
Yeyo's El Alma de Mexico
Family-run eatery serving authentic Mexican cuisine with locally-sourced ingredients. Watch fresh tortillas being made in the open kitchen!

Highlights
Must-see attractions
Social
From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

Yeyo's El Alma de Mexico

Highlights
Must-see attractions
Family-run eatery serving authentic Mexican cuisine with locally-sourced ingredients. Watch fresh tortillas being made in the open kitchen!
"Best Mexican in NWA. This place was awesome and has fast great service."
Street Taco Sampler
Try the street taco sampler for a variety of flavors, including al pastor and house-made chorizo.
Enjoy the Atmosphere
Embrace the vibrant atmosphere and delicious food, even if service has occasional delays.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Mexican
Price
Mid-range
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Authentic Mexican Cuisine
Experience true Mexican flavors with locally-sourced ingredients and fresh tortilla making. A taste of Mexico in every bite.

Open Kitchen Experience
Watch chefs prepare fresh tortillas and grill peppers, offering a preview of the delicious meals to come.

Signature Street Tacos
Savor a variety of flavorful street tacos, from al pastor-spiced pork to house-made chorizo. A must-try for taco lovers.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Street Taco Sampler
Try the street taco sampler for a variety of flavors, including al pastor and house-made chorizo.
Enjoy the Atmosphere
Embrace the vibrant atmosphere and delicious food, even if service has occasional delays.
Lunchtime at Eighth Street
Visit during lunchtime at Eighth Street Market for an immersive experience surrounded by local shops.
Don't Miss the Elote
The elote is an excellent starter with unique flavors, highly recommended by diners.
Tips
from all over the internet
Street Taco Sampler
Try the street taco sampler for a variety of flavors, including al pastor and house-made chorizo.
Enjoy the Atmosphere
Embrace the vibrant atmosphere and delicious food, even if service has occasional delays.
Lunchtime at Eighth Street
Visit during lunchtime at Eighth Street Market for an immersive experience surrounded by local shops.
Don't Miss the Elote
The elote is an excellent starter with unique flavors, highly recommended by diners.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Diners rave about Yeyo's authentic Mexican cuisine, highlighting unique dishes like rabbit enchiladas and the flavorful street tacos. The vibrant atmosphere and friendly service add to the positive experience, though some note occasional service delays and a lack of very spicy salsa options. Despite minor critiques, the food quality and overall dining experience are highly praised.
"We ran into the chef on our way in. For a first timer he recommended the taco sampler and the rabbit enchiladas. I was slightly apprehensive about the rabbit. However, I've eaten all around the world and I can tell you those were the best enchiladas I've ever had! Imagine that. Rabbit enchiladas in Northwest Arkansas; who would have thought?? We had the corn cake dessert, because it sounded strange, and after rabbit, why not? It tasted like a dense caramel popcorn cornbread and was also amazing! Highly recommend."
Melodie Dohm
"I stopped in for dinner when in town for work and was really looking forward to trying this place based on the recommendations of some people who live in the area. I loved the atmosphere when we walked in - open kitchen, nice vibe, not flashy or pretentious.
The chips that were served at the start were very good; just wish that they had a salsa option with some spice to it. We ordered tacos and a burrito and the food was really good. My only complaint was with the service. We ordered margaritas when we sat down and door some reason only one was delivered; mine didn’t come until after my dinner entree arrived. I’m sure it was an honest mistake; just seemed strange that the waiter hadn’t even stopped by until after the meal was served. Food was great, so I’d definitely go back and hope the service was a one-off bad day."
C Tedesco
"I stopped in on a Friday exactly at 11am. The hostess was kind and Sammie, my waitress, was superb. The five street tacos were excellent; I was surprised they were served with pineapple cuts (which I removed). The coca was chilled and the food was hot. $3/taco is fair; with tax and the coke, it was just over $20 before tip. Great experience; I'll be back."
Michael McAlexander
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Many diners recommend the street taco sampler for variety. Unique dishes like the rabbit enchiladas and the elote are also highly praised.
Yes, Yeyo's offers vegetarian and vegan options, though some customers have noted a limited selection.
Yes, visiting during lunchtime at Eighth Street Market is recommended for an immersive experience.
Yes, making a reservation in advance can be very convenient upon arrival.
The restaurant has a vibrant, festive, and comfortable atmosphere with an open kitchen.
Some diners have expressed a desire for a spicier salsa option, although chips and salsa are generally well-received.
Mentioned in
Featured in these publications
The Best Restaurants In Bentonville - Bentonville
There are plenty of Mexican restaurants on the square, but it’s worth a visit to the 8th Street Market for tacos and margaritas at Yeyo’s. When you walk in, you’ll see the chefs making tortillas and grilling peppers in the open kitchen, which is a good preview of what you’re about to eat. If it’s your first time, get the street taco sampler that comes with eight tacos, including al pastor-spiced and pineapple-marinated pork, chicken with bitter orange and achiote, and house-made chorizo.
One Writer Takes to the Trails of Northwest Arkansas
I grab a picnic table at Yeyo’s cheerful yellow food truck for a quick trio of pork carnitas tacos and green chile queso from James Beard Award semifinalist chef Rafael Rios, whose standout Mexican food has become a Northwest Arkansas darling. Another great dinner option: the Preacher’s Son, in a converted church just a block off the square. The soaring interiors, stained glass, and art—look carefully, one of the paintings has an abstract bicycle in it—are matched in loveliness by the pimento cheese croquettes and the new rooftop bar, Celeste.
