Okay - I have to admit I feel bad writing this review. I hate to say it... but this place kinda gave me the heebie jeebies, and I will not go back. The food itself was okay. Nothing was *wow* amazing. The guac was chunkier than I like. The chips and the horchata were meh. But it all fell apart when I went to the bathroom... and realized everything was just... so dirty. I actually couldn't even "go" because the bathroom looked so dirty it grossed me out, so I just just washed my hands and went back to the table. It gets worse. As we were wrapping up and trying to pay (which it took a while to get their attention at the counter and pay), we saw a small bug crawl out of the chips/guac and just felt grossed out. There were also weirdly bottles of cleaning supplies just left randomly around (yet the place was NOT clean so that's odd) and that can't be on par with health code stuff right?! read more

The carne asada tacos are superb, a model of the form, and the beans and rice in the dinner plate are similarly executed perfectly. You can also get churros, which are filled with vanilla creme, I believe. They too are excellent. We picked up our food to go and will definitely return. read more

Very down home Mexican restaurant. The food was super tasty and served in traditional plates. I highly recommend this place read more

The food here was very good! We ordered the nachos for the table and finished all of it in 10 minutes. The quesobirria was amazing, I like how they gave us 3 instead of 2 like most places. The birria itself had great flavor and it wasn't too much. It's a cute small place, good for a casual family lunch or dinner. read more

See all

Don't sleep on this place. I can't get enough of their steak burrito...they don't overcook the meat. Service is excellent and they have some good daily specials. read more

Delivery was fast, but I did not enjoy my food. I got the steak taco dinner. The steak was not seasoned at all. Rice and beans were average at best. read more

This is my new favorite Mexican restaurant. I'm picky when it comes to Mexican food, so believe me when I say this place is authentic to its core. I've tried their tacos, burrito, and torta and they're delicious! (Their Al Pastor is out of this world.) I went there today with my bf (white guy) and he asked what Cascabel stood for. The owner told us that she named the restaurant after the Cascabel pepper. She showed us what the pepper looked like and then brought us a sample of the salsa she makes with it. It was the BEST salsa we had ever tried. read more

I feel like I got invited to a friends house who brags about how good her mom cooks- WOW! The food is phenomenal. Started with nachos which were loaded with beef, cheese, sour cream and avocado. Delicious, the chips are definitely homemade fried fresh. Then went with the quesabirria dinner, went with asada, Al pastor and chicken. All phenomenal, I just went from one to the other the whole meal. I couldn't tell you which one was my favorite cause they were ALL tasty, and they load the meat in there. Highly highly highly recommend this place. Ambiance is hole in the wallesque with 4 tables and counter space. Very clean though! read more

Absolutely delicious birria. This is more like a stand since they have a small dining area. The owners are very involved and make sure to make you feel welcome . read more

The birria tacos were delicious. I did not like the puree beans,I love beans,I was expecting like, frijoles a la charra. Regardless, everything was delicious. Will come back for more. IF you like your food a certain way, just ask them to make it your way. The cook was open to suggestions. He likes to know how the food tastes and all,this is the best time to give your opinion. Inside has 4 tables each sits 4ppl. A LOT of carry out orders. Love to see a business thrive! They accept credit cards. Prefer cash. I paid cash. read more

One of the BEST Mexican places with BYOB I've had in years! My Wife and I were looking for a place that had birria and we got WAYYYYY more than we anticipated. The meat is so flavorful and tender not to mention flavors that transport us back to when we were on our honeymoon in Mexico. Wow....literally at a loss for words. Well done and thank you!!! read more

See all

First time ordering and won't be the last. We ordered almost every taco and chips and salsa. Every single item was fresh and full of flavor. I was expecting stale chips like most taco places but these were crispy and delicious. The salsa that accompanied the chips also had to he homemade. All the meats on the tacos were full of flavor. The tortillas as well...the best I have had around here lately. It's a winner! Try it! read more

The queso birria tacos were so delicious! Good flavor! Definitely ask for lemon to add some more flavor. I've had their tacos and tortas and everything has always been super delicious! read more

Cascabel Taco Joint - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I'm going to give my neighborhood taqueria 5 stars cause they hit all the marks! Great tacos, great prices, great service with a smile. The small dining area has this cool turf wall to cheer you up and bring some green summer-esque vibes especially needed for Chicago's 6 month winter! Got their burrito, fairly standard, but not greasy, but the fish and al pastor tacos are amazing. Nicely pan seared fish lays neatly in slaw and the al pastor meat is crispy and topped with plenty of onions and cilantro. Be sure to ask for their bottles of sauce. My favorite is their signature creamy, spicy Cilantro branded bottled. It goes perfect with the fish taco, but you can cover it anything and it's delicious. It's a really lovely taqueria and has a nicer atmosphere compared to your mom and pop hole in the wall shop, but it's super accessible. They have table side pickled carrots you can snack on while you wait, lemony water you get yourself and a TV off on the corner. read more

