Very good food. Very good service. It reminds me of an old Greek restaurant. Perhaps they can remodel a bit. Parking is tight. Jalapeno margarita is awesome. read more

Ordered the Fajitas Mixed skillet paloma and jalepeno cucumber mixed margarita. I was not impressed with the food or drinks. I expected a little more than typical tourist food. The tortillas stuck together and had to peel them apart which at that point they came apart. I had high expectations but this place seems like they serve cheap food and watered down drinks to save money. Definitely not recommended and not coming back here. read more

Cafe Salsa - Casamigos Paloma and Casamigos Cucumber Jalapeño Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Countryside, Illinois

Sometimes I have dreams just about the steak tacos. Seriously in my short life I have never come across a better steak taco. Whatever they do to cook it, is a secrete they should protect for life because it hits the spot. The house margarita will have you feeling some type of way let me tell ya! Strong! Only have 1 if you are driving!!! I love them because I can taste the tequila without dying from it and its not too sweet or too sour! I will probably never find a marg that can beat it. Every time I am home I make sure to have my Dad and I catch up here! Every time we do I literally buy a gallon of salsa to take home-yes it's that good! Made fresh and the perfect amount of onion and cilantro and served with warm chips....can't beat it. It has a cozy and traditional Mexican vibe that I really love. I always make sure to say hi to my favorite server- Santos, such a sweet heart! read more

Since Cafe Salsa came with rave reviews from the local paper, Citysearch and the Chicago Tribune, I was expecting more, so much more than we got on a recent visit. The good news? We had a free entree coupon so at least we didn't pay full price for a mediocre dinner. The restaurant itself is charming. There are booths along the walls, a wall of framed mirrors creating an interesting focal point, a separate bar area and fanciful music playing. Given it's location- there is also free parking in the lot. We were seated and brought the expected salsa and chips. The salsa was fine but lacked any real flavor but when we asked our server- she said there were two more levels of hotness so we went up one more level. She was right. It was hot! The best way to enjoy it was to mix the mild and the hot salsa together. Perfect. We ordered some guac and the special shrimp appetizer to start. The guac didn't have the fresh taste that I like in my guac (needed more cilantro and lime) and the shrimp dish was a little sweet for my taste. As for entrees, we had a combo plate of a taco, enchilada and tostada- each came with a choice of meat (ground, grilled steak, or chicken) and all was smothered in cheese. Also you get your choice of beans and Spanish rice. My dining companion had the carne asada suizo style that came with tortillas. All of the food took a long time to come up- and I think it was a pacing problem with our server as when it finally did come to our table- it was warm, but not hot. In fact- the steak in the enchilada was cool and the cheese had that shiny look to it of cheese that has been melted and left out too long. Speaking of service- we had to flag our server down as she forgot an item of the order. We then had to find her again when we wanted our bill. And then on her trip back to the table- she dropped the credit card on the floor and didn't notice that it was missing until we flagged her down again to try to find it. Dinner for two with a couple of beers and the discount came to about $50. Again- surprised that Cafe Salsa got all the rave reviews I've seen. There are better places to get Mexican food either real Mexican or Americanized Mexican. And coupon or not- that's where I'll be spending my money. read more

I've been coming here for a while, and this place never disappoints me! Cafe Salsa is in Countryside, right next to Cocula Restaurant, which is another Mexican restaurant. I'd say it's an okay location, but it's pretty close to another restaurant that's basically the same thing. The service was great! The waiter I had was very friendly! I never had a bad experience with the service here! I'm impressed by the friendly server I had! The food was great! The tortilla chips are excellent. After each chip, you would want more of it! It's also warm, which is a good thing when it comes to food! I also had the steak tacos. It was just okay. The steak was just okay, and it wasn't the best steak I had. My side of rice and beans was pretty good. I also had the fried ice cream for dessert. The ice cream was great! All in all, it's a good Mexican place to try out. I will come back. read more

