Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the Madison 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 Madison 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 Madison 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 Charro Mexican Grill
- Rating: 4.0/5 (71 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 958 Liberty Drive Ste 106 Verona, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
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#29. Compadres Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (195 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1914 Aurora St. Middleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Bars, Mexican
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#28. Taqueria El Jalapeno
- Rating: 4.0/5 (158 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1318 South Midvale Blvd. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
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#27. El Sabor de Puebla
- Rating: 4.1/5 (97 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 305 North 4th St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
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#26. Paco's Tacos
- Rating: 4.1/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1331 Greenway Cross Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
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#25. Habanero's Mexican Grill
- Rating: 4.1/5 (172 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2229 South Stoughton Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
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#24. A La Brasa Mexican Grill
- Rating: 4.1/5 (156 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 15 North Broom St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
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#23. El Charro Mexican Grill
- Rating: 4.1/5 (82 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1336 Montondon Ave. Waunakee, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
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#22. Se帽or Machetes
- Rating: 4.2/5 (72 reviews)
- Address: 121 East Main St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
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#21. Ohio Tavern
- Rating: 4.2/5 (97 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 224 Ohio Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Dive Bars, Tacos, Karaoke
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#20. La Penca Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2/5 (35 reviews)
- Address: 1821 South Park St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican, Bars, American
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#19. Taqueria Guadalajara
- Rating: 4.2/5 (483 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1033 South Park St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
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#18. Taqueria Jalisco
- Rating: 4.3/5 (101 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2606 Allen Blvd. Middleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican, International Grocery
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#17. Jalisco Cocina Mexicana
- Rating: 4.3/5 (42 reviews)
- Address: 108 King St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Tacos, Cocktail Bars
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#16. El imperio Mexican food
- Rating: 4.3/5 (32 reviews)
- Address: 3162 Maple Grove Drive Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
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#15. El Rancho Mexican Grill East
- Rating: 4.3/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4527 Cottage Grove Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
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#14. La Rosita Latina Grocery Store
- Rating: 4.3/5 (83 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6005 Monona Drive Monona, Wisconsin
- Categories: Grocery, Mexican, Latin American
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#13. Lupe's Taqueria
- Rating: 4.3/5 (99 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 6719 Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd. Middleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
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#12. Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant
- Rating: 4.3/5 (96 reviews)
- Address: 117 South Butler St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
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#11. Restaurante El Panzon
- Rating: 4.4/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 1310 South Midvale Blvd. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican, Comfort Food
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#10. El Rancho Mexican Grill
- Rating: 4.4/5 (118 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 819 South Park St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
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#9. Palenque Mexican Bar & Grill
- Rating: 4.4/5 (115 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5906 Hwy 51 McFarland, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
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#8. Bandit Tacos & Coffee
- Rating: 4.4/5 (78 reviews)
- Address: 640 West Washington Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Tacos, Cocktail Bars, Coffee & Tea
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#7. Mercado Marimar
- Rating: 4.4/5 (49 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2102 South Park St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Grocery, Mexican
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#6. Tapatios
- Rating: 4.5/5 (205 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2990 Cahill Main Ste 100 Fitchburg, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
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#5. Tacos El Capi
- Rating: 4.5/5 (43 reviews)
- Address: 2810 East Washington Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Tacos
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#4. AzTec Taqueria
- Rating: 4.5/5 (66 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 160 Keenan Court Ste 5 Verona, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
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#3. Los Atlantes
- Rating: 4.6/5 (41 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5706 Raymond Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
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#2. Zavala's Market & Taqueria
- Rating: 4.6/5 (24 reviews)
- Address: 805 South Gammon Road Ste A Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Mexican
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#1. El Grito Taqueria
- Rating: 4.9/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 50 State St. Madison, Wisconsin
- 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.
