Diners' Choice: Mexican restaurants in San Francisco Bay Area

OpenTable

Updated 05 January 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Mexican cuisine in San Francisco Bay Area? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyses more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favourites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Tacolicious - Marina

4.7

4.7 (51)

$30 and under

Mexican

Marina / Cow Hollow / Presidio

About the restaurant

Tacolicious is a casual, modern Mexican restaurant with locations in San Francisco, Palo Alto and Manhattan Beach (LA). We source our ingredients responsibly, take our tacos as seriously as our cocktails, and offer a fun sit-down, full-service experience. We have outdoor dining and private rooms and do off-site catering. Go to tacolicious.com for more information; catering requests can be sent to events@tacolicious.com.

Questions? Please email us at marina_management@tacolicious.com. We reply to emails quickly!

Top review

Kristina

Dined on 15 Dec 2024

Loved our dinner experience at Tacolicious. Reese took such great care of us!

Bar Camino

4.6

4.6 (246)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Walnut Creek

About the restaurant

Good food, good mood.

Bar Camino puts a fresh twist on Mexican-Latin food favorites, highlighting the influence of traditional Mexican ingredients and flavors throughout Latin America. The restaurant’s worldly take on Mexican cuisine includes dishes ranging from a traditional skirt steak ranchero plate to a refined King salmon with fresh plantains and cilantro rice.

Our décor combines contemporary and traditional aesthetics, with neon lights, a refinished cypress king’s table that seats twelve, and a patio featuring picnic-style tables with bright blue umbrellas.

The bar program is similarly eclectic, with a play on a dirty martini with tequila shaken tableside and tropical drinks featuring fresh strawberry, mango, and hibiscus flavors. Bar Camino will feature happy hour Monday through Friday – from 3-5 PM and a “reverse happy hour” Thur-Sat from 8 PM until close.

Top review

EricVIP

Dined on 8 Jan 2025

Made reservations to have dinner during happy hour. Definitely coming back to take advantage of that menu! The tacos were delicious and the margaritas were refreshing. Not to mention that the chips and salsa were top-notch

Hercules Draft House & Cantina

4.8

4.8 (56)

$30 and under

Mexican

Los Gatos

About the restaurant

STEP INTO THE WORLD OF GOOD TIMES AND GREAT EATS AT HERCULES DRAFT HOUSE & CANTINA, LOCATED IN THE HEART OF LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA. OUR LIVELY BAR AND RESTAURANT IS THE PERFECT DESTINATION FOR FRIENDS AND SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS ALIKE, OFFERING A FUN ATMOSPHERE, DELICIOUS FOOD, AND THE BEST PLACE TO CATCH ALL THE BIGGEST GAMES ON TV. WHETHER YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A NIGHT OUT WITH FRIENDS, A PLACE TO ENJOY A GREAT MEAL, OR A SPOT TO CHEER ON YOUR FAVORITE TEAM, HERCULES DRAFT HOUSE & CANTINA IS THE PLACE TO BE. SO COME ON IN, GRAB A COLD DRINK, SINK INTO A COMFORTABLE SEAT, AND GET READY FOR A TRULY UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE.

Top review

Ann

Dined on 21 Dec 2024

Needed a last minute table for 14 and Hercules provided a great table and meal!! Recommend that parking recommendations be added to website-across street behind Chase works SO much better then behind restaurant.

Tia Margarita

4.8

4.8 (149)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Richmond District

About the restaurant

Serving San Francisco's Richmond since 1963, Tia Margarita is a landmark, award-winning restaurant that offers traditional Mexican recipes and FRESH LIME margaritas in a friendly and energetic atmosphere. The restaurant’s menu features an appealing range of appetizers, salads, dinner entrees and menu specials. Kickstart your appetite with some Gambas Nachos and then feast on our signature Carne Asada. Other menu highlights include the sizzling Fajitas, Chili Rellenos and the Jennie's Special.

This family-owned restaurant is an ideal place to socialize with friends and relax. Recently awarded the #4 out of 50, as the MOST FUN RESTAURANTS in the city by the San Francisco Chronicle. The restaurant is typically packed during the week, especially over the dinner window. Tia Margarita is open every day except for Mondays.

Top review

MikeVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Great food, strong margaritas and a vibe like everyone knows each other. Great neighborhood place!

