Was looking for authentic tacos in Chicago and we found it. My chorizo tacos were so delicious. I loved the taco dinner with yummy rice and beans. I had no complaints. My friends didn't either. Their plates were wiped clean. The agua de jamaica was refreshing and my friends liked their horchata. The music choice was the and we could still talk so that was nice!! I would definitely come here again for the food and the vibes. read more

Cilantro Taco Grill - Agua de Jamaica - Tacos Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The service was quick and knowledgeable about the menu differences. The tacos were out of this world. What I really enjoyed was the bowl. It was made of wonton which was a pleasant surprise. This is definitely a must try if you're wanting Mexican food! read more

Cilantro Taco Grill - Taco Salad and Steak Tacos - Tacos Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Visiting from Phoenix and these tacos were awesome. Very good al pastor and asada. Good authentic tacos and lots of seating. Do you yourself a favor and try Cilantro over the Velvet Taco across the street. read more

seen the staff licking the utensils behind the counter, and the food quality is inconsistent

Ordered takeout and had to throw it away before even taking a bite. Took it home for a photo then went into the garbage. One of the two men in the back area was counting money with kitchen gloves on then proceeded to assemble tacos without changing his gloves (reaching into different ingredient baskets). Money is very dirty and that action contaminated all of the food. Bold to have a kitchen customers can view when this is going on. They do not care about sanitation here - avoid. read more

Cilantro Taco Grill - Tacos Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ordered a steak Torta with extra meat. Total was around 16 dollars and I felt totally ripped off. The Torta barely had any meat on it. Will not come here again. read more

Overall the food and quality are both solid. After reading through similar reviews, I am not the only person who has felt the meat could use a bit more seasoning - we tried the barbacoa, pastor, carne asada, chorizo, carnitas and chicken and all of the tacos are good, but all could just use more flavoring. I agreed with some previous reviews that the salsas were very mild and didn't have much flavor either. Overall, I think the quality of the food for the money spent places it at a 3/5 for me - average, but good. The chorizo was my least favorite, the meat itself was very dry and almost burnt. This was the only taco out of the 6 that my partner and I had that wasn't our favorite. The remaining tacos (barbacoa, carnitas, chicken, pastor and carne asada) were all solid. I think the carnitas was probably my favorite, but again, all of the tacos could use with more flavor. The beans were well seasoned and the rice was bland. I do think it was nice to get a red and green salsa to try, they did taste very similar to me. It would be nice to have a little kick in the red sauce. Or some limes on the side! Overall, the food was well made just not seasoned as well as I had hoped. Corn tortillas tend to kind of suck the flavor out of the meat so it can be hard to get the right balance which I understand. I do also travel frequently and have a high standard for Mexican food. Perhaps it was an off day for them. 3/5 - average food, certainly not the best tacos I've had but a solid choice if you're looking for authentic tacos in the Chicago area. EDITED: the business owner responded and I appreciate their diligent follow through on their responses. Good work to their team - definitely more commitment to the customer experience than a chipotle! read more

I wasn't too impressed. First, the music is sooooo incredibly loud, you can't hear the person next to you. My family of 5 had to scream and also just sit in silence due to not being able to hear each other. This isn't a night club. This place is a chipotle want to be and prices are way too high. For the amount we spent, we could have gone to a nice sit down restaurant. The food was not that good. This bowl was the chili relleno belly bowl. The ingredients we're fresh, but the chili was kind of gross (slimy). The kids meals are $9 which is too much for what it was . My husband thought his burrito was sub par. read more

Cilantro Taco Grill - Tacos Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place used to be good. I ordered a torta and was very disappointed. The meat was tough but not unbearable but the bread was terribly stale. I ended up eating it as a salad without the bread. Whoever made that sandwich knew the bread was old and stale and that's what upsets me. Instead of saving money with old bread they lost a customer. Throwing the words family owned around doesn't give you a pass. A true family owned business is a business where the owners are actually working and taking care of the business and customers. You have a bunch of people in there who clearly don't care about the place. read more

