This is one of my favorite restaurants; I have been coming here for 20 years with my family and friends. It has the best authentic Mexican food in the area. The owner, Ed, is very nice and friendly. The cosy atmosphere adds to the authenticity of the restaurant. I have had most of the things on the menu and everything tastes amazing. I go there at least once a month! Definitely worth trying out. read more

we live in blue island il. and today we went to eat there. not the worst but not the best. the prices are very very overpriced. the serviced could do better. if i am speaking spanish speak spanish back. The food was ok not the best the rice a little to dry and hard. and the beans not to authentic. if we are ever around will definitely try something other the el zarape again read more

If zero stars was an option that is what I would have chose. The ABSOLUTE WORST customer service I have ever encountered in my life. I spoke with 2 ladies on the phone who were fine and pleasant. They then passed the phone off to their manager who was a whole different kind of rude. The first 2 sentences out of his mouth contained multiple swear words including the f-word. He then continued to degrade people from "third world countries" and tell me they do not speak english and only should be paid a penny a day... I'm sorry, who says that!! He then continued to talk over me and would not even let me get a word in. Mind you the reason I called was because there were 2 things missing in our order, all of the hostility and disrespectful behavior was the single handed reason I will never return to this restaurant. Owner of El Zarape if you are reading this, I recommended you find a new manager. read more

My favorite place for Mexican food. The food is great. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is that the place is small the service is not great and the margaritas are not great either but the food is fantastic. read more

The service was extremely fast and the food was really good. I had a strawberry margarita which was amazing. However, the salsa was not good at all. It was like heated up tomato soup. I was disappointed because I love eating chips and salsa at Mexican restaurants, but this was just bad. read more

Ordered carry out. They purposely gave me a double order of both entry's and double charged me. Avoid this place

One of my favorite Mexican Restaurants ever. Food made fresh, even Margaritas use fresh squeezed juice. Pork dishes are excellent, Tacos great (tried ground beef, shredded beef and chicken - difficult to decide which best). I usually prefer hot sauce, but their warm mild is great, especially with the home made chips. read more

good service, terrible food. We ordered the fish tacos and they were inedible. Two of us tried them and had to spit them out for fear of being poisoned. Instead of filets, they used what looked like fried clams. The rest of the food was as Andrew P. described it. I like the room, but some fellow customers were almost surly. Not a happy night out. read more

We've been going to El Zarape for 15 years. We love the food and ambiance, and we often recommended the place to friends. I particularly like the tacos al pastor. But on our last visit we were dismayed to find that the prices had been raised about 20% on all the dinners. To make matters worse, a la carte ordering is no longer permitted at dinner - each person now must order a complete dinner w/ rice & beans. That was never a problem for me, but my wife has a small appetite and always ordered a couple of tacos a la carte. The a la carte policy along with the 20% price hike has made El Zarape too pricey for us. I'm sad to say that we will probably not be returning. read more

After 30 years in Wheaton, going to El Zarape for the first time was on my summer bucket list. Went tonight and had a great time! Shrimp ceviche was an awesome appetizer. The pollo en mole and taco al pastor were delicious. And we are still enjoying the effects of the margaritas! read more

Great. Classic. Simple. Friendly. The beers are cold, the chips and salsa tasty and the food quite nice. It's a family owned place and that's reason enough for us to keep going back. In this day of fancy, fake and chain, I'll take the owner smiling at us we walk through the door any day. read more

Been going here for years, and we are very unhappy about some recent changes we've noticed. The prices have really gone up. The food has gotten extremely salty, like we left parched. And the music has been too loud, and mostly hard rock. What?? What happened to the nice Mexican cantina music?? Finally, we had to wait in line four deep to pay for our food, AFTER I found someone to come to the register. C'mon guys, you can do better. read more

Outstanding food, great service and overall great restaurant. Friendly attentive staff and the El Zarape Enchiladas with Creamy Jalapeño Sauce was sooooo good. I love this restaurant. The whole family enjoyed the great food. read more

