WOW! Decided to try a new restaurant tonight and I'm so glad I did! Ayaya is a great place to grab a bite to eat and catch up with friends, with its busy atmosphere and lively music. They were very accommodating to my very early arrival and seated me immediately. I ordered the Tenderloin Carne Asada Tacos (9/10), Cheesy Fried Yuca balls (7.5/10), and House Margarita (8.5/10). The tacos were honestly one of my favorite entrees of the week! They were amazingly juicy and tender, quite literally melted in my mouth. The fried Yuca balls were alright- Just a little greasy in my opinion but enjoyable. Of course, I had to end the night with a margarita. I'll be thinking of those Carne Asada tacos for a while :0 read more

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As someone who considers himself a taco connoisseur, I'm always on the hunt for great tacos whenever I travel. This place was an absolute winner. We started with the plantains appetizer, and it was one of the most unique and delicious appetizers we've had. If you go, don't skip it. The tacos were outstanding, and homemade tortillas are always a huge plus in my book. I had two chicken tacos and one carne asada, while my wife had the cod tacos. All of them arrived already dressed with sauce, and every bite was packed with flavor. They clearly know how to build a taco. The service was friendly and attentive throughout our meal. We also enjoyed the house margaritas. My only suggestion for improvement would be upgrading the standard tequila from Cuervo. The margarita was good enough that I ordered a second, but I upgraded the tequila that time, and it made an already good drink even better. Overall, we really loved this place. Between the creative appetizer, excellent tacos, friendly staff, and great atmosphere, it's an easy recommendation. If you're a fellow taco lover looking for authentic, flavorful tacos made with quality ingredients, make this place a stop the next time you're in Chicago. You won't be disappointed. read more

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The food here is excellent, it's a home run and is why this place rated so well. The service time was slow, especially for how not crowded it was on a Monday night. That being said the waiter was very kind, helped me decide on wha tacos to get. As well, because of the wait he comped my beer. Would highly recommend, will be back. read more

Ayayay - Pork Belly al Pastor Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Honestly it's overhyped. If you want traditional, this is not the place. If you want innovative, come here. Idk maybe it just wasn't what I expected in my head; the food was good and the service was attentive, but it's very gentrified upscale Mexican food and if I really wanted tacos, you'd best believe I ain't going here--I'm goin to the little hole-in-the-wall food truck typa place with the authentic crispy pineapple-y al pastor. This place was just overpriced for the portions you get. I'd expect there to be a house-made tortilla that's not falling apart for $6 a taco read more

Ayayay - Pork Belly al Pastor Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I got enchiladas with green sauce and al pastor taco. The Enchiladas were amazing but the Al pastor taco was okay. Came here for lunch during weekdays and it wasn't too busy. It was perfect. read more

Ayayay - Pork Belly al Pastor Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We went to Ayayay in downtown Chicago tonight. This Mexican restaurant is small and casual offering quality Mexican food with a Peruvian flare at an affordable price. Hubs had the porkbelly al pastor tacos with morita BBQ sauce, costra de queso, tomatillo & pineapple/serrano salad. I had a chicken quesadilla with chihuahua cheese, pico de gallo, cilantro-avocado sauce. Yummerz! Nite - ask for a table toward the back. Every time the door opened, we'd get a cold breeze coming our way. read more

Ayayay - Pork Belly al Pastor Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Nicer to you with seating options if you reserve in-advance through their app or site. Burritos were well made. Another $3 for each burrito guacamole is added to is sort-of ridiculous. Glass of water tasted like the same water they use to wash dishes (high in metals and bland taste). It tasted worse than my well-water back at home (possibly because they do not use water-softener salt). My burrito was a noticably smaller size than my wife's, even though we ordered the same burrito on the menus. We asked for our carne asada (steak for burrito) to be cooked medium well. It was still only cooked medium-rare. You could see the pink and it was a lot chewier than the steak I normally eat. Sort-of expect a bit more class when paying $17 per burrito and $5 per small bottle of Jarro soda. read more

