Mexican food has been on the rise in Singapore for quite some time now. Creamy guacamole, zesty salsa, and sumptuous, spicy meats—Mexican cuisine excites every area of the palate, with its breadth of punchy sour, spicy, sweet, and salty flavours. If you haven’t tried Mexican cuisine yet, say “hola!” to a new world of flavours at these Mexican restaurants in Singapore that dole out affordable tacos and burritos.
Do note that many of these eateries have influences from the Americanised version of the cuisine, also known as Tex-Mex. That is why you may see ground beef or hard-shell tortillas, and yellow cheese featured in some of their tacos—these ingredients are not found in authentic, traditional Mexican tacos.
Before we begin, here’s a glossary of common Mexican meats to get you up to speed:
Carnitas: Braised, pulled pork shoulder cooked until ridiculously tender with a series of seasonings, such as cumin and orange juice.
Barbacoa: Lamb or beef steamed until tender and dripping with fat. Traditionally, the meat and organs of the whole animal are wrapped in agave leaves and cooked in a giant metal pot.
Carne Asada: Mexican steak, distinguished by an intense marinade, typically cumin, chiles and citrus juice
Bored Tacos is a popular Tex-Mex eatery with a vibey ambience and a wallet-friendly menu. All items are at nett prices here, with outlets at Joo Chiat, Hougang, and Lavender.
We started our meal with the tasty Loaded Nachos ($14.90), featuring crispy nacho chips topped with gooey mozzarella, nacho cheese drizzle, and a dollop of salsa and guacamole. Next, we had our favourite Beef Chilli Cheese Quesadilla ($12.90), which was loaded with minced beef cooked in a tangy tomato sauce. Another popular option is the Garlic Prawn Tacos ($19 for three), which come packed with five fresh prawns, sweet mango cubes, crunchy purple lettuce, and a spicy salsa drizzle.
Read our Bored Tacos review.
Website | Full list of outlets
Bored Tacos is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.
Lavi Taco, tucked away at Pearl’s Hill Terrace—an artsy enclave with thrift stores and tattoo studios—offers a unique alfresco dining experience surrounded by murals and sculptures. Renowned for its exceptional Mexican fare, a standout is the quesabirria, featuring spiced, slow-cooked meat in crispy quesadillas.
Must-tries include the Masala Lamb Birria and Birria ($25++ each), served with flavourful dipping broths, and the Butter Prawn ($25++) taco, bursting with grilled prawns, Thai mango salad, and chipotle mayo. Pair your tacos with their Loaded Nachos (from $19++), topped with sour cream, cheese, and your choice of pulled beef brisket or mushrooms.
Read our Lavi Taco review.
Address: 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, #01-54, Singapore 168976
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 5:30pm to 9:30pm
Tel: 8923 4211
Website
Lavi Taco is not a halal-certified eatery.
There’s something special about a native chef making his own dish. That’s the pedigree Papi’s Tacos has, as it is helmed by Executive Chef and native of Tlaxaca, Mexico, Mauricio Espinoza.
Their tacos were the most memorable, especially the Tacos De Pescado (from $16++), which features grilled dory fillets slathered with smoky chipotle aioli. Tacos Al Pastor ($16++) are ubiquitous on the streets of Mexico, with tender marinated pork cooked kebab-style. It’s simple food that bursts with flavour that’s made using grilled pineapple and salsa.
Website | Full list of outlets
Papi’s Tacos is not a halal-certified eatery.
While tamales are a staple in Mexican cuisine, they’re rarely, if ever, found on the menus of Mexican restaurants in Singapore. Think of tamales as the Latin American cousin of Chinese bak zhang—masa, a corn flour dough, is filled with a savoury medley of meats, beans, cheese, or vegetables, then wrapped in a corn husk and steamed till firm. The result is a comforting, deeply satisfying bundle that will keep you going back for seconds. What’s even better is the fact that you can now get tamales on home turf, thanks to Mami’s Tamales.
