If you're looking for Mexican food in Franklin, you've got plenty of strong options. We really like Jalisco Taqueria (very authentic and not commercial), as well as Cinco De Mayo and Pueblo Real. That said, our favorite remains Garcia's Mexican Restaurant. Garcia's stands out for its depth of menu, daily specials, and overall value. There's a range of traditional Mexican dishes, but what really sets it apart is the rotating chalkboard specials that go beyond the standard menu offerings. On our last visit, we ordered a chalkboard special: chipotle chicken. It's not listed on the regular menu, but it should be. The dish featured tender, skinless chicken coated in a rich, creamy chipotle sauce, smoky, with just the right level of heat and excellent balance. It was served over sautéed peppers and onions, adding both texture and a subtle sweetness that complemented the sauce perfectly. The execution was excellent, restaurant-quality flavor without being overly heavy. Service was another highlight. Angel took care of us and was attentive, efficient, and genuinely personable, exactly what you want in a busy local spot. One more thing worth noting: Garcia's offers some of the best tequila values in the area. The selection is solid, and the pricing is noticeably more reasonable than many comparable restaurants, especially given the quality. Overall, if you're comparing Mexican restaurants in Franklin, Garcia's delivers where it matters most, flavor, service, and value. It's the kind of place that keeps you coming back, just be prepared for a wait, as it's always busy. read more

Garcia's - Skinless chicken coated in a rich, creamy, spicy chipotle sauce served over sautéed peppers and onions. - Mexican Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

You know this place is good when there is a wait to get in! The staff is amazing, always friendly and fast! I have been coming here for years and never have been disappointed. As soon as you sit they bring Chips and Salsa, we add the Jalapeno Cheese dip! For a drink I get the El jefe Margarita, so good! For dinner everything I have tried is delicious. But my go too is the ....Sizzling Baja! It is a Sautéed chicken breast paired nicely with shrimp! The creamy tomato sauce is soooo good I put some on top of the black beans and rice! YES, when they bring it to the table it is sizzling Hot! Let it cool off a bit and let it marinade a few minutes! Then dig in, it's soooo good! My wife had the Pollo Bandido, also very good! If you live in Franklin what are you waiting for! Salud!!! read more

See all

Fantastic Mexican food- the fajitas were great as well as the tacos. The food has just enough spice and fantastic flavors! read more

See all

Great food. Has good variety of dishes. Closets I have found to real Mexican being from west coast. In ten years of residency in Tennessee. Friendly service and staff. Like the outside patio area. read more

Excellent service, good vibes - authentic decor/music, warm chips & the best salsa flavor ever!! Margs were decent, but not that strong. Burrito was disappointing, not what I expected. Beans were off. Enchilada was the best dish!!! Taco (al pastor) was fine, but not great. We really enjoyed the queso dip to split. If we return I would just get the chips/salsa/queso and some type of enchiladas as that seemed like the best quality dish! read more

See all

I ate here with a friend and both of our experiences left us thinking we'd never come back. I ordered Mexican corn instead of rice and it was literally from the can, barely warm, with a watered down drizzle of sour cream. So I asked for the black beans which were the same. The chili relleno I got had tough chicken and no much flavor. The salsa was good. But not enough to make me ever want to come back. read more

Quickly seated on a Saturday evening. Wide variety on the menu. I got the Birria de Puerco and split it my son. It was very good and the side of hot pepper sauces was definitely hot. Marisol waited on us a did a great job. Only thing I will bring up is you only get 3 small tortillas with this large plate. We asked for more and got 3 additional ones but was charged $1.35 for them. Will return read more

Garcia's - Birria de Puerco - Mexican Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

Garcias has two locations and I have yet to have a bad experience with either. Everything tastes fresh and delicious. I could make a meal out of their salsa! Must tries off the menu: Fajitas, fish tacos and pasta poblano! You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. If I want Mexican, this is where my family and I go! read more

Garcia's - Mexican Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

Great food and service. Servers are available and helpful. I like the ambience. Seems friendly and warm . read more

Prices are insane for the quality of the food. Nothing on the menu under 15 for lunch. Quesadillas were soggy. Spicy salsa was all seeds. Big swing and a miss Garcia. read more

Very very unique Mexican experience! We were seated immediately & our server was very prompt & friendly. However, the chips & salsa out the gate was strange! They give you so little salsa in the tiniest of bowls. We shrugged it off & waited on our food. Once our food got to us it was hot & fresh, but the portions... Teeney tiny! We all scrapped our plates clean & left hungry which is a first ever at ANY Mexican restaurant. Mind you we are not a "large sized" family (athletic/fit/active) We cannot recommend this restaurant, because the prices were higher than average and the portions were the smallest to date. Garcia's: if you are going to have small portions offer people more salsa/chips to off set. read more

See all

So so good, the chili relleno with pecans n chicken was really really really good. I can't say there was much recognizable chicken or many pecans but the cheese was plentiful and delicious. The skinny margarita with the fresh squeezed juice was too easy to drink. The fish in the ceviche was finely minced. The flan was a bit loose in the middle but it didn't change how good it tasted. read more

