Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the Washington, D.C. area by diners

Written by:
麻豆原创
February 28, 2025
Robert Briggs // Shutterstock

Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the Washington, D.C. 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 Washington, D.C. 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 Washington, D.C. 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!

You may also like: Best places to live in the Washington, D.C. metro area

#30. Mi Vida

- Rating: 4.1/5 (196 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1901 14th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Mexican
-

#29. Far East Taco Grille

- Rating: 4.1/5 (203 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 635 Florida Ave. Northeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Tacos, Asian Fusion, Food Trucks
-

#28. El Sol Restaurant & Tequileria

- Rating: 4.1/5 (740 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1227 11th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Mexican, Breakfast & Brunch, Beer Bar
-

#27. El Rinconcito Cafe

- Rating: 4.1/5 (618 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1129 11th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Salvadoran, Mexican
-

#26. El Presidente

- Rating: 4.1/5 (293 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1255 Union St. Northeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Mexican
-

You may also like: Higher education, higher earnings? Here's how advanced degrees pay off in Washington DC.

#25. Far East Taco Grille - Truck

- Rating: 4.1/5 (234 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Food Trucks, Mexican
-

#24. Amparo Fondita

- Rating: 4.1/5 (72 reviews)
- Address: 2002 P St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Mexican, Wine Bars, Cocktail Bars
-

#23. J & J Mex-Taqueria

- Rating: 4.1/5 (101 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6231 Georgia Ave. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Mexican, fast food, Latin American
-

#22. Rito Loco Truck

- Rating: 4.2/5 (159 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 606 Florida Ave. Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
-

#21. Surfside Taco Stand

- Rating: 4.2/5 (140 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 33 District Square Southwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Tex-Mex, Tacos
-

You may also like: How gas prices have changed in Washington, D.C. in the last week

#20. El Bebe Tacos + Tequila

- Rating: 4.2/5 (358 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 99 M St. Southeast Ste 120 Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Tacos
-

#19. Bandit Taco

- Rating: 4.3/5 (148 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4629 41st St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Tacos
-

#18. Tequila & Mezcal

- Rating: 4.3/5 (135 reviews)
- Address: 3475 14th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Tacos
-

#17. Restaurant Judy

- Rating: 4.3/5 (294 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2212 14th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Salvadoran, Mexican
-

#16. Gerrard Street Kitchen

- Rating: 4.3/5 (78 reviews)
- Address: 1515 Rhode Island Ave. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Cocktail Bars, Sushi Bars, Tacos
-

You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Washington, D.C.

#15. Muchas Gracias

- Rating: 4.3/5 (98 reviews)
- Address: 5029 Connecticut Ave. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Tacos
-

#14. Taqueria Habanero

- Rating: 4.3/5 (1087 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3710 14th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Mexican, Cocktail Bars
-

#13. Taqueria Al Lado

- Rating: 4.3/5 (56 reviews)
- Address: 809 12th St. Northeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Tacos
-

#12. Anafre

- Rating: 4.3/5 (98 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3704 14th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Mexican
-

#11. Taqueria Xochi

- Rating: 4.4/5 (169 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 924 U St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Mexican
-

You may also like: Highest-rated stouts in Washington, D.C.

#10. Chaia

- Rating: 4.4/5 (198 reviews)
- Address: 615 I St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Tacos, Vegetarian
-

#9. Taco City DC

- Rating: 4.4/5 (267 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1102 8th St. Southeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Mexican
-

#8. dLe帽a

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1084 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 476 K St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Mexican, Latin American
-

#7. Vera Cocina & 亘丕乇

- Rating: 4.4/5 (113 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2002 Fenwick St. Northeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Mexican, Lebanese, Venues & Event Spaces
-

#6. Paraiso Taqueria

- Rating: 4.4/5 (352 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1101 Pennsylvania Ave. Southeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Mexican, Breakfast & Brunch, Cocktail Bars
-

You may also like: Highest-rated cafes in the Washington, D.C. area by diners

#5. The Corn Factory

- Rating: 4.4/5 (82 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Venezuelan, Mexican, Gluten-Free
-

#4. Tiki Taco

- Rating: 4.4/5 (430 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2010 P St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Tacos, Hawaiian, Shaved Ice
-

#3. Chaia

- Rating: 4.4/5 (808 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3207 Grace St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Vegetarian, Tacos, Gluten-Free
-

#2. Talkin' Tacos Washington DC

- Rating: 4.5/5 (57 reviews)
- Address: 1800 M St. Northwest Unit GR06 Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Tacos, Desserts, Juice Bars & Smoothies
-

#1. Chicatana Fine Mexican Cuisine

- Rating: 4.7/5 (75 reviews)
- Address: 3903 14th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Mexican, Bars
-

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cynthia Rebolledo, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 326 metros.

You may also like: Highest-rated beer in Washington DC

Trending Now