50 Best Mexican Restaurants near Island Lake

“My favorite place to get tacos! Love the salsa 😋“

“Best Mexican food you’ll love this place great service and super clean environment“

“Some of the best made-from-scratch Mexican food in the area! Highly recommended.“

“Where do I begin? Welcoming atmosphere, clean restaurant, and attentive service. I'm not a margarita fan, but I thoroughly enjoy my strawberry margarita and would enjoy again! My fiancé ordered salsa and chips for an appetizer and we were both happily surprised with the fresh chips and tasty green salsa! After enjoying our appetizer we both ordered their three taco dinner special for taco Tuesday. My fiancé order steak tacos and I ordered a combination of chicken tinga, chorizo, and their house special campechano. Everything was amazing!!! My fiancé enjoys the spicier salsas and was offered a habenero red salsa. We sampled all three that was received and have nothing but good things to say about them all. Thank you for an amazing dinning experience tonight, can't wait to come back and enjoy a new dish in the near future! ☺️🌮🌯“

“Heather was great and so accommodating! Fun atmosphere and tasty drink specials, a stitch pricey. I can’t wait to come back and try more menu options. 4 for the food bc tostadas did not hold up to the toppings, luckily Heather was able to score me a few fresh tostadas to take home and enjoy my leftovers.“

“Had an exceptional experience using Bella Vista for catering a recent bridal shower. Fantastic food and service. Highly recommend!“

“Amazing food and even better service ❤️ Raul’s really makes the best tacos I’ve ever had and I could eat them everyday. But they are always suggesting new things for me to try and I haven’t been disappointed yet. Whether it’s a first time guest or a regular customer they greet everyone like family dropping by for dinner. The food is so good my friends from out of state talk about it long after they go back home. All I can say is If you haven’t had Raul’s you are missing out!“

“Super cute inside. Staff is very friendly, food is fresh and taste great!“

“Tiene muy buen sabor sin duda es auténtico en comida no me quejo pero si en q no te dan un tenedor al menos q tu lo pida la muchacha q atiende se mira muy enojada no va ni una vez sola vez a preguntar por cortesía si es q todo está bien,, le pides agua sin hielo y te dice q no se puede q ya toda tiene hielo la comida buenísima el servicio no no bueno Gracias espero q este comentario sea constructivo!!!“

“By far the best guacamole I’ve ever had! Love the burritos as well. However, I tried something new fish fries. Absolutely amazing! I’ve tried three different Mexican restaurants in town and this is the only one I eat at.“

“wonderful selections, great service and value meals“

“We just celebrated my wife's surprise 65th birthday Sunday with 14 family members. We chose El vado #2 Mexican Restaurant and couldn't be any happier. From them going out of their way purchasing ballons and banners to her complimentary frozen ice cream the service, food and drinks were phenomenal. Very warm and welcoming staff. Very appreciative of your business and fantastic atmosphere. Thank you for this memory. Never felt rushed. Everyone in our family raved on how great it was and was one of our best parties ever. Familiar with their other restaurant in McHenry which is also excellent and reasonably priced. You have to try this place if you like mexican food. A+++“

“The lengua tacos were delicious and the tamales were loaded with shredded pork. I’ll be back again soon.“

“Fresh and yummy food. Friendly service. Try the tamal Oaxaqueño for a rich and complex mole flavor.“

“great food, service and some of the best margaritas“

“fast friendly service outstanding food highly recommend everyone come here.“

“We tried the burrito al pastor and the veggie huarache, and everything was packed with flavor. The guacamole was fresh and creamy, and a touch of salt made it perfect. The rice and beans were fully vegetarian, which was great to see. My burrito was huge, nicely toasted, and every bite was satisfying. A really enjoyable meal from start to finish!“

“7/12/2025 Saturday - Had the same experience as stated, but place was maybe 1/4 full. Prices are reasonable. Had carne asada again and within 12 minutes received and cooked to perfection. I appreciate this place and the service they provide.“

“Friendly and amazing food!!!“

“Su comida es muy rica y ek lugar es muy limpio y muy atentos con sus clientes!!“

