I made a reservation to come here for dinner in between back to back movies during the Music Box's 70 mm Film Festival. I wanted to do some place that was nearby that did not require use move the car. I have been on this block a lot as I frequent Unique Threading to get my eyebrows done as well as going to the Music Box for movies. How I have never had this joint on my radar is beyond me as it is bright pink on the facade, but now that it is on my radar, I will definitely be back for dinner. The restaurant itself is on the small side, so I would strongly recommend a reservation. We were seated at two round tables for our party of four. About 10 minutes later, a party of six came in, followed by back to back parties of two, so place was filling up quick. On the plus side, if you are one of those folks who like to eat outside, they do have ample seating in their patio area. The decor feels homey, reminding me of some of the places I have visited in Mexico on various trips. I was particularly excited when we walked in and I saw three different bottles of sparkling wines on the the bar as they were not listed on the menu. Before I hit the food, I want to say that the servers were lovely. We had a 5:30 pm reservation but our movie got out earlier than expected. Me and The Queen thought we could wait in the bar area at the Music Box and have a quick drink, but they were not open. We took a chance and went to the restaurant to see if they would allow us to be seated early and they did. I explained that we were early but were expecting two more folks for dinner and it was no problem. The Queen got Sleeping Beauty (Lavender, gin, chamomile tea and lemon) and I got this very lovely sparkling rose from Mexico. The Queen really enjoyed her cocktail. I had a sip and have to say it was refreshing and definitely a different way to look at having chamomile tea. Once The Doctor and my BFF #2 arrived, we got down to business and ordered food. We started out with the Chile Relleno (Crab Stuffed Poblano pepper, Cheese, Cream, & Queso Fresco), Guacamole, Pico de Gallo Y Salsa Buena, and Shishito Con Tajin. I love Shishito peppers in general, but never had them with Tajin, so now I am in love. First of all, Tajin is my comfort seasoning for Mexican food, so adding it to most foods is all right with me. Chile Relleno is not an appetizer I normally order, but seeing that this was stuffed with crab drew me in. Welp, Dona Tola has spoiled me for Chile Relleno...if y'all ain't prepping them the way Dona Tola is, I am not ordering them. The idea of crab meat in that dish was so good! For dinner me and my BFF #2 got the steak fajitas and I have to say that were done really well. They were not presented in the usually way on a hot small skillet, but were plated with the rice and beans. I have to say that I much prefer this way to eat them as I didn't have to deal with the extra large platter. Also there is something nice having everything on one plate as those flavors blend together to create a lovely flavor profile. I didn't finish this dish, but the leftovers were just as nice the next day. The Queen got the Enchiladas Del Mar (Crab & Cheese Stuffed Tortillas, finished with Spicy Shrimp & Bay Scallops). She thought this dish was lovely, but it lived up to its description of spicy, at least for me when I tried a bit of it. I would love to get this dish, but don't know if they would prepare it without the extra heat. There was a generous amount of seafood in the dish and it not been so spicy (again for me), I would love this. The Doctor got chicken tacos, which is his go to and he said the chicken was nicely seasoned and tender. As a side dish, me and The Queen split the Elotes. I love Elotes but prefer it off the cobb, again a personal preference. That said, it did not stop me from eating it the next day. I had a bite or two off of my cobb and took the rest home, where I cut it off the cobb to add to the steak fajitas. The Elotes was nicely prepared and had the right amount of seasoning and not too much of the mayo, which I appreciated. We did not do dessert as there was no time and we were on the full side...maybe next time. But I can say I will be eating here again, in person or delivery. This may become my new take out place, it was that good. read more

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Dona Tola is a family owned restaurant with great food! We've been multiple times and it's a nice option close to home. From a drinks perspective, get the cadillac margarita if you're trying to have a wild night. It is very alcoholic and a good value for the price. My personal favorite is the bourbon and horchata, but they often run out. Food wise I like their tacos, but you can't go wrong. We've brunched and had their dinner and everything is awesome + reasonably priced. The ambiance is cute, especially in the summer when you can sit out on the patio. It's nice and cozy in the winter and isn't too loud. Make a reservation if you have a larger party during peak meal times just to be safe. Come here for a good time! You'll probably see us there. read more

