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    Ayayay

    4.6 (68 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    AYAYAY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Ayayay

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    Pork Belly al Pastor Tacos
    Joyce R.

    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.

    Pork Belly al Pastor Tacos
    Marianne D.

    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.

    Pork Belly al Pastor Tacos
    Kyle C.

    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.

    Kathy N.

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

    Laura P.

    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.

    Pollo al Carbon Torta
    Jen S.

    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.

    Benedict C.

    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.

    Katie M.

    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!

    Chicken Burrito, Filet Mignon bowl, and Happy Hour Margaritas
    Soup B.

    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.

    Interior
    Kayla P.

    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.

    Portobello Chimichurri Bowl
    Diane M.

    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!

    Plantain app
    Vignesh S.

    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.

    Passion fruit and guava margaritas
    Renee P.

    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

    Beans & Rice side

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    1 year ago

    Amazing chicken taco bowl!! Great service and a beautiful place to tuck in and eat a delicious meal.

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    7 months ago

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    11 months ago

    Tacos and quesadillas are good! We ordered from door dash and it came almost on time. We have never been to the location itself.

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    10 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    10 months ago

    A little hard to see from the street but fantastic food I would suggest anyone going here!!!

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    9 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Solid choice. Staff is super nice, great vibe inside. Their version of carna adsada is amazing

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    1 year ago

    Do yourself a favor and get the passion fruit margarita and the pork belly torta! You won't be disappointed!!!

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    1 year ago

    Food was delicious. Had a nice meal--the carne asada tacos were phenomenal. Yay for Ayayay.

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    1 year ago

    Delicious food, excellent service, and cool atmosphere. Highly recommend the Truffle Plantains and the Devil Margarita!

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    Page 2 of 2

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    Bocaditos Mexican Cuisine - Enchiladas Maya

    Bocaditos Mexican Cuisine

    4.2(120 reviews)
    1.6 miWest Loop, Near West Side
    $$$

    Went here for my birthday dinner on a Saturday night. Nice atmosphere and music but not too loud…read morefor conversation. I loved the decorations. I ordered the steak and shrimp fajitas they were expensive but excellent! Came out on a sizzling plate. I tried the Habernita drink and sangria. The habernita drink had mezcal, orange, pineapple, and habanero so had a nice kick to it. My friend told server it was my birthday secretly and they came out with a sparkler had birthday music playing and shots of tequila for my table! We had a great time and I will definitely be back! I recommend coming here to celebrate your birthday or just to have a delicious meal

    Stopped by Bocaditos Mexican Kitchen in Chicago on a Wednesday night before a Blackhawks game and…read moreit was the perfect pre-game spot. The aguachiles were easily our favorite -- super fresh and full of flavor, with really well-balanced ingredients. You can tell the food is made to order and not rushed. The chips and salsa were also way better than your typical starter. The chips came out warm and crisp, and the salsa was smooth, flavorful, and super addictive. We also tried a few drinks, and they were excellent -- well-made, not overly sweet, and a great way to start the night before heading to the game. Our server was amazing -- friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. They kept checking in at all the right times and made the whole experience relaxed and enjoyable even with the pre-game crowd. Definitely a great spot to hit anytime you're in the area looking for solid Mexican food and a fun vibe.

    Photos
    Bocaditos Mexican Cuisine - Empty restaurant

    Empty restaurant

    Bocaditos Mexican Cuisine - El Cafecito

    El Cafecito

    Bocaditos Mexican Cuisine - Oro verde our Traditional Guacamole

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    Oro verde our Traditional Guacamole

    Barrio - Quesabirria tacos

    Barrio

    4.1(1.4k reviews)
    0.3 miNear North Side
    $$

    Cinco de Mayo at Barrio was EVERYTHINGGG…read more We fully committed to the holiday and ordered honestly the entire menu and somehow every single thing that came out was better than the last. Starting with margaritas (because obviously ‍), queso and chips that were dangerously good, and the chicken empanadas that came out perfectly crispy with so much flavor. We kept looking at each other after every bite like "okay wait... THIS is the best thing here" and then another plate would arrive and prove us wrong again The carnitas fried rice??? I genuinely cannot stop thinking about it. So savory, flavorful, comforting, and packed with crispy carnitas on top with the eggs and pickled onions... literally unreal. And then the skirt steak tacos absolutely stole the show. The steak was cooked perfectly, packed with flavor, and paired so perfectly with all the toppings and sauces. Every single bite tasted fresh and homemade in the best way possible. And can we talk about the ambience for a second because WOW. The music, the energy, the vibe inside, everyone celebrating, the drinks flowing -- it felt like the perfect Cinco de Mayo dinner spot. The service was also AMAZING from start to finish and made the entire experience even better. One of those dinners where you leave already talking about when you're coming back If you're looking for the place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, date night, tacos & margaritas, or honestly just an incredible dinner in general... this is IT

    What a fun spot! We had reservations (glad we did) and sat in the bar area at a high-top table…read morealong the window. Perfect seat in my opinion. Views of the city right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of downtown Chicago. What I tried: + chips and queso - 8/10 + ribeye with rice and beans (was a special) - 7.5/10 + spicy margarita - 8/10 Great service!