“I call ahead and pick up a bag of tacos omw home for easy dinner on tuesdays. Always so good!“

“Good the best“

“super rico y muy buena atencion recomendable“

“Staff was courteous; menu varied with traditional Mexican cuisine.
A bit too pricey for my budget. At $14 a burrito, wouldn't be able to visit regularly with 5 of us.
If your passing through Fox Lake, I'd suggest you give them a try.“

“Sont judge the place from the parking lot, it is very big inside and it deserves 5 star rating. I had ribeye taco dinner! The beat tacos i ever had. My wife had a fajita and it was delicious. Absolutely the best Mexican place in the 20 miles radius. Highly recommended.“

“New owner, great service, new menu, ingredients and decor, highly recommend!“

“very good quality food and a friendly,Kind and caring staff“

“The best Food and atmosphere. Great friendly service.“

“Kelly is an amazing host and person to work with when we were planning our daughter's baby shower for 20 guests. Lots of compliments from our guests about the appearance of this venue. We would HIGHLY recommend Main Street Station for a smaller venue atmosphere!“

“Great lunch menu, delicious. Great service.“

“✅ Friendly service
✅ Unlimited chips and 5 difference salsas!
✅ Piping hot food, fast
✅ Large portions
✅ Large seating area
✅ Clean bathrooms

What’s not to love about this restaurant?
My husband and I have been on a mission to find the best, authentic Mexican food in the Algonquin area. We, along with our friends and family, agree that this place is it! And we also love that they’re closed on Sundays.“

“Owner is super nice, came by and offered me a free taco from his food truck. Went ahead and gave it a try. Show some love if you ever see him around!“

“Been going to Sergios since the beginning. The owner, Sergio, is an awesome guy. I moved out of Lake Zurich two years ago but every time I’m in town and am hungry, I usually try to stop by.“

“Stopped by on a whim and was very, very surprised. The outside is quite attractive with an outside eating area. The inside is nice and clean with plenty of seating. We ordered chips and salsa, Pollo with Mole, and the Steak Burrito Fajita. The chips are homemade (as expected) and very good. The chicken in the Pollo with Mole was super tender. The mole was rich. It came with homemade corn tortillas. The Steak Burrito is filled with fajita fillings, so steak, green and red peppers, and onions. The flour tortilla was filled and grilled giving the whole a nice smokey flavor. It was one of the very best burritos I have ever had. Look over my reviews. I have eaten a lot of burritos. They have a creamy salsa verde that is great, a very nice Roja sauce, and a hot sauce that is no joke hot. Our server was great and the whole experience was a great one. Will be back soon.“

“Great Mexican Food in Downtown Round Lake with a Mexican Bakery next door“

“Hola 🤟🏼🤟🏼🤟🏼
If you're looking for a little slice of Mexico right here, La Mexicana Buena Vista is the place to be! 🌮✨

From the moment you step in, the warm and inviting atmosphere makes you feel like you’re home. We ordered a feast fit for champions: starting with the taco dinner featuring mouthwatering steak cabeza and al pastor that danced in our mouths with every bite—simply divine! Each taco was packed with flavor, and the toppings were fresh, making our taste buds sing! 🎶

Next up was the steak a la mexicana dinner, which came generously served with rice, beans, and a refreshing salad. The steak was cooked to perfection, bursting with flavor and paired perfectly with silky avocado slices. It's like a fiesta on a plate!

Oh, and let’s not forget the steak torta! This beauty was a gooey, delicious masterpiece served with rice and beans that felt like a warm hug on a plate. And the agua fresca? The horchata was a creamy treat that perfectly quenched our thirst alongside the tartness of the Jamaica.

The service here deserves a shoutout as well! The cooks were as polite as they were skilled, and the staff taking our orders were genuinely friendly. It’s clear they love what they do, which indeed adds to the whole experience.

