50 Best Mexican Restaurants near Highland Park

“Guacamole was good The shrimp tamale was good The service was good The churo could have been softer and fresher…… I will be back when in the area.“

“Delicious food and exceptionally friendly service. A charming addition to Winnetka’s local, family dining scene.“

“Got a barbacoa burrito to go, that thing WAS stuffed with meat. I say was in all caps because that burrito was not long for this world and has found a new home in my stomach. Last meal level burrito that came with enough meat in it for you to cry at the idea you ever considered going to any of those other half-butt “burrito” restaurants. Not to mention the cashier warned me about the burrito being a little messy?? Absolutely not. The tortilla held strong against my vicious attacks to. the. last. bite. Amazing food awesome service. Dope barbacoa“

“Great people and the best Margaritas 👌“

“Drove thru today and was greeted by someone that provided nothing but excellent customer service, when I received my food I asked the employee for his name (Pete) I told him to keep up the great attitude and I’ll definitely be back. Food was good and the Doritos tacos are a 10/10“

“We had an awesome girls afternoon out with some great drinks and an awesome server than was full of suggestions and fun entertainment. Jorge G did a great job!“

“The tinga chicken was delicious, maybe the best I’ve ever had. I loved the blue corn tortillas and the mezcal cocktails. The art work is very interesting and adds to the uniqueness of the place. I would recommend Zentli to anyone.“

“Best bean burrito in Chicagoland!“

“Had a private party here to celebrate my 50th birthday 🎉 All the guests loved the atmosphere. Everyone raved about the food and drinks 🥰 Their attentive service was much appreciated. Fabulous experience!!“

“Simply AMAZING! Ochoa’s is easily one of the best Mexican restaurants in the area. We recently used them for catering (25 people), and everything exceeded our expectations. Communication was top-notch, portions were huge, and the food was incredible. Guests couldn’t stop talking about the juicy chicken and steak, the homemade chips and salsas, and guacamole that could honestly be eaten by the spoonful. Mr. Ochoa truly takes pride in his food — you can taste the love in every bite. Highly recommend for both dining in and catering!“

“Delicious Mexican fare, including fresh tortilla chips, salsa, and guacamole. But the real standout was our server Aidenn, who was extremely warm and attentive, making for a fun and memorable afternoon.“

“Tasty food, good drinks and very nice service. I recommend it.“

“On top of the food being more then exceptional, the staff, (especially the lady that helps at the register are amazing.“

“Delicious Mexican food and creative cuisine.“

“Súper recomendado 😋 Toda la comida está deliciosa Y sus aguas frescas excelente sabor sin tanto dulce y un sabor único y especial ♥️el mejor restaurante mexicano en estos alrededores 🤗“

“Delicious food and friendly service!!“

“I sat in and got the birria tacos, and they were SO good. The horchata, churros, rice, and beans were delicious and tasted authentic too. I’m extremely picky when it comes to Mexican food, so I don’t say this lightly, but everything tasted so fresh and flavorful. The owner was also incredibly kind and welcoming, which made the whole experience feel really warm and comforting. You can really tell they care about the food and the people who come in.

Definitely recommend giving Taco Verde a try if you’re in Glenview. 10/10! ❤“

“El sabor 100 % mexicano !!“

“Yo recomiendo este lugar por muy buen servicio y deliciosa comida.“

“Los Azares Mexican Grill delivers every time! Easily the best Mexican restaurant in Des Plaines. The Mixed Fajitas are packed with flavor—tender steak, juicy chicken, and perfectly cooked shrimp with fresh peppers and onions. Served with rice, beans, tortillas, and all the toppings—it’s a complete and satisfying meal!“

“Best tacos ever!! The taco selection is authentic and a great price! Only place to him for tacos in my mind!“

“We are here visiting Chicago for our daughters Boot Camp graduation. We were wanting some authentic Mexican food and we took a chance on this place. LET me tell you! We were not disappointed! The food was fantastic. I felt like we were back home on California. If you want great mexican food go here! You will love it!“

“Nice waitress and great food.“

“Wonderful to work with Jay to support BMS girls lacrosse. Donated 40 tacos for pre-game meal!“

“The Venezuelan sampler was great, and it featured pulled pork and beef brisket. We also enjoyed the plantains. We will be back.“

“They’re amazing! Great food, strong drinks, reasonably priced & fabulous staff.“

“la comida es de lo mejorc el mejor restaurante mexicano“

“First time going to this place and it was super cute and clean inside. The cashier at the front was really friendly and helped us order and recommended foods. He seemed happy to be there and very passionate about their food. Its a very welcoming and cute little shop serving authentic and amazing food.“

“Tacos de carne asada are the best around! And their walking taco is a fave too. Staff is always friendly, highly recommend this family-owned restaurant.“

“The Otherdoor is a great neighborhood spot that feels like an upgraded, elevated spin on the standard Chipotle setup.

