I've always been very pleased with the availability and quality of the Mexican culinary scene in Kansas. Visitors from around the country should know that not all Kansans are humble when it comes to mentioning just how good the Mexican food is in the Sunflower State. In fact, I would even say that it's alright to downright brag about it! For those who beg to differ, I can only ask that you simply follow my list below of where you can find some of my favorite Mexican Restaurants, right here in Kansas!

Southwest Kansas

Let's begin in the Southwest region of Kansas, as it has emerged as a hub for Hispanic culture and cuisine in the state. The most recent census, done in 2020, showed that many counties in Southwest Kansas have majority-Hispanic populations. The diverse environment of Southwest Kansas has created a new renaissance of culture, giving it so much more than just restaurants and places to eat. To get the most out of this region, don't forget to check out the Garden City Mexican Fiesta and the Dodge City International Festival.
 

Restaurants

Casa Mariachi - Garden City

El Rodeo Bar & Grill - Dodge City 

El Ranchito Mexican Restaurant - Liberal 

Chenchitas Mexi Thai Cafe - Kinsley

Agave Azul - Ulysses

Northwest Kansas 

Moving over to Northwest Kansas, this region continues to punch above its weight in the world of restaurants, especially when it comes to Mexican food. The cities here are certainly smaller, but the food is by no means slight in quality; in fact, I would even urge people to say this might be the most underrated region when it comes to enjoying international cuisines. Just visit the area for yourself if you don't believe me.

Restaurants

Cancun Mexican Grill - Hays

Tres Hermanos - Oakley

Las Canteras - Norton

La Bamba Mexican Restaurant - Oberlin

Jalapeño's Grill - Hill City

La Loteria Mexican Store - Colby

South Central Kansas

You've probably heard of Wichita, which is the largest city in Kansas and is located in the South Central region, but did you know about all the great Mexican food you can find all around the city? This isn't to say that you should skip out on Wichita; absolutely not! Wichita is the main reason why this region of Kansas has so many places to eat, so why not explore all that you can while you are here? Nevertheless, be sure to browse the list of choices below so you can see what this region has to offer.

Restaurants

Al's Cafe - Lost Springs

Fabiola's Restaurant - Wellington

El Cerrito - Hesston

Delgado's - Great Bend

Mi Tierra Restaurant - Hoisington

Wichita - There are too many to list; find the full list from Visit Wichita!

North Central Kansas

Perhaps best known for the historic cowtowns of Abilene and Ellsworth, this region of Kansas is no stranger to cowboy culture, regardless of where it came from! As you drive around North Central Kansas in search of things to do and places to eat, you'll soon notice that there is no shortage of Mexican food to go around. You really can't take a wrong turn in this region (unless you end up at the Geographic Center of the lower 48).
 

Restaurants 

Los Primos - Belleville

Orozco's Portales - Kanopolis

Taco Lucha - Manhattan

El Puertos - Beloit

Yopos Mexican Restaurant - Osborne

Northeast Kansas

Northeast Kansas is home to such a variety of restaurants that narrowing your selection down to just a few places can be difficult.  Not only can you find dozens, potentially hundreds, of options just by driving the I-70 corridor between Kansas City, Lawrence, and Topeka, you can find even more by getting off the interstate and into other towns in the region. For this list, I was certain to include the amazing KCK Taco Trail, as well as some restaurants in the smaller cities like Atchison and Ottawa.

Restaurants

KCK Taco Trail (Red Machine Party Bus) - Kansas City 

Lopez De Mexico Restaurant - Atchison

El Sol - Ottawa

Jorge's Cantina - Topeka

Taqueria La Pasadita - Lawrence

Southeast Kansas

Southeast Kansas stands out on its own in terms of Mexican culture. It's home to the city of Emporia, which hosts its own, and well-attended, Día de los Muertos each year. As far as the food scene goes, it too stands out! While your options are plentiful in Emporia, you'll also find some great places to eat in Burlington and Iola. If you really want to go into the depths of Southeast Kansas, then hop on the Route 66 (yep, the real Route 66), as it is located in the extreme southeastern corner of the state

Restaurants

Casa Ramos - Emporia

Vaqueros - Yates Center

Cilantros - Burlington

Los Luna's - Columbus

Ernesto's Mexican Food - Parsons

El Charro - Iola
 

Bonus Restaurants: Route 66 in Kansas!

Baxter Springs (Route 66)

• Lion Rojo
• Don Juan's
• El Cabritos

Galena (Route 66)

• Mi Torito
• Nogales