50 Best Mexican Restaurants in Chicago

“BEST TACOS IN CHICAGO“

“Outstanding! Highly recommended Knowledgeable, friendly staff and incredible experience“

“Elegantly casual. LUVED. Counter seat into kitchen view was fun, interesting and worth it.“

“The food was amazing but the staff was even better, even during their busy times, milton, sierra, and mari cruz l took the time to connect and give us amazing service. Definitely will be back for more steak and empanadas SOOO GOOD. Oh and the lime cheleda perioddd.“

“The food, drinks, service and recommendations were excellent. We were celebrating a birthday, and everything from the Oaxacan tlayuda to the Cornish hen with mole and the margaritas made with mezcal from the owners’ hometown in Oaxaca made for a great meal.“

“Excellent service very clean very delicious food well recommended 100%“

“Solamente quiero decir que este lugar no lo vuelvo a pisar tres horas, esperando no sirvieron la comida completa, la hostess hizo un comentario. Tienen hambre que se esperen otro manager, quería sentarnos al lado de la basura. Es una falta de respeto más aparte sus cocineros hicieron unas palabras anti sonantes. Otra falta de respeto. Cero recomendaciones enséñales a sus trabajadores ser profesionales“

“I come here every time I get my nails done. Everything here is so good and always fresh. The lady that’s takes the orders is always so nice and always recommending great things she told me to try the hibiscus and it’s soooo good ! I get it every time I come !“

“The best birria I have ever eaten in my entire life. I've just been there for the first time and it's simply incredible. From the first place, I was involved in something difficult to explain, so many years passing and never having given them a chance or knowing the goodness of their food.“

“Thank you Fernando and Ismael at 5 rabanitos!! Great food, great drinks and great service. Can’t wait to go back!“

“Great taco restaurant, great food and service. Edil, thank you for the great service, very kind and timely service. The best.“

“We are from out of town (Tourist lol) we had a miscommunication with the order . Chris shift supervisor was exceptional he jumped right in and handle the situation with professionalism and wonderful customer service . My family and I will return !!! Food Amazing !“

“Great food/drinks Great service Great prices We will be back.“

“Amanda was an angel. We got to know her and she was really sweet her and the other tall worker were very quick on filling up our empty water cups. The food so good and fresh. Food came out very quickly. Despite being busy they managed to stay on top and tasks and keep the place clean. Good experience, will be back.“

“I highly recommend Manchamanteles Restaurant! My dining experience was exceptional from start to finish. The food was outstanding, with each dish expertly prepared and presented. The staff were friendly, attentive, and made sure we felt welcome. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, making it the perfect spot for any occasion. I will definitely be returning when in town!“

“5 star food, 5 star horchata, 5 star service!!! This is my weekend splurge almost every weekend.“

“the food is always delicious and service is always so kind! I've ordered something different each visit and have never been disappointed! margaritas are great too! love this place so much!“

“This restaurant is amazing. It is my go to place to go when I want a nice meal out or when I have friends visiting. The atmosphere is intimate but lively. The staff is lovely and always have the best recommendations. We are always blown away from the flavors and quality of the food.“

“Estimados encargados de El Solazo: Espero este mensaje les encuentre bien. Me dirijo a ustedes como un cliente frecuente y admirador de su restaurante, en el cual siempre disfruto de una comida deliciosa y un servicio excepcional. Sin embargo, en mi última visita, experimenté una situación que considero importante señalar para su atención y mejora. El día de hoy, martes 26 de noviembre, llegué a cenar a las 8:45 pm confiando en la información publicada en sus redes sociales, donde claramente se especifica que el horario de cierre es a las 11:00 pm. No obstante, a las 9:30 pm ya se estaba anunciando el "último llamado" para bebidas alcohólicas. Además, durante mi estancia, fui testigo de cómo dos familias fueron rechazadas para cenar por el mismo motivo: el restaurante estaba cerrando antes de tiempo debido a "la falta de clientes". Entiendo que puedan surgir situaciones operativas, pero considero que este tipo de decisiones impacta negativamente en la experiencia de sus clientes. Cuando se anuncia un horario de cierre, los clientes planeamos nuestras visitas en base a esa información. De no ser posible mantener el horario anunciado, sería más transparente ajustarlo oficialmente en sus plataformas para que las personas puedan planear con anticipación y, en caso necesario, optar por otras opciones. Por último, quiero mencionar que esta inconformidad fue compartida con nuestra mesera, quien nos escuchó con amabilidad. Sin embargo, creo que esta situación requiere un ajuste desde la gerencia para evitar malentendidos en el futuro. Agradezco de antemano su atención a esta situación y espero que se tomen las medidas necesarias para garantizar que su excelente servicio sea consistente en todos los aspectos. Atentamente, Jesus Jesse Hernández“

