Absolutely amazing! We came on a Saturday morning and there was only one guy working. It was busy and he was able to take care of everyone and everything in a timely manner. The drinks! I had the Peli Roja which was a mezcal drink. I don't think it was the best thing ever, but still good. My husband ordered the bloody Maria and I immediately regretted not ordering that. The food was absolutely delicious. I had the chilaquiles verdes and am leaving so happy. We will be coming back often! read more

Cafe El Tapatio - Yum! - Mexican Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

Good food but they recently made some very unpleasant changes. Without warning (VERY small print on the menu) we had several charges that we never had before. The chips and salsa we were served were for 2. When our friends joined us we asked for more for them. We were charged for chips and extra salsa plus a credit card service fee that was not there before. The add ons amounted to more than 10% of the final bill! We will not be eating there again. I know that restaurants are having a hard time but we ordered lots of food and alcohol and we tip well. This just seemed underhanded. read more

Absolutely love the food & atmosphere. Very nice staff. Cons: always slow service (under staffed) we also got charged for extra salsa and even the chips. Totally fine but would've been nice to let us know. The charges for chips & salsa was $12 total. Excessive. Again fine to charge, just a little warning would be nice. read more

Like the food. But they started charging a fee to use your credit card. No more fees. Tired of credit card fees,Covid cleaning fees. Fees to help with cost. Restaurant needs to understand that a credit card is standard and they should pay the fee not us. Price of doing business! Covid cleaning is not happening. Take the fees off. We should not have to ask to have fees taken off. Lost a good customer and lost our friends that ate there too! Everyone who reads this needs to protest. read more

Cafe Tapatio has been our favorite for several years. Lately, we have been very disappointed. Since the owner is not present, the quality of the food has declined. We were there two weeks ago and we do not plan to return. Our friends have the same opinion. read more

We were looking forward to trying this place but were disappointed in the end. Margaritas are average. Guacamole was bland. Maybe add some tomatoes, onion and cilantro. Salsa and chips were good. Chicken fajitas were bland. The tomatoes in it were mushy. It could use some red peppers, maybe avocado and more seasoning to add some flavor. It also was too loud to carry on a conversation. Service was decent. read more

A great place for a date night in the northwest suburbs. Great food, lively atmosphere, friendly and efficient staff. I'll be a regular for sure. I suggest the enchiladas or a sampling of their unique selection of tacos. read more

I have very bad experience. they made me feel like I'm different almost like an outsider. I just asked to stay for 5 more minutes the Managetr came out yelled at us and asked to us leave even though there were other tables inside. they were their nationality people.. Why treat your customer differently. Don't be racist. Com 'on. Don't go here. read more

Cafe El Tapatio has an awesome vibe! It is cozy, uses vibrant colors, and appeals to all of your senses! The service at El Tapatio was pretty good. Our server was prompt and friendly. I was dining at El Tapatio with a gal pal and she was debating what to get to drink. The server convinced her to get a Michelada, but she wasn't sure. He convinced her and when she got it, she really didn't like it. So, she ended up ordering a beer. I, on the other-hand, love Micheladas and thought this is one of the better ones I've had. It wasn't overly spicy where you can't taste the beer. The hot sauce was the perfect compliment! We decided we would share a couple of entrees and went with the chile rellano and enchiladas (we ordered chicken, beef, and cheese). The food was decent. It was nothing that wowed me and I would prefer another taqueria in the area for the food. Don't get me wrong, the food wasn't bad! It just wasn't anything special! When our bill came, we thought the un-consumed michelada would have been comped...but, it wasn't. That's ok though...we didn't make an issue out of it. They did give us a complimentary shot of tequila though...which was cool! I would definitely go back for drinks and appetizers! :) read more

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I wasn't sure they could compete with the Lakeview location (we had eaten there many times over the last few years), but we were so excited to check out the suburban location, which has now been open about 14 months. What we found was delicious and authentic Mexican food, at the same reasonable prices. The menu contains many options for vegetarian eating habits, more than I usually see at Mexican restaurants! Of course the regular burrito/enchilada/fajitas are on the menu, and they taste great, but so are many unique items. The mole sauce is incredible. Try it over the plantain filled enchiladas. Yum! Kids eat free on Wednesday nights, (call to double check the time and day), so be sure to check that out (we haven't been able to do that yet). Service was excellent, even though they were crowded. Small parking lot, but the waiter told us we could park across the street on weekends and nights. Great dinner, and we will be back, soon! I can't wait to try the brunch! read more

