Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the Salinas 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 Salinas 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 Salinas 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!

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#30. Fish & Chips North Main

- Rating: 4.0/5 (131 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2010 North Main St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Seafood, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#29. Delicia's Taqueria

- Rating: 4.0/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 545 East Alisal St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#28. Ariana's Restaurant

- Rating: 4.0/5 (153 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 912 Park Row Salinas, California
- Categories: American, Breakfast & Brunch, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#27. Rafael Mexican Grill

- Rating: 4.1/5 (108 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1927 Natividad Road Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican, Bars, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

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#26. Villa Azteca

- Rating: 4.1/5 (661 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 157 Main St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#25. Tacos Pacheco

- Rating: 4.1/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 32 San Miguel Ave. Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#24. Las Islas Marias Restaurant

- Rating: 4.1/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 1565 North Sanborn Road Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

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#23. Mama Lupita's

- Rating: 4.2/5 (144 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 321 Salinas St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#22. Eva's Cafe

- Rating: 4.2/5 (190 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 246 Williams Road Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#21. Taqueria El Grullense

- Rating: 4.2/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 976 Acosta Plz Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#20. Los Grullenses

- Rating: 4.2/5 (129 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 655 Sanborn Place Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#19. Burrito King

- Rating: 4.3/5 (147 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 8 Midtown Lane Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#18. Taqueria Hidalgo

- Rating: 4.4/5 (120 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 23477 Grant St. Chualar, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#17. El Charrito

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1567 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 122 West Market St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#16. Alma's Bakery-Deli

- Rating: 4.4/5 (57 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 25482 Payson Chualar, California
- Categories: Delis, Bakeries, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#15. El Zacatecano

- Rating: 4.4/5 (423 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 655 East Alisal St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#14. Tacos El Grullense

- Rating: 4.4/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Kern St. And Roosevelt St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#13. Alfonso's Authentic Mexican Food

- Rating: 4.4/5 (334 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 11252 Merritt St. Castroville, California
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

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#12. Panaderia Tres Hermanos

- Rating: 4.6/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 545 East Alisal Ste D Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#11. El Canaston

- Rating: 4.6/5 (30 reviews)
- Address: 796 Northridge Drive Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#10. Culturas Hidalgo & Oaxaca Restaurant

- Rating: 4.6/5 (405 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 473 East Market St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#9. Jaquez Fast Food Service

- Rating: 4.7/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 923 East Market St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Hot Dogs, Food Stands, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#8. Tacos Guadalajara 831

- Rating: 4.7/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 170 Harrison Road Salinas, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

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#7. Deliciosos Tacos

- Rating: 4.7/5 (109 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 11576 Merritt St. Castroville, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#6. El Colibri Restaurant and Deli

- Rating: 4.7/5 (102 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 343 Main St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Burgers, Sandwiches, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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#5. El Buen Taco

- Rating: 4.8/5 (65 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Tacos, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp

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#4. El Chilacatazo

- Rating: 4.8/5 (100 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 337 Monterey St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

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#3. Shawarma King

- Rating: 4.9/5 (159 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 11601 Merritt St. Castroville, California
- Categories: Halal, Mexican, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp

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#2. Sabor Latin Fusion

- Rating: 4.9/5 (40 reviews)
- Address: 1126 South Main St. Salinas, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos, Caterers
- Read more on Yelp

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#1. Fredo's Vegan Tacos

- Rating: 5.0/5 (42 reviews)
- Address: 2047 Watsonville Road Castroville, California
- Categories: Tacos, Vegan, Food Trucks
- 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.