Poncitlan #5

We arrived not knowing it was a bar crawl happening but we still got in and waited for a table. It…read moretook 30 minutes to get a table bc of the bar crawl. As much as it was packed from 2:30 til 3:30 we were still were able to order a drink at bar. Martin was so nice and took our order and brought it to us being we went back to waiting line. The place is small with a hard time to walk around when it's full. It's a nice bar restaurant and didn't realized until we were leaving that there's a back area. The bartenders could be a little more social and happy bc that seem a bit dull and unhappy working there. Unlike Martin he was happy. Mildred was our server and she did phenomenal. The food and drinks were great

It was not stated anywhere else on their digital menu that they their tacos come individually;…read morecompared to their three taco plate option, but thanks to checking the yelp menu first I was able to make my choice for 2 birra tacos! (inquire about the 4% service charge added) No rice or beans with any of my parties' dishes, not sure if that is an option. Time to be seated was less than five minutes for a party of four around 2:20 PM on a Sunday; busier times or days enforce their 90 minute time limit policy per table. The food was well seasoned, wish I tasted it a little more on the meat itself, yet all the vegetables tasted crisp and fresh. If you are looking to have intimate conversations be prepared to speak a lot louder, the DJ booth by the front keeps it pretty lively, but difficult to hold conversations across the table. Open authentic Mexican soda is always refreshing, and if you're looking for a place that has soft serve margaritas this is one of them. If you notice and unusual wait time or slow service please make your choice accordingly as I started to notice it was a case by case basis like some of the previous reviews had mentioned.

6.3 mi•West Loop, Near West Side

Interior of Buisness

Fish taco

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Chicharron de Ribeye

Bocaditos Mexican Cuisine

4.2(124 reviews)

•$$$

The service is outstanding. The drinks are on point. The food is delicious. I've been here a couple…read moretimes now, and I always leave happy. Bocaditos is one of my favorite spots.

I'm not one to knock out places that I haven't been for the first time but this one won't be seeing…read moreme ,any time soon. The food was bland and lacked flavor, the enchiladas didn't have the texture and quality you'd expect for a place that's close enough to down town to make its presence known. The service wasn't bad just lacked effort. The server upsold side dishes , but never brought them out. Had them removed from the check. The ambiance is great , nice decor , great music and spacious. The chicken was diced and dry from being reheated so it had those crunchy edges, which don't belong in an enchilada lol. The drinks were sweet and tasty. Overall try if you're gonna be drinking rather than looking forward to the meal.

Empty restaurant

El Cafecito

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Oro verde our Traditional Guacamole

Barrio

4.1(1.4k reviews)

7.0 mi•Near North Side

I had a great time! Tiyana was the best! I went for a lowkey birthday celebration and she made it…read morefeel very special! I will be back!

Barrio - Chicago Strawberry mint margs + Saturday happy…read morehour = YESSS Chips + dip trio with queso, salsa & guac = all 3 were delicious Steak + shrimp tacos = so flavorful & a must try Cornbread skillet = surprisingly SOOO good, so glad we got it 5/5 Loved the fun patio vibes, nice service, clean bathrooms + such a good Chicago happy hour spot! Happy hour is EVERY DAY 4-6pm Check out the full review on IG: @ratedbyaleena_

5.3 mi•Ukrainian Village, West Town

Interior views

Chicken fajitas

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Margarita time!

Sabroso! Mexican Grill

4.7(552 reviews)

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.

My husband and I had a great meal here. We were welcomed with complimentary chips and salsa. I…read moreordered the vegetarian enchiladas, and he had the Sabroso burrito with grilled chicken--both were excellent. The service was especially noteworthy. Our server was very friendly and thoughtfully let me know that the rice is made with chicken broth, offering double beans or a side salad instead. As a vegetarian, I really appreciated that attention to detail. The restaurant is small, cozy, and clean. There's no parking lot, but we found free street parking on Erie Street right next to the restaurant. We'll definitely come back!

