It's been 11 years since my last review so I figured it's time for an update. I graduated from Northwestern, moved to LA, moved to Boston. I never forgot Tomate though. Tania is so amazing; she even catered our wedding! Tomate is one of a kind, and Evanston/NU is so lucky to have them. The carnitas and carne asada remain the two shining stars on their menu. They are so freaking good. The horchatas are also so amazing. I didn't know how good I had it until I moved away and tasted bad horchatas for the first time. I've had burritos/tacos in Vegas, LA, NYC and Chicago (Pilsen). There have been restaurants that do some things better, but no one does carne asada/carnitas like Tomate. (Although I'm going to Mexico City/Oaxaca next month so we'll see if that changes haha) The burritos have risen in price to $11, but honestly holding pretty steady with Chipotle prices, which I consider the gold standard of takeout value. They've closed their storefront and moved to online only ordering. Remember to place your order ahead of time! read more

I've been eating at Tomate Fresh Kitchen for over a decade now and their quality has not faltered. I love that it's walking distance from my office and I can place an order and walk there and it's ready to go. read more

Stopped here for lunch before class one day. There is a QR code on the door to order. When I got there, they said they stopped taking orders, so I waited 15 minutes before I was able to place my order. After placing my order, I waited about 10 minutes before my food was ready. I got the carne asada burrito. It was a fine burrito, but it had a very strange fishy aftertaste that was quite off putting. I had high hopes for this spot, because I've heard good things about it, so maybe I'll need to try it again. read more

Delicious tacos and gorditas. Red salsa is super flavorful and spicy. Horchata is creamy and sweet. Friendly service in this tiny restaurant. read more

Checked out this not as well known Mexican restaurant that was hidden a ways away. It looks kind of crappy from the outside but try it because it's better than it looks. Tomato is located in Evanston up north close to the Noyes CTA station. Has only to go orders because there's no dining area inside. You should call to make sure they're open because it's unreliable. A lot of people will say this hardly is like a restaurant at all. It really isn't much of an atmosphere to be honest. There's no seating inside and there's nothing inside really. No bathrooms. Of course there's lots of restaurants like this, but this is extreme though. Also the crazy ordering system is lame. Scan the QR code on the window. Order online. They also only accept cards so make sure you have the correct type of payment. As for the food it's okay but overpriced to be honest. It's about $4 for an Agua Fresca, and I had the Blueberry Lemonade. Good drink. This even had bits of fruit floating in it. Better than the food to be honest. It's about $10 for a burrito, and it's a pretty average one. Has a few vegetarian choices. The Fried Tofu Burrito is one that's vegetarian. Strange looking barely cooked tofu, and it was covered in seasoning but it helped a lot. The burrito had limp vegetables and was soggy. It did have pretty good flavor. The rest of the menu is basic stuff but pricey. Be sure to know if they're open before going. It's closed a lot, even when it's supposed to be open for the business hours. The portions are pretty small for the prices, and there's no inside dining as well as this being card only, making you have to bring the correct type of payment or whatever. read more

Tomate Fresh Kitchen - Blueberry Lemonade Agua Fresca And Fried Tofu Taco - Latin American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

We toured the University and ended up here. My kids and I had the burritos, horchata and strawberry smoothie along with flan. All of which were ok....we picnicked on the chairs across and ate our food. All of this costed close to $80 slightly overpriced for mediocre taste. read more

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My friend and I ordered tacos from this place for take out and I felt like they were very just meh! I'm surprised from the reviews... I was hoping for a bit more! I also feel like the red salsa that they give is also kind of basic. There wasn't a lot of heat factor. I'm not sure if they have any other salsas, but a good green salsa would have helped bring the flavor out from these tacos. The only one I sort of liked was the Al Pastor, but I wouldn't even bother with the Asada again. All in all, probably wouldn't return. read more

These are my favorite burritos, and I stop by every time I'm in Chicago. The salsa is fantastic, and the food is always fresh, perfectly seasoned, and well worth the trip. read more

