Best Mexican restaurant
The Tacos sagrada at perennial Atlanta favorite Nuevo Laredo Cantina, which will be celebrating its 20th year in 2012. It's your pick for best Mexican restaurant in and around Atlanta. Photo: Becky Stein / Special
YOUR PICKS
1. Nuevo Laredo Cantina
You say, “Nuevo Laredo. I’m from Southern California and it beats anything else I’ve had around here, it’s a much better representation than anything else” and “Best Tacos de carne asada! Margaritas are excellent as well.”
2. Taqueria Los Hermanos
3. Taqueria La Oaxaquena
4. Bone Garden Cantina
5. Mi Barrio
The deliciously authentic tlayuda from Taqueria La Oaxaquena in Jonesboro. Now 10 years old, this beloved spot is our pick for best Mexican restaurant in and around Atlanta. Photo: Becky Stein / Special
OUR PICKS
1. Taqueria La Oaxaquena
The AJC dining team’s specialist in International Cuisine Gene Lee says, “The regional style steeped in Oaxaca, central Mexico, is the primary reason this Jonesboro restaurant is my top choice. And that’s largely due to the restaurant’s tlayuda, a thin crunchy tortilla topped with stringy quesillo cheese, avocado, beans and spicy chorizo sausage or steak. You can eat it like a pizza but the taste is undoubtedly Mexico.”
2. El Rey del Taco
3. La Pastorcita
4. Taco L1000000
5. Holy Taco
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191 comments Add your comment
Joey
September 26th, 2011
8:50 pm
El Sombraro in Gainesville, many locations, is great for your dough!!
Al
September 26th, 2011
8:52 pm
Mi CASA great food and service. Low prices, and they just reopened!
Toni Tiger
September 26th, 2011
8:54 pm
Mezcalitos Cantina in Oakhurst has the best most authentic mexican cuisine (except for their tortilla chips). Their mole is off the charts!!!!!
Star70
September 26th, 2011
8:57 pm
I second everyone’s recommendation for Taqueria Los Hermanos in Tucker. That place is the bomb. I’ve never had anything that I didn’t absolutely love. Nuevo Laredo is just blah in comparison.
Mel
September 26th, 2011
8:58 pm
NO WAY BONE GARDEN CANTINA SHOULD BE ON THIS LIST. Mediocre at best. I took a bite of my taco last time I was there and bit down on a twist tie. I barely got an apology from the waitress and the manager said “I’ll buy you a drink next time.” So the service wasn’t great, either.
Nuevo Laredo, Mi Barrio. Taqueria Tsunami isn’t traditional Mexican and but the food is great.
SRC4life
September 26th, 2011
8:58 pm
Mr. Taco at Holcomb bridge road And El Molcajete Mexican Restaurant at Hamilton mill rd
William
September 26th, 2011
9:02 pm
Taxco!!! La Fonda is the best Cuban but does not fit here. Nuevo Laredo Sucks and is overpriced.
FM Fats
September 26th, 2011
9:05 pm
Taqueria Los Hermanos in Tucker.
Josh
September 26th, 2011
9:06 pm
Taqueria Los Hermanos in Tucker has the best fish tacos! (and everything else!)
wes
September 26th, 2011
9:06 pm
The Lazy Donkey in Carrollton
Rob & the Dog
September 26th, 2011
9:07 pm
Ok. There are many, many Mexican restaurants in towm where a #9 is a taco, an enchilada, & a burrito. MANY of these. Same old formula.
Best for what they are; Nuevo Laredo
Bone Garden
Julias Taqueria
Taqueria Del Sol
Zocalo
oh, by the way US Bar & Grill was Awesome. Chance, the guy who owns Nuevo Laredo is the guy that owned US…….
DC
September 26th, 2011
9:09 pm
El Sombrero- Gainesville
Los Rios- Downtown Cumming
Chepes- Outskirts of Cumming
Texas Tornado
September 26th, 2011
9:17 pm
Pure Taqueria!!!
Bill
September 26th, 2011
9:17 pm
Mi Casa in Woodstock is the best I’ve been to in town.
Kim Bouchard
September 26th, 2011
9:18 pm
Taqueria La Oaxaquena in Morrow. Who ever said El Charro in Griffin, you have got to be kidding. It used to be very good, but since the owner died, awful!!!
BigEd
September 26th, 2011
9:21 pm
Taqueria La Oaxaquena. Real mexican. Awesome tyaludas, mole, real tacos, great aguq frescas. The salsa bar is awesome also.
johnny t-bone
September 26th, 2011
9:28 pm
Here are my top three:
1) Jalisco
2) Jalisco
3) Jalisco
Best queso in Atlanta, and I am a queso freak. Great food and super fast service.
Nothing in Atlanta comes close.
Bill
September 26th, 2011
9:35 pm
BTW, didn’t we just vote on this topic?
good stuff
September 26th, 2011
10:23 pm
I’ve never been to a “bad” mexican restaurant—they are all good since the food is about the same. My favorite is la parilla in acworth—texas fajitas–outstanding.
plannerboy
September 26th, 2011
10:28 pm
Tijuana Joes Sandy Springs
SAWB
September 27th, 2011
1:58 am
Anybody remember El Chico’s?
