Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Portland, Maine by diners
Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Portland, Maine 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 Portland 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.
#16. Amigos Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 3.0/5 (76 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 9 Dana St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Mexican, Dive Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#15. El Rayo Taqueria
- Rating: 3.5/5 (98 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 26 Free St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Margaritas Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 3.5/5 (114 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 242 St. John St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Mexican, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Taco Escobarr
- Rating: 4.0/5 (684 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 548 Congress St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Dos Naciones
- Rating: 4.0/5 (19 reviews)
- Address: 649 Congress St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Salad, Salvadoran, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Restaurante El Corazon
- Rating: 4.0/5 (195 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 190 State St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Bars, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Tic Taco
- Rating: 4.0/5 (12 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1 City Center Portland, Maine
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#9. El Corazón Foodtruck
- Rating: 4.0/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Portland, Maine
- Categories: Food Trucks, Hot Dogs, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Tu Casa Salvadorena Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 70 Washington Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Mexican, Latin American
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Lenora
- Rating: 4.5/5 (47 reviews)
- Address: 2 Portland Sq Portland, Maine
- Categories: Mexican, Breakfast & Brunch, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Nosh Taco
- Rating: 4.5/5 (7 reviews)
- Address: 5 Canal Plz Portland, Maine
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Bird & Co
- Rating: 4.5/5 (197 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 539 Deering Ave. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Butcher Burger
- Rating: 4.5/5 (109 reviews)
- Address: 7 Union St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Burgers, Sandwiches, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Jefe Juan's
- Rating: 4.5/5 (29 reviews)
- Address: 29 Wharf St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Sal De La Tierra
- Rating: 4.5/5 (42 reviews)
- Address: 581 Congress St. Portland, Maine
- Categories: Latin American, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Tacos Del Seoul
- Rating: 5.0/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Portland, Maine
- Categories: Food Trucks, Korean, 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.