Conveniently located near NorthShore Evanston hospital. Take out are served out through a small window facing the street. The parking near the area is tricky, but I parked across from the establishment in a parking lot that's supposedly paid, but I stopped by just to cross the street to pick up food which was less than a minute, so I think it was probably OK. It was during a weekday so there are plenty of parking locations. I liked that they toasted the burrito wrap so it's drier and tougher, but I think the meat and fillings inside are also a bit dry. Perhaps I should've asked more sauce to go with it! Otherwise, I think it's a good option and location that serves the community around. read more

Small place with amazing food, and fast service! We had veggie tacos and a Carne asada burrito and loved all of it, plus it only took about 10 minutes for our food to be ready The sweet potato taco is probably one of the best veggie tacos I've had. Their bean and cheese taco is like a mini burrito, but I wasn't the biggest fan of their caramelized onion taco (it was super hard to eat, and had a bit too much onion, but still tasted pretty good). I also love their red salsa, it's just the right amount of spicy. My partner loved the burrito but could only get through about half of it, so you'll definitely be getting your money's worth. Will 100% be coming back for that sweet potato taco and red salsa read more

Tomato Fresh Kitchen could have been the best most uncomfortable lunch I've had in years! Let me explain: When I was in college (over 100 years ago) I could eat any meal put in front of me sitting down, standing up, laying down, walking, running, bathing or any yoga position thrown art me. Now - just sitting down at a table is the only way I can eat my food. Tomato Fresh Kitchen is located in the heart of Evanston, IL, home to thousands of Northwestern College students. These yougin's can eat like I could eat 100 years ago (in any position). Tomato Fresh Kitchen is not a restaurant. It doesn't have seats or tables. They have no bathrooms or servers or really anything resembling a restaurant, except really great food. It does have a QR code taped to their window to scan, enter your order into their system and pay ONLY by credit card. There is no human interaction except for handing-off your bag of food when its your turn for pick up. So, with that in mind, let me start with the "best lunch" part mentioned above: My carne asada burrito was one of the better burrito's I've ever had. The flavor palette along with the construction of this beauty knocked me out. I really don't have anything to compare it to other than (possibly) Tacos Villa Corona in Atwater Village, CA, but Tomato Fresh was better. I really loved this burrito - a lot! Now, for the most "uncomfortable part": I sat on the curb in 39° weather with unwashed hands with my knees in my chest, trying my best to consume my food, with a smile. Why not sit in my car you ask? Well, without a knife or fork or spoon I am not the neatest eater on the planet. My pristine wife relegated me to the curb on Noyes St. (rightfully so). This Mexican food was flat out delicious - so much so, I would come back here in a heartbeat. Here's the caveat, I will bring a fold-able chair, some clean wipes for my hands, on a warm spring or summer day. That should do the trick! read more

Just as delicious and fresh as everyone says they are. Their menu board has huge font, so you don't have to squint! Others weren't kidding when they said that there is zero seating available, literally no dining in option. There's a small board that hangs out of the wall where you might be able to stand and eat, but even that space is crazy cramped. We ended up eating in the backseat of our car. All items came with salsa, which was nice to have! We got... chicken tinga quesadilla: perfect balance of cheese to meat and not greasy carne asada burrito: not the best burrito I ever had, but definitely tasty and packed with rice and beans potato & spicy queso empanada: nicely baked, but kinda pricey for the small size pineapple+mint+habanero drink: must get! read more

Tomate Fresh Kitchen - Pineapple, mint, habanera. Not to be missed! - Latin American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Good food, though nothing to write home about. Pastor and cochinita pibil pork had great flavors, but the pork itself could have been more tender. I was excited that beef tongue tacos were on the menu. The meat itself was tender, but the flavor and texture overshadowed by the sauce/spices and filler ingredients like onion bits. Tacos are just $3 to $4 each, but any extras like guacamole or cheese will easily set you back $1 a pop. We ordered a side of guac ($1) and a side of pico de gallo ($0.75) instead and we're disappointed to find that we only received a tablespoon's worth of each. The gordita was fine (I wish the masa was a bit less stiff) and the tamale was a generous portion. My order was ready in 15 minutes - nice and quick. Online ordering lets you skip the napkins and disposable utensils to go green, which I appreciate. read more

