Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the San Jose 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 San Jose 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 San Jose 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!
#26. Spicy Roy's Caribbean Grill
- Rating: 4.6/5 (58 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 856 North 13th St. San Jose, California
- Categories: Caribbean, Mexican
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#25. Taqueria y Mariscos Costa Alegre
- Rating: 4.6/5 (157 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3060 Monterey Hwy San Jose, California
- Categories: Seafood, Mexican, Sushi Bars
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#24. Tlayudas El Ejuteco
- Rating: 4.6/5 (56 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Milpitas, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
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#23. Mariscos Costa Alegre
- Rating: 4.6/5 (821 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 855 North 13th St. San Jose, California
- Categories: Seafood, Mexican, Sushi Bars
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#22. Los Jefes Taqueria
- Rating: 4.6/5 (116 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1350 South Park Victoria Drive Ste 43 Milpitas, California
- Categories: Tacos, New Mexican Cuisine
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#21. Viva Michoacan Taqueria
- Rating: 4.6/5 (50 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1711 Mc Laughlin Ave. San Jose, California
- Categories: Mexican
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#20. Chispiro's Burritos Y Tacos
- Rating: 4.6/5 (174 reviews)
- Address: 6081 Meridian Ave. Ste 20 San Jose, California
- Categories: Mexican, Breakfast & Brunch
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#19. Pre-Hispanic Mexican cuisine
- Rating: 4.6/5 (58 reviews)
- Address: 80 Descanso Drive San Jose, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
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#18. Anytime Is Taco Time
- Rating: 4.6/5 (77 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: San Jose, California
- Categories: Tacos, Food Stands
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#17. Margaritas Taqueria
- Rating: 4.6/5 (360 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1175 East Homestead Sunnyvale, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
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#16. Quiroga Taqueria
- Rating: 4.6/5 (73 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 295 Lawrence Expy Sunnyvale, California
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
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#15. Antojitos Chapines Guatemala and Mexican Food
- Rating: 4.6/5 (108 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1898 North Capitol Ave. San Jose, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
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#14. Imperio Taqueria
- Rating: 4.7/5 (83 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 101 Delmas Ave. Delmas Market San Jose, California
- Categories: Mexican
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#13. Mexican Style Churros
- Rating: 4.7/5 (113 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1812 Cunningham Ave. San Jose, California
- Categories: Desserts, Mexican
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#12. Gutierrez Autentica Comida Mexicana
- Rating: 4.7/5 (100 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1645 Foxworthy Ave. San Jose, California
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
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#11. Mar Y Sol Mexican Food
- Rating: 4.7/5 (54 reviews)
- Address: 1179 East Santa Clara St. San Jose, California
- Categories: Mexican
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#10. El Califas Tacos
- Rating: 4.7/5 (240 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 499 North Mathilda Ave. Sunnyvale, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
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#9. Casa Guzmania
- Rating: 4.7/5 (73 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 350 South Market St. San Jose, California
- Categories: Empanadas, Mexican, Coffee & Tea
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#8. Churros El Guero
- Rating: 4.8/5 (362 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2217 Quimby Road San Jose, California
- Categories: Desserts, Mexican, Food Stands
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#7. El Buen Taco
- Rating: 4.8/5 (65 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Tacos, Food Trucks
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#6. Camacho's Tacos
- Rating: 4.8/5 (57 reviews)
- Address: 2735 Belfast Drive San Jose, California
- Categories: Caterers, Tacos
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#5. Tacos Molina
- Rating: 4.8/5 (62 reviews)
- Address: 1170 Blossom Hill Road San Jose, California
- Categories: Tacos, Food Stands
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#4. Nuevas Generaciones Taqueria
- Rating: 4.8/5 (125 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3677 Stevens Creek Blvd. Santa Clara, California
- Categories: Tacos, Food Trucks
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#3. Joe's Taco Shop
- Rating: 4.8/5 (147 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1609 Morrill Ave. San Jose, California
- Categories: Tacos, Food Trucks, Breakfast & Brunch
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#2. Mr. Shrimp
- Rating: 4.8/5 (70 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 802 North 13th St. San Jose, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
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#1. Chingadazos Taqueria and bar
- Rating: 4.9/5 (52 reviews)
- Address: 975 The Alameda Ste 80 San Jose, California
- Categories: Tacos, Beer Bar
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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.
