31 Best Mexican Restaurants in Columbia

“Omg I stopped in for lunch and was blown away by how much food they give. The burrito was probably one of the best burritos I've ever had and it was so much i asked for a to go box. The tacos were good and fresh and the food came out fast.“

“These tacos were fantastic. They were also very expensive however. It took quite some time for us to get our tacos and margaritas, then the margaritas came out warm and very syrupy. I got the steak, carnitas, birria. They were each very good and topping them with the salsa bar items was a nice touch. The inside was very dingy and dark. I would suggest getting takeout. I would come here again for the tacos but the price, margaritas and atmosphere of the restaurant are holding this place back.“

“Honestly the best Mexican food I’ve ever had in Missouri. Equal to or better than what you’ll find in Arizona, California, Mexico. Absolutely the best restaurant in Columbia and it’s the TRUEST definition of hidden gem that you will ever find! Get the tacos, tortas, quesadillas. Just come hungry and order one of everything.“

“We love to stop by on busy days, for a delicious burrito or tortas. Service is always fast and friendly, and the food is delicious. Today we had pre ordered tamales for the first time, and it won't be the last time! They were delicious. We had the vegetarian, and the chicken. I can't wait to try the puerca next.“

“A nice and trendy feeling Mexican restaurant. Clearly a notch above the typical establishment of this type of food. Portions were generous, so you will not leave hungry. Salsa was amazing, as were the chips. Prices were fair. Recommended. Will definitely return.“

“For my first experience with tamales, they were amazing! The food was great, and the small atmosphere really showed how much love goes into the restaurant. Tables were clean, and the bathrooms were spotless! My family said it was a hidden gem.Dietary restrictions: A lot of the food was made of meat/ high fiber ingredients. So after the restaurant is not the best experience.“

“We were passing through Columbia on a road trip. We wanted a quick meal that wasn't fast food.Carlito's was delicious. I suspect there was a system malfunction as only tacos were available, the soda machines were not working, and they only took cash. Some obstacles are unavoidable. They handled it with excellent customer service and offering free cans of soda.The tacos were absolutely delicious. I would certainly eat here again for the delicious, fresh food and friendly service.“

“This place is a real hidden gem. The Mediterranean side of the menu is fine and good, but if you ask me it's the Mexican dishes where Med Mex really shines. Their beef suadero is tender and flavorful with a richness that elevates the whole dish, easily one of the best things I've tasted. Try the torta!“

“I’m one of a group of seniors who meet at Fuzzy’s every Tuesday. We love the food and the discounts on Tacos every Taco Tuesday. One of main attractions though is the friendly staff. We are particularly fond of Tanya. We all agree that she is a huge asset to our dining experience.“

“Update! They have really improved their food quality! Love their fajitas and their chimi.Earlier review.Came on Cinco de Mayo. Service and food were not what they used to be. Fajitas were stringy and chewy. Margarita was more like lemonade. Never brought the water we ordered. Waiter came back one time just before we left seems like employees need more training.“

“THE BEST Pancheros around is HERE! Every time I get delivery from their online app they give me an over the top order! They don’t skip around, they mean business! This location goes over the top for their customers. They even put a smiley face on your receipt. :-)“

“Service is great/friendly, the atmosphere is perfect and the I always say if they can’t speak English well? The food is going to be Friggen baller! (And it normally is!)If you’re going for standard fare, you know what you want, and you don’t show up during rush hour? You’re going to have a hit-experience.But, this is my third time ordering their Birria De Res and I must say I’m a little disappointed.For one it’s the only restaurant I know of in como that has it on the menu. And two, idk if they just used to prepare it differently now/different cook /or/ they had to cut back on ingredients due to the unknown-level of this dish but—Wow? Last year around fall 2023 it was the best thing I’ve ever eaten in my life. Literally the beef melts in your mouth, I thought I had died and gone to heaven but this— this had a beef consistent with that of corned-beef that had been stewed longer than usual. Not the consistency of traditional birria; my boyfriend is Mexican and he confirmed it through texture it’s not really birria anymore.?A note to the owners, put the **old recipe** for birria on the traditional menu and highlight it. Trust me you will have people raving for this dish, but as it is now…. I’m gonna have to break out the molcajete and try it myself next time.Regardless, used to be my go-to, but now I’m looking for something to fill the emptiness in my heart ?(and stomach.)Love you guys, and the staff!Vegetarian options: Plenty if you like cheese and beans, these guys are very accommodating!Parking: Just behind the shnucks and in front of the Forum 8 theater.“

