If you have the time, this is the place to be in ORD! I had a really long layover yesterday, so was able to dine in in their tiny little dining room. I think I got my food just as fast as the people waiting in line to grab and go. But on the food! I got the crispy chicken milanesa sandwich, which came with slaw, pickled red onions, cojita cheese, and salsa. It was highly delicious. The perfect combination of crunchy, crispy, fresh, and fried. Really fantastic! I also had the best server! She managed the entire little dining room like a pro, getting all the orders, keeping the food and drink, moving, and doing it all with a smile and a bunch of sassy comments. She was amazing! I wish I had gotten her name. Don't go here if you have a short layover, just fyi. It doesn't move fast enough for that. read more

The fully dressed guacamole with salsa is SOME OF THE BEST guac I've ever had! The lunch items are very pricey and small even for an airport AND my biggest gripe is how long it takes to get your food. There are a lot of people working, but not actually WORKING. It took 20 minutes to get my breakfast sandwich WITH NO LINE! Will I keep going back? Yes, but for chips and guacamole only. read more

I was connecting through ORD and saw Tortas Frontera. I know of Rick Bayless and the Frontera brand, but never tried it before so I thought I would give it a shot despite knowing I've tried my share of terrible food under the name of a celebrity chef. I got the Crispy Chicken Milanesa. It probably took about 5-7 min to prepare. My first though was it's probably better quality than most US airport food. To break it down, it wasn't the chicken that really stood out. I thought it was the mix of ingredients was well proportioned and the bread was just the right texture and thickness to hold everything in place but not too voluminous. It was good, but I'm sure one could get an equally good torta in the city. Overall, it was fine. Was it better than other options in the airport? Probably. Is it amazing otherwise? Not really. Was it expensive for what you get? Yes, a little bit. When I'm at the airport, my goal is to fill myself up as cheaply as possible, in which case I probably wouldn't go back. read more

Tortas Frontera - Crispy Chicken Milanesa - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I was not impressed with the chicken torta. Their carne asada tacos are a much tastier option. Service today was terrible. I waited over 20 mins for my order and had to check the status of it. It seemed like they lost a few peoples order request. They were not busy. read more

Tortas Frontera - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

EVERY time i'm at ORD, and I have time to spare I prioritize coming here. Now they've added breakfast and open at 5 a.m. which is aaawesome! the quality of food is just way above what you normally get for an airport meal, and it'll fill you up! i've had the chicken and carnitas tortas before (drool), and this time i has their bacon breakfast one - no complaints! they have machine ordering for quick check out, but if you want to make any further substitutions or additions or want to pay with cash, just pop around the corner and someone will be glad to help you. Also really appreciate that they have vegetarian options for my friends and family. read more

Tortas Frontera - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Catching a connecting flight thru ORD or Chicago Airport my daughter recommended Tortas Frontera. Tortas Frontera looks like a food counter with a bar on the side, nothing fancy. Ordering was confusing at first because there were two kiosks aside from a section where there was a sign that said order here. Only one kiosk was being used, and there wasn't a staff member near the register to order. After standing in front of the kiosks, my daughter asked if the other Kiosk was working and we were told by other customers that they believed something was wrong with it. Finally we were able to order two quesadillas and two bottle waters which came to over 50 bucks. I think that was a little pricey for what we received. The food tasted good. The quesadillas came in a box and we paid extra for additional salsa. read more

Tortas Frontera - Chicken Quesadillas - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My #1 goto in Terminal 3! Very consistent over the years. The to go line moves quick, always fresh ingredients. If time before a flight I find a spot at the bar past the to go area. Full menu and great drinks. You can also order online and pick it up on your way to the gate! Friendly staff and never had a wrong order. read more

Tortas Frontera - Menu per April 2026 - Front - Food - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I wanted something warm and a little lighter than a sandwich so I went for the corn poblano chowder, but when paying $13 for soup, I hoped I would get more than 1.5 cups of over salted soup. The flavor might be there but it's hard to tell. read more

