Sometimes you crave an upscale taco tasting menu with artisanal mole for $45. Other times, you need a fiesta with sizzling fajita platters and bottomless margaritas. For authentic street tacos and family-style feasts, these are the places to find. At the 15 restaurants on this list—organized from north to south—fresh guacamole is a given, carne asada is tradition, and vibrant communal dining comes naturally.
Bandoleros Taqueria – Tacos, Tequila, Mezcal Y Mas
$$ | (786) 913-9307 | WEBSITE
Of all the spots on this list, Bandoleros Taqueria in Fort Lauderdale is the one we want to shout about from the rooftops. And then, once we’ve finished shouting, we want to bring everyone here for a big celebration dinner, or just a regular Tuesday night. Bandoleros, which buzzes with a vibrant energy, proudly serves some of the best authentic Mexican food in the city.
It’s run by a fantastic bartender, who moves around the space with warm hospitality, mixing masterful cocktails and thanking people for being here. You hear about this place often, and that’s all the more reason to come, whenever you need to be energized from the inside out by way of tacos and tequila. If they have mango habanero margaritas on the menu, get them.
Las Reynas Swap Shop
$$$$ | (561) 635-4465 | WEBSITE
Ok, so we’ll admit the food at Las Reynas Swap Shop is not particularly memorable. It might prompt your Fort Lauderdale-born friend—or the family at the next table—to say something like “the tacos here used to be better.” But none of that matters, because Las Reynas Swap Shop’s lively dining area has been one of the city’s most fantastic places to have a big, festive meal under the glow of string lights since it opened.
Sure, the micheladas taste like they’re missing something, and the seafood is just perfectly alright. But the parking lot is full every weekend night—always with at least one minivan with Florida plates—and after one meal here, you’ll think of it for every family night out, whenever the vibes matter a whole lot more than what’s on your plate.
Tacos Los Guachi’s
$ | (954) 306-6911 | WEBSITE
The Fort Lauderdale favorite has a medium-sized dining area where you can drink ice-cold Mexican beers and eat chicken and cheese quesadillas amongst people wearing their most comfortable flip-flops on a Saturday. But if there’s a counter seat open when you arrive, you’re going to want to grab it, because despite being cozy, it’s the perfect spot for a margarita and three-to-an-order Birria tacos.
Tacos Los Guachi’s has been serving since it opened, and it’s become the go-to restaurant for many locals—including those who’ve tried every Mexican spot in town, who may in fact be some of its most loyal regulars.
El Tamarindo Cafe
$ | (954) 467-5114 | WEBSITE
We first visited El Tamarindo Cafe with someone who grew up in Miami, and spent a lot of time in Little Havana. He comes all the way to El Tamarindo in Fort Lauderdale (and you should too) for the pork and guacamole on a plantain, served with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime, and more Cuban-Mexican-Peruvian fusions that are otherwise hard to find in the area.
There’s a tranquil dining room in the back where jazz music sets the mood for relaxed lunches, and a cozy space with warm lighting off to the side, where people lean back in their chairs before sharing seafood soup, trout in brandy sauce, and tostones with lechon.
HELLO TACO
$ | (954) 533-0959 | WEBSITE
HELLO TACO in Fort Lauderdale isn’t just a food truck parked in a strange area. It’s a place you come to learn the true meaning of the word “authentic.” It’s a place where you can eat shrimp tacos and al Pastor while enjoying the bustle of the street-side setup with limited seating. The owner’s helpful service could not be nicer, and while the location won’t blow you away, the whole experience will. But the most fun thing about HELLO TACO is the deal you get when you visit on Tuesdays.
Order four tacos for $10, and if you choose the steak quesadilla tacos, you’ll devour them faster than you can say quesobirria.
La Bamba Mexican and Spanish Restaurants
$ | (954) 568-5662 | WEBSITE
One of the best stories about this restaurant in Fort Lauderdale is that it’s where locals have been coming for celebrations for years—graduations, birthdays, and anniversaries all find a home here. La Bamba offers that reliable spot where you can count on big plates of favorites like Pollo LA plancha, especially if you order before 3 pm for the special price, or veggie fajitas for those looking for vegetarian options.
The service can be hit or miss, but when you get a server like Claudia, it feels like you’re being taken care of by family. And don’t skip the veggie chicken soup or the great salsa—they’re the kind of touches that keep people coming back, even with the occasional hiccup. It’s that mix of delicious food and celebratory vibe that makes La Bamba a staple, despite some recent disappointments.
El Taquito
$$ | (754) 206-2044 | WEBSITE
People talk so much about the beachside location and happy hour margaritas at El Taquito, a Mexican spot in Fort Lauderdale that offers ample outdoor seating, that they forget to talk about the food. That’s a shame, because once you settle in, the standout dishes, like the steak enchiladas and the al pastor quesadilla with its strong flavor and generous portion, are excellent.
Come with friends—ideally during off-peak hours—order the highly recommended breast dish (just specify if you don’t want pepper) and enjoy it under the warm Florida sun, with friendly, attentive staff checking in regularly. If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll catch a sunset view from your table. For really great Mexican food near the beach, this is our top pick.
Solluna
$$ | WEBSITE
If you’ve read this far and wondered, ‘Why haven’t they mentioned where to find truly incredible fajitas,’ your search ends here. Solluna in Fort Lauderdale has been serving up their standout fajitas with that incredible seasoning and toppings for years, and while we haven’t focused much on drink specials—since every spot on this list offers something—it’s worth highlighting that Solluna’s buy one get one free deal applies to those massive Margaritas, not just standard pours.