“If I could give more stars for service, I would!!! I placed an order through doordash this evening, even paid the extra fee to have it priority delivered. When it arrived, we were missing all 3 entrées. I called the driver, he told me there was only one bag for the order. I called El Oso and they told me there were 2 bags with the order and that I should contact doordash. Right after I hung up, I immediately got a call back from El Oso saying the other bag had been left there. I wish I could remember his name, but the gentleman who called me back told me he'd be willing to bring the rest of the order himself! I tried to tip him and he was so kind he just wouldn't take it. It's by far the nicest, well above and beyond thing that any restaurant has ever done for me! Thank you so much to the team at El Oso, you all are amazing!!!“

“This place has great food and incredibly large portions. It is my wife's favorite Mexican place in Columbia and has been since she was in college there. I get the super grande steak burrito which is literally at least twice the size of a Chipotle burrito.“

“I am not a foodie, so they may have more informed opinions. The restaurant has relocated from borderline shabby southeast Columbia conveniently near U.S. Highway 63 and Nifong/AC to the leading edge of the southwest sprawl, still on AC. That building is a new mini-shopping plaza behind a gas station and slightly concealed from the road. Parking is convenient and plentiful. The reserved table was available when we arrived. The food was as good as any of the other 4 or 5 Mexican restaurants around Columbia, MO that I have tried. The menu had a lot of items. Whether it had a variety is a question best left to an expert. The descriptions were often indistinguishable to me. The service was fast but the servers changed shift between order and delivery. Estimates are that two of the 8 in our party did not get what they ordered but just accepted the situation due to the language difficulty in communication. There was little interaction with the servers during the meal. Associating the bills with the customers did not go quickly. If my bill was for what I ordered then the price was a dollar more than indicated on the menu. At this point not worth disputing. The one special "no dairy" order was correctly made and delivered and appreciated. Some servings were generous enough to require take-out bags.Dietary restrictions: Dairy-free request honored.Parking: Seemed like plenty.Kid-friendliness: Saw family groups“

“Mi Jalisco has only been opened three weeks, this was our first visit and it did not disappoint. Restaurant was clean and bright! Employees smiling & friendly. Food was hot and delicious, our waiter was very attentive! This place is my new favorite Mexican restaurant in Columbia.Parking: There are plenty of spots to park even if a handicapped spot is needed.“

“We are in the parking lot right now, eating in our van. I wasn't all that hungry but my wife wanted to come here. She got chips with guac, salsa and queso. I figured I'd try their dessert. I can't remember the name of it. Because I'm an average white dude that can't figure out other languages. It's tortilla strips that are fried and covered in cinnamon and sugar and comes with a side of honey. We just finished our food and it was amazing. They gave her enough chips for five people and the huge sides of everything that came with it. Seriously amazing food. Polite staff. Food all came really fast and my favorite part of the whole dinner was the prices. It was half as much money as taco Bell would have cost us. Definitely try this place. We'll be back.Vegetarian options: They've got a whole lot of options.“

“Nice Mexican restaurant in Columbia. I got the Steak fajita nachos and it was all very tasty! The chips were nice and crispy, though the outside of the chips were quite oily. I think next time, I would opt for a burrito. The cheesecake chimichanga was a cool idea and good to try once.There is good variety in the menu, and plenty of combination plates to choose from in case you can't decide on one item. Additionally, there are quite a bit of breakfast burrito options as well!The restaurant itself has beautifully painted seats and plenty of seating.I look forward to trying their other menu items and trying out a stuffed churro!“

“First time visiting. Food absolutely blew me away. All I've been thinking about since is how much I want to find a way to justify a 2 hour drive out to eat here again. Their bolgogi is phenomenal, and the quesadilla with the bolgogi and the elotes was one of the best things I've eaten in years. Also the best horchata I've ever had. Cannot recommend enough and I need a location in Kansas City like yesterday.“

“Update 8.31.23: They no longer serve food or have the grocery store. They still have amazing tortillas, but that's it. ?You MUST go here if you like me, miss the tortillas from back home, or just want to taste what freshly made, authentic flour and corn tortillas taste like.Once you taste these tortillas, you will never be satisfied eating the stale ones from the supermarket.They opened just a month ago, and I stumbled on them by accident . What a pleasant accident it was.Everything is new, and it's super clean.. enjoy!?Update: They serve tacos on the weekend, and there's a cute place to sit. ?“

