This place has very rich and filling food. It tastes pretty good. However on my first visit, i sat in a cramped booth, the people behind the counter acted like i was bothering them and then i found not one but 4 short curly black hairs in my food, which kinda turned me off. And no I didn't complain to them about the hairs and that's why they seemed like I was bothering them. They were rude from the time we ordered. I went back on a second occasion with friends who wanted to order it for take out despite my first visit and the enchiladas I got were just alright. read more

Really, really good Mexican food. They will prepare the food any way you want as well. I like my pork tacos with lettuce, cheese, crema and salsa verde. One of the best tacos and tamales places in the area read more

El Faro - Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Elgin, Illinois

This is easily the best of the El Faro restaurants in the area. When it comes to Mexican places like these (the quasi-sit-down), consistency is difficult to find. I've been haunting the Elgin-area burrito joints for at least 15 years, and this El Faro is always a good bet, although I will say that it's rarely the very best choice in the area. Most years there is some competitor restaurant doing something better (La Flor is one notable rival I think often better), but it's often difficult to know which, as these sorts of places tend to have variable quality. This particular El Faro branch is unusually consistent, and there's certainly something to be said for that. There is very limited parking. read more

This place SUCKS! Go to the location up North. In Tyler Creek plaza. Food is consistent, delicious, refills, and Pico! I've tried this location and it doesn't live up to the name El Faro....sorry! read more

Darn good authentic Mexican food. I like the "help yourself" chips and salsa bar. If you're going for lunch get there early to avoid the line and if you want a table. More of a "lunch" place. Not somewhere you would go for a family dinner, the interior is a bit lacking but the food more than makes up for it. My favorite thing is the vegetarian sopes. read more

This is my favorite fast food Mexican restaurant. I have tried many other places and this one still tops them all. Their tacos are the best (I get the steak and my boyfriend gets the tongue). Their burritos are huge and great for 2 meals. The also have fresh chips and salsa so done in whenever you can, but never forget the take out when you have a craving late at night. Their horchata is pretty good too. My only suggestion is getting an updated place, it's a little run down and a bit hard to get ok an out of since there is only one way to and from and you can only fit one car though at a time if someone is parked on the side (which never fails) read more

This El Faro location is great for a quick lunch. It's a smaller restaurant that gets quite crowded at lunch time so the earlier you go the better. It's definitely nothing fancy. You place your order at the counter and get your own drinks, chips and salsa. But it's authentic Mexican food served fast and at a good price. The chicken taco salad is one of the BEST I have ever had. It's huge and comes with rice and beans on the plate. The salad is actually more than enough food, it is loaded with chicken, so I rarely have room for the sides, but they are tasty. I love that they have a little serve yourself pico de gallo/salsa set up. Both are fresh and yummy. read more

Two meals for under $5 (seriously, the burritos are the size of a dauchshund puppy)? Open ridiculously late to accommodate my night owl tendencies? Friendly and fast service? Good people watching? I'm sold. My family has been going to El Faro since I was a little kid, and I love this place. Never gotten bad food or bad service, either. read more

Zero vegetarian options. I got a fish dish and the next day I had such an upset stomach. They cross contaminate and if you have dietary restrictions please avoid this place. read more

Great Mexican food in a kind of divey location. The interior is kind of divey I like that. The service has always been terrific the food is very good generous portions and great prices. Far superior to the Lillian Street location. According to the something I saw printed they are not connected but maybe they are. read more

El Faro - Mexican Near Me - Elgin, Illinois

I really really really wanted to love this place. Truly I did. But I didn't. It wasn't horrible. It just wasn't awesome. I had the enchiladas suiza and honestly, it was lacking flavor and a little cold. My dining companion had the burrito with steak. While the burrito was HUGE, the steak was chewy. The rice and beans were good though. The waitresses were really nice though and the place itself was clean. But I'm doubtful we'll go back for the food. And so continues our quest for a favorite Mexican restaurant. read more

