Archie MontroseThe 9 Best Mexican Restaurants in Vancouver
Mexican food is renowned for its unique flavor that will make your tastebuds have a fiesta. So, if you want to try out the best of the best, why not visit the best Mexican restaurants in Vancouver?
We’ve reviewed them here, where we will also give you our recommendations for each restaurant! Let’s start with how much it should cost, though.
How much does eating in a Mexican restaurant cost?
Amazing tacos and burritos won’t break your wallet, luckily: many Mexican restaurants are very affordable.
The table below shows the price range for each restaurant here.
| Restaurants | Price Range |
| The Burrow | $5.00 – $20.00 |
| The Mexican Antojitos Y Cantina | $3.25 – $26.00 |
| Mi Casa Mexicana | $5.00 – $22.00 |
| Sal y Limon | $3.00 – $11.00 |
| Tacofino Taco Bar | $6.00 – $17.00 |
| Mangos Kitchen Bar | $8.00 – $49.00 |
| Tacomio | $1.50 – $32.95 |
| The Pawn Shop | $8.95 – $99.95 |
Just remember though, this doesn’t include the tax for each restaurant. If you also want to see the price for a single dish, you can check out their menus (we link to their sites below).
The Best Mexican Restaurants in Vancouver
Now that you know how much to bring for each restaurant, let’s talk about Vancouver’s best Mexican restaurants!
1. The Burrow (formerly Bandidas Taqueria)
| SERVICES | ● Dine-in ● Takeaways ● Delivery |
| ADDRESS | 2781 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5N 4C5, Canada |
| CONTACT NUMBER | Phone number: 604-568-8224 Email: Burrowrestaurantg@gmail.com |
| WEBSITE | theburrowrestaurant.com |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday – Friday: 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM Saturday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| MENU | https://theburrowrestaurant.com/dine-in-menu |
Specializing in vegetarian Mexican food, this is really part of Vancouver’s best Mexican restaurants for several reasons.
The first would be their unique offerings.
Although many Mexican restaurants in Vancouver are already offering vegetarian options, this is one of the Mexican restaurants with a wholly vegetarian menu.
This restaurant has dishes for vegans and they also have gluten-free options.
Another reason would be that the tortillas here are handmade. So, you really can expect quality food here.
The corn tortillas they make aren’t flimsy and are perfect for tacos and burritos with sauce on top.
If you also want to bring home their burritos and just eat them whenever you want, they also offer frozen meals so you don’t have to pay delivery fees all the time.
There are some problems, though. For example, we wish that this restaurant were open during lunchtime on weekdays so we could get some of their delicious vegetarian dishes to refuel for work.
Their burritos and tacos are also more expensive than other restaurants. So, they may not be the most cost-effective option.
What We Recommend: Leona Gayle Burrito – With tofu as a meat substitute, you might expect this burrito to be a bit bland. But that’s not the case here.
This burrito has a nice combination of smoky flavors along with a hint of sweetness. The tofu has a nice texture too.
The added salsa and sour cream (which is also vegan, by the way) even give a nice, complex flavour to this burrito. Overall, it’s a great buy.
Pros
- Full vegetarian and vegan menu
- They have frozen versions of their dishes
- Has gluten-free options available
Cons
- Only opens in the afternoon
Customer Reviews
Previous customers love the vegetarian and vegan offers in this restaurant:
“The spot for the ultimate comfort food. I’ve been going here for the past 7 years and The Burrow (formerly Bandidas Taqueria) has been my top go-to spot for comfort brunch on Commercial Drive. Sherman’s Benny is my absolute favourite. The corn bread is *chefs kiss* and the goat cheese just adds that little extra creaminess to the plate. I like asking for their house salad (the salad is always so fresh and the pumpkin seeds are so good) instead of the potatoes since I like a fresh side to my brunch.” — Graceleen Simpson
“I’ve been looking for a vegan Mexican influenced restaurant for a while and finally found my favorite place. Burritos are awesome. Dish sizes are bigger than you get in many other places. Atmosphere is really chill and service is second to none.” — Sebastian Morales
2. The Mexican Antojitos Y Cantina
| SERVICES | ● Dine-in ● Takeouts ● Delivery |
| ADDRESS | 1049 Granville St, Vancouver |
| CONTACT NUMBER | (604) 569-0955 |
| WEBSITE | themexican.ca |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday – Thursday incl. Sunday: 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM Friday: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM Saturday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM |
| MENU | http://www.themexican.ca/nuestracomida |
Fast and delicious tacos are the specialty of this restaurant. They also have authentic tacos, which for us is a good reason to put them in a list of the best Mexican restaurants in Vancouver.
