50 Best Mexican Restaurants near Canyon Lake

“ENCHILADA EXCELLENCE & TACO-TASTIC! I rate hard when it comes to Mexican food and I can proudly say that this is some of the BEST in the IE. Pepe’s gives Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville (if it was good) and Emilio’s vibes. I highly recommend trying the vegan tacos, the mushrooms and salsa were superb. My other suggestion is trying the green enchiladas. Everything from chips, beans, and tortillas were worth the visit.

Live entertainment and happy hour are the central attractions at this restaurant. I saw a sizable lounge towards the back of the restaurant with a full bar experience. Don’t be fooled though, the food keeps people coming back! Shoutout to Natalee, she was wonderful. Our drinks were refilled and the chips kept coming!

Note: Pepe’s also serves BRUNCH!“

“❤️❤️❤️❤️Tacos!❤️❤️❤️❤️ great staff“

“Great food! Great drinks!!“

“La comida siempre riquísima yo amo a la comida del Jiménez“

“Been going to Los Jilberto’s taco shop since it opened with just one shop. Now this amazing family has many shops. I highly recommend everyone try them.“

“Love it here! Good beer, great staff, the food is really good, great vibe and a lot of fun!“

“Can't wait to go back! What's not to love? Vero is clean with a spacious variety of seating arrangements for everyone from romantic snuggles to watching the game. Service is prompt and friendly. The menu is varied and huge; and the food: fresh and delish; great prices, too. Yep, I'm definitely going back!“

“I really wanted to like this place, because the food was really good. A girlfriend of mine and my 9 year old son visited here on Tuesday around 4pm. We walked in, we're immediately greeted and sat in a comfy booth, noticing the very unique artwork and decor. Pros: The Cadillac Margaritas on the rocks were very good. Ordered to start the guacamole and chips, was very tasty. We shared the Main Lobster Puerto Nuevo Style, the cook level was on point, and the seasonings were delicious. Now we were told it's 2 lbs of meat, which was definitely not the case. The cost for how much meat, I would say, is not worth the price at $95 an order. My son had grilled chicken tacos that he said were good. And we all appreciated the little churro ice cream dessert I received for a special birthday surprise. Cons: On a 1-10 level of volume, the music was at a 9, for 4pm on a Tuesday, it felt like they were trying to turn the place into a dayclub. Just seemed unnecessary to have it that loud. We could barely hear each other across the table. After sitting a while listening to the music, I would absolutely never bring my son back here. A couple of songs passed as we sat, where every other word was N$gg@#, F@$k, or other explicit words. Some may not agree, but I'm only 38 and find that highly inappropriate for a restaurant. Now, if that's the ambiance you want to have in your restaurant, no argument, however, then make it a 18 and up place or post something stating children may not be the best audience for your restaurant. We even made a comment to our waiter, and he just smiled and said, "Ya, there's a lot of songs like that we play!" and walked off. Our service was definitely less than stellar with him, let me tell you. As we walked in, we stated it was our first time. Anytime we asked a question, before we could finish our question, we were cut off and met with a very dismissive, hasty response as he would be walking away as well. It felt as if we were offending him or he just had more important things to do. Their menu is very confusing, as we were trying to figure out the taco pricing (since it was Taco Tuesday). The service from our waiter, I would say, was a 1 of 10. He was not friendly (even though he smiled) his demeanor was uninviting and sometimes condescending. In the end, thankfully, we had another young lady who was taking care of us. She was very sweet and pleasant as we commented on our concerns she stated she would let the manager know. In understanding, it's not her fault, we would've told our waiter. However, he disappeared after we received our food. All in all, this place has good food, but it is not good enough for us to spend almost $200 for horrible and condescending service.“

“We came in for dinner and have to say that the food and drinks were worth the wait! You guys had a skeleton crew and were slammed, and still did a good job. It'll only get better. Well done. We are so glad that there is finally a great cantina in Menifee. We will be back!“

“Excelente servicio , muy buena comida 100% recomendable.“

“I had the loaded bacon baked potato and my wife had the asada one and both were DELICIOUS!! Add a Strawberry pineapple and a Dragon fruit lemonade to it and it's A match made in heaven. Will definitely be going back“

“One of the best Mexican restaurants in Lake Elsinore, Jose makes you feel at home. you won't go wrong by coming..al venir Aqui siento que estoy en casa de familia. highly recommended authentic Mexican food.“

