I stopped in here based on the reviews. I was NOT disappointed! I ordered the guisado de puerco and it was excellent. I will be back.

My husband and I have been looking for a good Mexican restaurant close by as we are new to the area. We tried Paul's Burritos and liked La Mesa way better! The food tasted fresh and flavors very good. My children split a quesadilla and my husband and I got the taco salads (steak and veggie). The guacamole was also fresh. Rice awesome too. We will go again. read more

This guy knows what hes doing with real Mexican food. Just updated the menu recently with new items, I always get an extra burrito barbecoa to go because its that good! read more

Ate at LaMesa in Barrington yesterday; great food; their tostadas are the best I've ever had - even when I've eaten at restaurants in Mexico and they are only $2.75 each. The ambience could be improved, however, but just can't beat the excellent food. Highly recommend for authentic Mexican food here. Because it's so small, it's mostly for take/out. read more

La Mesa really is a great little place. I've lived in the area for almost 15 years and I've never been disappointed. Yes, it can be a bit dirty when you go in after lunch hours, but you cannot beat the friendly service. The owner is almost always there and recognizes me by my order whenever I call in. I love the cheese enchiladas with verde sauce but try out chorizo with red sauce too. The salsas are both great - and the beans and rice are top notch. And it's all really cheap. The lunch special for $8 can't be beat (and on several occasions, I've gotten 3 not 2 enchiladas - although that might be that I frequent the restaurant at least once a month.) I prefer to get take-out but my family will stop in for lunch/dinner every once and a while. Definitely try it!! read more

Loved it! The food & margaritas were delicious & the staff were very friendly! I will definitely be back.

Best Mexican food in town! The burrito dinner is the family go-to. Husband & I love the chicken and daughter loves the carnitas. Huge portions, enough to split, for sure. read more

We eat there about twice a month. Everything is always sooo good and fresh. We really enjoy the burritos and the quesadillas. There service is always quick and very friendly. I think my favorite thing to eat is the rice. read more

Great food, great prices. Just discovered this local gem and had a steak burrito with onions, cilantro and hot sauce that was excellent. The place has tables for about 20, they serve beer and liquor, the prices are cheap and the food tastes like it was made from scratch. Hector, the chef/manager took my order-nice guy. This place is nothing fancy but it was clean. What it lacks in ambiance it makes up for with great, cheap food and great service. I will defiantly be back! read more

If you haven't tried this restaurant you are doing yourself a disservice. Had the "Machete" dinner with carnitas. Incredible. Shelter in place with La Mesa, you won't be disappointed. read more

We loved La Mesa. Our family of six had chimichangas, fajitas, enchiladas, tacos and quesadillas. Everything was delicious! The owner is extremely kind and accommodating. She went out of her way to buy gluten-free ingredients for us. It opened in March 2020 under new ownership. Please support our local business and enjoy a wonderful meal! read more

I moved to the Chicago burbs from San Diego, so I'm pretty picky about my Mexican food. La Mesa is the only Mexican restaurant around I've gone back to. First, it's Baja style, which is my favorite style of Mexican cuisine. Second, the carne asada is as good as any I've had in Mexico. Third, the prices are insanely reasonable. Yes, the soda comes in a can. Who cares. The tortillas are fresh and the guacamole is worth calling to take out. read more

Dump! I could of maybe looked past the dirty floor and the tables with dishes and food left all over them, if the food was good! If I could give them any suggestion please clean your establishment. I have never seen such a dirty restaurant. I wish I didn't have to leave a bad review they seemed like very nice people that worked there. read more

Best Mexican food in the area. Staff is very friendly. Been going to here for many years.

