These are the valley’s essential taco and tequila destinations, from Michelin-recognized cantinas to resort classics.

Greater Palm Springs delivers outstanding tacos and tequila year-round, from Michelin-recognized cantinas to family-owned haciendas with 100-plus agave spirits. These restaurants feature hand-pressed tortillas, housemade salsas, locally-sourced proteins and impressive tequila collections. The settings (patios under swaying palms, open-air bars with mountain views and moody indoor cantinas draped in art) are pure desert magic. Looking for the best tacos in Palm Springs? These 20 spots span Downtown Palm Springs, Palm Desert, La Quinta and Desert Hot Springs and feature power-lunch margaritas, firepit dinners, Taco Tuesdays and weekend brunch with pool passes.

 

Palm Springs

1. The Boss of Fresh

Must-Order: Al Pastor Taco

El Patrón wears its Baja-coastal soul on its sleeve and on its menu. The kitchen makes everything from scratch, right down to the hand-pressed tortillas, house-fried chips and salsa. The family roots trace back to Mexico City, where Patriarch Jose Louis Garcia Gonzalez has been perfecting taco culture since 1970 across seven locations. In Palm Springs, that legacy lands as a Mexico City-inspired menu with a Chicano hipster edge. Think vibrant color, lively playlists and a patio that faces the center of the Downtown strip. This is the place for Baja-inspired fish tacos alongside wild-caught seafood, all-natural hormone-free meats and locally sourced produce. The bar runs cold, the handcrafted margaritas run creative and the happy hour deals run generous.

El Patrón
101 S Palm Canyon 
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.507-8312
M–W, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Th–Sa, 11 a.m.–11 p.m.; Su, 11 a.m.–8 p.m. hours subject to change

 

2. The Moody Sister

Must-Order: Fried Squash Blossoms

Founded by Liz and Mark Ostoich, two lawyers-turned-restaurateurs, Clandestino is their vision of a place where guests could pop in for a hearty meal and cocktails in a setting they’d never want to leave. Set right behind the iconic Marilyn Monroe statue in downtown Palm Springs, this all-outdoor dining patio features dark ceilings, moody lighting, colorful seating and a massive back bar. Plus, the art collection makes you feel like you’re dining inside a gallery. Chef Gustavo Carreon’s menu celebrates Jalisco-style small plates with standouts like stuffed squash blossoms, cochinita pibil and mezcal cocktails built to linger over. Note: Summer hours start at noon.

Clandestino
175 N. Palm Canyon Dr Ste 160 
Palm Springs, CA 92262 
760.699.6222 
Sun–Thu, noon–10 p.m.; Fri–Sat, noon–11 p.m.

 

3. The Michelin Crush

Must-Order: Grilled Lobster Tail Tacos

Michelin recognized. Let that sink in while you study the taco menu. Tac/Quila has earned consecutive Michelin recognition for its Jalisco-style cooking and hacienda-inspired setting. The restaurant makes tortillas in-house, maintains an extensive agave spirits list and is part of the Palm Springs restaurant family behind Farm and Clandestino. The Michelin Guide captures the vibe perfectly: you’ll find yourself flanked by suit-clad business types quaffing top-shelf tequila on one side and poolside tourists sipping margarita flights on the other. Everyone seems perfectly at ease. Because at Tac/Quila, that’s exactly the point. Don’t skip the churro ice cream sandwich. It’s not optional. 

Tac/Quila
415 N. Palm Canyon Dr
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.417.4471 
Daily, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.

 

4. The Baja Daydream

Must-Order: Duck Flautas

Maleza lives inside the Drift Hotel (one of Palm Springs’ chicest boutique properties), and it shows. The floor-to-ceiling windows, wrap-around bar and pool-adjacent patio channel pure Mediterranean ease. Executive Chef Ysaac Ramirez helms the menu, delivering bold Baja-inspired dishes like the braised beef street tacos. The mezcal and tequila selection is rare, curated and absolutely worth exploring. For large plates, housemade tortillas come standard. Every Tuesday from 6–9 p.m., it’s Tacos y Tunes on the patio, with live music and drink specials. Weekend brunch gets you two pool day passes. This place, honestly, is the full Palm Springs fantasy. 

Maleza
284 S. Indian Canyon Dr
Palm Springs, CA 92262 
760.549.9528 
Mon–Fri, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sat–Sun, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.

