Anyone who says this place has "good" food, doesn't know taco stands what so ever. The steak is almost unedible, chewy, fatty and usually burnt to a crisp. If they could improve the quality of the steak they use it would be 10x better. I only go there as a last resort and usually hope for the best, only to be utterly disappointed after the meal. I tried the chorizo tacos there once and they were awful as well. I really want to like this place because it is so close to my home but I'm better off at a place like Taqueria Alamo down the street or Las Asada in Des Plaines. read more

Another great lunch at El Famous today. My daughter got 3 tongue tacos with rice and beans. I have NEVER liked tongue, but these tacos were delicious. Super tender and flavorful meat! I ordered a shrimp fajita and el pastor taco and both were delicious. I also asked for a side of jalapeños and carrots. They are lightly picked and not too spicy. A nice accompaniment to the tacos. I loved looking at the food everyone else ordered. It all looked wonderful. read more

Three words; TACO effing TUESDAY However I have gotten corn tacos at a busy time, go with flour. When they're busy the corn tortillas fall apart. =[ read more

Really good food and prices. The place is especially busy on Taco Tuesdays. The only reason I didn't give five stars is because the ordering process doesn't always go as smoothly as it could. When they get busy they have one person write down orders while another takes money. Have the person who wrote down your order repeat what they wrote and make sure the person captured what you wanted including the sizes. I once ordered a small guacamole and was charged for a large because that was what the order taker wrote. The order taker didn't care and the money taker barely spoke English. Luckily a guy behind the counter noticed my discussion with the other two and he made things right which I appreciated. read more

I always liked this place until I found a damn hair in my food and left a bad taste. Consider wearing hairnets instead of hats chicos. This isn't the best look around town. I shouldn't have to eat hair. Thanks. read more

El Famous Burrito - Hair in rice. - Mexican Near Me - Wheeling, Illinois

OMG, this place was awesome! The food was fantastic and so reasonable. We had a steak burrito, a chicken burrito, sides of rice and beans along with the chips and salsa all for $27 including tax.I suggested it highly. read more

Great. Tacos. Nothing special. Just great meaty tacos. High traffic restaurant for a reason. Fun to go to with friends.

We've been here a few times. Had some burritos and some tacos. All were freshly made and were very good. The guacamole was good too. Service was fine and the place is constantly being cleaned (tables, floors, counters) which my OCD approves of. We'll keep going back. read more

The food here is glorious. The location offers a casual dine-in experience, complete with authentic ESL speaking people. The food is made fresh-to-order right in front of you, and their portion sizes are generous. read more

I used to come to this place as a kid, and I loved to get their nachos. Things haven't changed much over the years, and I still love El Famous Burrito! The food is great and the service is fast and friendly. The only downside of this place is that there isn't enough room to seat all the customers (and trust me, this place gets really busy during lunch time)! read more

Their nacho platter is the best! I have yet to eat a nacho platter like this somewhere else. Their horchata is also second to none. Everything else is pretty standard. read more

Food is Great!! I love there Chille Relleno Tacos!!! Hardy Size, Great PRICE!!!! I have been coming here for years!!

Solid go to for when you want Mexican and plenty of it! I love their football sized burritos and their tortas! Yum!!!

My coworkers and I decided to go for lunch yesterday and finally decided on El Famous Burrito. I had never been there but I love Mexican and I am always looking for true tex-mex! To our surprise it was Taco Tuesday and the place was completely packed....The guys wanted to leave but I quickly grabbed a booth that was emptying out and convinced them to stay (our choice would have been fast food - Taco Bell or KFC). I was glad we stayed the tacos were good - I had chicken tacos and they had a ton of flavor also with the tacos i had a side of rice and guac. The rice was good not fantastic and the guac was delicious! I would definitely eat here again. The only reason I gave 3 stars was because the place was packed - not enough seating and it was crazy hot in the restaurant! read more

I went to the El Famous when it opened on Clark St in Chicago back in the 90s Was really good , So I went to the one in Wheeling and it's just as good , Steak Burrito is just yummy , The meat had such good flavor and the chips and their Salsa is the absolute best anywhere . Prices are very good and the place is super busy , That speaks volumes , Overall good Mexican food in the Northwest burbs ! read more

You know a place isn't that good when you miss the Mexican restaurant in Carbondale, IL while eating.... We ordered a milanesa and al pastor torta. Both were bland and the bread was too soft. I thought it was a hamburger bun. We also had nachos which tasted burnt even though the cheese was not super melted. Save your money and go eat at the restaurant in Jimenez. Btw, I gave 2 stars because we ordered takeout and maybe that was the mistake? Either way, I would not order from here again. read more

