Fresh basket of hot chips and some spicy salsa? Yes, please. There are several local Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants in Nashville that are perfect for fulfilling that Mexican-cuisine craving. While many of the best Mexican restaurants are outside the city, these are some of the best options within the neighborhoods covered on Nashville Guru.
Best Mexican Restaurants in Nashville
Blanco Cocina + Cantina
Neighborhood: Downtown
Blanco Cocina + Cantina is located at Fifth + Broadway in Downtown Nashville. The Sonoran-style Mexican restaurant is situated across from Bridgestone Arena, which makes it a perfect dining destination before and after events. Guests can expect a fresh twist on Mexican cuisine with featured menu items like tiger shrimp fajitas, Baja breakfast burritos, and grilled Mexican street corn.
Saint Anejo
Neighborhood: Gulch
Saint Anejo is a modern Mexican restaurant featuring a creative menu and a cantina-chic vibe with funky lanterns and red lights. When the weather is suitable, the windows open to the exterior, allowing for an open-air experience. Grab a seat on the patio and enjoy a hot chicken taco and one of the hundreds of tequila options.
Pancho & Lefty’s
Neighborhood: Downtown | Sylvan Park
For tasty street tacos, burritos, quesadillas, street corn, and margaritas, make your way to Pancho & Lefty’s! The Downtown Nashville location has great rooftop views and the Sylvan Park location has a spacious outdoor patio which is great for larger groups.
Taqueria del Sol
Neighborhoods: 12 South | Sylvan Park
Taqueria del Sol is a fast-casual Mexican restaurant based out of Georgia, which has seven locations total. There are two Nashville outposts in the bustling 12 South neighborhood as well as on Charlotte Avenue. Expect a simple menu of tacos, enchiladas, sides, soups, and rotating weekly specials for lunch and dinner.
Superica
Neighborhood: Gulch
If you’re in the mood for Tex-Mex cuisine, add Superica to your list. The concept from chef-owner Ford Fry has Nashville loving everything from the atmosphere to the delicious food. Guests can expect Tex-Mex staples, such as queso, wood-grilled fajitas, shrimp tacos, and freshly-made flour and corn tortillas. For beverages, house-made margaritas are most popular.
Mas Tacos
Neighborhood: East Nashville
Mas Tacos began as a food truck and is hands-down one of the top Mexican restaurants in Nashville. The fish tacos are the best in town and the fried avocado tacos deserve attention, too. Don’t let the small, unassuming building in East Nashville fool you—this joint has big taste.
Ladybird Taco
Neighborhoods: 12 South
Ladybird Taco is a fast-casual breakfast and lunch restaurant located in the 12 South neighborhood. This popular taco spot serves house-made tortillas, fresh salsa, queso, and some of the best breakfast tacos in town. The #1 breakfast taco and #8 lunch taco come highly recommended.
Rosepepper Cantina
Neighborhood: East Nashville
Rosepepper in East Nashville is most well-known for having amazing margaritas and clever sayings on their outdoor sign. It’s a one-of-a-kind place that usually has a nightly wait, which is always a sign of good grub. Chips are served with fresh salsas and if you have any room left for dessert, go for the chocolate chimi.
Taco Chela
Neighborhood: The Nations
Taco Chela, located within L&L Market, is known for its creative selections of tacos and margarita bar! The menu features delicious tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and salads, all made with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. If you’re a fan of spice and tequila, we recommend trying the ghost pepper margarita.
Bakersfield
Neighborhood: SoBro
Bakersfield is a popular restaurant located within the SoBro neighborhood. Guests can expect Mexican street fare, a selection of over 100 tequilas and American whiskeys, and a lively atmosphere. Only a short walk from Broadway, Bakersfield makes for a perfect dinner spot before a fun night out on the town.
Nada
Neighborhood: Midtown
Nada is a taco and cocktail restaurant situated in the Midtown neighborhood. Nashville marked the fourth outpost for the brand, which also has locations in Cincinnati, Columbus, Indianapolis, and now North Bethesda. From guacamole to tacos to margaritas, this is a fresh spot for modern Mexican cuisine.
El Jaliciense
Neighborhood: East Nashville
This authentic Mexican restaurant in East Nashville has been a favorite, award-winning spot for years. El Jaliciense has an expansive menu with everything from cheese dip to burritos to tacos.