“Delicious food amazing service, thanks Juaquin and Pepe and Giselle.“

“Great food here. Probably one of the most overlooked places in the area. Stop by enjoy some great food and tell them Santa sent you. Been going here for over 5 years now and i have never been disappointed“

“Instantly one of the best restaurants I have been to. It’s been a week in a half since my first time here and today marks my fourth 😂 tell me that doesn’t mean this place is amazing!! Best service, best people, best food!“

“Have been going to Guadalajara's for years I think it's one of the best Mexican restaurants in Lake Elsinore although I pretty much only had maybe three things on the menu I love to get the Macho burrito I can eat on it for days it is so big the food is authentic“

“Wow this place is good. Friendly staff and a beautiful seating area. Don't confuse this place with the one down the street. I made that mistake. I don't know why they have the same name on the same street 2 blocks apart. Trust me they are not where near the same. The one in town is gross 😝 and the people working there suck. Definitely don't go there come to this place way better all the way around. This place is situated in a nice little park. With a well maintained dining area. Lots of shade and all food that we got was super good.
Unfortunately I mixed the 2 up and my friends kept telling me to try it.It was really good and I kept telling them they were crazy until today when I finally figured out there's 2 of them, and I got to finally try what everybody was talking about.And how much better everything here is. Highly recommended.“

“Amazing, Food, Great, atmosphere the local people are friendly and very talkative“

“This is my favorite place for tacos! Only leaving this review because I ordered 4/17 a protein bowl to go. I asked for double meat and for it to be asada. It only came with chicken. Just wanted to leave it here for next time since I call and it goes straight to busy.“

“Best Mexican food. A MUST try 😋“

“Juan's Rotisserie Chicken is one of best chickens, but the customer service is bad. I ask for 2 burritos with fres meat the guy that makes it gave an attitude like if I was asking to give it to me for free. I end up paying for a whole chicken for fresh meat burritos“

“We Stopped by for lunch, it was rainy and cold outside so I ordered the Birria en consome. I was so glad I did. It hit the spot!! My only recommendation would be to serve a better quality tortilla. The gentleman behind the bar served us and he did a GREAT job, I feel bad that I don't remember his name. The place was nice clean and welcoming. Definitely coming back and I highly recommend it.“

“Simplemente delicioso y la atención perfecta 🤩“

“We Love El Gordito ! The food is amazing and the customer service is always excellent! The new owners and staff are genuinely sincere and friendly and always happy to serve! We all recommend El Gordito !“

“Love Rubio’s mango mahi-mahi tacos, kids love the chicken quesadillas and cheese quesadillas, lots of great salads too“

“The food was delicious customer service was great all the food came out fresh the portions were large and the fish tacos were delicious they weren't skimpy on the fish and they have a special on Mondays $1.99 fish tacos. overall I recommend this place“

“Great, service, great prices, great food...chile rellenos and tacos are the best ! You won't be disappointed !“

“We love eating at Coyote Tacos! Their food is so delicious! They have delicious fun drinks They make fresh! Their Salsa bar is fresh and full! The people there are so amazing and friendly too! Great environment! Clean too! Enough napkins, plates and utensils as well! Family place! A must visit! Taco Tuesday deals too!“

“Tacos Elsinore has been a staple in Lake Elsinore for a very long time, and it’s easy to see why. It’s solid, reliable Mexican fast food that covers all your favorites , quick, tasty, and affordable. They also run daily deals, which makes it even better if you’re trying to grab something good without spending much.
My only gripe is the salsas. They’re not the best and definitely not spicy, and the complimentary carrots fall into the same category , not terrible, just not doing much. But honestly, for fast Mexican food at this price point, it’s not a dealbreaker.
Stop in for the deal of the day and enjoy some great, fast Mexican food.“

“I tried this place for the first time yesterday and already came back for the second time today. The food is delicious! I had tacos and ceviche yesterday and came back to try the aguachiles today because I couldn’t stop thinking about that ceviche. To get mariscos, and the ambience in general, this good I would normally have to drive down to San Diego or to LA. I am so glad this place exists in Murrieta and I plan to come back a lot more!“

“Live so close to this restaurant and it never called out to me before, until today. It was an enjoyable experience, nice and quiet, with very nice service. Food was delicious that even my 2 year old said mmm on his first bite. All in all I’ll be returning to this restaurant and look forward to tasting other options they have.“

“excelente antención.felicitacioanes al cheff“

“friendly, good customer service“

“Their menudo was really fresh & very tasty could use a little bit more hominy but otherwise yummy!!! Also, they will make it for you any day of the week! Unlike other places you have to wait until the weekends…Odalberto’s will make your own personal menudo for you😃“

“Amazing food ! Amazing atmosphere!!! It won’t disappoint! I had the Chile relleno’s plate and hubby got the Cali burrito! Beans are goood !!“

“I recently stopped by Primos Mexican Food and honestly had a really good experience overall. From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere felt welcoming and laid back, with friendly staff who made ordering easy and comfortable. The restaurant was clean, the service was quick, and the food came out fresh and hot, which immediately made a good first impression.

