There was a time when I thought I could not handle eating Mexican food, mostly because of the spices and combination of flavors and ingredients. Now, I can’t imagine my life without Mexican food, regardless if I am home or I am traveling. When I visit a new place, I always make a list of the restaurants I would like to try. That makes traveling even more interesting and exciting.
When we arrived in Temecula, it was love at first sight. The climate, the wineries around us, greeting you when you are strolling around, the hot air balloon rides, and the charm of Old Temecula make you want to stay here forever.
Although Temecula is geographically closer to downtown San Diego than downtown Los Angeles, it is considered part of the Greater Los Angeles area.
Don’t worry; this city has a lot to offer, different local activities, and, as we mentioned before, many options for our favorite daily activity – eating tasty food.
For all Mexican food lovers, even for those who are not huge fans of Mexican food, we have prepared a list of impressive restaurants that have the best Mexican food in Temecula.
So if you’re planning a trip to this warm city in southwestern Riverside County, California, United States, or you’re lucky enough to live in the area, make sure to add these Temecula Mexican restaurants to your list.
Table of Contents
My Top 3 Picks for Mexican food in Temecula
| Restaurant | Top Pick | Our Rating |
La Cocina Bar & Grill | Shrimp Enchilada | 5/5 |
| Guadalajara Mexican Grill & Cantina | Michelada | 4.5/5 |
Casa de Lucy | Chicken Fajitas | 4/5 |
Best Mexican Food in Temecula
La Cocina Bar and Grill
32459 Temecula Pkwy. d103, Temecula, CA 92592, United States // +19513026233
There are many reasons why Mexican food is so popular. It brings a lot of historical vibes, the influence of important cultures, and a combination of different ways to perceive and experience the food.
This is what I felt when I walked into La Cocina Bar and Grill, a combination of different countries and colonies and their way of perceiving the food.
La Cocina is a typical American Mexican restaurant in Temecula with great service and a friendly environment appropriate for family gatherings and events. It is a small restaurant but still gives you cozy vibes.
The food here is diverse, and the menu is extensive. This place is a perfect spot if you want to grab a tasty and big lunch after shopping in the small shopping centers of Copper Hill and Seco. This is the location of this traditional Mexican restaurant.
We ordered a carne asada burrito and sizzling fajitas. After we split the portions because they were really huge, we ordered the shrimp enchilada, which was amazingly delicious with a cream sauce. The chicken dishes were also very good, and I highly recommend them. My friend said that they were one of the best they had tried, especially the chicken tortilla soup.
In the end, we ordered flan and deep-fried ice cream for dessert and delicious margaritas.
We made a toast, and we promised we wouldl visit this lovely place with great service and great food.
Lienzo Charro Mexican Restaurant Bar & Grill
29000 Old Town Front St., Temecula, CA 92590, United States // +19516992500
This is one of my favorite places for having a Mexican lunch in Temecula after a long touristic walk. The ambiance is nice, the staff is friendly, and they are ready to give you the best experience in a Mexican restaurant.
We ordered Albondigas Soup, Chile Verde, and Chips and Salsa. Tortillas here are homemade, and they stand out from the crowd. They are freshly made and tasty. This place is also perfect for brunch and breakfast; they have great omelets, tamales, and enchiladas.
Here, their chips and salsa are complimentary and unlimited for every table, and by the way, they are the best.
At Lienzo Charro Mexican Restaurant, you will meet attentive staff, great people, and great vibes, and experience the opportunity to have salsa lessons on Friday!
This is a great place to go out with your friends or have a girls’s night out with Happy Hour Margaritas and Tamarindo drinks.
It’s a perfect place for a Sunday Mexican brunch with waffles or pancakes, breakfast with Azteca soup, and lunch with very good guac.
Casa de Lucy
27465 Jefferson Ave., Temecula, CA 92590, United States // +19515876900
Another cozy place, perfect for breakfast and a cup of good coffee. Sitting here, having a good meal, surrounded by the lovely mural that gives a homey feeling, really made my day.
Definitely one pleasant restaurant with Freda Khalo decor, authentic, delicious Mexican food, and perfect Micheladas.
I recommend their chicken & cheese enchiladas; both were really amazing, together with strong margaritas. I must say that salsa is very good, and it is a must-try! It was a bit hot, but it was good.
Rice & beans were also good and I recommend them. Love the chile relleno and enchiladas suizas.
We had a great time having our lunch here after one tiring day, and we were not disappointed. We were in heaven.
Here you consume freshly prepared food that is served hot, and it looks like a homemade meal. And it tastes like that, too. The service is courteous and quick, and the staff is very kind and attentive.
If you want to enjoy your meal completely, this is the right place for you. You will be listening to soft music while you are drinking an amazing Michelada with Modelo beer and munching on great Chicken Fajitas. The flan was very good.
Everything was very tasty, and the service was fantastic. Lucy was there when we were having our lunch, and it was a great complement to the great atmosphere.
I highly recommend this restaurant; it’s a place where you feel at home having Mexican food in Temecula.
Vero’s Mexican Food
27911 Jefferson Ave. #101, Temecula, CA 92590, United States // +1 9516946373
This Temecula Mexican restaurant was established in 1989 and has since been serving traditional Mexican food. This place is located near a Firestone tire place, which makes the location very convenient.
We came here for dinner after hesitating about what to eat and where to eat. I am glad we decided to have our dinner at Vero’s Mexican Food because we had such an amazing night.
Something that you can’t miss here is the seafood. It is out of this world.
