Six Authentic Mexican Restaurants in Jacksonville

According to Metro Jacksonville forum members, here's six Mexican restaurants where you can find an authentic meal.

Published April 14, 2016 in Dining & Nightlife - MetroJacksonville.com

1. Pepes Hacienda
3615 Dupont Avenue

Quote from: ben says on March 09, 2012, 02:17:35 PM

Anyone who says there isn't "real Mexican" in Jacksonville hasn't been to Pepe's Hacienda. They are the real deal. Fresh tamales, corn tortillas, delicious and authentic Mexican...as in, the Mexican food you'll find in the interior of Mexico. You won't find shredded cheese and sour cream here. They use real, homemade, Mexican farmers cheese. What's extra cool about Pepe's is that the restaurant is inside a Latin American grocery store. So, not only can you eat authentic food, but you can find authentic Mexican/Latin American products.

Pepes Hacienda is located at 3615 Dupont Avenue. Their menu offers a wide a variety of authentic Mexican cuisine—from homemade, Mexican farmer’s cheese, to fresh, handmade tamales and tortillas. They serve typical dishes like burritos and enchiladas, but also offer other traditional dishes like Veracruz-style seafood and octopus. Pepe’s also serves many different meats for their dishes, including: chicken, beef steak, lengua, barbacoa, and carnitas.

Aside from the food, they also home-make all their “aguas frescas.” They make horchata, which is a rice-based drink, as well as Jamaica, which is from hibiscus flowers, and melon, which is basically like a cantaloupe juice. Additionally, the restaurant is actually located inside a market, so you can not only eat authentic food, but you can also buy authentic food, and products, to take home. They have homemade corn dough for sale, as well as a bakery, and a butcher.

For information and hours, you can visit: https://www.facebook.com/PEPES-HACIENDA-RESTAURANT-188549844543837/

Photographs courtesy of Pepes Hacienda

2. Los Portales Mexican Grill
4100 Belfort Road

Quote from: Cheshire Cat on April 30, 2013, 12:55:40 PM

This is the other "favorite" for authentic and good Mexican food. Los Portales Mexican Restaurant , 4100 Belfort Rs #4 Jax Fl

Los Portales is located at 4100 Belfort Road. This restaurant opened up in July of 2007 and has been run by the family since then. They serve both lunch and dinner, offering up a large selection of Mexican dishes and drinks. Los Portales fires up fajitas, tacos, and enchiladas on the regular. They also have one of the largest “vegetarian” menus in the city.

For information and hours, you can visit: http://www.losportalesgrill.com/

Photographs courtesy of Los Portales

3. Mr. Taco
6426 Bowden Road

Quote from: iluvolives on March 09, 2012, 03:20:12 PM

I like Mr. Taco on Bowden. Seems authentic to me, but I'm not claiming to be a mexican aficionado.

Mr. Taco is located at 6426 Bowden Road. They offer a short and simple menu, with an a la carte option. They offer traditional dishes such as fajitas, seafood tacos, and burritos. They have a variety of meats available, including beef, chicken, pork, and chorizo. Mr. Taco fresh makes their salsa, offering different types like tomatillo and habanero.

Mr. Taco has a special every day of the week, all around $8. Aside from their Bowden Road location, they also have food trucks which you can find in all sorts of different areas in the city.

For more information, hours, and food truck locations, visit: http://www.mrtacojax.com/

Photographs courtesy of http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mr-taco-jacksonville?start=0

4. Mi Pueblo Meat Market #2
10769 Beach Boulevard

Quote from: Cheshire Cat on April 23, 2013, 04:10:09 PM

Quote from: river4340 on April 23, 2013, 03:50:24 PM
I'm not saying this is the best, but it's really good: Mi Pueblo Meat Market #2 on Beach Blvd, about midway between Southside and St. Johns Bluff. It's a little Mexican store with a meat market in back. But they have a few tables and make a few items. Tamales, tacos. I'd go with the carne asada taco.
Wanted to weigh in on this since my husband is from Mexico. If you want the real deal, this little market has it and is really much like you would see if you were in Mexico. The taco's and tamales may be different than some are used to because they are authentic.

According to Cari Sánchez-Potter you just might bust your belly, though, with dishes such as carne asada, camarones a la diabla, fish filet, costilla asada, tamales... tacos al pastor, or filled with beef, tripe, tongue, chorizo, carnitas, barbacoa, or chicken... burritos, sopes, huaraches, and quesadillas... and breakfast of eggs with chorizo, or ham, "estrellados," or "a la Mexicana."

For information and hours, visit: https://www.facebook.com/mipueblo2/

Photographs courtesy of http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mi-pueblo-jacksonville

5. La Guadalupana
3144 Spring Park Road

Quote from: johnny_simpatico on March 09, 2012, 08:10:49 PM

On Spring Park Rd., just north of Emerson is La Guadalupana. It's a little store and bus stop that serves tacos, soup, and meals on weekends. Tortillas are hand made (not out of the package and not from a machine) and warm! ;D

On Spring Park Rd., just north of Emerson is La Guadalupana
La Guadalupana Mexican Store is located in Jacksonville, Florida. This organization primarily operates in the Convenience Stores business / industry within the Food Stores sector. This organization has been operating for approximately 8 years. La Guadalupana Mexican Store is estimated to generate $210,000 in annual revenues, and employs approximately 3 people at this single location.

Photographs courtesy of La Guadalupana

6. Si Senor Fresh Mex
3546 St. Johns Bluff Road

Quote from: Jaxterp on April 24, 2013, 08:25:26 AM

The best Mexican in town is Si Senor on St. John's Bluff Road near Beach Blvd. Absolutely the Best I have had anywhere!

Si Senor is located at 3546 St Johns Bluff Road. They have been dishing out classic Mexican cuisine since Johnny Mendez opened up the place in 2012. Si Senor’s is about fast, delicious food. You order at the counter, take a number, and they bring the food out to you.

Their menu is “small” but it offers all the favorites. You have six different meats you can choose from and about a half-dozen homemade salsas. They also offer bottomless yellow corn tortilla chips to eat alongside your food. Si Senor’s offers up something a little sweet, too, with dessert options like homemade flan.

For information and hours, visit: http://sisenorfreshmex.com/

http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/si-senor-fresh-mex-jacksonville

Photographs courtesy of Si Senor Fresh Mex

Article by Kristen Pickrell

This article can be found at: http://dev.metrojacksonville.com/article/2016-apr-six-authentic-mexican-restaurants-in-jacksonville-