Finding meals that satisfy both my picky kids and me can be a challenge, but one staple that never fails to please us all is Mexican cuisine. We make it a tradition to visit our favorite local restaurants at least once a week, indulging in endless baskets of chips and salsas, flavorful cheese dip, mouthwatering tacos, sizzling fajitas, and an array of other delicious dishes. And don’t forget the margaritas!
Nashville boasts a vibrant Mexican community and dining culture, offering a diverse array of both authentic and inventive regional Mexican cuisine. The options are endless for indulging in the flavors of Mexico!
Best Mexican Restaurants Around Nashville
Saint Añejo
1120 McGavock Street, Nashville
Per the website: “Saint Añejo is M Street’s premier Mexican restaurant featuring inspired Mexican cuisine, Latin mixology, and a premium tequila + mezcal menu of over 120 labels. The menu showcases creative tacos, house-made guacamole, and regionally influenced chef specialties. Saint Añejo’s cocktail list features craft margaritas and Latin mixology classics constructed with premium spirits and unique, exotic flavor profiles.”
TEQUILA TUESDAY
Tuesdays — 4 pm – 10 pm
Half off tequila flights
Enjoy 2 oz pour of all tequila at a 1 oz value
HAPPY HOUR: Monday – Friday 2 pm – 6pm
Bakersfield
201 3rd Ave South, Nashville
Per the website: “Serving up authentic, Mexican street fare, and a selection of over 100 tequilas and American whiskeys. Bakersfield is a spot where the food is simple, the service is warm and the atmosphere is alive.”
Mas Tacos Por Favor
732 McFerrin Ave, Nashville
Featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives- Per Food Network” Mas Tacos por Favor started in a 1974 Winnebago and has since become one of Nashville’s favorite eateries, known and loved for serving scratch-made Mexican cuisine. Guy adored the holiday tamales and quinoa tacos. As for the pozole verde soup? He says, the “depth of the broth is ridiculous.”
Superica
605 Overton Street, Nashville
Superica is a Tex-Mex restaurant, try their brunch on Sundays from 10A-3P. Diners rave about their enchiladas, guacamole and jalapeño margaritas!
Las Palmas
9 locations across Nashville the area – see the full list here
Las Palmas is a Nashville staple and is one the first restaurants that I remember eating around town. Always consistent with their flavors, and great for the entire family.
Specials: Click here to sign up for their e-club for a free cheese dip.
Taco Tuesdays: 1/2 off all tacos Tuesdays from 5-8pm.
They proudly donate a percentage of sales from all purchases of the Kid’s Cheese Quesadilla to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
*Daily 15% discount for seniors (60+), 15% uniform discount (Active Military and Retired Military, Active Law Enforcement, Active EMT, and Active Firefighters in uniform or with current ID)
bartaco
2526 12th Avenue South, Nashville
100 Woodland Street, Nashville
Per the New York Times: “As a neighborhood drop in place for lunch, a casual supper or anything in between, bartaco is hard to beat.”
Per their website: “Born out of our love to give back to our communities, we are so excited to introduce our #givingtaco program where we bring new + unique flavors to your table through limited-time tacos while giving back to the communities we love. every #givingtaco purchase powers donations to organizations making a tangible difference in our neighborhoods — $1 from every #givingtaco sold is donated to a local organization.”
Taco Mamacita
1234 6th Avenue North, Nashville
Per their Facebook “Taco Mamacita is a “Fresh-Mex” restaurant specializing in funky-fusion tacos, Peruvian chicken, fresh made guacamole and amazing margaritas!”
Pancho & Lefty’s
2600 8th Avenue South, #109, Nashville
4501 Murphy Road, Nashville
Per the website: “Pancho & Lefty’s is known for the unmistakable flavor and gusto of modern Mexico combined with the Southern soul food of Nashville. But oddly enough, its roots are steeped in barbecue sauce. In 2017, Catharine and Will Newman, founders of Edley’s Bar-B-Que, were asked to bring the low and slow-smoked meats of Edley’s to downtown Nashville’s oldest building. The bad news? The space was too small to house their beloved barbecue eatery. The good news? The Newmans had another dream up their sleeve – a taco joint focused on tacos, beer, and tequila.”
Chuy’s
1901 Broadway, Nashville
163B Opry Mills Drive, Nashville
Chuy’s is a Tex-Mex chain that hails from Texas. It is worth adding Chuy’s to the list for the famous Creamy Jalapeño dip! I could make a meal of this and chips alone. Another favorite is the Chicka-Chicka Boom-Boom sauce (is you like spicy). Chuy’s never disappoints!