I found this place on Yelp and they had such mixed reviews I really wanted to try it for myself. First off I'm from Arizona so I have been looking for actual authentic Mexican for ages. Not bad (food wise) I got the mini chimichangas and an horchata, my two favorites from back home. Fresh and hot and great rice and beans. Keeping in mind this is one of the only Mexican places in this town, which is right by Aurora I would go back if I'm in the area. My server was good, they were a little busy but I've served before so I'm not as harsh as some people on critiquing their servers. The decore was "interesting" that would be my one complaint. read more

If I could give this "business" 0 stars, I would. Unfortunately, I do have to give a star in order to be able to comment. Let me start off by saying the manager is VERY RUDE. I have been here frequently enough to be able to comment on his behavior. Every time we've came into this place he's either watching TV or sitting on his laptop and when customers come in, he won't even look or acknowledge their presence. No greeting, no smile, nothing. I've also seen him dispute with customers often, yelling, and calling them inappropriate names. Whether the customer is right or wrong I don't think that's the correct way to handle these sort of situations. Not only is he rude to customers, he's also rude to his employees. I've heard him call one of his waitresses an "idiot" before and basically yell at her in front of the entire dining area because she was asking him a question, how embarrassing. There was an instance where I once came into this establishment and ordered a couple drinks with my wife and we both split an entree, even though neither of us were hungry. The waitress was very nice and attentive. Aside from the food and drinks being extremely over priced, it was a good meal and nice, comfortable, little place. At the end of our meal when we received our check we noticed the charge for ONE basket of chips, the split fee, and the THREE DOLLAR CHARGE for CHEESE. Yes, THREE DOLLARS FOR A SMALL SIDE OF CHEESE. Dumbfounded, we asked our waitress why we were being charged for one basket of chips, which we assumed would be complimentary, the ridiculous split charge, even though we were consuming alcohol, and why the cheese cost $3??? Eventually, she went to consult the manager and tell him what was going on. He then proceeded to tell her in Spanish that she needed to charge us extra since we weren't spending enough money. In other words, he was only adding the extra charges on our bill because we weren't spending enough money. WHAT???? Since this instance I have not returned, and never will. Let me mention briefly that the bad service is all referring to the manager, you could tell the waitress wasn't agreeing with him but because he was basically yelling at her and he is the manager, she had to follow instructions so I don't blame her, as she has no control over the situation. Once she came over to our table to explain the over charges, she was very apologetic and and you could tell how embarrassed she was. The staff is very friendly and welcoming overall, however, this manager/owner, has got to go. He's very unprofessional, rude, and deceiving. I'm quite shocked to drive by and see that he's still in business with the way he acts towards everyone and seeing that almost 95% of the reviews on here are negative and most mention his rude behavior. There are PLENTY of Mexican restaurants in the neighboring towns that are better than this one and far more generous and way less expensive. Try Sergio's in Geneva, Coco Loco in West Chicago, Jalisco Tacos or El Tesoro in Aurora, Los Comales and Las Islas Marias in St. Charles, or make the trip out to Chicago to Los Magueyes -THE best Mexican restaurant and all of their portions are extremely huge!! A real bang for your buck. read more

I have been going here for over 10 years. I absolutely love it. The owner is always there and always so friendly. The food is amazing. Try the mild salsa. It's probably my favorite food. I could put it on anything. read more

A taste of authentic Mexican food in the heart of Wheaton!...nice family atmosphere...yes, they treat my kids like people!~...the food is really good...worth it to upgrade the margerita...been going there for years and have never had a bad experience...would highly reccomend! read more

I have been going to El Zarape for more than 15-years. During those years I only had one experience where the food was not hot but only warm. The taste of their dishes are excellent. The serving sizes are generous without being ridiculously large. My favorites are the Longy Tacos (best tacos I've ever had) and the Chicken in Mole sauce. Their mole is excellent. Prices are reasonable especially for Wheaton. For a full meal they are probably the lowest cost meal in town. I know this to be a fact because I have been living in Wheaton for almost 40-years and I've eaten at every establishment in town. Their servers always greet with a smile on their face. Service is good but not top drawer, which you would expect from a small family run restaurant. The only time when I experience service getting slow is when they get crowded. If you are willing to be patient I think the taste of their food is more than worth the wait. I think they do a great job and would recommend their food to anyone. read more

