Diners' Choice: Mexican restaurants in Chicago / Illinois

OpenTable

Updated April 05, 2025

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

5.0

5 (15)

$30 and under

Mexican

North Lawndale

About the restaurant

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

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Mar 1, 2025

The food was very tasty and the waiters were very nice . The lady in the front not so much

La Cantina Grill

4.9

4.9 (10)

$30 and under

Mexican

South Loop

About the restaurant

La Cantina Grill is one of Chicago's Favorite Mexican Restaurant & Tequila Bar. We have received numerious Best in Chicago Awards For 2010, 103.5 KISSFM Listners...Best Tequila & Margarita Bars.

Our Los Famosos Culinary Team, from Mexico, only prepares top quality dishes using only the freshest (delivered daily) ingredients for our guests. Our bar is always stocked with over 150 tequilas from Mexico and around the world to serve up our famous margaritas, sangrias & mojitos. We welcome you and all of our guests from Chicago & around the world to dine with us, at La Cantina Grill.We are La Cantina Grill, an authentic Mexican restaurant in Chicago’s South Loop. We are located near Soldier Field and McCormick Place at 1911 S. Michigan Avenue. We have a full-service restaurant, bar, outdoor patio, and offer carryout, delivery, and catering.

Top review

Jill

Dined 4 days ago

The food and service was good. There was a variety of menu and drink items. Food was prepared well.

Zentli

4.8

4.8 (87)

$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

EdoVIP

Dined on Apr 18, 2025

Friendly faces, great service, lovely decor and great food. What's not to like?

La Catedral Cafe & Restaurant - Little Village

4.8

4.8 (105)

$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

Geovani

Dined on Apr 13, 2025

I love this place for breakfast best chilaquiles in chicago

Cafe El Tapatio

4.8

4.8 (347)

$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

MeganVIP

Dined 3 days ago

We love Cafe El Tapatio and so does our 2 year old who requests to for “papatito” at least once/week. ❤️ Amazing authentic Mexican food, yummy spicy margs and the vibe is always on point. The Chicken Tinga is fire. Even our daughter thinks so as she adds it to her quesadilla.

No Manches Mexican Grill - Vernon Hills

4.8

4.8 (75)

$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

Roxana

Dined on Apr 20, 2025

Great restaurant. Great host and waiters. Genuinely nice all around. Thank you!

Mama Maria's Taco and Tequila Bar

4.7

4.7 (209)

$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

Bill

Dined on Apr 19, 2025

Hannah and the staff were great as usual! Tamales are phenomenal and ask for the red sauce to go with it!

Kie-Gol-Lanee - Uptown

4.8

4.8 (254)

$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

Debra

Dined 3 days ago

The food was exceptionally delicious! I loved the molé and took a bite of my husband's pork chop which was so good. We definitely will go back and try different menu items. Parking is a nightmare around there though. We parked in the garage over on Broadway, so the walk after dinner was nice.

Federales - Fulton Market

4.6

4.6 (37)

$30 and under

Mexican

West Loop

About the restaurant

Federales is a lofty, open-air restaurant and bar concept with a casual atmosphere. Centered around tasty drinks, delicious tacos, and an urban industrial vibe, it's the go-to bar for guests looking to have a good time and a memorable experience.

Top review

Karen

Dined on Mar 28, 2025

The foos was so good! Highly recommend the nachos. Our waitress was amazing! There was a party going on when we were there so it was pretty loud,but it was so good

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4.7

4.7 (84)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Park Ridge

About the restaurant

Nestled in the heart of Park Ridge, IL, Sal Pique exudes warmth and welcomes guests with open arms. With its cozy atmosphere, friendly staff, and a menu bursting with mouthwatering dishes, it's the perfect place to unwind and savor a delightful meal. Our diverse menu caters to every palate, whether you're looking for a leisurely dinner with loved ones, catch-up with friends, or a solo meal at the bar. Sal Pique offers a relaxed setting where laughter flows as freely as the conversation. Come as you are, and leave with a satisfied heart, a full stomach, and a smile.

Top review

Cindy

Dined on Apr 8, 2025

3rd time dining here and great experience every time.

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