Our Favorite Mexican Food Spots in the American Southwest

Below is a list of our favorite Mexican food restaurants in the Southwest (Far West Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Southern California).

Our picks span from Sonoran style in Southern Arizona to Tex-Mex in San Antonio and El Paso to New Mexican chiles in Santa Fe and Albuquerque to Baja style in Southern Cal.

The main question here is whether you want it on flour or corn. Green or red.

Arizona (Tucson, Phoenix)

• Tacos Apson

• El Charro

• El Minuto

• Casa Valencia Seafood Bar & Grill | 1825 W. Valencia Rd, Tucson, AZ

• Crossroads | 2602 S. Fourth Ave, Tucson, AZ

• El Indio | 3355 S. Sixth Ave, Tucson, AZ

• El Merendero | 5443 S. 12th Ave, Tucson, AZ

• Guillermo's Double L | 1830 S. Fourth Ave, Tucson, AZ

• Jalisco Restaurant & Tortilleria | 425 W. Irvington Rd, Tucson, AZ

• Little Mexico | 698 W. Irvington Rd, Tucson, AZ

• Mariscos Chihuahua | 3901 S. Sixth Ave. • 435 W. Irvington Rd, Tucson, AZ

• Micha's Restaurant  | 2908 S. Fourth Ave, Tucson, AZ

• Mi Nidito | 1813 S. Fourth Ave, Tucson, AZ

• Perfecto's Mexican Restaurant | 5404 S. 12th Ave, Tucson, AZ

• Rigo's Restaurant  | 2527 S. Fourth Ave, Tucson, AZ

• Tacos Apson | 3501 S. 12th Ave, Tucson, AZ

• Taqueria Pico De Gallo | 2618 S. Sixth Ave, Tucson, AZ

• Taqueria Porfis | 3553 S. 12th Ave, Tucson, AZ

• Anita Street Market | 849 N. Anita Ave, Tucson, AZ

New Mexico (Santa Fe, Albuquerque)

• Rancho de Chimayo | 300 Juan Medina Rd, Chimayo, NM

• Palacio Cafe | 209 E Palace Ave, Santa Fe, NM

• Paloma Restaurant | 401 S Guadalupe St, Santa Fe, NM

• Maria’s New Mexican Kitchen | 555 W Cordova Rd, Santa Fe, NM

• La Choza

• The Shed

• Cafe Pasqual’s

• The Pantry

• Horseman’s Haven

Texas (Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, The Valley)

• Vera’s Backyard Bar-B-Que

• Ninfa’s

California (Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco)

https://www.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-albuquerque-new-mexico

https://phoenix.eater.com/maps/best-mexican-restaurants-phoenix

https://dallas.eater.com/maps/best-mexican-food-dallas

https://houston.eater.com/maps/houston-best-tex-mex-mexican-restaurants

https://www.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-santa-fe-new-mexico

https://austin.eater.com/maps/best-tacos-san-antonio

https://www.eater.com/2015/12/10/9868174/san-antonio

https://austin.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-san-antonio-texas

https://austin.eater.com/22999733/san-antonio-taco-styles-illustrated-guide-puffy-breakfast

https://www.eater.com/ad/maps/san-antonio-taco-tuesday-mexican-bars-restaurants-margaritas

https://tucsonfoodie.com/2020/02/13/guide-to-tucson-tacos/

https://sandiego.eater.com/maps/san-diego-best-local-tacos

https://sandiego.eater.com/maps/where-to-eat-south-bay-restaurants

https://farolito.com/blog/santa-fe-mexican-restaurants/

Travel & Leisure, Texas Monthly, Conde Nast