The taco here is really well-made. What’s more, the meat they serve here is cooked right: it doesn’t feel chewy or bland.
Also, not only do they make good tacos here, but their sides such as confrito de queso (fried cheese) are really good and will make your mouth water.
It’s not just about the food either. Another thing we love about this restaurant is their casual vibe.
The restaurant is vibrant, with a colourful interior that feels welcoming. That makes this place the perfect hang-out when you just want to chat and have some drinks.
The best thing about this restaurant, for us, though, is its price. The dishes are cheap but they don’t skimp on their portions.
Take note though: this place doesn’t take reservations and you should go here early if you want to get a table. It really gets crowded during lunch and dinner hours.
Also, there’s not much free parking around this restaurant. So, you’ll have to pay for metered parking if you’re going to be staying in this restaurant for a while.
What We Recommend: Picadillo Tacos – This is one of the best versions of the classic beef taco we’ve tasted. The meat is really tasty and juicy and the corn tortillas also hold it well.
The beef here is also the star of the dish and they do it justice, in our opinion.
Pros
- Vibrant interior
- Affordable food
Cons
- No advanced reservation option
- No free parking nearby
Customer Reviews
Here are some reviews from their previous customers:
“This place is incredible. The best Mexican food I have had in my life. Delicious and well prepared.
I have walke spast this location numerous times and never thought to give it a chance. A friend who frequents the location scolded me on judging it before going in.
I am glad I did. Prices are excellent and authentic flavors.
My western ideal was challenged when the refried beans didn’t taste like I expected. A little embarrassment later and the waitress corrected my ignorance.
Amazing, wonderful and absolutely tasty. You must give it a try.” – Ryan Macala
“Good service, legit Mexican food (better be afterall being called the Mexican) and decent prices lower than other Mexican joints in the city that have lower quality food than this place. Fried cheese on nachos is delish!” – CTO
3. Mi Casa Mexicana
| SERVICES | ● Dine-in ● Takeouts ● Delivery |
| ADDRESS | 2015 Burrard St, Vancouver |
| CONTACT NUMBER | (604) 423-3121 |
| WEBSITE | micasamexicana.net |
| OPERATING HOURS | Wednesday – Thursday: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM Friday – Saturday: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 – 8:00 PM |
| MENU | https://micasamexicana.net/#service-section |
If you’re getting tired of all those tacos and burritos, why not try going to this restaurant?
This restaurant has amazing tamales that taste like they were delivered straight from Mexico. They also have other Mexican dishes here that are rarely found in other Mexican restaurants, which can be a plus for a lot of diners.
But you don’t even have to dine-in here just to taste the fantastic tamales on their menu, actually. This restaurant has an in-house delivery service, which means you can get fresh tamales during the weekend and while at home.
While everything else is great about this restaurant, we find their operating hours pretty lacking. Even if you want to visit this place on Mondays, you won’t be able to.
Other than that, the restaurant is easy to recommend. It’s a shame that it’s closed on Mondays and Tuesdays because this place is amazing.
What We Recommend: Verde chicken tamales – Covered in a corn husk, this tamale filled with chicken and tomatillo (green) sauce is mouthwatering
This has that classic corn taste on the dough but the chicken with the combination of the tomatillo sauce adds a lot of that amazing, truly Mexican flavor.
