Mexican Food In Abu Dhabi - Where Do You Rate?
Article by
Rachael Partington
-
August 23, 2025
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We've all been there ... that late night craving for a burrito, or dinner when only a cheeky quesadilla will do. But where to get it in Abu Dhabi and where to avoid?
We've put together a list of Mexican restaurants in Abu Dhabi - with everything from that hole-in-the-wall passion project to the party places with cracking Mexican drinks and excellent dine-in dishes.
No doubt you have your favourite Mexican in Abu Dhabi, but there might be a couple here that will surprise you.
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BARBOSSA
YAS BAY WATERFRONT
When we think of Mexican restaurants near me, Barbossa is often the obvious choice. It’s beloved by many in the community for its fabulous decor, good Mexican food and brilliant drinks selection. By day, it’s a superb place in Yas Bay Waterfront to have a casual meal with great cocktails or mocktails, and it comes alive at night, giving nightclub and strong party vibes. If you’re looking for a Mexican restaurant in Abu Dhabi, this could be a good shout.
Ladies night at Barbossa on a Wednesday is an amazing option - definitely one of the best ladies nights in Abu Dhabi, with dancers, unlimited margaritas for women and an incredible soundtrack to see you through the wee small hours of the morning.
What are the Mexican food highlights at Barbossa?
We love the excellent mango salad - even if you’re not a mango fan, this light and texturally gorgeous salad is a great option for a starter. Fajitas are good quality and the sizzle is just right, while the flour tacos are outstanding - we love the shrimp and the birria. If you’re a fan of a sweet finish, the churros dipped in dulce de leche are beautiful, making it almost impossible not to crunch your way through the whole plateful!
Barbossa also has a superb BB+ menu, perfect for those days when you want to go out to eat, enjoy great food and drinks but know exactly how much it’ll cost you without any surprises.
Barbossa is one of the best Mexican restaurants in Abu Dhabi - and a must-visit when you’re at Yas Bay Waterfront.
Open: 12PM - 3AM
Booking: 050 185 8068

LOCA
THE GALLERIA AL MARYAH
Loca in the Galleria al Maryah is well known for its Mexican food and great margaritas. Loca is a large restaurant with a casual vibe. With tv screens dotted around the walls, Loca is a good place to catch your favourite team or event while you snack on good guac and chips, tacos and tons more Mexican cuisine in Abu Dhabi.
While offering a great business lunch deal, (a selection of snacky starters and a choice of mains for AED95) ensuring you’re in and out in 45 minutes, Loca really comes alive in the evenings. It’s all about women on a Wednesday night, with a banging ladies night offer - who can resist free, unlimited margaritas (or if these aren’t your thing, house wine). Given that the drinks cost you nothing, it’s a no-brainer to enjoy a plateful of fajitas, super tacos or nachos - and if you’re lucky enough to have BB+, you get 20% off these. And with a happy hour every day from opening to 7PM, gents can also cash in.
Saturday brunch is always a good time: pair your Mexican food feast with unlimited drinks and get 2for1 on the house package with BB+. There’s a lot of food so be sure to pace yourself.
Open: 12PM - 2AM
Booking: 02 582 3639