WOW! The quesabirria tacos are outrageous! These are some of the best tacos you're gonna find. I LOVE birria tacos (essentially more flavorful french dip tacos). They are stupid good. Wife got the basic carne asada tacos. They were good, but there are tens of thousands of taco joints in the Chicagoland area and carne asada tacos are fairly indistinguishable from each other. We liked the guacamole and really enjoyed the salsas. Wife thought that they were a little out of her comfort zone but she managed. Really good- highly recommend it! read more

We love the food from here! Our kids (8 & 10) even prefer the food from Cascabel considerably more than other "taco" places. We have had the tacos (steak is our favorite) burritos (chicken is our favorite) and my wife likes one of the dinner dishes (I forget the name). read more

Average place for Mexican food, I had their steak burrito diner plate. Not a big fan of rice put in my burrito. The burrito contained rice, beans, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream, avocado, cheese. Burrito was a bit small compare to other places, felt like it was more closer to a chimichanga. Also the use steak meat not skirt steak. The great part of the visit was the the curtido of Carrots, not spicy at all. The place was clean, small, and the service was ok. Be prepared to order first and then you can take your seat. read more

Cascabel Taco Joint - Curtido de zanahorias - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Ain't nothing like finding a good taco joint. I was looking for good tacos in the area and saw this place that looked relatively newer. Grabbed a fish and chicken taco; both super good. Their guacamole is some of the best that I've had ever. Very clean establishment with quick, friendly service. Glad I stopped in! read more

Cascabel Taco Joint - Fish and chicken taco - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Came here just driving by & turned out to be so good.. food was tasty & service was great. Will definitely be back!

Sigh... I wanted to really like this place but unfortunately it fell short. I ordered the 3 taco dinner plate ( al pastor, chicken and carne asada)- this is my go too at any taco spot. The tacos were good especially the tortillas. The rice a HARD pass. I'm pretty sure it had to be sitting very long or it was at the bottom of the pot. The rice was more like Tah Dig - persian rice (super crunchy). It shouldn't have been served. The beans... no words- they actually tasted like they came out of the can w/ lemon juice (shoulder shrug)... I'll stick to Taco Max! read more

Great carnitas tacos! They were a good size, and the meat was griddled crispy. Tripas were ok, slightly greasy. Veggie taco salad bowl was fresh and tasty. Looking forward to going back and trying more things. I'll be sure to ask their specialty next time. Great decor for such a tiny place, clean too. It was very hot that day, and they were struggling to keep it cool despite fans running. Service was friendly, and brought the food out fast. They had salsa and escabeche (carrots & cauliflower) at the table as well. Chips would be nice for dine in. Overall it was a good little taco spot, though my local favorite is still Taco Max on Elston. read more

Cascabel Taco Joint - Carnitas & tripas tacos. - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Returned again to Taco-ville and still a satisfied customer. I got tacos for second lunch just cause I can't pass this place without stopping. I had two tacos - one Al pastor and one carne asada. Both meats were rewarmed on the flat top. The al pastor was as good as last time. While the burrito was a little light on meat, the tacos were filled to the brim. I want to specify that the amount of meat in the burrito was less than other Mexican restaurants. However, the quality was much better here and I'd much rather go here than there. The carne asada wasn't anything spectacular. I won't be ordering it here again but it's not bad by any terms. I'd rather go to taqueria El Asadero or Cinco de Mayo(sister restaurant of Asadero) for fresh off the grill carne asada just a few blocks away on Montrose. But that avocado crema salsa. Sheeeeeett, spicy, soothing, cool - I can see why they've bottled it for sale at other locations. And with escabeche on tables here, they definitely try to please. read more

Our favorite local place to grab tacos! Love everything we have tried. Especially the avocado sauce- SO GOOD! Love the friendly staff.

Super kind and clean! Had super great quesobirria and for a great price. What a joy to have in Irving Park! read more

I live a couple blocks from this place and I had never seen it before but I'm so glad I found it and decided to stop in! It's a hidden gem! I'm very picky when it comes to Mexican food and the tacos at this place were SOOOOO good! I wish I had taken pictures before I inhaled my food. Would definitely recommend and it's definitely my new go to for tacos and Mexican food. Also, you get a discount if you pay cash! read more

Food had no taste had barely any steak on both burritos actually must say TACO BELL IS BETTER SAD. We basically waste money twice and we ended tossing out the food and went out to eat sad but true. $30.56 plus whatever we spend outside. No sure if all the reviews are real but this experience was for sure. The delivery driver gets 5 stars he delivered really quickly but you guys last night who ever worked, listen I'll WILL NEVER ORDER THERE AGAIN. There's way way too many Mexican Restaurants to eat from so it's over between us. Pedro Martinez NEW YORK TIMES read more