Make sure to add salsa when you eat this though. It’s honestly better when paired with a sauce.
Pros
- Unique Mexican dishes are part of their menu
- In-house tamales delivery
Cons
- Only open from Wednesday to Sunday
- Closed in the morning
Customer Reviews
According to customer reviews, others also loved the authentic dishes served here and the friendly staff. Here are some of the reviews for this restaurant:
“ So many delicious and authentic Mexican foods!! This restaurant is simply the best with the food choices, taste, atmosphere, cleanliness servers and even their music – what more can I say! The tamales didn’t so bland like how other stores would make it. The tostadas were so filling and had a really combination. The way the made their drinks were also excellent. Highly recommend this place. What a hidden gem in Vancouver!” – Maddie Cruz
“We ordered the Quesadilla trio, Guajolota, and Torta de Cochinita. All 3 items were absolutely delicious. The meat was so tender, well cooked, and well seasoned. Staff were professional and polite. Would highly recommend. Their menu is so diverse and feels more authentic than competitors.” – Hoori Barkh
4. Sal y Limón
| SERVICES | ● Takeout ● Delivery ● Catering |
| ADDRESS | 701 Kingsway #5, Vancouver |
| CONTACT NUMBER | (604) 677-4247 |
| WEBSITE | https://salylimon.ca/ |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday – Wednesday & Sunday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM Thursday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM |
| MENU | https://salylimon.ca/menu/ |
Trust us, there’s nothing as hearty as a burrito, especially when you’re hungry. And well, this restaurant makes really amazing burritos that will definitely fill your stomach.
Sal y Limon has a variety of Mexican food classics too so you won’t get bored of just ordering burritos all the time. They have quesadillas, tacos, torts, and many more!
Speaking of dishes though, did you know that one of the owner’s parents owns a restaurant in Mexico? In fact, the recipes for the dishes featured in this restaurant came from that parent’s restaurant.
Can’t get more authentic than that, right?
As we also mentioned earlier, this place is perfect for us eternally hungry people. With the generous portions for their dishes, the price is justified here.
That said, a little issue we have about this restaurant is the dine-in space. Once they open this restaurant again, just know that this place is quite small and it’s hard to fit a big group here.
They also don’t offer any options for reservations so you better be early or you won’t have any table left for you and your group.
But if you’re opting to have your food delivered, then get it here as this restaurant serves amazing Mexican food in Vancouver.
What We Recommend: Lengua Burrito – Lengua Burrito is made with beef tongue and while this might be a bit out there for some, it’s actually a lot more common in Mexican dishes.
And with a burrito, you might not even notice it. The burrito here is filled to the brim with rice and various vegetables but it also doesn’t cheap out on meat: you can taste the lengua here.
This burrito is honestly heavy and enough for those with a big appetite! Not to mention, it’s also delicious as it’s pretty well-spiced and the sauces included fit well with the burrito.
Pros
- Authentic dishes
- Offers a variety of Mexican dishes on their menu
Cons
- Small space if you’re going to dine-in
- No advanced reservation options
Customer Reviews
Their previous customers also love the authentic food served here:
“What a fantastic experience getting food from here. A line for orders and a line for picks ups. Everything is spaced out and safe. They were so quick with our order even though it was busy at lunch. We had a great meal and would definitely eat back when we are in the area again.” – Mark Turnbull
“Finally had a chance for authentic Mexican food and it was gooood! Everything was tasty, you have all the sauces in the side. The meats are so flavourful. Definitely coming back to try more dishes.” – Phil aw Sufer
5. Tacofino Taco Bar
| SERVICES | ● Dine-ins ● Takeouts ● Delivery |
| ADDRESS | 15 W Cordova St, Vancouver |
| CONTACT NUMBER | (604) 899-7907 |
| WEBSITE | https://www.tacofino.com/ |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday – Thursday & Sunday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM Friday – Saturday: 11:30 AM – 12:00 AM |
| MENU | http://www.tacofino.com/location/taco-bar |
Based on the name alone, you already know that this restaurant specializes in, well, tacos. You can order their many different fillings so you can try out a huge variety of tacos here.
