The Best Mexican Restaurants in Chicago

Chi-Town has no shortage of high-quality authentic south of the border eats. But where are the savviest spicy food fiends getting their Mexican fix in Chicago? Welcome to our Tastemakers List. We have compiled data from thousands of diners to find which restaurants are getting the most love. So welcome to our list of the best Mexican restaurants in Chicago, get ready to be impressed.

The OpenTable Team

10 Restaurants

Updated January 28, 2021

Restaurants:	Barrio, Bar Takito - West Loop, La Luna…
Price Range:	$$ - $$$
Cuisines:	Unspecified, Mexican…
Neighborhoods:	River North (Chicago), West Loop, Pilsen…

Barrio

$$$$

Unspecified

River North (Chicago)

4.5

2368 reviews

With a menu created by top chef Katsuji Tanabe, this River North area culinary hotspot does fusion style Mexican in a hip modern space with an outside patio. House tacos come in classic styles like al pastor as well as innovative takes like the Forest Mushroom, finished with white truffles, cotija cheese, Gruyere and garlic crema. Barrio Chicago also draws a bar crowd at night and specializes in tequila and mezcal based cocktails like the Hott Mezz, made with Creyente mezcal, watermelon, lime, sage and jalapeno.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Bar Takito - West Loop

$$$$

Mexican

West Loop

4.5

1078 reviews

Specializing in Nuevo Latin cuisine, Bar Takito is a popular after-work gathering spot in the bustling West Loop area. One of the best Mexican restaurants in Chicago for those looking for well prepared plates designed to go with craft cocktails, the eatery boasts a wildly popular daily happy hour and weekend “disco” brunch. Besides starters and tacos, the menu revolves around larger shared plates, like the black rice seafood paella, bursting with shrimp, manila clams, smoked octopus and veggies in a bed of squid ink infused rice.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

La Luna

$$$$

Mexican

Pilsen

4.8

572 reviews

Ferns adorn the walls of this artsy Pilsen neighborhood Mexican eatery, where traditional Mexican recipes get a creative make-over. Tacos come in succulent styles including the classic carne asada and cochinita pibil, a slow roasted style of pork that enjoys a deep marination in citrus vinaigrette. Mains include a giant paella that feed two to three people and the house hamburguesa Mexicana, a 10oz patty of grass fed beef topped with chipotle mayo, guacamole and all the fixins. Board games and shuffleboard await in the downstairs mezcal bar.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

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Mercadito - River North

$$$$

Mexican

River North (Chicago)

4.6

5714 reviews

Inspired by the bustling produce and meat markets of Mexico, Mercadito is a River North area culinary magnet painted in warm Aztec themes. An extensive taco menu includes standards like braised pork barbacoa, as well as coastal specialties like the Langosta Estilo Rosarita, where butter poached lobster comes topped with black beans, chipotle and rice. The Plato Fuertes, or large plates, go deep into the flavorful sauce based dishes Mexico in known for, like the Enmoladas de Pollo, mole poblado smothered tortilla rolls of shredded chicken and queso fresco. Mercadito is also known as one of the best Mexican restaurants in Chicago to hit up for weekend brunch, when the house chipotle infused Bloody Mary comes served alongside favorites like chilaquiles and huevos rancheros.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Experiences available

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TallBoy Taco

$$$$

Mexican

Chicago

4.3

85 reviews

Tallboy beers and freshly made tacos is a winning combo for this casual local favorite of the River North area of Chicago. From the Pulled Chicken Tinga tacos, topped with potatoes, carrots and crema, to the Cowboy 12hr Smoked Brisket tacos, topped simply with onions and salsa arbol, the made by hand corn tortilla enfolded tacos are the main draw here. Local and international craft brews come in both tall cans and shorties, as well many bottled varietals.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Takito Kitchen - Wicker Park

$$$$

Mexican

Bucktown / Wicker Park

4.6

655 reviews

Drawing from local farms and tapping into seasonal fresh produce to create a changing menu that is always fresh, Takito Kitchen is an industrial-chic Mexican eatery located in the hip Wicker Park area. The house special Lamb Merguez tacos come topped with tomatillo-pistachio salsa and bunkow cheese while plates like the avocado pine nut puree, served with tostadas and topped with jalapeno and cilantro, come ready to share with friends or family. Stop by on Wednesday for the special fried chicken tacos.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Cafe El Tapatio

$$$$

Mexican

Lakeview / East Lakeview

4.9

253 reviews

A family owned casual Mexican eatery located in the Lakeview area, Cafe El Tapatio has been racking up local votes for being one of the best Mexican restaurants in Chicago since it opened its doors more than 30 years ago. The extensive menu here includes classic Mexican steak selections like Arecherra XX, a Dos Equis beer and garlic marinated skirt steak served with nopales cactus and guacamole. Cafe El Tapatio is also the place to come for traditional style soups, including Caldos (broths) of chicken, beef or shrimp, served with rice and tortillas.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Broken English Taco Pub-Old Town

$$$$

Mexican

Old Town

4.7

301 reviews

The Old Town outpost of this Chicago chain is a colorful ode to Mexican street style tacos and a fun and vibrant place to fuel up when in the area. Tacos come in multiple different styles and flavors, including Pork Belly al Pastor, topped with charred pineapple and cilantro, and Calabazas, braised squash with guajillo salsa and queso cotija. Churros and both water and milk based Mexican style fruit popsicles are ready to wash it all down.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Barcocina - Lakeview

$$$$

Mexican

Lakeview / East Lakeview

4.5

790 reviews

Sleek and stylish with a floor to ceiling steel and hardwood decor, Barcocina does a Mexican with a modern twist in the upscale Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. A large outside patio built from a converted garage allows for socializing while sampling shared plates like the short rib empanadas and pesto chicken quesadillas. Asian crispy cauliflower and Ahi tuna poke find their way into Mexican street style tacos while the churro waffles, smeared with nutella, satisfy sweet cravings.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Guanajuato

$$$$

Mexican

Winnetka

4.7

259 reviews

Located in Winnetka, just north of Chicago itself, Guanajuato specializes in authentic dishes from different regions of Mexico. Enchiladas Poblano come smothered in a rich dark house made mole sauce while the Acapulco Shrimp come simmered in a flavorful tomato cilantro broth. House margaritas made with fresh squeezed limes also get rave reviews.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

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The Best Mexican Restaurants