I had a great time here before the White Sox game. The street is beautiful with lots of trees and outdoor dining all along the street. I started with the $8 corn esquites. I really love great street corn and this spot has an excellent one. I would come back here just for the corn. Also, had $9 Campechano tacos. I thought these were excellent. Tons of flavor and really hit the spot. For my main, I had the $21 Cali Burrito with steak. Another phenomenal food item. We also had chips, salsa, guacamole, and some cocktails. The $17 Oxacan Old Fashioned wasn't all that great, but I wanted to try their mezcal drink. Lots of music playing inside. We had a great meal! read more

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Walked in randomly while waiting for a nearby place to open. They had happy hour! The beer and the oysters were so good. The bar tender was very friendly and attentive. It was a good hang out spot for a quick nosh. Pro tip on the happy hour. The oysters come with way more michelada sauce than you need. Pour the rest in a beer. It was enough for my wife and I to both enjoy. We will be back if were in the area. read more

Cruz Blanca Brewery - Oysters on happy hour. Perfectly shucked and juicy. Pro tip, the sauce in the middle is michelada sauce. Pour your leftover into a beer - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We booked a reservation at Cruz Blanca for my dad's birthday. Overall, we had a nice time, but the food didn't fully live up to what I expected. I will say first that it was not horrible. It was a fine experience but I want to also provide feedback on what could be better. The vibe is definitely 10/10! It feels lively and fun, and they did a great job making it feel like a celebration. The dessert with the sparkler was a cute touch. I loved the open kitchen too, it adds to the energy of the space. Also reinforces a clean environment which I appreciate. We ordered chips, salsa, and guac which were all good and a solid start. We also had queso fundido which tasted good too, but overall the app portions felt a bit on the smaller side given the price. The beer was honestly one of the best parts. The Estrella Blanca was really good and something I would absolutely order again. They did not have their most popular beer on draft which was surprising. There were ads on the highway for it all over Chicagoland so I was surprised. For food, the five of us got three ribeye plates, a chicken quesadilla, and the chicken tlayuda. The ribeye had good flavor but it felt like more peppers/onions than steak. The quesadilla was good. The tlayuda was great, very unique and big enough to share! Service was friendly but definitely on the slower side. Not bad, just slow. It was one of the first nice spring days in Chicago so lots of people were out and it was crowded, which likely played a role. Overall, everything was good, just not amazing. For the price point, I was hoping to be a bit more impressed by the food. It's a fun spot, great beer, and good for celebrations. I'd probably come back but wouldn't necessarily rush back. read more

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I stopped by, on Sunday 8/23/26, after spending a few hours at the West Loop Art Fair. It was a gorgeous sunny day with a nice breeze. It was a perfect day for eating alfresco. It was a great day for people watching. There was lots of foot traffic. An ice cream shop next door helped. This was my first visit here, although I have eaten next door at Lena Brava. I was saddened to discover that Rick Bayless is no longer owner of Cruz Blanca Brewery and Lena Brava. Although, I was assured that all recipes were passed on and nothing has changed. I had a very well made, I take that back, excellent cucumber margarita that was not on the menu. It was a great recommendation from my server Isabel. I had an excellent tuna tostada, a very good shrimp taco, and one of the best alpastor tacos in the city. Yes, I said it, their alpastor tacos are some the best that I have had anywhere, including Mexico. Included in the taco were small bits of pineapple throughout the meat, instead of large chunks. The meat was also chunkier, which tells me it did not come off of one of the traditional revolving meat towers. I also ordered the shrimp ceviche which was good, but in all honesty was not truly a ceviche. A true ceviche lets the acidity of lemons or limes do some or all of the cooking. This dish tasted as if boiled shrimp were just mixed into the rest of the ingredients. It was actually still very good, just not a ceviche. I also had the generously portioned fried plantains with crema and queso. This dish has trended in higher end Mexican restaurants for a few years. And you know what? I will order it each and every time I see it because it's so delicious. read more

Cruz Blanca Brewery - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great people watching on the patio with some drinks! Food is okay. Dessert in particular is very good!!!

Stopped by this restaurant on a random weekend in Chicago and enjoyed the food and atmosphere. Despite it being during Taste of Randolph and there was a lot of food traffic, we were able to be immediately seated and served. I ordered a steak quesadilla and it was really delicious: crispy and juicy. I wasn't a fan of any of salsas they had but the chips were good! I would recommend this place for a quick bite. read more

