349 Best Restaurants in Mexico

In 1917, the Sanborn brothers took over the iconic Casa de los Azulejos building to expand their drugstore business and now the popular stores-cum-restaurants, owned by billionaire Carlos Slim, populate every major town in Mexico. The menu plays it safe with decent Mexican standards and international options like burgers, soups, and club sandwiches, but the long, winding counter is one of the best places around for a solo coffee and breakfast, while happy hour deals at the endearingly old-fashioned upstairs bar are hard to beat.

It's very pleasant to dine at night on the back patio of this local favorite amid dozens of candles and tiny lights. The menu includes pizza, salads, pasta dishes, and Mediterranean fare like chicken souvlaki and Greek chicken. Order a liqueur-laced coffee or dessert from the bakery counter. The café at the front has great espresso but is open in high season only, usually December through Easter.

If you need a break from seafood, this small, sophisticated café serves outstanding coffee, Mexican breakfasts, and classic burgers for lunch. They have live music during the week.

With dozens of dishes on the menu, this open-air restaurant is the most popular in Papantla. It's always crowded with locals who come to enjoy the reasonably priced seafood and to catch a few minutes of a telenovela (soap opera) on the giant TV set. The platillo mexicano, a selection of regional appetizers, is big enough for two.

Open all night and drawing a particularly spirited crowd during the wee hours, this no-frills taco stand named for the vampire-ish "goat sucker" of Latin American folklore serves joyfully messy, overstuffed pastor, chorizo, beef, cecina, and other meaty tacos for around just MP25 apiece. The casual seating area, set below a highway overpass, has several metal picnic tables.

Founded 65 years ago and moved to its current location three decades back, Taco de Oro specializes in cochinita pibíl, the beloved dish of slow-roasted pork from the Yucatán. This small restaurant doesn’t have much seating inside, so be prepared to eat on a bench on the sidewalk or stand outside.

Fish tacos for breakfast? It may take getting used to, but that's how things are done in La Paz. The type of fish that's battered up "Baja Style" changes daily with the fishermen's catch, but is usually grouper, mahimahi, or sea bass. Top it with cream, chipotle, and avocado sauce ... plus spicier flavors, if you're brave.

In need of refreshments after a magical day diving or snorkeling in Cabo Pulmo National Park? Stop by Tacos and Beer, and soak up the muy tranquilo vibes while you eat delicious seafood tacos and admire views so paradisiacal they look like the set of a Corona commerical. The mostly seafood-focused tacos here are served at umbrella-shaded picnic tables that look over the pristine beach and Sea of Cortez beyond. Cans of ice-cold Pacífico are the most popular of the limited pairing options (no Corona here), but first-time visitors should also check out the bottled Big-Eyed Jacks pilsner from local Cabo Pulmo Brewing.

According to some food historians, tacos de canasta (literally "basket tacos") are the original taco and a street food par excellence as closely associated with the capital's unique culinary culture as tacos al pastor. Mostly made in the neighboring state of Tlaxcala and carried into the city in baskets (hence the name), tacos de canasta are cheap and tasty, slicked with fat and moisture from their journey, and stuffed with simple fillings like beans, potatoes, or chicken in adobo. You'll find tacos de canasta on just about every corner here, but Los Especiales, just off the Zócalo, is justly famous. Get in line, snag an order of five, chow down, and be on your way.

Street eats aren't as ubiquitous in Todos Santos as they are in Cabo or La Paz, but if you're craving tacos and want something cheap, easy, and oh-so-good, go to George's. Choose between fish or shrimp; either will cost you just a few bucks cash (credit cards not excepted), with agua de jamaica (hibiscus water) as the available beverage.

Day or night (and especially at night), this traditional taqueria has you covered for all your taco needs. Asada (beef) and pastor (pork) are the most popular orders here, and even a single taco comes with a giant tray of complimentary salsas and toppings—guac included. This longtime local favorite spot recently added a second seating area to accommodate even more patrons, so don't worry about not being served; despite potential crowds, the service is fast and the tacos are good. 

For a quick bite Tacos Las Palmas offers a lot more than what the name suggests. Marlin, tuna, shrimp, and other staple items are served with local fruits and vegetables to produce mouthwatering dishes. The burritos are big and tasty, too.

A true Tapatío (Guadalajara native) will tell you that these are the best tacos in town. Don’t expect anything fancy; it’s just a clean and functional taqueria where everything is about those exquisite tacos.

Don't be fooled by the bare-bones atmosphere: Tacos Rossy serves some of the best tacos in San José. Fish tacos are the thing at this no-frills joint brimming with local families who munch on everything from peel-and-eat shrimp to ceviche and chocolate clams. Served breaded and fried, the shrimp, scallop, and fish (flounder) tacos here are cheap and delicious. Dress them up however you like at a condiment bar that offers avocados, chilies, cabbage slaw, onions, and an assortment of sauces from tomatillo to habanero.

