Best Mexican Restaurant in Atlanta For the Money

Now we’ve done “Best Taco” before but I’m pretty sure we’ve never discussed the best Mexican restaurant for the money.

Let’s get to it!

27 thoughts on “Best Mexican Restaurant in Atlanta For the Money”


  4. Locally? Mezcalitos, hands down.
    Outside the City limits? Hmmmm…I do love Mi Barrio (definitely the least expensive). Nuevo Laredo’s also pretty good, but not as cheap as they used to be.

  6. Matador, for sure, even though a bunch of people are going to say “Eeewwwww, that place is disgusting and the cool people only go to Mezcalito’s!”

    If you’re willing to drive a little, Los Hermanos is da bomb.

    1. You talking the one in Tucker? I thought it was expensive in general relation to other Mexican lunch joints.

      I like El Rey or Monterrey for cheap Mexican, particularly for lunch. El Rey is more ‘authentic’, Monterrey is more TexMex. Both are on BuHi, less than a mile inside 285 on the west side of the street.

      1. I suppose the BuHi options (which are both damn good) are a bit cheaper but BuHi isn’t always convenient. I like the Los Hermanos in Lawrenceville better, though it’s obviously a hike (the in-laws live near there so we get out that way more often). But compared to the other Mexican and Gringo Mexican places around here, I wouldn’t consider Los Hermanos to be “expensive”. Craving some cesina and pastor now…

        Of course, it’s all about the cost, tacos, burritos and fajitas made with steak and pork and chicken from my Big Green Egg is really the way to go!

      2. Brad,
        Are you talking about the Monterey on BUHI that has the guy singing covers on Thursday nights? Dude’s pretty good. We’ve been there a few times and enjoyed hanging out and listening to him while drinking cheap margaritas. It’s a bit different than what you usually find on BUHI–not a foodie kind of place, but more of a throwback to when the GM plant was the main employer in the area.

        1. J_T, my invite must keep getting lost in the mail. I like all those meats, especially all those meats prepared in an Egg.

          brianc, I am indeed. I haven’t been there on a Thursday eve but will have to check it out – thanks for the tip! My favorite thing there is the chimichangas — so tasty.

  8. El Senor Taco
    La Oaxaquena.
    Closer to home, the mole fried chicken at Mezcalitos is one of my favorite restaurant meals anywhere.

    1. I went to Taqueria El Vecino because of several recommendations and was extremely disappointed. There are several other disappointing choices that people consistently eat at. All I can figure is that too many margaritas causes you to think the food is much better that it is. We definitely need better inexpensive Mexican and Tex-Mex choices.

      1. Did you go on Saturday and get the green chile grits with carnitas? Because if you did, and you were still disappointed, it’s a you problem.

  14. Los Hermanos in Tucker is an easy choice here, though it can be somewhat expensive depending on what your order. They usually have lots of seafood-centered specials and some of them approach $20. I’ve been alternating between the grilled tilapia and the marisco enchiladas for years and I never get tired of them. Those are around $12.
    My only complaint is that the place is just too small for the crowds it draws and is not very comfortable for hanging out with margaritas (they have real ones now!). I really wish they had moved to that much larger space across the street when it was vacant (Greater Good BBQ there now).

  16. Taqueria Los Rayos. Tacos are $1.50 and are authentic Mexican tacos. Awesome flan, Tortas (sandwiches) are delicious, too. BuHi, of course

  20. La Perla on Piedmont was a favorite of mine until it disappeared. (Location is now Mama’s Cocina or something, very different and IMO not as good.)
    Always enjoy No Mas Cantina. The food is always better than I expect it to be, given the somewhat suburban vibe in the place. (Also, it’s five-minute walk.)

  24. This is a somewhat tricky category, I think, as some people are going to pick the places with the best cheap tacos or tortas or whatever. That’s fine, but I would make different choices if cheap tacos are the main point (mostly on Buford Hwy), instead of the best “restaurant” for the money.

    1. Exactly. The places I go for tacos & the places I go for stuff like enchiladas, chicken or seafood entrees, etc. are completely different (my favorite taco places don’t even have enchiladas or mole sauce on anything).

  32. Taquería La Oaxaqueña … but it’s in Jonesboro. Still, you can take a long lunch there from downtown Atlanta.

    1. Hands down: Taqueria La Oaxaquena. Worth a field trip south of the airport. The owners have such a great success story and the food is outstanding.

  34. El Potro on Buford Highway. Best “tacos authenticos” and fabulous tamales and cheap cheap CHEAP. Hubster and I can get out of there for $9 sometimes (if we skip alcohol – but that rarely happens). Ha!

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