Mexican cuisine is one of the world's great culinary traditions, recognized by UNESCO for its cultural significance and extraordinary complexity. Far beyond the familiar taco, this gastronomy encompasses the ancient art of mole-making — sauces of twenty or more ingredients simmered for days — the mastery of nixtamalized corn in all its forms, and a sophisticated understanding of chiles that rivals any spice culture on earth. Regional traditions from Oaxacan tlayudas to Yucatecan cochinita pibil reveal a cuisine of profound depth, rooted in pre-Hispanic techniques and enriched by centuries of cultural exchange.

Our reviews of Mexican restaurants evaluate the authenticity of regional preparations, the quality of corn tortillas made from properly nixtamalized masa, and the complexity of sauces that require extraordinary patience and skill. We assess whether a restaurant demonstrates genuine knowledge of Mexican culinary traditions — from the selection of dried chiles to the execution of slow-cooked meats — and whether it achieves the depth of flavor that distinguishes true Mexican gastronomy from superficial interpretations. The quality of mezcal and tequila programs also factors into our evaluations.

Explore our guide to Mexican dining, from traditional establishments preserving ancestral recipes to innovative restaurants that bring contemporary vision to one of the world's oldest continuous culinary traditions. Our reviews celebrate the extraordinary complexity and cultural richness of Mexican gastronomy in its finest expressions.