Top 12 Mexican Restaurant Menu Ideas

Pew Research Center findings reveal that 10% of all restaurants in the United States serve Mexican food. Considering the popularity of this cuisine, it makes good business sense to incorporate a few items into your existing selection. If you’re not sure where to start, this list of the top 12 Mexican restaurant menu ideas will help you both satisfy customers and grow your business.

Salsa & Guacamole

Whether they’re served as dips for chips or condiments for quesadillas, salsa and guacamole are popular items that should be on any list of Mexican restaurant menu ideas. If you want to really impress your guests, offer a range of salsas, such as fresh pico de gallo or cooked salsa ranchera. You can also prepare fresh guacamole tableside, allowing your customers to see the fresh, high-quality ingredients being used to make their food.

Street Corn

The National Restaurant Association has identified Mexican street corn as one of the fastest growing food trends in the United States. Known as elote, it consists of corn cobs coated in mayo, cheese, chili and lime. Since eating an entire corn cob can be a bit difficult, you may want to consider serving esquites, the cup version, as a side dish so your guests can enjoy the same flavors in an easier, cleaner way.

Tacos

No list of Mexican restaurant menu ideas would be complete without mentioning tacos. While there’s nothing wrong with standard tacos, offering fried tacos dorados, fruity tacos al pastor or vegetarian tacos de napoles with cactus can help set your eatery apart from the competition. Be sure to offer a variety of sauces so that guests can explore different flavor combinations to find the one they like the best.

Quesadillas

There’s almost no better way to appeal to cheese lovers than with quesadillas. Although they’re fantastic plain, giving diners the option of adding chicken or beef helps turn quesadillas into a complete meal. If you want to expand your restaurant’s vegetarian menu, consider offering quesadillas de flor de calabaza, a version filled with squash blossoms: it’s sure to be a hit with those looking for something more exotic.

Burritos

When it comes to convenience, burritos are at the top of the list. Handheld and portable, they’re perfect for grab-and-go or drive-thru customers who want something quick yet filling. While not traditionally Mexican, burritos filled with eggs, sausage and potatoes can be very profitable breakfast menu items because of the inexpensive ingredients and high demand.

Tamales

Offering tamales is a great way to go beyond the tortilla, meat and cheese combination that forms the base of many Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes. While pork and chicken are common fillings, tamales de rajas con queso filled with roasted poblano peppers and cheese would be great for vegetarians. Be sure to serve your tamales with plenty of sauces, such as the tomatillo-heavy salsa verde or mole colorado made with raisins, chiles and chocolate.

Mexican Rice

Also known as Spanish rice or red rice in Tex-Mex cuisine, Mexican rice is one of the most common sides in Mexican cuisine. With bright colors and bold flavors, it’s the perfect complement to well-spiced main dishes. Although many traditional recipes call for chicken stock, don’t forget to make a batch with vegetable stock to please your vegan and vegetarian guests.

Beans

Whether served as a side with tacos or used as a filling in burritos, beans are an inexpensive and versatile ingredient that should play a key role in your Mexican restaurant’s menu. Besides refried beans made with lard, be sure to offer simmered pinto beans, known as frijoles de olla, to please diners looking for low-calorie or plant-based options.

Margaritas

If you’re looking to add a cocktail to your list of Mexican restaurant menu ideas, Margaritas are ideal. They’re one of the most profitable mixed drinks due to the inexpensive ingredients and high demand, so offering this classic beverage makes good business sense. Even though the original version is always popular, offering variations with colorful fruit juices like mango and raspberry can increase sales even more.

Aguas Frescas

As far as non-alcoholic Mexican options go, aguas frescas are some of the best. Made from flowers, fruits, seeds or grains, these light drinks are incredibly refreshing. Watermelon, peach, horchata (rice) and flor de jamaica (hibiscus) are just some of the most popular, so consider rotating flavors to encourage customers to come back frequently and try them all.

Churros

In addition to being one of the most popular food cart items, churros would also be a great dessert option for a Mexican or Tex-Mex restaurant. While the standard version served with chocolate sauce is delicious, offering churros filled with strawberry cream or cajeta caramel will set your business apart from the competition.

Tres Leches

No Mexican restaurant’s dessert menu would be complete without tres leches. Made by pouring evaporated, condensed and whole milk over sponge cake and then topping it with whipped cream, the cake is light and moist without being soggy. If you want to make your restaurant’s version extra special, consider adding strawberries or peaches for added color and flavor.