10 Best Mexican Restaurants In Tampa, Florida

mexican restaurants in tampa
Alyssandra Raiza
Alyssandra Raiza 
Published
| 5 min read

Florida is known for its beaches and endless sunshine, earning it the nickname “Sunshine State.” Tampa is one of Florida’s most popular cities, with its great beaches, rich nightlife, and dining culture. It is the third-largest city in the state, and the greater metro area is home to over three million people. With a significant number of the city’s population having Mexican heritage, it’s hardly a surprise that Mexican restaurants are plentiful in Tampa. Everyone can get to enjoy the best this place has to offer. Scroll down for the best Mexican restaurants in Tampa, Florida, that you can try.

1. Lolis Mexican Cravings

Tacos
Source: Photo by Flickr user Evgeny Krivosheev used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

Lolis is one of the most exciting Mexican food chains around Tampa, and its pink theme is hard to miss. Open dining spaces and plenty of seats mean that you can’t run out of room for dining. You can choose from the menu comprising Mexican favorites such as tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. Their must-try dishes include their ribeye and campechano tacos, a combination of ribeye and chorizos. Soups, salads, and many other rich sides and toppings are available too. Everything is prepared in-house, and the restaurant takes pride in this.

Lolis Mexican Cravings

Address: 8005 Benjamin Rd, Tampa, FL 33634, United States

Website: Lolis Mexican Cravings

Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 11am - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 9:30pm; Sun - Mon: 11am - 8:30pm

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2. Besito Mexican

Ensalada variada, dieta Mediterránea
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Juan Emilio Prade... used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Besito Mexican offers a finer dining experience compared to most in Westshore Plaza and is complete with candlelight and chandeliers. Happy hour is a very enjoyable experience here, with appetizers available at reduced prices. Their ensalada Mexicana is a crowd favorite, made with beans, tomatoes, nuts, and more delicious ingredients topped with special sauces. The iron skillet tacos are also a must-try here. They’ve also got a wide selection of drinks such as shakes, juices, and multiple margarita variants highlighting the list. You can have a happy dining experience here at Besito.

Besito Mexican

Address: 205 Westshore Plaza, Tampa, FL 33609, United States

Website: Besito Mexican

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

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3. TacoSon Mexican Grill

Shrimp tacos
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Alan Levine used under CC0

TacoSon prides itself as a product of Sonora, Mexico, and has been a family business since its opening. The venues are patterned after a family home to provide their customers with the same welcoming and intimate dining experience. Their homemade tacos are top-notch, with soft and hard shell options available. Cabbage, onions, tomatoes, and your choice of meat goes into each mouthwatering taco. Their seafood ceviche and torta sandwich are some of the other special dishes you can get from here. Delivery and takeouts are also available, so you don’t have to leave your home to enjoy some fine tacos.

TacoSon Mexican Grill

Address: 7521 N 56th St Tampa, FL 33617

Website: TacoSon Mexican Grill

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 7am - 9pm (closed on Sun)

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4. Chiles Mexican Restaurant

Mexican Quesadilla
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user EmilioMV11 used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Are you looking for larger portions? Chiles Mexican Restaurant has all the portions you may want. Tacos, burritos, salads, and seafood are just some of the house dishes you can fill yourself with. The molcajete Chiles style is the featured dish on the menu and is definitely a must-try. After having a hearty meal, you can refresh yourself with local and imported beers. There is also a selection of wine you can enjoy.

Chiles Mexican Restaurant

Address: 3247 W Columbus Dr, Tampa, FL 33607, United States

Website: Chiles Mexican Restaurant

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

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5. Green Lemon

Best Mexican Restaurants In Tampa, Florida
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user jeffreyw used under CC BY 2.0

Green Lemon provides a modern Mexican dining experience. The location oozes contemporary design, with artworks, stylish decor, state-of-the-art cooking equipment, and multiple TVs. Choose from some uniquely named fiesta bowls such as the habanero beef, Bradley buster, ropa vieja, and pollo gigante. Their tacos also come in many flavors including tuna, shrimp, and chicken. The restaurant also has many vegetarian options such as the loco nachos, triple dip, cauliente, and taco rosa. A wide selection of drinks are served here, but their sangria, moscato wine, and the signature Green Lemon margarita are the most popular options.

