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    Tortas Frontera

    3.7 (1.6k reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Open 5:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Tortas Frontera Photos

    TORTAS FRONTERA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    Beef Quesabirria. Hardly any beef... Mostly bread.
    Matt P.

    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.

    Palomas not spicy.
    D A.

    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.

    Choriqueso torta
    Erik F.

    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.

    Torta
    Jennifer M.

    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.

    Charles D.

    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

    Jo S.

    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!

    Chicken milanesa
    Amisha R.

    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

    Chicken bacon quesadilla
    Jess L.

    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.

    Peter S.

    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.

    Dirty bar and smells like sour mop water. Who is Rick Bayless anyway?
    Lydia K.

    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.

    Quesadilla
    Meg H.

    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.

    Chipotle chicken torta
    Clarissa C.

    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.

    Chicken and Bacon Quesadilla
    Steve G.

    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

    3 baco,egg,cheese tacos

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    Best airport food I've ever had. I wish I could have ordered more and taken it with me.

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    The chips were stale and the salsa was flavorless. The staff was inattentive and the music was too loud. Not enough seats.

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    Bocaditos Mexican Cuisine

    4.2(120 reviews)
    14.1 miWest Loop, Near West Side
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    Went here for my birthday dinner on a Saturday night. Nice atmosphere and music but not too loud…read morefor conversation. I loved the decorations. I ordered the steak and shrimp fajitas they were expensive but excellent! Came out on a sizzling plate. I tried the Habernita drink and sangria. The habernita drink had mezcal, orange, pineapple, and habanero so had a nice kick to it. My friend told server it was my birthday secretly and they came out with a sparkler had birthday music playing and shots of tequila for my table! We had a great time and I will definitely be back! I recommend coming here to celebrate your birthday or just to have a delicious meal

    Stopped by Bocaditos Mexican Kitchen in Chicago on a Wednesday night before a Blackhawks game and…read moreit was the perfect pre-game spot. The aguachiles were easily our favorite -- super fresh and full of flavor, with really well-balanced ingredients. You can tell the food is made to order and not rushed. The chips and salsa were also way better than your typical starter. The chips came out warm and crisp, and the salsa was smooth, flavorful, and super addictive. We also tried a few drinks, and they were excellent -- well-made, not overly sweet, and a great way to start the night before heading to the game. Our server was amazing -- friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. They kept checking in at all the right times and made the whole experience relaxed and enjoyable even with the pre-game crowd. Definitely a great spot to hit anytime you're in the area looking for solid Mexican food and a fun vibe.

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    Barrio - Quesabirria tacos

    Barrio

    4.1(1.4k reviews)
    15.1 miNear North Side
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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

    What a fun spot! We had reservations (glad we did) and sat in the bar area at a high-top table…read morealong the window. Perfect seat in my opinion. Views of the city right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of downtown Chicago. What I tried: + chips and queso - 8/10 + ribeye with rice and beans (was a special) - 7.5/10 + spicy margarita - 8/10 Great service!

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    El Xangarrito - Cheesecake

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    4.8(216 reviews)
    10.6 miLincoln Square, Ravenswood

    Thanks to Yelp El Xangarrito has been on my list for sometime, and I was not disappointed. It is a…read morevery small family-owned Mexican restaurant but the seating does not make you feel cramped. We did make reservations/wait list and was seated immediately. We started off with chips and salsa, and the salsa was a bit too spicy for me, but everyone else enjoyed it. We started with the Chicken Poblano - a savory dish with creamy poblano sauce mixed with chicken and sliced poblano peppers topped with corn. We all enjoyed it. Most of the reviews recommended the enchiladas and we ordered a variety of them. The Enchiladas Poblanos stuffed with chicken and cheese. The poblano sauce was rich and smoky. We also had the Enchiladas Morita. They were filled with shrimp and cheese. It was so flavorful and the morita chile added so much flavor. Each dish was served with a side jicama salad. Their special was a shrimp pasta with lobster. It came with full lobster tail. The sauce was creamy and flavorful. It is also BYOB, which is a nice option. Service was excellent, friendly offered recommendations. This is probably one of my favorite Mexican restaurants and highly recommend.

    Xangaritto continues to be a beacon of delicious food and friendly hospitality. They switched…read moreowners about a year ago and the beginning was a little rocky but today was an amazing experience. I love coming here for the tampiquena and the enchiladas. The tamipquena is marinated in something delicious, pretty sure it includes adobo chiles, making the tamipquena flavorful and tender. The enchiladas have some of the best sauces. We especially love then poblano sauce on the chicken enchiladas. The enchiladas have some tender chicken and the sauce is slightly spicy and creamy. Everyone is super friendly, the waiting staff and chef take pride in their work and it shows. I continue to strongly recommend this place for a delicious dinner out. This is not your typical Mexican restaurant. It s a cozy elevated escape.

