If you live in the area, you may have wondered where the 15 best Mexican restaurants in Arlington, TX are.
Sure, you could hear of great restaurants through word of mouth or do your research, but why? This list gives you the best of the best with pricing, links, locations, and reviews.
Mariano’s Hacienda
$$ | (817) 640-5118 | WEBSITE
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Mariano’s Hacienda has been serving up scrumptious Mexican food in Arlington since 1971. Start out with some home-cooked queso or table side guacamole.
Signature entrees include spicy black bean chicken Verde, poblano al carbon, and the best Tex-Mex tacos you’ll ever find. And don’t forget their fantastic frozen margaritas!
Uncle Julio’s
$$ | (682) 360-0800 | WEBSITE
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Who doesn’t want an uncle that cooks the best Mexican and the best margaritas? Uncle Julio’s appetizers include a nacho appetizer bar for four, honey habanera shrimp, and made in-house guacamole.
But save room for the entree! Julio’s famous fajitas are just that! Your choice of meat with grilled veggies, Pico de Gallo, guacamole, cotija cheese, cilantro rice, and beans with corn or flour tortillas – sure to make your mouth water!
Or try their savory Tex-Mex enchiladas or tacos. If you still have room afterward, get an order of sopapillas to complete your dining experience.
Lupe’s Tex Mex
$$ | (817) 460-6661 | WEBSITE
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Lupe’s takes Tex Mex to a whole new level with its camarones al mojo de ajo, Family specials include the Bedford Special, Chabelita’s, and Spinich Enchiladas.
All family specials come with rice and beans. Give Lupe’s rib-eye a try – you’ll be glad you did! Did someone say homemade tamales?
Lupe’s has lunch specials from 11 am – 2 pm, Monday through Friday. For dessert, try Flan Napolitano or the tres leches cake.
Freebirds World Burrito
$$ | (817) 468-5300 | WEBSITE
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Are you craving a tasty burrito? Freebird’s World Burrito has burritos for any size of appetite: half-bird, freebird, monster, and super monster.
But if you are trying to cut back on carbs, try their bowls with your favorite sauce (ranging from “just enough heat” to “dang, that’s hot”.
Freebirds nachos are piled high with your favorite fresh ingredients. Are you feeding the whole family? Try one of their family meal kits.
Gloria’s Latin Cuisine
$$ | (817) 701-2981 | WEBSITE
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Gloria’s Latin Cuisine offers you the best of both Mexican and Latin American food. Gloria’s has fan favorites for lunch, like sop del poll, tortilla soup, and ceviche chimichurri salad.
For dinner, you will enjoy entrees such as tamales (handmade and wrapped in banana leaves), Carne Flameada, Churrasco Tipico, grilled quail, and Pescado Acajutla.
After dinner, you may want to stay for a night of salsa dancing with live local bands.
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop
$ | (817) 265-8226 | WEBSITE
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Mexican food doesn’t have to be expensive to be good! If you are in the mood for a quick taco, Fuzzy’s has a variety of different tacos – ground beef, pork, chicken, brisket, shrimp, mahi, avocado, and veggie.
Fuzzy’s Mexican plates are so tasty and each comes with an option of two sides. And you can’t beat the chips and salsa!
Los Jarros Restaurant
$ | (817) 277-7245 | WEBSITE
Sometimes the smaller places offer great value and that is the case with Los Jarros Restaurant! The enchilada and taco plate is plentiful with beans, rice, and a side salad.
Do you want something a little beefier? Try the steak ranchero plate with 8 ounces of charbroiled perfection! You can also create your own combo plate, or try the Milanesa, with sirloin steak, rice, fries, and a salad.
Pappasito’s Cantina
$$ | (817) 795-3535 | WEBSITE
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Yes, it is a chain restaurant, but Pappasito’s Cantina still serves delicious food! Stop by on a Wednesday for the Fajita Wednesdays special – enough to serve the whole family!!
Or, you can get one of five different Fajita nacho plates. Their Baja fish tacos are the best you will find this side of the border. If you are craving seafood, you want to try the Plato San Juan.