Ayayay - Small Burrito for $17. Maybe it was because we came during the non-busy hours. Ayayay Carne Asada Burrito (with guacamole) - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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From the outside, this place looks like it's part of the 7-11 next door, so we almost walked right past it. But once you step inside, it's a completely different world, a surprisingly cozy and solid restaurant. The menu is small and fits on a single page, but it offers a good variety of tacos: fish, shrimp, beef, pork, and chicken. The beef taco was my favorite. If you like spicy food, don't skip their hot sauce. And the Mexican hot chocolate was perfect for winter: rich, creamy, and lightly spiced with cinnamon. read more

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This place was amazing! For appetizer we had the Yuca Cheesy balls and they were so good. We also ordered the Nikkey Burrito and tenderloin steak torta for our entree and both were great. The Nikkei Burrito was very unique and probably one of the best i've had. On top of that the workers greeted us with a smile and made us feel very comfortable, great service 10/10 recommend. read more

Ayayay - Nikkei Burrito, plated neatly - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ayayay is a great name for this place. Delicious. Oh my gosh the deliciousness. They do kinda sucker you into getting the chips and guacamole but it's one of the best guacs downtown in my humble opinion. I wish you could have a variety of tacos but you have to get 2 of the same ($5 for a third taco - any flavor but my stomach less self can only eat 2!) No real complaints though. Our kid was with us - it wasn't very loud. Great service. It was a great place for dinner before seeing a show at the Chicago theater! My mouth waters thinking of the food. Can't wait to come back. read more

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A bit expensive for the size but the quesadilla was good. I did take out but the service was still quick.

got my order wrong and the drinks were so weak i had 2 margaritas and felt nothing. food was also weird. some sweet syrup on my fried fish taco? no bueno read more

My girlfriend really wanted to get tacos on our last day in Chicago so we stumbled upon Ayayay. The menu looked promising and a lot of the reviews looked good but ultimately I was a bit disappointed. For starters we ordered the Guacamole & Chips and the Cheesy Yuca Balls. They came out fairly quickly. The guacamole & chips tasted fine, pretty standard chips and guac. I know avocados can get expensive but for $13 I expected a lot more from them. I actually really liked the Cheesy Yuca Balls. They were super cheesy as advertised and they had good flavor to them. The texture was nice and chewy. The entrees came shortly after. The tacos were decent. I wasn't a fan of the tortillas but the insides were pretty good. There was a lot going on flavor and texture-wise. What really got me was an order of 2 tacos was $12 and they didn't even come with any sides. The pork belly torta was pretty good and I enjoyed it but for $17 it seemed a little light on the pork belly. And in general the sandwich was on the smaller side. If I hadn't had a light meal before coming I probably would've been hungry after eating. The service was good and the place was modern and clean. There were some hits and some misses with the food but if it isn't apparent from this review my main gripe is the price. This definitely wouldn't be my first choice for Mexican. read more

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The server was so so kind!!! And the food was so yummy, I recommend the Al pastor tacos. Very cute decor as well! read more

Ayayay - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Solid food, loved the tacos! Services was incredible and margaritas were delicious! Server had us laughing the whole time and was super attentive. One of our favorite experiences in Chicago! Don't sleep on the fried cod, the sauce was amazing! read more

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Great casual spot! We came in for a late lunch and the service was great, food is tasty too!

I tried Ayayay on a Saturday evening for dinner and was a bit confused when I first walked in. There's no host stand, so we weren't sure if it was a seat-yourself kind of place. There's also a large menu on the wall, which made us think it might be more of a counter-service setup. After a few minutes of waiting and trying to figure it out, someone finally came over and brought us to a table. Once we were seated, it took about 10 minutes before anyone came by to offer water or greet us. We also noticed the table next to us looked visibly upset about the service, which wasn't the best sign. When it came time to order, I got the filet mignon bowl and my friend ordered the nachos. Right after we placed our order, a large group came in. They were very loud, which made it hard to enjoy the vibe. Obviously, that's not the restaurant's fault--but it did seem like all the staff attention shifted to that group for the rest of the night. When our food finally came out, my friend's nachos had the sauce on top even though they asked for it on the side, and the whole dish was cold. My bowl was also cold and didn't quite match what was described on the menu--the combination of ingredients was a little odd, and it tasted pretty bland. I asked for a side of green salsa to add some flavor, but it never came, so I ended up getting up and grabbing it myself after about 10 minutes. It seems like this might be a newer restaurant, so I'm hoping they're still working out the kinks. The concept is fun, and the space has potential, but they've got some things to tighten up when it comes to service and execution. read more

