Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the Newark 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 Newark 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 Newark 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. La Malinche Restaurant
- Rating: 4.3/5 (163 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1588 Irving St. Rahway, New Jersey
- Categories: Mexican
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#29. Taqueria Dos Perlas
- Rating: 4.4/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 446 Washington Ave. Belleville, New Jersey
- Categories: Tacos, New Mexican Cuisine
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#28. Molcajetes
- Rating: 4.4/5 (36 reviews)
- Address: 520 West Side Ave. Jersey City, New Jersey
- Categories: Mexican
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#27. Mariachi Grill
- Rating: 4.4/5 (392 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 262 Ridge Road Lyndhurst, New Jersey
- Categories: Mexican
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#26. El Paso Tex Mex Grill
- Rating: 4.4/5 (53 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 206 Centennial Ave. Cranford, New Jersey
- Categories: Mexican, Tex-Mex, Sandwiches
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#25. Dario's Restaurant
- Rating: 4.4/5 (248 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 20 Academy St. Newark, New Jersey
- Categories: Mexican
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#24. Irma's Cafe
- Rating: 4.4/5 (61 reviews)
- Address: 279 Central Ave. Jersey City, New Jersey
- Categories: Salvadoran, Mexican
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#23. Rincon Azteca
- Rating: 4.4/5 (36 reviews)
- Address: 669 Bloomfield Ave. West Caldwell, New Jersey
- Categories: Mexican
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#22. Figuritas Mexican Kitchen
- Rating: 4.4/5 (27 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 887 Broadway Bayonne, New Jersey
- Categories: Mexican
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#21. Tortilla Bite & Grill
- Rating: 4.5/5 (31 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 682 Broadway Bayonne, New Jersey
- Categories: Mexican, Latin American, Dominican
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#20. Playa Taqueria
- Rating: 4.5/5 (37 reviews)
- Address: 206 Bellevue Ave. Montclair, New Jersey
- Categories: Mexican
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#19. Cheesesteak & Tacos
- Rating: 4.5/5 (51 reviews)
- Address: 93 Franklin St. Belleville, New Jersey
- Categories: Tacos, Cheesesteaks
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#18. Mi Pequeno Mexico Restaurante Y Taqueria
- Rating: 4.5/5 (23 reviews)
- Address: 128 Elmora Ave. Elizabeth, New Jersey
- Categories: Mexican, Peruvian
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#17. Tacos Locos
- Rating: 4.5/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 567 Valley Road West Orange, New Jersey
- Categories: Mexican
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#16. Victoria's Mexican - American Grill
- Rating: 4.5/5 (195 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 201 Main St. Little Ferry, New Jersey
- Categories: American, Mexican
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#15. Mi Sabor Latino
- Rating: 4.5/5 (37 reviews)
- Address: 396 Paterson Ave. East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Categories: Mexican, Salvadoran
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#14. El Macho Tacqueria & Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (89 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 402 Harrison Ave. Harrison, New Jersey
- Categories: Tacos, Sandwiches
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#13. San Isidro
- Rating: 4.5/5 (47 reviews)
- Address: 473 West 1st Ave. Roselle, New Jersey
- Categories: Mexican, Desserts, Salad
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#12. Carlito's Barbecue Taqueria
- Rating: 4.5/5 (104 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 119 Valley Brook Ave. Lyndhurst, New Jersey
- Categories: Tacos, Barbecue
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#11. Mi Mariachi Taqueria
- Rating: 4.5/5 (367 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 213 Sip Ave. Jersey City, New Jersey
- Categories: Mexican
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#10. Habanero
- Rating: 4.6/5 (65 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 729 Van Houten Ave. Clifton, New Jersey
- Categories: Mexican, Tex-Mex
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#9. Taqueria Brenda Lee
- Rating: 4.7/5 (23 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 359 Monroe St. Passaic, New Jersey
- Categories: Mexican
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#8. Mezoco Taco Truck
- Rating: 4.7/5 (27 reviews)
- Address: Montclair, New Jersey
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos, Caterers
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#7. El Ranchero Taqueria
- Rating: 4.7/5 (75 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 382 2nd St. Jersey City, New Jersey
- Categories: Mexican, Breakfast & Brunch, Empanadas
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#6. La Villa Mexican and Salvadoran Food
- Rating: 4.7/5 (31 reviews)
- Address: 261 Irvington Ave. South Orange, New Jersey
- Categories: Mexican, Salvadoran, Breakfast & Brunch
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#5. El Rey Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.7/5 (31 reviews)
- Address: 1908 Springfield Ave. Maplewood, New Jersey
- Categories: Mexican, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian
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#4. Sol Azteca
- Rating: 4.8/5 (44 reviews)
- Address: 2 Kearny Ave. Kearny, New Jersey
- Categories: Mexican
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#3. Yetla's Restaurant & Deli
- Rating: 4.8/5 (44 reviews)
- Address: 342 Pompton Ave. Cedar Grove, New Jersey
- Categories: Delis, Mexican, Breakfast & Brunch
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#2. Taqueria Los Amigos VM
- Rating: 4.8/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 822-B Main Ave. Passaic, New Jersey
- Categories: Tacos
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#1. Aldys Restaurant
- Rating: 4.9/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 804 8th St. Union City, New Jersey
- Categories: Mexican
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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.
