Compiling Monterey’s top Mexican restaurants sparked an immediate debate: What defines ‘authentic’? Is it the family recipes passed down generations, or the modern fusion that reimagines tradition? Does the best taco stand count if it lacks table service? Our quest for answers led us to these twelve exceptional spots.
La Casa del Sazón 3
$ | (831) 855-8863 | WEBSITE
It’s surprisingly hard to find authentic Mexican food in Monterey that doesn’t feel mass-produced, which is why a visit to La Casa del Sazón 3 feels like discovering a hidden gem. Half-cozy neighborhood spot, half-culinary destination, we find ourselves heading to this welcoming restaurant whenever the craving for handmade corn tortillas strikes. Which, to be honest, happens more often than we’d like to admit.
The menu features standout dishes like the molcajete that’s truly out of this world and burritos that come in delicious variations including surf and turf, California, and Monterey. They’re served with obvious care and attention, and for about $12-18 per entrée, represent some of the best value for quality Mexican cuisine in the area.
The shrimp and fish tacos alone are worth the trip—they’re absolutely to die for—and the freshly made guacamole with those thick homemade tortilla chips creates the perfect start to any meal. With its warm atmosphere and staff who genuinely go out of their way to help, this place has become our go-to for those moments when only authentic flavors will do.
La Bahia Mexican Restaurant
$ | (831) 884-5269 | WEBSITE
Monterey has no shortage of solid Mexican spots (what’s up El Torito, looking at you Rosita’s), but let’s get this straight: La Bahia is the best. This unassuming gem has been serving authentic, fresh dishes for years, like shrimp tacos, fish plates, and a beautifully simple beef taco that’s absolutely amazing. However, you’re here for the quesabirria tacos. They’re La Bahia’s signature of tender birria tucked into warm tortillas with melted cheese and served with a rich consommé for dipping.
They are perfect, they are euphoric, and if we could vote these tacos into public office, we would. The friendly service, good music, and family-like atmosphere—despite the limited seating—make every visit feel like coming home, all for prices that won’t break the bank.
Urban Kitchen Catering & Events
$$ | (831) 583-7307 | WEBSITE
Urban Kitchen Catering & Events is far more of a catering company than a standard restaurant, but almost everyone who visits is there to enjoy a meal. The only consistent offering you’ll find is their signature clam chowder, which can be discovered each day freshly prepared and available for takeout at their Monterey location. It’s also remarkably satisfying: just a rich, creamy base with tender clams, potatoes, and a hint of seasoning in a generously portioned bowl.
You, along with dozens of other customers on their lunch break, will order it, pay around $12 for a bowl, and revel in the fact that you’re eating something this delicious at your desk or in your car after a quick pickup. The space itself is functional and clean, with bright lighting and a simple counter setup that emphasizes efficiency over ambiance, making it perfect for those seeking quality without the fuss.
Renee and the staff handle everything with such attentive professionalism that even a simple to-go order feels thoughtfully executed, ensuring you’ll be back for more whether it’s a quick bite or planning your next event.
El Cantaro
$ | (831) 646-5465 | WEBSITE
We were disappointed when Monterey’s vegan scene lacked truly satisfying Mexican options, but fortunately, culinary gaps never stay empty for long.
And that gap is now filled by El Cantaro, the plant-based haven in Monterey that serves the same flavorful dishes all day long, including picture-perfect spinach enchiladas with mild red sauce and pinto beans, a crispy take on potato tacos with warm fillings and outer crunch, and three hearty tostadas that are essentially seasoned feasts on crisp shells.
They’re all winners, but the mushroom taco with its juicy umami richness in particular will have you planning your next visit before you’ve even finished.
El Charrito Express
$ | (831) 884-5143 | WEBSITE
El Charrito Express is a grab-and-go Mexican spot in Monterey that makes freshly made tortillas and burritos. That’s the word for authentic Mexican street food, or as we like to call it, another killer burrito joint in California. The incredible tortillas are made in-house (some of the freshest around) and are soft and pliable on the inside, and perfectly charred on the outside.
El Charrito brings the fillings to the party, and the results are glorious: burrito de asada with rice and green salsa, cheesy goodness punched up with fresh guacamole, and chips with a hit of hibiscus drink refreshment.
Dos Victorias Mexican Food
$ | (831) 372-7298 | WEBSITE
Dos Victorias Mexican Food isn’t the first taqueria tucked away in Monterey—they’re not even the first one to occupy the space they’re in. But tucked away or not, this is one of our favorite places to get Mexican food in the neighborhood.
