Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in San Luis Obispo by diners
Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in San Luis Obispo 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 San Luis Obispo 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. Quesadilla Gorilla
- Rating: 3.5/5 (31 reviews)
- Address: 570 Higuera St. Ste 101 San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Mexican, Beer Bar, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Taco Rico
- Rating: 3.5/5 (108 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3975 South Higuera St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Pancho's Mexican Foods
- Rating: 3.5/5 (143 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1231 Johnson Ave. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Chili Peppers Restaurant
- Rating: 3.5/5 (190 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2121 Broad St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Mexican, Bars, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Efren's Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 3.5/5 (137 reviews)
- Address: 1285 Laurel Lane San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Tonita's Mexican Food
- Rating: 3.5/5 (165 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1024 Nipomo St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Taco Roco
- Rating: 3.5/5 (174 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3230 Broad St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Taco Temple
- Rating: 3.5/5 (355 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1575 Calle Joaquin San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Mexican, Desserts, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Charlie's Place
- Rating: 3.5/5 (194 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 981 East Foothill Blvd. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Burgers, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#21. What the Truck
- Rating: 4.0/5 (8 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1701 Monterey St. Ste A San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Taqueria Santa Cruz Express
- Rating: 4.0/5 (68 reviews)
- Address: 862 East Foothill Blvd. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Taqueria San Miguel
- Rating: 4.0/5 (94 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5 Santa Rosa St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Mexican, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Taco De Mexico
- Rating: 4.0/5 (229 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 374 Santa Rosa St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Tacos El Tizon
- Rating: 4.0/5 (66 reviews)
- Address: 281 Santa Rosa St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Taqueria Santa Cruz Express
- Rating: 4.0/5 (532 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1308 Monterey St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Tacos De Acapulco
- Rating: 4.0/5 (264 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 596 California Blvd. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Taco King
- Rating: 4.0/5 (316 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 158 Higuera St. Ste B San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#13. San Luis Taqueria
- Rating: 4.0/5 (181 reviews)
- Address: 1032 Chorro St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Burritos express
- Rating: 4.0/5 (5 reviews)
- Address: 281 Santa Rosa St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#11. California Tacos Cantina and Distillery
- Rating: 4.0/5 (49 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 110 Tank Farm Road Ste 100 San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Mexican, Distilleries
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Chicho's
- Rating: 4.0/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 11560 Los Osos Valley Road San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Tacos Y Birria Sinaloa
- Rating: 4.5/5 (14 reviews)
- Address: 1131 Broad St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Mexican, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#8. The Mark
- Rating: 4.5/5 (175 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 673 Higuera St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Tapas/Small Plates, Tacos, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Maldonados Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (32 reviews)
- Address: 1000 Olive St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Mexican, Wine Bars, Beer Bar
- Read more on Yelp
#6. La Esquina Taqueria
- Rating: 4.5/5 (392 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1051 Nipomo St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Mexican, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Fruit paradise Mexican style
- Rating: 4.5/5 (8 reviews)
- Address: 580 California Blvd. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Todo Bueno
- Rating: 4.5/5 (67 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3845 South Higuera St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Burgers, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Taqueria El Guero
- Rating: 4.5/5 (173 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1122 Chorro St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Tacos, Beer Bar
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Corazon Cafe
- Rating: 5.0/5 (79 reviews)
- Address: 847 Higuera St. San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Mexican, Themed Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Coastline Catering
- Rating: 5.0/5 (6 reviews)
- Address: San Luis Obispo, California
- Categories: Caterers, Tacos, Barbecue
- 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.