Popular Mexican Chains
While local restaurants are the focus here at Nashville Guru, the chains below are great options if you’re looking for Mexican or Tex-Mex food. A couple of these chains are small and locally driven, so they are worth a visit.
bartaco
Neighborhood: 12 South
This taco restaurant on 12 South is one of the most popular spots in town due to its hip setting, tasty cuisine, and sun-soaked patio. bartaco is the tenth location for the small chain, and it’s easy to see (and taste) why they’ve had such tremendous success since opening in 2015.
Las Palmas
Neighborhood: West End | Midtown | Melrose
Las Palmas is affordable and consistent. Nashville natives probably remember the days when Las Palmas was one of the few places to grab Mexican cuisine. There are now nine locations in the Nashville area, and we’ve been going to several of those regularly for years (in other words, since the 90s). The service is always reliable, the food is cheap and delicious, and the restaurants are clean. If you want an inexpensive Mexican fix, Las Palmas is worth checking out.
Taco Mama
Neighborhood: Hillsboro Village
Taco Mama in Hillsboro Village is a favorite among college students. The counter-service restaurant offers delicious tacos and refreshing (strong) margaritas. Nashville is one of the twenty-two Taco Mama locations. If you love burritos we recommend trying The Judge made with marinated chicken, black beans, cilantro-lime rice, shredded cheddar, lettuce, mild salsa ranchera, and creamy cilantro pesto.
Chuy’s
Neighborhood: Midtown
Large chains are rarely highlighted on Nashville Guru, but the chip stations at Chuy’s are hard to overlook. The Midtown location is also overly convenient when you’re barhopping and need a bite to eat. Grab a seat on the patio to watch all the Midtown action.
Cinco De Mayo
Neighborhood: East Nashville | Downtown
Cinco De Mayo has been serving authentic Mexican cuisine since the year 2000. Stop by either of their Nashville locations, Downtown Nashville & East Nashville, for delicious food and daily drink specials. Their queso fundido and frozen margaritas will not disappoint.
Other Great Authentic Mexican Restaurants in Nashville
If you want to branch outside of the neighborhoods covered on Nashville Guru, some other popular places include:
Also See:
You missed – Taqueria del Sol, address: 2317 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
Definitely one of the best!
La Hacienda Taqueria is by far the best authentic Mexican food in Nashville.
Sorry to disappoint but the *only authentic restaurant* I have found is Fogatas (5560 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, TN 37211). All dishes are truly authentic (not tex-mex, not the American version of Mexican). The menu is overwhelming but the servers can give you pretty good recommendations. Enjoy!
You guys missed the true number one, Casa Fiesta, just off I-24 on bell road up on the hill next next to the 2 motels! Combo #41 will settle the score with fajita quesadillas. Trust me I’m fat, & this is a Nashville hidden gem!
I agree that Taqueria del Sol is THE BEST! Awesome guacamole and frozen margarita’s
La Hacienda Taqueria is the best AUTHENTIC Mexican restaurant in Nashville. It has consistently been serving good food since the 90s with friendly service. I highly recommend it!
“El Tapatio”
3609 Nolensville Pike Nashville, TN 37211
Baja Burrito, fried fish burrito is hands down heaven on earth
Acapulco Burrito is the best. I grew up in new mexico. They make mexican food like they do in mexico
Don’t overlook Guac in Bellevue. It’s been open less than a year and has gotten glowing reviews.
Little Mexico is the best Mexican I’ve had in Nashville with friendly service, huge portions and affordable prices!!!
Casa fiesta on bell rd! We’ve tried las palmas, fiesta Mexicana, margarita house, chuy’s and a few others, but I’d give the nod to casa fiesta!
I really like Rosepepper and Mas Taco, but when I’m craving authentic Mexican food, I go to El Jaliciense on Gallatin Pike in East Nashville. Best Mexican food in Nashville that is not on Nolensville Pike.
A needle in a haystack would be Margarita House in Mount Juliet. I’m a Hispanic native from California, and this is by far the most authentic I’ve came by so far. Look if the place can’t get their beans and rice down to a T (because that is a must Mexican cuisine staple to master), more than likely 9 times out of 10 they aren’t going to be good at anything else. Try #48, it has a little bit of everything.
Best Mexican IMO… Las Fiestas cafe on Gallatin Rd
You missed El Fuego 🔥 in Inglewood. Hand squeezed margaritas for $3.99.