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    Rubi's

    4.2 (144 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Closed Closed
    Updated 1 week ago

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    RUBI'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Rubi's

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    Myra Z.

    The tacos are huge! The guac is delicious. They also have some homemade sauces that are very tasty and unique. The servers are also so friendly and the space itself is clean and colorful. Great casual spot in Pilsen. Go visit!!

    Beans and rice
    Jocelyn H.

    Rubi's has a beautiful interior, large portions, and fresh, delicious food. The restaurant is fairly small with around 6 long tables and a large front window that opens when it's nice out. I ordered the al pastor taco and beef tongue quesadilla. I recommend the quesadillas--the cheese is worth the extra dollar. Their tortillas were super soft, thick, and large! I think it was the best part of the tacos. The al pastor was pretty average but the beef tongue came in the largest pieces I've ever had. They don't skimp on the meat. Also, they don't lie, the salsas are pretty spicy but they taste very good. The manager or owner came around a few times to ask how the food was and how we were doing which was super nice. I recommend trying if you're near Rubi's.

    Tory O.

    Visited friends in Chicago this past weekend and was told to check out Rubi's for their tacos. As someone from San Diego, I was curious how good the Mexican food in Chicago could be. I ordered chicken tinga tacos and my friend got an elote and we also shared chips and guac. I loved the handmade corn tortillas. They were very fluffy and flavorful. The chicken tinga was okay but has a sweet/spicy flavor that wasn't what I was expecting. I also wish they had more basic street tacos (grilled chicken, cilantro and onion). The guacamole was amazing packed with flavor and a little heat.

    Tiffany H.

    This is a nice authentic taco spot located on the west side.. You can park in the street. The staff were friendly and welcoming. You place your order and you sit down, but pick up your food when it's ready. It's affordable. The decor is nice. It's a quick grab and go place. There's limited seating and it can get crowded depending on the day and time. They close super early. A few hours before closing, they run out of some of the items like guacamole or rice and beans. Definitely recommend that you try but be mindful of the time of day that you try this place and the day of the week to get a better selection of variety.

    1 Huitlacoche (corn smut) and two tacos de Chicharron
    Raul G.

    When I'm in Pilsen or Little Village I have my go to spot and I never stray from it. My wife and kids were with me on this trip and they wanted to try something new. Full honesty, I had never heard of Rubi's and didn't know how much of a destination this place was for people. That being said, I was blown away by the food and service. There was a line, but it moved along. Tacos were incredible! The Chicharron tacos were some of the best I had. My wife loved the pozole. Elote was incredible. The house made tortillas really made the tacos. I really need to get back soon to try some of the other tacos on the menu. Looks like I might have a new favorite taco spot!!

    Taco asada and steak quesadilla
    Emily T.

    Genuinely crazy, good tacos, and by far the best I've had since Mexico City. Like sure they are a little pricier than other places on 18th St, but the tortillas are the best I've had in my life and homemade right in front of you. I got the steak quesadilla and the asada taco. I already want to go back and try the Elote, but the quesadilla was definitely the way to go. The cheese is so good and they absolutely loaded with meat. It's in order at the counter place, but they have a decent amount of seating if you go at an off time. The service was so friendly and kind and I loved ittttt!! Gotta go back!

    Communal seating
    Jordan L.

    My son has flag football not too far from here, so we decided to stop after we were done. I know Rubi's has a lot of acclaim and has been featured on a number of shows. I wanted to see if it was worth the hype. We got there a little after noon on a Saturday and there was a long line, but it moved pretty quickly. You order first and then find a seat. Seating is communal so you have several large tables and counter seating. There were a few tables set up along the sidewalk out front. We ordered some asada tacos, some Al pastor tacos, a asada quesadillas, and some elote. All the tortillas are handmade. The tacos were a little pricey but they were stuffed to the brim with meat. The elote was some of the best I've had in the city. They had some pretty unique salsas that were all flavorful and had packed with good heat.

