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    Momento Cantina

    3.8 (90 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Momento Cantina Photos

    MOMENTO CANTINA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Momento Cantina

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    3 salsas provided
    Sandra V.

    I walked in for dinner. I was greeted by host. I asked for a table however they were saving tables for 2 or more. I was sat at bar. I ordered their spicy tamarindo margarita. It was good and strong, not a ton of ice either. Very refreshing. $18 Ordered their rib eye 3 volcano tacos. They were good, crunchy black corn tortillas with a slice of meat and toasted cheese. I liked they bring out their 3 sauces. Neither was hot, one was a tomatillo. Lime green, second was like a chili oil and third was a green tomatillo sauce. They my also brought a tortilla chip and black bean appetizer complimentary. One thing I noticed was service was faster at bar than table service as several ppl Were still waiting for their food. My drink and food came fast. $25 The ambience is what attracted me to come ins they had a Mexican themed decor. The place was pretty full by the time I left. There's table and bar seating. Few items I noticed are their self serve selling g tequila shot vending machines. There's also a go to order and casual dining at entrance. My total for one was $48 plus tip $10.

    Salad .. meh
    Padma A.

    My family celebrated Mother's Day at this relatively newer restaurant. As you enter the loud pink almost garish decor is kind of cheesy but once I get used to it the choice of salsas is intriguing. We all got different kinds of tacos , chicken fish beef and couple of appetizers tuna crude was delicious and chicken sopes was good too . The house salad I will definitely avoid next time easily the worst item on the menu. Their tres leches and corn desert were decent . We had the hibiscus with mezcal and another mezcal drink which were good

    Omar G.

    First off the host was extremely rude! He had no manners and had an undermining tone. Also our server Zoe seemed cold and unwelcoming. This is unfortunate because the interior design is gorgeous and had a fun and lively environment. Music is a bit loud making it hard to order or hear our server at times. Food and drinks come out extremely fast, very impressed. Ceviche was underwhelming, cucumber overpowering the dish. Gorditas were good, nice crisp and flavorful, very spicy. Food presentation was flattering. I ordered the cuatro de mar which were a hit or miss. My favorite were the pescado playa tacos, pickled onions and sauce were really great. Fish quesabirria was an interesting concept but fell flat in my opinion. The pulpo macha taco was just okay. Dessert was good. Overall with the service being the way it was i don't see myself returning.

    mar y tierra molcajetes
    Mike V.

    When our table ordered the mar y tierra molcajetes, I was not prepared for what the waiter brought out. It was a steaming hot, still sizzling grill of steak, chicken and octopus. The vapors were still coursing off the meat. We needed a few minutes before we could eat. It was delicious. The guac was great. The ceviche wasn't bad. It's a great spot with really good food.

    Alvin Z.

    Got the Ceviche and the unlimited tacos. The unlimited tacos was $35 per person for a hour and 30. The habanero salsa was so spicy. The ribeye taco was quite gamey and fatty. The fish tacos were also a bit fishy. The birria was not bad and the al pastor was pretty good. The ceviche was very salty but a lot of seafood and for $21 it's not too bad. Overall, for 35$ of unlimited tacos, it is pretty worth. The service was super nice and the restaurant is a bit dark but nice. The man's bathroom has a statue which scared me a bit but honestly very cool and fit the theme.

    Brielle B.

    After leaving the Christkindl Market, we decided to stop by Momento, and I'm so glad we did. The food was absolutely amazing and the service was incredibly attentive...you could really tell the staff cared about making your experience great. Everyone was so kind and accommodating. The decor is super cute and bold, with pink arches, colorful details, and a nice bar and kitchen area. The space feels open and lively, though some of the tables are a bit close together. They start you off with chips and bean dip with three different sauces, which were all delicious. I ordered the Pescado Trio (fish tacos) with pickled onions, cabbage slaw, chipotle sauce, and mango pico...so flavorful and fresh. I also had the elote, which tasted great, though it was a little watery for my preference. My boyfriend had two picante tacos and one white fish taco, and his picante tacos were divine, topped with fried cheese. For my drink, I had the Horchata margarita, which was creamy & strong...a fun step outside my usual choice of liquor and definitely worth it. He ordered sparkling water, and they even brought him an extra bottle of a different brand just to try, which was a really thoughtful touch. The atmosphere felt fun and a little exclusive, especially for such a new spot. Our total was about $75 for two people, including drinks, which felt like great value for the quality. Overall, amazing food, great service, and beautiful decor. I'll definitely be back with friends. Highly recommend!

