The Tastiest Mexican in Cincinnati

La Mexicana Restaurant & Grocery

★★★★☆ 4.2 (543) • $$

"Delicious, AUTHENTIC (mas o menos) choice for some delicious Mexican comfort food! Fast, friendly service, cozy location right in the heart of downtown Newport. Very reasonable prices, and definitely something for just about everyone!! Hope to be back next time I'm in the area!!Buen provecho!!"

Lalo

★★★★☆ 4.2 (506) • $$

"Decided to try Lalo during Cincinnati Burger Week. We got there a little early before they opened, 10:30 am, and were waiting in our truck in the parking spot. About a quarter til 11:00 a police car showed up and turned sideways right next to us blocking the road. Several more officers showed up and surrounded a guy that was on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant. Exciting start to our day, lol. A resident said he was likely a drug dealer but who knows! So after that cleared we were able to enter Lalo. I have had a meal next door to Lalo at Hawker's Alley before and really have no issue with the neighborhood as it is a typical downtown area in a larger city. We were greeted as soon as we entered and we were told to sit where we would like. We chose a booth. She brought us a menu and silverware and ice water. They had two choices for Cincinnati Burger Week and I ordered on and my friend ordered the other. I also ordered the pork kimchi dumplings and my friend ordered the zucchini fries & sriracha aioli. Both of these starter items were delicious and next time I would definitely order the zucchini as they were so lightly battered and fried crispy, so good! Nothing wrong with my dumplings either. The burgers were hot and delicious! We also had a shot of Bulleit Bourbon to go with our meal as it was on special as well with the burger week offerings.Our waitress/bartender was great and made sure we were taken care of. We will definitely be back here again to try something else off their menu."

Tortilleria Garcia

★★★★★ 4.6 (392) • $

"Plenty of chicken, cheese, lettuce, onions, rice, and sauce were provided to us. Corn tortillas were also provided and couldn't have been tastier. I loved the food here and highly recommend if you're in the area. The employees were kind and helpful throughout our visit. You simply order at the counter. The back was pretty big so feel free to eat there or take it out with you."

La Torta Loca

★★★★★ 4.7 (364) • $$

"Awesome food and margaritas. Great service in a pretty eclectic setting. Love the themed shirts everyone wears, and pro wrestling on the TV's is hilarious and appropriate! I had the birria torta and I also ordered an elote taco with steak. Both were incredibly delicious. The torta came with the consommé to dip the torta in and the bread was fresh. The frozen margaritas were delicious and strong! Check them out!!!"

La Jaiba Seafood And Taqueria

★★★★★ 4.7 (332) • $$

"Ridiculous good. Amazing. This is the La Jabila Burrito. So tasty. We will definitely be back."

Krazy Taco 937

★★★★★ 4.7 (329) • $$

"We have not been in since the ownership change. It's still amazing, we had drinks and a couple of tacos, since the kitchen was still open when we decided to pop in after an evening movie around 9pm.Tacos are still amazing, staff was friendly.They are also roasting their own coffee and will have to get some to try."

Paco's Taqueria - Keystone

★★★★☆ 3.9 (444) • $$

"One of my favorite places for authentic Mexican food. The staff is always very friendly and helpful and The portions are huge.I ordered fish tacos and they really loaded up on the fish. Normally you get more of the "fixings" and less meat. They offer sauces from mild to spicy. The food here is reasonably priced for the amount you get.If you're on the east side check this place out!"

Frida 602

★★★★☆ 4 (415) • $$

"Commenting for carry out - really liked their tacos and there are many to choose from. The tacos were very fresh, tasted great, and were above average in size. Our to go order was also done without the promised time. Only reason for 4 stars is the cost - $7 per taco when people sell burritos for that price."

Gomez Salsa

★★★★☆ 4.3 (292) • $$

"I had to check our Gomez as it was high on the food list and everyone mentions the turtles. It wasn't too busy when I arrived, so I had time to decide what kind of fillings I wanted. I did order a turtle, of course, with carnitas and once of the spicy sauces. It's a definitely a fast food vibe, where you order at the counter and seat yourself with no frills in between. I found a table while I waited. Once I got my order and dug in, man. It was delicious and very filling. I only ate half of it, so once I was ready to go I did have to go back to the counter to get a to go box."