Tortas Frontera - Corn poblano chowder - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place had been ranked as one of the best airport restaurants anywhere, with fresh ingredients and high-quality cooking, so I was pretty excited to try it out at O'Hare airport I got the Cubano sandwich - which seemed to be the most popular option the individual ingredients of this sandwich were all fantastic I thought that the bread was really good - it was really soft and fluffy on the inside - some of the best sandwich i've had the guacamole was a massive standout here - it really dominated the flavor profile and there was a lot of it. this tasted fantastic the dipping salsa was also pretty flavorful on the downsides, I do think that the sandwich really did taste mostly like guac there really wasn't that much of any other ingredient on there - a very thin slice of pork, a couple pieces of not-crunchy bacon, and a bit of mustard but nothing noticeable it just felt like an avocado sandwich - nothing more when i was able to taste the pork i found that it was good - maybe a bit chewy unforuntately, this didn't quite live up to the high expectations for me as far as the price, it's not the worst for airport food - around 17 dollars - but for how little was in the sandwich it probably shouldn't cost that much read more

Tortas Frontera - cubano - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was not a bad spot to eat during a layover. The line was long and it took a bit to get our order so I would not recommend if you don't have a lot of time. I enjoyed my quesadilla and chips with guacamole. The portions were large and I was full before finishing. I would stop by again if I am in this airport again. read more

Tortas Frontera - Chips - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I fly frequently out of Terminal 3 at O'Hare (usually early mornings) and I always hit up Fronterra for a 5am Torta. I almost always get the Cubana and it's always fantastic. I strayed from my usual go-to this morning and ordered the Beef Quesabirria Torta. While it was good, but not even comparable to the Cubana. Also, this morning it seemed like they totally skimped on the beef. I won't be ordering it again for that reason.... I'll stick with the Cubana. I've also had the Chicken Milanesa a few times and that is always good as well. read more

Tortas Frontera - Beef Quesabirria. Hardly any beef... Mostly bread. - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Routine stop when connecting at ORD, as Frontera fare is far superior to reheated food from a bag at the Admiral's Club. Tortas Frontera is fresh and hand crafted before your eyes. There is usually a small line, as travelers with taste know this is the spot. I've dabbled with most the Torta options, all fantastic. Today I was the envy of the Admiral's Club while dining on a Cubana Clasica. This is your quality stop in ORD. read more

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Not being able to make an earlier flight I sought a quick bite to eat. Decided to grab a torta (beef quesabirria) to give this place a try. Order came quite quickly even though the place was packed and then was a line of people waiting for their orders. Taste was pretty good. I did add jalapeños which they put on a little too much as the consume was spicier than expected (guess down in Texas they can't handle the heat ??). When stuck at Terminal 3 in O'Hare, I would recommend this place, that is if you like Mexican food read more

Tortas Frontera - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We love Chef Rick Bayles's culinary shows dedicated to Mexican cuisine on the great PBS! During our layover in Chicago last week, we thought it'd be fun to try the food at his restaurant Tortaza, part of Tortas Frontera. When in Chicago... we thought it'd be a perfect choice for our main meal of the day. We shared a Chicken Chipotle torta - it's big, fresh, flavorful, full of fresh avocados, I saw the ladies working here cutting it right in front of my eyes! We also shared a couple of Carnitas Tacos with guac, red pickled onions, shaved radishes. Wonderful dishes, simple, delicious and very fresh - especially for airport food. We paired it up with Lime Agua Fresca-s, which we were tart and fresh, once again, nice to enjoy between flights. The prices are actually reasonable for airport rates and the service was very good. Great choice for a layover at O'Hare! Salud Mr. Bayles for a nice meal! read more

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Heard this was one of the best spots you could order food in any airport in the US, so I tried it on my most recent trip through Terminal 3. The ambiance is standard and there is a lot of room in between the order counter and seating area. There was about a 15 minute pick up time, which I thought was quick compared to other options available. I was pleasantly surprised that it did seem like quality restaurant food comparable to their other locations, but with a price hike. Beware - the habanero side sauce is legit and eye-wateringly spicy. read more

