Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Jacksonville, North Carolina by diners
Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Jacksonville, North Carolina 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 Jacksonville 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.
#17. Taco Bell
- Rating: 2.5/5 (11 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2095 North Marine Blvd. Jacksonville, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, fast food
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Taco Bell
- Rating: 2.5/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 117 Western Blvd. Jacksonville, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, fast food
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Burrito Shak
- Rating: 3.0/5 (11 reviews)
- Address: 3040 Western Blvd. Unit 100 Jacksonville, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Taco Bell
- Rating: 3.0/5 (20 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 403 South Marine Blvd. Jacksonville, North Carolina
- Categories: Fast food, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Mi Cabana
- Rating: 3.0/5 (93 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 521 Yopp Road Ste 101 Jacksonville, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Mi Cabana
- Rating: 3.0/5 (65 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 135 Glade Lane Jacksonville, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Mi Cabana
- Rating: 3.5/5 (175 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1153 Western Blvd. Jacksonville, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#10. El Arriero Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 3.5/5 (81 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1270 Western Blvd. Jacksonville, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Taqueria Superior
- Rating: 3.5/5 (12 reviews)
- Address: 2945 Richlands Hwy Jacksonville, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Taco Bell
- Rating: 4.0/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2055 Gum Branch Road Jacksonville, North Carolina
- Categories: Fast food, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#7. El Cerro Tacos
- Rating: 4.0/5 (158 reviews)
- Address: 2222 Gum Branch Road Ste C Jacksonville, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#6. El Mariachi Mex & Grill
- Rating: 4.0/5 (78 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1305 North Marine Blvd. Jacksonville, North Carolina
- Categories: Bars, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#5. El Cerro Grande Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (48 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 505 North Marine Blvd. Ste B Jacksonville, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Las Chicanitas
- Rating: 4.0/5 (5 reviews)
- Address: 2881 Richlands Hwy Jacksonville, North Carolina
- Categories: Street Vendors, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Taqueria La Mexicana
- Rating: 4.0/5 (119 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 218 Brynn Marr Road Jacksonville, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Plaza del Mariachi
- Rating: 4.5/5 (221 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 101 Parkwood Drive Jacksonville, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#1. La Cocina De Imelda
- Rating: 4.5/5 (9 reviews)
- Address: 2925 Richlands Hwy #2 Jacksonville, North Carolina
- 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.
