Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Madison by diners
Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Madison 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 Madison 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.
#30. El Burrito Loco
- Rating: 4.0/5 (9 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: On The Corner Of Main St. And Martin Luther King Blvd. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Street Vendors, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#29. La Concha
- Rating: 4.0/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3054 Fish Hatchery Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Bakeries, Mexican, Delis
- Read more on Yelp
#28. La Mestiza
- Rating: 4.0/5 (217 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6644 Odana Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Gloria's Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (166 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 610 Junction Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Taqueria El Jalapeno
- Rating: 4.0/5 (148 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1318 South Midvale Blvd. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Paco's Tacos
- Rating: 4.0/5 (48 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1331 Greenway Cross Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#24. El Sabor de Puebla
- Rating: 4.0/5 (85 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 305 North 4th St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Señor Machetes
- Rating: 4.0/5 (64 reviews)
- Address: 121 East Main St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Habanero's Mexican Grill
- Rating: 4.0/5 (155 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2229 South Stoughton Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#21. A La Brasa Mexican Grill
- Rating: 4.0/5 (148 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 15 North Broom St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Pan & Pan Bakery
- Rating: 4.0/5 (6 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3559 East Washington Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Cali Fresh
- Rating: 4.0/5 (6 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Library Mall Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Ohio Tavern
- Rating: 4.0/5 (94 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 224 Ohio Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Dive Bars, Tacos, Karaoke
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Arod's Tex Mex- Monona Grove
- Rating: 4.0/5 (9 reviews)
- Address: 4656 Cottage Grove Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Tex-Mex, American, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Jalisco Cocina Mexicana
- Rating: 4.0/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 108 King St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Tacos, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Taqueria Guadalajara
- Rating: 4.5/5 (465 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1033 South Park St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Vaquero Mexican Grill
- Rating: 4.5/5 (7 reviews)
- Address: 3904 East Washington Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican, New Mexican Cuisine
- Read more on Yelp
#13. El Rancho Mexican Grill
- Rating: 4.5/5 (114 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 819 South Park St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#12. La Penca Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (27 reviews)
- Address: 1821 South Park St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican, Bars, American
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (81 reviews)
- Address: 117 South Butler St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Bandit Tacos & Coffee
- Rating: 4.5/5 (59 reviews)
- Address: 640 West Washington Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Tacos, Cocktail Bars, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Restaurante El Panzon
- Rating: 4.5/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 1310 South Midvale Blvd. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican, Comfort Food
- Read more on Yelp
#8. El Rancho Mexican Grill East
- Rating: 4.5/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4527 Cottage Grove Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Tacos El Capi
- Rating: 4.5/5 (28 reviews)
- Address: 2810 East Washington Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#6. El imperio Mexican food
- Rating: 4.5/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 3162 Maple Grove Drive Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Taquitos Marimar
- Rating: 4.5/5 (11 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Camp Cantina
- Rating: 4.5/5 (9 reviews)
- Address: 1503 Monroe St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Los Atlantes
- Rating: 4.5/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5706 Raymond Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Zavala's Market & Taqueria
- Rating: 5.0/5 (16 reviews)
- Address: 805 South Gammon Road Ste A Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#1. El Grito Taqueria
- Rating: 5.0/5 (35 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 50 State St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- 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.
