Diners' Choice: Mexican restaurants in Chicago / Illinois

OpenTable

Updated October 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!

La Catedral Cafe & Restaurant - North Lawndale

4.9

4.9 (8)

$30 and under

Mexican

North Lawndale

About the restaurant

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

Top review

Sonia

Dined on Sep 22, 2024

I love the catedral’s new location. So much closer to me!

La Catedral Cafe & Restaurant - Little Village

4.9

4.9 (85)

$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

Llacelina

Dined on Sep 25, 2024

one of my favorite places to go for breakfast. Food is great. service is amazing.

Kie-Gol-Lanee

4.9

4.9 (166)

$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

Kalovip

Dined 4 days ago

Delicious meal and all the staff members were so nice! We loved the tamales, we will definitely be back for more!

Zentli

4.8

4.8 (59)

$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

Leahvip

Dined 4 days ago

First time at this restaurant. We were going to Studio 5. Just a block away. Great restaurant on its own but also great location for the music and dance theatre.

Cafe El Tapatio - Glenview

4.6

4.6 (363)

$30 and under

Mexican

Glenview

About the restaurant

Cafe El Tapatio was established in 1974 becoming a Chicago Staple for Authentic Mexican Cuisine and Drinks. Brought to the North Shore in 2017, Cafe El Tapatio brings the heat to the suburbs in a hip and urban environment. Focusing on traditional Mexican flavors we go above and beyond the typical run of the mill Mexican restaurant bringing one entrees like Arrachera XX, Pollo en Mole de Reyna, Camarones al Tequila, and Salmón Citrico; alongside various other traditionally flavored dishes. In regards to our drinks, all our specialty cocktails are made with small batch boutique 100% Blue Agave Tequila.

We hope to see you soon! We're open for Lunch and Dinner during the week and Brunch and Dinner on weekends.

Find us on Instagram & Facebook: @cafeeltapatiogv

Top review

Vivianvip

Dined on Oct 4, 2024

This is our second time at this restaurant. Not impressed the first time but decided to give it another try. This time we very much enjoyed it. My husband’s burrito was perfect and the salmon I had was amazing! Looking forward to going back.

Takito Kitchen - Wicker Park

4.9

4.9 (721)

$30 and under

Mexican

Bucktown / Wicker Park

About the restaurant

Takito Kitchen is a seven-year-old, "award-winning" modern taqueria (taco joint) in Wicker Park featuring Mexican-inspired cuisine with fresh ingredients & complex flavors, along with handcrafted margaritas; 100% gluten-free menu & freshly squeezed juice margaritas:-)

Top review

Jose

Dined on Aug 30, 2024

Delicious all around! Cucumber margarita was the best!

Mama Maria's Taco and Tequila Bar

4.8

4.8 (189)

$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

Williamvip

Dined on Sep 28, 2024

Great food. Great service. Come here quite often. Never have been disappointed

Mirra

4.7

4.7 (55)

$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

Ankitvip

Dined 1 day ago

The food is exceptionally good and the staff was very accommodating to our needs as we had a toddler with us. I’d definitely be recommending this to others.

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Experience

Chefs Counter

Big Star West Town

4.8

4.8 (27)

$30 and under

Mexican

West Town

About the restaurant

Culinary Director Chris Miller introduces an all new menu including ceviche, aguachiles, and Mariscos classics with signature Big Star tunes and an open-air patio.

interested in hosting an event or large group with us?
email vipevents@oneoffhospitality.com to book with us today!

Top review

Brianvip

Dined on Sep 27, 2024

Excellent as always. Great food, excellent selection of whiskeys and tequila/mezcals.

Cafe El Tapatio

4.7

4.7 (327)

$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

Sal

Dined on Oct 5, 2024

One of the best Mexican restaurants on the north side. The owner really cares about running a successful business.

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