Brian Nagele
Part and parcel of our culinary culture, Mexican cuisine has permeated our hearts and mouths, and we are more than grateful for it. I personally think a burrito is a perfect remedy for any rough day, and my band-aid or duct tape for all situations.
If you are still determining where to go for your next Mexican food adventure, I’ve taken the time to compile my favorite Mexican fast-food restaurants (you’ll have to trust my taste here).
Read on to kickstart your Mexican adventure.
Chipotle
Crowned king in everything Mexican, Chipotle is your go-to place to dive into mouth-watering fajita quesadillas, burritos, tacos, and many more crowd favorites.
You might have encountered the phrase “food with integrity” elsewhere, but it is home at Chipotle.
Chipotle offers an organic dining experience by guaranteeing that their meat comes from animals reared in a humane environment and fed on an all-organic diet.
If you’re looking for a perfect way to start your Chipotle journey, I would recommend trying the Chicken Al Pastor.
I rarely blow anyone’s trumpet when it comes to spicy chicken, but the Al Pastor deserves some credit for blending spice and sweetness in a perfect pot.
The menu is simple yet dynamic. From the multiple choices of salads, tacos, burritos, fajitas, and more, you can customize your selection by incorporating some additional add-ons.
And if you have a little one with you, the kiddie’s menu also offers a wide variety.
Baja Fresh
It’s all in the name. Baja fresh is another Mexican-themed fast-food restaurant with a commitment to freshness.
They proudly guarantee their customers of no “tin-canned” meals and take it a step further by cutting out on radiation from microwaves.
You won’t get yesterday’s burrito heated up and served when you dine at Baja Fresh.
Their menu features a wide selection of items, including some mouth-watering tacos, burritos, salads, signature entrees, and even a kid’s section.
However, my favorite item from Baja Fresh is undoubtedly the Baja Bowl.
It is an all-in-one dining experience with Baja rice, pinto beans, roasted veggies, salsa verde, onion, and cilantro mix, and it’s definitely up there with other comfort foods.
Del Taco
One among the veterans of the Mexican fast-food restaurant scene, Del Taco has been exciting taste buds for decades.
Over the years, they have ensured that they stay ahead of the curve when it comes to modernizing their practices, and their most recent upgrade is geared towards maximizing consumer loyalty and online orders.
Dining at Del Taco means you get your first pick of buttery garlic parmesan fries, beer-battered crispy fish tacos, or crispy jumbo shrimp tacos, among many other items.
You can also get a twist from the original Sprite and minute maid drinks to get things such as strawberry Sprite and purple pear poppers.
El Pollo Loco
What comes to mind when you think of “crazy chicken?” If it is anything like delicious fire-grilled chicken, then you are on the right track to an El Pollo Loco experience.
El Pollo Loco promises customers a taste of their Sinaloan roots with a fusion of local SoCal flavors.
You can choose from the numerous sides, drinks, and salsas or even indulge yourself in the tasty tostadas.
However, it is not an El Pollo Loco experience if you haven’t bitten down on a juicy fire-grilled piece of basted chicken. The only question that comes to mind is, “How many?”
Moe’s Southwest Grill
If you’ve been to Moe’s, then you have heard an enthusiastic customer say, “No one does Tex Mex like Moe’s.
We might have differing views on whether it’s the best in the world, but it is definitely a top contender.
It features an exciting menu that is the brainchild of a stellar creative team responsible for jaw droppers such as the homewrecker burrito and the homewrecker bowl.
If you think the creativity ends at the menu, you could never be further from the truth.
Moe’s offers customers the unique option of building their own meals by selecting everything that goes into the burrito, bowl, quesadilla, and salad.
Regardless of what you pick, it is always a bright time at Moe’s. Add their famous queso to your meal and marvel at the attention to detail.
Qdoba
One of my personal favorites, Qdoba has been pleasing Mexican food enthusiasts for decades.
Through its transition in ownership from Jack in a Box to a fast-food conglomerate, Qdoba has managed to retain its identity and uniqueness, which is nothing short of commendable.
In true Qdoba spirit, customers are treated to free hand-smashed guacamole and queso, which comes at an extra cost in many other places.
The Qdoba menu is an experience in itself, and the chefs are eager to have you try everything.
But if you can spare the taste buds, you should definitely give the Cholula hot and sweet chicken bowl.
This dish does wonders to my insides (or is that because I’m always hungry?).
Taco Bell
There is little to say for Taco Bell. Its menu and customers have done the talking for longer than we can remember.
Taco Bell experiences worldwide success because of its attention to detail, delicious meals, excellent service (most of the time anyway), and customer loyalty rewards program.
The menu at Taco Bell is ever-changing, but one thing remains guaranteed, and that is that every new item will create an electrifying buzz.
The latest addition to the choice of delights is the crispy tortilla chicken.
You don’t have to take my word for it. Head on down and try your favorite when you feel the hunger pangs.
Chuy’s
For those of you looking for the opportunity to support the underdog, ditch Taco Bell and make your way to Chuy’s Tex-Mex.
Chuy’s offers more to customers than just the food. It is involved in several annual celebrations and presents customers with delicious seasonal items, including the “hung like Elvis” dessert offered on Elvis’ birthday and the Green Chile special in honor of the harvest in Mexico.
The main menu features burritos, enchiladas, salads, tacos, and other specialty soups. In addition to that, there are some delightful appetizers and drinks.
On the Border
You might think they are on the border between good and bad, but in reality, On the Border are actually the line between excellent and divine.
From their broad selection of crowd-favorites, On the Border is great for both dine-in and takeout and even has catering services.
Their menu has items such as melted queso fundido and Grande fajita nachos that are bound to have you scraping the plate.
Choose any item from the Mesquite grill to explore authentic Tex-Mex cuisine. I would personally vouch for the queso steak torta.
Taco Cabana
Another welcome addition to the list is Taco Cabana. It has its roots in Mexico, but there are several branches in New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Despite its geographic limitations, this has yet to do anything towards stumping its success as a Tex-Mex destination.
Taco Cabana presents its customers with the opportunity to stuff their mouths with a selection of enchiladas, burritos, fajitas, nachos, quesadillas, and even nachos.
Another crowd-pleaser on the menu is the flauta. My first flauta was from Taco Cabana, and ever since, the rich cheesy, and meaty delicacy bore a love marriage with my taste buds.
Chevys Fresh Mex
The 80s were a special time, and believe it or not, that is when Chevys Fresh Mex first opened its doors to customers.
For a company to survive this long in the industry, you can be sure that its menu is nothing short of exceptional. Chevy’s is known for its assortment of mesquite-fired flavors.
Chevy’s is perfect for those who want something boozy to lighten the conversation or lift their spirits.
The hand-crafted margaritas are a house specialty. As a bonus, check-in for their happy hour offers for some savings.
El Torito
Dinner with a show best describes the experience of dining at an El Torito restaurant.
From tableside preparations to dancing flames, most of the items you order from the menu will come sizzling off the grill.
El Torito is famous for its devotion to freshness and promises customers that the meat comes from grass-fed livestock.
So how good is the menu? Well, if you haven’t tried them already, go find out and thank me later.
You can taste a bite of Mexico, from the enchiladas to the frame-grilled fajitas. Their seasonal menu is also great for holidays and more..
Pappasito’s Cantina
An electric atmosphere, good food, even better drinks, and excellent service.
Can you ask for more? Yes, you can, and you should, and few places can offer all that and better than Pappasito’s Cantina.
From the cheery décor to the exciting menu and specials, Pappasito’s cantina sets the pace for what counts as authentic Mex cuisine.
Unique to Pappasito’s Cantina is the choice of grilled seafood along with the traditional enchiladas, fajitas and ribs, nachos and quesadillas, and tacos.
Taco John’s
Born in Cheyenne Wyoming, Taco John’s has been serving piping hot Mexican food since the 60s and has managed to attract a cult following of loyal taco enthusiasts over the years.
Taco John’s serves everything from breakfast to lunch, and even dinner, making it a worthwhile destination at whatever hour of the day.
The menu consists of the famous potato oles, tacos, a range of burritos, and several other breakfast and dessert options.
Unlike other Tex-Mex joints, Taco John’s takes on a West-Mex approach to their menu, which is an interesting twist. If for nothing else, go to Taco John’s solely for the potato oles.
Torchy’s Tacos
Torchy’s Tacos prides itself in its commitment to specializing in good high-quality food, and over the years, they have managed to attract a loyal clientele that believes in the same thing.
Their menu is simple and leans into street style rather than dining in, but it has options for both.
You can pick out any of their tacos or settle for their chips and queso to experience Torchy’s style tacos.
Wahoo’s Fish Tacos
Wahoo’s fish tacos are an unconventional taco shop for the explorers at heart.
You might find items such as cauliflower rice, ceviche, Hawaiian onion ring burritos, loaded burritos, or even a sunset chopped chicken salad at Wahoos.
However, even with the diversity of origin for items on the menu, the same spicy nature of Mexican food and the chef’s attention to detail is still employed here.
Visit different locations to try out different items on the menu and transform your culinary experience into an easter egg hunt.
What’s Your Favorite Fast Food Mexican Order?
Leave us a comment and tell us where you like to grab Mexican food on the go!