If you are a pastry lover ... then heaven awaits. Every single one is a delicacy, although the sticky buns and scones have a particular fan following. Expect long lines every morning, but it's because each cup of coffee is made fresh.

Try to arrive early to ensure that you get your choice of delicious tamales from this casual little shop with a handful of sidewalk tables---they sometimes sell out quickly, especially on weekends. Devotees of the hearty tubes of steamed corn masa come from all over the city, drawn by the extensive selection of fillings, including figs-and-cream cheese, chicken mole, pork with mushrooms in red sauce, and black beans with cheese and chapulines (grasshoppers).

The equivalent of a "soul food" restaurant for los Guerrerense (the people of Guerrero State), this noisy, fun spot a few blocks from the beach, amid small shops and cafés, specializes in the traditional cuisine of the deep countryside. Tamales—12 different kinds—are the menu's most popular items. Ingredients ranging from pork and chicken to poblano peppers are wrapped in masa, drenched in rich sauces, and baked in corn husks or banana leaves. Pozole, a pork-and-hominy stew that is traditionally eaten on Thursday, is a specialty of the house. Breakfast is served daily.

At this no-frills, old-fashioned take-out taqueria, shaved meat rotates enticingly on a spit before an open flame, practically daring you not to try a plate of the Árabe-style (wrapped in grilled pita bread) tacos al pastor, plus tortas, grilled meats, and a long menu of other short-order snacks. It's a great, cheap Condesa option when you're hungry and on the run.

This place is widely recognized as having "the best tacos in Cabo" ($3); you'll be surprised by how many of them you can eat at one sitting. The al pastor grilled pork taco is a star alongside the customary agua de Jamaica (hibiscus iced tea) ($2). Besides the traditional tacos, you can get a wide array of gringas, quesadillas, and vampiros, all of them served with cheese and a meat of your choice. 

This popular taco joint is slowly taking over the area, with two locations in Cabo San Lucas plus outposts in San José, La Paz, and even Mazatlán. Their beef is 100% sirloin from the Mexican state of Sonora, and it can be ordered one of three ways: grilled, grilled without fat, or fried. The can't-miss menu item, however, is the "stuffed potato," a baked potato topped in cheese and your choice of meat (or for vegetarians, mushrooms and corn) that you then scoop into a tortilla to consume taco-style.

If you’re going to eat at one place in Los Barriles, this family-owned Mexican taqueria should be it. This casual spot quickly becomes every diners favorite eatery serving up delicious breakfast and lunch options at reasonable prices—don't miss the taco bar. Options are available for dietary restrictions.

This collection of plastic tables under a tarp may not look like much from the outside, but it's where the locals go for some of the best (and cheapest) tacos in town. Grab a seat, and order up pork or vegetarian options and a bottle of agua fresca (water mixed with fruit and sugar). Tables and salsas are shared, so get ready to make some new friends.

This unpretentious taco shop on a modest street in otherwise posh Lomas de Chapultepec draws a mix of workers, foodies, and even the occasional celebrity for its flavorful tacos. La Onda opened in 1970 and was one of the first places on this side of town to specialize in tacos al pastor, which remain its signature dish. But there's cochinita pibil and arrachera variations, too, as well as tasty chiles rellenos and enchiladas verdes.

Even though it's far from the city center, the tables at this positively plain taco shop are packed at lunch. People come for the delicious grilled meats, prepared Michoacán style, with salsas and mountains of fresh, hot tortillas made on-site. The pionero (beef, ham, bacon, onions, and cheese, all grilled) is the only option served in a half portion, which is plenty for most appetites. It closes at 7 pm.

With an airy design, comfortable seating, good Wi-Fi, and large windows that let in plenty of light, this branch of the popular local coffee franchise is ideal for meeting up with friends, getting some work done on your laptop, or grabbing a quick snack or meal. Tierra Garat offers an extensive range of espresso drinks but particularly excels with its sweet chai teas, flavored hot chocolates, and frozen drinks—it's a favorite for anyone with a sweet tooth. In addition to this location a bit north of San Ángel's historic center, you'll find about 40 other branches throughout the city, including some especially inviting cafés in Coyoacán, Juárez, Polanco, and Roma Norte. 

One of Guadalajara's most famous dishes is the torta ahogada, literally a "drowned sandwich," and Tortas Toño serves the best in town. It’s a baguette filled with pork meat served in a bowl with lots (and we are talking lots!) of hot tomato sauce on top.

The lively, tiny Mexico City location of the popular seafood spot in Tulum has just a handful of tables inside and on the sidewalk. It's a perfect stop for a light snack—try the pibíl-style octopus or pastor-style fish tacos, a ceviche tostada, or a heartier garlic-shrimp burrito. There's another location in Polanco.