Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the Chicago 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 Chicago 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 Chicago 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!

You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants in Chicago by diners

1 / 30

#30. Healthy Substance

- Rating: 4.6/5 (254 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6852 West Archer Ave. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Vegan, Vegetarian, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

2 / 30

#29. Edgewater Tacos

- Rating: 4.6/5 (412 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5624 North Broadway Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

3 / 30

#28. Zentli

- Rating: 4.6/5 (95 reviews)
- Address: 1813 Dempster St. Evanston, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

4 / 30

#27. Birrieria Zaragoza

- Rating: 4.6/5 (90 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4800 North Broadway Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

5 / 30

#26. Healthy and Simple

- Rating: 4.6/5 (106 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 815 North Ashland Ave. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Juice Bars & Smoothies, Cafes, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

6 / 30

#25. Taqueria El Tapatio

- Rating: 4.6/5 (69 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4238 West Fullerton Ave. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

7 / 30

#24. Kie Gol Lanee

- Rating: 4.6/5 (277 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5004 North Sheridan Road Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

8 / 30

#23. El Rincon De Fabio

- Rating: 4.6/5 (58 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1002 West Argyle St. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Tacos, Empanadas, Venezuelan
- Read more on Yelp

9 / 30

#22. Mixteco Mexican Grill

- Rating: 4.6/5 (59 reviews)
- Address: 1209 North Noble St. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Tex-Mex, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

10 / 30

#21. Don Pez Taco Cantina

- Rating: 4.7/5 (210 reviews)
- Address: 844 West Armitage Ave. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Tacos, Breakfast & Brunch, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Chicago

11 / 30

#20. Chile Toreado

- Rating: 4.7/5 (111 reviews)
- Address: 2022 West 35th St. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

12 / 30

#19. Early Morning Delight

- Rating: 4.7/5 (91 reviews)
- Address: 1924 West Irving Park Road Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

13 / 30

#18. Sabroso! Mexican Grill

- Rating: 4.7/5 (489 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 624 North Ashland Ave. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican, Breakfast & Brunch, New Mexican Cuisine
- Read more on Yelp

14 / 30

#17. Mis Moles Restaurant

- Rating: 4.7/5 (200 reviews)
- Address: 3661 North Elston Ave. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

15 / 30

#16. El Tragón Taqueria

- Rating: 4.7/5 (136 reviews)
- Address: 1234 North Halsted St. Unit C Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: The most expensive homes sold in Chicago this year

16 / 30

#15. El Tezcal Mexican Restaurant

- Rating: 4.7/5 (140 reviews)
- Address: 4305 North Kedzie Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

17 / 30

#14. Macho's Grill

- Rating: 4.7/5 (65 reviews)
- Address: 7300 Roosevelt Road Forest Park, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

18 / 30

#13. El Alebrije

- Rating: 4.7/5 (62 reviews)
- Address: 4114 North Kedzie Ave. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

19 / 30

#12. Aztlan Mexican Grill 1inc

- Rating: 4.7/5 (55 reviews)
- Address: 3358 West Montrose Ave. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

20 / 30

#11. Amici-Chicago

- Rating: 4.8/5 (66 reviews)
- Address: 3933 North Broadway Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Salad, Italian, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: Highest-rated Cajun restaurants in Chicago by diners

21 / 30

#10. Torteria San Lenchito

- Rating: 4.8/5 (164 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4810 North Drake Ave. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican, Diners, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

22 / 30

#9. Quesabirria Jalisco

- Rating: 4.8/5 (98 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1314 West 18th St. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Tacos, Halal
- Read more on Yelp

23 / 30

#8. XOchimilco Mexican Restaurant

- Rating: 4.8/5 (334 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2030-32 West Montrose Ave. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

24 / 30

#7. Carniceria Maribel

- Rating: 4.8/5 (155 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1801 West Cermak Road Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Beer, Wine & Spirits, Tacos, Meat Shops
- Read more on Yelp

25 / 30

#6. Un Amor

- Rating: 4.8/5 (89 reviews)
- Address: 1450 West Chicago Ave. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cocktail Bars, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: Highest-rated seafood restaurants in Chicago

26 / 30

#5. Taco Loco Of Pilsen

- Rating: 4.8/5 (82 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2022 South Leavitt St. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Tacos, Street Vendors
- Read more on Yelp

27 / 30

#4. Aloha Wagon

- Rating: 4.8/5 (273 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2023 South Western Ave. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Filipino, Mexican, Hawaiian
- Read more on Yelp

28 / 30

#3. El Xangarrito

- Rating: 4.9/5 (196 reviews)
- Address: 4811 North Rockwell St. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

29 / 30

#2. Chi-Latin Restaurant

- Rating: 4.9/5 (51 reviews)
- Address: 1421 West Chicago Ave. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Latin American, Seafood, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

30 / 30

#1. Tepalcates

- Rating: 4.9/5 (64 reviews)
- Address: 2326 West Belmont Ave. Chicago, Illinois
- Categories: Tacos
- 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.