Whether you’re in the mood to go all out for Taco Tuesday or you’re simply a sucker for some great chips and guac, these top-rated Mexican restaurants have something for everyone. Pair your queso with a margarita or try a vegetarian take on a traditionally meaty dish. According to Yelp users, these are the top spots in the city for Mexican cuisine right now.
1. Mazunte Taqueria 5207 Madison Road, Oakley “I LOVE Mazunte. No joke I drive 40 mins. to eat here without hesitation. Their elote is my favorite and comparable to elote I have had in South America. The three mixed tacos I feel are the best deal as you can get any meat you like, giving you a variety.” — Megan B. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
2. La Mexicana Restaurant & Grocery 642 Monmouth St., Newport “I think I’d be content if La Mexicana was my last meal. The chips are glorious. I would eat them all day if I could. They always come out hot and crunchy. I’ve yet to try their guacamole because I just dive into eating the chips. Plain. I tried the salsa which was fine but those chips are perfect how they are. I’ve had the corn truffle taco which was really good, too, but something about those pumpkin flower tacos just blows me away.” — Beth H. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
3. Tortilleria Garcia 5917 Hamilton Ave., College Hill; 11774 Springfield Pike, Springdale “Calling all vegetarians and meatatarians and foodies. Get in here. The tortillas are one of the best that I have had in the city. The ingredients are fresh and the tacos are indeed tasty. As a vegetarian, I applaud that all of their beans are veggie friendly and tasty. Like other reviewers have noted, the flavors are simple. The salsas are delicious and up the spiciness/flavor level. But you cannot beat the price or the service. Everyone was super friendly and our made-to-order items were ready lightning fast. Such a welcome addition to the College Hill area!!” — Eileen E. Photo: Paige Deglow
4. El Taco Veloz 7 Martin Luther King Drive E., Corryville “If a high rating is a factor of quality, value, and convenience, then El Taco Veloz hits high marks. It is located very near my place of work so I am so relieved that it is also delicious. Really affordable, too, with $3 tacos and $3.50 sopes. They give the table chips and salsa, too, which is great. The el pastor is my favorite, as usual, but I’ve also enjoyed both the carne asada and barbacoa, too. I love sopes and have been ordering them religiously on my visits, but I can’t wait to also try the huaraches and maybe a burrito sometime.” — Samantha S. Photo via Facebook/ElTacosVeloz
5. Nada 600 Walnut St., Downtown “Nada is such a vibrantly beautiful, modern Mexican spot that sits in the heart of downtown Cincinnati. I was unfamiliar with it until someone had their birthday here, and now I’m so glad to be acquainted with it! Mexican is my all-time favorite ethnic food, and Nada puts a cool twist on all of their dishes. It’s the perfect place for brunching, as we did, and they have an awesome outdoor patio. Probably one of my favorite restaurants that I’ve come across in the city. Can’t wait to come back!” — Shelby Z. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
6. Taqueria San Marcos 5201 Carthage Ave., Norwood “Looking for a local authentic Mexican restaurant? Look no further. The food at Taqueria San Marcos will make you want to return over and over again. There are several options for tacos that come with a variety of sauce options. They also have great burritos, taco salads, and quesadillas, but the tacos are where it’s at. I wouldn’t recommend coming with a large group though, but the sweetest lady will be waiting on you. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a new Mexican restaurant in the area.” — Holly G. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
7. La Fiesta Mexico 1195 W. Kemper Road, Forest Park “Was out running errands after work and needed a quick place to stop and decided to try this place out finally! They offer complimentary chips and salsa when you are seated, which are wonderful. The salsa has a nice spice to it and tastes fresh. I decided on the fajita taco salad, which was delivered pretty shortly after having ordered my food. The fajitas were full of flavor and it was a great portion size. The staff were friendly and attentive. I would return here in the future to try out some other dishes!” — Karlie B. Photo via Facebook/LaFiestMexico