Tomate Fresh Kitchen - Cochinita pibil gordita - Latin American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Got takeout from here for an early dinner. The grilled chicken and carne asada were both a bit dry. We got them in burrito bowl form, and the chicken definitely had better flavor than the carne asada. The salsa that came with it was nicely spicy so that helped a bit. The gorditas were soggy. This may be because we got it as take out? The tilapia was breaded but it wasn't crispy and there wasn't much in there so you taste mostly the beans. Overall, not bad for the price. It can get expensive if you add additional items to the burritos though, given that it only came with the meat, beans, and rice. read more

Tomate Fresh Kitchen - Burritos in a bowl, gorditas - Latin American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I placed an online order on a Saturday afternoon and it was ready for pickup within ~15 minutes. Upon ordering I was confused because the website still lists burritos as $6.50 but I was charged $8 per burrito when I ordered online. I had a carne asada burrito bowl while hubby had a carne asada burrito. We shared a duck taco and cochinita pibil taco. For our drinks we had a horchata and hibiscus orange agua fresca. The burrito bowl was decent but it was much smaller in size compared to Chipotle and you have to pay for add ons like cheese. The tacos were TINY especially for $3-$4 each. They were soggy and falling apart by the time they arrived home but I'm sure they'd be better when eaten right away. The duck taco was okay but the cochinita pibil taco was lacking in flavor. The horchata was painfully sweet which I was anticipating since it was mentioned in another Yelp review. The hibiscus/orange agua fresca was okay but tasted similar to POM in my opinion. read more

This place is absolute ! It is so delicious and definitely a favorite of mine when I'm in Evanston/visiting Northwestern. Tomate is a bit of a hidden gem and everyone I know on campus absolutely adores the place, and for good reason! I ordered the nachos and added on chicken tinga (they usually come with ground beef) and a horchata for pick-up. Both were incredible! Especially the nachos - they had the perfect blend of meat, beans, cheese, and toppings! It was seriously delicious. The horchata was a bit on the too sweet side for my taste, but I know plenty of people who like it very sweet so it's just personal preference. The portion sizes on both were great, and the price was very reasonable. I don't think more needs to be said - GO! Definitely worth trying. read more

Tomate Fresh Kitchen - Nachos with Chicken Tinga - Latin American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Literally so good. Nothing else even compares to the taste and quality of the food here. I love the chicken tinga burrito especially. Highly highly highly recommend. If you don't go here you are missing out! I'm dead on the ground every time. read more

Great burritos, okay tacos (usually very soggy). Service is unfortunate. You never know when this place will be open or close. They don't have a phone line that works, they have no form of communication (socials, email, etc.). They will randomly close for catering or other reason and you won't know until you try to order online and it simply isn't available. No indoor options, only pick up. So cannot speak to ambiance. read more

quick service and delicious food for VERY cheap. their gorditas are so flavorful and blast your palate with so much jazz

SO GOOD! I always get the carne asada burrito - delicious!!! The red tomato sauce that comes on the side is amazing, and compliments the burrito so well. I tried the al pastor taco today and that was also yummy and did not skimp on the al pastor. Takeout is so quick and staff is so friendly :) I love Tomate!!!!! read more

Tomate Fresh Kitchen - Carne Asada Burrito - Latin American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

No doubt the best food in Evanston and Chicago. I haven't taste any Mexican dishes that can top this place. The food is really fresh and delicious. The staff is great. This is a must stop place. Before the pandemic, you use to be able to come inside the store, but now, all food is ordered online. Very great food. $$$ read more

