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    Cantina on Madison

    3.1 (77 reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Bars
    Fri 11:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)
    Sat 11:00 am - 3:00 AM (Next day)

    Order Cantina on Madison Takeout or Delivery

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    CANTINA ON MADISON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Cantina on Madison

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    grilled chicken tacos
    Alex W.

    I came upon this place with a friend of mine after iceskating, and was immediately hit with the fresh and flavorful aroma of Mexican cuisine. We were promptly sat by one gentlemen and then served by another that seemed to be taking on all customers but still maintained amazing charisma and service! The interior is very nice and I could see it being a popular late night bar stop for anyone in the area. For my meal, I got the grilled chicken taco dinner with beans and rice on the side. I thoroughly enjoyed the rice as it had a nice soft aroma assisted by a cardamom pod. (I loved it) The chicken tacos were good however i wish the chicken had more moisture as it would have sealed the deal and allotted five stars! Overall this was a very great experience and I look forwards to coming back.

    Eric W.

    I came here for a group lunch with some fellow volunteers. The space was very nice and quite big. I enjoyed the food a lot. The guac and chips were solid and my enchiladas mole was a hefty portion and filling. I don't know if Wednesdays are a slower day for the kitchen, but the food seemed to take a while to actually get out which was weird since I think we were only 1 of 2 tables there at noon. There didn't seem to be a vegan meat option available ( or they were out) for my colleague. Staff is very friendly. I would give this a go another time.

    This was a beyond terrible first time experience. I got there a little after 4, waited for a few minutes at the host stand and after 5 went to the bar to ask could I sit at one of the multiple open seats. She rudely tells me I need to wait at the host stand, so I go back there, a few minutes later the girl who comes hands me a menu and seats me at the bar. So a few more minutes go by and the bartender Jessica has said nothing to me, no acknowledgment, do I have any questions. Okay. She does however make sure to say some disparaging remarks about black people and some other patrons she had earlier to another server. So after a few more minutes she comes by and I ask about happy hour drinks and food, I proceed to get a beer and chips and queso. The main reason I came is the Wednesday AYCE wing special they have going on, so I put in an order of those. 20 or so minutes later my wings come out and as she puts them down she spills my beer. I'm annoyed but it's fine, I ask can I put in my second order since you only get an hour time limit and the wings were taking awhile. She says sure and a few minutes later comes back with my bill because she's closing out for the night. This is despite the fact 1, I haven't received my second order of wings yet, 2, she charged me for the regular chips despite me asking for happy hour items. So I ask to speak to a manager just to get things situated and the manager AJ tells me "I got you" and proceeds to take off 3 dollars off of my bill and tells me I'll get my wings despite my sever leaving. I pay my bill, my server leaves and I'm left with another bar back/server (who I guess is the manager AJ's mother) and AJ behind the bar. So I proceed to wait almost another hour and in the time multiple orders of wings come out, but apparently none of them were mine. Turns out the gave mine to a patron sitting next to me and didn't say anything. During this time not ONCE did the manager AJ touch base with me. 3 seats in at the end of the bar. So after they figure out that I never received my 2nd order of wings that my initial server put in they put that in, I wait another 30 minutes or so and they finally arrive. I ask about my last order of wings and of course it was never put in by AJ. So I have to wait some more. And at the end of the night when I'm trying to get change to tip them out the manager continues to ignore me so his mother has do it. One thing the staff kept saying is how they didn't prepare the kitchen properly for the promotion so that's why the wait was so long at one point. That was VERY obvious and apparent. I spent almost 4 hours there waiting for my food. The manager needs to spend less time making drinks for his employees and random patrons and more time on customer service. I understand that it is a promotion you didn't adequately prepare for but how is that my fault as a patron? This is my first and last time here. Proceed to this restaurant with caution.

    Jazmine P.

    They have good Mexican food, good drinks, it's a great location to catch a game or just chill out at the bar for drinks, especially being in the heart of downtown. Just be careful with their red salsa, it's good but spicyyy!

    Tacos

    Cantina on Madison is really good! The food was fresh, flavorful, and came out fast. The service was great too super friendly and attentive. You get 2 tacos for the price of 1, which is such a win, especially for the quality. Everything I tried was delicious and worth it. Definitely recommend this spot if you're in Chicago and looking for good tacos, good vibes, and great service. I'll for sure be coming back.

    Royce L.

    Decent Mexican cuisine close to where I was staying. The restaurant was into the bar section and the restaurant section. It was pretty late but we were able to get a table. The bar was pretty busy as well. They also had a small section for outdoor seating. Our server was good. Decent sized groups and we seperated our checks. He got everyone's order right and the food was good. The tacos and the burritos were good. I'll be back when I'm in the area again.

    Sydney T.

    Had dinner with a group of four and we all left completely satisfied. The vibe was lively and fun, and the service was top-notch. We came for Taco Tuesday, where tacos are just $3.50 each--a great deal. The margarita was a good size for around $15, which felt like a steal compared to the $20+ ones I've had in Chicago before. Everything we ordered was delicious and full of flavor. Not a single complaint from anyone in our group--highly recommend for your margarita & taco needs!

    Nacho Platter
    Janae T.

    We stopped in here for a quick bite and something to drink. The drinks were so good and they were pretty big for a decent price. We shared a nacho and it was perfect and fulfilling for the both of us. We got sat down instantly and of course they serve chips and salsa while your waiting for your food. The inside of the restaurant was very cute. Everything was decorated on theme and we sat right by the window to see all the action

    Fish tacos

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    1 year ago

    Great margs, mid food. I ordered the Chicken Quesadillas and they were served like Taco's. Good environment.

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    8 months ago

    great drinks and service. didn't try the food but would recommend just for their vibes. the owner was there and very kind would visit again.

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    10 months ago

    great service! very authentic, the mother son duo really made the experience top tier. loved them!

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Cantina on Madison

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    Cantina on Madison - mexican - Updated August 2026

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