Whenever I fly through ORD I get a smile on my face because ... Tortas Fronteras. IYKYK. Order on the app then walk up to get your order otherwise plan on 10-15 while they MAKE IT FRESH FOR YOU. What can I say? Everything is outstanding. The guacamole should be a national treasure and any Torta..you can't go wrong. Today I got the chorizo queso. And the guava alfajor. I ate it so quickly I didn't take a picture but here's one from one of the other 100 times I've been there. Ambiance? Lively music. Friendly efficient service. Watch them make amazing food. If you're lucky enough to grab a spot enjoy the atmosphere while you devour your Torta. Close your eyes and imagine you're eating it on a bench in a city park somewhere in Mexico. read more

Tortas Frontera - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

One of the better dining options at O'Hare. Fresh ingredients and great flavors. I've been coming here for years and sadly feel like they have gone too far with cost cutting by limiting the menu items and putting the bare minimum on a sandwich. Could a chicken cutlet get any thinner? Drinks are good but very expensive (never see them post prices, even on the menu). Torn between 3-4 stars. Prob a 3.5 but being generous. read more

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This review is for the bar area and only ordered beer, not food. When we walked in there was the overwhelming smell of sour mop water! I wish we turned around and walked out right then. We sat ourselves at the long table opposite of the bar. The whole table was sticky with crumbs and some trash. We asked the bartender for something to wipe it down and she gave us napkins. She said she had been so busy she hadn't been able to clean. Well while we were there the customers slowed down and she never came and cleaned the area. Hmmmm.... And the tall seats were very uncomfortable. We stayed for about 45 minutes and my partner had a huge reaction to something in this area, possibly the sour smell? He immediately started having a runny nose which wouldn't stop. It lasted for about 10 hours non-stop allergic reaction. There are so many places to have a beer, we would not come back to this location and recommend going elsewhere. read more

Tortas Frontera - Dirty bar and smells like sour mop water. Who is Rick Bayless anyway? - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Excellent airport food! I came here for breakfast. They were very busy but I got my food about 10 minutes after ordering. I ordered off a kiosk and had to wait in a short line (probably like 2-3 minutes) for the kiosk. You can also order online from the ORD website. Because of the kiosk ordering, I had very little interaction with the staff besides my quick pickup, but the person that I picked up from was pleasant and it seemed like they were hustling in the kitchen. There's some seating directly outside the kitchen and the main food court is across the main hallway. I grabbed one of their seats and was glad I ate there because I got to listen to their Latin music. There is a bar too (with a bartender) if you want alcoholic mixed drinks. You can also get cans and bottles on the quick service side but understandably can't order them online or from the kiosk; you have to go through a cashier. I got an avocado, eggs, & rajas torta, added pickled jalapeños ($.40 - worth it) and chose the verde side salsa. Delicious! The rajas seemed to have been cooked in salsa which made them very flavorful, and the avocado was very fresh and green. The salsa verde was also delicious, although I almost felt like I didn't need it because the sandwich was great on its own. Any sandwich with eggs and cheese I expect to be kind of greasy but this was not greasy at all. I also got a mango lime fresca. It was pretty sweet but also tart from the lime so it balanced out. It was a nice accompaniment to the sandwich. Highly recommend trying them for some legit food in ORD! read more

A Mexican torta shop named one of best airport foods by Time Out Chicago. The lines are always long during lunch and the food does take a while to come out, so don't come if you're in a rush at Terminal 1 of the O Hare airport. I got the chicken chipotle torta, which includes avocado, poblanos rejas, jack cheese, arugula, and cilantro crema. Honestly this was quite yummy, especially with that tomatillo salsa I was obsessed with. So bright, fresh, and added a nice kick to each bite. The torta itself was freshly toasted and it made a very yummy hot sandwich. Wish I got more avocados as the order next to me got half and I got 1/4, but it's not a biggie hehe. There's some seating and a small bar, but depending on lunch rush, it'll be hard to snag a seat. read more

