Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Charleston, South Carolina by diners
Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Charleston, South Carolina 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 Charleston 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. Santi's Restaurante Mexicano
- Rating: 4.0/5 (310 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1302 Meeting St. Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#29. Los Reyes Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (132 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1119 Wappoo Road Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Fuel Charleston
- Rating: 4.0/5 (699 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 211 Rutledge Ave. Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Caribbean, Burgers, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Taco Boy - Charleston
- Rating: 4.0/5 (141 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 217 Huger St. Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Southern, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Rio Chico Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (94 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 520 Folly Road Ste 105 Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Yo Bo Cantina Fresca
- Rating: 4.0/5 (116 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 10 Windermere Blvd. Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Tex-Mex, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Casa Fiesta Mexican Grill
- Rating: 4.0/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 808 Folly Road Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#23. The Lost Boys
- Rating: 4.0/5 (5 reviews)
- Address: Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos, Acai Bowls
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Mex 1 Coastal Cantina
- Rating: 4.0/5 (429 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 817 Saint Andrews Blvd. Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Bars, Tex-Mex
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Rancho Lewis
- Rating: 4.0/5 (207 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1503 King St. Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: New Mexican Cuisine, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Locals Sushi & Sports Pub - West Ashley
- Rating: 4.0/5 (171 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1680 Old Towne Road Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Pubs, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Azul
- Rating: 4.0/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 385 Meeting St. Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Sports Bars, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Dog and Duck
- Rating: 4.0/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1937 Clements Ferry Road Ste A Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Pubs, American, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Taco Bartina
- Rating: 4.0/5 (295 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1301 Ashley River Road Ste B Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Tex-Mex, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Taco Bartina
- Rating: 4.0/5 (295 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1301 Ashley River Road Ste B Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Tex-Mex, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#15. El PinchoTaco
- Rating: 4.0/5 (145 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 616 Meeting St. Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Tacos, Caterers
- Read more on Yelp
#14. California Tortilla
- Rating: 4.5/5 (56 reviews)
- Address: 1405 Folly Road Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#13. The Matador - Charleston
- Rating: 4.5/5 (56 reviews)
- Address: 235 Meeting St. Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Cocktail Bars, Beer, Wine & Spirits
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Maya
- Rating: 4.5/5 (118 reviews)
- Address: 479B King St. Ste B Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Semilla Food Truck
- Rating: 4.5/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 218 President St. Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican, Food Delivery Services
- Read more on Yelp
#10. MESU
- Rating: 4.5/5 (319 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 570 King St. Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Sushi Bars, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Bodega Todo
- Rating: 4.5/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 218 President St. Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Mexican, Burgers, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Locals Sushi & Sports Bar - James Island
- Rating: 4.5/5 (49 reviews)
- Address: 798 Folly Road Ste A Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Sports Bars, Sushi Bars, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#7. El Molino Supermarket
- Rating: 4.5/5 (121 reviews)
- Address: 1610 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. Ste 301 Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: International Grocery, Desserts, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Taco Kitchen
- Rating: 4.5/5 (98 reviews)
- Address: 2065 Savannah Hwy Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Tacos El Pariente
- Rating: 4.5/5 (19 reviews)
- Address: 2410 Clements Ferry Road Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Juan Luis
- Rating: 5.0/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 464 North Nassau St. Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Empanada Cuisines
- Rating: 5.0/5 (5 reviews)
- Address: Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican, Empanadas
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Root Note Food Truck
- Rating: 5.0/5 (5 reviews)
- Address: Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Gorditas Locas
- Rating: 5.0/5 (9 reviews)
- Address: Charleston, South Carolina
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos, Street Vendors
- 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.
