Best Mexican Restaurants in Chicago
50 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Topolobampo
Michelin-starred tasting menus that showcase Mexico’s sauces, regions, and seasons.
Essential Picks
#1
Topolobampo
9.1
Rick Bayless’s fine-dining flagship runs refined, mole-driven tasting menus that lean into regional Mexican storytelling. Locals and destination diners alike use it for special-occasion dinners where complex sauces, agave pairings, and polished service justify the splurge.
Must-Try Dishes:
Feast of the Seven Moles tasting menu, Callo de Hacha scallop course, Mole negro with wagyu
What Makes it Special: Michelin-starred tasting menus that showcase Mexico’s sauces, regions, and seasons.
Notable Picks
Vibes:
Late Night Legends
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Carbon runs a late-hours counter-service taqueria where steak, barbacoa, and veggie tacos come off the grill fast for dine-in or takeout. Locals lean on it after games or late shifts for affordable plates, salsas with some heat, and reliable hours that stretch to 11 p.m. most nights.
Must-Try Dishes:
Steak Taco, Barbacoa Taco, Veggie Taco
What Makes it Special: High-volume, late-night counter spot known for fire-grilled tacos at budget prices.
#3
Cariño
8.9
An Uptown chef’s-counter tasting menu that treats Mexican and Latin flavors like fine-dining material—masa work, smoke, and acid all dialed in. The room stays intimate but high-energy, with courses that land playful without losing precision.
Must-Try Dishes:
Huitlacoche ravioli, Michelada oyster, Taco omakase
What Makes it Special: A Michelin-starred, masa-forward tasting menu with bold Mexican technique.
8.8
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Comfort Food Classics
Trendy Table Hotspots
Family Friendly Favorites
Since the late 1980s, Frontera Grill has been Chicago’s benchmark for regionally inspired Mexican cooking, mixing seasonal ceviches, moles, and wood-grilled meats in a bustling room. It’s the move when you want serious flavor and agave cocktails without full tasting-menu formality.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carne Asada, Ceviche Trio, Queso Fundido
What Makes it Special: Long-running flagship for seasonal, regional Mexican with serious agave cocktails.
8.8
Kie Gol Lanee’s Logan Square outpost brings Bib Gourmand–recognized Oaxacan cooking to a corner better known for bars and diners, with tlayudas, moles, and mezcal anchoring a tighter happy hour window. It reads more like a serious restaurant than a cheap pregame, but early-evening cocktails and bar snacks still play well for elevated happy hour meetups.
Must-Try Dishes:
Oaxaqueño Verde Tamal, Arrachera Tlayuda, Chapulines
What Makes it Special: Oaxacan kitchen with Bib-level cooking and a focused happy hour for mezcal and snacks.
8.8
Bárbaro Taquería is a Humboldt Park-border taqueria and cantina where a wide taco list, seasonal specials, and an agave-forward bar program draw steady crowds. It bridges neighborhood casual and going-out energy, with everything from birria and pastor tacos to breakfast chilaquiles and pozole on a rotating menu.
Must-Try Dishes:
Al Pastor Tacos, Birria Tacos, Esquites
What Makes it Special: Elevated tacos and an agave-heavy cocktail list in a lively cantina setting.
8.8
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Hidden Gems Heaven
A long-running Logan Square taqueria where plates of al pastor, carne asada, and house salsas anchor casual sit-down meals at everyday prices. It draws steady multi-platform crowds for straightforward tacos, big portions, and a reliable late-night option that still feels local rather than corporate.
Must-Try Dishes:
Al pastor taco, Carne asada taco, House cactus taco
What Makes it Special: Classic Logan Square taqueria with deeply satisfying tacos and strong value.
8.7
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Comfort Food Classics
Group Dining Gatherings
A birria specialist that keeps the menu tight and the execution repeatable—goat-forward flavor, tortillas that hold up, and a consommé built for dipping. It’s the kind of place locals use as a destination meal, not a casual “maybe” pick, especially when you order in the quesabirria-and-plate lane.
Must-Try Dishes:
Quesabirria tacos with consommé, Birria plate (goat), Consommé bowl
What Makes it Special: A focused birria menu that delivers the same deep, dip-ready flavor every time.
