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1 / 18#18. Jack in the Box
- Rating: 2.5/5 (12 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 603 US Highway 321 Northwest Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Fast food, Burgers, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Hickory 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 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 Hickory using data from Yelp. Only restaurants with at least five reviews were considered. Data is current as of January 2024.
Keep reading to see if your favorite spot made the list.
Note: The photos in this article are stock images and do not necessarily depict the specific restaurants listed or the dishes they serve.
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2 / 18#17. East Coast Wings + Grill
- Rating: 3.0/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2221 US Highway 70 Southeast Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Chicken Wings, Tacos, American
- Read more on Yelp
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3 / 18#16. Los Compadres Mexican Restaurant - Hickory
- Rating: 3.5/5 (7 reviews)
- Address: 2419 Springs Road Northeast Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
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4 / 18#15. Salsarita's Fresh Mexican Grill
- Rating: 3.5/5 (20 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 944 2nd St. Northeast Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Tex-Mex, Salad
- Read more on Yelp
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5 / 18#14. La Autentica
- Rating: 3.5/5 (10 reviews)
- Address: 1350 US Hwy 321 Northwest Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
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6 / 18#13. EL Sarape
- Rating: 3.5/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3180 Nc Hwy 127 South Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
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7 / 18#12. Mas Amor Cantina
- Rating: 3.5/5 (64 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 883 Highland Ave. Southeast Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Tex-Mex, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
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8 / 18#11. Que Rico!
- Rating: 3.5/5 (12 reviews)
- Address: 2220 North Center St. Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Latin American
- Read more on Yelp
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9 / 18#10. El Paso Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 3.5/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 505 US Hwy 70 Southwest Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Bars, Chicken Wings
- Read more on Yelp
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10 / 18#9. Mexico Viejo
- Rating: 3.5/5 (7 reviews)
- Address: 9887 Hwy.127N Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
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11 / 18#8. Tacos El Tio Chetos
- Rating: 4.0/5 (17 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1023 16th St. Northeast Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
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12 / 18#7. Dos Amigos
- Rating: 4.0/5 (25 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 755 4th St. Southwest Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
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13 / 18#6. El Paso Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1709 North Center St. Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
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14 / 18#5. Rancho Viejo Mexican Grill & Cantina
- Rating: 4.0/5 (77 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 715 Lenoir Rhyne Blvd. Southeast Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
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15 / 18#4. La Cocinita Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (13 reviews)
- Address: 2220 North Center St. Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Tex-Mex, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
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16 / 18#3. Authentic Mexican Restaurant Las Isabelas
- Rating: 4.5/5 (66 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 305 1st Ave. Southwest Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
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17 / 18#2. Rosa De Saron Mexican Taqueria
- Rating: 4.5/5 (9 reviews)
- Address: 2516 1st Ave. Southwest Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
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18 / 18#1. El Vallartazo
- Rating: 5.0/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 1095 Lenoir Rhyne Blvd. Southeast Hickory, North Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Empanadas
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Cynthia Rebolledo, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 327 metros.
