Restaurantji unveils Northbrook's must-visit Mexican dining spots.
“I go here often. I love the Food. I love the service. But today.!, I called in my usual order of Chicken Tortilla soup (mmmm) & an order of Rice. I was asked if I wanted salsa & that if would be a charge of $.25(?). I say Salsa comes w/this order as I buy this once or twice a week when the soups in season. The guy on the phone tell me to speak to the lady when I get there. So I get there & tell the lady at the register about the salsa & she's say's "We don't get the salsa for free" & totally disconnects from me. She drops my change in my hand while looking over me to wait on the person behind me. I'm shocked, Like: "not my sweet friend"! who always call me Honey or Sweetie! I say "wait how do i get change back I ordered Chicken Tortilla Soup & Rice". So she rings up the Rice, that wasn't included over the phone & Salsa comes w/it. I really thought the whole Mexican food experience is the delicious fresh Salsa. Dang, I'm a little hurt behind this because I love this homey place. & I still can't give them less than 4 stars.“
“Service was quick, and friendly. Food was fresh, and the store was very clean. Wasn't too busy for an afternoon on a Friday. Plenty of seating.Parking: Lots of parkingWheelchair accessibility: Several handicap parking spots. Very wheelchair friendly.“
“Sergio was our waiter and was very nice,always asked if we needed anything overall good waiterParking: There is another restaurant near by and it was a Friday so that is probably why it was difficult to find parking but found a spot nonetheless“
“Make a reservation! Drinks are amazing, love the mezcal options. The decor is really great and atmosphere is fun , but loud. Not a “quiet night out” place, but great for fun with friends. Food is outstanding. Everything is fresh and homemade. Tortillas are amazing. This time we got the specials which were mole enchiladas (they know how to do a solid mole) and fish tacos. Both excellent.“
“I will absolutely be returning to this restaurant. Highly recommend it either for a date night or a fun group outing. Their drinks and margaritas were all delicious and not too sweet. The flight of Mezcal was a great experience. I love mezcal but never had tried different kinds before. The waitress was attentive and nice. The chicken poblano enchiladas were delicious, highly recommend! We also ordered the guacamole trio and ceviche appetizers which isn't pictured because we devoured them pretty quickly.“
“This place is aces we had a great server Juan. He was amazing and funny. The host was very accommodating and helpful. We have some amazing margaritas and food was beautiful to look at and even better to eat. I absolutely recommend this place to anyone.“
“This was a great find!!! The service was outstanding! The drinks were phenomenal. The food was seasoned well, perfect temp and large portions. My husband and I just stopped in for lunch. He ordered traditional combo fajitas and I ordered 2 steak tacos and one shrimp taco. We also ordered a side of black beans, I do not recommend the black beans. The guava margarita was soooo good. This guacamole was the best in lake county, hands down!!!!“
“Far better than your average greasy food taquiria. The owner was incredibly nice and helpful. I ordered an El pastor taco. I usually do flour tortillas instead of corn but since they make the latter in house chose that instead. 100% the correct decision. Never had a corn tortilla so fresh and tasty. The pork wasn't greasy and had superior flavor. On a whim also ordered the Korean taco with bulgogi spices and cabbage slaw. AMAZING flavor and texture. Got a carne asada burrito for my wife. You can tell they use superior Angus beef..it was top Notch in flavor and consistency.HIGHLY recommend this eatery. Will be back whenever I'm in the area.Parking: Easy.“
“Came in again to try out their pizza special. I got the 2 slices and a drink last time, and it was too much for me. Just got a slice of sausage, and my usual soda can. Place is usually nice and clean. Everyone is friendly and acknowledges you when you walk in. It was cooked nicely and great crust. It wasn't too hard or soft, but just the right amount of crunch. The best part is that it's not really greasy like others. Big plus in my book. I definitely would come back if I'm in the area. Perks of working out in the field and trying new places.“
“This is the absolute peak of Mexican food in the Buffalo Grove/Deerfield area. I've never had better tacos or a better burrito. Their horchata is top-notch, and it is freshly made every morning. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this place. The folks who work here are also real cool.“
“This place is an absolute gem! The food has just this amazing flavor and substance. The ceviche was flavorful and crisp, the quesadillas were so full of cheese and chicken, each bite was fantastic, and the chicken bowl was delicious. Highly recommend this place! As a side note, the staff were so kind and friendly, and it was spotless. Even the restrooms. All decorated beautifully. Five star service for sure. Don't hesitate, just go!“
“If you are a fan of Chilaquiles as much as I am, look no further. This family owned business has the best Chilaquiles, red or green salsa, topped with cecina meat, cilantro, onion, queso fresco, sour cream, and for a small charge you can add eggs. The tortilla chips still come out fresh and crispy, unlike other places.Let's not forget the amazing hard workers who prepare our meal. The staff there are very welcoming, friendly and overall amazing.I've been coming here for a good while now for my lunch break almost every week and will continue to do so.P.sThe fresh guayaba water is also a must try if you never had it.“
“This place isn't very big, but the flavor of the food is! I normally post a picture of what I get. Unfortunately, it looked and smelled so good I couldn't wait. The ingredients were fresh and only took a few minutes to prepare. The cashier and the cook were both very friendly and you could tell they keep it clean here too. If you're in the area and have $5 to spare run in and grab a taco. Try something different and let me know how your experience was.“
“My boyfriend and I decided to try this place out and it did not disappoint! We ordered taco dinners and they were delicious. Everything was freshly made and tasted great. Jose was very nice and made sure we were taken care of, great service! Overall, I will come back and bring more people to try this spot :)The location was not difficult to find, go on 3rd floor and make a left, then it’ll be on your right side.They accept quick pay & cash.“
“I stopped in for lunch and had a carne asada Burrito. It had fresh ingredients and was good. This was my second visit to the place. The service was good. Order at the counter, take a seat and then your food is prepared and brought out to you.“
“Last week I was on my way to take my son for a haircut and decided to stop and eat here. It was my first time. Service was great and food delicious. I was not having a good day but tried my best to not show it. As I'm eating I saw a man come in. Eat by himself and then left. My surprise when I went to go pay. This man had paid for my food. Who ever it was Thank you so much if this is ever read. That was a beautiful gesture and completely made my day. I got my son his haircut and took him for some ice cream afterwards. I will definitely pay it forward“
“We were in the area checking out a place for tea (we live an hour and a half away) and decided to stop here for lunch. My husband and I were soo glad we did. Staff greeted us promptly, served fantastic chips and salsa. We both got the asada burritos with a side of rice and beans. Everything tasted fresh and full of flavor! We’ve tried many Mexican food places and this one is top on the list. We are already planning a trip back to try more food! Thanks for the love and care you put in the food!“
“I had seen within the last year that the Supreme Burrito was voted #1 for burritos in Evanston and finally stopped by tonight after a visit to the dog park. The guacamole is perfect in every way: texture, taste - and quantity! I loved my camarones (shrimp) burrito, too. It had big shrimp throughout the burrito, not just a couple tiny ones thrown in to call it a “shrimp” burrito, and had a good mix of beans, grilled veggies and sour cream that all came together deliciously. It will be a regular stop for me!“
“Food was very good. I ended up with chilaquiles (with chicken breast) and my friend got the pupusas and dobladas. Really solid, and I appreciate the subtle differences in flavors between the Guatamalan dishes and standard Mexican fare. However, only 4/5 because ordering (in English) was difficult. I tried to get grilled skirt steak and a green chicken enchilada (as a single item, listed that way on the menu) but what was originally brought out was 3 green chicken enchiladas. I explained the issue and thought it was clear but ended up getting brought the chilaquiles. My friend got his pupusas but the dobladas was not brought and had to be ordered again. The food was delicious and I'm not a picky eater so this wasn't a huge deal, but others that need to order a specific thing, in English, may have trouble. I will be back though, and I will brush up on my Spanish.“
“Don't be fooled by the somewhat unassuming outside, this restaurant has some of the most deliciously authentic Latin food one can find in the suburbs. I ordered chicken, bean/cheese pupusas with a side of yucca con chicharron and it was definitely worth the wait. HIGHLY recommend.“
“Great time! We had a group of six. They have a round table in the corner which is perfect. You can enjoy the live entertainment and still have a conversation. Everyone loved their food and the top shelf margarita pitchers were delish. The server and owner were attentive making sure we enjoyed our experience.“
