Mexican food is, how do we say this without being offensive … the fucking best. No, really. Tacos? Burritos? Margaritas?! Like, come on. Dip us in refried beans, slather us in salsa and guac and let us die in our happy place which might as well be this flavorful list of the best Mexican restaurants according to Yelp users. We get it. You probably have a favorite Mexican restaurant that you swear by. Well, so do these fine and very opinionated folks who sounded off on some of their favorite places to get their Mexican food fix. Sure, you’ll notice some popular places that just about everyone can agree on as being great (we’re looking at you Taqueria El Rey!) but thanks to Yelp users, we now have a mouth-watering list of places you might otherwise drive by without paying them any mind due to their nondescript, unassuming storefronts. What about taco trucks? Well, click through and see for yourself. But do not click while hungry. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

(For transparency,  this is an all-time list of the best Mexican restaurants in the greater Detroit area according to Yelp. We identified businesses in the restaurants and Mexican food categories, then ranked those spots using a number of factors including the total volume and ratings of reviews. All businesses were marked open on Yelp as of April 27, 2021. When available, all businesses on this list have a passing health score as of April 27, 2021.) 

25. Taqueria Alma 25343 Van Dyke Ave., Center Line; 586-393-1676; facebook.com/ironhorsero “It’s the best Mexican food in Michigan I’ve found. I moved back from LA and couldn’t find a good taco to save my life. Tamales are incredible, the salsa is homemade and the pico is so good too. I can’t decide what my favorite food is here but tacos are amazing and the wet burrito is amazing.” — Kaitlin S. on Yelp Photo via GoogleMaps
24. Iron Horse 316 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; 248-291-6313; facebook.com/ironhorsero “Chicken Enchiladas were amazing. Chicken and steak tacos were amazing. I’m sure all their food is good, but out favorite were the chicken tacos. They were the best I’ve had in Detroit.” — Lincoln E. on Yelp Photo via Iron Horse/Facebook
23. Beyond Borders 810 S. Main St., Plymouth; 734-259-8415; beyondbordersplymouth.com “Just ordered from here this morning it was sooo good I can’t believe I didn’t find this place sooner!!! I’m pissed I’ve even been wasting my time eating at other Mexican places. I got a vegan burrito and it had so many fresh vegetables in it and the ratio of beans, rice, veggies and other condiments was perfection. My husband loved his quesadilla too. Next meal we’ve had since the pandemic happened!! We will be back often!!” — Mira M. on Yelp Photo via Beyond Borders/Facebook
22. La Noria Bistro 5517 Michigan Ave., Detroit’ 313-338-3545; lanoriabistro.com “This spot is a hidden gem. The staff is so caring, thoughtful and spot on. It was my friends 21st birthday and our server made sure we had the best time and we didn’t have to ask for anything it’s like he could just read our minds! I loved their lights and big vintage garage doors. their drinks were good and they weren’t expensive drinks. The appetizers and main courses were amazing and fresh.” — Payton S. on Yelp Photo via Los La Noria Bistro/Facebook
21. O.W.L. 27302 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak; 248-808-6244; owlwoodward.com “Probably my favorite restaurant in the area! Every time I come here, I order the tacos of the day and I am always impressed with them! The flavor is always impeccable and the fries are always great as well. I stop by a lot of late-nights and I plan to do so in the future!” — Vic S. on Yelp Photo via GoogleMaps
20. Barrio Cocina y Tequileria 555 Forest Ave., Plymouth; 734-738-6754; barrioplymouth.com “This was our first time here. We made reservations online which was very convenient! Clear social distance was observed. The restaurant looks very clean and we felt comfortable. The food and drinks were EXCELLENT!!!! I could taste every ingredient; everything was so fresh. My fiancé has now denounced his previous favorite Mexican spot.” — Jameta B. on Yelp Photo via GoogleMaps
19. Burrito Express Mexican Grill 19288 Eureka Rd., Southgate; 734-785-8447; facebook.com/burritoexpressmexgrill “I would have never noticed this place that I pass by everyday if it was not for finding it on Yelp. Super clean, friendly little spot. I’ve only had the super taco and street taco with ground beef. Street taco is my favorite. However they season that ground beef is just the best! It’s simply that good. Look forward to trying other items.” — Bernard H. on Yelp Photo via GoogleMaps
