We’ve all been there: scrolling through endless photos of tacos and margaritas while a group chat explodes with ‘But where has the best guac?’ debates. Someone has to cut through the noise and make the damn decision. That someone is now you. Here are 10 Mexican spots in San Carlos where you can actually get a table, enjoy legit flavors, and remember why you wanted to go out in the first place.
iGuey Taqueria
$ | (650) 453-3018 | WEBSITE
Kind of like a hidden treasure, iGuey Taqueria is the casual Mexican spot tucked away on El Camino near Trader Joe’s. This place is taco focused, and since it’s basically a laid-back taqueria, it’s perfect if you can’t decide whether to go out for a quick bite, a full meal, drinks, or everything.
And while the tacos are great, all of the other items are good, too, like the loaded sope with shredded lettuce, cheese, beans, and avocado, a satisfying burrito and rice & beans for kids, and a fantastic super burrito for adults. Order the Cobb Salad with shrimp, which mixes white dressing with red salsa for a unique flavor—a local favorite. It qualifies as a snack, a lunch, and, with the good juices and beer options, a relaxed dinner.
Taco Bell
$ | (650) 508-8226 | WEBSITE
Taco Bell is fast-food themed, which doesn’t make it the fanciest candidate for this list. But while it has classics on the menu like burritos and tacos, unlike most fast-food spots, it also has items worth splurging on like the Cheesy Melt Steak burrito. Plus, heading to Taco Bell prevents a second round of back-and-forth about where to go for a late-night bite afterward – there’s a large parking area right outside it.
There you’ll find friendly crew members who prepare food to your liking, and you can also enjoy vegetarian options and a clean dining room. So basically, you and your friends can just plan on grabbing fresh food quickly and efficiently, even when working through crowds.
Mama Coco Cocina Mexicana
$$ | (650) 226-3592 | WEBSITE
Everyone knows about the big-name Mexican spots in San Carlos – they’re the ones that get all the buzz. That means everyone’s too distracted by them to think about heading to Mama Coco Cocina Mexicana, another great neighborhood Mexican place that can stop the endless “where should we eat” debate before it even begins. This place has very good homemade tamales, a standout taco plate with beef, chicken, shrimp, and pork, and truly excellent chipotle chicken enchiladas.
Think of settling on this place as agreeing to trust your friend who swears they know the best casual spot in town.
LuLu’s on Laurel Street
$ | (650) 596-8226 | WEBSITE
Despite your best efforts, you might find that deciding on a restaurant for you and your friends has become more like chaperoning a rowdy class trip where everyone’s getting hangrier by the minute. Instead of threatening to turn this car around, just give up and take everyone to LuLu’s on Laurel Street, the authentic Mexican counter service spot with consistently great quality and flavors.
There they can all scatter, order whatever they want from the variety of options including gluten-free and vegetarian dishes, then reconvene at the casual dining area. Assuming they can decide between the perfectly grilled fish tacos with Chipotle aioli, the customer-favorite Nachos and Pozole, or that very good burrito everyone keeps mentioning.
La Corneta Taqueria
$ | (650) 551-1400 | WEBSITE
You know that really popular taqueria in San Carlos that you keep meaning to try? La Corneta Taqueria? The place that, after scrolling through endless photos of their massive burritos, you finally decided is perfect for a casual dinner? It’s packed, and you’re too hungry to wait. Luckily they’re known for their efficient service, which practically makes the choice for you. They have delicious Mexican food, including things like carnitas, red chicken dishes, and al pastor burritos.
Also valid is just coming here for a baby burrito and their flavorful horchata. Wave to the people circling for parking.
El Maguey
$ | (650) 591-3520 | WEBSITE
You know that friend who’s always upbeat and makes you feel instantly welcome? Whose genuine warmth is so consistent it almost feels like a superpower? El Maguey is that friend. The authentic Mexican menu is perfect when you need something reliable, generously portioned, and absolutely delicious to settle on when your other dinner options fall through. Sit inside and entertain yourself by admiring all the beautiful paintings adorning the walls.
See if the standout mango salsa at the free chips and salsa bar finally makes your cheerful friend crack a knowing smile.
La Hacienda Restaurant and Cafe
$ | (650) 591-9711 | WEBSITE
After spending way too much time debating which Mexican spot to try and whether to finally wear that sombrero you bought as a souvenir, you realize most places are winding down for the evening. Head to San Carlos. This Mexican restaurant doesn’t take reservations, which keeps things fair, and stays open late – until 10pm on weeknights and 11pm on weekends.
There’s a cozy counter area near the kitchen to keep you entertained if there’s a wait, and once you grab a booth, the casual ordering process moves swiftly. You’ll have already polished off warm tortilla chips with that highly recommended green salsa and fried jalapeños stuffed with cheese and chorizo while someone who picked that trendy fusion place downtown is just getting their table and being advised on portion sizes. (It’s one hearty main per person.)
El Charrito
$ | (650) 654-1400 | WEBSITE
Your cousins from Sacramento are in town for the afternoon and they want to grab some lunch. Right around one o’clock the messages start pouring in: half of them want something “authentic” and the other half are still stuck in traffic on 101. By the time everyone finally pulls into the lot, your top Mexican picks are already slammed. That’s fine – the crew should still be able to squeeze into El Charrito. This spot has a lively, bustling vibe and shockingly good Mexican food.
Grab a super burrito and some quesobirria tacos to split, then instead of wasting precious minutes arguing over the menu, you can use them to laugh about that time at the beach when Carlos dropped the entire tray of carne asada.
Mary Tacos Las Varas Taco Truck
$ | (408) 590-8369 | WEBSITE
Mary Tacos Las Varas Taco Truck has been serving San Carlos for years, and with all the new Mexican spots popping up around town, it’s easy to overlook this gem. While everyone else is lining up at the trendy sit-down places, you can probably just pull into the dirt lot and grab a taco without waiting. Sure, you might be eating at one of the picnic tables nearby, but if anyone in your group complains about that, they should have spoken up before you parked.
The tortillas are made from scratch, the meat is flavorful without being greasy, and their green salsa really makes every dish sing. At $3 per taco, it’s a steal, and the friendly staff makes you feel right at home. Don’t miss the pupusas or the cakes—just remember the nachos are only available on Wednesdays.
Broiler Express
$ | (650) 593-2222 | WEBSITE
It’s 8am and you just need a solid breakfast, some coffee, and time to chat with your friends. But you’re competing with all the other hungry people in the neighborhood who want to start their day right, too. Head to Broiler Express, an easy-to-walk-into family spot with generous homemade food, and order dishes like the Rib Eye Steak and Eggs Special, the #1 Brekkie Special, or the breakfast skillet.
As a bonus, after being stuck in morning traffic, this place has a relaxed atmosphere where you can enjoy some good conversation while discussing whether to get the Rib Eye Dinner special later.