Best Mexican Restaurants at Downtown Disney 2026: Céntrico, Tortilla Jo's & More

If you’re visiting the Disneyland Resort and wondering where to find Mexican food near the parks, you’re in luck. Downtown Disney District — the Disneyland Resort’s free-admission dining and shopping area — has a genuine range of Mexican and Latin dining options, from Michelin-starred culinary ambition to breezy margarita-and-tacos classics. No park ticket required.

This guide covers every Mexican and Latin restaurant at Downtown Disney in 2026, including what makes each one distinct, who should go, and how to snag a reservation.

Why Downtown Disney Mexican Dining Deserves More Attention

Most guests default to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure for their meals, but Downtown Disney’s restaurant lineup has quietly become one of the better dining destinations in Anaheim. The Mexican options here span a wide range — which is unusual for a single shopping district. You’ve got a Michelin-recognized chef doing serious regional Mexican cuisine, a Latin American fusion concept that draws from across the hemisphere, a beloved California-Mexican margarita institution, and a wine-and-small-plates bar for lingering.

The common thread: all of these restaurants sit within walking distance of each other, all are free to access without park admission, and all accept reservations (though walk-ins are often possible except on busy evenings).

The Best Mexican and Latin Restaurants at Downtown Disney

1. Céntrico — The Star of the Lineup

Céntrico is the most significant restaurant addition to Downtown Disney in recent years, and it earns that status through sheer culinary credibility. The chef behind it is Carlos Gaytán — the first Mexican-born chef ever to earn a Michelin star, awarded for his acclaimed Chicago restaurant Mexique.

Céntrico is an open-air Mexican restaurant in Anaheim that applies Gaytán’s reverence for authentic Mexican technique and flavor to a social, sharing-focused format. The menu is built around tacos, signature dishes, and carefully crafted cocktails rooted in Mexican spirits. This isn’t Tex-Mex; this is the real culinary heritage of Mexico interpreted by a chef who has spent decades refining it.

What to know: Céntrico is in the $$ price range and accepts reservations, though walk-in availability varies by day and time. If you’re visiting on a busy weekend, book in advance. The open-air setting is genuinely pleasant — this is California dining at its best, with a warm outdoor atmosphere and the energy of a lively restaurant.

Best for: Guests who want the best Mexican food near Disneyland, foodies who appreciate chef-driven cuisine, date nights, celebratory meals.

Reservation difficulty: Moderate — easier to get than the most popular in-park restaurants, but popular evenings book out.

2. Paseo — Latin American Flavors Beyond Mexico

Paseo takes a broader view of Latin dining, drawing from Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Where Céntrico focuses specifically on Mexican tradition, Paseo roams the full range of Latin American culinary heritage — birria tacos, carne asada, pollo a la brasa, arroz con mariscos, empanadas, and a strong tableside guacamole.

The menu is explicitly built for sharing. Order a variety of dishes for the table, mix and match across the Latin American map, and let the meal sprawl. The dining room is lively and open-air, with a California sensibility layered over the Latin flavors.

Standout dishes from the place guide: Birria tacos with braised beef and consommé for dipping, rotisserie-style chicken with chimichurri, fresh ceviche, and a Charcuterie of the Americas board that serves as an introduction to the breadth of the menu.

Best for: Groups who want to share, guests looking for variety beyond strictly Mexican cuisine, families with adventurous eaters.

Price range: Moderate. Reservations accepted.

3. Tortilla Jo’s — The Margarita Classic

Tortilla Jo’s is the Downtown Disney Mexican institution. It’s been here longer than the newcomers and has a loyal following for good reason: the margarita program is excellent, the house-made tortillas are the real thing, and the festive hacienda setting captures the spirit of a classic Mexican restaurant in a way that feels genuinely celebratory.

The menu covers the classics — carne asada tacos with pico de gallo and cotija cheese, tableside guacamole prepared with fresh avocado and lime, queso fundido with chorizo and roasted peppers, enchiladas, and a tortilla soup that’s been on the menu long enough to earn its status as a comfort classic.

If Céntrico is the place for Mexican cuisine as a serious culinary experience, Tortilla Jo’s is the place for Mexican food as a festive, social occasion. The margaritas are strong, the chips and guacamole arrive quickly, and the atmosphere is reliably warm.

Worth noting: Tortilla Jo’s is in the $$$ price range — slightly higher than you might expect for the format, though portions are generous.

Best for: Families, groups celebrating, margarita lovers, anyone who wants a reliably fun Mexican dinner without thinking too hard about it.

Price range: $$$. Reservations available; walk-ins common during off-peak hours.

4. Catal Restaurant — Mediterranean Meets Mexican-Adjacent

Catal Restaurant isn’t strictly a Mexican restaurant — it’s a Mediterranean-American concept drawing from Spain, France, and the broader coastal Mediterranean. But it earns its place in this guide because it occupies an important niche: upscale casual dining with Spanish and Latin-influenced flavors, a rooftop patio, and one of the better breakfast menus in Downtown Disney.

