10 Mexican Restaurants In Iowa City, Iowa

1. Eldorado Mexican Restaurant

This colorful, casual eatery with relatively simple interior provides you with the best Mexican combos with our favorite being the well-made chicken flautas, but that is not the only great meal. Their steak flautas have an amazing flavor and the rolled quesadilla is to die for. Eldorado Mexican Restaurant uses fresh ingredients to prepare their sumptuous meal giving your taste buds a trip and the pitchers of margaritas add to the whole experience.

Eldorado Mexican Restaurant

Address: 102 2nd Ave, Coralville, IA 52241, USA

Website: Eldorado Mexican Restaurant

Opening hours: Sun: 11am – 9pm; Mon - Sat: 11am - 10pm

2. Pancheros Mexican Grill

If you are looking for perfectly mixed bites then look no further, Pancheros Mexican Grill will serve you the best burrito’s in Iowa. This Mexican restaurant has something for everyone, their carnitas (slow roasted, seasoned, pulled pork) are our favorite especially after a night out partying and children will greatly enjoy their cheese quesadilla chicken taco side of rice.

Pancheros Mexican Grill

Address: 32 S Clinton St Iowa City, IA 52240, USA

Website: Pancheros Mexican Grill

Opening hours: Thu - Sun & Mon - Tue: 10:30am – 3am; Wed: 10:30am – 2am

3. Saloon

Editor’s note: Establishment Permanently closed

Electric décor, tasty choices of Mexican food, and Thursday night mini-concert outside, just next to the patio is also a great reason to head to the Saloon. This Southwestern-Mexican restaurant is known for its great queso dip, which will have you coming back. You may also come back for their freshly prepared flavored Mexican dishes, friendly waiters and fresh tamales, moles and sauces. The restaurant also features a wonderful laid-back atmosphere perfect for quiet conversation, a date night or people-watching.

Saloon

Address: 112 E College St, Iowa City, IA 52240, USA

Website: Saloon

Opening hours: Thu - Sat : 11am – 1am; Tue - Wed: 11am – 10pm (closed on Mon)

4. Avocado Mexican Grill

A bar, patio and Mexican restaurant all in one is the beauty of the Avocado Mexican Grill. Avocado offers a fantastic assortment of mouth-watering Mexican plates and specialty margaritas and Mexican themed cocktails made to perfection while you get a lakeside view from the outdoor patio. We were spoilt for choice from their delicious chicken quesadillas, their sumptuous Mexican dishes and their apple sangria which we used to down it all. Everything was perfect and we are sure you will never regret stopping by.

Avocado Mexican Grill

Address: 1857 Lower Muscatine Rd, Iowa City, IA 52240, USA

Website: Avocado Mexican Grill

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11am – 10pm; Sun: 11am – 9pm

5. Cactus Mexican Grill & Cantina

Cactus Mexican Grill & Cantina offers you authentic Mexican dishes, with a large selection of tasty entrées. Try a dish from their incredible specialty menu of Mexican cuisines which are prepared using fresh locally sourced ingredients and have a hard time staying away. The food presentation is great, the atmosphere conducive and the food mouthwatering. Our all-time favorite is the triggerfish tacos paired with the cactus cheese grits and black beans.

Cactus Mexican Grill & Cantina

Address: 245 S Gilbert St, Iowa City, IA 52240, USA

Website: Cactus Mexican Grill & Cantina

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11am – 12am; Sun: 11am – 9pm

6. Los Agaves Mexican Grill

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You will never get Enchiladas as great as the one offered at Los Agaves Mexican Grill. Top it with avocado sauce, sour cream, Cotija cheese, lettuce, tomato and radishes and you will enjoy your lunch like never before and find yourself coming back for more. Voted no 16 in the top 100 places to eat in the United States, not only is this Mexican restaurant pocket-friendly, but their dishes are always prepared with a simple, yet sophisticated presentation, giving a creative twist. They use the best ingredients available.

Los Agaves Mexican Grill

Address: 2208 N Dodge St, Iowa City, IA 52245, USA

Website: Los Agaves Mexican Grill

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11am – 10pm; Sun: 11am – 9pm

7. El Banditos

In this casual themed Mexican restaurant lives the best hand-rolled tacos and traditional Mexican plates. The food is freshly prepared from locally sourced ingredients, the Mexican dishes are flavorful and the ambiance is modern and spacious. El Banditos offers something for everyone and they have a wide variety of yummy vegetarian dishes and throw in the large autographed concert posters lining the walls, original local art, and you are a happy foodie.

El Banditos

Address: 327 E Market St, Iowa City, IA 52245, USA

Website: El Banditos

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 11am - 10pm; Sat: 9am - 10pm; Sun: 9am - 9pm

8. Estela's Fresh Mex

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A tasty Quesadilla, nice mixture of spices from the meat to the salsa, crispy vegetables, and packed burritos are just but a few words to describe the kind of meals that you get at this Mexican over the counter restaurant. But Estela’s Fresh Mex does not only offer large burrito’s, but this casual stop for classic Mexican meals is also reasonably priced, food is freshly made and sumptuous and their staff is friendly and warm.

Estela's Fresh Mex

Address: 184 E Burlington St, Iowa City, IA 52240, USA

Website: Estela’s Fresh Mex

Opening hours: Sun - Tue :7am - 11pm; Thu - Sat: 7am - 3am

9. El Ranchero Mexican

For Mexican meals that play with your taste buds, shrimp fajitas, reasonably priced meals and prompt services the El Ranchero has you covered. This laid-back colorful restaurant, at a great location, serves Mexican classics. It is just the place to end a day especially after a long day at work or touring Iowa town. You can also order the steak tortilla which is fresh, thin and evenly spiced, and leave the place smiling.

El Ranchero Mexican

Address: 21 Sturgis Corner Dr, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA

Website: El Ranchero Mexican

Opening hours: Sun - Thu :11am – 9pm; Fri - Sat: 11am – 10:30pm

10. La Regia Taqueria

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Located in the heart of the mid-west, this small Mexican restaurant will offer you classic Mexican meals, tacos, nachos and combo platters for the hearty eater in a fun, casual surrounding. From a wide range of spicy, tangy dishes to flavorful, tomato-based finger and comfort foods La Regia Taqueria will have everyone in your group covered and satisfied. Visit this Mexican restaurant and enjoy a pleasant ambiance, attentive staff, great food all at an affordable price. Our favorite meal was the mouth-watering Lengua (beef tongue) that left us wanting more.

La Regia Taqueria

Address: 436 Highway 1 West, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA

Website: La Regia Taqueria

Opening hours: Tue - Sun :10am – 9pm (closed on Mon)

Find an end to your Mexican cuisine cravings

With the wide selection of attractions when you’re hungry for savory, flavorful Mexican food, there’s always a place to get your fix. While the combos and music will cater to the traveler who has company, for the lone traveler, our selection of Mexican restaurants has an ambiance and lively servers that will keep you occupied. So as you pack your bag remember to add one of these restaurants (or all) into your itinerary and have fun.