It's an awesome place to grab drinks and dinner before a Cubs game. Old school Mexican place - and speaking of "old" I am pretty sure it's been here longer than I have! Yes the margs are great & strong & I wouldn't recommend you drink more than two. Food is excellent and portion sizes are huge. We went before a night game during the week, and while it was crowded, the service was excellent and we had plenty of room. Well worth a trip when in Wrigleyville. read more

El Jardin - Dinner for 4 - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

good drinks, good food, and amazing service! I'll be back! Loved the patio too, such good vibes

The service and ambiance was phenomenal, however, the food was not. I think if you're looking for somewhere to eat, you go somewhere else. If you're there for the margs, enjoy yourself! The chilaquiles were very soggy and laid with a blanket of thick cheese. The refried beans and the tortillas have a weird aftertaste. Other than that, the inside was beautiful! read more

El Jardin - Dining area - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

service is wonderful, margaritas are strong and delicious!!! both the outdoor patio and the indoor seating are very nice and the dining room area has a real tree growing in the middle! read more

Me and my family had such a good meal here. the food was amazing and the service amazinger. 10/10 best mexican food in chicago.

What ever happened to to this place, it was my all time favorite, too many bad things to list, food overpriced, drinks in plastic cups, ugh, it is a shame, BUT ! There r other places that r much better, sorry , from a loyal customer. read more

I LOVE THIS PLACEEE servers are always so nice it's always almost empty when I go in and they have AMAZING margs . Highly recommend. Also my family wanted to watch a hockey game that they didn't have on tv and the waiter gave us the remote and let us find it and control the volume, so sweet and nice! read more

I have been going here for 25+ years and they never miss. Not only are the drinks amazing and we always have a good time (ambiance ) but the food is amazing too- best carne asada plate and the queso fundito is important to mention as well. The service is also wonderful, El Jardin feels like home away from home! I always look forward to my next time there. read more

Love the patio and the vibe. the drinks were awesome! And the food was great too! Recommended for a great night

El Jardín is a neighborhood classic. The food is delicious, the staff is AMAZING and the margs are STRONG! It's rare to find a place that nails both the food and the experience - and this place truly does it! I don't have enough nice things to say about the staff and restaurant - will be going back all summer long especially now that they have DJ events on their awesome patio in the summer! read more

Excellent Guestlist.____ DJ party in the back garden of el Jardin restaurant. Checkout the best margaritas and music in Wriggleyville. Make sure you ask for Uri to get your drinks super fast. Re-energize with some excellent Mexican specialties. read more

El Jardin - Excellent Guestlist.____ DJ party in the back garden of el Jardin restaurant. Checkout the best margaritas and music in Wriggleyville. - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food was bad! Like straight up bad! We got chips and queso to start and literally had to cut it with a knife. Additionally, the margaritas were weak and mostly lime. The main course was also so bland and unappealing, you can get better basically anywhere else. 1 bonus star for the patio which was nice (and empty, no surprise). read more

Very disappointed. I ordered the house margarita on ice without salt on rim. Yet, it tasted extremely salty to the point that I couldn't drink it. My wife ordered a strawberry margarita that tasted like sweet strawberry syrup and no alcohol. She too couldn't drink it. The chili relleno were perfectly cooked but tasteless and were soaked in sauce, so much sauce was on the plate that the rice and beans were floating in it. No, we're not going back read more

Second time I've been here. Their food is insanely good but only topped by their hospitality. My mom told me she came here in the 70s and loved the owner Gloria. It now runs in the family as I love her and her family too. They're wholesome and genuine and serve very authentic and delicious Mexican food with no BS added. Take note Wrigleyville. This is how you run a MF restaurant. read more

Great Food, Great Vibes, Great Staff! Tons of fun at El Jardin on a Saturday afternoon!

This place is an OG. El Jardin was the first restaurant I went to back in early 2014 after I signed my first lease in Chicago. Came back here this past weekend.. and it's just as great as it was 8 years ago! The margs.... woooo. I'm not sure what they put in them (do I want to know?), but let me tell you- they do the job. They taste incredible, and you get a decent buzz, without the terrible taste of cheap alcohol or syrup-y flavors like some margs can have. The food is also great, we got the guac and salsa to share, then I had three tacos. I tried the al pastor, carne asada, and the fish. My only caveat is that they did not have a fried fish taco, which I would have loved to see. My least favorite taco out of the three was the fish. Favorite had to be the al pastor! I also didn't realize that they have a huge patio in the back... how was this hidden from me years ago?! Glad I found out about this best kept secret now, and I will definitely be back before the summer's over :). read more

