I was really looking forward to coming in, as I've always had positive experiences here. Unfortunately, last night was very disappointing. The woman working at the bar (the gentleman working with her is always incredibly kind) made me feel judged for ordering from the happy hour menu. She then proceeded to speak negatively about me in front of several coworkers (about 6-7) saying she "hates this type of customer" as if I couldn't hear her. It was uncomfortable and honestly embarrassing. I'm currently going through some financial hardship, and I had been looking forward to a simple night out--especially the drinks with the fire feature, which were instead brought out plain. Our bill still came to $75, and I made sure to tip 20%, even including a takeout order for a friend whose dog had just been put down that day--I wanted to do something kind for her. Despite that, it was clear she was frustrated or upset, and it really affected the experience. read more

Had a great time, food was awesome service was great already made reservations for my next visit!

My husband and I try to take one night a week and go out for a nice dinner. Last night we chose Hacienda Real in Vernon Hills. It was amazing! From the moment we arrived everything was top notch. Everyone there was very nice, attentive and helpful especially our server Ada. The atmosphere is fun. The food was delicious! If you are looking for great food and wonderful people I highly recommend you try Hacienda Real. read more

Fun time with good food! Really enjoyed our experience! The presentation is a whole part of the meal that takes things to the next level. Fun touches like flaming plates and bubbling drinks make for a delightfully immersive time! The inside was well decorated and lively! The drinks from the bar were delicious and well crafted. The food featured some standard Mexican fare, but more complex dishes like Paella were well executed and tasty. Their carne asada was also delicious and a fairly good value. The menu had something for everyone without being overly complex. Some great options for vegetarians as well. Our server was great and attentive to our needs. He was knowledgeable about the menu and was welcoming. One note, our party was 5 people. They considered this a large party and automatically added tip to our total. We typically tip 20% anyhow (that was the total added). However, just a heads up for anyone who might want ti go with a group. read more

The ambiance when you come in is nice. Lively music and the restaurant is clean and modern. We were seated in a booth a table away from the kitchen entrance inside the bar area. Our server was the bartender. She was nice and attentive. The restaurant was not busy when we were there so she was able to tend bar for the restaurant and serve our table. The chips and salsa came out and it was good. I ordered their burrito bandito and my husband got the 2 item combo with an enchilada and a burrito. It took a little longer than I would have expected given the restaurant was only half full but we were not in a hurry so didn't think much of it. Our server brought our food out and made mention that the plates were very hot. Well when I saw my dish I knew it sat too long somewhere. The burrito bandito has a red, cheese and green sauce to give it a one third/ one third/ one third look but mine was no longer sauce, it was so baked in from sitting somewhere that i really couldn't taste much difference. When I cut it in half I found the steak was very large pieces. I decided to use my fork and knife and cut the first piece, I was surprised to find it was cooked medium rare. I am not used to that in a burrito and honestly, I didn't enjoy it, it made it chewy. My husband found his plate to have been somewhere too long also. He had to use a fork and knife to cut his enchilada because it was overcooked. I think one reason I was disappointed was that in the doorway of the kitchen 4 people pretty much stood and talked for much of the time. So if our food was ready and the bartender was busy one of them could have grabbed the two dishes and brought them out. All in all - we were disappointed, now if the service is quicker about getting the fresh food out maybe it will be better. Not sure we would be back but would tell friends they should try and see how their experience is. read more

The food and decor are fantastic! The service is great, super comfortable booths. We had a great first meal there two months ago and went there tonight 12/20/25. What ruined the whole experience was THE MUSIC! When we arrived at 5PM it was a disco/club synthetic drum track for a dance club that caters to 19-23 year olds. It was too loud but by 6 they turned it down a bit. Then they switched to a different a different totally digital track that had the same pattern over, and over, and over, and over, and over. It was also for children at clubs downtown. Perhaps they think it adds a vive of "energy". It also makes it hard to talk to someone on the other side of the booth. We will not recommend it to our friends and neighbors based on the music, otherwise it's great! But besides that Mrs. Lincoln enjoyed the play! Ned & Sue read more

Always- Poulane orates among the best bakeries in the world from my view.. The cookies are a must every visit and the breads are simply amazing ... read more

