El Patio

Well I usually think that most Mexican restaurants are the same and the food is always the same but…read morefrom time to time I am surprised by a standout. This is one of those places. I have been to dozens of Mexican restaurants in the Lexington area and there are two that stand out. This one and the me in Midway, KY. This place is like the Cheesecake Factory of Mexican -it's a big menu. If you talk to Latin American people or the employees of the restaurant, they will tell you that this place is exceptional. I had the Camarones A La Diabla and it was spicy!! Great flavor! Most Mexican restaurants don't show any heat or spice in most all of their dishes, but this is fire! Not only do they have a large menu but also have a lot seating. There are so many tables and they open another room on the weekends. They have a great patio when the weather is right and it is covered! We were there on a Tuesday night and the place was packed. They also had margaritas two for one and I don't know when they offer that but they had it when we were there. I look forward to going back and trying more dishes!

This is probably my favorite Mexican restaurant in Lexington because of its authenticity and the…read morefood and service is always amazing. Ordered a lingua and barbacoa taco and the steak tacos with cheese sauce. Plenty of meat on the tacos and the lingua was very tender. The steak tacos are always great mostly because of the cheese sauce and good amount of steak. The chips and salsa always hit the spot also

Margarita tower

Tacos Dorados De Barbacoa

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Tortillería Y Taquería Ramírez

4.7(243 reviews)

5.9 mi

One of the three best taquerias that I have ever eaten at in the state of Kentucky. We had a…read moreselection of authentic tacos and burritos. Pastor, asada, tinga, lingua, and barbacoa. Everything was incredible and the service was even better. The place isn't fancy, but it doesn't have to be, it looks like it literally hasn't changed since the mid 90s and usually that is the sign of a great place to eat when it comes to authentic taquerias. Next time we are in Lexington this is where we'll eat, again. PS there are wicked good homemade refrigerated table hot sauces. The Habanero is straight fire.

Feels like you are in Mexico. Authentic food with so many types of different meats. I got the…read morelingua, barbacoa, carne and cabeza. I'd say barbacoa and lingua were my top 2 because of the immense flavor. I will warn you that after eating this food be prepared to feel a bit sluggish. Got a small cabeza burrito also and was good but would recommend using a different meat than what I chose because it gets lost in the fixings. Also, the tacos had too much cilantro but I just took what I wanted off. This spot reminds me of the taco stands on side of the road in California. I wish they had a few more sauces to choose from

Restaurant dining area.

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Small burrito

Viva Mexico Mexican Cuisine

4.5(68 reviews)

0.1 mi

Dined at Old Vine location. Delicious food, good value, great service. I had combo fajitas and…read morepartner had carnitas tacos. Would recommend and will return.

I guess I got spoiled in San Juan with Puerto Rican dishes, which are plentiful, because no way…read moreViva Mexico's California Burrito is worth $17.50. After receiving it and taking two bites, I decided to open it up and view the contents -please see photo. I found out there were more fries than steak, barely any guacamole, and Pico de gallo. It was dry and cold, but life is full of disappointments, and I've just added another. Several folks in my party ordered the Combinatiion platters for $12.50, which appeared to be more plentiful and satisfying than my $17.50 burrito and you'd think that my burrito would be more generous with ingredients. Service was good and friendly, and the restrooms were clean, so that's worth two stars. On a final note, I usually pay $9.25 for a Burrito Carne Asada at Supermarket Aguascalientes' little restaurant, so i was expecting more here for the price difference.

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Corto Lima

4.4(560 reviews)

3.4 mi

This place was the place of the week as far as overall food, service and ambience…read more Beautiful decor and a busy place. We were place on 2nd floor with just a place for 1 family. Glad they got us in. Pork tacos Shrimp tacos Empanadas Guacamole Peruvian chicken Special margarita Modelo Papa's pork All was great especially the chicken, pricy but a lot The tacos were great. Definitely a place to stop in Lexington if you like Spanish cuisine!