Singapore’s first and only tamalería is run by two native Mexican chefs. Chef Maribel, in particular, has a deep connection to the tamal, having grown up working in her family’s very own tamalería back in Puebla. That same heritage recipe makes its way to the Keong Saik restaurant she now co-runs, available with six different fillings—Birria Tamal ($18++), Pork Salsa Verde ($18++), Chicken Tinga ($16++), Papas Con Chorizo ($16++), as well as the vegetarian-friendly Mushroom Pastor ($15++) and Cheese & Pepper ($14++). If you’re not sure what to try, order the Mami’s Tamales Platter ($58++), where you get your pick of four flavours, served with a side of sour cream and house-made salsa. FYI: Head down on Tuesdays to enjoy a two tamales, one free promo!
Image credit: Mami’s Tamales
Be sure to add on a serving of their crowd-pleasing Tableside Guacamole And Chips ($26++), freshly mashed right before your eyes and paired with warm, crunchy tortilla chips. Wash it all down with a drink from their Mexican Ice Cream Bar selection, where your choice of tipple gets topped with a house-made fresh fruit popsicle. Also, happy hour is from 12pm to 7pm daily, where select drinks go for just $10++.
The rest of the menu is as homely as it is authentically Mexican. At lunch, find classics like Huevos Rancheros ($28++), where warm tortillas are crowned with sunny-side-up egg, a salsa medley, Mexican chorizo, and queso fresco. Molletes, a type of open-faced Mexican sandwich, and, of course, more familiar dishes like burritos and enchiladas round out the offerings, making it a spot where you can dig into both comfort classics and lesser-known gems of Mexican cooking.
Address: 55 Keong Saik Road, #01-02, Singapore 089158
Opening hours: Tue-Thurs, Sun 12pm to 2:30pm, 5pm to 10pm, Fri-Sat 12pm to 2:30pm, 5pm to 11pm
Tel: 9711 1487
Website
Mami’s Tamales is not a halal-certified eatery.
El Cocinero is a gem in the heart of Novena. Nestled snugly in a quiet apartment block, this humble cantina serves up some supremely affordable, authentic Mexican grub. Their taco selection is headlined by the smoky and juicy chicken Tinga ($10.50) and luscious classic Carnitas ($11). Each taco is topped with sharp, diced onions, piquant salsa, and earthy coriander to give a fresh edge to your tortilla-licious experience.
Quesadilla fans aren’t left out, especially with the hearty Pork Meatball ($12), featuring premium pork cut made using spices, onions, and chipotle sauce. There are vegetarian options too, such as Poblano ($12), which boasts a distinct sweetness from the caramelised onions and sweet corn. Alternatively, the simple Cheese ($10) is equally delicious.
Address: 275 Thomson Road, #01-45, Novena Regency, Singapore 307645
Opening hours: Mon 12:30pm to 10:30pm, Wed-Fri 12:30pm to 11pm, Sat 1pm to 11pm, Sun 1pm to 10:30pm
Tel: 8127 6993
Website
El Cocinero is not a halal-certified eatery.
Huevos is a super popular Mexican joint that people love for many reasons. Their Instagram-worthy quesadillas and tacos aren’t just easy on the eyes—they’re jam-packed with all sorts of tasty ingredients and spices that blend perfectly to create that classic, bold Mexican flavour.
For $13+, you can get a set of two Huevos Al Pastor Pork Tacos, featuring a simple yet tasty mix of grilled pork, pina relish, salsa verde, and chipotle aioli in a white corn tortilla. Make sure to try the beloved Baja Fish Tacos (from $15+), starring generous portions of crispy and succulent codfish deep-fried to golden perfection.
Read our Huevos review.
Bugis outlet
Address: 803 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198771
Opening hours: Wed-Sun 11am to 3pm, 5pm to 10pm
New Bahru outlet
Address: 46 Kim Yam Road, New Bahru, Singapore 239351
Opening hours: Wed-Sun 11am to 2:15pm, 5pm to 10pm
Website
Huevos is not a halal-certified eatery.
Stylish eatery Lower East Side Taqueria crafts tacos bearing the metropolitan influences of its namesake New York City borough, the Lower East Side. It’s a nice place to unwind by knocking back some tequila shots while feasting on robust Mexican food.