 

5. Downtown’s Living Legend

Must-Order: House Margartia

Four generations of Delgado family recipes and a patio that basically invented Palm Springs nightlife. That’s Las Casuelas Terraza. In 1958, Florencio Delgado and his wife Maria brought his mother’s recipes to Palm Springs, opening the Original Las Casuelas. Those recipes trace back to family matriarch Maria Fajardo, who had been cooking them for copper miners in pre-Depression Arizona. Today, Las Casuelas Terraza holds court on South Palm Canyon with three distinct patio styles: the romantic Terraza with its antique fountain, the Palapa patio with an outdoor bar, dance floor and bandstand, and the Cantina sidewalk patio where you can watch all of Downtown. Over 100 varieties of tequila stock the bar. The recipes haven’t changed in nearly a century, and the magic hasn’t either. 

Las Casuelas Terraza
222 S. Palm Canyon Dr
Palm Springs, CA 92262 
760.325.2794
Th–M, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.

 

6. The Cantina at the Colorful Hotel

Must-Order: El Jefe Nachos

El Jefe Desert Cantina at The Saguaro Hotel is definitely a vibe. A rustic-meets-stylish tequila and street food bar tucked off the Saguaro’s lobby, it’s been named Best Mexican Restaurant by the local newspaper. It earns that title with tacos, a 100-plus-label tequila and mezcal list, and the valley’s longest-running Taco Tuesday (plus Taco Thursday, because why not). The menu spans shrimp ceviche tostadas, potato flautas, chicken tinga quesadillas and five varieties of tacos. The seasonal craft cocktails are fun, and the churros come with a chocolate piloncillo espresso sauce that deserves its own award. At The Saguaro, everyone is welcome and all are celebrated. That energy radiates across every plate and pour here.

El Jefe
1800 E. Palm Canyon Dr
Palm Springs, CA 92264
760.323.1711 
Daily, 7 a.m.–10 p.m.

 

7. Forty Years on the Famous Curve

Must-order: Carnitas Tacos

In 1985, Chef Felipe started cooking where South Palm Canyon meets the east, and he hasn’t stopped. El Mirasol Cocina Mexicana, now celebrating its 42nd year, is a Palm Springs institution that grew from a tiny space with church pews into a two-dining-room restaurant with soul, history and some of the most consistent Mexican cooking in the desert. The E. Palm Canyon Drive location (also known as “South”) is Felipe’s original, a welcoming operation built alongside his wife Lisbet. Come for breakfast, lunch or dinner seven days a week. The moles are made with intention, the salsas and tortillas are made fresh daily and the mountain views are nothing less than gorgeous.

El Mirasol Cocina Mexicana
140 E. Palm Canyon Dr
Palm Springs, CA 92264 
760.323.0721 
Daily, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.

 

8. Modern Mexico in Smoke Tree Village

Must-order: Grilled Fish Taco

Low Desert doesn’t have the flashiest location, but what it’s doing inside is sharp, current and worth finding. This is modern Mexican, designed for lunch, happy hour and weekend brunch crowds who want their tacos elevated and their cocktails creative. The menu spans Baja-forward cooking: street tacos, tostadas, fresh guacamole and a happy hour (2 to 5 p.m. daily) that has become one of the best deals in the valley. Weekend brunch runs Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. No reservations needed, open seven days a week, and the kitchen runs until 8 p.m. so late lunches are not only welcome, they’re encouraged. 

Low Desert / Modern Mexican
1775 E. Palm Canyon Dr Ste 405 
Palm Springs, CA 92264 
760.656.0231 
Daily, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.

 

9. The Neighborhood Table

Must-Order: Taco de Canasta

What started as family Sunday brunch turned into the neighborhood Mexican restaurant Palm Springs needed. El Patio Palm Springs, sister restaurant to Felipe’s, is a family-run operation serving dishes rooted in Jalisco home cooking. It’s the kind of meal where you feel cared for from the minute the chips and salsa hit the table. The namesake patio is the draw: shaded, lively, dog-friendly and perfect for an afternoon of tacos and quesadillas. Happy hour runs all day in the galleria room (cash only), and Taco de Canasta Tuesday deals make Monday feel like a warm-up. The vibe is festive but not fussy. 

El Patio Palm Springs
139 E. Andreas Rd
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.832.6332
M–Th, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; F, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sa, 9 a.m.–10 p.m.; Su, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

 

10. Airport-Adjacent and Worth Every Detour

Must-Order: Shrimp Enchiladas

Tucked into a strip mall just north of the airport, Felipe’s is an in-the-know local staple for a reason. The chips are hand-fried and thin as a whisper, the salsas are made from scratch, the shrimp and fish tacos are genuinely standout, and the hibiscus margarita comes rimmed with salt and pepper. Co-owner Felipe Delatorre built something small and special here: a restaurant where the chef may well be his wife, and every bite tells that story. Mountain views from the patio, a full bar, Taco Tuesday specials and happy hour Monday–Friday make this a must.

