Glasgow’s best Mexican restaurants

Simply a must for fans of Mexican food, the City Centre’s Topolobamba brings the small plate / street food concept to Mexican cuisine. No longer do you have to decide what to have – just get a little of everything! About three dishes per person is a good rule of thumb, just remember to save room for churros. The seafood taquitos are especially delicious, as is anything served with their crumbly cheese. For those that don’t mind a bit of spice, however, it has to be their jalapeno poppers. As for drink, with more than a dozen types of margarita there’s bound to be one you’ll like (special shout-out to the unbelievably refreshing watermelon margarita).

Head out west to Partick and you’ll find local favourite Bibi’s Cantina. The décor will instantly make you feel at home, putting you in mind of a cosy Mexican kitchen. Look out for some great deals here: on Fridays from noon until 4pm you can get two meals and a drink for £10 and on Sundays, kids eat free. Bibi’s focuses on delivering hearty, wholesome meals guaranteed to satisfy, such as barbecue pulled pork quesadillas and burritos crammed full of different fillings. Along with all the usual tequila-based drinks, Bibi’s offer that summer favourite: sangria. Perfect for the summer months when they open up their spacious Back Court.

A newer addition to Glasgow’s Mexican scene, both the dishes and the décor of Mezcal on Hope Street are awash with colours that instantly evoke a fiesta. Mezcal promises dishes made from a combination of locally sourced produce and ingredients imported straight from Mexico, and the use of corn flour provides the added bonus of making all the tacos gluten free. Fillings include pork shoulder cooked in dried chilli with pineapple and oregano, or spinach and potato with pickled red onion. Mezcal also gives customers the opportunity to try Mexico’s national cocktail, the Paloma, or of course pick from a wide selection of mezcal, tequila’s smoky cousin.

Sat in between the many clubs and bars of Sauchiehall Street you’ll find the delightfully kitschy Latin joint, Mango. Somewhere between a restaurant, a bar, and a club, Mango is the ideal place to begin a night out and hey, you may as well order some Mexican food while you’re there. There are plenty of great grazing dishes, such as empanadas, tacos, or a basket of nachos heaped with sweet chilli salsa, guacamole, sour cream and coriander leaves. What elevates Mango into this guide, however is their excellent tropical cocktails, and their mojito is arguably the best in Glasgow.

At the top of Byres Road, just opposite Hillhead Bookclub, is The Parlour, which sells itself on three simple words: cocktails, tacos, beers. The Parlour is the ideal option if you find yourself craving Mexican food at all hours, as its food menu continues late into the night. The selection is small but by no means limited, with something for all tastes, including their vegan taco with crispy fried tofu, pea mole and red salsa. And for dessert, why not try a frozen margarita cheesecake? The drinks menu boasts a range of tropical cocktails, including the eye-catching mango margarita garnished with chilli salt. A coffee house by day and a lively club by night, The Parlour has a lot to offer, but most importantly: tacos.

Tucked away down a lane in Finnieston is Rafa’s, a newer Mexican diner that opened in September 2020 and aims to bring you Mexican food in the style of the chef’s native Arizona. The menu is simple and straightforward in design, but in true Finnieston style the ingredients are of high quality and the presentation is elegant. Marinated steak and confit pork butt are among the options for filling your tacos and burritos, and all the classic Mexican side dishes can be ordered separately, allowing you to construct your perfect meal. With extremely limited seating space, Rafa’s is fast becoming one of Glasgow’s most sought-after Mexican spots.