Best Mexican Restaurants in Williamsburg
16 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Jajaja Mexicana
Plant-based Mexican spot where inventive vegan tacos and mezcal cocktails feel fun rather than fussy.
Notable Picks
8.7
Jajaja Mexicana’s Williamsburg outpost is a plant-based Mexican restaurant where vegan tacos, colorful plates, and mezcal cocktails stay relatively accessible for the neighborhood. Tacos like the Buffalo Flower and Chipotle Sweet Potato clock in around the mid-teens for a full plate, making it one of the better value options in the area for groups that want to linger over drinks and shareable food.
Must-Try Dishes:
Buffalo Flower Tacos, Chipotle Sweet Potato Tacos, Our Birria Tacos
What Makes it Special: Plant-based Mexican spot where inventive vegan tacos and mezcal cocktails feel fun rather than fussy.
#2
Xixa
8.6
Xixa is a chef-driven, wine-focused Mexican spot where happy hour overlaps with inventive small plates, serious cocktails, and a flexible tasting menu at the bar. Early evenings tilt more toward couples and friends splitting duck carnitas and elote over agave spirits before the room gets louder and more energetic later at night.
Must-Try Dishes:
1/2 Duck Carnitas, Foie Gras al Pastor, Buffalo-Style Elote
What Makes it Special: Tasting-menu caliber Mexican cooking and deep wine list wrapped in a moody, candlelit bar setting.
#3
De Mole
8.5
Family-run De Mole brings Puebla-style cooking to a cozy Williamsburg corner, built around a deeply layered mole that takes days to make. Locals rely on it for generous plates, reliable brunch, and classic Mexican comfort at price points that still feel reasonable for the neighborhood.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pollo con mole poblano, Enchiladas de pollo con mole, Al pastor tacos
What Makes it Special: Slow-simmered Puebla-style mole and generous, homey plates.
#4
Santa Fe BK
8.4
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
Group Dining Gatherings
Trendy Table Hotspots
Santa Fe BK channels New Mexican flavors into Brooklyn, from green chile breakfast burritos to smothered burros and enchiladas. It works as an all-day spot where you can grab a loaded burrito at lunch or settle in at night for margaritas and chile-forward plates that still land under typical Williamsburg dinner prices.
Must-Try Dishes:
Green chile breakfast burrito, Smothered burro with red or green chile, Chicken enchiladas
What Makes it Special: New Mexican green chile and smothered burritos rare in NYC.
8.3
Mole is a long-running Mexican bar and grill on Kent where tableside guacamole, enchiladas, and a big tequila list drive lively dinners. It’s the dependable choice for groups who want sit-down Mexican with familiar plates, strong margaritas, and a neighborhood feel.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tableside guacamole, Enchiladas suizas, Carne asada tacos
What Makes it Special: Classic sit-down Mexican with tableside guacamole and a deep tequila and margarita list.
#6
Zona Rosa
8.3
Zona Rosa delivers traditional Mexican tacos from a retro‑style Spartan trailer, with a rooftop deck perfect for late‑night margaritas and taco runs. Locals appreciate the laid‑back vibe and solid execution of al pastor and carnitas tacos well past dinner hours.
Must-Try Dishes:
Al Pastor Taco, Carnitas Taco, Weekend Margaritas
What Makes it Special: Tacos from a 1956 Spartan trailer with a rooftop deck vibe.
#7
Cantina 138
8.2
Cantina 138 is a newer Williamsburg cantina built around happy hour margaritas, brunch, and DJ-fueled nights where the bar feels as central as the kitchen. Shrimp tacos, fajitas, and burrito bowls come out alongside colorful cocktails, with sports on TV and a crowd that trends social and celebratory rather than strictly dinner-focused.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shrimp Tacos, Fajitas, Burrito Bowl
What Makes it Special: Energy-forward cantina with daily happy hour, strong margaritas, and a social, music-driven room.