Felipe’s
400 S. El Cielo Rd Ste A
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.318.9277
Mon–Fri, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sat–Sun, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.

 

11. The Guadalajara Street Corner

Must-Order: Chile Relleno

La Perlita Mexican Food is a quiet powerhouse. It doesn’t have a flashy patio or a resort address, just rock-solid Guadalajara, Jalisco-style cooking made fresh every morning. The kitchen roasts and chops tomatoes, tomatillos, onions and peppers each day to build the salsas and sauces that anchor every dish. The chile rellenos are the stuff of legend. The barbacoa is recommended by name by the staff. The Cadillac margaritas at happy hour (2 to 5 p.m. daily) are, according to many regulars, the best deal in town. The chips are thin, crunchy and almost kettle-style, worth noting if you’ve ever been let down by a soggy basket. Locals love it. You will too.

La Perlita Mexican Food
901 Crossley Rd
Palm Springs, CA 92264
760.778.8014
Mon–Sat, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.

 

12. Casa Blanca, All Day Long

Must-Order: Quesabirria Tacos

At Casa Blanca, you’ll find recipes that originated in Jalisco, Mexico and evolved over the years to match the taste buds of the Coachella Valley. This family-owned restaurant combines traditional and gourmet Jalisco-style cooking with specialty tequilas and cocktails, transporting guests south of the border and into a culture rich in flavor, art and authenticity. The menu hits every comfort note: tacos dorados, asada fries and a lineup of classics done right. With hours that run until midnight Thursday through Saturday, it’s also one of the few spots in the valley where a late-night taco craving finds an answer. 

Casa Blanca Restaurant
140 S. Palm Canyon Dr
Palm Springs, CA 92262
760.325.9464
Su–W, 7:30 a.m.–10 p.m.; Th–Sa, 7:30 a.m.–midnight

 

Desert Hot Springs

13. The Love Letter to Mexico City

Must-Order: Mole Enchiladas

Delicias Mexican Cuisine is a full-on labor of love. Owners Angie and Raul dreamed it up during conversations about their Mexican roots and admiration for Mexico City’s food, people and fusion of cultures. The result is a modern artisan kitchen in Desert Hot Springs that serves handcrafted cuisine inspired by Mexico City street food and contemporary Mexican cooking. The mole is extraordinary (and rivals Oaxaca), and the birria tacos, Vulcan tacos and fish tacos are equally praised. The margarita flights are worth ordering, and the atmosphere, with live music and warm service, feels like the restaurant version of a great dinner party. Yes, it’s worth the drive.

Delicias Mexican Cuisine
66121 Pierson Blvd
Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240
760.894.3400 
M–Th, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; F–Sa, 10 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sun, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.

 

Palm Desert & Rancho Mirage

14. The El Paseo Stunner

Must-Order: Mole con Pollo

There are restaurants, and then there’s Mole Mexican Kitchen. This Palm Desert destination is co-created by acclaimed Chef Roberto Madrid, who took traditional Mexican recipes and elevated them through contemporary techniques and artistic plating. Plus, the mezcal and tequila-forward bar rivals some of the best agave programs in Southern California. The 32-ingredient Mole Con Pollo is a flagship dish that earns its reputation on every visit. The Guaca-Crab “Jaracho” with diced mango is the kind of starter that makes you rethink what guacamole can be. The prickly pear margarita is the perfect seasonal companion to all of it. This is Mexican dining as fine art. Reservations are recommended.

Mole Mexican Kitchen
73-130 El Paseo Ste M 
Palm Desert, CA 92260 
760.636.1269 
Mon–Fri, noon–9 p.m.; Sat–Sun, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.

 

15. Fresh Squeezed and Unapologetic

Must-Order: House Margarita

If it isn’t fresh, it isn’t on the menu. That’s Fresh Agave Mexican Bar & Grill’s one rule. Located in the heart of Palm Desert on Highway 111, this vibrant spot blends traditional and contemporary Mexican cooking using ingredients that earn their place. The bar program centers on their famous signature margaritas, made with so much care that it makes you forgive the fact that you ordered a second. A full catering menu and patio space for events make it a local go-to for everything from girls’ lunch to birthday dinners. It’s unfussy, consistent and the kind of place you recommend to everyone who asks.

Fresh Agave Mexican Bar & Grill
73325 Highway 111 
Palm Desert, CA 92260 
760.836.9028
Sun–Thu, 11 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; Fri–Sat, 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m.

