What’s not to like about Mexican food? I don’t know anyone who doesn’t enjoy a version of it, from the pickiest eater who goes with a simple quesadilla with no toppings (my son falls into this category), to those embracing more intricate flavors like the mole sauces (the mole negro, for example, boasts over 26 ingredients), Mexican food is for everyone. It even accommodates gluten-free and vegetarian diets very well.

Mexico’s culinary heritage is exceptional and was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage due to its fusion of indigenous and European influences. This melding of ingredients, flavors, and cultural traditions has birthed the Mexican food scene we love today, one of the most diverse in the world.

Mexican food outside of Mexico is never the same because an eating experience includes so much more than food. But there are some great places to get excellent Mexican food in Asheville, some sticking to the traditions while others are infusing innovative twists into their offerings.

I’ve compiled a selection of the best places to eat Mexican food in Asheville. What is your favorite?Join the conversation in the comments below and Buen Provecho!

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The Best Places to Eat Mexican Food in Asheville

1. La Rumba 

Going to La Rumba in East Asheville is always the best plan, and it will make your family—picky eaters and foodies alike—agree on a place to eat in no time (Victory!). The food made with fresh and locally sourced ingredients—including Hickory Nut Gap meat—tastes authentic and delicious. 

The portions are abundant, the prices are the best, and you’ll love the friendly and quick service. Every meal starts with the melt-in-your-mouth complementary Mexican street corn (elotes) served with a buttery sauce, cotija cheese, chile, and lemon. 

Whatever you choose to continue your culinary journey, you can’t go wrong! The Chiles Rellenos with Oaxaca cheese and mole negro sauce are incredible! I also love the Tostones Rellenos and the Adobo de Puerto. 

The vast menu includes fantastic cocktails, a kids’ menu, and many vegan and gluten-free options. Everyone in your party will find something to eat here. This is the place to go if you want authentic Latin American food, including signature Mexican dishes from Yucatan, Veracruz, and Oaxaca.

2. Mamacitas Taquería

Mamacitas has been around since 2004, and it’s consistently been one of the best places to eat Mexican food in Asheville. It’s on Biltmore Ave in Downtown, in a location where many restaurants have come and gone throughout the years, but Mamacitas has persisted.

The secret? Simple, fresh, high-quality food with great value, a fun ambiance with Latin music, and fantastic staff always smiling, joking, and dancing. Some have worked there since I moved to Asheville 12 years ago, which speaks volumes about the business. 

They offer counter service and have all the Mexican food staples, from amazing birria tacos and consomé to pozole and quesadillas. Their burritos are the best! They taste fresh, are fulfilling, and are the best idea after a hike or when you’re starving and nothing seems to satisfy you (or if you want leftovers). Great margaritas and aguas frescas, too!

3. Taqueria Munoz

Taqueria Muñoz has two locations in West Asheville and another a few minutes from Biltmore Estate. I once read a review about this place that said it was “too authentic.” So, you get the picture! Family-owned, it offers counter service and terrific tacos, tortas, tamales and sopes.

For those craving the taste of authentic Mexican street food, Taqueria Muñoz is the place to be. Their tacos are reminiscent of those found in Mexican markets or street taco stands. With fresh, handmade tortillas, delicious guisados, and a variety of toppings, each bite is a flavorful fest. As the Mexican rule for defining a taco  goes, “If it closes, it’s not a taco,” and Taqueria Muñoz’s certainly passes the test.

They also have a connected store to buy Mexican and Latin American pantry items and a butchery (West Asheville). Taquería Munoz is one of the most legit places to eat Mexican food in Asheville, not only for the meals but also because of the ambiance, which makes it feel like a corner of Mexico. 

4. Tamalería y Tortillería Molina

Tamales are a delicious and satisfying breakfast staple in Mexico and other Latin American countries, and Tamalería y Tortillería Molina serves the best in town. Like in Mexico City, where tamale vendors shop outside public transportation stations in the morning, you can grab these tasty treats on your way to work to start the day as a champion.

