38 Best Mexican Restaurants near Waunakee

“Great food and atmosphere. One thing I really observed the other evening was how the staff are all smiling and the interaction with themselves. For as long as I've gone here, it's nice to see that they all enjoy working with each other as a family, and it shows.Thank you.“

“This place has the best food in all Southern WI, hands down. Beautiful people, food, and artistic atmosphere. Their Carne Asada is to die for every time I come! Everyone who wants good AUTHENTIC Mexican needs to come here at least once in their lives!“

“I ate here three times while visiting Madison over Christmas '22. The food was consistently excellent, especially the dishes with mole. I am probably being too strict in terms of quality of service, as some of the difficulties arose from the large number of diners over lunch. But that is itself something positive - proof of how good the food is.“

“Excellent food and excellent service. I usually get a burrito or a bowl at Chipotle, so I figured I would try that. A very nice employee named Dantee (pronounced Dante) recommended the "machete" instead. No joke, one of the best Latin cuisines I've ever eaten. I've never had one before, but I can say in earnest that it has become my new regular. The corn tortilla was fried and reminded me of being at the state fair. You build the rest of it out like you would a burrito at Chipotle, but the quality of the ingredients is far superior. The chicken was hot and juicy, the veggies and cheese were fresh, and the pico de gallo was *chefs kiss.* The ambiance was friendly and quiet. Great for talking with friends or just enjoying a nice lunch by yourself. I normally only go to Chipotle or Qdoba, but Vaqueros has moved up to my number 1 spot. I would and will drive across town - passing at least 1 Chipotle - to eat here moving forward. 11/10 strongly recommended.“

“Two words... STRAWBERRY HORCHATA! And in multiple sizes omg so good. The sweet corn really hits the spot as well. So far everything I've tried is authentic and incredible! Super friendly service and was made and delivered within 30 minutes of placing the order. This will be my new weekly “

“Wow wow wow!!!!! Best experience and best food you’ll ever find! I was in town visiting a family member and we decided on having tacos for dinner. Couldn’t recommend this place more and I will be back every time I come to visit Madison!! Phenomenal!!“

“I really like the food at this place but today, March 14, we came to eat and they served usEduardo, a super friendly man, Taqueria Guadalajara would love to have more workers. As the. We liked it as much as we did. I hope the owners of this place see this, congratulations for still having a good worker like Don Eduardo.“

“We've just moved into the area, and Aranda's was recommended to us by a few people. We've been there 4 times so far and have tried different meals each time. Everything that we've tried has consistently been anywhere from good to extremely good. The service has also been great. I believe this is going to be our preferred location for our regular Mexican food fix. Definitely recommended.“

“Great little place, taco Tuesday $1.99 each and Thursdays $1.99 each TamalesVery good price.. Hot and fresh coming out..Delicious sauceCame with friends that was Hype about the food.Ordered food was out in 5 minsDefine, be back... Define, be back“

“I love going here it's in my opinion one of the best places to get a fast and great tasting lunch or dinner. If you are thinking burrito or tacos I advise you to try it out. Barbacoa is my favorite but I haven't had anything here I wouldn't get again.“

“Absolutely love this restaurant. Been 4 times, and tried something new each time (except street corn, we always get the street corn). It’s not your common Mexican, much more authentic. Do yourself a favor and give it a try, the service and friendliness of the staff is also outstanding. Already one of my go-to places!Kid-friendliness: They understand the value of friendly service, and they try hard to do it well. Bravo.“

“Stopped by at the end of happy hour to check out dinner and drinks. Sat by the window and had a view of King St festivities and the capital. Had the shrimp fajitas and birra tacos. The fajitas were a good portion size and flavorful. The tacos were good as well. Would recommend for Mexican food in downtown Madison.“

“The friendliest restaurant I’ve been to in a long time. The food was hot and came out within 10 minutes. Not only will I go back but I would recommend this restaurant to anyone.Kid-friendliness: The servers were extremely kind and my son loved the kitty cocktails.Wheelchair accessibility: There is a ramp that is a bit long to get to but has a nice gradual incline.“

“I do a lot of traveling. I live in Texas. And Mexican food is my favorite. I have had great meals from all over the USA but I have to say that Senor Machetes is one of the best meals that I have ever had. I got the group beef 22 inch Machete. With fresh sour cream, fresh pickled onions, Street corn and amazing homemade tortilla. The owner talked with us and gave a brief history story behind the 5 years he has been here. I highly recommend this place if you are anywhere near Madison Wisconsin.“

“Food was AMAZING! I should have taken pictures to post here because it looked great too. I loved the music and atmosphere and the speedy service. We got the fajitas and quesadilla. Just great stuff. I think anyone that's given bad reviews is just a hard to please person “

