From tiny taco joints to upscale restaurants, Tampa Bay is full of top-notch Mexican food. Whether you’re craving soul-warming tacos or a mountain of bright and beautiful guacamole, here are the 9 best Mexican Restaurants in Tampa Bay.
Loli's Mexican Cravings
With plenty of great locations around Tampa, Lolis Mexican Cravings is one to watch. Their home-made tacos and tamales are practically famous. With a fun and exciting atmosphere, Loli’s is a perfect start to a night out with flavorful food. We recommend ordering any of the tacos!
Miguel's Mexican Seafood & Grill
Combine robust flavors of Mexican cuisines with Tampa Bay’s freshly caught seafood, and you have Miguel’s Mexican Seafood & Grill in Tampa. Do yourself a huge favor by ordering one of their frozen or signature margaritas with your dish, they are outstanding! Be sure to check out their gorgeous patio seating. We recommend the chile con queso blanco for an appetizer and the kobe fajitas for the main dish.
Mekenita Cantina
Mekenita Cantina is a modern Mexican restaurant that everyone in Seminole Heights loves. Their impressive menu includes popular items like the Chili Garlic Rubbed Smoked Pork Tacos, the Grande Burrito, and the Citrus Grilled Chicken Enchiladas. If you’re really, really hungry, you should order their huge burrito bursting with fresh, authentic flavors. You’ll leave with a food coma or most likely have leftovers.
If you do save room for dessert, which you should, we’d recommend the fresh churros topped with dulce de leche and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Let’s not forget their refreshing craft cocktail menu and $6 margs on Mondays. We love their traditional and Tamarind flavored margaritas. Salud!
Taquitos Mexican Restaurant
Satisfy your cravings with flavorful Mexican dishes from Taquitos Mexican in St. Pete. Everything on their menu is huge, you’ll be tempted to split a meal with your buddies, but trust us, you’ll immediately regret sharing. Taquitos Mexican cares about quality. Their handmade and original cuisines are prepared with the highest quality ingredients. We recommend ordering their barbacoa tacos paired with an authentic margarita.
Casa Tina
Casa Tina brings a wholesome spin on authentic Mexican cuisine with plenty of fresh and vegan options. The atmosphere is beautifully decorated with a welcoming and friendly vibe. They go above and beyond to make sure your experience is great with live entertainment too.
The chips and salsa are a great way to start off and then we recommend ordering the shrimp and mango quesadilla. The ceviche is also delicious! If you do want to indulge a little, Casa Tina has amazing drinks from refreshing sangria to strong margaritas.
Nitally's ThaiMex
When Thai food meets Mexican food, you have Nitally’s in St. Pete. This unique concept offers some of the tastiest options of all of our favorites from pad thai, fried rice, tacos, burritos, and more. If you love spice, this is your place! Nitally’s is a master with spices and everything bursts with flavor. The decor is really pleasant and colorful to match their incredible dishes!
Xochitl Cocina Mexicana
Xochitl Cocina Mexicana is nacho average Mexican joint. This trendy restaurant in Tampa Heights offers delicious Mexican inspired foods, incredible handcrafted cocktails, and fun events like drag queen bingo. Xochitl’s food is fresh and crave-worthy. We recommend ordering the house made chips and queso or nachos paired with a spicy jalapeño margarita!
Margarita's Mexican Restaurant
When a restaurant is named after our favorite drink, we’re all about it! Margarita’s in Davis Island is a lively atmosphere serving up ridiculously good margaritas and Mexican food with robust and fresh flavors. The live music adds a whole level of entertainment to the experience, so be sure to check out their website for when they’re offering it! We recommend starting off with a signature margarita, their fresh chips and salsa, and then move onto the chicken fajitas.
Senor Tequila Mexican Grill Westchase
Nothing goes better with Mexican food than a sangarita! Señor Tequila in Westchase is the perfect go-to spot for a refreshing meal that is bright and beautiful, paired with a delicious drink. Flautas, enchiladas, burritos, nachos chimichangas and more, Señor Tequila has it all. The atmosphere is fun and festive, perfect for meeting some friends for a few drinks and amazing food. Plus, they offer 2-for-1 16oz margaritas during happy hour!
9 Best Mexican Restaurants in Tampa Bay
These must-try Mexican restaurants in Tampa Bay are ideal for the margarita-sipping and chips and salsa enthusiasts. If you’re looking for the best margarita happy hours, amazing handmade tortillas, and Mexican cuisine with fresh ingredients, look no further than these 9 Mexican restaurants in Tampa Bay!
We know it’s hard to resist snapping a photo before diving in, but we want to see the beautiful dishes and cocktails you order at one of these restaurants! Tag us at @stufftodointampabay on Facebook or Instagram!