Interior din6

Enchiladas

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CHICKEN TAQUITOS

Carniceria Maribel

4.7(207 reviews)

7.4 mi•Pilsen

If you're looking for authentic tacos, this place is absolutely worth the trip. Between the…read moreincredible Selena mural outside and the fact that it's tucked inside a liquor store, the whole experience feels like discovering a hidden gem. I eat a lot of tacos, and this was, without question, the best pollo (chicken) taco I've ever had. I was expecting the usual dry, bland, or overcooked chicken, but instead it was incredibly juicy, packed with flavor, and generously loaded with meat. Every bite was outstanding. The only downside was the wait time, but once the food arrived, it was easy to see why people are willing to wait. If you're a taco lover, this is a must-visit. I'll definitely be back.

On the hunt for delicious tacos and decided to check them off my list! I walked in and was a little…read morelost as the front was a grocery, I hadn't read the reviews, but the smells drew me to the back to the restaurant lol. I placed an order for 4 tacos. 2 carne adada and 2 ribeyes. It took about 7-10mins during the lunch run at around 12pm, so not too long. Everything was fresh and hot, prepared correctly. I would rate them a 3.5, but the setvice got them a 4. I would return if in the area for sure.

The kitchen. Order here and take ticket up front to pay

Tacos de asada

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Tacos de asada y al pastor

XOchimilco Mexican Restaurant

4.8(365 reviews)

3.7 mi•Ravenswood

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

Excellent food and happy to know it's being carried on by the new owners. Give this place a try,…read moreyou won't be disappointed.

3.3 mi•Lincoln Square, Ravenswood

Dining Room

Pineapple special. Simply the best.

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Pollo en Mole

El Xangarrito Mex Restaurant

4.8(223 reviews)

A great BYOB spot for high quality Mexican…read more Excellent mole negro, ceviche, fried plantains, and enchiladas. It is supposedly tiny inside but it has a lovely outdoor patio in front of the restaurant.

Such a cute place. They have a huge patio area, too. Food…read morewas very flavorful and the enchiladas options were really good. Several different types to choose from. Sauces very authentic and served with a smile from our server. She checked in on us several times and really seemed like she wanted to be making our dining experience a good one. Free chips and salsa on the table at the beginning and the BYOB solidified the fact that me and my girlfriends will be back for sure!!

They seem to have a bunch of take out business, also.

Traditional Pastor Tacos

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Steak Enchiladas Mole. A generous portion to share or to take some home with you for a late night snack.

5 Rabanitos

4.2(853 reviews)

7.0 mi•Pilsen

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.

I was introduced to the place by a Mexicans from Chicago and it's such a hidden gem. She suggested…read morethe we try the sopes and i don't regret it at all. I got the chicken tinga and carne asada and it was really good. We had the verde ceviche (not pictured) and it was a table fav. We also got the elotes which were good but nothing special. It was my first time have queso fundido and i really like its. The staff was really friendly and the place is so cute. Most places are going for a minimalist look not but the bright blue, green, and yellow works really well today as well as the various artwork!

Interior

Chips & Guac

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This bright mural on the side of 5 Rabanitos drew us is for refreshing Micheladas!

Manchamanteles Restaurant

4.4(153 reviews)

3.5 mi•Bucktown

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.

