Ixtapa Fine Mexican Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.1 (491) • $$

"Ixtapa Fine Mexican Cuisine in the greater Kansas City area is one of the top spots to enjoy an authentic and vibrant dish. The owner takes great pride in the dishes that are served. He puts an emphasis on three things: less grease, less cheese, less fried....exactly as it is in Mexico. The ceviche cucumber boats are loaded with fresh ingredients and flavorful spices. My favorite dish is the enmolodos: soft hand-made tortillas layered with chicken, mole sauce, and Mexican cactus. You also must try the Quesadillas De Flor De Calabaza: sauteed squash blossom served with melted cheese, then topped with guacamole & sour cream. Add this to your list of Top Eats in Kansas City! Excellent service. Clean interior. All around a great experience."

El Patron Cocina & Bar

★★★★☆ 3.8 (531) • $$

"Never has been to this place...but it's a real good one in KC! Ponaks used to be our go-to spot, but this is our new favorite. See that red sauce on the enchilada....it has a great pepper flavor of some sort...that is a good deep rich flavor. The deep fried taco with ground beef...another winner of an entree item. Tamale is a well composed tamale. Pork filling was perfect. White cheese dip was a good dip. Beans and rice.....well above average side items. The treat on the night: we got to meet the owner lady - Estella. Certainly a sweet little lady, that seems to genuinely care about her dishes. Great to see owners like her that care. Load up in the car and visit this great Mexican place!"

El Pulgarcito Salvadorean Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.4 (310) • $

"El Pulgarcito is a lovely Salvadorean Restaurant in Merriam, KS. The day I visited, it happened to be my birthday, and I was so excited to try something new. Seating was open, and there was plenty of space, even though the restaurant was pretty full. After looking over the menu, I decided I needed to try a little bit of everything. After a short chat with my waitress, I decided to try the mixed pupusas. Man oh man! They were absolutely delicious, especially with the house coleslaw/jalapeño mix piled on. Now on to my main dish! I had the fried tilapia and green plantains. I thought the plantains were okay, I put sauce on them to add a little flavor. I will be honest and say I was expecting sweet, but they were more salty, not overly salty though. The tilapia was absolutely delicious! I haven't had a whole fried fish (bone-in) in years. It was fried hard (perfect in my opinion) and the fish was very moist.I really loved the atmosphere in the restaurant. There were groups of families and friends eating, talking, listening to music and having a good time. I will definitely be back!"

Jarocho

★★★★☆ 4.4 (279) • $$

"The only thing that dimmed our experience at Jarocho was the wildly uncomfortable blue light emitted from the daylight bulbs that the restaurant has. That being said, the ceviches we had were probably the best I've ever had, and I have spent nearly a year of my life (on and off) working and living in Mexico. The shrimp gumbo was perfect. The server was attentive, accommodating (we asked to be moved to a table with warm light bulbs, which they have at some tables) and super smiley and helpful with great suggestions. Again, the only complaint from this is one I have with ANY restaurant that uses daylight bulbs. They ruin the warmth and the aesthetic of any and all restaurants. I feel petty putting it in a yelp review, but I sincerely think that Jarocho could up its numbers with this simple change; and I would love it if this place could exist forever."

Los Alamos Market y Cocina

★★★★★ 4.6 (228) • $

"The service and food are top notch! The second we walked in, we were made to feel at home and that welcoming spirit showed up in every interaction we had with everyone there. It's a family owned business that does everything from scratch and it shows with fresh flavors and plates prepared with heart and soul. These people are proud of what they have to offer and they should be - - we will be back for sure."

Dos De Oros

★★★★★ 4.5 (229) • $$

"I hadn't been to this place in years, I am so glad we went back. Our service was great, we went on Thursday which we learned is fajita day, and they were delicious. One order was plenty to share. I also got a chili relleno and it was great, too. The restaurant is cozy and felt clean. Can't wait to go back."

Taco Lucha

★★★★☆ 4.2 (250) • $$

"I have been here, or to whatever restaurant has occupied this spot, many times the past 25 years. Recently visited in 12/2023.Never ever had a bad taco here. Never had a bad meal/experience here. Everyone is so nice. Fun place. it's loud, but this is Aggieville... Gets crazy busy on a Thurs, Fri, Sat evening. Highly recommended if you're in Manhappiness..."

