Where to Find the Best Mexican Food in Boston Right Now
From Eastie pozole to North End tortas, Somerville tacos, and beyond.
Shredded pork tacos at Jose’s in Cambridge. Photo by Chelsea Kyle for “A Chef’s Guide to Mexican Food“
Snobs from Los Angeles or Austin may disagree, but Boston’s Mexican food scene is on fire–thanks to classic and adventurous spots serving everything from grilled ox-tongue quesadilla, to achiote-roasted salmon. You just have to know where to look. Here’s where to find some of our favorite joints. [Last updated: April 19, 2020]
Angela’s Cafe
This beloved pair of East Boston restaurants continues to serve some of the city’s best Mexican cuisine after the passing of chef-matriarch Ángela Atenco López earlier this year. Puebla-born López established and perfected the wide-ranging menu, which covers tostadas, tamales, tacos and more, but the place might be most famous for the mole poblano, made with a recipe passed down by Lopez’s mother. We’ve no doubt Angela’s will carry on that legacy of love for food and family.
131 Lexington St., East Boston, 617-567-4972; 1012 Bennington St., East Boston, 617-874-8251, angelascafeboston.com.
A pair of margaritas from Casa Romero. / Photo via Facebook
Casa Romero
Though it’s been around for 45-plus years, this Back Bay spot—accessed through an alley entrance—still feels like a hidden gem. You’re here for hearty entrees, like smoky chipotle and orange-marinated pork tenderloin, broiled stuffed shrimp with funky huitlacoche sauce—and a margarita, of course.
30 Gloucester St., Back Bay, Boston, 617-536-4341, casaromero.com.
Chilacates
It’s a testament to the quality of this Mexican street-food spot that it has grown to five locations (and counting) just four years after it debuted in Jamaica Plain. Carnitas burritos or picante chicken tinga are our go-tos, but try the soft and savory beef lengua tacos, or as enchiladas drenched in fresh salsa verde. Don’t overlook the cooler, stocked with house-made flan, and refreshing drinks like agua de jamaica and horchata.
224 Amory St., 617-522-6000; 658 Centre St., 617-522-4500, Jamaica Plain; 1482A Tremont St., Mission Hill, Roxbury, 617-238-5437; 275 Shawmut Ave., South End, Boston, 857-350-3292; 4257 Washington St., Roslindale, 617-477-9094; The Street, 33 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, 617-608-3356, chilacates.mx.
Citrus & Salt
At his Back Bay, restaurant chef Jason Santos—Gordon Ramsay’s new sous-slash-costar on Fox’s Hell’s Kitchen— is as traditional as you’d expect from the blue-haired toque. Which is to say, not very. Though inspired by the MexiCali cuisine of the Baja coast, Santos riffs away. The results include geographically confused but extremely delicious Nashville Hot tacos filled with fried chicken and Alabama-style white BBQ sauce; eggplant quesadillas with smoked cheese and tamarind syrup; and grilled street corn covered in Flamin’ Hot Cheetos crumbs. Salt-rimmed cocktails like the Mezcal- and passion fruit-filled “I Didn’t Text You, Tequila Did” are similarly irreverent.
142 East Berkeley St., Boston, 833-324-8787, citrusandsaltboston.com.
Photo courtesy of Cosmica
Cósmica
One of the newest Mexican restaurants in town, Cósmica opened inside the South End’s boutique Revolution Hotel just before the COVID-19 pandemic came crashing down. So if you haven’t had a chance to check it out, pull up a seat on the spacious patio, where chef Colton Coburn-Wood (who previously made a splash at Yellow Door Taqueria) offers up Cal-Mex cuisine with a focus on tacos and rice-and-bean bowls—from crispy haddock wrapped in a corn tortilla with pineapple jam and “umami bomb salsa,” to helpings of cheesy lamb quesadillas. Wash ’em down with boozy slushies, such as the frozen mango margarita.
