So glad they have gone back to having a dinner hour! Food is excellent!!!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Ann Helm
Skeptical because the place was empty on a Saturday at noon. First off, the menu is in microscopic print, about 1/8th inch print. They used to be booming, lots of customers. It doesn't portray the meaning of Purs Vida any longer and certainly can't compete with Mocajites down the street.
This WAS one of my favorite places to eat, but I won't be back anytime soon! Placed a large order for our office team at lunch(including 20% tip) and when I got back to the office we came up one order of tacos short. No big deal, it happens! I called back to let them know and see if we could come get the missed item and was told that Pura Vida did NOT make a mistake and that I must be wrong. I offered to pay for the missing tacos and was told that I would now have to wait an addition 20-30minutes. I chose not to give anymore of my money to this establishment.Such a sad experience after so may great memories there with the staff in the past. Things have changed!!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 1
Ian Anderson
It was sad to see the decline of this place. The waiter was hard to get a hold of even though there was no one else there. No more chips and they never told us what the specials were. The food didn't taste like it used to and the portions were considerably smaller than we remember just a few months ago. We used to enjoy coming here but it's just a sad shadow, it was almost empty when we were there and I think everyone else has noticed... just go to La Rambla.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Jay Elizarraras
This place has gone downhill post renovations. Empty on Wednesday afternoon. Prices are up and quality of food is not even close to what it used to be. Paella portion was about 25% less than in the past. The service was awful on a day when there were only 4 people in the restaurant. I had to flag down the waiter several times because he wouldn't come over to check on us. So disappointed because it was one of our fave spots in McMinnville. I guess back to La Rambla which is consistent with service and food.Go back to the old Pura Vida! This isn't working out for you guys!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Casey A.
This WAS one of my favorite places to eat, but I won't be back anytime soon! Placed a large order for our office team at lunch(including 20% tip) and when I got back to the office we came up one order of tacos short. No big deal, it happens! I called back to let them know and see if we could come get the missed item and was told that Pura Vida did NOT make a mistake and that I must be wrong. I offered to pay for the missing tacos and was told that I would now have to wait an addition 20-30minutes. I chose not to give anymore of my money to this establishment. Such a sad experience after so may great memories there with the staff in the past. Things have changed!!
Melanie W.
Here's a positively enthusiastic review for Pura Vida Cocina: Oh my goodness, let me tell you about my amazing experience at Pura Vida Cocina! From the moment we walked in, it was like stepping into a culinary paradise right in the heart of town! First things first, let's talk about the food - oh mama mia, it was out of this world! Every dish we tried was bursting with flavor and authenticity, making our taste buds dance with joy! From the crispy Totopoes served with fresh chips, salsa, beans, and guacamole to the tantalizing Croquetas and mouthwatering Platano Maduro, every bite was a delicious adventure! And let's not forget about the wonderful staff! Despite our little mishap of accidentally coming in through the back door without a reservation, they couldn't have been more accommodating! They welcomed us with open arms and made us feel right at home, ensuring that our dining experience was nothing short of perfection. But wait, there's more! The menu at Pura Vida Cocina is a culinary delight, offering a wide array of delectable options from Enchiladas to Arepas to tantalize your taste buds! And don't even get me started on their incredible Pura Vida Tacos - three hand-made tortillas filled with your choice of filling, topped with shaved cabbage, cotija cheese, cilantro, radish, and chipotle aioli. It's a fiesta in every bite! And for dessert? Well, let's just say the Churros were the perfect sweet ending to an unforgettable meal! So, if you're looking for a dining experience that's not only delicious but also filled with warmth and hospitality, look no further than Pura Vida Cocina. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!
Mardi Slick
The food here is amazing. The pork belly tacos are wonderful. Chips and guacamole, and chicken enchiladas were amazing too. Everything is really fresh and the flavors are well balanced. The attention to details is five star.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crispy Pork Belly, Chips and Salsa
K A.
Best tacos! Several gluten free (GF) options. They were very aware of GF needs. We had a party of 6, and the fav dishes were the tacos and the salmon salad. Good vibe. Good service.
They have turbo-charged their pricing. 50 to 100% price increases across the menu. Food is still good, service was always suspect, but with prices going up that much, I am not willing to look past the other issues.
Maddy White
The best food in town. Everything on their menu is delicious. You can't go wrong!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Niki V.
Love their food. One of my favorite places on 3rd Street! The flavors are bright and fresh. 10/10 recommend
David P.
While on our visit to McMinnville, my partner and I popped in for a late lunch on a Saturday. I got the Cuban sandwich, my partner got the vegetable empanadas. Cuban sandwich: came with papa bravas (fried potatoes with a sauce on the side), a bit salty, but otherwise no complaints - a solid Cuban sandwich. Vegetable empanadas: very good - we thought it was gonna be a small snack portion but it was a good, hearty meal - the corn pastry skin isn't thin like at some places, but it was flavorful, not heavy, and loaded with vegetables. The salad was light and refreshing and provided a nice contrast with the earthy beans, and the aioli was flavorful without being too salty. We were surprised by how much we liked it and finished it for the lunch together and packed half the Cuban sandwich and some of the papas bravas to go. Price: $13 for the Cuban sandwich and $11 for the empanadas, good prices for good portion sizes. Worth a revisit? Yes, next time we are in McMinnville, we'll drop by again (especially for the empanadas!).