    Guacamole
    Naiima D.

    This place is clean as a whistle! You can see your food being made. I met the owner and he was very sweet! The guy at the counter had good customer service too. I ordered steak tacos. Delicious steak tacos made with homemade corn tortillas. Now the steak isn't super tender but personally I like a little pull on my steak in my tacos. They don't serve gringo tacos no cheese or sour cream available but you can get the standard basic onion and cilantro and you can add lettuce and tomato to your taco. They have a really good green salsa and red salsa. Come with also give you limes. Great lemonades and guacamole too! Highly recommend!!!!

    Tacos, guacamole, quesadillas
    Natalie N.

    This is one of my favorite places to get tacos in Chicago. There is usually a bit of a wait on weekends so be prepared it is well worth it!! The salsas are incredible and the handmade tortillas are too. You can just tell that everyone working here cares about the restaurant and the food they create so much, it is all great quality.

    Todays Lunch
    Sidney Z.

    I've loved the Chicago Mexican food scene (especially in Pilsen) since I started coming here in the 1970's! Living for over thirty years in Los Angeles, which is the Motherland (except for Mexico itself) of this cuisine, I found Chicago to be a close second. Pilsen is definitely Chicago's East L.A.! With that opening paragraph being said, my revival in the Mexican food scene here in Chicago started with La Chaparrita in 2001; everything changed for me then. I remember Rubi's as a simple taco stand which is now an up and thriving restaurant. Their menu has expanded in leaps and bounds, but I still go for their tacos. They are big; I'll call them "Six Biters", compared to La Chaparrita "Three Biters". And, Rubi's tacos are delicious. I had two Mole Rojo con Puerco tacos with their savory hot sauce. Add a Ginger Ale (which I rarely have) to this lunch and I was one happy camper!

    Zoe G.

    Wow can't believe it took me so long to find this place! The food was amazing, I had to get extra tortillas to go. Just be advised that at peak times you will wait in line for 20-30 minutes and another 30 for your food to come out.

    Huitlacoche Taco & Spicy Tacos Dorados de Papa

    First time trying Rubi's and it did not disappoint! It's hard to find huitlacoche on menus in the U.S. so I always order it when I do! Next time I think I would pick a quesadilla over a taco because I think would be even better with cheese. The handmade tortilla was very tasty (even though I do prefer a thinner corn tortilla generally). Tacos dorados de papa had a good amount of spice but I still needed to eat them with salsa since they don't include crema. Will definitely come here again next time I'm in Pilsen!

    Campechano asada/lengua
    Felice B.

    I generally don't have good experiences with restaurants that have been splashed all over social media. The food is usually mediocre if you're lucky and the experience can be hellish. I try to avoid them at all costs. I only ended up at Rubi's because the kickass birria place a few doors down was closed for vacation. The tacos really were outstanding. The lengua was tender and tasty and the the asada may be the best I've had. The meat was charred and smoky and all-around excellent. The mole taco was also delicious and rich. A little bit too rich maybe, but that doesn't take away from how good it was. The whole experience, taken in its entirety, was a true PIA. The line was long and other customers (read:TikTok slaves) kept pushing and jostling to take just the perfect selfie and other photos to prove they really were there. It didn't matter if you were standing in line, if you were in the way of their desired photo - duck! The service was just fine and even though the food lives up to the hype, the place is loud and crowded and some of the customers are major pains. Come back for the food when the hype dies down.

    Guacamole

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Just delicious. Have the al pastor. Steak was good too. Superior guac. We'll bring friends next time. Worth a drive.

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Authentic and price is well worth it. Tacos are very well served, freshly made tortillas.

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    3 years ago

    Some of the best Tacos I've had in Chicago. A bit pricy, but worth it! Very good options for vegetarians

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    They have the best tacos i've been getting tacos from them since the farmers market and they are still the best i've ever tasted!

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    Evelyn R.

