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    El Gallo Bravo

    3.6 (92 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican
    Open 9:30 am - 12:30 AM (Next day)
    Updated 2 months ago

    El Gallo Bravo Photos

    EL GALLO BRAVO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    tostada de ceviche
    Gabby Z.

    My boyfriend is a big fan of El Gallo Bravo so he decided to take me to try out their food. I got three chicken tacos with cilantro and onion and a side of their ceviche tostada, and I get the hype it's pretty good. Not pictured was a steak taco dinner with double rice and the rice is cooked perfectly. The atmosphere is nice there wasn't a lot of people which is never a bad thing, depending on what time of day you're going. They had a variety of sauces at the table and they're own "orange" sauce and green sauce. Saying orange because I didn't know what it actually was only by the color since the bottles weren't labeled. Pretty good overall. Will come back and support the business.

    A cockroach on a table as we were eating.

    The food is always good but what's a good food when you're eating around this ? This is disgusting. Completely made me loose my appetite.

    the front of a restaurant
    Bill M.

    I ordered a couple of tacos for takeaway lunch at El Gallo Bravo (the full title is Su Nueva Casa Del Gallo Bravo, if you are keeping score). This taco joint on Lawrence is open 24 hours, and is BYOB. I don't know what the atmosphere is at 3AM, but around noontime there is efficient bilingual service from the staff. Typical me - I ordered single tacos with three different fillings. I was wondering if I needed to break open a bag of chips at home to fill me up. No needs for chips on this day, as each of the tacos have a generous amount of filling. My favorite of the three was the chorizo, which seemed to have enough flavorful chorizo meat for two tacos. The al pastor and the chicken tacos were fine, though I admit I was concentrating the sides (lime wedges, two kinds of sauces) on these two and not the chorizo. Never had radish slices with tacos before (also on the side), but I ate them all up. If this place were just a teeny bit closer to my house, I might come here more often

    Rosa J.

    El Gallo Bravo on Lawrence is the closest Mexican restaurant to our apartment. Even though it's advertised as a "24/7" joint, it opens and closes as they wish. So, why weren't Rosa J. and hubby regulars to this place? The "older" El Gallo Bravo failed the city sanitation inspection and had a mandatory shut-down for quite some time last year. Nevertheless, it resurrected and has been in business since that fatal temporary closure. Anyhow, we came this evening after Rosa J.'s long day of work. Rosa J. did her usual weekend routine: menudo, while hubby had the enchilada de queso. After we found a table and have got ourselves situated, the server delivered for chips and salsa. They weren't particularly spicy, yet we felt the need to order the drinks. Therefore, a large horchata and a large jamaica helped set the tone for our dinner. Here are my reflections on each item we had at El Gallo Bravo on a cool, non-festive Sunday evening: - horchata: hubby commented that it was too sweet for his palate. - jamaica: it was actually strong and the amount of sugar was adequate. - enchilada de queso: it was filling because of the copious amount of cheese. The lettuce was decently fresh, and the arroz appeared appetizing. - menudo: it was awfully bland. I added all the peppers, diced onions, cilantro, and lime that were given to me to the broth. All these add-on ingredients still didn't boost the flavor. Once again, my quest to find a perfect bowl of menudo in the north-side Chicago hasn't yet succeeded. We gave away another hard-earned $24 to this mediocre establishment.

    Mixed ceviche.
    Sany N.

    Wait. 24/7 Mexican Food. What?!? I love being able to grab a late night bite or early morning breakfast or meal here at any random and ridiculous time of day. With that being said, I would stick with the basics when ordering from here. Tacos, tortas, etc. are always a safe choice. The ceviche and other seafood offerings aren't as consistent. If you dine in, take advantage of the delicious spicy salsa they have with their chips and smother it on everything.

    Selena P.

    This place needs to be shut down! By far the worst experience. I am beyond traumatized. I had the langenastino and found a parasite. Thank god that my doctor said it was cooked so it wasn't able to latch onto my intestines.