The Standout Features
- 10 Levels of Spice: They offer a unique spice scale from 1 to 10. The heat ramps up, but it's really about the rich, shifting flavor profiles. An employee mentioned level 9 is technically the spiciest option, but I went for the 10 and my wife tried the 7—both were delicious.
- Top-Tier Meats: I got double meat with barbacoa and the duck. The employee recommended duck as his personal favorite, and both proteins were superb. My wife got the brisket and loved it as well.
- Kid-Approved: Beyond the bowls, they offer tacos that our kids completely devoured for their kids' meals.
- Familiar Setup: The base options follow a familiar flow with your choice of white or brown rice along with black or pinto beans.

Vibe & Location
It’s a bit pricier than standard fast-casual Mexican, but the step up in quality makes it more than worth it. The location itself is in a super cute area right on Main Street with plenty of outdoor seating, making it a hot spot for locals picking up to-go orders. Inside, you actually walk through a massive attached restaurant space to reach the restrooms.

Overall, it's a fantastic spot with great quality proteins and a fun customizable spice scale. Highly recommended if you're in the neighborhood!“

“Excellent margaritas and enchiladas. The outdoor seating is great. #iraeats“

“I love this place because the staff member carded me with a serious face so they get top scores for that even though I haven’t been carded in years (I think if they card any female over 40 or 50 they will continue to get great reviews with very happy customers feeling better). The food was outstanding. We first tried it at an event where someone had the pop-up service. We had to come to the actual place after trying it there. After eating at Invicto, I can never go to Chipotle again. The margaritas were terrific. I can see why people are raving about this place! The food and drinks are too delicious that we will want to go here too much when in Vernon Hills and will have to worry about weight gain stuffing our faces (which is a good issue to have).“

“Delicious! We saw the recommendation on Dine In/Dine Out Lake Bluff /Lake Forest Facebook page. So we decided to try it tonight. We were NOT disappointed. Service was friendly, nice casual dining spot. Great bar choices. The meal was delicious - we had the skirt steak and the flavor was top notch. My meal came with 4 shrimp and prepared well, not spicy. The flavors were yum and truly can’t wait to go back. From reviews the seafood looks delicious. We will try that next time!“

“muy buena comida todo está muy rico“

“We have a nice dinner the food was so good, and for sure we will back 💖💖“

“Tex mex food ive ever had, friends and family meal from the liquor store manager Kash recommended we try this restaurant and we were very impressed with the food and the service!“

“The food here is fresh, authentic, and top quality! We had birria tacos, pastor tacos, flautas, and many other dishes. Everything was delicious! The horchata, guacamole, rice, and beans were also best I’ve ever had. I highly recommend this place. The owners and staff are passionate about what they do and are really amiable!“

“Now offering BREAKFAST !! WOW... LOVE IT !!“

“Our server was Trey!! I had the smash burger and a margarita! Everything was so delicious! I recommend this place to anyone! It is a Mexican spot so getting a burger was sorta strange but once I read the beef was mixed with Chorizo I was sold and just had to try it. It didn’t disappoint. The Guacamole/ salsa and chips were as very tasty! A must try“

“This is one of the best Mexican Cuisine Restaraunts I have ever had , very authentic. We had the quesabirrias and they were so good. Fresh food served here . Our server Gina was the best . Since we walked in she had a smile on her face , Her attitude and positiveness caught my attention. I had a wonderful fast service with Gina . I will definitely recommend this place to my friends . Thanks to Gina and the restaraunts amazing food I will definitely come back !“

“Fresh flavors, delicious food, and the kind of warm, welcoming atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re eating in your Mexican grandma’s kitchen! The restaurant is spotless, the music is great, and the menu is filled with classic Mexican staples done right. We loved the chips and salsa, the fish tacos were absolutely amazing, and the grilled chicken burrito bowl was equally delicious! Everything tasted fresh, flavorful, and made with care. Such a wonderful little spot! We’ll definitely be back!“

“they have the best menu, and the quality of their food is outstanding. Anyone working the night shifts they accommodate the hunger pains with open hours and great food!“

“This is a beautiful place with authentic delicious Mexican food in a perfect location. The chilles rellenos that Í ordered were absolutely delicious along with my margarita made my day. My friend ordered the typical carne asada which was served with rice and beans and she was delighted. We are for sure coming back during the summer to enjoy more of these authentic Mexican dishes.“

“We went to their location in Libertyville all the time. Heartbroken when it closed. So glad they have this location. Best chimichanga ever. No on come close.“

“The restaurant is wonderful place great food great service is a please for a family very. Very good please thanks for you service my daughter was so happy for her graduation on was so happy to be on the beautiful please thanks so much 🙏“

“Buen servicio rápido y sabroso“

“Great food. Decent prices. And really nice people.“

“Plancha Loca offers excellent service and incredible food quality. Their shrimp tacos are the best! There’s a wide variety of options for everyone, and the customer service is outstanding. The food is absolutely delicious. I highly recommend this place!! definitely worth a visit! 🌮✨“

“Our order for a taco bar and salad for 10 people was outstanding. Our whole group raved about how great the food was. We are definitely ordering again for our next meeting And you changed the views of the inexperienced about how good kosher food can be. ‏שבת שלום“