In this young, ever-changing city, where the search for The Next Big Thing trumps any sense of nostalgia, Las Margaritas Restaurante Y Cantina is an anomaly.
The California-style Mexican restaurant has been a fixture at the corner of West 4th and Maple in Kitsilano since 1981. Whereas countless other restaurants along the popular shopping strip have come and gone, Las Margaritas remains, relatively unchanged, and still incredibly popular.
“I think consistency plays a big role in our long term success,” says owner Dan Rodriguez. “We want our customers to know that when they come back and order their favourite dish or drink that it’s as good as the first time they had it. The service, the attention to details, and the atmosphere has also contributed to our success over the years.”
Rodriguez bought Las Margaritas 20 years ago from the Salazar family who first opened the restaurant. Staying true to his concept has ensured Las Margaritas has not only survived, but thrived, as is evidenced by the restaurant being voted Best Mexican in Vancouver in this year’s Best of the City Dining readers poll.
“It is a honour that I do not take lightly,” says Rodriguez. “What has made me so proud is to see some of the same customers coming back after all these years with their kids, and those kids are returning with their children. Even some of our staff have been with us since the beginning and customers like that they can come in and see the same people year after year.”
While Vancouver has seen an explosion in the number of Mexican restaurant of late, Rodriguez says that has only helped his business.
“I love to see the growth of Mexican food here in Vancouver, the more options people have the better it is for all of us,” he says. “I have always stayed true to my style of Mexican cooking. This is the food I grew up eating in my home and my grandparents house and on the streets of California. This is California Mexican food and… we take pride in offering fresh, quality food at good value in a fun environment and hopefully these qualities will keep our customers coming back for years to come.”
