Brian Nagele
Whether you’re visiting Miami for the beaches, the museums, or the luxurious shopping malls, you’re going to get hungry at some point, luckily Miami is a hub of culture and cuisine from all around the globe.
One of my favorite cuisines to explore when I’m in Miami is Mexican. I absolutely love both traditional Mexican food as well as the Tex-Mex variations, and Miami has them both in spades. I had a wonderful time visiting all the different Mexican restaurants in Miami, and I want everyone else to be able to do the same. For that reason, I’ve put together this guide ranking all of Miami’s best Mexican restaurants.
You’ll find a bit of everything, from restaurants to cantinas and even a few taquerias on my list to ensure that you get all the greatest experiences. So, if you’re in the mood for Mexican food in Miami, just keep on reading down below and discover your new favorite places to eat around town.
Bakan
2801 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33127
Phone: 305-396-7080
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First up is a place called Bakan located over off of Northwest 2nd Avenue in Wynwood, just north of the Wynwood Walls outdoor museum. It’s an ideal location for some tacos after walking around the art district.
If you enjoy mezcal, this is the place to be. Bakan offers over 400 bottles of mezcal to sample, just ask your server for more details and they’ll walk you through everything.
I recommend one of the quesadillas here at Bakan, but the tacos are honestly pretty superb themselves. The classic chicken quesadilla was what I had, but next time I’ll be back to try a different one.
Cantina La Veinte
495 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131
Phone: 786-623-6135
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Right near Brickell Point inside the Viceroy Miami hotel is Cantina La Veinte. This Mexican restaurant is one of my favorite places to go in Miami for so many reasons, not least of which is the delicious Mexican food.
I love the Sunday brunch that they serve here at Cantina La Veinte. Every Sunday from 11AM to 5PM you can enjoy unlimited brunch foods and bottomless margaritas, rose, and champagne for $95. It’s quite the deal if you’re looking to treat yourself.
If you’re coming here for dinner, however, I recommend trying the arroz con short rib. It was so delectably tender and flavorful.
Tequiztlan Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Bar
1884 Bay Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone: 305-397-8442
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Tequiztlan Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Bar is up next and boy do they have some incredible food and atmosphere. This is honestly one of the top Miami Mexican restaurants, in my opinion, thanks to their enormous assortment of tequilas.
The food is splendid, too. I had a couple of al pastor tacos, a carne asada taco, and a lengua taco. I would have gotten a few more different kinds but I was too stuffed after those.
Check out Tequiztlan off of Bay Road near the City Center neighborhood of Miami Beach, not far from the Miami Beach Convention Center and The Fillmore Miami Beach.
Talavera Cocina Mexicana
2299 Ponce de Leon, Coral Gables, FL 33134
Phone: 305-444-2955
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Up next, we have a wonderful Mexican restaurant called Talavera Cocina Mexicana. I frequent this place on Friday and Saturday nights when the weather is nice and I can sit outside on their beautiful patio.
I highly recommend trying one of their famous moles here at Talavera, they make it from scratch every single day, and that stuff is not easy to make. I always go with the mole poblano de pollo and it never lets me down.
Don’t forget your drink! They’ve got a nice selection of refreshing margaritas to go perfectly with your meal as well.
Mama’s Tacos
710 Washington Ave #3, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone: 786-413-6037
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Up next is Mama’s Tacos, one of my favorite places to get food in Miami. They have tacos, tostados, burgers, and even a vegetarian portion of the menu with things like a veggie fajita and Green tacos.
I always go for an order of the chipotle shrimp tacos, but sometimes, if i’m hungry enough, I’ll get an order of fish tacos in addition to the shrimp.
Check out Mama’s Tacos on Washington Avenue in the Flamingo/Lummus neighborhood, not far from Lummus Park and Muscle Beach. It’s a great place to visit after soaking up some sun or getting a pump.
Mi Rinconcito Mexicano
1961 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33135
Phone: 305-644-4015
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Mi Rinconcito Mexicano is a very popular Mexican restaurant in Miami that you can find sort of tucked away on Southwest 8th Street in Little Havana, just about a mile south of LoanDepot Park.
This place is as unpretentious as it gets, and I like it that way. The menu here is massive, so I recommend cracking open a Jarrito to sip on while you peruse it thoroughly to make sure you don’t miss anything.
I usually order the fajitas mixta which comes with a few different meats for lots of flavor. They also have amazing, authentic street tacos that I can’t get enough of. I usually grab a few of those to-go.
Coyo Taco
2300 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33127
Phone: 305-573-8228
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Coyo Taco is located in the heart of the Wynwood Art District near all the popular museums and art exhibits. The location being in my favorite part of the city is a huge plus for me.
I think the burritos here are what steals the show. They have tons of protein options that you can fill it with, not to mention all the rice, beans, pico de gallo, cheese, and crema that already comes with it.
They also have really incredible burrito bowls if you want to cut down on the carb count for your meal, but I also enjoy their salad bowls when I’m feeling a bit health conscious.