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    4 years ago

    Amazing quesadillas! Delicious tacos! Homemade tortillas! You can't go wrong!!!! The coconut Shia de horchata is a must!

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    4 years ago

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    Evelyn R.

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    5 years ago

    Real good food them tacos are . Love the pastor and steak. They welcome you as soon as you order your food. Great service and food

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    Page 4 of 4

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    Cinco de Mayo at Barrio was EVERYTHINGGG…read more We fully committed to the holiday and ordered honestly the entire menu and somehow every single thing that came out was better than the last. Starting with margaritas (because obviously ‍), queso and chips that were dangerously good, and the chicken empanadas that came out perfectly crispy with so much flavor. We kept looking at each other after every bite like "okay wait... THIS is the best thing here" and then another plate would arrive and prove us wrong again The carnitas fried rice??? I genuinely cannot stop thinking about it. So savory, flavorful, comforting, and packed with crispy carnitas on top with the eggs and pickled onions... literally unreal. And then the skirt steak tacos absolutely stole the show. The steak was cooked perfectly, packed with flavor, and paired so perfectly with all the toppings and sauces. Every single bite tasted fresh and homemade in the best way possible. And can we talk about the ambience for a second because WOW. The music, the energy, the vibe inside, everyone celebrating, the drinks flowing -- it felt like the perfect Cinco de Mayo dinner spot. The service was also AMAZING from start to finish and made the entire experience even better. One of those dinners where you leave already talking about when you're coming back If you're looking for the place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, date night, tacos & margaritas, or honestly just an incredible dinner in general... this is IT

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    Sabroso! Mexican Grill

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    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!

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    XOchimilco Mexican Restaurant

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    My second time here, the first time for my dinner companion. Everything was incredibly good, from…read morethe greeting we got when we arrived, to the service and the food...oh my, the food! Appetizers were quac and chips, and shrimp ceviche. The guac was really good, but the ceviche was the star. Served on a bed of cucumbers, it was visually beautiful, and the flavor was fresh and complex. There was also a LOT of it. We ended up taking some home. Entrees were steak and shrimp for me, and Tampiquena for my friend. In both dishes, the steak was done to perfection. The sauce that came with my shrimp was spicy and deep--lots of flavor layers there. Both of us took home portions of our meals because there was a lot of food on the plates. Finally, the service--the servers are attentive without hovering. If we needed something, they were there, but never intrusive. It is hard to believe this is a little neighborhood spot, given the service and the quality of the food. It was not too busy tonight--we ate early--but I recommend reservations. It is very popular with the neighborhood. Bottom line, we each had 2 margaritas, appetizers, and entrees, and our bills with tip were around $105.00 each--totally worth it! Try this little gem--you won't regret it.

    One of the most tender steaks I have ever had. Service is friendly and attentive. Everything down…read moreto the guac was well-seasoned. This is going on my favorites list.

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    El Xangarrito

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    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!!

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    Traditional Pastor Tacos
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    5 Rabanitos

    5 Rabanitos

    4.2
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    0.6 mi
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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.

    A short walk to the northeast from the National Museum of Mexican Art, we had excellent service as…read morewell as food. It was a hot, humid day, but apparently it was warmer inside than on their sidewalk seating, so we dined outside. My wife ordered the Vegetarian Torta ($13.75) and I chose the Shrimp Torta ($14.50). They were each quite large and filling. My shrimp torta was good, but a little one note. The vegetarian torta was an awesome combination of flavors and I would order it again in a heartbeat. Only real negatives were that they did not offer any draft beer options and the Chips y Salsa ($3.75) had a meager quantity of chips to eat their tasty and generous tomatillo and 3-chile salsa options. Would actually go 4.5 stars based on those 2 factors, but gave the benefit of the extra half star due to how good our service was and the excellent flavor of the veggie sandwich.

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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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    Dobladas De Mole Negro! Delicious
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    Rubi's - mexican - Updated August 2026

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