    Bistec chile en arbol.  No clue what it means but it's spicy as heck with steak,  gravy, a side of rice,  beans and tortillas
    Jacob J.

    It was around the summer of 2015 when I first started grabbing takeout from this location of El Gallo Bravo also known as "Su nueva casa". For many months I grabbed takeout either during lunchtimes or the late night hours. Many are probably unaware that this business operates at an almost 24/7 schedule. It's not truly that schedule since I have tried visiting many a late night and not found it accessible. Other reviews here note the same occurrence. For almost a year food was outstanding. This became my go-to for burritos and tacos. I'd given up all other burrito joints in favor of Su nueva casa; your new home. A little later on I remember discussing this joint with some friends. One of them had related that this was a restaurant known to the Mexican community. Known to offer family favorites. To memory I could remember many a night, finding the place packed with families. What made them different was the care offered to foods. Meats were prepared with nice marinades. Whether you ordered a gravy dish or tacos, the meats alone were tasty. They were complimented by the other ingredients. Cooks took care in the cuts of meats. In their burritos and tacos, if Al Pastor was chosen you'd get some meaty chunks. At El Gallo they have always had their al pastor on a spit. Fully marinated in a thick pink paste that reminds of Pepto. At the top of the spit are thick rounds of pineapple. From conversations with Mexican friends this is the best way of marinating Al pastor and is always tasty. Here you could watch the cook slice away at that meat also grabbing nice tears of pineapple so that whilst it cooked, the flavors imbued one another. This is reason why I returned week after week and what had been contributing to a growing belly! (I'm not proud of this.) While a burrito is a mere $6.50, it weighs and I'd guess somewhere close to a pound. On top of marinated meats, gravies, tasty tacos and burritos these guys made their own salsa. And not just any kind of verde or rojo salsa. Theirs was orange or lime green. One had a slightly sour taste with a slow heat. The other was tasty with a spicy kick. Both available with fresh made tortilla chips at every table (dine-in only). The only major drawback was that most of their staff did not speak English as a main language which created a great barrier. As mentioned earlier due to putting on weight, I decided to take a break from burritos. In that time (some months) something has occurred at El gallo. One, no one from the staff I ordered from previously are anywhere to be found. Maybe they're working a different schedule I don't know. Two, the cooks look different, as in a different staff. Three and this is the biggest note of change.. the salsas are gone! Now with salsa, colors and taste would change depending on what's available. If they specifically used green tomatillos or a special kind of short Serrano pepper; vegetables would change depending on crop yields, etc. But the salsas are different. It's a basic red or green salsa. What gave great taste to their burritos and tacos is also negligent. It's like they adapted a completely new cooking method. The care taken in giving nice cuts of meats is replaced with diced meats. It's such a bummer. I've been back twice in the last couple weeks and both orders were disappointing. Had I written a review of this spot a year ago you'd find a glowing 5 star review. Today.. I teeter between 2.5 to 3. Most people would probably enjoy the place. But for me, noting the great differences it is night and day.

    Steak taco

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    Five stars my 6 year old loved the food & she's a real picky eater.. so happy there's a spot close she likes.

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    8 years ago

    Found a nail in my salsa. waitress didn't even care, no apology. FTP. bring a metal detector if you going to visit this place

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    Bocaditos Mexican Cuisine - Enchiladas Maya

    Bocaditos Mexican Cuisine

    4.2(120 reviews)
    6.9 miWest Loop, Near West Side
    $$$

    Went here for my birthday dinner on a Saturday night. Nice atmosphere and music but not too loud…read morefor conversation. I loved the decorations. I ordered the steak and shrimp fajitas they were expensive but excellent! Came out on a sizzling plate. I tried the Habernita drink and sangria. The habernita drink had mezcal, orange, pineapple, and habanero so had a nice kick to it. My friend told server it was my birthday secretly and they came out with a sparkler had birthday music playing and shots of tequila for my table! We had a great time and I will definitely be back! I recommend coming here to celebrate your birthday or just to have a delicious meal

