The 9 best Mexican restaurants in Charlotte

Our taco guide covers the taquerias, the counters and the trompo. This one is for the sit down meal: a table, a margarita, a menu that goes past tacos. Charlotte’s best Mexican restaurants cluster in South End and on the east side, and the gap between the ones cooking regional Mexican food and the ones cooking Tex-Mex is worth knowing before you book. Hours are current as of this writing.

1. La Capital MX

The Mexico City inspired restaurant on South Boulevard, with more than 4,000 reviews and the highest rating of any full service Mexican restaurant in the city. Diners who have lived in Houston or visited Mexico City call it authentic, which this city’s Mexican restaurants rarely earn. Fajitas, ceviche, chicharrón de ribeye, a $30 margarita pitcher that splits four ways, a stylish room and a side patio. Reasonable for South End, and generous.

Hours: Monday to Thursday 5 to 9 p.m.; Friday 5 to 10 p.m.; Saturday 3 to 10 p.m.; Sunday 3 to 9 p.m.

Address: 1910 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203

Why it made the list

• The best rated Mexican restaurant in Charlotte.
• Authentic by the standard of people who would know.
• Pitchers for a group.
• A patio in South End.

Directory listing: La Capital MX

2. The Story of Mi Cariño

The modern Mexican restaurant and cocktail bar on South Tryon, a striking room where plates arrive composed carefully enough to pause over. Aguachile with prieto shrimp, enchiladas regulars rank as the best in years, wagyu ribeye, lamb off the bone, a tostada and cracker basket with several salsas, popcorn flan. Mexican families who call themselves picky say each dish honors the traditional version. The bar is the walk in seat at opening.

Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday 5 to 11 p.m.; Thursday to Saturday 5 p.m. to midnight; closed Sunday and Monday

Address: 1440 S. Tryon St, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28203

Why it made the list

• The most ambitious Mexican kitchen in the city.
• Cocktails to match the food.
• Reserve, or arrive at opening for the bar.
• Closed Sunday and Monday.

Directory listing: The Story of Mi Cariño

3. Puerta

The Elizabeth restaurant from the Crunkleton and Rosemont team, with a menu drawn from regions across Mexico and a bar built on tequila and agave. Seven tacos including duck and shrimp, a queso regulars call the best in Charlotte, pork belly chicharrón, hanger steak and churros. Weekend brunch and paloma pitchers. Service has drawn some slow reports on busy nights and the tacos run small for the price; the room and the bar carry it.

Hours: Monday to Thursday noon to 10 p.m.; Friday noon to midnight; Saturday 11 a.m. to midnight; Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Address: 1961 E. 7th St, Charlotte, NC 28204

Why it made the list

• A serious agave bar.
• The queso and the churros.
• Weekend brunch.
• Reserve; parking is tight.

Directory listing: Puerta

4. Que Onda

Mandy and Alex’s Plaza Midwood restaurant in a restored older building on Central Avenue, with two floors, a downstairs bar, restrooms on both levels and its own parking lot. Braised beer birria, salmon, a milanese torta, beef empanadas, a trio of dips and a hibiscus mezcal cocktail. Sunday brings $5 beers and half price dips. Service reports have been uneven lately; the bar is the reliable seat.

Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; closed Monday

Address: 1518 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205

Why it made the list

• Birria and a good cocktail list.
• Parking, which Central Avenue rarely offers.
• Sunday specials.
• Sit at the bar.

Directory listing: Que Onda

5. Azul Tacos & Beer

The Wesley Heights counter service spot on Thrift Road, cheaper and more casual than everything else on this list and good enough to belong anyway. Street tacos in pollo, al pastor, asada, carnitas, lengua and quesabirria with consomé, a salsa bar, a chicharrón plate, hibiscus and mushroom tacos for vegetarians and Modelo on draft. Owner Hector hands out desserts. Self seating and self service, which suits some tables and not others.

Hours: Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; closed Monday

Address: 2122 Thrift Rd, Suite A, Charlotte, NC 28208

Why it made the list

• The best value here.
• Genuinely good vegetarian tacos.
• A salsa bar.
• Counter service; no table service to speak of.

Directory listing: Azul Tacos & Beer

6. Dos Caminos

The large Uptown restaurant and bar on South Tryon that fills through the evening and works for a drink as well as dinner. Birria flautas, mole short ribs you can cut with a fork, mole enchiladas, carne en su jugo with a modern turn, a churro dessert and a margarita in a ceramic glass you keep. Gluten free and vegan options marked. Service runs hot and cold when the room is full.

Hours: Monday to Thursday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Address: 601 S. Tryon St, Suite 135, Charlotte, NC 28202

Why it made the list

• Mole done properly.
• Marked gluten free and vegan dishes.
• Convenient for Uptown events.
• Open seven days.

Directory listing: Dos Caminos

7. Que Fresa Taqueria + Bar

The Wesley Heights taqueria and bar from the Que Onda owners, with fifteen specialty tacos, birria egg rolls, birria ramen, a churrasco bowl, margarita flights and soft serve margaritas on a patio facing the skyline. $2 tacos on Tuesdays. The soft serve margaritas divide people sharply, portions can run small for the price and the bar is slower than the food counter, so order drinks first.

Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; closed Monday

Address: 1500 W. Morehead St, Suite A, Charlotte, NC 28208

Why it made the list

• Birria egg rolls and ramen.
• A skyline patio.
• Taco Tuesday deals.
• Order at the bar before you eat.

Directory listing: Que Fresa Taqueria + Bar

8. Ma’Luz Mexican Grill

The University City institution, formerly Mi Pueblo, with more than 5,000 reviews, a large handsome building, live music, catering and event space. Chicken flautas, an ACP with southwestern queso, a Mami Papi bowl, quesabirria and birria ramen, at some of the lowest prices of any sit down Mexican restaurant in the city. Tex-Mex leaning rather than traditional, and a few bowls run light on protein.

Hours: Monday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Address: 7003 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28262

Why it made the list

• A huge room that handles any group.
• Live music.
• The lowest prices on the list.
• Tex-Mex rather than regional.

Directory listing: Ma’Luz Mexican Grill

9. Casa Azteca Uptown Charlotte

The West Trade Street restaurant open until the early hours on weekends, with free refilled chips, a cheese dip people single out, fresh guacamole made properly and portions that make Uptown prices sit better. One of the few places in the center city serving a full Mexican menu past midnight. The salsa is the weak point; the queso is not.

Hours: Monday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Address: 129 W. Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202

Why it made the list

• Open past midnight on weekends.
• The cheese dip.
• Big portions Uptown.
• Walkable from the arena.

Directory listing: Casa Azteca Uptown Charlotte

Also worth knowing

The taquerias are covered in our taco guide, including Tacos El Nevado on South Boulevard, Sabores de Oaxaca on Central Avenue for Oaxacan cooking specifically, and Maria’s Mexican for birria and a full vegan menu. If your Mexican restaurant is missing, tell us.