In short, La Mexicana Buena Vista is more than just a restaurant; it's a delightful culinary adventure. Whether you're a taco aficionado or a first-timer, this place will leave you craving more. Highly recommend for anyone looking to satisfy their Mexican food cravings with heartwarming service! 🌮❤️

Can't wait to return and explore more of their delicious menu! You will not regret visiting this gem!“

“Super cute "authentic" vibes 🇲🇽 DELICIOUS food!!!“

“This place looks amazing, colorful and beautifully decorated, definitely worth taking pictures. The food was also fantastic, everyone raved about it. Their drinks were beautifully presented, for example, garnished with a flower. There was also a mariachi band playing; they played "Happy Birthday" for me and even dedicated a song I really love to me ❤️“

“Love the food here! But, not great customer Service. The service was pretty fast… But they did not have any cheeseburgers as it said on their menu for the kids meal. I also did not have any chicken nuggets from the kids meal, They also had no Lengua tacos and only enough steak to make three tacos. And I would also recommend updating your website to include that you no longer serve alcohol“

“Delicious food & drinks. Authentic atmosphere.“

“I ordered a Steak Fajita dinner, and it was one of the best meals I’ve tasted in a long time. Their hot sauce is very good; it’s not so hot that it would burn your throat.

MAY 2020 UPDATE: With the reopening after the COVID-19 shutdown, they started skimping on the meat for the Steak Fajitas; the portions of steak are now much smaller and they are compensating by adding more vegetables. Yet the price is still the same.

*NOTE: This business imposes a $10.00 minimum charge on credit & debit card transactions.

2025 UPDATE: Some of their menu items are starting to get overpriced. This business has also started imposing a 3% surcharge on credit card payments. Recommend paying by cash or debit card.“

“Their food is sooo good! Tried the food at the 2025 Walworth county fair. 😋 We will be going to their restaurant.“

“Where do I begin? Welcoming atmosphere, clean restaurant, and attentive service. I'm not a margarita fan, but I thoroughly enjoy my strawberry margarita and would enjoy again! My fiancé ordered salsa and chips for an appetizer and we were both happily surprised with the fresh chips and tasty green salsa! After enjoying our appetizer we both ordered their three taco dinner special for taco Tuesday. My fiancé order steak tacos and I ordered a combination of chicken tinga, chorizo, and their house special campechano. Everything was amazing!!! My fiancé enjoys the spicier salsas and was offered a habenero red salsa. We sampled all three that was received and have nothing but good things to say about them all. Thank you for an amazing dinning experience tonight, can't wait to come back and enjoy a new dish in the near future! ☺️🌮🌯“

“Cute small restaurant off Rt 134 in Round Lake with excellent margaritas and delicious food. Got the Mexican Eggs breakfast and it was perfect! Eggs not runny or over cooked, more than enough for the 4 tortillas provided. Generous portion so I am bringing some home! Yummy on the rocks strawberry margarita with plenty of strawberries 🍓 floating in it. Several lime slices and an orange in the traditional margarita. Would recommend and we will definitely be back to try the $1.99 tacos on Tuesdays. 😁👍“

“Delicious fish tacos and they’ve always gotten every order right! Much more than I can say about other Mexican places I’ve ordered from.“

“Me and my teenager love this place. Tacos are great!“

“Everything was extremely overpriced, the food was ok but not worth the cost. They didnt tell us we had to order first and no one came to the table to tell us until we asked. And to top it off the food was cold when we got it.“

“Taco Tuesday has been the best!! $1.00 and they are so amazing. Will definitely be going to them as my main for Mexican food around McHenry county!! Check them out!“

“Excellent food, atmosphere and service. Tried for a first time birria and loved it. Street tacos with lettuce, and fajita were awesome too.
Just a small sidenote - it was really difficult to wash my hands in the banos. Sensors not working well, small space to really wash hands and not just make them wet.
Will come again for sure. 5 star experience“

“Went here for the first time service was exceptional. They let us know today was mothers day in mexico which I loved it doesnt change anything but it was cute that they mentioned it to us. They stopped us on our way out to give me and my friend roses for mothers day. They were quick and on top of everything, very attentive. Two mom with two little ones was a challenge but they made us feel very welcome. The enchiladas were great 9.5/10 the quesabirria was ok 6.5/10 not my favorite I couldve order soemthing else but I was happy enough. Absolutely would go back again.“