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 is makes it a perfect dining destination before and after events. Guests can expect a fresh twist on Mexican cuisine which featured menu items like Tiger Shrimp Fajitas, Baja Breakfast Burritos, and “Esquites” Mexican Street Corn.
Saint Anejo
Neighborhood: The Gulch
Saint Anejo in the Gulch is a modern Mexican restaurant with 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 jerk shrimp 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 across from Bridgestone Arena in Downtown Nashville or the newly opened location in Sylvan Park.
Superica
Neighborhood: The 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 buzzing about 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, the 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.
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. Three salsas are served with the chips, which is a plus. 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 their creative selections of tacos and margarita bar! The menu features delicious tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and salads, all made with fresh, locally-sourced products. If you’re a fan of spice and tequila, we recommend trying the ghost pepper margarita!
Bakersfield
Neighborhood: SoBro / Downtown
Bakersfield is a popular spot in the SoBro neighborhood. You may have had this Mexican cuisine at one of their seven other locations in other states. This is one of the few super-savory options in the Downtown area to get tacos and tequila.
Nada
Neighborhood: Midtown
Nada is a taco and cocktail restaurant that opened in 2018 in the Midtown neighborhood. Nashville marked the fourth location for the brand, which also has locations in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Indianapolis. From guacamole to tacos to margaritas, this is a fresh spot for modern Mexican cuisine.
Taqueria del Sol
Neighborhoods: 12 South + West Nashville
Taqueria del Sol is a fast-casual Mexican restaurant based out of Georgia, which has seven locations total. They have 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 chili with rotating weekly specials for lunch and dinner.
Chago’s Cantina
Neighborhood: Belmont Boulevard
Chago’s Cantina on Belmont Boulevard is always full of young college kids since it’s located across the street from Belmont University. They have a mix of Latin American and Mexican cuisine. Chago’s is known for having a variety of vegetarian and vegan options on the menu, too.
Taco Mama
Neighborhood: Hillsboro Village
Taco Mama in Hillsboro Village is a favorite among the college students! The counter-service restaurant offers delicious tacos and refreshing (strong) margaritas! Nashville is one of Taco Mama’s twenty-two locations. If you love burritos we recommend trying The Judge (marinated chicken, black beans, cilantro-lime rice, shredded cheddar, lettuce, mild salsa ranchera, creamy cilantro pesto).
Baja Burrito
Neighborhood: Berry Hill
Baja Burrito has been in Nashville since 2000, which means they’ve mastered how to make a mean burrito. They’re located in the Berry Hill neighborhood, which is just south of downtown Nashville. They’re locally owned and operated, which is a big plus. Despite their popularity, the service is usually speedy. Baja fans love the fish tacos and the fruit tea.
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 good options if you’re looking for Mexican or Tex-Mex food near Downtown. A couple of these chains are small and locally-driven, so they are worth a visit.
Bartaco
Neighborhood: 12 South
This restaurant in 12 South is one of the most popular spots in town due to its hip setting, tasty cuisine, and sun-soaked patio. Bartaco Nashville 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 back in the day. There are now eleven 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.
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.
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.