America's Mexican fast food scene is constantly evolving. Though big chains like Taco Bell and Chipotle are still as popular as ever, more traditional restaurants – both old and new – are answering a call for more authentic menus and a wider choice of dishes. To help you in your quest for excellent Mexican food on the go, we've rounded up 38 of the best Mexican fast food restaurants across the country, from major chains to tiny food trucks.
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the most fantastic Mexican fast food restaurants the USA has to offer – counting down to the best of all.
We've based our ranking on the enduring popularity of each restaurant or chain, verified diner reviews, and on the opinions of our well-traveled (and well-fed) team. The list is unavoidably subjective.
Baja Fresh got its start in 1990, bringing fresh Mexican food to Newbury Park, California. Today, the chain still serves only the freshest food – but these days, it has more than 160 locations. Fans love the salsa bar; here, the likes of burritos and tacos can be topped with extras including salsa verde, mango salsa, and a sauce featuring no fewer than six chilies. Want the full works? Get your burrito and chips 'Enchilado style,' smothered with red chili sauce, melted Jack cheese, and sour cream.
The build-your-own options at Moe’s Southwest Grill make the East Coast chain an attractive prospect for anyone who likes to put their own spin on their fast food meal. Sirloin steak, adobo chicken, ground pork, and organic tofu are just some of the protein choices here; just add salad, cheese, and salsa for burritos, tacos, and quesadillas customized exactly to your taste.
While it might not be the most authentic eatery around, many of us got our first taste of Tex-Mex food at Taco Bell – so its influence shouldn't be taken lightly. These days, the mega-chain isn't only national, but international, bringing Mexican favorites to fast food lovers in countries around the world. The Crunchwrap Supreme, featuring a crunchy tostada shell, has to be its most famous item.
Those who put authenticity first may spurn it – but there’s no denying that if you want fast food that’s at least vaguely Mexican, Chipotle is one of the most accessible chains around. Alongside Taco Bell, this fast casual behemoth brought Mexican food to the American masses in the form of burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, and tacos. As with any large chain, people have strong opinions on the best item to order, but the carnitas burrito is a reliable favorite.
Salsarita's proudly declares that it's the home of ‘Mexican done right.' It may be a bold claim, but plenty of people will back it up. The counter service restaurant chain, which has locations from New York to Alabama, is a favorite among those who love fast, affordable Mexican food. One of its stand-out menu items is the Quesorito, a burrito blanketed in creamy queso. The nachos, also featuring the chain's delicious queso, are a big hit, too.
Jimboy's dates back to 1954, when founder Jim Knudson first decided to sell tacos from a trailer in Lake Tahoe. Today, the chain has multiple locations across California and Nevada – and its menu of signature tacos has expanded to include burritos, nachos, and more. For the perfect Tex-Mex combo, try the taco burger with cheese, pickles, tomatoes, special sauce, and lettuce; it comes on a stone-ground tortilla, all dusted with Parmesan.
Barberitos claims that everything at its restaurants is fresher, tastier, and all-around better than anywhere else. It’s a big boast, but the chain – which has restaurants in several Southern States (including Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida) – certainly has its supporters. Barberitos' choice of tortillas is a stand-out feature; you can pick from flour, wheat, chipotle, or spinach as the base for your fully loaded burrito or quesadilla.
Torchy’s Tacos started out as a single taco truck in Austin, Texas – but over the years, it's grown into a successful chain with over 120 locations in 14 states (and counting). The brand's menu is characterized by playful takes on Mexican favorites, including Trailer Park tacos: crispy fried chicken with green chiles, lettuce, pico de gallo, and Cheddar Jack cheese, served with poblano sauce. Not feeling the salad? You can ‘make it trashy’ by ditching the lettuce and getting melty queso instead.
Looking for something a little different from your regular burritos? A smaller chain, Dank Burrito – mostly based in North Carolina, but with outposts in South Carolina and Florida – has fun with flavor combinations and fusion cuisine. Exciting fillings include honey truffle Buffalo chicken, Cajun fried shrimp, cheesesteak, and roasted pork belly. With a choice of salsas and a side of chips, you really can’t go wrong.
