Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Tucson by diners
Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Tucson by diners
Just like cuisine from any country, Mexican food is not monolithic. It isn't just combo plates and tacos. (Not that there's anything wrong with that style of food; it's delicious and is responsible for popularizing Mexican food in the United States.) But Mexican food means more than that.
It reflects Mexico's diverse population—shaped by waves of immigration—and has proliferated throughout the U.S., showcasing the cuisine in all its complexity and regionality. Mexico has 32 distinct regional styles of cooking, and thanks to immigrant chefs and the rise of promising culinarians of Mexican descent looking to share their signature dishes, Indigenous foodways, and ingredients from various regions, diners are reframing their idea of "Mexican food."
According to a Pew Research Center analysis of SafeGraph data, 1 in 10 restaurants in the U.S. serve Mexican food, and nearly 9 out of 10 U.S. counties have at least one Mexican restaurant. The analysis also reveals that California and Texas are home to a majority of the Mexican American population and together host 2 out of 5 Mexican restaurants in the country.
These findings serve as a testament to the influence Mexican cuisine has had and continues to have in America. Which begs the question: Where does one go for the best old-school Mexican restaurants, loncheras slinging tacos out of a half-window, and innovative modern Mexican food pushing culinary boundaries?
To help you out, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Tucson using data from Yelp. Only restaurants with at least five reviews were considered. Data is current as of January 2024.
Keep reading to see if your favorite spot made the list.
Note: The photos in this article are stock images and do not necessarily depict the specific restaurants listed or the dishes they serve.
#30. Plazita Mexico Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (90 reviews)
- Address: 20 North Sarnoff Drive Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Mr Toro Carniceria
- Rating: 4.5/5 (112 reviews)
- Address: 7545 South Houghton Road Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Butcher, Mexican, Specialty Food
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Sushi Bomb
- Rating: 4.5/5 (9 reviews)
- Address: Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#27. The Quesadillas
- Rating: 4.5/5 (624 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2418 North Craycroft Road Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#26. El Sinaloense Hot Dog Cart
- Rating: 4.5/5 (141 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1526 North Alvernon Way Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Hot Dogs, Food Stands, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Tacos De Cabeza
- Rating: 4.5/5 (14 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5231 South 12th Ave. Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Mex-Sal
- Rating: 4.5/5 (14 reviews)
- Address: 1229 West St. Mary's Road Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Salvadoran, Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Poblano Hot Sauce
- Rating: 4.5/5 (14 reviews)
- Address: 3250 South Dodge Blvd. Ste 2 Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#22. La Chaiteria
- Rating: 4.5/5 (131 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1002 West Congress St. Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Tacos, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Taqueria El Rapido
- Rating: 4.5/5 (15 reviews)
- Address: 301 W. 29th St. Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Redbird Scratch Kitchen + Bar
- Rating: 4.5/5 (45 reviews)
- Address: 6444 North Oracle Road Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Chicken Wings, Tacos, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Dona Alicia Mexican Food
- Rating: 4.5/5 (19 reviews)
- Address: 5423 South Palo Verde Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#18. La Frida Mexican Grill & Seafood
- Rating: 4.5/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7230 East 22nd St. Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#17. El Antojo Poblano
- Rating: 4.5/5 (47 reviews)
- Address: 1108 West St. Marys Road Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Los Chipilones
- Rating: 5.0/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 1122 South 6th Ave. Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Taqueria El Zarape
- Rating: 5.0/5 (16 reviews)
- Address: 6849 South Craycroft Road Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#14. La Yaquesita Mexican Cuisine
- Rating: 5.0/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 500 North 4th Ave. Ste 1 Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos, Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Juice N Fruit Raspados
- Rating: 5.0/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3502 South 6th Ave. Ste 100 Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Juice Bars & Smoothies, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Cocteleria La Palma Mariscos Y Mas
- Rating: 5.0/5 (77 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1137 South 6th Ave. Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Seafood, Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Carniceria Wild West
- Rating: 5.0/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4825 North 1st Ave. Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Grocery, Seafood, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#10. CARNITAS Y BIRRIA "El TARASCO"
- Rating: 5.0/5 (17 reviews)
- Address: 4602 East 29th St. Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Taco Rico
- Rating: 5.0/5 (71 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4499 West Ina Road Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Taqueria Mi Pueblo
- Rating: 5.0/5 (15 reviews)
- Address: 2254 East Benson Hwy Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Carnitas Los Reyes
- Rating: 5.0/5 (14 reviews)
- Address: 5050 East Broadway Blvd. Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#6. El Sinaloense
- Rating: 5.0/5 (10 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1526 North Alvernon Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Hot Dogs, Mexican, Food Stands
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Dany Hot Dogs
- Rating: 5.0/5 (8 reviews)
- Address: 5050 East Broadway Blvd. Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican, Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Los Perches Urban Sonoran Grill
- Rating: 5.0/5 (8 reviews)
- Address: 238 North 4th Ave. Bldg 5 Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#3. El Amigo
- Rating: 5.0/5 (6 reviews)
- Address: 6849 South Craycroft Road Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks, Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Zahid Taqueria
- Rating: 5.0/5 (6 reviews)
- Address: 1440 West Ajo Way Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos, Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Carnitas El Michoacano
- Rating: 5.0/5 (6 reviews)
- Address: 5256 s Nogales hwy Tucson, Arizona
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Cynthia Rebolledo, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 327 metros.
