Skip the chain burrito. Ann Arbor’s Mexican food scene has quietly become one of the best in Southeast Michigan – and the places worth eating at aren’t always the ones with the biggest signs on Washtenaw.
We’re talking family-run kitchens turning out dishes you can’t find anywhere else in the county, taco shops where the al pastor is carved off a real trompo, and one spot that somehow makes falafel and Mexican street food work together. Every restaurant below was checked this week – open, current address, current hours. Here’s where to eat.
Chela’s Restaurant & Taqueria
Chela’s started as a tiny order-at-the-counter taqueria on Maple Road. Now it’s one of the most recognized Mexican restaurants in Ann Arbor – and the food hasn’t slipped. The tamales are hand-rolled and steamed in-house, the al pastor has actual caramelized pineapple edges, and the chilaquiles at breakfast are the kind of thing you rearrange your morning for.
The move here: get the birria tacos if they’re running them. The consomme on the side is rich and deeply spiced. And don’t skip the bakery case by the register – the conchas are baked fresh.
What keeps Chela’s honest is the family behind it. You can taste the difference between a kitchen that follows a recipe book and one that learned from somebody’s grandmother. This is the latter.
693 S Maple Rd. Chela’s Restaurant & Taqueria
Regular hours: Mon-Sat 10:30am-9pm, Sun 10:30am-8pm. Verified 23 Aug 2026.
Tmaz Taqueria
If you haven’t had a proper huarache in Ann Arbor, Tmaz is where you fix that. This family-owned spot on Packard does the kind of regional Mexican cooking that most restaurants around here don’t even attempt – pozole on weekends, caldo de res that could cure anything, and thick handmade tortillas that taste like they were just pulled off the comal.
The menu reads like a real Mexican kitchen, not an Americanized greatest-hits list. Enchiladas verdes swimming in tomatillo salsa. Tacos al pastor with properly marinated pork. And the tres leches cake is dangerously good.
The Packard location keeps the kitchen going until 4am – it’s one of the genuine late-night eats in town. There’s a second, quieter location on Dexter Ave with its own hours if Packard is packed.
3182 Packard St (also at 2529 Dexter Ave). Tmaz Taqueria
Regular hours: Packard Mon-Sat 11am-4am, closed Sun; Dexter Ave Mon-Sat 11am-10pm, closed Sun. Verified 23 Aug 2026.
Chapala Mexican Restaurant
Chapala has been on North Main Street long enough to qualify as an Ann Arbor institution. It’s not flashy, the decor hasn’t changed much in years, and that’s exactly the point. You come here for the chicken fajitas that arrive on a screaming-hot skillet, the California burrito stuffed past any reasonable limit, and the chips-and-salsa that actually taste homemade.
This is the place you take someone who says “I just want good, solid Mexican food.” Chapala delivers exactly that – consistently, for decades. The lunch specials are a steal, and the staff remembers regulars by name.
It won’t win any design awards, but your stomach won’t care. Note that the kitchen doesn’t open until noon, so this is a lunch-and-dinner spot, not a breakfast one.
211 N Main St. Chapala Mexican Restaurant
Regular hours: Mon-Thu 12pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-11pm, Sun 12pm-9pm. Verified 23 Aug 2026.
El Limon
El Limon is the wildcard on this list, and that’s why it belongs here. Tucked into a Plymouth Road strip mall, this small restaurant fuses Mexican and Mediterranean cooking in ways that shouldn’t work but absolutely do. Falafel tacos. Shawarma burritos. Lamb kofta with pickled onions and cilantro crema.
The owner built the menu around the flavors he grew up with on both sides of his family, and it shows. Nothing feels forced or gimmicky – it just tastes good. The portions are huge for the price, and the hot sauces at the counter range from mild to genuinely punishing.
If you’re tired of the same taco order everywhere, El Limon is the reset button. One heads-up: the day-to-day hours here can drift, so it’s worth a quick call before you drive over.
2709 Plymouth Rd. El Limon
Regular hours: Mon-Sat 11am-9pm, closed Sun (hours can vary – call ahead). Verified 23 Aug 2026.
Condado Tacos
Condado is a build-your-own taco spot, yes – but the Ann Arbor location on Liberty Street earns its place for one reason: it’s fun. The queso is dangerously addictive, the margarita menu is deep, and the customization means even the pickiest eater in your group will find something. Cauliflower tempura as a taco filling? It works.
This is not where you go for abuela’s cooking. This is where you go when you want good tacos, a cold drink, and a table full of friends arguing over which hot sauce is best. The vibe skews younger and louder, especially on game days, and the 3-6pm weekday happy hour is a genuine deal.
Worth noting: they do taco kits to-go if you’re hosting and don’t feel like cooking.