“We booked the El Grito Taqueria taco truck for our wedding and they were a huge hit! They were super easy to work with—very responsive and helpful, and reasonable pricing for the value they bring. Our guests loved the tacos at the end of the night! We definitely recommend them for your next event.Dietary restrictions: Gluten free options“

“The atmosphere is cozy, and intimate, with full bar, but it is all about the food. So far I have tried tapas, tacos, and enchiladas. They are all very good, but enchiladas verdes is now my favorite. I joked with the owner that even though I love burritos, it will be hard not to order enchiladas next time. There will be a next time.“

“Know in advance that this place TAKES a tip from you. They don't ask, they just include 15% in your bill so be careful when paying with a credit card. I would have added an additional tip had it not been for my wife looking at the receipt!We both had enchilada's and I will say that I thought it was pretty EXPENSIVE at $15 per plate, add in two margaritas and our total bill was $57 dollars! I said $57 dollars for beans, rice, and enchiladas, perhaps the second thing to know about this place.Finally, the food and the sauces (sauces were fresh - meaning they tasted like they were made same day. The orange sauce is habanero - so it is hot, but tasted awesome!! Great flavor and a nice bang.) were great! Perhaps one of the closest "authentic Mexican" meals I've had since I lived in Texas! Actually felt like I was sitting in San Antonio or a taqueria in Houston with Tejano music playing in the background.So to close: Tips are taken at the register, it is expensive AND the food is good - check it out!!! : >-).“

“Girlfriend and I were doing little shopping and decided to stop for lunch. Service was quick and very friendly. Love the look of the place on the inside. Our server was friendly and spoke Spanish as well. He recommended lots of different types of drinks and new dishes they had. We ordered couple drinks and they were very good. We each ordered the three tacos and rice and beans option. All tacos were very good and rice and beans were great. They had a green salsa as well that was very tasty and had a good kick to it. Overall we enjoyed our food, had great service.“

“Upon entering, it was not busy and there was no one to greet us, took a couple moments but the bar looked fun. I can tell this restaurant is trying to make a statement - for me I say more more more. I was visually stimulated but could have used exciting music and maybe a water fountain. It is beautiful and I love that they are different. If you are open for business then be open, don’t put music on AFTER we walk in…first impressions matter.When we walked to the back dining area there was mostly beautiful furniture hand carved and colorful but some of the tables had work clutter on them which was distracting and I do not like to see that. I would recommend a separate area for work clutter that customers don’t see or maybe put a curtain up.The menu was well priced and lovely. Chips and salsa were served which was nice. Upon food arrival, the meat in my tacos was dry and over cooked but well seasoned and more salsa was required to get it down the hatch so to speak. I was disappointed they didn’t have horchata on the menu because that makes me happy. I loved the mole sauce but my friend said she wanted a green sauce option for her enchiladas. I would have preferred a meltier cheese inside the Chile relleno. I can tell the cooks here care and would like to try other things in the future.The service was disappointingly bare minimum which because it was not busy at all was extremely noticeable. This was upsetting to me and caused some minor irritation. But with time I hope that can be improved as customers need attention and to feel cared for. It would help business if the server could recommend menu options to customers with enthusiasm as it is a new restaurant. It would benefit if you passionately tell your story and your favorite items not just on the menu but through your servers communication efforts. I love to experience food that way.Unfortunately the bathroom smelled moldy and could have been wiped better. For the most part it was manageable.I give this restaurant four stars. I hope with attentive and hospitable service, moist cooked meats, organization/cleaning efforts, and maybe added menu specials, this place can thrive and welcome many guests on the West side. I wish your restaurant success! Thank you for having me.“

“The only place I know that makes a spinach quesadilla, and it's my favorite! I've tried to make it at home but nothing compares to Casa Luna's. Amazing margaritas and wonderful people!Vegetarian options: Vegetarian platter is great and provides a wide variety of choices. Bean, veggie or spinach quesadilla, burrito or tostada. Only drawback is that you can't order two of something, like two quesadillas or two burritos, but that's ok. Comes with beans and/or rice depending on how many mains you order.“

“Always have an amazing experience here, and the food is delicious ? I get the torta with pollo de milanesa with everything on it always hits the spot ? I either order at the restaurant to go or by phone either way the process is super simple and the customer service very well done ? highly recommend ?“

“We enjoyed several taco dinner plates for our 5. Carnitas were especially good. Absolutely nothing disappointing. I had Steak A La Brasa and was very happy with my selection. Pretty stuffed. Nap afterwards....will go again...nap to be determined.Kudos to my son for taking our family there for a post football late late lunch.Parking: We went in the afternoon after a game and found plenty of street parking. Possibly somewhat limited depending on day but available on an first come serve basis. Far-ish long walk if you choose from from Randall but very good selection and seating. Closer to central campus East of Double Tree.“