Cilantro Taco Grill - Stale torta bun. - Tacos Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very very very Mid "Mexican" spot in Lincoln park. I guess I should've expected it to be pretty mid by the name. "Cilantro Taco" is kind of what you'd expect Chat GPT to spit out if you ask for 15 name ideas for a Mexican restaurant in the midwest. Since I don't have a ton of nice things to say about the food, I will start with the positives. The service was very good and it was actually relatively cheap. My girlfriend and I came for lunch and split 3 tacos and a Burrito, which was more than enough food to fill us up. Total price was $24. I'll take that all day. Also (I think it was) the owner, and her daughter talked with us and was very nice. She even let us try a new hot sauce they were making in the back which was pretty good, and very flavorful.... but the food was neither good nor flavorful Carne asada burrito - 1/5 - Another fitting name of this restaurant based on this burrito could be "Lettuce Burrito". Supposedly there was going to be salsa, beans, avocado meat packed in my burrito but pretty much the only thing I tasted was lettuce (Please see my picture for reference). This is kinda crazy too because there was a good amount of meat in here but there was just absolutely no flavor. The funny this is I am actually normally ok with a blander burrito, because I love dumping hot sauce in there, but the sauces they had were just very sub par as well. All 3 sauces they hand out taste like jar salsa, and not good jar salsa. Shoutout again to the owner though, who kinda saved it by letting us try the special new sauce she was making in the back. They definitely should make that available to everyone, and should also completely replace all their salsas. At least throw some tobasco on the tables or somethin damn! Pastor Taco - 3/5 probably the best thing we got. Meat was actually very flavorful but was still a bit dry. Would probably be a 2/5 without the special salsa but we drenched this thing. Carne Asada Taco - 2/5 pretty much the same review as the asada burrito. Dry unseasoned steak in a tortilla with some lettuce and onion. this at least had cilantro on it so eating it felt like when they say the name of the Movie during the movie. Eating a taco with cilantro on it at Cilantro Taco When they say "Guardians of the Galaxy" in Guardians of the Galaxy Chorizo Taco - 2/5 - meh. wouldn't get it Overall, this is a cheap, fast, taco/burrito place with below average food. My main complaint of the food is that it was dry and unseasoned, and there was a lack of variety in flavor. There was also a lack of good sauces available to top it. This place honestly could probably be saved by adding 3-5 new sauce options, and seasoning their meat a bit more. There are multiple other fast Mexican places within a quarter mile that are much much better than this place. There is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't walk 2 blocks down to go to chipotle if you are considering coming here. Even if chipotle was double the price of this place, I would still go to chipotle every time. There is also a velvet taco across the street, which I don't love (I think I gave it a 2/5 as well) but I'd probably go there over Cilantro Taco/Lettuce Burrito - - Review update: After a very snarky response from the "business manager" I have lowered my review from a 2/5 to a 1/5. Would expect a "family owned" restaurant to actually be able to take criticism and use it to their advantage unlike said multi billion dollar company such as chipotle. Sad thing is I live very close to this location, and would love it if they took some of my constructive feedback to make their product better rather than get defensive on yelp. Literally just getting some tobasco on the tables would've raised my review to a 3/5. Definitely does not give off the vibe of a friendly neighborhood family owned business! Chipotle it is. heck, I am even going to taco bell before I return here. as my sweet Pookie Bear Drake once said METRO SHUT YO H** A** UP AND MAKE SOME DRUMS read more

Cilantro Taco Grill - Chorizo Taco, Asada Taco, Pastor Taco - Tacos Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Made a stop and this cute little corner taco grill. Hubby and I shared a asada burrito. There are a ton of meat choices you could choose for your burrito. We went with the steak... I mean really. Who says no to steak? ;) We also grabbed a tamale. The burrito is totally shareable it is absolutely huge and DELICIOUS! It came with a side of spicy salsa and they also gave us some marinated veggies which was very yummy. The staff was friendly and helpful. The restaurant is very clean and bright. We sat right by the window next to the front door. There is actually another room on the other side with several more tables. Great spot! Next time I'm back I'm trying the taco salad that baby looked gooooood! read more

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This is a good spot for a filling meal, but I got a burrito bowl with ground beef and there was almost no flavor. It costs more than Chipotle and in my opinion does not taste as good, but it's a nice place for lunch and is never as crowded. I am celiac and they had no problem making my meal gluten free, but overall not my favorite. read more

Good service .!. I love my tacos, I definitely come back, very fast and very efficient

I ordered through doordash, my only issue was that in my taco de lengua there was a chicken bone. Now if it was a chicken taco and there was a chicken bone fine it's the same animals but in a taco de lengua.....I'm glad I didn't bite really fast I could've chipped a tooth. Update: okay so manager replied to me saying I more than likely bit a cilantro stem, I was not going to post a picture but with that response I now have. read more

Cilantro Taco Grill - A chicken bone that was in my taco de lengua. - Tacos Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ordered the vegetarian burrito dinner. The burrito was mostly lettuce. Some tomatoes. Barely any rice, beans, or avocado. Don't waste your money. Go to Chipotle where you at least see what they are putting in your burrito. They are skimping on rice and beans, some of the cheapest food staples on the planet. And it's not cheap by burrito standards. Won't order from here again. ETA: the response from the manager, Antonio: So funny- Chipotle has a 1.5 star Yelp rating and you are recommending them- pathetic. Yes, Antonio- you are pretty pathetic. read more