But this restaurant is not only great for food. What we love most about it is that it has a great selection of drinks, ranging from cocktails to wines.
A little tip for everyone, if you want to save money on drinks here, visit them around 3-6 PM for happy hour.
Also, you can stay here longer, after happy hour, as this restaurant stays open until midnight every Friday and Saturday.
It’s really a perfect place for all your midnight cravings or if you just want to go out late with your friends.
However, we have a minor nitpick with this restaurant. We know that it specializes in tacos but the menu is pretty limited.
There’s not much else other than, naturally, tacos and maybe some starters.
This restaurant also doesn’t have WiFi, which is a bit annoying if you’re expecting an important message through an online messenger.
We still recommend visiting this restaurant, though. Their tacos here are delicious and the selection of drinks is just fantastic.
What We Recommend: Fish taco – The fish here is battered then fried, making it crispy and delicious.
No, their fish taco here doesn’t have that fishy aftertaste either. It’s also served with spicy mayo on top.
As amazing as it is though, we kinda wish this had packed more heat and was just much spicier.
Pros
- Wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
- Open until midnight during some days
Cons
- Limited choice of food
- Wifi isn’t available in this restaurant
Customer Reviews
Here’s what people are saying about this restaurant:
“Fanfrick’ntastic! If you goto Vancouver and don’t eat at Tacofino, did you even goto Van?
Best tacos! Great service!” – Mona Assaf
“I Iove Tacofino. This is my first time to this location and it was fantastic. The server was very attentive and friendly. She made great suggestions. The food was amazing.” – Jaime Murcheson
6. Mangos Kitchen Bar
| SERVICES | Dine-In, Take-Out, Delivery |
| ADDRESS | 1180 Howe St., Vancouver, BC Canada V6Z 1R2 |
| CONTACT NUMBER | +1(604) 559.5533 |
| WEBSITE | https://mangosvancouver.com/ |
| OPERATING HOURS | Tuesday to Thursday : 3:00 pm-10pm Friday 3:00p.m. – 2am Saturday 12:00p.m. to 2am Sunday : 12pm-10pm |
| MENU | https://mangosvancouver.com/menu/ |
Mangos Kitchen Bar is a restaurant that specializes in serving authentic Mexican and Latin cuisine in Vancouver. They offer numerous traditional Latin American and Mexican dishes such as Tacos, Quesadillas, Lomo Saltado, Guacamole, and Empanadas along with a great selection of cocktails.
The restaurant also offers an all-week special that goes on for each particular day such as Taco Tuesdays, Free Wings Wednesday, Burritos Thursdays, Happy Hour Fridays, and Happiest Sundays. All information and promotions from the said specials can easily be viewed and accessed on their website.
They also accommodate online deliveries through the use of UBER eats and is also currently in partnership with Holiday Inn along with special discounts and promotions as well. Furthermore, the said restaurant is family-friendly and can easily adapt to other interrelated facilities such as a snack bar, sports bar, Pub, Latin American restaurant, and a Latin kitchen among others.
We recommend this restaurant for customers looking for an authentic and fun experience in dining in a Mexican and Latin American-themed restaurant and equally delectable and themed dishes as well.
What We Recommend: Mocktails – The restaurant offers a wide variety of Mexican and Latin American themed drinks and Mocktails are one of their unique blends.
They offer their customers a chance to make their own customizable mocktail virgin with a variety of blends. Starting at $6, customers may choose from an apple cran, a Colombian Fruit cocktail, and most especially the On The Beach drink.