Ayayay - Interior - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Chicago is full of great restaurants so I usually try not to visit the same restaurant twice in one month, but I came to Ayayay twice...this WEEK. The first time, I came for dinner on Tuesday with a girlfriend and got the Nikkei shrimp bowl which was honestly so delicious that I debated getting it again today when I went back for dinner. They definitely did not skimp on the tempura shrimp, and I absolutely loved the cabbage slaw, sauce, and sushi rice that it came with. For dinner tonight, I had the truffle plaintains and chicken burrito...both amazing. My BF had the chicken taco bowl which he inhaled quickly. This is definitely a spot that I will be visiting frequently! read more

Ayayay - Portobello Chimichurri Bowl - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Really enjoyed dinner at atayay. Laid-back restaurant with nice vibe. Our waiter was great at making recommendations. Really enjoyed chicken tacos, steak tacos, and steak torta. Decent beer list. Spicy house margarita was really good, they let me substitute Mezcal for tequila. Would definitely return. read more

Amazing food and service! Such a cute spot that does Happy Hour daily 2-6pm. Super nice staff, very attentive and welcoming. Food was amazing! Have a lot of options that fits anyone's needs. Will def be back before our next show at The Chicago Theater. read more

Ayayay - Chicken Burrito, Filet Mignon bowl, and Happy Hour Margaritas - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Service was quick and professional, albeit a little pushy to order more food. Food was good but didn't experience anything amazing with the burrito and torta. Fresh quality ingredients but found flavors lacked. Very cool ambiance, would be great with way a group. read more

Excellent! Food was great, so was the service; really nice and friendly people with good ambiance. I'm dairy free and gluten free and it's always difficult to find something I can eat on any menus. At Ayayay not only were they very accommodating to my dietary restrictions, but I also had lots of options on the menu. It's such a hidden gem on Lake street. Their margarita was also delicious! I will definitely go back. read more

I can't say enough positive things about the quality and taste of the food. Every item I tried was nothing short of delicious. Our servers were also so wonderfully nice and accommodating to us. The restaurant felt a little small, but it had a nice cozy vibe to it. I might go as far as to say my favorite Mexican restaurant in Chicago. They have a small menu, but you know that means they prepare every item incredibly. read more

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Upscale Mexican eatery - easy to miss as you walk by, but so happy we stumbled on this place. The service was quick and friendly. A little pricy for the portion size but typical for loop pricing and the flavors were on point! We got the pastor tacos and carne asada torta and both were super flavorful. The rice and beans as a side was pretty standard, so would recommend another taco honestly over that. Otherwise, we got the passion fruit and guava margaritas and those packed a punch! Great location for a quick bite to eat read more

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I had a poor delivery experience with this place just last night. Now it's a relatively new place, Some might chalk it up to new place logistics and all. Idk, but I ordered on door dash and first of all the restaurant didn't confirm the order for 20 mins. That seemed to be a concern, but I double checked and got a confirmation email from dd. So then forever it showed the driver at the place waiting for the order. The food was very delayed vs the estimated window. Secondly, they missed including one of my items. I ordered nachos, burrito, and taco. The taco was completely missing. I was like... Door dash refunded that cost, but it doesn't help me with feeding the family. Lastly, coming to what did arrive. So first we had the nachos and they were quite good. Luckily the chips weren't completely soggy... Just partly. Almost nobody does this, but they should put the wet ingredients separately. Anyway, good flavors. Generous amount of toppings. Cheese and sauces were yum. Some kind of beans paste and all. And then I had the vegetarian burrito. I mean... It's stuffed with rice with a touch of the portobellos. It was basically a rice-filled flavorless wrap. I don't get how a place that made vegetarian nachos so flavorfully is also the place that makes something so... Blech. Well, so poor execution on multiple layers. I don't know what else to say about it. At the moment, I'm not even going to publish this, because they have just 10 5-star reviews and this would pull their public score down. I'll hold on to it and see how things go for them. I won't be solely responsible for diminishing a new local business owner. read more