    Photos
    Barrio - Interior views

    Interior views

    Barrio - Chicken fajitas

    Chicken fajitas

    Barrio - Margarita time!

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    Margarita time!

    El Xangarrito - Cheesecake

    El Xangarrito

    4.8(216 reviews)
    6.7 miLincoln Square, Ravenswood

    Thanks to Yelp El Xangarrito has been on my list for sometime, and I was not disappointed. It is a…read morevery small family-owned Mexican restaurant but the seating does not make you feel cramped. We did make reservations/wait list and was seated immediately. We started off with chips and salsa, and the salsa was a bit too spicy for me, but everyone else enjoyed it. We started with the Chicken Poblano - a savory dish with creamy poblano sauce mixed with chicken and sliced poblano peppers topped with corn. We all enjoyed it. Most of the reviews recommended the enchiladas and we ordered a variety of them. The Enchiladas Poblanos stuffed with chicken and cheese. The poblano sauce was rich and smoky. We also had the Enchiladas Morita. They were filled with shrimp and cheese. It was so flavorful and the morita chile added so much flavor. Each dish was served with a side jicama salad. Their special was a shrimp pasta with lobster. It came with full lobster tail. The sauce was creamy and flavorful. It is also BYOB, which is a nice option. Service was excellent, friendly offered recommendations. This is probably one of my favorite Mexican restaurants and highly recommend.

    Xangaritto continues to be a beacon of delicious food and friendly hospitality. They switched…read moreowners about a year ago and the beginning was a little rocky but today was an amazing experience. I love coming here for the tampiquena and the enchiladas. The tamipquena is marinated in something delicious, pretty sure it includes adobo chiles, making the tamipquena flavorful and tender. The enchiladas have some of the best sauces. We especially love then poblano sauce on the chicken enchiladas. The enchiladas have some tender chicken and the sauce is slightly spicy and creamy. Everyone is super friendly, the waiting staff and chef take pride in their work and it shows. I continue to strongly recommend this place for a delicious dinner out. This is not your typical Mexican restaurant. It s a cozy elevated escape.

    Photos
    El Xangarrito - Veggie Pastor Tacos

    Veggie Pastor Tacos

    El Xangarrito - Traditional Pastor Tacos

    Traditional Pastor Tacos

    El Xangarrito - Steak Enchiladas Mole. A generous portion to share or to take some home with you for a late night snack.

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    Steak Enchiladas Mole. A generous portion to share or to take some home with you for a late night snack.

    5 Rabanitos - Chilaquiles verdes

    5 Rabanitos

    4.2(830 reviews)
    3.0 miPilsen
    $$

    a great reminder... that i need to ALWAYS go to pilsen when…read morecraving mexican. my huarache was divine. the "sandal" itself was perfectly flaky - not greasy or impossible to cut. the veggies were perfectly seasoned, cooked but not mushy...my only "complaint" is i didn't expect potatoes to be part of the veg. i don't understand a carb on a carb but that's just me. the guac was very meh. would not recommend. the marg's are ok...but i'm not a great judge bc as a rule, don't really care for marg's. fabulous service and perfect spot for a show at thalia hall.

    We're from LA, and this is our daughter's favorite Mexican restaurant near the loop after her four…read moreyears at SAIC. She was very excited for us to try it out. We arrived around 7:30 on a Friday night and the place was packed. We only had to wait 10-15 minutes, which passed quickly with the live Mariachi music. The food came out pretty quickly considering how busy it was. We got: - Margaritas -- piña mezcal, passion fruit and pepino. They were good but a little small for the price. - Pozole Pipian -- It has a verde base that's very light. Something that makes it unique is chicharrones on top. My daughter prefers pork over the chicken. - Carnitas Huarache -- good flavors but probably my least favorite of the meal. - Asada Torta -- this was my favorite dish of the night. The bread was really light and the meat wasn't tough at all. For dessert we got the churritos and Mexican bread pudding. Both were good but nothing special. All in all a great meal.

    Photos
    5 Rabanitos - Interior

    Interior

    5 Rabanitos - Chips & Guac

    Chips & Guac

    5 Rabanitos - This bright mural on the side of 5 Rabanitos drew us is for refreshing Micheladas!

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    This bright mural on the side of 5 Rabanitos drew us is for refreshing Micheladas!