Ixtapa Fine Mexican

★★★★☆ 4.4 (216)

"I love this restaurant, but today's visit was disappointing. This place makes authentic Mexican food and tried to be more higher end. The owner goes around and takes the orders of all the tables but when busy it is TOO MUCH for him and he messes up the orders. One person in the group ordered a steak but was brought chicken mole. The mole was good, but not what he ordered. I would have sent it back and asked for my steak but he id really nice and just ate it. However when the bill came they tried to charge us for both the steak we never got and the mole we didn't order. They were nice about it and took off the steak from the ticket. I got the shrimp enchiladas and they were not very good. They lacked a spicy sauce and didn't have much flavor. I still like this place and willhope for better next time!"

Oscar's Authentic Mexican Grill

★★★★★ 4.6 (197) • $

"I first discovered Oscar's when they made Yelp's top places to eat list in the KC metro a few years back. Curious, I ordered a burrito via Doordash and I was immediately hooked - I've essentially been ordering from them regularly ever since! This is a local, mom and pop kind of spot that does burritos, tacos, and bowls, similar to Chipotle. Since it's a bit of a haul out to Olathe I end up ordering online a bunch since they are fast, often have deals on delivery, and the food is always delivered on time, correct, and packaged with care. Something I really love about Oscar's that sets it apart from others in this fast casual area is that they give you a small side of chips and salsa with your burrito, which I think is a really nice touch. Another thing I like is that it's pretty easy to order something for kids as well. Our daughter can be a bit picky but I love that it's simple to customize something that she'll eat so we can all eat as a family here."

Tortilla Ranch Mexican Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (239) • $

"My deepest and most sincere apologies are due Tortilla Ranch for the years I've referred to them as "just another Chipotle wannabe", laughing as I drive by. We were in the area this weekend and decided to give them a try (by ordering online and taking home).The food was ready and waiting for me when I arrived. I had just ordered online from College & Quivira, so maybe 10 minutes ahead of time. We got an enchilada burrito with the braised beef and shrimp tacos.We were both thrilled with the food. I didn't try the tacos, but the beef was so good and what a huge portion! Easily enough food for two meals from each.We're already talking about "when we go back"! The worst thing will be deciding if I order the same thing or try something different."

Los Tules

★★★★☆ 3.6 (292) • $$

"Happy hour House Margs until 8pm was a nice surprise when we walked in for dinner. Plenty of space for large parties so we didn't have to wait for a table. The house Marg was a little sweet for my taste and the salsa flavors felt more Italian than Mexican to me, but that's just one girl's opinion. We did have to ask for menus (odd) but the spinach dip and the green chili pork were both tasty.I'd come back for the cheese dip!"

Cancun Fiesta Fresh

★★★★☆ 3.9 (228) • $

"Wow! What great tacos! And the ramen is next level!! Authentic Mexican food is served fresh and fast here. Carryout, drive-thru, and done in options."

Chelly's Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.1 (204) • $

"This was the first time I went to Chelly's, it isn't super big but feels like the perfect size for a local crowd on a weekday evening. The menu has a ton of options, from more traditional Mexican dishes to Tex Mex favorites. I went for the chile verde, and what came out shocked me a bit. The plate was a massive portion of the chile verde especially! I believe it was only $13, and I had tons of delicious leftovers afterwards. The meat was perfectly tender with a quality classic verde sauce, decent rice and beans as well, with piping hot fresh grilled tortillas. My friends enjoyed their food and their large margaritas especially. This is the perfect place for some comforting Mexican food. We really enjoyed our post work happy hour and dinner overall, and I must go back to explore more of this menu."

Drunken Worm

★★★★☆ 4 (208) • $$

"Awesome place! Low key, not overly crowded, the staff is super friendly. Love them all. Great fun people. They even brought us a free drunken hotdog because they made an extra by accident. It tasted amazing and the fries are fireeee . They have great deals and they have brunch! I got the classic hangover. It was great. And a ton of food!!! We also tried the worm dip I think is what it's called. It's very unique with the berry flavor in it but it was still really good! We came to watch the game and they had it on all the tvs. This is a cool place!!!"

