This was my 2nd time at Cocina 53. I came 48 hrs before today & couldn't wait to come back!! The food was super authentic, flavorful & not salty at all. The table salsas are thick, mildly spicy & super good. The table chips were thin, fresh and crunchy. The cantarito was dressed great & tasted even better. The enchiladas de queso were well prepared l, not at all greasy & awesome! The queso fundido con chorizo was very good. The first time I've had it with queso Oaxaca. Although I personally am used to chihuahua cheese it was a nice twist to the appetizer. The ambiance is comfortable & the tables are far apart enough to enjoy the company of friends/family. The decor is also in good taste. This place (building) was originally Lalo's back in the day then Bucho's, Perla Negra y now Cocina 53. Out of all other owners this is by far the best! Yes...Lalo's was good in its time but Cocina 53 has a unique flare. On both visits I had Cristina as a server. She is friendly, kind, attentive, fast & you can tell she is naturally a hospitable person. It's hard to come by those key qualities especially in today's service era. Ask for Cristina as your server & please, please...tip well! This is their livelihood & they work hard to provide A+ service. To the owner of Cocina 53...thank you for this awesome place in Bolingbrook & Cristina deserves a raise!! She makes you shine above & beyond. read more

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This place used to be Perla Negra, now it's called Cocina 53. Went there for the very first time and was pleasantly surprised. This place is clean, well organized and have plenty of parking. Food quality if excellent. Portion size is good and the pricing is competitive. I would highly recommend their shrimp dinner, you can chose own sauce they can cook it in. Service was excellent and very courteous. The best part was the food did not take too long to come. I have received subpar service at 5 star restaurants, but here the service was splendid. Overall I would highly recommend them. read more

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Great food!!!!! The selection is amazing. Diego and the waitresses are all over the restaurant, taking care of the tables. Great service all around. read more

Cocina 53 - Mandarin Jarritos - Mexican Near Me - Bolingbrook, Illinois

BLACK ÖYSTER CULT I can see why this Nayarit-style seafood restaurant in Bolingbrook has a devoted fan base. A few weeks after welcoming our daughter into the world, my wife had a simple request: oysters. Instead of dropping a hundo on dinner at Hugo's Frog Bar or Catch 35, I found this place close by on Route 53, just north of Lily Cache Ln. We've been to Perla Negra twice and left satisfied on both occasions. My wife enjoyed a dozen oysters on the half shell ($20), one of the few things she couldn't have while pregnant with our 2nd kiddo. I was happy to see their Micheladas ($7) were fairly priced and refreshing to boot. Lots of places deem it a cocktail, when in reality it's just beer with Clamato (a tomato juice blend) so kudos to them for not overcharging. Shrimp & cheese empanadas (4 for $13) were piping hot, delicious, and came with fresh avocado slices alongside a chipotle dipping sauce. The elote ($5) was good, too: boiled corn, mayo, cotija cheese, and cayenne pepper with a squeeze of lime. 5/5 for both of these. The quesabirria (3 for $16) were terrific! A cross between a barbacoa taco and a quesadilla, these were served with onions, cilantro, and birria (au jus) and were just as tasty as Taco Dale's, if not better. 5/5 Surprisingly, the ceviche de pescado ($16) was the weakest of the dishes we ate. Our ceviche had tilapia, cucumber, onion, tomato, carrots, cilantro and lime juice topped with avocado. Though a decent portion size, it was very soupy, tough to eat with chips, and was the only item we didn't eagerly devour. 3/5 Bread = 4.5 Circuses = 4.5 Our server was just the right amount of attentive. They have a gorgeous wall mural behind the bar and TVs are usually playing soccer. I dig the "Te: Amo / quila" neon sign, but it seems too trendy for a place like this--I think it'd be more at home at Blanco Cocina + Cantina in Oak Brook (or in my basement). * TL;DR * It sounds like Perla Negra gets pretty wild on the weekends--their website suggests you make a reservation--so business must be good. The seafood is high quality, authentic, and not exorbitantly priced. I could tell this was a reputable place based on the fact that I was the only non-Latino there, usually an indicator that food's the real deal. I'm happy to recommend and will definitely return again in the future. No pirates 'curse' here, just a glimmering black pearl with lots to offer. read more

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Very unassuming place that turned out fantastic! Amazing food, highly recommend the quesabirria and the cucumber margarita. Our server Diego was incredible! read more