San Agus Cocina Urbana & Cocktails

4.6

4.6 (103)

$30 and under

Mexican

Palo Alto

About the restaurant

Discover San Agus Cocina Urbana & Cocktails, a neighborhood hangout in Palo Alto where friends and strangers come together to enjoy crafted urban street bites, beers, and cocktails. Whether you’re looking for a casual spot to unwind or a vibrant place to connect, our welcoming atmosphere and creative menu make every visit memorable. Don’t forget to ask about our artisanal selection of agave spirits.

Top review

Carol

Dined on 30 Dec 2024

Love this restaurant- servers and the bartender are the best!!!

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Experience

Happy Hour: A Taste of Mexico City

Distrito Federal

4.7

4.7 (107)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Campbell

About the restaurant

Discover the vibrant flavors of Mexico City at Distrito Federal, where each visit promises a uniquely crafted dining experience. Our skilled chefs are committed to using only the finest ingredients, ensuring every dish celebrates the authenticity of traditional Mexican cuisine. Our cocktail menu is equally enchanting, highlighting fresh produce and house-pressed juices that blend seamlessly with top-tier spirits and liqueurs. This thoughtful pairing enhances our premium dishes and elevates your dining experience.
At Distrito Federal, we're not just about dining; we're about creating memorable moments. Our swanky atmosphere, combined with exemplary service, ensures that every guest feels at home. Whether you're a food enthusiast seeking new culinary horizons or a cocktail aficionado in search of perfection, join us and become part of the Distrito Federal family. Indulge in delicious eats, soak in the chic ambiance, and relish an experience like no other.

Top review

BradVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Love this place for creative cocktails, great food, and a very friendly staff. Jonathan and Gabriel at the bar, and Patrick at the front all do amazing work and really work hard all night to keep everyone happy.

Elena's

4.7

4.7 (524)

$30 and under

Mexican

Forest Hill / West Portal

About the restaurant

Welcome to Elena's -- a place where a family’s love for authentic Mexican food is celebrated and combined with California-inspired elements and signature Mexican-American dishes. We offer reservations for up to 8 guests via OpenTable. At the time of your reservation, we kindly request the entire party be present to be seated. Tables will be held for up to 10 minutes after the reservation time. For parties that arrive later, the table will be released but we will do our best to accommodate the reservation with the next available table. Reservation requests via phone or email are not available at this time. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to welcoming you to Elena’s!

Top review

Beth

Dined 4 days ago

Excellent service. Great ambience. Large portions. Guacamole was great. Entree was good not great but I would definitely go back.

Rancho Cantina

4.8

4.8 (46)

$30 and under

Mexican

Lafayette

About the restaurant

Rancho Cantina is a Mexican restaurant serving traditional cuisines with a dash of contemporary flavors. The restaurant has a chic and stylish yet elegant interior with warm ambience and comfortable furnishings. The place is good for dinner and offers a casual dining space to hang out with friends or family. Rancho Cantina has a full alcohol bar and offers outdoor seating for a refreshing experience. Television and free Wi-Fi are also available here. Rancho Cantina is known to be serving delectable Mexican cuisine varieties. Some of the popular choices at the restaurant include chicken taco, cheese quesadilla, guacamole, steamed mussels, carne asada, adobe brick chicken, fish tacos, vegetarian quesadilla, enchilada variety and grilled chicken. The restaurant also serves scrumptious desserts, appetizers, salads and sides.

Top review

Michael

Dined 5 days ago

Best dinner and service ever your the greatest. Our guest were so impressed, and asked when we can get together for great food and drinks at the Cantina. See you soon like may be next week.

Los Agaves Napa

4.7

4.7 (467)

$30 and under

Mexican

Napa

About the restaurant

Ricky is the owner of Los Agaves Napa. Look familiar? The past 20 years he has worked at some of the best restaurants in the Napa Valley including working as a cook at Tra Vigne, front of house at La Toque, and as a manager at Bistro Don Giovanni. He knows the importance of great service, quality, and consistency of food. With 20 years of restaurant experience and passion for his heritage he hopes to bring Napa a small taste of Mexico.

Top review

MelissaVIP

Dined on 24 Dec 2024

We absolutely love this place! The food is amazing and the drinks so yummy. They put an interesting spin on everything they do.

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