s Authentic Mexican Restaurant Guide
All Yeyo's produce is grown and its animals are raised on farms just outside Bentonville so as to “preserve and share our deepest roots and traditions, create a spiritual connection with artisanal Mezcal, art, food, and people.” Yeyo’s Mezcaleria & Taqueria, Yeyo's El Alma de Mexico, and the two food trucks weave food and art together into a cohesive and immersive experience and are the first of their kind in Arkansas. Facebook - Instagram
Craving Mexican Food? 5 Favorite Mexican Restaurants in Bentonville, AR – Crain Kia of Bentonville Blog
If you’re looking for the epitome of fresh, hot, authentic Mexican foods, you’ll love Bentonville’s own Yeyo’s El Alma de Mexico. With a name that means “the soul of Mexico,” this family-run restaurant features the most delicious Mexican foods in the area. Its menu items include offerings like tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and beans and rice, and all of its dishes are made from locally-sourced ingredients.
Your Guide To The Top 10 Restaurants in Bentonville Arkansas
Address: 110 E West CentralPhone: (479) 715-6706 Known For: Brunch, Margaritas, Street Tacos, Birria. Chef Rafael Rios heads up Yeyo’s El Alma de Mexico, offering an authentic Mexican dining experience, featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients and traditional recipes. In 2025, the James Beard Foundation named Chef Rios as a semi finalist for best Chef in the South.
31 Fun Things To Do In Bentonville (AR)
Yeyo’s El Alma de Mexico in Bentonville, Arkansas is the perfect place to visit if you’re craving authentic and delicious Mexican cuisine. One of the best Bentonville attractions in terms of ethnic cuisine, Yeyo’s El Alma de Mexico is a must-do. The atmosphere is not only casual and inviting, but the food is made fresh with the highest-quality ingredients.
Moving to Bentonville | Neighborhood Guide
Yeyo’s El Alma De Mexico offers a great mix between Mexican-American and authentic fare from nachos to street tacos. The brothers opened up as a food truck at the local farmer’s market years ago and now have their first brick and mortar location at 8th Street Market. It’s casual, comfortable, and the tacos will keep you coming back for more.
Date Ideas for Bentonville, AR
At Yeyo’s Mexican Grill, their mission is to transport you to the Bohemian streets of old Mexico with bold traditional flavors and locally grown ingredients. Their menu of casual Mexican classics makes this the perfect spot to sit and chat with your date. Get to know each other over a plate of street tacos, and let the sparks fly!
Bentonville, Arkansas, Is A Perfect Fall Getaway
At Yeyo’s, chef and founder Rafael Rios prepares some of the best Mexican food in the region. When the toasty smell of masa greeted me at the door, I knew that I was in for something good even before I sat down to a steaming bowl of rich posol (made with chicken, pork, and beef stock) and a large platter of street tacos.
Two Days Of Art, Nature and Food in Bentonville – Oh My! Omaha
YeYos is a colorful Mexican restaurant in a great little area of Bentonville called Eighth Street Market, which is home to some locally-owned shops and eateries. YeYos was a busy spot when we went for lunch. Be very careful with their addictive warm, fresh tortilla chips served with salsa cruda.
format-festival.com
Rafel & Roman moved here with their family about 10 years ago. Their dad, Yeyo, encouraged them to start one of the first food trucks in Bentonville and it was a huge success very quickly. About five years later they had outgrown the truck and expanded into a state of the art restaurant in 2018.
12 Best Restaurants In Bentonville Arkansas
Yeyo’s has all the hallmarks of one of the best Mexican restaurants in Bentonville. It’s unfussy, family-run, and serves farm-to-table, made-from-scratch salsa fresco. The pico errs on the side of mild but is good nonetheless (I just prefer my tacos dressed h-o-t).
Food Bites: Rising Star Boba Co., KPOT & More
Matthew Cooper, chef and owner of Conifer in Bentonville, and Rafael Rios, executive chef and owner of Yeyo’s El Alma de Mexico in Bentonville, have been nominated in the Best Chef: South category of the James Beard Awards. Click here for more details.
Is Bentonville, Ark., the next great restaurant town?
Their work paid off, and in 2022 The Preacher’s Son was named a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation Outstanding Hospitality Award, joining local spots The Hive and Yeyo’s, which both got Best Chef South nominations.
Your Guide to 8th Street Market
Walk around 8th Street Market, and check out Yeyo’s El Alma de Mexico, run by James Beard semifinalist Chef Rafael Rios; CO-OP Ramen; Bike Rack Brewing; and—for dessert—don’t miss the award-winning Markham & Fitz Chocolate.
8 must-try dishes in NW Arkansas this year
Why we loved it: We tried the chicken street tacos, charred cauliflower, and guac and chips. These are great street tacos. They were what a street taco is meant to be: quick, portable, delicious … and on the street.
Yeyo's in Bentonville: Voted One of the Best Places To Eat in America!
Known as one of the best restaurants in the country, Yeyo’s in Bentonville, Arkansas, is a fantastic location for fresh, delicious food. The food is made right before your eyes and is very flavorful.
Bentonville Area Guide
Yeyo’s, 801 SE 8th St #41, Bentonville, AR | (479) 657-6954, Mexican street food with tons of flavor. Located within Bentonville’s 8th St. Market— a must visit.
The Mostly Unbiased Guide to Bentonville’s Best Shopping, Eats and Mus
Yeyos - Yeyos is the food truck with the best street tacos in town!. Try the carne asada street tacos. Go on a Friday night for a little mariachi action.
A Local’s Guide to Bentonville, Arkansas
YeYo’s - Delicious Mexican food that uses local ingredients to support the community. Most of their menu is naturally gluten free as well!
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit