Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Rockford by diners
Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Rockford 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 Rockford 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.
#27. Taco Bell
- Rating: 2.5/5 (15 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6161 East State St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican, fast food
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Pancheros Mexican Grill
- Rating: 2.5/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3015 North Perryville Road Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican, fast food
- Read more on Yelp
#25. El Vallarta Sports Bar & Grill
- Rating: 2.5/5 (16 reviews)
- Address: 7140 Harrison Ave. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Beer Bar
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Chipotle Mexican Grill
- Rating: 2.5/5 (64 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 751 South Perryville Road Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican, fast food
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Taco Bell
- Rating: 3.0/5 (13 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3805 East State St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Fast food, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Olivo Tacos
- Rating: 3.0/5 (13 reviews)
- Address: 6950 East Riverside Blvd. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Tacos, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#21. El Pueblo
- Rating: 3.0/5 (7 reviews)
- Address: 1527 Broadway Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Olivo Taco
- Rating: 3.0/5 (5 reviews)
- Address: 330 College Ave. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#19. El Burrito Loco
- Rating: 3.0/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2430 Auburn St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican, fast food
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Taqueria San Jose
- Rating: 3.5/5 (57 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3725 East State St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Taco Bell
- Rating: 3.5/5 (9 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2182 South Perryville Road Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Fast food, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Fiesta Cancun
- Rating: 3.5/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 631 Highgrove Place Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Dos Reales Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 3.5/5 (88 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5855 East State St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican, Salad, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Mi Ranchito
- Rating: 3.5/5 (35 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2019 South Main St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Tortacos Soto
- Rating: 3.5/5 (5 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1138 Broadway Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Fiesta Tequila Bar & Grill
- Rating: 3.5/5 (49 reviews)
- Address: 1060 West Riverside Blvd. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Rivera's Fresh Market
- Rating: 3.5/5 (7 reviews)
- Address: 3512 East State St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Grocery, Butcher, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Chavez Mexican Restaurante
- Rating: 3.5/5 (18 reviews)
- Address: 5494 East State St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Chilangos Authentic Mexican Cuisine
- Rating: 3.5/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5621 Wansford Way Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Hacienda San Jose
- Rating: 4.0/5 (18 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3035 North Rockton Ave. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Mexico Clasico
- Rating: 4.0/5 (116 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3929 Broadway Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Jalisco & Tequila Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (62 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 805 East State St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Isla Del Mar
- Rating: 4.0/5 (16 reviews)
- Address: 623 Kishwaukee St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Burrito Bravo
- Rating: 4.0/5 (40 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4206 Charles St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Olivo Taco's
- Rating: 4.0/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 2914 West State Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Tacos, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Lucha Cantina
- Rating: 4.0/5 (402 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1641 North Alpine Road Ste 212 Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Tacos, New Mexican Cuisine
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Cantina Taco
- Rating: 4.0/5 (34 reviews)
- Address: 117 South Main St. Rockford, Illinois
- Categories: Tacos
- 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.
