From street tacos to mole, these are the Mexican restaurants our readers voted the best. Here are the restaurants TAMPA Magazine readers voted Best Mexican Restaurant in our 2026 Best Restaurants List, along with the runners-up and the spots voters also loved.
Winners
Featured Winner
Streetlight Taco
Streetlight Taco grinds heirloom Mexican corn on a volcanic-stone mill for the fresh masa in its hand-pressed tortillas. Opened in South Tampa in January 2024 by the team behind Rocca, the taqueria draws on regional cooking from Puebla, Oaxaca and beyond.
- Besito Mexican
- Red Mesa Cantina
Runners-Up
- Green Lemon
- Miguel’s Mexican Seafood & Grill
Voters Also Loved
- Barrio Tacos + Tequila + Whiskey
- Muchachas
Mexican Food in Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay’s Mexican dining ranges from neighborhood taquerias and family restaurants to modern spots making their own masa and focusing on regional dishes from Oaxaca, Puebla and Mexico City. Margaritas and mezcal cocktails are a big part of the experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Mexican restaurant in Tampa?
In TAMPA Magazine’s 2026 Best Restaurants List, readers named Besito Mexican, Red Mesa Cantina and Streetlight Taco the winners for Best Mexican Restaurant. Green Lemon and Miguel’s Mexican Seafood & Grill were the runners-up.
How were the winners chosen?
The results are based entirely on votes from TAMPA Magazine readers in our annual Best Restaurants contest. Advertising has no bearing on the results.
Where can I find the other categories?
See every category on our 2026 Best Restaurants List, or browse the newest results on our Best Restaurants List.
« Back to the full 2026 Best Restaurants List
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