Taco Palenque has been bringing authentic Mexican food to Texas since 1987. Still based in its home state, the company also ships food kits nationwide – so no matter where you are in the US, you can get a taste of its classic menu items, from tacos al pastor to flautas (fried corn tortillas stuffed with juicy stewed chicken). The brand prides itself on making fresh food for quick, quality meals.
Surcheros is proudly Tex-Mex, although the chain began in Georgia. Here, you can get your hands on nachos heaving with toppings, taco salad bowls, and chipotle ranch sauce. What customers love about this place is the endless customization possibilities; there's a list of toppings as long as your arm! Choose your main item, then add salad, beans, rice, salsa, sauces, and dressings to your heart’s content.
Succulent Mexican-style rotisserie chicken is the big draw at Californian chain Juan Pollo. Looking for a feast to feed the whole family? Try one of the joint's huge meals, which come with up to three whole chickens and three extra-large sides, plus salsas and tortillas. Eating alone? The standard chicken meals are plenty for one. Customers heap praise on the potato salad, saying it’s the tastiest side on the menu.
When it comes to Mexican fast food chains, there’s a reason El Pollo Loco stands out: it started out in Mexico. The same can’t be said of many other Mexican, Tex-Mex, and Cali-Mex chains. El Pollo Loco was founded in 1970s Sinaloa by Pancho Ochoa, who served grilled chicken with citrus, garlic, and spices (cooked to a family recipe). The restaurants still make fire-grilled chicken to order; you can get it in two, three, or four pieces, accompanied by beans, rice, and soft tortillas.
If you’ve ever wished for a crispier burrito, TacoTime is the place for you. Hand-rolled in flour tortillas, its crisp burritos are cooked until perfectly crunchy. Soft burritos are on the menu too, along with a broad selection of other Tex-Mex staples – including both crispy and soft tacos. Ready for dessert? The chain's Cinnamon Crustos (crispy flour tortillas dusted with cinnamon and sugar) would make a sweet finish to a quick and tasty meal.
This Tex-Mex restaurant does one big thing a little differently. Its ‘puffy’ taco shells are fried, so they puff up – making them crispy on the outside, and soft and pillowy on the inside. They're then filled with meat, salad, and cheese for a truly filling feast. Go for the carne guisada (slow-cooked beef in a richly spiced gravy) if you want something that’s not available at every fast food restaurant.
This Canadian burrito chain has made its way to the US – and it's set for rapid expansion. Currently, there are several Missouri locations, one restaurant in Dover, Delaware, and almost 100 restaurants in New Jersey alone. And although it's relatively new to the US, BurritoBar (known as BarBurrito in Canada) is already proving popular. Of course, burritos are the main draw, with fillings ranging from classic carnitas to fiery jerk chicken and bang bang shrimp.
Getting its start along the Jersey Shore, Bubbakoo’s Burritos has now expanded, with locations in Florida, Georgia, Ohio, and New York (amongst other states). The rapidly growing chain has a surfer attitude and a fusion menu, featuring delights like chicken tacos made with gochujang (a Korean fermented chili paste), General Tso’s chicken burritos, and Buffalo ranch crispy chicken quesadillas. Customers say the food is always fresh.
Fast food tacos, burritos, and quesadillas are a dime a dozen; tamales, however, are not so easy to find. Fortunately, in Indiana, The Tamale Place is meeting demand. The joint's tamales come in mild, spicy, sweet, and no-meat varieties, so you can get your hands on everything from chicken verde and chipotle beef versions to treats stuffed with apples and pecans. Looking at its shopping mall location, you'd never suspect this restaurant of having the best Mexican food in town – but it does.
Dallas-founded chain Velvet Taco is famed for its globally inspired flavors; here, you can get tacos filled with the likes of spicy tikka chicken, Nashville hot tofu, and Korean fried rice. For the traditionalists, options like pulled pork and chimichurri steak are slightly less adventurous (but no less tasty). The chain has started to expand outside of Texas, receiving a warm welcome in Miami, Chicago, and beyond.