8.7
Cafe El Tapatio is a 1974-born Lakeview staple where Burrito Suizo plates, fajitas, and margaritas share space with a neon-lit dining room and patio. High volume and decades of regulars make it the neighborhood’s most established option for sit-down burrito dinners with cocktails.
Must-Try Dishes:
Burrito Suizo, L.A. Califa Burrito, Burrito Bowl
What Makes it Special: 1974-born Lakeview institution where margaritas and burritos share a busy patio.
8.7
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Birthday & Celebration Central
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Trendy Table Hotspots
El Nuevo Mexicano is a longtime Lakeview restaurant (at this Clark Street address since 1983) pairing margaritas and a broad menu with an unexpectedly deep back dining room and all-weather patio. With well over 1,000 combined reviews and many mentions in local guides, it balances classic enchiladas and fajitas with vegan and gluten-free options while staying reasonable for sit-down Mexican.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Enchiladas, Carnitas Chipotle, Queso Fundido
What Makes it Special: A 40-plus-year Clark Street fixture with a big patio and flexible menu, from mole enchiladas to vegan chiles rellenos.
#11
Kie-Gol-Lanee
8.7
A polished Uptown dining room for Oaxaca-leaning cooking where moles, tamales, and handmade tortillas carry the meal. It’s strongest when you order like a table—one mole-driven entrée, one masa staple, and a mezcal cocktail to match.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tlayuda, Tamales oaxaqueños, Mole entrée (seasonal)
What Makes it Special: Oaxacan specialties with serious mole depth and refined execution.
#12
L' Patron Tacos
8.7
L’Patron is a counter-service staple where carne asada, al pastor, and poblano rajas tacos come off the grill with freshly butchered meats and bright salsas. Lines and limited seating are part of the deal, but locals treat it as a go-to for made-to-order tacos and tortas that still feel hand-crafted despite the volume.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carne asada taco, Al pastor taco, Poblano rajas taco
What Makes it Special: High-volume counter spot where freshly butchered meats drive standout tacos.
8.7
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
Group Dining Gatherings
Trendy Table Hotspots
Sabroso! Mexican Grill is a family-run spot on Ashland where homestyle recipes show up as hefty California burritos, sizzling fajitas, and brunch plates in a casual BYOB room. Locals in West Town and Ukrainian Village use it for everything from weekend brunch to relaxed dinners when they want generous portions, fresh salsas, and warm service. High review volume across platforms points to a consistently reliable neighborhood anchor for Mexican comfort food.
Must-Try Dishes:
California Burrito, Pork Tamale, Chamorro Plate
What Makes it Special: Homestyle, family-recipe Mexican plates and brunch in a welcoming BYOB setting.
#14
Sol de Mexico
8.7
A destination-level Mexican kitchen that leans into deep, layered sauces and composed plates rather than quick taqueria hits. The moles are the move—built for slow, intentional dining with cocktails and a full meal arc.
Must-Try Dishes:
Borrego En Mole Negro, Uchepos Gratinados, Sopa Azteca
What Makes it Special: Mole-driven, sauce-forward cooking built for a full sit-down experience.
8.7
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Hidden Gems Heaven
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
A North Center staple for more than three decades, Taqueria El Asadero focuses almost entirely on grilled skirt steak tacos, burritos, and other no-frills standards. The constantly sizzling plancha, fresh tortillas, and cash-only counter setup keep the line moving for both quick lunches and late-night takeout.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carne asada tacos, Lengua tacos, Steak burrito
What Makes it Special: Skirt steak is grilled nonstop for some of the area’s most beloved carne asada tacos.
Vibes:
Birthday & Celebration Central
Group Dining Gatherings
Happy Hour Hotspots
Trendy Table Hotspots
Tecalitlan is a multigenerational Mexican restaurant that’s been drawing Chicagoans since 1973, now operating out of a lively Clybourn Corridor space in NEWCITY. Generous portions of classics like quesabirria and fajitas meet a deep margarita list, making it a go-to for birthdays, group dinners, and pre-event meals.
Must-Try Dishes:
Quesabirria Dinner, Al Pastor Burrito, Shrimp Fajitas
What Makes it Special: Family-run staple since 1973 with big plates and bigger margaritas.