18. Los Dos Amigos 7115 Parkwood St., Detroit; 313-218-3360; facebook.com/losdosamigostacotruckdetroit “I’m going to make this short and sweet. Hands down the best Mexican food truck I have ever experienced. The family that runs this truck is so nice. The pricing is well worth it and the location makes for a unique experience.” — Jillian L. on Yelp Photo via Los Dos Amigos Taco Truck Detroit/Facebook
17. Amigos Street Tacos 5823 17 Mile Rd., Sterling Heights; 313-429-9090; facebook.com/tacos333 “This place is the bomb.com! I only have a few authentic Mexican places I go to and have found a new one to add to the list. I got the birria tacos and they were phenomenal. Very crispy shells which is impressive since I got a carry out. The sauce was very flavorful as well. I’m a big fan of their chips. They’re definitely made in house. They’re crisp, it’s a pinch of salt. I asked for the hottest salsa when I called the order in and it didn’t disappoint. It’s green and has just the right amount of heat. The guacamole is amazing. They are able to do elote on the cob or in a cup. I got it in a cup and it’s so tasty. I drove from Royal Oak to come here and it was well worth it! Once I got there, I saw they had tamales. I got pork but haven’t tried them yet. Even though I am very certain they will be as good as everything else!” — Ashley C. on Yelp Photo via Amigos Street Tacos/Facebook
16. Las Cazuelas Grill 4122 Oakwood, Melvindale; 313-406-9712; lascazuelasgrill.net “Oh M Gee! This food is amazeballs! I really didn’t know that I could find good authentic Mexican food outside of Mexican Village. So glad I stumbled across this place. I didn’t want to drive all the way downtown/southwest side for my hankering of tacos. So I searched for Mexican near me and this lovely jewel popped up! Boy am I so glad it did. I absolutely enjoyed every morsel of my food. I didn’t offer to share with my husband and he didn’t offer to share with me either! The only time we talked during our carryout meal was to say how good the food was! I’m going to be back and I advise you to make a trip to Las Cazuelas Grill as well. You definitely won’t be disappointed.” — Erika S. on Yelp Photo via GoogleMaps
15. Mexico City Restaurant 32500 Van Dyke Ave., Warren; 586-883-9391; mexicocityrestaurants.com “This restaurant has got to have some of the best Mexican food I’ve had in the area! When you look at the menu, it is a bit pricey, but for the food you get and how much you get it’s SO worth it. Their salsas and guacamole are so good. It was pretty busy when I went in last night so I think many other people could attest to how good it is. All the staff was so kind and sweet, I will definitely have to go back!” — Leah B. on Yelp Photo via GoogleMaps
14. Juan Migel’s 21342 Hall Rd., Clinton Twp.; 586-783-9751; juanmigels.com “Seriously, the BEST! Long time, very PICKY customers here who thoroughly enjoy an all around good experience. The quality and flavor is always perfect and the service is always top notch. If I were on death row and had to pick my last meal, it would be their chicken tortilla soup, a deep fried ground beef taco, a hungry burro burrito (add verde sauce and extra cheese) accompanied by their chips and salsa. Any time we have had ANY issues (which is super rare), Kevin and Paul have ALWAYS gone above and beyond to make it right! Tonight was a great evening fixed by the attentiveness and graciousness of staff and owners combined! This is why we don’t go anywhere else! Give it a try, you won’t be disappointed!” — Caitlin Z. on Yelp Photo via GoogleMaps
13. Buena Fe Restaurant 10116 W. Nine Mile Rd., Oak Park; 248-677-3222; mexicanrestaurantoakpark.com “This place is still SOOOOOOOOO AMAZING! We’re not even done with dinner and I had to update my review. Best al pastor tacos we’ve ever had. Insanely delicious. I could eat the bean and cheese pupusas almost every day! Even the beans and rice are excellent enough to make a meal on their own. We love all of their sauces too. We’ve tried tons of stuff on the menu and everything is tasty and we’d for sure order all of the items again. The family that owns and runs Buena Fe is so lovely, charming, polite and sweet too. Just a great place with super pleasant and wonderful service and incredible food to match. It feels covid safe whether dining in or getting carryout. Can’t say enough about how much we love and appreciate Buena Fe.” — Jen M. on Yelp Photo via GoogleMaps
