I absolutely adore El Gallo. I've been enjoying their authentic Mexican cuisine for probably close to a decade. It's absolutely fantastic. Not only is the food flavorful and satiating but the environment and customer service is ultimately refreshing. It feels homey and authentic, dare I say my ride or die authentic Mexican restaurant. Go give it a try and get a Jarrito, too. read more

For years I have enjoyed the food at this place. The service has always made me feel welcome and appreciated. There is 10 four seat tables and can get busy around lunch depending on the time of year. Summer months it's busier with contractors enjoying a great lunch. read more

See all

CASH ONLY !!! I came here on a Friday night after my hair appointment, which is located next door to the restaurant. I ordered 3 steak tacos with cilantro and onion. The tacos were a little bland but the red and green sauce gave them much more flavor. I would try this place again, but try a different meat. The cashier was friendly and I didn't have to wait long for my food. read more

I can always count on this place as a late night go to. The service is always quick and professional. They do offer dine in. I usually get my food to go. Their chile relleno tacos are delicious. The steak is good but not consistently. The horchata is good here too. You get your monies worth. read more

El Gallo - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

When Life Gives You Tacos... I walked into this restaurant expecting just another taco, but I left convinced I had just been adopted by a loving Mexican grandmother who also happens to be a culinary wizard. The food was so good I briefly considered proposing to the salsa. First, let's talk about the chips and guac. The chips were so fresh and crispy that I'm pretty sure they whispered "I'm your soul mate" to me. The guacamole? It was so creamy and perfectly seasoned that I'm convinced they hired an avocado whisperer to make it. Now, the tacos. Oh, the tacos. Each one was a masterpiece. The carne asada taco? Juicy, tender, and seasoned so perfectly that I audibly gasped. The al pastor? Spiced with such precision that I'm pretty sure there's a scientist in the kitchen measuring spice ratios with a microscope. The service? They treated me like family. Not the awkward cousin you only see at Thanksgiving, but the favorite sibling who can do no wrong. I half-expected them to tuck me in at night and say, "Sweet dreams, mija." Esperanza is the best! Please ask for her to be your waitress because you won't be disappointed! Long story short: If you're not eating here, you're doing life wrong. Bring your appetite, your sense of humor, and maybe a sombrero if you really want to fit in with the vibe. 10/10, would eat my weight in tacos here again. read more

Open late! Cash only establishment. Food is good. Used to order the el pastor tacos regularly and they are very good.

Late night spot near home but not late night taste. Their tacos are delicious. I've brought my friend here and they feel the same. I normally order chicken tacos with cilantro, onions and cheese. They are always good and fast. I wish they took card payments - that's the one drawback. I'll have to try other items on menu one day soon and check back on my review. read more

El Gallo - Chicken tacos - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Chief doesn't pay attention to order! Watch what they prepare. Chief and cashier speak in Spanish, thinking you don't understand when they make mistake!!! read more

Tacos are good but it's like they can never get the order right i recently went and ordered 2 chicken tacos both of them were steak

Ok so, I've said to various ppl multiple times that these are the best tacos I've ever had! And I'm from Los Angeles. So when I saw that their rating wasn't in the 4 stars I had to comment. I've had nothing but like 5 star food here. In a month span I've eaten this place at least 10 times. It's GEEEWWWWWDDDDDD OK! maybe because I've just stuck with tacos soft and hard. ALSO their tortillas are the absolute best HOMEMADE tortillas I've ever had. Wow yall. read more

Place a oder over the phone, went up there and they forgot my steak taco dinner. Called back and they said sorry had to drive back up there, and had to wait for them to make it. I paid $88 dollars for the food and left a $3.00 tip the first time I came there. So as they fix my food that they forgot while my food is getting cold I picked up already at home, and they put sour cream on my enchiladas dinners after I repeated 3 times not to, but I let that go. I wanted to see if they was going to do anything for my inconvenience. They didn't so I ask for a free can pop, and the male cook who was cooking the food said hell no!. So I said no problem even though you put sour cream on my food and forgot my taco dinner and I had to drive up there again and left a tip. That is how you treat a customer. Smh never again. read more

