This rating is based on the food vendor at the Taste of Chicago. My fiance got the sampler for the Tequila-Lime Marinated Grilled Chicken Breast Taco and the 1/2 Tamales Wrapped in Corn Husk. He thought they were OK. read more

Carbon makes me happy. For reals. The food here speaks for itself, so I'll get straight to it. My favorites are the chicken quesadilla, steak taco (you have to eat it with the red pepper sauce), and the tortilla encrusted tilapia taco. The chicken is very flavorful - you can tell that its been marinated for a long time. Its good all on its own. The steak has a lot of depth with a smoky, char grilled flavor. And the fish, its perfectly cooked, never greasy, and always served with this kick a$$ lime sauce. I don't think Ive been to a Mexican restaurant that actually had elotes on their menu. And thank God Carbon thought to do so. Damn good stuff. (And I feel more comfortable eating from here, than off a street cart.) Don't forget to get a mixed bag of chips with guac. They mix up corn tortilla chips with flour tortilla chips. Homemade, fresh fried flour tortillas are sooooo good. I will admit that it does feel a bit more like Americanized Mexican food, than "authentic" Mexican food. But, I honestly don't care. The food is ridiculously good and exceptionally flavorful... it does not need to be categorized. BTW, catering is pretty awesome from here, too. read more

I ordered the Steak-inator Burrito, It was beefy...Really Beefy. I think I'm still chewing that steak. I was impressed with the homemade chips and salsa, but the guacamole lacked flavor (lime juice perhaps). I gave this place 3 stars because the seasoning was off and I couldn't tell you why my tastebuds did not agree. I think perhaps the charred flavor combined with the buttery essence in the tortilla is a flavor profile I don't care for. All that meat was screaming for a little more fresh salsa/ cilantro/ something... Nonetheless, the servers were very helpful, very sweet and very knowledgable. I give this place three stars because I still prefer Taco Fresca's Burritos, but what can I say. Years of San Franciscan Burritos from the Mission have made me this way. read more

I've been here twice in the last two weeks after a friend took me here for the first time. I got a chicken & steak quesadilla and a steak taco it was delicious!!! The meat is seasoned well and you can add whatever toppings you want. The second time I went back I got the exact same thing it was so good the first time! It was just as delicious!!! I got my food to go both times..it's not exactly a sit down restaurant. read more

Carbon is great! Really flavorful and big pieces of chicken and steak in their burritos. Puts Chipotle to shame. An awful lot of cops are there in the evenings... I wish they offered delivery. read more

Very good local mexican place. I order here once per week. Get the Mother Clucker and the Stelote. I always ask for extra tequila lime salsa to go with the Mother Clucker and extra roasted red pepper salsa to go with the Stelote. There elote side is very good as well. The nutella chocolate quesadillas are nice as a treat once and while. read more

What can I say that hasn't been said? As far as these slightly-overrated fish tacos people rave about -- let me say this: If you like a lightly sweeter sauce to go with something savory, it's good. I personally thought it was a bit much. Don't get me wrong, I'd get them again without the sauce. You want spicy, throat-burning salsa, you won't find it here. The hottest one wasn't terribly hot. They get points for having a variety of salsas though. Don't want to sit around a la typical restaurant style? Not here, it's more 'fast (but healthy) food' where you order and you get it brought to you within minutes :) Bland rice :( Overall, if you need something quick but don't want fast food, this will satisfy you. read more

I loved the tacos from here. If you get the hot sauce with the bell peppers in them they are completely amazing!! I also tried the elote dish that my girlfriend ordered...BEST I'VE EVER HAD! The guacamole is pretty good too but ask if they can give you just the hard, corn chips. They put some of the soft, flour chips in the basket that I didn't like. Definitely in my top 5 Mexican places to eat in Chicago (and Mexican food is my favorite food!). read more

I've passed this place on the shuttle to Ogilvie station a few times and a colleague mentioned wanting to try it out. I got the chance when a friend came by for lunch and was willing to drive us over from campus. Good food, closer to authentic fare that I like. I got two tacos and it was plenty of food for me. If you are in the neighborhood or are passing by I recommend it. read more

The Stelote burrito reminds me of Mexican San Diego style (not an easy task). Lots of well seasoned, tender steak combined with creamy and zesty corn, and not much else (but in the best way because the ingredients in their simplicity are really all you need for a fantastic burrito). In the past few weeks, I've had several cravings for Carbon, driven largely by that amazing steak. We also had the guac, chips, elote on its own. My friends had various tacos, which all looked delicious. Furthermore, the salsa really adds that kick to any dish. The pricing is a bit more expensive, but definitely worth it! This place is perfect for a quick bite that really hits the spot when you're craving Mexican. read more

