Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto passed through what is now Macon in 1540, making Hispanic roots in Middle Georgia older than the city itself. Over the past four decades, Macon’s Latino community has grown enough to support its own Spanish-language newspaper, ¿Qué Pasa?, and an annual Hispanic Heritage Festival on Cherry Street Plaza each October featuring live salsa, cumbia, and merengue alongside street food vendors. That cultural footprint translates directly to the restaurant scene: Macon now has over a dozen independent Mexican restaurants, most of them family-run operations where the owners cook alongside their staff.
The Rodriguez family behind Margaritas Mexican Grill has been in Macon since 1988, drawing on Jalisco traditions from their home towns of Tequila and Guadalajara. The Resendiz family at Guitarras grew up in Macon and opened their first location on Tom Hill Sr Blvd before expanding to Thomaston Road. El Sombrero has operated in the area for over 40 years across multiple locations. Unlike Atlanta, where a wave of upscale modern-Mexican concepts has pushed dinner tabs past $60 per person, Macon’s Mexican restaurants stay rooted in generous, affordable plates. Combination dinners at most local spots land between $10 and $15, and margarita pitchers rarely exceed $20. The Mercer Village corridor near Mercer University is a particularly dense stretch for Mexican dining, with Margaritas operating a dedicated location steps from campus.
Top-Rated Mexican Restaurants in Macon, Georgia
Margaritas Mexican Grill
Address: 5451 Bowman Rd, Macon, GA 31210
Website: larmargaritasmexicangrill.com
The Rodriguez family opened their first Macon location in 1988, bringing Jalisco-style cooking from their home towns of Tequila and Guadalajara. The restaurant now has three Middle Georgia locations, including a Mercer Village spot that opened in 2011 next to Mercer University. Margaritas is known for its sizzling fajita platters, carne asada with grilled green onions, and an expansive margarita menu with multiple tequila options and rimmed-salt variations. The restaurant also runs a full catering operation for corporate events, weddings, and private parties. Health score at the Bowman Road location stands at 91/100.
El Sombrero Mexican Restaurant
Address: 610 North Ave, Macon, GA 31211
Website: elsombreromacon.com
Operating in Middle Georgia for over 40 years, El Sombrero is one of Macon’s longest-standing Mexican restaurants. The North Avenue location features both indoor seating and a patio area sized for large groups. The kitchen turns out a Tex-Mex-leaning menu with items like mango tilapia topped with house-made pico de gallo, chicken soup with avocado, and BBQ pork nachos that reflect a Southern crossover uncommon in strict Mexican menus. A second location in Gray serves Jones County diners. Yelp reviewers frequently cite the queso dip and Tuesday margarita specials. Health score: 95/100.
Guitarras Mexican Grill
Address: 157 Tom Hill Sr Blvd, Ste 205, Macon, GA 31210
Website: guitarrasmexican.com
The Resendiz family grew up in Macon and opened Guitarras to bring their Mexican heritage into a restaurant they could run as a community gathering spot. The Tom Hill Sr Blvd location has expanded into a second spot on Thomaston Road. Guitarras holds a perfect 100/100 health inspection score and has earned a 4.2 rating from over 127 Yelp reviews. The menu highlights include the Macon Special (a house-original combination plate), birria tacos, jalapeño skins with dipping sauce, and chimichangas. Pet-friendly outdoor seating is available at the Tom Hill location.
Mexican Restaurants in Macon: Common Questions
How has Macon’s growing Hispanic community shaped the local Mexican dining scene?
Macon’s Hispanic population has expanded steadily over the past four decades, and the city now hosts an annual Hispanic Heritage Festival on Cherry Street Plaza each October. That growth has pushed the restaurant scene beyond basic Tex-Mex combos into offerings like birria tacos, gorditas, and regional Jalisco-style plates. Many of Macon’s Mexican restaurants are multigenerational family businesses with deep local ties.
What should I budget for a sit-down Mexican meal in Macon, GA?
Combination dinner plates at most Macon Mexican restaurants fall between $10 and $15 per person. Fajita platters and seafood specials tend to run closer to $16-$20. Margaritas by the glass typically cost $6-$10, and Tuesday specials at several locations drop that price further. These prices run noticeably below comparable meals in metro Atlanta.
Does Macon-Bibb County require special licensing for Mexican restaurants that serve margaritas and other alcoholic beverages?
Yes. Any Macon-Bibb County restaurant selling beer, wine, or distilled spirits must hold an alcoholic beverage license issued by the county commission. Staff who pour or mix drinks are also required to obtain an individual Alcohol Handler’s License at $25 per year, which requires completion of an approved training course. Restaurants must earn at least 50% of gross revenue from food sales to qualify for a standard on-premises alcohol license.
Is Cinco de Mayo a major dining event at Macon’s Mexican restaurants?
Cinco de Mayo is one of the busiest nights of the year for Mexican restaurants throughout Bibb County. Most spots run drink specials, extended hours, and live music for the occasion. Reservations at popular locations like Margaritas and El Sombrero fill up days in advance, especially on the Forsyth Road corridor where multiple Mexican restaurants sit within a few miles of each other.
Which Macon neighborhoods have the highest concentration of Mexican restaurants?
The Forsyth Road and Tom Hill Sr Blvd corridor in north Macon holds the densest cluster, with El Sombrero, Guitarras, Bamba Mex Grill, and La Parrilla all within a short drive of each other. The Mercer Village area near Mercer University has Margaritas and several other Latin options catering to the college crowd. Downtown Macon along Mulberry Street adds La Bella Morelia and a handful of newer spots that have opened alongside the broader restaurant revival in the city center.