Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Raleigh by diners
Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Raleigh 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 Raleigh 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. San Juan Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (72 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3501 Forestville Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#29. bartaco North Hills
- Rating: 4.5/5 (609 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4121 Main At North Hills St. Ste 105 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Gonza Tacos Y Tequila
- Rating: 4.5/5 (305 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2100 Hillsborough St. Ste 110 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Carajillo's Mexican Kitchen
- Rating: 4.5/5 (55 reviews)
- Address: 4205 Fayetteville Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Bars, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Salt & Lime Cabo Grill
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1336 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6006 Falls Of Neuse Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Seafood, Tex-Mex, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Tacos Costa Grande
- Rating: 4.5/5 (14 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2618 Lake Wheeler Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Gym Tacos
- Rating: 4.5/5 (111 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3701 Hillsborough St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#23. La Republica
- Rating: 4.5/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#22. La Santa Modern Mexican Food
- Rating: 4.5/5 (455 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 222 Glenwood Ave. Ste 107 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Chilango's Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (58 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2253 New Hope Church Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Lilys taqueria
- Rating: 4.5/5 (10 reviews)
- Address: 430 Buck Jones Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Lobos Tacos y Papusas
- Rating: 4.5/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 6908 Glenwood Ave. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Tacos, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Don Beto El Poblano
- Rating: 4.5/5 (15 reviews)
- Address: 2305 Capital Blvd. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Bronco Tacos
- Rating: 4.5/5 (62 reviews)
- Address: 3434 Edwards Mill Road Ste 114 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Taqueria El Toro
- Rating: 4.5/5 (342 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3600 Junction Blvd. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#15. El Rey del Taco
- Rating: 4.5/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 901 Hodges St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, fast food, Food Stands
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Mr. Puebla Tacos
- Rating: 4.5/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Salt & Lime Cabo Grill
- Rating: 4.5/5 (49 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4800 Grove Barton Road Ste 106 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Seafood, Tex-Mex, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Tacos Abarca
- Rating: 4.5/5 (31 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4201 Pleasant Valley Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Tacos, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#11. The Butcher's Mexican Grill
- Rating: 4.5/5 (11 reviews)
- Address: 3110 New Bern Ave. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Gym Tacos
- Rating: 4.5/5 (162 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 220 East Six Forks Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Tacos, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Birrieria El Patron 323
- Rating: 4.5/5 (16 reviews)
- Address: 421 Chapanoke Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#8. 13 Tacos & Taps
- Rating: 4.5/5 (275 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 10511 Shadowlawn Drive Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: New Mexican Cuisine, Tacos, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#7. El Salsa's
- Rating: 4.5/5 (5 reviews)
- Address: 3501 Forestville Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Salad, Soup
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Taqueria Salsabanero
- Rating: 4.5/5 (7 reviews)
- Address: 3320 Capital Blvd. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Street Tacos & Cantina
- Rating: 4.5/5 (39 reviews)
- Address: 6325 Falls Of Neuse Road Ste 71 Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#4. La Huasteca Taqueria
- Rating: 5.0/5 (7 reviews)
- Address: 315 South Hubert St. Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Los Tacos De Garcia
- Rating: 5.0/5 (7 reviews)
- Address: 3400 Spring Forest Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Grandotes Taco Grill
- Rating: 5.0/5 (14 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1025 Blue Ridge Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Mr Burro
- Rating: 5.0/5 (28 reviews)
- Address: 220 East Six Forks Road Raleigh, North Carolina
- Categories: Food Trucks, Breakfast & Brunch, 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.
