us, and made sure we were tended to. We ordered the shrimp ceviche and the queso fundido. Both were absolutely delicious. Food was paired with a pomegranate vodka gimlet and a limeade, both which were delicious themselves. I would make this a weekly trip if I wasn't from out east!

Robert Watkins

Great staff! All of the cocktails were fantastic, the staff recommended a few of their favourites as well. Great spot to share some authentic Mexican food and drinks.

Brandon Beazley

VERY HAPPY we decided to try this place : ) I tried the Pastor tacos and they were perfect, fresh ingredients with a tasty pinapple salsa. Drinks were creative and refreshing. If your in the area its a must try!

dane leclerc

I recently had lunch here for the first time. The service was great, the tacos and guacamole were delicious and the location is beautiful! Can't wait to sit at your patio in the summer!

Kushagra Gondhali

Every time I come here the food is phenomenal. I keep coming back here as a special treat because I love their tacos. I literally have never ordered anything else on the menu but love the shrimp taco in particular. Also their margaritas are delicious! The restaurant is small but you can make reservations.

Sat Parmel

Absolutely my favorite restaurant in White Rock. The food, the staff and the Margaritas. I travel to Zihuatanejo in the winter and Zapoteca reminds me of a local favorite restaurant there called Lety's. My dad made the best Margarita's. He's passed now and Zapoteca's Margarita's are exactly like Dads, brings back great memories.

Sukhleen Thind

I was craving for some Mexican food and I gave a try to this place. The food was tasteless and very very pricy. I paid $ 49 for a dish before tax & tips. It includes 200 grams of chicken & grilled beef. They tasted very bad and OLD ingredience. I had to through it to the garbage. Please do not spend your money going there.

Veronica Faria

We loved everything about our dinner. Zapoteca is a seaside diner in beautiful White Rock on the East Beach. We shared the Del Mar molcajete which consisted of a selection of delicious food from the sea. It is served in a traditional Mexican stone dish that kept our food hot throughout our dinner. The service was excellent and the music was at a very pleasant level allowing for easy conversation. We will be back soon!

Fran Verney

Great location, great views.... Not kid friendly under 5... we ordered food at 12 pm... kids got theirs. But then as we waited for ours the kids were laughing loudly. Not whining.. waitress told them to hush which was fine, (they're 2 amd 3) so about 150, the manager asked if we wanted our bills. I said no we haven't got our food. So 2 pm it came. In this time multiple tables came and went. We felt a little singled out. They flat out forgot our food order, We did not just order appys.. we ordered 3 meals as well....

Cara Kerins

Local favorite! We have been here many times and always leave satisfied! Amazing food and people here! 5/5

Arseni Borisovs

Food was okay. Server was very rude and short with us. With the pandemic going on im sure she's stressed so I can forgive that of course. However food was meh and its very expensive for what you get. Also super weird you can't order tacos after 4 pm........

Damian Kędzior

Not since Mexico have I been served Tortilla soup in this authentic style, being poured at the table. The topos were delicious too! Highly recommend!

Daphne Frizzelle

Service

Crystal K

Slow service but very good food!

Leanne Draginda

Super friendly service, amazing food and drinks. Loved the atmosphere. Will definitely come back

Karen Khrod

Having grown up in Latin America I was blown away by my dinner experience! The food is expertly made and not "Americanized" but authentic Mexican cuisine! The margaritas are excellent, home made corn chips (love!!) with guac and Pico de Gallo a to-die-for appie, lots of great main course options, and the carlota de limon dessert is a mouth watering dessert I will order time and time again. You can even get roasted grasshoppers (done in a pepper and lime sauce). The service is top notch too. Highly recommended!!!

Amy Speranza

Very impressed with this clean, friendly newly opened restaurant. Great margarita's and delicious mexican food. Even though they just opened, they had a full menu and good value for the price. Can't wait to visit again and the outdoor eating/seating area will be awesome in the spring and summer months.

J S

Delicious food and great service. Options for people who need dairy free, vegan and also GF options. Have tried lots of different items and have never been disappointed. Highly recommend!!

Leigh Miller

Great little authentic Mexican restaurant right across from the beach! Parking lot across the street. Friendly, down to Earth service, amazing food, fantastic drinks! 4/5v⭐s only because it's not 100% accessible. A bit squishy for a wheelchair to get through the patio to the inside of the restaurant (might be doable though). However, there are a few stairs Up to the (tiny) bathrooms & even a small step at the doorway of the bathroom. If these were fixed to be more inclusive- I'd absolutely give them 5/5! We will absolutely be back many times! (Oh- they have live music on Weds nights!)

Jas1742

Food was amazing, very authentic and the portion was massive. Bring a sweater in case you sit outside on the patio, there was a heater which was nice and cozy. Drinks were amazing and thank you for my husbands birthday desert. Would highly recommend

Shannon WhatsHerFace

Authentic and delicious Mexican food has finally arrived to White Rock. The mole sauce is the best we’ve ever had, but everything was truly fantastic. This is a small restaurant but it has nice ambiance and the service was very good when we visited on a Sunday night. This will very quickly become a local favourite. Oh do yourself a favour and try the handmade margaritas.

Colt

Lovely Mexican place by the beach, really enjoyed the food

Aaron t

The presentation of the food is very pleasing. The aesthetics almost add to the rich flavours of all the dishes I’ve tried here. They’ve also got some interesting cocktails that I’ll definitely be trying. The service was great. I personally really liked the ambience; it feels really cozy. It’s a place I would recommend.