    Stopped by Bocaditos Mexican Kitchen in Chicago on a Wednesday night before a Blackhawks game and…read moreit was the perfect pre-game spot. The aguachiles were easily our favorite -- super fresh and full of flavor, with really well-balanced ingredients. You can tell the food is made to order and not rushed. The chips and salsa were also way better than your typical starter. The chips came out warm and crisp, and the salsa was smooth, flavorful, and super addictive. We also tried a few drinks, and they were excellent -- well-made, not overly sweet, and a great way to start the night before heading to the game. Our server was amazing -- friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. They kept checking in at all the right times and made the whole experience relaxed and enjoyable even with the pre-game crowd. Definitely a great spot to hit anytime you're in the area looking for solid Mexican food and a fun vibe.

    Photos
    Bocaditos Mexican Cuisine - Empty restaurant

    Empty restaurant

    Bocaditos Mexican Cuisine - El Cafecito

    El Cafecito

    Bocaditos Mexican Cuisine - Oro verde our Traditional Guacamole

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    Oro verde our Traditional Guacamole

    Barrio - Quesabirria tacos

    Barrio

    4.1(1.4k reviews)
    7.2 miNear North Side
    $$

    Cinco de Mayo at Barrio was EVERYTHINGGG…read more We fully committed to the holiday and ordered honestly the entire menu and somehow every single thing that came out was better than the last. Starting with margaritas (because obviously ‍), queso and chips that were dangerously good, and the chicken empanadas that came out perfectly crispy with so much flavor. We kept looking at each other after every bite like "okay wait... THIS is the best thing here" and then another plate would arrive and prove us wrong again The carnitas fried rice??? I genuinely cannot stop thinking about it. So savory, flavorful, comforting, and packed with crispy carnitas on top with the eggs and pickled onions... literally unreal. And then the skirt steak tacos absolutely stole the show. The steak was cooked perfectly, packed with flavor, and paired so perfectly with all the toppings and sauces. Every single bite tasted fresh and homemade in the best way possible. And can we talk about the ambience for a second because WOW. The music, the energy, the vibe inside, everyone celebrating, the drinks flowing -- it felt like the perfect Cinco de Mayo dinner spot. The service was also AMAZING from start to finish and made the entire experience even better. One of those dinners where you leave already talking about when you're coming back If you're looking for the place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, date night, tacos & margaritas, or honestly just an incredible dinner in general... this is IT

    What a fun spot! We had reservations (glad we did) and sat in the bar area at a high-top table…read morealong the window. Perfect seat in my opinion. Views of the city right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of downtown Chicago. What I tried: + chips and queso - 8/10 + ribeye with rice and beans (was a special) - 7.5/10 + spicy margarita - 8/10 Great service!

    Photos
    Barrio - Interior views

    Interior views

    Barrio - Chicken fajitas

    Chicken fajitas

    Barrio - Margarita time!

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    Margarita time!

    El Xangarrito - Cheesecake

    El Xangarrito

    4.8(216 reviews)
    1.4 miLincoln Square, Ravenswood

    Thanks to Yelp El Xangarrito has been on my list for sometime, and I was not disappointed. It is a…read morevery small family-owned Mexican restaurant but the seating does not make you feel cramped. We did make reservations/wait list and was seated immediately. We started off with chips and salsa, and the salsa was a bit too spicy for me, but everyone else enjoyed it. We started with the Chicken Poblano - a savory dish with creamy poblano sauce mixed with chicken and sliced poblano peppers topped with corn. We all enjoyed it. Most of the reviews recommended the enchiladas and we ordered a variety of them. The Enchiladas Poblanos stuffed with chicken and cheese. The poblano sauce was rich and smoky. We also had the Enchiladas Morita. They were filled with shrimp and cheese. It was so flavorful and the morita chile added so much flavor. Each dish was served with a side jicama salad. Their special was a shrimp pasta with lobster. It came with full lobster tail. The sauce was creamy and flavorful. It is also BYOB, which is a nice option. Service was excellent, friendly offered recommendations. This is probably one of my favorite Mexican restaurants and highly recommend.

