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    El rinconcito mexican grill

    4.9 (17 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 8:30 pm

    Order El rinconcito mexican grill Takeout or Delivery

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    EL RINCONCITO MEXICAN GRILL ATMOSPHERE

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    Carne asada plate

    Amazing food! Amazing service! They were kind and fast. This restaurant was a wonderful find. As a girl from the Los Angeles area who loves Mexican food and is used to having it so accessible this was a great find.

    1 taco al pastor/ 1 carne asada
    Chris K.

    Taco Al Pastore absolutely delicious. Carne asada 10/10 amazing also. Definitely the best tacos in town. We customized our order and they prepared it quickly and perfectly. This is a must try. Beans and rice were also perfect and I didn't even order. I also ordered this through Door Dash.

    Credit: Bloomington Normal Restaurant Scene
    Dustin F.

    Do I suggest this place? Yes, I do. The tacos are quite familiar to me almost like Veracruz. The staff were quite friendly and greeted us right away as both myself and a family member had entered during a busy time. As we both went on opening day/night, we couldn't believe how short of a wait it took for us to get our food to-go. I got the taco combo with steak and it tasted quite amazing. I caught mild and hot sauce for my sauces which were good in flavor. I also got a can of Diet Coke in which the owner gave it to me for free. My family member got 2-3 steak tacos which also looked good. One thing I will point out is that you should know seating isn't the greatest at this location in my opinion. If you're the type to want to do to-go only, this is a perfect place to do so. There's a few booths, and then a few chairs to sit in. Seating at this place when it was Gracie's was about the same too. I'd plan ahead and go when they open if you wish to get a seat, or do a to-go order like we both did. The staff speak perfect English here, so you will have no issue with ordering in English. I would say this was an issue at other places in the past, but this place is great! There's no language barrier here.

    Excellent taqueria in of all places - Bloomington, Illinois!
    Scott Z.

    Just relocated to Bloomington, IL. after growing up in Chicago. Back home, I ate in some of the best taqueria's Chicago had to offer. So trust me, this was an unexpected "hidden treasure" here. I knew by the aromas coming from the place and, the mainly Mexician clientele, this place had to be legit and boy, was I right! Adjacent to a Mexician grocery store at South Main St. and Stewart St. (not far from I-55 exit on South Main - Route 51), I had tacos El Pastor (broiled pork), my 'go-to' litmus test for Mexician since, much more difficult to make properly than say Carne Asada or Pollo. Topped with traditional cilantro and onion, with a side slice of lime, the tacos were excellent! A very friendly staff, they speak fluent English (don't be intimidated, lol) and, excellent hot/mild sauces, chips and, pico de gallo. A must try if your down this way in Illinois and, want some TRULY authentic Mexician food. (Limited seating, about 10 tables.)

    1 pastor and 1 lengua taco

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    1 year ago

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

    The service was friendly and efficient. The food was authentic and delicious. The lingua tacos were tasty

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    11 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    One of the best Mexican spots in town. Very affordable for authentic flavor. The tamales and tacos are a must. Fast cooks too.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Awesome food. Only had Tacos but they were fantastic along with some of the best salsa sfound

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    2 years ago

    Best tacos in town hands down. Al pastor tacos are a household favorite. All of the salsa flavors are great too!

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    3 years ago

    Fantastic food! The tacos are similar to the ones from the Vera Cruz restaurant. Great service as well.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Steak tacos were amazing! Try all the sauces too. I'm going back for sure. I went for lunch and got through the line very quickly.

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    3 years ago

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    Ancho & Agave - Fajitas, rice and beans

    Ancho & Agave

    3.7(350 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    Had a nice lunch with friends here yesterday! We were coming in at a weird hour (3:30 on a Sunday),…read moreso, we were seated right away. The service was great, they took our order promptly, the waitress knew the menu well (I had questions about spice levels), and they checked in on us a few times. My friends got the Dirty Horchata (January special drink) and the taquitos (think this was also a special) and everything was really tasty! I got two tacos and with the chips and salsa, that was perfect. Ample parking, and I hear it does get really busy, so, expect a wait in normal mealtime hours.

