Last Updated on January 14, 2024 by Emily Johnson
Sitting right along the Mexican border, it’s no surprise that Laredo is a paradise for incredible Mexican food. From tasty taco trucks to high-end Mexican cuisine, Laredo offers authentic south-of-the-border flavors.
| Restaurant | Specialty Highlight |
|---|---|
| Tacos El Regio | Famous for breakfast tacos, especially taco con chorizo. |
| Johnny Carino’s | Elevated Mexican dining with dishes like chicken chipotle pasta. |
| Danny’s Restaurant | Popular Tex-Mex cuisine, known for puffy tacos. |
| Taco Palenque | Fast service, famous for breakfast tacos like Machacado. |
| La Posada Hotel Restaurant | Upscale Mexican cuisine with regional ingredients. |
| Tacos Los Dos Laredos | Baja-style fish and shrimp tacos. |
| Habanero’s Mexican Grill | Intense flavors, known for dishes with habanero peppers. |
| El Meson De San Agustin | Upscale interior Mexican cuisine in a historic setting. |
| Taco Tote | Street tacos, famous for tacos al pastor. |
| Casa Mia Mexican Food | Old school Tex-Mex, known for chile con queso and enchiladas. |
| Jalisco Restaurant #2 | Best flautas in town, also known for camarones ala diabla. |
| La India Cuisine | Upscale interior Mexican cuisine with locally sourced ingredients. |
Here are 12 of the best places to savor Mexican food in Laredo.
Tacos El Regio
Name and Location: Tacos El Regio, located in downtown Laredo, Texas
History and Significance: Popular local taco shop known for its authentic street-style tacos al pastor since opening in the 1990s.
What to Expect: Tacos and other Mexican food like tortas, quesadillas, etc. Order at the counter, casual atmosphere.
Visitor Information: Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Ask any local where to find the best tacos in town and Tacos El Regio will inevitably come up. This beloved taco spot serves up steamy, freshly-made breakfast tacos all day long from their drive-thru window.
Favorites include the taco con chorizo and crisp potato and egg taco. Their flour tortillas are made in-house daily and perfect for overflowing with meat and fillings. It’s fast food at its finest.
Johnny Carino’s
Name and Location: Johnny Carino’s Italian restaurant in Laredo, Texas
History and Significance: Part of a national mid-priced Italian restaurant chain. Popular local location.
What to Expect: Italian American cuisine like pastas, pizzas, chicken, seafood. Full bar.
Visitor Information: Open daily for lunch and dinner.
For a more elevated Mexican dining experience, Johnny Carino’s delivers. Modern twists are put on classic dishes like fajitas, enchiladas, and chile rellenos.
Specialties not to miss include their chicken chipotle pasta baked with a spicy chipotle cream sauce and peppercorn crusted cabernet filet mignon served over roasted poblano mashed potatoes. Enjoy a margarita with your meal in the stylish but lively setting.
Danny’s Restaurant
Name and Location: Danny’s Mexican Restaurant in Laredo, Texas
History and Significance: Family-owned local favorite since 1971, well-known for Tex-Mex cuisine.
What to Expect: Tex-Mex favorites like fajitas, enchiladas, nachos, chilled margaritas.
Visitor Information: Open daily for lunch and dinner.
A favorite with locals, Danny’s Restaurant serves up delicious Tex-Mex cuisine in an unassuming dive restaurant environment.
Favorites include puffy tacos filled with shredded cheese and beef fajita, sizzling plates of fajitas, and chili con queso loaded with beef. They also serve excellent pozole and menudo soup. This family-run spot delivers big flavors without the pretense.
Taco Palenque
Name and Location: Taco Palenque, local chain with multiple locations in Laredo, Texas
History and Significance: Popular regional chain started in Laredo in 1987, known for its Tex-Mex food.
What to Expect: Tex-Mex tacos, tortillas, breakfast tacos. Fast order service.
Visitor Information: Open daily, hours vary by location.
Fast service and great prices make Taco Palenque a top choice for authentic Mexican food on the go. This Texas mini-chain is hugely popular for their breakfast tacos, especially the Machacado with scrambled eggs and shredded dried beef.
Their flour tortillas are made from scratch and perfect for tacos, quesadillas and tortas. You can’t go wrong with any menu item at this convenient local favorite.
La Posada Hotel Restaurant
Name and Location: The restaurant at La Posada Hotel in downtown Laredo, Texas
History and Significance: Elegant hotel restaurant open since the 1960s, features fine international cuisine.
What to Expect: Refined dishes, full bar, formal atmosphere with live music.
Visitor Information: Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Reservations recommended.
Located in the historic La Posada Hotel downtown, this elegant restaurant blends South Texas cuisine with traditional Mexican flavor.
Dishes showcase specialty regional ingredients like cabrito (goat), roasted poblano chiles and tender machaca beef. Seafood options like seared snapper and shrimp enchiladas are also excellent. Enjoy an artfully prepared meal in this beautiful Spanish hacienda setting.
Tacos Los Dos Laredos
Name and Location: Tacos Los Dos Laredos located in downtown Laredo, Texas
History and Significance: Popular local taco eatery featuring classic street-style tacos since 1996.