The only way I can explain this place is like comparing it to eating at my grandmas house! Everything is so flavorful and all made to order (very fresh). The salsa and guacamole is a must try ! Best salsa I've ever had. We finished with the Birria quesadillas and a couple tacos (carnitas, and al pastor) which were great! Drove 25 minutes and will definitely be driving 25 min again! read more

We ordered catering for a party of 50 people and everyone loved the food. Cascabel provided catering racks, trays and serving utensils which we simply returned the next day. Their service was fabulous and attentive. We would highly recommend based on quality, price and customer service!! read more

Great guacamole and chips! Both fresh and delicious. Only place I'll eat it..Barbacoa Taco great

So good! My go-to taco place in the neighborhood! Great atmosphere, chef owned, super friendly staff, and the best GOD DAMN AVOCADO SAUCE THIS GREEN EARTH HAS EVER KNOWN. For real, it's very good and the burritos are on point : ) read more

Birria tacos and consume were delicious. My picky 10 year old loved her tacos also! Very friendly staff and cozy atmosphere. read more

Cascabel Taco Joint - Couldnt help but dive right in as soon as they came out lol birria tacos are a hit! - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is my husband's and I new go to place for tacos, entrees, desert and future catering hands down! A hidden gem honestly. We had ordered: - 3 Quesadilla de birria -delicious and a flavorful balance with the dipping sauce - 2 Tacos de al pastor -the meat was very tender and not over cooked just amazing - Carne Asada Tampiquena - rice was fluffy and frijoles fritos reminded me of my mom's made perfectly. NOW the CARNE ASADA was a generous size, cooked very tender and sooo goood! Comes with tortillas and a side salad with avocado slices. - Chocoflan wasssss the best way to have finished our night out after a great dinner. It is made in house and it was so delicious. My husband and I shared all of this and we were not left hungry lol and so happy we came here for dinner, the food was GREAT. The mastermind behind the menu and the chef were very kind, humble and wonderful. Thank you for your hospitality. read more

This place was great and then COVID happened. I used to go often to get their tortas. Last torta I had, had little meat in it. So this week I decided to switch it off and try my luck with a burrito. Two burritos came up to $17.57. Unfortunately the burritos were more lettuce than anything. Very disappointed. read more

Just tried this place for the first time and EVERYTHING WAS AMAZING! My boyfriend and I went with our friend to try the birria tacos. Worth every penny. Even the chips and guacamole was way above average. We took churros to go and they were made fresh. Definitely a must try read more

WOW!!! The pictures of these big tacos really do it justice. I could eat like 6 tacos at once.. they're that good. These tacos are LOADED with everything from juicy barbacoa to tender al pastor. For $2.15/taco they do not skimp on meat. The tortillas are super moist and taste freshly made... I think they're legit the best tortillas I've ever had. The salsas are all so different and are a great addition to tacos. The avocado salsa is so freakin good. Don't forget dessert!!!! They have churros, flan, tres leches and other cakes. I think this place could be my favorite taco spot in the city with great prices and insanely good food. read more

Great value! I had a carnitas burrito that was lightly grilled. Yum. My 7 year old son had two tacos. He loved them. There were loaded and he was a happy mess. The salsas are great. Especially the light green-yellow one. Perfect spiciness. read more

Cascabel Taco Joint - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food was so bad , I won't be going back . I tried the tampiqueña Meat was old , The enchilada was so saggy and it smelled as if it had being kept fo a long time . The salad , rice and beans looked good but fell short too . I was so upset, I left after a couple of bites ; paid my bill and walked out . I just don't know if I can continue to trust Yelp and their reviews. read more

Worst soup in my life.... how can anybody mess up soup? Well this place was able to achieve it. I have also had a steak taco and it was nothing out of the ordinary. Save your money go elsewhere. read more

Service is great! The food is delicious! Super Clean! My fiancé thought it was cute and loved their ChocoFlan. She got a Steak Taco Bowl and I got the Tacos de Lengua that you must try! The Cilantro Sauce was so good we bought some to go! read more

My husband and I ordered takeout from here for some tacos and guacamole and we were pleasantly surprised. We each got a variety of tacos, but we highly recommend the Al Pastor tacos. It is full of flavor! The chorizo, barbakoa, and chicken tacos were good.... but they seemed to be missing something. When ordering they will ask if you want cilantro and onions on your taco. Say yes! It was fresh and really good. I was not as big of a fan of the avocado salsa as others were, but I think it was just personal preference. Their guacamole was outstanding! The chips that went with it though needed salt, not a big deal, we just added it ourselves. Overall this place has good food, most of the things I did not like were based off of personal preference, not quality. My only complaint about the place is that there is a tip jar and a spot on a credit card receipt asking for tips. This is a counter order/pick up restaurant, we did not feel a tip was necessary when we were not being served or cleaned up after. Whether true or not this is sending a message to customers that the employees here are not earning a livable wage. read more