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Came here with a group and left feeling a bit underwhelmed, especially for the price point. We started with the guac, which was $16 for a pretty small bowl. It was actually tasty and the chips came out warm, which I appreciated, but there just was not much of it. Hard to justify that price for the portion. For mains, we ordered a mix of tacos including the Wagyu, al pastor, and campechano, plus a chicken quesadilla to share. Since the handcrafted tacos ranged from $7 to $9 each, I was expecting something more elevated, but they honestly tasted like pretty standard tacos. The Wagyu taco was the most disappointing because it did not taste like Wagyu at all. The campechano taco actually had a stronger, beefier flavor and ended up being my favorite out of everything we tried. The al pastor was fine, but not really worth $7, and the other two tacos definitely did not feel worth $9. The chicken quesadilla was also just okay. It was cheesy and the chicken was juicy, but it felt like the filling got a bit lost in all the cheese, so it did not stand out much. One thing that rubbed me the wrong way was that they automatically added a 20% gratuity. It might have been because we had a party of five, but this is not a particularly high end restaurant, and being required to pay a set tip amount felt off. We also did not order that much. It was more of a light dinner, yet the bill still came out to around $170. Overall, the food was decent, but the pricing felt steep for what you get. Between the average tacos, small portions, and automatic gratuity, it just did not feel like the value matched the cost. read more

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This place being a 3.7 is honestly a crime I was in town for the Shamrock Shuffle and stopped in for a drink and dinner--best decision of the weekend. Eric, the manager, was super friendly and made me a Ritual Margarita that deserves its own fan club. I don't even know what magic is in that thing, but I'd come back just for that alone. And the carnitas tacos.... Fresh tortillas, perfectly seasoned meat. We ordered 5 and then devoured them and had to order more! Highly recommend. Do yourself a favor and help bump this rating up where it belongs. read more

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Cruz Blanca's from the moment Andrea greeted us we fell in love with Cruz Blanca Taquería & Brewery. The laid back relaxed atmosphere was welcomed, and the authentic but eclectic food made this an incredibly enjoyable evening. read more

Cruz Blanca Brewery - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Wandering in west loop and was craving guac and chips so I stopped at Cruz Blanca Brewery. I should've bypassed this place. The service members barely acknowledged me throughout my visit. I was served guac with dirt on top (literally). They replaced the dirty guac with another bowl that had chunks so big, I couldn't eat it all. The salsa was ok. But, definitely won't return. They need a health inspection asap. read more

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Good service, came for a quick bite and sat at the bar. They had happy hour and the oysters were recommended. Came with a pre-made sauce I could easily splash on which I liked as opposed to the basic coctail or horseradish sauces read more

Cruz Blanca Brewery - Oysters, $2/ea on happy hour - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Home of the $9 taco. Home of the 10oz pour. Home of the 3.5% "restaurant service fee." "Ask your server to remove this fee" Even for west loop, this was adversarial. read more

Such a great place! Small but intimate! We walked right in and got seated even though it was packed! The hostess and server were so kind! We had beer and fries! They were good! Can't wait to come back and eat!!! read more

Cruz Blanca Brewery - Fries and beer - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The ambiance sitting outside was nice especially during the summertime and the food was good. I would say one of the dips for the chips and salsa was really salty. The food came out really quick once we ordered and it was great for sharing with two people. Really liked how our server was very attentive in checking up on us and the manager as well. The shrimp taco was not very crispy which made the taco a little soft but it was filled with flavors. I will be coming back to try other things on their menu like the burrito and other tacos. There was just a little wait before we got seated but wasn't long. read more

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This place had no info on their website that they would not be seating customers due to a soccer watch party and did not answer their phone for several attempts checking in about whether service was normal. Since no information that suggested abnormal service was available, we came all the way here only to be rudely told to leave and that they would not even put us on a list to seat us or offer a takeout option. read more

We were not told of the 1.5 hour table limit until we arrived, despite 3 reservation confirmations. We ordered food and drinks 40 minute before the reservation ended but were not given it until right at the end. We were made to eat by Milton holding plates and pitchers standing next to the front door. He was very very rude. Our waitress was very nice and apologetic though! read more

Super busy neighborhood but such a cute little bar and outdoor seating area. Went for my birthday and had such a nice time. Griselda was our server and she was great. Took care of myself and friends considering she was pretty busy with other tables. I tried the peach IPA which I LOVED. The bar messed up and sent the lime and salt beer mistakenly but we didn't have to pay which was nice. The food was good but served tapas style. I'd definitely go again. read more

Cruz Blanca Brewery - Birthday dessert was giant cookie with scoop of vanilla ice cream - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Basically had no service. Walked in at an off peak time on a weekday. Waited several minutes for water. No waitress and had to flag one down who got mad at me for stopping her. When she came to take our order she said, "what do you want?" Didn't ask for drink orders. Last time I saw her. Paid online and left. read more

good margs, good food... solid but nothing that was knock your socks off. loved the lunch bowl option (but wished the ingredients were more balanced -- i.e. less heavy on arugula and cucumbers). also, paying $20 for tacos and $20 for a bowl should warrant complimentary chips and salsa. read more