Delicious food! Quesabirria were fantastic! Churros were incredible served with chocolate sauce. I got the queso flameado and it was so good. read more

Dona Tola - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great Mexican option for Lakeview, mid tier option for Southport restaurants. I enjoyed Dona Tola and will probably be back. First the food- the margaritas were perfect and refreshing! The birra empanadas were AMAZING and I would definitely get those again. The carne asada tacos were just okay (where one star was lost for me) , had the steak been medium rare / more flavorful it would have elevated the tacos. If you like spicy, the tacos are served with a very spicy salsa, however, it was probably too much spice for the average Midwestern palate. The service is very "European" in the sense you need to flag the waiters if you need something but they were very friendly and accommodating. The restaurant was very cute, well decorated, and seemed clean. Dona Tola is worth checking out. It's definitely 1000x better / more authentic Mexican restaurant than other Lakeview Mexican restaurants (I'm looking at you El Mariachi). read more

If you love Cafe Tola, you need to eat here for dinner! This is their restaurant and while the menu can seem limited at first, it is the perfect example of quality over quantity! I ordered a La Llorona that came with a fresh, delicious, and iconic Cafe Tola mini empanada. The drink itself is delicious and the empanada was a great add. I ordered the pork and cactus and chicharrón in green salsa and oh. my. gosh. So tasty! My friend and I split the drunken camarones (shrimp) which was heavenly and my friend ordered the carne asada tacos which were so well seasoned and great quality. Also just loved the vibe inside and the servers were attentive and friendly, will be back for sure! read more

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The dishes were excellent and well presented. Loved the poncho-like blankets at each table. It was perfect for me on a chilly early evening as we sat on the patio.The staff was friendly and happy. I highly recommend this place:) It's an elevated experience in Mexican cuisine! read more

The food hear is just outstanding. It's an adorable little spot. The staff is nice. It's one of my favorite spots on the Southport corridor. I only wish I lived closer so I could go more often. If you go don't sleep on the chicken enchiladas. Best thing on the menu. read more

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I checked out this place because I'm a huge fan of Cafe Tola. It did not disappoint. The decor is beautiful and festive and the music is authentic. The service was quick and great. The food was good as well. They don't carry the empanada options that the cafe carries but rather larger dishes. I recommend the elotes and the seafood enchiladas! read more

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Food 10 Service 10 Ambiance 10 I visited this place 4 years ago and have been itching to come back, finally came back today and wowwwwwww it was soooo good! If you're looking for elevated Mexican food with authenticity then this is your spot !!!! Do not sleep on this place it's so yummy! My boyfriend had the Al pastor tacos and I had the nopales con puerco! read more

Dona Tola - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Definitely 5 stars for service. My friend wanted to do something cute and small for her birthday and the team here made us feel so welcomed! The food is 4/5. I would say one thing to watch out for is read the description because they use variations of ingredients that aren't really standard in a lot of Mexican food. The food was still pretty good and I would go again. I had the chilaquiles with crab. It was an interesting combination. Don't know that I would do it again. Food is reasonably price as well. Would go back and highly recommend. read more

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Made a reservation, showed up- closed on a Saturday night unfortunately. No sign as to why.

First time trying Dona Tola. Restaurant was cute, service was great, & food was abundant. read more

Dona Tola - Pork taco - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My boyfriend and I had a good dinner at Dona Tola. It's a few blocks further north on Southport than many of the other restaurants on the corridor, but it's worth it! From the moment we sat down, we were greeted warmly and the service was excellent. The staff accommodated our nut allergies and made suggestions. When the initial dish my boyfriend ordered was going to take over an hour, the server alerted us immediately and made a suggestion of something quicker. The food was delicious as was my Paloma! They even made cheese enchiladas for me (pictured). The lamb (pictured) came with a chipotle pasta, which was new to us at a Mexican restaurant. It was really tasty though! This is a small restaurant with only about 8-10 tables. It may not be best for large groups unless you reserved the entire place (this would be a cool/fun venue for a large dinner or event!) read more

