A Local’s Guide to the Best Mexican Restaurants in Concord, NC
It’s no secret that Concord, North Carolina has a TON of Mexican restaurants. Seriously, you could probably eat at a different Mexican restaurant every week for months and still have more to try!
But that’s also what I love about the Mexican food scene in Concord. While you’ll find plenty of familiar favorites like tacos, burritos, fajitas, and arroz con pollo, each restaurant seems to have its own distinct flair. Some are tiny hole-in-the-wall spots with incredible food, others are made for margaritas and date night, and some simply feel like the neighborhood restaurant where everyone knows your name.
And because asking me to pick just one best Mexican restaurant in Concord is pretty much impossible, I’m not going to do it.
Instead, these are my picks for the Top 5 Mexican Restaurants in Concord, NC—plus one that is technically just over the line in Kannapolis but absolutely deserves a spot on this list.
Whether you’re looking for a casual family dinner, giant margaritas, authentic Mexican dishes, outdoor dining, or simply some really good queso, there’s a restaurant on this list for you.
Quick Guide to the Best Mexican Restaurants in Concord, NC
| Restaurant | Best For | Don’t Miss |
|---|---|---|
| Fiesta Mexicana Grill | Hole-in-the-wall favorite & huge portions | Skillet Burrito |
| Rio 150 | Date night & over-the-top drinks | Elote + Giant Margaritas |
| Casa Grande | Casual family dinners | Mexican Cheesesteak |
| Sr Tekila | Unique dishes worth the short drive | Mexican Empanadas |
| Charros Mexican Restaurant | Outdoor dining | Baja Tacos with Mango Salsa |
1. Fiesta Mexicana Grill
Location: 836 Florence St NW, Concord, NC
Best For: Delicious food, generous portions, and FREE queso
What I Order: Grilled Chicken Taco Salad
Don’t Miss: The Skillet Burrito
If you’re the type of person who believes some of the best food comes from little hole-in-the-wall restaurants, Fiesta Mexicana Grill needs to be on your list. This unassuming Concord restaurant is one of those places you could easily drive past without realizing just how good the food waiting inside is.
And they win me over before I even order my entrée. Instead of bringing out only the traditional basket of chips and salsa, Fiesta Mexicana also brings salsa verde AND queso to the table.
Complimentary queso?!
YES PLEASE!
My go-to order here is the Taco Salad with Grilled Chicken. I know taco salad doesn’t necessarily sound like the most exciting thing you could order at a Mexican restaurant, but this one is SO good. It’s loaded with grilled chicken and is such a huge portion that I almost always have enough left for lunch the next day.
But lately, the real star of our table has been my husband’s favorite: the Skillet Burrito.
This thing is massive.
It comes sizzling to the table with a burrito stuffed with seasoned al pastor, grilled pineapple, rice, refried beans, lettuce, tomato, shredded cheese, and sour cream before being finished with salsa verde and queso dip. And underneath it all? Grilled mozzarella melted onto the bottom of the skillet.
It’s absolutely delicious.
Technically, it’s big enough to share. Unfortunately for me, my husband likes it so much that he refuses to share because he wants the leftovers for lunch.
That doesn’t stop me from stealing a few bites.
The Takeaway: If you’re searching for a casual Mexican restaurant in Concord with large portions, great food, and a little something extra with those complimentary chips, Fiesta Mexicana is one of my first recommendations.
Check out their full menu here: Fiesta Mexicana Grill Menu
2. Rio 150
Location: 8629 Concord Mills Blvd, Concord, NC
Best For: Date night, fun vibes, and over-the-top cocktails
Don’t Miss: Elote and one of their signature drinks
Want Mexican food with a side of FUN?
Head to Rio 150 near Concord Mills.
While some Mexican restaurants are perfect for a quiet family dinner, Rio 150 is where we go when we want more of a date-night atmosphere. The restaurant feels energetic, the drinks are over the top, and it’s the kind of place where dinner feels like a night out rather than simply grabbing something to eat.
One of the biggest reasons I love coming here is the elote, also known as Mexican street corn.
You would think Mexican street corn would be easy to find at Mexican restaurants, but I’ve actually found that surprisingly few restaurants around Concord serve it. Rio 150 does—and it’s SO good.
But we also need to talk about the drinks.
Rio 150 has some of the most fun drink presentations around Concord. We’re talking giant margaritas served in purse-shaped glasses and sangria arriving in a high-heel-shaped glass.
Are they a little extra?
Absolutely.
And that’s exactly the point.
The Takeaway: If you’re trying to decide where to go for a Mexican restaurant date night in Concord, Rio 150 is my pick. Grab the elote, order one of the ridiculously fun drinks, and make a night of it.