Named one of James Beard’s America’s Classics, and with a spot in the Michelin Guide, La Taqueria serves Mission-style burritos: large rice-filled burritos originating from San Francisco’s very own Mission District. For more than 50 years, the restaurant has been slinging burritos, tacos, and quesadillas to lines of people that regularly snake out the door. The burritos are crispy and generously filled with meat (or beans), and customers say they’re still reliably tasty after all these years.
In the city of Smyrna, between Atlanta and Marietta, some of the best Mexican food in Georgia can be found. Taco T's authentic tacos come in soft and crunchy varieties, and the barbacoa and discada (a mix of grilled meats) are particularly popular choices for flavorful fillings. If you’re not in the mood for tacos, the sopes de asada – crunchy fried corn tortillas topped with tender grilled beef, beans, lettuce, cheese, and sour cream – are an excellent choice.
The tacos at Taquitos West Ave may be tiny, but they still come packed with flavor. You can expect a long line at this no-frills joint, which has the vibe of a converted auto shop. The setup is simple – get your tacos at the counter, take a seat, then flag down a member of staff to keep the tacos (or drinks) coming your way. When you’ve finished your meal, head to the register to pay. It’s a must-visit if you love authentic flavors; fillings include everything from chorizo to tripe and lengua (tongue).
With just two locations in Tucson, Aqui Con El Nene can’t really be called a chain – and it’s all the better for it. These two taqueria food trucks regularly receive rave reviews for their Sonoran-style fast food, including bacon-wrapped Sonoran hot dogs (a Mexican dish Arizona has adopted as its own). Get yours with a toasted bun and cheese, then head to the salsa bar to pile on the sauces.
Every burrito at Texas chain Cabo Bob’s starts with a fresh-pressed tortilla. Choose from buttermilk flour, cilantro tomatillo, ancho chili, or smoky Cheddar (with corresponding colors), fill your burrito with chicken, steak, pork, brisket, fish or veggies, then finish it off with toppings and sauces. While the burritos are the star of the show here, the fish tacos are great too, with beautifully crispy fish, chipotle crema, and mango pico de gallo.
Old favorites like birria tacos are tempting at Tacos Nayarit – but it'd be remiss not to explore what else is on the menu. Dishes such as gorditas (filled maize pancakes), sopes (fried shells piled with fillings), and chalupas (fried flour tortillas filled with meat and melted cheese) can’t be found at any of the big chains, but they're some of this spot's most delicious offerings. The restaurant scores points for authenticity, and the fast service gets positive reviews, too.
One of the top taco spots in the country according to Yelp, this tiny truck is renowned for its fresh fish tacos. Putting an Alaskan twist on Mexican food, it serves the catch of the day with plenty of zingy flavors. The freshest seafood – including shrimp, halibut, and oysters – ensures that the tacos (and other menu items) always taste fantastic. The eponymous Dave goes to great lengths to source ingredients sustainably, too.
Founded in San Diego, The Taco stand now has locations in California, Florida, Nevada, and Texas. Its seafood tacos are a must; spicy shrimp is a fan-favorite filling, while grilled pescado (mahi mahi) is popular, too. It’s also worth arriving early for the breakfast menu so you can get your hands on tasty dishes like pollo ranchero – chicken, rice, refried beans, and white onions served with cilantro, avocado, and a spicy tomato salsa ranchera.
Granny’s Tacos, which has two food truck locations in Austin, gives traditional Mexican flavors an update. Try your tacos with picadillo filling – juicy morsels of steak, diced rice, potato, green bell peppers, Jack cheese, and avocado – or get classic beef birria tacos, with a traditional consomé on the side for dipping. Customers say the food always comes out hot, plus the menu is impressive.
Taco Loco’s owners also own a Thai restaurant, which helps to explain some of the surprising flavors you can discover on its menu. You might find yourself deciding between fusion offerings like Thai sweet chili or jerk chicken tacos – or even eyeing up non-Mexican offerings such as potato curry with rotis. Thai, Caribbean, and Mexican flavors are all put to work here, and reviewers say that both the food and service are outstanding.