 

16. The Tamale Trophy Case

Must-Order: Corn Tamales

Pueblo Viejo Grill has been building its reputation since 2005, when this family-owned operation opened its first location in Indio. The Palm Desert location is the spot to know. Every dish is made from scratch with fresh, premium ingredients. Their award-winning sweet corn tamales have become a Coachella Valley institution, but tacos, enchiladas, chile rellenos and fajitas are all well-represented and well-executed. The bar stocks a vast selection of fine tequilas and margaritas, and the happy hour (2–5:30 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday) draws regulars who’ve been coming for over a decade. The staff treats everyone like family, so come for the tamales and stay for the margaritas. 

Pueblo Viejo Grill
36901 Cook St
Palm Desert, CA 92211 
760.836.1133
Mon–Thu, 11 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; Fri–Sat, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.

 

17. More Than 50 Years in the Making

Must-Order: Breakfast Chilaquiles

The Delgado family (the same culinary dynasty behind Las Casuelas Terraza) has been running Las Casuelas Nuevas since 1973, bringing the same commitment to great Mexican food and hospitality to Rancho Mirage. Come for lunch or dinner Monday through Saturday, or settle in for Sunday breakfast starting at 10:30 a.m. with chilaquiles and huevos rancheros alongside champagne brunch specials. Happy hour runs Sunday through Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. for those who like their margaritas at a considered discount. The food is classic and satisfying in the way only decades of practice can produce. 

Las Casuelas Nuevas
70050 Highway 111 
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
760.328.8844
Mon–Thu, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Fri–Sat, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sun, 10:30 a.m.–8 p.m.

 

Indian Wells

18. The Globally Inspired Small Plate Scene

Must-Order: Sticky Pork Ribs

If you haven’t met Chef Angelo Sosa yet, Carmocha at the Grand Hyatt Indian Wells is your introduction. The name is a lifelong nickname for Sosa’s Tía Carmen, and the concept imagines what her cooking might look like if she had traveled the world and returned with flavors from every culture she encountered. The menu explores that premise through small plates designed to be shared and savored. There’s sticky pork ribs with five-spice, mango, Medjool date and tamarind sauce and a romaine salad with falafel, feta and Greek-style herb dressing. It’s not traditional Mexican. It’s something more inventive, more personal and more Angelo. The semi-private dining options and setting make it equally suited for a celebration dinner as a spontaneous Tuesday indulgence. 

Carmocha
44600 Indian Wells Lane
Indian Wells, CA 92210 
760.776.1234
M–Th, 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.; F-Sa, 11:30 a.m.–midnight; Su, 10 a.m.–10 p.m.

 

19. The Southwest Dream at the Hyatt

Must-Order: Vanilla Flan

Tía Carmen at the Grand Hyatt Indian Wells is Chef Angelo Sosa’s second location of his acclaimed Southwest concept, and it’s a fine dining experience that still turns heads. The menu honors the land, its farmers and the beauty of the Southwest through elevated dishes like the lamb barbacoa + caviar, with deep culinary intention. Upscale, warm and refined, with breakfast and dinner service and a cocktail and wine program that plays at the same level as the food. Don’t skip the Flan Manchego Cheese, made with tequila caramel and vanilla bean and topped with grated manchego. If you want to turn your next celebration into something special, this is the address to call. 

Tía Carmen
44600 Indian Wells Lane
Indian Wells, CA 92210 
760.776.1234 
M–Tu, 7–11 a.m.; W–Th, 7–11 a.m. and 5–9 p.m.; F–Sa, 7–11 a.m. and 5–10 p.m.; Su, 7–11 a.m. and 5–9 p.m.

 

La Quinta & Indio

20. The Oaxacan Icon

Must-Order: Chicken in Mole Poblano

Adobe Grill at La Quinta Resort & Club is what happens when a 100-year-old resort does Mexican food right for decades. The restaurant dazzles with its bold Oaxacan motif: sun-drenched colors, rustic folk art wood carvings and a 10-foot Aztec pyramid displaying a curated tequila selection of over 100 bottles. Chef Marco Aguilar’s menu spans fresh ceviches, rich pozole, hand-formed sopes and standout entrees like chicken in mole poblano and Chilean sea bass Veracruzana. The award-winning tamales and signature margaritas are non-negotiable orders. Live music Thursdays through Sundays, a sunset patio and a daily happy hour from 3–5 p.m. make this the crown jewel of the valley’s south end.

Adobe Grill
49499 Eisenhower Dr
La Quinta, CA 92253
760.564.5700 
M–Th, 5–10 p.m.; Fri–Sun, 10 a.m.–10 p.m.

Always confirm hours directly with each restaurant, as schedules can change seasonally.