I have been living in the Chicagoland area for most of my life, and yet for some reason, I had managed to never come here. My friend finally took pity on me and we came here for dinner one night. Margaritas were wonderful and strong as I expected. Guac was equally fantastic. And that's about where the greatness ends. The entrees are good--not great--but totally edible and I would eat it again. I had the chicken enchiladas and they were average, nothing flavorful, kind of on the bland side. Service was fantastic from the whole staff. Our server was attentive and friendly. Great atmosphere here, will definitely be coming back for drinks. read more

Adobo Grill has some fantastic food. I highly recommend the guacamole. They make it right at your table and it's so ridiculously good you'll want to lick the bowl -- seriously. I had already has some apps at Quartino so I didn't get an actual entree during my past visit -- but I have had entrees there before and they were fantastic. Last night I had the shrimp ceviche ... SO GOOD ... and very light. Three shots of tequila and 2 coronas later I found myself at Burton place trying to build up the courage to karoke. Luckily a colleague took the heat off me and sang "Bye, Bye, Bye" solo ... phew. Thanks Brian. I will never forget your incredible performance. read more

Amazing for our large group. Adobo was so kind to take our reservation for 15 on Cindo de Mayo and treated our group so well. The festive environment was perfect for a bachelorette party. Everyone really enjoyed our food and the service was attentive and timely despite them being very busy. We especially loved the fish tacos and spicy margarita. Would love to dine here again! read more

Great table side guac but I'd mirror the rest of the so so reviews on here. Though the place is very authentic I think they still cater to American palettes with the spice factor. If you tell me something is spicy I expect a certain amount of heat ! I've also dined a good bit in authentic Mexican spots and I feel as though they could amp up the spices. The meat was cooked great though--I had the lamb shank Barbacoa. I wasn't too crazy about the sides it came with. I think it was nopales (cactus) & they felt slimy. I'd recommend coming here for apps and drinks only. They have an extensive tequila list :) read more

Adobo Grill - Lamb shank Barbacoa & margarita - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

This place is just meh. I wouldn't go here unless my friends are going. And they only go because it is close to where they live. Everything is overpriced due to the location- people will pay so they charge why they can. While the food is fresh, the flavor is kind of bland. Yes, they spice it up, but there is not a lot of flavor. Wine is a minimum of $8.75, guacamole is $9.00, and a small margarita is $13. I would not recommend Adobo Grill. There are plenty of other Mexican places in the area to choose from. read more

See all

I almost never hedge with the star rating, but this is really a 3.5 to me. I came here once years ago with a large group and liked it, and have been meaning to return ever since. I tried to bring my parents here last year but we were aiming for late lunch/early dinner and they don't open until 5 pm. A friend visiting from out of town this week provided a good reason for four of us to meet here. The house margaritas were excellent. The table-side guacamole was all right, maybe a B-. I liked the table-side presentation, but there was too much lime and not enough other goodies in there. Throw me some more cilantro and onion in there. Also, we asked for medium-spicy and I tasted no kick whatsoever. My entree was decent--B. I had one of the specials: a chicken breast stuffed with spinach, chihuahua cheese, and tomatoes, served with a pyramid of poblano rice and a creamy corn salsa. Well-made and enjoyable but not extraordinary. I was the only who went for dessert (screw you for judging me), and I chose the Crepas con Cajeta. Apparently, cajeta is goats-milk caramel. This crepe was also stuffed with plantains, sprinkled with some sort of nut or seed which seemed like a pumpkin seed, and served with vanilla ice cream. Pretty good--another B. Service was adequate but uninspired. We didn't sit down until 9 pm (on a Thursday), so we had a nice quiet atmosphere in which to catch up and reminisce. In fact, we were the last ones in the place, but thankfully they did not shoo us out. read more