Check Out The Full Menu Here: Rio 150 Menu
3. Casa Grande Mexican Restaurant
Location: 1 Concord Commons Pl SW, Concord, NC
Best For: Relaxed family dinners
What I Order: Mexican Cheesesteak
Family Favorite: Arroz con Camarones
Don’t let the location fool you.
Tucked into the shopping center with Walmart, Casa Grande might look like your basic neighborhood Mexican restaurant from the outside, but this place has become one of our family’s regular spots. Casa Grande is where we go when we don’t want anything fancy. We just want really good food, friendly people, and a relaxed meal that almost feels like you’re hanging out with family.
The staff here is always incredibly friendly when we visit, and the whole restaurant has a laid-back atmosphere that makes it an easy choice for a casual dinner. And I don’t even have to look at the menu anymore.
I’m getting the Mexican Cheesesteak.
Every. Single. Time.
Tender sliced beef and onions are covered in queso and wrapped inside a fresh tortilla, and it is absolute perfection. If you’re someone who believes adding queso automatically makes almost anything better, you need this one.
My teenager, on the other hand, loves the Arroz con Camarones—Mexican rice topped with grilled shrimp and vegetables and drizzled with queso. And they aren’t skimping on tiny shrimp, either. The shrimp have always been a nice size and plentiful when we’ve ordered it.
It’s one of those meals that keeps everyone at our table happy.
The Takeaway: Casa Grande is my pick when you want to skip the trendy atmosphere and simply enjoy a comfortable, casual Mexican dinner with the family. Sometimes the neighborhood spot you keep coming back to is exactly what you need.
Check out the menu here: Casa Grande Menu
4. Sr Tekila Mexican Restaurant
Location: 515 S Main St, Kannapolis, NC
Best For: Something a little different
Don’t Miss: Mexican Empanadas
What I Order: Arroz con Pollo #2
Okay, okay…I know.
Sr Tekila is technically in Kannapolis, not Concord. But it’s close enough that I’m including it anyway because if you’re already in Concord, it’s absolutely worth the short drive. And first, can we talk about this building?
Sr Tekila is located inside an old house that’s been converted into a beautiful restaurant, giving it a completely different feeling from your typical shopping-center Mexican restaurant.
But the biggest reason I’m including it on this list is the food.
Specifically…
THE EMPANADAS.
It’s surprisingly hard to find a Mexican restaurant around the Concord area serving the kind of empanadas I’m looking for, and these hit the spot.
They’re made with corn masa shells and topped with a tangy slaw and crumbly cheese, and I could seriously sit there with an order of cheese empanadas and a margarita and be one very happy woman.
But if I’m ordering an entrée, I’m getting the Arroz con Pollo #2. It takes the classic ACP we all know and love and loads it up with grilled vegetables. It’s hearty, flavorful, and easily one of my favorite versions of arroz con pollo around the area.
Worth the Drive: Yes, you technically have to leave Concord for this one. But Kannapolis is right next door, and the empanadas alone earn Sr Tekila a place on my list.
Check out the full menu here: Sr. Tekila Menu
5. Charros Mexican Restaurant
Location: 1044 Copperfield Blvd NE, Concord, NC
Best For: Outdoor dining
What I Order: Baja Tacos
Don’t Miss: The Mango Salsa
When the North Carolina weather decides to cooperate and you want to eat outside, Charros Mexican Restaurant is the spot. The Copperfield location has a large wraparound patio, making this one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Concord for enjoying lunch or dinner outdoors.
And Charros starts your meal a little differently, too. Instead of simply dropping off a basket of chips with one bowl of salsa, they bring out an assortment of salsas and beans for dipping. It’s such a small touch, but I love having a few different flavors on the table before the entrées even arrive.
As for my order?
Give me the Baja Tacos.
Actually, give me whatever comes with their mango salsa, because I could seriously put that stuff on EVERYTHING. The freshness of the mango salsa with the tacos makes this one of those meals I start craving again before I’ve even left the restaurant.
The Takeaway: Save Charros for one of those beautiful North Carolina days when eating inside feels like a crime. Grab a table on the patio, order the Baja Tacos, and whatever you do…don’t skip that mango salsa.
Check out the full menu here: Charros Mexican Restaurant Menu
So, What Is the Best Mexican Restaurant in Concord, NC?
I warned you at the beginning, I can’t pick just one! The great thing about having so many Mexican restaurants in Concord is that the “best” one really depends on what you’re in the mood for.
Want a hole-in-the-wall favorite with huge portions and complimentary queso? Go to Fiesta Mexicana.
Planning a fun date night with giant margaritas? Rio 150.
Want an easy family dinner where everyone can relax? Casa Grande.
Craving empanadas and don’t mind driving a few minutes into Kannapolis? Sr Tekila.
Beautiful day and want to sit outside? Charros.
And that’s exactly why I don’t think Concord can have only one “best” Mexican restaurant. Each of these spots brings something different to the table… literally.
Now the only question is…
Which one are you trying first?
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