I really like Tomate Fresh and we eat there regularly. However, we've noticed that their order of guacamole ($9 Mayan style) isn't as plentiful as it used to be. The portions just get smaller and smaller. I think it's very good but I don't think we'll keep ordering it because it's maybe a cup of guac for almost $10 once you add tax and tip. Their tacos are excellent and the quality has never wavered. My favorites are the chili relleno taco and the duck taco. Others in my family swear by the black bean, salmon, and tilapia. Finally, there have been great with regard to COVID -- making sure everyone is masked up when they pick up their order and keeping everyone safe. I really appreciate that. read more

Love this place. Food is delicious and they are super quick to turn orders around to go.

Stopped by here for some takeout as we were craving some authentic Mexican food. This is a busy and popping location in Evanston and I was told it was great so I gave it a shot. ATMOSPHERE/ARCHITECTURE: 6/10 Small, cramped place, clearly made for takeout only, but it still was a bit claustrophobic especially if it were to become very busy. I like how everything on the menu was pretty clear though and most of the food was up front. SERVICE : 8/10 Fast service that was above average. We came in 20 minutes before closing and they got our order out really very quickly. They were also very nice. FOOD: 7/10 We ordered barbacoa, carnitas and tilapia tacos, a carne asada burrito and horchata to give a wide range to try. Barbacoa Taco - This was pretty good. I think the meat was kind of on the blander side but overall the taco was enjoyable. Tilapia Taco - I liked this one a lot. Fish tacos are something that isn't always done right, but when it is, it is a dream. I'd say these were above average. Carnitas Taco - The best of the bunch in my opinion. The carnitas were flavorful and melded well with the taco. I'd go for this again if I came back. Carne Asada Burrito - I wasn't too impressed with the burrito. Overall, it was average, but the meat in it was very good. I'd say carne asada is better than barbacoa. Horchata - Standard cinnamon dairy drink I believe. It was good, but slightly on the sweeter side. I liked it though. PROBABILITY OF RETURN: 8/10 I'd be inclined to come back here to try some more things. Not the best Mexican I have ever had but definitely a more authentic experience that's hard to find elsewhere. TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT: Worth a shot. OVERALL: 7/10 read more

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Tomate is SUCH a gem in Evanston, especially for Northwestern students that crave incredible Mexican food. Living near downtown Evanston, walking to Tomate is quite the trek but it's always worth it. I can't say enough positive things about this little shop. I also didn't know that it's a woman-owned shop until today, which makes me even more excited to stop by as much as possible (and so should you!) :) There's a lot to order on the menu, and each item has its own incredible and unique flavor. My favorite is definitely the chicken tinga burrito, and I always add cheese and guac! The menu items come with what's described, so you need to make sure to add cheese, guacamole, sour cream, or anything else that you'd like into your burrito for a small extra cost. They also give you a container of salsa with your order! While it's not a sit down place, and there's only barely enough room for the line (which is usually out the door during lunch time), they do have outdoor seating when the weather is warmer. Just be aware that this seating fills up really quickly as well. The line does get super long during lunch time, but it moves really quickly and it's worth the wait. The staff there are so kind and do such an incredible job keeping the line moving. For the price, which is comparable to Chipotle, you're getting so much more in quality. If you're up north on campus for classes, you need to give this place a try. Coffee Lab is right next door so it's a great way to take a quick break to grab a meal and do some work. You won't be disappointed stopping by if you're in the mood for some great Mexican food. read more

Tomate Fresh Kitchen - Menu - Latin American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Seriously...It is hands-down one of the best food places for tacos. Like oh my god it's so good! Beautiful hole in the wall experience. Head on over to Tomate Fresh. It will leave you wanting more and more. read more

Tomate Fresh Kitchen - Tomate Fresh looking east on Noyes St - Latin American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Ordered catering for a small outdoor retirement party. The empanadas were delicious even after sitting outside for a bit. Everyone raved about the tacos. Seasonal empanadas *chef's kiss* Tania is pleasant to work with and very accommodating. The team individually wrapped the tacos and empanadas and labeled them for covid reasons and dietary restrictions. Got the whole party saying they would buy/order from them! read more

Fast service with very authentic dishes. Never had a bad experience and good drinks selection.