El Rancho Tapatio

★★★★☆ 4.1 (301) • $$

"I arrived mid-afternoon having skipped lunch, and was surprised by the number of people there. Someone was slowly working on a meal while attending a zoom class, but there were several other small groups.Needing a quick fix, this would be a good choice, as my veggie combo appeared in less than ten minutes, and the tortilla chips (which tasted fresh) before I'd even ordered. They had a decent vegetarian menu (though very heavy on the dairy, if you are someone who is trying to avoid that). My combo yielded a small enchilada; frankly I was confused because it had beans inside and not the avocado the menu promised, but there was nothing wrong with it. A substantial cheese and pepper pie and sides of rice and beans, again with cheese on top, completed a very filling combo. And the chips were included. It wasn't some kind of delicate nuanced flavor with a squash blossom on top, but it was satisfying and a large portion size when you count the chips.They seem to have an affiliated restaurant downtown (judging by the similar vegetarian menu), and while I may try that one, I figure this one gave me pretty much what I asked of it."

Chilango Fresh Mexican

★★★★☆ 4.4 (260) • $

"Takeout Only at the time of my visit due to staffing... I almost drove by as it is located in an essentially strip mall, and the parking lot was empty.But the tacos (limited menu) were FANTASTIC!!! Flank steak for the win! I have had plenty from Southern Cal, AZ, NM, and Mexico's Baja itself. These easily rated 5 stars on their own merits.The place was a little stark (again, takeout only) with the stacks of chairs in the dining area. However, the owners were the staff and as friendly as any customer service-oriented people that I have met.I was only "passing through" and I do not know if I will be here again. However, I had zero regrets and I recommend that you try them out asap!!SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES!!"

Taqueria Mercado

★★★★☆ 3.7 (361) • $

"I'm in love with their vegetarian burrito! I love it so much I've been back twice. Couldn't be happier with the quality and quantity of the serving. It's fresh and loaded with refried beans, rice, crunchy lettuce and cilantro. I leave off the cheese and sour cream because of my dietary restrictions. I definitely plan to eat here weekly as it's just a few steps from my building. Not only the food is amazing but the service is too. I highly recommend it! Hope to see you there."

Tortillería Y Taquería Ramírez

★★★★★ 4.7 (219) • $

"If you want a bangin' burrito, make your way to Tortillería y Taquería Ramirez because it is AWESOME! The service was very friendly and welcoming, the ambiance was very chill and low key (it's unassuming on the outside but don't let it sway you because these burritos are INCREDIBLE!). My boyfriend and I got horchata and pineapple drinks that were delicious and paired well with our burritos. My boyfriend had the carnitas and I had the barbacoa burrito - both were very delicious. I think next time I will opt for the carnita though just because it's flavor was so epic! 12/10 will be returning and recommending to friends!"

Christine's

★★★★☆ 4.2 (265) • $$

"Broad menu with something for everyone. This time I opted for the Filipino soup and pot roast. There is something healing about this soup... delicious and warm in temperature and affect. Christine's deserves all good things!"

Chiapas Mexican Grill

★★★★☆ 4.2 (245) • $$

"Chiapas was a nice surprise, man o man, like a huge surprise. Like that present you had no idea you were going to get. First it looks like nothing much from the outside, but going in there are probably at least 7 or 8 good size booths and other tables and if decorated nicely with a good amount of TVs too. They have a menu with lots of really good options, seafood, chicken, steak, burritos, tortas, chimmies, enchiladas and fajitas, plus much more. And yes red salsa and chips to munch on. By the way I love the little glasses the salsa comes in. Burrito deluxe smothered in cheese was huge and so good, the plate was as clean as a whistle. The Camarcncs Alambre (shrimp wrapped in bacon), looked incredible, my wife loved it. Overall Chiapas is incredible, we loved it and were pleasantly surprised. Their menu is large with lots of options, you'll find something incredible and want to go try something else on your next visit. It's a great find enjoy!!"

Taqueria San Marcos

★★★★☆ 4.3 (222) • $

"Really enjoyed our visit to Taqueria San Marcos and can't wait to come back. We ordered four tacos and cheese dip. All the tacos were good and would order again but the best two were the steak and the marinated chicken. The chips and salsa were good. Enjoyed the salsa having some spice and being onion forward. The cheese dip was delicious and thicc (that's not a typo). Our waitress was very friendly and helpful. She recommended great tacos. The vibe inside is cool and unique. I like that they kept the diner look."

