Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in New York City by diners
Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in New York City 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 New York City 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.
#25. Tacos Al Gusto
- Rating: 4.5/5 (10 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3394 Broadway New York, New York
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Viva Birria
- Rating: 4.5/5 (24 reviews)
- Address: 153 Ludlow St. New York, New York
- Categories: Tacos, Tex-Mex
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Casa Carmen
- Rating: 4.5/5 (7 reviews)
- Address: 5 West 21st St. New York, New York
- Categories: Mexican, Wine Bars, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Taqueria Santa Fe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 2248 1st Ave. New York, New York
- Categories: Mexican, Food Delivery Services
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Los Tacos No.1
- Rating: 4.5/5 (11 reviews)
- Address: 201 West 33rd St. New York, New York
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Candle
- Rating: 4.5/5 (30 reviews)
- Address: 388 3rd Ave. New York, New York
- Categories: Vegan, Juice Bars & Smoothies, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Raiz Modern Mexican
- Rating: 4.5/5 (92 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 120 1st Ave. New York, New York
- Categories: Vegan, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Tacos Mi Mexico Food Truck
- Rating: 5.0/5 (16 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1801 2nd Ave. New York, New York
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Seamore's Market Bar
- Rating: 5.0/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 152 West 52nd St. New York, New York
- Categories: Seafood, Tacos, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#16. El Grillito Food Truck
- Rating: 5.0/5 (9 reviews)
- Address: 20 Cooper Sq New York, New York
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Pia
- Rating: 5.0/5 (11 reviews)
- Address: 425 West 15th St. New York, New York
- Categories: Mexican, Wine Bars, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#14. DC Villanueva
- Rating: 5.0/5 (6 reviews)
- Address: 953 Columbus Ave. New York, New York
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Virgin Mary Tacos
- Rating: 5.0/5 (8 reviews)
- Address: 370 East 28th St. New York, New York
- Categories: Mexican, Food Stands
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Yolanda's Tamales
- Rating: 5.0/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3380 Broadway New York, New York
- Categories: Mexican, Food Stands
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Tacos Y Quesadillas
- Rating: 5.0/5 (10 reviews)
- Address: 299 East 69th St. New York, New York
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Nice Tamale Lady
- Rating: 5.0/5 (17 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 145TH And Broadway Next to the newspaper stand and the S.E. corner New York, New York
- Categories: Food Stands, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#9. George's Mexican Grill
- Rating: 5.0/5 (7 reviews)
- Address: 29-37 Newtown Ave. New York, New York
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Luisa Cocina Mexicana
- Rating: 5.0/5 (14 reviews)
- Address: 435 Menahan St. New York, New York
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Jo's Taco
- Rating: 5.0/5 (19 reviews)
- Address: 226 East 14th St. New York, New York
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Pomo
- Rating: 5.0/5 (13 reviews)
- Address: 2122 Beekman Place New York, New York
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#5. A-N-E Cafe
- Rating: 5.0/5 (7 reviews)
- Address: 47 Market St. New York, New York
- Categories: Latin American, Breakfast & Brunch, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#4. El Jalapeno taqueria
- Rating: 5.0/5 (12 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 204 West 4th St. New York, New York
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Mucho Sarap
- Rating: 5.0/5 (5 reviews)
- Address: 261 Canal St. New York, New York
- Categories: Filipino, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Bar Mexicana
- Rating: 5.0/5 (5 reviews)
- Address: 127A West 43rd St. New York, New York
- Categories: Mexican, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#1. 136th and Broadway Taco Cart
- Rating: 5.0/5 (8 reviews)
- Address: Broadway & West 136th St. New York, New York
- 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.
