Cafe El Tapatio

3400 N Ashland Ave, Chicago
(773) 327-5475

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Customers' Favorites

Sincronizada De Papa Con Chorizo
Free Chips and Salsa
Sizzling Hot Fajitas
Enchiladas Tapatias
Steak Sincronizada
Enchiladas Suizas
Breakfast Burrito
Huevos Rancheros
Caldo De Camaron
Chicken Fajitas

Menu

BOTANAS
TAQUITOS DE TINGA DE POLLO
Crispy rolled corn tortillas stuffed with pulled chicken tinga. Topped with queso fresco and crema. Served with salsa cruda.
EMPANADAS
Turnovers stuffed with choice of picadillo (beef, raisins, rice), camarón (shrimp, poblano rajas, queso chihuahua), or espinaca (baby spinach & queso de cabra).
ELOTES DE LA CALLE
Roasted corn on the cob, ancho chile crema, queso fresco, butter and chile powder.
NACHOS
Crispy tortilla chips smothered with beans, salsa dulce, melted chihuahua cheese, crema and guacamole. Add meat for an additional charge.
CAMARONES JUANITA
Pan-tossed shrimp with chile de árbol flakes, chile guajillo salsa, garlic, and lime. Served with fired grilled toast.
REVOLTIJO
Flash fried plantain topped with carne asada, poblano rajas, mushrooms, and chopped onion. Topped with queso chihuahua au gratin.
GUACAMOLE
Avocado spiked with fresh lime juice and pico de gallo. Elevate your guacamole with Jicama & Mango.
PAPAS PRIMAVERA GORDAS
House seasoned potatoes topped with cilantro chimichurri, chorizo and cheese.
QUESADILLAS DON JOSE CON CHORIZO
Corn tortillas stuffed with queso chihuahua, grilled onions, frijoles, chorizo, and jalapeño rajas. Served with salsa cruda.
QUESO FUNDIDO
Melted creamy chihuahua cheese topped with your choice of chorizo or rajas poblanas and choice of tortillas.
QUESO DE CABRA RANCHERO
Warm, creamy goat cheese in spicy salsa ranchera. Served with fire-grilled garlic toast.
PANELA CON CAMARON
3 slices of seared queso panela topped with chargrilled adobo shrimp, roasted tomato and poblano, drizzled with ancho chile balsamic sauce and sprinkled with Mexican oregano.
CEVICHE
Citrus spiked Tilapia or Shrimp with pico de gallo, olive oil, and sea salt, served with saltine crackers.
COCTEL DE CAMARON
Chilled Shrimp in a house-made spicy cocktail sauce, pico de gallo and avocado chunks. Served parfait style with saltine crackers.
BEN AQUÍ
Beef hash layered with poblano rajas, ranchero sauce and chihuahua cheese au gratin.

SOPAS
CREMA POBLANA
Cream of roasted poblano peppers. Topped with tortilla chips and poblano rajas.
CALDO DE POLLO
Choose between poached chicken breast or thigh, simmered in a broth with crunchy vegetables and leeks. Served with rice and tortillas.
CALDO DE RES
Braised beef short ribs, crunchy vegetables, leeks and cilantro broth. Served with rice and tortillas.
AZTECA
Tapatio's original tortilla chicken soup simmered with chipotle pepper and topped with queso chihuahua and avocado slices. Served with rice.
CALDO DE CAMARON
Rich guajillo pepper broth, chunks of carrot and potato with Gulf shrimp. Served with rice and tortillas.

ENSALADAS
EL BURRO BOWL
Romaine, roasted corn, black beans, poblano rice, pico de gallo, avocado, queso fresco and choice of protein. Served in a burrito bowl with ancho aioli.
JICAMA SALAD
Mixed greens, fresh jicama, tomatoes, cucumber, red and white onion, all tossed with freshly squeezed lime juice chopped cilantro and olive oil.
ESPINACA SALAD
Baby spinach, creamy goat cheese, toasted sesame, applewood bacon, and sliced pear. Served with chipotle balsamic vinaigrette.
EL CESAR SALAD
Romaine, chargrilled chicken breast, corn tortilla strips, queso añejo, creamy chipotle caesar dressing.

