50 Best Mexican Restaurants near Lake Forest

“i was on a church trip and we stopped for food, and i love some good taco bell. i was amazed at the service and how kind the man who took my order was even though it was busy and understaffed. food was right and delicious, i was craving taco bell so bad.“

“Everything was outstanding. The service was a little slow at the beginning as everyone got their food before mine. I ordered chicken fajitas and it was a while before I got the sizzling chicken. After that , service impeccable. The food was fantastic. The noise level wasn't bad considering the restaurant was pretty full. My friends and I could have a conversation without yelling. Highly recommend Authntico.“

“What a truly wonderful experience for my birthday. Cesar was very attentive and provided excellent care when serving my party of 8. Gave us massive sombreros and a couple birthday shots to celebrate. Couldn’t be happier with the service. Fat Rosie’s should be the standard when it comes to ANY sit down restaurant.The current parking situation is shared with Cheesecake Factory and other near by restaurant business. Anticipate the typical congestion on weekend evenings.The music and atmosphere was very enjoyable and most of all tame. I got the Tampiqueña and it was very well made. Very flavorful and well seasoned. I have zero complaints about this establishment and I WILL be visiting this location multiple times in the future. Thank you again, Cesar for such an enjoyable time. Thank you, Fat Rosie’s!!“

“This was a great find!!! The service was outstanding! The drinks were phenomenal. The food was seasoned well, perfect temp and large portions. My husband and I just stopped in for lunch. He ordered traditional combo fajitas and I ordered 2 steak tacos and one shrimp taco. We also ordered a side of black beans, I do not recommend the black beans. The guava margarita was soooo good. This guacamole was the best in lake county, hands down!!!!“

“Far better than your average greasy food taquiria. The owner was incredibly nice and helpful. I ordered an El pastor taco. I usually do flour tortillas instead of corn but since they make the latter in house chose that instead. 100% the correct decision. Never had a corn tortilla so fresh and tasty. The pork wasn't greasy and had superior flavor. On a whim also ordered the Korean taco with bulgogi spices and cabbage slaw. AMAZING flavor and texture. Got a carne asada burrito for my wife. You can tell they use superior Angus beef..it was top Notch in flavor and consistency.HIGHLY recommend this eatery. Will be back whenever I'm in the area.Parking: Easy.“

“Yummy authentic Mexican food. I had the shrimp burrito bowl and it was so good, I wanna go again tomorrow for lunch. My husband had the steak burrito dinner and he highly recommends it. Service was fast and workers were kind. This will be our go to Mexican place now.“

“Came in again to try out their pizza special. I got the 2 slices and a drink last time, and it was too much for me. Just got a slice of sausage, and my usual soda can. Place is usually nice and clean. Everyone is friendly and acknowledges you when you walk in. It was cooked nicely and great crust. It wasn't too hard or soft, but just the right amount of crunch. The best part is that it's not really greasy like others. Big plus in my book. I definitely would come back if I'm in the area. Perks of working out in the field and trying new places.“

“Super friendly and welcoming environment/ HUGE vegan menu - so excited for their vegan jibarito - it did not disappoint!!! Owner was amazing and staff as well. Cant wait to be back! Try the jicama juice and vegan empanada!Vegetarian options: HUGE VEGAN MENU“

“This is the absolute peak of Mexican food in the Buffalo Grove/Deerfield area. I've never had better tacos or a better burrito. Their horchata is top-notch, and it is freshly made every morning. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this place. The folks who work here are also real cool.“

“If you are a fan of Chilaquiles as much as I am, look no further. This family owned business has the best Chilaquiles, red or green salsa, topped with cecina meat, cilantro, onion, queso fresco, sour cream, and for a small charge you can add eggs. The tortilla chips still come out fresh and crispy, unlike other places.Let's not forget the amazing hard workers who prepare our meal. The staff there are very welcoming, friendly and overall amazing.I've been coming here for a good while now for my lunch break almost every week and will continue to do so.P.sThe fresh guayaba water is also a must try if you never had it.“

“This place is an absolute gem! The food has just this amazing flavor and substance. The ceviche was flavorful and crisp, the quesadillas were so full of cheese and chicken, each bite was fantastic, and the chicken bowl was delicious. Highly recommend this place! As a side note, the staff were so kind and friendly, and it was spotless. Even the restrooms. All decorated beautifully. Five star service for sure. Don't hesitate, just go!“

“We just recently moved here and were nervous about what kind of Mexican food we might get this far north. However, everything we ordered was delicious and there was a lot of food! The birria and tamales were especially good, too.Super convenient location, friendly staff! We will be back for sure.“

