Chicago has long been a destination for people from a wide variety of diverse backgrounds. When an area attracts such an assortment of people from all over the world, the result is an overwhelming amount of spectacular dining options. Though the city is most likely best known for its deep-dish pizza and being really windy, most people may not know that Chicago is home to some of the country’s most tasty Mexican food. If a trip to Chi Town is on your vacation itinerary in the near future, then make sure to include a savory Mexican meal as part of your stay. If you do not know which restaurant to try, then read on to learn about the top Mexican restaurants of Chicago.
In business for just over 10 years in Chicago, Xoco offers some of the best Mexican fair around. Their Mexican tortas, which is a much more fun way to say sandwich, are quite the unique offering. I recommend the baja chicken torta. It is stuffed with chicken, cabbage, radish slaw, black beans, and their homemade chipotle mayo. On a cold day, and everyone knows that Chicago has plenty of them, I treat myself to one of their hot caldos; a simmering bowl of savory ingredients that will definitely keep your insides warm. Their menudo is a warm comfort food loaded with corn and tripe. And though I always insist on dessert, theirs is really worth the trip. One of my favorite desserts of theirs is the spicy churro chicken sandwich. I had no idea how good of an idea it was to combine a fat piece of crispy chicken with a sweet piece of churro and it instantly becomes an amazing sandwich!
What I recommend: baja chicken torta and a churro chicken sandwich
Started back in 1974 after the owners returned from a trip to Mexico, Frontera Grill’s offering are inspired by the tastes of their travels. When I visit, I start out with their guacamole and chips. The chips just act as a delivery system as the guacamole is the star of the show. One day, I will find the recipe to their guacamole because it may be some of the best tasting guacamole I've ever dipped my chips in. As a main course, you can’t go wrong with their baja fish tacos. They feature crispy fish, cabbage slaw, salsa, black beans, and pickled red onions. I've had some at the restaurant and some to go and both times hit the spot because their fish was so fresh. Any one of their fresh and flavorful options is sure to please even the fussiest diner.
Not only are they one of the best in Chicago, but Antique Taco has been named one of the 50 best taco shops in the nation. They source all of their ingredients from local farms. I recommend trying their grilled steak tacos which feature their house-made salsa, onion, queso, cilantro, and arugula. They also offer crab and shrimp flautas that are also worth the trip. When I visit, I wash it all down with one of their horchata milkshakes. For those who like to kick things up, the rosemary margarita will hit the spot.
What I recommend: grilled steak tacos
Location: 1360 N Milwaukee Ave Chicago, IL 60622
Though most people think of pizza and Chicago dogs when it comes to the Windy City, it would make sense to add amazing Mexican food to that list. If you are visiting Chicago, I highly recommend planning to stay an extra day or two just to make sure you are able to sample all of the wonderful Mexican food that the city has to offer.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Local News
Comments / 0