Every time I travel to the US, I find myself gorging on Mexican food. And that’s probably because, in the almost two decades that I’ve lived in Amsterdam, Mexico has been generally underrepresented in the city’s food scene. 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!
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.
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.
Local Dealer Food Inc.
Located on Dapperplein in Amsterdam Oost, Local Dealer has a helpfully large and sunny terrace, which makes it a great spot for warm evenings. The interior is funky, as are the drinks, and the tacos are pretty top notch too. My favourites were the Cordero de Oaxaca: freshly pressed, blue corn tortillas filled with pulled barbacoa lamb and pickled vegetables – yield meets bite, sweet meets sour, undercut with a satisfying umami base. I also loved the special: chicken hearts with rich molé sauce. Everything had a healthy hit of chilli, which I adored (as always).
Editor’s note: at the time of this article’s latest update (October 2025), Local Dealer recently announced a 30% reduction in menu prices plus a €9 weekly cocktail special to make good-quality food more affordable for locals. I’ve not visited since the recent changes, but it’s certainly worth a taste!
Cabrón
Along the Albert Cuypmarkt in De Pijp, Cabrón is better suited for sultry nights inside than al fresco dining. To test their wares, 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 of them were Lekker with a capital L. 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.
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MADRE
Touting modern Mexican dining, 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 (pictured below). 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.
Cantina Caliente
A student haunt in the Plantagebuurt, 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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