41 Best Mexican Restaurants in New Orleans

“Nice little taco spot. Great for the area thats a food desert for 1st timers but those in the know, know little spots here and there. You just need to wait them out. Everybody is very opinionated. You just need to find your lane and merge in.“

“fui de visita y disfrute de la comida y la grata atención. lo recomiendo full.“

“Awesome food and freshest, best margaritas in town! Justin is the nicest person. I'm always happy to see his smiling face when I walk in the door. Victoria is the best! Along with Mel and Dee! Wouldn't go to any other place for a margarita!“

“Slightly delayed review but who cares. While I no longer live in New Orleans, this is one of my favorite places I’d been to. I still dream of my dinner from NYE 2022 🤤 I believe it was a rabbit mole, which was absolutely 🔥 and the huitlacoche quesadilla. The mole is forever imprinted on my soul!“

“Visited on Dec 30. Why eat Mexican when in Nola? Because it is world class. Easily a top 5 meal and I have a long list of amazing restaurants visited. I’ll start with the end. Get the desserts. Save room. They are amazing. We opted for both the FLAN and the MASA TRES LECHES. The latter was moist, light and life changing. The flan was rich and fulfilling. The menu is small but MIGHTY. The cocktails were well thought out and varied. We started with the AGUACHILES VERDE and TUNA TOSTADA. Both were fresh, flavorful and authentic. A few bites each for two of us. For the main portions, we chose the CHOCHOYOTES and ARROZ NEGRO. The former is a Mexican influenced play on southern collared greens. More of a side but amazing on its own. A very worthy pair to the main character of this meal, the ARROZ NEGRO. Corn smut sounds terrible but it is delicious. The mussels, squid and shrimp add a Nola flair to this amazing dish. It is very rich and a solid portion. Flavors and texture for days. Plus a bit of umami from the huitlacoche. It is a bit pricy. Total before tip for 2 of us was $250. That included 5 cocktails, 4 dishes and 2 desserts.“

“Ordered food to-go for flight. Partner loved his taco bowl. My green burrito was good, but might have been better fresh. The house red and green salsas knocked the pineapple salsa out of the park. Chips were fresh, thin, and salty.

Glad to find a Mexican restaurant that accomodates vegan dietary restrictions, while also having plenty for the omnivores.“

“What is up? Did you guys get shut down in NOPDs big stop-the-street vending bust? I guess next time I get robbed I'll just call NOPD and tell them I'm selling tacos. Lord knows they don't show up for real crime. Please tell me you will be back.“

“amazing authentic Mexican food!“

“This place was a nice surprise. I was concerned because it is outdoor dining and it was pretty warm. The eating area was really well shaded with fans blowing, making it a very pleasant dining experience. The food was really good. I had a steak taco and a pork taco. Both excellent. I would absolutley come back.“

“Me encantó la comida y la atención ☺️“

“Lagos Tacos is a gem! I had the shrimp quesadilla and it was packed with flavor and perfectly cheesy. My sister ordered tacos and they looked incredible, so I’ll definitely be back to try those next. I also tried the agua de jamaica and honestly it was the best I’ve ever had, refreshing and perfectly balanced. The service was super friendly, the atmosphere is cozy and cute, and they even have snowballs. Highly recommend!“

“Best Street Tacos since I was in Southern California! these ladies know what they're doing! I stop every time I go to the VA“

“Staying nearby and drove by a few times and saw it was always busy. Walked up for an early dinner and couldn’t have been more impressed. Great people, great atmosphere and unbelievably delicious food made with fresh ingredients. Also found everything reasonably priced. Very happy that we trusted in our rule of eating where the locals go. How have they not been featured on the Food Network???“

“My wife and I from Northern California and we've tried many of Mexican restaurants while on vacation. This is our first time in New Orleans and finding this hidden gem was an excellent choice. Food was delicious and the service was excellent.“

“We had such a nice night. Live music and good weather were an absolute great addition to a last minute dinner date. The host Dom was so kind and our waiter Grayson was tip top!“

“The enchiladas are the best thing I have ever eaten. Omg.“

“A True Gem in Metairie! I am so thrilled to have finally found a restaurant in Metairie that gets everything right! Velvet Cactus is, without a doubt, a 5-star experience from top to bottom. In an city where customer service often seems like a lost art, this place stands out as a shining example of how it should be done. The absolute highlight of our visit was the incredible service we received from Sharon Davis. She was attentive, friendly, and genuinely seemed to enjoy making sure we had a great experience. It was so refreshing to be taken care of by someone with such a wonderful and positive attitude. Sharon is a true asset to the restaurant, and her exceptional service alone is a reason to come back. Of course, the food was just as impressive. Every single dish we ordered was packed with flavor and cooked to perfection. From the appetizers to the main course, you can tell there's real care and quality coming out of that kitchen. To top it all off, the environment is fantastic. The decor is fun and vibrant, creating a lively and enjoyable atmosphere that’s perfect for a night out. We will absolutely be back, and we'll be asking for Sharon! If you're looking for delicious food and service that will leave you smiling, look no further than Velvet Cactus. Highly, highly recommended!“