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Delicious, is the one word that comes to mind. Had the Paloma, char broiled salmon, nachos all authentic and very tasty. Thanks to Yelp for guiding me here. So happy I found this hidden gem. I'll be here next time I'm in the area. They carved out an outdoor area with plenty of heaters and it's covered. So it should be fine through the winter. I'd give them four and a half if I could. Maybe next time I can get you a photo of the food before I eat it all. read more

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Best, authentic Mexican food, hands down, in Glenview, oh and don't forget to try their churros, drinks too! So good read more

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Café El Tapatio's location used to be a pizza place for a few years, that I have passed by so many times but have never actually tried. So when a new Mexican place opened...based from the reviews and the yelp event that I have read and seen, I made sure to pay a visit and try it out. There is ample parking space that El Tapatio shares with other small restaurants and stores in the strip mall and since the restaurant is located at the end of the establishments, they have a small area for outdoor seating with a couple of tables and few chairs. The interiors and décors are really cool and give a fun vibe to the place. There are booths on one side, opposite the bar area and a few tables in the middle once you enter the restaurant. There are also a few tables at the back side which I think has a more private and intimate feel to it. The place was busy on a Thursday night but there were still a few tables available. Once we were seated, the server gave us the house chips and the amazing salsa. Our server was pretty much the only guy running the entire place except for the busboy and the bartender...that being said, the service was very slow and lacking, to say the least. Moving on to the food...I'm not sure if I did not order the right things and if it was just an off night, but my high expectations from this place were not met on my first dining experience. My friend and I both ordered taco plates with 2 different proteins on each. Our plates both had rice and beans to accompany our tacos: SHORT RIB- delicious and perfectly cooked beef AL PASTOR - the pork lacked flavor but the pickled onions were good. TILAPIA - good piece of fish but there was no seasoning at all SHRIMP- the jicama gave great texture, otherwise, the shrimp was bland The flavor and texture on the tacos that I have tried, except for the short rib, did not come from the proteins but from all the fixings that they came with. The pickled onions, cilantro, pico de gallo and jicama were all fresh and tasty. The beans and rice were both alright. I'll consider trying other items on the menu in case I come back...the fajitas and burritos that were being served to other tables looked and smelled good. I was thinking of getting dessert too but since the service was really slow, I just decided to skip it. Hopefully, the service will be better the next time I try them out. I still have faith in you El Tapatio, you got this! read more

Cafe El Tapatio - Al Pastor and Short Ribs Taco Plate - Mexican Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

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One of my favorite brunch places in the area! Drinks and food are great all around, almost threw up afterwards from eating too much :') read more

Cafe El Tapatio - Mexican Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

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Such a cuteeee place! I love it! The music is always on point! Love the Latin vibes it gives off. The interior design of the restaurant is super cute! Nicely decorated whether it's to bring a date or jag a bunch of friends! The food here is AMAZING! The Queso Fundido & Ellotes are soo good, I order it every time I go! The Queso Fundido comes out hot and cheesy with little tiny bite sizes of chorizo sprinkled all over and a side of tortillas and it's so good! The Ellotes are on point! I love how they give chips and salsa to every table too. Their salsa is FIRE..literally! Spicy but not crazy spicy and it's delicious! Their margs are also amazing, I love the Like margarita-strong enough to handle. I would totally recommend this place for a cute date night or a family night read more

Food was phenomenal! Enchiladas and chilaquiles were amazing. Big thanks to the excellent costumer service. Beyond please with Merced service. Thank you. Will be coming back. read more

Nice quaint Mexican restaurant in the corner of Greenwood and Milwaukee ave. Service is friendly at the hispanic music rhythm for a happy lunch or dinner with family or friends. Order a traditional margarita or try something new with one of the special drinks. if you have a sweet tooth don't forget to order churros or crepes de chocolate abuelita. Capacity is limited; so talk to the owner if you need to reserve for special occasion. read more

Eh. Margarita was really good but tacos (tilapia and sheimp) were just OK. Hoped food would be better during a busier time, but It was just...eh. Felt pretty safe with plastic separators between tables but there were some customers walking around maybe going to restroom not wearing a mask. Really? Not stopped by waitresses or hosts. read more

If this is not the best burrito I have ever eaten in my life, it has got to be in the top three. Delicious and complex flavors, served with fab rice and beans, and so big I'm taking half home for dinner. No wonder people love this place. Did I mention this was the $7 lunch special? read more

Cafe El Tapatio - Mexican Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

We've heard great things about El Tapatio! So we walked into this small restaurant with high expectations and they delivered. The food was excellent, the atmosphere was quaint and the drinks were wonderful. But... they need a larger space. We came early and just in the nick of time because by 6:30 on Friday night they were jammed! So moral of this story, call ahead and be ready for a good time. read more

Cafe El Tapatio - Super tasty drinks! - Mexican Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