Stumbled on this spot after trying to find something close to my hotel. And it did not disappoint. A warm and inviting restaurant that clearly cares about service and quality. While I was initially going in for tacos, I found myself sold on the pork belly glazed torta. It was fantastic. The bread was delicious. Meat was flavor full and the accompanying fillings in the torta made for a flavorful experience. I personally feel like it is easy to overload a torta in sauces and toppings. This was well balanced and delicious. The chips and guac (appetizer) were great too. Fantastic chips. Server was attentive and professional. Great spot. If I lived locally, this would be a frequently visited spot. read more

Ayayay - The torta print did not lead me astray - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My party ordered carne asada tacos, al pastor tacos, and a chicharron torta. From reading the menu, I was surprised that there was an additional charge for a beans & rice side. The server also kept suggesting chips & guac for the table without stating that it would be an extra charge. When we got our tacos and torta, they had forgotten our side of beans and rice. The torta was smaller than expected and had more sweet potato than meat on there. The carne asada tacos had a nice flavor but weren't filling. I was also disappointed that there were no additional salsas on the side to add to our dishes. The beans and rice were served in a small bowl. I thought the beans were too liquidy and the rice had no flavor. We were disappointed with the portions and overall flavor profile, but this can be because we're just used to more authentic Mexican food than what is served here. There seemed to be only one server on the floor, he was nice while taking our order, but never checked on us until we requested our check. Due to this, it did take some significant time for us to finally get our check to leave, I will say. Considering the price point and service, this wouldn't be my first choice to eat at. read more

Ayayay - Beans & Rice side - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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So good! Pleasantly surprised! Tacos are very good and I live in Austin, TX. Margs are great too.

Excellent margs, service and plantains! But the Nikkei shrimp bowl was even better! Thank you.

The churros were excellent. My dining companion got tacos and said they were amazing, so I'm sharing her experience with this rating as well. The place was cozy and service was good. read more

BY FAR, the best authentic Mexican/latin food there is. I'm from San Antonio Tx (close to the border) and when I tell you the flavors did not miss I mean it. The plantains and tortas were the best in the city! Full of flavors and we highly recommend! Everything is cooked perfectly. The service is very friendly and welcoming. As well as the ambiance. I will be telling all my Texas friends about this place as a must visit location here in Chicago. read more

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Great spot with really balanced flavors! I tried the Nikkei Shrimp bowl which was filling yet light. The dish also wasn't overly packed with rice/filler content, but rather had a good amount of shrimp tempura bites, a light slaw that wasn't overly soggy , and was well seasoned with furikake and nori. It tasted bright and fresh. Great find! Its a tad pricey for a lunch item but most things are in this part of chicago. read more

Fun atmosphere, great service and tasty food! The approach to food is gratifying and surprising! The plantain appetizer is awesome!

Can't say enough about Ayayay!!! Jose and Jennifer were absolutely amazing in their service, the food was so delicious (and we're used to REAL Mexican food.) The spicy was actually flavorful and had a great kick to it. The nachos were the best we've ever had! We WILL be back (from Florida) and will spread the word on this place!!! read more

Ayayay - Spicy salsa - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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So much flavor! I tried several sauces, including the hot sauce, and all of them were amazing! Th margaritas were strong and flavorful. Also, the service is spectacular! Recommend without a moment of hesitation! read more

Ayayay - Quesadilla with bean salad and sauces (not pictured was the hot sauce, so good!) - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great food, atmosphere and service. Just came across this place and loved it. Get the Torta! read more

Ayayay - Torta - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ahh! This used to be Billy Goat Tavern, remember that! I had a taco. The staff and service is excellent. read more

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The chicken nachos were truly outstanding! My friend and I also got a chicken quesadilla, the steak tacos, and a margarita. Everything was delicious!! read more

I had a burrito with fresh guacamole. Incredible. My daughter had a bowl with avocado on top. We were both impressed. Delicious margaritas. And Paul was a wonderful, friendly, fun server. We will be back. read more

Making this short. Amazing service. Carlos was almost too nice and hospitable. Food was FIRE! Plantains app wasn't anything we were expecting. A pleasant surprise. Tacos/burritos were all great. Finished it off with the churro dessert. 10 out 10 would recommend again. read more