Catrina’s Express

4.9 (32 reviews)

Mexican, Breakfast & Brunch

Closed • 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

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Catrina’s Express - Choripapas burrito - Mexican Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

Catrina’s Express - Favorite of law enforcement, so it is very safe! - Mexican Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

Catrina’s Express - Grilled chicken nachos - Mexican Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

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Catrina’s Express - Updated Menu - Mexican Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

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Sam K.

Very friendly staff, prompt service, ample seating, and delicious food. Hard to ask for m

Amazing friendly service!! We went for breakfast and the Choripapas was sooo delicious. Also tried a breakfast taco and an egg spinach and cheese burrito but the choripapas was our favorite the salsas were very good too! 10/10 want to come back for their lunch menu!

Eric B.

Excellent spot in downtown Peoria, not the easiest to find, inside a rehabbed older building. I had the grilled chicken nachos (on special) and absolutely loved them. Based on that, I'll be back again to try more items! Highly recommend

Matt Q.

The place is super cool, great atmosphere and workers. If you're up to trying something new give this place a chance. Try it out, food is amazing!

My wife is a Caribbean Chef and this restaurant is her style of cuisine. She loves this place and it is as authentic as anywhere I have tried. Great flavors made to the perfect salt point. Portions are very price worthy. Never takes too long to get the food. You should certainly give this place a try, you won't regret it. It gets crowded so come early and the ambiance is pleasant.

OMG! So good also salsa it was amazingly good

Mayumi S.

I'm visiting Peoria. Not live unfortunately. Walking today over 85 degree for 3 hours and yoga without eating for 45 min! Ofcause very very hungry but I made today's dinner already so just want light snack instead big lunch. Found here! Yes someone mentioned front person is so nice ! and give us nice smile when we order taco and quesadilla. Usually eat taco when I go New Mexican place but today I am so hungry so decide other. Wow meat is very tasty but salsa different level of spicy is soooo good! And shrimp taco! She forget to gave us another special salsa! Wow amazingly good! I can't stop ! How could I? I'm sad not living here!

Being from San Antonio we are always in the lookout for great Mexican food. We were not disappointed. The street tacos were great but their salsa! Yum. Our server was very pleasant and helpful. It's a cute space but small. we noticed that they did quite a bit of take-out business. We had tried visiting them on other occasions but the hours seem flexible. Guess we got lucky this time.

Dylan I.

Hidden gem in the middle of Peoria. Was in the area for a couple of days for an event and scoured the area looking for some good food. Stumbled upon this hole-in-the-wall while scrolling through reviews online. Atmosphere is very casual and complete with a smiling face behind the counter. A variety of delectable Mexican dishes and drinks were available at great prices. Everything we ordered was delicious and our plates were clean by the time we finished. Will make sure to stop by again if I happen to be in Peoria again.

Dave D.

Can't say enough good things about this hidden gem that makes the best tacos in town. Everything is great but my favorites are the breakfast tacos, the guacamole, and the horchata. Love the spicy salsas that come with the food too. Wish I lived closer as I'd be there everyday.

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The D.

37

63

3

4 months ago

The food is absolutely fantastic here but the customer service is even better. Their credit card machine was down and I had left my cash in my car. Was told don't worry just pay next time you're in. Unfortunately I don't live in the area so I burned some calories and went out and grabbed my money. I wish I lived in the area just to support a business like this. This is why you come to your local business. Steak burrito was perfect with plenty of meat. Great flavor and the green and red sauce added the spice. read more

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Kyle O.

0

2

5 months ago

I think the lady that works at the register taking orders is incompetent or has something personal against me. I ordered a breakfast burrito with just cheese potato eggs and bacon. I get home and there is practically no bacon in this burrito, just a few tiny tiny pieces. I go back the next week and order the same burrito with extra bacon. I come home and the same exact thing. I can't see or taste any bacon. I opened the burrito and see pretty much zero bacon. How pathetic, I will never again go to Catrina's what a terrible restaurant. See photo, anything that looks brown like bacon is actually the skin side of the potato. This is supposed to be a breakfast burrito with extra bacon. read more

Catrina’s Express - There is not a piece of bacon to be seen anything that looks brown like bacon is actually the skin side of the potato. - Mexican Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

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Gary C.

0

45

3

8 months ago

I love their breakfast tacos And I really admire the relationship of this business, hard-working down to earth, family people. I go there after I get done at the river Plex get a couple breakfast tacos take them home and enjoy the heck out of them. highly recommend. read more

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Joe B.

35

44

2

5 months ago

Very busy and only two people working. Was able order and get food very quickly. Very few places to sit down. Mostly it appeared that everyone was getting food to go. A couple was finishing and let sit with them. Clean and bustling. Food was good. Green sauce was milder, red was spicy but I could eat it. Rice and beans seemed very fresh. Over all a good solid place to eat read more

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Pete W.