“I stopped in for lunch and had a carne asada Burrito. It had fresh ingredients and was good. This was my second visit to the place. The service was good. Order at the counter, take a seat and then your food is prepared and brought out to you.“

“We were in the area checking out a place for tea (we live an hour and a half away) and decided to stop here for lunch. My husband and I were soo glad we did. Staff greeted us promptly, served fantastic chips and salsa. We both got the asada burritos with a side of rice and beans. Everything tasted fresh and full of flavor! We’ve tried many Mexican food places and this one is top on the list. We are already planning a trip back to try more food! Thanks for the love and care you put in the food!“

“I been to this place many times for Hispanic cuisine and it's very excellent and reasonably priced! I had several great things here! Today I had the octopus ? Tostadas for probably my 3rd or 5th time and it was nice flavored and fresh ingredients. I love coming here with a group and I never leave disappointed! High compliments to the chef and staff! I even had the shrimp empanadas and fish tacos and it was delicious. I love how the food is made here and I love the cleanliness of the restaurant as well! I even had the sandwich and chicken chimichanga and it was very fulfilling! I do suggest the chips can be better be like Chilli's chips which are the best. Besides that I love Toluca's and their strawberry horchata is excellent as well!“

“We have been in the chuckwagon a number of times over the last 20+ years!Vegetarian options: A local restaurant that has sustained for decades!!Dietary restrictions: They accommodate dietary issues!!Wheelchair accessibility: You can get in through the front & back doors!!!“

“The weekend quesabirria is what got me hooked! If you're ordering for pickup, online doesn't give you the option so call. All the other tacos I've tried are also delicious. It's a small location, so be prepared not to dine in. When weather is good they have tables outside.“

“So walking in they greet you very friendly we ordered to go but we had some great conversation with the gentleman working behind the counter I had the tacos birra and my wife had the bean and cheese papusas and let me tell you absolutely amazing. My wife and her Mom make this at home and well my wife said it tastes like she or her mom made it. She said it was delicious. Her words, YUM. Makes her feel like home. I’m only in town for a few days but I will be visiting again before I go home thank you for the amazing experience and foodVegetarian options: The papusa absolutely amazing“

“I really don't want to tell you how good this place is because I don't want it busier, but they are too nice for me to be that selfish. I've tried a good portion of the menu. The specials are more creative than you would expect for a small restaurant. Overall, the food is very good.“

“I Stopped by on 02/19 , ordered a steak Torta, and was surprised by how the steak was in big pieces! usually , it was never like that. Just tough, thick, and very chewy. Im sorry but can you please go back to the small PCS of steak not giant ones.“

“This is hands down my favorite Mexican restaurant in the area! They use fresh ingredients, the food is always delicious, and it's a great value-for-money. Service is also really good. If you're interested in filling your belly, try their Torpedo Burrito and get a homemade tres leches cake while you're at it!“

“First time here. I personally liked every aspect of my visit. Definitely not a chain. Literally looks like a local family owned and operated restaurant and a throwback to the old neighborhood restaurants that served really good food. I want to go back to try other offerings.Parking: Plenty of room when I was there“

“Did we just become best friends? YUP! ? I found this gem hidden in a small strip mall in waukegan Illinois. I make it my goal to try small Mexican restaurants across the US and this is BY FAR the best Al Pastor Taco Dinner I've had IN THE UNITED STATES. The only downside to this place is I don't think I can continue my quest to try as many as I can because now, I only want Tacos el Durango!Great job, guys!“

“Get family owned restaurant in North Chicago. 2nd time here both times great service & food! This time I ordered Steak Skillet with over easy eggs. Big portions. Great taste. Skillet definitely matches up with the "big name breakfasts spots" if not better.“

“Kareoke and dancing on Friday and Saturday nights. Google notified me of a past review and photo getting a lot of views. A really diverse menu of solid Mexican, Spanish lunches and dinners. Fantastic deserts and not too busy where you can bring a date or the family and have an excellent experience. Would add a better photo from Butterfield and Rt 45 Vernon Hills Illinois if I had on this device. Some nice ones from Kareoke and dancing on Instagram.“

“In town for my daughters graduation from Bootcamp! We came in late, long drive, the Airbnb we got had no air on all day so it was 98 in the house when we got in so we decided to go grab a quick bite. We was a little unsure at first but so glad we came here! My husband and I split a Cuban and my daughters girlfriend got a Turkey sub… both was extremely good… the shredded pork on the Cuban has an amazing Smokey flavor. They were extremely nice even though we did go in close to closing (we did take it to go) .. we were definitely impressed!“