“We had a chicken wrap for appetizer, my wife had quesadillas vegetarian as, and I had a steak burritos. Everything was delicious! Recommend highly !Vegetarian options: We’re going to try some of the veggie combos next time.Wheelchair accessibility: It’s flat from the handicap parking to the seat.“

“I drive from Kansas City to Columbus, Ohio, a few times a year, and I often get hungry right about the time I hit Columbia. I've been to Las Margaritas about five times now. The food has been immaculate, and I have had top-notch service on each visit. The atmosphere is also good, though the bathrooms aren't amazing - That's the only negative thing I could say. It's a stop right off the highway by a gas station, so it's also convenient. Consistently very good.“

“We had takeout from Casa Maria’s and it was so good we wanted to visit the restaurant. The decor was colorful and appealing. A server came right away and got us a tablet to peruse the online menu-no physical menus are available. The food was delicious, reasonably priced and plentiful. The only negative was that the floor was filthy and the booth hadn’t been thoroughly cleaned. We assumed they had been hit hard at lunch and hadn’t been able to get things cleaned up. We will definitely go back and see if they have it under control, and we will definitely get takeout again.“

“Ate here twice last week--once for the first time and then went back with someone else. Plenty of tasty food. I tend to judge Mexican food places by their bean dip. This is definitely good. I asked them to hold back on the cheese sauce on the bean dip because there was so much the first time.“

“I'm not too fond of the way they mix up all the ingredients but the ingredients in general are top-notch and if you tell them not to mix up the stuff at the end then I think it's great. The tortillas that are fresh pressed are so much better than Chipotle though I love them too. But I totally recommend this place. They keep employees around a lot more than Chipotle and there's always less of a line and the employees are always a lot friendlier and it's a better price for a better product. This place is totally delicious and the quesadillas are so good and their cheese is way better than Chipotle too!“

“First trip to this location and the location itself is great: wide open, lots of space between tables (so not as noisy as some Mexican restaurants), great place for large groups. The large space did make it feel a little generic, like it is connected to a hotel (like it is), which was odd since it's a local restaurant and not a chain but felt like a chain. Service was new but friendly and efficient. My whole family agreed that the food is above average compared to other Mexican restaurants in town, but then again, so are the prices. One complaint, as others have mentioned, is that I don't understand why there wouldn't be prices and sizes on the drink menu, especially since drinking is a big part of most Mexican restaurants. Combined with their slightly high prices, it's a pointless decision that is going to cause too many people to leave with a bad taste in their mouths.“

“Enchanting Evenings at Las Margaritas: A South Columbia Gem! My visit to Las Margaritas on the south side of Columbia was nothing short of amazing. While weekends can get busy, the consistently nice vibes, friendly staff, delectable food, and tasty drinks make for an enjoyable and enchanting experience. The option to sit outside on their patio during the summertime offers a picturesque lake view, adding to the already beautiful ambiance. The staff at Las Margaritas are not only friendly but also incredibly helpful, providing recommendations when faced with the delightful dilemma of a diverse menu. Navigating through the menu becomes a breeze with their assistance, ensuring you make the most of your dining experience. If you're seeking a place with great vibes, delicious food, and a variety of tasty drinks, Las Margaritas on the south side of Columbia is a must-visit.“

“I loved every minute. I am new to the area and was having lunch with my dad. I was interested in authentic Mexican and he brought me to La Siesta North. The food was amazing and we both mentioned the fresh salsa in later conversations, it is remarkable and a new favorite.“

“The burrito was disappointing as my tortilla was unexpectedly cold to touch. The meat I chose, steak, was also noticeably chewy. The tacos were a lot better, but not as filling since they're tiny and an order only comes with two. Lastly, the customer service was friendly and the staff were quick with my order.“

“Stopped in about an hour before close just for a drink and to finish up watching the game. I honestly wasn’t expecting much other than the basics. I was greeted with wonderful service and unexpected hospitality. I will definitely be back for dinner during regular hours!Thank you to Alex, Julio, and Grislder for your service!“

“I'm not the type to leave a review, especially on fast food.. but we went an hour before closing (drive-thru) and my soft taco supreme was FULL. I'm completely satisfied ? so whoever made our food tonight deserves a raise haha. But honestly it was so good.“