See all

The service was great, it was a little busy in the restaurant. They also have a patio for outdoor dining in the back of the restaurant, they give you free basket of chips and salsa. And a tall water pitcher, I tried the Baja fish tacos those were great, the Spanish rice is decent, 5 out of 10, the black beans had a nice texture, 6 out of 10. The Baja tacos get a 10 out of 10. I would get those again. Our server Myra she was great, but she did forget my side of Chipotle sauce until about halfway done with my tacos, I already finished 1 taco, now the chipotle sauce had a nice heat and added more flavor to the taco. I definitely recommend the chipotle sauce, I tried a little sample of the tamale my dad got on his combination platter, that was a good tamale, 10 out of 10. I do wish the taco dinner came with 1 more taco, somebody was celebrating their birthday there and the music on the speakers stopped to announce a birthday in the house. It was a recording of a marachi band, singing happy birthday in English, I was surprised it wasn't in Spanish. The servers are bilingual they can speak both English and Spanish, I really appreciate the welcoming, friendly atmosphere of the servers, however a busboy or whoever cleared off a dirty table broke glass dishes, and the whole restaurant stopped and stared at the commotion I felt bad for the employee, but mistakes happen. read more

I've been here several times with my family, and it's a pretty solid place to come for a plate of carnitas. IMHO, not really the best place for tacos... but hey, I just make my own with my plate of carnitas and the problem is solved! The servers here are always very friendly, and it's usually no problem for the restaurant to accommodate me and my family of six on short notice. I usually call ahead to let them know we're coming, and what time works best. The other bonus about this place is that they have solid cocktails (I recommend the Skinny Natural or the Paloma), and they have a kids menu full of Mexican and American-style choices for the little ones at a reasonable price. My only complaint is that their salsa is pretty bland. With a name like Cafe Salsa, you'd think their salsa would knock it out of the park -- but nope. I like real salsa, and I like it spicy. I get that they are catering to the local patrons (aka middle-aged white midwesterners who will COMPLAIN if the salsa is too spicy), but some better salsa choices would REALLY make this place a whole lot better. read more

Oh Cafe Salsa, what happened? This one time, for a long time, establishment was my go-to for good Mexican food. In my last visit, I was sorely disappointed that my floutas were greasy and stale. We were here on a slow Monday night and service was totally lacking. Judging by the reviews in the last 6 months, something has gone terribly wrong. I do hope you can rebound to your previous greatness. UPDATE TO MY UPDATE: minutes after posting the above review, I received a message from "Mark the online Manager" I'm attaching a photo of said message as I'm blown away by the arrogance and hostility they treat their customers with. After 20 years of patronage to this establishment, I will not return until this guy is no longer affiliated with them. Perhaps if Mark spent his time reading and analyzing the complaints his customers have, they could actually put an effort to recover from a newly declining reputation. But instead they want to sling harsh words and forget what CUSTOMER SERVICE is really about. I'm sure I'll soon find this place shuttered up and it's truly a shame. Here's a tip: if you want to keep customers, don't talk down to them. read more

Cafe Salsa - A response received minutes after my 2 star review. Keeping it classy Cafe Salsa - Mexican Near Me - Countryside, Illinois

It was a warm summer night and my boyfriend and I were in the mood to sit outdoors and have a nice dinner along with some drinks. I remembered going here a while back and the food was good and they had a nice patio. So off we went... We walked in and asked to sit outside, luckily we had just missed the Sunday dinner crowd. We got seated immediately and I was pleased to see that the patio was just as lovely. Plenty of tables, nice lighting, pretty plants and the tables were spread out so you weren't close to other diners. Water and chips were brought out right away. I'm a big salsa fan and this salsa is very delicious. Just enough spice and full of flavor. I love that they have a very extensive menu and there is lots to choose from. To drink we ordered a pitcher of the frozen mango margarita, yum! When I checked in with Yelp I received a coupon for the half order of the guacamole so that was a nice bonus. The guacamole was ok, I like mine a certain way so I'm very picky. This one was ok and free so it was all good! For my entree I ordered the carne asada. That did not disappoint! It was cooked perfectly and it was a nice size. It came with rice and beans and those were good also. My boyfriend had the grilled ribeye and all I heard was how tasty and delicious it was. He ordered it with blue cheese on the side and ordered veggies. He was one happy guy. It was a great dinner and our server was amazing. He was very attentive, friendly and professional. A great Mexican restaurant in the area, check them out! read more

