Best Mexican Food in Vacouver??

Sol y Limon at Fraser & Kingsway is pretty good. So is Los Cuervos, basically around the corner.

If you're in New West, Taqueria Playa Tropical is really good!

This is a good question!  I will be paying attention to this thread!

Whatever you do don't go to Tacofino.....very overrated.

We ended up going to Panchos and it was great!

Being from San Diego, I know good Mexican food and have had a hard time finding anything close in Vancouver. Panchos had great customer service and authentic food!

Thanks for all options! I will be trying these, eventually!

I hate you all for not at least mentioning La Taquiria.

Las Margarita!  First time I've been there and the food is delicious.

There's no good Mexican food in Vancouver, especially if you're from Texas, Cali, and Latin America.

Absolutely try Taqueria Playa Tropical! It's good :)

The Mexican on Granville, or La Taqueria. Las Margaritas is whitey white Mexican. Sal y Limon is good but consistency is a problem there yo!

Have not tried either, but have received good recommendations for:
El Comal (in Burnaby), and Originals Cafe Mexicano (in Port Moody).

Dan, you're 100% right and it's saddening!!! I did go to Ponchos and it was good. Of course I can't compare it to the Mexican in San Diego BUT for what I've had in Vancouver, it was good!

I will be sure to try La Taqueria! Some of the places recommended didn't look very authentic when I looked at their pictures  But La Taqueria looks like a legit taco shop!!

Oh shoot! Taqueria Playa looks even better!!

La Taqueria is the BOMB.  I'd even say that on an airplane, bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb!

Also La Mezcaleria which is by the same owners as La Taqueria, it has the same tacos, but it also sports an expanded menu of mind-blowing deliciousness.

Taqueria Playa has mediocre food and worse service. It has nothing on La Taqueria, that's for sure! If you're eating Mexican in the sticks, seek out El Comal (note they close at 5 on weekdays).

Unfortunately there's no such thing as authentic Mexican food in Vancouver. There are a ton of tiny taco places but none are anything like what you'd get in Mexico but the cream of the crop is hands down Sal y Limon followed by La Taqueria. Mezcal is absolutely awful and would be pretty close to the bottom for me.

As for bigger plated dinners the authenticity takes and even bigger dive to a place where you're basically eating at a fancier looking taco bell. Las Margaritas is probably the least Mexican, Mexican food you could possibly eat. They're only really known for their name sake, margaritas lol.  Ponchos is decent but the price-point for what you get doesn't fit IMO. Also Banditas, the vegitarian Mexican restaurant on Commerical is highly popular but again a very white washed version that I wouldn't recommend to anyone.

Question, do you own a car? a valid passport? I know the Canadian dollar is low but the closest thing to authentic ariba ariba Mexican food you will find is La Gloria Market in Bellingham. About an hour drive away depending on traffic and border wait times. That place is legit and run by a huge Mexican family. Check it out for a real taste of Mexico, since you won't find any of that in the lower mainland haha.

Completely agree about the lack of good mexican food options in Vancouver. I've been to Sal y Limon a few times but have always been disappointing (for tacos anyway).  I travel to the US a lot, especially California and nothing compares once you've had it down there.

Sal y Limon better than La Taqueria??? Bahaaaaa that's like sayin Soulja Boy be better than Big L.

"Crank dat soulja boy.."

I absolutely love Bandidas Taqueria on Commercial!

La Mezcaleria is a little pricey in my books, but the food is good. I also hear from a genuine, real live Mexican that Patron is very authentic despite its poor rating!

I wish we had more Mexican food in Van - I guess we're just too far away!

The Mexican on Granville is about as authentic as you can get with the ingredients you can find here. Sal y Limón is right there also, and the tortas are fantastic, but they have a limited menu. El Comal is maybe place to buy groceries, though there's an okay place at Old Orchard on Kingsway & Willingdon and another one further NW on Kingsway, near Joyce. Or you can come over and my girlfriend will feed you. That's pretty authentic, too.

@Luke L Mexican food party at Luke's place!! ;)

From a recent (dining in) experience, sure cannot recommend El Comal.  Nothing that tasted like we have enjoyed 'in' Mexico over the past good many years.

Sal y limon = smaller tacos than La Taqueria and had some very inedible beef there.  They do offer lamb regularly, though.

Sauce selection, flavours and consistency, best bet is La Taqueria.  Love adding habanero and salsa verde to all of my tacos!!

For non-authentic but legitimately tasty and addictive, I completely surrender myself to Mucho Burrito's tacos.  Shredded beef and prawns are great.  Excellent value and portion size with additional choice toppings at no extra charge (jalapenos, cilantro, sour cream).

Not sure why Patron has such low ratings, but it is very authentic. Try the enchiladas or the pastor taco.

Where did you like in SD? I live in SD but also used to live in Vancouver.

Your boy Caspian just tried Tacomio and it was legitness. Almost as good as La Taqueria yo!

Patron in my opinion is overpriced and overrated (marketing I tells ya).  I'll take El Jimador (their anejo is outstanding).. and Corralejo is exquisite (pricey to be sure but way better value than Patron).

Oh how I miss San Diego :( My favorite "taco shop" was Gualbertos near Kearny Mesa and my favorite restaurant would be Casa Guadalajara in Old Town.

I haven't found ANY Mexican spots in Vancouver that even come close :(

Becky H is correct....also Cieleto  Lindo in Langley.:-) El Nopal sumas,Washington. Check out my reviews foodieatlarge.yelp.ca

Ok I'm just going to pop in here and recommend Vallarta's, even though I consider it more Salvadorean... it calls itself Mexican. It's not fancy, it's a tad expensive, but we *love* it.

It's too bad that few people get a chance to try really great Mexican Food. There is so much more than taco's that I don't even know where to start.
Most Mexican restaurants here in San Diego fall under the "fast food" type but there are a plethora of specialty places that make 7 Sea's Soup, lamb, Al-Pastor, torta'a, seafood, menudo, pasole (green and red)...you have to go to a place that specializes in that one dish often. Few places do everything well.
If a place has a mesquite hardwood grill they should have good Carne Asada.

"It's too bad that few people get a chance to try really great Mexican Food."
Yup .. we really miss the comida corrida (lunch), and cenaduria dinner offerings enjoyed 'in' Mexico.

I like Salsa and Agave in Yaletown which is very consistent and the service is excellent. They do not
try to get by with a minimum number of staff as some other places do.   They also have Jamaica which
most Mexican places here do not.  I miss fresh nopales here.

John P sounds like he's enjoyed the wonderful food of Mexico!

John G .... we miss our Puerto Vallarta trips - we did a good many extended stays there from 2002-2011.  We usually stayed in smaller Mexican owned and operated properties within the city, and dined in the smaller, mom & pop restaurants, stands, and the like throughout various neighbourhoods.

Lots of fun, and some great food and dining experiences!!  One of our favourite restaurants was a 'cenaduria' (= Mexican family dinner place) - with pig's feet, pozoles, enchiladas, tostados, some great chicken dishes, and flan that was 'the' best to be found anywhere.

Would love to be able to catch some of the same fare and tastes here, but so far, have not found such.

John P , those are some of the best places to eat.