Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Lake Charles by diners
Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Lake Charles 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 Lake Charles 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.
#23. Cadillac Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar
- Rating: 2.5/5 (102 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#22. El Paso Mexican Grill
- Rating: 2.5/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2638 Derek Drive Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Casa Manana Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 3.0/5 (108 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2510 Ryan St. Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Mexican, fast food
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Cancun Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 3.0/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4001 Ryan St. Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Que Pasa Taqueria
- Rating: 3.0/5 (67 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4080 Nelson Road Ste 100 Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Tex-Mex, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Los Ponchos Mexican Grill
- Rating: 3.0/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 2555 North Hwy 171 Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Torchy's Tacos
- Rating: 3.0/5 (82 reviews)
- Address: 3407 Nelson Road Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Tacos, Tex-Mex
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Pedro's Taco & Tequila Bar
- Rating: 3.0/5 (11 reviews)
- Address: 4051 Ryan St. Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Mi Tierra
- Rating: 3.0/5 (6 reviews)
- Address: 4447 Nelson Road Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Lagunas Mexican Grill and Cantina
- Rating: 3.5/5 (51 reviews)
- Address: 1201 Lakeshore Drive Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#13. El Dorado Mexican Grill
- Rating: 3.5/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3395 Derek Drive Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Johnny Sánchez
- Rating: 4.0/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 777 Ave. L'Auberge Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Mexican, Breakfast & Brunch, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#11. El Tapatio Tres
- Rating: 4.0/5 (13 reviews)
- Address: 1009 North Martin Luther King Hwy Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Taco Mel
- Rating: 4.0/5 (47 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2740 C Country Club Road Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Rosita's #2
- Rating: 4.0/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 3669 5th Ave. Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Paul's Rib Shack Barbecue
- Rating: 4.0/5 (53 reviews)
- Address: 4800 Nelson Road Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Desserts, Tacos, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Los Ponchos Mexican Grill
- Rating: 4.0/5 (18 reviews)
- Address: 520 Hwy 397 Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Tia Juanitas Fish Camp
- Rating: 4.0/5 (198 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 723 Ryan St. Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Mexican, Cajun/Creole, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Aubris Taqueria
- Rating: 4.5/5 (10 reviews)
- Address: 1850 North Martin Luther King Hwy Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Nogal Mexican Cuisine Bar
- Rating: 4.5/5 (33 reviews)
- Address: 1776 West Prien Lake Road Ste East Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Sports Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Victoria's Taqueria
- Rating: 4.5/5 (70 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1004 Broad St. Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Mexican, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#2. La Rumba Mexican Grill
- Rating: 4.5/5 (5 reviews)
- Address: 173 North Highway 171 Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Taqueria Los Sanchez's
- Rating: 4.5/5 (15 reviews)
- Address: 305 West College St. Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- 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.