“New to the area it’s been hard for me to find food as good as Chicago. Tried this spot over a year ago &’ I have not stopped thing about it since. The tacos were amazing!! The salsas were delicious & flavorful &’ the rice was cooked to perfection. Everything was great until it was time to pay. Upon walking up to the register I was greeted by roaches crawling all along the area on the register, near the tip jar &’ viewed some in the kitchen which I was able to see when I approached the woman to check out, kinda felt like the roaches were charging me for the food itself & the possible consumption of their dead homies. They were not intimidated at all & didn’t try to hide one bit. Didn’t complain, paid the bill, tipped &’ left. Got in the car thinking how those were the best tacos I’ve had possibly in my life & sad I would probably never return because the roaches. Drove past & I see they have expanded, might return if they exterminated.“

“This place was great! I was a little sad they don't have Challah French Toast nor Blintzes anymore, but I got the Ceviche instead and it was SO GOOD. They also made me fried plantains with just sugar because I didn't want the ice cream, and they have Abuelita hot chocolate!! The plantains were perfect, crunchy on the outside and perfectly soft inside. Great and attentive service too. We will definitely be back. I forgot to take a picture of my Ceviche, but I remembered for the plantains and hot chocolate!“

“The best place to get burritos and tacos if you're near. Other places are sloppy. They tak the time to be nice and remembers you! The young lady who is the cashier is the sweetest. They make you want to come back. I'm telling you if you want a burrito and you see this review..get...it...from...here!!“

“Exceeded my expectations. Gotta say the rice was a little on the dry side but the flavor was good and when mixed with the beans you couldn’t tell.The cebollitas are my favorite, my husband hates beans and he loved these, the chicken is always tender, juicy and perfectly seasoned. Portions are big.Definitely recommend.“

“i recently moved to the area and was looking for mexican food, and so i decided to try this place from google maps. i ordered the steak burrito special with rice and beans for takeout, and it was delicious! the burrito was big and the steak was seasoned well. i was pleasantly surprised and excited to have found a great mexican place nearby. this has become my go-to, and i will definitely be back often!“

“If you want authentic Mexican cuisine, look no further. Los Mogotes will keep you coming back in the future for excellent food, a great atmosphere and a wonderful staff. My family and I have gone numerous times and I keep craving their Al Pastor burritos and tacos! We will be going again in the near future! Check them out, you will not regret it!“

“The only problem I had with this place was that my son ordered mozzarella sticks with marinara. They gave him mozzarella sticks with ketchup. When we asked for the marinara sauce, they didn't have any. They don't serve it, but it's on the menu.“

“Such a cozy hidden gem in Waukegan. Wide variety in menu selection and the service is always friendly. I’ve ordered a few times already and I haven’t come across anything I don’t like. Everything is well cooked and they serve a nice amount. Came with my boyfriend and he loves it. I’ve also came with my family and luckily they have enough available seats but if you are bringing over the family make sure they have enough space available.“

“El pollo rico is the place to go for tacos that have double tortilla and carne asada. Also the habanero sauce is so spicy but so tasty. Lastly the corn in the cup is such a great tasty treat after the spicy tacos. Only thing I wish was better was that the guys at the register don't smile. They look unhappy and tired all the time.“

“The Burrito Bravo was recommended to me by a work colleague while I was visiting Gurnee and I had a signature Burrito Bravo with steak filling. It did not disappoint! All fantastic home made ingredients and the habanero sauce is not for the feint of heart. Spicy! The horchata is fantastic and necessary to reduce heat! The guacamole is also made fresh while you wait and excellent. I'm looking forward fondly to my return trip!“

“Came here with a group of friends and we absolutely loved it! The food was great, we had the pumpkin and chicken tamales and they were very delicious! The service was excellent, we also ordered the filet mignon fajitas, large enough to share and very good! The owner came to the table and he was so kind and friendly! We will be back!“

“Excellent service, the ladies are very friendly, the drinks are excellent, they have the best seafood in Waukegan, excellent atmosphere, excellent place to go with friends and family, definitely super recommended.Wheelchair accessibility: There is no problem with wheelchairs.“

“Not too many hot chicks working here but that’s fine. The food was really good. The claw machine was broken so if you were gonna go there for just that don’t. This is completely irrelevant but Im a little bit hunger over today. Gonna eat some Korean and just take it easy tonight.“