Wow, authentic hole-in-the-wall Mexican food in Evanston! The way I measure the authenticity of a Mexican place is by the quality of the al Pastor Pork, and this was terrific. Despite the seeming complexity of the online menu, it's really quite straightforward: you can get a taco, gordita, burrito or empanada, and have it filled with pastor, carne asada, fish, caramelized onion/charred poblanos, or a few other variations. I tried several possibilities. The fish taco was small, garnished with diced pineapple, and the least expensive item. The gordita al pastor was generously stuffed with pastor, plus, oddly, some black beans. The burrito with caramelized onions and charred poblanos was huge, and although twice the cost of the taco about five times as much food. All three items were delicious. Everything is prepared to order, so it is fresh and HOT. Don't even think of eating here. Seriously, there is room inside the door for about six people to stand in line and order. No tables inside or out. Ordering online for delivery is probably the best approach. read more

Tomate Fresh Kitchen - Kitchen... Well, the whole restaurant, really. - Latin American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

HOLY HOLY HOLY FREAKING FRIJOLES. If Yelp allowed me to give 6 stars to one restaurant, this one would be it. This is the best place for Mexican food in Evanston. Maybe even Illinois. Okay I'm just kidding on the second part, but it doesn't change the fact that Tomate has changed my life (and saved me from certain starvation many many time as a Northwestern student). I didn't discover Tomate until junior year of college, where my apartment happened to be located really close to the store. It's one of the very few restaurants located on the north side of campus, so for us students that lived north, it was the most convenient food option. The store itself is small, you order at the counter and wait to get your food. It could get cramped and hot in there at times, especially in the summer. The wait is normally not that bad, except for peak meal hours- 12pm-1:30pm, and 5pm-close. For around $7, you can get a burrito- my favorite is the carne Asada. It comes with grilled sweet onions, steak, tomato rice, and black beans. The meat is seasoned to perfection and cut up in small cubes, and there is the perfect amount of each. You can also customize the burrito too at no additional charge. Also, the burrito is pretty big so for me it can usually last me 1.5 to 2 meals. I've also tried the grilled chicken burrito and the horchata. The grilled chicken is well seasoned and the horchata is nice and cinnamon-y. After the first time, I started coming here every time I didn't have time to make food, which was every other week. I ended up loving Tomate so much, I catered it, as part of my student group events. It was always the most popular food option, and everybody in my student group loved it too. On top of the food being delicious, the customer service is amazing too. Not only do the workers try their best to keep the line moving, the owner of the restaurant is so nice! One time, I forgot to include the tax exempt number on one of my catered orders, and the Tomate owner was able to adjust my total right away once we entered in the tax id number. This is some top notch quality service. Tomate is undoubtedly my favorite restaurant in Evanston, for the value, the food, and the customer service. And, I guess, for the nostalgia factor because it reminds me of my student days. Even though I've graduated, I still find myself craving Tomate from time to time. The coolest thing is that there's nothin fancy about it-- there's no exotic spices or rare seafood or anything like that-- only good, old, down to earth, authentic Mexican food that everyone should try. I already can't wait till the next time I'll be able to come back here! read more