There were so many mistakes here in my group's orders! I ordered a taco salad with potato as my protein and asked for a corn tortilla and explained it was a gluten concern. I got a flour tortilla with no potatoes in it. The salad didn't taste bad but it wasn't what I ordered and I had to work around the tortilla. I ordered a mango margarita and received a strawberry margarita instead - again, still good but wasn't correct. One of my friends was missing a taco and the other didn't get her drink until after multiple reminders that she had ordered one. It wasn't busy when I went so am not sure how often/why so many mistakes happened. The worker was very kind though and had good customer service (not including taking orders). read more

Cilantro Taco Grill - Tacos Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Food is delicious, I love this place! The restaurant is clean and the people there are kind. I have tried a majority of the menu and they never disappoint. I recently got the carne asada burrito & it was fantastic! They give you three complementary salsas on the side which gives you the option to add extra flavors. Highly recommend trying Cilantro next time you're in the mood for Mexican cuisine! Also - I ordered my food as pickup through GrubHub and they got my order correct, including the edits I made to the burrito. read more

Cilantro Taco Grill - Carne asada burrito - Tacos Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cilantro is the perfect spot for a quick/casual meal. I love that it's a family owned Chicago chain! For vegans and vegetarians they offer impossible meat. I had the impossible tacos topped with cilantro and salsa verde on the side. I'd definitely come back again for lunch! read more

Cilantro Taco Grill - Impossible tacos on corn tortillas - Tacos Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I placed an order for delivery. The food is really good, but my order surprisingly didn't come with the little complimentary salsas you typically get with Mexican takeout. So it felt like my food was missing the extra kick you would get with salsa. read more

This was my first visit. I found the staff to be very friendly and attentive. The place was spotless. Unfortunately, my burrito bowl left me disappointed. The chips that were included were kind of stale. Overall, I was very disappointed with the food. read more

I was there a couple of days ago I put in a Togo order of a Torta de milanesa de pollo and a taco de asada. The torta was nice and hearty with the sour cream and avocado. The taco was really flavorful more than anything the meat was tender and seasoned right . Salsas we're pretty good :) Shout out to Ivan for the Amazing Service and prompt help . Place was nice and clean and wide open as you step in . I'm coming back for sure !! read more

I have been here at least once a week since they opened. So far have only tried various tacos, guacamole, & margaritas. The tacos have all been great, a little greasy, but that's how they should be dependent on the meat. The tacos are minimal toppings, which i really enjoy. The food comes very fast. The one time our guacamole took a little long, they brought us a churro to apologize for the wait. Everyone who works here has been kind & helpful. read more

Cilantro Taco Grill - Chorizo tacos w/ cilantro & onions - Tacos Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Quick and friendly service. Food is always good. Reminds me of north Texas (Tex-Mex).

I was shopping nearby with my cousins, we both felt hungry and wanted to grab some food. I have saw Cilantro Taco many times but never try it before. My cousin told me it's pretty good. So we decided to grab some tacos here. There is an outdoor seating area but I only saw one table with several chairs locked there. It's more for summer season. The ordering process is fast, and smooth. Got their signature beef taco, I think it tastes good. Tips- no customer parking, but street parking is available. read more

This place has some damn good tacos! I recommend anything on the menu. The staff is on point. Kitchen is clean. I cannot recommend this establishment enough. Thank you. read more

So delicious, will definitely be coming back! Authentic Mexican the seasoning was on point & the agua de Jamaica was so refreshing. read more

Cilantro Taco Grill - Tacos Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Tacos were great, and staff member James' recommendations and overall customer service made this a spot we will definitely be coming back to. read more

Solid taco spot with a lot of other options. Craving a quesadilla? Can't stop thinking about a torta? They've got you covered. I can recommend the carne asada tacos and the chips and salsa. The burrito belly bowl is pretty good too. Check 'em out! read more

Okay, these tacos were delicious!!! Seriously so flavorful and amazing! Fairly priced and the space is super beautiful too. I'm excited to come back, this was honestly high quality! read more

Cilantro Taco Grill - YUM - Tacos Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great spot for fast Mexican food when your on a time crunch. Burritos- 4 Beef tacos- 4 Kids menu: Rice, beans, quesadilla- 4 Chips and guac- 4 Jamaica- my husband loves Jamaica, and I feel the opposite. Service and atmosphere- 4 FYI- Pretty Cool Ice Cream is next door, and worth the visit. read more

Food is consistently great! Love the l taco salad with chicken! Everything I've had here is great! Their burritos are awesome! Food is fresh, quick and prices are too cheap for what you get! read more

Honestly "Cilantro Taco Grill" is the best authentic Mexican restaurant in the area. I am one of those who considers itself a "taco enthusiast". As reference, I'm a guy that has probably hit almost every Mexican restaurant spot in the Chicago land area that has some kind of hype behind it. I'm so excited to know this place is close to home. Why I know this is the best? Because is all about quality!!!! The meat is spectacular, and properly seasoned as it should. Quality, quality, quality is the key to making sure the taco is properly dressed and prepared. If you are reading this, you won't be disappointed! I tried the tacos, burritos and tortas and everything is fantastic. Jesus- read more