Adobe Grill is a fun place to go out with some friends on a Friday or Saturday Night. They make fresh guacamole right before your eyes, serve quality Mexican food and offer a tequila bar that is certain to help jumpstart your night. However, Adobo Grill is overpriced. Be prepared to pay a little bit extra for the location, the hype and the chic decor if you want to come here. If you're short on money and just looking for a good burrito, go to Taco and Burrito Palace (see review/rave) instead . read more

See all

I'm a Dallas resident in Chicago for work. I've visited this establishment twice and both experiences were the same. Fantastic service, flavorful cuisines. I've read a few reviews and maybe it just my Southern roots that allows me to appreciate the services around me. I do however know when food is bad, over priced or there's bad service and this is not one of those. Last night alone was packed. People lined up waiting for a table to have dinner. They must be doing something right to have so much business:) Hats off to the bartenders last night. One in particular who served me my first flight of tequila. Three different brands, he switched out one of the listed brands with his favorite - Casa Noble and I fell in love with it. I'm a scotch girl so tequila is not my area and I really enjoyed the bartenders pick. The food was great. The atmosphere was lively. I even thought I smelled ocean water air and sandy beaches. Being a single female and a patron having dinner alone in a new city, I felt like I was home. Southern hospitality in the north. The bartenders even bought my dessert! Much appreciation for the service industry! So if you decide you want some good tequila visit Adobo grill, especially at the end of the month. They have a set course meal for their tequila of the month night. Last Thursday in Feb. Enjoy! read more

See all

People always ask me what my favorite mexican restaurant is in the city. Sadly, I don't have one. You see, I'm mexican, so aside from my mommas home cooking there's nothing that can even come close. I've been coming to this place for years now. Which I guess says a lot in itself. The service is always superb. The manager knows my family and I and always greets us with a smile and a handshake. He always seems to have a table available for us. And a free dessert too. We celebrated my parents 25th anniversary here. We were seated in an upper level room. The food was good and the service was great and the prices reasonable. We were allowed to come in early that day to set up the tables like we wanted them. We bought flowers to decorate the tables with. The whole staff was very helpful. Fast forward to this past Monday. I ordered a drink. A pomegranate martini. The waiter informed me it was a very strong drink. I appreciated his comment but went ahead and ordered it anyway. I took one sip and the drink was simply awful. Strong yes. But that wasn't the problem. It was cough-syrupy. So I decided to switch it for something else. When I informed the waiter I didn't like the drink annoyed he replied "I told you it was strong Wth?! What was the point to that comment? It was unnecessary and rude. As far as the food. It's not consistent. I usually opt for the adobo chicken which was pretty good. Well this last time it wasn't. Their table side guac is always yummy. Desserts are okay. The churros are the best. Overall the place is fun, with mostly friendly staff, and their food is usually good to okay. I wish I could say it was great though. read more

Adobo Grill - Their not so delicious tortilla soup - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Terrible experience Food took WAY too long, only 2 of 4 meals came out, another 5 minutes before 3rd meal came out then fInally 4th meal. Nothing fancy just tacoos and enchiladas and stuffed pepper! Not much flavor and had to keep searching for waiter. $180 for sub par food and 2 beers and 2 margaritas-won't be back-definitely better mexican fare to be found read more

Great convenient spot before a second city show. Table side guacamole is excellent and a must have. Cerviche trio is good as well. In general you will get a good solid meal here. Service is friendly and fast. read more

This was my first and last time time going here. Food was overpriced and not good. Drinks were weak. Best thing was the $10 guac appetizer (even though it was small) but nothing else for this party of 3. Our bill was $150t for 5 drinks, 2 dinners and 3 apps that left us without a buzz and still hungry. One had average fish tacos (a bake n serve frozen classic from any big box grocery store), another had the beef shank special ($28) that was slimy in texture and had a smokey taste. I had two basic empanadas and Mexican street corn, both basic and lacking in much flavor. Much better Mexican out there for cheaper. read more

3 stars for the guac, margarita, and the service. We ordered the barbacoa empanadas and the ceviche sampler as well. Both very mediocre items (despite how impressive the picture may look.) With prices steeped higher than for what it's worth, I probably won't be coming back anytime soon. read more