Elite 26

1

34

24

1 year ago

Eat here! Catrina's is sneaky good, fast, and cozy! This little family owned spot is a must stop every time I'm in town. Sorry, I keep forgetting to take a picture of the food, but when they bring it out I just start chowing down and forget. I've tried everything on the menu now and love it all. This is the most authentic and clean food I've seen in a quick stop like this. The staff is always so kind and sweet too. Catrina's won't disappoint. A+ read more

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Sam K.

267

4

2

7 months ago

Very friendly staff, prompt service, ample seating, and delicious food. Hard to ask for m read more

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Nathalie N.

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3

2

5 months ago

Amazing friendly service!! We went for breakfast and the Choripapas was sooo delicious. Also tried a breakfast taco and an egg spinach and cheese burrito but the choripapas was our favorite the salsas were very good too! 10/10 want to come back for their lunch menu! read more

Catrina’s Express - Choripapas - Mexican Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

Catrina’s Express - Spinach egg & cheese Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

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Elaine K.

0

24

1

9 months ago

Food is great, fresh and flavorful! Friendly service. Wish they were open on weekends!

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Olivia G.

0

17

1

6 months ago

Delicious authentic Mexican food! Friendly staff, clean restaurant & fast service! Will definitely come back

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W E.

62

7

0

8 months ago

Such a nice family run business in downtown Peoria. The staff is super nice and the food is great. I had the Arroz Con Pollo which was a good size portion and delicious. The chips and salsa are a must have. The salsa has a little kick so be ready for the medium spicy flavor. Service is swift and the food is great. What more can one ask for in a lunch time spot. Kuddos! read more

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Eric B.

92

221

203

3 years ago

Excellent spot in downtown Peoria, not the easiest to find, inside a rehabbed older building. I had the grilled chicken nachos (on special) and absolutely loved them. Based on that, I'll be back again to try more items! Highly recommend read more

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Matt Q.

20

2

15

2 years ago

The place is super cool, great atmosphere and workers. If you're up to trying something new give this place a chance. Try it out, food is amazing! read more

Catrina’s Express - Hidalgo Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

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Ben O.

0

14

16

2 years ago

My wife is a Caribbean Chef and this restaurant is her style of cuisine. She loves this place and it is as authentic as anywhere I have tried. Great flavors made to the perfect salt point. Portions are very price worthy. Never takes too long to get the food. You should certainly give this place a try, you won't regret it. It gets crowded so come early and the ambiance is pleasant. read more

Catrina’s Express - Arroz con pollo - Mexican Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

Catrina’s Express - View from window. - Mexican Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

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Mayumi S.

Elite 26

79

276

2034

5 years ago

I'm visiting Peoria. Not live unfortunately. Walking today over 85 degree for 3 hours and yoga without eating for 45 min! Ofcause very very hungry but I made today's dinner already so just want light snack instead big lunch. Found here! Yes someone mentioned front person is so nice ! and give us nice smile when we order taco and quesadilla. Usually eat taco when I go New Mexican place but today I am so hungry so decide other. Wow meat is very tasty but salsa different level of spicy is soooo good! And shrimp taco! She forget to gave us another special salsa! Wow amazingly good! I can't stop ! How could I? I'm sad not living here! read more

Catrina’s Express - OMG! So good also salsa it was amazingly good - Mexican Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

Catrina’s Express - Great taste! - Mexican Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

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Helpful 2

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Ellen K.

0

4

3

3 years ago

Being from San Antonio we are always in the lookout for great Mexican food. We were not disappointed. The street tacos were great but their salsa! Yum. Our server was very pleasant and helpful. It's a cute space but small. we noticed that they did quite a bit of take-out business. We had tried visiting them on other occasions but the hours seem flexible. Guess we got lucky this time. read more

Catrina’s Express - Entrance - Mexican Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

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Josh Z.

0

2

3

3 years ago

Just moved to Peoria Catrina's is close walking distance to downtown, good authentic taste, and they have Horchata (that tastes so good)! Steak Tacos were great, also had Pastor tacos, and they put pineapple in them, not everywhere does that. It made them taste so good. Was a little pricy for authentic Mexican food but definitely worth for what I'm guessing is a small business! read more

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Michael S.

0

15

0

2 years ago

Had our first one at the Peoria's Riverfront Market. Knew I had to find again. Awesome breakfast taco and burritos.

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Dylan I.

