2025 Mexican Guide

When it comes to fresh Mexican fare on a budget, it’s hard to beat the diverse and delicious Flaming Amy’s Burrito Barn. This collegiate favorite that’s found along busy Oleander Drive has a cult following thanks to overstuffed...

Beer Barrio is a chic Happy Hour destination in the heart of Downtown Wilmington that’s renowned for ice cold drinks, fresh cuisine, and an abundance of good times. A perfect stop for refueling after a lengthy downtown exploration, this cool...

Blue Surf Café serves up inspired breakfast, lunch and dinner fare to hungry UNCW college students, Wilmington locals, and savvy vacationers-in-the-know alike. Featuring a wonderfully extensive menu, with a host of global influences, patrons...

Surfers who need a break from the Cape Fear area beaches, or Hampstead locals and visitors who need a hearty but refreshing lunch en route to or from Wilmington, will find plenty to love at Burrito Shak. This Burrito joint that’s located along...

C-Street Mexican Grill is a fast-casual Mexican food joint that’s distinctive for its fresh ingredients and almost overwhelming menu. Located close to the corners of Shipyard Blvd. and South College Road, this eatery is an easy option for a...

Camino Real Restaurante Mexicano is a solid option for Hampstead locals and visitors en route to or from Wilmington who need to address a hearty Mexican food craving. Featuring a convenient location along US Highway 17, and a big, bold menu that...

Delphina Cantina is a cool little spot for visitors who have freshly arrived on Bald Head Island and are in the mood for a light bite or an ice cold drink before making their way to their vacation rental home. Offering an expansive menu that...

El Arriero Taqueria takes the concept of Fresh Mex to new heights with a uniquely traditional menu and a solid pedigree of local Mexican food experts. Owned by the Ibarra family, the founders of the local favorite El Cerro Grande, this slightly...

Carolina Beach vacationers who are craving a little Fresh Mexican fare, (which is understandable this close to the coast), can head to the centrally located El Cazador Mexican Restaurant. Found in the heart of Carolina Beach’s...

Flaming Amy’s Bowl has surpassed its original reputation as a go-to for hungry UNCW college students, and is now a veritable favorite Wilmington eatery in its own right, thanks to a towering menu that can be effortlessly customized to cater to...

Juggling Gypsy Café is a completely original destination where food, drinks, live music, a hookah bar, and even belly dancing can all be found. A popular hang-out with the college crowd, and a fun late-night destination for laid-back yet...

K-38 Baja Grill is Wilmington’s time-tested favorite for Fresh Mex cuisine and a definitive surfer vibe. Found along a hopping section of Market Street, this flagship restaurant serves up plenty of vibrant coastal cuisine in a laid-back...

A coastal town like Wilmington always appreciates fresh Mexican fare, and La Güera is the local go-to for authentic Latin cuisine at its budget-friendly best. Far beyond the typical tacos and burritos, (although those are certainly available)...

Visitors and locals who are cruising along Carolina Beach Road and who are hungry for a laid-back lunch or dinner that’s topped with a frozen treat can swing by the casual but tasty Papa Fin’s. Tucked away among a collection of shops...

Plaza Mariachi is a central Mexican restaurant that’s located in a busy shopping and dining section of the small Cape Fear town of Leland. Found just off of US Highway 17, this fast and easy-going restaurant features plenty of Mexican...

San Felipe Mexican Restaurant is where Leland locals and visitors go to satisfy a craving for big and budget-friendly platters of Mexican fare. Located just off of US Highway 17, and therefore a convenient spot for vacationers who are cruising to or...

Many locals attest that some of Wilmington’s best restaurants are those hidden hole-in-the-wall eateries that are easy to miss, and for Mexican food lovers, the Taqueria La Tapatia certainly proves this theory. Located along a busy section of...

Bypass the chain Mexican restaurants and fast food joints, and head to this little hole-in-the-wall local favorite for fresh Mexican fare that’s incredibly budget friendly and always delicious. Located along the quiet Kerr Street in a...

Tower 7 Baja Mexican Grill is a sister restaurant to Wilmington’s famed K-38, and is a Fresh Mex joint that is extremely popular with the surfer crowd, and everyday locals and visitors alike. Serving up a wealth of Mexican cuisine that’s...