Rosepepper Cantina
1907 Eastland Ave, Nashville
Known for their famous quotes and sayings on their outdoor sign, Rosepepper has a lot more to boast about inside! Voted Best Margarita- “At Rosepepper, we skip the sour mix, use only the best ingredients, and handcraft each margarita, especially for you. No wonder we’ve been chosen Best Margarita by the Nashville Scene’s Readers’ Poll for the past 11 years!” I also highly recommend the flour chips and buffalo white queso dip!
Taco Mama
1612 21st Avenue South, Nashville
Per the website: “Traveling out West and to the Gulf Coast, we had seen those cool, hole-in-the-wall taco and burrito shops in California, Texas, and Florida; laid back, funky, fun taquerias with great tasting, fresh food, and a simple approach. Who doesn’t like tacos, burritos and nachos? To compliment the food, we wanted an extensive margarita menu, again with simple, fresh, straight forward ingredients but they had to be exceptional. That’s why we hand shake them to wake up the juices and serve them on the rocks. It all plays together: People, Food, Margaritas, and Atmosphere. It’s all important, and It’s all deliberate.”
Happy hour from 3:00pm to close includes half-price Mi Casa and Skinny margaritas, half-price singles, and half-price pitchers.
Blanco Cocina + Cantina
530 Broadway, Nashville
Per the website: “What is special about Blanco Cocina + Cantina? The laid-back party atmosphere, perfect for sipping the day away serves craveable dishes like Cheese Crisps (aka Mexican Pizza) and the Chimichanga – a Sonoran regional staple. In fact, Blanco will offer Chimichangas with decadent fillings such as short rib machaca or braised chicken. Other show-stealers include Tiger Shrimp Fajitas with spicy garlic butter, and tacos on handmade corn tortillas with Slow Cooked BBQ, roasted corn slaw, pickled onion, and crema fresca. Wash it all down with any of the house made margaritas, squeezed fresh all day long, like the Jalapeño & Pineapple Margarita with chile verde liqueur & habanero bitters or a Frozen Paloma with blood orange, grapefruit, and blanco tequila.”
El Fuego
3917 Gallatin Pike, Nashville
Nectar Urban Cantina
206 McGavock Pike, Nashville
Per the website: “Serving Mexican-inspired cuisine, fresh juices, craft cocktails, and locally roasted coffee, Nectar provides an immersive culinary experience in a fresh and casual environment. Our chef-curated menu incorporates seasonal items and focuses on providing fresh, healthy, and innovative dining experiences.”
Also, be sure and checkout the live music on the patio!
Ladybird Taco
2229 10th Avenue South, Nashville
2300 Riverside Drive, Suite 100, Nashville
Per the website: “We’re on a mission to enable a life-giving community by specializing in breakfast and lunch tacos. Modeled after the taco scene in Austin, Texas, Ladybird serves house-made tortillas, queso, salsa, and salads from fresh ingredients, alongside full barista service all day.”
As someone who frequents Austin for work and having been introduced to breakfast tacos, I would put this as a must try item!!
Cinco de Mayo
With multiple locations across Middle TN- you can check out the full list here.
Cinco de Mayo is another Nashville staple, opening in 2000. They are consistent with their food, and a great family atmosphere. They do provide daily specials- food and drink. The grilled chicken and cheesy rice is my favorite item here! And they always provide great service.
Taco Chela
3820 Charlotte Avenue, Ste 140B, Nashville
Food truck location: 413 Rep John Lewis Way S, Nashville
Per the website: “Taco Chela is a popular Mexican restaurant in Nashville, TN that has been winning over the hearts of locals and tourists alike with its delicious and authentic cuisine. Located in the trendy neighborhood of west Nashville and downtown Nashville, the restaurant is known for its bustling atmosphere and friendly staff. One of the things that makes Taco Chela stand out is its commitment to using fresh, high-quality ingredients in all of its dishes. From the tender and flavorful meats to the crisp and colorful vegetables, everything on the menu is prepared with care and attention to detail.”
Best known for tacos and margaritas!
Casa Fiesta
1111 Bell Road, Antioch
Per the website: “Since Casa Fiesta’s opening on November 15, 1993, we are so proud to have been serving the Metro Nashville area for a whopping 30 years! Although times have changed, and still are changing, we are glad to have remained true to our roots of providing delicious meals for anyone who walks through our doors- which pairs well with our famous margaritas that certainly have a strong kick to it! We hope to continue serving the Metro area for many years to come.”
People rave about their chips and salsa!