Just happened by and decided to try it here. I'm having Chili Relleno dinner and my husband had the steak burrito. Everything is great. Came with chips, salsa, and tortillas. read more

El Gallo - Enjoying our meal! Fast and pleasant service. - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Never agian will I come here, I went in to use the bathroom and it was filthy and not flushed, I get home to eat my food and i'm already half way done when I see this VERY LONG brown piece of hair in my food. This is extremely unsanitary. read more

El Gallo - steak burrito - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's gotten worse. The food just doesn't taste the way it used to, and the place is actually pretty pricey. Here's the real thing: They keeps screwing up my orders. I've had to go back and forth to the place more than once to pick something up. In addition, they may take your name when you order online, but when you get there, they ask you what you ordered. I'm like, my wife ordered, I have no idea. Why don't you just take down the name she gave you? That solves a lot of problems. Why bother letting people order ahead if we know you are going to mess it up? read more

The food was good. It statyed to get loud because some teenagers came in and just got loud. All in all the food was good for a dive.

Food is a little on the greasy side but it's is good I recommend getting a taco de Chile rellenó read more

El Gallo - Update menu (feb 2023) - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Ordered 8 chicken tacos on 08/30/2023 for the first time, and I wasn't impressed. The food was stale tacos were small unseasoned and chicken didn't taste like chicken at all. They also doesn't accept cash but there is ATM inside for a $3.00 fee read more

To go: 5 stars. Dine in: 3 stars. Overall score: 4 stars. Food is very good. Service during the day is good. Night crew is hit or miss. Inside is kinda dank. Get your order to go. Enjoy. read more

Cheap food, always tastes good, never disappointing, great take out place! Filling and consistent

I was convinced by a friend to try this place. These were the most undesirable tostadas I've ever eaten. I was extremely disappointed. It was late and I was extremely hungry. After being seated in what seemed to be a cafeteria style set up our waitress came over to place our orders. We were offered chips and salsa. The chips were stale and the salsa watered down. You can tell the meat wasn't if the best quality, it was unseasoned and greasy. Not to sound harsh but I wouldn't have fed these to a dog. The only reason I bothered giving this place 2 stars is because our server was courteous and attentive. I'm not certain if the people who gave this place 5 stars are without taste buds or they just have never had the pleasure of having great tacos before. Note: I ordered both chicken and the steak tostada. Both were flavorless and unsavory. read more

See all

Really upset with my last few experiences with them been coming here sense they opened and the last couple times they have either forgotten something major in my order or completely messed it up especially when ordering for a family of 6. But I highly recommend taqueria Durango on 12358 western Ave in blue island their food is better and the service is excellent!!! read more

Fast service with amazing taste! Open later than most places and the bomb! Have seating to enjoy food is also a plus!

This place has great food, great service, the people are always very friendly and helpful. Dine in or takeout either way it's awesome.

I must admit these tacos are some of the best part about the south side of Chicago I went here tonight and order 6 steak taco and the food was so delicious I had to make a review so if your ever on the south side of Chicago and want some of the best tacos PLEASE check this restaurant out and the best part of this restaurant is they stay open til 3am so if your reading this review make sure you know that I sent you in there to try there steak taco I couldn't even chance to take pictures of the food I received. Just know you wouldn't be disappointed. When I'm ever in this area and want some authentic taco I will be back I will tell you in advance they only take cash and if your want to avoid ATM fees make sure you go to your bank and withdraw the cash money and give them some business Steak Tacos was bussin bussin read more

Don't think about ordering ahead, they don't start to cook it until you get there. What's the frickin point if it's not ready when you go to pick it up. Done with this place. read more

Got the taco salad. Extremely flavorful and filling. Perfect lunch spot. Great prices. Great service. This will be my go to spot when in the area. read more

