13 Family-Owned Mexican Restaurants In Louisiana That Locals Rely On Week After Week
Louisiana knows how to celebrate flavor, and the state’s Mexican restaurants prove that point every single day.
Families who opened taquerias, cantinas, and grills decades ago still run kitchens where recipes pass from one generation to the next, and locals know exactly where to go when they need that perfect plate of tacos or a sizzling fajita platter.
These 13 spots have earned their place in weekly dinner rotations, proving that consistency, heart, and a welcoming smile matter just as much as the salsa.
1. Felipe’s Mexican Taqueria
Felipe’s started as a small, family-owned taqueria and grew into a local mini-chain without losing the scrappy, homespun energy that drew regulars in the first place.
Walk into the Uptown or French Quarter location and you hear orders called out over the sizzle of the grill while families share big plates at the communal tables.
The owners still emphasize fresh ingredients and from-scratch prep, which helps explain why you see the same neighborhood faces here multiple times a week.
Locals trust Felipe’s for quick lunches, late-night cravings, and everything in between, knowing the quality stays consistent across every visit.
2. La Patrona
La Patrona sits near the river in New Orleans, where a local family built a casual spot around handmade tortillas and generously stuffed tacos. Regulars talk about how the owners greet guests like neighbors and remember favorite orders.
The energy inside feels relaxed and lived-in, with families sharing platters of grilled meats and rice while kids sneak chips from baskets in the middle of the table.
Every visit brings that same welcoming vibe, making it easy to see why so many people return week after week for their taco fix and friendly conversation.
3. Taqueria Corona
Taqueria Corona has served the New Orleans area for decades as a locally owned, family-run taqueria, and you can feel that history in the way servers chat with customers like old friends.
Plates arrive simple and confident: grilled fish tacos, soft tortillas, bright pico.
Regulars lean on these locations for weeknight dinners when they want that reliable, no-fuss flavor that has carried the place through countless busy lunch rushes.
My go-to order is always the fish tacos, and I swear they taste exactly the same as they did five years ago, which is exactly what I need.
4. Casa Garcia
Casa Garcia in Metairie has been a family project since the 1980s, when Octavio and Dorita Garcia set out to bring their Tex-Mex and Mexican dishes to the New Orleans area.
Today, their restaurant still runs as a family-owned operation, with regulars ordering combination plates and sizzling platters that taste like the dishes the Garcias served when they first opened.
Locals rely on it for birthday dinners, team celebrations, and the kind of comforting plates that rarely change. That consistency keeps generations coming back to the same booths their parents once sat in.
5. Ki’ Mexico
Ki’ Mexico began when members of the Mondragón family sold salsas and tacos at the Shreveport farmers’ market, then slowly grew into a brick-and-mortar restaurant that still feels like a creative family kitchen.
Described as a small, family-owned Mexican restaurant, it serves tacos layered with playful flavors while local art lines the walls and live music spills across the patio.
Diners talk about seeing the owners working the room, checking on plates, and treating guests like part of the extended family. The atmosphere buzzes with creativity and warmth in equal measure.
6. El Cabo Verde
Chef Gabriel Balderas and his wife built El Cabo Verde around a slow-food philosophy, using produce from their family-owned farm and an on-site organic garden outside the restaurant.
In the dining room, you catch the aroma of roasted peppers and fresh herbs while plates carrying deep red sauces and charred vegetables weave between tables.
Locals return for food that tastes both traditional and modern, knowing that much of what lands on the plate came from nearby fields the owners tend themselves.
That farm-to-table commitment shines through in every carefully crafted bite.
7. El Compadre Mexican Restaurant & Seafood
El Compadre openly calls itself a local, family-owned and operated restaurant, and the vibe backs that up.
Regulars slide into booths for big combo plates, grilled meats, and seafood dishes that keep the kitchen humming seven days a week.
Staff recognize frequent visitors and share easy conversation between refills, giving the place the feel of a neighborhood gathering spot more than a generic dining room.
I once watched a server remember a customer’s order before they even sat down, and that kind of personal touch keeps people coming back without fail.
8. El Cortez Mexican Restaurant
El Cortez has the look of a classic roadside spot, but behind the sign sits a family-owned and operated restaurant where locals slip in for familiar plates.
Regulars praise the steady flavors and old-school hospitality that makes first-timers feel like they have been coming for years.
Many families treat it as their default answer when cravings hit for comforting enchiladas and rice.
The menu does not chase trends, and that reliability has built a loyal following that spans generations and keeps tables full every night of the week.
9. Los Compas Cantina & Grill
Los Compas Cantina & Grill runs as a beloved family-owned Mexican restaurant with twin locations in Benton and Minden.
Week after week, families gather around sizzling platters and share baskets of chips while catching up on local gossip, which keeps both locations humming with small-town energy.
The consistent quality and warm welcome make it a community anchor that folks plan their week around.
10. Tampico’s
Tampico’s has served Lafayette and Bayou Vista for decades as a family-owned Mexican restaurant that takes pride in its long roots in Louisiana.
The building’s colorful facade hints at the generous platters inside, where locals share fajitas, mole-topped enchiladas, and overflowing nachos.
Regulars talk about growing up on these plates and bringing their own kids back, treating Tampico’s as a reliable constant in a city where restaurants come and go.
That multigenerational loyalty speaks volumes about the quality and care that goes into every dish served here.
11. Little Hacienda
Little Hacienda carries a more intimate feel, a small family-run Mexican restaurant that locals discovered through word of mouth.
Inside, the owners often move between tables, checking in and chatting while plates of grilled meats, rice, and beans arrive from the kitchen.
Reviews talk about the sense of pride in every dish, the kind of attention to detail that comes when an entire family invests its time and energy into one dining room.
That personal investment translates into meals that feel crafted with care rather than rushed out on an assembly line.
12. Taco Sisters
Taco Sisters began as a dream project for sisters Molly and Katy Richard, who turned a small space on Johnston Street into a family-run taco shop focused on high-quality ingredients.
Locals line up for smoked meats, bright salsas, and bowls layered with vegetables, then linger on the patio with friends.
Community posts and travel write-ups still highlight Taco Sisters as a locally owned fixture in Lafayette’s culinary landscape, a spot where creativity and family pride run the show.
The sisters’ passion for quality ingredients shines through in every carefully assembled taco.
13. Garcia’s Famous Mexican Food
Garcia’s Famous Mexican Food grew out of the Garcia family’s long history in the restaurant world, including their original Casa Garcia in Metairie.
Owners Steve and Connie Garcia opened the Covington location in 2004, and the place now stands as a family-run Northshore institution where recipes from Steve’s grandmother, Mama Sarita, still anchor the menu.
Guests settle into the lively dining room for generous burritos, fajitas, and house specialties that taste like they were developed over generations at home, not in a test kitchen.
That authentic family heritage makes every meal feel special.