0

33

57

4 years ago

Hidden gem in the middle of Peoria. Was in the area for a couple of days for an event and scoured the area looking for some good food. Stumbled upon this hole-in-the-wall while scrolling through reviews online. Atmosphere is very casual and complete with a smiling face behind the counter. A variety of delectable Mexican dishes and drinks were available at great prices. Everything we ordered was delicious and our plates were clean by the time we finished. Will make sure to stop by again if I happen to be in Peoria again. read more

Catrina’s Express - Mexican Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

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Alexander M.

0

36

2

4 years ago

I and the others that work in my office, which is across the street from Catrina's, love the place. Their food is authentic! The real deal. The menu is limited but everything on it is delicious and executed very well. The service is friendly, happy and quick considering how busy the place is and the place is always busy! I and the others in my office highly recommend at least giving this place a try. Great food at good prices!!!!! read more

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Dave D.

8

68

35

6 years ago

Can't say enough good things about this hidden gem that makes the best tacos in town. Everything is great but my favorites are the breakfast tacos, the guacamole, and the horchata. Love the spicy salsas that come with the food too. Wish I lived closer as I'd be there everyday. read more

Catrina’s Express - Breakfast taco - Mexican Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

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B A.

0

8

0

3 years ago

This place is absolutely great!! Just stopped in on a whim while at the riverfront. A person we knew was there and she strongly recommended the food and advised how nice the lady at the counter is. Our acquaintance was right. Lee (I believe her name is) kept a smile the entire time. When we got our food it was hot and incredibly tasty. Portion sizes were larger than expected. I'm happy I hadn't ordered the third taco like i normally do. I will be back and probably soon. read more

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Stephanie B.

0

13

3

4 years ago

ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. Do not skip this place if you love mexican food. Everything is fresh and amazing. read more

Catrina’s Express - Carne Asada Taco with Salsa Verde - Mexican Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

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Josh G.

0

23

0

4 years ago

The best Mexican food hands down. Order from here weekly and it never disappoints. There is literally nothing bad on the menu.

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Sabrina F.

0

22

13

3 years ago

The food was excellent. I got there around 11:40 and they have a few sit down tables and those were all full as well as a long line waiting. The food was taken to go and was hot when I arrived back to work. They didn't waste anytime cranking out the food orders. I believe the owner was at the register and she was smiling and very friendly. Very sad I've gone without this restaurant for as long as I have. Will DEFINITELY be returning. read more

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Thomas B.

0

17

0

3 years ago

Nice clean restaurant with a cool din! Stopped in for lunch had a quesadilla which was very fresh, flavorful and a satisfying portion. Very busy at lunch, but the food came out very quickly. read more

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Suzanne T.

6

11

5

6 years ago

My boss ordered a bunch of their burritos for lunch today (so nice of him). And let me tell you, they were delicious! I had the steak burrito, and it was very filling. The steak was tender, and the queso that covered the burrito was so good!! It was packaged nicely for to go. I will definitely be eating there again!! Two thumbs up! read more

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Jenna R.

1

6

3

5 years ago

Best Mexican food in the area hands down! Steak tacos are amazing, especially with the spicy salsa.

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Sonu D.

31

2

1

5 years ago

Great lunch spot. Love the ceviche and wildcard chefs special. Here is my last delicious takeout. read more

Catrina’s Express - Roasted peppers with grilled shrimp and rice. Delicious. - Mexican Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

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Elizabeth T.

116

13

1

4 years ago

Love love love. The chicken and steak tacos are my absolute favorite! It's small, clean and the food is delicious. Don't miss this hidden gem! read more

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Erik M.

2

29

4

5 years ago

My brother took me to Catrina's today. Outstanding. I had the AlPastor quesadilla, the shrimp taco and the carnitas taco. Being from Albuquerque I have to say I was impressed. All the salsas were delicious. Support local, support small businesses!! read more

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Katy H.

39

3

1

6 years ago

Love everything about this place, the best Mexican spot in peoria in my opinion Locally owned by women & food is unmatched

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Garrett D.

0

24

0

5 years ago

Super cute spot to eat at. Foods amazing for the price. Also the woman taking the orders is super nice. I have yet to try their breakfast, but based on how their lunch/dinner tastes, I am sure it's amazing! read more

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More info about Catrina’s Express

401 SW Water St
Peoria, IL 61602
Directions
(309) 673-2233
Call Now

Hours

What time does Catrina’s Express open?

Catrina’s Express opens at 8:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

What time does Catrina’s Express close?

Catrina’s Express closes at 4:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.Catrina’s Express is closed on Saturday and Sunday.

Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 4:00 PMSat-Sun Closed

Food & Alcohol

Does Catrina’s Express serve alcohol?

Yes, Catrina’s Express serves alcohol.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Catrina’s Express have parking?

Yes, Catrina’s Express has parking options.

Other Amenities

Does Catrina’s Express have free WiFi?

Yes, Catrina’s Express has free WiFi.

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Los Cabos Cantina & Grill

Its always good and affordable. The staff are friendly and kind. Ive gotten the carnitas and it…read moreis very good.

We arrived at 8:20 p.m. The sign said they closed at 9:00, so we thought we had plenty of time. As…read moresoon as we walked in, one of the female servers gave us a very unwelcoming look. I didn't understand why at first, but then we noticed that most of the chairs were already stacked on the tables and the staff was sweeping the floor. I asked if they were closed, but the man at the door said they were still open, so we were seated. Before we even had a chance to look at the menu, a server came over and told us we needed to move because they were about to mop that section. We moved without complaint. Our food came out fairly quickly, and it actually tasted good. Unfortunately, right as we started eating, they began mopping the floors with some kind of strong cleaner that made us nauseated. They mopped right by our table--my husband even joked that he was surprised they didn't ask us to lift our feet. By that point, several employees already had their coats on and were giving us looks like they just wanted us gone. We felt rushed, uncomfortable, and couldn't even finish our meal because of the chemical smell. The food itself was good, but the experience was terrible. No restaurant should start mopping floors with harsh cleaners while customers are still eating. That's just basic common sense. We won't be back.

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Steak fajita quesadilla

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Shrimp tacos

El Taco Loco

4.3

(69 reviews)

3.7 mi

My husband and I were in IL for work and stopped at this little taco shop. It's a cute small space…read morewith limited seating. The service was overall friendly and the food was fresh. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because the cheese on the nachos wasn't very flavorful. The rest of the food had good flavor.

Hands down solid experience and will revisit to try more! I…read morecame towards closing with a friend. A few have recommended this place to me so I have been wanting to try it. Let me tell you, it lives up to its reputation. I ordered the birria taco, chorizo taco and a tamale. All three were solid and I especially enjoyed the chorizo and tamale. My friend was speaking incredibly highly of the taco campesino and I definitely want to try this next time.

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Outside the restaurant

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Birria Ramen

La Familia

5.0

(3 reviews)

1.7 mi

I stopped in for a fast dinner and they really delivered. There are plenty of authentic Mexican…read morefoods and many (non- ground beef) meat choices. Great service, and everything came out fast and hot. They even have multiple choices of mexican mineral water and soda.

Best traditional Mexican food in Peoria. Don't let the somewhat run-down looks put you off, this…read moreis real Mexican food made from scratch. Their salsas are always fresh and slightly different with every batch. Tacos are served 'Mexican Style' with just meat, cilantro, and onion on double layered corn tortillas so they hold together.

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Ice cold mexican mineral water in a glass bottle

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Mariachi Mexican Restaurant Bar & Grill

We had a really great visit to this restaurant, Our server was just so good and nice. Cute and…read morefunny as well. The food was tasty, and I really enjoyed the rice and beans. We also had the vegetarian tacos. The food came quickly and the staff was very attentive. Highly recommend

Came here with my friends to celebrate end of the semester. The parking was pretty empty on a…read moreMonday afternoon. We came and we waited a while to be seated. No one was at the front desk. Finally someone saw us after we were walking around and a man told us to sit wherever. They may be understaffed because it looked like there was only one server and probably one staff. It was pretty empty, which most of the occupation being at the bar area. I like the decorations they had and plants all around. I ordered the enchiladas mole pablano under the lunch special. The waiter gave us the regular menu, and I had to get up to grab the lunch special menu. No worries though. The mole sauce is earthy, pepper, and nutty. Comes with rice and beans. Green habanero hot sauce in a bottle was very spicy and flavorful. Big portions. They also give free salsa and chips with free refills. Very affordable price, long wait time but it's understandable. Delicious food

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Enchilada Mole Poblano Enchilada

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Ceiling art

Perico's Fast Tacos

4.7

(65 reviews)

4.1 mi

Yummy fast tacos. They make the fresh to order. The carne asada was great, and they're good sized…read moretoo. Very full of meat. Love that they put on plenty of cilantro and onions. They have a good selection of items besides tacos too. Service was quick and the place was clean!

Great Quesadillas and rice very good service and very clean and will be back again soonread more

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Hand painted mural

Tacos: carne asada, Al pastor, chorizo

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Menu

Mi Familia

My friend and I never been here before and I saw the review by sethboyer and wanted to try some…read moreauthentic mexican! It was close to my work so tried it out! We both had the birria tacos and they were amazing!! I would go back for those! They were moist, flavorful, fall of the bone tender. It came with consume. The consume which is like a meat broth you dip it in was okay. I wished it was alittle more flavorful and thicker but it was sorta watery but still vey good. The al paster taco was good but alittle dry but loved the seasoning! The horchata drink was great for the size and price! It was super affordable and I only waited like 10 mins for my food on a friday at 2pm!

The birria tacos are delicious. Fast, authentic Mexican dishes. Would definitely recommend!read more

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El Mexicano

Fast, fresh, delicious. Ordered thru grub hub and store had my order ready within 15 minutes of…read moreopening!

Review Visit: October 21st, 2014…read more So much food. So many memories. El Mexicano is one of those places that was located in a weird spot. It was on the corner of a street away from a commercial district but not quite in a residential area. Tim, Matt, and I pulled up for an early dinner one evening and were greeted by some friendly workers. We placed our orders at the counter and took a seat at one of the few empty tables. There were a few others in the restaurant but due to the sheer small size, it felt packed with just the few of us in there. As with a lot of Mexican places, we had our food out in front of us before we even had time to really dig in to a random topic. Not only was it cooked exceptionally fast but the sheer amount of food was borderline nonsense for the price we paid. You gotta start somewhere, so I started by eating the extra goodies that came with my burrito. It was a combination of rice, refried beans (?) and some salad stuff topped with sour cream, I think. Scarfing down the sides was easy as the food was pretty good aside from the bean paste stuff. That was a bit dry. After priming my stomach for the main course by downing the side stuff, I used my fork and knife to cut in to the burrito. As is the norm at these places, the burritos are massive. Like, this is half the size of a loaf of bread. It's gut-busting sized. But, I was able to use my knife and fork to shovel down most of the burrito. I had to tap out at about 1/4 left as I just couldn't do it. The food was just too much. I think my meal was under $10 so to get full for that much is an incredible value in my book. The burrito was on par with the side stuff. It was good, if not borderline great. El Mexicano would've definitely been a place I would revisit if they were still open. It didn't help that we put down a ton of chips and salsa in between bites as well. I love chips and salsa. Matt was in the same boat as me. Unable to finish. Tim was the victor and put down all his stuff and then some more of the chips and salsa. The man is a beast when he wants to be. So, it was a sad day when I was doing some searching around on Google and discovered El Mexicano had closed. Here is a link to an article the local newspaper did on it closing, if you are interested. I was surprised to see it had been in the area for 16 years. At that point, it becomes a staple to the area.

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Disgusting

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Jimador Authentic Mexican Cuisine

Visiting from out of state and wanted to compare Mexican food tastes. The chips and salsa were…read morefresh and super good. The chips were crunchy and the salsa was perfect for taste and spicy level. The quesadilla was smaller than I was thinking, buts it's good for a kids size. Half the quesadilla is considered 1 order. The #9 combination was a little disappointing in plating and the taco shells. Def not authentic tortilla shells, it's like crunchy taco shells from Taco Bell. The rice and beans were good though. The best item was the carne asada fries, sooooo good! Idk what the menu name is but that's how I ordered it. I love that it's queso sauce and not shredded cheese, made the fries hold together a lot better. Every bite had a good amount of toppings and sauce. Highly recommend ordering this! The server was nice but it was a little slow to get things. It looked like 1-2 servers for the whole restaurant. Also note that to pay, they give you the bill, you go to the counter to pay. I waited a bit before realizing you bring the bill to the counter. Inside is nicely decorated, lots of seatings.

This was our first visit. The wait staff was pretty good. Our table had just been cleaned and was…read moresopping wet. Our arms and menus stuck to the table. Seats were not clean. Bathroom door made from reclaimed wood with gaps. Tacky. Toilet was loose. One table of customers were very loud and annoying. We couldn't hear each other talk. Ordered Fiesta Fajitas for two. Received about two pounds of fajitas. Would feed four people easily. The shrimp were perfect and large. The pork was mostly dry and some hard. The chicken was decent. My water tasted like seltzer water was added. The beans were great. Nice portions of fixings. Salt Shaker was clogged so we opened it to try to fix it. It was disgusting! The inside if the cap looked like dirty, oil snow. The menu prices were wrong and the restaurant just opened. How does that happened. Our fajitas were $32 on the menu. We were charged $36.40. Another order of fajitas was $18.99 on menu. We were charged $19.75. A staff member ran into one of us trying to get to an empty table. Then did a similar thing a few seconds later. They have some bugs to work out for sure.

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Chips and Salsa

#9 Two Beef Tacos Combination

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Carne Asada Fries

Casa De Arte

4.7

(26 reviews)

0.7 mi

Their mushroom taco is amazing!! Very nice staff! I believe they had alcohol you could buy too!read more

Food was delicious, and we really enjoyed the all tacos plus service was very friendly and fast…read more Toppings were your choice and included white onions, cilantro, lime, radish, jalapeños, spicy and mild salsa, etc. While we were waiting Casa De Arte had some art pieces to look at, which were available for purchase if interested. Outdoor seating is also available for when the weather is nice!

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Chef Moussa

The food was delicious and had wonderful service, had the mix gyros with schwarma, food was hot,…read morepita was hot and tasty. The restaurant was very clean and the amount of food was enough for two people. The grape leaves were out of this world. Chef Moussa was very attentive when he found out that this was our first time here. Wonderful hospitality.

Great authentic mediterranean food from a family that cares. Great vegan fare if you're interested…read more Something for everyone, great value, fresh, served with pride. they have a variety of nice vegan and non vegan pastries and cookies. Visited for the vegan challenge and the sampler and dessert platters were amazing. I'm not vegan and didn't miss meat. Having said that this place has awesome gyros and shawarma. I love the Ful and the fresh Pitas. Bright, clean, diner decor.

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Inside

Beef and chicken shawarma platter

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Gyro platter w/hummus

Jerusalem Restaurant

A tear nearly came out when I brought that chicken into my mouth. It's just so good…read more Good service. The seating and tables were sparkling clean. Plus, the food took like three minutes to come out.

When we walked in, the environment was not friendly. The food was okay, but it lacked seasoning and…read morecould have been better. It is a family-owned restaurant, and we respect their business and support local businesses in Peoria. However, the server could have shown more friendliness. He did not seem polite. We kept saying "thank you" when he took our payment and when he served our food, but there was no response--he just walked away. He needs to learn hospitality. However, when I took pictures of our food, they started becoming friendly. "get the hint" We hope their business do well. Danny the chef was friendly as we were leaving he was busy cooking

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Falafel, rice, hummus and salad.

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Combination Platter

Thanh Linh Vietnamese Restaurant

I've been going here for about 10 years now and this is some of the best food I've ever had for…read moresuch a great price. the ambiance is great, it is very calm and qui in the store. The service is perfect too. I would highly recommend this spot.

Ordered door dash delivery for Thanh linh on a busy Saturday night. Ordered teriyaki chicken and 1…read moreorder of chicken egg rolls. Everything was really good! Portion of chicken is a little smaller these days. I recommend everyone orders the teriyaki chicken! The flavors are so good

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44. Vermicelli with Tofu

Grilled pork vermicelli, thin rice noodles with beef, pork fried rice, tofu spring rolls

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Chicken lemongrass

Childers Eatery

My husband and I were looking for breakfast and found it at Childer's Eatery. This looks like your…read moretraditional cafe on the inside. I had the caramel apple churro waffle. The waffle was crispy and they used real fruit. My husband had the brioche French toast. The French toast was loaded with fresh strawberries, bananas, and pecans. We had a great dining experience here. Our server was nice and friendly. I highly recommend Childer's Eatery!

I feel like if you want general American breakfast food, this is a solid place to go with fair…read moreprices. I got a salad with beets and sweet potatoes, although they forgot the sweet potatoes and brought me some after I pointed it out. I don't think you need to go out of your way but they do have a bunch of breakfast items you could get and it's a diner vibeish.

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Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

9 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Anthony R.

5

1

2

5 years ago

The service I received at Catrina's Express was extraordinary! The woman at the front counter was incredibly friendly and kind. Their breakfast sandwich (I'm not sure of the name, but it's a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich on a croissant) has got to be the best I've ever had. I believe I'm going to become a regular! read more

Ben F.

0

1

0

10 months ago

This spot is damn good and severely underrated. Floating over to the front door from the aroma on my walk by the riverfront, I had their breakfast croissant. Fantastic and even better with their hot sauce. Walked out of there skipping read more

Gavin R.

0

2

0

6 years ago

Excellent new restaurant. The owner also operates the restaurant. Super fast, but high quality. Great experience. The inside eating is safe and very clean. But takeout is great too. Also has flexible catering options. Best in town. read more

Roberta P.

0

1

0

6 years ago

Great new place downtown. I had the Hildago quesadilla the other day and it was very good. They were happy to substitute corn tortilla for the flour as I try not to eat gluten. Guacamole was good also. read more

Jennifer L.

2

3

6 years ago

Delicious authentic Mexican food, excellent service, & a great place for a quick carry-out! Wish I lived closer!

Joshua P.

0

2

0

4 years ago

A cozy little place downtown with great service an excellent food. If you in the area its worth checking out.

Megan L.

13

5

6

3 years ago

Great service and amazing food! The staff is so kind. The arroz con pollo is delicious also the nachos!

Bradley M.

0

1

0

4 years ago

Amazing. They are the best. I go to lunch here way too often but it is always worth it!

Paula K.