See all

Not authentic Mexican food, but good Americanized version. Margaritas were a pre-made mix, how disappointing. Had the steak tacos and steak tortas. Meat was good, as well as the refried beans and rice. We ate at the bar and the bartender provided ok service-distracted by her phone. Not sure I'll be back, too many other restaurants that have authentic Mexican food. read more

had a Saturday reservation to celebrate 2 birthdays. The restaurant was empty but we had to go looking for our waiter for service and drinks. Told our server we were celebrating birthdays and sadly they did nothing in honor of that which is so weird for a Mexican restaurant. The food was so freaking mediocre totally not worth what they charge for it. Very sad choice that we made and I for one will never go back again. We had seven people in our party and I don't think anyone enjoyed the food. read more

Cafe Salsa has been an area staple for years! I returned to this area recently and am happy to report that this place continues to deliver on delicious Mexican fare. I recently tried their vegetarian tacos and they were the best I've ever had! They truly care about service and making sure that everyone was comfortable dining in their outdoor patio. I'm going to make sure to utilize takeout over the winter season given the pandemic. I suggest this place to everyone in the area! What a gem. read more

Best of the best. I've been a long time resident of the Brookfield/Countryside area and this is the best of the best. There are some heavy hitters in the area but Cafe Salsa takes the cake. Been here about 30+ times and it has never disappointed. Great salsa. Their chips are crispy. And the service is outstanding. Ask for either Chendo or Juan, they are true kings of their trade. I moved far away and will continue to drive out here and patronize this establishment. read more

We had gone here once and that was enough. I thought the food was very bland, for Mexican style. I did enjoy the black bean soup and I have made it myself and nearly as good. Over the years I have eatten so much mexican food I thought I was turning Mexican. I have had Mexican in so many places and in Mexico that are so much better than this food. read more

First visit last night. The food was very good. Party of 5 and everyone had something different and everyone was happy with their choice. The service was another issue. Not sure but it looked like one server was waiting on the entire restaurant. Food took quite some time to come out and when we asked for more chips while we waited it was like pulling teeth. Heck getting a Diet Coke took 10 minutes and two requests. When we asked for chips at one point the server said "Your food is coming out right now." I took that as a no you can't have chips cause he didn't bring them. The food was good enough I would try this place again to give it one more chance. If the service is that bad again then their are lots of choices out this way. read more

Carne Asada definitely worth it. Chile Relleno delicious. Chips were hot and fresh salsa and queso phenomenal will definitely return.

We're fans. This is not the best out there, but it's by far one of the better Tex-Mex restaurants. They use white mean chicken, nice tender beef, and lots of veggies. Salsa is not what we would consider the greatest but you can tell that it was made with roasted tomatoes and fresh onions. Definitely will go back when we are in the area. Update 3/6/10: Have been back to this place a couple times now. Each visit brings poorer service and food quality than the last. Not sure if they changed cooking staff but it seems that things have gone down hill since the first visit. Will not be returning. read more

Best Mexican food that we've had while visiting our grandkids in LaGrange. Their enchiladas with Mole were fabulous. Don't let the exterior discourage you. Definitely worth your visit. read more

Chendo and his staff are kicking but always terrific service and fantastic food better than ot was before this stupid covid

We ordered catering from Cafe Salsa and the food is outstanding. They provide a lot of food and the beef and chicken is delicious. No complaints from this place. Dine in food is also great. read more

Walking in and being greeted by a friendly and smiling hostess was a great thing! The margarita was GOOD. I ordered the chile relleno stuffed with crab meat. Seriously on my list of top ten best things I've ever eaten. The waiter was great, very chill place. Would love to come back and try more unique dishes read more

Totally blown out of proportion overrated bad food bad service weak drinks, they're not happy to be there. Nobody Smiles. No personality. None-of-the-above. Will not be back to this restaurant whatsoever. Unbelievable can't find a good Mexican restaurant in the area of LaGrange and Countryside. You can look up and down. There's nowhere nowhere to go. read more

Soludy consist friendly family friendly atmosphere great food and service been coming fir tears

My new nearby fav. The steak tacos were generous portion (2 is enough) and the meat very tender grilled skirt steak. Complimentary chips and salsa with House Margarita make for a perfect $13 late lunch plus tip. Will be back many times. read more

Cafe Salsa - cars parked in front of a restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Countryside, Illinois

Overall very good. Simple, straight forward good food. I will return Kudos to the staff for service and politeness. read more

Cafe Salsa - Steak burrito suizos, yum - Mexican Near Me - Countryside, Illinois

This place was highly recommended but it wasn't all we expected. Still a good Mexican food restaurant.

