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BEST RATED NANAIMO, BC MEXICAN RESTAURANTS

3 Best Mexican Restaurants in Nanaimo, BC

Expert-recommended Top 3 Mexican Restaurants in Nanaimo, BC. All of our mexican restaurants actually undergo a rigorous 50-Point Inspection, which includes everything from checking reviews, ratings, reputation, history, complaints, satisfaction, trust and price - all to ensure overall excellence. You deserve only the best!

Nanaimo mexican restaurant Gina's Mexican Cafe
Nanaimo mexican restaurant Gina's Mexican Cafe
Nanaimo mexican restaurant Gina's Mexican Cafe
Nanaimo mexican restaurant Gina's Mexican Cafe video
11+ YEARS IN TBR
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GINA'S MEXICAN CAFE

(5.0 Score)
47 Skinner Street,
Nanaimo, BC V9R 5G9 Directions

Since 1986

Specialty:

✓ Soft Tacos ✓ Tacos Dorados ✓ Fish Tacos ✓ Burritos ✓ Chimichangas ✓ Enchiladas ✓ Camarones Con Arroz ✓ Chiquita ✓ El Nino ✓ Adobe ✓ Tampico ✓ Pueblo ✓ Acapulco ✓ Navajo ✓ Veggie Variety ✓ Frisco Kid ✓ Baja ✓ Mazatlan ✓ Chiles Rellenos ✓ Fajitas ✓ Chipotle Dinners

“Gina's Mexican Cafe is a locally owned and operated, family-run Mexican restaurant. This fashionable and comfortable eatery offers an array of classic Mexican dishes and margaritas in a funky space with a patio. Gina's Mexican Cafe appeals to all ages. They will do their best to keep themselves and their customers happy. The restaurant is well-known for its family-friendly atmosphere. Gina's Mexican Cafe serves fresh and tasty Mexican food at fair prices. Their specialties include yummy fajitas, burritos, tacos, Mexican beers, sangria, chimichangas, soups, salads, and margaritas. They source only the freshest and most natural ingredients, including locally caught seafood, free-range eggs, and organic tofu. Outdoor seating is also available at Gina's Mexican Cafe to enhance your dining experience.

2025 Update: Gina's Mexican Cafe provides take-out and delivery options and is wheelchair accessible. The restaurant offers free Wi-Fi connection and accepts debit cards. They also provide e-gift cards for their customers.”

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Price:

WRAPS
Chicken $16
Steak $17
Shrimp $17
Snapper $17
Veggie $14
Quesadilla Supremos
Chicken or Beef $17
Snapper $18
Shrimp $18
Veggie $16
MEXICAN SPECIALTIES
Fish Tacos $24
Camarones Con Arroz $25
Fajitas Grilled Chicken $22
Fajitas Steak $24
Fajitas Snapper & Shrimp $24
Chipotle Dinners Grilled Chicken $26
Chipotle Dinners Steak $28
ANTOJITOS / APPETIZERS
Sopa $8
Ceviche $15
Guacamole & Chips $13
Quesadilla $10
Flautas $16
Prawns Coriander $19
Quesadilla Del Mar $16
Petito Combi $19
Combination Appy $26
Bandito $14
Nachos Supremos $22
on The Side
Guacamole $3.5
Chipotle Sauce $2
Salsa $2
Chips $2
Sour Cream $1
Add Side Rice, Beans and Corn $6
Side Salad $6
SALADS
Garden Salad $9
Spinach Salad $12
Taco Salad $17

Contact:

(250) 753-5411

Sun-Thu: 11:30am - 8pm
Fri & Sat: 11:30am - 9pm

TBR® Inspection Report:

Nanaimo mexican restaurant Baby Salsa Mexican Restaurant
Nanaimo mexican restaurant Baby Salsa Mexican Restaurant
Nanaimo mexican restaurant Baby Salsa Mexican Restaurant
Nanaimo mexican restaurant Baby Salsa Mexican Restaurant video
11+ YEARS IN TBR
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BABY SALSA MEXICAN RESTAURANT

(4.7 Score)
550 Fifth Street, #205,
Nanaimo, BC V9R 1P1 Directions

Since 2011

Specialty:

✓ Santa Fe Burrito ✓ Del Mar Burrito ✓ Del Campo Burrito ✓ Del Jardin Burrito ✓ Con Todo Burrito ✓ Del Rio Burrito ✓ Diablo Taco ✓ Vampiro Taco ✓ Vego Taco ✓ Paseo Pastor Taco ✓ Paseo Pollo Taco ✓ Paseo Chorizo Taco ✓ Paseo Carnitas Taco ✓ Paseo Shredded Beef Taco ✓ Gringo Pollo Taco ✓ Gringo Shredded Beef Taco ✓ Bandito Taco ✓ Ocho Brazos Taco ✓ Snapper Taco ✓ Snapper Taco Plate ✓ Garlic Shrimp Taco ✓ Garlic Shrimp Taco Plate

“Baby Salsa Mexican Restaurant is a fully licensed, authentic Mexican restaurant. This casual spot offers Mexican classics like enchiladas and tamales in a strip mall setup. Baby Salsa Mexican Restaurant is an excellent destination for authentic Mexican food. Their extensive menu includes all your favourite dishes, like tacos, burritos, quesadillas, flautas, and more. They offer a large variety of vegan options for many of their dishes. Reservations are accepted Sunday through Thursday. For those who have a sweet tooth, don't hesitate to try their mouth-watering traditional desserts and beverages. Happy hour food is also available at Baby Salsa Mexican Restaurant to save you money.

2025 Update: Baby Salsa Mexican Restaurant offers outdoor seating facilities and a kids' menu to accommodate little customers.”

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Price:

QUESADILLAS
Southwest $8.75
La Costeña $
La Norteña $
La Hawaiiana $
Sin Carne $6.95
Just Cheese $6.95
BURRITOS
La Doña $2.99
Santa Fe $
Del Mar $
Del Campo $
Del Rio $
Holey Mole! $
Del Jardin $
Con Todo $14.75
STARTERS & SALADS
Tortilla Soup $10.95
Tortilla Soup $13.95
Stuffed Jalapeños $14.95
Queso Fundido $14.95
Baby Salsa Taco Salad $16.95
Margarita House Salad Full $13.95
Margarita House Salad Half $8.95

Contact:

(250) 591-8353

Mon-Sun: 11:30am - 9pm

TBR® Inspection Report:

Nanaimo mexican restaurant Penny's Palapa
Nanaimo mexican restaurant Penny's Palapa
Nanaimo mexican restaurant Penny's Palapa
Nanaimo mexican restaurant Penny's Palapa video
11+ YEARS IN TBR
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PENNY'S PALAPA

(4.6 Score)
10 Wharf Street,
Nanaimo, BC V9R 2X3 Directions

Since 2017

Specialty:

✓ Ceviche ✓ Traditional Tortilla Soup ✓ Penny's Super Nachos ✓ Layered Black Refritos Bean Dip ✓ Chilli Lime Prawn Tacos ✓ Halibut Tacos ✓ Snapper Tacos ✓ Carne Asada Tacos ✓ Chipotle Chicken Tacos ✓ Pork Pastor Tacos ✓ Holy Guacamole Tacos ✓ Enchiladas Verde ✓ Enchiladas Rancheras ✓ Poblano Veggie Enchiladas

“Penny's Palapa is a thoughtful Mexican fare meets margaritas at this seasonal floating eatery with a pleasant atmosphere. The restaurant provides take-out options that suit its customers' preferences. They offer an outdoor seating facility to have an unforgettable dining experience with their friends and family. They are committed to using the freshest and finest locally sourced ingredients to ensure the quality of their dishes. Their dedication to using fresh produce reflects their passion for delivering exceptional cuisine to their customers. Penny's Palapa offers vegetarian options and provides Wi-Fi connection to have additional entertainment. They accept debit cards for their customers' bills.”

