Las Margaritas on West 4th is an awesome place for a night of fun food and drinks – but it’s never exactly cheap. Add up a few pitchers of sangria, a round of tequila shots, and a platter or two of chimichangas, and you’ve racked up a hefty bill.

Living in the neighbourhood, we seem to visit almost once a week, and have become seasoned in the art of ordering cheaply at Las Margaritas.

The Taco Platter is one of Vancouver’s best kept cheap dining secrets. This is no longer on the menu, but ask for it by name. For under $20 you receive a large platter of fixin’s to make enough tacos (soft or hard) to feed two to absolute fullness, or to share with four with a few other appetizers on the table. You can have beef, chicken (or both) along with refried beans, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, cheese, rice, and lettuce. Likely there will be enough to take a little home! The experience of making your own tacos is fun, a bit messy, and perfect for the picky eater.

Las Margaritas knows how to do side dishes! For under $2 you can make your own basic vegetarian burritos. Order a side of either black or refried beans and a stack of 3 or 4 fresh tortillas and you are good to go! Add a little hot sauce or free salsa from the table and you ate for less than a meal at a homeless shelter. Classy! Pretty much anything they have on the menu is available as a side dish. Ask nicely. The price is right.

Keep in mind that they often charge you extra for refills of the chips and salsa, this ain’t no Lonestar. So avoid chowing down on three or four bowls of this before your meal.

Margaritas at Las Margaritas are great, but they aren’t cheap. Why not try a virgin drink? They are made with natural fruit nectars, and taste just as good as their boozy counterparts – for a third of the price.

They also have a few great desserts. While their churros are incredible, few people can down a plate of fried dough after a big meal. If you order their hot chocolate it comes with two sweet fatty churros on the side, and it’s half the price of the dough-only dessert.

Address:

1999 West 4th Avenue (4th and Maple)
Vancouver, BC
604-734-7117

http://www.lasmargaritas.com/

When I’m hungry – I’m hungry, and I don’t like to waste my precious eating time waiting in a long line hoping to get a table. However, there are a few places in the city that are always worth the wait, Las Margaritas on West 4th being one of them.

The taco platter is a fun sharing plate.

You can expect to wait at least 20 minutes even on a weekday evening – rain or shine. On a busy Friday, figure you’ll be waiting for about an hour. If you’re lucky, or just plain charming, you can snag a seat at the bar or in the entrance alcove and chow down on free chips and salsa (only the first basket is free) and some of their signature drinks. Their tequila selection is outstanding, better still are their margaritas. Try the Cadillac with Herradura El Jimador Reposado, lime juice and a bit of Grand Marnier. That hour wait will pass in no time!

Strangely enough, it’s not so much the food nor the service that really make Las Margaritas special or wait worthy. The menu good, with some items being outstanding, and others making you wish you’d had the Mexi-fries at Taco Time. And the service is notoriously slow.

However, with great authentic music, a dark candlelit vibe, and plenty of loud and lively tables (plus a huge patio), you’ll find yourself coming back again and again.

Best dish not on the menu: Recently the “taco platter” was taken off the menu, but if you ask for it by name they’ll serve it anyway. This dish is a steal at under $20 and will feed two VERY hungry people easily. It’s also a fun appetizer to share along with a big pitcher of their fruit laden sangria.

Tip: Las Margaritas does not take reservations, so if you are coming with a big group send one person along early to put your name down on the list.

Address:

1999 West 4th Avenue (4th and Maple)
Vancouver, BC
604-734-7117

http://www.lasmargaritas.com/

Urbanspoon Says:

Would it be so sick if one of my all time favourite restaurants in Vancouver happened to be a Taco Time? I’m not afraid to admit it, the Taco Time on Granville street at Smithe is no ordinary Taco Time. It’s a Taco Time Cantina, and with those additional three syllables comes a world of added flavour and atmosphere. I kid you not. The Cantina on Granville Street rocks most severely.

From the outside Cantina looks like nothing more than a rundown Granville strip cafe. However, if you venture inside you will find a spacious dining environment. This is no dingy / neon Taco Time kind of a place. Here you’ll find Mexican music playing, photos and sombreros on the wall, and even a flat screen tv that often blasts old Chuck Norris movies.

The staff is helpful, friendly and fun. After visiting only a few times they knew my order and whipped it up with style. I have to comment, for a fast food style restaurant, they have some of the most amazing staff I have ever encountered. Props to them.

While the food may be your standard Taco Time fare, they put it on a plate and give you lots of extras. Maybe the staff are bored, or maybe just generous, but you’ll never go hungry. Also, try and hit it up on Tuesday, as the tacos are cheap, cheap, cheap.

Of all the items on the menu, the Mexi-Fries deluxe are the best. Imagine tater tots covered in cheese and salsa and sour cream and beef and vegetables. It’s a heart attack induced heaven.

If all of this wasn’t enough, outside they have a great patio and they serve beer. Imagine a busy Vancouver night, prime seating on Granville, with nachos in one hand and beer in the other. Does life get any better?

Address:

911 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC
604-801-6692