Diners' Choice: Mexican restaurants in Chicago / Illinois

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Mexican cuisine in Chicago / Illinois? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Zentli

4.9

4.9 (63)

$30 and under

Mexican

Evanston

About the restaurant

Hear the joyful music of Mexico with a mix of Latin American and world rhythms, enjoy the colorful art, and taste delicious tacos in a warm community space.

Zentli (indigenous Nahuatl Language for "corn" or "maize"), is a casual restaurant that serves the best locally sourced Mexican street food in Evanston, Illinois. With fresh, natural ingredients and vegan & vegetarian options in eclectic, artistic digs, we’re your new local favorite.

We built Zentli to honor the ingenuity and hard work of Mexican people by bringing you the genuine flavors of street vendors through tasty food and mouth-watering drinks.

Top review

AvivaVIP

Dined on Nov 16, 2024

Delicious food, excellent service, great ambience. I absolutely loved it.

La Catedral Cafe & Restaurant - North Lawndale

4.9

4.9 (10)

$30 and under

Mexican

North Lawndale

About the restaurant

An award-winning, Mexican café serving up a Guadalajara-inspired, extensive menu

Top review

MIRIAM

Dined on Nov 3, 2024

Parking is easy to find, with spots available on the major street and surrounding side streets, so you won’t have to worry much about that. We made a reservation via Table, which helped us get seated quickly—though it’s worth noting that most reservations seemed to be for larger parties, so we had a bit of an advantage as a smaller group. The service was prompt, and they took our order right away. We already knew what we wanted: I went with the green chilaquiles, my husband had the red, and my daughter opted for pancakes. Everything was delicious! A highlight was the Café de Olla—when we ordered the large, we were pleasantly surprised by the huge mug they brought out! It was so enjoyable. The atmosphere is also worth mentioning. The art and vibrant colors give the space a lively, welcoming feel. It’s a great spot whether you're with family or friends, perfect for a relaxed meal or catching up. We had a fantastic time and will definitely be coming back!

La Catedral Cafe & Restaurant - Little Village

4.9

4.9 (89)

$30 and under

Mexican

Cicero

About the restaurant

A Mexican coffee house-restaurant located in the Mexican Capital of the Midwest, Little Village, offers a variety of different, non-traditional coffee and ice cream flavors. We also have an extensive menu of European inspired Mexican dishes that include options like paninis, salads and all-day breakfast. La Catedral, is a name inspired by the cathedral in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, which is also reflected in the establishment's logo.

Top review

Carmen

Dined on Dec 8, 2024

Love the food, portion sizes are great. The lemonade with chia is so good.

Kie-Gol-Lanee - Uptown

4.8

4.8 (188)

$30 and under

Mexican

Uptown

About the restaurant

Opened in 2016, this Uptown Mexican eatery continues to gather accolades, including a spot on The New York Times' recommendations "36 hours in Chicago" and four straight years of being a MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmand restaurant right up to the present.

An immersive experience of Oaxacan cuisine featuring layudas (a.k.a. Mexican pizza), tamales oaxaqueños, enchiladas de mole, cornish hen and tacos de birria just to name a few. Their selection of margaritas made with homemade agua frescas with no artificial syrups and mimosas on the weekends is a must! Diners know to leave room too for the Oaxacan nicuatole (a flavored flan) and tres leches cake.

Kie-Gol-Lanee comes from the Zapotec dialect meaning "Piedra Antigua" (old stone). Its Spanish version "Quiegolani" is the name of a small village in Oaxaca, Mexico, where the owners and siblings are from. Maria and Reynel Mendoza run this operation with their spouses, Leo and Sandra, whose mission is to preserve their family’s original recipes.

Top review

SteveVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Soups were delicious...pork chop a little dry....friendly attentive service

Sayulita Taco, Mariscos and Tequila Bar

4.7

4.7 (11)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Rolling Meadows

About the restaurant

Craving authentic Mexican with a twist? Look no further than Sayulita Taco, Mariscos and Tequila Bar in Rolling Meadows, Illinois! An upscale Mexican seafood restaurant offers a vibrant atmosphere, perfect for a fun night out. Our menu features classic Mexican dishes alongside gourmet tacos and a wide range of fresh Mexican seafood options.
Wash down our delicious food and drinks with a margarita, handcrafted cocktail, or a selection from our extensive tequila list! Our vibrant atmosphere extends beyond the decor, with upbeat music and friendly staff ensuring a fun and enjoyable dining experience

Top review

MarkVIP

Dined on Nov 30, 2024

We had a wonderful experience a few days ago. We had our family there and had a great meal with exceptional service. The salsa is unique and so good. Everyone really enjoyed their meals. The tacos and enchiladas have so much flavor. We would recommend this to anyone who has not tried this restaurant yet.