“Food was okay, atmosphere is cool, and the service was great. The food wasn't as flavorful as the other Mexican restaurants I'm used to from around the area. I had the pollo tacos and shared a platter of the nachos. Both were just okay - nothing to rave about. The restaurant itself is clean. Reminded us of a diner! The staff were also super kind and helpful, which is awesome. This hasn't replaced my go-to Mexican restaurant in the area, but I'd still visit again to try something else on the menu!“
“I think the people rating less than 4 stars are the same ones that say Taco Burrito King is delicious.. yuk, don't trust them. I'm Mexican and grew up in a Mexican household. Verde Avocado is the CLOSEST Mexican food that actually taste like home. Authentic zesty flavors, authentic salsas, authentic/best Horchata I've had. I order from this place at least once a week. Service is always great and staff takes pride in their restaurant.“
“The weekend quesabirria is what got me hooked! If you're ordering for pickup, online doesn't give you the option so call. All the other tacos I've tried are also delicious. It's a small location, so be prepared not to dine in. When weather is good they have tables outside.“
“Dropped in for a quick dinner. Was offered chips and salsa immediately, which was delicious.Ordered 3 tacos. Food arrived within 5 minutes! I got the Carne Asada, Crispy Fish and Pork belly. I was expecting the pork belly to be the best one, but it was the crispy fish that had the most flavour!“
“I am so upset we didn't discover Mia's Cantina sooner! The food here is absolutely top notch. Even my picky as heck kid begs to go there (he's a fan of the steak tacos). For me, the Tacos Norteños are the winner, I've never had anything like it anywhere else. The flavor of the sauce, the fresh meat and toppings, absolutely stellar. Great beans and rice too. The service is always quick and friendly, the man who has taken care of us both times seamlessly runs the bar and waited on us as well. The restaurant is clean and large, would be great for big groups, and my husband plans to bring his work colleagues for a meal there soon! Decorations are bright and fun. We are huge fans, now we are telling everyone to check it out! 5 stars without hesitation.“
“I found this gem while looking for tacos near my friend. I am so glad we agreed on this spot. The service is amazing and the decor is so beautiful. I got the taco dinner plate with two steak tacos and a birria taco - the meat was really good and flavorful. I live an hour away from this place, but I’ll definitely be back if I’m in the far north suburbs again.“
“This is hands down my favorite Mexican restaurant in the area! They use fresh ingredients, the food is always delicious, and it's a great value-for-money. Service is also really good. If you're interested in filling your belly, try their Torpedo Burrito and get a homemade tres leches cake while you're at it!“
“I've been coming here for the last few years, and I can proudly say that this place has the BEST Mexican food ever. The food is so delicious and the staff are amazing! I love this place so much! thank you to our waiter Angeles for such amazing services! I will be coming agian. Best food ever!.Kid-friendliness: Its super kid friendly!! amazing food for the kids and such a amazing vibe“
“Was staying nearby and decided to come here. What a welcome surprise. The tacos may be the best I have ever had… grilled chicken and carne asada were both fantastic! Liked my chips and salsa too. Highly recommend it all! I even ordered a 3rd taco!“
“When they say taco pros they really mean it. This place and taco my eyes. Probably the best places for tacos right now. Yes, they're super expensive but you get quality over quantity and they load it with cilantro instead of just using it as a garnish. So if you're not a fan of that you should tell them. Other than that it's fire. My boyfriend's a big taco connoisseur and I'm telling you it's fire.“
“The food is amazing. Always hot and fresh. You can tell these folks take pride in feeding people and are so talented. It is such a cute place! Lots of take out orders (like I said, amazing food), but there are a couple tables inside too. Either way, this is your go-to for good Mexican!“
“Literally ordered 2 tacos to try the place out and was made fresh within 3 or 4 minutes. Need to use bathroom anyway so literally came out and sat down and basically had my order ready. Tasted good and met expectation. Good spot.Parking: Small lot on very busy corner“
“It is a nice place, adaptable to the English - Spanish language, excellent service and a very calm atmosphere.Parking: Approximately 20 to 25 parking spacesKid-friendliness: Yes, with child seatsWheelchair accessibility: It is totally adequate“