Been coming to El Faro at Tyler Creek Plaza for lunch for a few years and have never been disappointed. Absolutely love the Enchilada Suiza and the Rice and Beans are always fresh and delicious. The freshly made salsa and other condiments are delicious. There is also always a selection of homemade Empanada's and the Horchata is so tasty. Entertainment is always guaranteed with a flat screen that runs Mexican soaps at lunch. There are daily lunch specials to save you a few $. About the only downside is if you come towards the end of the lunch crowd you are left with plastic forks and knifes when they run out of regular silverware :) They place looks very clean and the staff is always cleaning up so you feel good about the food quality. I can only recommend you check it out. read more

Good chips and salsa. Made bad choices on the menu. Should have gone for regular tacos. read more

El Faro - Mexican Near Me - Elgin, Illinois

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I had the Monday gordita special and it was excellent! The waitress recommended the roasted pork and steak for the meats (yes they let you get one of each--you don't have to get the same) and my favorite was the roasted pork by far! My husband had the burrito (egg and chorizo sausage) and thought it was OK. The burrito was big but the gordita was much better (he even finished mine). The chips were good but the salsa was a bit funky. Service was very good--we will go back again and my husband says he will have the gorditas next time! read more

Overall ok food & service but honestly nothing spectacular. One issue is the music, turn it down it should be for background not to be the focal point of the restaurant. The Barbacoa was tender but several pieces were fatty and should have been trimmed, flavor was bland and not seasoned. Chips & salsa ok. read more

Omg this place is on point. Everything was perfect. Those mole enchiladas! Cant wait to go back and try other items on that menu. First south of the border joint that made me want to throw some money in that tip jar. read more

For tacos and burritos are fantastic! Serving size is very generous. The chips and salsa are fantastic and also came with a pepper onion relish that was delicious. The service is very good, and I can't wait to come back here again! read more

Way over priced, not honest about prices, half the prices not listed and then menu says "some prices may have changed". Chips are stale, food not seasoned....soooo many better choices in Elgin and the surrounding area, might as well do a few mins down the road to get a great meal for a better price. read more

Long time customer, 25+ years. Burritos are filling and good, but not american style. Dont ask for things like fresh lettuce or tomato, you wont get it. Will get three little pieces of soft or rotten tomato. Steak tacos and tortas are decent too. I would not recommend anything to do with fajitas, it's a brown sauce that tastes chinese, and weird. And they use old tomatoes instead of red peppers (guessing to save money) also wouldn't recommend buying beans and rice alone (to take home). They completely inflate the price on the cheapest food on the menu. AND have a tip jar on counter lol lol for what I don't know maybe to admire the horrible makeup job. Perfect food for drunks. read more

Twice a week they deal with my drunk stupidity. I order three tacos every time. You shouldn't because one is like a barreto. I do it only because I'd feel bad ordering one for 2.70. I get lunch and dinner for less than 10 dollars. I forgot to mention the food is great. If it wasn't I'd never go back. Thank you from the chorizo Taco Guy. read more

I found out about this place when I was a student at Judson college in 2003. I loved their Wednesday deal of 3 burritos for $9.99. I have been hooked ever since. read more

I do not understand the rave reviews about this place. The food was sub-par, at best. I ordered Carnitas, which was basically just fried pork with absolutely no flavor or seasoning. I can make better at home. My husband ordered Tacos El Pastor and said it tasted about the same (flavorless.) Only one flavor of salsa - burn your mouth HOT! The pico (if you can call it that?) was pickled. I've never in my life seen it served like that. And it was hotter than $%^#!! The green sauce was also super hot, which made it basically unbearable if you wanted to be able to still taste anything. Maybe that's the point since the food is flavorless? No refills on our drinks the entire time we were there (including our water). We left feeling very disappointed and most definitely won't be back. Authentic Mexican this is not. read more