If you’re in the mood for something that shares DNA with Latin cuisine but goes broader — think Spanish tapas tradition, Mediterranean-influenced small plates, quality proteins — Catal is worth considering. The two-floor building with an open kitchen and rooftop terrace is one of the nicer dining environments at Downtown Disney.

Best for: Guests who want upscale casual without committing to a full Mexican feast, couples wanting a scenic patio, anyone looking for a quality breakfast option near the parks.

Price range: Moderate to upscale. Reservations available.

5. Uva Bar & Cafe — Outdoor Sipping and Small Plates

Uva Bar & Cafe is the outdoor bar and small-plates spot tucked alongside the Catal Restaurant building. It’s not Mexican at all — the small-plates menu leans Mediterranean — but it’s the best outdoor drinking spot in Downtown Disney and worth including for anyone who wants to sit outside with a glass of wine or a craft cocktail and snack between parks.

The shaded open-air patio is one of the most relaxed spots in the entire Disneyland Resort area. If you’ve had a long day at the parks and want to decompress with a drink before deciding where to eat, Uva is ideal.

Best for: Pre-dinner drinks, casual outdoor snacking, wine lovers, guests who want to linger without committing to a full table service meal.

Price range: $$. Reservations accepted; walk-ins common.

Comparing Your Options: Which Downtown Disney Mexican Restaurant Is Right for You?

Here’s a quick guide to matching your mood to the right restaurant:

You want…	Go to…
The best Mexican food near Disneyland, full stop	Céntrico
Latin American variety and a sharing-focused menu	Paseo
Classic margaritas, festive atmosphere, house-made tortillas	Tortilla Jo’s
Upscale casual with a rooftop patio and broader Mediterranean menu	Catal Restaurant
Outdoor drinks and light snacks	Uva Bar & Cafe

How to Get a Reservation at Downtown Disney Restaurants

Downtown Disney restaurants operate on Disneyland’s dining reservation system rather than Walt Disney World’s 60-day advance booking window. Reservation availability tends to open closer to the date, and many restaurants here accept walk-ins more readily than their Walt Disney World counterparts.

That said, Céntrico in particular can get busy, especially on weekend evenings. If you have your heart set on a specific time at a specific restaurant, booking in advance is always the safer play.

Pro tip: If you’re monitoring reservation availability for any Downtown Disney restaurant — or any Walt Disney World restaurant for that matter — the MagicTable app can watch for cancellations and alert you the moment a table opens. It’s particularly useful for Céntrico or any restaurant you’ve been unable to book through standard channels.

When to Visit Downtown Disney for Dining

Downtown Disney is accessible year-round and doesn’t require park admission. A few timing tips:

Weekday evenings are generally the easiest for walk-in availability at all these restaurants.
Friday and Saturday nights see the highest demand; reservations are strongly recommended for Céntrico in particular.
Lunchtime is often more available than dinner, and the slower pace makes for a more relaxed experience.
After 8 PM, some restaurants have more availability as early evening reservations turn over.

Also Worth Knowing: Mexican Food Inside the Parks

If you want Mexican flavors inside the actual Disneyland Resort parks, a few options are worth noting. At Disneyland park, Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante in Frontierland serves Mexican-inspired quick-service fare. At Disney California Adventure, Lamplight Lounge at Pixar Pier offers some Latin-influenced items in a full bar setting.

For a romantic dinner inside the parks with Mexican heritage, the Blue Bayou Restaurant dining experience (inside the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction building at Disneyland) is a New Orleans-influenced bayou setting — not Mexican, but one of the most atmospheric meals you can have at the Disneyland Resort.

And if you’re also planning a Disney World trip, Frontera Cocina at Disney Springs brings celebrity chef Rick Bayless’s award-winning regional Mexican cooking to Florida — worth reading our full guide to the best Disney Springs restaurants if you’re heading to Walt Disney World as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a Mexican restaurant at Downtown Disney Disneyland? Yes — Downtown Disney District has multiple options. The standout is Céntrico, helmed by Michelin-starred Chef Carlos Gaytán. Tortilla Jo’s is the classic festive pick, and Paseo covers broader Latin American cuisine.

Do I need a park ticket to eat at Downtown Disney restaurants? No. Downtown Disney District is the free-entry retail and dining district at the Disneyland Resort. You can visit any of these restaurants without purchasing a park ticket or hotel stay.

Is Céntrico expensive? Céntrico is in the $$ price range — moderate pricing for a celebrity chef restaurant. It’s comparable in price to Tortilla Jo’s (also $$) and notably better value than many comparable experiences at either Disney World or Disneyland’s in-park fine dining.

Does Tortilla Jo’s have good margaritas? Yes — the margarita program at Tortilla Jo’s is one of its calling cards. House-made tortillas and strong, well-crafted margaritas are the two things most guests mention first.

Which Downtown Disney restaurant is best for a large group? Paseo’s sharing-focused format makes it ideal for groups who want to order a variety and pass dishes around. Tortilla Jo’s also handles groups well given its festive, social atmosphere.