Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the Knoxville area by diners
Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the Knoxville 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 Knoxville 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 Knoxville 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. El Chico
- Rating: 3.9/5 (107 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 116 Cedar Lane Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
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#29. Silvia's Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (54 reviews)
- Address: 2421 University Commons Way Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
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#28. Celestina Mexican Crafted
- Rating: 4.0/5 (31 reviews)
- Address: 1411 Bexhill Drive d Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
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#27. La Bamba Seafood
- Rating: 4.0/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2619 Chapman Hwy Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Seafood, Mexican, Pool & Billiards
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#26. Chez Guevara
- Rating: 4.0/5 (271 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8023 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Tex-Mex, Tacos
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#25. La Casa De Burro Flojo
- Rating: 4.0/5 (110 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 8079 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican, Sports Bars
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#24. Zalate Taqueria
- Rating: 4.1/5 (85 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 102 Stekoia Lane Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Tacos
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#23. La Pi帽ata Mexican Bar & Grill
- Rating: 4.1/5 (45 reviews)
- Address: 2038 North Broadway Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
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#22. Fiesta Garibaldi Mexican Grill
- Rating: 4.1/5 (131 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 110 Cedar Lane Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
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#21. Anafres Grill and Market
- Rating: 4.2/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 110 Cedar Lane Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
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#20. Chivo Taqueria
- Rating: 4.2/5 (444 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 314 South Gay St. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Mexican, Tex-Mex
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#19. Victor's Taco Shop
- Rating: 4.2/5 (167 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2121 Cumberland Ave. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican, Breakfast & Brunch
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#18. El Tepame Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 506 Clinch Ave. Clinton, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
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#17. Dosbros Fresh Mexican Grill - Knoxville
- Rating: 4.2/5 (29 reviews)
- Address: 4405 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
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#16. Lempira Mexican Restaurant & Latin Cuisine
- Rating: 4.3/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 8078 Kingston Pike Ste 151 Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican, Latin American
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#15. Porton Mexican Kitchen
- Rating: 4.4/5 (81 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 9623 Countryside Center Lane Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
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#14. Sabor Catracho Latin Cuisine
- Rating: 4.4/5 (30 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4705 Central Ave. Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Latin American, Mexican, Honduran
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#13. Mi Pueblo
- Rating: 4.4/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1645 Downtown West Blvd. Ste 17 Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
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#12. Taqueria La Herradura
- Rating: 4.4/5 (91 reviews)
- Address: 7063 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
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#11. Cataleya Cantina
- Rating: 4.4/5 (101 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9314 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican, Wine Bars, Cocktail Bars
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#10. El Jinete - Powell
- Rating: 4.5/5 (28 reviews)
- Address: 237 East Emory Road Ste 117 Powell, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Cocktail Bars
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#9. Los Braceros Mexican Cantina
- Rating: 4.5/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 7535 Conner Road Powell, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Bars
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#8. Caza Brava Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.5/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5640 Clinton Hwy Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
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#7. La Esperanza
- Rating: 4.5/5 (93 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2412 Washington Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
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#6. Captain Muchachos
- Rating: 4.6/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos
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#5. Taqueria La Herradura
- Rating: 4.6/5 (168 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2625 North Broadway Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks
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#4. Las Fuentes
- Rating: 4.6/5 (28 reviews)
- Address: 2525 Chapman Hwy Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
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#3. Emma's Southern Kitchen
- Rating: 4.7/5 (174 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3701 Sutherland Ave. Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Tacos, Salad, Burgers
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#2. Tacos El Primo Food Truck
- Rating: 4.7/5 (32 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1116 Concord Road Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Mexican
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#1. Taqueria La Herradura
- Rating: 4.8/5 (31 reviews)
- Address: 8311 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee
- Categories: Food Trucks, 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.