Came here for lunch on a Friday. We were able to be sat right away. They have items marked GF on their menu. I informed the server I had a gluten allergy. I ordered the pick 2 - cheese enchilada and a vegan chorizo taco. It came with rice and beans. I also had an unsweetened ice tea which had a lemon flavor. Everything was delicious! One of the best dishes I have had. Also, they bring out chips and salsa to start. read more

Hacienda Real - Seafood Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

Food and ambiance was great, seats were tight and table was small. Service took awhile to get to our table, however once they did they were very kind. Barely any room for anything. read more

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I dined at Hacienda Real with 8 friends on a Saturday night at 6pm. The table they seated our original party of 8 (we had an unexpected extra), was extremely small and left little room for movement. Our server was friendly, attentive, and helpful with ordering. He definitely knew the menu well and did wonderfully with recommendations. I tried the margarita trio, and they were all boozy and pretty decent. I ordered a burrito with no meat, and had a pineapple margarita as well. The drinks are good, but the burrito was lacking in flavor. The portions are huge, but the prices are HIGH for what you're getting. I feel like Hacienda Real truly focuses on presentation. Everything you order comes out looking nice, but the lighting everything on fire and making everything about entertainment was a sensory overkill. And I mean, they almost quite LITERALLY light everything on fire here. They do add a 3% removable service fee, and a WHOPPING 20% large party fee (this is typically 10-18% so holy moly, maybe try paying your employees). Careful when you pay using the QR code, as it'll prompt you to tip another 20% (43% extra total? Please). My total bill was just over $70. Typically, I wouldn't mind spending this much on a special meal, but there wasn't anything spectacular about anything I consumed. read more

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I've been to Hacienda Real twice recently. My first visit was for a social gathering with colleagues. Everyone enjoyed the queso and guacamole, which came in different flavors. The pineapple guacamole was my favorite! I returned a week or so later for lunch. I had the enchiladas off the brunch/lunch menu, which came with a large side of potatoes. Everything tasted great! I also enjoyed their strawberry lemonade, which was full of flavor. The restaurant is nicely decorated and on both visits our servers were friendly and attentive. Hacienda Real is a welcome addition to the area and I know I'll be back! read more

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Hacienda Real is a must-visit! The restaurant is absolutely gorgeous inside and out, the ambiance alone makes it perfect for a date night or group dinner. We started with drinks that came out with sparklers (so fun!) and they were both strong and delicious. For appetizers, the trio guacamole (pineapple, pico, and mango) with chips was phenomenal, and the queso dip was a hit too. For mains, we had the bean & cheese chimichangas (super cheesy and flavorful) and the veggie enchiladas tricolor (I'd get them on flour tortillas next time, but still so good!). To end the night, the churro cart stole the show, not only was the presentation amazing, but the churros themselves were delicious. Service was friendly and attentive from start to finish. Between the gorgeous vibes, great food & drinks, and phenomenal presentation, I highly recommend Hacienda Real. Plus, they have multiple locations which makes it even better! read more

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There is a lot of great intention for this restaurant however, the execution is a bit clunky. By looking at their website, the photos of their food and the combinations of flavors look remarkable. The interior is beautifully and artfully decorated. From an outside perspective, this place would easily get five stars. In reality, however, the techno music was so loud and repetitive. Nobody needs to feel like they are at a rave while trying to enjoy a dinner with friends. Additionally, it seems like their trademark thing over and over and over again is to light things on fire. Just about every course that we had, something was burning on the plate. It was cool the first or second time but by the sixth and seventh time in one meal, it felt a bit overdone. I really appreciate the Mocktail offerings. For my meal I ordered the HR's Filet Real. I would order this at every single visit. It was so good. My steak was beautifully cooked and the bone marrow was an impressive and delightful addition. Overall, my food and beverage was great, but the restaurant experience left something to be desired. read more

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Food and service perfect!! The ambience is amazing. Had shrimp enchiladas was the best I ever had!!

