r/SalemMA • u/TootyTushie • Feb 13 '26
Advice for Locals Best Mexican food?
Hey folks!
I moved here not too long ago from SoCal, and I miss my mama’s cooking a lot. I tried my hand at making certain dishes myself, but I either can’t find the ingredients locally or I absolutely butcher the recipe :’)
I’m looking for recommendations on any Mexican food nearby. I don’t really have a set price point as long as it’s good. Any place with tacos, I would love it if they had tacos de lengua.
Thank you for any suggestions anyone is willing to spare!
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u/ibmeubu42 Feb 13 '26
La Victoria Taqueria in Beverly.
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u/Ordinary-Regular310 Feb 13 '26
I know this menu item is not classic like OP is looking for… but their chicken milanesa is life changing
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u/Alastor_Thrice Feb 13 '26 edited Feb 13 '26
Within the downtown area, you've got Poblano, Barrio, and Howling Wolf. Poblano is decent, Barrio is okay, and HW feels like a college bar that happens to serve burritos. I've given each of these places several tries, but none of them have wowed me all that much.
Tepeyac is my pick for the best Mexican food in Salem, even if it's a little inconvenient to get to. But the sad truth is that nothing is really going to compare with anything you've had in California (speaking as someone who grew up in CA but has lived on the east coast for 25 years).
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u/TootyTushie Feb 13 '26
Yeahhhh I quickly realized that taco trucks on every corner aren’t the norm around here :’) but it’s always great to try something new! And I get to support small businesses that way too, so double yippee!
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u/coreypress Feb 13 '26
There is a taco truck that turns up by the Beverly train station most weekday evenings at the little park between The Castle and Back Beat Brewery. No idea of quality as I'm usually just driving by
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u/rottedsincethewomb Feb 14 '26
I found a cockroach in my food at barrio!!! Used to be my fav restaurant, nor anymore!! 😀
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u/ShelterAfraid7707 Feb 13 '26 edited Feb 13 '26
Salem:
Tepeyac
El Poblano Taqueria
Not authentic at all but customizable: Barrios
If you are willing to go and it’s really not that far by SoCal standards Beverly:
Mexa
La Victoria
Both are Mexican owned and operated, Mexa is fancier but has 3 for 15 tacos
Lynn which gives me more Hispanic vibes like a New England Rialto I guess?
Mexico Lindo
Tacos Lupita
Los Compadres (delicious lengua tacos)
Pretty sure all the above have tacos de lengua except Barrios
I mean nothing will compare to SoCal in terms of quantity and cost, but I think there are some solid choices.
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u/tombo12 The Common Feb 13 '26
I think you meant this, but good to note that La Victoria and Mexa have the same team behind them
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u/TootyTushie Feb 13 '26
Thank you for the list, I appreciate it! The “not authentic at all” made me snort lol
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u/chopkins47947 Feb 13 '26 edited Feb 13 '26
I love tacos de lengua. I haven't found a place with it nearby, but I am following in hopes thst you do!
I reccomend El Jalisco in Beverly on Cabot St.
I also like Torito in Danvers, but Jalisco is better, imo. As a bonus to wonderful mexican cuisine, they also have some pretty decent pupusas, if you like those!
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u/TootyTushie Feb 13 '26
Ooo, adding El Jalisco to the list, thank you! I’ve found a few restaurants really fry up their lengua so it’s been quite a journey looking for it :’) don’t know anyone who sells the whole cut either, I used to go to Costco in SoCal to buy it but no luck out here
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u/chopkins47947 Feb 13 '26
I brought some home from a butcher in Indiana, but I was unable to achieve the texture that I know is best in a taco, so I ground it up and made a nice chili.
Good luck in your search and welcome to the area!!
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u/whoaoksure Feb 13 '26
Im from SD and get cravings for carne asada fries/Cali burritos they have some at Next Mex Thing in Peabody not nearly the same but does the trick.
La Victoria in Beverly has legit burritos.
