26 Best Mexican Restaurants near Columbia

“Newish to the area, me and the wife were missing our Mexican down south. We have been hunting around for a good Mexican spot. This is the winner by far!!!!! It means a lot to get great food and service, and El Paso hits the nail on the head!“

“I visited Tequila Mexican Restaurant for the very first time this evening and was abundantly pleased..I didn't know what to expect, really, but shared photos convinced me to give them a shot..I would describe this restaurant as a "hybrid" sit down place.. What do I mean?? So, you enter and order at the counter, and then your food is delivered to your table..I ordered two, a la carte al pastor street tacos and a margarita.. The street tacos were divine, and despite my late visit, the ingredients (pork, onions, cilantro, and tortillas) were pleasantly fresh and packed with flavor..The accompanying chips and salsa were a nice touch, and the margarita was quite flavorful..Every member of the staff I interacted with was wonderfully pleasant, and the generous military discount on the food was a nice touch, too!!I will certainly revisit this venue the very next time I visit the Columbia area.. A very clean and niche restaurant with great eats and service!! ?“

“Kid-friendliness: Honestly Judy is the best. Always so kind but today my kid had just had dental work and was extra loopy. Judy responded so sweet to the child in the back seat with her window rolled down who said "HI!!!". When we pulled away my kid yelled one final "HAVE A GOOD DAY!" and Judy heard and yelled back for her to do the same. It's little things like that bringing customers like myself returning. ❤️“

“Very good food, homemade salsa and good chips and Queso that is NOT watered down. But you have to find it!Great burritos and nice shrimp and chicken dish plus drink specials. They also have Taco Tuesdays with 0.99 cent tacos grilled or fried.Recommended local place!Kid-friendliness: Games and a fun atmosphere for bambinos.“

“Small place. We try to time it so we're there before or after the lunchtime rush, 1130-1230. We have tried several items on the menu, and our favorites are the steak quesodillas and any of the tostados. I love their hot and mild sauces and appreciate that they keep the bottles refridgerated, not sitting on the tables all day.“

“Really nice place inside. Don't know what the bar looked like because we didn't go in. I have heard people say that it's pricey and of course it is because this isn't your average Mexican restaurant. The menu is small plate oriented and the menu ismore like a tasting menu. The food is higher end than all the other places and outstanding. I can't comment on their drink menu because I seldom drink when going out. I will say that the pricing seem to be a bit higher than most places which will account for a higher per person ticket if one has two or three drinks. Still, our total was $70 ore tip for 2 people including 2 beers.The wait time between "courses" is a bit long but not enough for me to really complain about. The staff were friendly dmv knowledgeable about the menu. It may not me a place we'll go to monthly but we will definitely be back!“

“First...loved our waiter. Very friendly and attentive. Awesome tasting margaritas. Loved the guacamole. Both our dinners were delicious....and plenty. Took home the rest. And the cost was more than reasonable. The margaritas were $6.99 a piece...very cheap and my beer was about $4.00 a piece. The entrees were under $15.00. Definitely will be back.“

“Beautiful place. Drinks were great and fast. We'll totally come back to hang out on the patio. They were very busy when they were there and it took a long time to get seated. It also took a very long time to order so just make sure you have allotted yourself when you go. The food was okay pretty standard. I had the carnitas which was pulled. Not typical so it was just a pile of meat on the plate. Drinks were great and fast!“

“Some of the best Mexican food I’ve had on the planet. Get the Mexican Sizzling Alambre! I dare you to find better Mexican food.Eliel also Server of the Year.Waterloo has a world class spot what you need to try!Also the salsa is muy muy muy bueno!“

“One of the best Mexican restaurants I’ve ever tried. Excellent burritos, fajitas, and amazing mole sauce, verde, and salsa. They also make a very spicy ?️ salsa if you ask. The meat is very tender, moist, and seasoned very well. Huge portions for food for a very reasonable price! This is a must stop place to eat! Super nice people with excellent service and awesome food!“

“Shrimp Fajitas and Steak Frajitas were delicious, service was excellent. Appetizer chips and guacamole appear to be home made. I'll be stopping here again. Another delicious addition to the offerings on the South end of Grand Blvd. They also have a patio dining area in the works.Parking: A plenty of spots, on the street, they are working on parking around back.Wheelchair accessibility: All at sidewalk level. Easy in and out with wheel chair seating.“

“We’ve not had the luxury of dine in but we will soon! All of the times we ordered have been pick up. The food is great! I always get the same thing: Quesadilla Fiesta, and Chicken Quesadilla. The Quesadilla Fiesta is moist and full with sour cream on the side. Also they serve the tortilla chips n salsa. Salsa is good but a tad spicy. The Chicken Quesadilla is on the dry side so be sure to order sour cream or queso to moisten it up a bit. You will need to request utensils before you leave as it is not a standard item in your to go bag. I eat there about 2-4 times a month, so very good experience!Parking: I am handicapped and sometimes non handicapped people park there to be close to door. So if using a wheelchair, walker or cane, you may be in for a longer walk so that is unfortunate.“

“My husband and I went here for lunch during the week and were very impressed with the food. Well priced and delicious. He ordered carne asada tacos and I had the pollo chipotle with a side of beans. Everything was seasoned well and fresh tasting. The price was also great for what we got. We'll definitely be coming back.“

