11 Underrated Mexican Restaurants In California With Jaw-Dropping Food

California’s Mexican food scene goes way beyond the famous spots you see on Instagram.

Hidden throughout the state are incredible, family-owned gems serving authentic dishes that’ll make your taste buds do a happy dance.

I’ve spent years hunting down these underrated treasures, from hole-in-the-wall taquerias to modest family restaurants with recipes passed down for generations.

Here are 11 Mexican restaurants in California that deserve way more attention for their mind-blowing food.

1. La Azteca Tortilleria: The Burrito Wizards Of East LA

I stumbled upon this East LA jewel during a wrong turn that turned so right! La Azteca’s chile relleno burrito should be declared a California landmark – a perfect poblano chile stuffed with cheese, wrapped in a handmade flour tortilla that’s somehow both chewy and crisp.

The tiny storefront doesn’t look like much from outside, but inside, magic happens. Third-generation tortilla makers press fresh masa daily, creating the foundation for everything they serve.

What really knocked my sombrero off was watching the abuelitas working in the back, patting tortillas with the rhythm and precision that only comes from decades of practice. No fancy decor here – just straightforward, soul-satisfying Mexican food that makes fancy restaurants seem silly by comparison.

2. Tamales Y Elena: Bell Gardens’ Afro-Mexican Marvel

Holy mole! The first bite of Tamales Y Elena’s Oaxacan-style tamales transported me straight to southern Mexico. This family-run spot specializes in Afro-Mexican cuisine from Costa Chica – a culinary tradition rarely showcased in California restaurants.

Owner Maria Elena Lorenzo creates tamales that are pure poetry – moist masa encasing tender meats in complex moles that take days to prepare. Her pozole, a rich hominy stew, comes in three regional varieties that showcase her mastery of traditional techniques.

What makes this place extra special is how the entire Lorenzo family contributes. Grandma supervises the masa preparation while grandkids deliver orders with proud smiles. They started as a weekend-only operation but thankfully expanded after locals (myself included) begged for daily access to their incredible food.

3. Nixtaco: Roseville’s Corn Tortilla Revolution

“You drove two hours for a taco?” my friends asked. After trying Nixtaco, they understood why. This Roseville gem has revolutionized Northern California’s taco scene with their obsessive focus on proper nixtamalization – the ancient process of treating corn with lime to create authentic masa.

Owner Patricio Wise sources heirloom corn varieties directly from small Mexican farms, creating tortillas with flavor profiles I didn’t know were possible. Each taco showcases thoughtful combinations that honor tradition while incorporating local California ingredients.

The carnitas changed my life – crispy yet tender pork crowned with pickled onions on a blue corn tortilla that tastes nutty and complex. Their rotating specials feature regional Mexican dishes rarely seen in American restaurants. Pro tip: their house-made salsas deserve their own fan club!

4. Amor y Tacos: Cerritos’ Creative Flavor Laboratory

Last summer, I brought my food-snob cousin from Mexico City to Amor y Tacos. His skeptical expression vanished after one bite of their Mole Tot-chos – crispy tater tots smothered in house-made mole, cotija cheese, and crema. “This shouldn’t work, but it’s amazing!” he admitted.

Chef Thomas Ortega brilliantly walks the line between tradition and innovation. His Tijuana-style Caesar salad (created tableside!) honors the dish’s actual Mexican origins while adding contemporary twists.

The restaurant’s vibrant murals and Día de los Muertos–inspired décor create a festive backdrop for serious culinary exploration. Their extensive mezcal selection introduced me to small-batch varieties I’d never encountered. Don’t miss their chorizo burger topped with a grilled jalapeño – it’s the perfect example of their Mexican-American culinary perspective.

5. Cosecha: Oakland’s Farm-To-Table Taqueria Treasure

“These are the best fish tacos I’ve ever had,” I whispered to my husband, afraid that saying it too loudly might jinx the perfection on my plate. Cosecha, tucked inside Oakland’s Swan’s Market, represents everything wonderful about California-Mexican cuisine.

Chef Dominica Rice-Cisneros creates magic using local, organic ingredients in traditional Mexican preparations. Her seasonal quesadillas showcase whatever’s fresh at the farmers’ market – sometimes stuffed with squash blossoms and corn in summer, wild mushrooms in fall.

The space feels like Mexico City meets Oakland – communal tables filled with diverse diners sharing plates and conversation. Their handmade tortillas have that perfect chew that only comes from freshly ground masa. My personal obsession: their chilaquiles with just-right crispy-soft texture and eggs from chickens raised less than 30 miles away.

6. Tac/Quila: Palm Springs’ Desert Oasis Of Flavor

Finding Tac/Quila was like discovering water in the desert – refreshing and absolutely necessary! This Palm Springs hideaway serves Jalisco-style cuisine that transported me straight to Mexico’s west coast, minus the airfare.

