43 Best Mexican Restaurants in Columbia

“Great food and great service!“

“My husband was taken to this restaurant two weekends ago and now we have to drive to Columbia just for this restaurant because it has ruined him! LOL 🤣 By the way, we are driving over an hour to eat there! See you guys tomorrow! Delicioso! My husband can't wait!!!!! 😋👍❤️ I give this place five stars and I haven't even ate there!!!!“

“Had my first visit. The staff was great and the food was incredible. The most fresh and satisfying meal I have had in a while.“

“My friend recommended Masa to me roughly 2 years ago and I’ve been going ever since. The drinks and food are amazing especially El Paraiso and their adobada bowl. The atmosphere is great for going with friends or a date night. The staff is always welcoming and friendly and Erik is a great bartender that can literally make any drink you want.“

“Omg the sweetest ladies helped us today. We drove up from Charleston as we read the reviews. This is the 2nd place we have been that reminded my husband of his military days in Juarez he absolutely loved the menudo. 2nd time I seen tears rolling down his face from the love of the food. This is a hidden gem with beautiful people and wonderfully perfectly seasoned food. Will make this a regular trip for sure.“

“What a pleasure to go to a restaurant with good food and great staff. Will definitely make this one of our favorites to go to again and again!!!“

“We are here this evening, it was our first experience and our server Adi made sure it was a great one. Our food was excellent, and Adi made sure we had full drinks and all was well. We will be back soon!“

“Great food and Great atmosphere!“

“Highly recommend! Beautiful atmosphere and awesome customer service. Our waiter Jed was amazing“

“I love the Sparkleberry location. Great food and drinks are amazing! Fun for family time. Great for all ages. My kids and grandkids really enjoy the atmosphere and employees are simply delightful. Making sure food is hot and drinks are filled. Birria tacos and Elotes are my favorite! They are a must get when you come! And look for Julian! He will make sure you have everything you need for a great night! This guy is the best server!!“

“Best Mexican food I’ve eaten in a long while. Super delicious, food was hot and fresh and service was excellent. Check out the Sumter St. location. I’ll definitely return.“

“The food is very good! love this place.“

“This was our first time at this particular San Jose. Our waiter did not seem enthused to be working. He refilled my husband's iced tea but not my soda. I thought that was a little weird. The food on the other hand,well, mine was absolutely delicious. I got the two chicken burritos the cheese sauce on them. They were so good. The chicken was tender and moist. Flavoring was really good. My husband got the combination plate of taco and burrito. He said the taco was really good but as far as the burrito went not so good. It had the same hamburger meat as the taco. No beans, no cheese, no onions. Nothing nothing was in there but just hamburger which had very little flavoring. When we left you said he was not in a hurry to return, but I certainly am because mine was so good.“

“Food was good... not great.. but good. Staff was quick.“

“Great food ! This is the closest we have came to authentic Mexican Food since we moved from California. Fajitas were very tasty , salsa had good flavor . And the service was friendly and food came out fast !“

“Was visiting family in town and stopped in for a late dinner.

Very flavorful and authentic Mexican food with great service and attentive staff. Order was taken quickly, drinks arrived cold and frosty. The food was great and I enjoyed it better than my local Mexican restaurants near where I live. Their beef enchiladas and crunchy taco combination were some of the best I've ever had.

Their house made salsa was great, without too much cilantro as some places do. It was sweet and a little in the warm side as far as pepper heat goes.“

“Most Mexican restaurants have complimentary salsa and chips ... They have bean dip and chips and it's GREAT‼️💯💥💢“

“YESS the best SALSA and Fresh chips the food is so good, my go to now form good mexican food“

“I love the Sparkleberry location. Great food and drinks are amazing! Fun for family time. Great for all ages. My kids and grandkids really enjoy the atmosphere and employees are simply delightful. Making sure food is hot and drinks are filled. Birria tacos and Elotes are my favorite! They are a must get when you come! And look for Julian! He will make sure you have everything you need for a great night! This guy is the best server!!“

“the one on beltline is the best Mexican restaurant in Columbia SC hands down.....“

“I blinked, and tacos appeared before me. Your bartender, Quinn, gave exceptional customer service!“

“servicio y frescura en los productos,“

“delicioso y fantastico buen servicio y muy bonito lugar lo recomiendo“

“the one on beltline is the best Mexican restaurant in Columbia SC hands down.....“

“Un lugar muy grato y cómodo para comer, conversar y disfrutar de muchos deliciosos platillos.“

“Great little Taqueria. Been a couple times, it’s down the road from my jobsite. So far the Asada, Lengua, Pastor and Borrega has been on point. The Borrega is my favorite so far but everything is tasty. Update, picked up a Borrega Burrito after work last night. Thing is bigger than my head and tasty as all get out. Big enough that I’m having the other half for lunch today.“

