Just like cuisine from any country, Mexican food is not monolithic. It isn’t just combo plates and tacos. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that style of food; it’s delicious and is responsible for popularizing Mexican food in the United States.) But Mexican food means more than that.
It reflects Mexico's diverse population—shaped by waves of immigration—and has proliferated throughout the U.S., showcasing the cuisine in all its complexity and regionality. Mexico has 32 distinct regional styles of cooking, and thanks to immigrant chefs and the rise of promising culinarians of Mexican descent looking to share their signature dishes, Indigenous foodways, and ingredients from various regions, diners are reframing their idea of "Mexican food."
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According to a Pew Research Center analysis of SafeGraph data, 1 in 10 restaurants in the U.S. serve Mexican food, and nearly 9 out of 10 U.S. counties have at least one Mexican restaurant. The analysis also reveals that California and Texas are home to a majority of the Mexican American population and together host 2 out of 5 Mexican restaurants in the country.
These findings serve as a testament to the influence Mexican cuisine has had and continues to have in America. Which begs the question: Where does one go for the best old-school Mexican restaurants, loncheras slinging tacos out of a half-window, and innovative modern Mexican food pushing culinary boundaries?
To help you out, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Detroit using data from Yelp. Only restaurants with at least five reviews were considered. Data is current as of January 2024.
Keep reading to see if your favorite spot made the list.
Note: The photos in this article are stock images and do not necessarily depict the specific restaurants listed or the dishes they serve.
#30. El Salpicon Detroit
- Rating: 4.0/5 (29 reviews) - Price level: $ - Address: 8600 West Vernor Hwy Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Mexican, Latin American, Seafood - Read more on Yelp
#29. La Jalisciense
- Rating: 4.0/5 (89 reviews) - Price level: $ - Address: 3923 West Vernor Hwy Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Mexican, Salad, Breakfast & Brunch - Read more on Yelp
#28. Taqueria Lupita's
- Rating: 4.0/5 (374 reviews) - Price level: $ - Address: 3443 Bagley St. Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Mexican - Read more on Yelp
#27. One Mike Detroit
- Rating: 4.0/5 (7 reviews) - Address: 1331 Broadway St. Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Mexican, Cocktail Bars - Read more on Yelp
#26. Jose's Tacos
- Rating: 4.0/5 (156 reviews) - Price level: $ - Address: 218 East Grand River Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Tacos - Read more on Yelp
#25. El Asador
- Rating: 4.0/5 (401 reviews) - Price level: $$ - Address: 1312 Springwells St. Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Steakhouses - Read more on Yelp
#24. Pollo Chapin
- Rating: 4.0/5 (70 reviews) - Price level: $ - Address: 2054 Junction St. Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Mexican, Latin American - Read more on Yelp
#23. Tortitas El Rojito
- Rating: 4.0/5 (10 reviews) - Price level: $ - Address: 2257 Waterman St. Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Hot Dogs, Mexican, Food Stands - Read more on Yelp
#22. Bakersfield
- Rating: 4.0/5 (727 reviews) - Price level: $$ - Address: 3100 Woodward Ave. Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Tacos, Bars - Read more on Yelp
#21. Tamaleria Nuevo Leon
- Rating: 4.5/5 (75 reviews) - Price level: $ - Address: 2669 Vernor Hwy Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Mexican - Read more on Yelp
#20. Taqueria Mi Pueblo
- Rating: 4.5/5 (618 reviews) - Price level: $$ - Address: 7278 Dix St. Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Mexican - Read more on Yelp
#19. La Salsa Mexican Cuisine
- Rating: 4.5/5 (53 reviews) - Price level: $ - Address: 1310 South Oakwood Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Mexican, Breakfast & Brunch - Read more on Yelp
#18. Pollos Los Gallos
- Rating: 4.5/5 (22 reviews) - Price level: $ - Address: 7135 Dix Hwy Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Mexican - Read more on Yelp
#17. Loncheria El Parian
- Rating: 4.5/5 (12 reviews) - Price level: $ - Address: Springwells St. & I- 75 Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Mexican, Street Vendors - Read more on Yelp
#16. Las Cazuelas
- Rating: 4.5/5 (44 reviews) - Price level: $ - Address: 4000 Livernois Ave. Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Mexican - Read more on Yelp
#15. La Noria Bistro
- Rating: 4.5/5 (91 reviews) - Price level: $$ - Address: 5517 Michigan Ave. Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Mexican, Italian, Cocktail Bars - Read more on Yelp
#14. Mi Pueblo Express
- Rating: 4.5/5 (24 reviews) - Address: 7271 Dix St. Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Mexican - Read more on Yelp
#13. Jose's Tacos
- Rating: 4.5/5 (53 reviews) - Address: 2510 Market St. Ste1 Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Tacos - Read more on Yelp
#12. El Paisa Taqueria Truck
- Rating: 4.5/5 (8 reviews) - Price level: $ - Address: Vernor Hwy And Lansing St. Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Mexican, Food Stands - Read more on Yelp
#11. Shell Shock'd Tacos
- Rating: 4.5/5 (16 reviews) - Address: 418 West Willis St. Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Tacos, Chicken Wings - Read more on Yelp
#10. Honey Bee La Colmena
- Rating: 4.5/5 (262 reviews) - Price level: $ - Address: 2443 Bagley St. Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Mexican, International Grocery - Read more on Yelp
#9. El Taquito
- Rating: 4.5/5 (26 reviews) - Price level: $ - Address: 1985 Military St. Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Mexican, Food Stands - Read more on Yelp
#8. Tacos El Caballo
- Rating: 4.5/5 (31 reviews) - Price level: $ - Address: 1436 Springwells St. Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos - Read more on Yelp
#7. E & L Supermercado
- Rating: 4.5/5 (60 reviews) - Price level: $ - Address: 6000 West Vernor Hwy Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Meat Shops, Mexican, Grocery - Read more on Yelp
#6. El Taco Veloz
- Rating: 4.5/5 (69 reviews) - Price level: $ - Address: 6170 Toledo St. Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Mexican - Read more on Yelp
#5. Taco El Primo
- Rating: 4.5/5 (22 reviews) - Price level: $ - Address: 7643 Dix St. Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos - Read more on Yelp
#4. Taco Fiesta
- Rating: 5.0/5 (8 reviews) - Address: Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican - Read more on Yelp
#3. Los Dos Amigos
- Rating: 5.0/5 (29 reviews) - Price level: $ - Address: 7115 Parkwood St. Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Mexican, Food Stands - Read more on Yelp
#2. El Agave Taqueria
- Rating: 5.0/5 (5 reviews) - Address: 1744 Springwells Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Mexican - Read more on Yelp
#1. Esto's Garage
- Rating: 5.0/5 (5 reviews) - Address: Detroit, Michigan - Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks - Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Cynthia Rebolledo, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 327 metros.