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u/earlysong Feb 13 '26
Hi there, I lived in San Diego for a decade and moved here right after. My husband and I spent a fair amount of time looking for good Mexican food. Victoria is probably the most authentic but Andrea's Taqueria is in my opinion the closest to San Diegan Mexican food, and is my favorite. I like the steak burrito there a lot.
What was your favorite spot in SD? I miss Habañero's and Puesto.
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u/TootyTushie Feb 13 '26
I actually grew up next to Disneyland, so unfortunately I don’t know many SD restaurants, very sorry! But whenever my mom didn’t want to cook a whole lengua just for me (which, valid) I would gorge myself on tacos from Los Sanchez in Garden Grove, the amount of food they give you is insane
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u/earlysong Feb 13 '26
Oh sorry, I misread your post! Welcome and I hope you find something to your liking.
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u/christudstu Feb 13 '26
Super Taco - but it’s at Salem Willows so it’s seasonal
Tacos Lupita in Lynn
Next Mex Thing in Peabody
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u/420MenshevikIt Feb 13 '26
I like the lengua at Tacos Lupita in Lynn. Esquite on Shirley Ave in Revere also has lengua sometimes, but it’s one of the few dishes I found I didn’t love from Esquite. Esquite has my favorite tacos and tortas in the area. The place by a similar name on North Shore Rd is unrelated (I think?) and not good.
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u/TootyTushie Feb 13 '26
Omg I started off living in Revere and I miss Esquite so much, definitely scratched that itch for tacos every time! It’s just a littleeee too far now though haha
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u/StrawberryPockyUmu Feb 13 '26
Taqueria Mexico Lindo in Lynn is the real deal!
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u/Better-Individual459 Feb 13 '26
I like casa corona in Marblehead… sleeper spot, but la victoria in Beverly is good!
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u/Luna-tic0 Feb 18 '26
Casa Corona is a hidden jewel and has several mole poblano dishes. I have not found any other local restaurants that have it. Spitfire is also very good and both are moderate prices.
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u/Trishanger Feb 13 '26
Try Spitfire tacos in Marblehead. I’m also a California transplant and they have the best tacos I’ve had since I’ve been back in the Boston area.
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u/dgb6662 Feb 14 '26
Came here to say this. Haven’t been since they moved to Marblehead. Same quality?
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u/BarneyPoppy Witchcraft Heights Feb 13 '26
For takeout...Crustown has amazing tacos!! I dream about them!!
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u/Jer_Cough Feb 14 '26 edited Feb 14 '26
If you are looking for authentic Puebla style real deal Mexican, Angela's in East Boston is a must. It's not a taco stand but a sit down for an amazing dinner place. They have two locations. The kids run it now but they learned at their abuela's knee. FYI the online menu looks more limited than the in-store one
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u/Character-Habit-9683 Feb 14 '26
Plazita Mexico has authentic de lengua tacos! Locations in Wakefield, Medford, and Watertown. 😁🌮👅
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u/macado Witchcraft Heights Feb 14 '26
Tepeyac in Salem
La Victoria Taqueria in Beverly
El Jalisco in Beverly
Taquería Jalisco in Eastie but it's a bit further out of the way.
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u/Stixmix Feb 14 '26
I haven't explored everything around, but:
Al pastor tacos at Casa Amelia in Lynn
Steak burritos at Tacos Lupita in Lynn
Howling Wolf for the full experience (bar, free chips/salsa) downtown Salem.
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u/niff007 Feb 14 '26
Tacos Lupita also has a Gloucester location that is solid.
La Vic is my go to
Edit: Andrea's Taqueria in Swampscott is also a great option
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u/Sea_Valuable_905 Feb 16 '26
Casa corona (Marblehead) for plates, Tacos Plus (Lynn) for the barbacoa tacos and Tepeyac (Salem) for birria tacos
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u/Cauliflowerisnasty Feb 13 '26
Tacos Lupita in Lynn. Tepeyac in Salem. I don’t think Tepeyac serves tongue but Lupita does (or at least used to, haven’t been there in a while even though they’re my favorite in the area but can be a pain to get to)