    Xangaritto continues to be a beacon of delicious food and friendly hospitality. They switched…read moreowners about a year ago and the beginning was a little rocky but today was an amazing experience. I love coming here for the tampiquena and the enchiladas. The tamipquena is marinated in something delicious, pretty sure it includes adobo chiles, making the tamipquena flavorful and tender. The enchiladas have some of the best sauces. We especially love then poblano sauce on the chicken enchiladas. The enchiladas have some tender chicken and the sauce is slightly spicy and creamy. Everyone is super friendly, the waiting staff and chef take pride in their work and it shows. I continue to strongly recommend this place for a delicious dinner out. This is not your typical Mexican restaurant. It s a cozy elevated escape.

    Photos
    El Xangarrito - Veggie Pastor Tacos

    Veggie Pastor Tacos

    El Xangarrito - Traditional Pastor Tacos

    Traditional Pastor Tacos

    El Xangarrito - Steak Enchiladas Mole. A generous portion to share or to take some home with you for a late night snack.

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    Steak Enchiladas Mole. A generous portion to share or to take some home with you for a late night snack.

    5 Rabanitos - Chilaquiles verdes

    5 Rabanitos

    4.2(830 reviews)
    8.1 miPilsen
    $$

    a great reminder... that i need to ALWAYS go to pilsen when…read morecraving mexican. my huarache was divine. the "sandal" itself was perfectly flaky - not greasy or impossible to cut. the veggies were perfectly seasoned, cooked but not mushy...my only "complaint" is i didn't expect potatoes to be part of the veg. i don't understand a carb on a carb but that's just me. the guac was very meh. would not recommend. the marg's are ok...but i'm not a great judge bc as a rule, don't really care for marg's. fabulous service and perfect spot for a show at thalia hall.

    We're from LA, and this is our daughter's favorite Mexican restaurant near the loop after her four…read moreyears at SAIC. She was very excited for us to try it out. We arrived around 7:30 on a Friday night and the place was packed. We only had to wait 10-15 minutes, which passed quickly with the live Mariachi music. The food came out pretty quickly considering how busy it was. We got: - Margaritas -- piña mezcal, passion fruit and pepino. They were good but a little small for the price. - Pozole Pipian -- It has a verde base that's very light. Something that makes it unique is chicharrones on top. My daughter prefers pork over the chicken. - Carnitas Huarache -- good flavors but probably my least favorite of the meal. - Asada Torta -- this was my favorite dish of the night. The bread was really light and the meat wasn't tough at all. For dessert we got the churritos and Mexican bread pudding. Both were good but nothing special. All in all a great meal.

    Photos
    5 Rabanitos - Interior

    Interior

    5 Rabanitos - Chips & Guac

    Chips & Guac

    5 Rabanitos - This bright mural on the side of 5 Rabanitos drew us is for refreshing Micheladas!

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    This bright mural on the side of 5 Rabanitos drew us is for refreshing Micheladas!

    Manchamanteles Restaurant - Enchiladas Potosina

    Manchamanteles Restaurant

    4.4(143 reviews)
    3.9 miBucktown
    $$

    Chef Geno Bahena is back in business, and his world famous moles are as complex and satisfying as…read moreever. I had the rack of lamb in mole negro, and it was delicious. Get it medium rare. Kelly had steak fajitas and deemed them amazing. The sopa Azteca is spicy and loaded with complex flavors. Huge portion, too, enough to share or take home. For dessert, the chocolate mole tart and the strawberry ice cream are superb. Palomas and margaritas are good, and the wine list is all very affordable. Get the Rioja or the Cotes du Rhone.