“Steak anything at this specific location is great. Burrito, torta or tacos you cant go wrong with the steak here. Beans and rice are good, rice water is great.If you get it to go make sure it's not a far drive back or else you'll get soggy tortilla or bread. Staff is super friendly and it's a great place to get some food. Only problem is the price, not really a problem but if your budget conscious then in comparison to other taco spots it is higher.Get cheese on your tacos. It will add to the cost but it's worth it.Friendly staff is super cool you can be picky with the toppings if you want too.I could ask for 3 small pieces of chopped onion only and they will probably do it. Like if you're one of those OCD people.Maybe idk haven't tried but they seem like they would.Great steak food. ?“
“I'm embarrassed to say I've ate here 4 times within 2 weeks. It took me a while to find my favorite neighborhood taco spot, (down town des plaines) but this place did not disappoint! I got the steak tacos, generous amount of meat, good flavor. I also tried the pork, also very good. Love love the sopes. Typically for me if a place has good tacos there rice and beans seem to be mediocre, however they were one of my favorite things I ate from here, very flavorful, and delicious. I don't leave reviews, however a girl loves her tacos, and these were delicious, I had to spread the word, to my fellow Mexican food lovers ❤️“
“I’m not big on reviews, but these guys absolutely deserve one. I would post a picture of the food but I ate it too fast before writing this. Their tortas are not on the list to review, but they’re low-key a “hidden gem” here. By hidden I mean they’re on the back page of the menu but if you choose to get them, you will not be disappointed. They’re loaded to the brim, packed with flavor, and the bread is crispy and everything you want out of your torta filling holder. I’ll be trying their pizza next, as the single slices were top tier. They seem like super genuine people who care about their customers and I can’t recommend stopping by for a bite enough.“
“This place was great! I was a little sad they don't have Challah French Toast nor Blintzes anymore, but I got the Ceviche instead and it was SO GOOD. They also made me fried plantains with just sugar because I didn't want the ice cream, and they have Abuelita hot chocolate!! The plantains were perfect, crunchy on the outside and perfectly soft inside. Great and attentive service too. We will definitely be back. I forgot to take a picture of my Ceviche, but I remembered for the plantains and hot chocolate!“
“Really great food and service. I especially loved the samosa taco! The one complaint I have is that the paneer taco was a bit dry. I think a good sauce could go a long way. Excited to go back!Vegetarian options: A ton of delicious and unique vegetarian options. Several vegan options too. All of which very clearly labeled. Note some are labeled as can be made vegan, meaning you'll have to specify that when ordering.“
“I had an amazing experience at El Terco Leon! The staff is incredibly attentive and goes the extra mile to address any concerns. The tacos are absolutely delicious, especially when paired with their bomb red salsa. The pricing is reasonable for the exceptional quality of food, and the hand-made tortillas add a special touch. Highly recommend this gem!“
“First and foremost, the staff of any restaurant are the ones that truly keep an establishment running and thriving and are the heart and representation of the business.The hostess / order-taker and crew at Stacked and Folded, were super friendly to us and offered such great customer service!The atmosphere inside is very nice and offers an elevated casyal food experience.Even though the average taco is around $6.50, it is very large and offers a lot of the actual ingredients. This was the case with my short rib taco. The short rib taco did offer a little bit of that spicy hot but not too much which was good, and yes, was slightly sweet in the sauce as advertised. Overall, the flavor combination was very good and would rate it a 3.9 out of 5. It was just tender and juicy enough, but could even be a little bit more tender in the meat. I know it is not easy when it comes to short ribs and believe me they did a good job here! It is worth getting!We had also ordered the short rib sandwich, but I recommend to have the short rib in the taco form. It just taste even better with the corn tortillas!The sweet potato fries are a five out of five star! Some of the best I’ve ever had in my life. They are cooked perfection, and have that right texture on the outside and perfect on the inside. Amazing.Now as a cook, my (James’) critique is focused on the shrimp taco. Like every other item, Katherine and I had, the shrimp taco is made in a very fresh and flavorful, non-greasy and healthy tasting manner.What observations and what can be worked on from the creators of the menu is the following:The shrimp in your shrimp tacos-at least when we visited—was just plain cooked shrimp and was actually dry. My advice based on the best shrimp tacos I have ever encountered or made are taking thawed raw shrimp, then marinate them of course, and grill them briefly and just right so that they come out juicy and tender and with that amazing flavor profile.That would make your shrimp tacos a five out of five.“
