Ultimate tourist trap. I was with a party of 8, we wandered here merely because it was close. It does not deserve 3.5 stars. The menu is pricey, appetizers from 8-15 and mains from 16-25. It seemed like a tourist trap, so 4 of us did not order anything. And were glad we didn't. My GF got this Tamal "Guajillo marinated chicken tamal steamed in a cornhusk with ancho salsa, sour cream, cheese". It was the worst piece of Hispanic " food" that we'd tasted in our lives, I tried a few bites and she didn't finish it. Tasted like BBQ sauce drizzled on a miserable piece of cardboard with some tasteless and flaccid corn husks. It was flavorless and absolutely pathetic. You've been warned! read more

The food was delicious! The prices were higher for the entrees but the appetizers were nicely priced and a good portion. I got the Salmon with chipotle sauce.... sooooo good! My friend got the fluatas de pollo, very yum. We also ordered the guacamole at medium temp and it was tasty, fresh lime, chunky but smooth too. The Mojito and Margarita were fantastic. The Margarita was smooth and you could taste the fresh lime juice. Not made from a mix and you can tell. We got the $10 one, not $55. Good service, gave us space when we were talking and took our orders promptly. Did have to flag him done for a refill on the Mojito though ;) Right next to Second City so it is a good option after a show for a place to eat at. read more

I usually write pretty long reviews, but this one will be pretty short. Fantastic, tasty, interesting food. Beyond abysmal service. Went last night prior to the Doug Benson show at Zanie's. Ordered two appetizers for our "entrees" - neither of us were super hungry and didn't want to spring 15+ bucks each for a full meal. We were seated, and it was at least 10 minutes before we were acknowledged for drinks. When the drink order was taken, we ordered the apps. The quesadillas arrived before my diet coke did - quesadilla service was quick at ~10 minutes. Diet Coke probably came 5 minutes later. Our guac didn't arrive until ... well, 15 or 20 minutes after we had devoured the quesadilla. Impossible to get refills, additional chips, and waited far too long for the check. Could have been so much better if they just had a better serving strategy. read more

This is definitely one of the better Mexican restaurants I've been to in a while. The menu has some interesting spins on standard offerings, for eg my vegetarian platter in addition to a terrific tamale and empanada consisted of a corn flan and spaghetti sofrito, which I believe lends a Latin twist to the cuisine(I'd recommend staying away from both as they were rather bland). I loved the fresh Salsas, although I must admit I sought refuge in the pico de gallo since the green chile one was way to hot to handle! The ambiance is pleasant, distinctively "adobe" though the prices are steeper than at a typical casual Mexican diner. The location has to be a clincher - situated in Piper's Alley in one of the nicest rows in Old Town, right next to Second city, Adobo is perfect for a pre-show dinner stop. read more

I ate here last night and have judged the margaritas to be very good but small and expensive and the plato vegetariano to be barely satisfying and butt-ass expensive for the portions. I missed out on the guacamole, which apparently is tremendous. But I'm not going to make another trip here just for it. I found the menu to be limited and it was not easy for me to find a vegetarian dish that I couldnt wait to dig into. I might come back in the spring or summer to see if their menu improves with the season. And I just realized that there was no chips & salsa before the meal?? Major blow. read more

My hubby arranged for our 11-person crew to go here for my birthday last night, and I had never been. This was unexpectedly gourmet Mexican food and it was delicious. For complete disclosure, I gluttonously sampled each of the following (I'm a total bite-snatcher): Guacamole - It's an on-the-fly station they bring right to the table, so you can tweak the ingredients to your desire. The portions are generous; we got two for our table of 11 and it was perfect. Lomito en Mole Negro (pork loin): The mole was perfection. So rich, so dark, so handsome ... Arrachera Adobada (grilled flank steak): tender and amazing Cochinita Bibil (pulled pork): also tender and delicious Pastel de Pina (dessert): Holy fluffy amazingness. So many flavors going on here, all of them delicate and so, so tasty. Flan del Abuelo Artemio (dessert): Great flan, not-so-great strawberries (rubbery) Churros with Ancho Chocolate sauce: AWESOME. The ancho choc. sauce is fantastic. Sangria: Pretty standard, but didn't leave me wanting at all. Margarita: Excellent, truly. And I'm not a margarita person. This thing was dangerously tasty. Service was excellent, very helpful and also clever; We ordered way more than we planned. But hey, it's my birthday. I do what I want. :) read more

