A Cultural Tasting Tour of Spartanburg’s Hispanic & Latinx Cuisine
Mezcal Taberna Mexicana, (143 West Main St, Spartanburg)
Fajitas and burritos, tostadas and ceviche, all the tortillas and everything in between...
Hispanic Heritage Month is formally September 15th-October 15th, but Spartanburg County’s diverse Hispanic and Latinx business community and culture is on-display 365 days a year! Celebrate with a tasting tour through these 16 locally-owned traditional and innovative fusion restaurants.
Taste your way through six downtown locales and ten far worth the drive. (It's nearly impossible to pick a favorite, (and unfair of you to ask!) so these restaurants are listed in alphabetical order.)
Downtown City of Spartanburg
Broncos Mexican Restaurant: (435 East Main St, 1560 Union St)
If you love Broncos’ classic restaurant on Union Street, then you’ll love their new test kitchen location downtown! The expansive menu includes both traditional Mexican and fusion plates, local beer and cocktails, and brunch.
Burrito Hub: (253 Magnolia St)
We never need an excuse to eat queso and support local, but happy hour cheese fries and trio dip are a nice incentive. Burrito Hub offers everything from customized tacos, burritos, and quesadillas, to elote street corn, churros, and several housemade salsa varieties. (Go behind-the-scenes with owners Hugo and Antonietta Montanez, who also run Burgär, (137 West Main St.))
Burrito Hub is also expanding! Webber Plaza (2601 East Main St) will receive a fresh face and rebrand to “W Square” in 2023, including parking improvements, addition of a shared greenspace, and extensive façade work. Burrito Hub’s second location is the newest confirmed tenant.
El Chinchorro Boricua: (910 East Main St)
El Chinchorro Boricua specializes in quick, casual, and traditional Puerto-Rican fare, specifically grilled pork and chicken dishes. A cafeteria-style hot bar features rotating specials and bakery items, such as empanadas and guava pastries. Pair your heaping portion of food with a mojito, paloma, or cerveza.
Mata’s Mexican Bar & Grill: (464 East Main St)
Mata’s Mexican Bar & Grill is led by two familiar faces in Spartanburg’s restaurant scene- Fabian Mata of downtown’s Nacho Taco and his father Antonio of Lake Bowen’s El Mex. Their newest venture features traditional Mexican plates, craft beer on draft, multiple margaritas, and a patio big enough for a fiesta.
Mezcal Taberna Mexicana: (143 West Main St)
Whether you prefer tacos, tamales, ceviche, or carnitas, Mezcal Taberna Mexicana has all these specials and more- available for dine-in or takeout. Mezcal’s fusion Tex-Mex and Latin-American menu features a mix of traditional tapas-style dishes and larger combination plates, serving late. Pair your meal with a full selection of sangrias, cervezas, and mezcal margaritas.
Nacho Taco: (129 North Spring St)
Tacos, tortas, y tostadas- oh my! If you guessed that Nacho Taco has both nachos and tacos on the menu, you’d be correct, but they also have a full line-up of quesadillas, fajitas, burritos, and more.
Spartanburg County
These 10 restaurants and food trucks may be more of a drive than others depending on your home address, but their tasty menus are bringing the heat-- some quite literally!
Acapulco Bakery: (9133 Fairforest Rd)
Acapulco Bakery is known for their authentic tacos, only offered on weekends and lauded across state lines as “Spartanburg’s best tacos.” Plan your trip early; the exclusivity and hype are well-earned. Open seven days a week, Acapulco is also home to a full Mexican grocery, with fresh-baked traditional pastries and cookies.
Carlitos Tacos: (food truck)
Carlitos Tacos food truck is difficult to miss with is bold, lime green paint job, and the authentically-delicious tacos will have you searching for the next parked stop. Bring cash- the tacos ($2,) burritos ($6,) and quesadillas ($6) are budget-friendly.
Delicias Verito: (food truck)
This colorful food truck may have a small menu, but Delicias Verito’s large-portioned plates pack a flavor punch! Choose from street tacos, tortas, quesadillas, burritos, and (our favorite) quesabirrias— made with your choice of asada, al pastor, or chorizo. Catch them on-the-go at several street festivals around the county.
El Mex: (7124 Hwy 9, Inman)
Is there anything more exciting than food served in other food, because these Pineapple Fajitas look fantastic! Choose from enchiladas, burritos, fajitas, tacos, and more, then end the meal with fusion desserts. Family-friendly, El Mex’s kids plates are just $5 each.
El Pariente Mexican Restaurant: (6198 Hwy 221, Roebuck)
Think traditional Mexican tacos, quesabirrias, and a lunch buffet— El Pariente is a crowd-favorite for a reason, with wide variety of menu items to satisfy your tastebuds and short schedule. Enjoy your meal on their dog-friendly patio.
Pinguinos Hermanos: (food truck)
If your idea of shaved ice dessert includes sweet cream and fresh fruit piled high, occasionally with a bit of chili spice, then you need to try Pinguinos Hermanos. After just two busy years in the Upstate, Pinguinos expanded to five shaved ice “raspado” trucks; find their daily locations on facebook.
Rosa’s BBQ: (2432 Reidville Rd)
Hot off the grill! Rosa’s BBQ specializes in Portuguese and Latin grilled foods, with everything from whole chickens to beef and pork ribs. Order your meal by the plate or platter to share, and don’t forget to the tostones and empanadas on the side, paired with fresh juice or horchata!
Rossy’s Delicias: (1301 New Cut Rd)
Shaved ice cups laden high with mango and coconut slices, elotes rolled in hot cheetos, churro ice cream sundaes, chicharrero preparado (pork rind “pizza” topped with meats and cheeses,) tacos, nachos,… Rossy’s Delicias offers a vast snacking menu to taste test.
Sabor Latino: (8047 Asheville Hwy)
Did you know that you can find both authentic Colombian and Honduran food in the same location in Spartanburg? Sabor Latino offers traditional specials made with local produce, such as corn and beef stew and steak tacos, as well as craft cocktails.
Uncle Berto’s Burritos: (2509 Stone Station Rd)
Uncle Berto’s Burritos specializes in “homestyle Mexican cooking,” or “sobor casero.” Find a full range of tortas, tacos, combo plates, nachos piled high, churros, and more, with 12 meats to choose from. And, did someone say fresh tamales?
Did we forget your favorite restaurant? Let us know by emailing Idea@InTheBurg864.com.
Photos courtesy each restaurant's social media.