During a long weekend in Chicago I was staying nearby El Mana so based on the Yelp reviews it seemed like a great place to grab some dinner. El Mana is just a small storefront restaurant in a corner plaza. Inside is very basic, no real decor, simple tables and chairs. The clientele seems to be mainly Hispanic which is always a good sign. For such a small place the menu is fairly extensive including breakfast and a whole page of seafood entrees. I ended up ordering the Camerones Al Mojo De Ajo (shrimp in garlic sauce). While waiting for my food I enjoyed the chips and salsa, good flavor and fresh, although the salsa was a bit salty. In about 10 minutes my food came out nicely presented on a pretty fish shaped dish, a large portion of shrimp, rice and a simple salad topped with fresh avocado slices and some warm flour tortillas. The shrimp were excellent plump and meaty in a zippy sauce laced with garlic. The rice was a great compliment, while the salad gave a nice fresh crisp element to the meal. Overall an excellent meal and a great dinner. El Mana is a great place to get some excellent Mexican food at a reasonable price, portions are generous, flavors a big, bold and straightforward. Service was good, but this is not a high end place, really not much to see and really nothing except great food. read more

El Maná - Camarones Al Mojo de Ajo - Mexican Near Me - Melrose Park, Illinois

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Little hole in the mall shop. I'm pretty much the only who're person there and I always order in Spanish. That's how authentic this place is (I go to Mexico at least once a year). My favorite thing, their specialty, is Pupusas. It's basically a corn masa, with meat & cheese inside, then fried on the flat top. The chorizo is excellent! They always give you a basket of chips with tasty, low-heat salsa, and I love the salsa verde they serve with the meal. It's a small and humble place, but a real hidden gem! read more

El Maná - Pupusa - Mexican Near Me - Melrose Park, Illinois

Very small place with service like it's being done by the owners' family. Friendly and fast. The pupusas are the specialty, and I love them! Otherwise, typical Mexican/ Central American food. read more

Delicious fresh and authentic Mexican food. Very glad we stopped here. Family owned and operated, everything was delicious

Great food! I was staying at a hotel nearby to fly out of O'Hare. I'm glad I listened to the reviews & checked this place out!

As another commented, we are in hotel, in preparation for O'Hare flight. What a find! DELICIOUS! Customer service was great....highly recommend! read more

This place is great. The steak is amazing. Its a family run place with great food and a fun atmosphere. Great service, great food and its very reasonable. I come here regularly. read more

Everything was so delicious! El Mana is my favorite restaurant in the suburbs. Reminds me of a homemade meal, so flavorful and everyone is so friendly! 5/5, I'm a regular at this point read more

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This restaurant has great customer service, some of the best authentic Mexican cuisine, and the atmosphere is very homey.

Food tasted like someone's grandma made it 10/10, service and atmosphere were also awesome. highly recommend read more

El Maná - Torta Dinner - Mexican Near Me - Melrose Park, Illinois

I flew in from Los Angeles for a music festival, and the food there was both overpriced and disappointing--especially the so-called "Mexican food," which was nothing like the real thing. I found this place by chance because I was starving and it's close to my hotel. Wow, I'm so glad I did! Even though I arrived right at closing time, I was warmly welcomed, seated, and ordered the bistec a la mexicana. It was absolutely delicious. My only regrets are that I didn't find this spot sooner and that I didn't take a picture of my food before devouring it! If I'm ever back in town, I'll definitely be returning! read more

Everything was so good! We had nachos, combo platter, veggie hurache, and carne asada taco. The veggie hurache actually looked like the picture. That never happens! The chips and salsa were on point too. The carne asada taco & nachos have been on my must have again list. Actually tried to go again over the weekend, but it was closed when we're going to go. We wanted late night eats, but the door was locked before 10. I have driven past this place many times. I can't believe i never gave it a shot before. The only thing is the door situation. I could barely get the car seat in. It was a real struggle since they have one of those enclosures around the door to keep the cold out. They need to make it just a tad bigger. read more

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There food and services are great can't name a better place then this it really is the greatest food I've ever had.

Our first visit to El Maná. Ordered a few tacos, chips and guacamole. The two type of steak tacos we ordered were great. The take out order had cilantro and onion on the side to add your own (there was plenty left over). The al pastor taco meat was good, but it tasted like pineapple juice was used for flavor. However, this could be because pineapples are out of season, or it could be their normal recipe. Regardless, overall the price was as expected and we had a pretty good experience overall. Salsas were spicy! So, if you need a kick with your meal, be sure to include those on your meal! read more

Beans were subpar and rice mediocre. Steak tacos had no flavor and not very tender. The grilled onion was a nice touch though. Came with plenty of cilantro and onion. Chicken enchiladas had shredded chicken with some peppers and onion inside, which was a nice touch, but chicken was dry. There wasn't much sauce at all. Overall mediocre. Flautas were really good. But, the menu says it comes with guacamole and I received avocado slices instead. Salsas were awesome, some of the best. read more

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This place is the best! Everything is amazing, great service, friendly and great deals. The food is delicious. If ever by it check it out, highly recommend it. The Horchata is on point. You will not be disappointed. read more

