El Mejor Mexican Kitchen + Cantina

A Solid Neighborhood Mexican in McKinney's Historic Square

If you're choosing between El Mejor Mexican Kitchen + Cantina and driving into Dallas's Deep Ellum for Mexican food, El Mejor wins on convenience without a significant quality trade-off; and for first-timers in McKinney's historic downtown, it's a reasonable first call for the cuisine type. The question is whether the value per round holds up against the square's other casual dining options.

El Mejor sits at 119 W Virginia St, one block from McKinney's well-trafficked historic square, which puts it in direct competition with spots like Centro On The Square for casual drinks and plates in a walkable downtown setting. For a first visit, the cantina format means you can anchor an evening around drinks and sharing plates without committing to a full sit-down dinner; that flexibility matters if you're still figuring out the neighborhood.

Timing your visit makes a difference here. Weekday evenings are the practical sweet spot: the square is active but not packed, you're more likely to land a table without a wait. Weekend afternoons during McKinney's frequent street events can push foot traffic high enough that the surrounding area feels congested, worth knowing if you're arriving by car rather than walking from a nearby hotel. For the full picture on what else is happening in the area, check our full McKinney experiences guide.

On the value question: without published pricing data, it's hard to benchmark El Mejor's cost per round against the square's Italian and American alternatives. What the cantina format typically signals in this price tier is that margaritas and beer will carry reasonable margins while food plates come in at mid-casual pricing. If you're budget-conscious, compare against Cadillac Pizza Pub before committing, pizza-and-beer rounds there may offer more predictable per-head costs. For a broader night out, our full McKinney bars guide maps the full range of options across the square and beyond.

Booking here is easy. McKinney's downtown Mexican concepts at this level rarely require advance reservations except on busy event weekends. Walk-in is the default approach. If you're planning around a specific McKinney event, it's worth calling ahead, though note that phone and website details are not currently listed in our database, so check Google directly before you go.

For first-timers visiting McKinney more broadly, El Mejor is a workable anchor for a casual evening, particularly if Mexican food and margaritas are the priority. It's not a destination in the way that Julep in Houston or Jewel of the South in New Orleans function as category-defining bars worth traveling for, but for a walkable dinner on the square, it earns its place. See our full McKinney restaurants guide for how it fits the wider picture.