40 Berkeley St., Boston, 617-313-7878, cosmicaboston.com.
El Centro
The Sonoran chef behind this South End-born favorite knows real carne asada. The tender beef is served a varieties of ways, always with fresh accompaniments, like roasted tomato salsa. Chef-owner Allen Rodriguez has since expanded his homestyle fare with a location in Dedham Square.
472 Shawmut Ave., Boston, 617-262-5708; 338 Washington St., Dedham, 781-461-6177; elcentroinboston.com.
Caramelos tacos at El Pelon Taqueria. / Photo by Chelsea Kyle for “Your Seven-Point Taco Crawl“
El Pelon Taquería
There’s a reason that crowds still line up at this pair of Mexican spots in Fenway and Brighton: Loaded Caramelos tacos (tender skirt steak with an ample dollop of guacamole) are a must-order, though Momofuku chef David Chang is partial to a burrito.
92 Peterborough St., Boston, 617-262-9090, 2197 Comm Ave., Brighton, 617-779-9090, elpelon.com.
Jose’s Mexican Restaurant
The Central Mexican cuisine at this vibrantly old-school spot truly satisfies, especially the balanced and spicy enmoladas (chicken mole). But we keep coming back for the huge and tasty margaritas.
131 Sherman St., Cambridge, 617-354-0335, josesmex.com.
Tacos at Loco. Photo provided
Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar
For obvious reasons, restaurants are a bit less boisterous at the moment, but this tequila-soaked hangout is still one of the most popular places in Southie’s twenty- and thirty-something social scene. Why? Probably has something to do with the nontraditional, funked-up food—like the “Chiquita banana French toast” with cinnamon creme anglaise, or fried Brussels sprouts covered in creamy avocado dressing—as well as the kicky cocktails: Try the Smokeshow, mezcal with yellow chartreuse and hibiscus syrup. To-go taco boxes and margarita kits, meanwhile, help us bring the party home.
412 W Broadway, South Boston, (617) 917-5626, locosouthboston.com.
Tacos at Lone Star Taco Bar. / Photo provided
Lone Star Taco Bar
Lone Star State expats Max Toste and Aaron Sanders created the Southern California-Texas-Mexican street food spot they wished to see in Boston. With Dallas spicy beef, smoky brisket barbacoa, jalapeño corn cakes, and house-made Mexican-style sausages, Allston and Cambridge are better for it. (Allston also has more elbow room for enjoying the splay, now that Lone Star Taco Bar has expanded into the former Deep Ellum bar space.)
479 Cambridge St., Allston, 617-782-TACO, 635 Cambridge St., East Cambridge, 857-285-6179, lonestar-boston.com.
The Painted Burro
Over in Somerville’s Davis Square, chef Joe Cassinelli’s take on Mexican food is a little out of the ordinary: You might spot garlic mojo- and avocado-doused street corn, or charred octopus tacos with toasted almond mole. Soon he’ll bring it all to Waltham, where a second Painted Burro is slated to open at 99 Third Ave., replacing Cassinelli’s Osteria Posta. In Brookline and the South End, meanwhile, you’ll find the sibling operation Burro Bar, which has laid-back bocadillas (small bites), more queso fundido options, and new ceviches.
219 Elm St., Davis Square, Cambridge, 617-776-0005, thepaintedburro.com; 1665 Beacon St., Washington Square, Brookline, 617-277-0427, 1357 Washington St., Boston, burrobarbrookline.com.
Rincón Mexicano
Chef-owner Lorenzo Reyes toiled in kitchens across the city for more than 20 years before opening his own restaurant in 2014. The family-run spot is cheap, friendly, fresh, and authentic. Try the pozole, the house molcajete, a mix of roasted beef, chicken, and shrimp with Oaxacan cactus; or just stick with a hefty taco trio in delicious house-made tortillas.
99 Broadway, Somerville, 617-776-1200, rinconmexicanosomerville.com.
Sabroso
Giant burritos are the reason the line is always so long at this Financial District lunch spot. We’re partial to the fresh shrimp. Guacamole comes standard, but pro tip: Ask for a drizzle of jalapeño ranch, too. The food truck company recently opened a second brick-and-mortar at Assembly Row, which also offers beer and wine.