See all

We recently placed a very large order for about 60 people and I would like to say that the amount of food was abundant and absolutely delicious! Best Mexican in Franklin! read more

The steak fajitas are my go to anytime I go out for Mexican food. It is hard to find steak that tastes like steak and isn't chewy. This was amazing and tasted like good quality steak. The portion size was good and the salsa was amazing! Service was ok but I will be back! read more

We order this frequently amount many of our favorites. Chicken & Rice Soup. Loaded with Chicken, Vegies, and a mild hot spicy broth. My Lord! It's so good. read more

sat for 20 min and got no service. I got up and left. I was wearing a shirt from The Trump Doral Miami. Was I discriminated because of my shirt? Pretty sure I was. No one even came to my table. I watched the waiters not even look at me. Pretty sad. read more

The food was pretty good, and the salsa was fresh and flavorful. However, the burritos and tacos were lacking meat -- they were heavy on veggies and beans in them. The skinny margaritas were overly sweet. Service was extremely fast -- so fast that it felt rushed. Our food arrived within minutes, and the check came almost immediately after. It felt more like a fast-casual experience than a sit-down restaurant where you can relax and enjoy chips, salsa, and a drink. read more

My favorite Mexican-food spot in Franklin! The service is always A+ and gets you quickly seated. My big recommendation are the quesadillas and the frozen strawberry margarita. So good every time. Can't go wrong at Garcia's! read more

I have no idea why Garcia's has a 4-star rating. But I have a few guesses. We've visited a number of establishments in Franklin with horrendously inflated reviews, so there is some aspect about Franklinites not present in Nashvillians nor Brentwoodians that allows locals to find the most mundane meals worthy of excessive stars. I've had 5-star Mexican cuisine in Southern California, Mexico, Arizona, and New Mexico, and I've had 4-star experiences as well. I can only guess that loyal Garcia's customers have not had the pleasure of that experience, because they wouldn't be flippantly throwing around stars. Garcia's has been a go-to place in Franklin for years, operating for decades now along Highway 96. I'm actually thankful they get good business because the family who runs the place is very nice, the service is excellent, the food is very affordable, and the menu is more creative than most Mexican joints in town. So the effort is there, and you can't help but cheer for the family. The Nashville metro area is not exactly a bastion for Mexican cuisine, known more for its hot chicken, barbecue, hamburgers, biscuits, and the like. Mexican families like this one are often forced to adapt their recipes for undiscerning American palates, so I understand the Americanization of the cuisine is certainly not their fault. I've had two meals here and they just weren't very good. The salsa is average, the enchiladas are not flavorful, and the greasy tacos just don't compare to the best spots in Nashville. It is what it is, Mexican cooking adapted to American taste buds made with affordable ingredients for families in the Franklin area. It's really just that simple. Just make sure you walk in with that expectation and you won't have a bad time. read more

Garcia's - Mexican Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

Food and service were excellent at Garcia's, Franklin on a packed Saturday night. The food was hot and tasted cooked to order. Garcia's, Franklin is my new favorite Mexican food in Franklin. read more

Service and food were great! Conveniently located! Indoor and outdoor seating! Will definitely be going back when I'm in Franklin. I don't go very often but would consider eating there when I go back. read more

This place is great! I highly recommend the enchiladas poblanos! The creamy green sauce is fantastic. I love the rice and beans it comes with. The salsa and chips are also pretty unique to this place. The restaurant is also authentic Mexican vibes. The staff is attentive and patient. read more

Garcia's - Enchiladas Poblanas - Mexican Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

The food is great! It's all homemade it seems. Closest thing to traditional Mexican food I've had in the Nashville area.

We were greeted right away. Chips, salsa (very fresh) drinks right away. Servers erected friendly and well informed on the menu. Chicken fajita was fresh, not greasy and the meat was grilled and not over cooked - great flavor. read more

Garcia's - Mexican Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee

Gonna start with A+ service. I've always been a Tito's fan, but wanted to try something new. My son and I got fajita's. Neither of our skillets were sizzling. Both with LOTS of onion, and very little peppers. Kids loved the queso, but we needed two of them at $6 each, the portions were so small. Everyone also agreed the rice was pretty bland. I'm gonna give them another chance, but it seemed to be about 20% than Tito's for the same amount of food/comparable meals margarita's. read more

Sorry, but this place has gone down hill. Used to be a great local option, but now service is just horrible. Sitting and waiting and waiting and no one even acknowledging us. Finally left after about 10 minutes waiting for some one. read more

To all who are invading Tennessee, especially those from California, who claim Garcias isn't "authentic Mexican"... please feel free to move back to where you came from and enjoy your "authentic Mexican" as much as you want. I'll pay for your ticket out of town! Garcias is fast, tasty, and most importantly friendly. The waiters and waitresses are like family. Large portions and lots of options. Have had nothing but amazing experiences here. This is what great Mexican in Tennessee looks and tastes like. Give it a try. read more

Really good. Food was fresh and very flavorful. Quick service, reasonable price and convenient parking. Guacamole was outstanding.