Pros
- Family friendly
- All-week specials
- Authentic Mexican and Latin American dining experiences
Cons
- No reviews available
7. Tacomio
| SERVICES | Dine-In, Take Out, Catering, Delivery, Pick Up |
| ADDRESS | 1245 Glen Dr. Vancouver 1300 Lonsdale Ave. NV 6025 UBC |
| CONTACT NUMBER | +1 778-868-7041 / eljefe@tacomio.ca |
| WEBSITE | https://tacomio.ca/ |
| OPERATING HOURS | Tacomio Pick Up Window Monday 11:30am–8pm Tuesday 11:30am–8pm Wednesday 11:30am–8pm Thursday 11:30am–8:30pm Friday 11:30am–8:30pm Saturday 11:30am–8:30pm Sunday 11:30am–8pm Tacomio UBC Monday 11:30am–8:30pm Tuesday 11:30am–8:30pm Wednesday 11:30am–8:30pm Thursday 11:30am–8:30pm Friday 11:30am–8:30pm Saturday 11:30am–8:30pm Sunday 11:30am–8:30pm Tacomio North Vancouver Friday 12–8pm Saturday 12–8pm Sunday 12–8pm Monday 12–8pm Tuesday 12–8pm Wednesday 12–8pm Thursday 12–8pm |
| MENU | https://tacomio.ca/collections/menu |
Tacomio is a restaurant that specializes in Mexican cuisine that offers a modern twist in various traditional Mexican dishes. The family that owns the restaurant is from San Miguel de Allende and draws flavor inspirations from their time there.
Having relocated to Canada for over 2 years, the restaurants still retain their natural charm and beauty over the years through consistently offering delicious dishes after the other. It is a family-run restaurant whose treats were a direct inspiration from authentic Mexican dishes that the family had during their childhood.
They make it to a point that they always serve fresh authentic dishes from scratch in order for their customers to enjoy only the best Mexican dining experience. Furthermore, they also make sure that they only use the best and most sustainable ingredients in every dish to ensure that the right flavors are expressed.
We recommend this company for customers looking for a restaurant that specializes in authentic Mexican dishes with a modern twist in the Vancouver area due to their long history and experience that extends even to Mexico itself.
Plus, since they’ve been in business for more than five years, they now have three locations. This makes them more accessible and easier to order from.
What We Recommend: Grilled Al Pastor Chicken Wings – The restaurant offers this specific dish and recommends it in order to have a taste of its summery flavor through its rich blend of spices.
Marinated and placing pineapples and cilantro at a pedestal to produce a mild spice flavor that is perfect for anyone who wishes to try a unique blend of chicken wings.
Pros
- Generous proportions
- Authentic Mexican flavors
- Accommodating staff
Cons
- Menus may vary per location
Customer Reviews
Here are some reviews from their customers:
“We just ordered the Mexican Family Meal for 2. It was so good. The food was fresh and really well made. It was a great deal too–we easily have leftovers for another meal. I would highly recommend ordering from here.”
“Everything is made fresh and the portion is so generous. Loving every bite of the food. Never had such an amazing taste around Vancouver.”
8. The Pawn Shop
| SERVICES | Dine-in Delivery |
| ADDRESS | 1117 Granville St. Vancouver, BC V6Z 1M1 |
| CONTACT NUMBER | info@thepawnshopyvr.com Tel: 604-687-7474 |
| WEBSITE | https://thepawnshopyvr.com/ |
| OPERATING HOURS | OPEN TUESDAY-FRIDAY 3PM to 1AM SATURDAY-SUNDAY 12PM-1AM |
| MENU | https://thepawnshopyvr.com/our-menu/ |
The Pawn Shop YVR is a bar based in LA that serves clients delectable tacos along with the most popular tequilas all in one place. Prioritizing hospitality, their personnel, and the place itself says it all.
We find the place appropriately refreshing since the interior design is warm, welcoming, and friendly to give their customers an experience of an authentic cantina.
Apart from this, we find it exemplary that their team is composed of equally fun and unique individuals that nonetheless offer clients hospitality at its finest that just makes clients want to stay in the moment for long periods of time.
There might be some limitations when it comes to drinks and the food, they offer but overall, the bar is promising when it comes to giving customers a fun and pleasant experience during their stay at the place.