I personally don't think paying $12 for a simple quesadilla is worth it, it had very little chorizo that was charge extra and it tasted just okay. In the other hand, the fish taco was really good! It was the special for Friday's and I think I pay $6 for it. We got 2 margaritas, one mango and one pineapple and they were good but there was more ice in my cup than the actual drink. I won't be coming back because I found myself very lucky I can cook this food at home and to me going out to eat should be a new experience or at least good food and this was not it. Our server tho, she was excellent and so the staff! read more

Cruz Blanca Brewery - Quesadilla, fish taco and margarita - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a good spot to enjoy a beer outdoors but I won't be rushing back for the food. I got the carne asada platter which I have no complaints about but won't be thinking about again any time soon. The portions are reasonable for one person but don't expect leftovers. They hype up the tortillas but honestly it tasted like any other corn tortilla. Definitely could not tell it had been made fresh that day. One of the other people I went with ordered the barbacoa, al pastor, and campechano tacos. He enjoyed them but also wasn't raving about the food. We enjoyed the guacamole and thought the chips were good and tasted fresh. Our server was nice but entirely unhelpful with food allergies. It was also a slower Tuesday night and it seemed to take a long time for our food to come out. This didn't bother me but I would be interested to know what service time is like when they are much busier. Overall, the extensive beer list and outdoor patio is the biggest draw for this place. I would not come here for the food beyond appetizers to share. read more

Delicious food very Mexican style. The way to serve it. The way the stage the food using plantain leaves. Tacos, chips sauces, meet, customer service and music!! Favorite place to escape at Chicago from Now on. read more

Cruz Blanca Brewery - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great spot, we were seated immediately. I ordered nachos and the barbacoa taco, both were flavorful and delicious. I will say service was a bit slow for a Friday night but order a few drinks and the wait will be worth it. read more

Cruz Blanca Brewery - Nachos! - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Overall good food and environment. It's on the pricy side for tacos though. Will come next time read more

Originally planned to visit the restaurant next door, but the vibes outside drew me in. Started with the brisket nachos, and they were incredible--the homemade tortilla chips were a standout. Also tried the tacos, which were good, but the nachos definitely stole the show. They have outdoor and indoor seating and the waiter was attentive. Overall, a happy accident and a great meal! read more

Cruz Blanca Brewery - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Loved this place! Accidental find looking for a place for a snack and a brew. Great quality micro-beers, friendly service and good food. Quesadillas arrived fresh and hot. We really loved the beers. Service was solid. World Cup games provided ambiance and we enjoyed the vibe. read more

I was very unimpressed with the food we go with the exception of the quesadillas- those were delicious!! The salsas were also very good. However the queso was a much smaller portion and not at all what I thought it would be - partially melted white cheese over chorizo. The taco platter was expensive and was 80% onions/veggies and very little meat. It was fine but not worth it. Service was good and so was the ambiance, but the margaritas were lackluster. read more

We came for a drink while waiting for our au cheval launch. It was a lovely day, and we were able to snag some seats outside. The drink menu is mostly beer (shocker!), and they had some fun beer cocktails and micheladas. Overall the beers were good, and we weren't rushed despite being there on a busy, sunny weekend. I'd come back and try the food! read more

Cruz Blanca Brewery - Michelada - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here for lunch, the service was great and quick. We shared the nachos and the salad. The nachos were definitely the star of the show, great size and good flavor. read more

Cruz Blanca Brewery - Nachos - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Tacos al Pastor were heaven! Queso fundido and guacamole on point. To close the feast Coconut Tres Leches cake. Wow! An explosion of flavor complemented by caramelized pineapple marmalade. God this people know wow to execute pastries The waitress was super fantastic, charming. I love her suggestions. Loved the environment, vibrant ambiance. I think i found my spot! Worth every dollar! read more

To start off our waitress was amazing. Friendly, attentive and had a great attitude. We started our meal with beers (of course, it's a brewery). Between the 4 of us we had Mexico Calling, Where There's Smoke, Lime and Salt Chelada and Lunch in Baja. No complaints with any beers! We ordered chips and salsa and guacamole. For the main course there were orders of cauliflower tacos, chorizo quesadillas, fish tacos and chicken milanesa burrito. Fun times with great food and beers. Will visit again as we missed to try Fall Tlayuda. We seen others order it and were amazed on great it looked! read more

Cruz Blanca Brewery - Lunch in Baja - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Our first time here. We have been to Leña Brava before (on the other side of the wall) but not here. Good food, good beers, good drinks, amazing service. My wife and I did not order any main courses or tacos, but we did share several of the appetizers and they were all good. The street corn "ribs" were our favorite but all were very good. All employees were very friendly and professional. Our server was top notch and we really enjoyed the whole experience. Would recommend, will definitely return. read more