We went to Adobo Grill before catching a show at Second City this past weekend. Although we were up for a lively night we didn't expect the Adobo Grill to have the Michigan University game on and several tables screaming at the tv. (If it were an international soccer game we would understand!) The best part of the meal by far were the margaritas and guacamole made to order. The menu was rather limited, not wonderful, and incredibly pricey for what it was. read more

I have been here a couple of times. I tried to convince myself this place is awesome. Really, I did. What I ended up in terms of grading the food is "Meh. I've experience better." The only up to this place is it is cozy and up to date. Other than that, its in Old Town where we live. So not much to say. Also, I think the claim to fame of Guac is over-rated. Good place to meet people. Good for a date. Great spot to be when going to Second City. Cheers! Tony read more

I'm a fan of Adobo and Paul LoDucca. His Italian place, Vinci is also under rated. the food is interesting and well executed And the service is at a higher level than I expect at a moderately priced restaurant. And when everyone talks about the guacamole...they're right. read more

This place has become my new go-to restaurant. I love that it's not another Americanized Mexican place with a million taco combinations on the menu. The menu isn't overwhelming in size, but it was extremely difficult to pick just one item to try. Nothing was overpriced and the food was delicious and authentic. I wouldn't recommend people go here without ordering the guac- it's made fresh in front of your table, and is out of this world! read more

What the heck happened here!? This used to be one of the best Mexican places in Chicago. But over the years it has slowly slid lower and lower. Every time I go there it seems to drop a little bit. I'm not sure if the original owners sold it or what. It used to have great creative dishes and great Guac. But now they are heading toward a chi chis. Authentic dishes have been replaced with more bland Americanized version and the Guac is almost $10. Does anyone know what happened here? I'm very sad this has happened. And I can no longer recommend this restaurant. read more

Went here because they advertise $2 tacos on Tuesdays. However, they don't disclose that it's only one type of taco, pork. Nothing in their advertisement says there's only one type of taco. The waiter tells me that they have other types of tacos but not for $2. I want $2 tacos and that's why I went. If I wanted full price tacos I probably would've gone elsewhere. read more

Came here on a whim with my sister on a Friday night. It was busy but not packed, we didn't have to wait. We enjoyed sitting on the patio while it's still warm enough to do that. We found the specials on the back of the drink menu accidentally, and I'm so glad we did! I can't remember the name now, but there is a pumpkin dish available for the fall season -- it is a MUST ORDER! It was the perfect size to share as an appetizer, but we both happily would've ordered our own for dinner. It was amazing. The texture of the pumpkin mixed so well with the seafood and the leftover sauce was amazing for dipping chips in. Get it while you still can. I would come back here just to have that pumpkin dish!! read more

Awesome handmade guacamole made by the table! Margarita was amazing! Pork tacos were excellent and the seafood platter with veggies was good. Next to Second City, so we headed there after for a great comedy show! We will definitely go back! read more

Adobo Grill - Margaritas! - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Stumbled in after work and wanted to give it a try while in the neighborhood. Staff was really nice, attentive, provided recommendations and decor was vibrant and fresh. Food meh, my PIC had chicken tacos, and I had chicken enchiladas crispy kale on the tacos were great but but the chicken in both our dishes were bland. I was excited that the chicken in the enchilada would be dark meat as it naturally has more flavor but that wasn't the case. The beans and sauces were tasty and they had habanero hot sauce, can't complain about that. The shaken margaritas had fresh lime juice .... But that's all they tasted like, juice. I wasn't looking for an overwhelming goblet of margarita but I did expect a little buzz since it was straight up. On to the next one ... read more

I Have been to this place many times before as a newcomer to Chicago. Food and drinks have always been delicious, so when I saw an ad for their Easter Brunch, I knew it would be a hit! I gathered 8 of my friends, got dressed up, and headed over. Great price for all you can eat appetizers, desserts, and a choice of one entree. WELL, we all ordered the steak, which apparently is their best item on the menu..4 hours later, all 9 of us are puking our guts out. Why? FOOD POISONING from this place. We have been sick for 4 days now from this food and it has been absolutely dreadful...just like when I called the manager to let him know what happened, he still wouldn't refund our party because he had no proof of us being sick. Well, he just lost 9 valuable customers. So if your in the mood to puke and poop your life out, don't go to this restaurant. read more