“I got lost on the bus… and found my way here.. let me start off by saying this place is a hidden gem. The happy hour goes until 9pm. The puffy tacos are delicious and well seasoned. I needed napkins at one point because I only had one. My only complaint is that they didn’t check on me. They Only asked me if I needed the check. To be fair it was pretty steady traffic for a Wednesday evening. I would definitely still recommend to give it a try if you are interested.“

“Authentically Mexican! The outside of the restaurant looks shady, the sign is is a spray painted board and there is a boarded up window. But, all staff and customers I saw seemed hispanic. I felt like I was able to have an authentic experience with the food I ordered!“

“Best signature margarita ever!! Food is also tasty ?Dietary restrictions: I have a gluten allergy. I always order chicken nachos, which are delicious, and I never get sick.Parking: I can be difficult to find parking but there's a lot of street parking available.“

“What a great night! A time was had with my friend. This was my first time here and I will be back. So many things I’d love to try. It was absolutely delicious!!! 5 stars to you all! Seasoned perfectly. I had the chicken burrito bowl, which was one of the specials pictured at the register. I also have to say this is by far the best salsa that I have had ever. I ran it as my number one and everyone else will have to live up to it. I will definitely be back. I told the owner this as I walked away to leave. The service was unmatched. Very kind and friendly from start to finish of my visit. .“

“A favorite ! The quesabirria tacos are so delicious and this restaurant does not break the bank. The wait staff of Dos Reyes is kind and consistent, as well as them being attentive and timely.I’d recommend Dos Reyes to anyone who would ask for Mexican in the area. Plus i like their patio! It makes for a fun destination for a nice day.“

“If you're looking for a place to enjoy a massive margarita on the IL side, then Mariachi's is the spot for you! My go to is the jalapeño margarita. As far as I know this is not on the menu but I just can't get enough spice and it's fantastic every time. Try it out! I've been to this location a handful of times now and the beef chimi has become my "usual". The beef is so well seasoned! If you're not into the chimi, My boyfriend recommends the enchiladas. App wise..The cheese dip is on point and the salsa is great. The service is lightning fast, and the staff remembers their regulars. The indoor seating is ample, but if you prefer some fresh air, their patio is a great option. Plus, they have plenty of space for large groups. Ps-they have a gambling room attached with slot machines. So, after you've stuffed yourself with some tasty Mexican food and a few margaritas, you can try your luck at the slots.“

“I've been so excited to leave a review about how much I liked this place. Our server was one of the nicest people and the food was really, really good. We get overwhelmed with so many restaurants serving all the same food but guys, this one has 3 soups and grilled chicken and oh man. You have to just try it...“

“Amazing food, fast service, and an AMAZING Sunday brunch that is both Mexican food and traditional breakfast items! I highly recommend them if you are in Waterloo, they have a huge menu that everyone can find something that they’ll love on.“

“Food was good. My wife and I split a Molcajete. It was full too the brim with all the fixins. We definitely enjoyed it. The only way it could've been better is if it had juice at the bottom. It was a pretty dry. Tasted great otherwise. We asked for extra tortillas and got 6 total. I would've liked maybe one or two more not a big deal though. I also had to grab a waiter to take our drink orders after we had sat there about ten minutes and hadn't even seen a waiter/waitress yet. There was a group of waitresses kind of hanging out and talking maybe 4 or 5. Not sure why it took so long. But the waiter that eventually made it over was great. Our son got a chicken quesadilla, which had lots of chicken, which is always great. Things happen. As far as the service goes. We definitely plan on eating there again. Next time, we will just ask for some extra juice in the molcajete.“

“Great dinner tonight. I love the food here. Such flavors! When you arrive you have your choice of eating in the bar area or dining room. They also have nice patio seating for warmer weather. Starts off with their chips and salsa. Their chips are brought to you warm and salty with a variety of three salsas. It was hard to choose my favorite and I was happy to have the variety. I ordered the Chili Relleno with rice and beans. You get your choice with it stuffed with seasoned beef or cheese. The waitress suggested that I get it with the beef and have cheese on top. Best of both worlds and it was delicious. The ground beef was very flavorful. The rice and beans were really good as well. When my plate came to the table it was sizzling hot. Nothing better than a nice hot meal. The service was excellent tonight. The lady that brought the chips and salsa was so attentive. Our glasses of ice tea and water were never less than half empty and she was so quick to see if we wanted a chip/salsa refill. Our waitress was also very good.“

“Martin and his crew are just exceptional! Been going there for over 20 years since moving to Affton. The food is always fresh and tasty and your drink glass is always full. Your servers are always friendly and attentive. Give them a try, you won't be sorry. Always a good time with great atmosphere!“

“Had the Chicken Taco on Hard shell special. Tacos were hot and crisp even after the walk home. Place has been upgraded and has a wonderful ambiance and many go for the food, bar, and virtual gaming. Try it for yourself and write about it this local staple of Lansing.“

“We go here once in a while and never have had an experience that was bad, but also never an experience that makes us want to go back. The place has been almost empty when we go for lunch, yet we get seated next to a crowd or a screaming kid. No thought process for a couple that just wants a quiet lunch, just robot mode to seat people as close together in a section as possible.The food has been OK, not over the top or bad. The food does usually arrive quickly which is good when you're seated next to that screaming kid, your lunch hour is ruined and all you want to do it get the heck out of there.“