“Don't let the fact that its in a gas station fool you! Best Chilaquiles east of the Chicago River!“

“As Islanders living here, this place is a piece of of home. Onolicious grinds!“

“Excelente food and great service“

“Very good food. I highly recommend this place.“

“I finally got to try Rubi’s on 18th and let me tell you. OMG! I do believe these are the BEST tacos, I've EVER had. The cashier was super nice and friendly, the food was fresh and there was a lot of it for the price. I can’t wait to go back already. I got 4 steak tacos, strawberry horchata, and guacamole and chips. Thank you guys! Monica Miranda! See you next time.“

“The restaurant was very nice, and great service. I ordered the Birria tacos and they were honestly some of the best Ive ever had, no joke. My wife got the Steak quesadilla and complimented how tender and flavorful the steak was. I rated the service a 4 because at the end I got my bill of 58 dollars and put 80 bucks cash. The bartender asked me if I wanted change. Felt that was a bit rude to ask. Overall a good restaurant and I would recommend to anyone who is in the area.“

“I visited this place on yesterday randomly looking for breakfast spots. As soon as we entered, all of the employees greeted us with a smile, and a hello the atmosphere was extremely welcoming and made us extremely excited.. We let our waitress. Maria know that it was our first time she assured us that we would be satisfied. We were indeed satisfied I highly recommend this place. Please go check them out.“

“I make it my business to be 100% real in my reviews, in my opinion of course, and for this reason I decided to try this place and I have to admit I was impressed. Truth be told 6 yrs. ago I went to their flagship restaurant & had the most horrible service which was compounded by a wrong order changed to a cold long waited for order...this location renewed my faith in hospitality & great food ! I'm a stickler for authentic Mexican food, you know just like grandma would make & this did not disappoint. I believe in first impressions so the warm & helpful not to mention courteous service I received upon entering was a very good start. I asked for recommendations & if I could change a plate or mix it up & they were 100% accommodating! The best part was the childhood memories their food inspired me to have ! I was suddenly taken back to my Daddy's carne asada in the yard & grandma's salsa that went along with our food. Tortillas came fresh & hot alongside my plate and the wide variety of dishes accompanied by the vibrant aromas as soon as you open the door will assure you order too much food lol. Large variety of tamales options, guitars ( stews) grilled chiles and the best freshly grilled tacos de asada will leave you wanting more ! Im pleased to say I have a renewed faith in the institution & their amazingly flavorful very authentic Mexican food ! I can't say I'll ever go back to their original location but this location has proven that good service, good management, clean & pleasant atmosphere alongside the great food options will always leave you coming back for more ! Highly recommend this location only !!“

“Tacos con sazón muy buenos . Y servicio excelente. Precio justo .“

“Best Carne Asada in the Midwest!because it’s al carbon! My family has been coming here since before I was born 🫶🏼“

“Great food and wonderful atmosphere!!“

“Delicious food! The carne asada pambazo is something I will for sure be coming back for. The bread was amazing and I would’ve been happy just eating that. The service is amazing and makes you feel well taken care of and right at home. I will be coming back for sure and recommending this to others as well!“

“Try as many tacos as you can! The fish tacos are a much but the birria tacos blew me away!“

“This place is always on point. Have been here multiple times and visit every time in Chicago. We made reservations as it was a Friday night and didn’t want to miss out.

We were seated in the bar area. It was a very busy night. Of all the times I’ve been here have never seen Chef Rick. But he happened to be in the bar speaking with a guest that was dining at the bar. It was really cool to see Chef Rick after all the years of dining here.

As for the food, it was great as usual. For starters we ordered the chips and salsa. The entrees were tortilla soup. It sounds simple was is very flavorful, they pour the broth tableside.
The other entree was the grilled chicken tacos that came with beans and guacamole and fresh tortillas. It was really good. Had to save room for dessert. Got a carajillo and the pecan pie.“

“I’ve been coming to Carnitas Uruapan with my dad since 1995, and they have never disappointed us once. Every visit brings back memories and reminds me why this place is a true Chicago treasure. The carnitas are always flavorful, perfectly cooked, and packed with authentic taste that keeps you coming back for more.

One of the absolute highlights are their chiles jalapeños — they add the perfect spicy kick and take the carnitas to another level. You can taste the tradition and consistency in every bite.