I ordered Chile Relleno, which was really good. Additionally, we decided to order tacos, Mexican munchies, green enchiladas, chilaquiles, chile verde burritos, and carne asada nachos.
Everything was outstanding and well prepared. The food was seasoned perfectly. For dessert, I ordered ice cream, and it was amazing. This restaurant also has good options for entrees, so you can start with appetizers before the big main dish. Mexican snacks are mandatory to have here.
The environment is not that fancy, but the food is excellent.
Love this place!
Margarita’s Cocina y Cantina
41923 2nd St., Temecula, CA 92590, United States // +19513312028
Margarita’s Cocina y Cantina is a real refreshment in the group of Mexican restaurants in Temecula. It is located in the Old Town of Temecula, and it is a friendly and cozy restaurant with outstanding food.
Here you will find traditional Mexican foods such as tacos, tostadas, and incredibly tasty burritos. My friend told me that I couldn’t miss the restaurant’s chimichanga, and he was completely right. It was yummy.
The place has an open view, wide windows, and an authentic mural as a part of the art decor.
That day when we visited this place for lunch, it was really hot, and I needed a cold drink to cool myself. The bartender offered me the Mango Rita which was the beginning of our enjoyable time in this lovely restaurant. We ordered soup and Mexican salad since we were not that hungry, but they were so good that we gained our appetites at once.
I recommend this place for having a nice time with your family, eating chips and salsa, and the best guacamole.
You can come with your friends or your family and have Cochinita and Al Pastor Street tacos, listen to mariachi, and have a Churro Bowl for dessert.
My go-to place for Mexican food in Temecula.
La Carreta Mexican Cuisine & Cantina
41653 Margarita Rd. #104, Temecula, CA 92591, United States // +19513834560
This restaurant is another great spot for margaritas and has an astonishing beer selection. We came to La Carreta to have a cold beer, but we ended up eating and sharing different Mexican dishes and exploring deeply authentic Mexican cuisine.
We ordered Carne Asada, Soft Cheese Quesadilla, and Carne con chile. For dessert, we had Churros and a very good Flan. But before dessert, we managed to order Tostada A la Mexicana and split it. Our conversation went smoothly, and we covered very interesting topics as we ordered the Chicken Chipotle Wrap, more margaritas, and beer.
Every dish was outstanding and a memorable meal overall. The salsa was fresh and delicious, with just the right spice. The tortilla soup was the BEST, a must-try for lovers of authentic, fresh Mexican dishes.
La Carreta exudes an authentic atmosphere with great service and a kind staff. We really enjoyed the food and the clean, fun-looking atmosphere.
And the food is something you deserve to try at least once in your life.
For Temecula Mexican food, I definitely recommend this place.
Guadalajara Mexican Grill & Cantina
27780 Jefferson Ave., Temecula, CA 92590, United States // +19515066002
Guadalajara Mexican offers quality Mexican food with fresh ingredients.
We had a very busy day, and we were starving, and Guadalajara Mexican was on our list for visiting. Since I was very hungry, I ordered spicy Mexican beef stew, and it was something I couldn’t describe with words. It was so good. I couldn’t ignore the Chile Colorado Burrito, and before I knew it, I was eating this restaurant’s masterpiece.
My friend ordered Nortenas Enchiladas, which also has the stew, just no beans. I highly recommend it. The more we ate, the more I realized that this place was a hidden treasure for Mexican food in Temecula. Mole enchiladas, Mexican candy shots, fresh lime margaritas, chips, and burritos; everything was delicious.
The menu is extensive, and I wanted to explore it. The cheese crisps appetizers were unique and so gooey, cheesy with crisp edges.
The star of the show was this amazingly huge michelada!
This is a very fun place, with great service and kind people, always ready to help and recommend dishes. It was a little noisy, but that was a great complement to the friendly atmosphere with excellent food. The place inside is well-decorated and colorful. The patio area is lovely and very festive.
Because I really love Mexican food, I recommend this place from the bottom of my heart.
FAQ
Where can you find the best Mexican food in Temecula?
You can expect to find a range of traditional Mexican dishes, such as chilaquiles, tacos, burritos, and enchiladas, in the nice ambiance of traditional Mexican restaurants.
Are these restaurants expensive?
It depends on the restaurant and the dish you order, but most of these restaurants are affordable and bring great value for the money.
Do these restaurants offer takeout or delivery options?
Many of these restaurants offer takeout and delivery options.
Conclusion of the Restaurants that Offer Mexican Food in Temecula.
If you’re a food lover and a fan of Mexican cuisine, Temecula is definitely the place for you. Here you will find diverse, flavorful, and authentic Mexican food. You will enjoy different combinations of Mexican food. So, what are you waiting for? Come and explore the flavors of Mexico’s food In Temecula!
If you liked this article or found it helpful and you are interested in learning and exploring more about places to visit and things to do in Temecula, please check out our articles:
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- 10 Amazing Things To Do In Temecula CA
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- Where to Find The Best Thai Food in Temecula
- Where to Find The Best Pizza in Temecula, CA
- The 8 Best Restaurants in Downtown Temecula
- Where to Find the Best Sushi in Temecula, CA
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Igor Jovanovski is an aspiring digital nomad, travel blogger and graphic designer who really loves food. He also has a creative side, and he works as a freelance graphic designer in his spare time. He has traveled across Europe quite a few times since he was young and recently started his mission to visit every country in the world! Igor’s favorite thing about traveling is the way he gets to know new people, food, places and cultures.
This exciting experience helps him create his own stories and make memories that will last forever