I just got off a 12 hour shift from working for Levy at the United Center. The company wanted me to stop and try a new place for our next catering event. I went in the restaurant, went to the bathroom and my girlfriend ordered my drink. When I came out my girl looked like she was enjoying the love music. I sat down and the bar the bartender told me I don't need a beer!! I was tired , we looked drunk ??? Then she did not want to server us. I there less then 5 minutes. It's it because I'm white? The disrespect and judgment received felt like straight racism. Mexicans only that why the restaurant was empty. What a joke of a place. The owner should feel disrespect as well. Is that how they treat their guest? The amount of money I was about to drop this week was going to be a lot. She should've at least served us one drink, and then observed the situation and then made a judgment. If your reading this take 2 minutes and Google Mago's, 5 minutes away and a hell of a lot better. Dont wait your time. Trust me read more

Compared to Mexican food on the south side, it is a little more expensive, but the tacos I got were on fajita sized corn tortillas and very packed with shrimp for 20 dollars and an horchata. I got the governador shrimp tacos and I loved the flavor. It does not come with beans and rice, but I was very full with the three tacos that came with it. Very cute and spacious restaurant. Very helpful and kind servers. I was happy to find this place in dupage county since i haven't been super impressed with the quality of the Mexican food here. Some of the best shrimp tacos I've had. read more

Cocina 53 - Tacos Gobernador (3) - Mexican Near Me - Bolingbrook, Illinois

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Cocina 53 replaced Perla Negras Mariscos. Apparently the menu stayed the same. My husband and I were craving mariscos, so we decided to check this place. The service was great, clean place and well designed. The food was the okay, it felt very basic. read more

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Food was superb and you will not be disappointed by the portions! We got the sea bass, menudo and ceviche micro. All amazing! Go go go! Service was nice and the margarita was solid! read more

Food was great our server degio was extremely nice and very prompt with our food. Drinks were very good will definitely be coming back

I absolutely love this place! The food is scrumptious, the service is one of a kind and the owner is amazing. I feel like Norm when he walks into cheers, always greeted with smiles. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Just went for our 3rd time because we love it. Unfortunately, the untrained wait staff think it's ok to serve someone shrimp when specifically asked not to and then when you tell them they made a mistake, they don't fix it. They removed the shrimp and brought us back the same dish of food just with shrimp removed. Seems to me they are looking for a lawsuit and emergency visits from visiting their location, not to mention this bad review. We addressed the issue with them and did they offer to comp the meal or discount it, nope. The manager was "unavailable" so....suffice to say we won't be back. If you have an allergy then stay away from this restaurant. read more

Awesome services and food!! Gracias Manny por el excelente servicio que nos ofreces. La comida está . We are coming back for sure!!

Our first time to this place and we loved it! Food was hot and very tasty, reasonably priced and delivered fairly quick. Manny was our server and was AWESOME! He kept our drinks full and brought us plenty of chips and a variety of salsas. The atmosphere was very pleasant, even got to experience a Mariachi Band If we're ever in Chicago again we'll definitely be back! read more

Cocina 53 - Delicious Breakfast Burrito! To big to even finish - Mexican Near Me - Bolingbrook, Illinois

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Enjoyed their shrimp tacos, the tortillas are made on the spot with ur order. The service was good too.

After coming here it turned out to be a better experience. It seemed pretty unfriendly to vegetarians because this is primarily a seafood Mexican restaurant. Perla Negra Mariscos actually has a few things. Of course margaritas. There's also authentic and fresh guacamole that's chunky and spicy. Even though the menu is mostly seafood there's a few things that aren't. It of course has margaritas. These are the authentic kind that are salty and not just the glass rim. Had a lot to choose from. The one I got was the Cucumber House Margarita. It's $6 for a decent amount. This had a bright green color and was better than typical ones that are made from a mix. Everyone else seemed to like what they ate. They got fish and shrimp. It looked good but I didn't take any pictures. Thankfully I got a picture of the guacamole I got because this was among the best I ever had of this. It's about $10 for a bowl. This is made with fresh avocados, black pepper, fresh lime juice, onions, and tomatoes. It had some good spice to it. This was also chunky and not smooth like commercially produced. Bad thing is there wasn't much for me to eat. In spite of this there's good things like margaritas and guacamole. The prices are okay or a little high but you get very good stuff. read more

Cocina 53 - Cucumber House Margarita And Guacamole - Mexican Near Me - Bolingbrook, Illinois

Manny es un excelente mesero, una vibra increible y muy divertid. La comida estuvo espectacular definitivamente volveremos.