The chef here has been around for a very long time, he used to work for Rick Bayless and then has…read morehad several restaurants on his own. This is the latest and it's very, very good with the specialty be his signature mole, which comes in a bunch of different varieties. The other thing that I can vouch for is the tortilla soup, which is among the best in the city. The atmosphere is a little kitschy, but the service is great, the margaritas are great, and I would totally recommend this, especially if you live in the neighborhood

Dobladas De Mole Negro! Delicious

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Queso Fundido!!(keepsmilingphoto.com)

Frontera Grill

3.9(2.8k reviews)

7.0 mi•Near North Side

The vibes were really nice for casual Mexican food. Dim lighting, candles on the table, and a cozy…read moreatmosphere. 8/10. The Chicken Taquitos (8.5/10) were perfectly crispy with tender, smoky chicken inside paired with fresh guac. The Corn-Masa Quesadillas (8/10) were more like crispy cheese-filled turnovers. The cheese pull was crazy, and the tomatillo salsa added a nice tangy kick. The Enchiladas de Birria (8/10) had tender, savory birria with a nice crunch from the cabbage and radish. The chile-sesame salsa added a great depth of flavor. The Barbacoa (7/10) was tender. I wasn't a fan of the salsa borracha, but the consome was delicious with a nice kick. The Fried Sweet Plantains (8/10) were soft and caramelized. The crema and cheese were a great addition. Overall, a solid spot for Mexican food when you want something a little nicer than a casual taco spot.

It's a terrific still solid stalwart of restaurants in Chicago's legendary portfolio of amazing…read moredining experiences. Creative authentic Mexican specialties and delicious specials. The service is impeccable warm and welcoming! The restaurant interior and adjoining dining experiences are beautifully art directed from Rick Bayles's brilliant eye for art culture and food. The mole is lendary and the branzino was delicious. Beautiful food great full bar and drinks.

Back room, additional eating area at the bar

Duck carnitas

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Pork shank

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Joe S.

17 years ago

This restaurant keeps satisfying every time we go. My son is Crazy about the carne asada tacos. The Chicken breast in chipotle sauce is incredible. They make the chipotle sauce there. The guacamole is the best I have ever had. The vegetarian torta is really filling. The red salsa is strong and smoky. The waitresses and cooks are all very friendly and helpful. And the carrot juice is delicious. Be careful, the large size is 32 ounces! Enjoy! read more

Anne M.

1 year ago

The interior of this establishment doth truly showcase the rich and vibrant tapestry of Mexican culture, and so too doth the culinary offerings. The fare presented is of such exceptional quality that it is naught short of phenomenal, and the service provided is equally commendable, rendering it a most delightful experience for all who partake. read more

Jesse B.

10 years ago

Food is amazing here. My wife love this place. The chips are great and you can tell they're freshly made. I never had tongue tacos till I came to this place, but now I'm hooked. Also the rice water Is very good and you can tell it's homemade. Highly recommend this place read more

Quentin G.

7 years ago

It's pretty good for the price and the amount of food you get , since it's down the street from me it's convenient and no complaints

Lily M.

12 years ago

Besides sometimes waiting for an empty seat at times. It's worth the wait. Prices are good and food is delish.

Alex D.

7 years ago

Use to be one of my favorite spots until I found a staple in my taco. Never going back again

Maria S.

11 years ago

Worst place ever in my tacos had hair and restaurant didn't did nothing never to come back

Paul G.

16 years ago

Good cheap Mexican food! This is our new place for Mexican takeout!

Sharon N.

7 years ago

Delicious tacos and great customer service. Will be back again!

Poncitlan #5 - mexican - Updated October 2026

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Meson Del Taco

3.6

(213 reviews)

I love the workers here! So friendly especially that girl named cictlaly the blonde hair one.10/10…read moreservice would come again!!!

I don't normally complain, but had to say something this time. Second time I go here. First time…read moreordered tacos de carne asada, only beans and cheese. Meat tasted very good, but was about as skimpy as Chipotle. Second time I figured, let me do the burrito cause it's def more meat. Ordered carne asada burrito with easy beans and cheese. They stuffed the burrito with about 60% beans, 20% meat, 10% cheese, and the other 10% is tortilla cause they wrap in a way that makes the burrito look fat, but one section of it is all tortilla rolled up. See pic. Coincidentally, I couldn't help but notice their sign at the register that says once u take the food out and/or consume the food, it cannot be returned. This sign is up for a reason, cause this is what they do... I wouldn't have done that anyways, but that $#!+ merited being taken back. I can't be the only one. Was trying to find a good taco spot in the community, but guess i gotta just keep taking the drive to cinco de mayo on montrose and western or asadero on montrose and Lincoln.