Mama Maria's Taco and Tequila Bar

4.8

4.8 (191)

$30 and under

Mexican

Orland Park

About the restaurant

Mama Maria's Taco and Tequila Bar is a festive Mexican restaurant in Orland Park. The dining room is sleek and modern, with an oversized wooden bar, trendy lighting, comfortable seating, big screen TVs and charming accent pieces. Mama Maria’s Taco and Tequila Bar has a relaxed and inviting atmosphere that is created through the tasty aroma and intimate design of the dining room.

The menu that is offered at Mama Maria’s Taco and Tequila Bar is referred to as “Mexican street food – fresh to your table.” The menu consists of traditional Mexican favorites, which include taquitos, guacamole, sizzling fajita platters, an assortment of tacos, enchiladas and burritos with a modern twist.

Top review

CoreeVIP

Dined on Oct 31, 2024

We love Mama Maria’s!! Great food, a fun environment, the staff is always friendly! It is a go to for some of the best guac!

No Manches Mexican Grill - Vernon Hills

4.7

4.7 (62)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Vernon Hills

About the restaurant

No Manches Mexican Grill is a modern Mexican concept that brings Dia de los Muertos culture to life, with vibrant murals, traditional Mexican cuisines, innovative handcrafted cocktails, and a great ambiance. Whether you get the Tocho Morocho Parillada for the whole family, or sip on our signature margarita 'LA COLORADA', we will make sure to satisfy your taste buds each and every time!!! See you soon!!!

Top review

KenVIP

Dined on Nov 30, 2024

Drinks, food and service was fantastic…..I continue to come back here with my family.

Leña Brava

4.8

4.8 (996)

$31 to $50

Mexican

West Loop

About the restaurant

Located in Chicago's West Loop, Leña Brava is a culinary gem celebrating the dynamic flavors of Baja California Norte. Our kitchen, devoted to the art of live-fire cooking, breathes life into dishes that embody the essence of Mexican culinary traditions and the diverse tastes of Baja. Influenced by a fusion of Mexican, Mediterranean, and Asian cuisines, our menu transcends conventional boundaries, offering an array of vibrant ceviche, tantalizing agua chiles, succulent flame-kissed Pacifico seabass, and hearty steaks.

Under the skilled guidance of Chef Brian Enyart, with over two decades of innovation in Mexican cuisine, we showcase seasonal ingredients, capturing the essence of Mexico and Baja Norte's culinary landscape. Complemented by our open-plan kitchen and curated beverage program, spotlighting an immense mezcal collection and an array of Baja, New and Old World wines, Leña Brava invites guests on a culinary journey, where Mexican tradition harmonizes with innovation.

Top review

Bonita

Dined 2 days ago

The food was EXCELLENT! We will definitely go again with our business clients.

Mirra

4.7

4.7 (105)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Bucktown / Wicker Park

About the restaurant

Mirra is centered around the excitement of exploring the South Asian and Mexican culinary and collaboration that is really an unknown story up north.

A la carte service, wine-focused with a small curated cocktail menu. Our chef's counter will offer a casual prix fixe experience for guests to enjoy. Mirra is a space that is warm, cozy, and comforting, whilst simultaneously executing a bold and vibrant food and beverage program. Mirra is a unique representation of how 2 different cultures can be 1 presented to you by Rishi Kumar, Zubair Mohajir, and David Mor.

Top review

DanVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Second time dining here in less than a month. The food and service are both outstanding. I can't recommend Mirra enough (food is somewhat spicy, fyi).

Cafe El Tapatio

4.6

4.6 (332)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Lakeview / East Lakeview

About the restaurant

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.

Top review

MaryVIP

Dined 6 days ago

One of our favorite restaurants. Reliable, the food is excellent as are the cocktails.

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