“The food here is great. I love the caldo de pollo, and it is my go-to whenever anyone in my family is feeling under the weather. The tortas, burritos, and tacos here are good too. Haven’t tried anything else on the menu yet. The food is always hot and ready for pickup within the time frame estimated.Only downside is that trying to back out of their parking lot on the street can be tough when traffic is busy.“
“I ordered for a department luncheon at the office and everyone loved it. Taco, rice, beans were all delivered hot and on time. I ordered a couple of flans as well and they were delicious. Will definitely keep them in mind when we have another company event.“
“I've been looking for posole everywhere since I moved out of Chicago, where do I find it in Des Plaines downtown not far from my house. (only on the weekends). It's was like my friend's mother recipe. I tried steak, al pastor, and chicken tacos all were delicious and made fresh not from the day before. Also can we say Amen to warm chips. Both of their salsas were delicious but watch out for the dark red one I thought I was going to die. Everything was delicious and fresh. I feel like if you haven't been here you've past it up a hundred time and never noticed it. Try it you won't be disappointed.“
“Delicious Birria tacos. Super friendly and amazing service. Very helpful and kind staff. Would highly recommend this establishment. The food in person is even better than the pictures. Excellent, will be returning.Parking: Easy, convenient and free parking“
“The best place to get burritos and tacos if you're near. Other places are sloppy. They tak the time to be nice and remembers you! The young lady who is the cashier is the sweetest. They make you want to come back. I'm telling you if you want a burrito and you see this review..get...it...from...here!!“
“Went to Taco Maya for lunch on a weekday afternoon, and the place was pretty empty. They have tons of seating inside, including a Maya Room to host parties or get togethers. They offer a lunch special on the weekdays which includes 3 tacos + rice and beans. They do have pre-selected tacos for the lunch specials, so you can't order outside of those. We ordered a few items - al pastor burrito, a chilli potato taco, and a paneer taco. We also got a plate of the lunch special with the samosa taco, grilled veggie taco, and al pastor taco. Their al pastor burrito and taco were SO good! They were smoky, spicy, and sweet. The pineapple was perfect with the seasoning and the meat was so juicy and tender. Next up was the paneer taco and the chilli potato taco, both of which were equally delicious. Both were very flavorful and made for a perfect bite! Great option if you're a vegetarian as well! The samosa taco is the perfect blend of Indian and Mexican flavors. It's one of my favorite tacos here and they offer $1 samosa tacos on Mondays so you know exactly where to find me those days!! LOL. Lastly, the grilled veggie taco was probably our least favorite. The veggies were mostly raw inside, not cooked. The cheese was a nice touch but it did need some salsa or sauce inside, which was missing. Lastly, the rice + beans were a good filler on the side for the lunch special but I did have to put a lot of salsa and hot sauce on both to add flavor. They were pretty bland on their own. Taco Maya does have a ton of variety and a lot of delicious options on their menu. I'm not sure if the lunch special was worth it, I would rather get a plate full of tacos or another entree instead. Definitely be sure to get their al pastor when you visit and some of their vegetarian tacos are truly some of the best on their menu!“
“Their quesabirrias are the best ones I've had in the area! Their steak tacos are also delicious, well seasoned. I think the only thing I dislike is that once you sit down, you have to go back to the register and place your order there. Highly recommend this place.“
“This place is very nice, the tamales are very delicious, the lady and her children serve very kindly! But there's a tall, bearded man, I think he's the lady's husband, who serves you as if you were going to ask him on credit and he makes you look unfriendly, and even more so if you make a mistake when asking for your order.“
“I dropped in here from the Hilton hotel. Seems to be a family type business and the food eas delicious! If u like Mexican/Spanish food, this is for you. They were so nice and outgoing if i had american dollars, i would have given a 50 dollar tip. You can walk here by going out the Hilton or crown plaza...go left out hilton to main road then right...maybe 20 min walk from there. ^^ hope this helps everyone!“