El Taconazo La Fiesta

3.2

(128 reviews)

Went to El Taconazo La Fiesta with my parents and had a mostly good experience. I tried the Gordita…read morede Asada con Nopales, which came with beans and cheese on top, plus a side of lettuce, tomato, and onion so you can add to your liking. My dad had the Gordita de Asada without nopales. Both were really fresh and tasty--definitely a highlight! My mom ordered Carne en su Jugo, and honestly, it was a bit disappointing. It looked like beans straight from a pot with added bacon and steak, and the broth was clear instead of green as expected. Would come back again for the gorditas, but we'd skip the carne en su jugo next time

The steak tacos were absolutely delicious, and the rice and beans were tasty. The food was full of…read moreflavor, and the service was friendly. Definitely a 10/10 experience. Just a heads up, this place is cash-only, so you'll need to pay and tip with cash.

Taqueria El Tapatio

4.5

(91 reviews)

This place made me feel like I was right inside my moms kitchen. Let me start by saying the salsa…read morewith chips here is so delicious. I usually am not much of a salsa with chips gal when it comes to restaurants like this. The chips were crispy, the salsa was perfection and just so savory and spicy! The green salsa was like a combo of roasted green peppers with avocado it was my favorite and the red salsa was the traditional tomatoes/pepper salsa. I wish we had them here in Des Moines. The service was amazing too. Just like at home they greeted us right away and told us to sit where we would like. The place also smelled so clean. I ordered to drink the carrot/orange juice. Made me feel like I was in the markets in Mexico picking up a fresh juice! To eat i ordered a steak, a tripa taco and a ceviche shrimp tostada. Needless to say this made me feel completely satisfied by the end. The shrimp ceviche tostada was a a generous amount and it was mouth watering good. The asada taco was delicious. The tripa taco was made how I like it crispy and just so good. The lady asked if we wanted the tripe soft or crispy which was so nice that they ask because everyone has different preferences on how they like their tripa. My mom ordered a order of the tripa tacos and she had them soft. My mom was so impressed by this place and that says a lot from a women who is a amazing cook herself. Anyway this is HIGHLY recommended if you love AUTHENTIC Mexican food. I will DEFINITELY be back here. I'm already planning my next trip!

Ordered delivery, wasn't great. Chicken burrito was flavorful, but the composition of the fillings…read moreleft a lot to be desired. Friend got a quesadilla that was pretty small and sad looking. Overall, lots of other spots in the area I'd prefer to get for Mexican.

Simon Tacos

3.8

(266 reviews)

We just ordered from Simón Tacos, today…read more The Taco salad de carné asado it's the best that my mom and I have tried from the sorounding area. My dad had the burrito dinner. It was bigger than anticipated. We will definitely be ordering from here again.

Wow! The quality of their food has really gone down. I ordered the three steak taco meal. The tacos…read morewere so greasy and the meat was not good. This place used to have quality tasty meat. It was so greasy and the meat tasted like greasy ground beef. The rice and beans was the best part. The steak burrito was the same as the tacos. Greasy and had that greasy chopped beef flavor. Not only that they have gotten lazy . There was literally a whole leaf of lettuce in the burrito. not even chopped. Prices went up and the quality went down. This was really disappointing because it was my go to neighborhood Mexican establishment I frequented.

Jimenez Restaurant

4.0

(13 reviews)

Great food, handmade tortillas. Excelente birria and…read moremenudo. Great service. Managed by owner.