Nice place, good food. But our stop at your bar not so good. We got out of there after a drink...Because nobody..but no buddy (customers) attempt to wear a mask. Stay away from bar or you can get Covid 19. There is a Pandemic going on Cafe Salsa...Do the right thing bartender...remind customers between sips to cover up... read more

We stopped by here on Saturday night with some friends who live down in Western Springs. The service was great, the place was comfortable and the food was as good as you'll find at any Mexican inspired restaurant. We had a great time and my burrito was big enough to take home for lunch the next day. (I wish I could remember our server's name because she did a great job. Unfortunately, her name isn't on the receipt. If the owners want to figure out who she is, she was pretty, Mexican, late twenties / early thirties. Very attentive, even though the place was crazy busy, and she did a great job!) If I have any complaints about this place, and I'm hardpressed to write this because I had a great time there, is when there is someone celebrating a birthday, they turn up the background music and play some 'birthday song'. The first time they did it we thought they made a mistake with the background music's volume until we realized the song was singing happy birthday. By the fourth birthday celebration we were laughing, saying, "Oh, there goes another birthday!" All in all, I'd go back without hesitation. read more

See all

This is a long time favorite. Chendo, Connor And the rest of the staff are golden people. Would like to see those GAMBLING SLOT signs moved to a less conspicuous spot, though. Really cheapens the entryway. read more

Discovered this place because somewhere else was closed loved the salsa bar from mild to knock your socks off in heat. Meats were cooked so well. It was so worth the stop. Going back soon read more

Haven't been in a few years. Used to be great, now only so so. In house chips were very heavy & tasted of over used oil. Water was served in a large bottle, Mason style jar/glasses & no ice (we asked for some). Salsa was watery & in great need of salt. I had Carne asada & a chilli reino. At med rare, steak was flavorful but tough (I did cut across the grain). Reino was physically flat & the cheese filling was solid (reheated poorly?). My wife's beef burrito suiza was bland with crema inside(?) no take home boxes needed. Far from traditional Mexican food. read more

I stopped going to Cafe Salsa a long time ago. Unfortunately I had to eat their food because I was invited to go with other people and had to be polite. Worst Mexican food ever! No clue how this place is still open. Food is terrible, house margs are gross, place is dirty, owner and manager are horrible people, I could go on and on. There are so many better options for Mexican around, don't waste your money here. read more

Save your time and money. There is nothing special about this place. The food has no flavor and is over priced. They don't use good quality steak for their steak tacos or dinner. The salsa is nothing near authentic. The place also has a funny smell when you walk in. I'm not sure what the hype is about. Food is too expensive. The only thing positive I have to say is regarding service. The hostess and bus boys were friendly and attentive. read more

Good and tasty Mexican food. There's a lot to like about this place. Primo margaritas are 16 oz. by the glass (our group always orders pitchers). Erin B. is absolutely correct: they will knock you on your butt! Appetizers and entrees are consistently good. My fave is the Independence Platter: 1/2 order of fajitas, quesadilla and a flauta - for $11.95. They always give you a lot of food, and prices are reasonable. Attentive service and requests are filled quickly (when my order came without sour cream, the server brought me a plate heaped with it, and guacamole). WIthout being asked, they bring extra plates and napkins. Our baskets of freshly made chips and salsa are always refilled promptly. We've always eaten here on weekends, and it's always hoppin'. Make reservations or be prepared for a wait. There is smoking in the bar area, so don't sit there unless you don't mind smoky air. But the main dining room is smoke free. It is kid-friendly. read more

This place has been around for a while. For some reason I really don't get here much. Maybe because it is off the beaten path somewhat. That is too bad because I always enjoy my experience here. The service here has always been phenomenal. I have never been let down with the waitstaff My last visit was no exception. The best spot to dine here is on the patio on a nice day. Although it is very close to bust LaGrange Road, The entire patio is fenced in minimizing the sound and maximizing privacy. The food here is solid. I have never been blown away but I have never been disappointed either. I have always enjoyed my meal. read more