12. Senoritas Mexican Food 48850 Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Twp.; 586-251-2142; senoritasmexfood.com “Discovered this place a few months ago and I felt like I won the lottery of Mexican food. The staff is friendly, their tacos and enchiladas are out of this world but the best part is their consistency to always satisfy. I highly recommend a visit to Senoritas but let it be known that once you try it you’ll never want to get Mexican food anywhere else.” — Tracy A. on Yelp Photo via Senoritas Mexican Food/Facebook
11. Pancho’s Tacos and Meat Shop 47752 W. Pontiac Trail, Wixom; 248-956-7828; panchostacosandmeats.com “We love Pancho’s for their carne asada tacos or to pick up salsa and meat to take home and make our own! We moved from Chicago last year and miss the authentic eats that we would get there, so when we discovered Pancho’s we were in love! The food is fresh, delicious and very authentic.” — Cindy S. on Yelp Photo via GoogleMaps
10. La Tiendita Mexican Market 5975 N. Wayne Rd., Westland.; 734-722-4215; facebook.com/LaTienditaMexicanMarket “Best tacos in the area, hands down. We ate inside the market and it was totally comfortable doing so. The meat was super fresh! You can tell by how the delicate tacos just melted in our mouths. I ordered a chicken taco, al pastor, and Asada. They were all equally delicious, but the pastor was my favorite! We ordered chips and salsa, which reminded me of vacationing in Acapulco, so delicious! Washed it down with a Mexican Coke from the store. I love how it is set up. We will be back! You must try, you won’t be disappointed!!” — Kitty K. on Yelp Photo via GoogleMaps
9. Alchile Mexican Grill 6283 Haggerty Rd., West Bloomfield Twp.; 248-956-9142; alchilemexicangrill.com “WOW WOW WOW – I almost don’t know what to say. Their food is absolutely incredible, the woman who took my order was incredibly kind I would give them a 10000/5 if I could! AMAZING!” — Iva M. on Yelp Photo via Alchile Mexican Grill/Facebook
8. Carnival Market 1101 E. Walton Blvd., Pontiac; 248-276-0500; carnival-market.com “This place is close to me and while I always saw it in passing it was the high reviews on Yelp that really convinced me to come on in and explore the place and try the food! When I got there it was a lot bigger than expected and it was a huge market that had various things including various Mexican grocery goods. After walking around a bit I went straight to the food area as I was excited to try some of their food. I ended up ordering the Carne Asada Fries and a Carne Asada Burrito combo for myself. Everyone I interacted with at the store was kind and I appreciate the level of service that they provided. The food came out pretty quickly too even tho they were a little busy. You can watch all the workers working hard to put all the food together! Once I got home the food looked great and I was very happy with the taste! One little critique I had was that the burrito had a little too much lettuce but it was a minor issue. The carne asada was nice and tender. The tortilla was delicious and the fries were crispy. They also have a salsa bar which had a good variety of excellent salsa. I am very happy with this hidden gem that I found and I am excited to return and try some of the other items on their menu.” — Mark B. on Yelp Photo via GoogleMaps
7. Mor Tacos 2442 Franklin Rd., Bloomfield Twp.; 248-481-9650; tacosofthefuture.wixsite.com “Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. And Fresh. Everything is made in house with few and simple ingredients. I’ve tried everything on the menu, I absolutely love everything I’ve eaten. The steak taco with green goddess salsa is my favorite though.On top of the food, the owner is a very nice dude. Highly recommend” — Josh G. on Yelp Photo via GoogleMaps
6. Taco Tienda Mexicana 31642 John R., Madison Heights; 248-589-1607; facebook.com/Tutacotiendamexicama “Craving authentic Mexican? Stop what you’re doing and order now! My husband and I ordered for the first time tonight. We ordered six tacos, two of each of the carne asada, chorizo, and al pastor. From the tortilla to the meat, to the onion and cilantro on top–they were GOOD! My husband’s favorite was the chorizo and I loved the al pastor. We also got an order of the chips and salsa, rice and beans. I loved the salsa as it had a slight bit of heat and was very fresh. Our order also came with two sides of hot sauce to top the tacos. All of this was less than $20 and so filling! Service was impeccable (especially now during quarantine). All of the staff was friendly and the shop was set up safely to pick up your order. We will be ordering again and hopefully can dine in at some point too!” — Kim T. on Yelp Photo via GoogleMaps
