Iguana Bar & Grill
Iguana Bar & Grill proudly calls itself La Cantina de Budapest, but their Mexican dishes somehow lack authenticity. Still, it is the best Mexican restaurant in Budapest we know of.
Chorizo (spicy Mexican sausages) stand out of the starters section. BBQ Spare Ribs are tasty and certainly good value for money, as the portion is huge. Burgers (basic La Hamburguesa or spicy Chiliburger) are safe bets.
Iguana beer is cheap, but very light.
Iguana Bar & Grill is a major expatriate and yuppie gathering spot - if you hate this type of places give it a skip or concentrate on your food rather than other patrons. One of our visits was made unpleasant by obnoxiously loud company party.
Location: Pest V, Zoltán utca 16. Tel.: 331-4352 (reservations recommended). Open: daily 11:30-23:30. Web: www.iguana.hu
Arriba Taqueria
If you take an evening walk on Teréz körút, Arriba Taqueria's screaming neon sign is impossible to miss. We were a bit reserved thinking whether a place who put in so much effort into being seen actually serves good food but we were not disappointed.
Arriba Taqueria is a Mexican fast food joint serving big burritos and smaller tacos at the price level of burger meals at McDonald's and Burger King. Arriba's food however is much better.
All the burritos and tacos come with your choice of fillings such as Mexican beans, corn, jalapenos, coriander etc. The burrito and taco we tried were tasty and very filling. Giving the lack of other proper Mexican eateries in the city, Arriba Taqueria certainly serves the best Mexican fast food in Budapest.
Location: Pest VI, Teréz körút 25. Open: daily 10:00-24:00. Transport: metro M1, tram 4/6 (Oktogon). Web: www.arriba.hu