What we find thrilling and what may also set them apart from others is that they feature an open-kitchen concept so clients can actually see how chefs chook their meals and marvel at how professional they work as well.
What We Recommend: Tacos – We find that their tacos are incredibly rich and reasonably priced. Along with their promo, they are also able to offer their customers tacos with either pork, chicken and mushroom.
Pros
- Affordable menu items
- Enthusiastic staff
- Fun interior and ambiance
Cons
- Some menu items may have limited availability
Customer Reviews
Here are some reviews from their clients.
“My favorite Tacos in the city!! The Bougie tacos are unbeatable, and I love their chips & salsa! Make sure you go for lunch/early dinner though because I’ve found the consistency to be significantly not as good at night compared to the day. I’m guessing it’s because they turn into a bar! I prefer the day scene anyways, so I’m happy to go for a quiet(ish) lunch.”
“Not my first time and definitely not my last, This place is so fun and tasty!!! We ordered take out and started with the nachos and so glad we did. The sauces on the nachos are finger liking good! We also got the OG burrito, Cali burrito and the Korean fried chicken (KFC) bowl. Fav item was the KFC chicken and special second place to the home made salsa and pico di Gallo. The burritos were big but not too big and so delicious!!! Fresh ingredients used. The OG burrito had the cheese melted on the outside! Very cool. (Next time I’m going to dine in… great music, cool decor and looked like a lot of fun”
9. Cuchillo
| SERVICES | Dine-in Takeout |
| ADDRESS | 261 Powell St, Vancouver, BC V6A 2Z1, Canada |
| CONTACT NUMBER | Phone: (604) 559-7585 Email: INFO@CUCHILLO.CA |
| WEBSITE | https://www.cuchillo.ca/ |
| OPERATING HOURS | Sunday to Thursday: 5 PM to 10 PM Friday & Saturday: 5 PM to 12 AM |
| MENU | Cuchillo Food & Drinks Menu |
There are just days that we just crave for some good Mexican food and we just wanna share it with the people we love.. With Cuchillo being a local gem in Vancouver, for sure this will be satisfied.
Arguably the sexiest lounge in town, this restaurant dishes you Modern Pan-Latin tapas, small plates alongside creative and classic entrees and drink creations. They also make sure that their menu has vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options.
We are also impressed of the ambiance that this restaurant provides as they have a large space with a high ceiling and decent ventilation, and the tables are well spaced apart, so we definitely recommend it for those occasions when proximity and ventilation are a problem.
Under the purple skull, together with your friends and family, for sure you will be able to have a blast.
Customer Reviews
Here are some reviews from their clients:
Fast delivery · Stylish interior · Hip atmosphere · Creative cuisine · Indoor Dining · Healthy options · Great food · Comfort food
“Was here twice in one week! I am discerning about good, healthy, creative and ethnic food. Was so impressed I came back with my daughter after trying it with a friend. Very nice 👍 highly recommend.” – Tania Gaye
“I enjoyed this restaurant so much. Excellent food, nice atmosphere, friendly staffs and great cocktails. The pork belly was so tasty. It had so many layers of flavours, it was crispy, spicy and the sauce was well balanced with the oily pork fat. It was amazing. I loved the chilies as well. It goes so well with the beer! Love love this place. I will definitely go back” – Sharon Chen
“We came here for the first time through the Vancouver dine out experience. The food was amazing, and the service was outstanding. The chip and guacamole were so good and fresh. The salmon, beef, lamb, and everything else were great as well. It’s definitely a place I will come back to and keep coming back to.” – D.C
FAQs About Mexican Food
Well, if you’re ever hungry after this article, why not head out and buy in one of the restaurants listed here? We’re sure that you’ll love them too!
And if you want to explore different cuisines from other countries, we have other articles you may want to read. If you want to start trying out different cuisines, for example, we’re sure our list of the best Italian restaurants will be a great guide for you.