Ricos Tacos Lupe

★★★★☆ 4.2 (178) • $

"There's not a lot of places I'd willingly walk into that have bars on their windows but this place I would go and risk my life for. This little area is known for traditional Mexican food and it does not ever disappoint. Homemade tortillas, homemade salsas, tamales, everything. I think I could eat a thousand tamales from Rico's. This place is nothing short of amazing. If you're looking for a traditional Mexican restaurant give this a try. Give the whole block a try!"

Red Bridge Barrio

★★★★☆ 3.6 (233) • $$

"First time here, had lunch with two friends. I had three soft beef tacos with Beans and rice. We ate on the patio since it was a nice day. Waitresses were super nice and kept me loaded with Diet Pepsi."

The Corner Mexican Food

★★★★☆ 4.3 (163) • $

"I decided to look at the Yelp reviews for another Mexican restaurant, near my house, and so many people commented on the tacos here that I decided to go to The Corner, Mexican restaurant. Boy am I glad I did!I was greeted warmly in the middle of a Friday afternoon and advised to sit anywhere I liked. I was charmed by their hospitality right away. I asked the effervescent server what she would recommend for a first timer who wanted some tacos and she steered me toward the Birria beef or chicken tacos. She advised me that if I ordered five or more it would come with a gravy/dipping sauce. To my fortune, I complied. I ordered one chicken and four beef tacos, and they were outstanding!I've had tacos all over Mexico, both on the mainland, and in Baja, in the coastal areas and the interior. These tacos are in the top three that I have ever had! They are absolutely amazing! I would highly recommend the Birria tacos and especially the dipping sauce that comes with them that takes something magnificent into astronomical realms. I can't wait to return with my wife and work our way through their amazing menu. The Birria Ramen and Al Pastor are up next."

Mi Ranchito

★★★★☆ 3.7 (220) • $$

"Mi Ranchito is the place to go! Came here on a Saturday night and my boyfriend and I were seated and served immediately. Our waiter was super helpful and friendly and assisted us with any questions we had about the menu. I had the Jalisco Chimichanga and it was delicious. The sauce that covered the chimichanga was mouth watering, and the guacamole was great. To top my meal off I ordered a frozen mango margarita, which was a perfect way end to my dining experience. Overall would highly recommend this place, and will be returning very soon!"

Mi Ranchito

★★★★☆ 3.6 (226) • $$

"First time since before the pandemic I've actually dine in here and has changed. We went just before the dinner rush to avoid the crowd on a Saturday (anytime after 4:30). Got seated, drinks & chips super fast. Our entrées came with 10 minutes after ordering & were smoking hot. The chicken in our tacos & burritos were uber tender & flavorful. The tacos were loaded with chicken & cheese, made to order minus tomatoes. Drinks are always stiff and never lack a buzz !"

Fronteras Mexican Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (200) • $$

"I still can't believe I live walking distance from this place and haven't tried it until yesterday! So glad I decided to come here for cinco de mayo like the gringo I am. LOL. We had two people in our party and were seated within 10 minutes which was shocking but I was so pleased! I thought we would've had to wait at least 30 minutes. We were also able to order drinks at the bar while we waited which was nice. Once we were seated warm chips, salsa and a tomatillo like sauce came out. I'm OBSESSED with the green tomatillo sauce it was so f*cking good!! We also got espinaca because well you have to when going to eat Mexican food! It hit the spot. The salsa was also tasty. For our entrees I had spinach enchiladas and my sister had the shrimp quesadillas. We both loved our entrees! They also came out ridiculously fast which was awesome. Our server was fantastic!! We overheard him say he had been working since 9am I felt so bad for him! But you would never know he had been working all day he was so kind and the service was perfect. I'm so sad I won't be close to this restaurant when I move in july but I will definitely be coming back as much as possible before I move!"

Teocali

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (257) • $$

"Not much as far as healthy food other than a couple lackluster salads however they do have a $42 entree which feeds2-4 people with a pile of tilapia, huge beautifully grilled shrimp (fantastic flavor!), and mussels over a bed of onions. The margaritas all have Tres Agaves margarita mixer in them which is sad and not necessary especially for the skinny margarita which only lists other ingredients on the menu in it and doesn't mention the mixer which is 16 grams of sugar per ounce and about four ounces is used per "skinny" marg rendering it not a "skinny" drink at all and quite misleading for folks w sugar problems like me! Luckily the bartender remade me a marg with only the necessary triple sec, tequila, and lime juice and allowed me to not wreck my glucose too bad that evening."

