Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Ames by diners
Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Ames 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 Ames 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.
#17. Cactus 2
- Rating: 2.5/5 (11 reviews)
- Address: 2420 Lincoln Way Ste 103 Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Taco John's
- Rating: 2.5/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 500 Lincoln Way Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Fast food, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Chipotle Mexican Grill
- Rating: 2.5/5 (44 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 435 South Duff Ave. Ste 102 Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican, fast food
- Read more on Yelp
#14. La Fiesta Bar & Grill
- Rating: 3.5/5 (15 reviews)
- Address: 823 Wheeler St. Ste 5 Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Es Tas Bar and Grill
- Rating: 3.5/5 (49 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 216 Stanton Ave. Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Beer Bar, Mexican, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Abelardo's Mexican Fresh
- Rating: 3.5/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 533 Lincoln Way Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#11. El Azteca
- Rating: 3.5/5 (88 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2120 Isaac Newton Drive Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Las Palmas Mexican Restaurant and Grill
- Rating: 4.0/5 (6 reviews)
- Address: 2601 East 13th St. Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#9. El Azteca
- Rating: 4.0/5 (104 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2727 Stange Road Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#8. El Maguey Mexican Grill & Bar
- Rating: 4.0/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 217 South Duff Ave. Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Botanero Latino Colombian & International Cuisine
- Rating: 4.5/5 (40 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 604 East Lincoln Way Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Venezuelan, Mexican, Colombian
- Read more on Yelp
#6. La Casa Maya
- Rating: 4.5/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 631 Lincoln Way Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Tacos El Primo
- Rating: 4.5/5 (9 reviews)
- Address: 128 South Duff Ave. Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Mr. Burrito
- Rating: 4.5/5 (73 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2508 Lincoln Way Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Carlos Quesadillas
- Rating: 4.5/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 806 Stange Road Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks, fast food
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Celaya TexMex
- Rating: 4.5/5 (16 reviews)
- Address: 217 South Duff Ave. Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Tex-Mex, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Rico's Tacos
- Rating: 5.0/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 624 East Lincoln Way Ames, Iowa
- 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.
