Mexican cuisine is among the most popular in the US, whether that means the best fish tacos from a truck or pretty, modern and flavor-packed dishes. From favorite spots for tacos to long-running neighborhood joints and acclaimed restaurants serving regional Mexican cuisine, here are the best places to eat Mexican food in every US state. Due to COVID-19, be sure to check local travel restrictions, including state travel advisories, and individual restaurant websites for dine-in, takeout and delivery options before you visit.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Alabama: El Barrio, Birmingham
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Alaska: El Dorado, Anchorage
With cheerful décor and dishes that burst with flavor, El Dorado is a go-to spot for many Anchorage residents and visitors. People love the fresh, zingy dishes and the fact that the portions are more than generous – diners should plan for taking some leftovers away with them. Everything is delicious, from staples like rice and beans to tostadas and seafood chimichangas (like a deep-fried burrito).
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Arizona: Barrio Café, Phoenix
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Arkansas: Baja Grill, Little Rock
The award-winning neighborhood favorite Baja Grill in Little Rock is known for its flavorful food, so much so that the restaurant has won several awards (including best tacos in and around Arkansas). As well as a range of burritos and tacos – with blackened shrimp among diners’ favorites – people love the enormous quesadillas and the Baja crab cakes, made with lump crab and drizzled with chipotle aioli.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
California: La Taqueria, San Francisco
Choosing a best Mexican restaurant in California – a state famed for the cuisine – is a tall order. However, a restaurant that repeatedly pops up is La Taqueria in San Francisco’s Mission District, the heart of the city’s Latino community. Now nearly 30 years-old, the no-frills restaurant reportedly serves the best burritos in the state, packed with meat, fish or veggies and with no “fillers” like rice. The tacos are pretty amazing too.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Colorado: Tacos Tequila Whiskey, Denver
Tacos Tequila Whiskey started as a food truck before branching out with three brick and mortar restaurants in Denver. Chef Kevin Morrison pays homage to Mexican cuisine while putting his own spin on classics. Among the delicious dishes that diners rave about are repollo tiernos (fried Brussels sprouts with spicy homemade dressing and cotija cheese), chicharrones (fried chicken skins with salsa) and tacos with beer-battered fish. The margaritas are pretty good too.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Connecticut: bartaco, West Hartford
Chic restaurant chain bartaco has earned a reputation for its authentic tacos and fresh, zesty dishes – so much so that there are 16 restaurants in nine states, three of which are in Connecticut (the others are in Stamford and Westport). The West Hartford spot is especially popular – the kind of place that people return to on a regular basis. People love the fun, beachy vibe but mostly, it’s the food that keeps people coming back – from flavorsome cauliflower and mushroom tacos to crave-worthy street corn.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Delaware: El Diablo, Wilmington
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Florida: Talavera Cocina Mexicana, Coral Gables
Located in Coral Gables, a few miles south of Miami, Talavera Cocina Mexicana is named after Mexico’s famous pottery. The inspiring menu combines classic Mexican cuisine, regional street food and seasonal specialties. The magnificent moles are made from scratch on a daily basis and the el huarache grill – homemade fresh corn masa flatbreads with black bean purée, salsa verde and goats’ cheese – is a favorite.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Georgia: Nuevo Laredo Cantina, Atlanta
More recently opened Mexican restaurants may be snapping at the heels of this established Atlanta restaurant, which popped up in 1992, but Nuevo Laredo Cantina remains as popular as always. The vibe is friendly, the décor is charmingly colorful, and the Mexican and Tex-Mex-inspired menu is full of crowd-pleasers, including the restaurant’s signature dish, brisket barbacoa. Even when there’s a line, it’s well worth the wait.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Hawaii: Frida’s Beach House, Lahaina
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Idaho: Despo’s, Ketchum
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Illinois: Topolobampo, Chicago
Chef Rick Bayless’ elegant, James Beard Award-winning Topolobampo, in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, takes inspiration from regional Mexican cuisine for its fine dining dishes. The sleek dining room offers innovative tasting menus – described by diners as “sublime” – and dishes are made with high-quality, sustainable ingredients. Showstoppers include the sopa Azteca – a tomato-based broth with pasilla chili – with grilled chicken, and the duck mole. It’s on the pricey side but worth the splurge.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Indiana: Bakersfield, Indianapolis