Adobo Grill - Ceviche sampler - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

An unassuming Mexican restaurant with delicious food and drinks! We happened to go in for brunch one Saturday morning and boy were we surprised. The decor is authentically Mexican and so is the food. My party has the ceviche, tacos - breakfast taco and beef tacos, and for beverages sangria and a fruity cocktail whose name escapes me. Fast forward to last Friday, we returned for a pre- show dinner and we sampled 3 different dishes high were equally delicious! I tried the Mimosa and can attest to the fact that they make great cocktails here. My recommendation is try it all as they have a great chef , small portion sizes which I like as I prefer quantity over quality and an amazing bar tender. Service has equally been good on a slower Saturday morning as well as on a busy Friday evening. On both visits, the piece de resistance has been the table side guacamole - you choose your heat and get the most sumptuous guacamole! A must visit place for a stone craving authentic Mexican food in Chicago read more

See all

Came across Adobo with a friend to grab a drink and appetizer before catching a Second City show. We ordered their signature margaritas and house-made guacamole and they were both absolutely fantastic! They prepare everything right at your table which was so fun. I would pay good money to have this place in Montana! read more

Adobo Grill - Table-side guac! - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Two Tex-Mex snobs walked into a bar..... and were soon singing the praises of this sweet little restaurant! The guac was great, the chips were served crispy and warm (as they should be), our waiter was attentive and friendly, and the Salmon Ceviche was possibly the best ceviche I have ever had, which is saying sumthin! The reason I only gave 4 stars is that the margaritas were a little on the sweet side rather than dry and tangy, and the husband said the chopped salad was just "OK". read more

Stopped in for lunch before seeing a show at Second City. Great food (I got the fish tacos, John got something yummy off the brunch menu) friendly, prompt service. Authentic, quality food, comfortable atmosphere with colorful artwork. Sat outside on their shady patio. Very happy to have found it. read more

Adobo Grill - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My fiancé and I went here last night on New Year's Eve. The food was delicious! We had the pollo tacos and the chips and salsa which all was great. We also had a skinny margarita and a regular margarita which were not disappointing at all. In terms of service our waiter was very nice and friendly. The support staff was really on top of things, filling up our water constantly and clearing off plates in a timely manner. We will be back! read more

2 drinks, 3 apps, 2 entrees and 2 desserts /2 = waddling home. We came for restaurant week, only 3/4 full on a Monday night but the waiter said to definitely make reservations on the weekend, noted. Loved the table side margarita, I thought I might be getting jipped since its served in a martini glass, but I definitely felt it, especially cause he told me to take two big sips and then poured in the last of the shaker contents! Table side guacamole for two consisted of an avocado and a half, fresh and delicious. We also tried the Salbutes or "little tostadas" topped with achiote marinated chicken, pickled onions, black beans, sour cream. Mine sadly were luke warm but delicious none the less. Tamal consisted of guajillo marinated chicken tamal steamed in a corn husk with ancho salsa, sour cream, cheese. I am not a tamale person so I thought it was a little dry and could have used more filling. We both thought the Salmon Yucateco sounded good, and we were right! Achiote marinated pan seared salmon, plantain white rice, pickled onions,peanut salsa. The salmon is much thinner than most but still a good sized portion. The peanut sauce was amazing, but when is it not. Though I am now realizing that I thought the plantain white rice was a weird sweet mashed potatoes, oops! We had Churros and the Chocolate Tamale for dinner, both delicious. Over all or server was great, presentation was great and there was nothing we didn't love! I'll be back for sure! read more

Adobo Grill - Chocolate Tamalé - amazing !! - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I love restaurant with a great ambience so that's why I wanted to come here in the first place. It had such beautiful art and a cute outdoor seating area. The waiter I had was extremely attentive and nice! The food was great as well. Must get the al pastor tacos and the guacamole! Also tried the fish tacos which were super tasty. Will be back to this gem in old town. read more