Our server was amazing. The décor was dated and boring. The food was awful. No taste or anything. Its really hard to screw up Mexican food, but they have succeeded there. There is too much competition out there to allow yourself to eat here. And the owner responded to this review by quoting Straight Outta Compton. And I notice that Mr. Manz has taken to insulting each person out on Yelp who doesn't like his awful restaurant. Fans of his restaurant should see how he talks to people. Utter failure. Loser. He obviously doesn't eat in his own restaurant. Avoid Pepe's across the street because I think he owns that one also. read more

They used to be good, key words being used to. They no longer have that kick that separates them from other Mexican restaurants. Prices can be high, but I had their lunch special during my last visit and it was quite reasonable. Lunch specials include a beverage for around $7. Their salsa is pretty good, but their guacamole does not shine. I will probably return for lunch only as their dinner prices are too high for what you get. read more

Oh my god, I don't know if these reviews are fake profiles or they are just fictitious reviews!!!! Because this place is really not what these yelpers make it seem. We decided to dine here based on the spectacular "four star reviews" but boy, oh boy, was I wrong!! Unfortunately, me and my fiance decided to try it out for dinner on a Tuesday. First, the lighting at this place is horrible, it was very dimmed which did not go with the feel I was expecting of it being a fun and colorful atmosphere. Second, the tables seemed as if they were still stuck in the 90's era, they really need to remodel and bring this place back to life. Even the waiter was dressed like he was from 90's which really complemented the old taste of Cafe Salsa I guess, because once the food arrived, I knew I was never coming back again. Besides waiting almost 20 mins to simply order from the menu, it seemed it could not get worse but it did. When the food arrived, my dish was cold and the shrimp I had ordered was burnt. And it was only five pieces of shrimp with a lump of spinach and aragula in the middle with avocado slices turning brown around it. (I added a picture of it feel free to look at it because I am not lying) It cost $9.50 I'm not kidding. I could have made this at home for less than $2.00, seriously. I would have been fine with this if the shrimp were not bite sized either. It was extremely disappointing because my fiance's torta was soggy and the steak tasted as if it was marinated for days, almost had a spoiled taste to it. Not only was it expensive but the food was not good at all. Please don't go here unless you are willing to pay extra for garbage. So please avoid, avoid, avoid. If you want real mexican or south american food go somewhere better. I am a latina, I know the latin cuisine from the inside out, and this was not it. The only thing that exceeded my expectations were the warm chips with salsa but that was it. No wonder it is called Cafe Salsa, they place so much emphasis on their starter salsa that they forget about their main cuisine. They really serve unreasonable, unworthy, disgusting food. Cafe salsa please look at this---either hire real chefs, change your menu, or your restaurant. Sincerely, unhappy customer. read more

Cafe Salsa - It was not pleasant to eat at all. Burned, cold shrimp at $9.50 a plate. Please do better cafe salsa. - Mexican Near Me - Countryside, Illinois

Nothing groundbreaking in terms of Mexican fare but what they do serve is fresh and tasty. The complimentary chips and two types of salsa were great. My Dad and I came here on a recent Saturday for a late lunch and we had the patio to ourselves. It was lovely, beautiful flowers in all four corners and enough umbrellas so the hot sun wasn't an issue. The waiter was kind and sweet to my Dad. He kept referring to my dad as "Pops", it was cute. Service was great, quick but we didn't feel rushed. I had the veggie quesadillas and Pops had a taco salad and a dark beer. The inside was a bit noisy, not in bad way but the patio was a perfect spot for me and Pops. We'll be back. It's like a little oasis off of busy LaGrange Road. read more

Came here on Cinco De Mayo expecting some excellent margaritas seeing as this is also a Tequila Bar. We were disapointed. The Margaritas were weak and tasted like sweet and sour. The Guacomole tasted like it was store bought with a few extra tomatoes and onions mixed in. I did like the fairly large outdoor patio. I love eating outside, well atleast drinking margs outside! My salad was also very large, which is often rare at Mexican places. I would come back to sit outside again and maybe try some new tequilas...but probably won't. There HAS to be some better Mexican places around, we'll just have to keep trying! read more