#17
Tzuco
8.7
Vibes:
Date Night Magic
Trendy Table Hotspots
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Birthday & Celebration Central
Chef Carlos Gaytán’s Tzuco fuses French technique with Mexican flavors in a plant-filled, design-forward dining room. Signature dishes like cochinita pibil and aguachiles make it a go-to for date nights and upscale group dinners that still feel lively rather than stiff.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cochinita Pibil pork shank, Esquites con carne, Hamachi jaws
What Makes it Special: Chef-driven French-Mexican plates served in a lush, design-focused space.
8.6
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Late Night Legends
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Angela’s Burrito Style is a family-run counter spot famous for hulking California-style burritos, late-night hours, and fast-moving lines of bar-goers. It’s the move when you want a stuffed burrito or tacos at 2 or 3 a.m. without spending much or sitting down for a full service meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
California Burrito Grande, Carne Asada Burrito Grande, Steak Quesadilla with Meat
What Makes it Special: A late-night burrito counter turning out huge, California-style burritos until 5 a.m.
Plant-based comfort-food counter where burritos, birria burritos, and chimichangas come in fully vegetarian and mostly vegan builds. Diners lean on it for indulgent burrito-style plates that still stay meat-free, from brunch through late lunch and dinner.
Must-Try Dishes:
Birria burritos with plant-based protein, Loaded breakfast burrito, Crispy chimichanga with vegan cheese
What Makes it Special: Vegetarian and vegan comfort food where burritos and birria burritos are headline items.
#20
Carnitas Uruapan
8.6
A Pilsen carnitas institution built for takeout: rich, slow-cooked pork with the kind of seasoned-fat depth that holds up whether you go taco-by-taco or by the half-pound. Order like a regular—carnitas plus chicharrones—then use their salsas to tune the heat and acidity.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carnitas Especial, Chicharrones, Corundas (cheese tamales)
What Makes it Special: Michoacán-style carnitas with proven consistency at massive local volume.
8.6
A taco-and-cocktail spot that works for happy hour when you want real food with your drink, not just bar snacks. The menu hits hardest in the fish-and-steak lane, and the room keeps things casual enough for a quick round or a longer hang.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crispy fish taco, Steak taco, Pozole
What Makes it Special: Liquor-forward taco shop with crowd-pleasing staples and real cocktails.
Cocina Tarascas is a long-running Lincoln Park standby (since 1998) where sizzling fajitas, burritos, and strong margaritas anchor a lively tequila-focused dining room. A broad menu, weekend Mexican breakfast, and a busy Clark Street patio make it a default choice for groups wanting classic sit-down Mexican with cocktails.
Must-Try Dishes:
Burrito Tarasco, Mahi Mahi tacos, Chicken flautas
What Makes it Special: A 1990s-era Lincoln Park fixture with huge platters, strong margaritas, and a busy patio.
Federales’ Logan Square outpost is a sprawling tequila-and-taco bar built for rowdy happy hours, with ice-shot bell ringing, a retractable-roof space, and a big patio. Tacos, nachos, and margaritas move fast enough to serve crowds that treat it as a group meet-up spot before longer nights out.
Must-Try Dishes:
Grande Nachos, Al Pastor Tacos, Chicken Fajitas
What Makes it Special: High-capacity tequila and taco bar with retractable roof and late-night energy.
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Family Friendly Favorites
Hidden Gems Heaven
Family-run since 1990, this Costa Rican standby near the Milwaukee Avenue corridor serves casados, grilled meats, and the city’s most famous oatmeal shake in a no-frills dining room. Massive multi-thousand-review volume and steady crowds make it a proven choice for hearty, affordable plates that still feel personal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pepito Sandwich, Casado Dinner Plate, Avena (Oatmeal Shake)
What Makes it Special: One of Chicago’s only Costa Rican restaurants, serving longtime regulars with big-portion comfort plates and iconic shakes.
#25
La Josie
8.6
A modern Jalisco-leaning room that shines when you order in a tight taco-and-shareables lane, backed by a deep tequila and mezcal program. The kitchen’s strongest plays are crispy, rich birria-style bites and bright, acid-forward seafood starters that keep the meal feeling paced instead of heavy.
Must-Try Dishes:
Quesa-birrias (beer birria) with consomé, Aguachile verde, Arrachera tacos (skirt steak)
What Makes it Special: Jalisco-forward cooking with a serious agave bar and rooftop energy.
