Jordan McCraeMexican cuisine has always intrigued me with its bold flavors and vibrant presentations.
Recently, I embarked on a personal quest to uncover the top Mexican restaurants in Auckland, fueled by my love for tacos, burritos, and all things spicy.
Along the way, I encountered hidden gems, bustling taquerias, and upscale eateries, each offering a unique interpretation of Mexican flavors.
Join me as I share my experiences and discoveries while hunting for the top 10 Mexican restaurants in Auckland. Let’s get started!
1. De Nada | Mexican Eatery & Tequila Bar
| Website | https://www.denada.nz/ |
| Address | 2/476 Mount Eden Road, Mount Eden, Auckland 1024, New Zealand |
| Phone | 64 9 666 0645 |
| Operating hours | Tuesday: 4 – 9 pm Wednesday: 12 – 10 pm |
| Must order menu items | Carne de Vaca Mimosa Margarita Braised Chorizo |
| Price range | $$ average |
Have you heard about De Nada on Mount Eden? It’s seriously the coolest spot in Auckland, perfect for catching up with friends over some seriously tasty Mexican eats and killer cocktails!
The restaurant has cozy vibes, vibrant colors, and the most inviting atmosphere you can imagine.
And when it comes to food, it has an extensive menu that includes tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and other Mexican favorites. But one dish that’s truly stood out here is called Carne de Vaca, also known as Vaca Frita.
It’s a Cuban specialty made with flank steak that’s fried to crispy perfection. Seriously, the texture is out of this world – crunchy on the outside, and tender on the inside.
It’s often served with a squeeze of lime for an added burst of flavor.
2. Frida Cocina Mexicana & Tequila Bar
| Website | https://www.frida.co.nz/ |
| Address | 85/89 Customs Street West, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand |
| Phone | 64 9 356 7090 |
| Operating hours | Monday to Sunday: 11:30 - 3 pm, 5 – 10 pm |
| Must order menu items | Ensalada Mexicana Carnitas Taco Gordita |
| Price range | $$ average |
Another great option for Mexican restaurants is Frida Cocina Mexicana & Tequila Bar in Viaduct. And if there’s one dish you absolutely cannot miss here, it’s their Ensalada Mexicana.
Imagine sinking your teeth into warm tortillas filled with succulent shredded chicken, smothered in rich enchilada sauce, and topped generously with melted cheese. It’s like a fiesta in your mouth!
Another thing that makes this place truly worth a visit is the tequila bar – it’s a paradise for any tequila lover! With over 30 varieties to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect match to complement your meal.
But Frida Cocina isn’t just about amazing food and drinks. They’re all about inclusivity, too.
They’ve got vegan options galore, and if you’re vegetarian, just ask, and they’ll happily tweak their dishes to suit your preferences.
3. Ghost Donkey
| Website | https://www.ghostdonkey.nz/ |
| Address | Commercial Bay Level 2/1 Queen Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand |
| Phone | 64 9 869 7147 |
| Operating hours | Monday to Tuesday: 12 – 2:30 pm, 4 – 8 pm Wednesday: 12 – 2:30, 4 – 9 pm Thursday: 12 – 9 pm Friday: 12 – 1 am Saturday: 12 – 2 am Sunday: 12 – 8 pm |
| Must order menu items | Quesadilla con Carne Mexican Fried Chicken Tortilla Chips & Guacamole |
| Price range | $$ average |
If you’re craving some tortillas in Auckland, consider dining at Ghost Donkey! Their Quesadilla con Carne is a game-changer.
It’s a popular Mexican dish that typically consists of a warm flour tortilla loaded with juicy beef, gooey cheese, and all the fixings, grilled or fried to perfection.
And if beef isn’t your thing, no worries – they’ve got options with chicken or pork that are equally drool-worthy.
But Ghost Donkey doesn’t end with quesadillas. They’ve got this menu meant for sharing with your amigos.
Think crispy tortilla chips dunked in creamy guacamole or loaded nachos piled high with all the toppings.
4. La Fuente Wine & Mezcal Shoppe and Bar
| Website | https://lafuente.co.nz/ |
| Address | Snickel Lane 23 Commerce Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand |
| Phone | 64 9 303 0238 |
| Operating hours | Tuesday to Thursday: 4 – 10 pm Friday to Saturday: 4 – 12 am |
| Must order menu items | House-Cured Ceviche Salmon Tostaditas Torta De Cochinita |
| Price range | $$ – average |
For Mexican food cravings, I can’t recommend La Fuente Wine & Mezcal Shoppe Bar enough. It’s a cozy spot with an incredible vibe, known for its vintage wines and top-notch mezcal!
But they don’t just serve drinks; they whip up some seriously mouthwatering Mexican-inspired bar food.
If you’re into seafood, you have to try their House-Cured Ceviche; it’s like a burst of freshness in every mouthful. And the best part is that they switch up the ingredients depending on what’s in season, so it’s always a surprise.
Another crowd’s favorite is their Salmon Tostaditas. Imagine succulent salmon, kissed by the smoky allure of mezcal, nestled on crisp handmade tortillas.
How appetizing, isn’t it?
5. La Mexicana
| Website | https://www.lamexicana.co.nz/ |
| Address | 572 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland 1021, New Zealand |
| Phone | 64 9 360 1623 |
| Operating hours | Tuesday to Thursday: 5 – 9 pm Friday: 5 – 10 pm Saturday: 12 – 10 pm Sunday 12 – 9 pm |
| Must order menu items | Beef Birria Tacos Asada Steak Tacos Chorizo Mexicano |
| Price range | $$ – average |
Another great contender for tortillas is La Mexicana. This restaurant is known for its authentic flavors and freshly baked corn tortillas made from scratch using 100% New Zealand-grown corn.