La Mesa is a great little restaurant when you feel like eating fresh Mexican food for a cheap price. I live about an hour from Barrington now, but I miss the fresh salsa at La Mesa more than any other food in Barrington. La Mesa is the perfect place to meet an old friend for a casual dinner and margaritas. Last time we ate there, we ordered guacamole, 2 margaritas and 2 entrees, and our bill was only $20. My entree was $5.00, and my fiances was $3.50. That's cheaper than McDonalds! read more

This is a hole in the wall but absolutely does the job when you want you Mexican food. Don't expect this place to be fancy so come with an open mind. Their fresh salsa is great, chicken green enchiladas are perfect, made with white meat and they don't load their dishes with sour cream and cheese like other places. Their shrimp tacos are great, they come with cilantro, lettuce and tomato and they're 2.00 each. Prices are really inexpensive, service is fast and food is fresh. I will definitely come back read more

Very good food. We'll be back again. Service could've been a little better. Girl is nice but not as attentive as she should be.

Pamela, Michelle, and Hector do a great job of being friendly to customers! The food and margaritas are very good for the price. Nice local spot, if you are looking for fancy service, higher prices, and an upscale atmosphere, go elsewhere. read more

We came because of the reviews and were sorely disappointed. Family of 4 came on a Tuesday night. The service was horrific! We got our guacamole and waited 15 minutes for the chips so we got to watch it turn brown. Everything came extremely slow! If the food were good, maybe that could offset the lack of service, but it wasn't. I had carne asada and hubby had something similar. Both were fine. Guacamole and nachos were yummy but I can't get over that painfully long wait! The bathrooms are made for horror movies. Yelp let us down this time. We will not be back. read more

This place is SOLID. Nothing special really, but a Barrington staple no less. If you're looking for some cheap, decent Mexican food in the Barrington area--head to La Mesa. The most noteworthy menu item is the SUPER potent cheap margarita pitcher. read more

Everything is absolutely wonderful here. Authentic, filling, cheap Mexican food with amazing salsa. I wish I ate here more than I do. The inside is cozy and welcoming and the service is quick. Great for a sit down meal or a quick to go. Once I ordered pork stew to go and I got a block away when it slid out of its container and all over the inside of my bag. I took it back and they made me a new one! They've made Mexican food easy to come by in the land of gringos. read more

Great for for a great price. Try the machete paired with a tastey horchata. Good, friendly service read more

La Mesa - Mexican Near Me - Barrington, Illinois

Great, authentic mexican food! Employees are really nice as well. I LOVE the lengua burrito. Mmmmmmmmm.......

Drive into the parking lot about 6 spaces to park in front all full but only two lady's in the restaurant. Parking on the side is for employees only and parking in the back for customers??? Walk into La Mesa to sit at a table and 7 tables inside four dirty tables for about 20 min until they cleaned it. I was then handed a menu that had food on the inside and asked for another one. I can to this place because my mom gave me a coupon from restaurant.com and offered it to the server. Server commented oh I haven't received one of those for years..... With an attitude like shit ur getting a free meal. All in all the salsa and chips, the chicken tortilla soup, quesadillas, shrimp fajitas, enchiladas with mole was very very good. We ordered 2 bowls of soup but only received one??? But the bowl of soup was a large portion. read more

Great place for a beer and tacos - the picadillo is my personal favorite. Margs are pretty good too. We typically get take-out here, it's fast and fresh! read more

We went there for dinner tonight. The food is good. The place is dirty and worn out looking. The service was some of the worst I have ever had! Had to ask 3-4 times for water, hot sauce, more drinks. The waitress never came back to see how things were or if we needed anything else. Had to go up and ask for the check and for a take home box. The empty tables in the restaurant all had dirty dishes on them. I will not be back and it is too bad, as the owner is a very nice man and has good Mexican food. Sorry, just another bummer in Barrington. read more

Good service, Great food. The salsa could use a little work. Great place for lunch. Fast service.

