Romero’s in Bethel, Maine

Romero's operates from The Gem in downtown Bethel, turning out made-from-scratch Mexican food that punches well above what you'd expect in western Maine. The couple running it works hard to source fresh ingredients and balance every plate. You'll find locals and travelers alike lined up for tacos, quesadillas, and burritos that taste nothing like chain-store versions.

• Birria tacos and burritos made fresh daily.
• Homemade chips and salsa with actual spice.
• Run by a genuinely warm couple who know regulars.
• Affordable and hard to find good Mexican in Maine.

Start with the birria tacos, which regulars call phenomenal. The quesaburria is worth trying if you've never had one. The BBQ burrito delivers incredible sauce, and the steak quesadilla is solid. Get the veggie quesadilla if you're not eating meat. And don't skip the chips, even if you don't usually order them.

Small and casual, the kind of place where you order at the counter. It's lively without being loud, and the vibe is purely about the food.

It's small, it's unpretentious, and the prices won't empty your wallet. People come back because the food tastes like someone cared about it, not because it's trendy or Instagram-friendly.

Guests rave about the freshness and balance of flavors, with several mentioning that finding genuinely spicy salsa in Maine is rare. One recent visitor said their birria tacos are phenomenal, and another noted they're "run by a great couple who work hard." People return often.