Great place for burritos (come hungry) but my family frequents the taco Tuesday. Usually get the steak tacos but we are trying the chicken tacos with the same success. Tonight as a VIP patron I earned a free churro. Cooked to order, my chocolate churro was still warm by the time we got home. Yum! read more

There is nothing bad to say about this place. Every timeI get a chance to have tacos, this is the place. Shrimp, chicken, Chile relleno, whatever. They got it and it's good. Do not just come for the tacos though, they have fresh churros, they serve breakfast foods. I don't live as close as I used to and I will still drive out here to dine-in or take it home. I say to start with the tacos and make your way down the list of good food they have to offer. read more

Ordered some steak tacos, elotes, and a large horchata. We had such a great meal, everything tasted so good, and the elotes were the best I've had. I think they put some lime into the elotes and there is nothing better. Please never remove the elotes from your menu. Also the steak in the steak tacos tasted better than usual! read more

Always been our families favorite spot for the best burritos and nachos and all the way down the menu! There is nothing they have made for us that we haven't tried and just said "WOW!" read more

Our family's been going to El Famous in Wheeling since they opened and have never had a bad meal. We usually get it to go and it's still hot when we get it home to Buffalo Grove. My favorite menu item is the Chile Relleno and Steak Combo Burrito and although I rarely stray from that, I have tried many other menu items and loved them all. The food is fresh, the portions are huge, the service is pleasant, and the prices are reasonable. What more can you ask for? I wish they offered delivery! read more

I called today to place an order. After being on hold for 8 minutes, I decided to place my order online, letting the phone ring while I placed the order for curbside pick up. The phone was never answered. When I got there I called and still no answer so I went in to pick it up. The woman helping said she would be with me in a minute and walked into the back room. Other people came in and lined up behind me. One woman came in thru the exit door and stood by the register and I told her there was a line. She said she wasn't ordering and was there for a pick up, which I told her I was also there for. When the woman came out from the back room and started talking to her I told her I was there first, but she waited until she was done with this woman before she helped me. Very poor customer service, I may never go back there again. read more

It's ok not the best like it used to be. They need to change the old vinegar from the peppers it smells like nail polish.

Excellent steak burrito. Haven't been to El Famous in years but I went there today and got a regular steak burrito and a large Pepsi. Cheaper and tastier than Chipotle, the steak was flavorful and not chewy at all. The ingredients seemed fresh and the tortilla was very hot. The woman who took my order was kind and I got my food in about 60 seconds. I will definitely be returning soon. read more

The tacos were so good I needed to drop my opinion here. I'm a local and have been coming here for 15 years, they have gotten so much better since COVID started. Anywho, I'm a weekly customer again. I ordered over the phone and these guys went above and beyond, limes, salsa forks, napkins. I asked for salsa (not knowing what was in the bag) and dude hooked it up. Steak was perfect. 11/10!! read more

I had ordered a large half steak half chicken for heat a tray and 72 flour tortillas and they threw in green and red sauce and onion and cilantro and we fed our 50 to 60 people with no problem most having two tortillas it was so perfect there was one portion of steak fajita left Many thanks in kudos 12 famous for the ease of ordering selecting from the menu and the perks they put in the freebies thanks very much I would recommend you to anyone Mike read more

Hands down this is the best authentic Mexican restaurant in the north shore of Chicago. I would recommend this food to anybody looking for a real taste of Mexico. The vibe inside El Famous Burrito is really homey and inviting. The staff are extremely accommodating and enjoy helping guests choose their meals if they need help deciding. It is important to note that all of the items are VERY cheap but there is a $6 credit card minimum which can be solved by ordering some guac and chips. The menu is extremely extensive and contains a lot of options you wouldn't necessarily see at other similar restaurants. Their steak tortas and milanesa tortas are my favorite and they are definitely generous with their avocado! I will for sure be returning to El Famous Burrito and trying all of the wonderful things they have to offer in the future. read more

There are several, and by several I mean thousands/millions of, taquerias in my neighborhood. Working up in the North Suburbs, however, they are spread out a little more than I'm used to. That being said, I'm glad I found El Famous Burrito. They may not be the absolute best I've ever had, but it satisfies the craving. And with their Taco Tuesday deal, how could I go wrong?! The place definitely gets super crowded during lunch, but service and table rotations are quick. They serve tacos traditionally (corn tortillas w/ cilantro & onion), but somehow it was assumed I'd want them w/ lettuce, tomato, and cheese. I guess it's the demographics and popular vote that pushed them to this assumption, but I'm glad I asked. Otherwise I would have been pretty sad eating a TB style taco at an authentic Mexican place. read more