“Not your ordinary taco and margaritas. Margaritas are made with unique combinations that make wonderful margaritas. The complimentary chips & salsa are warm and taste homemade. We had small tacos. Each of had 3. I had the cauliflower, carnitas, and the pork belly. Each one was very flavorful. I was so full, I couldn't think of desert, but we have tried the Tres leches cake on other visits. The portion and density of the cake, make the portion big enough for two people easily. The service, even though it was extremely busy, was excellent!“

“My father and I have been going for years! They’re always incredibly kind, and make lovely conversation while you’re waiting in line for your food. Yes, the line does get long, but it’s definitely worth the short wait! The food is amazing, and we’re actually planning on making our way over to Lodi this afternoon! It’s honestly our favorite spot, and we get so excited when they open up for the summer. 100% deserves a five star rating <3“

“Habaneros is easily my favorite restaurant in Madison. The food is always hot, fresh, and served quickly by their friendly staff. Do not skip the spicy pickled onions; they elevate the dish to a level that deserves more stars than google will allow me to give.“

“I finally had a chance to check out Patricia's Market and was so glad I did. I'm glad this set of shops and restaurants continues to have new additions. Gotta love the easy parking situation with the lot with plenty of space.Inside there is the store with plenty of Mexican ingredients and products and then there is the restaurant portion with a decent size menu. I chose the taco dinner which was plenty of food for me to eat plus leftovers. The tacos were very tasty and the rice and beans were well made. There are lots of beverage options like agua de coco and more. I'll be back!“

“We were seated instantly when we arrived. The complimentary chips and salsa were so good. Our server was friendly. I had the Quesadilla Mexicali and it was amazing. The food came out soon after we ordered (the place was relatively empty, but I usually don’t expect food to come that soon).“

“Pretty good Mexican food. The grilled shrimp tacos were awesome. I'd go back for those. The tamales were disappointing. Chewy on one side, falling apart on the other. Not much flavor.The complimentary salsa was watery and bland. Good chips though. Nice selection of Jarritos.Worthy of another visit.“

“The wait staff is great, the food always hits the spot when craving Mexican food. The chips and salsa are one of my favorite things about Laredo's.There's a waitress there that always remembers my order and double checks to make sure I won't be ordering something different ?.“

“This is such a great spot in Madison and I think they have the best Mexican food in the city. It's perfect for lunch and very fastI really enjoy their quesadillas and tacos.The service is very friendly and quick.It has a hole in the wall vibe but it's very clean and nice.“

“Always went to the one in Appleton, loved it . Went there the day before they closed. Haven't had LA Bamba's in years, I was so happy I found them again. The food was great, just like I remembered.Employees were fun to talk to. Next time I'm in Madison, I will be stopping.“

“This is a nice place to get a quick bite to eat. It's really small inside so there's not a whole lot of sitting. There's also no parking lot. I would recommend grabbing food to go or ordering it online. Not bad for a chain restaurant.“

“I go to pan y pan every Saturday to pick up pastries and all the workers and owner are very kind, caring and excellent to interact with. The pastries are always fluffy and well made. The concha is especially good. They are always quick with their service. Highly recommend!“

“We were staying at the VA hospital today after flying in from Denver. I walked there, lots of construction. The delivery process seemed too complicated. The order online function wasn't working. The facility was clean. Very few customers at about 6 PM. The food looked fresh and a good variety. The gentleman who prepared our meals was polite and attentive. The guacamole was excellent. We ordered 3 chicken street tacos and a chicken salad bowl.Definitely recommend“

“I don't care for the self-serve order thing kiosk in the dining room . I'd rather have an employee face to face take my order. It's so impersonal I can't ask questions about what I'm ordering . I feel neglected as a customer like there's no time for me as a customer, but the food okParking: The parking lot is a little dark at night.“

“Editing to add that Primo is that boy! Best server in the joint, but they’re all amazing. But we love Primo.Get the parrillada!!! It is AMAZING. Plenty of food for 2 people, could even feed 3. They also have a larger size for parties. Everything we’ve had here is amazing, as well as the service. It’s unassuming on the inside, but the people and food will keep you coming back.“

“First time trying taco John's. Ive always have been a fan of taco bells since the late 70's. and really never tried any competing fast food taco places.The first thing noticed was that this place brought more spice to the party. Besides that, they are very comparable in cost, variety and overall style.I guess if I had to choose between the two, Id lean more towards taco John's due to spice.“