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
Cedric
September 28th, 2011
12:19 pm
Don Tellos Tex Mex Grill is the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Conyers, ga
FoodFan
September 28th, 2011
12:20 pm
No Doubt – Nuevo Laredo
Peavine Creek
September 28th, 2011
1:37 pm
Taqueria Oaxaquena De La Guelaguetza
EAS
September 28th, 2011
1:47 pm
Me gusta LB! (Los Bravos) Terrell Mill and South Cobb drive… Great Food!
mary
September 28th, 2011
3:06 pm
Chepe’s Mexican Grill by far has the best Tacos i love the Taco trio Chipotle shrimp CHepes fish and the Tender Taco !!!!!!!!!!!
jcb30338
September 28th, 2011
4:42 pm
Tex-Mex…authentic…all the same to me. I like Tin Lizzies in Grant Park.
Tantalize me
September 28th, 2011
5:05 pm
Nuevo Laredo Cantina!!
Paul
September 28th, 2011
9:55 pm
Whats the diffrence mexican tex mex authentic non authenthic i mean come on veryone has an opinion all i want is good tasting fresh food and 2 places i love are Chepe’s Mexican Grill and Carnicera Hernandez tounge tacos !!!
Julie O.
September 29th, 2011
8:56 am
Bone Garden Cantina!!!
Mary
September 29th, 2011
9:01 am
Taqueria El Vecino
audra
September 29th, 2011
9:33 am
Pozole in the Highlands or Holy Taco in East Atlanta.
Chris
September 29th, 2011
10:00 am
Tucker has my three favorite Mexican restaurants: Sangria’s, Taqueria Los Hermanos, and El Tapatio. We go to each of them frequently. It just depends on what we are looking to eat or the group we are with. If we are in a large group we usuallty end up at Sangria’s. My wife and I by ourselves usually go to Los Hermanos. And general Mexican food times are spent at El Tapatio for their a la carte menu.
While I love all three of these places, I still haven’t found a place as good as the local Mexican place back in Stateboro when I was in college at Georgia Southern. I loved me some El Sombrero. They had the best fish tacos, salsa verde carnitas (which I still haven’t found a decent substitute for here in Atlanta), and $2 Big Beers (36 ounce) all day every day.
Chris
September 29th, 2011
10:07 am
Oh and one more good place to get awesome mexican food is from Consuela at the Tamale Queen food truck! $2.50 tamales hand made fresh everyday! They are so good. They also have other Mexican fare. But the name says it all, so I would suggest trying the tamales on your first visit. They can be found all around town throughout the week. You can check their website http://www.queenfoodco.com for specific days, times, and locations.
jessica
September 29th, 2011
11:52 am
Chepe’s Has My Vote
Robert J.
September 29th, 2011
12:20 pm
Cinco de Mayo in Chamblee and LaFondita in Norcross. Both owned by same wonderful woman that can cook authentic hispanic/south american food. This is great great food. you got to come and eat.
food lover
September 29th, 2011
12:22 pm
Bone Garden Cantina is by far the best authentic mexican restaurant in Atlanta. I can’t get enough of that delicious corn!
David G
September 29th, 2011
12:40 pm
All these comments forced, I say, forced me to go to Bone Garden for lunch today. Amazing. I had forgotten how good a tamale could be, and the tacos were killer. Great fresh flavor. My server Patrick did an excellent job. It’s at my top, although I do like the more Tex Mex style at Nuevo Laredo, having lived in Texas for some time and having the best Tex Mex on the planet in Austin and San Antonio. Thanks for the tip about getting my Bone on!
J
September 29th, 2011
1:30 pm
No Mas Cantina!!!! Their Mole is the Bomb!!
Wesley
September 29th, 2011
4:26 pm
Cali and Tito’s in Athens cannot be beat!
ATLMomma
September 29th, 2011
4:37 pm
Bone Garden Cantina! Hands down…
Paula
September 29th, 2011
6:59 pm
well my favorite sit down casual is Chepe’s mexican Grill followed by a less formal willys
MEX LOVER
September 29th, 2011
7:08 pm
CHEPE’S MEXICAN GRILL IN SUWANEE
Benito
September 30th, 2011
9:01 am
If you like Chepe’s go to La Parrilla. If you like Uncle Julio’s or Tijuana Joe’s just stop talking. Taxco is not good. La Fonda Latina is good, but Cuban/Caribbean food.
Personally, I love El Rey del Taco on Buford Highway. I’m impressed that people mentioned El Taco Veloz.