LA PATRONA
AL YASAT TOWER AND DELIVERY
If you’re looking for Mexican food delivery or a Mexican restaurant in Abu Dhabi, La Patrona is the go-to option. Run by Mexicans, La Patrona’s dine-in location is absolutely gorgeous. Colourful murals cover the walls, artefacts line the shelves and the whole place is the perfect setting for authentic Mexican food in Abu Dhabi.
Order cooked-to-order tacos. The slow-cooked lamb barbacoa (AED46) was incredibly soft and served with a rich broth that was perfect for dipping the corn tortilla - we do love a dip. It’s a bit messy and a lot fun … and definitely a ton delicious!
The combination of tender steak and smooth avocado cream of the picanha taco (AED55) was served with a great chimichurri that had us dipping in over and over again.
There are also a few vegan Mexican food options, including the vegan pastor (AED36) and vegan birria (AED36) – juicy sliced mushrooms in La Patrona’s traditional birria marinade.
With so many tempting options, the taco boxes (AED119 for 10) are a perfect option for sharing (we’ll leave it to you how many people you want to share it with but be warned – it might not be many!)
You absolutely must try the dreamy arroz con leche (AED20), the ultimate in Mexican cuisine in Abu Dhabi. Made traditionally, the perfectly plump grains of rice are coated in a not-too-sweet creamy reduction, resulting in a bowl of the best kind of comfort food - we could see ourselves coming back late at night to smash through one of these! And no Mexican food meal would be complete without churros, served with chocolate or a condensed milk dip (AED20).
This La Patrona experience is a must-do for a great casual meal. While it’s not licensed, the drinks are superb - we especially like the zero proof Corona, served Mexican style! Give it a go!
La Patrona also offers Mexican food delivery in Abu Dhabi, getting food to you wherever you’re located. The food travels well and arrives suitably hot - and can’t be beaten for lunch, dinner or a late night snack.
Open: 12PM - 11PM
Booking: https://order.chatfood.io/la-patrona/menu

BURRO BLANCO
DELIVERY
Burro Blanco was one of the first Mexican food delivery options in Abu Dhabi. Burritos are especially good - with fresh salsa and good quality ingredients abounding. These start at AED49 and are chock full of great fillings - top tip: the breakfast burrito is top tier as is the El Jefe.
Another good shout from this authentic Mexican food delivery in Abu Dhabi is the burrito bowl, followed swiftly by the quesadilla, loaded with superb ingredients - this is a huge meal, don’t underestimate it! There are good vegetarian options, starting with the shroom burrito - this Mexican food in Abu Dhabi is definitely worth a try … and it may just become your favourite.
Open: 11.30AM
Order: https://burroblanco.ae/

CHICANO
DELIVERY
We’re regular orderers from great Tex-Mex food delivery from the somewhat-under-the-radar Chicano. We enjoy the sides as much as the mains, and like that we can get a range of salsas, from the not spicy mango through to the hella spicy chipotle.
What’s our go-to? To start, we love the chicken chimichangas - these cheesy, plump bites are the perfect way to indulge in some excellent Mexican cuisine in Abu Dhabi. The lamb barbacoa burrito is an absolute gem of a roll. It’s large, the quality of the lamb is good and we love that it arrives hot and fresh. Tacos come in threes with the option to order one more for the families of four among us - we rate the cowboy tacos with a generous spread of avocado along the bottom and some quality beef on top.
If you’re feeling slightly less like a full-on experience, the burrito bowls are a great option. These come with rice, lettuce, beans and whatever filling you choose. We can report that these are also good from the fridge the next day!
Don’t worry about the sweet finish: the churros travel surprisingly well. Choose the chocolate or condensed milk dip and bring on the Netflix and chill.
Open: 11.30AM - 11PM
Order: https://order.chatfood.io/chicano/menu

TORTILLA
THE GALLERIA AL MARYAH
For a quick lunch in the Galleria Al Maryah third floor Central Kitchens, Tortilla is a good option.
While we love the California-esque tacos, we go for the make-your-own bowl. Choose your filling and all the added bits that make this amazing (and even semi-healthy!) What makes Tortilla stand out from the rest is the excellent service from the friendly staff.
Open: 10AM - 12PM
Contact: 02 546 3458

CHIQUITA
NAHYAN CAMP
This small Mexican restaurant is relatively new to the dining scene in Abu Dhabi. It’s a passion project for chef Salvador Gomez Tagle who loves to produce quality food for appreciative diners - and so far, he has many!
We rate the flautas - these are completely epic - and we always look out for dessert of the day.
Open: 12PM - 11PM
Booking: 02 245 8029
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