Good place delicious tacos, but honestly what good is a closed restaurant, im most likely gonna stop going there because they're never open and closed at lunch, I have gone here 6 times and only been able to eat twice, due that its alsways close when i pass by, not sure how they still open. They just gonna lose people like this. read more

Went here for the first time for lunch with my parents. I had a restaurant.com coupon. I've driven by this place a million times since I live in Barrington, but it's so unassuming from the outside that I was never compelled to check it out. It took a while to get service and the place looked a little "worn". I'm thrilled that we checked it out - we started with the chicken quesadillas. oh. my. So delicious, it surprised us! My family got a burrito, stuffed tacos, chimichanga, shrimp taco, and horchata. Everything was fantastic - and all for about $40. We will definitely be back - for take out. read more

Our favorite little get away. Authentic and delicious, my wife and I drive 20 miles one way, every chance we get. The margaritas are the best. The service is warm and friendly, and there is a wide variety on the menu with convenient takeout. Been a regular for 7 years. The kids will love the fried ice cream. Best part is, the experience of relaxation, in a "very casual" atmosphere, that won't break the bank. We almost always bring home some extra Pastor Tacos for the next day. If you like it hot, they have the best hot salsa. read more

I'm a fan. This place has great food, the burritos are very good, The salsa is ok but could be better. Sometimes the chicken doesn't taste good. The interior is awesome. Just like mexico. Don't go here if your looking for fancy pancy service with a smile. Go here if your looking for Mexican food. Im not sure if its family owned but it has that kind of feel. Its a small restaurant trying to compete in a tuff industry and they are doing a great job. Oh Tacos are bomb. read more

I love the hole-in-the-wall ambience. It takes me back to my trips to Mexico and the Baja. The home made salsa is quite good, I favor the hot style. The table chips usually come out warm. They have a decent Mexican beer selection. I usually order something off the beef menu. The tacos are huge and I never leave feeling hungry. I may be prejudiced, as I'm walking distance to La Mesa, which is always a plus. Staff is super friendly. read more

Excellent food, authentic atmosphere. The owner is present every time I visit the restaurant and always provides excellent service with a smile. Recommended for a very casual lunch/ dinner, or take out. read more

good food and fun drinks.... This place is like a "mom and pop" type of joint,. and people have to realize this place is not a Steakhouse with 20+ people on staff, so all the reviews on here people that think a $5 burrito, you are not gonna get a person to whip your face and clean your shoes for you. This is a fun small little place, that is great priced and cheap drinks..... WHAT MORE TO ASK FOR........ read more

This is my absolute favorite mexican place. Food is always good and the service is great. A place you must go!

Hole in the wall....great find...excellent food....wallet friendly.........emphasis on hole in the wall

Zero fancy good food restaurant , prices are great and people are very friendly. You will like this place if you are not too picky about small stuff . prices are very reasonable , I never tried their drinks so no comments on it . read more

Long time fan, do come for the food and a basic, charming ambiance. I always have the terrific chicken enchilada with a very spicy salsa verde. I love Mexican food and have never had better in Chicago, Denver or Mexico City. Also a great value! read more

Ended up trying to find this place for 30 minutes - my grandparents heard good things and 'had to try it.' but only knew it was next to a McDonalds- We drove past el sombrero about 3 times trying to find the place. Once we found the place the grandparents weren't very excited about the decor (they were expecting more). The little window into the kitchen is an interesting feature you can check out the two microwaves and mildly dirty wet floor. It actually took awhile for us to be helped by anyone. For some reason my grandparents kept saying this was a 4 1/2 star restaurant - you wouldn't know with the way they serve soda in the can. The chips and salsa were good (grandma seemed to think the salsa was watered down and asked for more tomatoes to be added. The food was good- about the same serving size as other mexican restaurants I've been too. Overall nothing was super special about the place... good to experience once in a lifetime though - you wouldn't find me rushing back if I'm even in the Barrington area again. read more

Been going here for years. Owner and staff are great. Food is fresh and prices are great as well. Saturdays are a must for 1/2 price margarita pitchers! They always have a daily beer special as well. read more