Been here many times, met the owner which is very down to Earth and friendly. Great food, beautiful decor, always come here whenever friends visit from my hometown. it's like one of the tourist spots to us. came here to for my dating night with hubby.. always enjoy watching them making the Guacamole. And of course.. the best Margarita in town will come along with your tasty Mexican food. read more

One of my favorite Mexican restaurants I've been to. The guacamole is made fresh right at your table! Love the fish tacos. Excellent service and the interior is nice and colorful with paintings and figurines. read more

Adobo Grill - Tacos pescado. Fried tilapia with chipotle mayo, cabbage, and radish toppings. Favorite! - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Excellent guacamole!!! The best I have ever had. They come over and make it in front of you which I don't really find that impressive but whatever, I guess some do. There are huge pieces of avocado in their guac...so freaking good! After that, there's not much else to rave about. I had a margarita which I requested on the rocks with salt. The server suggested I try their shaken margarita which they are known for. I succumbed to the pressure and was annoyed I did. I don't want to drink a margarita/martini. So I got my second margarita how I prefer and it still wasn't that great. It was very strong but the flavors needed to be blended better. I was so thoroughly unimpressed with the food. I ordered the veggie enchiladas and they were terrible. I basically ate the corn tortillas they were wrapped in and black beans. booo! It was actually pretty funny b/c as the night progressed and we were at a another establishment, my fellow diner also expressed how bad the food was. It's never comfortable to tell someone their selection of a restaurant blew but it's always funny when the truth comes out and you can banter back and forth about it. So, we decided the following: Go here to drink and sit outside and eat chips and guacamole. That's about it! read more

The guacamole made right at your table is by far the highlight of Adobo Grill. It is rolled out on a cart and the server makes it mild, medium or hot, per your request. The guac is served with warm chips. Yum. I enjoyed a glass of sangria and my friend had a margarita. Both were delicious. My entree was marginal. It was partly my fault, as I ordered a chopped salad. I mean, how exciting can that really be?! Well, it wasn't exciting at all and the flavors seemed to compete. Should have gone for a more authentic dish. Next time. read more

I came here with a group of 8 for a birthday celebration. Our server was great for entertainment. I think a couple of the women felt like he was a little off with his recommendations for some of the appetizers they wanted to share (as in they didn't need as much as he suggested, and the additional apps weren't as good as he had made them sound). I did enjoy the tacos that I had, and the tres leches cake they gave for the birthday girl that we all shared was actually really good, not as dry as they often are in these types of restaurants. But the real highlight for this place is the guacamole!! It is made table-side, and was really phenomenal! Worth going here just for that! read more

So I used to go to the old location before the fire, and loved it. Tonight (Sunday at 6pm) My party of four came in, and the service was slow from the start. They were out of Pacifico beer, which wasn't a huge deal, but it took them 10 minutes to let me know. We also ordered guac as soon as we sat down and it took about 20 min to get. Once we ordered, it took 45 minutes for the food to arrive. For 3 SIMPLE main courses and one appetizer. Two other groups of people (a group of 6 and a group of 3) were seated after us and got their food before us. Once the food arrived, it was decent, but we had to get half of it wrapped up to make our 7pm Second City show. My wife and I used to come about once every couple months, but probably won't be going back. read more

I don't want to sound like a cheap whiner so I will stick to the positive. If you MUST go to Adobo, stick to the guacamole, it is about the only thing worth the price. It is absolutely delicious. If you are considering trying an entree, try to get some sort of discount certificate. The wait staff is really nice, the place is pretty big and family friendly. Parking sucks, but we got lucky on the night we went - I hope you do too! There, I stuck to the positive. Proud of me? read more

Ate here last night for the first time. Overall, not a bad experience. I ordered the veggie enchiladas, which I thought we delicious- usually they can be kind of questionable depending what kind of vegetables they are made of. These were butternut squash with a great mole sauce and black beans on the side. My date ordered chicken enchiladas, and seemed to rather enjoy them as well. Tableside guac was prepared freshly, though as much as I enjoy chunky style, we had a few extra large pieces of avocado that required more mashing after we got it. A bit pricey (our bill was $50 for guacamole, 2 entrees and 2 iced teas) for my liking, but I'd probably go back. read more

