I used to love this place but I have not been there for a while and now I had the most awful experience so I have to share it. We ordered $150 worth of food. When delivery arrived the guacamole was missing. Instead of complaining I just went to the restaurant and kindly showed them my order and asked them for the missing guac. I simply assumed it is no big deal and they will either provide a refund or just hand me the dish. Instead they said write down your information and we will send a free guac next time you order. I patiently explained that this is not the way to handle it and if this is how they want to go about it, I probably won't be ordering from them any more. They simply did not care for the fact that I paid $10 for a guac that they never provided. And they did not feel like it was their obligation to make it right. So instead of dealing with this kind of attitude ever again, I am taking my future business elsewhere. Mistakes do happen, what matters is how you handle it. And to my amazement the manager was just nasty about it. It's unbelievable . read more

I had an absolute blast here. For $24 you get your choice of any entree and bottomless mimosas - and the mimosas are STRONG. We sat in the cute back patio area and our food was delicious. They aren't kidding about "bottomless" mimosas either - I don't think I ever saw the bottom of my glass. Would absolutely recommend to anyone looking for a fun and different brunch experience. read more

El Mariachi - Brunch at El Mariachi! - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I have different Mexican restaurants depending on what I want to do. El Mariachi I go for food and comfort. Anna has taken care of me for over a decade and it wouldn't be the same without her and the boys. The food is outstanding, and the staff is why I keep coming back. read more

As a mexican the food here is decent, no complaints or compliments on it tbh. Their drinks are great, especially their margaritas but EVERYTHING is INSANE OVERPRICED. Expect to spend like $50 per person here's its way too overpriced for the decent food, idk why it's so expensive. Their wait times are crazy long too especially now. They recently cancelled my order after two hours and and didn't even bother to tell us. I don't recommend this place YOURE better off going to taco burrito house or palace. read more

This place is a typical local Mexican place with a very cute set-up. It's small, cozy and dimly lit. I loved the ambience along with the Mexican music in the back drop. I had heard good things about this place but the food wasn't spectacular. the menu provides for basic Mexican food. I had a chicken and a s shrimp taco and both had the same simple toppings of lettuce, tomatoes, cheese. read more

El Mariachi - Cheese enchilada, chicken taco - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We went to this restaurant before a concert at Wrigley. The food was amazing. I had the chicken tacos. I am still thinking about how good they were. The only reason I didn't give five stars is because a couple of large parties had been seated before us and we waited a long time for our food. Our hostess gave us a head up before we were seated that it was going to be a longer wait, which we appreciated. Definitely a place we will go back to in the future. read more

Texan #1: "Let's go to El Mariachi for lunch." Texan #2: "Do you want to go to the big one or the little one?" Texan #1: "The little one." Wisconsin girl: "I thought Texans liked everything to be bigger." It turns out that my Texas transplant pals were talking about the size of the restaurant, which is the smaller of the two El Mariachi restaurants. You even have to go through the kitchen and down the hall to the use the restroom that they share with the sushi place next door. It's too tiny for it's own restroom. The food is decent. I had some steak enchiladas and side of guacamole, which were good. The sangria was also good. It was standard tex-mex fare and nothing about the food stood out to me. But my pals swear that this is the best tex-mex outside of Texas...so, there's that... read more

Want to go out but don't want the hassle of putting effort into your dress or appearance? Look no further- El Mariachi is here to help. Delicious food in a sit-down atmosphere, but so cozy and casual that you're welcome in your sneakers and jeans. The chips and salsa are spicy and really flavorful, which I miss at other Mexican restaurants in the city. The enchiladas and tacos are really great, too. The only cons- in the winter, they have no barrier between the door and seating, so every time someone enters/ exits the tiny dining area drops about thirty degrees. A testament to the food, though, is that I've eaten more than one dinner there with my coat and hat on. Hey, it's worth it. read more

I hate it when restaurants don't live up to your memories of them. Sad. We stopped here for lunch a few weeks ago when we were in the area. I admit the "meh" feeling I had when I walked out the door was probably on account of the noticeable lack of tequila with the meal (I refuse to touch the hard stuff until my baby has been weaned). In the past, the margaritas were always poured with a fairly heavy hand, which automatically improves the taste of any food, as we all know. And since I'd never been here before and not had at least one, usually two margaritas, I'd never noticed how average the food is. Again, sad. If you're in the area, by all means give it a shot or two. The chips have no equal and the food ain't bad. Have a few drinks and you'll enjoy yourself. But otherwise, meh. read more