#26
Lonesome Rose
8.6
Lonesome Rose is an all-day Tex-Mex–leaning bar and restaurant where margaritas, quesaritos, and breakfast tacos share space with a daily weekday happy hour. The bright, plant-filled room and upstairs/downstairs layout make it a flexible choice for early-evening drinks, small plates, and casual meetups.
Must-Try Dishes:
Quesarito, Baja Burrito, Chorizo Breakfast Taco
What Makes it Special: Tex-Mex–inspired bar with a strong margarita program and weekday happy hour on tacos and drinks.
#27
Mas Alla del Sol
8.6
A polished Magnolia Glen dining room with a full bar where the kitchen leans into classic plates and seafood-accented starters rather than taqueria shortcuts. Locals come for sit-down Mexican dinners that feel like an occasion—order a composed entree, add ceviche or queso, and let the margarita program carry the night.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carne Asada, Shrimp & Tilapia Ceviche, Enchiladas
What Makes it Special: A full-service Mexican dining room with bar energy and composed entrees in Magnolia Glen.
#28
Pueblo Nuevo
8.6
A neighborhood Mexican kitchen where the taco program holds up best when you stay in the steak-and-al-pastor lane and lean into the house soups. It’s a dependable repeat stop for a focused order: tacos first, then one deeper-cut comfort dish when you have time.
Must-Try Dishes:
Steak Tacos, Pastor Taco, Green Chicken Pozole
What Makes it Special: Steak-and-pastor tacos backed by comforting pozole for colder days.
8.6
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Hidden Gems Heaven
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Taqueria Tejupilco is a compact East Lakeview counter spot turning out street-style tacos, burritos, and sopes at genuinely budget-friendly prices. Delivery platforms show hundreds of 4.8-star ratings for its lengua, birria, and pastor, making it one of the most consistently praised cheap Mexican options in the neighborhood.
Must-Try Dishes:
Steak Taco, Pastor Burrito, Birria Taco
What Makes it Special: A tiny Broadway taqueria with 4.8-rated tacos and serious value.
8.6
Vibes:
Date Night Magic
Girls Night Out Approved
Trendy Table Hotspots
Birthday & Celebration Central
An Edison Park dinner spot that leans into a Mexican steakhouse identity—big proteins, composed plates, and a bar program built for lingering. The best experience is treating it like a steakhouse first (one premium cut or arrachera-style order), then layering in shareables to set the table.
Must-Try Dishes:
Arrachera (skirt steak), Empanadas, Steak tacos
What Makes it Special: A Mexican-forward steakhouse format with a full evening-drinks rhythm in Edison Park.
8.6
XOchimilco is a family-owned Ravenswood spot known for its polished dining room, strong margaritas, and a menu that runs from chilaquiles and enchiladas to house steaks. Locals treat it as a neighborhood go-to for sit-down dinners and special-occasion brunches that still feel relaxed.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pollo en mole, Chilaquiles verdes, XO steak
What Makes it Special: Family-run Mexican restaurant pairing hearty plates with a cocktail-focused dining room.
#32
Antique Taco
8.5
Vibes:
Trendy Table Hotspots
Quick Bites Champions
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Family Friendly Favorites
Antique Taco is a design-forward taqueria where market-driven fillings, horchata, and seasonal sides turn tacos into a sit-down meal. Wicker Park regulars lean on it for composed plates and cocktails when they want something more polished than a grab-and-go counter.
Must-Try Dishes:
Steak Taco, Fish Tempura Taco, Potato Poblano Taco
What Makes it Special: Chef-y tacos with composed toppings in a stylish, cozy space.
8.5
Big Star turns Wicker Park’s Damen and North corner into a taco-and-bourbon patio party, with al pastor and pork belly tacos backed by a deep whiskey list. Huge review volume and constant crowds make it one of the city’s most visible modern taquerias, especially for outdoor season and late nights. It’s less about quiet meals and more about tacos, pitchers, and people-watching in a high-energy setting.
Must-Try Dishes:
Al Pastor Taco, Pork Belly Taco, Beer-Battered Fish Taco
What Makes it Special: A high-energy taco-and-bourbon patio that defined modern Wicker Park hangs.