Dropped in for a quick bite at lunch and was stunned by how good it was. They have a lunch special…read morethat is both affordable and outstanding. It comes with chips, a bowl of salsa, and three street‑size tacos. It also includes a dessert. Everything was simply outstanding. I plan on returning. The service was very good, and the atmosphere was nice and quiet since there weren't many people there. I will warn you that the dining area is quite small, so if you plan on going during a typically busy time, you may want to join the waitlist.

Interior

Corto Lima is a mid-scale Latin inspired restaurant specializing in a new brand of Latin cuisine with a modern interpretation...

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The front door

La Taquiza

4.5(165 reviews)

4.5 mi

Amazing food and service in a quaint space. Initially they were slammed with everyone grabbing food…read morefor dinner but we took advantage of the 2 for 1 margaritas and hung out. I ordered the shrimp empanadas and they were great! Flaky and delicious with the perfect amount of rice and beans to complement. Definitely will return.

Ordered fish tacos to go. Where was the fish? An utter fail! Won't return to the Tiverton location…read more 41

Cheese Dip

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Order area

Maria's Mexican Cuisine

4.7(231 reviews)

1.8 mi

Amazing food and service. The staff was knowledgeable about the items on the menu! We will…read moredefinitely be going back!

My brother kept telling me I needed to try this local Mexican spot, and I'm so glad I finally did…read more I started with the fresh guacamole served with crispy tostada chips, then got the pork tamales covered in melted cheese, a shredded beef taco, and finished with a slice of tres leches cake. Everything tasted so authentic and full of flavor. I also loved the environment and decorations throughout the restaurant- it felt warm, welcoming, and very true to the culture. The only downside is that it is a little pricier than some other Mexican places I've tried. My meal came out to around $47 just for me, but honestly I didn't mind because you can tell the quality is there and I'm always happy to support a local business and the people behind it.

Guacamole

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Hours

Mazunte Bodega - Lexington

4.6(58 reviews)

4.2 mi

I came with friends for my birthday dinner and had a great time! We started with the salsa bar,…read morewhich was a fantastic way for our group to split and sample all the fun salsa flavors on the menu, a great touch for a table looking to try a little bit of everything. The guacamole was also top notch; fresh, creamy, and full of flavor. The coconut margarita was absolutely fire with such a unique and refreshing flavor that the whole table loved. For my entrée, I tried the house specialty blue corn quesadilla and it was beyond amazing. It comes with two large quesadillas, and I chose to do one with chicken and the other with mushrooms and zucchini. Everything about it was fresh and flavorful, from the perfectly seasoned fillings to the blue corn tortilla , iit truly made for an authentic and satisfying Mexican meal. Overall, the food was outstanding and the service matched it every step of the way. Such a great Mexican restaurant, I highly recommend!

Loved this place so much! Service was great! Salsa, guacamole & chips were so yummy! The tacos were…read moreeven better! Can't wait to come back!

Quesa Birria

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Papis Mexican Restaurant & Bar

4.2(140 reviews)

2.3 mi

This place is yum! I definitely want to come back here to try more. I got the poblano and cheese…read moreappetizer and also tried some rice and beans as well as chips and dips. It was delish. The service is good and it's super fun in there!

They don't take American Express…read more Dinner was good, not great. The chips were fresh and tasty but the salsa was a fine thin purée that lacked in flavor. I ordered Chile Verde which is pork in a green or tomatillo sauce. The pork was smaller chunks but still juicy and the sauce was very good holding a little heat and plenty of flavor. The sauce still had the seeds from the tomatillos which I think enhanced the flavor. The plate came with rice which was fair and a black refried bean which I also liked. The tortillas were corn at my request and were good. I would eat here again. The place is upstairs in a community of bars and restaurants. The ambiance was just OK

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México Mi Amor

4.7(34 reviews)

3.5 mi

Generous portions, I enjoyed this carne asada, the beans were tasty. I know what am ordering next…read moretime.

Great food. Atmosphere. Drinks. The employees are very friendly. I can walk here from my house and…read moreI can't wait to come back weekly.