2 Oliver St., Boston, 857-991-1015; 475 Revolution Dr., Somerville, sabrosotaqueria.com.
Taco Loco Mexican Grill
It’s been a counter-service go-to for more than two decades, thanks to right-priced delights like over-stuffed burritos, cheesy and fried flautas, perfectly chewy papusas, and chicken that is tender and juicy, no matter how it’s served.
46 Broadway, East Somerville, 617-625-3830, tacolocorestaurant.com.
Tacos from Taqueria El Amigo in Waltham. / Photography by Toan Trinh for “Cheap Eats in Boston from A to Z”
Taqueria El Amigo
This tiny spot is way off the beaten path, even for Waltham. But fruity al pastor pork tacos with arbol chili salsa—four come per order!—are worth the trek. There’s a surprisingly deeply-flavored cheese quesadilla, less-seen proteins like rich beef cheek, and chunky, fresh guacamole, too. Road trip incentive: This (previously cash-only) hidden gem now accepts plastic payment.
196 Willow St., Waltham, 781-642-7410.
Pozole at Taqueria Jalisco in East Boston. / Photo by Toan Trinh for “Cheap Eats in Boston from A to Z”
Taqueria Jalisco
Marinated carnitas tacos are a must at this low-frills Eastie mainstay, but don’t overlook traditional comforts, like the pozole rojo, a porky stew with hominy and vibrant red chilis.
293 Bennington St., East Boston, 617-567-6367, Facebook.
Tenoch torta. / Photo by PJ Couture for “Best Sandwiches in Boston“
Tenoch
There are mouth-watering tacos, tostadas, tamales, and other antojitos on the menu at this growing food truck and takeout empire, but the specialty is loaded tortas. Choriqueso, with Mexican sausage and gooey Oaxacan cheese; pescado; and pollo empanizado (fried chicken) are all unique delights. The sandwiches come on fresh telera bread with beans, avocado, and a slick of chipotle mayo. Looking for a more formal dining experience? Tenoch owners Alvaro and Andres Sandoval are opening a sit-down restaurant and tequila bar in Medford, called El Tacuba.
24 Riverside Ave., Medford, 781-395-2221, 382 Highland Ave., Davis Square, Somerville 617-764-1906, 3 Lewis St., North End, Boston, 617-248-9537, tenochmexican.com.
Tu y Yo
This longstanding Somerville spot is not your average taco joint—though they do offer an authentic grasshopper version. Try the camaron con pulpo (shrimp with octopus) with a smoky, garlicky mojillo sauce.
858 Broadway, Somerville, 617-623-5411, tuyyorestaurant.com.
Villa Mexico Cafe
Mexico City-style grilled burritos, unique black salsa, and house-made sweets (including free cookies on Fridays!) are great. But proprietor Julie King, aka Momma King, who first opened her homestyle takeout spot nearly 20 years ago in Woburn—and once operated it out of a Beacon Hill gas station—is a friendly professional who makes dining here a true joy.
121 Water St., Boston, 617-957-0725, villamexicocafe.us.
Yellow Door Taqueria
Street corn smothered with chipotle aioli and spices is the proper way to start any meal at this pair of Cal-Mex taquerias; once you’ve licked your chops clean, move on to house-made corn tortillas filled with chili barbecue duck, scallops with pickled jalapeño, or seasonal offerings like winter squash with cinnamon coconut crema. Margaritas, meanwhile, come in a host of flavors, from lime leaf and ginger to spiced pineapple—but all the cocktails are top-shelf: Be sure to sample the “Waking Up in Tijuana,” which offers roasted pecan- and butter-washed tequila with banana, cold brew coffee, cinnamon, and mole bitters.
345 Harrison Ave., Boston, 857-239-9276; 2297 Dorchester Ave., Boston, 857-267-4201, yellowdoortaqueria.com.
This post has been updated in April 2021.
