Where to Eat Mexican Tacos in Amsterdam

Every time I travel to the US, I find myself gorging on Mexican food. And that’s probably because, in the two decades that I’ve lived in Amsterdam, Mexico has been underrepresented in the city’s food scene for most of that period. Long-term readers of this website will know that I first started my search for tacos and tequila in Amsterdam way back in 2013. My quest led me to plenty of disappointments as well as a few gems. But many of the best taquerias were either pop-ups to begin with or have since closed down. It’s taken me a long time just to round up half a dozen decent places to eat Mexican food. But here it is: the definitive list… for now!

Planning your trip to Amsterdam

Before you can sample Amsterdam’s best tacos, you’re going to need to get here! Below are a few trip essentials, but my Amsterdam travel planning guide covers everything from transport to the best time to visit.

• Getting to Amsterdam: Schiphol airport is well-connected, and Expedia and Omio are good starting points for comparing flights and rail options. If you’re coming from London, Paris or Brussels, the Eurostar is a relaxed alternative to flying, though Dutch national carrier KLM has direct flights from most major cities in Europe, the US and beyond.
• Getting around: Amsterdam is compact enough to walk, and public transport covers everything else. Skip the rental car unless you plan to leave the city – use GVB to plan your route, or do as the locals do and rent a bike!
• Where to stay: From canal-side luxury (Pulitzer) to boutique quirkiness (Hotel Not Hotel), there’s plenty of choice. Browse the full range on Booking.com or visit my neighbourhood guide for specific hotel recommendations.
• Tours and experiences: A canal boat trip is a must – find options on Viator or GetYourGuide. For food tours, I recommend Eating Amsterdam plus any of the other Amsterdam tours and experiences in my dedicated article.
• Further reading: For restaurant and wine bar recommendations, grab a copy of my Amsterdam Restaurant Guide or Amsterdam Wine Lover’s Guide.

6 of the Best Mexican Restaurants in Amsterdam (+1 Bonus Bar!)

Coba Taqueria

Hipster, industrial Noord has become the unofficial taco capital of Amsterdam, housing not one but two great Mexican restaurants. At Coba Taqueria, you’ll find an authentic range of off-the-beaten-path tacos, tostadas and more. The beef tongue tacos with cucumber and tomatillo salsa were perhaps my favourite, but the nopal (cactus) tacos with their pistachio green molé were also a revelation. Do not limit yourself to tacos, though. On my most recent visit, I also tried two tostadas: one with zesty, spicy, sea bass ceviche; the other with a rich, nutty take on polpo (octopus). Be warned: Coba does not believe in cutlery, so you’ll need to make good use of the stash of napkins and wash your hands afterwards. But sticky fingers are a small price to pay for what is undoubtedly some of the city’s best Mexican food.

Bonus Bar: Tula Cantina

Right next door to Coba Taqueria is Tula Cantina, which I believe opened in 2024 as a way for diners to enjoy a cocktail (or a beer) before or after their dinner. The evening I visited, there were five signature cocktails on offer, from citrusy and spicy to sweet and creamy. I opted for a Mezcal, lime and chilli number that hit every spot for me, but the talented bar staff will mix whatever suits your personal tastes. If you’re a fan of Tequila and/or Mezcal, you’re in for a treat: there are dozens of ultra-small-batch bottles of agave-based spirits on offer, which will challenge everything you thought you knew about tequila. (And if you love cocktails, be sure to check out my guide to Amsterdam’s best cocktail bars, too.)

Bacalar

Also in Amsterdam Noord, Bacalar boasts a sunny, expansive terrace that’s a big draw in summer, but the interior is cosy for all the days that don’t merit al fresco dining. Bacalar’s tostada with crawfish, avocado, pickled cucumber and leche de tigre was fresh and zingy with a big citrus hit. But the tacos de moronga with black pudding, pickled red onion and mango habanero salsa got my final vote: spicy and meaty in equal measure. A firm favourite. Despite our visit falling on a hungover Sunday lunchtime, it seemed rude not to try a couple of cocktails: the fruity pink rhubarb Paloma and the smoky Bucha Maracuja were both delicious, well-mixed and not too sweet.

Camino Taqueria

Meanwhile in Amsterdam West, Camino Taqueria is the latest venture by the folks who brought us popular pop-up Flora back in the day. They’ve now found a permanent home for their LA-inspired tacos in the Kinkerstraat, and it seems to be doing a roaring trade. We loved their porky carnitas tacos, cheesy elote corn tacos, and smoky achiote chicken tostadas – though it’s worth seeking out the €3 daily taco special. I was also a fan of the salsa bar: choose your own adventure from a mild salsa verde to a smoky charred salsa to a creamy-spicy number, which you can mix and match with your chosen tacos. Order a couple of cocktails (the usual suspects include margaritas and palomas), settle into a diner-style booth and pretend you’re in California.

MADRE

Touting modern Mexican dining close to Westerpark, MADRE makes no mention of its vegan credentials on the menu – only that it aims to be sustainable, inclusive and respectful. Which is probably why I didn’t even realise I’d eaten a fully vegan Mexican meal until I came to pay the bill at the end. We ordered the Chef’s Choice: a good-value selection of six dishes to share, although all dishes are available a la carte if you’d prefer your own thing. From the spicy beetroot tostadas to the earthy ancho-tahini-ponzu green beans, everything was full of Mexican-fusion flavour. On the taco front, I couldn’t get enough of the artichoke barbacoa – grilled artichokes, spiced with mojo de ajo, topped with guasacaca salsa, served on blue corn tortillas. I was also mesmerised by the “3D printed pork” tacos with a smoky dipping broth. I have absolutely no idea how they did it, but the texture was pure pulled pork. I even loved Madre’s funk-free natural orange wine – a Grüner Veltliner from Austria’s Niederösterreich region. The meal was magic – almost literally.

Looking for more plant-based recommendations? Take a look at my guide to Amsterdam’s best vegan and vegetarian restaurants.

Cabrón

Along the Albert Cuypmarkt in De Pijp, Cabrón is an underground music venue as much as a taqueria. I tried three varieties of Cabrón’s tacos: the carnitas with sweet potato purée and queso fresco, which came in a delicious blue-corn tortilla; the softshell crab with sweet mango salsa and shredded cabbage; and a vegan number with battered cauliflower instead of fish – all deliciously different. As for their signature margarita, Cabrón’s used top-quality tequila, came shaken (not frozen or anything silly like that) and sported a salt rim that only went halfway around the glass. Just the way I like it.

Cantina Caliente

A student haunt in the Plantagebuurt in Oost, Cantina Caliente is a gezellig little place for tasty tacos, quesadillas, nachos, ceviche and more. We tried the barbacoa tacos, in which the beef pulled apart well and the sauce was nicely spicy, and the berenjena (aubergine) tacos with feta and chillies – both were delicious, as was the seabass ceviche with sweet potato and crispy corn. The cocktails were good too, though the house wine left a little to be desired. Service was slightly sloppy the night we visited, but mistakes were fixed quickly and with a smile so all was forgiven.

Putting the tequila into taco night

As you’ve probably gathered, I like a margarita as much as anyone with a penchant for strong liquor, citrus fruit and spicy salt possibly could. And they’re really easy to make at home, too: just mix 50 ml of tequila with 35 ml of Cointreau and the juice of a lime (plus lots of ice!). Rim your glass with salt (I use Tony Chachere’s) and voila! My favourite brands of tequila are Don Julio and Olmeca Altos Plata (reposado if I’m feeling fancy) but you can buy pretty much every brand of tequila under the sun (plus your Cointreau) from online liquor store Topdrinks.

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