The biggest highlight was definitely the food itself. The portions were generous, especially for the price, and everything tasted flavorful and homemade rather than overly processed or rushed. The meats were well seasoned, the tortillas tasted fresh, and the ingredients overall seemed high quality. Their salsa also stood out with good flavor and just the right amount of spice. You can tell they put effort into making food that feels authentic and satisfying.

What I appreciated most was the consistency between quality and customer service. Even during busier times, the staff stayed polite, patient, and attentive. They checked orders carefully and made sure customers were taken care of, which makes a huge difference compared to many fast casual restaurants.

Another thing worth mentioning is that the menu has a good variety, so whether you want tacos, burritos, breakfast items, carne asada fries, or something quick and filling, there’s usually something for everyone. It’s the kind of place that works well for a quick lunch, late-night food run, or casual meal with friends and family.

Overall, I’d definitely recommend Primos Mexican Food to anyone looking for flavorful Mexican food, generous portions, and friendly service. It’s easy to see why people keep coming back, and I’ll definitely be returning myself.“

“Best wet burrito I have ever had!“

“never had a bad meal extremely friendly staff.“

“The food is good but....I ordered a large menudo to go when I opened it at home there was no spoon and there was more juice than menudo I mean there was VERY little menudo in the cup to the point that you actually had to look for it with your spoon. I've had their tortas and they were good. Haven't tried their burritos or tacos yet. So I'm giving them“

“Every other store is at least 20 minutes the wrong direction, and then you have to drive all the way back in one lane traffic. The convenience is amazing compared to the unnecessary driving. Obviously, it caters to the Mexican cuisine, fresh veggies and some of the biggest avocados around or buy a freshly made pint of guacamole. The deli menu is scrumptious. The breakfast burritos are my daughter's favorite. You can literally park right next to the front door. The staff is ready & helpful and you know how rare that is these days. Yes, I said a lot of nice things because I shop there frequently. Lots of cold drinks, no booze but that is handled a few steps away at the neighboring store.“

“This place is the best tacos I’ve had in Southern California. Small hole in the wall but the best tacos. Their al pastor was marinated perfectly. Their Micheladas absolutely delicious. We don’t live in the area anymore but whenever we roll by this place we try to stop. Staff is super friendly. This is how tacos should be made!!! Salsa is ? ?“

“The food is so delicious my goto spot when im hungry! The salsa are great too“

“Hands down one of the greatest restaurants in Lake Elsinore. The food and service was awesome. My mom and dad had their reception there. Not only was the staff nice. They helped us with everyone and everything. They took good care of my parents, and our friends and family. And let me tell you there was a lot of people. Everyone at Emilio’s was family to us at the end of the night! They even partied with us! 🥳 Thank you so much for everything. One more thing the food was delicious!!!!!!! We had beans, enchiladas, flautus, rice and guacamole. I wanted more round of the flautus!“

“Please if you're in the area go try this place! The food is delicious and fresh. Handmade tortillas! Fair prices, customer service is great and friendly. The place is small but it works. They even let me use the restroom which is kept clean. It's only a cash establishment but if you don't have cash you can zelle them. I drove about 25 minutes and left happy. Gets busy. Will definitely return to try other dishes. Good portions too.“

“Great place and service. Major upgrade with the menus and cashiers. Place has turned around. You won't be disappointed. Carne asada burritos are my favorite.“

“Found this place on google and it lived up to its name. I got the shrimp burrito with cabbage, crispy cheese, Chipotle sauce and pico on the side. It was delicious!
Wifey got the potato taco and carne asada and was pleased as well. Definitely stop by if you're in the lake elsinore area.“

“Great outside seating area to enjoy the food and watch the World Series!“

“Only drive through for now. The young man that gave us our order was so friendly. Thank you“