Pros: Wait staff was very friendly and attentive while we were there (a few months ago) Margarita was amazing. Lots of alcohol but still equally tasty. Cons: it wasn't the best food I've had and was less than mediocre. I was excited to get my elote but it was watery and lacked flavor. Put in some mayo and don't skimp out on the cheese and seasoning. I also ordered steak fajitas that were too salty. I was not happy with how expensive the food is compared to how tiny my fajitas were. read more

Came here for Sunday lunch during North Shore Restaurant Month (Feb). The ambiance is very inviting and lively with all the bright and colorful Mexican cultural decoration and the upbeat music. We got seated immediately and our super friendly server was on point. He explained the menu well and suggested his favorites, helping with our decisions. He was very attentive kept saying "you got it, my friend" for any request. They had a great Restaurant Month deal: if you buy two entrees, you get any one appetizer and one dessert free. We started with chicken tacquitos. Very tasty. The hubby ordered 2 beer battered fried shrimp tacos with rice and beans and I ordered 1 pastor and 1 carne asada with the jicama salad. Everything was cooked just right and delicious . We favored the shrimp the best. I'll skip the jicama salad next time since I'm not too fond of onions and peppers, but the rest of the salad was good. We had a sweet horchata drink to help wash it all down. We closed out the meal with the mango dulce de leche crepe. It was amazing! They also have a brunch menu, a kids menu, happy hour deals and daily drink specials. We'll definitely be back to try more. read more

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This place was fantastic, flavorful salsa and hearty chips started the meal off with flying colors. Then the carne asada came and I licked the plate clean. Good guacamole, salad, peppers and onions all exceptional. This is easily our favorite Mexican restaurant and maybe our favorite restaurant period read more

Delicious! The owner is a warm host and the staff is more attentive than my mother. Such a fun vibe and don't forget to have the churros!

Food is terrible. Steak fajitas are tasteless thick chopped onions and yellow pepper. Salad had pieces of unwashed spinach with sour vinegar dressing - impossible to eat. Drinks weren't good as well. Definitely not worth their price. read more

Cafe El Tapatio - Mexican Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

Second time trying this place with different dishes and cannot complain about a single thing. We had the crema poblano soup, plantain appetizer - revoltijo, panela con Cameron, and steak burrito. The quality of the food is amazing ! Great service as well and fun environment. If I had to nitpick, when it gets busy it does get crowded due to space. But definitely worth it ! read more

Good food and very efficient service. Had not been here since the pandemic. Space is small but festive and the food is very nice, good flavors and variety. Only complaints are parking lot is small and we had a hard time finding parking. There was also an unusual smell somewhere between roses and ammonia when we walked in to the restaurant, perhaps from a cleaning chemical. I'm smell sensitive and didn't love it. read more

Definitely get "Abrazo de Carne Tacos" with the orange hot sauce ! Highly recommend. I really like the Jimica salad that comes on the side , very different and refreshing . The place is super cute , very festive . Fast service and attentive . And delicious FRESH churros to top it off ! It's a MUST to grab one on the way out . (My favorite is the dulce de leche ) read more

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Not a super hard order.. I'm pretty simple. Even if it was 3 chicken- I would of been happier since that's what I chose first. I eat tacos once in a blue moon.. so disappointing I couldn't get my chicken read more

Cafe El Tapatio - I asked for 1 beef and 2 tinga - Mexican Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

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For those nights where you're not looking for fancy avocado toast, grilled octopus or black squid pasta, where all you want is a comfortable and festive place to relax and eat a great meal, El Tapatio hits the spot. Tonight, the coldest fall evening this season, I discovered the suburban branch of El Tapatio, the same restaurant I knew on Ashland decades ago. It only opened in May, a great addition to the neighborhood. They have all the traditional Mexican dishes like fajitas, burritos, enchiladas and grilled fish. I was cold and hungry. Really, really hungry. I never considered a bowl of chicken soup, but when the waiter told me it was meal sized and filled with chicken and veggies, I had to bite. It was so good I drank the last few ounces directly from the bowl, Emily Post notwithstanding. I think this will become my go-to place for comfort food when I don't want to think about where to go. read more

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We were doing our Christmas shopping around the area and decided to stop by this place. We had already searched for a different location nearby but I opted to visit this nice little place instead. The food is excellent but the service we received from the waiter was not the best. We did noticed there was a couple when we arrived and the service was different compared to ours (me and my fiancé). Throughout the entire time we was very rushed when taking the order or when asking if everything was "ok". The another couple came in with children and he was very attentive and friendly. Also, I had to ask the other waiter to take care of us instead he was friendlier than the first waiter. Not sure what the problem was but I only wish the best to this place because the food was delicious. read more