El Jardin - Steak, Al Pastor, and Fish tacos (you can't buy them individually, only in an order of 3) - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Me and my friends love this place! It's always a good night when el jardin is involved. The staff is so friendly and service is great. Everything we have tried has been good, always love the guac and nachos. Can't wait for the patio to be open all the time we love sitting out there! The bar was fun during the winter as well. Pomegranate marg is my fav. I will say it can get expensive quick. read more

Margaritas are the best in the city. Carne Asada Michael is superb as well as the burritos and breaded chicken. Casa Dias and queso fundido are also excellent. Two very nice courtyards, one in the front and one in the rear. Also great guacamole. read more

Went after a Cubs game to get some dinner with some friends. Heard about the legendary margaritas and we were excited to try. The margaritas were fine - but nothing to write home about. The food was simply bad. The pastor tacos were not very flavorful and the canned pineapple did not help either. The service was nice and everybody was friendly. Would go back for beers, but there's no way I'm eating there again. read more

A pleasant place for an impromptu drink + chips on the patio. The chips & salsa weren't on the menu to purchase--they were $7.50, kind of a small bowl. Guacamole was "market price" so I didn't feel Ike rolling the dice on that, lol. Service was friendly, both the host & the waiter. read more

El Jardin - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place is divided into a number of varied seating areas, including dining rooms, a bar, and a garden. The margaritas all seem to be made with lemon juice rather than lime, which is odd; I needed to order a shot of Cointreau to restore the balance. The appetizers were the best part of our meal. We ordered the nachos without the beans. As described, they came with exactly seven large tortilla chips! They also come with a dab of guacamole, so we really didn't need the extra order of guacamole, but it was good. The entrees were less exciting. Chicken enchiladas had a rather odd flavor, and the contents seemed to be ground up. Chilaquiles were also unusual, in that instead of being topped with a fried egg there was a scrambled egg mixed in; the chile verde sauce was good, though. Service was not particularly attentive considering we were the only table seated for Thursday lunch. read more

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My review is purely on a pit stop in tonight for a margarita. I did not order any food. And the staff was very nice, to be honest. I came in at the dinner hour and the place was dead, empty. I was never offered any chips or salsa. ‍ I ordered El Jardin's Infamous margarita. El Jardins "Urban Legend "of a Margarita served on the rocks. Tequila, lemon juice and Triple Sec. This small $15 margarita was SUPER sour. Way too much sour mix when they should have fresh juices and a much better ratio! Not only did it lack quality and quantity. However I didn't want to drink more than the 3rd sip. It made me pucker so bad. I am kind of introverted and would never "send anything back". I will not come back. Sorry read more

El Jardin - Sour AF Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Have been going here for years and I love this place! Amazing margs, amazing staff. And the Guest List events on Saturdays have been soooo much fun read more

There are better Mexican food options in Lakeview. Came here one day because we were craving Mexican food and saw this shop. The facade is eye-catching and I love to support local businesses. Yet, I wished I reviewed the menu before coming in. The prices were outrageous for the quality given. Expect $$-$$$ ($60-80 for two, before tip). Food was not what I would call outstanding and worthwhile of price. I understand that this place used to be cheaper and prices may have had to be raised due to supply issues. Yet, this seems a bit extreme for the quality given. The service wasn't great either. There were only 2 other people in the restaurant yet we still had to work to get our waiter's attention. Got to the point where I had to stand up and walk to the cashier to get our check because we waited so long. 2/5. I hate to give bad reviews, yet there's no way I can recommend this restaurant. Lakeview and surrounding neighborhoods have much better Mexican restaurants. read more

El Jardin - two plates of food on a table - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Prices have gotten ridiculously expensive. And don't get me wrong, I understand costs will need to increase in the inflation situation we're in currently...but El Jardin seems to be price gouging. Chips and salsa, which used to be complimentary, are now $7.50 (!!). One Cadillac margarita is now $17. Our most recent bill was literally DOUBLE the price of a comparable Mexican joint in the neighborhood. We won't be back to El Jardin, unfortunately - which is sad bc we do love the food, drinks and friendly staff and have been coming for many years. But management's greedy pricing drove us away. read more

I absolutely love El Jardin. I've lived in the area for 3 years and have always gone at least once a month, sometimes many more. Excellent food, drinks, and super friendly staff. Love the classic vibe in there too. Perfect for anyone that lives in the area or before or after a Cubs game! read more

A neighborhood staple and one of the few spots that's survived the recent influx of chains to the Wrigleyville area. The food is great for late nights and something quick and authentic. Service is friendly and the staff is generally pretty attentive. El Jardin is one of the last holdovers from the Wrigley glory days. read more

The food is bad but the worst us the service been there three times got the same waiter he has horrible attitude and bad bad attitude he should not be working there read more