First time on Saturday! Fantastic on every level. No reservation but arrived earlyish and were seated immediately. 30 minutes later it was packed. Waitress was amazing and attentive. Every dish (enchiladas, chimmi, burrito) was terrific. Try the churro dessert too what a delight. Can't wait to go again. read more

The food was very delicious!! The waitress made sure we had enough chips and salsa before the food arrived. Yea, the music is a little loud ( based on the reviews below) but it didn't bother us. Overall, good experience! read more

Hacienda Real - Salmon Al Cilantro - Seafood Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

Outstanding food and experience!! We have been here a few times, and it has been consistently fantastic - our new favorite spot! Mi novia es americana, y le encanta este lugar! Sabemos apreciar la buena comida mexicana!. Samantha was our server, and she was kind, attentive, and knowledgeable. 10/10!!! read more

Hacienda Real - Amazing appetizers and drinks!!! - Seafood Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

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The carne asada was delicious! Fresh and tasty! Our server was lovely and knowledgeable of the menu. The environment was modern and cozy. Beautiful spot! read more

I went here with a couple of friends for their birthday because it was new in Vernon Hills and we wanted to try it out. The inside of it was decorated really nice and it had a cute little vibe going on. Our server was not however, attentive and seemed to be bothered when we needed him for something. We didn't really need a lot. We just needed our waters refilled and order another drink after they were empty for about 30 minutes. We probably would've ordered more if he came back more often. It was also really hard to find him when we wanted to close out we had to go to another server to get our check so that we could leave. The drinks were good but very expensive and I can get drinks like that down the street for a little bit cheaper. The food was fine. It was OK but one thing I noticed was there a lot of theatrics in the restaurant everything that I saw whether it was drinks or food had some kind of fire going on on the platform that it was served on I think it was very unnecessary, and if it brings the cost down for the food and the drinks, I say get rid of the fire. I probably will not be back because there's a lot of other restaurants in the area that are better and I'm sad because this is kind of new and it was very close to our house and I wanted to be able to like it read more

Hacienda Real - Pineapple marg - A cocktail served in a pineapple-shaped glass with lemon and pineapple garnishes, placed on a restaurant table with plates and cutlery. - Seafood Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

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Back again, love this place. Food is fresh, service is great and I crave it now! Not inexpensive but so worth it read more

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The atmosphere was amazing and authentic. The free chips and salsa were delicious. The waitress staff were amazing and efficient. The food came out hot and fresh. read more

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We went out for a girls night and had a really nice dinner. The staff were all friendly and attentive. The decor is so beautiful and it gives off really cool vibes. Being a picky eater, I was able to slightly modify an entree and it came out delicious. Overall we had a really nice time with delicious food and tasty drinks. read more

Hacienda Real - Lava cake - Multiple dessert plates with cakes, ice cream, and toppings are on a dining table, decorated with blueberries and sparklers. - Seafood Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

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Group of 5 on a Saturday night with reservations at 6:15pm. We were seated on time at a booth for 4 with a chair in the middle of the aisle. Staff and customers could not use the aisle and table was not big enough for 5. I went up to the hostesses at the front desk and asked if we could be seated elsewhere. I was told no and that's how we normally seat a party of 5. After receiving our drinks our wonderful waitress said she would ask the manager about another table. In a half hour, we were reseated at a large booth near the front door. We have been there before for a weekday lunch and the ambiance was great. Not on Saturday night. 5 tables had singing of Happy Birthday and between songs, it was so loud you could not have normal conversations. The food was very average and we will not be returning. read more

Food is delicious service on point, highly recommended for a one hit wonder date night. Thanks to Fernanda, our service waiter. Awesome service. read more