If you want authentic carnitas and a true Pilsen experience, Carnitas Uruapan is a must-visit. Still one of the best after all these years!“

“I have been a vegetarian my entire life, and the vegetarian quesarito was my go-to item here. IT ROCKED. When I went in last time, our server said the chef said they will no longer make vegetarian quesaritos. NOOOOOOOO PLEASE ADD IT BACK AND MY LIFE IS YOURS!!!“

“Oooooorale’! We found another hidden gem! (Well not really hidden, lol) este restaurante está riquísimo! For all of you non-Spanish speakers, this place is delicious! It looks small from the outside, but it’s enormous in flavor! It’s a very cute and nicely decorated place. Staff is incredibly nice and helpful. But the food… it rocks! We ordered the Orden de Quesobirria and a Carne en su Jugo and a Agua de Jamaica (hibiscus water) and a Horchata (rice water). The Carne stew was delicious! So many levels of flavors. The birria was fantastic! Levels and levels of flavor. Will definitely be back for the Menudo this weekend. See you all here!“

“I’ve written several reviews about this restaurant because I just can’t say enough. Best Mexican food, excellent service. Cute, intimate setting you must try for yourself. BYOB. I’ve gone on record to say that I had the best steak I have ever had, with their skirt steak in their Tampiquena dish.“

“My staff of over 100 employees loved it. Statements all day was that this food can’t be from Elgin, it taste too good. I responded CTA and they said no wonder it’s so good and authentic cause it’s from Chicago!“

“We love Mercadito!! The atmosphere, the special mood…..and especially the food What a variety of spectacular dishes! Add a warm and welcoming staff and you’ve got just spot for a great dinner for two or a special evening with friends. We visit whenever we’re in Chicago.“

“Baby! When I say the best steak taco I have ever had!!!! So tender, so seasoned, so juicy! I will definitely return again and again. I purchased the taco for my son and i REALLY wanted him to forget about his extra one so I could eat it later. I was sooo disappointed when he didn't forget about it the next day, lol.“

“the best food in town 😋😋😋“

“Katie was our server and omg she was amazing. Half of our group was a lil buzzed from the cubs game and she handled it like a pro!!! Food was amazing but the service was better!! We will come back because of her!! Thank u Katie!!“

“So glad we came here!
The food was wonderfully delicious, and the entire menu was just fantastic from start to finish. The restaurant has a lively, welcoming ambiance that made for a really lovely evening.

Our server, Sadie, was so friendly and provided amazing service. Between the great atmosphere, top-tier hospitality, and exceptional food, we had a perfect experience!“

“Beautiful lighting service was great and please don’t get me started on this steak. I enjoy every bit of my night. Yes, I recommend Matilda.🩵🩵🩵“

“Yesterday was my first time visiting this location, and overall I had a really good experience 😊 The food was super delicious and full of flavor, and the portions were very generous - definitely more than enough to feel satisfied 🍽️👌 I’ll absolutely be coming back again!

One small thing that could be improved is clearer signage. There wasn’t anything indicating that you can seat yourself, so I assumed I needed to order at the counter and wait for a number 🤔 Turns out I was completely wrong, and for a moment I thought I was about to get scolded 😅 The lady at the counter helped fix my order and guided me, and then I was able to sit down.

Aside from that little confusion, everything else was great, and I still really enjoyed my visit 🙌✨“

“Iris was such a wonderful waitress! Amazing drinks and food. 10/10 will be back and recommend. 💓“

“It was about 3:30pm in the afternoon, I looked up food near me on google. Bam, Esperanza’s pupusas restaurant popped up. I love a good pupusa. When I saw the menu, I was to excited to pick. Luckily, there was a sweet lady that asked me if I knew what I wanted, while the cashier was taking his time with the other patrons. I seen he was very polite and very attentive to them. I didn’t mind waiting my turn. However, the sweet lady took my order and explained to me what a Puputaco was. So, I ordered a chicharron pupusa with asada on top and an Horchata. When they asked me what kind of salsa I wanted, I told them mild. I was starving so when my chips came they brought 5 types of salsas!! I loved every single one of them. When I say the service was amazing, impeccable, and just like being at your traditional Grandmother’s kitchen, I mean they have everything spot on!! The food was fire, delicious, savory, authentic, and extremely delicious!! Thank you for your delicious food and phenomenal service. I will be back and I will be sure to tell my family and friends. I didn’t get a chance to take a picture since I was so hungry. Next time.“

“The food and staff were amazing! Such a friendly staff who were extremely welcoming and attentive. I have never ordered ‘seconds’ at a restaurant until today! The tostadas were out of this world and the shrimp taco was delicious. A must try!“

“Muy rica la comida y buen trato“

“Husband and I both housed our delivered three taco meals with rice and refried beans in about 10 minutes (chicken for me, pastor for him). Exceptionally delicious, every detail was fresh and tasty...I'm already thinking about my next order from here if that tells you anything.“