The restaurant’s breezy courtyard, with its canopy of string lights, creates the perfect backdrop for their exceptional ceviche – lime-kissed seafood that practically dances with freshness. Their chile en nogada (a poblano stuffed with picadillo and topped with walnut cream sauce) honors the traditional recipe while incorporating local California dates for subtle sweetness.

Owner Liz Ostoich told me she opens the kitchen early each morning to make everything from scratch – from grinding spices to simmering stocks. This dedication shows in every bite. My desert dining tip: order their cucumber jalapeño margarita alongside the carnitas – the cool-spicy-savory combination is absolutely mind-blowing!

7. Rasta Taco: Laguna Beach’s Jamaican-Mexican Fusion Pioneer

“Jamaican jerk chicken in a taco? That can’t possibly work,” I thought before taking my first bite at Rasta Taco. Boy, was I gloriously wrong! This Laguna Beach spot blends Caribbean and Mexican flavors in ways that feel both revolutionary and somehow perfectly natural.

What began as a food truck has evolved into a beloved local institution. Their signature jerk chicken taco features tender meat marinated in Scotch bonnet peppers and allspice, then wrapped in a corn tortilla with tropical slaw and cilantro-lime crema.

The beachside location adds to the laid-back vibe, with reggae music playing and surfboards decorating the walls. Owner Mario Melendez told me he created the concept after growing up with both cuisines in Southern California. Don’t miss their plantain chips with house-made guacamole – the perfect starter before diving into their inventive taco menu.

8. El Cholo: LA’s Historic Mexican Food Pioneer

Walking into El Cholo feels like stepping into a time machine – in the best possible way! Founded in 1923, this Los Angeles institution has been serving Mexican comfort food for nearly a century, yet somehow remains under-the-radar to tourists fixated on newer, trendier spots.

My grandmother first brought me here when I was eight, ordering their famous green corn tamales – a seasonal treat made with fresh sweet corn that’s available only May through October. The recipe hasn’t changed since 1923, and thank goodness for that!

The walls display black-and-white photos documenting LA’s evolution alongside the restaurant’s history. Their table-side guacamole remains one of life’s perfect pleasures – chunky avocado mashed with just the right amount of lime, chile, and salt. For a taste of old California, their sonora-style enchiladas showcase the regional Mexican influences that shaped the state’s cuisine.

9. Avila’s El Ranchito: Huntington Park’s Family Recipe Vault

The moment I bit into Avila’s chile colorado, I understood why this family-owned restaurant has thrived for over 50 years in Huntington Park. The tender beef, simmered in a complex red chile sauce, carried the unmistakable depth that only comes from recipes passed through generations.

Mama Avila started with just eight tables in 1966, cooking family recipes from Jalisco. Today, her children and grandchildren operate multiple locations, but this original spot maintains its authentic charm. Their handmade tortillas arrive hot at the table, perfectly imperfect circles ready to wrap around their exceptional carnitas.

What makes Avila’s special isn’t flashy presentation or trendy ingredients – it’s their unwavering commitment to doing things the slow, traditional way. Their pozole, available only on weekends, simmers for hours until the hominy blooms and the broth develops its signature richness. This is Mexican soul food at its finest.

10. Casa Vega: Studio City’s Celebrity-Loved Mexican Hideaway

Stepping through Casa Vega’s heavy wooden doors feels like entering a secret club – dark, intimate, and buzzing with energy since 1956. This Studio City landmark serves old-school Mexican-American classics in red leather booths where Hollywood deals have been sealed for decades.

Despite its celebrity clientele (Quentin Tarantino filmed Once Upon a Time in Hollywood here), Casa Vega remains refreshingly unpretentious. Their lobster enchiladas – a splurge-worthy house specialty – come smothered in a velvety sauce that balances richness with subtle heat.

I’ve been coming here since college, when their combination plates fueled late-night study sessions. Now I appreciate their perfectly balanced margaritas alongside the food. Owner Christy Vega still uses many recipes created by her grandmother, including the addictive chile relleno that maintains its delicate egg batter despite being stuffed with gooey cheese and bathed in savory sauce.

11. Mitla Café: San Bernardino’s Taco Bell Inspiration

Did you know the hard-shell taco that launched Taco Bell was actually “borrowed” from a small Mexican café in San Bernardino? I discovered this fascinating bit of culinary history while devouring the original version at Mitla Café, operating continuously since 1937 on Route 66.

The story goes that Glen Bell (Taco Bell’s founder) observed long lines at Mitla and copied their crispy taco technique to start his own empire. While Bell went corporate, Mitla stayed authentic – still family-owned and serving recipes brought from Mexico four generations ago.

Their crispy tacos – filled with perfectly spiced ground beef, hand-shredded lettuce, and freshly grated cheese – remain the gold standard against which all others fail. The café’s vintage neon sign and cozy dining room have welcomed everyone from civil rights leaders to everyday families seeking comfort in plates of cheese enchiladas with rice and beans that taste like home.