So glad they have gone back to having a dinner hour! Food is excellent!!!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Skeptical because the place was empty on a Saturday at noon. First off, the menu is in microscopic print, about 1/8th inch print. They used to be booming, lots of customers. It doesn't portray the meaning of Purs Vida any longer and certainly can't compete with Mocajites down the street.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
DeliciousGreat melding of
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Taco Mixto Mixed Tacos, Chile Relleno
This WAS one of my favorite places to eat, but I won't be back anytime soon! Placed a large order for our office team at lunch(including 20% tip) and when I got back to the office we came up one order of tacos short. No big deal, it happens! I called back to let them know and see if we could come get the missed item and was told that Pura Vida did NOT make a mistake and that I must be wrong. I offered to pay for the missing tacos and was told that I would now have to wait an addition 20-30minutes. I chose not to give anymore of my money to this establishment.Such a sad experience after so may great memories there with the staff in the past. Things have changed!!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 1
It was sad to see the decline of this place. The waiter was hard to get a hold of even though there was no one else there. No more chips and they never told us what the specials were. The food didn't taste like it used to and the portions were considerably smaller than we remember just a few months ago. We used to enjoy coming here but it's just a sad shadow, it was almost empty when we were there and I think everyone else has noticed... just go to La Rambla.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
This place has gone downhill post renovations. Empty on Wednesday afternoon. Prices are up and quality of food is not even close to what it used to be. Paella portion was about 25% less than in the past. The service was awful on a day when there were only 4 people in the restaurant. I had to flag down the waiter several times because he wouldn't come over to check on us. So disappointed because it was one of our fave spots in McMinnville. I guess back to La Rambla which is consistent with service and food.Go back to the old Pura Vida! This isn't working out for you guys!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
This WAS one of my favorite places to eat, but I won't be back anytime soon! Placed a large order for our office team at lunch(including 20% tip) and when I got back to the office we came up one order of tacos short. No big deal, it happens! I called back to let them know and see if we could come get the missed item and was told that Pura Vida did NOT make a mistake and that I must be wrong. I offered to pay for the missing tacos and was told that I would now have to wait an addition 20-30minutes. I chose not to give anymore of my money to this establishment. Such a sad experience after so may great memories there with the staff in the past. Things have changed!!
Here's a positively enthusiastic review for Pura Vida Cocina: Oh my goodness, let me tell you about my amazing experience at Pura Vida Cocina! From the moment we walked in, it was like stepping into a culinary paradise right in the heart of town! First things first, let's talk about the food - oh mama mia, it was out of this world! Every dish we tried was bursting with flavor and authenticity, making our taste buds dance with joy! From the crispy Totopoes served with fresh chips, salsa, beans, and guacamole to the tantalizing Croquetas and mouthwatering Platano Maduro, every bite was a delicious adventure! And let's not forget about the wonderful staff! Despite our little mishap of accidentally coming in through the back door without a reservation, they couldn't have been more accommodating! They welcomed us with open arms and made us feel right at home, ensuring that our dining experience was nothing short of perfection. But wait, there's more! The menu at Pura Vida Cocina is a culinary delight, offering a wide array of delectable options from Enchiladas to Arepas to tantalize your taste buds! And don't even get me started on their incredible Pura Vida Tacos - three hand-made tortillas filled with your choice of filling, topped with shaved cabbage, cotija cheese, cilantro, radish, and chipotle aioli. It's a fiesta in every bite! And for dessert? Well, let's just say the Churros were the perfect sweet ending to an unforgettable meal! So, if you're looking for a dining experience that's not only delicious but also filled with warmth and hospitality, look no further than Pura Vida Cocina. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!
The food here is amazing. The pork belly tacos are wonderful. Chips and guacamole, and chicken enchiladas were amazing too. Everything is really fresh and the flavors are well balanced. The attention to details is five star.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crispy Pork Belly, Chips and Salsa
Best tacos! Several gluten free (GF) options. They were very aware of GF needs. We had a party of 6, and the fav dishes were the tacos and the salmon salad. Good vibe. Good service.
Restaurantji Recommends
Great Latin American breakfast.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
They have turbo-charged their pricing. 50 to 100% price increases across the menu. Food is still good, service was always suspect, but with prices going up that much, I am not willing to look past the other issues.
The best food in town. Everything on their menu is delicious. You can't go wrong!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Love their food. One of my favorite places on 3rd Street! The flavors are bright and fresh. 10/10 recommend
While on our visit to McMinnville, my partner and I popped in for a late lunch on a Saturday. I got the Cuban sandwich, my partner got the vegetable empanadas. Cuban sandwich: came with papa bravas (fried potatoes with a sauce on the side), a bit salty, but otherwise no complaints - a solid Cuban sandwich. Vegetable empanadas: very good - we thought it was gonna be a small snack portion but it was a good, hearty meal - the corn pastry skin isn't thin like at some places, but it was flavorful, not heavy, and loaded with vegetables. The salad was light and refreshing and provided a nice contrast with the earthy beans, and the aioli was flavorful without being too salty. We were surprised by how much we liked it and finished it for the lunch together and packed half the Cuban sandwich and some of the papas bravas to go. Price: $13 for the Cuban sandwich and $11 for the empanadas, good prices for good portion sizes. Worth a revisit? Yes, next time we are in McMinnville, we'll drop by again (especially for the empanadas!).