    Manchamanteles Restaurant - Enchiladas Potosina

    Manchamanteles Restaurant

    4.4(143 reviews)
    3.8 miBucktown
    $$

    Chef Geno Bahena is back in business, and his world famous moles are as complex and satisfying as…read moreever. I had the rack of lamb in mole negro, and it was delicious. Get it medium rare. Kelly had steak fajitas and deemed them amazing. The sopa Azteca is spicy and loaded with complex flavors. Huge portion, too, enough to share or take home. For dessert, the chocolate mole tart and the strawberry ice cream are superb. Palomas and margaritas are good, and the wine list is all very affordable. Get the Rioja or the Cotes du Rhone.

    Came here on Valentine's Day with a reservation, there were three of us, one kid. It was full of…read morefamilies, some couples. The had a tasting menu but we opted out of it. They give you a complimentary spicy trail mix. We started with the guacamole, it was okay. Then I got a traditional margarita, my partner got a pina colada with strawberries, and my kid got a pink lemonade (Marz Brewing made). The margarita was good, not strong but not too watery. For dinner I got the chicken fajitas, the waiter asked if I wanted just chicken which I though was odd because I ordered the chicken fajitas and I wasn't sure what he meant or if he meant no veggies, it came with veggies luckily. It also came with tortilla, corn, and a side of refried black beans with cojita, and rice. It was all okay. My partner got the lamb mole, it was sweet and savory, not spicy. And it came with tortillas. They have a lot of mole options, so if you're into that definitely come here to try! Overall it was just okay.

    Photos
    Manchamanteles Restaurant
    Manchamanteles Restaurant - Dobladas De Mole Negro! Delicious

    Dobladas De Mole Negro! Delicious

    Manchamanteles Restaurant - Queso Fundido!!(keepsmilingphoto.com)

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    Queso Fundido!!(keepsmilingphoto.com)

    Frontera Grill - Trio Ceviche

    Frontera Grill

    3.9(2.8k reviews)
    0.4 miNear North Side
    $$

    Delicious food, friendly waiter, militant hostess…read more We came to dinner before a standup performance downtown (Mateo Lane was hilarious, by the way). I arrived at the restaurant on time (4:30) and checked in with the hostess, who said I could only be seated when the entire group of three arrived. This seemed weird given the restaurant was pretty empty at this time, and ordinarily I'd order a drink while waiting at the table. Regardless, I went to Starbucks instead because I knew the other two were a few minutes behind. When I got back to the restaurant, my friend said the hostess told him we absolutely had to leave within 1.5 hours because we were late... which seemed odd because he may have checked in 15 minutes after our reservation, to an empty restaurant, that already refused to seat me on time. Regardless, the food was delicious. I had the Pollo in ChiChilo-- the mole was delicious, and I loved the chicken and sweet potato. I ordered the mole on the side, which seemed like a nice balance. Since the hostess wouldn't previously seat me, I had a lovely iced matcha latte with oat milk and half a pump of vanilla from Starbucks, which was a nice pairing. The waiter did ask if I wanted a shot of something with it, which seemed odd. Ambiance was cute, probably due for a renovation but seemed appropriate for most dining out occasions- dates, families, a day out in town. Note: the restaurant charges an automatic 20% gratuity which may explain the service. Keep this in mind to avoid tipping more than you intend. Overall, I would definitely come back, and the food and wait staff made up for the abrasive welcome.

    Food - pork tacos - excellent execution of tender pork belly. Every piece was so succulent and…read morefull of crisy pork goodness. Warm, homemade tortillas added to the perfect bite on top of flavor town green tomatillo salsa. The black beans was a good balance the rich pork flavors. Also, if the standard salsa was room tamed for.your liking; they have a good habanero salsa for the asking. Maybe too much foe most. Dessert- ice cream with fudge.. Great tasting of vanilla and chocolate, but wasnt quite over the top. The ice cream was nice and thick, but was a bit gritty for ice cream at an upscale place. Partly why I couldnt give it a perfect score. Service - attentive and intuitive. The waiter seems to know what we like and need without asking too much. Spicy pineapple Cocktail- good, strong, but not great. Couldn't really taste any pineapple. Cleanliness- clean and organized. Cost - affordable for special occasion. Restroom - fancy and clean. Ambiance - warm and relaxing, but a bit cheap with the vinyl or cheap wood veneer tables.

    Photos
    Frontera Grill - Back room, additional eating area at the bar

    Back room, additional eating area at the bar

    Frontera Grill - Duck carnitas

    Duck carnitas

    Frontera Grill - Pork shank

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    Pork shank

    Ayayay - mexican - Updated May 2026

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