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While visiting friends this past weekend, we decided to go on a progressive patio tour in Southport Corridor to try cocktails and appetizers at a few different spots. Our first spot was Dona Tola! This is a cute little spot with bright colors inside and out. When we arrived, we were able to find a table on their patio which was just perfect. We reviewed the menu and all agreed to start with a cocktail. Their menu had some really fantastic options, but I opted for the Don Seraphin since it had pineapple juice and I will order just about anything with pineapple juice! While we were waiting on our drinks, our serve made sure to bring out lots of water and he did a great job at refilling throughout our visit. When our drinks were ready, they were brought out and since they were all so unique and looked so pretty, we had to do a group photo (of drinks)! My drink was refreshing and delicious. I would definitely order it again. Once we were finished with our first round of cocktails, we asked for our checks and closed our ticket. This was a quick stop with good drinks and good service. We did not order any food, but the menu had some fantastic sounding items to choose from; I will definitely be back to try a meal sometime! read more

Dona Tola - Don Seraphin - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came with a friend for an early dinner on a Friday. We made a reservation and were seated right away. We ordered the guac and empanadas to start but were later informed that they were out of empanadas. Very weird since they had just opened so we were super bummed about that. The guac was good. We ordered the veggie enchiladas and the short rib ti share. Both were just okay. The enchiladas were really tough and did not have a ton of flavor. The short rib was also a bit tough and dry. I would come back to try other dishes. Overall, it's a very cute place. read more

Say hello to my new favorite restaurant! We live in the neighborhood and I had always wanted to try this spot if for no other reason than it's colorful signage and inviting, plant-filled patio. Myself, my mother (visiting) and partner finally had the opportunity last night when we, admittedly, stopped in for a drink while we waited for a table at another close-by establishment. We had an appetizer (queso) as well as a few rounds of sangria, and were instantly at home. The sangria was some of the best I've ever had and the queso perfectly balanced. We, perhaps even more importantly, had a beyond wonderful server that evening, JoJo. She was one of the best and most genuine out there, so we weren't lying when we told her we would be back. Fast forward to the next day, a beautiful Sunday afternoon, where we were walking up and down Southport looking for a quick bite before we hit the matinee of 'Rock of Ages' at the Mercury Theater (another Chicago icon, for another review another day), so we dropped by DT once again, and once again we had a wonderful experience. Cannot recommend this place enough! read more

Stumbled upon this cute spot during a warm day. Honestly the place is super cute I love the decor and set up. The tacos were so disappointing. I had the al pastor tacos and my friend had the carne asada tacos. The meat was kind of dry and the tacos had nothing but just meat. I was so sad because the place is so cute and the reviews looked promising. read more

Dona Tola - Al pastor taquitos - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Dona Tola is not Donatelo, or any of the other Ninja Turtles. The Yelp keyboard doesn't have the Spanish ñ to make it authentic. What is authentic is the delicious food and inviting staff at this lovely little restaurant. The margaritas are also delicious, which is important. The Arrachera (skirt steak) is a huge cut of beef, with a large serving of guacamole as well. My meat came out tender and juicy. Thursdays they have LIVE MARIACHI! How awesome! Pop by and give it a try. read more

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The food wasn't good. Empanadas were the best thing. All of the food came out at once, appetizers and main meals.

We've been walking by this place for a while and decided to check it out. Cute space. My number 1 issue was that they were out of guacamole. How can you run out of avocados? There's at least 4 markets within walking distance. Also, there are a few things on the online menu that aren't on the menu, which was disappointing. Our food was fine overall. The standouts were the empanadas and the pork tacos. I wouldn't go out of my way to return, but if someone else wanted to try it I wouldn't say no. read more

Worst service I've received in a long time. I ordered a margarita on the patio and once the waitress brought my drink I never saw her again, even though there was only 1 other table in the entire restaurant. After waiting for over 20 minutes with an empty glass, I went inside to get the check myself. Would not return. read more

