Went back to my old stomping grounds of Salem for a couple days and met up with even more friends down there. One suggested La Vida Catrina for dinner, as she had gone there several times and enjoyed the food and drinks every time.
Although Broadway is a busy street, there's parking in the back of the building, where you can enter via a side street and/or alleyway. Also, there's street parking on the side roads which will be free by the evening.
Lots of different drinks here, especially various margaritas. The Mentirosa Margarita ($14) had chopped mango, home-cooked agave, fresh lime juice, Gran gala liqueur, and Milagro tequila. Sriracha is on the rim of the glass for added spice. Interesting and actually works pretty nicely.
Since there were four of us, we had to get a platter of guacamole ($15) to go with our salsa and chips. Some serrano chiles in the guacamole for added kick. My friend noted that may have been papaya, mango, or some other tropical fruit on the side of the guacamole.
The Halibut Tacos ($24) included pan-seared halibut, pico de gallo, cabbage, avocado, cilantro aioli, and cheese, with white rice and black beans on the side. Wonderfully cooked halibut/ The pico and the crunchy cabbage helped liven up the dish. Still, the entree was a small portion for the price, but it at least allowed us to fill up more with guacamole and tortilla chips.
My friend allowed me to try one of the Chicken Flautas ($18) which looked much more substantial in size and portion. Basically a rolled-up taco and deep-fried, the tortilla puffed up even more for added crunch. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of those flautas, but I'm sure they're on Yelp somewhere.
When all was said and done, all our food and drinks, with tip, came to about $145. The panda isn't used to spending that kind of money on one meal, but my wallet will live to see another day. Besides, it's more than worth it when being around great company.
Wonderful service here. Salem has gained a lot of great food and drink spots since I left the area in 2012. It makes me wish I could visit more often. La Vida Catrina would be on my list of places to return to. 8.5/10
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