We catered for a party and food was beyond delicious. They delivered and helped served the food for our guests. We recommend them to everyone who is looking for authentic Mexican food. read more

We were short on time and this place was not to far from our destination. So we stopped. They are in a little strip mall at the end. It was not to busy so we got parking right away. The place is small so there was not too much seating. But it wasn't busy when we went either so we were seated right away. I ordered fajitas, and they were good, just a little too oily. Services was good and friendly. Prices were not bad either. read more

El mana is a constant hit with me and the family , the service is always friendly and the food delicious.. you cannot go wrong with any of the dishes there especially the pupusas I no longer have to travel to get them and they do make them with carne asada which alot of places don't we frequent atleast every two weeks and have taken family and friends and they all loved it .. the owners always greets u and even jumps in to help I love this place read more

Chicken Suiza enchiladas very good. Really good beans and rice and reasonable price. Service was very friendly and efficient. Would visit again when in area. read more

These people know what they are doing! A cozy tent is set up just outside their door where you can dine In (outside!). The food was the best I've had and we live in Arizona where there are a lot of good Mexican restuarants. The menu has everything including seafood. Abel and the staff were very welcoming. All covid precautions were taken and we even received a little complimentary bottle of hand sanitizer with their advertising so we can remember to go there next time we are in town. Thank you guys so much. read more

This place has very delicious food! I've eaten here twice and picked up food to go three other times. I have ordered different food items each time, and have yet to be disappointed. The masa in all of the masa-containing items tastes homemade (gorditas, sopes, etc.). As other people have mentioned, the owner seems like just a genuinely nice guy. When my husband went there for lunch by himself, and for the first time, the owner came to his table and after speaking with him recommended a dish that he thought my husband would love. He was right! My husband was so impressed, he took my daughter and me there for dinner the next day! One item that particularly impresses me are the nopales (cactus) that come on the side of some dishes. Being of Mexican decent I've had nopales before but never like this, and never at a restaurant! Even the refried beans taste freshly made (I'm very picky). This place is a hidden gem that I don't think many people have discovered yet. I highly recommend it! read more

Great service great specials and awesome tacos. Humble place where you can also rent the hall for free as long as you pay for the per person plate . Very worth it. Monday dollar tacos. Awesome barbacoa and al pastor. Very fresh. read more

Service was good but Food was just okay. My chilaquiles were salty. My daughters burrito was fine. Husbands pollo milanesa was flavorful but enchiladas were not great. Would not return. read more

This was my first time at Mesa Urbana and I will visit whenever I'm in town. Lovely atmosphere, excellent service, absolutely delicious dinner and delectable dessert! We ordered many of the small plates and a few large plates. The entire experience was fabulous! read more

I live in the area and I saw their sign that offered Tacos for $1 I figured I couldn't beat it!!! I went in and ordered three to go, I wish I would've stayed there to eat them because I would've ordered more. The meat was juicy and they were perfect!! Certainly going back for their Burritos!!! read more

My husband said this was the most authentic Mexican meal he's eaten outside the city limits. We'll be back.

I was visiting Chicago on business, staying in the area. I initially passed on this place when I pulled up as it was small and had no customers other than one other family. I changed my mind and stayed, and am glad I did. The guacamole was homemade, and cheap. It was delicious. I had the carne asada and it was equally amazing. Great little business, great food. read more

El Maná - Mexican Near Me - Melrose Park, Illinois

Best Mexican food in Melrose the owner very nice and all the place real clean I take my kids all the time best pozole in Chicago

Such an awesome place!! Staff and owner are VERY friendly and welcoming! The food is delicious!! Everything on the menu is a must try! They have a variety of food tacos, Tortas, dinner plates, sea food and pupusas!!! Love love love! read more

I attended a birthday party; the food was delicious. Besides being a restaurant you can also book a party event. Is located right on Mannheim and Fullerton there is parking. The staff was very nice the restaurant was very clean. I really recommend their steak and Al pastor tacos they where delicious. read more

I been El Mana taquería and it has excellent Mexican food dishes by far I recommend friends and family or anybody your going to really enjoy it. I give it a 5*****star with great friendly service. and I'll keep coming for more thank you. read more

I used El Maná to cater my Mexican Fiesta and the food was beyond what I expected. It was absolutely amazing. All of my guests were delighted and still talking about how good it was. Also, a few of my guests plan to hire them for their parties in the near future. I will definitely use them again as well as recommend them to anyone who asked. I dealt with Able and he was so wonderful from the start. I wish I would have take a picture of their setup but I didn't. read more

Casual Mexican Restaurant with flavorful that comes alive. The tacos are to die for... $1.00 taco every Monday. Also good Margaritas and family oriented Restaurant and Taqueria. Can't wait to try their Carne Asada. It's also very reasonable. read more

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While doing some laundry walked to this resteraunt and their food has improved the tacos and sopes were very good.

The food is Excellent but also unique. I normally don't find nopales in other taquerias. And the Tampiqueña was to die for!! Aside from that the owner was kind enough to check on us and chat for a bit. Will definitely be back. read more

El Maná - Best Mexican food north of the border! - Mexican Near Me - Melrose Park, Illinois

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Very authentic, and great friendly service fajitas were excellent and juicy , great daily specials