5. Galindo’s A Taste of Mexico 13754 Fort St., Southgate; 734-324-1141;
4. El Taco Veloz 4614 Second Ave., Detroit; 313-315-3193 “El Taco Veloz is my go-to taco joint when I make a pit stop at Marcus Market. Their customer service is wonderful and the prices are very reasonable. The street-style tacos here hit the spot when you need to grab a quick bite for the road. The meats are always tender and juicy, while the tortilla is still hot from the grill. For me, the most important part is they don’t overdo the onions and cilantro! When you bite into a taco, you get a proper balance of meats, tortilla, and veggies. I also love how they include the sauces on the side and even some greens to complement your meal. My faves include Al Pastor, Chorizo, and any of their Quesadillas (SO CHEESY AND SCRUMPTIOUS!!). You know this spot is authentic because their meat options also include Tripa and Cabeza! Can’t wait to come back.” — Virginia L. on Yelp Photo via Marcus Market/Facebook
3. Taqueria El Rey 4730 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-357-3094; facebook.com/Taqueria-El-Rey “This little place is a gem, where the locals go. If you want uppity don’t come here. If you enjoy ethnic eateries then you will love this spot. In the heart of Mexicantown, we both ordered the Carne Asada Burrito. This is one of the best burritos I’ve had north of the Mexican border. It comes with the usual beans, rice, lettuce, etc., but it’s gotta be some special recipe as it was delicious. This will be my go-to spot for Mexican food from now on. I don’t drink but I saw they have Margaritas and other mixed drinks as well. Gracias “El Rey”, nos veremos de nuevo muy pronto!” — Edward C. on Yelp Photo via Taqueria El Rey/Facebook
2. La Torre Taqueria 1525 Washtenaw Ave, Ypsilanti; 734-905-7220; facebook.com/LaTorreTaqueria “These are hands down the BEST authentic tacos in Ann Arbor — even better than any tacos I had out in Vegas/Joshua Tree/Death Valley. I’d heard from others that Tmaz Taqueria or Chela’s had the best authentic tacos in AA, but they both paled in comparison to La Torre. (Note: when I say “authentic,” I mean the classic Mexican tacos with a meat, cilantro, and diced onions. These aren’t those ~fusion~ tacos you can get from Isalita, TAQ, or Cantina — although I will say Cantina has the best taco Tuesday that is totally slept on) In an unassuming plaza next to a sex shop, La Torre is a no-frills restaurant with only a few tables for dine-in seating. You can order the tacos individually, which I love, because I love trying different meats! I got the shrimp, fish, and pastor. All of them were delicious, but the pastor was the clear winner! Yummm. Make sure you give your tacos a healthy squeeze of lime and lay on the red and green sauces, if you can handle spice. I’m not sure what the sauces are, but they are sooo good and definitely elevate the tacos. I brought my friend some chicken tacos for take-out, because she LOVES La Torre, and they were still tasty even when they were cold! Those sauces are a total game-changer. These tacos are definitely on the top of my list for best tacos EVER!” — Ashley Z. on Yelp Photo via GoogleMaps Credit: Photo via GoogleMaps
1. Las Tortugas Taqueria Market 40850 Van Dyke Ave., Sterling Heights; 586-554-7581; facebook.com/LasTortugasShelby “This restaurant has an excellent menu, and every single item on it is perfectly rendered and absolutely delicious! I truly think that their food is real Mexican food, with an eye to American preferences if you wish. Their mixed drinks and cocktails are positively scrumptious, the staff are all extremely friendly very knowledgeable about the menu, and have genuinely great recommendations. If you have not treated yourself to this, please do. This restaurant is a rare gem in a huge field of lesser restaurants that don’t have the real taste of true Mexican food. It’s delicious and actually quite good for you! Your experience will likely be like mine, every single time I have gone I have had a wonderful experience. I think that anybody could go in there and be quite happily fed and return again.” — Torie T. on Yelp Photo via Las Tortugas Shelby/Facebook

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