“Delicious 😋, highly recommended 👌“

“My husband was taken to this restaurant two weekends ago and now we have to drive to Columbia just for this restaurant because it has ruined him! LOL 🤣 By the way, we are driving over an hour to eat there! See you guys tomorrow! Delicioso! My husband can't wait!!!!! 😋👍❤️ I give this place five stars and I haven't even ate there!!!!“

“Great food! Wonderful service! A little noisy at times but a great place to get one of the Best Mexican Meals in South Carolina!“

“Their food is good !!! I moved and haven't been able to get to my favorite spot I had to hit them up and get my usual everything is top of the line good !! The staff is nice always have been !! Yall support San Jose Restaurante Mexicano !!“

“If tacos had a passport, Loco Taco in downtown Columbia would be stamped “bienvenidos” in bold ink. This lively spot brings serious flavor and personality to Main Street, and it does so with confidence, charm, and just the right amount of downtown swagger.

First things first: the tacos deliver. Fresh, well-seasoned, and thoughtfully assembled, they strike that perfect balance between bold and approachable. Each bite is packed with flavor savory proteins, bright toppings, and sauces that know exactly when to whisper and when to shout. Nothing feels overworked or gimmicky. These are tacos made by people who respect the craft and want you to taste every layer.

The atmosphere is pure downtown Columbia energy. You’ve got foot traffic outside, music in the air, and that unmistakable feeling that something fun is happening nearby. And then there’s the VW bus, which might be one of the coolest visual anchors of any taco joint in town. It’s quirky, iconic, and perfectly on-brand like a rolling reminder that tacos are supposed to be fun. It adds character and makes Loco Toco feel less like a restaurant and more like a destination.

Service is friendly and efficient, the kind that keeps the line moving without making you feel rushed. You can tell the team enjoys what they’re doing, and that energy carries straight through to the food and the overall vibe.

There’s also something fitting about enjoying tacos downtown where office lunches blur into happy hour and nobody’s entirely sure if they’re on a break or starting the evening early. Loco Toco fits right into that rhythm. Grab a taco or three, soak in the scene, and don’t be surprised if you linger longer than planned.
In short, Loco Toco brings sabor, style, and personality to downtown Columbia. Between the flavorful tacos, the playful VW bus, and the lively setting, it’s a place that understands tacos should make you smile. Or as they might say muy loco, muy bueno.“

“My name is Cleveland Ivory. I've been eating at this taco truck ever since they first got established. I love the food, they give you A good amount of meat no matter what kind of entree your ordering. Awesome customer service and this is the best authentic Mexican food that I have ever eaten. When I was in the military I used to love eating Mexican food when I was in California and this is even better than some of the street food that I have eaten when I was in California. I recommend their food to anyone in the surrounding area as well as for those who may have to drive 30 minutes or an hour to get there. Trust me, it is worth the drive and the food is awesome.“

“The team at Salsarita's truly went above and beyond during our fundraiser, providing not only delicious food but also outstanding service that made our event a success. Their dedication and enthusiasm significantly enhanced the experience and helped us raise vital funds. The impact of this partnership extends far beyond a single event, contributing directly to our mission of family building. We are deeply appreciative of Salsarita’s staff and their commitment to making a positive impact in the community. Thank you for a memorable and impactful day!“

“Good food, pleasant atmosphere. Top shelf margarita was awesome too“

“We visited for the first time today for lunch. The chicken chimichangas and seafood enchiladas were amazing. The Mexican street corn salad was Devine! The atmosphere was impressive. It was not what I expected from a strip mall restaurant. We will be back!“

“I would give more than 5 Everytime I come the personal and the waiters are kind and humble the food is very tasty and the place is clean and for me is the most important the kindest, and the efficiency and effort of the staff I really recommended. Even that I come from the Caribbean this place makes me feel like a peace of my island 🏝️ and family ❣️“

“Great people and excelent Latinamerican food! ¡Excelente trato y comida!“

“They have consistent and delicious food with gluten free options. Best tacos in Columbia.“

“Have only done take out but the food is excellent. Highly recommend this restaurant.“

“I make a point to drop in here every time I’m in Columbia. The chia pudding is incredible and so filling. It lasts me for two meals. I tried the ice cream (vegan) for the first time last time I was there and it knocked my socks off. So dense, so creamy, and guilt free due to all natural ingredients. It was everything I’d hoped it would be and more! Keep up the amazing work Tasty As Fit- y’all rock !! Please open a store front in Charlotte, NC!“

“I can’t say enough great things about this establishment! Yes, the food is good. It’s Moe’s! What I’ve been blown away with is the impeccable service and friendliness of this establishment! Bryan Raymond is the epitome of what a great manager should be! He’s super friendly and always attentive to his customers. He is well respected by his crew and leads them with excellence. Quite frankly, he’s the hardest working manager I’ve encountered, anywhere! I hope the ownership takes account of the rockstar they have in Bryan!“