Been going to El Puente for many many years and have never been disappointed. Back in the 1970's the owner, Jesse, had a place called Longy's in Lombard that we often ate at with my parents....I digress. We usually go to El Puente for lunch and enjoy a special off the "lunch menu" but the regular menu is quite extensive with many delicious choices. They keep the complimentary chips and salsa coming, chips are nice and thin, not greasy and the 2 salsas are quite tasty. Food is always fresh and filling, can't beat the service as they always have a smile and make sure you're happy with everything. El Puente is a old fashioned Mexican restaurant with good food, friendly service and fare prices! read more

I went after my mom recommended. The chips & salsa are yummy. The more orangish salsa is like a sauce and it's served warm- it's good though. Don't waste your time on asking for salsa verde because it tastes like nothing. The queso fundido is good but gets dry and hard fast. It's not very cheesy and melty like others I've had. Don't waste your time on the guac either, it's just mashed avocado. It needs some seasoning or spice or lime at minimum. And the chicken fajita's are absolutely awful. It was so disappointing. They have a very sweet and almost bbq-like taste. Also, you really don't get much chicken even. It's mostly just onions and peppers. I had to spit them out. The rice is good though. I'd some back for drinks and chips & salsa but that would really be it. The server was good and attentive and the restaurant was decorated for Valentine's Day. It was cute. We went around 2:30pm and it was not busy. read more

See all

Stopped in for late lunch on a Friday and had the whole place to ourselves. The margs were meh. But all else was very good. Guac, chips, salsas, tacos, frijoles. Nice atmosphere in an old building. One of the only places to get the Taco Longy Style, which is deep fried and delicious. Longy's Tacos was a long ago shuttered Mex place in Lombard. read more

See all

Walked in and place was deserted and after my dining experience l totally understand why. I stood there waiting forever to be seated even tho they had just one customer waiting on a to go order. Waitress/hostess was not friendly at all. Not too many choices on their menu and is the typical Tex-Mex dishes. Got the crispy steak tacos platter, lettuce had a hair and didn't noticed it until half way through my meal. Salsas tasted straight up like tomatoes, no flavor whatsoever, asked waitress if they had a more spicy salsa and she had an attitude about it. Said she could give me green salsa but not their fault if the jalapeños were not spicy. I'm Mexican and no one would convince me that the rice was not from the day before. Every attempt l made to have a friendly nice experience with this lady was in vain, she didn't smile nor even once even tho l was friendly and nice to her. read more

Haven't been there for a long time and decided to go during St Charles Restaurant Week. Man, has the food gone downhill! The only thing with spice was the salsa. We ordered enchiladas and shrimp tacos and not spicy at all! And they call themselves a Mexican restaurant?! TOTALLY BLAND FOOD. Had one sip of a margarita and it tasted like soap. Should have known better when I looked around and all the patrons were guëros! Never again! read more

My son and I come here at least twice a month. It is also a go-to place when family or friends are in town. The service is very friendly, fast, attentive and the food is fresh and fantastic. I am a vegetarian and my son is not and we are both always extremely happy with our orders. The warm salsa is the best!!! read more

Not sure what happened but I came back and was quite disappointed. The drinks were still very good though. Service was wonderful, so I hate writting this. My fajitas had zero flavor, the shrimp was not cleaned. The enchiladas de mole, had way too much chocolate flavor to them. Sadly I will not be returning. read more

See all

Excellent food: mole enchiladas could use more mole otherwise good food. Service: we were forgotten for about 40 minutes before waitress asked if we needed anything else. read more

I had the which were delicious I love their chips and warm salsa bought a container of the warm salsa to bring home will be back to get more with family and we had a great experience read more

We had a wonderful dinner at El Puente on Main Street in Saint Charles, Illinois. This is a very authentic Mexican restaurant from the decor to the delicious meals. The service was excellent. When inquiring about seafood options our waitress suggested a Shrimp Taco Dinner, a special order dinner which was not on the menu. It was very good. We also enjoyed complementary chips and salsa, Steak Tacos, and Grilled Jalapeños, which were also very good. The meal arrived surprisingly fast and when we were done eating, our dishes were promptly removed by a very polite worker. We did not feel rushed, and we were able to enjoy our dining experience . This is a great place for authentic Mexican meals. read more

El Puente - Complementary chips and salsa, two à la cart Steak Tacos, Grilled Jalapeño Peppers, and a Shrimp Taco Dinner with Beans and Rice. - Mexican Near Me - St. Charles, Illinois

Terrible food. This place needs to step it up. You're in the Chicagoland area, you can't get away with having awful food. My shrimp was dry, my cousin's quesadilla was gross and the fried dessert felt like it was cooked with dirty oil. read more

Overall, the food was fine, but was a bit dry. The chips and salsa were delicious, but it was disappointing that you needed to pay for a refill. The staff were all very kind and helpful. read more

Very good service. Rice, beans, taco, burrito dishes all very good. This place os a staple to St Charles for over 15 years. It continues to out last all the other Mexican restaurants in the area. Very authentic in the setting and ambiance. read more

