Where to Find the Best Mexican Food in Indio & Coachella
The east valley is the Coachella Valley's Mexican food capital — here's exactly where to eat
PalmSpots Editors · Published Sep 10, 2026 · Updated Oct 20, 2026
Plan an east-valley meal around the restaurant's actual address, menu and place in your itinerary. These Indio options can be paired with a Coachella city outing or a festival stay, but they are separate destinations.
| Restaurant | Area | Meal focus | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Mexicali Cafe II | Monroe Street, Indio | Mexican plates and seafood | Confirm the intended El Mexicali location |
| Tacos Gonzalez | Highway 111, Indio | Taco-focused casual meal | Map the journey from your base |
| El Campanario | Monroe Street, Indio | Sit-down Mexican meal | Separate stop from Coachella's Pueblo Viejo |
El Mexicali Cafe II: compare the seafood menu
El Mexicali Cafe II is at 43430 Monroe Street, Suite A, in Indio. Its online menu includes shrimp dishes, fish and seafood combinations.
Check the menu for your visit rather than assuming a particular happy-hour deal or an older price is still offered. If you are ordering from the original El Mexicali Cafe, confirm that you have selected the intended location.
Tacos Gonzalez: a Highway 111 stop
Tacos Gonzalez is an Indio option for a taco-focused meal. The regional tourism listing identifies it as a casual Mexican restaurant.
Fit it into a Highway 111 outing rather than assuming it is walking distance from your accommodation or the festival entrance. For another stop in the area, compare Shields Date Garden and its café schedule.
El Campanario: Monroe Street, not Pueblo Viejo
El Campanario is an Indio restaurant, listed at 44185 Monroe Street. Its menu emphasizes Mexican dishes including seafood and molcajetes.
It should not be described as a restaurant inside a Pueblo Viejo market in Coachella. If you are visiting the murals, plan the restaurant as a separate drive. Use the restaurant's own contact details for reservations and current service information.
Choose a meal around your outing
- A Coachella city visit: use the city guide for public art, then map the drive to your chosen Indio restaurant.
- A festival stay: eat before your planned arrival, allowing for traffic, parking or a shuttle connection. A restaurant's proximity on a map does not guarantee a quick journey.
- A longer east-valley drive: decide whether to eat before leaving or after returning, using the Salton Sea guide to organize the route.
For event details, see the Coachella festival guide or Stagecoach guide. Check the relevant event's entry and re-entry rules before planning to leave the grounds for food.
Budget and dietary planning
Compare the total for your intended order, including drinks and service charges, instead of relying on a blanket under-$15 promise. A taco stop and a seafood dinner can have very different totals.
Ask about ingredients and preparation if you need a vegan, vegetarian or allergy-aware meal. Beans, rice, sauces and fillings require confirmation; a menu category alone is not enough.
For choices farther west, use the valley-wide Mexican restaurant guide.
FAQ
- Where should I look for Mexican food in Indio?
- Compare El Mexicali Cafe II, Tacos Gonzalez and El Campanario based on your route and the meal you want. Check the current menu and hours before going.
- Is El Campanario inside Pueblo Viejo in Coachella?
- No. The restaurant covered here is listed at 44185 Monroe Street in Indio.
- Are these restaurants a quick walk from the festival?
- Do not assume so. Plan the actual route, parking or shuttle connection, and allow for event traffic. Check entry and re-entry rules before leaving for a meal.
- Are vegan or vegetarian meals available?
- Check the current menu and ask the restaurant about ingredients and preparation. This guide does not guarantee that rice, beans, sauces or fillings meet a particular dietary requirement.
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In this guide
The restaurants
El Mexicali Cafe II
Mexican · Indio · $$
The second location of Indio's beloved El Mexicali Cafe, named one of the best Mexican restaurants in the United States by USA TODAY in February 2026. The menu centers on the family's famous chiles güeritos — yellow chiles stuffed with shrimp — alongside ceviches, seafood plates and Mexican classics. Happy hour runs Monday–Friday 3–6pm.
Tacos Gonzalez
Mexican · Indio · $
No-frills taqueria with al pastor off the trompo and long weekend lines. Tacos Gonzalez is a Mexican spot in Indio. Prices sit in the budget range — easy for a quick, cheap meal. Worth knowing: tacos, cash-friendly. Served here: breakfast, lunch, dinner, late-night food. Hours: Daily 9am-10pm. There is a patio. Kids are comfortable here. Dogs are welcome on the patio. Best for quick, cheap and very good.
El Tapatio
Mexican · Indio · $
Family-owned and operated by Maria and Ruben Garcia Sr. since 1987, El Tapatio grew from a small taqueria into a full-service Indio restaurant. Everything is freshly prepared to order — the kitchen asks for a little patience, and the traditional plates are worth it.
El Campanario
Mexican · Pueblo Viejo · $
Straightforward Mexican cooking in downtown Coachella's Pueblo Viejo district. El Campanario is a Mexican spot in Pueblo Viejo, Coachella. Prices sit in the budget range — easy for a quick, cheap meal. Served here: breakfast, lunch, dinner. There is a patio. Kids are comfortable here. Best for cheap, authentic mexican.
While you're here
Coming up nearby
Sun, Nov 1 · 9am
Indio Certified Farmers Market
Downtown Indio, Indio
Sun, Nov 8 · 9am
Indio Certified Farmers Market
Downtown Indio, Indio
Sun, Nov 15 · 9am
Indio Certified Farmers Market
Downtown Indio, Indio
Sun, Nov 22 · 9am
Indio Certified Farmers Market
Downtown Indio, Indio
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