We came to Jimenez for a quick bite. They were very welcoming and they even gave us a free pop can…read moreon our way out. The food is a tad bit pricey at first, but the tacos were big and very filling. I ordered a carne Asada torta and it was pretty big and filling. The carne Asada wasn't really the best quality, but it was seasoned well. It came with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and beans. The bread used was toasted perfectly yet still very soft. The al pastor taco had a very tasty marinade. It cooked perfectly. The al pastor had some crispiness to it but wasn't over cooked and still tender. Definitely a place to check out. The food was good but nothing really wowed me. Not sure when I'll be returning.

Taqueria los flacos

4.1

(78 reviews)

Great service, quiet place great tacos. We started with guacamole and chips, the Guac was freshly…read moremade and I tried the shrimp cocktail. Omg! Will definitely go back again

Great experience here. Greeted with hospitality as soon as we walked in. Spacious location with…read moreplenty of seating. Food tasted good and portion sizes were fair as well. Overall no complaints would come back and try other items on the menu.

El Burrito Rapido

3.1

(142 reviews)

Trust me when I tell you this Barbacoa taco slapped so crazy. Perfectly seasoned and cookedread more

Great fast Mexican spot that stays open late. I love getting the chimichangas and chile relleno…read more More of a takeout place, they don't have must seating. Service is fast.

Taqueria El Dorado 2

4.0

(23 reviews)

The food was terrible...we ordered some tacos - 2 chicken, 2 Al pastor, 1 chorizo and 1 steak. The…read morechicken was okay at best, the Al pastor was burnt and the steak had no flavor at all. The chorizo clearly came out of a hot well, with no char on the chorizo. It has to either just be sitting there on the side of the grill, or they use really low quality chorizo. We also ordered a steak burrito - worst I've ever had...way too much beans and lettuce, not nearly enough protein. Plus the steak that was found was chewy and tasteless. The tortilla never made it to the grill, just chewy and poorly wrapped. The guacamole is awful, so many chunks of onions and tomatoes with 1/2 an avocado at best. The fries were terrible too - forget the fact they serve crinkle cut fries like you're 5, they came soggy in a paper bag, with no seasoning at all. No salt, no pepper, no nothing. No care in the packaging whatsoever, just a greasy heap of half mushy fries. This place used to be worth the order, but now, I'd rather go to Taco Bell than order from here ever again.

This was my go to place for tacos and I was a loyal customer for years so it hurts me to say…read more.. I WILL NEVER ORDER FROM HERE AGAIN! I placed a pickup order for 26 tacos through grub hub and instantly notice the increase in price but proceeded to finish placing the order and received a alert from my bank for the amount paid. After about 15 mins without a confirmation from the restaurant, i decided to call to make sure they received my order. A man picked and I let him know i placed an order through grub and wanted to confirm it was received. He confirmed that it was received and told me he was very busy but will have it ready in 15 minutes. I wasnt in a hurry so i told him i would be there in 30 so he can have more time because he was busy but before I hung up,I specifically asked him for 10 green salsa and ten red, he said yes. I arrived 30 mins later and he did not even start cooking my food. He told me it would only take 15 so I patiently waited 25 mins. After he hands me the food, i asked him if the 10 green salsa and 10 red was in there, he said yes. I got to my destination to open a tray of 26 tacos with no onion or cilantro!!!!I was absolutely appalled!! Someone needs to report them to the Taco Authorities cause any mexican restaurant serving tacos with no onions or cilantro should be shut down immediately!! To make things worst he only gave me 5 green and 7 red salsa for 26 TACOS!!! Needless to say I was extremely embarrassed to serve this to anyone. It looked so low budget and un appetizing I done with this place.!!! *Wiping my hands* They can be stingy with their onion and cilantro and salsa all they want, im taking my business to a real mexican restaurant. Nobody has time to worry if they gonna get onion and cilantro or salsa with their tacos. Theres way too many taqueria in Albany that will do it right!! Its funny how the price went up but quality of service and food goes down. Please do not waste your money here.

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