Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Santa Maria by diners
Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Santa Maria 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 Santa Maria 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. Santa Maria Public Market
- Rating: 3.5/5 (45 reviews)
- Address: 1317 West McCoy Lane Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Beer Bar, Italian, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Maya Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 3.5/5 (286 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 110 South Lincoln St. Ste 106 Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Pappy's Restaurant
- Rating: 3.5/5 (295 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1275 East Betteravia Road Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Mexican, Diners, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#27. La Perla Market And Deli
- Rating: 4.0/5 (9 reviews)
- Address: 1138 West Church St. Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Delis, Mexican, Butcher
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Mercado y Carniceria la Mia
- Rating: 4.0/5 (5 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 112 East Grant St. Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Chef Tacos
- Rating: 4.0/5 (11 reviews)
- Address: Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#24. El Pollo Norteno
- Rating: 4.0/5 (118 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1954 South Bdwy Ste H Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Barbecue, Mexican, Chicken Shop
- Read more on Yelp
#23. El Toro Tortilleria No 2
- Rating: 4.0/5 (39 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1135 West Main St. Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Delis, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#22. La Picosita
- Rating: 4.0/5 (394 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 923 North Broadway Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Linda Michoacana Paleteria, No. 2
- Rating: 4.0/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 917 North Broadway Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Mexican, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#20. El Taco De Mexico
- Rating: 4.0/5 (75 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 701 South Broadway Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#19. El Palenque Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (148 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 715 South Broadway Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Angeles de Puebla
- Rating: 4.0/5 (56 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2255 South Broadway Ste 11 Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#17. 805 Tacos
- Rating: 4.0/5 (142 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1018 West Main St. Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Tacos, Beer Bar, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Lo Mejor De Jalisco
- Rating: 4.0/5 (173 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 116 South Blosser Road Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Tacos El Tizon
- Rating: 4.0/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 241 Town Center West Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#14. La Villa
- Rating: 4.0/5 (12 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1115 West Main St. Ste M Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Mexican, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp
#13. El Herradero
- Rating: 4.0/5 (92 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 214 North Blosser Road Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Nena's Kitchen
- Rating: 4.0/5 (29 reviews)
- Address: 4869 South Bradley Road Ste 122 Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Santa Maria Tamale Shop
- Rating: 4.0/5 (11 reviews)
- Address: 2115 South Blosser Road Ste 101 Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Sandwiches, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Taco Ranchero
- Rating: 4.0/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 108 East Jones St. Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Mexican, Salad, Soup
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Vaqueras
- Rating: 4.0/5 (65 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 908 North Broadway Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#8. El Rincon Oaxaqueño
- Rating: 4.0/5 (13 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1613 South Broadway Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Los Tacos Sinaloa
- Rating: 4.5/5 (8 reviews)
- Address: 315 West Main St. Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Panaderia Carmelita
- Rating: 4.5/5 (8 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1439 South Broadway Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Mariscos El Picosito
- Rating: 4.5/5 (56 reviews)
- Address: 510 East Main St. Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Tacos Sinaloa
- Rating: 4.5/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 605 South Broadway Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Tacos, New Mexican Cuisine
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Deli Delicias & Fresh
- Rating: 4.5/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 110 South Pine St. Ste 105 Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Mexican, Delis
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Rosticeria Y Tortilleria Dani
- Rating: 5.0/5 (8 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1014 West Main St. Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Carniceria El Matador
- Rating: 5.0/5 (12 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 101 North Depot St. Ste B Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Butcher, 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.