8. Taqueria Cruz 518 Pike St., Covington “This place is my favorite place for tacos. It is not fancy, but I think it is the best place to buy tacos in the Cincinnati area. It is the most authentic tacos you can get. The lunch menu is extremely affordable. $3.99 for two tacos. There are not many places you can get four tacos for $8, especially with this quality. This place is cash only and parking is easy. My coworkers and I come here for lunch regularly and we always have great experience. I usually get al pastor tacos, and the flavor is just sooooo rich. In fact, their al pastor is actually much better than a lot of al pastor I tried in Mexico.” — Jinghan W. Photo: Google Street View 8. Taqueria Cruz 518 Pike St., Covington “This place is my favorite place for tacos. It is not fancy, but I think it is the best place to buy tacos in the Cincinnati area. It is the most authentic tacos you can get. The lunch menu is extremely affordable. $3.99 for two tacos. There are not many places you can get four tacos for $8, especially with this quality. This place is cash only and parking is easy. My coworkers and I come here for lunch regularly and we always have great experience. I usually get al pastor tacos, and the flavor is just sooooo rich. In fact, their al pastor is actually much better than a lot of al pastor I tried in Mexico.” — Jinghan W. Photo: Google Street View
9. Bakersfield 1213 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine “From the old westerns on the TVs to the fun themed interior, there’s nothing not to love. I’m not even sure why I haven’t reviewed before, but it’s worth doing now because OH MY GOD Y’ALL THE CAULIFLOWER. They just added a roasted cauliflower side to the menu and it is out-of-this-world delicious. Get it. Dip your chips in it. Top your tacos with it. Enjoy a little sip of your marg after. Thank me later. For the record, they do have the best quac in the city. I will whine till I’m blue in the face about puréed guac, and Bakersfield knows about keeping it chunky. Honestly, just go eat here. You know all you need to know now.” — Sami B. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
10. Veracruz Mexican Grill 3108 Price Ave., Price Hill “Anyhow, I for one, love the new look. It’s modern and yeah, maybe day of the dead motif and exposed brick are overdone but I love it. It’s bright and happy and welcoming. And STILL family-owned and authentic. And SPACIOUS. If you’ve gone to any number of the most popular non-chain Mexican restaurants they’re all pretty tiny on the inside. You’ll quickly discover the chips are a must. Guacamole is pretty good too. The tacos are great. I had a burrito with shrimp and cheese sauce — v. yum! Friend had the supreme quesadilla with chorizo — sooo good!!! I’m definitely a proud supporter and will be back!” — Lauren R. Photo via Facebook/VeracruzMexicanGrill
11. Gomez Salsa 2437 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills; 107 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine “Do you want 2,000 calories of goodness wrapped in fried dough smothered in spicy sauce? Then Gomez Salsa is the way. It’s not something to eat everyday but is definitely a place you can hang out and compensate for the lack of food all day because of work. The Gilbert Ave. location has places to sit and have a drink while chugging that great burrito or turtle. 10 pounds of overweight here I go!” — Miguel S. Photo: Lindsay McCarty
12. La Torta Loca 7101 Dixie Highway, Florence “I really enjoyed this place. We came in strangers and left friends, that’s how friendly the owners are. My husband and I tried a myriad of things to get a feel for the place, but I have to say my favorite thing was the tacos de carnitas. The flavor was rich and authentic. I look forward to going back. Also, one of the three options for salsa is a white sauce, which is essentially crack in a bottle. No clue what it is but I loved it.” — Justine Y. Photo via Facebook/LaTortaLocaKY
14. Taqueria Ramirez 6910 Burlington Pike, Florence “Taqueria Ramirez caught my eye from the street several times while running evening errands near my hotel. Looking over the Yelp reviews and seeing the words ‘authentic’ and ‘hole-in-the-wall’ pop up several times sealed the deal. Overall, I was very pleased to take that brief culinary journey for a grand total under $10. Next time I’m back in the area, I’ll happily seek out Taqueria Ramirez for another go!” — Brian B. Photo via Yelp/Jack L.
