Diners' Choice: Mexican restaurants in Chicago / Illinois

OpenTable

Updated June 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

4.9

4.9 (20)

$30 and under

Mexican

North Lawndale

About the restaurant

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

Top review

MeganVIP

Dined on Jun 17, 2025

Food was excellent, portions were large but delicious!! Atmosphere was beautiful and service was excellent!!

No Manches Mexican Grill - Vernon Hills

4.7

4.7 (79)

$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

Robin

Dined on May 2, 2025

We went to No Manches for the first time with another couple who has been there before. Chips and salsa to start were addictive. I had the fajitas which were good and my husband enjoyed his quesadillas. Service was great and food came out promptly and very hot. My only complaint is the noise level. The music is way too loud making it difficult to carry on a conversation. From reading other reviews, I see many patrons have the exact same complaint. I don’t understand why the restaurant owner/manager doesn’t read these reviews and then lower the music.

Kie-Gol-Lanee - Uptown

4.8

4.8 (273)

$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

jackieVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Excellent all around. Most delicious food. Can’t wait to return. Parking is easy which is an added bonus.

La Catedral Cafe & Restaurant - Little Village

4.8

4.8 (113)

$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

Stephanie

Dined on Jun 15, 2025

We went on a Sunday and I’ve gone several times and the food is always great I will say they took a little longer to give us our food.

La Cantina Grill

4.8

4.8 (17)

$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

CarolVIP

Dined on Jun 24, 2025

Great food and service. A loud bustling restaurant. Highly recommend.

Kie Gol Lanee - Logan Square

4.8

4.8 (41)

$30 and under

Mexican

Logan Square

About the restaurant

Logan Square is home to our second Kie-Gol-Lanee location with the first one being in the Uptown neighborhood, recognized by the Michelin Bib Gourmand since 2020.

Kie-Gol-Lanee is a family owned restaurant, ran and operated by the Mendoza Ramos family since 2016. “Kie Gol Lanee” is the phonetic spelling of “Quiegoloani” and the name of the small village in Oaxaca, Mexico where we are from: Santa Maria Quiegolani, which means “piedra antigua” in our Zapotec language.

We take pride in offering a dining experience that connects you with our rich Oaxacan culture. Each recipe comes from our grandparents and parents with a touch of our own flavor inspired by watching them cook while growing up. We've have been fortunate to be recognized by the Michelin Guide, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune and Chicago Magazine among others, but our highest recognition comes when our client smiles and nods after taking the first bite. Join us for dinner or brunch and see what the fuzz is all about!

Top review

Brooke

Dined on Jun 12, 2025

Fantastic food, service, and drinks, definitely recommend!!!!

Cafe El Tapatio

4.8

4.8 (353)

$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

JohnVIP

Dined on May 24, 2025

We are regulars. I’ve been eating at El Tapatio since 1989 not long after I graduated college and moved into the neighborhood. It’s been consistent and fantastic ever since. The only reason I didn’t give a perfect score this time, was in spite of having a reservation for 6:30. We had to wait till 7:00 to be seated. In spite of noticing several other similar sized groups being seated ahead of us. I’m sure it’s due to being a party of 3, but that’s not my problem. We needed to be somewhere be a certain time afterward. Which is the reason for a reservation. In the future, if I make a reservation for a specific time, the polite thing to do is seat us within 10 minutes of that time. Or at least freaking apologize, or buy us a drink while we wait, or acknowledge the screw up. But nothing? Not a damn word. Disappointed. You guys can do better.

Fat Rosie's Taco & Tequila Bar - Oak Brook

4.6

4.6 (36)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Oak Brook

About the restaurant

Fat Rosie’s is a fun, hip & festive family-friendly Mexican Taqueria featuring a modern take on traditional Mexican cuisine and craft cocktails. Chicagoland's loud and proud Mexican fave since 2015 that's Fluent in Fiesta™

Top review

JoeVIP

Dined on Jun 13, 2025

Fat Rosies is a really fun, family restaurant with great food, creative cocktails and prompt service. Pricing is fair and the portions are great.

Zentli

4.8

4.8 (93)

$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

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Jun 15, 2025

This is not our first time at this wonderful place. The Owner Pilotos-and his Team are fabulous. His Mother’s Mole recipe is wonderful. We love the artwork displayed. Reasonable prices. We highly recommend this place

Bar Poca Madre

4.7

4.7 (31)

$30 and under

Mexican

Burr Ridge

About the restaurant

Bar Poca Madre is a vibrant Mexican restaurant in Burr Ridge, offering a modern escape with authentic cuisine and handcrafted cocktails. The sleek design and warm lighting create an inviting atmosphere. Our extensive menu features a blend of classic and contemporary flavors, from succulent chicken enchiladas in rich mole sauce to perfectly seasoned steak tacos, all showcasing our dedication to quality. Vegan diners will enjoy a variety of plant-based options, including enchiladas, burritos, and tacos. Our lively bar scene is ideal for unwinding with friends or enjoying a pre-dinner margarita, with talented bartenders crafting innovative cocktails using premium tequila and mezcal. Don't miss our weekend brunch, featuring delicious Churro Pancakes and savory Egg Bowls, paired with refreshing cocktails. Whether you're looking for a casual lunch, a lively dinner, or a relaxing brunch, Bar Poca Madre promises an unforgettable culinary experience with friendly service and a vibrant atmosphere.

Top review

Ellen

Dined 2 days ago

Great food and service! The margaritas are fantastic!

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Experience

Oaxacan Mezcal Dinner

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