Las Vegas is not short of the best Mexican Restaurants in the world. Regardless of the season, you will not miss any Mexican delicacy in the big Nevada City. However, which ones are indeed the best in the region? Does it even matter which Mexican Restaurant you visit in Las Vegas?
It is hard for the common folk to tell the difference between good Mexican restaurants and bad ones. The menus are usually filled with items made to look like authentic Mexican cuisines when they are Americanized Mexican foods. You will need our expert-level knowledge to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Our top 10 best Mexican Restaurants in Las Vegas list will highlight a few things you must consider before visiting a Mexican restaurant. It will also stress the best Mexican joints in Las Vegas, whether on the Strip, near it, or in Downtown Las Vegas.
Remember that these restaurants are subject to closure or relocation; therefore, ensure you check in with the included contact information for any current updates.
What Makes for a Great Mexican Restaurant?
Fake Mexican restaurants are in plenty. There is no region with multiple Mexican restaurants that will miss a fake. So, what do we mean by a fake Mexican Restaurant? A fake Mexican restaurant serves Americanized versions of the same Mexican food. They are a knock-off of the real thing, made to resemble and give you the same experience without the correct taste or ingredients.
The sad part about the knock-off menus is that it can be pretty hard to identify them since fake restaurants may sometimes call themselves authentic. Here are the few signs you want to keep an eye on for you to specify an Americanized Mexican restaurant:
- The menu includes fajitas – Contrary to popular belief, fajitas aren’t authentic Mexican foods. Fajitas are believed to have come from Texas in the 1930s. The meal began as a payment method to Mexican cowboys from Americans who butchered cattle to make the dish. Fajitas can therefore be referred to as a Tex-Mex dish at best.
- The menu doesn’t have corn tortillas – Corn tortillas are stapled Mexican dishes that will most likely not be present in an Americanized Mexican restaurant. The fake ones will usually have flour tortillas instead to provide a similar experience without the authenticity.
Moreover, if the tortillas do not taste fresh, then beware. Fresh corn tortillas should not feel rubbery or store-bought. The corn tortillas are usually made fresh or bought from an authentic tortilla.
- The menu only has one salsa – The bare minimum in a real Mexican restaurant when it comes to salsa is the option of red and green salsa. Most authentic places will have more than the two but watch out for those with just one.
- A lot of random Spanish dishes – Menus with items like Mucho Taco Grande and Ole Burrito are not to be easily trusted. These restaurants aim to use words that will make every dish sound Mexican, which is a red flag. Actual Mexican joints will have real Mexican food names that won’t be confusing or feel exaggerated.
- Tacos look like salad and have a lot of cheese – A lot of cheese is a sign of an Americanized Mexican restaurant. Mexican places will use small portions of cheese to add flavor; moreover, if the taco looks like a salad with lettuce and tomato, it is not a real taco.
- Lack of cilantro on the menu – There are no Mexican menus without cilantro. It is the staple item in the Mexican food list that originated from Spain to Mexico long ago. It is present in many meals, including tacos and enchiladas.
- Tacos can be bought in hard shells or other non–taco forms – Real Mexican tacos are made of corn tortillas, have soft shells, and are filled with onions and cilantro. Yes, there are variations, but anything that does not include the above items does not count as an authentic Mexican taco.
These are just a few things to look out for. Other considerations may include too many decorations that try to portray the Mexican culture, American items such as chips on the menu, and American drinks such as American Coke or Pepsi.
Best Mexican Restaurants in Las Vegas
1. Border Grill – Mandalay Bay
- Address: 3950 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119 at the Strip
- Hours: 11 am to 10 pm from Monday to Friday and 10 am to 10 pm from Saturday to Sunday
- Website menu: Border Grill
- Phone: (7020) 632-7403
Border Grill at Mandalay Bay is one of the most popular places to dine on the Strip. The restaurant includes catering for celebrations, party on wheels trucks for private events like weddings and birthdays, and dine-in. It serves modern Mexican foods made by Chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger.
Border Grill started as one of the first regional Mexican cooking restaurants in 1985. Cooks inspire the dishes in the hotel from Oaxaca to Mexico City, Yucatan coast, Tijuana, and Baja coasts. The Chefs, Mary, and Susan are award-winning curators who have played a huge role in popularizing Mexican cuisines.
Their menu includes tacos made of hand-pressed corn tortillas with organic rice and black beans. The shared lunch includes border guacamole, queso fundido, green corn tamales, plantain empanadas, and tortilla soup. The tortas include chicken poblano torta, Mexico City Torta, and Chile Relleno burger.
Another plus at the Border Grill is the Vegan Dining month menu. The menu includes plant-based and meat-free options served during the first month of each year. Part of the proceeds from the month is happily donated to the Churchill Foundation, which helps support all breeds. The dessert option for the vegan month is apple pie, and the entrees include meat nachos, wild mushroom tacos, and smoked tofu enchiladas.
2. El Dorado Cantina
- Address: 3025 Sammy Davis Jr Dr Las Vegas, NV 89109
- Hours: Open every day for 24 hours
- Website menu: El Dorado Cantina
- Phone: (725) 208 – 1903 (Southwest), (702) 333-1112 (Tivoli Village), and (702) 722-2289(The Strip)
El Dorado Cantina is an authentic Mexican cuisine restaurant with several locations in Las Vegas, the main one being The Strip. Its most praised dishes include street tacos, carne asada burritos, chicken enchiladas, and pulled chicken burritos.
The restaurant was opened in 2014 and has received many awards and accolades, such as the 2018 Best Mexican Restaurant in Las Vegas from the Las Vegas Review-Journal. All the foods are made fresh daily without the need for canned products or the use of microwaves. This helps the customers eat dishes with all the nutrients intact for a better Mexican food experience.
The Las Vegas strip menu includes vegan, vegetarian, gluten-friendly, and spicy options. You will find the tableside guacamole for just $18, chicken taquitos for $13.50, and beef taquitos for $15. The signature tacos include the likes of filet mignon, which comes with two tender prime filet tacos, house-made chimichurri sauce, micro cilantro, and crispy onion. Other tacos include lobster taco, grilled Mahi, shrimp taco, crispy fish taco, and lettuce wraps.
3. Javier’s
- Address: 3730 Las Vegas Blvd S at the Strip in ARIA resort and casino
- Hours: Monday to Sunday from 11:30 am to 12 am.
- Website menu: Javier’s
- Phone: (866) 590-3637
Javier’s Mexican restaurant is located at the ARIA resort and casino in City Center. The authentic Mexican restaurant is self-proclaimed to provide you with the most refined foods in Mexico. Javier’s is popular throughout the US, with its Southern California locations being the most visited and praised.
The Las Vegas location has one of the largest selections of fine tequilas and consists of the main dining room, al fresco patios, a bar, and a few intimate and private dining rooms. Enter the premises to have fun with hand-shaken margaritas, craft cocktails, and several selections of fine wine.
Javier’s only uses sustainable seafood to make dishes like the Camarones Al Mojo De Ajo, Carlitos Mazatlan (fresh wild scallops), enchiladas pueblo, Camarones con rajas, and Salmon Al Sarten. The salads on the menu include the house salad with house ranch dressing, Javier’s Special house salad with shaved parmesan, enslada de Asada, and Javier’s Chopped salad with fresh greens cucumbers, avocado, roasted corn, tomatoes, and champagne vinaigrette.
4. Juan’s Flaming Fajitas & Cantina
- Address: 9640 W Tropicana Ste 101, Las Vegas
- Hours: Friday to Saturday from 11 am to 10 pm, Sunday from 11 am to 9 pm, Tuesday from 3 pm to 9 pm, and Wednesday to Thursday from 11 am to 9 pm.
- Website menu: Juan’s
- Phone: (702) 823-1400
The inspiration that led to the development and progress of Juan’s Flaming Fajitas and Cantina came from traditional Mexican cuisines. These dishes include Carnitas, Chile Rellenos, Enchiladas de Mole, and the beloved fajitas. Their menu consists of vegan foods, vegetarian, marinated meats, and lots of authentic Mexican desserts.
The dinner menu is served daily and after 3 pm on the weekdays. The dinner options are vast, with appetizers like the Quesadilla, Queso fundido, Queso Dip, Shrimp cocktail, and taquitos rancherito. The Ensaladas include grilled vegetable salad, shrimp ceviche salad, taco salad, and the JFFC’s salad which comes with your choice of chopped Pollo Asado or steak with rice and beans, or seasoned steamed vegetables filled with mixed greens.
The lunch menu consists of a lunch drink for $2.49 and a lunch margarita special of 12 oz for $4.29. The appetizers and salads are similar to the dinner menu. The flaming lunch fajitas come with grilled onions and bell peppers garnished with sour cream. The fajitas are also categorized into different lists depending on your meat/non-meat preference: vegetarian for $10.99, chicken for $11.49, pork for $12.29, and shrimp for $12.99.
5. Hussong’s Cantina – Mandalay Bay
- Address: 3930 Las Vegas Blvd S Ste 121B, The Shoppes at Mandalay Bay
- Hours: Open every day from 11 am to 10 pm.
- Website menu: Hussong’s Cantina
- Phone: (702) 632-6450
Hussong’s Cantina is named as the home of the original margarita. The story goes that a bartender at the original location found the drink by mixing equal parts of Tequila, lime, and Damiana. The drink was then offered to Margarita Henkel, the daughter of the German Ambassador to Mexico. The drink became popular due to the fair lady’s initial impressions and the name margarita.
It was established in 1892 back in Ensenada, where it was famous for being ‘the bar that built a town. It was a place that was famously visited by movie stars, gunslingers, and revolutionaries. Over the years, the owners have opened multiple locations, one of which is at Mandalay Bay.