This is a very solid place to go for dinner. My husband and I both got steak (Adobo flank and the Filet) both were cooked perfectly medium rare and received generous portions (plus both priced under $25!). Our server had good recommendations and was friendly. The one down side is that it was really way too crowded. I know busy places are supposed to be crowded, but the good ones don't make you feel overwhelmed while you are eating, and this one definitely did. I will come back but it's not a top pick for a night out. It's more of a festive go out with a big group of people type of place. read more

Screw the Margaritas. 1) Margaritas should not taste like a glass of lime juice. Margaritas should be a subtle synergy resulting in euphoria 2) Margaritas should not be served in a martini glass. Margaritas should be hyper potent and on ice, forcing you to chug them before the ice melts 3) Margaritas should get me drunk. Really, that was my biggest problem. I will totally admit I am a pretentious ass when it comes to mexican food; I grew up in southern california, and girl, you know I got this chub from taco stands and pitchers of margaritas. Anyways, I thought Adobo was great, minus their drinks, which were overpriced and not delicious (The three of us had a total of 10? drinks, and none of us were drunk). Their take on mexican food was interesting, they had a great set of salsas with the chips, and it wasn't that sit-in-your-stomach-for-four-days-mush mexican food. The flavors were subtle, there were lots of vegetables (my chayote squash was better than my mom's), but most importantly, THE CHOCOLATE TAMALES. All of these reviews should be updated as follows: "the guacamole was good, the margaritas mediocre at best, and I want to make sweet, passionate love to the CHOCOLATE TAMALES." Take the best volcano cake you've ever had, make it better, wrap it in a corn husk and serve with ice cream. Add dried cherries for ultimate fulfillment. totally bitchin. Personally, I love this place for their gluten free menu, AND the aforementioned chocolate tamale was gluten free. SERIOUSLY. GLUTEN FREE CHOCOLATE CAKE STUFF. it was definitely a notch above sex. They were very sensitive to my allergy and I had a lovely range of choices, all of which avoided an unwanted battle with the white powder from death. chocolate tamales... read more

I've been here a number of times for dinner, but never for brunch. The brunch menu is much more reasonably priced than the dinner menu, but they still serve their awesome guacamole! I had the pozole, which was good, especially for $10. My boyfriend had the chilaquiles, which were some of the best we've ever tried. To round it out, the churros were AMAZING, but the flan was pretty flavorless and too much on the gelatin textured side. read more

Love Love Adobo ! One word - Guacamole prepared tableside, Mexican Martini's, Ceviche, etc etc. Okay, that's more than one word but seriously - amazing food. I'm not expert, but I would consider this authentic mexican cuisine. I live around the corner and you never have to twist my arm to go to Adobo Grill read more

Beware: Once you've eaten a huge crater full of guacamole and downed a couple of those oh-so-strong daiquiris, it'll be tough to make it down that waxed-to-a-shine staircase without taking a spill. It's best to take your time . . . try the vegetable enchiladas . . . throw back some churros. Wait until you're up to it. read more

So yeah, this place is awesome. I have been coming here almost every trip I have done to Chicago. Best are the tequila shots with the cucumber chaser. The food was good, wish it was a bit more though. I guess quality and quantity doesn't go hand in hand here. I could have eaten another place of food. But dropping $400 on dinner with half of it on tequila, at least they were nice enough to give us a round of shot on the house. Will be back. read more

Yum yum yum. My boyfriend and I went here after Rocco Ranalli's made us feel sad and underwhelmed. What a difference! It's so pretty inside, and the servers/bartenders were really nice. I appreciate when the waitstaff has an opinion on the food, and I liked when one guy tried to steer us toward a specific dessert item. I had a very tasty margarita, and we shared some chips and guacamole. The desserts were good, too. Overall, it was a nice atmosphere and everything made us feel happy and sunny, in contrast with the snow was poisoning our should-be spring weather. read more

Adobo = good food and amazing customer service! We came here a half hour before a Second City show. This place is RIGHT across the street from Second City. We were immediately seated, with chips and salsa. The staff understood our hurry and brought out our drinks and guacamole (and the check) quickly. We got the mango daquiri and the Adobo margarita. Both were DELICIOUS with the right amount of alcohol. You have to get the guacamole. It is fresh and delicious. Summary = great place to come before Second City or going out in Old Town. read more

