Wichita’s food scene has a spicy secret – amazing Mexican restaurants that serve up authentic flavors from south of the border! From family recipes passed down through generations to modern twists on traditional dishes, these eateries offer everything from sizzling fajitas to handmade tortillas. Whether you’re craving street tacos or enchiladas smothered in sauce, these 11 Mexican restaurants will transport your taste buds straight to Mexico without leaving Kansas.
1. Old Town Burritos
Located in the heart of Wichita’s entertainment district, this cozy spot serves up burritos bigger than your head! The restaurant’s signature creation features slow-roasted meats wrapped in freshly made tortillas with just the right balance of rice, beans, and homemade salsas.
Family-owned since 2008, Old Town Burritos maintains an impressive salsa bar where you can customize your heat level. Their green chile pork burrito has developed something of a cult following among locals. Weekend visitors might catch live mariachi performances while enjoying their meal.
Don’t miss their horchata – a sweet cinnamon rice drink that perfectly complements the spicy food offerings.
2. Los Pinos
Tucked away in a suburban strip mall, Los Pinos surprises first-time visitors with its warm ambiance and exceptional cuisine. Red chile enchiladas steal the spotlight here, made with a secret sauce recipe the owners brought from central Mexico. Weekend specials often feature regional dishes rarely found elsewhere in Wichita.
The restaurant’s hand-painted murals transport diners to small Mexican villages, creating an immersive dining experience. Their tableside guacamole preparation adds flair to any meal. Regulars rave about the sopa de lima (lime soup) – a tangy chicken broth with shredded chicken, crispy tortilla strips, and a hint of citrus that brightens even the gloomiest Kansas day.
3. Mexico Viejo
Stepping into Mexico Viejo feels like visiting your Mexican grandmother’s home – if she happened to make the best mole poblano in Kansas! The rich, complex sauce combines over 20 ingredients including chocolate and multiple varieties of chilies.
Founded by immigrants from Puebla, this restaurant specializes in dishes from central Mexico. Their chile rellenos feature locally grown peppers stuffed with queso fresco, then lightly battered and fried to perfection.
The restaurant’s weekend menudo (tripe soup) draws fans from across the city seeking its legendary hangover-curing properties. A hidden gem on their dessert menu: cajeta cheesecake drizzled with goat’s milk caramel that will make you forget all about regular cheesecake.
4. Molino’s Cuisine Midtown
Chef Jose Molina transforms traditional recipes into modern masterpieces at this upscale midtown establishment. The restaurant’s signature dish combines seafood with traditional Mexican spices in ways that surprise even the most experienced foodies.
Molino’s tortilla soup arrives at your table as a dramatic presentation – servers pour hot broth over a bowl of crispy tortilla strips, avocado, and chicken right before your eyes. Their craft margaritas feature unexpected ingredients like cucumber, jalapeño, and local honey. Vegetarians celebrate the creative plant-based options that go beyond the typical beans and rice.
5. Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant
Grandpa’s recipes shine at this popular chain that maintains authenticity despite its growth. The restaurant’s courtyard-style interior features a painted sky ceiling and fountain that creates the illusion of dining in a Mexican plaza.
Famous for their tender, slow-cooked carnitas, Abuelo’s marinates pork for 24 hours before braising it to fork-tender perfection. Their expansive menu satisfies both traditionalists seeking authentic flavors and those preferring Tex-Mex innovations.
Happy hour draws crowds for discounted premium margaritas and complimentary queso with chip purchases. The restaurant’s sopapillas – puffy fried pastries drizzled with honey – provide the perfect sweet ending to a flavorful meal.
6. El Agave
Named after the plant used to make tequila, El Agave celebrates Mexico’s most famous spirit alongside outstanding cuisine. Their bar stocks over 50 different tequilas and mezcals, with knowledgeable staff offering guided tastings for curious customers.
Sizzling molcajetes – volcanic stone bowls filled with grilled meats, nopales (cactus), and cheese – arrive at tables still bubbling with heat. The restaurant grows its own peppers in a small garden behind the building, ensuring the freshest possible salsas. Sunday brunch features Mexican breakfast classics like chilaquiles and huevos rancheros alongside bottomless horchata coffee.
The restaurant’s owner won a regional cooking competition with his grandmother’s pozole recipe, which appears as a weekend special during winter months.
7. Cactus Cantina & Grill
Street food flavors dominate the menu at this casual cantina where traditional tacos take center stage. Handmade corn tortillas cradle perfectly seasoned meats topped with simple garnishes of cilantro and onion – just as you’d find from vendors in Mexico City.
The restaurant’s colorful lucha libre (Mexican wrestling) themed decor creates a festive atmosphere. Their salsa bar features eight different options ranging from mild pico de gallo to a fiery habanero creation that comes with a friendly warning from servers.
Taco Tuesday specials draw weekly crowds seeking $1 tacos and $3 Mexican beers. A surprising menu standout: their elote (Mexican street corn) slathered with mayo, cotija cheese, chile powder, and lime creates an explosion of flavors that perfectly represents Mexican street food culture.
8. El Chapulin Mexican Restaurant
Seafood specialties from Mexico’s coastal regions distinguish this family-owned gem from other Wichita Mexican restaurants. Their ceviche – featuring fresh fish “cooked” in lime juice with tomatoes, onions, and cilantro – transports diners straight to a beachside palapa in Acapulco.
The restaurant’s name honors the grasshopper, which appears in various forms throughout the whimsical decor. Adventurous eaters can even try chapulines (seasoned grasshoppers) as an appetizer – a traditional Oaxacan snack that’s both crunchy and nutritious. Their weekend breakfast draws early crowds for chilaquiles topped with eggs any style.
The owner’s grandmother still makes all the mole sauce, arriving at 5 AM three days a week despite being well into her 80s.
9. Puerto Vallarta Mexican Restaurant
Vibrant flavors from Mexico’s Pacific coast shine at this restaurant named after the famous beach destination. Seafood enchiladas filled with shrimp and crab, then topped with creamy sauce and melted cheese, represent the perfect fusion of ocean and traditional Mexican cuisine.
The restaurant’s sprawling patio becomes Wichita’s favorite outdoor dining spot during summer months. Mariachi bands perform every Friday night, creating an authentic atmosphere as diners enjoy their meals under strings of colorful lights.
Their signature Puerto Vallarta margarita comes rimmed with Tajin (chile-lime salt) and garnished with a tamarind candy straw.
10. El Patio Restaurant
Generations of Wichitans have celebrated special occasions at this local institution serving classic Tex-Mex favorites since 1977. The restaurant’s signature sour cream enchiladas – corn tortillas filled with cheese and smothered in tangy white sauce – remain unchanged from the original recipe.
Their cheese dip, a closely guarded family recipe, has such a following that the restaurant now sells it by the quart for customers to enjoy at home.
Many servers have worked here for over 20 years, greeting regular customers by name and remembering their usual orders. The founder’s grandson now runs the kitchen, ensuring family traditions continue while subtly updating menu items to appeal to younger generations.
11. Ruben’s Mexican Grill
Flame-grilled meats prepared on an open charcoal grill create distinctive smoky flavors that have made this modest restaurant a local favorite. Their carne asada features thin-sliced marinated steak cooked over live fire, then served with handmade tortillas and roasted jalapeños.
After surviving a devastating fire in 2017, owner Ruben rebuilt with help from loyal customers who donated to support his return.
The restaurant’s breakfast burritos – especially the chorizo and egg version – create morning lines that sometimes stretch out the door. A unique offering: Ruben’s serves traditional Mexican hot chocolate made with cinnamon and a hint of chile during winter months.
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