Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the Modesto area by diners
Just like cuisine from any country, Mexican food is not monolithic. It isn't just combo plates and tacos. (Not that there's anything wrong with that style of food; it's delicious and is responsible for popularizing Mexican food in the United States.) But Mexican food means more than that.
It reflects Mexico's diverse population鈥攕haped by waves of immigration鈥攁nd has proliferated throughout the U.S., showcasing the cuisine in all its complexity and regionality. Mexico has, and thanks to immigrant chefs and the rise of promising culinarians of Mexican descent looking to share their signature dishes, Indigenous foodways, and ingredients from various regions, diners are reframing their idea of "Mexican food."
According to a 2024 Pew Research Center analysis of SafeGraph data, , and nearly 9 out of 10 U.S. counties have at least one Mexican restaurant. The analysis also reveals that California and Texas are home to a majority of the Mexican American population and together host 2 out of 5 Mexican restaurants in the country.
These findings serve as a testament to the influence Mexican cuisine has had and continues to have in America. Which begs the question: Where does one go for the best old-school Mexican restaurants, loncheras slinging tacos out of a half-window, and innovative modern Mexican food pushing culinary boundaries?
To help you out, compiled a list of the highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the Modesto area based on diners' reviews on as of February 2025. Restaurants with at least 20 reviews tagged as "Mexican" on Yelp within a 10-kilometer radius of Modesto were included. As a result, some restaurants featured may serve other food items besides Mexican food. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 50 locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.
Keep reading to see if your favorite Mexican spot made the list or to discover a new restaurant to try!
#30. Primos Restaurant And Tequila Bar
- Rating: 4.2/5 (240 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 222 West River Road Ste G Ripon, California
- Categories: Bars, Mexican
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#29. Las Maris
- Rating: 4.2/5 (80 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6530 Pacific Ave. Stockton, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
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#28. Lonchera Mariscos Colima
- Rating: 4.3/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1715 Crows Landing Road Modesto, California
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Food Trucks
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#27. La Hacienda
- Rating: 4.3/5 (78 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4520 Broadway Salida, California
- Categories: Mexican
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#26. Testy Culiacan
- Rating: 4.3/5 (35 reviews)
- Address: 1238 Crows Landing Road Modesto, California
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood
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#25. El Jacalito Mexican Food
- Rating: 4.3/5 (24 reviews)
- Address: 3203 Atchison St. Riverbank, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
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#24. Tacos El Hidalguense
- Rating: 4.3/5 (131 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4971 Salida Blvd. Salida, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
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#23. Cocina Azteca
- Rating: 4.3/5 (228 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3006 4th St. Ceres, California
- Categories: Mexican
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#22. Mi Taco Union De Tula Jal
- Rating: 4.3/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 2226 Jackson Ave. Escalon, California
- Categories: Tacos
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#21. El Coco Loco Modesto
- Rating: 4.4/5 (253 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 413 South Riverside Drive Ste B Modesto, California
- Categories: Seafood, Mexican
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#20. Aguililla Mexican Food
- Rating: 4.4/5 (101 reviews)
- Address: 4525 Broadway Ave. Salida, California
- Categories: Mexican
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#19. Silva's Taqueria
- Rating: 4.4/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 1419 Mitchell Road Modesto, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
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#18. Tacos Guadalajara
- Rating: 4.4/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1466 North Carpenter Road Modesto, California
- Categories: Tacos
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#17. La Mexicana de Ripon
- Rating: 4.4/5 (94 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1201 West Main St. Ripon, California
- Categories: Meat Shops, Mexican
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#16. Tequileros Taqueria
- Rating: 4.5/5 (68 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4925 Sisk Road Salida, California
- Categories: Tacos
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#15. Sinaloense Mariscos & Taqueria
- Rating: 4.5/5 (224 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4820 Salida Blvd. Salida, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican, Seafood
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#14. La Casa Del Clamato
- Rating: 4.5/5 (31 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1578 East Whitmore Ave. Ceres, California
- Categories: Mexican, Juice Bars & Smoothies
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#13. Oaxacan Tamales
- Rating: 4.5/5 (43 reviews)
- Address: 2761 Patterson Road Riverbank, California
- Categories: Farmers Market, Food Stands, Mexican
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#12. Copland Leal Salvadorian & Mexican Food
- Rating: 4.6/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 531 West Hatch Road Modesto, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
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#11. Ranas Taqueria
- Rating: 4.6/5 (27 reviews)
- Address: 2240 McHenry Ave. Modesto, California
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood
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#10. Frida's Taqueria Ajua
- Rating: 4.6/5 (325 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2101 West Rumble Road Ste C Modesto, California
- Categories: Mexican
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#9. El Rincon Tapatio
- Rating: 4.7/5 (86 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1751 Yosemite Blvd. Modesto, California
- Categories: Mexican
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#8. Tacos El Gordo
- Rating: 4.7/5 (28 reviews)
- Address: 1529 9th St. Modesto, California
- Categories: Tacos, Food Trucks
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#7. Little Mexico City
- Rating: 4.7/5 (128 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1821 Mitchell Road Inside Chevron Ceres, California
- Categories: Mexican
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#6. Sizzlin' Masala
- Rating: 4.7/5 (112 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3230 Dale Road Modesto, California
- Categories: Indian, Mexican, Food Trucks
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#5. Mely's Churros
- Rating: 4.7/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 7891 Stockton Blvd. Sacramento, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Desserts, Mexican
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#4. Pupuseria Garcia
- Rating: 4.8/5 (23 reviews)
- Address: 505 Paradise Road Modesto, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican, Salvadoran
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#3. Tacos El Guero 209
- Rating: 4.9/5 (34 reviews)
- Address: 23659 Santa Fe Road Riverbank, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
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#2. Taquizas Garcia
- Rating: 4.9/5 (71 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Modesto, California
- Categories: Tacos, Caterers
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#1. Veekiind
- Rating: 5.0/5 (28 reviews)
- Address: 221 El Roya Ave. Modesto, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cynthia Rebolledo, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 326 metros.