8.5
Vibes:
Late Night Legends
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Group Dining Gatherings
Opened in 2017 by River North Hospitality, Big Wig is the neighborhood’s high-volume, late-night taco counter built around grilled skirt steak and customizable vessels. With thousands of app ratings and steady bar-traffic demand, it’s the reliable move for fast tacos, burritos, and nachos before or after a night out.
Must-Try Dishes:
Classic Premium Skirt Steak Taco, Classic Everyday Tacos (onion and cilantro), Loaded nachos with queso and choice of protein
What Makes it Special: High-volume counter spot focused on skirt steak tacos, big portions, and late hours.
#35
Carnitas Uruapan
8.5
A carnitas-first specialist where the move is to build tacos from richly cooked pork cuts and keep the order focused. It’s a daytime stop built for quick service, big flavor, and repeatable comfort when you stick to the core carnitas lane.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tacos Dorados, Pork Carnitas, Chicharrones
What Makes it Special: Carnitas-focused menu that shines when you order by the core pork cuts.
Mi Nueva Tierra is a 2020-opening cantina in the Lathrop Homes stretch of Lincoln Park, built around scratch-made chilaquiles, street-style tacos, and a strong margarita program. TVs for games, a dog-friendly patio, and a menu that runs from pozole to carne asada make it a flexible pick for brunch, drinks, or casual group dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Green chilaquiles, Grilled steak tacos, Pozole Norteño
What Makes it Special: A modern Mexican cantina with from-scratch brunch, solid tacos, and plenty of TVs for games.
8.5
Flaco's Tacos is a fast-casual taco counter just off the Mag Mile, turning out house-marinated steak, al pastor, and chicken tacos with margaritas at student-friendly prices. Open since 2011 in this Gold Coast/Near North stretch, it’s the most broadly validated taco-specific stop in 60611 for a quick, satisfying plate.
Must-Try Dishes:
House-Marinated Steak Taco, Ancho Chicken Taco, Al Pastor Taco
What Makes it Special: Local mini-chain spot where the focus is straightforward, well-seasoned tacos and margaritas a block off Michigan Avenue.
8.5
La Catrina is a sit-down Mexican restaurant in the Diversey corridor known for birria, lengua, and other taco plates paired with strong margaritas. The room leans colorful and lively rather than hushed, making it a neighborhood choice when you want a full dinner built around tacos and shared appetizers.
Must-Try Dishes:
Birria tacos with consomé, Lengua tacos, Queso fundido
What Makes it Special: Colorful full-service spot where birria and margaritas anchor taco-focused dinners.
#39
Mercadito
8.5
Mercadito runs a loud, cocktail-heavy room built around shareable tacos, guacamoles, and ceviches. It’s a staple for pre-club dinners and group outings where guests want modern plates, pitchers of margaritas, and a party-forward River North feel.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tradicional Guacamole, Pastor Tacos, Ceviche de Camaron
What Makes it Special: High-energy tacos-and-tequila hub with multiple guacamoles and strong drinks.
#40
Mirra
8.5
Chefs Rishi Kumar and Zubair Mohajir weave Indian and Mexican traditions into bold, spice-forward dishes like crispy scallop tacos in fenugreek roti shells and lamb barbacoa biryani sealed under buttery roti. The Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient opened August 2024 and has quickly become Bucktown's most talked-about reservation, earning a spot on Eater's Best New Restaurants in America list.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crispy Scallop Tacos with Green Curry, Lamb Barbacoa Biryani, Mirra Mezze
What Makes it Special: Chicago's only Indian-Mexican fusion restaurant from a James Beard semifinalist chef, backed by a Michelin Bib Gourmand
8.5
Mis Moles in Irving Park centers its menu around deeply layered moles and slow-cooked Yucatecan dishes in a comfortable, modern room. The kitchen takes a from-scratch approach that makes this one of the city’s most compelling stops for exploring regional Mexican sauces.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mole trio tasting, Pollo en mole verde, Cochinita pibil
What Makes it Special: A mole-focused kitchen where multiple regional sauces share the spotlight.
8.5
Mixteco Mexican Grill is a healthy-leaning fast casual spot known for Azteca, Works, and Baja shrimp burritos built with cilantro-lime rice, salsas, and guacamole. Online ordering, catering, and consistent execution make it a go-to Lakeview option for modern, Chipotle-alternative burritos.
