Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the Peoria 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 Peoria 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 Peoria 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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1 / 18

#18. Tequilas

- Rating: 2.7/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 520 Washington St. East Peoria, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

2 / 18

#17. Lorenas Mexican Restaurant

- Rating: 3.2/5 (61 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 422 Riverside Drive East Peoria, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

3 / 18

#16. Hacienda El Mirador

- Rating: 3.2/5 (110 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5805 North Humboldt Ave. Peoria, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

4 / 18

#15. Pancheros Mexican Grill - Peoria

- Rating: 3.2/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 7528 North Grand Prairie Drive Ste A Peoria, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

5 / 18

#14. Jalapenos

- Rating: 3.2/5 (80 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4700 North University St. Ste 3 Peoria, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

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6 / 18

#13. Good Tequila's Mexican Grill

- Rating: 3.4/5 (118 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5025 West American Prairie Drive Peoria, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

7 / 18

#12. Blue Margaritas Bar and Grill

- Rating: 3.4/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9010 North Allen Road Unit C Peoria, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

8 / 18

#11. Mariachi Mexican Restaurant Bar & Grill

- Rating: 3.7/5 (86 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1818 West War Memorial Drive Peoria, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

9 / 18

#10. Jimador Authentic Mexican Cuisine

- Rating: 3.8/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1200 West Main St. Peoria, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican, Steakhouses, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp

10 / 18

#9. Sombrerito Mexican Restaurant

- Rating: 3.8/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 111 West Spring Creek Road East Peoria, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

11 / 18

#8. El Mexicano

- Rating: 4.1/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1520 Northeast Jefferson Ave. Peoria, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

12 / 18

#7. Los Cabos Cantina & Grill

- Rating: 4.2/5 (97 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7800 North Sommer St. Ste 106 Peoria, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

13 / 18

#6. Mi Familia

- Rating: 4.2/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2007 North Wisconsin Ave. Peoria, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

14 / 18

#5. El Taco Loco

- Rating: 4.4/5 (61 reviews)
- Address: 4325 North Sheridan Road Peoria, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp

15 / 18

#4. Casa De Arte

- Rating: 4.6/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 1227 Southwest Adams St. Peoria, Illinois
- Categories: Lounges, Mexican, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

16 / 18

#3. Social Taco

- Rating: 4.6/5 (97 reviews)
- Address: 900 Riverside Drive East Peoria, Illinois
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

17 / 18

#2. Perico's Fast Tacos

- Rating: 4.6/5 (56 reviews)
- Address: 4203 North Sterling Ave. Peoria, Illinois
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp

18 / 18

#1. Taqueria El Gallo

- Rating: 4.7/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 234 West Camp St. East Peoria, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- 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.