Taqueria Ramirez

★★★★☆ 4.1 (233) • $

"We stopped in here while passing through and saw the hood reviews on yelp. So glad we did. Very authentic, large menu, friendly staff. We had the pastor tacos, queso fundido, carne asada burrito. Everything was top notch. They give chips, a bowl of salsa and then 3 squeeze bottles of green mild sauce, red extra hot and guac sauce. Let me just say the red bottle will literally light you up! If you like authentic Mexican definitely stop in. Side note: most of the staff don't speak much English. My husband speaks a small amount so that was very helpful."

Loco Mexican Restaurant & Cantina

★★★★☆ 4 (244) • $$

"Delicious lunch specials and not crowded. Staff was attentive and amazing.Started with their awesome chips and queso. Let me tell you these chips never break off like those other places. I started off with the à la cart quesadilla with just chicken and cheese with the chips and salsa. I definitely was full by the time I went back to work no time for margaritas today but let me tell you they have the best margaritas ever especially the jalapeño I highly a recommend the pitchers."

Rio Grande - Newport

★★★★☆ 3.7 (264) • $

"I've been to this spot numerous times, especially during my college days at NKU, because it was always great and very affordable on a college kid budget. Many years later, I wanted to bring my lady here so she could try it too, and I knew she'd enjoy it. And yes, it's still great after all these years!Their menu isn't as huge as many other Mexican restaurants, but what they do, they do incredibly well. My lady and I came for lunch after a workout at the nearby Planet Fitness. I've always liked the laid back and relaxed vibe here. Plus they have your food ready SUPER fast and it's always delicious. My lady ordered a classic lime margarita which was very refreshing. As for our food, she ordered ground beef tacos a la carte, and I went with one of my all time favorites the burrito grande. Our food was ready in less than 10 minutes and every bite was just as good as I remembered. We were definitely satisfied and full after we finished. And though prices have gone up a little since my college years, it's still very affordable and worth it. I was a little bummed that I no longer see huevos rancheros on their menu, because they made some of the best I've ever had, but I still really like it here. I have a feeling my lady and I will be back again sometime."

The Comet

★★★★☆ 3.9 (237) • $

"What a great, friendly little place. Good food. Friendly staff. Awesome vibe. Professional level burritos seal the deal for me. I always try to check out the funky vintage store next door-perfect 70's pink polyester suit displayed today."

Taqueria Mercado

★★★★☆ 4.1 (205) • $

"Great authentic Mexican! We had a party of 10 we were seated almost immediately. The server was patient while we waited for another person in our group. There were so many different items on the menu to choose from. That was overwhelming in a good way. I liked that they had several seafood items as well as menudo. The food was good. The "small" burritos were filling and we had 4 hungry teenagers with us and they were satisfied. We didn't have room for desert. I saw a gorgeous delicious looking cake in a case by the register. The bathroom sink was really cool very odd but it fit with the decor and cool artistic vibe. The beans and rice were good the tamale was perfect and the enchilada good but I think that it needed more sauce. Anyway we all enjoyed our meal."

Tortilleria Garcia

★★★★★ 4.5 (163)

"Tortilleria Garcia is a small, modest restaurant which can be classified as a "Hidden Gem". Originally, I had visited this place several years ago, and really did not think much of it. However, after visiting this place in March, I was hooked! I could not get enough of the Steak Tacos with all the toppings.I loved the way they assemble the food in front of you, so you can see what is going in where. I also love the variety of what they offer: (Frozen Latin treats, drinks, cakes and Flan...which I desperately want to try). I can go in, place my order to one of the friendly cashiers, and in a few minutes, I'm walking out with a taco lunch or dinner. The specials seem really great too, although, I've only had one. If you ever have a chance to try their burrito special on Friday, do so!If Tortilleria Garcia is so good, why did I rate it 4 stars? The answer is consistency -- depending on who assembles your food. There were times when I would have tacos with a decent amount of meat and toppings.There were also times when I barely had any meat or toppings in my taco. Nevertheless, the food is pretty decent, and the staff's friendliness make it a great place to visit. I would encourage anyone who loves Latin food to try this restaurant. It will be worth your while."