Must-Try Dishes:
Azteca Burrito, Baja Shrimp Burrito, Surf 'n' Turf Burrito
What Makes it Special: Healthy-leaning fast casual burrito shop with deep customization and strong takeout.
#43
Taqueria Chingon
8.5
Taqueria Chingón’s Fulton Market home turns out chef-driven Mexico City–inspired tacos on housemade tortillas in a compact, high-energy space. Locals line up for trompo al pastor, duck carnitas, and rotating specials that have earned the shop attention from the Michelin Guide and national food press.
Must-Try Dishes:
Al pastor taco, Duck carnitas taco, Shrimp gobernador taco
What Makes it Special: Inventive, chef-led tacos on housemade tortillas with Michelin recognition.
8.5
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
Hidden Gems Heaven
Taqueria Mazamitla in Avondale is a family-run spot known for extra-crispy al pastor, well-charred steak, and a long menu of classic Mexican plates. The room is casual and often buzzing, with complimentary chips and salsa and daily specials that keep regulars coming back.
Must-Try Dishes:
Al pastor tacos, Steak tacos, Tripas tacos
What Makes it Special: High-volume neighborhood taqueria with especially strong al pastor and steak.
#45
Xoco
8.5
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Family Friendly Favorites
Xoco is Rick Bayless’s counter-service spot for tortas, caldos, and churros, pulling steady lines of River North office workers and tourists. The food leans comforting and bold—smoky pork, crispy chicken, deep broths—served fast enough for lunch but satisfying enough for a casual dinner.
Must-Try Dishes:
Baja Chicken Torta, Ahogada Torta, Churro Sundae
What Makes it Special: High-flavor tortas, soups, and churros from a counter-service Bayless spot.
A full-service Pilsen Mexican dining room where the menu’s best moves lean regional and sauce-driven—moles, slow-cooked pork, and composed plates that reward a paced order. It’s strongest when you anchor the table with one mole-forward dish and one cochinita-style option, then keep the rest tight.
Must-Try Dishes:
Trio de Tacos con Mole, Cochinita Pibil Entree, Puerco Al Rancho (Mole Estilo Guerrero)
What Makes it Special: A mole-forward Pilsen staple with crowd-proof reliability and depth.
8.4
Aztec Dave’s Cantina is the brick-and-mortar evolution of a popular food truck, serving birria, guajillo shrimp tacos, and tortas alongside agave-heavy cocktails. Humboldt Park regulars use it as a game-day bar and dinner stop when they want upgraded tacos with a full bar and TVs.
Must-Try Dishes:
Birria Tacos, Guajillo Shrimp Taco, Carne Asada Torta
What Makes it Special: Food-truck-born cantina with standout birria tacos and a serious tequila program.
#48
Baha Restaurant
8.4
A mariscos-forward spot that leans into bold coastal flavors—think bright ceviches, saucy shrimp plates, and seafood that’s meant to be paired with a cocktail. It’s strongest when you order like a table: one chilled starter, one hot seafood main, and keep the drink lane moving.
Must-Try Dishes:
Aguachile, Ceviche, Salmon
What Makes it Special: Mariscos-driven menu built for ceviche + cocktail pairing.
#49
Bar Sótano
8.4
Hidden beneath Clark Street, Bar Sótano is an agave-focused speakeasy with a serious small-plates kitchen. Mezcal-heavy cocktails meet tlayudas, aguachiles, and bar bites that feel more chef-driven than typical bar food, making it ideal for nights that start with drinks and end as dinner.
Must-Try Dishes:
Black mole tlayuda, Bone marrow esquites, Shrimp and scallop aguachile
What Makes it Special: Mezcal-centric basement bar where inventive Mexican small plates match the cocktails.
#50
Bárbaro Taquería
8.4
Barbaro Taqueria y Cantina brings an agave-forward bar program and polished dining room to a menu of pancita tacos, signature Taco Bárbaro, and modern Mexican snacks. It functions as a neighborhood cantina where cocktails and plated tacos share equal billing, especially for date nights and small-group dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pancita taco, Taco Bárbaro, Queso fundido
What Makes it Special: Modern cantina marrying serious agave cocktails with creative pancita and carne tacos.