This has become our go to spot for Mexican Food in the neighborhood. There is nothing really special about the food with expection of the Tamales which are quite frankly the best I've tasted and I'm a Tamale snob. Service is average and occasionally they mess up orders but nothing egregious. Food is always satisfying and gets the job done. read more

I have always ordered my burritos, Extra steak cheese only. I was charged for extra steak yet my burrito looks like a junior. I returned to the restaurant with my burrito and she said, it was that size due to inflation. read more

El Gallo - a hand holding a piece of aluminum foil - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

It's hole in the wall cash only Mexican food. Not sure what some of the people writing bad reviews expected. But they are simply the best over here. read more

The food is delicious, staff is always super nice, and I always get my order fast even when they're busy. Absolutely recommend.

El Gallo is synonymous with south side Chicago Mexican joints--whether it's El Gallo Tapatio, El Gallo de Oro and so forth, these places are mostly known for serving up comidas late until early in the morning, sometimes until 4am (only to open again at, say 8am). All things considered, Mexican is a WAY better sobering up option at 2am than McDonald's or some mediocre pizza. That's why I recommend Mexican joints all across the nation to do this--charge an extra couple bucks after midnight and that should make up for the punks you might have to deal with at that time. Anyways. This Gallo I haven't tried yet and it's pretty close in our neighborhood, plus I've been hearing a lot of good things about it. Finally, we tried it; we had the perfect excuse because I pointed out that they have chilaquiles (eggs scrambled with lots of cheese and fried tortilla strips). Ironically we didn't get that at all. I got the skirt steak and eggs. Whatever they marinate that steak in is INCREDIBLE--I wanna say it's arrachera?? And the whole thing comes with 2 eggs, beans and rice for 7.50 (as of 9-9-16). It's a freaking steal. I'm not too knowledged on steak cuts but the cook pre-sliced the skirt steak so it was super easy to eat. You also get tortillas, I got corn and you get 3 double-stacked sets of tortillas so nothing falls apart. I must also mention, the beans and rice were tasty too; nothing crazy, but certainly good and homemade, nothing prefabricated or canned or whatnot. Their salsas are pretty good as well. Their regular is a classic El Gallo style; a tasty mild Pico de Gallo style with some juice in there (not just chunks). Their green is excellent, again not terribly hot but packed with tomatillo flavor. Their hot red was so-so, but probably just isn't my thing. My beautiful lady friend got the chicken nachos, which they filled to the brim--I tried some of the chicken and it was delicious. Plenty of cheese, and with tomato and lettuce is was more of a better version of a taco salad. Also the register lady was super friendly. I feel like this is the kind of place that could just as easily cater to super Mexicans (I'm only half) and gringos alike. Now I'm stuffed. Good night, YelpLand. read more

See all

Best steak sope, taco de chile relleno on point, pico de gallo is probably the best one I've ever tasted full of flavor and spicy, and my husband always gets tacos de lengua because no other place makes them perfect for him...favorite place every time! read more

I know it might not look like much, but I've come to really enjoy this place, I usually hit it up post work out at the charter fitness attached to it, I've gotten the lengua sope, steak and fish tacos, and chicken quesadilla, all are very good, and pretty big, at least bigger than I thought it'd be, and all for low prices too. $10 minimum for credit cards so just be aware. The lady who takes my order is always very nice too, I'm sure I'll be back in the future read more

El Gallo - Lengua sope - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Good food, quick service during a late night outing. My steak burrito was just what I wanted.

DO NOT GO HERE. I ordered tacos and a side of rice and found a bug in my rice. When confronted with the problem the staff merely shrugged and tried to give me $3 back for the rice when I already put it on my tacos, they refused to refund me the money. Who knows if there are bugs in their other food. Please do not go here, it is unclean and unhealthy food standards. read more

El Gallo - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love this place. I'm from Miami and I was searching for some authentic Mexican food. I FINALLY FOUND IT! Everyone here is so kind and so fast. I go at least once a week. read more

It was excellent! My usual mexican entrees, always a good barometer, lengua and stuffed pepper tacos. Booth were spot on. Good green sauce and a very nice seating area.Far larger than I thought. Lot can be tough since it's next to charter fitness read more

