How Many Mexican Restaurants Are There in the US?
There are over 85,000 Mexican restaurant businesses across the United States as of 2024, according to Restaurantji data. This is a 1.5% increase from the previous year. These Mexican restaurants are heavily concentrated in a few key states. Over half (51%) are located in just six states - California (19,5%), Texas (16,8%), Florida (4,1%), Illinois (3,9%), New York (3,6%) and Arizona (3,2%).
Big national restaurant chains serving Mexican food are also very common. Taco Bell has the largest share with over 7,550 locations across the country. Taco Bell accounts for 8,8% of all Mexican restaurants and almost a half (45,7%) of the Mexican chain (i.e. more than 5 locations) restaurant market. Other top national Mexican chains serving their takes on burritos, Mexican rice, elote, and other favorites include Chipotle, Qdoba, Moe's Southwest Grill and Del Taco.
Looking at the different styles, 22% of Mexican restaurants nationwide are considered fast food places, while 12% specifically serve tacos. 8% are food trucks or carts, and 6% offer Tex-Mex cuisine. The majority (52,4% or 44,716) are reasonably priced restaurants rated as one "$" on Restaurantji.
While Americanized Mexican dishes like hard-shell tacos, overstuffed burritos, and lots of melted cheese are very popular menu items, there are differences from authentic Mexican food. Traditional Mexican uses more corn tortillas instead of flour, fresh cheeses like queso fresco rather than heavy cheeses, and more subtle, complex flavored sauces and seasonings.
Mexican food is extremely popular and common all across the United States. It is deeply rooted in American food culture in every part of the country. Let Restaurantji guide you to great Mexican restaurants every day.
7 Mexican Culinary Regions
The North
With a strong ranching tradition, Northern Mexican cuisine revolves around beef. Grilling is very popular, along with staples like refried beans, rice, and dried beef machaca. The cattle industry also produces a variety of cheeses like queso fresco. Flour tortillas enabled the invention of the burrito in Sonora. Other famous dishes include marinated arrachera skirt steak, cabrito roasted baby goat, and capirotada bread pudding.
The North Pacific Coast
Stretching along the Pacific, this region supplies much of Mexico's produce, cheese, chiles, and seafood. The cuisine showcases the abundance with many vegetable, fruit, grain, and seafood dishes cooked with chiles and European spices like parsley, thyme, and cilantro. Guadalajara is the cultural center, known for stews like birria and pozole. The Pacific coast also produces tequila.
The Bajio
Very similar to Spain's central plains from the earliest settlers, the Bajio cuisine features rice, pork and spices. Popular dishes include morisqueta (sausage and rice), carnitas (fried pork), and typical sweet treats like cajeta (goat's milk caramel), arroz con leche (rice pudding), and bunuelos (fritters). The town of Cotija is known for its namesake aged cheese. The local spirit is charanda from fermented corn.
The South Pacific Coast
The indigenous cuisines of Oaxaca, Guerrero, and Chiapas feature staples like chicken, pork and Oaxaca's string cheese. Oaxaca is famous for its seven distinctive mole varieties using chiles, chocolate, nuts and cinnamon. Other specialties include tamales, enfrijoladas (tortillas in bean sauce) and diverse fiery chiles like the chile de siete caldos. In Chiapas, corn is the main staple used for tortillas, empanadas and more, often with very spicy chile condiments on the side.
Central Mexico
As a cosmopolitan capital, Mexico City offers foods from all regions like barbacoa lamb, birria goat stew, cabrito kid, carnitas pork, and complex moles from Puebla. Street food is hugely popular with taco stands, torta sandwich shops, and lunch counters everywhere. The city is also home to restaurants serving pre-Hispanic cuisine with ingredients like insects. For haute cuisine, this is the place to go.
The Gulf
With influences from indigenous, Spanish and Afro-Caribbean cultures, Gulf coast cuisine makes use of tropical fruits, vanilla, citrus, olives, capers and annatto seed. Seafood like Veracruz's signature snapper dish is emblematic. The flavors extend to dishes with peanuts, plantains, yuca and sweet potatoes. Tabasco offers incomparable seafood variety including crab and crayfish.
The South (Yucatan)
Based on Mayan food with Caribbean, European, Asian and Middle Eastern influences, the Yucatan peninsula's cuisine is distinct. Corn is the staple used for liquids and solids. Annatto seed adds color and flavor, used in recado pastes for pit-cooked dishes like cochinita pibil. Other specialties include tropical fruit salsas, habanero condiments, honey drinks and seafood like conch.
Tex-Mex vs Cal-Mex vs Traditional Mexican Cuisine
Traditional Mexican cuisine uses staples like corn, beans, chiles, tomatoes and avocados in dishes like moles and tamales. Tex-Mex originated when Mexican-American communities in Texas blended Mexican recipes with American ingredients like beef, cheddar, wheat tortillas and cumin. It includes dishes like nachos, fajitas and crispy tacos. Cal-Mex from California emphasizes fresh, healthy ingredients like avocados and grilled meats. It features burritos stuffed with non-traditional items and fuses Mexican flavors with other cuisines.