Horrific Food and Service. Do not waste your time or money unless you want to take an L. I was so excited to experience this place but they were a huge disappointment. I ordered my food, it arrived ice cold not moderately cold. Not even lukewarm. The food was sloppy and everything was disfigured as if it had been dropped upside down and then they refused to give me a refund. I spent $25.22. I was to skeptical and paranoid to eat. Don't bother. Not safe. read more

I think they have good fish tacos, to try with the pineapple salsa! I didn't like the Horchata. The service was ok. read more

I'm kind of addicted to their fish tacos and elotes. Whenever I visit a friend that lives near there, I'm always requesting that Carbon is where we order our food from. I honestly don't remember if I have tried anything else from their menu, and I very well may not have. The fish tacos and elotes are so good that I just don't want to get anything else when I get the chance to get their food. The actual place is pretty small but kind of trendy-ish in design. It is definitely a take-out/delivery place by design. read more

After discovering the back patio that was mentioned in a prior review, we waited just a few minutes for our food to arrive. Four tilapia tacos with tequila lime sauce (absolutely delicious), one steak taco (good), elotes, and guacamole. The best thing about the fish tacos was the sauce! If they had been served on corn tortillas they wouldve been the best fish tacos in/ around Chicago, but I'm just not a flour tortilla kind of girl! The elotes were perfectly spiced and a little less creamy than the 26th street version. All in all, it was delish and we will definitely be returning with friends when the patio is more populated ( we were the only ones on it). read more

Carbon - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Oh Carbon....everytime I see or hear your name my mouth waters. So after about a year of searching for Taco spots (Arturo's, La Pasadita, Coyote's/Cardona's, street vendors, etc), I happen upon Carbon and have not strayed. Now don't get me wrong, I was a long time fan of Cardona's for it being a very late night spot, however, since they've changed to Coyote's, they've lost their flare. (You still may find me there at about 3am after clubbing cause of limited options.) I've had all the taco's at Carbon and absolutely love them. The steak definitely gets kudos for being flame grilled (as La Pasadita claims but they are super inconsistent). The chicken is so juicy it practically melts in your mouth. They have an outdoor dining area in the back/side of the restaurant for those who don't want to sit out front or inside (both of these spots are somewhat small). Carbon has about five different salsa's of which I love all of them except for the chunky tomato (may be good for dipping but not on tacos in my opinion). And to top it off....they have beer. (I've heard rumors they have margarita's also but haven't dared to ask....next time I will). Stay tuned! read more

The 4 stars are for the food. If you've been past Carbon you'll know it's literally underneath the highway. But don't let it deter you. Because holy crap these tacos are AMAZING!! the steak tacos are grilled. The fish tacos are fantastic. It's hard to find good fish tacos in Chicago (having lived in California I'm picky about my fish tacos). But this place has a good thing going. The elote is also great. Like I said you're not going for the atmosphere- you're going for the food. No frills. Good eatin. read more

I recently had a random, very strong craving for fish tacos. If you can believe it (I can't) the last time I had them was on my trip to LA...which was back in January. Yikes. This did not bode well for Carbon, as Mexican food in LA is aaaamazing, and my craving was screaming, "You haven't had fish tacos in so long IWANTTHEMNOW and they better be just as damn good as the last time you had them!" The fish tacos at Carbon? Good, but just good. The portions are pretty big (as they should be, for the price, yeesh) and I liked the crispiness of the fish, but the flavor and sauce were eh. The elote was a bit too mayonnaise-y and the horchata just okay (more cinnamon please! Although that's just preference, I suppose). My craving was satisfied but I plan on doing some research so that the next time it hits I'll be better prepared. read more

Good food. The steak burrito, fish taco and chicken taco are really good. Seems like quality ingredients; well-seasoned proteins. Salsa verde and guacamole were good, but portions are small and expensive on guacamole. The flour chips were not my thing, but hubby loved them. It's filling. Couldn't eat all we ordered; won't heat up well. So, order just a few things. We've had it twice. It was better the second time, which is unheard of, to some extent, in Chicago. Delivery was a little long at 1.5 hours the second time, especially for a $4 delivery fee. But the food was still warm. We will try Carbon, again. read more

