Sea and land are indeed on display at Mar & Tierra, a bustling little restaurant decorated in colors as vibrant as its seafood. On the surf side, this East Nashville restaurant offers a robust mix of fresh shrimp quesadillas, Mexican shrimp cocktails, molcajete del mar (shrimp, scallop, and crab with sauteed onions and peppers), and scallop aguachile; as far as turf, try fajitas, fried pork tips, shredded chicken with chile verde, or chicken milanesa.

You can’t miss Las Maracas — this bright yellow bungalow in East Nash also has a covered patio that’s perfect for enjoying chorizo dip, enchiladas, chicken tortilla soup, and “margaronas” (that’s a margarita with a bottle of Corona tipped precariously on the edge of the glass) on a sunny Cinco de Mayo or on a crisp fall day. If booze isn’t your thing, go for one of Las Maracas' aqua frescas — you’ll find horchata, mango, tamarind, and guayaba on the menu.

Blink and you’ll miss this unassuming little Clarksville Pike spot that gets overshadowed by an adjacent gas station. But once you’re in, fill up on Taqueria Sope Express’ mouthwatering tacos on house-made corn tortillas and plates of shrimp and fish alongside nachos, pollo asada, tostadas de camarones (shrimp), fajitas, and quesabirria. The chicharrones tacos are especially crispy and light.

You’ll find Taco Mamacita’s stellar margaritas and vegan tortilla soup in Germantown as well as in Chattanooga, where the restaurant started (it’s a sibling to that city’s essential Community Pie pizzeria). Along with enchiladas suiza, shredded chicken topped with mole roja, and a selection of sides that includes Mexican street corn and charros beans, the busy restaurant offers trendy decor and an exclusively vegan menu upon request.

Named after fantastical Mexican folk creatures, the Alebrije food truck offers street food like tacos and churros with an emphasis on quality ingredients — chef Edgar Victoria sources the masa for his corn tortillas directly from a small family of farmers in Oaxaca, Mexico. Highlights include an al pastor tlayuda (an iconic Oaxacan dish served on a large tostada) and Mexico City-style carnitas tacos that melt in your mouth. Alebrije has locations at Bar Sovereign downtown and in Wedgewood-Houston’s Never Never, with plans to open a location at the new Drift hotel in East Nashville.

Owners Jose and Maria Cepeda cook up fabulous tacos, pupusas, and tlayudas out of a small unassuming red and orange concrete block building in the Nations. It’s a saucy spot that’s decked out with earthy Mexican wares. You’ll want to check out La Juquilita’s rich Oaxacan mole and spicy chile and verde salsas in dishes like the chicken mole enchiladas and a machete. You can also place your order online for delivery or pick up.

Restaurateur Sam Fox’s Sonoran-style Mexican restaurant, Blanco Cocina, swings from humble tacos, tamales, queso dips, and street corn to more elevated riffs on regional fare with dishes like spicy mango ceviche and ancho-spiced French toast (the latter is found on the brunch menu). Eight varieties of margaritas are available to accompany your meal, with a large format option that can serve a group of four to eight thirsty friends.

This bright yellow food truck is known for doling out Chihuahua-style dishes including montados, llomo, and chile rellenos along with crowd-pleasing varieties of burritos (specifically the chili Colorado version), tortas, tacos, and quesadillas. Pro-tip: grab your drinks at the neighboring gas station and watch the busy commuters on Thompson Lane whiz by.

El Cubilete’s hearty down-home soups, stews, fresh tamales, breakfasts, and combo platters are so popular the restaurant has a Nolensville Pike, Harding Place, and North Nashville location as well as three others in Madison and Murfreesboro. Portions are generous — consider sharing one plate of enchiladas or pork ribs (costillas) in salsa verde between two people.

Located next door to K&S World Market on Nolensville Pike, La Conchita is a true neighborhood panaderia with a huge selection of bread, cookies, and cakes that you can grab yourself out of the tray-lined walls. From celebratory tres leches cakes and bolillo (Mexican baguette) for tortas to orejas cookies (aka palmiers) and pan dulce for eating with your coffee, this place is a one-stop shop for baked delights.