Most Popular Mexican Dishes in The US
Restaurantji has millions of restaurant reviews across the US and Canada. We've taken all the reviews in the Mexican food category to determine Americans' favorite Mexican dishes
Quesadilla - A quesadilla is a simple Mexican dish made by putting cheese between two tortillas. The name means "little cheesy thing." Quesadillas likely started in northern Mexico, especially the state of Sonora. They are a handy finger food that can be dipped in salsa. Common ingredients are cheese (often a mild white cheese) and tortillas.
You can try some of the best quesadilla in the country here:
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Mexican • Guacamole - This avocado dip dates back to the Aztecs in 1500s Mexico. The Aztecs made an "avocado mixture" called ahuaca-mulli from the avocados native to the region. Guacamole became popular due to the high nutrition in avocados - they are full of healthy fats and protein for a fruit. Key ingredients are mashed avocados, onion, cilantro, lime juice, and chili peppers.
Check out these restaurants for a perfect guacamole:
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Mexican • Chips & Salsa - Salsa (a spicy sauce) and tortilla chips originated in Latin America before becoming hugely popular in the US and Canada. According to Mayan myth, dried corn kernels were used by peasants to make a snack for kings. By 2003, chips and salsa was declared the official state snack of Texas! Common salsa ingredients are tomatoes, onions, chilies, cilantro and lime juice.
These restaurants have the most positive comments on their Chips & Salsa:
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Mexican • Chimichanga - While not authentic Mexican food, the origins of the chimichanga are disputed between restaurants in Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona. The story goes that a burrito was accidentally dropped in a deep fryer, creating this crispy fried burrito dish. Chimichangas stuff flour tortillas with rice, beans, cheese and meat like beef or chicken.
Users recommend these places for the best chimichanga:
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Mexican • Carnitas - Meaning "little meats" in Spanish, carnitas are made by frying pulled pork in milk and orange juice until crispy outside but tender inside. Typically using pig legs, ribs, stomach and tongue. The exact origins are debated between states like Michoacan and Jalisco. Carnitas are often enjoyed with salsas, onions, cilantro, cheese and lime for added flavor.
The best restaurants with carnitas on the menu according to Restaurantji:
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Mexican • Is Mexican Food Healthy?
Mexican food is quite healthy. Most dishes feature fresh, natural ingredients like lean proteins, grilled chicken, seafood and a rainbow of vegetables. Traditional tacos don't usually have melted cheese, unlike Tex-Mex versions. Mexican cuisine relies on corn tortillas which are naturally gluten-free and are fiber-rich complex carb that aids digestion. Even guacamole, made from avocados, provides heart-healthy fats.
What is National Taco Day?
National Taco Day is celebrated in the US on October 4th every year. It's an unofficial food holiday started by taco chains to promote and sell more tacos. Mexican restaurants, Tex-Mex restaurants and taco trucks offer deals and discounts. Fast food chains like Taco Bell do social media marketing, limited-time offers and giveaways. Grocery stores give discounts on taco ingredients. People celebrate by having taco parties and sharing photos using #NationalTacoDay.
What is the Oldest Mexican Restaurant in the US?
Established in 1922, El Charro Café in Tucson, Arizona is the nation's oldest Mexican restaurant continually operated by the same family. The original owner is said to have invented the chimichanga.
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“Man the brisket/steak quesadillas are the best with queens sauce and a side of guacamole your in moon and if you drinking your heaven”
“We received excellent attention from Angelica, very kind, very pleasant. I plan to return. We came from Boca Raton, Florida.”
“My second visit and always a good experience. The house margarita was a medium and huge. Delicious and served in a large, beautiful margarita glass. Lov...”
“A unique experience, delicious food and Areanne's attention was a pleasant experience that I plan to eat again and refer to my entire family.”
“Genesis was a great server! Very attentive. We celebrated a double birthday and she made it feel special. 10/10 recommend asking for her as your server t...”
“Delicious food and great service! We had Sebastien as our server and he was fantastic! Very attentive! We will be back!”
“Everything I order has been fire good! & great cuts service too! I recommend this Taqui Taqui is a must Try when you want to enjoy some tacos, burrit...”
“I can't believe I've never reviewed this place before. This is one of my family's favorite places to eat and a place I bring guests from o...”
“Stopped by for some tacos and calamari and it did not disappoint! The calamari was especially delicious and our server Juliana was very friendly.”
“Naomi was a super attentive and sweet server! We loved the food and ambiance. I’ll definitely be back here!
Vegetarian options: My fri...”
“Always go after a night of salsa dancing. We love it. The food and the staff are amazing.”
Recently Opened Restaurants
“I'll say this, this is exactly like the Mexican food I had at family gatherings in Mexico. It's hard to find ceviche made the way it's mad...”