Bodega Taqueria y Tequila
1220 16th St, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone: 305-704-2145
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Next up is a great place to eat Mexican food when you’re out and about shopping near the City Center district. Bodega Taqueria y Tequila is located right off of 16th Street, across the street from the LINCOLN Center shopping mall and the Regal South Beach IMAX, ScreenX & VIP movie theater.
One of my favorite things about this place is that you can get my all-time favorite Mexican street food, elote, for only $5. Sometimes I think I could make a whole meal out of Bodega’s appetizers like their guacamole and ceviche. Everything here is extremely fresh and delectable.
Tacomiendo
2600 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137
Phone: 305-509-1016
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Tacomiendo is a charming little counter-serve Mexican restaurant with lovely outdoor seating on a covered patio, great for tacos and a smoothie on a hot Florida night.
I really enjoy their carnitas tacos, but the steak, shrimp, and tinga de pollo are also to-die-for. They have delicious Mexican desserts here as well like tres leches and flan, but you have to get them before they’re gone because they have a limited amount!
I never leave Tacomiendo without a smoothie in-hand. After all, sometimes you need a little help beating that famous Florida heat down here in Miami.
El Rancho Grande Cocina Mexicana
314 72nd St, Miami Beach, FL 33141
Phone: 305-363-1020
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Up next is El Rancho Grande Cocina Mexicana, one of the best Mexican restaurants in Miami, hands down. This place has everything you could ever want in terms of tasty Mexican food.
I strongly suggest that you try one of their craft margaritas when you get to El Rancho Grande Cocina Mexicana. My favorite flavor is the guava jalapeno, but there’s also a prickly pear margarita that is equally delicious for those that don’t want that hint of heat with the jalapeno.
I really like the taco salad here at El Rancho, it’s humongous and filling so I never leave this place hungry.
Jacalito Taqueria Mexicana
Multiple locations
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Jacalito Taqueria Mexicana is another must-visit Mexican restaurant Miami has that I think you’re going to love. One of the greatest things about Jacalito is that there are 3 convenient locations scattered about Miami.
Location #1 is over by Magic City Casino in West Flagler; Jacalito #2 is in Little Havana near the Miami-Dade County Auditorium; Jacalito #3 can be found downtown near Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.
I highly recommend trying the bistec a la Mexicana, a delicious steak covered in sauteed tomatoes, onions, and jalapenos. I also recommend saving room for some flan for dessert.
Mexican Taqueria Los Chilangos
1801 NW 7th St, Miami, FL 33125
Phone: 786-230-0124
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Mexican Taqueria Los Chilangos is another great place to eat some of the best Mexican food Miami has to offer. You can find them off of Northwest 7th Street, right around the corner from LoanDepot Park in Little Havana.
They have all sorts of classic Mexican foods that you’re going to absolutely love here at Mexican Taqueria Los Chilangos. I recommend a couple of tacos to try all of their different meats. They offer chorizo, tripa, al pastor, carne asada, and even tacos campechanos.
Don’t miss out on one of their delicious tortas though. I particularly love the torta con queso, and it’s all reasonably priced to make things even better.
Ernesto’s Mexican Taco Shop
Multiple locations
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With one location just a couple of miles away from Zoo Miami in Country Walk and another location in the Kendall Place shopping mall in Kendall, Ernesto’s Mexican Taco Shop is one of the best places to get Mexican food in Miami.
Probably one of my all-time favorite Mexican foods are chimichangas and Ernesto’s makes some of the best I’ve ever tasted in my life. Another thing I always recommend trying here are their enchiladas and nachos. Both of these options will fill you up all day long without breaking the bank. I also found their pico de gallo and guacamole to be divine.
Tacology
4th Brickell City Centre, 701 S Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33131
Phone: 786-347-5368
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This next place on my list of greatest Mexican restaurants near Miami is called Tacology, and they serve such delectable Mexican cuisine that you’d think they have it down to a science.
Check out Tacology over in the Brickell City Center shopping mall near Downtown Miami after a day out on a shopping spree for an amazing meal.
When you get there, I highly recommend trying the torta de pastor because when I went there and ordered it, it really blew me away. That’s only one of their specialties, though, so be sure to give their menu a good look and check out the other ones.
Lolo’s Surf Cantina
161 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone: 786-276-0535
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Lolo’s Surf Cantina is nestled pretty much right on the sugar sand shores of South Beach, right in between Marjory Stoneman Douglas Ocean Beach Park and the Marriott Stanton South Beach, perfect for a midday meal without having to leave the beach.
First off, I definitely recommend a tropical cocktail like a pina colada or strawberry daiquiri due to the close proximity of the restaurant to the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. After we’ve got that settled, I suggest trying a burrito or a bowl.
My favorite burrito to order from Lolo’s is the baja fish burrito made with cilantro-marinated mahi-mahi.
Taqueria Viva Mexico
2516 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33135
Phone: 786-360-2214
Taqueria Viva Mexico is a stylish little Mexican restaurant that lots of people might not know about because of its small size and lowkey location, but those people are seriously missing out if that’s the case.