Came in for dinner with a friend and this spot is super cute! Well decorated and quaint inside. We made a reservation but they were also taking walk ins. Brought chips and salsa with fresh guacamole to start. Chips were fresh and crispy. I had the chicken enchiladas with salsa verde and double rice no beans. It was delicious! I ate everything and left no crumbs. The salsa verde was well flavored and a nice consistency. The rice was good. Not the best I ever had but also up there of being decent. Rice was fluffy too! (I hate over cooked rice). Would come back and try their empanadas and sangria read more

Dona Tola - Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Delicious. We had a chicken mole enchilada, pineapple marinated pork tacos, and guac with a Cadillac margarita. What my fiancé would call "cute" interior. Not too crowded on a Friday night we got a great table immediately. read more

We went to Dona Tola this past weekend and were blown away by our experience! The staff was amazing and SO friendly. They were quick to clear, refill water, and everyone stopped to ask how we were doing. To eat we had the Chile Relleno to start and it was such a nice light and fresh start to our meal. For entrees we had Arracheras with Shrimp and the Chuletas de Borrego. The steak came with fries and tortillas, veggies, and little bowls of guac, salsa and pico. Everything was perfect from the crunch on the fries to the grill on the steak. The lamb chops were to die for and the perfect portion. They were cooked beautifully, and the mole had just the right amount of spice. The little bit of pasta in the middle of the plate was a great way to soak up more of the mole and add a little starch to the meal. We will definitely be back. read more

Dona Tola - Arrachera with Shrimp (steak) - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A group of us are here a few weeks ago and we still talk about it. Great atmosphere, very friendly and attentive service and great food.

I'm giving this place two stars only because their drinks are amazing. However, the food was terrible - as in no flavor and awful presentation. The chips in guac look nice but the second appetizer we ordered, the cheese with mushrooms and peppers, looked like someone vomited in a rectangular dish. It also tasted odd, but at least there was some flavor. Overall disappointing. That said, they had the best margaritas and palomas we've ever had. Even the blueberry margarita was good! Go for the drinks and find dinner elsewhere. read more

Dona Tola - Regular margarita with Tajin rim. Best marg I've ever had! - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Went here for a friends birthday dinner on Friday night and had an amazing time! The staff made us feel so welcome and treated us like family, they went above and beyond. The interiors are also super cute with windows that open to the street. But the food is the star of the show! We got the queso appetizer, it was nice and spicy. My partner and I split the Goat Empanadas, they were huge, fried to perfection and the braised goat was unreal. We also got the seafood Chile Rellano app and the gorditas. They were all so delish! They have more traditional Mexican dishes but we had fun trying some of the other creative dishes. Everything was super unique and full of flavor. Don't skip dessert! The churros and horchata with espresso are honesty so delish and have me already wanting to go back ASAP! read more

Dona Tola - Cute decor - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place is *great*! It's owned by a local couple who have been working on opening the space for years, and it was totally worth the wait. The food is incredibly good - especially a big fan of the pork dish - a perfect blend of spicy and succulent. The drinks are WOW good - the mezcal old fashioned really laid me out, in the best way. But what really makes this place special is the vibe. The staff is relaxed, friendly, and funny as heck. The space is bright, colorful, and fun. There's so much personality infused in every inch of the restaurant, you can tell that somebody poured their heart and soul into this place and worked hard to make it their own. I will definitely be coming back, and can't wait to share this new neighborhood gem with all of my friends! read more

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So excited we finally got to check out this newish Southport Corridor gem. The interior is colorful, vibrant and fun! Tables are spaced apart for safety, but they do still have paper menus. Service was top notch! Very knowledgeable about the menu and anticipated our every need! The cocktails were very well made and worth the premium! My food photos don't do the food justice, the flavors we're delightful in everything. Even the rice and beans were headed and tails above what I'm used to getting at restaurants. Highly recommend this place for an evening out. Grab a reservation on Open Table too save your seat. read more

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Didn't know what I was craving today, so I popped some filters into my search engine and had been curious about checking this place out, so I followed the suggestion. There were ample seating options and I chose to sit outside. I just needed a quick meal and I was able to have my food ready in what felt like fifteen minutes max. I got the house made horchata and Al pastor tacos and lemme tell ya- as a Mexican, I'm always looking for good horchata. This was the best I've had in Chicago which was really exciting. The tacos were delicious as well. My server was friendly and attentive. I'll definitely be back! Such a cute spot. read more