    Interior
    Les D.

    Quick question: Why. Are. You. Not. Here? I've ate some good restaurants and plenty of mid ones, but it's been awhile since a place has really impressed me and pushed above five stars. Momento did that for me, and let me tell you why. On a dark, bitterly cold Monday night when the city feels empty and lonely, Momento is a bright, lively, and colorful place to dine. Settings for large parties, singles, or a fun date night. All are welcome. It's boisterous and friendly in here. Terrific array of options on the menu. Combos of three, four, or six tacos. Complimentary chips and salsa. Tacos are outstanding. Flight of four tacos made of blue corn. Fresh made and they smell of it. And altogether, the tacos are amazing. One ribeye and one picanha taco, each ridiculously tender. Momento is part steakhouse as well as cantina. It's just the steak is improved by wrapping it in tortillas. Finally, fish taco, of which I'm usually not a fan, was spectacular. There it is; surf and turf in four tacos. That's a great concept. I'm always underwhelmed by Mexican places that slather giant ice cream scoop dollops of guacamole on everything. It's unnecessary, unappetizing, just uncouth. Momento has something, much, much better. Tortilla chips are served with a trio of sauces that are far superior to the guac, salsa, crema mainstays. Momento gives you a tomatillo, sesame, and a chili sauce. Each amazing. That's five star stuff right there. Server walked me through the menu, making good suggestions. As my evening ended he set a tequila shot on the bar. Thanked and explained that I'd never tasted tequila. Next thing I know, I'd tasted an array of tequilas and had an intro to tequila class. My server could have sat at the corner of the bar, dinking around on his phone while I ate. But, he didn't do that. He engaged with me, and that's pretty precious stuff these days and made my dinner the highlight of my day. Sixth star stuff. I can't say that will happen for everyone who eats here, but I think everyone who does will have a really good experience.

    Ann-Marie H.

    Came here with my Book Club and the setting was absolutely amazing. We had a table of six so they were able to accommodate all of us and they're able to accommodate both large and small parties for sure.. I got the fish tacos that they had on the menu that were absolutely delicious as well as a margarita. It starts up with complementary chips and I think salsa or guac and we ended up ordering more for the table because it was so good.. I love the absolute beautiful ambience and just vibe to this place. It's cute for a date night or just if you want to come with friends to have a good time.. also we were able to pay for our orders individually, which I always love even when it's a big group they were able to separated by our personal tab and we could tap to pay which I did!

    Mezcal bar
    Aimee A.

    A miss and a hit! After trying to eat somewhere else, unsuccessfully, a quick search brought us to the recently opened Memento. We were specifically looking for Mexican (and are regular proponents of SoCal Cali-Mex cuisine). What we encountered was a lovely surprise - head chef from Mexico City (CDMX) and flavors reminiscent of our recent trip there. The margaritas are flavorful, the tacos were delicious, and the presentation was detailed. Colorful interior, with a tasting area for mezcal. Honestly, we were not sure what to expect, especially realizing they had opened recently, but the staff was great - our server, Colin, was attentive and friendly, and made great recommendations. We were happily surprised - located right across from the Palmer House Hotel - great location for drinks!

    Veggie Birria Tacos
    Keerthan D.

    Best mexican in chicago, period. Amazing veggie and vegetarian options. Our server Jesús was awesome, treated us great

    Salsa cups...too narrow to dip a chip...and don't QUITE fit on their holder...missed it by THAT much...
    Stephen B.

