With Cinco de Mayo coming up, I thought it would be appropriate offer a guide, to what I believe to be good and authentic Mexican and Tex Mex restaurants. Happy Cinco de Mayo!!
Taqueria los Altos is a gem located in East Charlotte at 8625 Monroe Road offering authentic Mexican food. Their Chips and salsa is not just any chips and salsa. It is salsa de molcajete. Be careful. It has a kick. Go for the fresh guacamole and a few tacos, like al pastor (marinated pork), asada (steak) and pollo (chicken). Definitely try quesabirria, served with three tacos, which include cheese, cilantro, onions and beef. They are open Monday-Wednesday 11AM-10PM; Thursday 11AM-4PM; Friday 11AM-10PM; Saturday-Sunday 10AM-10PM.
Tacos El Regio is an ode to Monterrey, Mexico, and it sits in a shopping center near Albemarle Road Park at 8829 E WT Harris Boulevard. The vibe consists of pork spinning vertically on a spit behind the counter. A Charlotte FC scarf hangs on the wall to your left as you walk in, over a row of framed soccer jerseys, and there is soccer on the TV as you head into the main dining room. You can indulge in tacos, tacos, and more tacos. The gringa (marinated pork and melted cheese on a large flour tortilla) is one of their most popular. The taco de trompo (marinated pork on a corn tortilla with pineapple and onion) and the taco de chicharrón (pork skins with salsa verde on a corn tortilla) are also very popular. They are open Thursday and Sunday 11AM-10:30PM; Friday-Saturday 11AM-11PM.
Taqueria Gaviota Latina is a no frills type restaurant but has really good food. It is tucked away on The Plaza at 3112 where they serve everything from tortas to desayunos (breakfast dishes) to tostadas, in addition to tamales and tacos. Go easy on the red sauce if you are not a fan of heat and spice. Be aware that the online menu is different from what you can order at the restaurant. They are open Monday-Sunday 8AM-9PM.
Paco’s Tacos and Tequila, which is one my favs, is located in South Park at 6401 Morrison Boulevard. It’s a solid Tex-Mex restaurant with several tequila and taco options. It’s part of the FS Food Group, which also owns Mama Ricotta’s, Midwood Smokehouse and YAFO. Order the Outlaw steak fajita, a giant portion of wood-grilled marinated skirt steak cooked to order on a wood-burning grill ($38). When you get their chips and salsa make sure to ask for their signature salsa verde as well. It is absolutely divine. They are open Sunday-Thursday 11AM-9PM; Friday-Saturday 11AM-10PM.
Puerta, located at 1961 East 7th Street, recently opened in 2023 and has quickly become one of Charlotte’s best new restaurants because of its fun atmosphere, tequila and agave-focused spirit menu. Puerta’s menu is inspired by various regions in Mexico and includes dips and salsas, soups, salads, empanadas, pork belly chicharron, entrees and seven tacos ($7 each or a $16 taco plate which includes rice and beans). Tequila is the focal point of the drink menu, with five types of margaritas and six signature cocktails. They are open Sunday-Wednesday from 5PM-11PM, Thursday-Saturday 5PM-12AM and Saturday-Sunday from 11AM-3PM for brunch.
Dos Caminos, located at 601 South Tryon Street, is a popular NY-based Mexican restaurant who recently opened its first North Carolina location in Uptown with a sweet outdoor patio and multiple dining rooms. You can expect an upscale Mexican cuisine and street food plus a lengthy cocktail menu with plenty of tequila-based drinks. Dos Caminos offers food specials Monday-Friday from 3PM-6PM and 9PM-close at the bar and patio. You will find items like chips and guac, queso blanco and taquitos de pollo for $10 and other shareable dishes like fries for $8 and quesadillas for $15. They are open Sunday-Thursday from 11AM-10PM and Friday-Saturday from 11AM-11PM.
Maria’s Mexican Restaurant is located at 5234 South Boulevard. If you are looking for a cozy hole-in-the-wall with free chips and salsa and a whole menu devoted to birria options (like birria pizza and ramen), then this is the place for you. Order a quesabirria and make sure to dip it in the beef broth. Maria’s also has a vegan menu. They are open Monday-Sunday 10:30AM-10PM.
Superica, is an Atlanta-based Tex-Mex restaurant who has two Charlotte locations, one in South End at 101 Worthington Avenue and another in South Charlotte’s Strawberry Hill at 4223 Providence Road. Order the chile con queso, a yellow American cheese sauce with poblano, onion, jalapeño and fire-roasted tomato salsa. So good! They are open Monday-Friday 11AM-2:30PM; Dinner Monday-Thursday 5PM-10PM, Friday 5PM-11PM, Saturday 10PM-11PM and Sunday 10AM-10PM.
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