Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants in Raleigh

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Refreshed every three months.

Raleigh’s Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants sit in three main areas: downtown, around NC State on Hillsborough Street and Avent Ferry Road, and the North Hills and Midtown corridor along Six Forks Road and Wake Forest Road. A few more are in North Raleigh on Lead Mine Road and Falls of Neuse Road.

How we made this list. The places come from OpenStreetMap records inside Raleigh’s city limits, the same data behind our local directory, checked against each place’s own website on Oct. 12, 2026. Many smaller taquerias on the map have no website we could reach, and we have not listed a place we could not confirm. The list is alphabetical. It is not a ranking or a recommendation, and nobody paid to be on it. Run one of these places? Write to us to correct your entry.

The list

Chipotle and Taco Bell each have many stores in Raleigh; use each chain’s own store finder for the nearest one.

The places

Bartaco at North Hills serves small tacos on corn tortillas or lettuce shells, with sides such as guacamole and street corn. It keeps a waitlist for dine-in through its app or by phone, and its kitchen opens at 11 a.m. every day.

Centro on South Wilmington Street says it was founded in 2007 and calls itself a place that fosters community and diversity. It serves weekday lunch and dinner Wednesday to Saturday, for dine-in or takeout.

Chubby’s Tacos on Wycliff Road serves tacos, birria tacos, burritos, quesadillas and nachos, with a second restaurant in Durham. Call for hours.

El Rodeo has two Raleigh restaurants, downtown on South Blount Street and on Wake Forest Road. Its site describes a menu of tacos, burritos and other Mexican dishes and a dining room decorated with Mexican art. Both list the same hours.

Gonza Tacos y Tequila has a downtown-area restaurant at the Aloft hotel on Hillsborough Street and a North Raleigh restaurant on Lead Mine Road, plus locations outside the city. Its site lists phone numbers for each but not hours.

La Terraza on Avent Ferry Road has served Mexican food since 2009, according to its site, including enchiladas, fajitas, quesadillas, burritos and nachos. It shows games, takes party orders to go and gives students a discount with an ID.

Moe’s Southwest Grill at Falls Village on Falls of Neuse Road serves burritos, bowls, quesadillas and tacos, with chips and salsa with every meal. Its location page lists catering, online ordering and curbside pickup.

Torchy’s Tacos in Midtown East, on Mercantile Drive, is the chain’s Raleigh location. Its menu lists tacos, green chile queso and guacamole, with online ordering.

More where-to-eat lists

• Where to eat in Raleigh: all the lists
• Where to get pizza and where to get wings
• Patios and outdoor dining
• Date night in Raleigh
• Restaurant inspection scores in Wake County
• Our local business directory

Frequently asked questions

Where can I get Mexican food in downtown Raleigh?

Centro is at 106 S. Wilmington St. and El Rodeo is at 329 S. Blount St. El Rodeo lists 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Where are the taco restaurants in Raleigh?

Bartaco is at North Hills, Torchy’s Tacos is at 1110 Mercantile Drive in Midtown East, Chubby’s Tacos is at 2444 Wycliff Road, and Gonza Tacos y Tequila has locations at 2100 Hillsborough St. and 7713 Lead Mine Road.

Which Mexican restaurants are open on Sunday in Raleigh?

El Rodeo (11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.), Torchy’s Tacos (10 a.m. to 9 p.m.), Moe’s Southwest Grill (10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and Bartaco (kitchen from 11 a.m. daily) all list Sunday hours on their own sites.

Is there a Mexican restaurant near NC State?

La Terraza is at 2217 Avent Ferry Road, and Gonza Tacos y Tequila is at 2100 Hillsborough St., at the Aloft hotel.