50 Best Mexican Restaurants near North Chicago

“The owners are so nice and they treat you with respect. A very good place with very, very good food. My family and I love this place.“

“I recently started working right across the street from this place! I’ve never had their food but today I decided to give them a try and I got myself the Picadillo Torta and it was exceptional. The cashier was so nice and gave me a complementary small drink since I didn’t have enough money to pay for it.

Definitely will be recommending them💗✨“

“Muy bueno el caldo de camarón 🦐 mejor k en los restaurantes de mariscos 🤤😋 se los recomiendo“

“Absolutely loved visiting Mis 3 Tesoros for the first time! 1000 recommend! Food was delicious 🤤 large portions!! Mint mojitos are AMAZING! Ask for en extra kick🫶🏻“

“great restaurant very good food and service“

“Great food, family owned love to go there for breakfast and support local business“

“yo revomiendo Este restaurant yo visite Este restaurante y lo recomiendo atiende exelente exelente personal le doy 5 estrellas“

“This is the best Taco Bell I’ve ever been to! The workers are amazing and so efficient and kind. They always get my order right (which as a vegetarian is sometimes a problem) and are so sweet. Seriously the only Taco Bell I go to they are on top of it and this location is so clean and fast. I wish all Taco Bell’s were as good as this location.“

“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!“

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

“Delicious house-made salsas - some with a great kick if you’re up for it. Lovely people.“

“Recomendado 100% Todo muy delicioso!“

“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 Mexican food and creative cuisine.“

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

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

“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!“

“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 🤗“

“I had a mango habanero Margarita which was fantastic. If you like spicy I recommend definitely trying that out. It paired wonderfully with chips and salsa. The bartender was very accommodating and had great recommendations. She knew what she was talking about creating a wonderful experience for my wife and I. This place would be a fun place to bring friends and family to hang out.“

“I grew up on the southwest side of Chicago and ate at El Famous burritos from Summit all of my life now I live in Michigan and when we have to come to Zion for my husband's treatments every time we come we end up at El Famous burritos because they're so delicious and the service is wonderful“

“Went with my son, he had the steak tacos, I had a steak torta. Food was really good and fresh! Staff is friendly & courteous! Place is very clean! Highly recommend! We will be going again!“

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

“I haven't gone to eat in the restaurant yet but we have ordered several times and the food is so good. Definitely would recommend!“

“I placed an online pickup order, but someone else accidentally took it. The cashier immediately apologized and made me another bowl right away. She genuinely seemed to care and handled the situation really well. Great customer service at this location.“

“El mejor lugar para tacos al pastor,además muy exquisita toda la comida.“

“This place was hands down THE BEST Mexican food spot around town. If i was on death row, I would order from this place. The tamales are out of this world, better than Mexico itself. My moms food does not even touch the level of Michelin this place deserves.“

“Fue mi primera ves en este lugar y la verdad pedí unas costillas de res y la verdad estaban súper deliciosas“

“Great authentic food, nice service, and a hidden gem in Waukegan. Best consome I’ve had in a long time“

“Súper recomiendo !. Buen servicio Amabilidad y ambiente espectacular !. Nos atendió la Sra. Alejandra muy amable !. Un excelente lugar .“

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

“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.“

“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“

“Had a fantastic night at a painting event they had. The staff was super friendly and very attentive. The food was delicious and so were the drinks. It's a very fun and welcoming environment.“

“This restaurant will be a new fresh Mexican cuisine favorite for us! From the outside you wouldn't know the clean, open, friendly atmosphere inside. Everything ordered at our table was delicious. Our waitress, Carmen, was fantastic - so attentive, friendly, thorough and helpful. Food came out quickly and perfectly. Compliments to all!“

“Very, very good lunch menu! Family owned, I will definitely be back!!!“

“I went to buy 4 al pastor tacos around 8pm, Mary was my server. She seemed very sad, irritated, and said a bad word in Spanish of which I understood. I received most of the rest of the service by another server with black hair. I enjoyed the food and music. But please be more friendly to your community. Thank you!“

“this my wife and I favorite Mexican place since we moved to Illinois we don’t even think about chipotle anymore. Actually, the thought of chipotle makes me wanna throw up lol but on a serious note, this is the best food all it’s consistent. Nice service great food the only thing if I was to say is that usually the locations have the AC running and so he just feels super cold and it makes the food colder so if they could turn the AC down a little bit so it’s not as cold that would be great.“

“Great food. Love their steak tostadas.“

“The food here is flavorful and freshly made, with generous portions that make it worth the price. The tacos are packed with taste, and the pizza has a nice crisp crust with plenty of toppings. Service is quick, and the staff are welcoming, making the dining experience even better. The place is clean and has a comfortable, casual vibe. It’s a great spot for grabbing a quick meal or enjoying dinner with friends“

“Tolucos is easy to find and has plenty of parking, which is always a plus. The space inside is a bit on the smaller side, but they are expanding, so that says a lot about how well they are doing. Now let’s talk about the food. Flavor. Real flavor. Everything tasted authentic and thoughtfully made. I had the pozole flight, and it was honestly a treat. Every single bite delivered. You can tell this is comfort food done right. The tacos dorados were hands down the best I’ve ever had. I went with the papa ones, and they were perfectly crispy, flavorful, and not greasy at all. I also tried a birria taco, which was amazing and packed with rich flavor. Their salsas and chiles deserve a shoutout too. Bold, fresh, and on point. Nothing watered down. Prices are very reasonable for the quality you get, and I would absolutely come back without hesitation. Highly recommend if you’re looking for authentic Mexican food done right.“

“great customer service and food is really good“

“Great food all around and fast service. Will definitely return.“

“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!“

“Authentic Mexican food. Los tacos están de lujo! And the price is good.“

“Muy amables y las gorditas están riquísimas. También tienen opciones vegetarianas. ¡Vamos a regresar pronto!“

“The best margs and Palomas around. The homemade tortillas are killer. I haven't had anything here I didn't like“

“Their chicken asados are always so good this place is slept on surprised they don’t have a line waiting outside 💯“

“Best seafood in town“

“I been there a few times. Every time the service has been excellent the place is is nice and clean and most important the food is amazing good.“

“Great people and the best Margaritas 👌“