Benito
September 30th, 2011
9:07 am
But Georgia hates immigrants so Mexican restaurants will probably decline. Terrible law.
sophyb
September 30th, 2011
1:58 pm
Well, I see the Chepe’s workers are on here again trying to fix the vote…. We tried them a few months ago after reading all the “good reviews” here in the best taco vote. It was hands down the nastiest fish taco I have ever tried to eat and my husband’s food was almost as bad. We were so glad we had a Groupon that made it slightly less painful at least to our wallets! Hated it so much I actualyl wrote my bad review online before I left the table. It still gripes me to see their “Voted Best Taco by the AJC” line on some of their ads.
Anyway, my vote is for El Senor Taco, Nuevo Laredo and Pure in Alpharetta. Please don’t let Chepe’s stuff the vote again!!
Stephanie
September 30th, 2011
10:53 pm
1.Chepe’s
2.Papassitos
3. LaOxacanea
Steven Josovitz
October 1st, 2011
1:17 am
El Azteca on Ponce rocks! I am biased as I am friends and a business associate of the Owner but this place is really great. The staff is the same since day one and the food is really great. It is hi quality and not loaded with inferior ingredients. Everything is home made too. I really love there fish and shrimp faijata’s with real vegetables…. Tell Bernie Steve J sent you.
Steven Josovitz
October 1st, 2011
1:22 am
I wanted to add Rosa Mexicana a second hot pick of mine. Nothing beats the table side Guacamole made by Jesus and his roving guacamole cart…. He makes it mild to hot which is a nice touch for so many and gives you warm home made tortillas in a basket ( ask for the homemade flax seed version ) and salsa’s. Freaking insane with one of there signature drinks like a frozen pomegranate margarita made famous at there NYC digs. I love there super cool but hot bloody marys. My favorite is the one with El Humidor ( spellcheck on that one ) blue agave nectar and habanero. I think there Mole Enchiladas are well worth the trip and all there dishes are served with big bowls of black beans and rice and unlimited tortilla’s.
Mark in the City of Decatur
October 1st, 2011
8:37 am
Please help.
No suggestions for “Chilies en Nogada” restaurants? I would forever beholden to you – and you would experience the joy of the finest Mexican cuisine ever lovingly developed.
Thank you, and gracias
Mark
Corky McCorkle
October 1st, 2011
10:15 am
El Gato Verde in Alpharetta is the BEST Mexican in the Atlanta area.
GoVols
October 1st, 2011
11:35 am
Bone Garden Cantina and Nuevo Laredo
jimbo1185
October 1st, 2011
12:08 pm
Ii’m originally from Arizona, where I lived less than 3 hrs. from the border with mexico, so I like to think I know what constitutes good Mexican food. Tthe best I have found so far is at Little Mexico Bar and Grill, 1830 Scenic Highway, Suite 110. Snellville, GA 30078, (770) 985-7588. It is the most authentic I have found anywhere in the metro area. It has all the standard Tex-Mex favorites and a large range of less common vegetable, fish, chicken, pork and beef dishes – you’ll find something for everyone. They have full bar service with a wide selection of beers, wine, and mixed drinks… including great Margaritas. The decor is the normal Mexican stuff — sarapes, sombreros, Mexican art and a painted concrete floor. They have a patio for dining al fresco or to have a cigarette with your beer. Service is prompt and friendly.
JP
October 1st, 2011
10:57 pm
Mi Barrio, hands down.
Alex
October 2nd, 2011
3:02 am
Chepe’s mexican grill has the best fish tacos
CiCi
October 2nd, 2011
12:16 pm
Uncle Julio’s on Piedmont by the hospital is the best! Being a native Texan, we’ve tried them all. Love all the food, but go for the guacamole and homemade tortillas. The kids love to see the tortillas being made. Good family or party atmosphere. My husband had to have take-out fajitas taken to Piedmont the night before his Kidney transplant. Never disappointed at Uncle Julio’s.
topspinner
October 2nd, 2011
7:36 pm
Taqueria Los Hermanos in Tucker……even their takout is delicious.
Sara
October 3rd, 2011
11:06 am
Las Margaritas on Cheshire Bridge. Great specials and delicious food!
Mexican
October 3rd, 2011
11:54 am
I would include Bone Garden Cantina, Nueva Laredo, Jaliscos, and Pure – all excellent with different strengths.
Carol Riddlehoover
October 3rd, 2011
11:56 am
El Torero is the best of all….
Chepes - you have to be kidding me
October 3rd, 2011
11:58 am
OK Chepes employess and family friends, your food is barely edible at best. Taco Bell quality on a plate. Give it a rest.
Shane Harrison
October 3rd, 2011
12:45 pm
@Mark in the City of Decatur The only place I know that has chiles en nogada on a regular basis is Original El Taco, and I haven’t tried it so I don’t know how it is. The menu says they use an almond sauce (instead of the traditional walnut). The only time I’ve had chiles en nogada around here, it was a special (and it’s usually around mid-September in celebration of Mexican Independence Day) at Zocalo or Tierra.