8.1
Hidden behind a storefront on Kent, The Cactus Shop runs like a Mexican-leaning speakeasy with cocktails first and tacos, flautas, and snacks to back them up. It’s where Williamsburg leans for date-y drinks, brunch plates, and late-night rounds in a lush, plant-filled room.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tinga quesadilla, Esquites chilangos, Flautas de birria
What Makes it Special: Speakeasy-style Mexican bar where cocktails share equal billing with tacos and snacks.
#9
Esse Taco
8
Esse Taco delivers casual counter‑service tacos in central Williamsburg, popular for quick bites and solid tacos without the fuss. It’s a good mid‑tier option when you want freshness and affordability, especially if you don’t need frills or late‑night cocktails.
Must-Try Dishes:
Adobada Taco, Al Pastor Taco, Veggie Taco
What Makes it Special: Casual tacos with good value on Bedford Ave.
Worthy Picks
#10
Taco Santana
7.9
Taco Santana offers straightforward tacos and burritos late into the night — a basic but reliable go‑to for budget‑conscious taco lovers in Williamsburg. Its no‑frills menu and central location make it a frequent stop after bars close.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carne Asada Taco, Al Pastor Burrito, Fries + Santana Burrito
What Makes it Special: Late‑night, wallet‑friendly tacos and burritos.
#11
Disco Tacos
7.9
Vibes:
Trendy Table Hotspots
Girls Night Out Approved
Quick Bites Champions
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Disco Tacos sits just off North 6th with a small, disco-influenced dining room, mezcal-heavy bar program, and tacos that are priced reasonably for the area. It’s less bare-bones than a classic taqueria but still keeps taco plates and nachos within a casual budget, especially if you treat it as a pre-show stop rather than a long, cocktail-heavy dinner.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fish Tacos, Disco Nachos with Steak, Churro Doughnuts
What Makes it Special: Retro-leaning taco bar near the waterfront where tacos, mezcal, and a playful soundtrack come as a package.
7.8
Mexico 2000 is a lively cantina-style spot where big plates of tacos, birria, and quesadillas meet strong margaritas and frequent drink specials. It’s the kind of place where you can stretch a budget, linger on the back patio, and still get a full sit-down Mexican meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Birria tacos, Chicken quesadilla, Chips with guacamole
What Makes it Special: Huge portions, strong margaritas, and late-night-friendly pricing.
#13
La Cocina Tacos
7.8
A late-night taco truck parked by East River Bar turning out straightforward tacos and burritos for the South Side crowd. It functions as an after-hours refuel stop for bar-goers who want something hot and filling before heading home.
Must-Try Dishes:
Steak Tacos, Chicken Tacos, Burritos
What Makes it Special: Late-night tacos served curbside steps from the Williamsburg Bridge.
Vibes:
Late Night Legends
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Parked near the North 11th waterfront late into the night, this hybrid halal-and-Mexican truck fuels club exits and concert crowds with over-rice platters, tacos, and quesadillas. It’s the reliable answer when everything else has gone dark and you still want something hot and filling.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Over Rice with White Sauce, Lamb Over Rice, Chicken Quesadilla
What Makes it Special: A near-24-hour truck turning out halal platters and Mexican favorites until the early morning.
7.8
Taqueria Casa Imelda is a casual South Williamsburg spot for sizable burritos, bowls, and late-night tacos at softer pricing. It’s the move when you want counter-friendly Mexican with generous portions and a full bar without leaving the immediate neighborhood.
Must-Try Dishes:
Traditional birria tacos, Steak supreme burrito, Grilled shrimp quesadilla
What Makes it Special: Neighborhood taqueria known for big, affordable burritos and late-night tacos.
#16
Tacombi
7.7
Tacombi’s Williamsburg outpost brings the brand’s Yucatán-born taco stand aesthetic to a larger neighborhood space, with Baja fish, al pastor, and snacks backed by cocktails and aguas frescas. It’s not the cheapest on this list, but works when you want sit-down tacos with a bit more scene while still staying below full-on restaurant pricing.
Must-Try Dishes:
Baja fish tacos, Al pastor tacos, Elote or esquites
What Makes it Special: Beachy taco-stand energy with polished service and a full bar.