Hacienda Real - Seafood Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

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This is a new place taking over the old Chili's location in Vernon Hills. We made a reservation and that was a good idea as the place was fairly busy. We checked in and the hostess brought us to a booth that was so cramped, so they brought us to a table in the bar area instead. The chairs are these green padded/cushioned chairs that are wide enough for Jennifer Lawrence to sit in, but anyone with a slightly wider hip profile don't fit. Thankfully they have wooden chairs with leather/faux leather seat cushions and back cushions that fit a broader profile and was quite comfortable. As we settled in and began perusing the menu, a waiter came over and told us we had to move to a table that was the exact same as the table we were at due to a party that had reserved the table we were currently sitting at along with a larger table next to it. So, we got up and moved to a third table. They brought our menus, chips, salsa, and switched the chair for me. However, with three people involved in the operation, you'd think one would bring water. Nope. We waited about 20 minutes for anyone to bring water. We had plenty of servers and bussers and the manager walk by our table numerous times, but no water was ever brought. Our waiter finally arrived and asked if we wanted something to drink. We both wanted water and then asked to put our food order in as we knew we would be waiting an even longer time to order and receive the food. We both ordered fajitas. My wife got the chicken and I got the triple combo. Steak and shrimp fajitas cost $23. Chicken is $21. A combination of two meats is $23. A combination of all three meats is $23. Weird that a combo cost the same as one meat. My wife requested no refried beans, just extra rice. I requested no onions, pico de gallo, sour cream or refried beans. I also requested no tortillas. Our food arrived and my wife had the beans. Mine was made fine, but their were tomatoes. It doesn't mention it on their menu, but there they are. I moved them aside and began to eat. They bought my wife a new side of rice and salad sans beans. The rice was flavorless. Next up the fajitas. My wife said her fajitas lacked flavor. Mine had some seasoning, but not a ton. And there was more steak than chicken or shrimp, and it was kind of tough. My wife received corn tortillas. I had to flag down our waiter to swap them for flour tortillas. I was amazed he didn't ask us which we wanted. We also asked for more water as the glasses were empty and he never refilled them. So, my wife and I finish our meals, and stack pther dishes and used cutlery on top of them. Our waiter stops by the tables opposite ours but doesn't say or take the dirty plates. A busser walks by three separate times, looks at the plates, and does nothing. Even the original waiter who swapped our table from one side of the restaurant to the other stopped and soke to us about potentially cutting our waiter some slack "as he is new." My wife says, "technically, everyone is new since this is a new restaurant." He replies, no, new to serving." And with that, he looks at us, looks at the pile of dirty plates, and walks away. Then the manager comes over and asks, "food was good? Service was good, right?" What do you say to that? Truthfully, the service from literally everyone in the restaurant was terrible. I finally got the check (I had to ask for it) and I was able to pay via Apple Pay (the Toast app). Oh, and in case you're wondering; the table they moved us from to the other side of the restaurant? No party ever showed up for the table we were originally seated. Ever. Gotta tell ya, there are plenty if Mexican restaurants in the Vernon Hills / Libertyville / Lincolnshire areas and this I can avoid going to. No Manches and Tacos El Norte are way better options. read more

Good food. The staff were really nice. We went to celebrate my mom's birthday they brought out a nice cake piece and they sang feliz cumpleaños to her. She loves it ! Only thing don't get the pictures they take. they're $20 a piece and the frame looks soooooo cheap. Other than that great place read more

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They did a wonderful job transforming this place. Gorgeous and fun feeling. The menu is great with options such as chiliquiles (even though it doesn't say comes with egg), you have modern flair and old school choices. Salsa was tasty and the speciality drinks are fun. I thought the prices were fair and the service is what you should expect from a more upscale place. I recommend the taco salad and chilaquiles. read more

If you're could give 0 stars to this place I would... Hostess (0) wait 30 minutes to took us to our table but took more people who came after us. Waitress (0) no organization about which tables they are taking Food took more than an hour to came to our table. I cannot understand what's the purpose of the manager just standing there looking the bad management and not doing anything. read more

Enjoyed the beautiful inside of this establishment. The food was good and the drinks are tasty.

I've been there twice and would describe it as great, upscale Mexican food. The menu is bigger than you normally see and we all had a hard time choosing what to order because so much looked good. Everyone in our party on both visits liked what they had. The drinks were also quite good. First time I was there the service was great. Second time a tad inattentive but not enough to complain to anyone. We'll be back. read more

We went at 2:45 for a late lunch/early dinner and were pleased to find out we were 15 minutes early for the end of brunch/lunch and still in the happy hour window (until 4). The hostess took her time seating us (but probably because we enterrés at the very end of her shift), but our waitress/bartender was always on top of things while we were there. We decided to get the Texas Margaritas (1/2 off during happy hour, so we ended up getting two of course) and those were very good. Probably would've been our choice at first from the margarita selection, although I did order a mojito marg for my second drink (and can highly recommend that as well! For tte meal, we both ended up getting tte breakfast burrito chipotle which was very filling and had a tasty sauce on top. The breakfast potatoes were great with red peppers and jalapeños in the mix to make them extra tasty. I wished there had been almost double the serving of those. Overall, the experience was pleasant and we'll certainly be back again. read more