Taco 'bout a good time! Continuing restaurant week in Chicago at @cruzblancachi and for my first time here it was.... Incredible! I didn't know what to expect with a menu that had a few choices but wow oh wow am I glad I went! Starting off got both appetizers that were the choices one was street corn ribs and the other was flautas and both were explosions of flavors! I'm telling you if you ever go here for a drink at least order the corn ribs I don't know what kind of love they put on they aioli but you need to try it such a must! Next ordered were the carne asada tacos which came with salsas, black beans, 4 tortillas, and the meat was mixed with caramelized onions and poblano chile rajas! Everything on this plate was DEVOURED nothing left standing honestly I would've licked the salsas clean if I could, it was that amazing! The dinner also came with free house or mezcal margaritas both were house tequila and we tried a little stout of beer made in house that was pineapple infused, very tasty. Dessert came out and it was a sundae with barrel aged stout made in house and cookie crumbles that's also a must get dessert! Honestly the menu was limited but they picked THE BEST ITEMS in my opinion and it was all made to perfection and sitting right by the kitchen and watching them make it was a wonderful experience I need to go back for more of their food items! The ambiance is great! read more

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A solid just ok for me. Positives Decent number of beer options Beer pours are available in 3 sizes. I had one of the ipas that was pretty tasty. Only ok Tacos are $7 a piece, so I expected to be wowed. The al pastor I wasn't a fan of, but the barbacoa was super tasty. Bathrooms are downstairs, and it is dimly lit. If I were to return, it would be for the beer only. read more

I've popped into Cruz Blanca a few times over the past couple of years and my most recent visit last week was the best by far. Not sure what's changed (maybe management wise) but I had a very above average visit. I was in the area after a work meeting and looking for something close by to grab a bite and finish some work before deadline. ut was a gorgeous day so the doors were wide open letting in the fresh air so I decided to sit at the bar and eat/work. The bartender was super helpful - I wish I would have got her name to include, and I too of doing everything she needed to do she was training a new teammate. The vibe was super chill - it was around 3:30. After I sat at the bar was quickly greeted and served water. I asked a couple of questions about the beer selection and decided to sample the palm shade and early retirement. I settled on the early retirement; but I'd definitely like to try the palm shade next time, and for linner, I went with the milanesa torta. I needed to get some work done so I checked to make sure it it ok if I did that at the bar and I was good to go. I the popped open my lap top, had a beer, a delicious torta and got the rest of my work done for the day. The torta is pretty BIG and the tomatillo salsa is delish! I took 1/2 of the torta and an another side of the salsa home. Overall really improved experience and I can see my self coming back sooner than my last visits this time for sure! read more

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Beer selection is pretty good and they also have a limited menu of cocktails if beer isn't your thing. I had the Al pastor and barbacoa tacos which were both good. read more

We did an order around 9pm on Friday and we were not impressed. The food arrived luke warm, which I understand can be a product of the delivery service. We went with the Barbacoa, the fried shrimp, and the lamb taco plus a steak burrito. The burrito was average, as was the shrimp taco. The lamb was the best but had way too much cheese. The Barbacoa had a strange seasoning that we didn't enjoy. Overall for $8 a taco, which is insanity even for Chicago. It's a no for us. read more

Cruz Blanca Brewery - Fried chicken taco, Lamb "Cheeseburger" Taco, and Barbacoa Taco. - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We just stopped in here for a quick drink on a beautiful spring day. The Not A Sangria was outstanding. It was refreshing, had the sweetness to it, but not overwhelming. We were also treated to tequila shot which was very very good as well. Will definitely be back to try the food which looked very good. Definitely stop by for a drink passing by. It's definitely worth it. read more

Cruz Blanca Brewery - Not A Sangria - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My partner is a big fan of this spot so I was excited to try it out! Stopped in for a quick bite around 5pm on a Monday. We were seated by the open window since it was a warm and sunny day. The space between the patio seating and window seating was tight so it felt like you were sitting super close to the folks on the patio. They don't have much to offer for happy hour besides the shot & beer for $10 but they do have all-day daily specials. The chips and salsa were good - the red salsa definitely packs some heat. We got the crispy shrimp and barbacoa taco and the monday special which were two hardshell tacos. All of them were good! I definitely will return to try more and drink some beer! read more

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We came to Cruz Blanca Brewery to drink some beers before dinner. The menu of beers is what caught my attention and made me want to visit Cruz Blanca. Every employee was friendly and accommodating! I was impressed at their customer service. We tried a handful of the beers at Cruz Blanca and enjoyed them all! I loved both of their hazy IPAs and the chocolate churro stout. They were smooth and tasty. I love that you can get different size pours. We enjoyed the smallest pour called the shorty and a half pour. This was perfect because we were able to try a variety of beers. We did not order food, but it looked awesome from what the tables around us were eating. I loved the beer, the vibes, and the experience at Cruz Blanca! read more

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