Cilantro Taco Grill - Tacos de asada - Tacos Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What a gem. You wouldn't know this was a chain due to the care they take with your order and obvious pride in the restaurant. It was spotless. The staff was very friendly and served me promptly. I had a barbacoa taco and a steak taco (it was a carnivore kind of day). Both were freshly cooked and served with cilantro and onion. What I loved was that they served them with 2 kinds of salsa, a tasty avocado cream, and homemade pickled carrots and cauliflower. The pickled veggies were delish and I appreciated that I could customize my tacos with the toppings. So cool also that this is a family owned and run business - see the story in the pic. read more

Cilantro Taco Grill - Barbacoa and steak tacos - Tacos Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Such a good authentic Mexican spot. We tried the taco dinner, horchata, & guacamole. All of it tasted like home. Staff was very friendly & attentive. Would definitely recommend! read more

Cilantro Taco Grill - Tacos Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Cheryl got really good steak nachos. We'll seasoned, and good ratio of chips to toppings. Ordered with xtra guacamole and cheese. I got 4 barbacoa tacos with cilantro and onions. Really no seasoning. I wish I got steak. The salsas were unremarkable. I usually order from Taco Max which has the best I've ever had. They're not even close to that. I like that they respond to all reviews, and that they are family owned. One thing that happened when I picked of the handled drink carrier w a large orchata and a small tamarindo, it gave way and spilled the orchata . Thin cardboard and unbalanced w the two drinks. Maybe my bad. I'd get the steak next time! Mmm read more

This is a nice fast casual spot. It is similar to a chipotle with more meat options and plates which I like more. I would MUCH rather come here than a chipotle. Nothing against chipotle but I love their sauces here and the chorizo was awesome. Portions were good sized (nothing huge but fair). I will come back for a quick bite but didn't blow my mind either. I recommend trying it for sure! They have breakfast and I will DEFINITELY come back to try it. (Update to come). read more

Cilantro Taco Grill - Chorizo Bowl - Tacos Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The location has plenty of outdoor parking if you get in before street restrictions, which is perfect for lunch or an early dinner. The inside was super nice and the staff answered my questions about the menu. Unfortunately, the food itself was just ok. I order the three taco dinner-- asada, pescado and cecina. The asada and cecina were pretty dry despite the generous helping of onions and cilantro. The pescado was a white fish and with the fresh salsa, which saved it. The rice and beans were ok, but I was most disappointed with the chips and salsa. For an extra $5 (which felt a little outrageous), I got a bag of stale chips and not spicy salsa, despite asking for the hottest on the menu. The whole meal was nearly $25 after tip and I definitely feel like it was price, if not flavor, robbery. While I'm a fan of trying tacos across the city, I think I'll stick to other places that have rock steady reviews. Edit-- just looked at my receipt and I was def charged for chips and salsa, plus an EXTRA side of chips, which did not happen. Yikes read more

Cilantro Taco Grill - Cecina, asada, pescado taco dinner with extra chips and (not spicy) salsa. - Tacos Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Quick, easy, affordable taco joint! Great fresh food, for a great price! Food was very authentic and tasty. Really good customer service and attentive staff, they were very polite and accommodating to our needs. Great atmosphere, very clean and welcoming. Will definitely be coming back! read more

There are so many fusion taco places these days, and the taco offerings get weirder and weirder. This is not one of those. I'm glad this place has your normal tacos and other things. Prices are also more reasonable. We've tried a few different tacos and bowls. So far, I like the carnitas and pastor the best. Picadillo is actually pretty decent too, and it's not your Taco Bell style ground beef. Barbacoa looked promising but was a little bland. I've only had asada in a bowl and it's okay. Next time I will try the lengua and lomo de res. read more

Very good and authentic fast Mexican food. It's a little ballsy to move in kitty-corner to Velvet Taco and a few blocks from Chipotle, but all three have different offerings. I was surprised to see a chile relleno on the menu, which we ordered - not a typical offering at a fast casual restaurant, but it provides a great veggie option (it is spicy, to my gringo palate). The horchata was delicious and tempered any spice. Otherwise, my main critique is the lack of a good veggie option for tacos - it is really just rice, beans, and lettuce so I could have built my own with the sides. That's where the other spots have Cilantro beat. My other big criticism is the use of styrofoam and individually packaged plastic utensils - this is unnecessary and frankly demonstrates ignorance in 2021 when it is universally acknowledged how harmful these are. Restaurants should do their part to divert non-biodegradable waste from landfills. Edit: Very much appreciate the thoughtful response from the restaurant below! read more