If you’re really hungry, get the ‘Carne Asada Super burrito’—a hefty wrap packed with grilled steak, rice, beans, and guacamole—or the ‘shrimp burrito,’ which is a flour tortilla stuffed with plump shrimp, pico de gallo, and that essential extra scoop of guacamole inside. Order a side of the crispy fish tacos to balance everything all out.
Papa Chano’s
$ | (831) 747-2007 | WEBSITE
Tell anyone in the Monterey area that you’re craving Mexican food and they’ll be like, “Please bring me a chicken super burrito.” And unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that they’re not asking you for a new pet, they’re asking you for Papa Chano’s most famous dish: a massive wrap of seasoned chicken, beans, rice, cheese, and salsa in a delightfully soft tortilla.
This popular Mexican spot makes plenty of good dishes besides the chicken super burrito, too—like their authentic tacos, tamales, and nachos—but if we’re picking one, it’s going to be the burrito.
Taqueria Del Mar
$ | (831) 372-7887 | WEBSITE
This Mexican taqueria on Cannery Row serves fantastic, fresh food with a cozy, mom-and-pop vibe. The seafood chimichanga comes hot and golden, filled with a creamy mix of tender fish and shrimp, the fish taco with rice and beans is a local favorite, and the chorizo burrito bursts with flavor.
You might leave with salsa on your fingers from the squeeze bottles, but the welcoming counter service and its front-row kitchen action make Taqueria Del Mar one of the most satisfying meals and best family spots in Monterey.
Lopez Taqueria & Liquor
$ | (831) 760-8811 | WEBSITE
This Monterey spot has been serving up some of the best tacos you’ll find along the California coast, with a casual, no-frills vibe that keeps people coming back. The operation specializes in satisfying Mexican classics like chorizo breakfast burritos, shrimp burritos with jumbo shrimp, and those praised affordable tacos. Lopez Taqueria has expanded its offerings over the years though, and boasts a great selection of tequilas, including hard-to-find brands.
If you want a heartier meal, go for the shrimp burrito—it’s a perfect combination of great rice and beans, fresh salsa, and that soft, warm tortilla. All these fresh, flavorful components come together quickly with the friendly staff and positive atmosphere, making for a simple and satisfying experience.
Nacho Bizness
$ | (831) 917-8293 | WEBSITE
Whenever we roll into Monterey, there are two things on our minds. The first is finding parking, and the second is the Carne Asada nachos from Nacho Bizness. Is Nacho Bizness a traditional Mexican restaurant? Maybe not, considering they’re open all day and offer burritos, burrito bowls, crispy asada fries, etc. But Nacho Bizness excels in the nacho department. The chips are fried in-house, and the toppings hit that cliche California sweet spot of generous portions and well-sourced ingredients.
The Carne Asada nachos are our old faithful because of how the melted cheese, fresh salsa, seasoned meat, and creamy guacamole layer onto the crispy chips and top-shelf carne asada. But we also work the burritos, burrito bowls, and other nacho varieties into the rotation.
El Torito
$$ | (831) 373-0611 | WEBSITE
This Monterey Mexican spot offers a delightful experience with incredible service, but if you skip the birria tacos, you’ve made a grande error. The menu features classic dishes that are consistently good, built with quality ingredients and attentive care from servers like Mari Cruz and Valiente. We love the relleno with its rich flavors, but if you’re only ordering one thing, make it the birria tacos.
The combo of tender meat/crispy tortilla/aromatic broth has become a Mexican restaurant staple these days, but the version at El Torito has our full allegiance—even an 11-year-old we know is hooked. The Sunday brunch showcases an immense selection of delicious food with extra effort, and you can enjoy views of otters and seals in the bay while dining.
Yes, the large, open space can get noisy on weekends, and service could be improved compared to other locations, but the overall experience remains thoroughly enjoyable.
Antojito’s Del Rancho Quesabírría Truck
$ | (831) 905-1695 | WEBSITE
Monterey is packed with upscale Mexican restaurants. But it only takes one bite of the chorizo-stuffed taco at Antojito’s Del Rancho to know this roadside truck is doing something special. This humble steel box of a food truck grills its tortillas fresh, blending the tender, juicy fillings of birria and a crispy-edged quesabirria that glistens like a copper skillet.
If you visited Antojito’s catering events, you know these tacos are roughly the size of a paperback novel and not strictly traditional. Get the al pastor with its perfectly marinated meat and caramelized onions, or the fish taco with its flaky filet, crisp cabbage, and lime crema, and an order of consome for good measure.