Submit ‘Best of the Big A’ food topics | Food and More with John Kessler
September 27th, 2011
5:01 am
[...] Mexican restaurant [...]
jeremy
September 27th, 2011
6:31 am
El Potro on buford hwy near the farmers market is excellent. I also enjoy El Dorado in Duluth off of Pleasant Hill. Good Stuff!
Mitch Wright
September 27th, 2011
6:54 am
Growing up in Santa Ana,Ca. spoiled me. Good Mexican food is hard to find in Atlanta. Neuvo Laredo is the best I’ve tried here.
KK
September 27th, 2011
8:47 am
Jaliscos at Peacthree Battle.
JDJ
September 27th, 2011
8:54 am
I lived just around the corner from Maria’s (loved El Mongo!) on Peachtree Industrial!! That was my introduction to Mexican, as a matter of fact. According to today’s standards, they might not hold up as well but at the time I thought it was manna from heaven. Right up there with Pizza By Candelight in Decatur (yep, I’m OLD!!)
Mark in the City of Decatur
September 27th, 2011
9:06 am
Actually, I would appreciate some direction to the best “Chiles en Nogada” with *real* poblano peppers (two poblanos would be preferable), stuffed with classic picadillio, NO rice, topped with a white (mole?) sauce with a sprinkling of fresh pomegranate.
I will then vote that restaurant as The. One. Gracias!
Art
September 27th, 2011
9:24 am
Tara Humata… Taco El Velloz also has great tacos…
Tank
September 27th, 2011
9:28 am
Los Bravos!!!
Ally
September 27th, 2011
9:59 am
El Nopal in Marietta for sure.
Sharon
September 27th, 2011
10:31 am
I haven’t tried Bone Garden Cantina yet, so next to that I’ll have to say Nuevo Laredo. Best Tacos de carne asada! Margaritas are excellent as well. BTW, the way someone above heard that Bone Garden is Alton Brown’s favorite is probably on the menu at The Vortex, where it says so. The owners of Bone Garden are part owners in The Vortex (which by the way has the best burgers!).
sandy
September 27th, 2011
10:34 am
Nuevo Laredo y Bone Garden Cantina estan muy muy bien. Me gusta!!! Y ahora tengo hambre….
PJ
September 27th, 2011
10:45 am
@boo – The Bridge closed a while ago
Nuevo Laredo is my favorite, also El Rey del Taco
EllenTN
September 27th, 2011
10:45 am
They might be good (not great at all in my opinion) but their wait is too long and they charge extra for 2nd basket of chips. Need to expand their restaurant BIG TIME.
EllenTN
September 27th, 2011
10:48 am
By the way I meant to link this comment about Nuevo Laredo.
So Cal
September 27th, 2011
10:48 am
Nuevo Laredo. I’m from Southern California and it beats anything else I’ve had around here, it’s a much better representation than anything else. That being said, my favorite Mexican food is in Old Town San Diego.
EllenTN
September 27th, 2011
10:49 am
Bone Garden Cantina is SO great! Drinks, atmosphere, menu are all so different and ALL excellent!
Don M
September 27th, 2011
10:54 am
Pappasito’s on Windy Hill Rd. in Marietta deserves some mention here. It is a huge place, part of a chain out of Houston, Texas, and it’s always packed, including an outdoor patio. The crowd is there because the owners know what they are doing and deliver really good food at a reasonable price. We especially like the warm salsa, great chips and guacamole. After a beer and some chips, two people can usually split an entree because portions are very generous.
beth
September 27th, 2011
10:57 am
Taqueria Los Hermanos in Tucker is the best ever. It’s well worth the drive.
Allen
September 27th, 2011
11:04 am
Tex’s Tacos… teh best eva!
Victor
September 27th, 2011
11:06 am
These comments are an embarrassment to the cuisine and people of Mexico. El Azteca? Nuevo Laredo? Taqueria Tsunami?
TC
September 27th, 2011
11:07 am
Nuevo Laredo!
Yeppity
September 27th, 2011
11:23 am
El Torerro! So good!
GaPeachy
September 27th, 2011
11:23 am
EL Potro on Buford Hwy is the absolute best! Authentic Mexican food, not that nasty american tex mex, and its cheap, my whole family can eat for less than 20 bucks. They are also extremely fast, so great place to check for lunch.
Etain
September 27th, 2011
11:38 am
Mezcalitos Cantina, Oakhurst Village in Decatur
Jim
September 27th, 2011
11:49 am
Bone Garden Cantina – hands down the best in ATL – best flavors, best food selection, best servers, best all around experience.
bobsyouruncle
September 27th, 2011
12:26 pm
El Pollo Dorado in Marietta. Simply the best!
Jen
September 27th, 2011
12:31 pm
El Taco Veloz
johnny fontane
September 27th, 2011
12:32 pm
ricardo
September 26th, 2011
8:37 pm
Who remembers Maria’s on P’Tree Ind. El Mongol was cooking when he wasn’t wrestling. Great!
They are still going strong at their first location in Griffin. Good folks.
Jen
September 27th, 2011
12:33 pm
and Los Hermanos in Tucker