PLATOS FUERTES
COSTILLAS DE RES EN TOMATILLO
Tender beef short ribs off the bone, simmered with potato in tomatillo salsa verde. Served with rice, beans and your choice of tortillas.
PECHUGA BANDERA
Charbroiled chicken breast topped with roasted tomato, poblano rajas and creamy goat cheese. Served with arroz poblano and esquites de calabaza.
ARRACHERA X X
Charbroiled skirt steak marinated with X* Lager beer and garlic. Topped with Spanish onions and poblano rajas. Served with nopalitos, frijoles de la olla and guacamole.
CARNE ASADA
Charbroiled skirt steak topped with grilled Spanish onions and poblano rajas. Served with a cheese enchilada Tapatia, rice, beans and choice of tortillas.
ASADA FRITES
Charbroiled marinated skirt steak topped with grilled onions and poblano rajas. Served with house potatoes, cilantro chimichurri and jicama salad.
POLLO EN MOLE DE REYNA
Your choice of chicken breast or thigh, topped with our complex mole poblano. Served with rice, beans and tortillas.
PECHUGA TAPATIA
Chicken breast tossed with mushrooms, garlic and onion. Topped with salsa verde, melted Chihuahua cheese and served with rice and beans.
CAMARONES AL TEQUILA
Pan-tossed jumbo shrimp with guajillo adobo, garlic, onion, tomato, cilantro and flambeed with tequila. Served with arroz verde, guacamole and pico de gallo.
SALMÓN CÍTRICO
Light citrus and Mexican oregano marinated char-broiled salmon. Topped with mango jalapeno salsa. Served with Mexican red rice and grilled calabacita and red bell pepper slices.
CAMARONES MONTE ALBAN
Pan-tossed jumbo shrimp, onion, tomato, garlickly cilantro chimichurri, flambeed with smokey me*cal and chile de árbol. Served with mexican red rice.
LA FLACA
Adobo rubbed charbroiled chicken breast on a bed of sautéed baby spinach served with roasted seasonal vegetables, queso panela and ancho crema.
FABULOSA
Carne Asada, chile relleno, flauta de pollo, served with rice and beans.

TACOS D.F
PASTOR TACOS
Ancho chile braised pork, pickled red onion and cilantro.
CARNITAS TACOS
Pork confit topped with pico de gallo and guacamole.
ABRAZO DE CARNE TACOS
Seared Chihuahua Cheese stuffed with steak, chorizo and bacon. Topped with cilantro crema and red onion.
DESHEBRADA TACOS
Beef short rib, grilled onions, jalapeño rajas, cilantro and pickled red onion.
CARNE ASADA TACOS
Charbroiled skirt steak, red onion and cilantro.
TINGA DE POLLO TACOS
Pulled chicken tinga, bacon, pickled red onion, cilantro, and queso fresco.
CHORIQUESO TACOS
Chargrilled Chorizo. Roasted pepper and onion. Seared panel and serrano crema. Served on flour tortillas.

TACOS PACIFICO
JAROCHO TACOS
Adobo-lime rubbed chargrilled shrimp topped with diced jicama, cucumber, pickled red onion and cilantro salsa cruda.
MAR DE CORTÉZ TACOS
Dos Equis Amber beer battered shrimp, shredded lettuce, red cabbage, and ancho chile crema.
BRASAS TACOS
Citrus marinated char-grilled tilapia topped with mixed greens, pico de gallo, and jalapeño vinaigrette.
DEL MAR TACOS
Lightly battered tilapia topped with mixed greens and cilantro crema.
BELLOS TACOS
Adobo marinated charbroiled portabello mushrooms, In warm tortillas de maiz topped with pineapple/mango relish.
ABRAZO DE CAMARÓN TACOS
Seared Chihuahua Cheese stuffed with shrimp and roasted poblano. Topped with ancho crema, cilantro and onion.

LOS CLASICOS
QUESABIRRIAS
Three ancho chile seared corn quesadillas with poached beef (multicuts) in a four chile herbed broth. Served with broth, cilantro and onion.
STEAK SINCRONIZADA
2 flour tortillas stacked and stuffed with steak pico de gallo and beans topped with melted queso chihuahua. Served with rice and beans.
SINCRONIZADA DE PAPA CON CHORIZO
Flour tortillas stacked and stuffed with homemade chorizo, diced, seasoned potatoes, pico de gallo and beans topped with melted queso chihuahua. Served with rice and beans.
CHIMICHANGA
Crispy flour tortilla filled with beans, queso chihuahua and your choice of picadillo or pulled chicken adobado. Served with rice and beans.
LAS FLAUTAS DE LA CASA
2 crispy rolled tortillas stuffed with choice of picadillo (beef hash) or pulled chicken adobado. Topped with guacamole and crema. Served with rice and beans.
ENFRIJOLADAS
Chihuahua cheese stuffed flour tortillas topped with a black bean cream sauce, queso añejo, crema and red onion. Served with poblano rice.
CHILES RELLENOS
2 lightly battered, cheese stuffed poblano peppers. Topped with a mild tomato sauce and crema, served with rice and beans.

