# 7 Best Mexican Restaurants in Tampa Bay (2026) Tableside guac, house-made tortillas, and a taqueria tucked into the back of a grocery. Tampa Bay's Mexican food runs from upscale rooms with tequila lists to family-run taquerias and a spot with only five tables. These picks come from local food coverage; the mix is deliberate. Menus and details change, so confirm with each restaurant before you go. Spots are numbered for easy browsing, not as a strict ranking. Updated: October 2026. Source: Real Tampa Bay Media, https://realtampabay.com/guides/best-mexican-food-in-tampa-bay ## Spots ### 1. Besito Mexican Restaurant Tableside guacamole and handmade tortillas. - Neighborhood: Westshore Besito is an upscale but cozy Mexican restaurant at WestShore Plaza. It is known for handmade tortillas, tableside guacamole, and short rib and crispy fish tacos. Highlights: Tableside guacamole; Handmade tortillas; Short rib tacos ### 2. Green Lemon Trendy South Tampa spot with brunch. - Neighborhood: SoHo (South Howard) - Address: 915 S Howard Ave, Tampa, FL Green Lemon is a lively South Tampa restaurant known for grilled mahi and Korean BBQ tacos, an extensive margarita menu and brunch. Highlights: Korean BBQ tacos; Margarita menu; Brunch ### 3. Miguel's Mexican Seafood & Grill Lobster tacos and a deep tequila list. - Neighborhood: South Tampa - Address: 3035 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL Miguel's is an upscale South Tampa spot with outdoor seating, known for lobster and shrimp tacos and a large tequila selection. Highlights: Lobster and shrimp tacos; Tequila selection; Outdoor seating ### 4. Loli's Mexican Cravings Homemade tortillas and sopes. - Neighborhood: Town 'n' Country - Address: 8005 Benjamin Rd, Tampa, FL Loli's makes its own tortillas, which show up in dishes like the taco de chicharrón. Other standouts include ribeye sopes and pork tamales in red sauce. Highlights: House-made tortillas; Ribeye sopes; Pork tamales ### 5. Taqueria Emanuel A longtime favorite known for alambre tacos. - Neighborhood: Tampa - Address: 2800 N MacDill Ave, Tampa, FL Taqueria Emanuel is a locally owned spot that recently opened a second location in Pinellas Park. Its alambre tacos combine steak, peppers, onions and cheese. Highlights: Alambre tacos; Locally owned; Second Pinellas location ### 6. Los Comparres Authentic cooking, little social media. - Neighborhood: West Tampa - Address: 5305 N Armenia Ave, Tampa, FL Los Comparres focuses on authentic Mexican cooking and friendly service with little social media presence. Its tostadas, fried flour tortillas topped with meat and cheese, are highly praised. Highlights: Authentic cooking; Tostadas; Under the radar ### 7. Acapulco Taqueria Five tables in the back of a grocery. - Neighborhood: South Tampa - Address: 1001 N MacDill Ave, Tampa, FL Acapulco Taqueria operates in the back of a small Mexican grocery store with five tables and five bar stools. The menu includes beef tongue and crispy pork rinds alongside more familiar options. Highlights: Inside a grocery store; Beef tongue tacos; Five tables ## About this guide Picks are compiled from local publications and public sources and are not a paid ranking. Spots are numbered for browsing, not as a strict ranking. Hours and prices are intentionally omitted because they change; confirm details with each venue. All guides: https://realtampabay.com/guides Header photo: stu_spivack, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chips,_guacamole,_three_salsas.jpg).