Where to get the best Mexican food on the Treasure Coast

Mexican cuisine has become an international marvel because of its sensational flavors and use of ancient traditions and modern techniques. It's known for its bold flavors, appealing presentation and use of ingredients such as avocado, tomatoes, chilies, corn, beans, rice and a variety of meats. Traditional Mexican flavors such as mole, adobo and salsa add sophistication to the cuisine and elevate the dishes.

One popular day to celebrate the cuisine is Cinco de Mayo (May 5), which commemorates Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire in 1862. Another is Sept. 16, Mexican Independence Day, which commemorates its victory over the Spanish Empire in a series of revolutionary conflicts that began that day in 1810 and ended Sept. 27, 1821.

It's impossible to list all of the delicious Mexican restaurants we have in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties, but here are some of our favorites.

Click on the links for more TCPalm reviews, articles and photo galleries of these restaurants.

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TREASURE COAST

Pueblo Viejo

The Rodriguez family has grown Pueblo Viejo into five locations that are still family owned and operated. They have been serving traditional Mexican food on the Treasure Coast since 1997. Pueblo Viejo means "old town" and represents how family recipes from their hometown were passed down from generation to generation.

• St. Lucie West: 270 N.W. Peacock Blvd., Port St. Lucie; 772-807-5550; website
• Morningside: 1788 S.E. Port St. Lucie Blvd., Port St. Lucie; 772-335-1665; website
• Bayshore: 291 S.W. Port St. Lucie Blvd., Port St. Lucie; 772-336-5050; website
• Fort Pierce: 1301 U.S. 1, Fort Pierce; 772-461-5551; website
• Okeechobee: 3415 U.S. 1, Okeechobee; 863-357-9641; website

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY

Taco Mobil

Taco Mobil serves authentic Mexican food with the options to build your own burritos, bowls and quesadillas. It also serves tacos, nachos, tortas and salads from its bungalow-style Sebastian location, which has indoor and outdoor seating. There's a second location in Fellsmere.

• Sebastian: 825 Sebastian Blvd., Sebastian; 772-581-8775; Facebook
• Fellsmere: 1 S. Broadway St., Fellsmere; 772-413-8598; Facebook

Ay! Jalisco

Ay! Jalisco is a locally owned and operated Mexican restaurant offering a wide array of dishes, including quesadillas, eggs, burritos, enchiladas, chimichangas, flautas, fajitas and American dishes. The featured menu items include the Guadalajara combo, pollo poblano, enchiladas Durango, fiesta platter, molcajete, tampiquena and steak ranchero. It has three locations in Vero Beach and Sebastian.

• Ay! Jalisco I: 1909 20th St., Vero Beach; 772-978-0661; website
• Ay! Jalisco II: 1902 U.S. 1, Vero Beach; 772-778-8489; website
• Ay! Jalisco III: 1814 U.S. 1, Sebastian; 772-388-2368; website

El Rey Mexican Restaurant

Chef-owner Pedro Cruz — being versed in the cuisines of Cuba, China and Japan — features cultural fusions such as red curry with pineapple and La Realeza Fried Rice, which is jasmine rice cooked with your protein of choice, scrambled eggs, onions, carrots, zucchini, green peppers and topped with a sunny side up egg and cilantro.

901 21st St., Vero Beach; 772-257-5606; facebook.com/elreyverobeach

ST. LUCIE COUNTY

Costa Azul Mexican Restaurant

Costa Azul serves a variety of traditional dishes with signature dishes, including cochinita pibil, cochinita tacos, blue coast grill, costa mahi, carne asada, Costa Azul paella and Mayan fajitas. It offers a vegetarian section and outdoor seating.

2311 Okeechobee Road, Fort Pierce; 772-468-2938; Facebook

Casa Azteca Mexican Restaurant

Casa Azteca serves authentic Mexican food in downtown Fort Pierce. Its menu offers items including tacos, street tacos, burritos, salads, soups, bowls and vegetarian options. It also has a full bar and outdoor seating.

101 N. 2nd St., Fort Pierce; 772-302-3866; Facebook

MARTIN COUNTY

Maya's Mexican Grill & Bar

Maya's is a family-owned and managed restaurant that serves a variety of beef, chicken, pork, seafood and vegetarian tacos, platters, fajitas, enchiladas, burritos, chimichangas and more. The house specials include the temple tacos, seafood chimichangas, Santa Fe chimichangas, sunset dinner, asada poblano, Mayas molcajete and dos poblanos. It offers drink specials, CoronaRitas and serves certified Angus beef.

3099 S.W. Martin Downs Blvd., Palm City; 772-221-1093; website

Rancho Chico Mexican Cuisine

Rancho Chico offers traditional Mexican cuisine and Mexican flavors with a twist including tacos, enchiladas, burritos, street corn, Mexican pizza, fajitas, bowls, tostadas and salads. It also has a variety of different margaritas, mojitos and desserts including fried ice cream and cheese cake chimichanga.

91 S.W. Monterey Road, Stuart; 772-288-6741; website

Taco Shack Bar & Grill

The Taco Shack serves authentic tacos, seafood and street food-inspired dishes. The owners grew up in the restaurant business and have traveled around the world to offer different taco creations. It sources fresh seasonal ingredients from local farmers. It has over 100 different tequilas and serves craft margaritas including The Cadillac, Skinny, Wata-melon and Dirty Pineapple. It offers a street taco flight, carne asada fries and serves its tacos on either flour tortillas, hard shells, corn tortillas, cheese wraps or lettuce wraps.

555 S. Colorado Ave., Stuart; 772-288-9696; website

Cinco de Mayo Mexican Cuisine

Cinco De Mayo serves authentic Mexican cuisine and margaritas inspired by family origins rooted in Mexico. It has Margarita Mondays, Taco, Trivia and Tequila Tuesdays and Guacamole Wednesdays. It offers a variety of street tacos, salads, burritos, enchiladas, eggs, fajitas, vegetarian options, desserts and numerous mixed drinks, margaritas and liquored coffee drinks.

1840 N.E. Jensen Beach Blvd, Jensen Beach; 772-232-6131; website

Eve Pierpont is a freelancer for TCPalm who looks out for the best things to do across the Treasure Coast. Do you have an upcoming event you want to be potentially included in this weekly roundup? Email it to her at epierpont@gannett.com. You can also upload your event to TCPalm's event page at events.tcpalm.com.