Mexican restaurants in Chicago range from back street authentic taco stands run by the entire family to cutting edge Mexican restaurants redefining the cuisine. Frontera Grill, among the latter, is located at 449 N Clark St in Chicago, and is the colorful creation of Rick Bayless, and puts Mexican food on the fast track. Bayless’ dedication in supporting local, artisan farmers is evident in the freshness of the meat and vegetables, from the roasted Maple Creek Farm pork loin to the organic Gunthorp chicken to the braised organic spinach. The menu has appealing and diverse possibilities that change monthly. Flavorful starters include a crunchy salad with oranges, grapefruit and pineapple, tossed with orange-lime vinaigrette, a made-to-order tortilla chips with two salsas, and sweet-fried plantains with homemade sour cream and fresh cheese. The ever-changing menu offers artistic dishes from award-winning chef Rick Bayless, including stuffed poblano peppers, tamales, charcoal-cooked lamb, and desserts like almond cake and buttermilk-lime ice cream.
Nuevo Leon Mexican restaurant is located at 1515 W 18th St in Chicago, IL cranks out piping-hot tacos, enchiladas, tamales and other fare for the late owls too. They open very early for the breakfast crows serving Machacado con Huevos, which is shredded beef with eggs) or Chorizo con Huevos, the hot Mexican sausage. The look is no-frills, but neat: several tables, including counters, friendly service and lively Mexican tunes are a welcoming touch.
El Tapatio Mexican Cafe located at 3400 N Ashland Ave in Chicago, IL has been owned by the Parra family has for 34 years and they make frequent trips to Mexico to get menu ideas for the restaurant and cook up several family specialties. Besides the standard tacos, burritos, and chimichangas are more inventive dishes such as the flour tortillas filled with tender chunks of chicken and topped with a mild chipotle cream sauce, Carne Asada charbroiled topped with grilled onions and served with a cheese enchilada, rice, beans, and tortillas, and the famous house specialty is a tender juicy Chicken Breast grilled and topped with mushrooms, garlic, onions, salsa verde and melted Chihuahua cheese. The restaurant also offers a wide array of margaritas with many different flavors.
Among Mexican restaurants in Chicago, Salpicon located at 1252 N Wells St in Chicago, IL is a balance of traditional and contemporary Mexican cuisine. The menu highlights include grilled tiger shrimp with avocado-tomatillo sauce, poblano chilies stuffed with huitlacoche and fresh vegetables and grilled lamb with pasilla chile sauce. Sunday brunch offers a chance to try Chilaquiles Rojos or other brunch specialties. The wait staff will outline the restaurant’s Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence-winning wine list and selection of more than 100 premium tequilas and mezcales.
Hot Tamales located at 493 Central Ave in Highland Park, IL is a Mexican restaurant that you must walk into and order a pitcher of passion fruit margaritas to enhance the flavor of spicy entrees, including barbecue chicken enchiladas, duck tacos, and burritos stuffed with salmon, black beans, and goat cheese. The tamales are noteworthy, packed with unexpected ingredients like mushrooms and red pepper sauce or pumpkin.