Image credit: Lower East Side Tacqueria via Google Maps
Urban Jamaican ($18.50++) imparts Caribbean flavour to the taco, in the form of generously spiced jerk chicken. If you aren’t afraid of getting your hands—and possibly your shirt—dirty, check out the sloppy Chilli Beef Taco ($16.50++). Tex-Mex chilli con carne slithers out of each crunchy tortilla shell, bursting with smoky and meaty flavour.
Address: 19 East Coast Road, #01-02, Singapore 428746
Opening hours: Mon-Tue 5pm to 11pm, Wed-Thurs & Sun 12pm to 11pm, Fri-Sat 12pm to 1am
Tel: 6348 1302
Website
Lower East Side Taqueria is not a halal-certified eatery.
Originally a nondescript hole-in-the-wall joint at Keong Saik Road, Muchachos’ dazzling burritos have propelled them to a considerably cushier spot at the foot of Frasers’ Tower, directly opposite the famous Amoy Street Food Centre.
Naturally, all the classics are available, in the form of juicy Carne Asada ($15.80 for burrito, $6.50 for taco, $15.80 for quesadilla), alluringly spiced Carnitas ($14 for burrito, $5.60 for taco, $14 for quesadilla) and flaky, tender Pescado ($14 for burrito, $5.60 for taco, $14 for quesadilla). If you’re feeling adventurous, take a stab at the Lengua ($16.40 for burrito, $6.80 for taco, $16.40 for quesadilla), which comprises meltingly soft beef tongue that packs incredible flavour.
We recommend their burritos if you’ve got the requisite stomach space. It’s what they’ve built their name with; each burrito is packed with lively salsa, earthy beans, and fragrant rice that isn’t too mushy.
Address: 182 Cecil Street, #01-01, Frasers Tower, Singapore 069547
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am to 9pm, Sat-Sun 10am to 3pm
Tel: 6513 0215
Website
Muchachos is not a halal-certified eatery.
Among the oldest Mexican restaurants in Singapore is Cha Cha Cha Mexican Restaurant, which has been serving its delectable fare in Holland Village since 1990.
Its menu is chock-full of Mexican classics, such as the Pulled Pork Nachos ($15++), which are served with melted cheese, jalapenos, and pico de gallo, and Fish Tacos ($18++), served with lettuce, cheese, pico de gallo, and your choice of tortillas. For mains, the Polo Al Chipotle ($20++) is a good shout, as it comprises delicious fried chicken thighs served with chipotle sauce, corn salsa, and cilantro rice.
Address: 32 Lorong Mambong, Singapore 277690
Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 11:30am to 11pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am to 12am
Tel: 6462 1650
Website
Cha Cha Cha Mexican Restaurant is not a halal-certified eatery.
With five locations across the country, Chimichanga is one of the more recognisable entries on the list. And yet, all three outlets have maintained a very high score on Google Maps, which is a testament to their consistent quality.
A taste of the Carne Asada Tacos ($18++) tells you exactly this—filled with skirt steak streaks, guacamole and more, it’s what you’d want from a taco. For a more substantial meal, try the Chipotle Chicken ($16++), which comes with spicy and smoky chicken along with an Amarillo rice bowl.
Website | Full list of outlets
Chimichanga is not a halal-certified eatery.
A great halal Mexican option is Afterwit Mexican Taqueria. This no-frills North Bridge joint encompasses a multitude of fusion flavours.
There are six variations of tacos here, ranging from the popular BBQ Cola ($22++), featuring pulled beef brisket, cola BBQ sauce, cabbage slaw, pickled jalapeno, guacamole, and garlic sour cream all atop a house-made corn tortilla. If you’re on team burrito, get the Burrito Bowl instead; there’s Chicken ($17++), Beef ($19++), or Karana ($19++) for your consideration.
Address: 778 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198746
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 10pm
Tel: 8786 1948
Website
Afterwit Mexican Taqueria is a halal-certified eatery.
With heaps of bold flavour and immensely satisfying meats, it’s no surprise that Mexican is as popular as it is nowadays. Head to these joints to expand your culinary horizons, and just maybe, you’ll end up jumping on this tasty Latin American bandwagon.
For other cuisines, check out our guides to the best Italian restaurants and the best Chinese restaurants in Singapore.
This article contains partial partnership content. However, all opinions are ours.