There are several Bakersfield restaurants in the US and the Indianapolis location is a real local favorite. Street food-inspired tacos and tostadas dominate the menu, while the margaritas – perfectly mixed and wonderfully fresh tasting – come highly recommended. As do the fish tacos, packed with crispy mahi and citrus slaw, and the Johnny ensalada – a zingy, satisfying ensemble of mixed greens, bacon, cotija cheese and hearts of palm.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Iowa: La Regia Taqueria, Iowa City
La Regia Taqueria in Iowa City is many things – it’s a one-stop shop for Mexican groceries and supplies from spices to piñatas, it does takeout, and there’s a sit-down restaurant. It also, according to fans, serves the best and most authentic Mexican cuisine around. As well as a variety of burritos, tacos, tortas and quesadillas, there are plenty of vegetarian and seafood options – and the cooking is reliably spot-on. The fried potato tacos are among diner favorites.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Kansas: Taco Republic, Kansas City
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Kentucky: Mayan Café, Louisville
Every plate served up at Mayan Café is oh-so-pretty and packed with flavor too. The restaurant serves authentic Mayan food overseen by chef Bruce Ucán, whose sustainable farm-to-table approach pays homage to his Yucatán heritage while drawing on the surrounding landscape for locally-sourced and seasonal ingredients. Diners swear this spot serves up the best burritos and “soul soothing” pork dish, cochinita pibil, that can be found outside of Mexico.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Louisiana: Juan’s Flying Burrito, New Orleans
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Maine: Taco Escobarr, Portland
Taco Escobarr is a local favorite in Portland, as much for its fun and festive atmosphere as for its food. There are soft, crispy and puffy tacos, pazole (a brothy, flavor-packed soup) and chipotle sweet potato taquitos on offer, all served in a bright, colorful dining room whose ceiling is illuminated by multicolored string lights after dark. The margaritas, mixed with fruit-infused tequilas, come highly recommended too.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Maryland: Tortilleria Sinaloa, Baltimore
Located in Baltimore’s Fells Point, Tortilleria Sinaloa is small, unassuming – and hugely popular. To many, it’s beloved for its tasty Mexican fare, from freshly-made tortillas and tortilla chips to a dish with a Maryland twist: the tilapia fish taco with butter sauce is seasoned with Old Bay, a seasoning born in Baltimore and traditionally used to flavor chicken wings, crab or shrimp.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Massachusetts: El Sarape, Braintree
Since opening in Braintree, just south of Boston, in 1988, El Sarape has earned a reputation as one of the most consistently excellent Mexican restaurants in the state. Its carnitas and enchiladas verde are highlights, as is the speciality guisado con chile ancho – chicken or beef casserole with potatoes, onions and red chili sauce. The drinks menu is standout too, with marvelous margaritas and a fab selection of Mexican beers.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Michigan: El Asasdor, Detroit
The cuisine at El Asador is inspired by various regions of Mexico including the coastal areas of Veracruz and Tamaulipas – and also by the chef’s mum. Luis Garza’s dishes are infused with the flavors and memories of his childhood while also drawing from regional produce, and everything is cooked fresh, from scratch. The result is nothing less than delicious, from mouthwatering seafood dishes to the almost legendary guacamole, made tableside. The décor is memorable too – particularly the detailed mural painted on an outside wall.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Minnesota: El Taco Riendo, Minneapolis
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Mississippi: Green Ghost Tacos, Ridgeland
The gluten-free tortillas and vegan and vegetarian options are appreciated by customers at Green Ghost Tacos, whose menu showcases family recipes passed down through several generations. The food is made in small batches with the freshest ingredients and, for many diners, the pork tacos and caramel churros are standout dishes. There’s also a second location in nearby Jackson.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Missouri: Mission Taco Joint, St. Louis
The first Mission Taco Joint opened in St Louis’ Delmar Loop in 2013 and its fresh, bold flavors proved so popular there are now several locations across the state. It takes inspiration from the Mexican-style cuisine of California, where owners and brothers Jason and Adam Tilford grew up, and diners love the breezy West Coast ambience. Dishes like duck tacos make diners return for more, while the corn “off the cob”, served with garlic-lime mayo and queso fresco, is becoming the stuff of legend.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Montana: Los Maya’s Mexican Restaurant, Billings
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Nebraska: Agave Azteca, Omaha
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Nevada: Bonito Michoacán Mexican Restaurant, Las Vegas
It may not have the glamor of some of the more high-end restaurants in Vegas but what Bonito Michoacán lacks in glitz, it more than makes up for in heart and authenticity. Year after year diners rave about this family-run restaurant, loved for its house-made tortillas and tableside guacamole. The diverse menu is complemented by some gorgeous cocktails, such as this tempting mango margarita (pictured).