    Interesting spot in an interesting space -- a higher end taqueria in the first floor of an old department store -- in this case, Carson Pirie Scott's old flagship location. Like the store, kind of a tragedy of unfulfilled potential. And pretty pricey for the experience. The food was good...when it finally came. We're guessing that they were short servers and slammed by a sporting event (we had a reservation and were seated on time, for the record)...but the timing of the bar and kitchen was kind of a disaster. Way too long for a first visit from our server. Way too long for the first round of margaritas to come. THREE (really) requests for chips and salsa after the server first said he would bring them -- one of our party finally went and asked the hostess desk for help. They came -- AFTER the apps (I won a bet about that...). The chips were served with three salsas in stylish but impractical cups (tall, skinny, didn't hold much...so you couldn't really dip...and the cups didn't even really fit in the holder...see pic...another near miss by the restaurant?). By the time we politely reminded our server that we would like another round of drinks with dinner, he acted annoyed (he WAS slammed and the kitchen WAS totally letting him down...) and never came back (an expediter did bring the drinks...someone else ultimately brought the check). Our group shared two apps: guacamole and totopos (pomegranate seeds) and a whitefish ceviche. The guacamole was overpriced and small but tasty; the ceviche was a real hit with the group. All four of our crew then had tacos, (that arrived -- literally -- 55 minutes after we were seated and ten minutes before we told them we would have to leave...) and agreed that they were quite good -- one went with green mole chicken, two with the fish, and one with the four taco sampler. Some plain white rice (really?!), frijoles, and chips on the side; the sides were as boring as the tacos were interesting. Add to that our table's location was near the Monroe St. entrance to the restaurant, which had a serious draft (two of our group put on their coats) and the obligatory streets-of-Chicago pot smoke wafting in and, well...what could and should have been a really terrific meal turned out to be, as noted, a pricey tragedy of disappointing service and unfulfilled potential. Lots of interesting Mexican food in the city these days. Saddens me to say that this one needn't be on the "must try" list.

    Jonna N.

    Stopped in for a quick snack and to cool down from the humid Chicago summer. It's got a nice decor aesthetic. Very Latin and super colorful. I'm a fan! Even the exterior has some art pieces that intrigued me. We got some guac and it wasn't bad. The chips were seasoned and came with watermelon radishes. Guac tasted made to order. We also got horchata and hibiscus. Pretty refreshing and tasted like how it should. It's self serve so I don't have much to say about service. I'd come back to do the sit down part of the restaurant.

    Sarah S.

    Came here for the Restaurant Week menu - had not heard of this spot but another friend highly recommended it, and I was interested in trying the drink add-on as a part of the prix fixe. The food was so flavorful and tasted of good quality, and the drinks tasted great as a pairing. I liked the interior design and mood of the main restaurant space as well. I'd definitely come back here again to try more on the menu.

    Naranja Sangrona Margarita

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    The ambiance was fun! The good was awesome and the server was so friendly and helpful. I would definitely go back.

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    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.

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    Top service and incredible food. Everything was delicious and the staff is super nice!!!read more

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    5 Rabanitos

    5 Rabanitos

    4.2
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    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.

    5 Rabanitos Restaurante & Taqueria delivers bold, well-executed Mexican flavors in a lively,…read moreinviting setting. The guacamole was fresh and vibrant, though the chips were fairly standard. The enchiladas de mole were the highlight--tender chicken coated in a rich red mole that balanced gentle heat with a subtle sweetness beautifully. The house-made shrimp empanadas were another standout, crisp and golden with juicy shrimp inside, paired perfectly with a smoky chipotle dipping sauce. My only miss was the horchata, which had an unpleasant sourness. Overall, a flavorful and memorable experience. Arrive early--the dining room fills up quickly.

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    Manchamanteles Restaurant

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    4.4
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    4.0 mi
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    Manchamanteles is as fun and exciting on the inside as its boldly colored outside would lead you to…read morebelieve. The staff are donned in themed regalia, and will gleefully sing you a happy birthday song even if you're quite far from adolescence (and also a few days out from your actual birthday). The moles were all phenomenal, and the mezcal margarita pitcher more than satisfied our group. The interior is a bit bright and skews somewhat family oriented, so I wouldn't recommend it for every crowd. But for my group of friends and I, Manchamanteles more than delivered in food, service, and fun alike.

    Came here on Valentine's Day with a reservation, there were three of us, one kid. It was full of…read morefamilies, some couples. The had a tasting menu but we opted out of it. They give you a complimentary spicy trail mix. We started with the guacamole, it was okay. Then I got a traditional margarita, my partner got a pina colada with strawberries, and my kid got a pink lemonade (Marz Brewing made). The margarita was good, not strong but not too watery. For dinner I got the chicken fajitas, the waiter asked if I wanted just chicken which I though was odd because I ordered the chicken fajitas and I wasn't sure what he meant or if he meant no veggies, it came with veggies luckily. It also came with tortilla, corn, and a side of refried black beans with cojita, and rice. It was all okay. My partner got the lamb mole, it was sweet and savory, not spicy. And it came with tortillas. They have a lot of mole options, so if you're into that definitely come here to try! Overall it was just okay.

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    Manchamanteles Restaurant
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    Momento Cantina - mexican - Updated August 2026

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