What to Expect: Authentic tacos al pastor, chorizo, carne asada. Order at the counter.
Visitor Information: Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
For delicious Baja-style fish and shrimp tacos, visit Tacos Los Dos Laredos. Lightly beer battered fish and shrimp fill soft corn tortillas topped with crunchy cabbage and creamy chipotle sauce.
The casual outdoor eatery also serves excellent tacos loaded with carne asada, chorizo and chicken. Pair your tacos with one of their refreshing aguas frescas in flavors like cucumber-lime, watermelon and strawberry.
Habanero’s Mexican Grill
Name and Location: Habanero’s Mexican Grill, located in south Laredo, Texas
History and Significance: Local family-owned Mexican restaurant open since 1985. Known for bold, spicy dishes.
What to Expect: Authentic Mexican food with signature habanero sauces. Full bar.
Visitor Information: Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Spice-lovers will relish the intense flavors at Habanero’s Mexican Grill. As the name implies, habanero peppers flavor many dishes like the Huichol beef soup swimming with sliced habaneros.
They also serve specialty drinks like Habanero Margaritas for those craving serious heat. Milder options are available too like their tender chicken fajitas, shrimp quesadillas and steak ranchero.
El Meson De San Agustin
Name and Location: El Meson De San Agustin in downtown Laredo, Texas
History and Significance: Historic restaurant located in building from 1840s. Features traditional Mexican/Spanish cuisine.
What to Expect: Refined dishes in elegant setting with outdoor courtyard.
Visitor Information: Open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner.
Tucked inside San Agustin Cathedral downtown, El Meson De San Agustin delivers upscale interior Mexican cuisine in an unbeatable setting.
Dishes artfully marry Mexican staples with global ingredients, like their short rib barbacoa osso bucco style served with blue cheese polenta. Save room for homemade flan or churros for dessert. It’s an indulgent meal inside historic temple walls.
Taco Tote
Name and Location: Taco Tote, local chain located throughout Laredo, Texas
History and Significance: Popular taco chain founded in Laredo in 1991, known for huge breakfast tacos.
What to Expect: Tex-Mex tacos, burritos, tortas, breakfast tacos. Order at the counter.
Visitor Information: Open daily, hours vary by location.
When only street tacos will do, hit up the famous Taco Tote. This open-air taco stand draws big crowds for their tasty tacos al pastor sliced right off the trompo rotisserie. Other winners include brisket tacos doused in flavorful tomatillo salsa and classic tacos de lengua.
Wash it all down with a Mexican fruit water or soda. Expect long lines during peak times for these drool-worthy tacos.
Casa Mia Mexican Food
Name and Location: Casa Mia Mexican Food in central Laredo, Texas
History and Significance: Local family-owned Tex-Mex restaurant operating since 1961.
What to Expect: Authentic Tex-Mex cuisine in cozy setting. Favorites like fajitas, flautas, enchiladas.
Visitor Information: Open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner.
Family owned since 1947, Casa Mia Mexican Food is an old school favorite. Their Tex-Mex classics hit the spot, especially the creamy chile con queso, sizzling plates of fajitas, and fluffy cheese enchiladas in chili gravy.
Strengths also include authentic dishes like caldo de res, menudo and tortas ahogadas. Enjoy homestyle flavors inside or on their patio.
Jalisco Restaurant #2
Name and Location: Jalisco Restaurant #2 in downtown Laredo, Texas
History and Significance: Local favorite since 1963, specializing in authentic Mexican food recipes.
What to Expect: Traditional dishes like mole, pozole, menudo. Full bar, mariachi music.
Visitor Information: Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Ask a local where to find the best flautas in town and they’ll send you straight to Jalisco Restaurant #2. These deep fried tacos wrapped in fluffy flour tortillas are filled with your choice of refried beans, shredded chicken or beef fajita.
Other menu stars include the smoky camarones ala diabla (shrimp in spicy sauce) and the artery-clogging chilaquiles with melted cheese.
La India Cuisine
Name and Location: La India Cuisine in south Laredo, Texas
History and Significance: Family-owned Indian restaurant opened in 2009, popular for authentic cuisine.
What to Expect: Extensive menu of Indian dishes like curry, tandoori, naan, samosas.
Visitor Information: Open daily for lunch and dinner. Dine-in and takeout available.
For upscale interior Mexican cuisine, make a reservation at La India Cuisine. Dishes offer elegant twists on classic recipes, like their shrimp ceviche spooned into a lime halves and goat cheese enchiladas topped with avocado sauce.
Many ingredients are sourced locally, including chile peppers from family farms. The hacienda style setting offers fine dining with warmth.
Conclusion
From street taco stands to white-tablecloth restaurants, Laredo provides Mexican food lovers with mouthwatering diversity. You’ll discover exhilarating flavor combos, regional specialties, and varieties perfect for all tastes and budgets.
Laredo’s culinaryscene seamlessly blends Mexican tradition with South Texas influences, much like the city’s culture. Whether grabbing brisket tacos on the go or savoring an upscale Mexican meal, Laredo’s incredible eats never disappoint.
