Mexican Restaurants in Boston

I have been doing a lot of research for this post, and hopefully by the end of it you have a good understanding of the Boston Mexican restaurant scene. I will try to update this article as I eat at more restaurants to give you a more comprehensive list.

The Taqueria’s

In no particular order, here are the taquerias I have visited.

1. Amelia’s Taqueria

LOCATIONS: Northeastern (Huntington Ave.), Berklee (Boylston St.)

NOTES: Consistently good, quick food and a lot of bang for your buck.

VIBE: Casual, can get pretty busy on weekends and at night. They always play the music a little bit too loud, but I think it adds to the charm. They move through the assembly line pretty quick and it can be intimidating at first, but just go with your gut and you’ll be ok.

WHAT TO GET: Burritos, Bowls, Quesadillas (not your typical quesadilla: it’s more like a toasted burrito), Plantains, Spicy Chicken, Roasted Veggies

RATING: 8.5/10

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2. Anna’s Taqueria

LOCATIONS: Prudential, MIT, Davis Square, many others

NOTES: Very cheap, but not my favorite.

VIBE: Casual, sometimes the inside of the restaurant is not the cleanest.

WHAT TO GET: I think they have a pretty standard selection of meats and veggies. I would personally stick to their spicy chicken. It is pretty good. I honestly have not tried many of their options, but find that they lack seasoning in most of their dishes.

RATING: 4.1/10

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3. Felipe’s Taqueria

LOCATIONS: Harvard Square

NOTES: So.freaking.good. I end up going to Felipe’s a couple times a semester even though there are so many other great options in Harvard Square. For the price, convenience and flavor, not a lot of things can beat a Felipe’s burrito.

VIBE: Super casual, lots of seating and overall good vibes.

WHAT TO GET: Felipe’s has the best spicy chicken in my opinion. Their burritos are also the perfect size. I have also tried their churros and would recommend them to everyone. They also have really interesting pickled vegetables that are next to the water filler. I would recommend trying those out.

RATING: 9.2/10

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4. El Pelon Taqueria

LOCATIONS: Fenway area (Peterborough St.)

NOTES: Small, quick, friendly and always a hefty burrito

VIBE: For a quick bite, a nice place to meet up with friends and eat a burrito. In the summer there is outdoor seating which is wonderful.

WHAT TO GET: I love their El Guapo burrito. It comes with plantains. I have also had their shrimp burrito which is pretty good. They don’t have a classic build your own style setup which can be a little intimidating, but everything is very customizable. They also have a great punch card which can get you a free burrito. This was really nice while I was working close-by.

RATING: 8.9/10

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The Restaurant’s

Also in no particular order.

1. Border Cafe

LOCATIONS: Harvard Square, Burlington Mall area

NOTES: Tex-Mex at its best with huge portions.

VIBE: I love their Harvard Square location. The downstairs area is very much a watering hole, and I’ve always had fun there. It’s a great place to bring large groups of people because they have a pretty good turnaround time. Super casual and welcoming ambiance.

WHAT TO GET: I’m not even kidding everything on this menu is wonderful. I really love their quesadillas. They last 2–3 meals. I have had their cajun jambalaya which is very good. Their margaritas are also very good. I had the strawberry margarita and really enjoyed it. It is super fruity and you really can’t taste the alcohol. They also have amazing chips and salsa while you wait.

RATING: 9.2/10

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2. Naco Taco

LOCATIONS: Kendall Square (Mass Ave), Food Truck (Newbury St.)

NOTES: One of my favorite places in Boston to sit down and enjoy a meal.

VIBE: They have a really nice outdoor patio with lights in the summer. The inside of the restaurant is also very well decorated with funky art and good music always playing.

WHAT TO GET: I love their street corn as an appetizer. It comes off the cob mixed with cheese and seasoned with traditional spices. I am a big fan of their tacos al pastor. My brother loves the chorizo tacos. I have also heard great things about the tofu tacos and steak tacos as well. Their shrimp tacos are pretty good as well. So basically everything is great. I have tried their regular and spicy margaritas. I personally prefer the regular margarita, and appreciate that it can come by the pitcher. Their red sangria has a wonderful balance of fruit and wine. Their food truck on Newbury has a nice option of getting 3 tacos and an appetizer for around $9. Their prices in generally are pretty affordable and the service is always quick. (2–3 tacos is usually plenty).

RATING: 9.4/10

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3. Bar Taco

LOCATIONS: Seaport (Thompson Pl.)

NOTES: Good food for the price, and a lot of interesting drinks. The food was very slow to come out the time I went, but this isn’t usually the case.

VIBE: Very cute decor and casual vibes. There are a lot of big tables for larger parties. They have a very good indoor/outdoor balance throughout the restaurant.

WHAT TO GET: I had the pork taco, falafel taco and swordfish taco. I liked them all, but I definitely would recommend the swordfish taco. Three tacos were very filling with a drink. The tacos are $2–3 dollars which is really great. They also have a very interesting way of ordering food that is very interactive. Each party writes down their order and can continually order throughout the night. I also had their classic margarita which was very good. I would recommend trying something else from their menu, as they have a very diverse option of drinks.

RATING: 7.5/10

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4. Citrus & Salt

LOCATIONS: Downtown Boston

NOTES: A very cute, instagram-worthy date.

VIBE: Citrus & Salt is a bit of a fancier experience. It is obvious that they put a lot of time and effort into each of their dishes as well as decor. I think it is a great brunch spot if you are looking to try something new. Definitely reserve, as it is a pretty popular spot.

WHAT TO GET: Their menu rotates pretty frequently, but I would really recommend their tacos as well as their biscuits. The biscuits are a spin on the traditional biscuits you would get at a southern restaurant. Their dole whip is excellent as well as their soft serve mimosas.

RATING: 8.4/10

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I hope to be adding to this list! I have a couple more restaurants I’d like to review :)