My wife and I don't often get a dinner out through the week. Cafe El Tapatio offered an interesting menu and convenient location. The interior has fun decorations and all of the staff were friendly and attentive. We took advantage of the 1/2 price appetizers Wednesday special and ordered the taquitos, which came out hot and fresh. They were made from scratch and had a wonderful flavor. I ordered the LA Cali burrito with steak to take full advantage of the chimichurri sauce it came with. It was amazing. The steak was flavorful, the accomplishments were delicious; i can't wait to have another! My wife ordered the salmon entree and I heard barely a peep out of her she enjoyed it so much. Highly recommended! read more

Second time - eat in. Our first time was fabulous. Second time - not so much. I ordered a soup and an entre. Spouse ordered an entree. My soup was served and about 5 seconds later our entrees were served. I had a choice of eating hot soup - or as it turned out a luke warm entre. The entrees were served at best luke warm to the point my spouse did not finish her entree. When I remarked to the server on paying the check that we were disappointed he simply smiled and went on his way. Very disappointed in the service. The menu as a whole looks great. If service had been better it would have been a great meal. read more

My favorite local Mexican restaurant. Delicious food that is good value and of consistent quality with friendly service.

This was our 2nd time coming here. Service is always good very friendly! Food is delicious! We absolutely love the corn on the cob appetizer!!! My husband could make a meal out of it but he also had a burrito which was good. I had the grilled shrimp tacos which delicious! read more

Cafe El Tapatio - Date night! - Mexican Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

I can not recommend this restaurant. We were a group that came there and was nickel and dimed to death at this place without our knowledge until we received the bill. We filled the round table. Our waiter brought us one basket of chips for the table. Since there were more of us, we asked for another basket. We also asked if they had a milder salsa because the one they gave us was too "hot/spicy" for us. Waiter never said it would be an extra charge for the above. In fact, the comment made was that every place nickel and dimes you. $4.00 for another basket even though we had many people at the table for just one basket and $2.00 I believe for each salsa. I ordered the taco meal and didn't want cilantro and onions but lettuce, cheese and tomatoes like I get everywhere. Yep! You guessed it $2.50 more for each taco. Was never mentioned that there would be an extra charge. 2 people wanted some guacamole for their dinner. He brought 3 and charged us for 3. But, two people only ordered it. They did take off the one guacamole from the bill. We ended up paying about $14+ more on this meal with all the "extras" without it being "extra". We tried this place, but all agreed we will go to one of the other Mexican restaurants that won't nickel and dime us. read more

Omg I don't know if my review with do this amazing restaurant justice! The place was spotless One of the cleanest and best Mexican Restaurants that my sister and I have been to. The portions are so generous they are enough to feed two plus people! The rice is so delicious and the steak chimichanga was made to order with steak and cheese stuffed in the crispy shell and sour cream and guacamole on the outside! This is a must try restaurant! I will definitely be back! read more

Cafe El Tapatio - Beef Chimichanga - Mexican Near Me - Glenview, Illinois

We were in the midst of a debate over which of the two usual Mexican restaurants we should go to. Instead, we settled on this one. So everyone was happy in the end. Nice setting, enthusiastic servers, and a step above the usual fare in terms of quality, preparation and taste. read more

Ok, so my daughter writes a foodie blog, and she suggested we explore a relatively new Mexican restaurant on the border of Glenview and Niles. So, here we are, chatting with the restaurant's owner, who also dreams up its delicacies, both food and drink. (He also has another El Tapatio in Chicago.) The menu here is varied, and one should really explore it. Ask for help from the restaurant staff, if you have trouble choosing. We did. Do not think, that you have stepped into your everyday, typical, north-of-the-border Mexican restaurant, when you come here. It is not. You will really know it, when you try the sauces and the cocktails. I would also recommend pairing the cocktails with your food. You will find that several of them (e.g., Smoke la Piña and Piña Poblana) can really stand up to the very flavorful, zesty dishes. This is a real find. Enjoy! read more

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We came in to try dinner here at about 5:45pm and the place wasn't too busy but boy by 6:30pm almost every table was taken. I had their Bellas enchiladas ($14, and subbed out the Portabello mushrooms for chicken, ground beef, and cheese), wife had their steak tacos dinner ($11), and we also had their elotes appetizer ($6). The elotes and my enchiladas had a bit of kick to them and were ok tasting. For $11, the two steak tacos and small salad were on relatively pricey side but otherwise basically ok. The tables were all sticky and I didn't like that at all (even with long sleeves), but water service was very good. I would say the place was about average for their price point but they do get points for a more extensive menu and some food presentation points. But those sticky tables in the rear main dining room were a big negative to me as a paying diner. read more

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