I used to always see these Carbon delivery vehicles riding around town, and one day I decided to take my curiosity to the next level. I went to the small and accessible restaurant that is positioned under the I-55/94 junction on 26th street, and the food is consistently on point! Definitely the authentic Mexican grill experience...so if you're a fan of Chipotle, this spot will definitely blow your mind. It might even make you hate Chipotle! lol. The Burrito Bowl is the star of the menu. A taco shell bowl with all the ingredients anchored in the middle is a certified winner. I've had them all, and they're all winners. Their hot sauce is the champion of hot sauces; has kick and flavor galore! The tacos are very good too, as well as the burrito itself, but if you're going to go experience something unique you can't always find elsewhere, the burrito bowl is the premier option. The restaurant is very small, but as long as you come during a time when it's not lunch or dinner, you should be able to comfortably sit down. They have the Mexican drinks you would anticipate at any Mexican restaurant (Horchata and Jarritos), and their fountain drinks are always treated with precision. Other notable menus items worth having include the Guacamole and Chips, the chicken tamale, and the quesadillas. I will warn you of one slight criticism: the price of the food is not competitive lol. If you're dining for two, expect to spend between $20-40 for a compete meal. If you roll solo, it's about $10-15 on a basic appetite. Anything more will result in busting out the American Express black card. The food is really good, so just know that the money is at least well invested. Their Grubhub service is really efficient too. If you want to pickup food without the wait, use the app; it'll save you some wait time, as they can get busy and sometimes take longer than normal. read more

The burrito: A Fish Named William = a heavenly delight for those of you who love fish tacos! The portion is huge, the tilapia is cooked to perfection, and cabbage abounds. Hit it with a little extra fresh squeezed lime and you will be good to go! Talk about delish! Don't plan on bringing a big crowd here though; aside from sitting in a line at the bar, the largest table seats only two. (I deducted one star for needing to add lime, for not having enough light at the tables (IMO), and for the fact that I've still had at least one better fish taco/burrito outside of San Diego.) Definitely don't hesitate to give Carbon a try though! read more

I really don't know where to start with this one. The food is good-sometimes, whereas the staff is always beyond incompetent. You're best bet is eating there so you can correct their screwups in real time. Delivery? Forget about it. They'll charge you thirty bucks for a cold taco that you didn't even order, then show up an hour and a half later with it. I was able to get a delivery last evening, however, I ordered a steak burrito and was presented a taco salad by one of their supremely confused Spanish-speaking delivery drivers who have a hard time accessing buildings. read more

Overrated, over priced, long wait, misplaced portions of meals. My chicken was rubbery.

Disgusting ! My meat wasn't cooked, order was wrong! Never will be stopping here again!

Been back many a time now and I heart their fish tacos with the red pepper sauce. The red pepper sauce is is aaaaaammmmmaaaaaaazzzzzziinnng!!!! Seriously, I could drink it plain but that would be disgusting to watch.. But I might if no one was looking. read more

Yes, the food is good, however, certainly not the best Mexican I've had. If you're in the area go for it but I'm not sure I can say go out of your way to try the food. I had the elote, which is good, but NOWHERE near what you'd find in a street vendor's Mexican corn cup (even Pete's grocery store on 47th & Pulaski has waaaay better corn, waaaay better). We also had the tilapia taco on a corn shell (I can't eat gluten so I was darn sure it was gluten free) and a steak taco. The roasted red pepper sauce is very tasty. The guacamole is tasty as well once you add salt (again, corn chips, not the flour ones). We dined in. Be aware that the place is small, only about 5 or 6 tables that seat 2-3 people each and the tables are CLOSE to one another. The servers/staff are all friendly. Again, good food, but I certainly wouldn't say it's worth making a night of it. read more

I have had the fish tacos and the fish burrito(A Fish Named William), burrito wins. I had the steak quesadilla and it was greasy yumness so don't order it if you are dieting. It also looks like they have a big outdoor patio for summer even though it is under the highway, looks cool! It is mid priced, expect to pay about 12 for a burrito and a beer. But who cares, it is good and it isn't fast food quality but rather well made and very tasty! read more

Great steak burritos! Pour on the salsa verde and I'm in heaven. Chips and salsa fresca on the side makes for a satisfying, delicious meal. Being from Southern California, I have high standards for Mexican food, and while it isn't nearly as greasy, the food at Carbon is always very fresh and feels healthier than its closer-to-the-border counterpart. Delivery was always done within a reasonable time and the food was hot. My only complaint, and reason for 4/5 stars, is the price for the portion. Either make the burritos larger or lower the price. And 65 cents for some cheese is crazy. Awesome food, slightly pricey, give it a try! read more

Enjoyed my lunch date at Carbon yesterday! I had the fish burrito bowl. It was so delicious! And an added bonus was that they serve liquor. I had a tasty margarita. Not too pricey and perfect for a simple lunch date with my man. read more

Carbon - Best fish burrito bowl I've ever had! The only edible burrito bowl I've had! Magnificent! - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've gotten this place a few times and I've gotten quite a lot of food. I got the veggie tacos and they were stuffed. I enjoyed the different kind of salsas they had which was different but in a good way. I also liked that they had more healthier options too. The biggest complaint (and mostly everyone else's) is the prices. It's well overpriced for a mexican place. I do enjoy the food but everything is extra charge. Sour cream, cheese, avo...etc. I'm surprised they don't just do build your own tacos and charge you for every ingredient. I know my sister got the mother clucker and she was not impressed because there was barely anything on it! The up charges are crazy. Some make sense, but others not so much. I enjoy the food however it has not been a frequent spot due to not wanting to pay the prices. I can go to pancho's and get the taco dinner, which is 3 tacos stuffed to the brim with all those ingredients, with rice and beans, under $10. Sorry carbon, but it's just not worth it. read more