I've been to Adobo countless times, both in Lombard and Chicago.. And to be honest, the entrees aren't my style. They can be a little dry in general. BUT, the guacamole is so fantastic, i almost feel rude tattling about the other options. Furthermore, the house margaritas quickly remedy anything you aren't crazy about. I also would reccommend any of the ceviches. They really are delicious. I've had the chicken enchiladas, the masa cups, the chopped salad (which comes with pickled onions and that isn't on the menu! yuck!), and a few other random things.. none of them really worth mentioning But, sitting outside in the summer in old town, eating amazing guac and sipping a marg.. why would you even bother with the rest of the menu? read more

Well, this place has a great patio and the food looks good. However, the food was extremely salty. Furthermore, this restaurant broke one of my cardinal rules. We ordered the Chicken Cazuelas. No where on the menu did it say that this dish included mushrooms? Well it does. I hate mushrooms. Mushrooms are not something that you can just pick out of a dish. Their slimy taste permeates everything. It was all downhill from there. If you are in the city and are looking for a great Mexican restaurant I am certain you can find better. read more

I can't really think of any negatives about this place, except for the prices. Service was excellent and accommodating for our large group, and food was great (although portions were small-ish if you're expecting typical Mexican food). I just can't get over the prices. We left paying $78, and I had a bowl of tortilla soup and my husband had the tamales appetizer. We each had a margarita, 2 Corona's, and shared a tequila flight (which was $10, not too bad). Now granted, that was a bit to drink, but not crazy for a happy hour. I was shocked that we spent that much, when we only had appetizers to eat. Friends came late, shared some tiny quesadilllas and a few drinks and owed $40. It's just waaaaaay too much money, more than I ever want to pay for Mexican food. I've been spoiled by other cheap, good mexican places. read more

Table side guacamole was the only thing I'd go back for. We had to ask for everything we needed twice. The rest of the meal was bland and the margarita's were just okay. Service was obviously lacking, since we had to ask for everything twice, i.e. hotter salsa, more sour cream, more margaritas. They were a friendly bunch, but it wasn't busy enough to explain our lack of requests being honored on initial request. The restaurant itself is beautiful and the location is fantastic, if you're going to Second City. There are too many choices in the area to be middle of the road. read more

I have been to this place twice and each time I absolutely loved it! Some of the best Mexican food and service in the city of Chicago! Whenever someone visits from out of town I always recommend this place. I'm actually planning on bringing some friends from out of town there tonight! To start off the guac is incredible. They will make it right in front of you and I recommend getting two orders of it if if you have more then 4 people because it goes quick, despite the size-able portion. Also you have to try the different salsas appetizer. It comes with a few different flavors all very good, but my favorite was the smoked salsa The entrees mimic the appetizers. Great quality food that was been very well cooked. Finally, the drinks, especially the margaritas are delicious. I would recommend the Mojito if someone wanted to get a cocktail as well. Normally I'm not crazy about Mojitos but I tried my fiance's and it was delicious. The only Con I would have to give it is the noise level. It can be hard to hear people next to you, especially if you are downstairs but this really isn't any different then any other Mexican restaurant. read more

If I could give 6 stars I would! Food - wonderful! Wait staff - friendly, attentive and oh so welcoming! Ownership - so kind and welcoming! This place is the best!! The tortilla soup is cravable, the mole sauce is amazing and the margaritas top notch! They have so many tequilas to choose from as well - it's fun to sit at the bar while you take in a game (TVs in bar area) and chat with the very friendly and knowledgeable bar staff! They also remember you and welcome you back with open arms truly making it feel like a local gem! Love adobo, it's food and it's people! read more

Excellent Table side Guac!! Fresh Ingredients! The drinks will get you wasted!

My wife and I used a Groupon here last night, and I have to say it was pretty good. We kept it pretty vanilla, skipping drinks but going for the guacamole and the arrechera. The guacamole was spicy, the chips were hot, and the steak was pretty good. The tortillas served with the steak, beans, guac and onions were good too. The place was relatively empty (it was a Monday) so sliding in with a reservation was pretty vanilla. Didn't love any of it, very strong "like." I probably won't go back unless there's another Groupon, since the prices seemed a tad high, but otherwise a solid experience. read more