El Arroyo
$$ | (817) 468-2557 | WEBSITE
El Arroyo has great queso, but order the queso mix, and you can add any of your favorites, such as chicken, refried beans, or fresh jalapenos. If you are looking for an appetizer with a little heat, try the shrimp diablo.
Juarez tacos come with grilled tequila lime chicken, or get the Tacos Al Pastro with marinated pork, pineapple, and onion. All combo plates come with rice, beans, and your choice of an enchilada, taco, or tamale.
If you want Mexican food but are trying to eat light, try the Southwest salad!
Mercado Juarez Restaurant
$$ | (817) 557-9776 | WEBSITE
The Mercado Jarez Restaurant is the place to go if you want fajitas. Their sizzlin’ specialties include gulf shrimp, mesquite roasted young goat, charbroiled chicken, beef skirt steak, pork, and you can get them for one, two, or four people!
They also serve especialidades de la casa (specials of the house), like Pescadao a la Plancha (lightly breaded Tilapia), Pollo Loma Linda (seasoned chicken), Camaron al Chipoltle (sauteed shrimp), and Carne Asada.
If you want something a little more traditional, take a look at their traditional style menu. Don’t forget the chorizo fundido flameado, flamed at your table!
Cartel Taco
$ | (817) 200-6364 | WEBSITE
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Sometimes you need a quick, delicious grab-n-go taco and Cartel Taco has some of the best in Arlington! Build your own taco box with either four or eight tacos filled with your choice of protein, two sides, and chips with salsa.
Not quite that hungry? Grab the fire stix (5 fried pepperjack sticks coated with bread crumbs), shrimp cartel, or six-layer dip.
Or, purchase individual tacos stuffed full of beef, barbacoa, pork chicken, salmon, shrimp, mahi, or veggies. Be sure to give the Kentucky bourbon bacon beans a try!
Taco Bueno
$ | (817) 402-3221 | WEBSITE
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Don’t have time for a sit down meal? Taco Bueno offers fast Mexican food at its best! The seriously saucy fish or shrimp tacos are seriously mouthwatering!
For those with bigger appetites, try the Big Freak’n Taco, Burrito, or Wholotta platter! Vegetarians will love choosing from the non-meat options like the potato burrito, bean burrito, and cheese quesadilla.
Check out the party burrito, party tostada, extra cheesy party taco, or grilled taco rollup on the value menu if you are on a budget.
Candlelite Inn Restaurant
$$ | (817) 275-9613 | WEBSITE
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The Candlelite Inn Restaurant combines local historical charm with delectable Mexican food.
While it was the first restaurant to offer pizza in Arlington (and it still does!), the Candlelite Inn also offers tasty guacamole and jalapeno cheese dip, a Mexican salad dinner, beef, bean, and cheese chalupas, and nachos.
This is a great place if someone wants Mexican, someone wants pizza, and someone wants Italian (the spaghetti is to die for!).
El Fenix Mexican Restaurant
$$ | (817) 557-4309 | WEBSITE
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If you look at the pictures of El Fenix Mexican dishes on their website, they will definitely make your mouth water!
Try the Botana Sampler with nachos, flautas, a Quesadilla, and guacamole, and queso if you want to start the meal with a little of everything.
Entrees include Tex-Mex classics like chile relleno, chalupas, and tamales. If you are looking for something different, check out one of the Martinez Family Favorites. And what? They have award-winning margaritas (voted best reader’s choice).
El Ranchito
$$ | (817) 987-4560 | WEBSITE
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If you are looking for an authentic Mexican restaurant, El Ranchito is the real deal! Try the Choriqueso appetizer – flamed at your table.
For a northern Mexican delicacy, try the Cabrito Al Horno – grilled baby goat served with rice, beans, guacamole, and Pico de gallo.
The Guiso Norteno is beef or chicken stewed in salsa and finished with melted cheese on top. And you won’t find any better veggie than its Elotes – corn on the cob with creme Mexicana topped with cayenne and chili powder.
Summary
You don’t want to waste your time visiting restaurants that offer mediocre or bad food.
Whether it is fast food, traditional Mexican food, or Tex-Mex, this list of 15 Best Mexican Restaurants in Arlington, TX gives you plenty of options, regardless of your budget.
Paula’s on Arkansas is the best authentic, in Arlington. Period.