0

1

0

6 years ago

Delicious...fresh..best ever burritos. I will definitely be back and soon

Catrina’s Express - mexican - Updated August 2026

People who viewed Catrina’s Express also viewed

Sombrerito Mexican Restaurant

3.8

(25 reviews)

•$

I had the huevos rancheros and it was so delicious!! Great place with authentic food, a real gem in…read morePeoria :)

Came here during a business trip pretty top tier pretty nice pretty trim also our waiter Anthony…read morewas pretty helpful

El Molcajete Mexican Restaurant

3.7

(26 reviews)

Very good food and very good service and it was our second time there. Very kind waiter.read more

Food is good and large amount. Service is top notch. Friendly atmosphere. Owners are nice.read more

Hacienda El Mirador

3.1

(126 reviews)

•$$

We had a table for 6, ordered drinks then our lunches for 6 people, server did not bring us any…read morewater until one plate of food was served. Only one person received their bottled beer, then another plate arrived after a long time and the order was wrong. (Asked for shredded chicken but got grilled chicken in a taco salad that was mostly sour cream lettuce bean soup in a tortilla bowl.) nobody at the table has received any water yet, not do we have d as by utensils or napkins either. Server returns with a second beer for the only person in our party who received their drink "this one's in the house, sorry for the wait" and we remind her again we need some water. Nobody has received anything to drink except one person who was given two beers now. The third plate of food finally arrived. The first person hasn't touched their food because we thought we would all be eating together at once, but apparently that's not possible at this restaurant. Eventually all six people received their meals, it was close to an hour to get all six plates of food and half the table was still wising for their cocktails. Server brought us the check at and tabs our cocktails showed up, so we had drinks for dessert and nothing but ice water with our meals. She did not comp any of the drinks on the check and added in a built in gratuity even though we split the party of six into three separate checks. The entire meal from start to finish took close to 3 hours of our afternoon because the service was so bad.

Their outdoor seating gives it an edge over other restaurants. The complimentary apps is an also a…read morenice touch and good quality. I was let down in terms of service - no silverware given when we were seated, server asked us to pour water in the kids cup ourselves, server did not hand over the order correctly. Kids steak tacos was overcooked and mama mole had no taste to it. It will take me a lot of re-thinking if I want to go back to Hacienda even though I really like the outdoor seating.

Coco’s Tacos

3.4

(20 reviews)

Tacos were not that good. Tortillas were not dipped in oil &…read moreslapped on the flat top. asada meat was old & burnt salsa was too citrusy. not spicy. & ordered some tacos plain & still slapped a lot of onions/cilantro on them. Over all no bueno

My wife and I dined in for lunch on a Sunday afternoon. We…read moreordered the birria tacos ( 3 small tacos) combo with rice and beans. We also ordered the taco (3) combo with 2 chorizo and one carne asada taco with rice and beans. We also got a side order of rice and beans. This restaurant is pricey. The good - rice, beans, chorizo, carne asada tacos are good. The salsas they bring out to the table in bottles are good. The bad- birria tacos, chips and salsa. The birria tacos have a tiny amount of shredded beef and loads of greasy cheese. The meat has good flavor but you barely get any shredded beef! The chips are bland and the salsa is just liquid ( no texture) with some flavor. Tacos combo is 12 dollars, birria tacos combo is 15 dollars. I would recommend getting a taco combo (3) with 2 chorizo and 1 carne asada taco with rice and beans. I wouldn't recommend the birria tacos. The price is high for the amount of food that you get. Our lunch was 36 dollars without tip! Water only to drink.

Mariachi Mexican Restaurant Bar And Grill

3.6

(14 reviews)

Everything was solid to really good. The fajitas for 2 came with a variety of meats, steak,…read morechicken, pork, and shrimp. All were good, but the pork stood out as moist and very tasty. Enjoyed the Guac as well as the complimentary Chips. The guac was creamy and very tasty to me. My wife said it was just ok. The beans and rice were standard, but that's ok. The sever handled the party of 14 with with 5 different checks excellently. Would definitely recommend.

Wife and I always have a good experience here - Great food, good service, very fast and efficient!…read moreHaven't found anything on the menu i didn't like. My wife also has celiac and she hasn't been sick from eating here. 10/10!

Blue Margaritas

3.6

(28 reviews)

Delicious Mexican food in Central Illinois? Absolutely! I was blown away with the tasty and…read moreauthentic carne asada. Look at the pics it's worth a thousand words. Notice the Chile toreado. This was the best meal I had in farm country. Most everywhere else was garbage. The service was friendly and the facility is clean.

Portion sizes are often generous (so great leftovers for lunch)…read more They also have a neat "traditional" section on the menu with some great items.