401 E Liberty St, Suite 200. Condado Tacos
Regular hours: Mon-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-12am, Sun 11am-11pm. Verified 23 Aug 2026.
Dos Hermanos Express
Dos Hermanos flies under the radar because it’s on Jackson Industrial Drive – not exactly a destination street. But the people who know, know. This is fast, no-frills Mexican food done right. Big burritos, solid tacos, and a salsa bar that lets you customize your heat level from “pleasant” to “regrettable.”
The tortas are the sleeper hit here. Pressed and stuffed, they’re the kind of sandwich that makes you wonder why more places don’t do them. Service is quick, prices are low, and the portions are sized for people who actually work for a living.
Grab lunch here on a weekday and you’ll see construction crews, students, and office workers all crammed into the same small dining room. That’s usually a good sign.
25 Jackson Industrial Dr. Dos Hermanos Express
Regular hours: Mon-Thu 11am-8pm, Fri-Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 12pm-9pm. Verified 23 Aug 2026.
Los Amigos
Los Amigos is comfort Mexican food – the kind of place where the combo plates come with rice and beans piled high and the frozen margaritas are the size of your head. They have two Ann Arbor locations (Hilton Blvd and West Stadium), which means you’re never far from a fix.
The menu is big and leans American-Mexican, which is fine – sometimes you want enchiladas suizas and a chimichanga, not a tasting menu. The salsa is solid, the service is friendly, and it’s one of the few Mexican restaurants in town that consistently handles large groups without a long wait.
Good for families, good for game day, good for “we can’t decide where to eat.”
625 Hilton Blvd (also at 2135 W Stadium Blvd). Los Amigos
Regular hours: Sun-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm. Verified 23 Aug 2026.
Bandito’s Fresh Mex
Bandito’s has been serving Ann Arbor since 1991, and the formula hasn’t changed much: big portions, fresh ingredients, reasonable prices. The Plymouth Road location is easy to get to, parking is simple, and the food comes out fast.
Their burritos are wrapped tight and stuffed generously – the chicken burrito with black beans is a local favorite. The chips are fried in-house and the guacamole is made to order. It’s not trying to reinvent anything, and that’s the appeal.
If you’re feeding a family on a budget and want something better than fast food, Bandito’s is the answer. They’ve been doing this for over 30 years for a reason. Just remember they’re closed Sundays.
3395 Plymouth Rd. Bandito’s Fresh Mex
Regular hours: Mon-Sat 10am-10pm, closed Sun. Verified 23 Aug 2026.
El Tapatio Taqueria
El Tapatio took over a former Pizza Hut on Carpenter Road and turned it into one of the more honest taquerias on the east side. This is straightforward, well-executed Mexican street food – tacos on doubled-up corn tortillas, tortas piled high, and a salsa game that rewards the brave. It sits right on the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti line, an easy drive from the east side and south campus.
The al pastor and the carne asada are the reliable orders, and the portions land generous for the price. It’s a family-run counter-and-tables spot, not a scene – come hungry, leave happy.
3045 Carpenter Rd, Ypsilanti. El Tapatio Taqueria
Regular hours: Mon-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10:30pm, Sun 11am-9:30pm. Verified 23 Aug 2026.
MAIZ Mexican Cantina
MAIZ brings a modern, from-scratch Mexican cantina feel to Ypsilanti’s Depot Town, and it’s worth the short drive from Ann Arbor. The kitchen makes its masa and salsas in-house, the cocktail program leans tequila- and mezcal-heavy (as it should), and the corner room fills up with a good weekend crowd.
The mole enchiladas and the street tacos are the most popular orders for a reason. Nothing on the menu tries too hard, and the prices stay reasonable even with a couple of drinks. In warmer months the Cross Street sidewalk seating is a fine place to spend an afternoon.
36 E Cross St, Ypsilanti (Depot Town). MAIZ Mexican Cantina
Regular hours: Mon 12pm-9pm, Tue-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-12am, Sun 12pm-9pm. Verified 23 Aug 2026.
Where to Start
If you want authenticity, start at Chela’s, Tmaz, or El Tapatio. If you want something you’ve never tried before, El Limon. If you want tacos and drinks with a group, Condado or MAIZ. And if you just want reliable, affordable, no-fuss Mexican food, Chapala, Los Amigos, or Bandito’s will never let you down.
A few timing notes worth keeping straight: Chapala doesn’t open until noon; Tmaz on Packard runs to 4am for late-night; and Tmaz, El Limon, and Bandito’s are all closed Sundays. When in doubt, call the day before.
Hungry for more? See our roundups of the best restaurants in Ann Arbor, downtown Ann Arbor restaurants, and late-night eats in Ann Arbor. Or browse the full directory at miannarbor.com.