Tortas Frontera - Chipotle chicken torta - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Looked this up as an option for quality food in terminal three. The other reviews that pointed me in this direction were well done. The ordering system involved two touch screens to pick your food. I was extremely satisfied with my choice. I wanted a margarita with my food, the bartender was great in checking to see if my food was ready. His co-worker brought my food order to hand to the bartender. He set it beside me. I was halfway through my drink. The bartender offered me a water; i ordered another drink and enjoyed both my food and the drink. The food and drink were both as good as I had hoped. Yes, check this place out. read more

My go-to place before a flight. The crispy chicken Milanese is fresh and delicious. It comes with a slightly spicy green salsa. The service is quick, but the place is small so it may be hard to find a seat. A busy airport environment, but the food is delicious read more

Tortas Frontera - Chicken milanesa - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My all time favorite airport restaurant. I frequently order online when I have a tight connection so I can pick it up while running between gates. The guacamole salad is my go to. Absolutely delicious. This time I got a chicken and bacon quesadilla as well. The red salsa that came with it was delicious. read more

Tortas Frontera - Chicken bacon quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great option at O'Hare. I stopped at American Airlines, Terminal 3 but believe they have an outpost at other terminals. I've been to Rick Bayless' restaurants downtown Chicago... both Frontera Grill and the more high end Topolobampo... and he is a master chef when it comes to Mexican chow. So, not surprising that he knows how to deliver when it comes to translating his recipes and techniques into a fast casual concept. The place is busy, so plan accordingly for prep time. My Chicken and Bacon Quesadilla with tomatoes, jack cheese, garlic, mojo cilantro crema was awesome! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED read more

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Quick breakfast bite at Ohare kiosk only ordering quick and simple menu. We split 3 tacos for a snack before settling in at our gate. Service was good,friendly and served plenty hot. Kinda chill for a busy airport read more

Tortas Frontera - 3 baco,egg,cheese tacos - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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For an airport eatery experience, this is not bad. The quality of food is far better and fresher than most fast casual places in O'Hare, as is the variety of options. I ordered a chicken bacon quesadilla (filling, good flavor, well made) with a small side of guacamole (it was a little brown, which was disappointing, though flavorful) and a Coke. It was definitely expensive (neatly $30 before tip!), and you also have to find a counter / stool seat yourself on which to sit. Order at a kiosk and your name is called out to pick up your order -- very little "service," but it is efficient. I was satisfied and it was better than my other airport options. read more

Tortas Frontera - Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Quick order at kiosk, I got the salad without the meat or queso. Good things: LOTS of romaine, LOTS of guac, fresh. Cons: quite bland, was supposed to have a chipotle sauce but did not taste really like anything but the guac. So it was overall on the bland side, and for $17 that's a lot but that's the airport BUT it was fresh and I do not feel yuck after eating it! So it is a win. I recommend getting the queso on it and then anothr sauce if possible though because it was not too flavorful. Quick service. read more

Food was delicious. Snagged a corner bar spot and they cleaned it up very fast. Food came out quickly. We got the carnitas and chicken tacos. Both very good. Palomas were tasty too. Love this place. Recommend highly. read more

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02/12/25 - This was the second time I've eaten @ Tortas Frontera a Rick Bayless restaurant. Both times I ordered a a Cubana sandwich. The first time I ordered Cubana sandwich it wasn't very good as I bought this to eaten on the plane knowing there wasn't any food being served. This was a big mistake as this should be eaten right away. The Cubana is a Smoked pork loin, Gunthorp bacon, artisan Jack cheese, black beans, cilantro crema, chipotle mustard & avocado. The second time I ate it right away and it was delicious. Lesson learned 5 stars read more

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For a $14 cup of soup I expected it to be a full serving. Fast service -- I ordered from the kiosk. No real seating service. More of a takeaway place. read more

