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13 Best Mexican Chain Restaurants in America

Mexican chicken fajitas with sauces on the table

Mexican food offers a delicious variety of flavors and cultural depth, and it has ingrained itself into American dining culture. A diverse range of eating venues in the US have embraced this culinary legacy, weaving together a tapestry of Mexican chain restaurants that highlight the best aspects of Mexican cuisine. In this article, we invite you to embark on a mouthwatering journey through America’s top destinations for Mexican cuisine, celebrating their commitment to delivering authentic and irresistible dishes. From sizzling fajitas and irresistible enchiladas to classic tacos and handcrafted margaritas, these eateries encapsulate the diversity and warmth of Mexican culture through their menus.


Chuy’s

Chuy’s
Source: Instagram

Originating in Austin, Texas, in 1982, Chuy’s was founded by Micheal Young and John Zapp. Chuy’s is the most inventive and quirky Tex-Mex chain on our list, keeping with its home city’s motto to “Keep Austin Weird.” These restaurants are decked out with Elvis and other retro memorabilia along with traditional Mexican decorations and ‘50s era brightly-colored vinyl booths and chairs. Their menu includes every Tex-Mex item under the sun including, enchiladas, fajitas, chile Rellenos, quesadillas, burritos, and bottomless baskets of chips, salsa, and their famous creamy jalapeno dip. One of the most popular menu items is the Chimichanga, a deep-fried burrito with a perfectly crunchy outer layer covered with your choice of creamy queso or creamy jalapeno sauce. This franchise has mastered the art of frying and has the best chips on earth.They currently have 95 restaurants in 19 U.S. states.


Baja Fresh

Baja Fresh
Source: Instagram

Baja Fresh first opened in 1990 in California, advertising Mexican food made with fresh, homemade ingredients. Baja Fresh prides itself on committing to non-processed and fresh ingredients, claiming that all ingredients come directly from the farm and all preparation methods are human-powered; cans, microwaves, freezers, and MSG are banned from Baja Fresh premises. Baja Fresh’s menu is simple, tasty, and, best of all, fresh. They serve burritos, salads, quesadillas, fajitas, tacos, nachos, and more. A popular menu item is the Baja Bowl, a sort of deconstructed burrito with rice, beans, meat or fish protein, and your choice of salsa. Due to the fresh, homemade concept, their salsas are especially delicious; choices include mango salsa, 6 Chiles, salsa verde, and Molcajete, to name a few. They currently have over 200 locations around the U.S.


Torchy’s Tacos

Torchy’s Tacos
Source: Instagram

Starting as a humble food truck in South Austin, Texas, Torchy’s Tacos quickly became the most popular taco joint in town and now has 75 locations with plans to open an additional 80 locations by 2023. Torchy’s tacos are not your average two-ingredient taco; they are unique, elaborate, and enormous tacos with at least seven ingredients and silly names like the Dirty Sanchez and the Trailer Park. They also have delicious sides like authentic Mexican Street corn, which is grilled corn topped with spicy mayo, lime juice, and cotija cheese. 

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Chipotle

Chipotle
Source: Instagram

Chipotle is a multinational Mexican fast-food chain specializing in burritos and burrito bowls with over 3000 locations in the U.S. alone. The first location opened in Denver, Colorado, in 1993, serving burritos inspired by San Francisco’s Mission District taquerias founder Steve Ells frequented during his time living there. Despite its fast-food designation, Chipotle breaks the mold by using fresh produce and natural, responsibly sourced meat and dairy products. All ingredients are visible to customers who choose which ingredients they want in their burrito or burrito bowl.Check out our favorite Chipotle orders!


Qdoba Mexican Eats

Qdoba Mexican Eats
Source: Instagram

Another Denver-native Mexican food chain, Qdoba, was originally called Zuma and changed its name a second time before settling on the widespread franchise we all know today. Qdoba’s two co-founders opened Zuma in 1995, and by the time it transformed into Qdoba, it began expanding. There are currently over 600 Qdoba locations in the U.S. Their concept is customizable Mexican platters that fit all dietary needs, including keto, gluten-free, and vegetarian. They have unique salsas like ancho-chile barbecue and special burrito menu items like roasted chile corn. Their most popular dip is the three-cheese queso, a creation that took years to perfect.


Taco Bell

Taco Bell
Source: Instagram

By far the largest, most globally famous franchise on the list, Taco Bell has over 7,000 locations worldwide, serving a whopping 2 billion customers annually. Taco Bell’s founder, Glen Bell, opened the first Taco Bell in Irvine, California, in 1962. Far from authentic Mexican food, Taco Bell’s menu is best described as Americanized Mexican food, where tacos come in a fried hardshell with shredded lettuce, cheese, and ground beef. Nevertheless, their Mexican-inspired menu items have garnered a cult following as well as countless memorable publicity feats; who will ever forget the series of commercials with the talking Chihuahua reciting “Yo Quiero Taco Bell”?


Del Taco

Del Taco
Source: Instagram

Originating in Yermo, California, in 1964, Del Taco has a mixed menu of Mexican and American fast-food items, including burgers and fries along with their famous and cheap tacos. They serve a mix of Tex-Mex tacos in soft flour tortillas with shredded cheese and fish or fajita grilled meats, but they also serve traditional, simpler Mexican meat and corn-tortilla tacos with the classic chopped onion and cilantro garnish you’ll see in authentic taquerias. There are currently 547 Del Taco locations across 16 states.