Bar Area

Fajita taco salad

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Bar area

El Asadero

3.8(117 reviews)

4.4 mi

I've always skipped this spot when at the mall and I'm not sure why... I finally got convinced to…read morego out for girls night with the promise of soft served margaritas. The place is beautiful from the outside and the inside. It is a very modern establishment however, they have some unique qualities I hadn't seen in Lexington. For starters, they sat us right away even though it was busy. Next, we ordered a guacamole appetizer and someone came with a cart and made it fresh in front of us! I thought that was super cool since you also get to pick your toppings. The margaritas tasted amazing... it was truly a good ice cream base; I've had nothing like it. Their food is good, they have so many options and the portions are good but it is pricey. The vibe is super fun, it's like a genuine party. Definitely recommend to anyone who hasn't been. 10/10

Rating: (3.7/5) We…read moreabsolutely love El Asadero and have been here hundreds of times, which is why this review is tough to write. This is only my second post, and unfortunately this visit was disappointing compared to our usual experiences. Our server was very friendly and attentive, which we appreciated. However, the beer came out warm, which was a rough start. We ordered the lettuce tacos and a cheesesteak quesadilla. It seemed like the food sat in the service window a bit too long -- the lettuce wasn't crispy and we had to ask for new lettuce for the tacos. The quesadilla itself was good, but it could've used some extra flavor. We also ordered hot sauce, but it wasn't spicy at all, which was a letdown. That said, we know what this place is capable of and this visit felt more like an off night than the norm. We'll definitely be back to give it another shot, because El Asadero is usually one of our go-to spots.

Front looking into the dining room

Tres Leches

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14 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Eleanor H.

215

6 years ago

This new restaurant is extremely nice and the food was great the first we were here. I got the steak fajitas and they were awesome!! The service was outstanding to, and the restaurant was extremely clean! The bar area is really nice they just don't go the taps in yet, The weird thing no one was in here when we're here, as this is better than any other Mexican restaurant in Lexington, so that was kind of odd. Will go back they also said they have takeout, which is good during these COVID times. read more

Kevin H.

3 years ago

We recently moved to Lexington from Texas and was looking for a Mexican food restaurant to be our next "home" restaurant. El Patio is 100% it for Mexican food in Lexington! The food is authentic and delicious, the people are amazing, and the service is ALWAYS top notch! We highly recommend El Patio!!! read more

Luke E.

6 years ago

This establishment is sensational. The staff is beyond polite and attentive. Clean, welcoming, and refreshing to dine here. The food does not disappoint. Literally live down the road and did not know it exists. Hidden gem. Support your local businesses! read more

Brad J.

6 years ago

What a great Mexican restaurant. Finally! Good Mexican food in Lexington. Chips - fabulous. Salsa - great Tacos - incredibly good, as well as the cheese enchiladas. VERY reasonable prices, even considering they are the best in Lexington! read more

Kellie Jo B.

5 years ago

Absolutely fantastic. I'm a Texas gal and therefore a Mexican food freak. The patio area is the bomb. Service was incredible. Clean clean clean and oh so friendly. Our waiter even helped me with some of Spanish id forgotten. read more

Brett A.

3 years ago

Lexingtons best kept secret. Mexican food with Mexican hospitality. Part of me wants to keep this place secret. But they deserve the praise. Never ever had a bad time here. Food with flavor. read more

P B.

3 years ago

The only Mexican restaurant we go to now. Service is fabulous every single time. Lots of good dishes. Fish al ajillo, choripollo, chicken nachos, pretty much everything. Good soup too read more

Ivy I.

4 years ago

This place is like the chick fil a of Mexican restaurants. We had 9 people waiting on us and were asked if we needed anything every 3 minutes. read more

Amy K.

6 years ago

Excellent food and the servers are always kind and attentive. We like how easy it is to come here and get good food.

Jim C.

5 years ago

The food was excellent, as well as the service. Large portions that tasted great. I'll be back for more soon. Jim read more

Liz B.

5 years ago

Very Delicious and great service! I really liked it. We are thinking of going there again. Great experience!

Barbara G.

6 years ago

Great Mexican food. Wonderful Margaritas. Awesome service. Gustavo was a superb server.

Courtney C.

5 years ago

Love their enchiladas and margaritas! Service is always attentive and love the patio.

Emmy A.

3 years ago

Great food. Great service. They get to know their regular customers which is so nice!

El Patio - mexican - Updated September 2026

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