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    5 Rabanitos - Chilaquiles verdes

    5 Rabanitos

    4.2(830 reviews)
    14.3 miPilsen
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    a great reminder... that i need to ALWAYS go to pilsen when…read morecraving mexican. my huarache was divine. the "sandal" itself was perfectly flaky - not greasy or impossible to cut. the veggies were perfectly seasoned, cooked but not mushy...my only "complaint" is i didn't expect potatoes to be part of the veg. i don't understand a carb on a carb but that's just me. the guac was very meh. would not recommend. the marg's are ok...but i'm not a great judge bc as a rule, don't really care for marg's. fabulous service and perfect spot for a show at thalia hall.

    We're from LA, and this is our daughter's favorite Mexican restaurant near the loop after her four…read moreyears at SAIC. She was very excited for us to try it out. We arrived around 7:30 on a Friday night and the place was packed. We only had to wait 10-15 minutes, which passed quickly with the live Mariachi music. The food came out pretty quickly considering how busy it was. We got: - Margaritas -- piña mezcal, passion fruit and pepino. They were good but a little small for the price. - Pozole Pipian -- It has a verde base that's very light. Something that makes it unique is chicharrones on top. My daughter prefers pork over the chicken. - Carnitas Huarache -- good flavors but probably my least favorite of the meal. - Asada Torta -- this was my favorite dish of the night. The bread was really light and the meat wasn't tough at all. For dessert we got the churritos and Mexican bread pudding. Both were good but nothing special. All in all a great meal.

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    Manchamanteles Restaurant - Enchiladas Potosina

    Manchamanteles Restaurant

    4.4(143 reviews)
    11.6 miBucktown
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    Chef Geno Bahena is back in business, and his world famous moles are as complex and satisfying as…read moreever. I had the rack of lamb in mole negro, and it was delicious. Get it medium rare. Kelly had steak fajitas and deemed them amazing. The sopa Azteca is spicy and loaded with complex flavors. Huge portion, too, enough to share or take home. For dessert, the chocolate mole tart and the strawberry ice cream are superb. Palomas and margaritas are good, and the wine list is all very affordable. Get the Rioja or the Cotes du Rhone.

    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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    Frontera Grill - Trio Ceviche

    Frontera Grill

    3.9(2.8k reviews)
    15.0 miNear North Side
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    Delicious food, friendly waiter, militant hostess…read more We came to dinner before a standup performance downtown (Mateo Lane was hilarious, by the way). I arrived at the restaurant on time (4:30) and checked in with the hostess, who said I could only be seated when the entire group of three arrived. This seemed weird given the restaurant was pretty empty at this time, and ordinarily I'd order a drink while waiting at the table. Regardless, I went to Starbucks instead because I knew the other two were a few minutes behind. When I got back to the restaurant, my friend said the hostess told him we absolutely had to leave within 1.5 hours because we were late... which seemed odd because he may have checked in 15 minutes after our reservation, to an empty restaurant, that already refused to seat me on time. Regardless, the food was delicious. I had the Pollo in ChiChilo-- the mole was delicious, and I loved the chicken and sweet potato. I ordered the mole on the side, which seemed like a nice balance. Since the hostess wouldn't previously seat me, I had a lovely iced matcha latte with oat milk and half a pump of vanilla from Starbucks, which was a nice pairing. The waiter did ask if I wanted a shot of something with it, which seemed odd. Ambiance was cute, probably due for a renovation but seemed appropriate for most dining out occasions- dates, families, a day out in town. Note: the restaurant charges an automatic 20% gratuity which may explain the service. Keep this in mind to avoid tipping more than you intend. Overall, I would definitely come back, and the food and wait staff made up for the abrasive welcome.

    Food - pork tacos - excellent execution of tender pork belly. Every piece was so succulent and…read morefull of crisy pork goodness. Warm, homemade tortillas added to the perfect bite on top of flavor town green tomatillo salsa. The black beans was a good balance the rich pork flavors. Also, if the standard salsa was room tamed for.your liking; they have a good habanero salsa for the asking. Maybe too much foe most. Dessert- ice cream with fudge.. Great tasting of vanilla and chocolate, but wasnt quite over the top. The ice cream was nice and thick, but was a bit gritty for ice cream at an upscale place. Partly why I couldnt give it a perfect score. Service - attentive and intuitive. The waiter seems to know what we like and need without asking too much. Spicy pineapple Cocktail- good, strong, but not great. Couldn't really taste any pineapple. Cleanliness- clean and organized. Cost - affordable for special occasion. Restroom - fancy and clean. Ambiance - warm and relaxing, but a bit cheap with the vinyl or cheap wood veneer tables.

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    Tortas Frontera - mexican - Updated May 2026

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