Brian Nagele
When people think about the best Mexican restaurants in the United States, cities such as Phoenix, Albuquerque, San Francisco, Austin, Los Angeles, and San Diego might come to mind.
But what they might not realize is that Indianapolis, Indiana, also has some of the best Mexican food restaurants.
You can find delicious tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and more at several local hot spots.
It’s not entirely surprising, though: Indianapolis has a higher percentage of Mexican immigrants than several other big Midwest cities such as Columbus, Ohio, or Fort Wayne, Indiana.
So if you’re headed to the city for work, school, or maybe even the Indy 500, don’t hesitate to check out one of the best Mexican Restaurants in Indianapolis, which I will describe in more detail below.
The Tamale Place
5226 Rockville Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46224
Phone: 317-248-9771
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The Tamale Place is a popular, casual Mexican restaurant serving family recipes of tacos, tortas, and—as its name suggests—delicious tamales.
The restaurant is located on Rockville Road near Thatcher Park and the Thatcher Golf course.
Many people stop by Domino’s pizza when they’re in the area, but I choose The Tamale Place each time because I know just how good their elotes are.
The Tamale Place has even been featured in Guy Fieri’s show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, making it much more famous.
But they have not let relative fame get to their heads, as you can still get fresh, genuinely authentic Mexican fare at this restaurant.
Nada
11 W Maryland St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: 317-638-6232
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Nada is a hip, well-designed Mexican restaurant that offers tasty fusion Mexican eats as well as various non-Mexican dishes and small plates.
Nada is right outside the Circle Centre Mall in the Mile Square district, so it’s very easily accessible from all parts of Indianapolis.
The location, in addition to the cheery atmosphere, makes it a great spot for celebrating birthdays and other events.
I am obsessed with their pork belly tacos because they are so juicy and flavorful, but I also recommend their salmon tacos, fried avocado, and salsa trio dishes.
La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant
Multiple locations
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La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant is a well-respected chain with various locations across Indy. My favorite one is on Graham Road on the Northeast side of the city, although it can get quite busy at this location.
This casual, colorful Mexican joint offers well-seasoned shrimp tacos, chicken tacos, steak tacos, burritos, fajitas, and more.
They also have delicious chicken soup topped with sliced avocado and tortilla chips.
But beyond the food, I love sitting on the patio with my friends and drinking their amazing margaritas.
You won’t be disappointed with the guava margarita—trust me!
Bakersfield
334 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: 317-635-6962
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Located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, Bakersfield gets a bit busy, and I love the cheery, bustling atmosphere it creates.
In my opinion, Bakersfield is more of a bar than a restaurant, and they serve incredible margaritas, whiskey cocktails, and beer.
I recommend going ahead and buying a pitcher of a margarita instead of just a glass, especially if you go with a bunch of friends.
And if the drinks and conversations work up an appetite, you can order some of their tasty tacos.
The shrimp, chorizo, and short rib tacos are my absolute favorite.
Festiva
1217 E 16th St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Phone: 317-635-4444
I love so many things about Festiva, including but not limited to its fun and cheerful decor, its flavorful and inventive cocktails, and the food’s incredible presentation.
Festiva is located right outside of downtown in between Frank & Judy O’Bannon Soccer Park and JTV Hill Park, so it’s easy to get to without ever getting overly crowded.
It’s not traditional or authentic, but that’s not what you’ll be going there for.
You should go to Festiva for the creative dishes and drinks.
My favorite things to get there include their Paloma dish, their fall-off-the-bone ribs, and their three leches for dessert.
La Margarita Fountain Square
1043 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203
Phone: 317-384-1457
Located near the southeast corner of downtown Indianapolis you’ll find La Margarita Fountain Square, an exceptionally cute and fun spot to get Mexican eats along with a wide variety of Mexican drinks.
They serve incredible margaritas, mezcal, and even craft beer.
I love going in the summer to sit on their outdoor patio with friends and enjoy various beverages.
And the food at La Margarita Fountain Square is great, especially considering the gigantic portions!
But if you want to mainly go for drinks, I recommend simply splitting their chips and queso, salsa, or guacamole.
La Parada
1642 E New York St A, Indianapolis, IN 46201
Phone: 317-917-0095
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La Parada is a small, unfussy Mexican joint in Arsenal Heights.
They serve authentic, homestyle Mexican dishes with large portions that will have you wobbling out the door when you’re finished.
It speaks to the quality of an authentic Mexican restaurant when their sides are just as good as their main dishes.
The refried beans and rice you will get with most orders are to die for!
I also appreciate all the vegetarian options here. I’m not a vegetarian, but it’s nice when I want to take a break from meat and still get a meal with tons of flavor.
I highly recommend ordering their vegetarian chimichanga and their veggie fajitas.
Luciana’s Mexican Restaurant
Multiple locations
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Luciana’s has multiple locations in Indiana and two right in Indianapolis—one on 86th street and one on 82nd.
The one on 86th street has excellent shrimp quesadillas, delicious margaritas, incredible salsa, and a festive, friendly atmosphere.
If you go to the one on 82nd in Keystone Crossing, I recommend ordering their arroz con pollo and chimichanga.
They also have tasty margaritas, and the environment is busier and louder, making it fun to host birthday parties, reunion dinners, or other fun social events.
Ultimately, you can’t go wrong with either location!
Biscuits Cafe
1035 Broad Ripple Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46220
Phone: 317-202-0410
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Biscuits Cafe sounds like a Southern comfort food spot, but it’s actually a Mexican restaurant serving classic Mexican bites like quesadillas with refried beans along with American eats like biscuits and gravy!
I love that I don’t have to decide between the two types of fares here, and this is an excellent place to go with friends for brunch because you can get a wide variety of dishes to share.
In addition to the biscuits and gravy, I recommend ordering the huevos rancheros, breakfast quesadilla, and french toast.
And if you’re feeling like starting the day off with a kick, don’t hesitate to try their bloody mary or mimosa!
Bugambilias Mexican Cuisine
5763 E 86th St, Indianapolis, IN 46250
Phone: 317-516-5978
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If you’re looking for a Mexican restaurant that’s not crowded and loud but instead has a laid-back, easy-going atmosphere with ample space to enjoy your food, look no further than Bugambilias Mexican Cuisine, near the Castleton Square Shopping Mall.
My favorite thing about this restaurant is how the food is actually quite spicy! I’m a big fan of peppers, and finding truly spicy food in Indianapolis can be a bit challenging.
So if you like a kick in your Tex-Mex as well, you will love Bugambilias.
I love their stuffed poblano peppers, rich mole sauce, and cemitas (Puebla-style Mexican sandwiches).
And if you want something truly different, try out their Mexican spaghetti. It’s a surprising addition to the menu but actually tastes delicious!
Condado Tacos
Multiple locations
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Condado Tacos is a chain, but it’s a fairly new one that started in Columbus, Ohio, and has quickly spread to Indianapolis.
I would go just for their margaritas and fun atmosphere.
This restaurant is one of the best Mexican restaurants in Indianapolis for Cinco de Mayo because you’re sure to have a memorable evening!
I recommend going to the Broad Ripple location, near the Central Canal Trail.
They have a build-your-own taco concept where you choose your shell, filling, toppings, and sauce.
This option is perfect for people who want to customize their meals or for those who have dietary restrictions.
I’m a fan of their Korean BBQ steak tacos, which come with kimchi, gochujang aioli, and pickled daikon radish.
El Azabache Mexican Restaurant
4200 S East St Suite 11, Indianapolis, IN 46227
Phone: 317-791-1533
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El Azabache is another cantina-style casual Mexican restaurant with colorful designs and murals throughout the space that is sure to get you in the mood for tacos, burritos, fajitas, margaritas, and much more.
El Azabache is another top spot for birthday celebrations, especially given its wonderful and friendly service.
There is even a large fountain when you walk in, which adds to the vibrant and inviting vibe.
I am obsessed with their shrimp fajitas, which come out on a sizzling hot plate.
I also recommend their chimichanga, which has white queso drizzled on top for an added bonus.
El Mezcal Mexican Restaurant
8920 Wesleyan Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46268
Phone: 317-222-6827
El Mezcal Mexican Restaurant offers a large dining space in College Park, near the Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre.
El Mezcal is the type of place where you should just focus on the basics: tacos and margaritas.
Those two things are their specialties, and you won’t be disappointed by either of them.
Beyond the tacos and margaritas, this is one of my favorite spots for having a little boogie with friends!
The dance floor opens up on Fridays and Saturdays, and it’s fun to break a bit of a sweat, especially after all the tacos I probably just ate!
Fiesta Ranchera Restaurant
1450 W Southport Rd B, Indianapolis, IN 46217
Phone: 317-888-7373
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If you’re wondering what the absolute best place for fajitas is in Indianapolis, go to Fiesta Ranchera, located between Glenns Valley and Dakota Ridge, near the Indy Sports Park.
This is one of the best Mexican spots for kids because of the colorful environment and ultra-friendly service.
They cater to kids and make sure families have an exceptional, memorable experience when dining in.
I love all of their fajitas. Their shrimp, chicken, and steak fajitas all come out hot, juicy, and packed with flavor.
La Piedad
6524 Cornell Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46220
Phone: 317-475-0988
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La Piedad is a traditional, authentic, family-owned Mexican restaurant that’s perfect for sharing, given its enormous portion sizes.
Near Opti-Park Indianapolis and Marott Park, this restaurant is perfect for a quick carry-out meal.
You can order a few things and have a nice family dinner.
I love their arroz con pollo, chimichangas, and Chile Rellenos, but you can’t go wrong with anything on this menu.
I assume that these recipes have been passed down for generations, and the food is made with great care and love.