Tomate is one of the best food options for Northwestern folks that spend a lot of time on north campus. It sure has saved me numerous times during my undergrad years from the horrors of gruesome school cafeteria food. Tomate's business revolves around take-out and delivery. The place has no tables inside, and just a couple of tables outside you could sit at if the weather permits it. It is a very popular spot for students, so you can expect a long line at lunch and dinner hours. Although it may take a while to order, the food has come out fairly quickly for all of my previous visits. I always order a burrito, and one burrito always fills my belly up to the brim. Portion size has never been a problem for me. And all of the burritos I have gotten to try are delicious. Some of my recommendations include the carne asada, chicken tinga, al pastor, and tilapia burritos. Being a near-carnivore, I was really surprised at how good the fish (tilapia) burrito was. And I LOVE how they prepare their chips; they're thick, fried to perfection, and taste homemade. If you're putting down a big order with a bunch of people, chips & salsa, chips & guac, or nachos might be a great add-on to your meal. read more

Tomate Fresh Kitchen - Chicken tinga burrito - Latin American Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

These guys are cool. Tacos are good. Support local places that care about what they're doing

Most iconic establishment in Evanston. Excellent price for a burrito and absolutely delicious.

So here's the caveat, it depends what you order. Empanadas good. Tacos great. Burrito...meh. The meat choice also obviously matters too. Just speaking in general if you were craving a burrito I wouldn't get one here. The ratio of the fillings were completely off. We ordered a Carne Asada burrito and it was more of a rice burrito with some carne asada and lettuce. Aside from that I was a big fan of the empanadas and tacos. We tried the chicken Tinga, pork with salsa verde. Both were well cooked, flavorful, and delicious. I would recommend those over the carne asada. The carne asada was ok. It does the trick but its a little underwhelming and bland compared to other carne asadas I have had. We also tried the horchata and the pineapple-jalapeno aqua fresca. They were so good. I would definitely have the agua Fresca again. read more

Based on some friends' great recommendations I went there and tried to order. There is no admission inside and any ordering has to be done via Google Chrome which I don't use (security concerns). No one there was willing to help and there was no flexibility at all. I finally walked away. Not a very welcoming place and I have no idea what the food is like. read more

Wouldn't recommend this place. We have tried most all of the vegan & vegetarian tacos & burritos. The burritos especially are mostly filled with rice, the salsa is bland (probably store bought) and the rest is flavorless. You need to order online, and pick up at the window. There's minimal interaction with the staff, and they always seem in a rush. They have a great location and lots of hungry students, so that's probably why they are still in business. read more

It's easy to miss Tomate on sleepy Noyes Street - but it is worth the small trek of heading up to North Evanston to enjoy some classic Mexican. Whether it's delivery, take out, or sit-in - Tomate consistently delivers incredibly satisfying and fantastic value meals. They have a variety of scrumptious burritos from the classic carnitas to chicken tinga to sweet potatoes. One of the core elements of a tasty burrito is the foundation. The pillowy tortilla, hearty beans, and aromatic rice are the supporting cast that prop up the starring role. Both the supporting cast and the starring roles at Tomate deserve Oscar nominations. Although I've only had Tomate burritos, I've always been curious to try their other offerings such as empanadas, tacos, and plantains. The food is perfectly washed down with their frescas and horchata. For anyone looking for delivery - Tomate is the BEST place to order from! On Uber Eatz, Tomate consistently arrives in less than 20 minutes. The food is always hot, fresh, and timely. Let's support Tomate during this time! read more

Last Friday I picked Tomate for our office lunch. I'd never eaten here before. We needed lunch & variety. We received carnitas burritos & tacos with salmon, chicken, al pastor & carne asada. We had rice & black beans & guac w/ chips. Everything was delicious. Everyone commented about the freshness, flavors & authenticity. We all had leftovers to take home as well! I'm positive we will be putting Tomate into our favorites & rotations. Thank you for a wonderful meal, on behalf of everyone at the office and our spouses! read more

My go-to favorite Mexican restaurant. It is so convenient, relatively fast and cheap, and very very good. I always go for their tacos: salmon, duck, beef tongue, carne asada along with a carne asada quesadilla and a horchata. I can only speak for their tacos and quesadillas however many have told me that their burritos are to die for. 10/10 place read more

Nice inexpensive taco/burrito place if you want a quick bite near North campus