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El Pulpo Loco

4.4 (184 reviews)
ModerateMexican
Open • 10:00 am - 11:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

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El Pulpo Loco Photos

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EL PULPO LOCO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - El Pulpo Loco

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Skirt steak and al pastor

Fire, was looking for a random spot to eat at and this one was the closest and had the most stars Ts fyeeeee PLUS live music a whole vibe

Empanadas de Tinga / Chicken Empanadas and Fajitas Mixtas / Mixed Fajitas (Steak) To-Go

New to Chicago's Roger's Park area so trying what's around. Decided on this Mexican spot and got my food to go to watch with tv at home. Their menu is expansive so you have a lot to choose from. I got the steak fajitas and chicken empanadas. Empanadas are perfectly crispy on the outside, great seasoning on the chicken. Steak is cooked amazingly and the portion sizes ain't nothin to F*** with. While I was waiting, I saw the Tostadas and will be back for them. The ladies working were exceptionally nice and answered all my questions as well as made note of my food restrictions. It's a cute spot with a lot of seating. Great energy in there. Might dine in next time I go.

Al pastor burrito
Winnie C.

Located in Rogers Park neighborhood, the restaurant is only 5 minutes away from Loyola Beach. Street parking is available nearby. We ordered ceviche mixto which came with tortillas - you can make tostadas yourself. It was flavorful but the price is steep for the portion ($30). We also had Al pastor burrito - it tasted fine but the meat was fatty and burnt.

Menu
Deirdre L.

Stopped in for a marg and a quick bite and was really happy with the good food and quick service. A neighborhood spot I will be back to.

Tostada de Ceviche Mixto
John S.

It means El Crazy Octopus but there is nothing crazy about the delicious food here. The features at this restaurant are many, but for me, the seafood tostados featuring shrimp, fish and of course octopus are favorites. Very fresh and bountiful portions, a single serving can fill you up if you're not too greedy, but I am, so I order more. Also, the Fin de Semana dish Guisado de Puerco con Corundas is outstanding and saucy, real home cooking, if you haven't had it, try it! The atmosphere is highly local and the vibe is casual and relaxed. Beer is served and seems nearly synonymous with the fare, but soda and other drinks are available. Recent renovations provide a super-clean feel and a freshness that makes the food shine. Longtime waitstaff are cheerful and welcoming! I fantasize that they will get their rotating dessert case working again, it has a magic for me. Also, to get to the bathroom one must go down stairs to the basement, not optimal but a small sacrifice for the experience.

Shay R.

I came across El Pulpo Loco while randomly looking through Yelp for Mexican restaurants on the Northside. I saw the great reviews and thought it was a must visit. I am so happy I went to check out El Pulpo Loco because it was one of the best torta sandwiches that I have had in awhile. I also got to try a milanesa torta sandwich for the first time and I cannot go back. Our waitress was very friendly. She greeted my party as soon as we arrived and got drink orders as well as menu quickly. The inside of the restaurant is spacious enough to accommodate a a variety of group sizes but mostly 2-4 people parties. I loved the artwork on the main wall. I ordered a burrito and my husband ordered the milanesa torta. The food came out ratherly quickly. I was able to sample the milanesa torta and the first thing I noticed that the bread was fresh (soft and not stale). The steak on the torta was nicely seasoned. The burrito was delicious but I ended up liking the torta a lot more. The burrito was jam packed with with steak and not overly filled with filler items. I was able to able to easily get two meals from my burrito. I would highly recommend visiting El Pulpo Loco if you're in the area.

Dining room
Gesselle C.

Restaurant name translation- The Crazy Octopus Food This Mexican restaurant is a little Rogers Park gem spot! Traditional cuisine for the knowledgeable consumer. La locura del sabor - mi gente! Service The service is bilingual, knowledgeable and friendly. I had a few subs and they were okay with it. The food is fresh served piping hot. Expect to wait 10-15 minutes for a made-to-order experience. Ambiance Beautiful and ultra clean environment and its octopus themed decor is tasteful, just like their food. Last note - Order the flan!!!!!!