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
New Hampshire: Vida Cantina, Portsmouth
Vida Cantina, located along Route 1 in Portsmouth, draws people off the beaten track with its modern and vibrant approach to Mexican cuisine. Chef-owner Dave Vargas combines his Mexican heritage with inspiration from the restaurant’s Portsmouth location, using regional produce to create the prettiest plates. Diners love inventive tacos with zingy additions like mango and out-of-this-world pork belly.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
New Jersey: Orale Mexican Kitchen, Jersey City
The funky décor is the first thing people notice about Orale, located in downtown Jersey City. Exposed brick walls are plastered with original murals while pendant lamps create a warm atmosphere. The food doesn’t disappoint, with delicious options like avocado toast with seitan and bone marrow tacos. The cocktails, like blood orange or blueberry margaritas, are equally innovative and delicious.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
New Mexico: El Modelo Mexican Foods, Albuquerque
El Modelo began in 1929 as a flatbread factory, when Carmen Garcia would rise in the early hours to make tortillas to sell for breakfast. Today, this no-frills spot shows no signs of losing its reputation as serving the best tortillas and tamales around. The huevos rancheros and sopapillas – small fried pastries – are wonderful too. The state’s homegrown green and red chiles play a starring role in dishes.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
New York: Cosme, New York City
Cosme is a stylish restaurant in New York City’s Flatiron District, which serves contemporary Mexican-inspired cuisine. Chef Enrique Olvera, who’s behind Mexico City’s much-praised Pujol, is at the helm and he’s created a terrifically creative menu that marries regional ingredients with Mexican flavors. The menu changes seasonally but examples include a bone marrow salsa, avocado stuffed with seafood and horseradish, and husk meringue with sweetcorn custard.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
North Carolina: Limones, Asheville
Chic yet unpretentious Limones in downtown Asheville combines Mexican chef Hugo Ramirez’s love of Californian cuisine with flavors and inspiration from his native country (and some tips from his mother). Diners can expect delicious dishes like locally-sourced chicken marinated in mango and habanero chili, lobster nachos, and enchiladas with short-rib beef, plantain and guacamole. People also praise the charming vibe and décor.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
North Dakota: Vinyl Taco, Fargo
Vinyl Taco looks like a hip dive bar from the outside but it matches its cool vibes with some seriously good food. The restaurant, which has wall art and a patio fenced in by bicycle wheels, is famed for moreish dishes inspired by Mexican street food. People come for the food, like tacos stuffed with pork belly, and tend to stay for the laid-back atmosphere and great music, which comes via a selection of vinyl records.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Ohio: Nada, Cincinnati
Nada offers bright, contemporary food inspired by Mexican flavors and traditions. While tacos and cocktails are at the heart of Nada, diners can also expect some dishes with a tasty twist. Crispy Brussels sprouts are laced with chipotle honey, for example, while the butter-soft Peruvian chicken – roasted and served with a selection of spicy sauces – is terrific. The service and atmosphere are standout too. There’s a sister restaurant in Columbus, Ohio plus a few locations in other states.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Oklahoma: Tarahumara’s Mexican Café & Cantina, Norman
Located just south of Oklahoma City, Tarahumara’s is a family-run cantina and – as fans agree – a true local gem. The menu centers around the cuisine of the Mexican state of Chihuahua, with salsas made daily from scratch, using red and green chiles grown in the region. Customers can expect rustic, generously piled-high plates of chicken mole and chile relleno – paired with some stiff margaritas.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Oregon: Nuestra Cocina, Portland
Husband-and-wife team Benjamin and Shannon Gonzales offer hearty Mexican cooking in smart but chilled-out Nuestra Cocina, whose name translates to “our kitchen”. Diners rave about the delicious chile relleno and the range of complex, deeply flavored mole sauces. There’s a dedicated in-house Señora de la Tortilla whose sole responsibility is to hand roll and press corn tortillas – an authentic touch that customers adore.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Pennsylvania: Distrito, Philadelphia
