Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in New Haven by diners
Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in New Haven 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 New Haven 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.
#27. Avelinos Pizza
- Rating: 2.5/5 (15 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 382 Grand Ave. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Pizza, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Chipotle Mexican Grill
- Rating: 2.5/5 (92 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 910 Chapel St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Mexican, fast food
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Fresh Taco
- Rating: 2.5/5 (73 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 39 Elm St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Tomatillo Taco Joint
- Rating: 3.5/5 (154 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 320 Elm St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Mexican, Tex-Mex
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Geronimo Tequila Bar and Southwest Grill
- Rating: 3.5/5 (678 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 271 Crown St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Bars, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Cilantro Fresh Mexican Grill
- Rating: 4.0/5 (152 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1158 Whalley Ave. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Mexican, Desserts, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Te Amo Tequila Bar & Tacos
- Rating: 4.0/5 (328 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 182 Temple St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Tacos, Cocktail Bars, New Mexican Cuisine
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Mezcal
- Rating: 4.0/5 (406 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 14 Mechanic St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Mexican, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Camacho Garage
- Rating: 4.0/5 (297 reviews)
- Address: 36 Fountain St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#18. La Cosinita Mexican Cafe
- Rating: 4.0/5 (122 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 177 Park St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Ixtapa #1 Truck
- Rating: 4.0/5 (12 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 201-305 Long Wharf Drive New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Mexican, Food Stands
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Tacos Los Michoacanos
- Rating: 4.0/5 (14 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 351 Long Wharf Drive New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Tlaxcala Grocery
- Rating: 4.0/5 (8 reviews)
- Address: 964 State St. Ste 1 New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Mexican, Grocery, Convenience Stores
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Mexcalli Black Truck
- Rating: 4.0/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 351 Long Wharf Drive New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#13. La Patrona Food Truck
- Rating: 4.0/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Salsa's Authentic Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (18 reviews)
- Address: 99 Grand Ave. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Mexican, Salad, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Santa Apolonia Taco Truck
- Rating: 4.0/5 (20 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Long Wharf Drive New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Mexican, Food Stands
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Ay! Arepa New Haven
- Rating: 4.5/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 56 Broadway Island New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Mexican, Latin American
- Read more on Yelp
#9. VivaZ Cantina
- Rating: 4.5/5 (19 reviews)
- Address: 161 Park St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Mexican, Bars, Latin American
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Ixtapa Mexican Tacos
- Rating: 4.5/5 (99 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Long Wharf Drive New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Tacos Santa Ines
- Rating: 4.5/5 (6 reviews)
- Address: New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Clementes Pizza & Grill
- Rating: 4.5/5 (17 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1302 Whalley Ave. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Chicken Wings, Pizza, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Cositas Deliciosas
- Rating: 4.5/5 (19 reviews)
- Address: 271 Grand Ave. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Tacos Los Gordos
- Rating: 4.5/5 (79 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 167 Orange St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#3. El Poblano Mexican Food
- Rating: 5.0/5 (9 reviews)
- Address: 383 Forbes Ave. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Mexican, Food Stands
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Taqueria Oyameles
- Rating: 5.0/5 (9 reviews)
- Address: 560 Ferry St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#1. La Chalupa Food Truck
- Rating: 5.0/5 (6 reviews)
- Address: Church St. And Wall St. New Haven, Connecticut
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos, Street Vendors
- 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.