Goes in good ,comes out better This place is good and it does the job I've been eating here a long time and will keep eating here! read more

Good tasty Mexican food at fairly reasonable prices! (Except the guacamole, it's priced almost as much as a meal.) The spicy fresh salsa has enough kick to make your eyes water! The setting is much like a small fast food restaurant. read more

What happened to this place? I used to eat here weekly for over 20 yrs. aside from the rice and beans the rest of the food has turned to shit the prices continue to go up and the quality has gone down. fire the cook. In fact shoot him so he doesn't try to make tacos somewhere else read more

The giant burrito hit the spot every single time! The fact that they stay open until 2am and 24/7 during weekends is another reason why this is my go to spot for Mexican feast! read more

We have been in El Faro numerous times for their burritos. Always good and always filling.

Quaint location with Great service and good food! If you want to eat great Mexican food at an affordable price then forget "Los Comales" come and eat here instead! Shrimp cocktail could use some tweaking, but the green enchiladas, steak tacos, burritos, and steak dinner were exquisite! Will dine here again for sure. read more

We order off the catering menu - Taco bar is fantastic, fresh, authentic and a great price.

Good burritos, like the chicken enchiladas green - chip station is a plus. The yelling background TV and freezing temps (60's) are tough to overcome. Would suggest to go - read more

Been eating El Faro before I knew what El Faro was. Super outstanding awesomeness! Never had something I didn't like. It helps to have a limited understanding of the Spanish language when ordering sometimes. I prefer the Elgin (West side)location to the Dundee spot. read more

Best burritos in town. This location only. Don't know why this one is different. But it is.

The steak tacos were 1/10, bland and horrible. The pastor was 4/10. Rice was 7/10 not bad. Hot sauce was 3/10. Not the worst I've had, but not good. The price was outrageous. 5 tacos, some rice and a drink was $17. I don't recomend this place at al read more

Worst experience ever, they closed at 11:00 pm, but today I got there before 10:30 and they told Me only Togo orders, I was not expecting to be but 20 minutes top, needless to say this is the second time I experienced this in other occasion they told me that some items were not available because they have turn off the fryer, most of the restaurants will keep the same service until closing, so now you know if you want to have dinner go befor 9:00 and you might get service. Very disappointed. read more

My favorite place for a burrito, this locations the best El Faro too. I've never been disappointed in spending my money here, always amazing food! My whole family has their favorites and we probably wouldn't go any place else for Mexican food. read more

I went to this place the other night because some people were speaking highly of the food. WOW, was that a let down! How can you mess up a beef taco? I ordered 2 ground beef tacos, that cost something ridiculous and it tasted like what dog food would taste like. No seasoning on the beef AT ALL! Horrible. It didn't come with rice because I didn't get a meal, so they charged me FIVE DOLLARS for a side of rice!! Rice was luke warm and tasteless. There are several other burrito joints around the area that are way better tasting and cost way less. Restaurant was dirty and smelly as well. read more

Went here hoping it had improved and it has greatly!! Amazing pickled veggies!

Right next to my boyfriend's house, El Faro is a go-to! They have excellent authentic Mexican food with great prices and friendly staff. Their food is always ready very quickly and they are very generous with their salsas. Good location for dine in or take out. When dining in, you get free chips and salsa. Would recommend to anybody in the area! read more

I always go there! It's good and cheap. The combo of the steak burrito with fries and homemade drinks or fountain drink for o think it's $7.00.. come on you can't go wrong with that! read more

Not impressed. The tamales were dry, had almost no filling and didn't even seem homemade...more like a frozen tamale overcooked in a microwave. Carnitas meat was plentiful but extremely dry. The chorizo burrito was tasty but not worth driving our of your way for one. Liked the extreme heat on both of their salsas but the overall flavor was meh. Most of the tables were dirty and the only staff on duty for dinner was an order taker and cook. Given their reputation I would give them another try but will lower my expectations. read more