There are two small adjacent shops: a small tortilla factory and tamale shop, and a taco place. While they offer fantastic burritos, tortas, and tacos (birria, yum!), their tamales are the best in Asheville. Fresh, flavorful, full, and big, they sell out fast! The best time to eat them is in the morning after they are made. I love their pork tacos! 

You’ll love the simple, tidy ambiance. Many places to eat in Asheville (including Taco Billy) use their tortillas.

5. Limones

Limones opened in 2004 and is one of the best restaurants in downtown. Whether you want to treat yourself with creative craft cocktails and appetizers before a concert, a full dinner date with great food and cool vibe, or amazing desserts with dessert cocktails or wine, Limones offers excellent Mexican food in Asheville, mixing traditional flavors with an inventive, modern twist and beautifully presented. 

I love the Ceviche Sampler, and the indulgent creaminess of the Lobster Nachos gets me every single time. Please save room for the churros and bread pudding, or be a rebel and eat your dessert first. You’ll love the location, walking distance to everything in Downtown Asheville, the elegant yet cozy and friendly atmosphere, and the impeccable service. 

6. Tienda Los Nenes

Pastel Tres Leches is, alongside flan, the most iconic Mexican dessert. It consists of a sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk (hence, tres leches): evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and heavy cream. The result is a sweetness, creaminess, and moisture heaven. 

Opened in 2010, Tienda Los Nenes is a Latin American grocery shop/bakery with two locations in Asheville and Hendersonville. Here, you can find pantry foods, antojitos (snacks), and the best Pastel Tres Leches. I asked them their secret, and they told me this cake was not as sweet as others. 

You can buy a slice or order a custom cake for your celebrations, filled with peaches (my favorite!), pineapple, or coconut. They also have other staple Mexican desserts, like rosca for the Catholic holiday Three Kings Day, pan de muerto for the Day of the Dead, and pan dulce (sweet bread) to eat in the late afternoon with hot chocolate (get some Mayordomo chocolate!).

7. Taco Billy

Originating in Northern Mexico and a Tex-Mex staple, breakfast tacos are a great way to start your day. Taco Billy in West Asheville is a popular spot for breakfast tacos served all day. They have a second location in Black Mountain and a taco truck in Montford, behind Little Jumbo Bar, within a few minutes’ walk from Downtown (and three blocks from my home!). 

At Taco Billy, you’re not limited to a single type of breakfast taco. You can find out what the three Billies  (Billy Holiday, Billy Ocean, and Billy Joel) are made of, or if you’re feeling adventurous, you can also build your own breakfast taco.

The Migas Taco with eggs, onions, jalapeños, tomatoes, crispy-fried tortilla strips, and cheddar-jack cheese is the bomb! They offer a variety of tortillas, including corn, flour, and gluten-free plantain. You’ll love the beverage selection, ranging from margaritas and coffee to local kombucha and aguas frescas.

8. Taco Temple

Taco Temple in North Asheville is the sibling business of Mamacitas Taqueria and serves equally great food. The menu features about seventeen types of tacos, including breakfast tacos and fat, satisfying tortas (Al pastor is my favorite!). 

Breakfast tacos are named after some of Mexico City’s most iconic neighborhoods and are served daily in the morning. Pair them with temple tots (tater tots dusted with chile-lime salt), churro tots, Mexican hot chocolate, or coffee.

The menu of lunch and dinner taco options is vast and includes tinga, al pastor, borracha, and many Mexican taco staples served with flour or handmade corn tortillas and great salsas. You’ll love the neighborhood vibe and the outdoor seating is perfect for sunny, warm days.

9. Abeja’s House Café

Abeja’s House Cafe is one of the best brunch spots in Asheville and a go-to place for local families wanting delicious food at great value. The owners are Mexican, and while the food here is not strictly Mexican, they serve fantastic dishes that combine healthy eating with Latin roots.

They source quality local and mostly organic ingredients and humanely treated animal products and serve generous, family-friendly options. The gluten-free Mexican Chilaquiles (corn tortilla chips marinated in red salsa with two eggs in any style) are some of the best. They come with refried Mexican black beans, roasted potatoes, pico de gallo, avocado cream sauce, and queso fresco. The breakfast tacos are also legit!

We hope you find some delicious Mexican food in Asheville!

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