The food was extremely disappointing for what we paid for. Sopa de Fideo was just not correct - wrong noodles and had veggies in it? very strange. enchiladas were also bland and the corn tortillas tasted like they were expired. Plus sides were the salsa and the service was ok. read more

I used to go here after a Cubs game in the 90s and they were always crowded and had amazing food. I went to a game recently and decided to go again. The place was remodeled and there was one table occupied. We were 4 people and sat in outdoor patio. We ordered 2 Coronas and 2 waters. Had the small guacamole and queso fundido as our apps. Both were ok. Asked for more tortillas for the queso cuz they only gave 3. Noticed later we were charged $3 for 3 extra flour tortillas. Asked for an order of chicken enchiladas ala carte because I never order rice and beans. I was told they don't have ala cart enchiladas and I will be charged for the entree. I used to get this all the time in the past-- ala carte. They used to make them fresh but when they arrived the enchiladas in red sauce was terrible. Chicken inside was lukewarm and bland. The tortillas were dried out with what looked like someone just poured some very bland red sauce on top and popped in microwave. Rice and beans terrible. Bill: $70!! Do not go here. read more

Quaint. Good service and attentive. Worth a stop after a game. There a reason it's been in business so long

Legit the worst food and margaritas you can imagine. In fact maybe worse than you can imagine. Seriously just don't. Ridiculous prices for terrible food & drinks. read more

I came here strictly to get a drink and I had a time! The people are friendly INCLUDING the customers. Seems like they have locals that comes there and they're friendly- they bought my friends and I a shot which we appreciated. Their margs are super affordable and good! read more

Don't go after a Cubs game if you want to have a conversation. Raucous and loud. Full of fans who'd already had more than enough to drink. Food is good but very expensive. Carne asada on menu available at "market price." In this case, $30. No table cloths and wobbly tables. I've been going here since they opened but it now seems a shadow of its former self. read more

This place has been around forever. It used to be our go-to place after Cubs games way back when. It's stood the test of time and the food and drinks are still good but gosh, the prices have gone through the roof!! I stopped in on a beautiful Tuesday night with my son to sit on the patio with a margarita and an appetizer. I wasn't counting on a $100 bill. I live in the Gold Coast/Streeterville area so I'm used to high prices but geez I don't expect it here. A decent size (not jumbo) margarita was $17 and a small one was $13! That's crazy for what the drinks were. We split a queso fundido which was tasty but a very small portion. The chicken quesadilla was fantastic. The shredded chicken was delicious. However, I asked for it to be spicy. When looking at the bill they charged me $3 for "charred jalapeños". We are talking about a tablespoon of jalapeño max and you're going to charge $3?!!! I'm not sure where they're buying their jalapeños, but I just bought one at Trader Joe's for $.29 lol. But in all honesty, that's ridiculous to have an up charge like that! The other thing is when you sit at the table they bring over a little container of salsa. Without chips. So I order a basket of chips and found out they are not complementary - just the salsa. Chips cost $3.50. What is the point of bringing out salsa if you're not going to bring out chips. My son jokingly said it's like getting a glass with ice and then charging you for the water. Overall, the food and drinks are good, but the prices are a little out of line. Not sure I'll be back when there are so many other places to explore. Sad. read more

This is your classic authentic Mexican spot. The food is decent, nothing amazing, but the drinks are on point. I love coming to get one of their famous margaritas, and I love their chips and salsa as well. I also love being able to sit on the patio on a nice night! The staff are always super friendly and welcoming. read more

Maria (Carmen) was our server, and she was great. But I would never come back. Margaritas were served in 10 oz plastic cups for $16 and were watered down. Not worth it. Ordered mole enchiladas, but got verde. Sent it back, but then rice and beans were cold. Overall, food was horrible, ambience was OK, but server was great. Bill for just two or us was $80 (with $10 tip). Definitely not worth it. Note: You get charged for extra chips, which is not nearly enough for 4 people. (The twos paid separately.) Had to ask twice for water. read more

El Jardin - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The soup looked like watered down campbells with chopped up spaghetti noodles. Listed on the menu as $8, but $10 charged even though I didn't eat it. The vegetable medley was clearly warmed up frozen food. The mole sauce was overly sweet and full of cone on and thick... not authentic or fresh at all. The tortilla chips are hard and not fresh and salsa too sweet. Go to this place for the ambiance outside and great margaritas. Carne Asada was okay. Don't order any food. read more

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Food was good authentic Mexican. They hosted our big group promptly. They were friendly and helpful.

This was a perfect place to stop in for a quick drink. Our server Ed and the manager provided incredible service!!! They made our experience so seamless and enjoyable. Will definitely be back. read more