This post may contain affiliate links which means I may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links. I promise I will only recommend products that I have personally used! Thank you for supporting our blog so we can continue creating free content each week! Learn more on our Privacy Policy page.
If you know me, you know that Mexican food and a delicious salty margarita is my love language. Luckily, Mark feels the same way – a match made in heaven. Since we moved to St. Pete, FL, our mission has been to make a list of Mexican restaurants and try them all to find the perfect salsa, margarita, and fish tacos!! While we still haven’t tried “it all,” we have found a few go-to favorites!
Don’t want to miss a single post from us? Sign up for our email list today!
With Cinco de Mayo right around the corner, it would be fun to feature our top 5 favorite Mexican restaurants in St. Pete, FL!
VIP – Treasure Island, Florida
1. VIP – Treasure Island, FL
Website
Facebook
This is our go-to beach spot for sure! Parking can be very tricky, and all free parking in the area has gone to metered parking (boo!), but it’s worth the struggle. VIP tends to have a waitlist, especially if you want to be inside, but it’s so worth it! They have expanded the outdoor dining seating (thanks to COVID), and thankfully, they have a great outdoor bar to serve you something cool while you wait. The TI location is pretty tiny, with a large bar and limited other seating indoors with small bathrooms … plus you walk through the kitchen…. but haven’t I mentioned that it’s so worth it? It is!
Thursday is our favorite day to go because they have their signature (very strong) house margaritas for less than $5 🙌 And our absolute favorite dishes are the seared tuna roll, the three amigos chips & dip, the fish tacos, Mexican pizza, and Chile Relleno 🌶 we’ve honestly never had anything at VIP that we didn’t love.
So, if you are ever in the area- Get a drink and a delicious meal, then walk across the street and watch a Treasure Island sunset!
P.s. VIP just opened a second location in Indian Rocks Beach that we also enjoy!
Nueva Cantina in Downtown St. Pete
2. Nueva Cantina – Downtown St. Pete
Website
Facebook
Nueva Cantina in South St Pete is full of character! We were pleasantly surprised by the fantastic atmosphere, spacious free parking, and many rooms inside with three separate seating rooms.
We’ve only been there once but had an excellent experience and will return soon! They have a fabulous Sunday brunch with a special menu and bottomless drink specials- perfect for a Sunday get-together with friends or family.
We loved the salsa and queso, and the chips were seasoned to perfection 🙌 Not to mention the smooth and salty margaritas 🤩 We tried the Mexican pizza and the Chile Relleno. Still, I’m counting the seconds until I can return and try the tacos. 🌮
Red Mesa Cantina in Downtown St. Pete
3. Red Mesa Cantina – Downtown St. Pete
Website
Facebook
Technically, there is a Red Mesa Restaurant on 4th Street and Red Mesa Cantina in Downtown St. Pete. While we have been to both, we prefer the Cantina downtown. It’s in a fantastic brick building downtown with a beautiful outdoor area, fountain, and a large bar area. It has a colorful Lucha theme and top-notch drinks and drinks specials.
We’ve tried so many things here over the last couple of years and recommend trying it all! It’s the perfect downtown date night spot with one of our favorite restaurant ambiance’s.
Casita Taqueria in St. Pete
4. Casita Taqueria – Central Ave
Website
Facebook
Casita Taqueria is more of a casual carry-out or simple dine-in experience. It has multiple locations in St. Pete- 4th Street, 66th Street, and Central Avenue, our favorite spot.
How it works- you wait in line, order from a menu at the counter, hand your drinks and apps, find a place to sit, and wait for them to call your name. This location has indoor and outdoor seating and it’s on Central Avenue so you’re close to all the action!
You guys, not only can you carry out the fantastic food but also the drinks! We always order a margarita with salt and red sangria with cinnamon 🤤🍹 look at that cinnamon! Our usual order includes chips, salsa, and queso plus The Casita Bowl with tortillas and a wide variety of tacos on fresh tortillas 🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮🙌
Que Pasa Mexican Cantina
5. Que Pasa Mexican Cantina- Roosevelt Blvd St. Pete
Website
Facebook
Que Pasa was the first place we tried when we moved here in 2015. It was in the strip mall next to the grocery store we used to frequent, and it reminded us of the places we loved back home in Ohio.
Brightly colored decor, large bar area, authentic house-made salsa, Mariachi music, and friendly staff that loves when you order tequila. The kicker for us was the excellent drink specials- 2 for 1, white cheese on everything, and the seafood options!
We had moved across town and found ourselves searching for closer experiences. However, our recent move returned us to this being our most immediate choice again! Yay!!!
Do you have a local favorite? Give us your recommendations!!
Chipotle Style Salsa Recipe
Bonus Recipe– Chipotle is always my carry-out go-to; I’d eat there daily if I could, lol! My favorite part is the tomato salsa, and guess what? I found the perfect recipe that tastes exactly like it. Score!!!
Here’s the recipe
• 1 1⁄2lbs tomatoes, coarsely chopped, about 6 medium tomatoes
• 1⁄2 cup red onion, finely chopped
• 1⁄2 jalapeño pepper, seeded, stemmed, and finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, from one lemon
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, from 2 limes
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1⁄4 cup fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
• 1 bag tortilla chips, for serving
• In a medium bowl, combine tomatoes, red onion, jalapeno, lemon juice, lime juice and salt.
• Let stand for 10 minutes at room temperature to blend flavors. Stir in cilantro. Taste salsa and adjust amount of jalapeno pepper and salt as desired.
• Serve with chips & a salty margarita!
Join our email list and help us grow! We promise you will only receive beautiful photos and updates and probably a cute cat photo or two in your inbox!
About Us
New to our blog? Find out more About Us and How you can support our blog for FREE!
Carmelita’s is my go to Mexican resturant.
They all sound wonderful!