Adobo Grill is my new go-to Mexican restaurant. Fresh guacamole (made in front of you), the best margaritas outside of Mexico, a fun atmosphere, and excellent service. Adobo Grill rivals Topolobampo, with less pretensioness and more affordability. read more

This little gem was just to cute. Went for Sunday brunch and inside was significantly smaller than I expected, but it was not crowded like the average restaurant during Sunday brunch. That was a relief. Very good feel and our waiter was so sweet. He gave great recommendations and both my food and drink were exceptional. Everything about this place is a yes. From price to food to service. 5 stars read more

Adobo Grill - Huevos Motelenos. Delicious!!! A tad bit sweet for me but still amazing. - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love this place! Adobo has been in Old Town for generations, and even as other businesses come and go, it stands the test of time. The people who work there have also been there for years, which is a great sign of a well-run business that cares about its employees and its clientele. The food is high-end Mexican/Latin fusion and they have rotating specials that are always creative and delicious. What I like most is the purity of the food and drink. The guacamole is made to order and only has pure ingredients. The margaritas are some of the best in town. No artificial mixes, just real natural ingredients (fresh squeezed, lime juice, housemaid, simple, syrup, etc.). They also have a fantastic tequila menu, so definitely try a tequila flight. If you have never had quality tequila you are in for a treat. read more

Was here for a company dinner and had their three course menu before catching a show at Second City. As for the food itself, they started us off with chips with sides of salsa and guacamole. The salsa was only okay but the guac was very good; it definitely kept me happy until the entrée arrived. For the entrée I had the Carne Asada (marinated steak) which was pretty good. For dessert I had the Pastel de Tres Leches and the Tamal de Chocolat. As far as desserts go, both were on the sweeter side, but I personally preferred the Tres Leches. I liked the place and it's worth a visit if you're catching a show at Second City (which is conveniently located right next door). read more

See all

The ahi tuna ceviche and spicy pepino drink were amazing! Servers were attentive. Had such a great time.

Great service, the taquitos dorados were soooooo gooooood I wasn't a huge fan of the chips and salsa but it wasn't that bad I'd give this place a 8.5/10 one of the bartenders gave me a free shot cus it was my birthday so shoutout to him I would definitely come back forsure! read more

Stopped in before our show at Second City, very cute, they make fresh guacamole right at your table! The empanadas were great too! read more

Adobo Grill - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

For a night out on Wells Avenue, that's Old Town to non Chicagoans, north of the Loop, Adobo Grill is a MUST. Now, I've been there in the summer, and I was just there the other night. It has EVERYTHING going for it. It is in a fun part of town, near Second City TV. When you walk in, it just screams, "fun". It's a happy place. It's a place that you don't notice the noise until you're standing at the urinal preparing for the next round of margaritas. But the noise is a good noise, not annoying at all. I don't know why, but it just IS! Yes, the margaritas are TOPS! They're well made, not rushed. They don't overdue the mix, and there's the right amount of tequila in it! Our waiter shamelessly flirted with my date, shaking the shaker of margaritas and making a dance out of it, and bumping is "dupa" against her...he was playful and friendly. One could tell he loved what he does and I bet he gets at least 3 numbers a night from girls (thankfully not from my date!). The guacamole is the best I've EVER had. I know, I know, how can you screw up guac, right? This was exceptional. It was creamy, the perfectly ripened avocados, there was just the right amount of cilantro and tomatoes etc...in it. Their food is fresh, the meat is seasoned perfectly, and served hot off the grill. Don't forget to ask for a lime if you order tacos. It makes a difference! The Chile Relleno is fantastically unique! SO worth getting! This is just a fun night out. Even if you do nothing else in the evening, go to Adobo Grill and save Second City for another night. You'll want to remember this place. And in the summer, to sit outside on Wells and watch the people go by, well...that's a treat! This place has got everything going for it! Remember, I RARELY give out 5 stars... I don't like to inflate the system, otherwise it's of no use to anyone! SO this is worth it! read more