The menu has the original margarita, which is made of Sauza Blue Reposado Tequila, Agave Nectar, and freshly squeezed lime juice. You will also find specialty tacos like the Baja shrimp with beer battered shrimp, corn tortillas, cabbage mix, pickled red onions, and micro greens.
6. Casa Don Juan
- Address: 1204 S Main St, Las Vegas, Downtown
- Hours: Sunday from 8 am to 9 pm, Monday to Thursday from 9 am to 9 pm and Friday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.
- Website menu: Casa Don Juan
- Phone: (702) 832-4498
Casa Don Juan is located in Downtown Las Vegas, where the city’s cultural hub exists. This authentic setting is complimented by the excellent customer relations that Casa Don Juan is known for and the speed of service and consistency in delivering great fresh Mexican foods.
The appetizers include Camarones mariposa, which is made in shrimp butterfly style, Camarones ahogados (shrimp with lemon), Queso Cheese Dip, and many more.
7. Casa Calavera – Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
- Address: 4455 Paradise Rd, Las Vegas at the Virgin Hotels
- Hours: Sunday to Thursday 11:30 am to 10 pm, Friday to Saturday from 11:30 am to 11 pm
- Website menu: Casa Calavera
- Phone: (702) 522-8000
The most praised items on the Casa Calavera menu include the carne asada, shredded beef, coconut tres leches cake, chicken tacos, huevos rancheros, grilled shrimp, and Baja fish. The happy hours at Casa Calavera start from 3 pm and end at 6 pm from Wednesday to Monday, while the live music performances are only on Sunday at 12:30 pm and Friday from 8 pm.
Casa Calavera has a taco Tuesday that runs from 3 pm to 6 pm, and brunch every Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm. You can opt to order your food undercooked or have raw/undercooked ingredients at the restaurant, making it more convenient.
The tacos include roasted chicken tacos, shredded beef, pork carnitas, portobello and rajas, carne asada, grilled shrimp, Baja fish, guacs, and classic-V (tomatillo, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, lime), pomegranate-jicama, and chipotle bacon.
8. Chayo Mexican Kitchen + Tequila Bar
- Address: 3545 S Las Vegas Blvd at the Strip
- Hours: Sunday to Thursday from 9 am to 10 pm, and Friday to Saturday from 8 am to 11 am.
- Website menu: Chayo Mexican
- Phone: (702) 691-3773
Chayo mixes innovative Mexican fare with many authentic and traditional Mexican dishes to give you a world-class experience. One of the unique aspects of the restaurant is their bottomless mimosa that you can get for $25 from 9 am to 1 pm every day. Remember that there is a 90-minute limit to the offer, and you must purchase an entrée first.
The menu consists of delicacies such as the chayo quesadilla, a Mexican cheese blend, roasted chiles, cilantro cream, and pickled vegetables. You can also get the Queso dip with Mexican cheese fondue, roasted chiles, and tortilla chips. The burritos include chicken, carne asada, and grilled shrimp burritos. There are only three fajitas on the lunch menu – carne asada, grilled shrimp, and spiced chicken.
9. Salud Mexican Bistro and Tequileria
- Address: 8125 W Sahara Ave Ste 110, Las Vegas
- Hours: Monday from 1 pm to 9 pm, Tuesday to Thursday from 12 pm to 9 pm, and Friday to Saturday from 12 pm to 10 pm
- Website menu: Salud
- Phone: (702) 665-6423
Salud’s is the place to be for unique and hard-to-find tequilas and mezcals. Here, you will find the Reposado Tequilas and Mezcals aged from 2 months to one year in barrels made of wood, quite a rare breed of tequila.
The restaurant is operated by Mark Rich and his wife, Summer Rich, who bring a unique margarita experience in combination with modern dining with a Mexican twist. This is seen in their assortment of drinks and foods. The dishes include appetizers like the octopus Salteado (grilled octopus with Romesco lime sauce), classic guacamole, street corn chorizo stuffed jalapenos, and more.
10. La Comida
- Address: 100 S 6th St Las Vegas
- Hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 11:30 am to 9 pm
- Website menu: La Comida
- Phone: (702) 463-9900
Lastly, our best authentic Mexican food restaurant is the LA Comida. La Comida, similar to Salud’s Mexican bistro, adds a twist of modern flavors and American styles to its menu despite having authentic Mexican dishes. It does not take away from the traditional foods as some may think since the additional dishes and some familiarity to new diners.
The Mexican street corn that comes with tortilla soup is a fan favorite at the restaurant. You can also enjoy the mouth-watering wild mushrooms and oven-roasted poblano peppers.
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Honorable Mentions
The above list will give you a fantastic taste of Mexican cuisines in a unique and exciting environment. Below are some of the other few restaurants in Las Vegas that you may want to check out to get Mexican delicacies and a vibrant ambiance.
- Mariposa Cocina and Cocktails
- Milpa
- Las Cazuelas
- Tacos El Gordo
- Lindo Michoacan
- El Segundo Sol
- Nacho Daddy
- Ghost Donkey