“I LOVE THIS RESTAURANT!The food is always incredibly good, authentic. The servers are always friendly, helpful and attractive. Margherita's are excellent. The holiday decorations were so much fun to look at and authentic. One of my favorite places for lunch.“

“Their quesabirrias are the best ones I've had in the area! Their steak tacos are also delicious, well seasoned. I think the only thing I dislike is that once you sit down, you have to go back to the register and place your order there. Highly recommend this place.“

“Could not recommend this place enough. The atmosphere is so fun and the music kept both of my boys (2 & 4) dancing having fun the whole time we waited for our food! All the employees we encountered were very friendly. I had a strawberry basil margarita which was good but my husband had the Lola’s margarita which was just a plain margarita and we both agree the best margarita we’ve ever had. The chicken fajitas and steak tacos were outstanding! The owner was so nice and made sure our chips and salsa were always full and he surprised my boys with ice cream after we were done! Will definitely be back!“

“Food is usually good. Servers are very nice but there are times they are unorganized They seem to run out of various foods. Other than that I would recommend the restaurant. Super casual. Was easier to order when we could order on line for pick up. Not sure why that option was discontinued.“

“I did an order of 3 taco platters the morning of an event via messenger & it went incredibly. The communication was perfect throughout the day. The tacos were the best part of our event and each guest asked where the food was from - a huge success. Would definitely order from here again. Thank you, Taqueria El Primo, for the amazing service and delicious food.“

“The delicious food, the unique service and the incredible atmosphere, the best option, we ordered aguachile, toast and a cocktail, everything was very delicious. I had to be with live music, no good, the best plus, you will not regret it, without a doubt, a very good option, keep it up with that quality, we will be frequent customers☺️ CONGRATULATIONS ?“

“It is a place with a wide variety of food, desserts and Mexican snacks; They are friendly, the prices are adequate for what is consumed, the seasoning is unique and the place is very clean...Kid-friendliness: It is not an atmosphere of alcohol, there is a variety of food for the kids to choose from and there are coin machines for the kids to get toys...“

“The reviews made me doubt about whether to try the food or not, but honestly it was worth it. I had ordered flautas with chicken, tamales both red and green, they were clearly the BEST I've ever tried. The food I tried tasted like the ones I grew up with, the waiting and money was worth all the food & it was in fact the cheapest ever. ❤️ (I honestly don't get why they are saying that the tamales are dry and not at temperature at all when I literary burned myself ??)Kid-friendliness: The waitress was patient whenever the kids where doubing about what to order, he gave the food recommendations, the portions that were served were PERFECT for kids.“

“Invicto is a taqueria serving Tijuana style meals full of flavor! Their vast menu has something for everyone, including beverages, tacos, burritos, vampiros, sides, kids menu, and paletas. Currently, they have locations in Naperville and Vernon Hills, and they also provide pop-up taco stand service for private events. It’s a great place to grab a quick meal or stay a while to enjoy the delicious food with a cocktail (or two)! I was also very impressed to see a sign on their menu stating that for every meal you purchase from Invicto, a child in a developing country receives a meal too!Here’s everything I tried at Invicto:- ? Elotes Taco - classic corn tortilla taco with creamy delicious corn- ? Hongos Sope - thicker tortilla base cooked with cheese and served with mushrooms and toppings- ? Elotes Vampiro - Tijuana-style tostada, this was surprisingly really good and I would highly recommend!- ? Rice & Beans - perfectly seasoned and cooked- ? Cali Burrito - great size and quantity for the price! Tastes really good with the salsas from their salsa bar- ? Papas Especiales - loaded fries with queso and other toppings, very addicting- ? Chips & Queso - you can never say no to queso and fresh tortilla chips- ? Tres Leches Shake - OMG, this was so good I could not put it down. The fact that it came with an actual churro just made the experience better!- ? Horchata - light and tastyIf you’re near Vernon Hills or Naperville, definitely check this place out!“

“I haven't been here for a few years now, so I decided to come there today and get some tacos. And they were exactly like the last time I had them! They were really good, nice size, and well seasoned! I definitely recommend this place to anyone who doesn't like bland food!“

“There is a similarly named place in another state, but they are not related (thanks, Cartman!). Either way, the food was perfect!Warm chips and a not-too-spicy salsa were delivered right away, and large quesadilla appetizers and steak tacos were just perfect! 10/10, would recommend!Parking: We parked for free in the Lake Street Parking Garage on a Saturday evening, which was a quick one-minute walk from the restaurant.“