Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the El Centro area 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 2024 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 the El Centro area based on diners' reviews on Yelp as of February 2025. Restaurants with at least 20 reviews tagged as "Mexican" on Yelp within a 10-kilometer radius of El Centro were included. As a result, some restaurants featured may serve other food items besides Mexican food. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 50 locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.

Keep reading to see if your favorite Mexican spot made the list or to discover a new restaurant to try!

1 / 29

#29. Johnny's Burritos El Centro

- Rating: 2.9/5 (62 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 301 Wake Ave. El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

2 / 29

#28. La Resaca

- Rating: 2.9/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 201 North Imperial Ave. El Centro, California
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Seafood, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

3 / 29

#27. Jalisco's Grill

- Rating: 2.9/5 (138 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 844 North Imperial Ave. El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

4 / 29

#26. Las Palmitas

- Rating: 2.9/5 (120 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Driftwood Drive El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

5 / 29

#25. Guadalajaras Restaurant

- Rating: 3.0/5 (70 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1427 Adams Ave. El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

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6 / 29

#24. Johnny's Burritos

- Rating: 3.1/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 105 South Imperial Ave. Imperial, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

7 / 29

#23. El Pollo Loco

- Rating: 3.2/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1403 North Imperial Ave. El Centro, California
- Categories: Fast food, Mexican, Chicken Shop
- Read more on Yelp

8 / 29

#22. Cardenas Markets

- Rating: 3.4/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1620 North Imperial Ave. El Centro, California
- Categories: Meat Shops, Mexican, International Grocery
- Read more on Yelp

9 / 29

#21. Ma Lupe's

- Rating: 3.5/5 (61 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 390 East Aten Road Imperial, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

10 / 29

#20. La Fresa

- Rating: 3.5/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2279 West Adams El Centro, California
- Categories: Desserts, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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11 / 29

#19. Kennedy's Taco

- Rating: 3.5/5 (70 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1560 Ocotillo Drive Ste A El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

12 / 29

#18. Los Cabos Seafood & Grill

- Rating: 3.5/5 (109 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1649 West Main St. El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

13 / 29

#17. Burrito Factory

- Rating: 3.5/5 (103 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 130 South Imperial Ave. El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

14 / 29

#16. La Fonda Bar Grill

- Rating: 3.6/5 (102 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1950 South 4th St. El Centro, California
- Categories: Bars, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

15 / 29

#15. Burgers & Beer

- Rating: 3.6/5 (384 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 260 North Imperial Ave. El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican, American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

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16 / 29

#14. Sombrero Mexican Food

- Rating: 3.9/5 (68 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 703 East Danenberg Drive El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican, fast food, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

17 / 29

#13. El Zarape Restaurant

- Rating: 4.0/5 (127 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 139 South Imperial Ave. Imperial, California
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

18 / 29

#12. Rosa's Plane Food

- Rating: 4.0/5 (100 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1523 West Main St. Ste East El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

19 / 29

#11. Sobe's

- Rating: 4.0/5 (88 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1151 South 4th St. El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

20 / 29

#10. Tacos Marlyn El Centro

- Rating: 4.1/5 (151 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1614 South 4th St. Sunshine Mall El Centro, California
- Categories: Seafood, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

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21 / 29

#9. Flautas and Sopes

- Rating: 4.2/5 (36 reviews)
- Address: 1531 Ford Drive El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

22 / 29

#8. Celia's Restaurant

- Rating: 4.2/5 (163 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1530 Adams Ave. El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

23 / 29

#7. D'Poly Taco Grill & Beer

- Rating: 4.3/5 (269 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1573 West Main St. El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican, Chicken Wings, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

24 / 29

#6. La Birrieria Red Tacos

- Rating: 4.4/5 (53 reviews)
- Address: 900 West Birch St. Hwy 98 Unit 5 Calexico, California
- Categories: Tacos, Comfort Food, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

25 / 29

#5. Juniors Cafe

- Rating: 4.4/5 (147 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1791 Adams Ave. El Centro, California
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Mexican, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

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26 / 29

#4. Nana's Kitchen

- Rating: 4.4/5 (23 reviews)
- Address: 502 West Aten Road Ste 103 Imperial, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

27 / 29

#3. Letty's Casita

- Rating: 4.5/5 (110 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 705 South 4th St. El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

28 / 29

#2. Antojito Como En Casa

- Rating: 4.5/5 (383 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 425 Desert Gardens Drive El Centro, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

29 / 29

#1. Briseida's Kitchen

- Rating: 4.7/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 741 Cesar Chavez Blvd. Calexico, California
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cynthia Rebolledo, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 326 metros.