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Price:

BOTANAS / APPETIZERS
Ceviche $20.00
Traditional Tortilla Soup $15.00
Penny's Super Nachos $24.00
Layered Black Refritos Bean Dip $17.00
TACOS
Chilli Lime Prawn Tacos $29.00
Halibut Tacos $31.00
Snapper Tacos $25.00
Carne Asada Tacos $27.00
Chipotle Chicken Tacos $25.00
Pork Pastor Tacos $25.00
Holy Guacamole Tacos $25.00
ENCHILADAS
Enchiladas Verde $25.00
Enchiladas Rancheras $25.00
Poblano Veggie Enchiladas $25.00
PLATOS TIPICOS / MAIN DISHES
Chipotle Chicken Burrito $24.00
Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla $23.00
PALAPA SALAD $20.00
DULCES / DESSERTS
Mexican Chocolate Torte $11.00
Mango Sorbet $9.00

Contact:

  • fiesta@pennyspalapa.com
(250) 753-2150

Mon-Sun: 11:30am - 8:30pm
HAPPY HOUR
Mon-Sun: 3pm - 5pm

TBR® Inspection Report:

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GINA'S MEXICAN CAFE REVIEWS

The service is amazing even on the patio on a rainy day. Food is priced in a mannerly way and the waiters are helpful and friendly. Food is a modern kind of Mexican food, but it’s super duper yummy. Inside of the restaurant smells a bit like cooking oil but that’s normal since it’s very small. The atmosphere is so colourful and lovely it feels welcoming. Thank you!.

I came here for dinner and order a beer and Margareta to drink. The margaritas are very delicious. The beer was good as well. As soon as you sit down you are welcomed with nachos and amazing salsa. I order beef nachos and added guacamole. The nachos were loaded with beef. Simply put they were amazing. We also got tacos and it had rice, beans and corn. The tacos were great as well. We were very impressed with the service, atmosphere and food.

Absolutely love this place hands down one of my favourite places to eat! I will forever come back here, the food is always delicious, hot & they have everything you can imagine.

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BABY SALSA MEXICAN RESTAURANT REVIEWS

We decided to try baby salsa as it was highly reccomended by some coworkers, and they did not disappoint! The margaritas are absolutely delicious, as well as the snapper taco plate. We will definitely come back the next time we are in Nanaimo.

Nachos like no other. For the first time I can recall I was given layered nachos without asking. They were exceptional. Massive portion, lots of flavor, lots of heat from the jalapeno, they looked beautiful. If your looking for the best of the best, look no further. Thank you!.

I tried the tamale for the first time, it was really delicious, home-made and gluten-free! Also got a side order of guacamole for the chips and salsa and it was so good.

PENNY'S PALAPA REVIEWS

It’s a great location and a fun place to bring out of towners. However, the food is not as good as it was under the original owners. The new owners may just need time to get their groove on. I will be back even though the last two times I was there it was pretty mediocre. Nice staff though!.

Wow! Someone suggested the Halibut Taco's and it was the best that I have had. EVER! The staff is friendly and even though it is extremely busy they will make sure you are taken care of. Definitely try the freshness from Penny's Palapa Restaurant.

Lovely spot in Nanaimo, right on the water! Has character to it, and the food is solid! While it didn’t necessarily feel like I was in Mexico, it did hit enough of the right notes to make me feel that I might be in a place slightly nicer than Nanaimo.

TBR® Inspection Score Report

GINA'S MEXICAN CAFE Total Inspection Points: 120/120
Business Hours: 10
Menu Images: 10
Complete Info: 10
Contact Info: 10
Current Evaluation: 10
Exact Services: 10
Experience: 10
Legitimate Ratings: 10
Online Order: 10
Pricing: 10
Reviews Study: 10
Videos: 10

TBR® Inspection Score Report

BABY SALSA MEXICAN RESTAURANT Total Inspection Points: 113/120
Experience: 7
Complete Info: 9
Current Evaluation: 9
Reviews Accuracy of 1.2K: 9
Reviews Study: 9
Business Hours: 10
Menu Images: 10
Contact Info: 10
Exact Services: 10
Legitimate Ratings: 10
Pricing: 10
Videos: 10

TBR® Inspection Score Report

PENNY'S PALAPA Total Inspection Points: 111/120
Experience: 7
Current Evaluation: 8
Reviews Study: 8
Complete Info: 9
Legitimate Ratings: 9
Business Hours: 10
Menu Images: 10
Contact Info: 10
Exact Services: 10
Location Proximity: 10
Pricing: 10
Videos: 10

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