Top 5 Mexican Restaurants In Brighton

With so many restaurants in the city, it’s no surprise that Brighton has a selection of Mexican places offering authentic Mexican meals, allowing you to dine like they do in Mexico. Many will claim to be the best of the best, but here we present a few of Brighton’s TRUELY best Mexican restaurants for hungry gringos, with only the best local eateries! (Still hungry? Get another chilli fix with our guide to Brighton’s Best Indian Restaurants.

The Tastiest Mexican food you will find in Brighton

La Choza

La Choza in Brighton is an authentic Mexican restaurant. Since its opening in 2012, this lively eatery has been consistently packed out, and this comes without a surprise seeing as the restaurant offers a visual explosion of colour, with sugar skulls and Day of the Dead regalia adorning the walls along with the bright pink interior. Even the Mexican beer bottles have labels you’ll want to keep in a scrapbook. But the kitsch factor alone is not enough to generate a loyal customer base, and it’s the food that keeps the devotees coming back.

The menu at La Choza offers a mix-and-match style selection. You first choose your base, whether it’s a burrito, quesadilla, tostadas, or rice, and then decide on what fillings you’d like. The options on offer cater to both vegetarians and meat-eaters, with choices like a hearty sweet potato and feta burrito for vegetarians and a selection of smoky, barbecued meats for meat lovers.

For a lighter alternative, the sea bream and salmon ceviche is zesty, fresh, and a delightful departure from the meat-heavy offerings. This restaurant is a go-to spot for those seeking authentic Mexican cuisine in Brighton.

Address: 36 Gloucester Road, Brighton, BN1 4AQ

Website: https://lachoza.co.uk/

Carlito Burrito

The closest you’re going to get to a little slice of Guadalajara in Sussex, Carlito, and business partner Andrew started off running a festival van and a pop-up burrito stall on Circus Street before opening their Mexican street food restaurant at the end of 2013. They still serve bangin’ burritos, but with more competition than ever, it’s now their Mexican tapas that really make them stand out. Offering genuine Mexican street food, Carlito Burrito doesn’t just serve up authentic food… this is auténtica comida.

The tapas menu offers some great seafood options. The octopus and chorizo tacos taste like sushi having a fiesta. Or there are the fish tacos: delicate white fish coated in a crisp, weightless batter made from Negra Modelo beer, served up on flour tortillas with guajillo chilli and chipotle sour cream. Meat eaters should try the 48-hour marinated Mexican steak, charred on the outside and blushing pink inside—a welcome change from slow-cooked meats.

Address: 12 York Place, Brighton, BN1 4GU

Website: https://carlito-burrito.co.uk/

Dos Sombreros

More Tex Mex than Mexican, Dos Sombreros serves up some tasty fiesta fare, but we had to include this Lanes eatery as much for the happy hour as for the food. Dos Sombreros can’t claim to be quite as hip or authentic as some of the other Mexican joints in town, and there’s less of a street food vibe here; if some of the others feel more like snack bars or cafes, then this is a ‘proper’ restaurant. It’s also the only place where your food arrives on a ceramic plate.

One standout feature of Dos Sombreros is its diverse menu, which includes classic Mexican dishes as well as international options, including not-so-Mexican items like burgers and jerk chicken. However, it’s their sizzling fajitas that steal the show. These fajitas feature flavourful strips of marinated steak, chicken, chorizo, prawns, or vegetables served on sizzling platters.

The Tequila Firecracker Prawns and Peruvian Bean Stew are just a few more examples of the fantastic dishes on offer. For vegans, Dos Sombreros offers a separate menu with options like enchiladas topped with mole, salads, appetisers, and fajitas.

Address: 24 Ship Street, Brighton, BN1 1AD

Website: https://dossombreros.co.uk/

Wahaca

Wahaca in Brighton offers an authentic Mexican dining experience. Located on North Street, this 130-cover restaurant captures the essence of Mexican street food markets with its colourful decor, long sharing tables, and tile murals.

Thomasina Miers, the winner of MasterChef 2005, who fell in love with the flavours of Mexico during her travels, opened this restaurant in Brighton back in 2016. The menu showcases authentic Mexican dishes like freshly made guacamole with lime juice and coriander, slow-cooked pork with red onion relish and habanero chillies, and sweet potato and feta taquitos. Their menus cater to different dietary preferences, including vegetarians and vegans.

Address: 160 – 161 North Street, Brighton, BN1 1EZ

Website: https://www.wahaca.co.uk/

Halisco

Halisco, located on Preston Street in Brighton, is a Mexican restaurant with a unique twist, bringing the flavours of Mexican street food to our city in the form of a range of Mexican tapas made from seasonal ingredients.

The heart of Halisco’s menu is its tacos, featuring a diverse range of options to cater. Whether you’re a fan of meaty delight like the slow-cooked ox cheek and bone marrow mayo taco with crispy onions or prefer vegetarian alternatives such as the refried beans and sautéed mushrooms with confit garlic tacos, there’s something for everyone. To complement your meal, Halisco serves a wide selection of Mexican tequilas.

One of the most eye-catching features of Halisco’s interior is a tongue-in-cheek mural of former American President Trump peering over a Mexican border wall. This artistic choice adds a touch of humour to the decor. What’s more, Halisco is also a pet-friendly restaurant, making it a great place for dog owners to enjoy a meal.

Halisco will be closed from November 6th to 10th 2023 for a complete revamp of the downstairs area, including the addition of a fully stocked tequila and Mezcal bar, complete with soft furnishings, plants, and hanging lights.

Address: 64 Preston Street, Brighton, BN1 2HE

Website: https://www.facebook.com/HaliscoRestaurant/