15. Maize 1438 Race St., Over-the-Rhine “The atmosphere here perfectly fits the cuisine. It definitely has a tropical South American feel. Despite how crowded it was, it was never too noisy nor did I feel cramped at the bar. The bar also has a large TV which they had the Reds game on. Outside on the sidewalk there is a walk up bar with seats if you prefer to enjoy your cocktail along with the nice weather! I recommend reserving a table ahead if you prefer dining that way, which can be done from their website or by phone. They look to have a great happy hour AND even a Sunday brunch. I really enjoyed this place and can’t wait to come back a bunch more!” — Heather L. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
16. Taqueria El Monarca 11449 Princeton Pike, Springdale “We’ve been twice now and it’s pretty good! My husband, father-in-law, and mother-in-law love the street corn. I’ve had plenty of tacos and the steak and shrimp are amazing! Very simple, fresh and to the point. My daughter loves the black beans and guacamole. All salsas are good! Can’t go wrong here.” — Sarah B. Photo via Facebook/TaqueriaElMonarca
17. La Canasta 7812 Colerain Ave., Colerain “What an amazing little gem. This neighborhood Mexican grocery has a taqueria hidden in the back. My wife and I have been coming here for years and I have tried most everything on the menu. I don’t think I have ever had carnitas quite as amazing as the ones here. The best way to get the carnitas is stuffed into a large torta sandwich, which they layer with refried beans, avocado, pickled jalapeños and more. They have a variety of other meats as well, including more exotic ones like lengua, tripas and cesos. All are delicious.” — Bill S. Photo: Google Street View
18. Frida 602 602 Main St., Covington “They have a rather long list of tequila and mezcal. You can even order flights to try a variety. Reasonably priced as well. Additionally, they serve beer, wine, margaritas and cocktails. You could def come here just to drink. I think they have specials on certain nights, too. I would say their tacos are a little more on the trendy side in comparison to other more traditional taco places. They range between $4-$6 but you are getting more premium ingredients. I overwhelming liked Frida 602 and am excited to come back to try more of the menu. I recommend it to anyone — especially those looking for a nice bar to try new drinks in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.” — Taylor W. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
19. Acapulco 8101 Connector Drive, Florence “My hubby and I go here probably once every two months. They have the best margaritas ever. I have eaten their taco salads and carnitas. Tonight I tried something different, alambre, which is Mexican sausage, chicken, peppers, onions and pineapple. The sausage has some heat. The staff is always friendly and service is fast. You can’t go wrong eating and drinking here.” — Eileen B. Photo via acapulcocinci.com
20. Condado Tacos 195 Freedom Way E., Downtown “I really enjoyed the overall environment of this place. The walls are painted in bright and interesting colors and patterns, there are a lot of high-top tables, and it’s right on The Banks of Cincinnati so it is definitely a hot spot for young adults. The tacos, queso and salsas are pretty good, but the margaritas are what keep me coming back. You can do margarita flights and have three different flavors so you can figure out what you like! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE JALAPEÑO marg!!” — Chelsea S. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
21. Amigos Bar & Patio 950 Pavilion St., Mt. Adams “Ladies and gents, the wife and I are authentic Mexican food junkies and, folks, we just found the best tacos in Cincinnati! The asada tacos were fantastic and the carnitas tacos are also ‘your daddy’ amazing! This new joint is great! … Can’t wait to come back and try the pollo and chorizo tacos. This is a must-hit in the Mount Adams area! P.S. they have some great beers on tap!!” — Ken B. Photo via Facebook/AmigosBarAndPatio
22. Mi Ranchito 11737 Lebanon Road, Sharonville “This place was very good. The restaurant is on the smaller side, so I imagine it could get busy very quickly, but the server that was there was efficient. I ordered one taco and one torta (both carne asada). The taco was only $2 and came with a lot of meat. I could have eaten two of those and been full. The same story with the torta. The torta that they serve here was one of the biggest tortas I have ever seen. I was pleasantly surprised. I could eat only one half. Both of these items and my food was less than $10.” — Courtney R. Photo via Mi Ranchito Facebook
23. Gutierrez Deli 1131 Lee St., Covington “Forget everything you know about Mexican street food in Cincy. It’s all a lie and I found the truth at Gutierrez Deli. Stop what you’re doing and go to Gutierrez Deli; I’m about to change your life. The small Mexican grocer is unassuming. I have passed this place a million times and never once knew that I was passing by the Mexican food of my dreams. The menu has only three items: Tacos, burritos and quesadillas (all with the choice of chicken or beef).” — Tyler M. Photo via Facebook/GutierrezDeli
24. Mita’s Restaurant & Bar 501 Race St., Downtown “Mita’s offers a great tapas-style dining experience and flavorful small plates accompanied by delightful cocktails and impressive wine selection. Had a pleasure of dining twice and during my second visit was so happy to discover they changed the menu and removed big plates in favor of more tapas! More Spanish and Latin American, yes please! Now that the burger with fries is off of the menu, the place makes much more sense. The service is great, you can tell that the staff is well trained and I love how good the cocktails are.” — Magda C. Photo via Facebook/MitasCincinnati
25. Tacos El Joven 2157 Queen City Ave., Price Hill “I knew it was the spot when Mexican locals were swinging by to pick up their orders on their way home from work. They have a simple menu posted up on their food truck, and you DON’T see the Americanized versions that are loaded with sour cream and guac. The tacos are two layers of corn tortilla (super important!) topped with meat fresh off the grill, some onion, cilantro, and lime on the side. I had the asada (it had the texture of ground beef) and it was seasoned perfectly, served hot. My friends had the pollo tacos and the tortas, and gave rave reviews as well. Even though I live nowhere near the food truck, I am looking forward to making the drive out there to pick up tacos again soon!” — Tiffany C.