At Mike’s Red Tacos, which has two San Diego restaurants, you'll see Mexican food from a new angle. The usual fare of birria tacos and breakfast burritos is up for grabs, but how about a keto taco (served up in a cheese shell, without a tortilla) – or maybe beef birria ramen? The two birria taco combos are a big hit with customers, who say you absolutely must add the perfectly grilled bone marrow as a side.
Both a fast food joint and a butcher’s shop, Taqueria Aguascalientes is an unassuming eatery steeped in Hispanic culinary tradition. Serving staple Mexican dishes for decades, and making use of its very own meat, the taqueria has gained hordes of fans, who flock here for the most authentic food around. The gorditas receive high praise – the restaurant says these filled maize pancakes are ‘comfort food with a Hispanic twist.’ Sit yourself at the counter and be prepared to order in Spanish.
Expect your tacos to come fully loaded at El Super Taco, a casual Phoenix restaurant with a salsa bar that customers love. The menu is brimming with authentic Mexican dishes, including tacos, burritos, and tortas with asada, pastor, and carnitas fillings. Looking for something else? Try the salchipapas – thinly sliced beef sausage with fries and coleslaw – or go for the vampiros: tacos filled with meat and cheese, pressed, then grilled until deliciously crispy.
Los Tacos No. 1, with its seven NYC locations, is regularly named the top taqueria in the city. Each back-to-basics joint has an authentic menu of tacos, tostadas, quesadillas, and mulas (filled tortillas, folded in half, then toasted or fried). Mexican must-haves like carne asada and pollo asado are available, but if you're looking for something different, go for the nopal: grilled cactus. Get your dish con todo (with everything) and it will be topped with onions, cilantro, salsa, and guacamole.
It’s not necessarily the first place you’d look for amazing Mexican fast food, but Ames in Iowa is home to a food truck locals can’t get enough of. Rico’s Tacos has won multiple awards, picking up recognition as the best food truck, Mexican fast food joint, and burrito purveyor in the county. Its burritos, tacos, tamales, and tortas all get a lot of love, and the truck nails the usual lineup of meat fillings, from al pastor to chorizo. On colder days, customers can wait in their car – a buzzer will let them know when their order is ready.
T-Loc’s is the home of Sonoran hot dogs in Austin. These hot dogs are originally from the Mexican state of Sonora – but over time, they became part of Arizona's food culture. From there, T-Loc's brought them to Texas. Steamed hot dog buns are key, and the food truck imports them from Tucson to make sure they’re authentic. Other crucial elements are crispy bacon and three types of sauce: jalapeño, mustard, and mayo. Be sure to get yours con todo (with everything) for the full experience.
Mexican food isn’t all about the savory stuff; there are some tasty Mexican sweet treats too, from flan to conchas (sweet bread rolls). As you might guess from the name, this Las Vegas eatery is all about paletas – Mexican ice pops made with puréed fruit. The popular dessert shop also slings tres leches cakes, ice cream (with new flavors weekly), waffles, and sweet cornbread. The place is so popular that Yelp named it the number one Mexican spot in the US for 2024.
La Osita combines the painfully cool vibes of Portland with the humble but delicious flavors of Mexico. The food cart has a short but comprehensive menu, offering everything from vegan bowls to brunch tacos: corn tortillas piled with melted pepper Jack cheese, applewood bacon, a fried egg, pickled onion, pico de gallo, bell peppers and salsa. You can also get your caffeine fix with a Mexican twist here; the coffee menu features a latte de canella (spiced cinnamon latte) and a Mexican mocha with dark chocolate and Mexican spices.
The hidden gems are often the best, and you can’t get much more hidden than a food truck on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. If you’re not a resident, the journey here may be long, but it’ll be worth it when you feast your eyes on the joint's authentic tacos and burritos. Breakfast is served all day too, with a lineup of chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, and breakfast burritos − so you can start your day right, no matter what time zone you’re running on.