If you are single, like to be treated with respect, and want to go out for Mexican food, don't go to El Zarape at 325 W. Front St in Wheaton, IL. This was my experience at El Zarape on Cinco de Mayo. I like to celebrate the minor holidays and was geared up to go out for Mexican. Unable to get anyone to come along, I decided to go ahead and go to El Zarape on my own. I arrived at 6 PM. I was told by the host that there would be a 20-25 minute wait unless I wanted to sit at the bar. I said I wanted a table and would wait. After waiting a half hour, the host said my table would be ready in a minute. A moment later the owner came up front and told me he could not 'seat a single person at a table, I would have to sit at the bar'. Well, the bar leaves much to be desired and I had been waiting for thirty minutes, so I said 'no, I would like to sit at a table, I had been told I could sit at a table by the host, and I had waited a half hour for that table and wanted to sit at a table.' The discussion went back and forth and became heated. The owner said "whoever made the statement that the customer is always right, didn't own a restaurant'. He said ' there's a single man here sitting at a table for four and I can't have that'. I said, 'I didn't want a table for four, a table for two would do.' He refused to budge from his position, even after I said that he would lose my business if he didn't seat me at a table. To make a long story short, the owner was okay with losing my business, and I walked out. Never did get Mexican food that night. It's unbelievable to me that he would rather lose all my future business then have one less person sit at a table for two. Does that mean he won't seat parties of three at tables for four? Unbelievable! read more

I went to El Zarape for the first (and last) time yesterday. I went with several ladies from work, we all work in the healthcare field. We were having a great time and really enjoying both our drinks and food that we ordered. All the sudden, we see a worker yelling at an elderly couple to leave the restaurant (the couple was in their 90s!!). Turns out one of the ladies I was with had previously treated the elderly couple for physical therapy. The elderly lady was visually/verbally upset and told us on their way out of the restaurant that she simply asked for an old menu since her husband had just had a stroke and could no longer read. She was then told that there had been no other menu for four years. After she begun asking questions about the menu, she was yelled at to leave if she was not happy by the server, who we later find out is the OWNER! of the restaurant. As she was telling us the story, the owner was practically shoeing her out the door yelling at them to leave. It was horrible to watch. No elderly person should ever be treated with such disrespect. While we were leaving, one of my friends confronted the owner on how he treated the elderly lady, he quickly became angry and defensive and told my friend that we were never welcome in his restaurant again. As we are walking down the street after we leave, the owner came out and yelled down the street that we better move our cars out of his lot. It is terrible that such great food can be ruined by the service...especially the owner. I won't ever be returning. read more

I have been to El Zarape several times. Usually i order something different each time. Have never been a fan of their rice due to some wierd after taste and after effects, but there were other items to order. Tried their tacos one evening, not so bad. So, it was a rainy afternoon and we stopped by for lunch. Only one other table being served at the time, although they didn't appear to be happy with the food. Left most of it on the plate, then left. I ordered tacos with black beans and rice. My partner ordered enchiladas. When the orders came out, you couldn't tell which was which. It was just a runny mess. The black beans that I ordered came directly from a can. They were not rinsed or cooked, but cold and swimming in that liquid that canned beans have. We sampled each others entrees. They tasted exactly the same! Like frozen microwaved Mexican food. Eww! Maybe this place changed owners or suffers from lack of customers, the recession, i don't know. Make something up! But it's not fresh or good. read more

Parking outside of El Zarape in Wheaton, my friend and I were confused to if we had parked in the right place... we walked up to the building and kind of stepped back confused. Without even taking a step a man (who I am assuming is owner or manager of the establishment) came out immediately and said "move your car or you'll be towed"... I began trying to explain that we were lost and not sure if we were at the right restaurant... when I was rudely interrupted by him yelling at me, "well you parked your car and are walking away.. do the math". The man didn't even give us a chance to explain that we had been looking for his restaurant in fact, but rudely greeted us in this fashion. Of course after that condescending remark we walked to our car and chose another restaurant for the night. I think it is safe to say we will not be giving this restaurant our business ever. Whether we had been their customers of not, no owner or manager of an establishment should ever speak to a person not causing any problems outside their establishment (especially if they are a potential customer like we were). read more

beef enchiladas are great! same recipe as when I was a kid,good place to take the wife on a night out.