“Juan’s is a classic. We stopped in last minute for dinner and ended up having such a satisfying, delicious meal. The chips were great, and the steak tacos were the standout, would highly recommend. The place has a laid-back, easy vibe, and the service was great. Perfect casual spot when you want something good without planning ahead.“

“Great and friendly service“

“Absolutely delicious authentic Mexican street food! Worth going out of your way for! Nice outdoor patio area with tables, chairs, and even umbrellas.
Plenty of parking because you can park along the street there.
No dancing girls; cash only.“

“It's hard to believe as many times as have been to New Orleans that I have never been to this restaurant. The food was really really good. So good that when I started eating I wanted to keep eating. I had to slow down! I had the pulled pork fajitas which were very very good. This included freshly made corn tortillas which were delicious. Portion was extremely generous and I could only finish half of it. Took the rest back to the hotel and had it the following day. The orange lime margarita was very good as well. Very tasty with just enough tequila in it. Very generous portions. Very delicious food. Great service. What more could you ask for? Definitely give them a try!“

“The margaritas & food were so good🩷“

“Had to work for Cinco de mayo so my usual spot was a hour wait so I Googled what was near and this gem popped up my order was ready in 15 minutes and they snapped with when they added that lemon. My chicken taco was juicy and my steak was well seasoned!“

“Es una casa no un restaurant por que desde el lava copa hasta el mesero te tratan como si fueras uno más de la familia lo recontar recomiendo por su atención sazón y sabor Taqueria Corona New orleans lo mejor y no se dejen imprecionante por bonitos carteles aquí si hay buen sabor y unión“

“Delicious veggie burrito (3.5 Green Stars)
Wandering through the Garden District on a *Monday night in April (i.e., not busy), Juan’s jumped out as the place to be. I really turned up at their peak and it was a bit chaotic ordering a burrito to-go and then finding a spot that wasn’t in anyone’s way. They need a better system for this. The other downside was that my burrito was uneven – mostly rice on one end (too bland) and mostly veggies/salsa on the other (too intense after the blandness). Other than that, my Veggie Punk was one of the best burritos I’ve ever had :-)

*It turned out that it’s Happy Hour at Juan’s all day on Monday – no wonder it was busy!
There are four branches of Juan’s Flying Burrito in NOLA and according to a Reddit poll this branch is a favorite, pipping the Mid-City branch by a few votes. Next time I may dine in and try out the Mardi Gras Indian Tacos (the best Southern Vegetarian Taco you've ever had, apparently).

I’m also rating Juan’s Flying Burrito 3.5 out of 5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact, based on the following:
• Juan’s has a reasonable number of vegan and vegetarian options, including some customer faves.
• There’s a lot of steak/beef on the menu. Reducing this would have a big impact on Juan’s environmental footprint as beef is responsible for around 10% of greenhouse gases and is the major driver of global deforestation. Burritos and nachos would be great dishes for testing out beef-alternatives. Beyond Steak may be too pricey but a homemade seitan could work.
• Juan’s donates to various charities around the city, like homeless youth (Covenant House) and the Michael J Fox foundation (according to the ViaNolaVie blog). Seems to take good care of staff too.
• Some items (salsas, dressings) are made from scratch and a few others (corn tortillas, beans) are sourced from local partners. There’s no info on sourcing, that I can find, beyond this.“

“First time here. Amazing ambiance and food! We had the carne asada and enchilada plate and tacos (asada and carnitas). Everything was great. The salsas are amazing! Try their chipotle salsa and the slightly spicy (orange’ish in color) salsa. Staff was great. Our server was Neyla… fantastic!“

“Best Around, without any Doubt“

“This place is an obvious hidden gem! The wait staff are spectacularly true blue and on point. The tacos are almost as good as the ones from food trucks in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale shores. The ambience is St. Charles Ave. perfect! Also, if you can get the frozen margarita!“

“The music was really good and engaging“

“Best tacos ever chicken or beef both good just don’t take big bite of pepper and they have the Mexican Coke made with cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup“

“The best margaritas around!“

“Best fajitas ever! My favorite Mexican restaurant!“

“The guy taking the orders was helpful to people that weren’t sure of what to get giving them different recommendations. Being a self proclaimed taco connoisseur the tacos were phenomenal. The pollo asada was some of the best I’ve had and the carne had great flavor as well. Extra bonus the jalapeños were extra spicy when we went.“

“More than recomend this place if you are looking for authentic Mexican food you can not go work. Interior design corralates just as good wity the food and it doesbt dissapoint. Over all 10/10 one of the best spots ive eated at in neworleans“

“great food quick service filling“

“Great ambiance and exquisite food. Joshua made our night very special with his great service. Un lugar muy elegante, tranquilo y lejos del bullicio de la ciudad. Highly recommended 🥰“

“Delicious food and drinks. Authentic Mexican food. Clean dining room and restrooms.“

“great food. Awesome drinks. Even more owners who care“