Adobo is a nice option for Mexican food in the area. It's also a chain - I heard they have a location near Yorktown Mall. One thing that was great for us is we had a group of 6 adults and I was able to get a reservation for 7:30 pm when I called at around 6 pm. It might not be a good thing from their perspective, but for us, it was convenient. It's a pretty large restaurant inside. Food-wise... it was mixed. We got a couple of orders for guacamole and that was good. Of course it was freshly made, but it probably could've used more lemon/lime. For entrees, I had the chile relleno, which was excellent. The combination of sauce and beans was excellent. This thing must be like multiple peppers, because there's no way the huge thing was one big pepper. Anyway, I enjoyed it and could only finish half of it. I also tasted the cheese enchiladas, which were kind of... just OK to meh... Not sure why, but maybe the tortillas were dried out or something? Unfortunately, this is like my staple usually at Mexican places, so that's a bit discouraging. Margaritas were excellent, although very small in size. They serve them in these tiny martini glasses, instead of the nice big margarita glasses you'd expect. There's only one margarita, only one size, so the options are limited. I mean, they made it well, but with a large group it would've been great to be able to get a pitcher. This is probably what contributed to our high bill. The service was fine. Definitely came by a few times and asked for more drinks and so forth. Overall, I think the prices were high. Yes, it is in the city and all, but $40 per person seems a bit, though not exorbitant. In the end, I think Adobo is a decent place. I'd think about it, but I may be back again with family. It's worth a second shot to see if they can improve on the enchiladas. read more

First This place is located in OLD TOWN not LINCOLN PARK. RESTAURANT WEEK 2014 My girls and I came here for dinner and we had some really excellent food. One of my friends is pregnant so I had to take her complimentary sangria that came with her meal, to help wash down my complimentary margarita. I had the skirt steak that was cooked to perfection and the mini chicken tostadas. The food across the table was delicious and there were no complaints. The churros with the 2 dipping sauces (chocolate and caramel) and the tres leches cake .....YUMMY!!! They also make guacamole table side read more

First of all, I love Mexican food and have wanted to try Adobo Grill for a long time but I have been here twice and both times I can say that there is nothing special about Adobo Grill. The first time I had the chicken enchiladas and the second time the tamales, do not recommend either. Tableside guac is ok. The only reason I came back here for a second time is because it's connected to Second City so you don't even have to go outside. It was pretty packed both times I was there so I would recommend making reservations just in case. read more

Adobo Grill - Tableside guac - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I guess for me being from Texas, this place really was fighting an up hill battle. The margaritas were so so and the salsas and sauces were very bland. I ordered the shredded pork that was roasted in a banana leaf. It was good. Everything that was part of my entree was good expect the corn tortillas. I felt the meal was better without it. But the restaurant was in a very nice part of Chicago, I think it was Old Town. I would definitely want to go party in that area again. Just probably wouldn't go to Adobo again. I think they were trying to hard to be something their not. Mexican food shouldn't cost that much...and if it does, you should for sure get it right. read more

Adobo Grill - Shredded Pork Roasted in a Banana Leaf - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I went here before seeing a show at Second City. It wasn't planned, we just needed to eat and decided to stop here. There was a mariachi band inside, but the weather was so great that we ate outside (it was September). The food was good--expensive but good. I had never been to a "fancy" Mexican restaurant, but I really liked the experience. We didn't get this famous guacamole because we didn't know about it, but we did devour the salsas. Also, not getting the guacamole helped us save room for dessert. I got the churros, which were really good, and a friend got the frozen mango mousse, which was amazing. I was ogling it from across the table, and she let me try a few bites. It was perfect on a warm day. Also, the service was solid. My friend didn't know ceviche was raw fish, and the waiter explained it and wasn't pretentious about it at all. And they kept the chips and drinks coming. read more