BURRITOS
SUIZO BURRITO
Choice of meat, crema, queso chihuahua, guacamole, beans, lettuce and tomato. Topped with salsa dulce and melted chihuahua cheese.
FAJITA BURRITO
Choice of meat, sauteed red&green peppers, onions, tomato, ancho chile sauce, crema, queso chihuahua and beans.
L.A. CALIFA BURRITO
Choice of meat, house potatoes, cilantro chimichurri, queso chihuahua, crema, beans.
VEGETARIANO PORTOBELLO BURRITO
Char-grilled portobello, crema, queso chihuahua, guacamole, lettuce and tomato, beans. Topped with melted queso chihuahua and pico de gallo.

ENCHILADAS
CREPAS
Three flour tortillas stuffed with fresh spinach, queso chihuahua and topped with a mild chipotle cream sauce. Served with arroz verde, esquites de calabaza. Substitute filling with chicken tinga.
TOMATILLO VERDE ENCHILADAS
3 Corn tortillas stuffed with your choice of beef, pulled chicken, cheese or portobello, topped with salsa verde, crema and queso añejo. Served with rice and beans.
SUIZAS ENCHILADAS
3 Corn tortillas stuffed with queso chihuahua, beef or pulled chicken, topped with salsa dulce and chihuahua cheese au gratin. Served with rice and beans.
MOLE POBLANO ENCHILADAS
3 Corn tortillas stuffed with your choice of beef, pulled chicken, cheese or plantains, topped with mole poblano, queso añejo, and crema. Served with rice and beans.
DE LA COSTA ENCHILADAS
3 Corn tortillas stuffed with ancho chile rubbed shrimp. Topped with chile poblano crema, rajas and red onion. Served with arroz verde and esquites de calabaza.
A LA MAX ENCHILADAS
Three corn tortillas seared with chile guajillo adobo stuffed with picadillo (beef hash), pulled chicken adobado or queso chihuahua. Topped with, queso añejo and crema. Served with rice and beans.

FAJITAS
Chicken Fajitas
Pan tossed with onion, tomato, red and green pepper. Served with rice, beans, guacamole, crema, and tortillas.
Steak Fajitas
Pan tossed with onion, tomato, red and green pepper. Served with rice, beans, guacamole, crema, and tortillas.
Shrimp Fajitas
Pan tossed with onion, tomato, red and green pepper. Served with rice, beans, guacamole, crema, and tortillas.
Vegetarian Fajitas
Pan tossed with onion, tomato, red and green pepper. Served with rice, beans, guacamole, crema, and tortillas.
Combo Fajitas
Pan tossed with onion, tomato, red and green pepper. Served with rice, beans, guacamole, crema, and tortillas.

DESSERT
FLAN
mexican style custard infused with flavor of the day.
CREPA DE CAJETA
Crepe stuffed with housemade dulce de leche and mango.
CREPA DE LA ABUELITA
Crepe stuffed with Mexican chocolate ganache.
PLATANOS LA LECHERA
Caramelized plantain with sweetened condensed milk drizzle.

DRINKS
LIMONADA SLUSH
Virgin frozen lime
FRUITY SLUSH
Virgin frozen fruity
HORCHATA AGUA FRESCA
JAMAICA AGUA FRESCA

SIDES
SOUR CREAM 2OZ
CHEESE CHIHUAHUA 2OZ
CHEESE AÑEJO 2OZ
PICO DE GALLO 2OZ
AVOCADO
3 SLICES.
LETTUCE AND TOMATO
TORTILLAS
ARROZ O RICE
FRIJOL OR BEANS
GUACAMOLE SIDE

SALSA DE LA CASA
CHIPS
16 Oz. Salsa
32 Oz. Salsa

RISE & SHINE
BIRRIA PIZZA
Beef birria pizza topped with onion and cilantro, served with a four chile herbed broth to dip. Our Rise & Shine Menu, only available 11am-3pm Tues-Friday, features our famous Birria Pizza. On here we offer it all day!

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Recent Reviews

You can’t go wrong with Cafe El Tapatio! The drinks and the food are great and you’ll never walk away disappointed. One thing I will note about this restaurant is that seating is limited and is not best for large groups. If you’re dining as one person, there’s usually space at the bar.
October 2025
This place is a neighborhood gem. Great vibe and the owner Makes you feel like family. Sit at the bar and meet the locals. Don’t miss the churros next door. Authentic and made from scratch! don’t worry if you are gluten free the Gelato is out of this world!
September 2025
God I love this place. I've been coming here for 25 years and my husband for over 33, and the food and service is consistently good and keeps us coming back. The restaurant has been at this location for 50 years, with small expansions and updates to the menu over the years, with the churro parlor next door being the newest addition. Some of the staff have been here 30~40 years. That tells you something about the way the restaurant is run (currently by the son who took...
September 2025

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Cafe El Tapatio

3400 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 327-5475