The best Mexican restaurants in Miami to try right now

What is it? Los Félix takes its tortillas, and most things it does, very seriously. Consider: a crudo of line-caught tuna and local cantaloupe in a serrano aguachile capped with a fan of delicate radish slices. Or citrus-braised pork cheeks stewed into the most tender of carnitas. The playlist is always thoughtfully curated, especially when there’s a live DJ spinning vintage records. 

Why we love it: All this care they’ve put into the food earned Los Felix a Michelin star, as well as a green star for sustainability—which also means you’ll pay a hefty sum for tacos, crudos and more. But the servers are knowledgeable and attentive, and the vibe is reminiscent of Mexico City’s Polanco neighborhood transported into Coconut Grove.

Time Out tip: Just upstairs you’ll find Krüs Kitchen, Los Félix’s sister restaurant and market, where you can browse the colorful shelves and grab a bottle of biodynamic wine to-go.

Address: 3413 Main Hwy, Miami, FL 33133

Opening hours: Tue–Thu 5:30–10pm; Fri 5:30–11pm; Sat 11am–3:30pm, 5:30–11pm; Sun 11am–3:30pm, 5:30–10pm

Expect to pay: Most dishes average about $30, and you'll need a few to fill up, so expect to pay about $175 per person.

What is it? Born in New York’s Lower East Side in 2017, JaJaJa Miami is the brand’s first location outside of the Metro area, bringing its creative, seed-oil-free and entirely plant-based takes Mexican street food and agave-based cocktails to one of Miami’s buzziest neighborhoods.

Why we love it: Even non-vegans will find plenty to love at JaJaJa, from its airy and relaxed dining room with a full cocktail bar to its playful reinterpretations of Mexican classics. Order the Grande Nachos heaped with “chorizo,” refried beans, habanero queso, salsa verde, sour cream and corn relish. And don’t skip the birria tacos. 

Time Out tip: The weekend brunch (Sat, Sun 11am–4pm) is a solid choice in the neighborhood, and the happy hours (Mon–Fri 3:30–6:30pm) feature two-for-one cocktails and $8 snacks.

Address: 2775 NW 3rd Ave, Miami, FL 33127

Opening hours: Wed, Thu 11am–10pm; Fri, Sat 11am–11pm; Sun 11am–10pm; Mon 11am–9pm

Expect to pay: Around $50 per person 

What is it? Chef Pancho Ibáñez spent his formative years as chef de cuisine at Pujol—a Mexico City institution with a months-long waiting list and a mole that's been aging for over 3,500 days and counting. He could have landed anywhere in Miami, but he chose a strip mall on Calle Ocho. Bistro Ocho is the closest you'll get to Mexico City without a passport.

Why we love it: Ibáñez is serving some of the most technically serious—but comfortably familiar—Mexican food in Miami. Highlights include the zesty and umami tiradito de kampachi made with fish flown in from Baja, and the pork belly al pastor plated with black beans and pineapple pico de gallo so you can build your own tacos on pressed-to-order masa tortillas. 

Time Out tip: The beverage program is equally as ambitious as the food here. Order the Mex-tlan, a gun-metal-hued coupe of mezcal, charred corn husk, and habanero, and you’ll see what we mean. 

Address: 2069 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33135

Opening hours: Wed–Sat 5:30–10pm; Sun noon–5:30pm

Expect to pay: Around $75 per person

What is it? This casual Little Havana dining room stays busy thanks to Rinconcito’s tasty, budget-friendly eats and the always fast, friendly service. 

Why we love it: The heaping portions of delicious Mexican food served here are not just a bargain, but they’re also really, really good—simple, well-seasoned, and with all the accouterments you’d expect from an authentic Mexican joint. The chorizo queso fundido is a bubbling, cheesy, meat-filled dream of a starter, and the tacos are stuffed full of proteins.

Time Out tip: Order the homemade arroz con leche for dessert, and peruse the on-site bakery before you leave for tasty to-go treats like conchas.

Address: 1961 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33135

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 10am–9:30pm; Fri, Sat 10am–10pm; Sun 10am–9pm

Expect to pay: Around $20 per person

What is it? This Mexico City restaurant, which also had a former life in Los Angeles, specializes in Baja cuisine, emphasizing fresh seafood and shareable plates you can easily picture yourself enjoying on a Mexican beach.

Why we love it: If you only eat one thing, let it be the tostada de atun with crispy fried shallots—it rivals anything I’ve had at Mexico City’s famed seafood restaurant Contramar. The aguachile negro is a very close second, with sliced poached shrimp and avocado swimming in a mildly spicy, ink-colored onion ash sauce.

Time Out tip: Having dined here solo and as part of a very large group, I can tell you Cha Cha Cha is a one-size-fits-most type of restaurant, especially if you have a taste for tequila-based cocktails and anything atop or inside a freshly made tortilla.

Address: 2637 N Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33127

Opening hours: Wed, Thu 5–10pm; Fri 5–11pm; Sat noon–11pm; Sun noon–10pm

Expect to pay: Around $50 to $100 per person, depending on if it’s an occasion margs (is it ever not?)

What is it? Taquiza is known for its nixtamalized, organic masa tortillas, which are stone-ground daily and carry a menu of delicious Mexican street fare. Get them as soft yellow corn tacos or crispy blue totopos with an order of guac. As for the tacos, Taquiza serves theirs simply, topped with a flavorful protein or veggie and optional cilantro and raw onions you add yourself. 

Why we love it: The new Little River location gives diners a peek into the nixtamalization process, with views of the factory as the corn is transformed into masa and then pressed into pretty little tortillas with the perfect amount of bite. Pair your meal with house-made aguas frescas, like horchata or jamaica, or go for a local or beer or glass of organic sparkling rosé.

Time Out tip: Don’t leave out the house-made salsas, including the tingly chile de árbol made with red chiles and a touch of sweet pepper. The hot sauces and tortillas are available to purchase for home from the on-site market.

Address: 8246 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33138

Opening hours: Daily noon–9pm

Expect to pay: Around $30 will get you a pair of tacos, a drink and one or two shared apps to share with a friend.

What is it? The Mexican arrives in Brickell Key in bold fashion, bringing its Big Dallas Energy from the Lone Star State to one of Miami’s ritziest waterfront enclaves. Its Monterrey-born owner replicates the success of his original here, combining refined Northern Mexican cuisine, inventive craft cocktails and an extensive tequila and mezcal program in a dazzling indoor-outdoor space.

Why we love it: With floor-to-ceiling windows that perfectly frame the calm waters, lush trees and towering skyscrapers of the Brickell waterfront, dining at The Mexican feels like a special occasion. In fact, you’ll encounter no shortage of sparkly dresses and celebratory glasses of champagne clinking throughout a meal here. If you’re with a group, put in an order of the lobster elote—it’s delicious and far too decadent for a table of two. The campechana dessert is similarly large enough to feed a table of four, and stunning to behold.

Time Out tip: Book a table on the patio during brunch for an extra special weekend outing on the water. 

Address: 601 Brickell Key Dr #100, Miami, FL 33131

Opening hours: Sun–Wed noon–10pm; Thu noon–11pm; Fri, Sat noon–midnight

Expect to pay: $100 to upwards of $150 per person, especially if you’re celebrating something

What is it? Cantina is Miami’s answer to the spate of high-end restaurants you might find in Mexico City, located at the base of the swanky W Hotel. It’s a sprawling space with soaring ceilings and a buzzing indoor bar, plus an outdoor terrace overlooking the Brickell waterfront.

Why we love it: The margaritas are massive and the roving live mariachi band (typically starting after 8:30pm) makes for a good time. The dishes coming out of the open kitchen represent Mexico’s regional highlights, many swathed in handmade tortillas and several smothered in house-made sauces made in a molcajete.

Time Out tip: Happy hour is a lively scene, especially on a Friday after the Brickell offices let out. Take a seat at the stunning bar, inspired by the geometry of Mexican Art Deco architecture, and enjoy half-off select bar bites and drinks from 4 to 7pm.

Address: 495 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131

Opening hours: Mon–Wed 12:30pm–11pm; Thu 12:30pm–midnight; Fri 12:30pm–1am; Sat noon–1am; Sun 11am–11pm

Expect to pay: Around $100 per person

What is it? This MiMo walk-up window on Biscayne Boulevard serves some of Miami's best birria tacos, paired with the perfect consommé dip for the meaty, cheesy filling. But the classics here really shine, especially the carnitas.

Why we love it: If you're seeking something a bit more substantial, the steak burrito stuffed with crispy potatoes never disappoints, and the nachos with a generous side of melted queso mixto are truly addictive. The vibe here is very casual: order from the window and enjoy your street eats roadside with a Mexican Coke.

Time Out tip: There’s only a smattering of outdoor seating, but not to worry: if you order to-go, it travels extremely well. (Take it from someone who’s ordered Uptown takeout literally dozens of times.)

Address: 6600 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138

Opening hours: Sun–Thu 11am–2am; Fri, Sat 11am–4am

Expect to pay: Around $25 per person

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What is it? From the Ortiz family, which pioneered authentic Mexican cuisine in South Beach with neighborhood favorite El Rancho Grande, comes Sunset Harbour’s Tequiztlan Tequileria and Cocina Mexicana. Much like its predecessor (Tequiztlan is an evolved, more refined version of El Rancho), the restaurant serves true Mexican cooking, only this time paired with a variety of top-shelf tequilas and mezcals.

Why we love it: This is a true neighborhood gem, with generous specials like 15% off the entire menu for lunch and happy hours Monday through Saturday from 4 to 7pm. We’re fans of the weekend brunch, when you can order excellent chilaquiles and pair them with a michelada or potent carajillo cocktail to finish.

Time Out tip: For a boozy spin on a classic, order one of the spiked Jarritos on a hot day. We’re partial to the Guava con Lava, a Guava Jarritos spiked with tequila and spicy Caged Heat syrup.

Address: 1884 Bay Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Opening hours: Mon–Wed 5–10pm; Thu noon–10pm; Fri, Sat 5–11pm; Sun noon–8pm

Expect to pay: $50 to $75 per person

What is it? Wynwood’s answer to Tulum’s eco-chic restaurants is a stunner, with an airy dining room and a perpetually buzzing covered patio dimly lit by woven-basket lanterns. This cacti-lined mainstay on Northwest Second Avenue has managed to stay relevant for nearly a decade thanks to its inviting atmosphere, wood-fire cooking and legit nixtamal tortillas made with ancestral corn imported from Mexico.

Why we love it: More is more at Bakan, where over 500 types of mezcal line the walls. Once you land on one, follow the menu’s color-coded pairing guide to find its delicious taco match. Or just go straight to the queso fundido and short rib tacos—you can’t go wrong.

Time Out tip: Bakan also has another gorgeous outpost, KoKo by Bakan, in Coconut Grove.

Address: 2801 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33127

Opening hours: Thu–Sat noon–2am; Sun–Wed noon–11pm

Expect to pay: Around $75 per person

What is it? This adorable beachside cafe on the ground level of the Stanton Hotel brings chilled-out Mexican surf culture to Miami Beach’s South of Fifth neighborhood. Expect kitschy wall art and traditional cantina decor paired with a menu of Baja-inspired seafood and tacos. 

Why we love it: The all-day menu is filled with the kind of stuff you’d want to eat with a bit of salt in your hair and sand in your toes: shrimp aguachile, Baja fish tacos, crispy tuna tostadas. There are also plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, like battered cauliflower tacos and a rainbow-hued quinoa and greens salad.

Time Out tip: It’s right next to the beach. Order your meal to-go and make a picnic of it.

Address: 161 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 6:30am–9pm; Sat, Sun 7am–9pm

Expect to pay: About $30 to $50 per person

What is it? This Monterrey-born taquería with a second Miami location in Wynwood is known for its Northern Mexico-style street tacos made with meat shaved from the traditional “trompo” rotating spit. 

Why we love it: With its bright lighting, subway-tiled walls and casual green folding chairs circled around diner-style tables, Atarantados feels like an authentic taqueria, with a menu of chef-driven Mexican street food that can be enjoyed from lunchtime until 3am on the weekends. Stick with the tacos and, when in doubt, order the Trompo Surtido, a flavorful mix of al pastor beef and pork in corn tortillas with pineapple.

Time Out tip: Happy hour specials run Monday through Friday from 4 to 7pm, when $7 margaritas, $5 tequilas and $5 Coronas go down extra smooth with a couple of juicy trompo tacos. Or go late and make it a night out at Sala de Despecho, the lively cocktail and karaoke bar located just inside.

Address: 1250 S Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33130

Opening hours: Sun–Tue 11:30am–midnight; 11:30am–1am; Thu–Sat 11:30am–3am

Expect to pay: Around $25 to $75 per person, depending on if you’re adding drinks to the mix