See all

3.5 Adobo was pretty good... I felt things were a tad overpriced; perhaps not that surprising in Old Town, but the tab adds up quick. My group of four started with some table-mixed guacamole and I also had a table-shaken margarita. I enjoyed both of these things happening right in front of me at my table - all the better. Margarita was good, but served in a smallish martini glass; guacamole was great and it was a large amount. I wasn't crazy about the chicken enchiladas I ordered. They were good, but nothing spectacular. The portion was also on the small side. Everything was just so-so... I did think the restaurant was cute though, and I liked sitting upstairs. read more

Adobo Grill - Table-made guac. - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

We went here before a Second City show because we were told that they make the best guacamole. SO TRUE! The guacamole is made table side with all fresh ingredients to your liking. We couldn't decide what to order on the menu so we asked the waiter to bring out the two best things on the menu. BEST IDEA EVER! He brought out the Lomito en Mole Negro (Pork Tenderloin) and the Carne Asada (Steak). The flavors and textures on both plates created a wonderful dining experience. The pork is served with a squash cake and a mole sauce. The sweet and spicy combination was wonderful! We couldn't get enough of the squash! The carne asada was cooked perfectly with an excellent marinade. Our server was very attentive and personable. Adobo also offers great deals for event dining (NO ROOM RENTAL COST and FREE center pieces!) I will definitely be back here again! read more

Adobo Grill - Table side guacamole! - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Loved my experience here! My carne asada tamale was delicious, highly recommended. My fiancé demolished his fish tacos. The spicy guacamole was amazing too. The highlight of the meal, though, was my margarita! I hate it when margaritas are mostly ice. This one solved that problem, as it was served straight up, martini-style. The waiter actually came back from behind the bar with his drink shaker in hand, and poured it in to my glass table-side. It was so delicious, with lime juice that tasted so fresh! No mixers in sight here. Best thing of all, is that my waiter let me take a few sips and then emptied the rest of his shaker in to my glass to make sure I got the most margarita possible! It was strong and refreshing and one of the best margaritas I've had in a long time! read more

Adobo Grill - Wednesday special--Gaby's tamales! - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

The atmosphere was nice. I enjoyed the patio seating with plenty of heaters. The guac was decent, but the chips were the type you get out of the bag. The food in general was bland, and the adobo sauce lacked flavor. Too much tomato, not enough spice. I had the fish platter, which looked great when it arrived at our table, but the presentation far outweighed the taste. I tasted my friend's fish tacos and felt the same. I wouldn't go back. read more

Adobo Grill - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Good, authentic entrees. Very easy and convenient for takeout. Must say Chipotle has much tastier guacamole (counter to the famous claim), but all in all a good, well prepared meal. read more

I wanted Adobo Grill to be a wonderful experience, but it fell short in so many ways. I came in on a Wednesday evening with a group of six. It was not overly crowded, and we were quickly seated. We ordered a round of margaritas, which were subpar at best. I don't really know how you can mess up a margarita, but these tasted extremely watered down (and overly pricey for the lack of tequila I tasted). As a group, we ordered the table side guacamole, which was pretty good. Unlimited chips and salsa is the key to the equation at Adobo! The entrees were over-priced and tiny - my quesadilla was the size of a child's meal. Service was slow overall. It felt as if we were waiting a long time between order and execution (it shouldn't take 10 minutes for the guacamole cart to make it over when only a few people are in the restaurant on their main courses). Many of us gave up on ordering second drinks, because we didn't think they would even come out. Considering the large number of quality and authentic Mexican joints in Chicago, this one should be skipped. read more

First visit with the family. Must say service is good but good selection is okay. Food definitely lacks flavor. I ordered the chicken enchiladas which was served with rice was not good. The red sauce lacked much flavor and was NOT piping hot. Food should ALWAYS be kept hot & served hot! Freshly made guacamole, chips & salsa were great! Liked the fact that the chips were not oily on the hands or in mouth. read more

See all