The food was very delicious and filling. The drinks are superb. The only downside is the extremely high price for the tequila shots, $54 for two shots. I'll go here again for the food and regular drinks but no more shots! Way overpriced. read more

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Stop going to this restaurant based on how loud it is you can't even talk to the guest your with. As for the service we have been there three times and they Have messed up our orders all Three Times. I had high hopes for the restaurant however it appears they don't improve. read more

the food and drinks are absolutely phenomenal. As someone hispanic this is authentic and superb. Our server was so great and attentive and every presentation + taste of our food was top tier. It's a vibe here!!! -sincerely a Milwaukee visitor read more

Hacienda Real - Seafood Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

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Went here with five other people for a birthday celebration. We were seated right away, despite not having our entire party there. Our server, Adrian, was friendly and helpful. He answered all of our questions and gave great recommendations. He was attentive to our needs. The chips and salsa are great, but we did have to ask for refills. Not that big of a deal, but it would be nice if they would ask to replenish. We also had to ask for water, but it was a very busy evening, so we cut them some slack. I had a spicy shrimp dish with some amazing saffron rice. The presentation of all the dishes was awesome! We had churros and flan for dessert. The churros are served in a very cute fashion. The flan was not my favorite, but others enjoyed it. Everyone really loved their food and drink, which says a lot because there's always at least one person in our group who complains about the food. We will definitely go back again! Just be aware of that it is a little loud due to a DJ playing music. We all loved the music, but it was a little hard to hear, but everyone was saying. read more

This place gets a top tier 10!!!!! From the ambience (sleek and sexy), to the service (friendly and welcoming), all the way to the food (absolutely delicious)!!!! My server, Adrian, was amazing!!! read more

Hacienda Real - Churro dessert served on a mini ice cream cart. Beneath the ice cream was a toffee crumble!!! $17 - but well worth it!! - Seafood Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

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I loved the food and service. New and pretty nice place. I like interior design. Waiter were pretty nice guy. Everything was so good. I will recommend this place. read more

New place, kind of pricey, not the worst but not impressed - we paid almost $100 for 2 entrees, a soup, kids meal & 3 drinks (non-alcoholic). Food was ok, not a fan of the salsa flavor, the chicken enchilada was very salty. Refried beans & rice were flavorful. Service was ok, but room for improvement. Our server took a few extra minutes to show up before we ordered anything, didn't bother to provide any refills, didn't offer us a bag for our to go boxes. The guy who sat next to us who was alone was waiting 35 minutes simply to order his food & this was around 4 pm on a Friday before peak dinner hours. Look & feel of the restaurant inside looks pretty aesthetic. We probably won't be returning as we don't think it's worth the price, both food quality and service. For a newly opened place, we were expecting a bit more from the overall experience. read more

Wow! Best Mexican Restaurant in Vernon Hills. Best margarita I've had in town. I've had the molcajete, and pollo relleno, just delicious. I love the ambience. Yes, the music is a little loud, but it keeps it fun. When I go out to eat, I want it to be a delightful experience and Hacienda does not dissapoint. Great service and great food! Also, I want to mention I can taste they use high quality ingredients, so thank you! You are all doing great! Keep.it up! We needed this Restaurant in our town! We were in desperate need of a good authentic Mexican restaurant. read more

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I came to hacienda real for my birthday, we had a party of nine so we didn't have the highest expectation on service. We had just come from another restaurant in the area that gave us the worst service for not reserving ahead. When we arrived we were told there would be an hour wait, they had outdoor seating and no one was using it because it was going to rain within the next hour we asked if we could sit out there while we waited for a table inside and maybe order a drink. They said yes and kindly accommodated us all. We got really lucky and our table was ready right as it started raining. Our waiter was attentive and incredibly friendly. The food drinks and ambience were all 10/10. I would recommend anyone to celebrate here you'll have a great time with delicious food! read more

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