Tortas Frontera - Poblano soup -- 3/4 full. - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Sadly this has gone down hill hard! Rick needs to come and do some quality control. Yesterday had chips and salsa and the birria torta. The chips were bad! Seemed old some what stale. The bread for my torta also seemed like just an over toasted stale bread. Wasn't much meat on it either. I loved this place for first several years it was open but it's not the same anymore. With airport food in general getting very expensive these days at least make sure your food is super on point for the price. I sat at the bar and the bartender/ server seemed like he could absolutely care less about anything. Bummer that this has fallen so hard. read more

Tortas Frontera - Chips & salsa. (Stale chips) - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Delicious tacos and fast friendly service. Great option for a healthy bite to eat in the Chicago O'Hare airport

Waited in line for 25 minutes watching people stand come and go, and never getting to order.... Sigh. I guess I should've come an hour early just to order food? Didn't want to finally order and then wait even longer ans possibly miss my boarding read more

The tortilla and corn soups were both delicious but the avocado salad was a soggy mess with old lettuce and too much dressing or sauce to make everything sopping wet. While everything is pricey, I'll gladly come back for soups. read more

I was excited to see that they offered Mexico City-style tortas at Chicago O'Hare Airport that I definitely had to stop by during my short layover. This restaurant is one of the more popular dining options offered at the food court. They make all the tortas fresh, so prepare for a wait. Online ordering is also available, so you don't miss your connecting flight like I almost did! I wish I had more time here so I could unwind and enjoy some chips & guac and a cold beverage. I ordered the Cubana Clasica Torta, Chorizo + Queso Torta, and Chipotle-Roasted Chicken Torta. These were so good, not only did I order during my arrival but also for my departure flight back home. It smelled delicious, and I wanted to try them all! My favorite was the Chipotle-Roasted Chicken Torta. Inside the torta, the chicken was well-seasoned and tender with a tasty cilanto crema sauce. Followed by the Cubana Clasica Torta, it comes sandwiched between a crunchy toasted roll with a chipotle mustard spread. They should include more veggies to match the meat ratio. My least favorite was the Chorizo + Queso Torta. The chorizo was overly salty and missing a type of condiment to enhance its flavor. Every torta comes with a choice of either tomatillo salsa or red chipotle salsa. These were made in-house and chunky (not watery), just the way I like. If you are looking for a satisfying meal before your flight, this is the place to go! read more

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Located at O'Hare, The tacos were good. Toppings were fresh. Typical airport prices. Service was fast. Sat at the counter on a high stool. It's what I'd expect at an airport, fast and good so I can take time to relax before a flight. read more

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I stopped by to have a quick lunch before flight. This is pobably the best food around in the terminal. Beef quesabirria was my entree. It was flavorful. Mango lime aguas frescas was a good drink to try. read more

Tortas Frontera - Beef quesabirria - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Easy access in the terminal with plenty of seating. I wasn't expecting much but was pleasantly surprised. It's was a good torta. Real avocado, tasty bread, the chorizo had good flavor. Really surprised. The service was fast and friendly. I had to walk from another terminal but it was totally worth it. read more

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Had a delicious torta at Tortas Frontera at the Chicago airport. Pro tip is definitely to order ahead. Right before take off I placed the order for when I would arrive. Upon arrival my torta was hot and ready to go, which was a great call since the line is very long here. I ordered the beef quesabirria torta which was money! The meat was tender and a bit spicy, great handheld meal while getting to my next flight. read more

Tortas Frontera - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Solid for airport food! Otherwise the chorizo was pretty salty and the combination of ingredients was underwhelming, but as a whole, it satisfied the hunger and was quick and doable with only a 45 minute layover! Since it's a sandwich station, you can speedwalk to the bathroom midway in Terminal K and back during the time they take to make it and your food will be ready for pickup by the time you're back. I ordered a choriqueso and ate it too fast for pictures of anything remaining but the empty box. If you land Terminal 3 Gate K, and have a layover in G or H, it's on the way! read more

Tortas Frontera - Ordered a choriqueso - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois