2nd time visiting and it's a 2 story building with a modern environment. Juan our Server was attentative when we came had dinner. The guacamole was really good at a medium spice level and the Burrito el Jimador was foot long burrito and was enough for full satisfaction. read more

El Jimador Mexican Grill - Burrito El Jimador - Mexican Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

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This is the best place for Mexican food in DeKalb. Service is efficient and friendly, and the food is delicious! Love the enchiladas! read more

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My grandson's favorite restaurant. He recommended the shrimp quesadillas and they were wonderful! My husband had his usual chicken burrito, and he enjoyed it. Good homemade chips and salsa, too. read more

We ate here before a concert at the Egyptian Theater and the service was pretty quick, efficient and accurate. It was a little hard to hear in here so we kept having to ask the server to repeat what she was saying. The chips, guacamole and salsa were good. I liked the taste of the Shelly Salad with beef, shrimp, spinach and zucchini, but only had a few shrimp on my plate. It was a lighter and tasty dish. Good sized margarita too. I always order mine OTR, no salt. I thought the portions were big for the price paid so it's a pretty decent value. If you plan to use the ladies room before a show, give yourself plenty of time. It's a 2 stall ladies room and expect a wait on a busy night. It's easily walkable from here to the Egyptian. read more

El Jimador Mexican Grill - The Shelly Salad. - Mexican Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

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We have been a few times and have had amazing food and service each time. We highly recommend the tableside Guacamole! read more

El Jimador Mexican Grill - Tableside Guacamole. - Mexican Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

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A pretty solid Mexican place in DeKalb! They will make the guac right in front of you - so it tastes super excellent and fresh. They are also good about giving you plenty of chip and salsa refills. I ordered the Mariscos con Arroz. The portion was huge - I couldn't eat all of it despite being very hungry. I ordered it spicy but it wasn't very spicy so don't expect any spiciness in the food. The food was pretty salty - I ended up gulping down a big glass of water to deal with the saltiness. The food was still good - just a bit too salty and not spicy enough. read more

El Jimador Mexican Grill - Mariscos con Arroz - Mexican Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

I ordered the three-item combo, with Enchilada, Tostada, and Burrito. They tasted so delicious! And I had a glance at the inside environment, so fantastic! read more

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We did a big, 12 person Jimador takeout order, and they got everything just right. Well done! I've eaten at the restaurant once as well, when it was new, and the experience was good. Like a lot of Mexican restaurants , I find it strange (meaning, Mexican food is easily adaptable to vegetarian) not to have an ample vegetarian section on the menu (not one you have to negotiate; also, have some mushrooms available!), but the spinach (I think?) quesadilla is good, as were the enchiladas. read more

I came back and had a much better experience. Our server, Juan is a gem. The enchiladas had more meat this time. I can't say anything negative and will be back. read more

El Jimador Mexican Grill - Enchilada will hardly any filling. Steak, not pork like I ordered. - Mexican Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

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I had a wonderful time here the m food is 4 stars, The drinks are good but the e prices here are a little high for the quality If you come here and ask for a home Made guacamole the girl will make it fresh as you order in front If you Heads up make sure you tell them Easy on the salt it was way too salty On the weekend they have live dj and they had mariachis too I had a so much Fun the host comes to see if everything is good Come Bring your family and enjoy the dancing The host was very friendly read more

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Wasn't expecting to find good Mexican in the middle of nowhere Illinois but that is exactly what I found. Visited El Jimador for lunch. Ordered the La Bandeira w/ grilled chicken. First, this burrito was enormous. Way bigger than I expected. Second, it was delicious. My colleagues were very happy with their meals which included enchiladas and the El Jimador Burrito which was equally as massive as mine. A great Mexican find where I least expected it. Solid meal. Great service. Would come here again for sure. Give ''em a try! read more

El Jimador Mexican Grill - La Bandeira burrito - Mexican Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

Better than expected place for Mexican American food. In DeKalb there's limited options. El Jimador is for sure one of the better places to get burritos. Of course it's not authentic but it's okay for what this is. The place is kind of loud especially on weekends. A popular place around town to hang out and watch a game. It has lots of TVs around the bar, so there's enough for everyone it seems. The actual drinks and food are the main things though. Last time they had a few specials that were cheap. We got a few things. It was $6 for the Mediana Margarita. This was a massive amount in a big glass and a good deal for all this. Good drink. This really hit the spot. We also got the Salsa Trio. It's $7 for three kinds. There's not much good in here for vegans. Also the entrees get expensive. The appetizers have better prices. Good even though it's not authentic. It seems to have gotten some higher prices. There's not a whole lot besides the salsa for vegans and vegetarians. read more

El Jimador Mexican Grill - Mediana Margarita And The Salsa Trio - Mexican Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

Terrible food. Steak was cut thinner than the onions. I couldn't even taste it, the meat just disintegrated. I also ordered the jalapeño cucumber margarita and it tasted like spicy water. No flavor and I couldn't taste the alcohol. Worst Mexican food in DeKalb. read more

I stopped by during Corn Fest and expected the place to be jam packed and it sure looked like it. Most of the tables were filled and the outdoor patio was full of families but then the hostess led us to an upstairs area that was completely empty. It took me a while to decide what to order. I ended up getting a combination dinner with a beef enchilada and a chicken quesadilla. Both were good but the quesadilla was my favorite! The combo dinner is SUCH a great deal. My boyfriend ordered a quesadilla which was the exact same size as mine but I also got an enchilada and my entire plate was technically cheaper than his. Anyways, good food, good vibe, and good service! read more

El Jimador Mexican Grill - Combination 2 Items Dinner Combo - Mexican Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

Consider the fajita. Chicken, peppers, onion, tortilla. Ought to be foolproof, right? Not for this joint. That must have been the oldest chicken in the yard - it was certainly the toughest. Peppers and onions barely cooked? Check. No seasoning of any kind? Check. Everything as dry as the Gobi Desert? You bet. Even the salsa was bland. My companion's chicken tacos? Same. How about the decor? Lotsa paint, but nothing else. Sterile, hard, unwelcoming. The staff is very nice. They deserve better. And so did we. Never again. (We should have known better. Our daughter liked this place. Every place she has recommend to us sucked. But not many of them were as bad as this place.) read more

This is a complete ripoff. They charged $14 for 3 very soggy tamales that were not very good. You can get better from Jewel or Hyvee for a fraction of the cost. Outrageous! I grew up in Phoenix and expected much more. If this is indicative of the quality of the other menu items, especially for the inflated prices, I would take a hard pass. read more

Both times when my kids and I have been to El Jimador, we left feeling satisfied and happy. The servings were big, prices were reasonable and the service was always attentive, friendly and efficient. I also liked the lively vibe of the place. I've tried the following from my visits: STEAK & SHRIMP SPECIAL- delicious HUSKIE FAJITAS- winner (my son ordered this on both visits) LA BANDERA VURRITO- big hit (and it's huge too!) STEAK TACOS- the steak was cooked just right but could use a little more seasoning The rice and beans that came with the fajitas were also good. I have yet to try their margaritas though. II will try them the next time I visit Dekalb. Til next time! read more

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We happened to find El Jimador on Yelp during our trip to Dekalb and definitely lucked out. Their restaurant is beautiful with a bunch a very intricate murals and the staff is friendly and attentive. Our group ordered the guacamole and a variety of different dishes. I loved the scrumptious shrimp tacos and definitely recommend them to someone who loves a lot of flavor. read more

El Jimador Mexican Grill - Yummy Guacamole that is almost gone - Mexican Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

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So fucking loud The food and looks yea yea it's good but While I was trying to order my food i had to wait in pauses but maybe it's a strange blessing in disguise my mom was fussing over my shirt and that's when it get loud in there other than that it gets quiet after a certain hour but oh well I Guess read more

Food is amazing!! Service was top notch. From the drinks to the service to the food it was amazing. We will be back. What a gem! read more

El Jimador Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

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clean, fresh, flavorful food and friendly staff! You will leave with a full belly and a happy heart! read more

Good food and even better service! There were quite a few patrons in the restaurant, but it didn't seem crowded. read more

El Jimador Mexican Grill - Great food and service. I highly recommend this place! - Mexican Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

The menu is nice and the food is pretty good. Not an issue for everyone, but we always find the restaurant to be loud and hard to hold conversations. read more

Great tacos and table-side guac. Lots of food, plentiful chips and salsa. It's kind of loud inside but the service was good. I had the hibiscus margarita and it was good but a little syrupy. Next time I'll try one of the mezcal margaritas. read more

We LOVE the food and the wait staff at El Jimador. Everything always tastes fantastic (sooo yummy) and the wait staff works hard to deliver hot food and keep your glass full. Excellent menu and crave-able eats. Unfortunately the front of house is run by suburban teenage girls, so be prepared for a lot of incompetence and "I don't knows". Dairy Queen has better hosts. Maybe when school starts they'll land 5 stars. read more

Food was premade and not warm enough. Had it sent back, they replaced the same meal less than 5 minutes. Service was good, the atmosphere was too loud. read more

I have eaten Mexican food in many parts of the country ( Seattle, San Diego, Los Angeles, Texas, Florida, etc..) this THE best Mexican food I have had. I was one bite away from putting myself into a food coma . The food was flavorful, the presentation was great, and the service was excellent. Carne Asada tacos - BANGIN! Rice and beans - BANGIN! Chips and salsa - BANGIN! Ariel was our server. Very professional, attentive, and efficient. If I'm ever back in DeKalb I will definitely stop here for food. read more

El Jimador Mexican Grill - Mexican Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

I really enjoy the food here. Birthdays are fun also. The plantains are my favorite. We always have a good time here

Drink was excellent with the perfect amount of flavors from the Tequila to the juices. The hint of spice was very well put together. Take your time and drink responsibly, but if your not driving be prepared to order two. The atmosphere here is very welcoming and peaceful. When dining in you receive Chips and Salsa always a plus. The restaurant was busy but the staff is very attentive. I ordered a Chicken Torta but received a steak which I had to send back. However I did receive my correct order which still came out great, I wasn't disappointed at all. If you go here be sure to check out their signature specials and if it's nice out you can also dine out doors. Great place and I will be trying them again soon. read more

El Jimador Mexican Grill - Spicy Cucumber Jalapeño Margarita - Mexican Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

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This is on "To Go" orders. FORGOTTEN : 2 had chicken fajitas and they forgot to put in the tortillas INCORRECT: I sat and listened to the person in my party who placed the order. She ordered BEEF enchiladas...she had to repeat herself twice. We ended up getting CHICKEN enchiladas instead. For 6 orders placed, only 1 small container of pico de Gallo (think small salad dressing cup size) was in the bag. We would've called them to give them feedback, but the person on the phone when we initially ordered sounded so distracted and like it was an imposition for her to take our order, why in the world would we bother? Food quality was decent. read more

El Jimador Mexican Grill - Choc fajitas - Mexican Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

Great food, excellent service and super yummy margaritas! Busy, busy place...worth the wait!

We went on a Friday night and it was an absolute madhouse. Every table on the ground floor were practically taken, and they still had people pouring in to grab a table. We were fortunate enough to had made a reservation ahead of time! The staff were wonderful and did their best on such a busy night. They were all wearing masks and customers needed mask upon arrival. But once seated, you can remove them. I ordered the adovada tacos and they were phenomenal!! They come with 3 tacos and a side of refried beans and rice. I was so full from the 3 tacos alone that I couldn't finish the sides. The pork was so flavorful and with the pineapples, it added a nice hint of sweetness to complement the pork. The tacos were so full of meat that you definitely get your money's worth. Easily one of the better Mexican food establishments in the area, and hope it does well enough to make it a mainstay. read more

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My boyfriend and I planned it coming here since it opened but due to Covid we never made it in. Finally one night we decided to order as take out, but when we came to get it he asked if we could eat inside and they said yes. It was socially distanced upstairs. Even though we ate there they bagged our food up for us- we got a big bag of chips and salsa and even a dessert!! Loved the food! I got the barb tacos with pineapple- amazing! (He even ordered me a margarita!! Which was also amazing!) I'm so glad I live down the street! I will be back!! read more

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Most Everything was below average Free chips & salsa were good & rice & beans were really good Wife had create your own combo, she didn't really like any of her chicken tostadas or tacos I had enchilada, taco, burritos combo- ground beef is loaded with green peppers which normally I like lots of "stuff" mixed in the taco meat but this wasn't very good. All the sauces on the plate (green & brown/red) were not very good. 1kid has shrimp & scallop tacos they were mushy & mediocre at best. 1kid had an enormous El Jimidor burrito that had fries in it, he ate it all & said it was good. Last kid had 3 tacos & said they were fine Bill was $106 b4 tip no alcohol We'll continue to go to Los Rancheros for Mexican food read more

The food is always amazing and the service is prompt and polite. The worst part is trying to decide what you're going to order because it's all so good! read more

Delicious food paired with a fun ambience! Their portions are great and the flavor in the food is even better. Authentic tacos and horchata! You will get your moneys worth! Se los recomiendo! read more

The service, staff & food are excellent. The venue has very very loud music & very very loud karoake - cranked. It would be 5 star if they turned down the volume. read more

What a beautiful find for DeKalb. The restaurant was modern, and decorated nicely. The food was fantastic everybody loved their meals, fajitas were delicious. The Tableside guacamole was one of the best I had.drinks were excellent,Had mariachis going from table to table they didn't overdo it it was very nice. Can't wait to go back and will be back. Don't miss this hidden gem in downtown DeKalb. read more

The food was very good! The service was just ok. The waiter could not seam to get our order straight. The wrong dish came out ( quickly though) and they remade my wife's meal (also very quickly). I'm thinking this was a case of one particular waiter having a bad day because the rest of the experience was great. The margaritas ( a pitcher) were excellent! read more

Great shrimp tacos and friendly service- a and portions are more than generous. Wondering to sit outside in summer.