Moe’s Southwest Grill

Moe’s Southwest Grill
Source: Instagram

Founded in Atlanta in 2000, Moe’s Southwest Grill now has over 460 locations in the U.S. and internationally. Along with cute and catchy publicity campaigns and descriptions of their menu items, Moe’s prides itself on using fresh ingredients and humanely raised, steroid-free, high-quality meat products. With names like the Homewrecker Burrito or the Funk Meister tacos, eating at Moe’s is healthy and fun. They also have plenty of vegan items, using tofu as a protein instead of the standard rice and bean combo. A unique menu item is called the stack, which appears to be a sort of Mexican calzone with a soft grilled tortilla that encases a corn-chip shell stuffed with meat, gooey cheese, sour cream, black beans, tomatoes, and cilantro. 

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Taco Cabana

Taco Cabana
Source: Instagram

Another Texas-native chain and favorite of drunk college kids everywhere, Taco Cabana has over 160 locations, the majority of which are in Texas. They are open 24-hours and serve the best queso ever, accompanied by fresh, hot flour tortillas made in-house. They have a classic tortilla machine that churns out hundreds of tortillas by the hour. The smell is intoxicating, and the process is mesmerizing to watch. Most Taco Cabanas have outdoor patios decorated with the traditional stings of square-shaped colorful paper cutouts. There is also a condiment bar replete with salsas, pico de gallo, limes, and more to garnish your entrees as you see fit.


Pappasito’s Cantina

Pappasito’s Cantina
Source: Instagram

Texas does it again with this dine-in family-style Mexican food restaurant chain, founded ironically by a Greek family. The Pappas family has other franchise restaurants, including Pappas Bros. SteakHouse, Pappa’s Seafood, Yia Yia Mary’s Greek Food, and Pappadeaux Seafood, to name a few. All Pappas restaurants are excellent, and Pappasito’s Cantina is no exception. Greeks know how to grill meat, and consequently, Pappasito’s is famous for its sizzling mixed grill fajita plate along with fresh, made-to-order guacamole that your server will prepare tableside. 


El Pollo Loco

El Pollo Loco
Source: Instagram

El Pollo Loco is the only franchise on the list that originated in Mexico and is thus the only truly authentic Mexican food restaurant. They also stand out as a specialty Mexican food restaurant because they only serve Mexican-style fire-grilled chickens on the El Pollo Loco menu. As is customary, Mexican whole chicken preparation involves marinating the chicken in a mixture of fresh herbs, orange and lime juices, and plenty of spices, then grilled over open flames. Their chicken has a unique flavor and is always super juicy. If you haven’t tried it, you’re missing out! They have nearly 500 locations in the U.S. 


Wahoo’s Fish Tacos

Wahoo’s Fish Tacos
Source: Instagram

Surf’s up year-round at Wahoo’s Fish Tacos. Founded in 1988 in Orange County, California, by three surfer brothers, Wahoo’s Fish Tacos is a fusion of Brazilian, Hawaiian, and Asian flavors packed into a traditional Mexican fish taco. This original idea caught on, and the restaurant grew into the 50-location franchise it is today. While they have diversified their menu to include Tex-Mex items like enchiladas, Wahoo’s specializes in fish and seafood tacos and blends international cuisines for innovative taco toppers like citrus slaw. Additionally, their menu changes depending on the state or region in which the restaurant is located, intending to serve the freshest locally sourced fish for their tacos.

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El Torito

El Torito
Source: Instagram

Lastly, the oldest chain restaurant on our list is El Torito which was founded in 1954 in California, where the majority of its 69 locations are located. El Torito is a sit-down, family restaurant with all the classic Tex-Mex and authentic Mexican favorites, including enchiladas, fajitas, burritos, tacos, and guacamole galore. They also offer an elaborate Saturday breakfast menu with innovative Mexican-American fusion plates like churro pancakes and a Mexican “steak and eggs” with Carne Asada. There are also traditional Mexican breakfast dishes like Chilaquiles and Huevos Rancheros. 

6 Comments

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  1. HI IM FROM MEXICO HARD TACO SHELLS ARE AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD .FLOUR TORTILLAS ARE ALSO AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD. I DONT KNOW WHERE YOU GET THIS WRONG INFORMATION ,BUT MEXICO BROUGHT HARD SHELL TACOS AND FLOUR TORTILLAS TO THE U.S. .FOR THOSE THAT DON’T KNOW.IF IN A MEXICAN STATE/CITY, THEY ONLY USE SOFT CORN TORTILLAS, AS SPECIFIED, IT IS ONLY THERE.THERE ARE MANY OTHER MEXICAN STATES THAT HARD SHELL TACOS AND FLOUR TORTILLAS ORIGINATE FROM.DOES THE US HAVE ONLY ONE STATE? AND DOES EVERYONE IN THE US EAT THE SAME AS THIS ONE STATE? OF COURSE NOT.HAPPY TO INFORM YOU.?

  2. Use to be Chi Chi’s, Casa Gallardos, El Chicos, Don Pablo’s. Most towns have a Mexican restaurant, ran by Mexicans but it all tastes the same.

  3. The best Mexican Restaurants are the small ones. Those who have a Mexican cook or use heritage recipes. Taco Bell, Del Taco, Chipotle, Moe’s, Qdoba are ok for a quick fix, but they are not the best Mexican Restaurants in America.

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Written by Brian Nagele

Brian attended West Virginia University, then started his career in the IT industry before following his passion for marketing and hospitality. He has over 20 years experience in the restaurant and bar industry.

As a former restaurant owner, he knows about running a food business and loves to eat and enjoy cocktails on a regular basis. He constantly travels to new cities tasting and reviewing the most popular spots.

Follow him on LinkedIn, Instagram, Quora, Google Guide and Facebook.