The Central Oregon food scene has earned acclaim in recent years, thanks to an invigorating mix of creative food carts, fashionable fine-dining restaurants, and a growing number of globetrotting eateries that feature authentic cuisine from around the world.
That eclectic selection includes a variety of taquerias and Mexican restaurants in Redmond and Madras, both of which host homegrown eateries that craft a mix of classic dishes, modern flavors, and innovative entrées.
Here’s a rundown of the 10 best Mexican restaurants in Redmond and Madras:
Getting hungry? Here’s everything you need to know about these great restaurants.
The Best Mexican Food in Redmond
You’ll find several outstanding Mexican restaurants when visiting Redmond, Oregon, most of which sit along Highway 97 for easy access.
Diego’s Spirited Kitchen
Since opening in 2009, Diego’s Spirited Kitchen has been one of the best restaurants in Redmond.
For more than a decade, diners have flocked to Diego’s for the restaurant’s creative take on Mexican dishes (including coconut shrimp tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and more)—as well as a worldly menu that spans Cajun pasta, fusion items (such as ravioli stuffed with carnitas and doused in a chipotle-lime cream), and hearty burgers. No matter what you order, it all goes well with a variety of fruity margaritas.
Hola! Redmond
When it opened in 2007, Hola! brought a novel mix of Mexican and Peruvian flavors to the Central Oregon dining scene. Nearly two decades later, the regional chain serves its fresh dishes at six vibrant locations around the area—including a colorful, lively eatery at the northern edge of downtown Redmond.
Some of the popular dishes at Hola! include ahi chile rellenos, Peruvian-style tamales, chicken mole, and tiraditos (a Japanese-inspired dish that’s popular in Peru—where raw fish is topped with a tangy citrus sauce). And not for nothing: The chain’s margaritas have won several regional awards over the years.
Madaline’s Grill & Steak House
Madaline’s Grill & Steak House is one of the best Mexican restaurants in Redmond, Oregon, beloved for its wide-ranging mix of Mexican and American flavors.
The Redmond restaurant boasts a menu of Mexican favorites (including fresh fajitas, tableside guacamole, and pork chile verde), sizzling steaks, hearty pastas, and popular seafood dishes (such as grilled, Pacific Northwest-caught king salmon). In some cases, Madaline’s blends those influences in fun and creative ways, like with the seafood enchiladas dish, where two tortillas are stuffed with prawns, crab, lobster, and veggies—and adorned with a rich lobster sauce.
Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant in Redmond
Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant opened its first Oregon outpost in 1985—and the regional chain now comprises more than a dozen eateries across the state (with a handful in Central Oregon). Since opening in Redmond, Mazatlan has become a local’s favorite for offering an extensive (and expansive) menu of Jalisco-inspired dishes; indecisive diners, for instance, can choose among nearly 50 combinations plates alone.
Mazatlan’s lineup of appetizers includes taquitos, flautas, ceviche, and even a veggie-friendly take on the Mexican pizza. Main courses, meanwhile, include salads, sopas, fajitas, burritos, tacos, enchiladas, carne asada, and more. Wash it all down with the restaurant’s fun mix of cocktails and margaritas.
Carnaval Mexican Grill
Carnaval Mexican Grill opened in 2019 in downtown Redmond, offering a refreshing menu of dishes inspired by regional cuisine in Mexico City and Jalisco—where the eatery’s leaders are from.
So while you’ll find common offerings like tacos, burritos, and chimichangas, Carnaval stands out for featuring uncommon dishes not usually found at sit-down Mexican restaurants in Central Oregon.
Some of the highlights include tortas stuffed with carnitas, hearty hamburguesas, and even a smattering of breakfast dishes (such as chilaquiles and huevos rancheros). Whenever possible, produce is fresh and sourced locally—and hormone-free, antibiotic-free, grass-fed meats come from Central Oregon ranches. Save room for creative desserts such as churros (served with a house-made rum caramel sauce) and coffee tequila flan.
The Best Mexican Food in Madras
You’ll find several Mexican restaurants in Madras, Oregon—all serving a mix of traditional dishes and more inventive fare. Here are a few highlights for when you visit Madras, Oregon.
Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant in Madras
We shouted out its Redmond location, but Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant in Madras deserves a nod for serving an eye-popping number of Mexican dishes—typically crafted with seasonal ingredients—and hosting a popular patio at the northern edge of town.
Highlights are numerous—the Mazatlan menu legitimately comprises dozens of appetizers, entrées, and sides—but include bottomless chips and salsa, sizzling fajitas, filling burritos, and several seafood dishes (served with prawns, octopus, shrimp, scallops, and other fresh selections). Mazatlan’s fruity margaritas are likewise popular among festive dinners. A partially shaded patio sits just off Highway 97 and offers an excellent outdoor option when the weather cooperates.
Pepe’s Mexican Restaurant
Near the southern edge of downtown Madras, Pepe’s Mexican Restaurant uses fresh ingredients to prepare all your favorite Mexican dishes—including burritos, enchiladas, and more.
Pepe’s earns plaudits, however, for going the extra mile by making tortillas and salsa in-house—and by serving unusual dishes you won’t find just anywhere. Some of those popular down-home offerings include quesabirria tacos stuffed with barbacoa, menudo, and enfrijoladas. And while tamales are traditionally a Christmastime dish in Mexico, you can enjoy the delicacy (stuffed with pork, chicken, or beans, cheese, and jalapeños) all year long at Pepe’s.
La Posada Mexican Grill
Enjoy quick bites of authentic street fare at La Posada Mexican Grill in downtown Madras. The colorful taqueria leans heavily on no-fuss dishes that hit the spot after a day on nearby Lake Billy Chinook or hiking the high-desert trails around town.
That means hearty tortas crafted with fresh bread, rolled tacos, and flavorful burritos. The star of the menu at La Posada, however, are its tacos; the street tacos are served in warm tortillas and stuffed with a wide range of proteins—including beef, chicken, carne asada, cabeza, and even lengua. Wash it all down with a sweet, yet fruity agua fresca.
Mi Casa Restaurant
You’ll feel right at home at Mi Casa Restaurant, a warm, welcoming taqueria that specializes in inventive Mexican dishes and offers an extensive seafood menu. The mariscos menu at Mi Casa is as wide-ranging as it is tempting: Some of the many highlights include fried tilapia served with a house-made spicy sauce, a “seven seas” soup (which features octopus, shrimp, crab, scallop, oysters, and fish), and campechana—a cold seafood cocktail that includes octopus, shrimp, scallops, and vegetables.
Not in the mood for seafood? Dig into carne asada fries, enchiladas, taco salad, tostadas, burritos, and all your other favorites.
Mexico City Restaurant
Enjoy the classic sit-down Mexican dining experience at Mexico City Restaurant in downtown Madras—where sombreros hang from the ceiling, colorful blankets are wrapped around wooden beams, the Corona is always cold, and tables are large enough for the menu’s massive portion sizes.
Your meal begins with a basket of bottomless chips and salsa—and, from there, is limited by only your appetite. Perfectly cooked steak, fresh seafood, robust enchiladas, and filling tacos are just some of the popular items to be found on Mexico City Restaurant’s thorough menu.
Still hungry? Learn more about where to eat in Central Oregon.
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