“Great tacos! Ordered all the signature tacos, my favorite was the mushroom tacos! All the flavors blended so well together. Chicken taco was nice too, I...”
“Excellent meal on a quiet Super Bowl Sunday. Service was friendly and courses paced to perfection. The guacamole was phenomenal, lovely presentation. We ...”
“Be careful eating in this place. I went with my family and found a cockroach in my son plate. And they didn’t did nothing about it.”
“My Mother Visited restuarant on 12/10/2024 @ 7:45pm. Service was not good, saw waitress (Karla) when ordered & got bill of $30.85. Left $5 tip, for t...”
“Wife and I had lunch there today. I had beef street tacos - best I've ever had! Highly recommend this restaurant! Friendly, quick service.”
“Ridiculous prices! Beware! You can get a bottle of Jarritos for less than $1 in the city, got to the North Shore and they expect you to pay $3.50. Pri...”
“I enjoyed some chicken enchiladas w/verde sauce, rice (lil' dry) & beans and a margarita. I say 'some', as I enjoyed the other 's...”
“Excellent food, friendly service, beautiful atmosphere. Fantastic experience overall!”
“The absolute best beef enchiladas I’ve had in years and they made them after I ordered totally fresh everything is.
The salsa is some of the bes...”
“Just getting done with the gym we went to visit the new location and I have to say that it was a pleasant visit. The place is clean and the food was amaz...”
“Pretty new place, ambiance seems a little forced but hear good things about the secret bar in the back. Only had the tacos Al Pastor/ they were ready ver...”
“these guys don’t mess around. The food is phenomenal, we came for a quick bite and ended up ordering every dish but one. Will be back soon”
“This place was a little gem. The server was so sweet and even though it was just her she was on top of everything. The food was fresh and absolutely deli...”
“I have eaten here two times. Tacos were excellent. Today Taco salad was fantastic. great portions. quality food. good prices. friendly service. Try th...”
Recent Reviews
“I have only been here one time but plan to return I was really impressed by the food presentation, the quality of the food but also the staff. Very nice...”
“We had take out yesterday and the food was delicious. Just want to give Brunos a thumbs up. Try this place you will like it!!!!!”
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“Great food, great prices and generous servings. Friendly staff and good atmosphere”
“I got the Burrito Plate and it was excellent. This restaurant is great I had a great experience overall.”
“Great atmosphere, great service, great food!”
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“Very good food and service. Nothing but GOOD!!”
“Wonderful job/experience allowing our family to have a birthday party. Everyone really enjoyed themselves and your food.”
“Best Mexican restaurant in Massillon. Great service!”
“Our server, Mrs America, served us as if we were family!! She was prompt, knowledgeable about the menu, and also fun Thank you Mrs America for your ser...”
“We were excited to find this restaurant here last fall, and have been back several times. Always the same 5 star service, drinks, and food. Best marguai...”
“First time there last night. It was terrible. I ordered fish tacos. There was about 1 Tbsp of fish in each taco with a sprinkle of cabbage and corn on to...”
“LOVE this PLACE!!! best food in town and big micheladas! always a fun experience with the staff there. highly recommend this restaurant.”
“Blue Goose should be ashamed of themselves for their Margarita Day specials. We ordered top shelf margaritas which came in a plastic cup no bigger than ...”
Recently Updated Menus
“We had the Barbacoa Plate and Pancake Plate, and both dishes were delicious. The flavors were rich, and the portions were perfect. The service was friend...”
“Service was horrible staff was not pleasant I didn’t try to food because the atmosphere felt “stuffy” the bar tender was blah not to mention there’s a re...”
“Awesome little place! Very clean inside & the service was great! This was my first time here with my brother. First, they brought us some of the bes...”
“Top of the line Mexican food with a fantastic presentation. I highly recommend. Only open four days a week. Tuesday through Friday.
Wh...”
“I believe the older man is the owner. He's always there when we've dined at this location. Today, my husband and I wasn't Greeted by anyon...”
“Great food and great service. Staff is friendly, they remember us when we return and welcome us with open arms.”
“Good fresh and tasty portions! Tacos are goood chimichangas are even better,and all the chorizo stuff is the tastiest ever!”
“Amazing food as always. I've eaten most of the menu here have yet to find anything that is not good”
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“Can't operate a Square tap to pay. Attitude by the owner. Rubbed me off. Also charged hidden fees and can't remember the order. Food wasn'...”
“Live near this truck and finally got around to trying - had the al pastor burrito and loved it!”
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“Went to this place yesterday September 2, 2024 and I was very hesitant to try it out. My boyfriend had to run inside Home Depot to grab something. We wer...”
“As a truck driver it's hard to find great food and parking for a semi. Theres plenty a room 100ft away or you can park along side road. Service was ...”
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The best tacos I have had in San Diego . Great service and really good food