How to Choose a Mexican Restaurant Name + 50 Mexican Restaurant Name Ideas to Inspire You

BEST Mexican Restaurant Name Ideas

As of 2022, there are over 48,000 Mexican restaurants open in the United States. This statistic tells us one thing - that people love Mexican food in America. So, if you’re looking to open a Mexican restaurant of your own, it might not be a bad idea.

Whether you’re opening a fine dining or fast-casual Mexican restaurant, one of the first steps in the restaurant process is choosing a restaurant name. It’s the name that’ll lead people to your business. It will be all over your branding, your marketing, and your social media accounts. That means it has to be a name you like and one that represents your business effectively. 

Here are the four major steps of naming a Mexican restaurant, along with ideas to inspire your new business.

How do I choose a Mexican restaurant name?

Here's a brief overview of how to start brainstorming name ideas, so that you choose the perfect Mexican restaurant name for you. 

• Write down your vision for your restaurant, focusing on its mission and core values

• Make sure your name isn’t already taken

• Play around with a name generator to spark new ideas

• Reach out to your community for name ideas

Let’s dive into further detail about each of these steps below (and then get into some cool Mexican restaurant name examples too!). 

What are good Mexican restaurant names?

A great restaurant name should be unique to your business. It should stick in the minds of your patrons, conveying your brand, your personality, and what makes your business unique.

Your restaurant name should also inform potential patrons what goods and services you offer. It’s easy to spell and remember so that potential guests can easily find you on Google. 

Here are some tips to start you on the path to discovering the right name for your new spot.

Write down your restaurant's mission, purpose, and core values. 

Your vision for your Mexican restaurant is the main driver behind your business. A big part of that is understanding your mission and core values. Your mission statement describes who you are, why you’re here, and what you plan to accomplish as a member of your community. 

There is, however, much more to a restaurant name than just your mission statement. Let’s do a little exercise. Grab a pen and paper and write down the following:

• Your core values and mission

• The intended personality and vibe of your restaurant

• Your menu concept

• Adjectives to describe your restaurant

• Your name (and the name of your business partners, if any) 

• Any family names that are important to you

• Your restaurant's location (the neighborhood, town, or city)

This exercise's purpose is to pull out words and phrases that describe your Mexican restaurant, which can make up all or part of its name. This list will also come in handy when building your restaurant business plan. 

When you can’t think of anything else to add, read back over your list of superlatives, adjectives, and descriptors, circling your favorites. These will be the building blocks for your Mexican restaurant name.

Choose a name that isn’t taken already

To avoid copyright issues or accidentally sending your customers to another business, make sure your restaurant’s name is unique.  

Once you've settled on a handful of contenders, run each of the possible names through some search engines and use the following resources:

• Google search

• Google My Business

• The Yellow Pages 

• The Better Business Bureau

• The United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Trademark database search

Be thorough with your research, as copyright infringement can be very costly. To learn more about copyright infringement, visit Copyright.gov.

Use a restaurant name generator to spark new ideas. 

Name generators can help you with writer’s block and inspire you to try different word combinations you haven't considered before. 

Some of the following generators ask for guidance in the form of keywords, and others just assemble random combinations of words. Either way, it’s good to have your keyword shortlist on hand. 

Sure, some of the suggested names and combos will be unusable. But name generators can help you determine what you like and what you don’t.

Restaurant Name Generators

• Namelix Restaurant Name Generator

• Buzztime Restaurant Name Generator

• Fantasy Name Generators' Restaurant Name Generator

• Business Name Generator

• Kopywriting Kourse Restaurant Name Generator

Ask your community for Mexican restaurant name ideas

Most people who start restaurants want to build something special for their community. So why not involve them from day one by asking for input on your name? 

You can start by telling friends and family about your concept. Sharing your vision with them will make it easier for them to brainstorm names. Thankfully, you determined your mission and values, so this part should be easy!

Another effective way to reach your community is through social media. Using strategic social media posts - especially on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok - you can generate hype around your new restaurant and its potential name. 

So, how can you build engagement around your social media posts? First, make sure that you build community awareness on whatever social media platform you're using. People need to see your post! Then, create incentivizing posts, like polls or raffles, to get folks to suggest names. One fantastic idea is to offer future discounts or a free meal on opening day to all the people who help you name your restaurant!

50 Actual Mexican Restaurant Name Ideas to Inspire You

Sometimes, you can hit a roadblock when thinking of Mexican restaurant names. You are not alone - this happens to lots of restaurant owners! One way to get re-inspired is to take a page from existing restaurants, helping you spark new name ideas for your spot.

Here are 50 of the best Mexican restaurant names around the country! 

Simple Mexican Restaurant Names

1. Claro – Brooklyn, NY 

2. Reyes Deli – Brooklyn, NY 

3. Nuestra Cocina – Portland, OR 

4. Old Town Mexican – San Diego, CA

5. Dolores – Providence, RI 

6. Mezcaleria Oaxaca – Seattle, WA 

7. Oxomoco – Brooklyn, NY 

8. Oyamel – Washington, D.C. 

9. Guelaguetza – Los Angeles, CA 

10. Green Lemon – Tampa, FL 

11. Cosme – New York, NY

12. El Sarape – Braintree, MA 

13. Loló – San Francisco, CA

14. Xochi – Houston, TX

15. Guisados – Los Angeles, CA 

16. Las Cuatro Milpas – San Diego, CA 

17. Carnita Uruapan – Chicago, IL 

18. Barra – Somerville, MA 

Creative Mexican Restaurant Names 

1. Citrus + Salt – Boston, MA 

2. Cósmica – Boston, MA 

3. Ruberry Salsa – Palm Springs, CA 

4. Tacos Tequila Whiskey – Denver, CO 

5. Blue Agave – Denver, CO 

6. Gracia – Seattle, WA 

7. Little Water Cantina – Seattle, WA

8. La Bonita’s – Palm Springs, CA 

9. Taqueria del Sol – Nashville, TN 

Rhyming + Alliterative Mexican Restaurant Names

1. Birria-Landia – Multiple Locations, NY 

2. Blue Bonnet – Denver, CO 

3. Chachos Tacos – Corpus Christi, TX 

4. Cafe Cayote – San Diego, CA 

5. La Super-Rica Taqueria – Santa Barbara, CA 

6. Topolobampo – Chicago, IL 

7. Sonoratown – Los Angeles, CA 

8. Vida Verde – New York, NY 

9. Elote Cafe – Sedona, AZ 

10. Orale Orale – San Francisco, CA 

Fun Mexican Restaurant Names

1. 100% Taquito – Houston, TX 

2. Uno Dos Tacos – San Francisco, CA 

3. Tacolicious – San Francisco, CA 

4. Tacoholics – Multiple Locations, NJ 

5. Evil Cooks – Los Angeles, CA 

6. Gracias Madre – San Francisco, CA 

7. La Contenta – New York, NY 

8. El Secreto de Abuela – Austin, TX 

9. Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen – Houston, TX

10. Broken Spanish – Los Angeles, CA 

11. Tacotarian – Las Vegas, NV

12. Mas Tacos Por Favor – Nashville, TN

13. Tac/Quila – Palm Springs, CA

Mexican Restaurant Name? Check.

Once you’ve chosen your Mexican restaurant name, it’s time to build out your business plan and plot the way towards restaurant success. Soon enough, you’ll be the favorite Mexican spot in town!