Burrito Bros

★★★★☆ 4 (171) • $

"816 Day Scavenger Hunt Stop Tasty taco bursting with flavors and textures. Loved the addition of the sweet and mild corn salsa. Beware, hot means hot! The second to hottest salsa had my mouth tingling but was delicious. I always add jalapeños. However, they weren't necessary because the spice level was there! Great selection of meats and toppings and an affordable price for under $3 a taco. The chicken was tender and tasted of slight char. It seemed to be grilled fresh. Which isn't the case at some taquerias. The service was fast and friendly, I'm so surprised I have never stopped by this place since it's conveniently located right in the heart of the river market now, I'll be adding it to my rotation of favorites!"

El Pueblito

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (229) • $

"Came here after a concert at Midtown in downtown KC with a group of friends. I didn't know they did HH late at night (so that was a bonus). It was open seating when you get to the restaurant. On a nice night, we sat outside on their patio. Once we were seated, they offer us salsa and chips! The salsa has a kick to it.I ordered the carne asada tacos and the price for the tacos made it even more delicious! The shrimp ceviche was very flavorful. Overall, I would definitely come back for the HH. It was such a great place for a hangout / late night snack with friends."

Tampico Authentic Mexican Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (171) • $$

"Tampico's is a great gem in the middle of downtown Leavenworth. After a long trip the hotel staff recommended Tampico's across the street. It has a nice Mexican vibe and decor, the staff and I presume either the owner or manager was working the register and was very inviting. I made it just before the dinner crowd (Saturday) started to pour in ... a popular place for small groups and families from what I could see. As soon as I was seated someone came by with chips and salsa. The chips were warm, crisp and light; the salsa was good and not overly spicy. I ended up having the 2 for 1 margarita special and a chuiken dish for dinner. The chicken was freshly cooked, moist and flavorful. One of the better Mexican dinners I have had in the past year. I would absolutely recommend this place, since I have a week here for work I will be back to try another dish and see if the high quality is standard. Looking forward to another dinner here!"

Tacos El Matador

★★★★☆ 4.4 (133) • $

"Yaaaaassss! I had the BEST time at TEM! We were in need of a quick lunch date spot and Yelp led me right to these tacos. Busy lunch crowd but we got a table, waters, menu and chips/salsa lickity split. Not the biggest dining area but food came out so quick. I had to try the tacos and my hubby can never refuse a torta. Everything we had was full of so much flavor! I surely can't wait to get back for mas delicious comida!"

GG's Birria Barbacoa Cafe

★★★★★ 4.9 (107) • $$

"On a road trip and the breakfast at our very nice hotel looked lackluster... this place was a great find! Aunties in the back making our order, the medium egg was textbook medium! Everything was homemade and delicious. 10/10"

Jarocho South

★★★★☆ 4.4 (127) • $$

"I have had this spot on my wish list for a while now. I'm so glad I finally tried it. The ambiance is inviting, and the staff is friendly. We were greeted right away, ordered drinks that were delicious. We ordered oysters, and they were good. I ordered the elotes which I love but it was very spicy, be careful my friend loves spicy so she enjoyed it. She ordered the whole fish and it was so good, she even gave me the eye. I ordered seafood paella, and it was delicious. This is a must try spot, and they have 2. You will be pleasantly surprised how amazing their seafood is so far inland!"

Pancho's Mexican Food

★★★★☆ 3.5 (200) • $

"Pancho's slaps. Open nice and late, serving sizes are super large and affordable. The hot cheeto burrito is as good as it sounds and their sides are great.It's definitely dated and not very welcoming from the outside, but the food speaks for itself. The line moves pretty slowly but I've gotten lucky a few times going at off-hours and not having to wait. Unfortunately the area isn't the safest late at night. Last time I went, there were a few folks hanging out around my car and the drive through window clerk was visibly uncomfortable. However, this doesn't speak to Pancho's food and overall likeability. Give it a try (when the line isn't long haha)!"