One World

4.3

(788 reviews)

•$$

My first time here. The menu was comprehensive and featured so many visually tempting options that…read moreI finally just asked our waitress Quincy to suggest something. She recommended the Cuban Pulled Pork Sandwich. My sandwich was huge and contained a large portion of pulled pork meat. It was delicious and the homemade chipotle bbq mayo made it all the more satisfying with its rich smoky flavor! The Cuban-style black beans were right out of Miami! Very nicely prepared and included green peas, carrots, corn, and bell peppers, as well. My dining companion, for her part, ordered the Falafel platter, with a side order of gyro meat. The falafel (a dozen), were fresh, tasty, and just the right consistency. These were served with lettuce, onions, tomatoes, pita, and hummus. The side order of gyro meat featured a generous portion of decadently succulent lamb shavings and included two portions of homemade tzatziki sauce. Everything we ate was prepared to perfection and could easily compete with exceptional restaurants in Chicago! Yes, the food at One World is that good. As for the service, our waitress Quincy was friendly and professional. As for the ambiance and decor--we arrived ahead of the lunch crowd, so it was pretty quiet. The decor, however, is nicely done. The premises were clean and well maintained. Ditto the restrooms. The restaurant is actually huge. There are multiple dining areas and in the summer there is an outside patio behind the restaurant, as well. As for pricing and affordability--quality costs, and the food here is definitely a cut above. That being said, the owners have priced the entrees quite reasonably considering the generous portion-size and quality of the food. My overall opinion? If you want a dining experience worthy of comparison to the best Chicagoland has to offer, but don't want to make the long drive--or pay twice as much--then I highly recommend this little gem of a locally-owned restaurant in Peoria!

Very good spot in Peoria!!! The menu here is expansive and there is something for everyone. They…read morealso have a huge selection of lattes and drinks. I got the thai chicken pizza and it was SO good. The hot honey was a little sweeter than I expected, however the jalepeno balanced it well. The hummus also was hands down one of the best I have ever had. Still thinking about it. The only reason I didn't give this place 5 stars was the service. Everything was fine until it came to pay. I don't know if our server disappeared or something but we waited 30-45 minutes to get our check which was semi-frustrating. Anyways, 10/10 food. Very unique. Very different. I recommend!!!

Blue Margaritas Bar and Grill

3.5

(66 reviews)

•$$

Food could have been much better of was served hot. The order was on time and it was light warm.read more

Servers were really nice food was delicious it's was definitely a 5.i also think that some of the…read moreservers need a little more training bc one of them dropped a plate but over all went really well

Cinco de Mayo

3.7

(6 reviews)

Yum!!! A gem to try. The place is clean. Staff was nice and welcoming. Margarita was great. Salsa…read morewas ok. I like it chunkier. I had the Boss Burrito. I loved it with ground beef. It had rice, lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole etc. My husband had enchiladas verde. He loved the beans and the green sauce. With my 27 oz margarita and his big beer our bill was $50. We will go back.

This is a small town Mexican restaurant so thought we'd give it a try. Well, all I can say is, I…read morewill not be coming back to this place. Ambiance - it's just ok, pretty clean. Price - decent. Service - definitely short-staffed. They sat us fairly quick but it took at least 20 mins to get our order. Very unorganized. They took people's orders who came after us, what is that about? Food - I intentionally put this towards the end of my review because I probably ate 1/3 of my food. I ordered the chefs special and you know it's bad when the best thing on the plate is the corn tortillas. Meat had a slight smell to it and it was tough to eat. There appears to be cheese enchiladas and it was cold like it's been sitting on the plate. This is probably one of the worst Mexican restaurant I've ever been to.

Rudy’s

4.2

(13 reviews)

The drinks were great but the food was cafeteria food to say the least. The camarones a la diabla…read morewere good but not spicy at all. At least they weren't steamed and mushy like the ground beef in our emchiladas and tacos. We also ordered nachos, they were ok with the chicken but cafeteria ok. The chile relleno was inedible, I couldn't swallow the first bite I took. People raved about this place to us when we asked for mexican food recommendations but this was a good bar for us but not a place to eat. The margaritas, cocktails, and agua fresca we had were all great. Oh and the chips and salsa they give you for free were good. My parents, who both were cooks before retiring to be security guards, and Santa Ana/OrangeCounty CA spoiled me with amazing authentic Latine and Mexican food for years. So I am extremely picky.

First time there. Was impressed based on photos and reviews. Really good!! Super clean inside, no…read moreflies! (Hate when I come into a restaurant and there's flies) my waitress was really nice. The food came out fast. Their chips and salsa are really good. The salsa tasted fresh and a little kick to it but amazing! I got the enchiladas mexicanas, tasty! Came with beans and rice I'd say this is the best place in the area

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9 Catrina’s Express reviews that are not currently recommended

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9 reviews that are not currently recommended

Catrina’s Express - mexican - Updated August 2026

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