Chris M.

Absolutely delicious food! I love their Pulpo ceviche! They also have a Campechano taco (or burrito) that is out of this world!

Pastor taco, cilantro and onion
Paul G.

This place has become a regular stop on my list of places to get a great meal at a reasonable price. I always love the food, particularly the steak burrito suizo dinner. A generous portion, and the addition of the fresh guac really puts this over the top. Always friendly service. Pretty easy street parking right out front.

The best Fajitas de Camaron. Perfectly cooked, fresh, flavorful and a generous portion.

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3 months ago

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3 months ago

All around very strong. Shrimp taco was especially good. Maybe a little more oriented to the gringo palate.

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1 year ago

The tacos dinners were great, filled tacos and delicious beans and rice, three members of our party enjoyed them. Will definitely return.

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1 year ago

Fantastic food. Chicken tacos were actually amazing!!!! I'm Latino and this place was legit. It genuinely impressed me.

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2 years ago

Very good food with quick service. The tacos, rice, beans, and horchata were fire I would recommend!

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6 years ago

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La Mejikana - Taco de Lomito

La Mejikana

4.3(450 reviews)
10.0 mi•Pilsen
•$$

We arrived not knowing it was a bar crawl happening but we still got in and waited for a table. It…read moretook 30 minutes to get a table bc of the bar crawl. As much as it was packed from 2:30 til 3:30 we were still were able to order a drink at bar. Martin was so nice and took our order and brought it to us being we went back to waiting line. The place is small with a hard time to walk around when it's full. It's a nice bar restaurant and didn't realized until we were leaving that there's a back area. The bartenders could be a little more social and happy bc that seem a bit dull and unhappy working there. Unlike Martin he was happy. Mildred was our server and she did phenomenal. The food and drinks were great

It was not stated anywhere else on their digital menu that they their tacos come individually;…read morecompared to their three taco plate option, but thanks to checking the yelp menu first I was able to make my choice for 2 birra tacos! (inquire about the 4% service charge added) No rice or beans with any of my parties' dishes, not sure if that is an option. Time to be seated was less than five minutes for a party of four around 2:20 PM on a Sunday; busier times or days enforce their 90 minute time limit policy per table. The food was well seasoned, wish I tasted it a little more on the meat itself, yet all the vegetables tasted crisp and fresh. If you are looking to have intimate conversations be prepared to speak a lot louder, the DJ booth by the front keeps it pretty lively, but difficult to hold conversations across the table. Open authentic Mexican soda is always refreshing, and if you're looking for a place that has soft serve margaritas this is one of them. If you notice and unusual wait time or slow service please make your choice accordingly as I started to notice it was a case by case basis like some of the previous reviews had mentioned.

Photos
La Mejikana - Interior of Buisness

Interior of Buisness

La Mejikana - Fish taco

Fish taco

La Mejikana - Chicharron de Ribeye

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Chicharron de Ribeye

Sabroso! Mexican Grill - Enchiladas

Sabroso! Mexican Grill

4.7(554 reviews)
7.5 mi•Ukrainian Village, West Town
•$$

Over the weekend we had our daughters quince and we used Sabroso as our caters. I ended up finding…read moreSabor last minute after our caterer back out. Our family fell in love with the food at the restaurant and was very certain we had found our caterers for the big day. Working with Sabor has been a great experience. They did such amazing job the day of and of course everyone loved the food. They met our expectations and beyond. They helped even with clean up and cake cutting which was a last minute asked and truly appreciated. I definitely recommend and appreciate all they did. Thank you so much Vincent, Karina, and the catering team!

Four of us (two adults and two kids) visited Sabroso! Mexican Grill for the first time during a…read moretrip to Chicago. I must admit that I had low expectations because quite frankly, I have not enjoyed Mexican food outside of Mexico or California. However, we were hungry, and it was near where we were staying, so I decided we should check it out, and I am so glad we did! The food was great. Both adults and the VERY picky children in our group all enjoyed our meals. I ordered the green chicken enchiladas and the other adult ordered a chile relleno combo, which I also got to try. Everything was delicious and devoured by all! We were so full but the owner talked us into the chocoflan, and we did not regret trying it. It was soooo good! Speaking of the owner, the service was great. We really enjoyed how he and the rest of the staff were very courteous. It is a small establishment, and it gets a good amount of people, so I assume that there are waits during peak hours. I highly recommend Sabroso! And we plan to return the next time we are in the area.

Photos
Sabroso! Mexican Grill - Interior din6

Interior din6

Sabroso! Mexican Grill - Enchiladas

Enchiladas

Sabroso! Mexican Grill - CHICKEN TAQUITOS

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CHICKEN TAQUITOS

5 Rabanitos - Chilaquiles verdes

5 Rabanitos

4.2(853 reviews)
10.0 mi•Pilsen
•$$

The chef who owns this restaurant trained with Rick Bayless for 19 years and it really comes out in…read morehis cooking. All of the food was absolutely delicious. We came later on a Monday night so we did not have to wait to get a seat although it was still pretty busy. The place is decorated nicely. Well on a block with many other Mexican businesses. Located right off the pink line it is very easy to get to and also noted to be near the Mexican art Institute. The chicken mole enchiladas were delicious. Spicy and bitterness of the chocolate balanced super well. rice was also cooked perfectly. The shredded beef dish was short rib and mashed potatoes. They were meant to be assembled into a homemade tortilla - a very interesting concept. The homemade tortillas were so warm and fluffy. I have never had such good tortillas. I took a tamale plate home. It was large and had a good portion of shredded pork. Super flavorful, but also I felt the texture might've been firmer than I would've expected.

I was introduced to the place by a Mexicans from Chicago and it's such a hidden gem. She suggested…read morethe we try the sopes and i don't regret it at all. I got the chicken tinga and carne asada and it was really good. We had the verde ceviche (not pictured) and it was a table fav. We also got the elotes which were good but nothing special. It was my first time have queso fundido and i really like its. The staff was really friendly and the place is so cute. Most places are going for a minimalist look not but the bright blue, green, and yellow works really well today as well as the various artwork!

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!

Frontera Grill - Trio Ceviche

Frontera Grill

3.9(2.8k reviews)
8.0 mi•Near North Side
•$$

The vibes were really nice for casual Mexican food. Dim lighting, candles on the table, and a cozy…read moreatmosphere. 8/10. The Chicken Taquitos (8.5/10) were perfectly crispy with tender, smoky chicken inside paired with fresh guac. The Corn-Masa Quesadillas (8/10) were more like crispy cheese-filled turnovers. The cheese pull was crazy, and the tomatillo salsa added a nice tangy kick. The Enchiladas de Birria (8/10) had tender, savory birria with a nice crunch from the cabbage and radish. The chile-sesame salsa added a great depth of flavor. The Barbacoa (7/10) was tender. I wasn't a fan of the salsa borracha, but the consome was delicious with a nice kick. The Fried Sweet Plantains (8/10) were soft and caramelized. The crema and cheese were a great addition. Overall, a solid spot for Mexican food when you want something a little nicer than a casual taco spot.

It's a terrific still solid stalwart of restaurants in Chicago's legendary portfolio of amazing…read moredining experiences. Creative authentic Mexican specialties and delicious specials. The service is impeccable warm and welcoming! The restaurant interior and adjoining dining experiences are beautifully art directed from Rick Bayles's brilliant eye for art culture and food. The mole is lendary and the branzino was delicious. Beautiful food great full bar and drinks.

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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 Pulpo Loco - mexican - Updated October 2026

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