Five stars for the Chips and Salsa alone. Thin, crispy chips and super fresh, mildly spicy salsa. Move over El Chicos =)) Nice ambiance and good service. Food is outstanding. read more

Had a really great experience here today. Gladis was my server - accommodating and friendly, checked back appropriately, etc. Allowed me to make a weird vegetarian off-menu combo - which is always nice (and it was really good!). Also, whatever they are doing to make their chips, dang. They were like, perfect. Chips at a Mexican restaurant seem like they shouldn't be hard, but they are easy to muck up. These were light and fluffy, not too salty, not greasy, warm - literally perfect. Five stars will go again. :) read more

Loved going to this place until now. I am a 25 year old black working professional and I was RACIALLY PROFILED at this establishment. I have been to this location plenty times before and drank plenty of alcohol. Today, I gave my ID as normal but then the waiter ask to take my ID and my girlfriend's ID to the "the back to check." I thought nothing of it, because I know everything's good. Come to find out my ID is fake and they scanned my ID using an app called "Scan my ID" which has a 1 star review on the App Store smh. Ask the manager why out of the entire restaurant my table is the one getting checked and the manager said because "we look young." But I'm older than the manager, so how can I look young. Don't go to this location at all. read more

Delicious with a really cute atmosphere. The door is a little tricky to find especially if there are delivery trucks around but it's right next to hobby lobby. Attentive, friendly staff and my favorite Mexican restaurant rice in town. We will be back and will bring friends! read more

See all

The food is pretty solid Tex mex for the area but I wouldn't say it's amazing. The service is crazy efficient though. I'll order a drink and my food and I think I'll get the food 2 mins after I get my drink. Strong recommendation if you're trying to eat quickly. read more

This used to be a staple in our dinner out rotation. We absolutely love the unique tex-mex flavor of all the dishes. However, a few hours after our last visit my Husband was very sick with what we suspected to be food poisoning. Only he ordered and ate the skirt steak and nobody else was sick. We don't have kids and are not sick frequently so would highly consider it to have been the food. Sadly we are not going to eat there for a while due to this. I tried to call the restaurant and let them know, but could not get anyone to pick up the phone. read more

Do not eat here if you plan on getting a alcoholic drink. My boyfriend and I whom are 25 and 24 were profiled for looking young. My boyfriend Arkansas ID was scanned using "scan my ID" and was reported as fake. Because of this they refused to serve him a dink. After researching the app only I mean for Missouri and had only just recently added Texas to their databases. Which is why my ID was accepted because I previously had a Texas ID. We went to their other location by Target and were served alcoholic drinks with no issue or profiling. read more

The food was so fast and amazing in taste. Definitely coming back here very often. The host, Jesse was absolutely fantastic at his job, and definitely should get a raise for his outstanding hospitality. He was being very friendly just casually chatting with me after I finished my food, and was being very friendly. Looking forward to coming back soon! read more

I've been eating here for 23 yrs... Slow Sunday evening... Got flaming app - zero chicken. Bad cheese (lower quality due to Biden-mimics ?) Only 3 tortillas -- for 2 people. Needed 4 to 6. Wanted to ask for more as usual but... Server never returned to table. We wanted to order food and additional drinks but we just left. VERY DISAPPOINTED. VERY. Garcia family.. fix this or I'm done read more

Disappointing Mexican restaurant. For a "Mexican fine dining" spot, the only thing "fine dining" about this restaurant was the prices. To start, we ordered a "spicy" salsa which was brought out and was literally identical to the free salsa that was brought out, we asked again if it was correct and could we order the spicy one, again the same one was brought out. The salsa was a tomato and cilantro mix, was not bad. The chips were not fresh, half of the basket was even stale. We ordered an appetizer of guacamole which was mostly tomato and onions. We ordered chicken and steak fajita. The meat itself tasted as though it was made with the grocery store premade fajita seasoning, heavy on the cumin and salt flavor. The rice was hard and inedible. The black beans were the best part because they were regular bland black beans. With the food not being great, we had several plates brought out and every time they were dirty, we eventually gave up and both ate off the fajita plate. For drinks we ordered a draft Modelo ($4) which was served in a chilled glass and was a good beer. We also ordered a glass bottle Mexican coke, this came out warm (unsure if their fridge wasn't cold enough or it had just been put in). Service was very slow for the restaurant being almost empty, having several servers standing around, and several dirty tables that never ended up being cleaned before we left. Overall not a great experience. read more

See all

Absolutely come here every time we're in Nashville. Sometimes twice. My favorite Mexican food anywhere. Best salsa in the world! Yes I've tried it all. We found it by mistake over 15 years ago. (Looking the the chain Resturant by the same name) this is no chain. Highly recommend the steak fajitas. read more

Soooo good! My favorite thing is the barria queso, it's not on the menu but you can find the picture on there instagram and they will tell that u made a very good choice! so many good things to have and try! read more

Garcia's - Barria queso! - Mexican Near Me - Franklin, Tennessee