    Stopped in here while on a work trip. I'm only sad that i only went here once. the funny thing is…read morethat my food was just ok. The ambiance and decor are perfection. It's beautiful and fun inside the space. The people are super friendly and kind. You just want to invite them to sit down and est dinner with you! I ordered the birria ramen which ended up cold and clumpy. I said something and they were super great and replaced it for me. I also ended up ordering the churros for dessert and they were kind enough to give it to me complimentary. I tell you, excellent service brings people back faster than anything else. I'm ok that i didn't love what i ordered. I will try something else next time. The chips and salsa were also tasty- salsa is not spicy but they do have several spicy options on the tables so you can mix your own heat level as desired. I also got a raspberry lime margarita on the rocks and it was great! Solid flavor combo. Can't really go wrong with margs ever. I will tell everyone always to come here when in Bloomington!!

    Photos
    Ancho & Agave - Inside

    Inside

    Ancho & Agave - They don't over feed you, that's for sure!

    They don't over feed you, that's for sure!

    Ancho & Agave

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    Taqueria El Porton - Hair found in the bag

    Taqueria El Porton

    4.2(257 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $

    Small place... no bar but bottled beer available- food is great- servers so great. Salsa is amazing…read moreand good food for the price.

    Every Mexican restaurant gives you a window into somebody's abuela's kitchen, and Porton is no…read moreexception. Cross the threshold, open the "gate" and try your favourite classics. I love that tacos are so de-rigure that they forgot to even add them to the menus (that's been fixed)! Their Pastor is fantastic, the service friendly (they even limp along and tolerate my bad Spanish), and the salsas are bright and flavourful! They have an extensive "pesces" menu (perhaps aimed at ovservant Friday and Lenten Catholics) of seafood offerings--I cannot speak to them further, as I was raised beside the Pacific Ocean and do not eat seafood 2000 miles away from the sea. The ambience is typical of a taco-joint: formica tables and sliding chairs; nothing fancy, but not a place you'd loathe eating. They do a swift business at primary meal times; but I have never had to wait for a table or had food to take too long to arrive. Carry-out is similarly swift whether you order ahead (online pr by phone) or pop in for takeaway. They accept card payments; including tap. There is an offering of beers and traditional "aquas Frescas," like horchata and jamaica, as well as some Jaritos sodas and Coke products. Very handy spot worth a couple visits a month for sure.

    Photos
    Taqueria El Porton - Interior view

    Interior view

    Taqueria El Porton - Combo special

    Combo special

    Taqueria El Porton - Combination and taco plate.

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    Combination and taco plate.

    Herradura - Hawaiian fajitas. FABULOUS!!

    Herradura

    4.0(123 reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $

    Look, I've been patronizing Mexican joints in Bloomington-Normal since antes de que fuera cool, and…read moreI need to talk about what's happening at Herradura. THE GOOD: The service here operates at quantum speeds. I'm talking food-to-table in approximately 5 minutes. Did they have a DeLorean in the kitchen? Did they start cooking when I pulled into the parking lot? I don't know, but physics was definitely involved. The presentation looked solid--everything arrived hot and reasonably photogenic. THE "WAIT, WHAT?": Friends, we need to discuss the Great Portion Shrinkage of 2026. Herradura has apparently discovered the restaurant industry's worst-kept secret: instead of raising prices a reasonable amount, just slash 10% off the menu and reduce portions by 35%. It's like getting a "discount" on a car, but they removed the back seats and the radio. The chimichangas arrived looking like they'd been on a strict juice cleanse--smaller than expected and committing the cardinal sin of sogginess. These weren't the crispy flavor bombs I remember. They were more like... flavor water balloons? Still edible, but not exactly chimichanga hall-of-fame material. THE CHEESE TAX: Here's where things got personal. I've been a loyal "little extra cheese on the rice" guy for years. Today? Nearly FIVE DOLLARS for what amounts to 4 tablespoons of queso. That's approximately $127 per pound if my mental math is correct (it's not, but you get the point). I've seen cheaper cheese at artisanal farmer's markets run by bearded hipsters in suspenders. The beef tacos were... fine. That's the review. Fine. They existed. They were tacos. Moving on. THE VERDICT: On the Bloomington-Normal Nickel-and-Dime Scale™, Herradura ranks on the lower end, which is actually saying something in this town where inflation is hitting Mexican restaurants like they personally offended the economy. Will I be back? Yes. Will it be soon? No. Next time I'm trying the cheesesteak because apparently I'm a glutton for punishment and also curious if it comes in "fun size" now too. Pro tip: Bring your own cheese. Save $5. Live your best life. Also i turned macro mode on for my camera. Objects look bigger than they appear in person. Atmosphere: 4/5 | Service: 5/5 | Food Quality: 3/5 | Value: 2/5 | Portion Size: 1.5/5

    Choritacos (chorizo + another protein) and Dos Equis Amber are principally what I need every once…read morein a while and the lady really is a fan of good steak tacos, beans and rice. We like this place just as much as the more upscale East side joints...and ya know what...it's a bit cheaper and seems to stay pretty busy despite its 'back of the strip mall/behind a tire shop' location. Pretty fast efficient service too all things considered.

    Photos
    Herradura - Inside restaurant

    Inside restaurant

    Herradura - My different enchilada lunch plate. I had to request salsas with a bite.

    My different enchilada lunch plate. I had to request salsas with a bite.

    Herradura - Interior

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    Interior

    Hacienda Leon

    Hacienda Leon

    3.7(22 reviews)
    3.1 mi

    Hacienda León has an extensive menu with something for everyone. The variety makes it easy to try…read moresomething new each visit. I think the setup is nice and inviting, which is perfect for both casual meals and family dinners. I saw a table of ~12 when I visited! Overall, the service is friendly, but I felt a little neglected towards the end. If you're looking for a place with a big selection and consistently good food, I recommend! -AD

    Checked out this hip Mexican restaurant in Normal off the campus area. Hacienda Leon isn't…read moreauthentic but it's not like it's bad. It feels more like a place people come to get drinks than to come to get food though. For sure the drinks are pretty good. The food includes the basics like burritos and tacos slopped with cheese and sauce. A popular place to go for ISU students with it being so close to campus. It won't be a long way to stumble back to dorms or apartments for them. This place may not be as good when sober, so take a lesson and have some tequila and whatever. Best thing is the prices aren't that bad. It's about $7 for a tequila sunrise. Have a few and spew. It's about $12 for the Vegetarian Combos, of which there's a few of these. Among these is the one with two bean burritos. These come with burrito sauce and cheese sauce. I got it a little healthier without the cheese sauce and it was still a sloppy mess. That just makes it more fun though. For sure it's not authentic but that's not the appeal. It's a place to have a fun time with good drinks and okay food. They have a pretty good amount of food options for vegetarians.

    Photos
    Hacienda Leon - Bar area

    Bar area

    Hacienda Leon - Tequila Sunrise And Bean Burritos

    Tequila Sunrise And Bean Burritos

    Hacienda Leon - Bahama Mama

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    Bahama Mama

    Fiesta Ranchera Mexican Restaurant - Taco Bowl after

    Fiesta Ranchera Mexican Restaurant

    3.4(36 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $

    I would give it a five-star review except our waitperson was very grumpy, not friendly at all. This…read moreplace was recommended as very good, I say pretty good for the area. Being from South Texas I am very picky about Mexican food. The $2.99 Margaritas on Tuesday were absolutely delicious. I had the Taco Bowl, can't mess that up, and it was really good, the taco shell perfectly fried. It was supposed to have beans inside with the ground meat but my bowl did not have the beans. Another reason for a four-star rating. My husband ordered the fajita quesadilla expecting a round tortilla cut in triangles just like in Texas. That is not what he got. It was more like a large flour taco stuffed with the fajita meat (nicely seasoned might add) and folded over with melted cheese on top. It was just okay, the plate came with rice but no beans which is weird to me. The place was fairly occupied. Nice inside with music playing in the background. Sits nearby to a highway and a Super Walmart. Pretty convenient because we walked over from our hotel room. I recommend to give it a try. Two plates of food along with 4 margaritas(2 each) the bill was $43.87 not too bad for dinner nowadays.

    The new building is gorgeous! Parking is a little tight…read more As big Fiesta fans, we were excited to try the new location since they moved across the shopping center. There was not enough staff to assist the busy the dining room on a Saturday night. Our cheese dip sat on the bar for 15 mins and was ice cold. We watched the waiter jam glass margarita glasses into the ice chest - major code violation. 2 of our 3 orders were severely messed up. The waiter took the wrong food from our table and gave it to another table. The waiter tried to correct our food but got it wrong 3 times in a row leading to us just wanting to leave. Hopefully they can work out the kinks but we will prefer to frequent the other locations.

    Photos
    Fiesta Ranchera Mexican Restaurant - Decor

    Decor

    Fiesta Ranchera Mexican Restaurant - Taco Bowl Before

    Taco Bowl Before

    Fiesta Ranchera Mexican Restaurant - Really good guac, salsa and chips.

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    Really good guac, salsa and chips.

    El rinconcito mexican grill - mexican - Updated May 2026

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