I've been to this place multiple times, so it is really surprising to me that I have not yet reviewed it. La Perla Negra is an absolutely amazing restaurant, and has never disappointed me in terms of food. My go-to is shrimp here. I've tried it every style possible, Nayarit, Diablo, Manyequilla,etc, and it all tastes absolutely scrumptious. My husband had their Pasta A La Crema and he absolutely loved it. Their cocktails are super good as well. Especially this Tamarind drink that they have - I had a Virgin version, but it was fantastic. Ambiance is wonderful, both bright and culturally significant. The service is good, and the place is super clean. Definitely recommended! read more

We came from Chicago to a wedding and stopped to have lunch and their tacos were great and the service was very good our server Manuel was very attentive with a great personality . I recommend this place Cocina 53 . read more

Where can I even start on this place, I walked in and got seated only to be served by a waiter with an attitude worse than her stink. My food then came out with a litteral roach in it, and the ambiance is that of a dirty alley, do NOT come here. Managment has a lot of work to do. I was a frequent customer however, ever since the change of ownership the place has js been slacking. There are many other nice places in the area to check out just not this one. read more

This place is excellent if your craving seafood. The workers were all so friendly and very helpful with ordering and gave great recommendations on the sauces. Ordered: -charola perla (crab legs, prawns, and clams) in Estilo Nayarit sauce -Langostinos (prawns) -strawberry margarita -micheladas I would definitely come back. read more

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For the past 2 months we have eaten here on a weekly basis! I cannot get enough of the sauces they have! Recently we have had the pleasure of having Marcos as our server and he's attentive and has made wonderful food recommendations. Pulpo Asado (octopus starter) - cooked to perfection and marinated with a spicy sauce Steak tacos - are always phenomenal Beef Quesabirria Tacos - ARE THE STAR OF THE SHOW!!! SUPER DELICIOUS & MEATY! Shrimp ceviche tostada - a mountain of chopped shrimp with cucumber & tomato's on a tostada so good if you don't want to order a full appetizer of ceviche We also always order a side of the Cucaracha sauce which is pretty spicy but super flavorful to enjoy with all our food Only negative about this place is the drinks are super sugary and watered down. After ordering 4 different cocktails didn't even feel a slight buzz. read more

This is an update: We used to love this place, in fact 5 stars previously. But when we went back lately, the dishes we loved, changed. It was not as tasty before nor something we would love having again. We asked the bar tender if they have a different cook, and he said, yes. It is hard not to notice, not unless it is your first time here. We also had 1 dozen of oysters and I asked for horse radish and he sarcastically respond, this is mexican place. I just held my tongue and stop talking. Maybe it was not my knowledge that horse radish is not an option at Mexican restaurant but I still eat my oysters the same way, where ever I am. Lol! Lastly, we sat at the bar where we noticed that those water bottles that we love that they used to serve water, they don't wash them at all. Sometimes they pour the water out but if it's half full, he just fills them up again. That is a big NO-NO! They need to be washed with soap.and water each time before using it again. He didn't know we were quietly paying attention in everything they were doing at the bar. Definitely not eating here again and truly feel bad, but to each his own. Happy Eating! read more

Went after a movie at ipic. I forgot to tell them I had a reservation so open table said we were a no-show. Started with one ceviche tostada. They gave you two chips. I wish they gave you a basket with four or five chips. Nice to much on with the ceviche... Ordered one Levante muertos and could not finish between the two of us. It was delicious, and next time try a different seasoning. The garlic spice was a bit much garlic. I think we need more people to do this menu right. Can't wait to try the dnapper read more

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Refused to give me a refund for a terrible dish that was very hot spicy and my wife could not eat it unless I pay them cash they would refund me. Terrible tasting brown salsa with the chips.. Watered down bad tasting small Strawberry margarita for 13.99. Took 4 sips and gone with not even a light buzz. Ordered the grilled Octopus for 24.99 which price wise on but it was partially burnt black and the sauce was really a hot spicy and I like spicy. On a busy night it was very loud they have one open large room. I wish I could give it a zero stars. Avoid like the plague seriously don't waste your money.. read more

Very nice restaurant, the food is good, the staff is nice. I had the pulpo asado appetizer and it is the best pulpo I've had in a long time! My husband had the coctel de camarones and it was good. The agua de Jamaica was perfect. read more

Devious food from shrimp to tacos to salad, everything (door dash) was hot and delicious

Great food!!! Friendly staff, clean bathroom and clean surroundings! We will be back!! read more

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It was unpleasant experience, totally not worth the high price. Never go there again! I was there with my two children, we ordered 3 dishes with one wrong order and one tasted horrible and restaurant refused replacement request. I ordered a dozen regular oysters, we three person tried 4 out of 12, staled with tint of chemical flavor and watery texture, apparently, because of the unbearable taste, we had to call the server to take back the rest of 8. They only offered us partial off, which charged us the price of 1/2 dozen with debate and reluctantly, looked like they did not care if their customer were unhappy. Our other dish also came wrong. Ordered fajitas dinner but showed up with chicken fingers instead, we waited long time for the right dish we ordered. Unlike other Mexican restaurants, they did not pass chips or salsa. Should have first read the bad reviews by the folks here. read more

