Best Mexican Restaurants in Cambridge

Creative American small plates in a cozy basement setting. Known for inventive dishes and craft cocktails.

Chef-driven fast burgers in the former 7-Eleven space on JFK Street. Late-night favorite for students, with all-star beer list.

Neighborhood gastropub on Mass Ave with 30+ craft beers on tap and a full menu of American comfort food (burger, meatloaf, fried chicken, buffalo cauliflower). Home of the Lizard Lounge — an intimate downstairs music room with live music Wednesday through Sunday.

Harvard Square institution since 1971. Eclectic menu, half-price food with drink purchase before 7:30PM. Cozy basement setting, college-friendly prices.

Nonprofit folk music venue and cafe tucked off Palmer Street. Nightly live music in an intimate 125-seat room. Cafe menu of soups, sandwiches, and small plates. Tickets and reservations via the venue website.

Harvard Square outpost of the beloved Medford torta shop. Signature Mexico City-style tortas (crusty bolillo rolls filled with milanesa, pastor, or chorizo), tacos, and margaritas. Full liquor license is unique among the Tenoch locations.

Upscale American diner with creative comfort food. Rotisserie meats, inventive sides, and extensive whiskey selection. Modern space with outdoor patio.

Beloved Cambridge brunch spot that relocated from Central Square to a larger East Cambridge space. Known for the French Toast Fantasy (S'Mores, Nutella Banana, Lemon Blueberry), lobster eggs benedict, and house-made corned beef hash.

525-capacity live music venue and American gastropub in Harvard Square, booked by Bowery Presents. Consulting chef Michael Schlow built the food program. Three bars, a full kitchen, and a balcony overlooking the stage.

Lively Inman Square Mexican restaurant with tableside guacamole, creative fare, and assorted margaritas. Local favorite for Tex-Mex comfort food and generous portions.

Three-floor fast-casual Mexican spot in Harvard Square with the Square's signature rooftop bar (260-person capacity). Late-night burritos, frozen margaritas, and a daytime breakfast burrito that has carried many students through midterms.

Flagship grilled-cheese counter in Central Square with an attached 21+ arcade bar (A4cade / Roxy's Arcade). Food-truck-era classics plus upgraded seasonal sandwiches; pinball, vintage video games, DJ nights, and karaoke in the back.

Central Square dive bar and music institution operating on two floors — The Lounge at street level and The Cantab Underground downstairs. Bluegrass Tuesdays, funk Thursdays, and the long-running Boston Poetry Slam on Wednesdays.

Texas-style taco bar between Inman Square and Lechmere. Strong tequila and mezcal list, margaritas, and a taco menu that runs from al pastor and barbacoa to battered-cod Baja.

Central Square neighborhood sports bar in the former Tavern in the Square space — opened by chef Davidson Bettero, who ran Tavern in the Square's kitchen, and Deneir Rosa. 10 rotating draft lines, 45 bottled beers, a patio, and the kind of Saturday brunch that draws a line.

Neighborhood bar and grill on Mass Ave between the Charles River and Central Square, open since 1991. Science-themed menu board (the periodic table of beers), the Ronie Burger, and a regular crowd of MIT faculty and grad students.