We arrive at 5pm with no reservation.Sat down and they brought us chips and salsas and water. We saw 2 waitresses taking orders around our table and kept missing ours. We finished our chips and I figured they must of not seen us the first time, They came around and gave more chips to the table next to us, and didn't bother looking at us again. That was enough for me to take my family out of there. How do they expect people to support town business win they can't even serve us properly? read more

Service was lacking. Server dropped off food and that's about it. Had issue with appetizer and she said she would check with kitchen and never returned. Still had to pay for appetizer even though it was clearly not cooked. Carne asada was cold and tough. Sides were also cold. Golden Margaritas were meh. Very disappointing. read more

There are so many great places to eat in Saint Charles where we come often to see shows at the Arcada Theatre. For many years we have been choosing to be repeat customers here at El Puente, as a matter of fact it has become the go to place for us. The service is always good, food is delicious, staff is friendly. It must be a good place to work because many of the employees have been here a long time. One bit of advice, make reservations on days there is a concert at the Arcada... read more

This place is a family favorite! We always enjoy dinner here! Food is consistently good! Chips and salsa on arrival is always appreciated, but chip refills come at a cost, so be aware! We order ground beef tacos with rice and beans. I have not had a bad visit on any of my dinners here. They are located in downtown STC so it is a fun atmosphere! Service is always good and friendly. read more

Great place with great food. We only have had the food to go and it's been great each time. The enchiladas are one of our favorites. We like showing this place to friends & family. read more

The service was good and the food was tasty but the portions were on the small side. I had the El Puente Enchiladas. They had just a few chunks of chicken along with the spinach in rather small tortillas. Their was a good portion of white sauce on top and it was tasty. The beans and rice were also delicious but barely a spoonful of each. For $16, it felt more like a small lunch plate. The complimentary salsa was very good but the chips were hard. We had a classic frozen margarita and it tasted diluted. I wanted to love this restaurant because it's close to home, but they need larger portions and a better margarita to make me want to return. read more

Had this place bookmarked to try and finally tried it this weekend. It was alright. I thought it would be more authentic,but it kind of reminded me of Mexican food that would be ordered at a non-Mexican restaurant. I ordered the taco salad with chicken. It came out looking more like a chef salad. The shredded chicken was all buried at the bottom with huge chunks of vegetables piled on top. The chunks weren''t really cut up, just kind of thrown on top. Taco shell was really greasy. J ordered he chicken enchilada and chicken taco w/ rice and beans. He said the beans were really good and most likely homemade and also liked the mexican cheese. Chips were good and the spicy salsa was pretty good. The place was packed for a Friday night, so the service was a bit flustered and scattered. We met a friend who came later and was catching up on his beers when he arrived. Our server seemed a bit annoyed that he kept reordering. When I'm dining out, I don't like feeling rushed and having my bill brought to be before I'm done or anyone in my party is done and I don't like that feeling like they want us to get the heck out. Not a place for lingering around or for an amazing taco salad. I think I've had better at sports bars. Not the worst, but won't be jumping back anytime soon. read more

See all

On a lunch quest on a lazy, late summer, weekday afternoon we happened upon this little place. Atmosphere was nothing fancy but it was casual, colorful and the service was welcoming. A favorite menu treat when visiting New Mexico is an order of sopapillas so we were surprised when we spotted them here and it was the first thing we ordered. Delicious Salsa and chips were served while we waited for the dessert to be served first! One salsa quite delicious, the second a reminder of tomato soup. Must be a house recipe. Bowls of chili, order of wings, side of tacos and a couple of margaritas. Basic but delicious fare, reasonably priced menu. Those sopapillas,? Not as light and airy as the heavenly pillows we are used to but for us the nostalgia was there for a moment and as is customary, served with honey! Call if you prefer outside seating, we chose inside it wasn't a problem being late afternoon. read more

El Puente - Sopaillas - Mexican Near Me - St. Charles, Illinois

See all

My husband and I met some out of town guests here for lunch. The atmosphere was welcoming, the staff very friendly, and the food was delicious! The chips and salsas were so good! We ordered guacamole and it came with warm chips which were fantastic! My steak tacos came with rice and refried beans which I normally don't care for and I scraped my plate clean! Our friend ordered a beef burrito which he said was very good and looked delicious. My husband ordered a pork dish which was so tender he could cut it with a fork. And the classic Margarita was perfect! I highly recommend this restaurant! read more

Great margaritas but the food wasn't very good! I would stop for a drink but eat elsewhere. read more

Been coming here for at least 15 years. This is our families annual choice for birthday dinners! AMAZING salsa! Very good authentic Mexican food at reasonable prices. read more

Service and food was great. Will def be going back. Right off north Ave and hidden amongst the bars and restaurants. Was delicious.

No Bueno. This restaurant had great drinks and queso fundido. Hence the 2 stars. The main course (fish tacos) were terrible. Couldn't eat more than two bites and had to spit out the third. We left most of our food on the table and the server did not even question it.... Must be a common occurrence here. If the waitress bothered to ask what's wrong, maybe I'd raise the rating to 3 stars. read more

We've been going to El Puente for almost 20 years and have always had a great meal. Not sure where the low reviews are coming from, I suppose it's always possible to have an off meal, but El Puente is likely the best Mexican restaurant I've ever been to and we go to a lot. Not fancy, but warm and welcoming; this will continue to be a go to restaurant for us. read more

For homestyle, American-Mexican food, El Puente is great...and you can't beat their prices. If you are in the mood for rice and refried beans-Mexcian food, you won't be dissappointed with El Puente. I really wish they were open on Sundays though. read more

Great Lunch! Went in for the first time with co-workers last week. The area Mexican restaurants have something to be desired to me. This one, blew my expectations, it is clean, well decorated and in the holiday spirit. We were seated by a friendly hosted and offered drinks and chips and salsa. One of my co-workers had the steak taco platter and I had the burrito plate. Our food arrived quickly, and service was pleasant. Our food was great portions with plenty of flavor. We had three flavors of salsa to choose from. I would definitely recommend this place. read more

This place was awesome!!! OMG!!!! The food was excellent. The side dishes were fantastic. The waitress was very friendly. I felt like this could be my neighborhood hang out if I lived closer. I will most definitely come again. I recommend the steak chimichanga and a Tecate beer. I had great company ( my sis ) and great food!!! Good times all around!!! read more

It's okay! No impressed. Food was lukewarm when it came to table. Golden margaritas was too sweet. Taste was good. Service was excellent . Food was could have been better if it was hot! read more

El Puente - Mexican Near Me - St. Charles, Illinois

Food was subpar and bland but the waitress was amazing and a sweetheart think the chips and salsa they give you was better then the meal

Very delicious, authentic Mexican food in a wonderful location. Frosty beer in a mug, fabulous salsa and enough food to satisfy any flamingo! read more

Best Mexican food in St. Charles! The owner Dave is almost always around, visiting tables and checking on satisfaction. I love that chips are served with 2 separate salsas, and a super-spicy salsa if requested. Every dish I have ordered has been tasty and filling, and we are super excited that we can get their Margaritas to go. When in St. Charles, visit El Puente! read more

Service was not very friendly, didn't have water for my entire meal and sat for a long time. Did not have a few things on the menu and didn't offer alternatives, fajitas were very greasy and mostly veggies without much chicken, flavor was good though. Overpriced and small. Unfortunately won't be coming back. read more

This is your average Mexican restaurant in my view. Nothing special but nothing bad either. Service was fine, she wasn't very personable but everything was on time and she paid attention to us as expected. I had the chicken mole and they put way too much mole sauce on it for my taste. My lady had the chicken taco dinner and she said it was fine. Decor is nice, clean, but nothing out of the ordinary, wish they had booths against the walls instead of table and chairs. Chips and salsa were good, they give you 2 salsas which is nice, one hot one not. Overall not a bad place but not a great place either. Priced similarly to the chain place down the road. read more

As promised, the afterwork 'rita's totally knocked this one up a notch. Yum Yum Yum. The girls and I started our Girls Night Out with dinner and drinks at El Puente. The margaritas were solid. Not too sweet. Not too bland. Salted rim. Lots of tequila. Happy Days! I split the appetizer sampler with one of the girls. The nachos ROCK. Each one is individually topped with the good stuff (beans, meat, cheese). Then there's a side of guac and sour cream. The flautas-OMG I can't wait to eat them again. Yum Yum. The chicken was tender and juicy with a lot of flavor. The jalapeno poppers were the only thing I could probably take or leave. They were okay, but not the greatest. Overall delightful. Plus, after several visits, I've become acquainted with the staff, and they are really great. Our regular server, Angie, works non-stop, and does a great job of it. read more

Great food and excellent mole! I wasn't even that hungry when I visited but it was so good, I cleaned my plate (something I rarely do at a Mexican restaurant due to portion sizes). The guac's good, on the smooth side (mixed thoroughly without the chunks). It's a favorite destination of a few of my native St. Charles friends and I'm surely I'll be back. My only complaint was the extremely impatient and insincere waitress. Every time she came back she acted like she didn't want to be there and did everything as fast as she could to get back to what she was doing at the cost of my party's comfort. read more

Choose this restuarant because it was across from the Arcada Theatre and we were going to a concert there. WOW! What a wonderful surprise. El Puente, (the bridge) was very quaint, quiet and authentic. The chips were served with 2 different salsa's and unlimited. We had tacos, burritos, enchiladas and some special requests and all were done to perfection and authenticity. Service was outstanding too. Can't find a thing to say bad. Great time! Let's not forget to add the margarita's were very yummy as well and everything was moderately priced. We will be going back even when we don't go to the Arcada! read more

Really fabulous food and service! I had the chicken chimi, my husband had tacos Al Pastor (marinated grilled strips of pork) I have never tasted tacos like these. Very kid friendly. As others have mentioned the mild salsa is very unique (very smooth and warm) and extremely addictive. The food was not greasy (in fact the complete opposite) and the service was great! Best Mexican food I have had in a really long time. It was quite a drive, but we will definitely be back read more