La Taquiza

★★★★★ 4.5 (157) • $

"Let's just start with the fact that this place is amazing in general. Nobody is perfect. I am a huge fan of offal cuts, and they have them. They ( usually ) do them right. I've only been let down a couple of times out of the 10-ish times I've been. Sometimes the Tripas are not perfect, but that goes for other places too. Still good though. There's all sorts of crazy good things coming out of this TINY place. The staff is definitely overwhelmed at times. I get it. It's busy for a reason and there's not much room to fill the online orders on top of the small line to get in. Basically everything is solid. The salsa ( self serve ) is LEGIT. Bright colors and balanced flavors. Expect to pay up for things you'd normally get for free like chips and salsa. That's ok. It's all really good and I'd rather pay a few bucks to have something that's tastier than your regular, huge sit down joint. If you're not a super demanding person and don't mind getting up and grabbing your own salsa etc, definitely come here. Not the place to be lazy. Just go up and ask for things. No problem. Great location! Could not be more perfect ."

El Jinete

★★★★☆ 3.9 (207) • $$

"They're decent Tex-mex if you're into that. It'll scratch the itch, and some decent margs, actually some really f the best around, but won't blow your socks off"

Veracruz Mexican Grill

★★★★☆ 4.2 (176) • $

"Here's why you should try. 1. The Chips 2.The Queso3.The Standard Margarita's4. The Service 5. The Friendliest staff and ownerTucked in the other side of town from where I live, is this adorable spot. If you're in or near Price Hill head on over."

Lindo Mexico II

★★★★☆ 4 (182) • $$

"We enjoy Lindo's Mexican Restaurant because they have a large, diverse menu, plus the food and service are always good. The atmosphere is bright and colorful and always feels festive. All the staff we have encountered are helpful and friendly.This is a great restaurant to dine at, especially if you have a large group. Many 6 - and 8-top tables are in the first dining area with the ability to push more tables together for whatever size group arrives. A nice size bar is tucked away to your left as you enter. There have been several changes since we've been here. The cocktail menu now offers 20 oz. and 40 oz. margaritas and tequila flights with 3 new types of margaritas; Tropical, Black, and Coco Azul Margarita. An Old Fashioned has been added plus a Cazuelita Tiaquepaque in a clay bowl filled with tajin, squirt, sea salt, grapefruit, orange, lime and tequila. Interesting margarita?You can find all your favorite appetizers and entrees, plus options other restaurants do not carry. Their lunch menu is generous and reasonably priced. Lunch is offered Monday - Friday, 11:00 - 2:30 p.m. Lunch combos, Mexican pizza, burritos, several salads, egg options, chimichangas, burritos, and veggie entrees are just a few of the lunch options.The regular menu is extensive as well and has many burritos, enchiladas, fajitas, carnitas, quesadillas, veggie entrees, salads, molcajete, tacos, and more. Tacos de Birria is a new option I'm seeing today with marinated goat meat topped with cilantro and onions served with a bowl of goat broth for dipping. Today, my husband ordered Cameron's Chimichanga served with rice and beans and a large Dos Equis Amber. He devoured his lunch and appeared to enjoy every bite.I ordered the 3 Chicken Enchiladas Poblanas topped with Mole Pablano sauce (black sauce with nutty-sweet taste and spice) served with excellent, fluffy rice and, beans. I ordered one ear of Elote (Corn on the Cob with seasonings), which was tasty but overcooked.Our server was swamped with several large groups after we received our food, but another server helped with the to-go boxes and check. It did get loud in the dining area with the additional crowd. Overall, it was a nice lunch, and we'll be back."

Salsa Verde Mexican Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.7 (207) • $

"My sister and I stopped in around 3 pm so they weren't crowded at all. The dining rooms were not overly decorated like some Mexican restaurants which I liked. They were separated into sections with half or three quarter walls for privacy and safety which I liked. We were immediately greeted, and seated. We were furnished a huge bowl of salsa chips and two cups of salsa. We asked for and got a cup of cheese sauce too, which was really creamy. Our orders were take quickly and food came out shortly thereafter piping hot.Today was Taco Tuesday so we both ordered Tacos. She went with the hard shelled and I took two soft shell, all the ground beef kind. I ordered one cheese enchilada and she got one burrito. Since we ordered everything via the combo platters we both got rice and beans. I loved my rice and beans and ate all of them both, plus half the enchilada and almost both tacos. All of it was really good. She ate all of her burrito and taco, but left most of the rice and some of the beans because its just too much food all around; really big portions. Bigger than any other Mexican restaurant I've ever been to.Our servers checked on us and brought the check promptly including the change. Over all a nice late lunch for her and an early dinner for me."