It’s a glorious prelude to the feast that awaits at this lively restaurant, where the $24.95 fajitas platter is large enough to satisfy everyone at your table, and probably the covered patio seating next to you, too.
Epazote Mexican Restaurant
$ | (754) 220-6996 | WEBSITE
Epazote Mexican Restaurant opened in 2020—an unremarkable year when you consider the other places on this list—but we’re putting it on here anyway. This Fort Lauderdale spot is like something out of a movie, without trying too hard to feel like a telenovela set: it’s got rustic wooden tables, vibrant papel picado decorations, and a small space that’s always buzzing with regulars.
While the owner oversees the kitchen preparing those standout fajitas and tacos, your server, a born-and-bred local, will describe the mole sauce like it’s their grandmother’s secret recipe. And when a nearby table chimes in to confirm that, yes, the steak tacos are to die for—and hey, do you want some of our chips and salsa—accept the chips, order the tacos, and pay it forward with your own enthusiastic recommendation to friends.
Taqueria El Paisa Food Truck
$ | (954) 681-8482 | WEBSITE
With its bright colors and convenient location near the main road, Taqueria El Paisa Food Truck has been serving authentic Mexican cuisine for years and has a loyal following of regulars. This no-frills, cash-only food truck is the kind of place you can pull up to with a group of friends, and they’ll have your order ready in minutes. There’s a simple menu board, and there doesn’t need to be more.
Tell the friendly staff what you’re craving and they’ll thoughtfully suggest the daily special, advise you to try the fresh juices, quickly package your food with care, and remind you that 2pm is a perfectly fine time for tacos. Grab a spot at one of the outdoor picnic tables and watch the food being made fresh while waiting for your meal.
El Vez Fort Lauderdale
$$ | (954) 414-8336 | WEBSITE
After sampling Mexican spots throughout South Florida, enjoying tacos has become one of our favorite rituals, but there’s something about doing it right on the beachfront that feels perfectly fitting. El Vez Fort Lauderdale has been a local staple for years, and although this prime location shines in the summer, we’d just as happily come here on a mild winter day to savor their phenomenal tacos Al carbon and imagine we’re in a coastal getaway.
They’re known for their fresh corn tortillas, which come with delicious steak and chicken options that are worth the drive from nearby areas, but all the gluten-free choices are solid too, and you can practically feel the ocean breeze from the vibrant patio seating.
Antojitos Mexicanos
$ | (954) 791-9908 | WEBSITE
Sustained by generations of Fort Lauderdale locals craving authentic flavors, Antojitos Mexicanos is a cornerstone of its neighborhood, tucked away in a cozy corner. It has the requisite vibrant atmosphere with colorful papel picado decorations and photos of Mexican street scenes on the walls. Settle in at a rustic wooden table with an affordable four-taco special, generous chicken sopes, and refried beans described as the best ever tasted.
The homemade tortillas are thick and crispy on the outside, overflowing with toppings of cilantro, onions, and cheese. While some find the red sauce extremely spicy and the tacos may require additional orders for heartier appetites, the fresh, quick service and great value make it a must-visit spot.
Pinkys Tacos
$ | (954) 440-9282 | WEBSITE
At Pinkys Tacos in Fort Lauderdale, there’s a fun tradition of diners receiving no extra charge for extra toppings. This dates back to its food truck days, when the Mexican spot would entice visitors with the promise of generous portions. Now in its cozy brick-and-mortar location, the offer still stands, and the welcoming restaurant remains a destination for taco feasts big and small.
Always order the birria, something crispy and cheesy, and any taco with fresh toppings, plus the fish tacos if you’re feeling adventurous. And of course, ask for Julie. We can’t guarantee that the margarita will be life-changing—we’re actually positive it’s just refreshing—but it will be delicious.
Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar
$$ | (954) 524-9550 | WEBSITE
You can’t get a weekend table at Fort Lauderdale’s legendary Mexican spot unless you book weeks ahead or show up right at opening.
(Or you’re really patient and don’t mind the wait, like us.) But you can walk in and grab a stool at Rocco’s vibrant tequila bar under the colorful string lights, and sip a perfectly balanced margarita shaken by someone who smiles and says they “just started last month.” (Just five years ago.) If you ever do manage to dine at this always-buzzing Tex-Mex institution, order the table-side guacamole mashed fresh before your eyes, and the Tres Leches cake crowned with a cloud of toasted meringue,
and then soak up enough festive birthday energy to fuel you for months.
El Camino Fort Lauderdale
$$ | (954) 530-1188 | WEBSITE
We frequently find ourselves in the mood for a margarita, but at El Camino Fort Lauderdale, it’s more of an insatiable urge that hits you like a brick the second you lay eyes on a group of people clinking glasses at the bar, beneath the glow of string lights and neon signs. Someone plays upbeat music, and beyond that there’s a lively room where people have been celebrating birthdays and bachelorette weekends since the place opened.
For every group sharing chicharrones, there’s a solo diner at the counter, enjoying happy hour with their very own order of tacos. Do El Camino right: come with a few friends, have something to celebrate, and ask about the margarita specials. They’re approximately $8 during happy hour, and reserved for only the most festive occasions.