This big, bright, often bustling cantina in Philadelphia’s Spruce Hill neighborhood is known for the vivid décor in its industrial-chic dining room and for serving dishes with a modern take on the street food of Mexico City. Owned by renowned chef Jose Garces, Distrito‘s menu features enchiladas, fajitas, huaraches, nachos and tacos. Diners especially love the huge tortas and the super-strong (and delicious) margaritas.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Rhode Island: Tallulah’s Taqueria, Providence
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
South Carolina: MESU, Charleston
This funky hangout marries two complex and often-craved cuisines: Mexican and Japanese. The menu at MESU offers some select and reliably delicious creations inspired by the culinary cultures of each country. Diners can stick to tacos, with favorites like grilled mushroom and barbacoa braised beef, order a platter of sushi – or grab a combo of the two. The fusion element is subtle, with tomatillo salsa in some of the rolls and tacos lifted with daikon, a type of Japanese radish.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
South Dakota: Sabor a Mexico, Rapid City
Ana Line Munoz, from the western Mexican state of Michoacán, runs this modest restaurant with love and a passion for serving dishes inspired by her own family recipes. Fans rave about Sabor a Mexico’s enchiladas, terrific tacos, chicken mole, sopes and tamales, describing the spot as a local hidden gem. The carne asada fries (pictured) are particularly tempting.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Tennessee: Las Tortugas, Memphis
Las Tortuguas opened in 2002 when owner Pepe Magallanes saw a need for genuine, “un-Americanized” Mexican food in the Memphis area. Years later and the restaurant, which also has a location in the suburb of Germantown, is still a family affair. They serve no-nonsense dishes made with ingredients sourced from local markets. The guacamole, tamales, tacos, the “best” tortilla soup and, of course, the tortugas (sandwiches) are all highly praised.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Texas: Xochi, Houston
Award-winning chef Hugo Ortega’s restaurants include Hugo’s, a much-loved Mexican spot in Houston, and Xochi, which brings the flavors of Oaxaca to the city. Xochi serves upscale Mexican-inspired dishes, beautifully presented in an elegant space. Diners recommend the mole dishes (the restaurant even offers a mole tasting) and inventive dishes like crispy wood-roasted octopus served with a masa pancake.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Utah: Red Iguana, Salt Lake City
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Vermont: Cilantro, Manchester
Sustainable, locally-focused and committed to giving something back to its community in the city of Manchester, local gem Cilantro extols qualities of all the best neighborhood restaurants. It’s a simple, casual and very tasty affair with small menus offering custom-made tacos, burritos and salads. Among recommended items are the house-made queso fresco and anything with pork.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Virginia: District Taco, various locations
Starting life as a food truck in Arlington’s Rosslyn neighborhood in 2009, District Taco proved a runaway success and there are now around a dozen locations, most of which are in Virginia. The cuisine is inspired by the Yucatán, the home region of owner Osiris Hoil, and everything is made daily and served fresh, with an emphasis on healthy, sustainable food. The fish tacos, incredible guacamole and salsa are some of its top dishes.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Washington: Mezcaleria Oaxaca, Seattle
The Dominguez family opened this popular spot in Capitol Hill in 2014 with the menu (of course) focusing on the delicious cuisine of Oaxaca, a city and region famed for its spicy dishes and rich, complex mole sauce. Customer favorites at Mezcaleria Oaxaca include the mole negro, tlayuda (a sort of Mexican-style pizza with a tortilla base) and the cabrito (stewed goat leg).
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
West Virginia: Black Bear Burritos, Morgantown
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Wisconsin: Café Corazón, Milwaukee
Café Corazón, which has three locations in Milwaukee, prides itself on using fresh, local produce from nearby farms, their own land and urban garden. Customers can expect tortas, tacos and burritos, plus a terrific brunch menu with options like migas – eggs scrambled with strips of corn tortillas and melted cheese. People also love the perfect margaritas.
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.
Wyoming: Merry Piglets Mexican Grill, Jackson Hole
Merry Piglets has been serving Jackson Hole residents and visitors since 1969, when it began as a small taco shop before growing into a fully-fledged restaurant. The décor is enjoyably kitsch (and features pigs, of course), while customers also love the lively ambience, friendly service and solid, old-school Mexican and Tex-Mex fare. Among favorites are the juicy, perfectly seasoned carne asada, homemade sauces and seafood dishes, made with sustainable, wild-caught fish.