I was referred to this restaurant by a friend and I'm pleased to have came here. The food was delicious. I ordered the "Mother Clucker" with elotes on the side and I was very pleased. The chicken was well marinated and grilled to a good temperature. The portion was very satisfying too. I was barely able to finish the meal. However, I was too big of a fan of the rice and beans. It was kind of dry and stale, but it's ok because the main entree was good. It's a small location but I liked how it was easy to find parking around the neighborhood, especially for a restaurant in Chicago. Overall, I'll definitely be coming back here. read more

Carbon - The Mother Clucker - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Let me just start by saying that be food here is delicious..when they get it right. We eat a very low carb diet so we love their burrito bowls without rice, beans and corn. Today we go in for our usual order, I figure bc when I read my receipt and it's all rang it right I'm going to get my right order, I get home, everything I asked for to not be in there was in there. So my husband takes it back, they remake our food, we get home and open it, and there is still rice in there. Done ordering from here, this is clearly a matter of they just don't get a care at this point. We live 15 mins away and we have wasted time and gas going there 3x! Getting our money back and spending it elsewhere! read more

We came in a group of 8. No one got there food the way they ordered. I should've stayed with my guy and went to L'Patron. I don't like mushrooms and red peppers in my burrito. That's why I didn't order it that way. But I got it that way. Service is horrible. Stay away!!! . 2 stars and 5 thumbs down. read more

I wanted to say a huge thank you to Carbon's catering service. They were fabulous in arranging a catering order to a hospital in need that I was not present for. While I did not taste the food, their customer service went above and beyond. read more

What a place! Carbon is the amazing. The restaurant reminds me slightly of chipotle, but but with far better favors. My girlfriend ate the fish taco which she loved and described as juicy and crisp. I had the chicken burrito which tasted like it was grilled (in the good way). The best part was probably the sauces/salsas, which are free and come in many varieties. You would miss out if you didn't sample all of them. The roasted red pepper tasted almost like a salad dressing, but complimented the chicken wonderfully. Finally, don't be disturbed by the location or decor. It may be in Bridgeport, but it is easy to get to from the Orange line Halsted stop and while the restaurant is directly under the Dan Ryan, it is very nice inside. read more

We had a party for 15 people catered today. The food showed up about 10 minutes early.It was well packaged and hot, with plenty of napkins, plates, serving spoons etc. The food was FANTASTIC. Everyone at the party loved it. We had fish, chicken and veggie tacos. Elote, Rice and Beans, tortillas, and guacamole, and an amazing selection of salsas There was enough food for twice as many people and everyone took leftovers! We will definitely use Carbon for catering our parties in the future. We go to both locations frequently, so we knew the food would be good. We were very impressed with the quality, price, presentation and quantity of what we ordered. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! read more

I lived in so cal for 18 years and have not found a decent Mexican restaurant since I left 4 years ago. I have now found one. Food is great, large portions. Thank u for the excellent quality, truly authentic read more

The food is overpriced, portion size is small to midsize, the selection of food is minimal and flavor is mediocre. Went to this place yesterday and I got a steak burrito total came out to $12.29 just a burrito nothing extra. read more

My absolute favorite place for tacos. The fire grilled steak is amazing!! I always go for the lomo tacos w/the grilled ribeye & the roasted red pepper sauce, the best hands down! read more

I can't remember what happened exactly after this issue but I do remember being made to feel like they cared. So, we're friends again.

I decided to visit this restaurant after eating some of their food at the Taste of Chicago. I visited the website, etc. First this is at best a take out joint. In the restaurant there are some tables and seats but it does not feel inviting. There is a patio. I asked one of the workers how did we get to it and he pointed to the door we came in. We went and sat outside for some minutes before wondering if a server was coming. We asked someone at another table and they informed us that we had to order and then come back to our table. Once we did that someone brought out food to us. However, they go back through a door that is locked to the kitchen and if you need anything you have no way of asking unless you leave the area and reenter the restaurant from the front. I ordered a steak taco, the tequile lime chicken taco and a tilapia taco. I am the queen of tacos and this food pale in comparison to even what was presented at the Taste. The food was warm and I like my food hot. It was mediocre but nothing to write home to mom about. The waitor was pleasant enough. He asked if there was anything he could get us. Overall I was disappointed with the ambiance. The website made it look like something it was not. The taste and temperature of the food added to my disappointment. Great website, great marketing but it is all very misleading when you get to the place. read more