Visited Sunday evening at around 6ish for dinner. Parking was easy and as we entered the restaurant we were greeted and sat immediately. Of course requesting a side table since this restaurant has a very open concept and the tables close to the door might just get all the cold breeze every time people open the front doors. As we settled in we were shortly greeted by our server bringing us a complimentary small fish ceviche with chips and salsa. I do have to say it was tasty. We then proceed for the food menu. Prices are a bit on the high end for a couple entree options but theres variety. We ended up going for the empanadas & Huachinango with Salsa cucaracha. Empanada- were ok but, the huachinango in the other hand was delicious. Then the Mango michelada wow loved it! Order one when you're there. I would say I had hear a lot of different opinions about this place good but mostly bad. Personally I really enjoyed it & would recommend other to give it a try. ;) read more

Cocina 53 - Mexican Near Me - Bolingbrook, Illinois

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Shrimp was way over cooked, dry and chewy. There was only one other table there, but service was extremely slow. Had to keep asking for things missing from our order followed by the waitress disappearing for minutes on end. Also, not cheap and charged extra for cheese, sour cream (for fajitas) and chips and salsa. read more

This place is wonderful gives good vibes & the drink and food is off the chain def will be coming back. They also have bands that come & they are fantastic read more

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I can't express the amount of gratitude I have for this place! I had placed a Grubhub order for myself and my daughter. The driver picked up the food from the restaurant and never dropped it off. The driver stole our food. All that Grubhub did was refund us the money which would take upto five days to hit my account and offer 20% off for next time. Worst of all the restaurant closed by the time I realized. I called them and told them what happened and they offered to make the food and since the worker was getting off work he offered to personally drop it off. I live 20 min away!! If they would have not done that my daughter and I would have been left with only fast food options to order from! The food was sooo good I ate it all in one sitting. Thank you so much Edgar! I didn't take the best pic because I was starving but it was amazing! read more

Cocina 53 - Mexican Near Me - Bolingbrook, Illinois

I have to say we have come to this location a couple time but today was just 100% percent great waiters good atmosphere excellent food and I mean excellent owner treat it is with respect and made my daughter her chicken tenders and fries just for her thanks to everyone at this location excellent work,.. read more

Cocina 53 - Shrimp ala cucaracha rice garlic bread - Mexican Near Me - Bolingbrook, Illinois

I had some things I had never had before. The food was really good. Langostinos were very flavorful. I have something else with shrim and avacado and fries. This was good too. read more

Cocina 53 - 3 Langostinos 3 Langostinos - Mexican Near Me - Bolingbrook, Illinois

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The food was delicious! Extremely flavorful! I highly recommend the Molcajeta Perla and Pollo Asado. The tortillas are fresh and fluffy! The waitress was friendly and helpful. The atmosphere is trendy and cozy. Definitely go when you are in the mood for seafood and Mexican cuisine. read more

I was taken here for a special occasion my birthday hoping the food would turn out good but came out disappointed and dissatisfied it was really salty and was not good what so ever when I tried asking for a refund no transaction was allowed because we ate a small portion of the food to try. If you are thinking of coming here don't save your money and go somewhere else. Very expensive for low quality food avoid coming here if I were you. read more

Wow. The fish tacos were amazing. The tilapia was battered with a flavorful coating and fried to perfection. They were served with a pico de Gallo. My hubs loved them. The elote was fantastic. The corn was cooked just right with a heavy dose of mayo and spice. The carne asada was tender and grizzle free. They served it with roasted onions and a jalapeño. They complimented the steak nicely. The beans were whole and cooked with Chorizo and bacon. Very flavorful. The rice was tasty and cooked with a chilli that left only a trace of flavor. It mixed wonderfully with the beans. The rice was not as good as my moms but came close. My first margarita was missing sugar but they quickly fixed it. My second margarita was made spot on. The staff are nice and friendly. There was live music that was festive and fun. A little loud tho. I'd come back here again and again. Can't wait to bring my mom. The only thing I would give a 3 to would be the guacamole. I prefer mine made fresh to order. This was too cold and probably made same day but earlier and refrigerated. Yes, the salsa was also good. I loved the salsa roja as it had a robust tomato Taste. read more

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OMG!!!!!!!! Greatness is here greatness is here I had the wit of the managers on a random Thursday night... they are so nice and you can see their passion for this place and The industry. The drinks were amazing and that smoked tequila was the BOMB Well be back very soon read more

This place is fantastic! Food is super delicious! Very good service. You can seat outside. Great atmosphere with music. read more

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