10 Vegas spots to munch on Mexican food & listen to live mariachi

If you’re in the mood for traditional Mexican food and mariachi music, look no further than these 10 Las Vegas restaurants.

A traditional Mexican folk music genre dating back to the 18th century, mariachi music has gone mainstream. It has grown from a rural regional music into an urban sensation and a representation of Mexican culture in the United States. Not only is it played on radio stations but the U.S. military has an official mariachi band. Many public schools and colleges — including the University of Nevada Las Vegas and College of Southern Nevada this fall — even offer mariachi as a music class.

With their combination of brass and string instruments, lively singing, and elaborate costumes, mariachi ensembles are often hired to play their ranchera music in Las Vegas cantinas. If you’re in the mood for mariachi music, look no further than these 10 Sin City restaurants.

1. Lindo Michoacán

2655 E. Desert Inn Road
10082 West Flamingo Road
Palace Station Hotel & Casino
645 Carnegie Street, Henderson

A family-friendly favorite for authentic Mexican food, Lindo Michoacán opened its first location at Desert Inn in 1990. Now the restaurant has four locations in Las Vegas and Henderson. The lunch and dinner menu is extensive, as is the selection of tequilas. Guests may enjoy a daily happy hour from a full bar and live mariachi music on Friday and Saturday evenings. 

2. Juan’s Flaming Fajitas

9640 W. Tropicana Avenue
2660 W. Centennial Parkway, North Las Vegas
16 S. Water Street, Henderson

A Mexican restaurant and bar with a lively atmosphere, Juan’s Flaming Fajitas & Cantina serves traditional Mexican dishes at affordable prices, including fajitas fired up tableside. Adults love the daily happy hour from a full bar and families appreciate kids-eat-free Tuesdays. You may even get serenaded by a mariachi band, particularly on special occasions like Cinco de Mayo.

3. Bonito Michoacán

3715 South Decatur Boulevard

Family-owned and operated Bonito Michoacán is a charming cantina that opened in Las Vegas in 1998. With fresh ingredients and housemade tortillas, the restaurant serves authentic recipes from Turicato, Michoacán, passed down by the family’s matriarch. There are 34 lunch specials and a daily happy hour. Many people on the staff, including the musicians, have been with the restaurant from the start.

4. La Mojarra Loca

2797 S. Maryland Parkway
821 N. Lamb Boulevard
3520 N. Rancho Drive
310 E. Lake Mead Boulevard, North Las Vegas

With traditional Mexican cuisine made from authentic recipes and spices, La Mojarra Loca is especially noted for its seafood, including shrimp, octopus, oysters, scallops, and clams. All the seafood signature dishes, salsas, and marinated meats are made from scratch with fresh ingredients and traditional spices. The menu includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it’s quite extensive! Lunch specials are available.

5. Los Molcajetes

1553 N. Eastern Avenue

A family-friendly and family-owned restaurant with authentic Mexican food and live mariachi on Fridays, Los Molcajetes opened in 1999. The restaurant is known for its large molcajetes (Spanish for mortar and pestle). The dish for one — or the macho molcajete to share — is served in a warm stone bowl with chicken, beef, shrimp, or pork, as well as avocado and cheese. The menu also includes tortas, burritos, and tacos.

6. La Vecindad

953 E. Sahara Avenue, Suite E-27

Featured on the Cooking Channel’s “Food Paradise” episode, “Get in my Deli,” La Vecinidad has a colorful, family-friendly atmosphere and Mexican homestyle cooking. It had humble beginnings as a food stand. Today, guests feel like they’re part of the family while dining on everything from sizzling fajitas to mouthwatering enchiladas amid the owner’s custom handmade art and decor. 

7. Las Islitas Mariscos

2437 Las Vegas Blvd N North Las Vegas, NV 89030

Mexican seafood restaurant Las Islitas Mariscos boasts a lively atmosphere, a diverse menu, a welcoming staff, and generous portions of quality food. Patrons rave about dishes like the pescado zarandeado, shrimp empanadas, and chiles jalapeños con camarón empanizado. The restaurant has a full bar, daily happy hour specials, and live music.

8. Chavelo’s Mexican Bar & Grill

2021 W. Sunset Road, Henderson

Chef-helmed Chavelos Mexican Bar & Grill serves expertly crafted artisan cuisine and cocktails. Dishes are based on the chef’s three decades of experience cooking authentic Mexican food alongside talented chefs in Las Vegas and around the U.S. Come during the week for happy hour or on the weekends to enjoy a margarita on the patio while serenaded by live music.

9. Casa Don Juan

3460 Sunset Road, Henderson
1204 S. Main Street, Downtown Las Vegas
1780 N. Buffalo Drive

With three locations in Las Vegas and Henderson, family-owned Casa Don Juan serves authentic and time-tested dishes at affordable prices in a setting that celebrates Mexican culture and heritage. Established in 1995, the restaurants are decorated from top to bottom with celebrated Mexican artist Frida Kahlo’s art. Be sure to check out the extensive tequila and mezcal menu during happy hour, Monday through Thursday.

10. El Mercado Food Court

The Boulevard Mall

The food court at El Mercado (Spanish for the marketplace) features foods and beverages from every region of the world, whether Brazilian, Venezuela, Argentinian, Cuban, Mexican, or another Hispanic cuisine. It’s a great place to grab a bite after perusing Latin American wares from local vendors selling handmade arts, crafts, clothes, shoes, jewelry, and home decor. You can often catch live music performances on weekends.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.