There may be no more impressive Mexican restaurant in Miami than this spot inside Icon Brickell with a front row seat of the Miami River. Go early, and you’ve got a waterfront view; show up later and you’re inside with lavishly high ceilings, ornate decorations, and a roving Mariachi band that supplies ample amounts of energy and class. The food is spectacular, with tacos filled octopus carnitas or sauteed ribeye plus inventive entrees like braised short ribs in agave demi glaze. But, fair warning, be sure to pack your wallet—if you’ve ever wanted to experience a $27 taco, you’ve arrived.
How to book: Reserve a table via OpenTable.
Sometimes nostalgia makes things seem better than they were, like when you go back to Chuck E. Cheese and realize what you ate at your fifth birthday party probably wasn’t even pizza. Not the case with Guadalajara, which was THE Mexican restaurant for anyone who grew up in the Palmetto school zone and still holds up today. It’s not just the family-friendly staff that makes it a destination for folks fresh out of their parents’ homes. It’s the deep red salsa that comes with a side of hot greasy chips. It’s the fresh guac that still tastes better than any hoity-toity tableside mumbo jumbo. And it’s the taco plates that still seem as enormous today as they did when you were in short pants. Cheap, unpretentious, and it registers as delicious in every part of your brain.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.
Purists might cringe at seeing a spot that describes itself as “inspired by the beach culture of Brazil” on a list of best Mexican restaurants, but we can’t omit a place that has what we’re not ashamed to admit are the absolute best margaritas in Miami. Here, they’re made with fresh-pressed juice as opposed to sticky-sweet syrups and mixes, as are all the cocktails on Bartaco’s menu. The drinks are the undisputed champs, but the tacos ain’t half bad, either. And though a falafel taco, cauliflower taco, and ahi-crusted tuna taco might not be everyone’s idea of Mexican food, culinary interpretation is irrelevant when they taste this good.
How to book: Reserve a table or join the waitlist via Bartaco’s app.
Sure, you might have to wade through an inevitable sea of sash-wearing tourists to get to your table atop the Moxy hotel’s breezy rooftop. But if you can manage to block out their perpetual celebration, you’ll find the best new Mexican restaurant in Miami. Not that anyone should be surprised—none other than Coyo’s Scott Linquist developed the menu here, a more upscale version of the beloved cuisine he peddles at street level. And when you’re enjoying aguachiles, ceviches, and tuna tostadas on a warm summer night gazing out over South Beach, nothing else will matter.
How to book: Reserve a table via OpenTable.
Slip down a fluorescent side hallway inside downtown’s Ingraham building and you’ll suddenly find yourself in the heart of Oaxaca, where a smoky, steamy taco shop is serving up insane food to those in the know. This literal hidden gem takes a little work to find, but the payoff is high: A laid back setting full of people who’d rather not be seen chowing down on koji sweet potato, peanut, and almond tacos or shrimp and potato flautas. These are the kind of inventive and unusual flavor profiles people come back from Mexico raving about, stashed away in downtown Miami.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.
You want luxurious touches like undented chairs and clean restrooms? Stay in Coral Gables, fancy man. You want the flat-out best grilled meat served on a tortilla anywhere in Dade County? Then hit this little storefront on Flagler, set just far enough from the touristy part of Little Havana to maintain its undeniably gritty charm. Taking down a plate of chicken or steak tacos while crammed inside one of this joint’s sticky booths remains one of the great Miami experiences. And while the digs are far from impressive, the grub will definitely impress your stomach—which is really all that matters, anyway.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served, extra-sticky seating.
Restaurants
Bars & Nightlife
Things to Do
Get Out of Town
More City Guides
Discover the best things to eat, drink, and do
with our expertly curated city guides.