The 10 Best Mexican Restaurants in Louisiana! By
Penny Fox
The simplicity of authentic Mexican food is what draws people, but when integrated with great service, other international culinary influences, and a full bar, you’ve got a winning combination. Below are 10 of the best Mexican restaurants in Louisiana from which you can choose to celebrate with your special someone, family, friends, or coworkers. Whatever gets you there, you can be sure you’ll have a fiesta of flavor.
1. El Compadre Mexican Restaurant, Shreveport, LA
If you want authentic Mexican food, visit El Compadre Mexican Restaurant in Shreveport, Louisiana. This is Mexican at its best from the enchiladas, burritos, and tacos, to the full line of adult beverages that go with them. Happy hour is every day from 3-7 p.m., and they also serve beer, wine, and specialty cocktails. Food specials are offered during the week, and they offer gluten-free items, too.
2. Taqueria Corona, New Orleans, LA
Are you looking for a place with great food, great service, and the feeling of home? Taqueria Corona in New Orleans is that kind of place. A unique blend of South-of-the-border and New Orleans flavors, what you have here is a favorite neighborhood where you can gather with friends and family and enjoy made-to-order platters of tacos, burritos, flautas, beans, rice, and lots more. A full bar is available to help wash down your meal, and gift certificates are available so you can invite a friend.
3. El Charro, Ville Platte, LA
El Charro in Ville Platte, Louisiana, is a great place to meet up with friends. Friendly servers, great food, fast service, and reasonable prices keep people coming back and result in high social media rankings. Considered to be one of the best Mexican restaurants in the area, something to try when you go is the white queso dip with chips.
4. La Palma, Thibodaux, LA
With the goal of not just meeting, but exceeding their customer’s expectations for great food and quality service, La Palma Restaurante Mexicano in Thibodaux, Louisiana, has been providing authentic Mexican dishes for over 12 years. Specialties include pollo relleno, marinated chicken breasts filled with poblano peppers (raised onsite), onions, and cheese, and served with beans, rice, and pico de gallo. They have a great menu for the little ones, too.
5. Felipe’s Mexican Taqueria, New Orleans, LA
The food philosophy at Felipe’s Mexican Taqueria in New Orleans, Louisiana, is that fresh authentic ingredients are the key to the best tasting food. That’s a philosophy that has been in practice for as long as the restaurant has been in operation and is what keeps people coming back. Everything at Felipe’s is made to order and offered at prices people can appreciate. The chimichangas, burritos, tacos, and other menu offerings are more than just good food-they’re a party in your mouth!
6. La Pagua, Lafayette, LA
Don’t let the small size of this eatery fool you. The food is good, and the flavors are big and bold. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, La Pagua Mexican Restaurant in Lafayette, Louisiana is your home away from Mexico hometown food. You’ll want to try the pork carnitas and crawfish enchiladas when you go.
7. The Velvet Cactus, Baton Rouge and New Orleans, LA
The owners of the Velvet Cactus believe that friends, family, and eating go hand-in-hand and they want to add Mexican-inspired foods to equal a great experience. This award-winning eatery has a beautiful outdoor patio area that can be used during good weather. The Velvet Cactus also believes in giving back to the community it serves by participating in and hosting fundraising events for groups like the Louisiana SPCA and local schools and festivals. They’re known for combining unusual flavors like the very popular watermelon salsa, shrimp and chorizo cheesecake, and Tex-Mex eggrolls. Eating at the Velvet Cactus isn’t just dining out. It’s a gastronomic adventure!
8. Iron Cactus, Calhoun, LA
The friendly and fun atmosphere is what beckons people in to taste the food at Iron Cactus in Calhoun, Louisiana. The great taste is what keeps them coming back. Specializing in the best Tex-Mex food in town has been the dream of guiding principle since the restaurant opened over seven years ago. This family-friendly restaurant has favorites like the avocado dippers appetizers, entrees like chimichangas, enchildads, tacos, and fajitas, with all the sides you like. They have a nice selection of domestic and imported beer, too. A kids’ menu is available, and they do catering.
9. Mestizo Restaurant, Baton Rouge, LA
Serving the Baton Rouge area for the past 15 years with a fun and festive atmosphere and a great dining experience is Mestizo’s. Combining a rich heritage of Mexican and Cajun-French influences, this is the perfect place for a first day for lunch or dinner. Open every day, there are happy hour specials that complement the menu very well. Suggestions include the duck taco, a sous vide duck breast with slaw, cilantro, pico, cotija, sliced avocado, and chimichurri sauce, one of the large-portioned bowls like the quinoa power bowl made with quinoa, spinach, chimichurri, onions, pico, avocado and cotija cheese, or a combination plate if you just can’t decide. Open every day, you can have them cater your next party, too.
10. El Gato Negro, New Orleans, LA
El Gato Negro in New Orleans is a tribute to family, and it’s the family recipes and over 30 years of culinary experience that makes this restaurant so popular. Great ingredients are the second step, and each order is made to your liking. Fresh homemade chimichurri and guacamole are great combinations with the exotic pineapple cilantro margarita, just one of the many extraordinary concoctions made here. They have an exciting offering of appetizers, salads, fajitas, quesadillas, and burritos, and specialty tequilas like Excellia, a combination of honey, caramelized pumpkin, and spices or the Casamigos, a buttery chocolate and pepper blend.