Briarcliff Barrio

★★★★☆ 3.7 (172) • $$

"A Northland foodie gave us a strong recommendation to check out the creative Mexican cuisine at Briarcliff Barrio. Based on our first meal there last night, it lived up to our expectations. I love it when successful local restauranteurs south of the river decide to invest in the Northland. Barrio is a great example of such a place. The first thing you notice is this place doesn't look like a typical Mexican restaurant inside or out. It has a very contemporary vibe with large garage doors that open when the weather is perfect outside. When we arrived around 7pm, there were only a few guests dining inside, most outside on the patio. So that's where we headed. We found our server to be friendly and helpful in making selections. I just wish we didn't have to request multiple times for extra chips and water. Especially since the restaurant wasn't busy. Barrio's chips are unique, sprinkled with tajin. After trying the house salsa, we ordered the loaded queso from the starters. It's made with chorizo, guac and corn relish. It was good, probably just a bit too chunky for us, who typically order queso plain. I found the entrée pricing to be super fair for the quality and quantity of food. Seemed like most were $13 to $17. My wife ordered the Enchiladas De Madre, while I selected the Carne Asada Kabobs. Both were super tasty, beautifully plated and literally right off the grill. The Elote, roasted corn, was fabulous! Barrio's flavored margaritas are a neat change-up from the traditional margaritas. We can't wait to return, especially on a Friday, when Happy Hour starts at 1:30pm!"

Rancho Grande Cantina

★★★★☆ 3.5 (183) • $$

"We stopped in here about an hour before closing on a Sunday. The restaurant was still busy, and there were quite a few customers present when we finished up just before the scheduled close. Service was good (thanks, Dakota), although we would have preferred the staff to postpone cleaning the floor around us until we finished. As for the food, $33.79 plus tip purchased a chile relleno plate with the usual sides, a chicken fajita plate, and a refillable soft drink (Pepsi products). Both servings were ample, and the food decently prepared. So, this looks like a reliable restaurant, and it's worth driving in from the interstate if you are hungry for Tex-Mex and passing through at mealtime."

Mi Ranchito

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (203) • $$

"Mi Ranchito always has spectacular service. They are super consistent with the quality as well as flavor of their queso and salsa! The restaurant is always clean and tidy."

Dos Reales

★★★★☆ 3.6 (170) • $$

"Dos Reales may become one of my favorite places to enjoy an authentic Mexican restaurant in the greater Kansas City area. We enjoyed a great lunch before going out to the Shawnee Mission Lake! At this restaurant, you are served complimentary chips and two salsas: one thick and one cantina style. We also started with some queso dip! For lunch, I ordered the Enchilada & Tamale Combination and my partner ordered a Chicken Chimichanga. We both left happy and full! If you are in the Shawnee area and craving some Mexican food, Dos Reales is the spot to check out! The service was quick and attentive. We were able to sit on the patio. This restaurant has exposed style dining on nice days too!"

Mi Ranchito

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (198) • $$

"I Absolutely love this place!! So much so that I try to keep it a secret from most people lol. There's a real authentic feel here and you can tell they put their heart and soul into every dish. The entire place from the workers to the decor to the music makes you feel at home. I think everything on the menu is great but I'd be wrong not to recommend my favorites: the quesadilla salad, fajita bowl, deep fried tacos, and any margarita! Highly recommend!!"

Tacos El Mercadito

★★★★☆ 4.4 (109) • $

"Tacos El Mercadito may not look like much from the outside, but the food is absolutely amazing and the wait is very minimal. We waited less than 10 minutes for two large orders. There is limited seating inside but you can also take your food to go! The tacos are $2, a tamale is $2.50, and a side of rice or a side of beans is also $2. I ordered 2 tacos, a tamale, chips & salsa, and a side of rice for under $14 with a tip. Highly recommend trying the pork tamale! You can also purchase Mexican ingredients and groceries at this restaurant/shop."

Pancho's Mexican Food

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (179) • $$

"I was surprised they were open on Thanksgiving. I expected a quick fast food bite for breakfast but they really impressed me. The quality of the ingredients were outstanding. The bacon burrito was packed with flavor and huge. Not only that, the service was excellent. I learned the drive thru is 24 hours so go check them out."