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Cafe El Tapatio, Chicago, IL
Cafe El Tapatio, Chicago, IL
Cafe El Tapatio, Chicago, IL
Cafe El Tapatio, Chicago, IL
Cafe El Tapatio, Chicago, IL

Cafe El Tapatio

4.8
4.8
346 Reviews
$31 to $50
Mexican

Make a reservation

2 people
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
7:00 PM
Booked 13 times today
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • Lively
The Parra family has owned and operated this cheerful restaurant for 46 years and make frequent trips to Mexico for menu ideas and cook up several family specialties. Beyond the standard tacos, burritos, and chimichangas are dishes such as crepas de pollo.

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Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Latin American, Mexican / Southwestern
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Fri–Sun 11:00 am–3:30 pm Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 3:30 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:30 pm–9:30 pm Sun 4:00 pm–8:30 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Neighborhood
    Lakeview / East Lakeview
  • Cross street
    W. Roscoe St
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    Brown Line - PaulinaBus - Route 9 (Ashland and Roscoe)
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wine

What 346 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.6Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Chicago / Illinois

    Mexican

  • Chicago

    Mexican

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Cafe El Tapatio is a beloved neighborhood gem known for its "excellent food and service." It offers a festive atmosphere with standout margaritas and churros. The staff is "friendly and attentive," providing a welcoming experience. While some reviews mention noise and service issues, the overall dining experience is "amazing," making it a top choice for Mexican cuisine in Chicago.
346 Reviews
  1. Cait

    Milwaukee18 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Cafe El Tapatio never fails to impress! We brought my grandma here on a busy Friday night, and the host kindly gave us a call when our table was ready so she could wait in the car. Service was prompt and the food was fresh and delicious. We never had and empty glass, which was impressive in a packed restaurant. We had a great time and will certainly be back!

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  2. Annalisa VIP

    Chicago4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food and service were excellent! Will be back for sure!

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  3. Karina

    Chicago3 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on February 28, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    My husband and I went to dinner. We were rushed out. We weren’t asked for dessert. After they took our plates, the check came to our table.

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  4. Kathie VIP

    Chicago15 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 25, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great spot for dinner, cocktails and churros. The service was outstanding. Added this to my favorites list and will visit again

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  5. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 23, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    10/10! I’ve had many great nights here and this was no exception. The service is excellent they went above and beyond and the food was delicious and fast.

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  6. Ree VIP

    Chicago19 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 22, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Mezcal drinkers, get here! And the best churros I've ever had!

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  7. Mary

    Chicago20 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on February 9, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    El Tapatío is one of our favorite dinner spots. Food and service is consistently excellent.

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  8. Derek VIP

    Chicago10 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 8, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food! Great service! Great margaritas! We had the Taberna and a chille rellenos plus beef enchiladas. Perfect.

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  9. Nicholas

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 2, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Love coming here. Excellent food, service, and atmosphere.

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  10. John

    Atlanta2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent service! Bartender was great! Food was delicious!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Cafe El Tapatio offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (773) 327-5475.

Cafe El Tapatio is rated 4.8 stars by 346 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation


Booked 13 times today
Google Map for Cafe El Tapatio

3400 N. Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60657

Additional information

  • Cross street
    W. Roscoe St
  • Neighborhood
    Lakeview / East Lakeview
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Fri–Sun 11:00 am–3:30 pm Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 3:30 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:30 pm–9:30 pm Sun 4:00 pm–8:30 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Latin American, Mexican / Southwestern
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    Brown Line - PaulinaBus - Route 9 (Ashland and Roscoe)
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wine
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