My kids, now teenagers, have loved the food here for many years which is the reason I still go there. Personally I find the food mediocre at best. Add to that the prices have soared ($10.00 for a chicken quesadilla A LA CARTE! and they began to charge for a 2nd small basket of chips) in recent years while the quality of the food has not, yet I have continued to go there for my children. Tonight we went for a treat for the start of the new school year. Without going into details the owner/manager treated us very badly for requesting menus from a waitress after being seated as we watched patrons entering after we did be given water and menus, as well as for my asking that the table be wiped down as our elbows and hands were sticking to the table top from old food that had been smeared on the glass while they had apparently tried to clean it. It had obviously been wiped down without using a wet cloth. The owner reprimanded me harshly, mostly I believe because his kitchen crew heard me and they smiled in acknowledgment and agreement. Imagine to be treated poorly in an establishment in which you are paying to be treated that way!!!! We left the restaurant and we will not be returning. read more

My boyfriend and I have been dining here regularly for years. We normally come on a Saturday night which is probably their busiest night of the week and we have always have had a good experience. I do not believe that they take reservations but normally we never wait more than 10 minutes for a table for two. The staff has always been friendly and efficient. The dinner always begins with complimentary chips and two types of salsa; hot and mild. This works out great for us because my boyfriend prefers hot and spicy while I prefer mild. The serving of chips is always plenty for two people. The servers have always been friendly, prompt and efficient. The manager/owner is always there and often stops by the table to check in and ask if we need anything. The margaritas are good but often we opt for beer. I normally order the same thing - bean burrito with rice and beans but my boyfriend usually orders something different each time. The food is always fresh and portions are ample. The restaurant is small but quaint and festively decorated. read more

Craziest dining experience of my life!!! I have been there on several occasions with my wife and we enjoy it. This time I will not be back. I started out ordering a tea. I didn't particularly like how dark the tea was so I politely asked if I could switch to a coke. The waiter said "sure." After that I asked how much it was to upgrade the lunch special to a combo to add the beans and rice. He said 3 dollars extra. Ok. No big deal yet. We then finished our meal, and my wife went up to pay. She paid and then showed me the bill for over 30 dollars for lunch. I then said that this can't be right. The owner then came up and I explained that the bill couldn't be correct, and I asked for an itemized receipt. On the receipt was an extra drink and a 6 dollar upcharge for my combo even though I had confirmed the price with the waiter. I then asked why they were charging me for an extra drink and he said, "well.... didn't you have two drinks?" I tried to explain to him that I didn't particularly like how strong the tea was so I had asked if I could switch to a coke. The waiter had agreed. The owner said, "if you didn't like the tea, then why did you drink most of it?" I told him that was besides the point because I had asked my waiter if I could switch the drink. The owner said that all places charge extra if you have two drinks. I said that I didn't consume any extra, because they have free refills. He then raised his voice at me and said loudly for all to hear, "SIR, did you have a tea and a coke at your table?" I said yes, but I was not informed by the waiter that if I switched drinks that it would be an extra charge. It is a common courtesy to tell someone that they will be charged extra. He then cut me off and said, "sir, you need to be quiet and listen." I told him that i was just trying to explain myself and the communication between the waiter and me. I said that I was also overcharged for the combo. He said that the combo was 12.95 not 9.95 and that that was correct. I tried to say that the waiter had quoted a different price to me. He cut me off again and said, "be quiet sir. You need to listen" I said, "excuse me, I am a customer. Don't tell me to be quiet. I am trying to explain to you what was communicated to me." Before I could even finish my sentence he said, "you need to leave now Sir!" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I said I was overcharged and needed a refund. He said, "leave now Sir." He then escorted me out and as I left, I told him that I had never been treated like that before at a restaurant. He said, "Don't come back again" as he closed the door behind me. I considered calling the police, but my wife encouraged me to take the high road and just let it go. Most of you may be thinking that I must have made a commotion, but I assure you that is not the case. We are always extremely courteous at restaurants. We couldn't figure out why the owner was so volatile. Overall, the food is pretty good, but I am glad to know that I am not allowed to spend another dime to support an owner that is so rude and inconsiderate. read more