Highest-rated Mexican Restaurants in the Panama City Area by Diners

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Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the Panama City 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—shaped by waves of immigration—and 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 Panama City 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 Panama City 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!

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#21. El Jalisco

- Rating: 2.6/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1815 North 77th Hwy Lynn Haven, Florida
- Categories: Mexican, Tex-Mex
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#20. Los Rancheros Mexican Restaurant

- Rating: 3.1/5 (121 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 111 West 23rd St. Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Mexican
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#19. Old Mexico Restaurant

- Rating: 3.1/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 430 South Tyndall Pkwy Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Mexican, Tex-Mex
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#18. Barberitos

- Rating: 3.4/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 836 West 23rd St. Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Mexican, Tex-Mex
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#17. Shore Dogs Grill

- Rating: 3.4/5 (79 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 8100 Thomas Drive Panama City Beach, Florida
- Categories: Hot Dogs, Burgers, Tacos
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#16. El Jalisco

- Rating: 3.6/5 (153 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 766 West 23rd St. Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Mexican, Tex-Mex
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#15. Peppers Mexican Grill & Cantina

- Rating: 3.6/5 (199 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2061 North Cove Blvd. Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Mexican
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#14. Guadalajara Mexican Grill

- Rating: 3.6/5 (256 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8730 Thomas Drive Unit 1108 St. Thomas Square Panama City, Florida
- Categories: Mexican
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#13. Diego's Burrito Factory

- Rating: 3.7/5 (145 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6209 Sunset Drive Panama City Beach, Florida
- Categories: Sports Bars, Mexican, Desserts
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