Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the Panama City area by diners
Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the Panama City 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 Panama City 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 Panama City 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!
#21. El Jalisco
- Rating: 2.6/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1815 North 77th Hwy Lynn Haven, Florida
- Categories: Mexican, Tex-Mex
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Los Rancheros Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 3.1/5 (121 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 111 West 23rd St. Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Old Mexico Restaurant
- Rating: 3.1/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 430 South Tyndall Pkwy Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Mexican, Tex-Mex
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Barberitos
- Rating: 3.4/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 836 West 23rd St. Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Mexican, Tex-Mex
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Shore Dogs Grill
- Rating: 3.4/5 (79 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 8100 Thomas Drive Panama City Beach, Florida
- Categories: Hot Dogs, Burgers, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#16. El Jalisco
- Rating: 3.6/5 (153 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 766 West 23rd St. Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Mexican, Tex-Mex
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Peppers Mexican Grill & Cantina
- Rating: 3.6/5 (199 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2061 North Cove Blvd. Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Guadalajara Mexican Grill
- Rating: 3.6/5 (256 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8730 Thomas Drive Unit 1108 St. Thomas Square Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Diego's Burrito Factory
- Rating: 3.7/5 (145 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6209 Sunset Drive Panama City Beach, Florida
- Categories: Sports Bars, Mexican, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#12. El Rodeo Tequila Bar & Grill
- Rating: 3.9/5 (72 reviews)
- Address: 1136 Thomas Drive Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Mexican, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Sombreros Tacos & Bar
- Rating: 3.9/5 (30 reviews)
- Address: 4933 Thomas Drive Panama City Beach, Florida
- Categories: Tacos, Caterers, Beer Bar
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Los Locals Baja Grill & Cantina
- Rating: 4.1/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 2304 Thomas Drive Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Chicken Wings, Mexican, Music Venues
- Read more on Yelp
#9. La Michoacana Latin Market
- Rating: 4.1/5 (54 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4003 West 18th St. Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Old Mexico Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1812 South Highway 77 Ste 123 Lynn Haven, Florida
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Maddie's La Casita
- Rating: 4.3/5 (111 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 561 Harrison Ave. Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Juan Taco
- Rating: 4.4/5 (250 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 9902 South Thomas Drive Panama City Beach, Florida
- Categories: Tacos, fast food
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Tacos Way
- Rating: 4.5/5 (65 reviews)
- Address: 2310 South Highway 77 Lynn Haven, Florida
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Finns Island Style Grub in St. Andrews
- Rating: 4.5/5 (199 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2808 West 12th St. Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Seafood, Breakfast & Brunch, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Mi Casita Jalisco
- Rating: 4.5/5 (27 reviews)
- Address: 1010 West 15th St. Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#2. FINNS Island Style Grub on Thomas Drive
- Rating: 4.6/5 (415 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 7210 Thomas Drive Panama City Beach, Florida
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#1. El Weirdo
- Rating: 4.7/5 (73 reviews)
- Address: 24 West Oak Ave. Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Mexican, Bars
- 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.