Among their array of offerings, their best-selling dish, the Beef Birria Tacos, steals the spotlight.
You see, birria is traditionally made with goat meat, but here at La Mexicana, they’ve got this heavenly rendition with succulent beef that’s been slow-cooked for a solid eight hours.
And what makes this even more delicious is that they serve it with this divine consommé for dipping — trust me, you’ll be craving it for days!
But that’s not all, their menu is a taco lover’s dream too, with options like Pork Carnitas, Chicken Tinga, Steak Asada, and Mexican Chorizo. And get this, they even sell their homemade tortillas so you can recreate the magic at home.
6. Loco Bro’s Taqueria – Titirangi
| Website | https://locobros.co.nz/ |
| Address | Shop 3/490 South Titirangi Road, Titirangi, Auckland 0604, New Zealand |
| Phone | 64 21 275 6276 |
| Operating hours | Tuesday to Thursday: 12 – 9 pm Friday to Saturday: 11 – 10 pm Sunday: 11 – 9 pm |
| Must order menu items | Beef and Lamb Birria Tacos Pork Carnitas Tacos Mexican Fried Chicken |
| Price range | $$ – average |
If you find yourself wandering around Titirangi craving some seriously good Mexican grub, you’ve got to hit up Loco Bro’s Taqueria!
Their Beef and Lamb Birria Tacos are just too perfect – whole beef briskets and lamb ribs marinated in their special birria sauce left to infuse all those amazing flavors overnight.
Then they carefully braise it all for hours, like up to five hours, in this rich, homemade beef and lamb stock, meticulously crafted from scratch.
And when you finally sink your teeth into tender meat and spicy sauce, all wrapped up in a warm tortilla, it’s like a little taste of heaven. No wonder it’s the talk of the town and keeps customers coming back for more.
7. Mr. Taco
| Address | 75 C Victoria Street West, CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand |
| Phone | 64 9 282 5754 |
| Operating hours | Monday to Sunday: 11 – 8 pm |
| Must order menu items | Pastor Tacos Milanesa Tortas Chilli c/ Carne Nachos |
| Price range | $$ – average |
It’s worth coming to Mr. Taco for their irresistible Pastor Tacos alone. This dish is the talk of the town, and for good reason.
Imagine succulent pork cooked to perfection on a vertical rotisserie, just like you’d find in the bustling streets of Mexico. The aroma will surely have you drooling!
Then, they expertly shave off that flavorful pork and tuck it into warm corn tortillas with a generous sprinkle of chopped onion, fresh cilantro, and spicy salsa.
Everyone who’s tried it raves about how Mr. Taco nails the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors in their al pastor. It’s no wonder it’s their best-seller!
8. Ragtag
| Website | https://www.ragtagnz.com/ |
| Address | 162 Garnet Road, Westmere, Auckland 1023, New Zealand |
| Phone | 64 21 409 879 |
| Operating hours | Monday to Wednesday: 4 – 8:30 Thursday to Sunday: 12 – 9:30 |
| Must order menu items | Duck Carnitas Tacos Beef Nuggets Prawn Tostada |
| Price range | $$ – average |
Ragtag is such an underrated little neighborhood eatery in Auckland. They serve Sonora-style duck-fat flour tortillas with unorthodox fillings.
And if you prefer some unique bites, I’d recommend trying their Duck Carnitas Tacos, which use tender duck confit as the star ingredient.
These tacos are a combination of textures and tastes, with fresh tortillas providing the perfect canvas for the succulent duck, complemented by house-made pickles that add a satisfying crunch.
To tie it all together, a tangy sauce adds just the right amount of zest, making this dish an irresistible choice for anyone seeking a memorable dining experience.
9. The Lucky Taco
| Website | http://theluckytaco.co.nz/ |
| Address | 597 New North Road, Morningside, Auckland 1011, New Zealand |
| Phone | 64 21 362 008 |
| Operating hours | Sunday: 12 – 4 pm |
| Must order menu items | Tacos de Cochinita de Pibil The DJ Slave Agua de Horchata (Drink of the Gods) |
| Price range | $ cheap |
The Lucky Taco is a beloved Mexican food truck in Auckland that was established in 2013 by this dynamic duo, Sarah and Otis Frizzell, who are like the power couple of taco-making.
They got the idea after their epic honeymoon adventure in LA and Mexico back in 2011. Now, they’re bringing those authentic soft shell tacos to our neck of the woods!
One of their standout dishes is the Tacos de Cochinita de Pibil.
It features slow-roasted pork just bursting with citrusy goodness and spices, topped with a kick of spicy avocado cream, crunchy pink pickles, tangy red cabbage, a squeeze of lime, and a sprinkle of fresh coriander.
10. Taco Loco Cantina
| Website | http://tacoloconz.co.nz/ |
| Address | 179 Mount Albert Road, Mount Albert, Auckland 1025, New Zealand |
| Phone | 64 9 215 8542 |
| Operating hours | Tuesday to Thursday: 5 – 9 pm Friday and Saturday: 11 – 9:30 pm Sunday: 11 – 9 pm |
| Must order menu items | Mayan Fries Prawn Gobernador Tacos Dorados |
| Price range | $ – $$ cheap to average |
Taco Loco Cantina offers a traditional culinary experience infused with homemade Mexican flavors.
Their Prawn Gobernador is truly the highlight: three succulent prawns nestled on corn tortilla tacos, generously layered with cheese and topped with onions.
This dish is served alongside fresh guacamole, their signature spicy salsa, Riviera, and a zesty lemon wedge on the side.
Beyond their delectable menu, they’ve also got this awesome food truck that rolls out for weddings, parties — anything you can think of. It’s like taking the fiesta with you wherever you go!