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Wow this place was hands I'm down one of the best spots we've been to in Chicago. Let's start wit the service it was stupendous, I was craving Nachos and although nachos was not on their menu they went above and beyond and made me the most delicious nachos. The steak on the nachos was amazing. The meat was so tender and juicy. Their Micheladas come with beer and a shot on the side my husband was in heaven. The margaritas were very tasty and at the end they even gave us a free shot to accompany my husband and our friends for our cheer. If you around the area or going to a Cubs game you must hit up this spot! read more

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Absolutely delicious authentic Mexican food. Small; family run feel. Would highly recommend!! read more

Dona Tola - Enchilada de asada - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What a delightful find! Had time to kill before a show at the Music Box Theatre, so we wandered in. The place was full, but the staff made us feel very welcome to wait, saying a table would soon open up - and it did! We were so pleasantly surprised at how good the food was, too! The Enchiladas de Pollo con Salsa Verde was *amazing.* Highly recommend. Generous portions too! And the paloma I got while waiting was not too sweet, actually one of the best I've ever had. I'd never been in this neighborhood before, but I bookmarked it because this place is worth a return visit! read more

Omg!! I have been wanting to go to Dona Tola for so long and finally went. It was the best decision and I highly recommend. A small restaurant with huge flavor & intimate atmosphere. The drinks and dishes were visually appealing and tasted even better. I am totally going to return! I highly recommend. The staff was super friendly too! read more

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I've been here twice for brunch and had a great experience both times. It's almost like a hidden gem in that it's FANTASTIC, but seems to be rarely crowded. This seems crazy to me since Cafe Tolas have popped up everywhere and are so good and this restaurant is from the same folks, and yet we have zero problem walking right in for brunch even though it's so good. It makes me feel torn because on one hand I want this place to succeed, but it's also SO nice to have brunch somewhere that's not overcrowded. My favorite is the Mexican Bread Basket. It's seriously so, so good and exceeds every expectation I have of a breakfast. When we went egg tarts & an almost tamale like offering were included which almost made it like a meal for two in and of itself. Would recommend! read more

I can't possibly say enough good things about Dona Tola! The ambiance is perfection & the service is so friendly. Highly recommend the crab stuffed Chili Relleno - it has sooo much crab stuffed into it and is delicious. Do not skip on the cocktails either - Everyone we had was so so good. Bloody Mary is the perfect way to start a brunch with an attached empanada & beer back...Just go & try all the things for yourself! read more

Dona Tola - Bloody Mary comes with an empanada & beer back - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We came for Mother's Day Brunch. We had a wonderful time. The service was warm and friendly - like someone welcoming you into their home. We enjoyed the treats in the bread basket. The entrees were delicious. I had the crab chilaquiles. So filling! The portion sizes are large. One of the best parts of our meal was the entertainment. They had the all female mariachi band - Mariachi Sirenas - perform. They were amazing! Also be sure to grab a cocktail if you come in. I tasted an horchata cocktail - so yummy! I highly reccomend this place. I'm planning on returning! read more

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This place is so cool!! It's decorated so uniquely and the open air dining was so comfortable. We got empanadas birias and another dish with pork and cactus - both super delicious. The waitstaff was friendly and attentive! I will come back again for sure! The entrees are large, so I recommend you split with a friend. read more

Dona Tola - Goat empanadas birias and pork with cactus - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Did brunch here today and it was amazing. We decided to share the bread basket for two and I am still thinking abt it and excited we have some leftovers. It included two different savory yet sweet egg custards, two different tamales, guava pastry, a bear claw, hot tea/coffee and a couple of other things. Ridiculously good. We also got the pork pozole. It was spicy as advertised but not too and very flavorful w good quality pork. Our friend had the avocado toast which looked delicious and she devoured. Such a cute spot and great cocktails too. As an aside, their bathrooms are SO cute. Really. Go check them out as well - adorable. Such a good add to Southport. Independent and interesting. read more

Over priced guacamole and chips plus they charge for extra chips Margaritas were OK but never got napkins or silverware. Avoid this business read more