Veracruz

★★★★☆ 4.2 (160) • $$

"With almost no Mexican options in town this was it! After trying once I even gave it another try months later with similar results.Extremely mediocre food with decent service sums them up over two visits. I had a burrito, rice and beans on one occasion and chicken and beef tacos on another. The drinks looked good but I passed as I was driving. The chips were even blah! Not again. If you can skip I would. 2.5 rounding down. There is nothing whatsoever authentic about Veracruz. Btw they do offer a Yelp check-in offer."

Mr Tequila's Cantina & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.8 (192) • $$

"Great Food ! Service was great and good price for the food. Its very convenient for pickup"

Taqueria Don Chago

★★★★★ 4.5 (134) • $

"We stopped by for an early dinner not realizing that it was Happy Hour. Our drinks were half price!!!! I had a huge margarita and my husband had a beer. Miguel, our server was great! He was funny, friendly and kept an eye on us. He greeted us with comp chips and salsa and started to banter. The menu is traditional. I was craving a salad and had the taco salad with chicken. It was good with a freshly made tortilla shell. My husband had a burrito and enchilada combination plate and raved about the spicy verde sauce. Good meal.The place is colorful and cute inside. Festive Latin music was playing that made me want to get up and dance after that margarita. They have a full bar. I think they are known for their tacos. Next time I would try those. They are located in a strip mall with plenty of parking. Great meal, great fun place, great deal! Will come back."

Rincon Mexicano

★★★★☆ 3.6 (205) • $$

"Best Mexican place around! We go here all the time weather it be for lunch or dinner! The fajitas always come out sizzling and the elote corn is one of my favorite sides! The queso is nice and thick, not watery like some places. Anytime we have gone the food always comes out quick even when they seem busy. The staff also is very friendly. The vibe of the restaurant is very nice as well, I love looking at all the different art work and tables. Will always be my number one Mexican place."

Jefferson Social

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (259) • $$

"Great vibe! We stopped by before a Sunday Reds game to get a bite to eat. The Jefferson Social offers indoor and outdoor seating. Large windows and inviting tables give you an outdoor feel even if you opt to sit inside. Kudos to our server. Even tho it was quite busy right before the game she was fast to take our order. Our beef nachos arrived quickly and where really good. They fresh and crispy and hit the spot :)"

El Patio

★★★★★ 4.7 (119)

"I went to this place for lunch. It's hidden behind some other restaurants on Richmond Road. They had wall to wall televisions for sports. The service was super fast. Salsa was amazing. I ordered the spicy burrito and it did not disappoint. Check this place out."

El Trompo

★★★★☆ 4.1 (150) • $$

"So this is one of my few checking that I haven't taken. Pic or two. My BFF and I came here for lunch as I really wanted some chicken soup. So let me start by saying this is kind of like a sort of upscale Mexican restaurant but not in a costly upscale more of a fun I am in Acapulco kind of place vice a normal local place. The service was fast and helpful and took great care of us. We both ordered water, well I ordered plain and she ordered water with gas. I.e bubbly water. I ordered some chicken soup and she ordered a taco salad with chicken. My soup was spot on and very tasty. I really like chicken soup at any Mexican restaurant. Our waiter also came to check on us often. I was very happy with the food and the chips and salsa was very good. I will gladly come back."

El Taco Veloz

★★★★☆ 4.2 (132)

"Tried this place during taco week, and so glad we did! The tacos were pretty good- fresh tasting and certainly a great value during taco week. The real star was the Veloz burrito. "Served with steak, chicken, shrimp, sausage, pineapple, white rice, beans, and cheese sauce.", this burrito have great flavor and was HUGE! Loved it. Our server was super friendly, helped us confirm we were in a legit parking spot, and was great the whole time. We will be back - and we will get there in time for the 4-7 happy hour specials!"