    Came here on Valentine's Day with a reservation, there were three of us, one kid. It was full of…read morefamilies, some couples. The had a tasting menu but we opted out of it. They give you a complimentary spicy trail mix. We started with the guacamole, it was okay. Then I got a traditional margarita, my partner got a pina colada with strawberries, and my kid got a pink lemonade (Marz Brewing made). The margarita was good, not strong but not too watery. For dinner I got the chicken fajitas, the waiter asked if I wanted just chicken which I though was odd because I ordered the chicken fajitas and I wasn't sure what he meant or if he meant no veggies, it came with veggies luckily. It also came with tortilla, corn, and a side of refried black beans with cojita, and rice. It was all okay. My partner got the lamb mole, it was sweet and savory, not spicy. And it came with tortillas. They have a lot of mole options, so if you're into that definitely come here to try! Overall it was just okay.

    Photos
    Manchamanteles Restaurant
    Manchamanteles Restaurant - Dobladas De Mole Negro! Delicious

    Dobladas De Mole Negro! Delicious

    Manchamanteles Restaurant - Queso Fundido!!(keepsmilingphoto.com)

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    Queso Fundido!!(keepsmilingphoto.com)

    Frontera Grill - Trio Ceviche

    Frontera Grill

    3.9(2.8k reviews)
    7.1 miNear North Side
    $$

    Delicious food, friendly waiter, militant hostess…read more We came to dinner before a standup performance downtown (Mateo Lane was hilarious, by the way). I arrived at the restaurant on time (4:30) and checked in with the hostess, who said I could only be seated when the entire group of three arrived. This seemed weird given the restaurant was pretty empty at this time, and ordinarily I'd order a drink while waiting at the table. Regardless, I went to Starbucks instead because I knew the other two were a few minutes behind. When I got back to the restaurant, my friend said the hostess told him we absolutely had to leave within 1.5 hours because we were late... which seemed odd because he may have checked in 15 minutes after our reservation, to an empty restaurant, that already refused to seat me on time. Regardless, the food was delicious. I had the Pollo in ChiChilo-- the mole was delicious, and I loved the chicken and sweet potato. I ordered the mole on the side, which seemed like a nice balance. Since the hostess wouldn't previously seat me, I had a lovely iced matcha latte with oat milk and half a pump of vanilla from Starbucks, which was a nice pairing. The waiter did ask if I wanted a shot of something with it, which seemed odd. Ambiance was cute, probably due for a renovation but seemed appropriate for most dining out occasions- dates, families, a day out in town. Note: the restaurant charges an automatic 20% gratuity which may explain the service. Keep this in mind to avoid tipping more than you intend. Overall, I would definitely come back, and the food and wait staff made up for the abrasive welcome.

    Food - pork tacos - excellent execution of tender pork belly. Every piece was so succulent and…read morefull of crisy pork goodness. Warm, homemade tortillas added to the perfect bite on top of flavor town green tomatillo salsa. The black beans was a good balance the rich pork flavors. Also, if the standard salsa was room tamed for.your liking; they have a good habanero salsa for the asking. Maybe too much foe most. Dessert- ice cream with fudge.. Great tasting of vanilla and chocolate, but wasnt quite over the top. The ice cream was nice and thick, but was a bit gritty for ice cream at an upscale place. Partly why I couldnt give it a perfect score. Service - attentive and intuitive. The waiter seems to know what we like and need without asking too much. Spicy pineapple Cocktail- good, strong, but not great. Couldn't really taste any pineapple. Cleanliness- clean and organized. Cost - affordable for special occasion. Restroom - fancy and clean. Ambiance - warm and relaxing, but a bit cheap with the vinyl or cheap wood veneer tables.

    Photos
    Frontera Grill - Back room, additional eating area at the bar

    Back room, additional eating area at the bar

    Frontera Grill - Duck carnitas

    Duck carnitas

    Frontera Grill - Pork shank

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    Pork shank

    El Gallo Bravo - mexican - Updated May 2026

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