El Gallo - Beautiful wood art. - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Always a good go to late night. Cash only spot though. Food and service is always great

So this happened awhile ago. I use to be a regular here. I liked the steak tacos and chorizo and eggs were always pretty good. Nothing out of this world, but solid good Mexican food. I was a regular, at least 2-3 times a week. The people there were always very sweet and nice, especially the lovely women. I had an insane job at the time where I was traveling an 1.5 hr away. Dealing with extreme stress, and working14hrs or so doing a labor job. I was dealing with being pushed to my limits physically and mentally, pretty much one of the toughest days of my life. So driving home I badly needed so decent comfort food. And was looking forward to my regular stop at El Gallo. After being so utterly exhausted and in pain, and not having anything in my belly for awhile, it had caused me to be somewhat confused and a bit out of it. So I was kind of a mess walking in. Asked for my regular of chorizo and eggs with salsa /tortilla chips. I thought I pulled out a 50 from my wallet and gave it to the cashier woman. She gave me back change as if I gave a 20 dollar bill. I said "didn't I give you a 50?" I said it in a very calm manner, not accusatory or anything. I was about to pass out from exhaustion, me being mad wasn't even possible. I then immediately go to look in my wallet and the 50 I thought I had given her was still there. So I automatically realized I was in the wrong and made a mistake and I did in fact give her a 20. From me asking her about possibly giving a 50 and finding out that it was still in my wallet all took place in about 10-15 seconds. And I immediately said "I'm sorry, it's (my 50 dollar bill) still there, sorry about that". I tried to right my wrong immediately. I was about to tell her I was just so exhausted, but I could see she took great offense even with my apology. And she started talking angrily in Spanish to the other workers. Definitely swearing about me, I definitely remember being called " I'm half Mexican, but look pretty much completely white. I guess she didn't know I knew some Spanish, and I definitely know what "cabron" is. I just kept my cool and didn't make a scene or anything, said my thank you as usual when I got my food and left. I thought it wouldn't be a big deal in the future. I told myself that I was the one who made the initial mistake, so I shouldn't be too upset with her talking garbage about me in Spanish. It was still my go to for Mexican food since it was so close by. And all the other girls were so darn sweet and nice. Well, I went back there a few more times. And unfortunately for me that same girl was working. And every time I would get daggers for looks, as if I killed her dog or something. I could tell she would get furious at just the sight of me, and she would go back to swearing about me to her coworkers, "cabron" many times. Not hiding at all the contempt she felt for me. I never said anything and still tried my best as usual to act kindly. The cook or other woman working never said anything about me, but cook did start giving me a much smaller quantities of my chorizo and eggs orders. In my eyes I made a simple mistake due to complete and utter exhaustion, which I apologized for less than 20 seconds after that mistake. And I get cursed about to other workers in Spanish and get smaller quantities of food? It took me a few times to realize that this was going to be regular practice for now on and that I most definitely was not wanted around there anymore. No matter that I was a regular customer for their business or that I always gave please and thank you's. So I had no choice but to stop going and find a new Mexican place. I do wonder if it was an anti-White deal. If I was more Hispanic looking I highly doubt she would of treated me that way. Now it was most definitely only one woman there who acted like that, so she doesn't represent the entire business. But the regular cook didn't correct her and did in fact make my orders of chorizo with eggs smaller as "payback" or whatever. All the other women were incredibly nice and sweet. It was just the tallest /biggest Hispanic woman with some blonde highlights that had it out for me. Hopefully that kind of stuff doesn't happen anymore. It was and is ridiculous that it came to that. No regular customer who treats workers with kindness and respect should be treated that way, talked about right in front of you in another language while being treated rudely. read more

My late night spot. Stop here a lot on the way back from Sox games. Workers are super polite and food is pretty inexpensive. Two tacos and fries for $7.99 is clutch. Only drawback is they only take cash. If I ever forget to bring it I end up paying for ab ATM. read more