My 2 favorite dishes to get from Taqueria Viva Mexico are the gorditas and the sopes. I have yet to taste another gordita that really compares to the ones I’ve eaten here.
Check out Taqueria Viva Mexico on Southwest 8th Street in the Little Havana neighborhood, tucked away just east of the Little Havana Mural. Look for the blue storefront with a large white calavera on the doors.
Mayami Mexicantina
127 NW 23rd St, Miami, FL 33127
Phone: 786-660-1341
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This next place is called Mayami Mexicantina and you just have to stop in to see everything they’ve got to offer because it’s a lot. This is the ultimate nighttime destination for Mexican food in Miami. At night, the whole restaurant is lit up red, making you feel like you’re inside a volcano.
Mayami Mexicantina has a delicious paloma cocktail that I can never resist ordering because they use Squirt soda and fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice. In my opinion, it’s not a paloma without those two ingredients.
For something a little different, I recommend the Wong-Tong tacos made with Japanese A5 wagyu, arguably the best beef on earth.
Taco Express
1752 SW 3rd Ave, Miami, FL 33129
Phone: 305-333-6034
Taco Express is another lowkey hidden gem that not many people have heard about, and I’d like to change that if I can. Everyone should check out Taco Express for some amazing Miami Mexican food.
As you can probably guess, tacos are the name of the game here at Taco Express. They have all the best proteins that we all love like pork, chicken, steak, and shrimp. Honestly, they’re all so tasty I have to recommend one of each so you don’t miss out on anything.
I also recommend one of the quesadillas, as well. If you’re just looking for a quick snack, then Mexican street corn is the way to go here.
Dulce Vida Mexican Restaurant
642 6th St, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone: 305-397-8765
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Next up is Dulce Vida Mexican Restaurant located on 6th Street on South Beach, just north of the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU and a few blocks east of the world-famous Ocean Drive Miami Beach, as seen in countless movies and TV shows.
They have fried chicken tacos here that are simply superb, but that’s not all they have. The menu here at Dulce Vida Mexican Restaurant is massive. Another great option that I wholly recommend are the tostadas.
They serve steak, chicken, and even a brisket tostada as well as a few other options that are equally delectable.
Hijole Taqueria
2164 NW 7th St, Miami, FL 33125
Phone: 786-908-6023
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Another Little Havana favorite of mine is Hijole Taqueria. This place is simple and without any of the frills that you’ll find at some of these other restaurants, so if you want a casual, quick meal of mouth-watering Mexican food in Miami, this is your place.
The menu is small and simple here at Hijole Taqueria, so it’s perfect for coming in and grabbing something really quick without having to spend a lot of time deciding and going through lots of options.
My highest recommended menu item from Hijole has to be their flautas, but I also really love the enchiladas.
PEZ – Mexican Seafood
20 W Flagler St, Miami, FL 33130
Phone: 305-570-3440
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PEZ Mexican Seafood is located on West Flagler Street in Downtown Miami, not far from HistoryMiami Museum and the Miami Tower landmark, so it should be pretty easy to find even if you’re unfamiliar with the area.
What I recommend when you get to PEZ is starting with a drink or maybe even a shot of tequila or mezcal to loosen up. After that, you really have to try the quesabirria tacos with a side of the consome beef broth to dip them in.
When I went to PEZ, I had the pleasure of ordering one of the huesitacos, a birria taco made with bone marrow.
Taqueria Los Potrillos Miami
3937 NW 7th St, Miami, FL 33126
Phone: 305-456-2002
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The penultimate stop on our tour of Miami’s Mexican restaurant scene is a lovely place in the Santa Maria shopping center called Taqueria Los Potrillos Miami. They’re located on Northwest 7th Street near the West Flagler neighborhood, right in between Central Shopping Plaza and Le Jeune Cinema 6.
Whether you’re just finishing up a day of shopping or preparing to see a movie, this is the perfect palace to stop by for some unbelievable Mexican cuisine.
I really enjoy the seafood dishes here. My favorite one that I recommend to everyone is the pescado a la plancha. It’s absolutely splendid.
El Taquito
Multiple locations
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Lastly, I’d like to introduce El Taquito, a terrific place to get Mexican food in the Coconut Grove neighborhood near Peacock Park and Hotel Arya Coconut Grove, right across the street from CocoWalk shopping mall.
When you get to El Taquito, take some time to look over their menu because it’s all scrumptious. I recommend trying some of their antojitos, for sure, and then you should definitely dive into an order of tacos. It’s hard to pick a favorite taco, so just play it safe and get one of each, if you ask me. You really can’t go wrong here!
Thanks to its prominent influences of Latin American and Hispanic culture, Miami is an absolute hotspot for mind-blowingly good Mexican restaurants and the like. The next time you’re in the city and you want some incredible cuisine, just go ahead and stop by any one of the restaurants I’ve listed above. You really won’t be sorry.
Looking for more than just Mexican restaurants? Check out my favorite places to eat in Miami overall right here!
Did we leave a restaurant out of this list? Make sure you leave us a comment and we’ll check it out!