Green Lemon

Address: 915 S Howard Ave Tampa, FL 33606

Website: Green Lemon

Opening hours: Sun - Mon, Wed - Thu: 11am - 10pm; Tue, Fri - Sat: 11am - 11pm

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6. Taco Bus

Seitan Tacos
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Vegan Feast Catering used under CC BY 2.0

When the taco bus rolls into town, get yourself ready to indulge! Selling out of an actual converted bus, Taco Bus offers some great tacos at affordable prices. Their twin Grande tacos are the deal of the day, with double the ingredients. Their stuffed quesadillas are also a hot seller here, alongside the tortas. Tostada, street corn, empanadas, and burritos are also available for you to dig into. Smaller kids portions are also sold here, with quesadillas and tacos being the main choices. Extra beans and rice are always available here. You can be sure of a satisfying meal here after the bus has rolled out.

Taco Bus

Address: 6501 West Hillsborough Avenue Tampa, FL 33634

Website: Taco Bus

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

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7. Bartaco Hyde Park

Churros
Source: Pexels

Located in an upscale shopping district, Bartaco does not compromise with the dining experience. All the fixtures and furniture here are designed to give a South American beach atmosphere, with white walls and pictures adding to the travel-oriented theme. The dishes here also have plenty of unique flavors such as a falafel taco, duck quesadilla, and ahi tuna bowls. More traditional dishes like pork tacos, empanadas, and roasted chicken are also served here. Sides like kimchi and black beans can add more variety to your meal. Churros are the main dessert here and are a great way to wrap up your meal at Bartaco.

Bartaco Hyde Park

Address: 1601 W Snow Ave, Tampa, FL 33606, United States

Website: Bartaco Hyde Park

Opening hours: Sun - Wed: 11am - 10pm; Thu - Sat: 11am - 11pm

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8. Los Comparres

Mexican
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user jeffreyw used under CC BY 2.0

Northwest Tampa has its own Mexican treat at Los Comparres, a food truck tucked neatly in a mall parking lot. The place is akin to a pop-up store, with plenty of sturdy wooden decks and tables for a comfortable dining experience. Affordable tacos are the main draw of this establishment, with 4 pieces sold for under 10 USD. Another dish you can try out is their popular ceviche, which is raw fish marinated in citrus, served with vegetables. Burritos, quesadillas, and ensaladas are some of the other delectable sides you can order. You can be hard-pressed to find cheaper and more delicious Mexican treats.

Los Comparres

Address: 5305 N Armenia Ave Tampa, FL 33614

Website: Los Comparres

Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 11am - 7pm (closed on Mon)

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9. Taqueria Emanuel

Mexican Salad with toasted tortilla strips
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user FranHogan used under CC BY-SA 4.0

For a more traditional Mexican dining experience, Taqueria Emanuel in Macfarlane Park is a popular destination. Even with their takeouts, they make sure that you can bring home fresh food. Out of their wide menu selection, the restaurant’s handmade tortillas are the favorites. To fill your tortilla or taco, you can choose from different kinds of meat such as beef, pork, chicken, and seafood, all prepared fresh from the kitchen. Toppings are also plentiful here, with mozzarella, tomatoes, and lettuce as some of the options. Sides like beans and guacamole can help complete your meal and make sure you leave with a smile on your face.

Taqueria Emanuel

Address: 2800 N MacDill Ave, Ste E Tampa, FL 33607

Website: Taqueria Emanuel

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9am - 9pm (closed on Sun)

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10. Xtreme Tacos

Tacos
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Koffermejia used under CC BY-SA 4.0

This food truck serves up a fusion of Mexican and American tastes the founders have pioneered themselves. You can try the Xtreme Taco, which is made from cabbage, sour cream, and some mozzarella cheese. Other Xtreme dishes you can try are the Xtreme sope, Xtreme quesadilla, and Xtreme bowl, all of which are just as unique as the tacos. A vegan menu is also available, along with a kids menu for those who need smaller and more manageable servings.

Xtreme Tacos

Address: 5609 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa FL 33604

Website: Xtreme Tacos

Opening hours: Tue, Fri - Sun: 5pm - 9:30pm (closed on Mon, Wed, and Thu)

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Explore Tampa, the hub for Mexican cuisine

There is no shortage of delectable Mexican delights here in Tampa. Many of these restaurants are geared towards tourists and adventurers. After you take in all the sunshine and beaches from the nearby shores the state prides itself in, you can definitely enjoy a meal at any of the best Mexican restaurants in Tampa, Florida.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Aly is an ever-curious wanderer who enjoys constantly learning and exploring the world. With more than five years of experience as a travel writer based in Manila, she enjoys writing about her...Read more

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