When it comes to elevated Mexican cuisine, La Victoria in Cary represents a solid addition to an ever-growing gastronomic trend.
Situated in an easily accessible corner of The Arboretum at Weston, the full-service restaurant provides a warm, welcoming spot for guests to enjoy what it simply calls “real Mexican food.”
“Some of the dishes come from family recipes, while others we have developed over the years while working in various Mexican restaurants,” said Salvador Alvarez, co-proprietor of La Victoria along with Maria Ibarra, his aunt. Alvarez’s wife, Biridiana Frausto, co-owns acclaimed gordita eatery Fonda Lupita in Sanford.
When asked how the new restaurant’s name came about, Ibarra revealed that for five years she worked as a server at a local Mexican restaurant and saved money to put toward opening the eatery.
“In Spanish, La Victoria means ‘the victory,’” she explained. “This place represents my personal victory.”
Alvarez said La Victoria’s commitment to sourcing quality meats, vegetables, and other ingredients sets it apart from other similar restaurants. Most menu items are made to order, including fresh guacamole, which is crafted at a front-and-center guac station near the kitchen. Pro tip: Order the mango-infused variety for just a dollar extra.
First-rate guacamole is handmade to order.
Start your meal with the shrimp queso fundido, a shrimp and cheese dip served with salsa verde tortillas and pico de gallo. Or try the corn-based esquites, a popular Mexican street food served in a cup.
Entrees run the gamut from enchiladas, burritos, and quesadillas to tacos, tortas, and fajitas. You can’t go wrong with a birria quesadilla, carnitas (braised pork), or chorizo-stuffed viva burrito brimming with poblano peppers, avocado, onions, tomatillo sauce, and chipotle cream.
We highly recommend the irresistible chicken flautas comprising crisp rolled corn tortillas filled with perfectly seasoned shredded chicken. They also contain chipotle cream, queso fresco, lettuce, pico de gallo, and salsa verde.
Prefer tacos? Whether you favor flour or corn tortillas, La Victoria has you covered. Choose the grilled carne asada, zesty chipotle shrimp, or the slow-cooked lamb quesabirria tacos crowned with Oaxaca cheese, cilantro, and onions. Each order arrives tableside with three tacos positioned upright in a stainless-steel holder complemented by rice and beans.
“The tacos are really popular, and we offer a good variety for people to enjoy,” Alvarez said.
Another guest favorite are tortas, which
essentially equate to south-of-the-border-style sandwiches served on soft rolls. Among the four available options, don’t ignore the distinctive Cubana with steak, ham, sausage, and chorizo. Torta toppings include cheese, chipotle mayo, avocado, onions, tomato, and jalapeños.
If you’re in the mood to share a meal, consider the hearty and artfully presented pineapple fajitas featuring grilled steak, chicken, shrimp, bacon, bell peppers, onions, fresh pineapple, and cheese with rice and beans.
A kids menu offers the requisite quesadilla and fries, chicken nuggets, pepperoni pizza, and the always reliable arroz con pollo. Tempting dessert selections include churros, tres leches cake, guava flan, and pan de elote (sweet Mexican cornbread) served with ice cream.
As for adult libations, domestic and imported beer are well represented. Whimsical drink offerings range from a tequila-spiked Bath Time and Barbie margarita to edgier concoctions like Highest in the Room, a frozen pina colada infused with CBD extract.
“We use freshly squeezed fruit juices from oranges, strawberries, limes, and raspberries for our drinks,” Ibarra said with a smile.
La Victoria’s attractive interior incorporates serene earth-toned walls, a polished cement floor, and assorted foliage throughout the dining room. Woven rope dining chairs provide comfortable seating for guests. A large mural showcases a striking painting of famed Mexican actress Yalitza Aparicio Martínez.
La Victoria is open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations are accepted. Al fresco dining also is available on the restaurant’s spacious patio.
La Victoria Mexican Food
2025 Renaissance Park Place
The Arboretum, Cary
(919) 234-1276
lavictoriamex.com
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