Recently discovered this place and I can't stop going now. Haha! My husband loves the enormous burritos and I love their steak tacos. I have chilaquiles once in a while, a bit too spicy for my taste. Will definitely be coming back! read more

Bit into a chicken taco last week and was surprised with a bite of some small rodent because it had its own skeleton and i promptly spit it out after realizing what i had put into my mouth. Never coming here again, i let them know and clearly it looked like a mouse or something, the staff pissed-offedly told me and my friend it looks like a piece of chicken, i dont remember the last time a chicken had its own ribcage the size of my pinky. After asserting ourselves at the front counter the cashier rudely opened his register and threw us a few bucks for the "inconvenience", thanks bud, not coming back here again and scarred for life. read more

The food is great there. The steak burrito is my absolute favorite! Their salsa and guac is also great. The service is super fast, and they are super helpful. I will be returning very soon! read more

Came here because of the reviews. But I wasn't impressed with the food or the place itself. Let's start with the food. We had ordered steak and shrimp tacos w/ onions and cilantro. Steak tacos were dry but fine. I didn't see shrimp tacos on the menu but I had asked if they had it available. Person behind the register said yes. She asked me if I'd like it w/ onions and cilantro. I said sure thinking that it would also be mixed in with some seasoning and other things like sautéed onions, etc. like how shrimp tacos are typically served. And since these shrimp tacos were $3+, that it was going to be amazing!! SUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT Y'ALL!! It was literally shrimp, onions and cilantro with nothing else. No seasoning, no flavor, no spices. Wow!! Talk about a rip off. Never again! There are so many better options around the area like Casa Chapala whose shrimp tacos are just way better for the taste and price. The reviews of this place is so confusing. And... a cook behind the counter mask only covered his mouth and not his nose with his mask. But some can argue that's either minor/major issue. Just thought I'd include it on here. read more

Everyone raves about El Famous' burritos (which are quite good), but what makes El Famous stand out for me is their nachos. The nachos aren't your standard pile of chips with piles of stuff layered on top, but are tostada shells individually layered with toppings and then cut into nacho sized chips. Their tortas, tacos, chiles, etc are all quite good too. read more

This place is a hidden gem! We came this past Friday and came back again the next day for Menudo! On Friday we ordered the big nachos and taco dinner. Both were superb! On Saturday, we ordered a bowl of Menudo, lengua burrito, and taco dinner. I dont like eating tripes, afraid that the foul smell will turn everything off, but not here at El Famous Burrito. The Menudo was so comforting, the tripes did not smell at all, they are tender and delicious! The bowl was huge! My husband shared with me, even I thought 3 persons could easily share this generous bowl of Menudo. The establishment was clean. Service was fast and food is definitely yummy! Will come back again and again! read more

Won't be returning. I know it's just a Mexican Fast Food Store. And they have pretty good food. But I'm not sure how good the food has to be to tolerate the kind of service I receive. And I'm talking about counter service. The last time I was here I had to wait a few minutes before ordering. (I was the only one at the counter). He missed my beverage order. (I only ordered a burrito and a beverage). No cups of peppers were out, and none in sight (I always take a cup), but because none could be seen, I didn't ask) From where I was sitting, I could see him reach under the counter and give them to other customers. So, I have been patronizing, and often, praising EFB, over the years (since mid-1990's). And have been to a number of EFB locations. This now comes to an end. I don't think the counter service at EFB is very good to begin with, but when I feel unwelcome, I cease to patronize these places. There are other options read more

My first time visiting this place, and I'm so happy we stumbled upon it. The food was delicious and the pricing was fair. I had a burrito and it was delicious. My husband had some steak tacos, equally delicious. We will be back!! read more

pretty solid place. the food is great, most portions are great and the service is good. Place is clean. Can't wait to try their fish tacos which i hear are great but i think its only on fridays. read more

My mouth is watering right freakin now, just thinking about reviewing El Famous. I hate to admit it, but when we order in I order extra just to nosh in the car. It's that good. The stuffed pablano is my go to vegetarian (lacto/ovo) burrito. The kids love the veggie nachos! Oh, and the horchata...honestly I'm going there now. PEACE! read more

Stopped in last week for a torta (w/ egg and sausage). Overall I liked it, but when I go back I'm going to ask them to change the torta to match my favorite restaurant on the SW side (e.g. more of a breakfast meal than lunch). read more

Food is always good here. Can get busy at lunch and dinner time.. also discount tacos on Tuesday for lunch. Service is fast and friendly.