Meh is quite possibly the best way to describe this restaurant. We found this place on Thrillist and were so excited to try it, but seriously what a disappointment. Let's start off by saying to me customer service means a lot and reflects the restaurant and its management in so many ways. With that said the customer service was awful. When we walked in we noticed that there was a handful of tables open, which included the one we would later find to be used for interviews during brunch time (like really this is what a table is being used for during your peak time?). They told us that the wait would be about 30-35 mins, which really baffled me since there were so many tables open. As we stood around waiting we saw openings at the bar where we sat and waiting a good 15 mins to receive any acknowledgement from the bartender, mind you that the bar sits about 10 people so there was no real reason for the bartender to ignore us. After the long agonizing wait we were finally sat down at a table that had been open since the moment we walked in. Then the waiting game proceeded. We knew exactly what we wanted to order yet waited some more for the waitress to come and take our order. When we finally got the food it is needless to say it was not worth the wait. The food can only be described as bland and uninspired. I mean I guess this is purely an opinion and as I am entitled to it so is everyone else. An example of the mediocre food was the Queso Fundido, which forgive me if I'm wrong, is intended to be served hot or at the very least warm and is supposed to be melted instead a block of cheese. To wrap things up the wait proceeded when we waited for the check. We actually had to hunt down the waitress for that one since she disappeared after our food came. The one thing that I will give them is that their salsa and chips were fresh and tasty but unless you are going purely for the chips and dip I wouldn't recommend. I know I wouldn't return. read more

$5 margaritas on Monday & Wednesday. Not only was the food incredible, the presentation was great too. Great chips and salsa. Unfortunately, cleanliness was its biggest downfall. The bathrooms, I hate to say it, were dirty. There were dead insects on the floor. It's disappointing because the food and drinks could have easily given this place a 5-star. read more

great food! quick and friendly service! our drinks were constantly being refilled along with our chips and salsa.

I'm so happy that I live mere blocks from a Mexican restaurant. On my way home from a drinking excursion last week, I stopped in to order a takeout quesadilla. Both heavily buzzed and nearly starved, I waited in purgatory outside as I felt I was in the way of every diner and server in the cramped layout. 10 minutes later, I rounded a couple of corners and anxiously opened my Styrofoam container of love. Presentation? Solid. Size? Perfect for my beer-fueled appetite. Chicken? Well-seasoned and shredded. My side order of guacamole for $1.50? Disconcertingly small. Overall, I found this quesadilla to be very average for the cost ($8 + $1 upgrade for chicken + $1.50 for a smear of guac). Also, I prefer my quesadillas either truly authentic (resembling tacos that I've bought from roadside stands somewhere between Mexicali and Tijuana) OR conversely, the full-on American take on the tasty appetizer (i.e. Chevy's Fresh Mex). I'm not one to rule a restaurant ill-suited for my consumption preferences based on one menu item, so I'll definitely return to stake out some margaritas and enchiladas. read more

5 Stars: Enchilladas with Verde Sauce Chips & Salsa The price 4 Stars: Taco Salad Margaritas 3 Stars: For the unlucky people standing by the door waiting for 1 of the 10 tables to open up. 2.5 Stars: Sangria 2 Stars: That frigid breeze that creeps in every time the door opens in the middle of Winter. 1 Star: That time you didn't ask me if I wanted the other half of my meal wrapped before piling other plates on it :( read more

El Mariachi is easily one of my favorite Mexican restaurants within a two-mile radius. The waitstaff are all fantastic and friendly, and they treat me and my guests like royalty. The waitstaff recognizes me each time, even if just walking past the spot, and are eager to wave and catch up. If not too busy, they even make specialty things for me, or gladly substitute items in a combo meal. There is another Mexican restaurant (with two locations) that is known for their margaritas, but El Mariachi has much much better food -- and a pretty darn good margarita too. And if you're a fun customer who adds to the environment, they will occasionally bring you a complimentary shot after your meal. Of course they have all the typical Mexican favorites: tacos, burritos, enchiladas... but c'mon. You can get those at any Taco Stand. Although El Mariachi offers each of these, and each are kinda amazing, I HIGHLY recommend breaking out of your comfort zone and going for any of the more homestyle entrees, like the Puntas en Salsa, or Guisado de Puerco. Beef or Pork tips simmered and served in your choice of salsas... And if you are a fan of Mole Poblano, then go for it -- El Mariachi makes a mean Chicken Mole. But, without a doubt, El Mariachi has THE ABSOLUTE BEST CHIPS AND SALSA. Light, crispy, and perfectly salty, I have never had chips and salsa as good as they make here. They'll bring out two salsas with your dips, but it's all about the Salsa Molcajete... mmmm sooooooo smokey and rich and slightly spicy. Smokey smokey and smokey. Amazing. And their guacamole is always fresh, too. Gosh, I can't stop raving about this place, seriously. If I HAD to give some constructive criticism, it would be that I wish they had a nightly special entree. And I'm sure many wish the bathrooms were slightly more accessible, but we're more likely to get nightly specials. :-) read more

You people have seriously averaged this place a 4?! How?! Let's start off with the basics. There is no where to sit, which makes it really cozy, tiny and cute, I can deal with that. We sat there amongst the other 10 tables, yes, there are seriously only 10 tables tops without any chips or salsa for over 10 minutes. At a mexican restaurant chips and salsa should be on the table as my ass hits the chair. The chips were not nearly as hard as other places, bonus, but they were strange. Almost like they were made in house but not made correctly. The salsa was okay, nothing spectacular there. We ordered the fundido and that was actually decent. I ordered tacos. Can't go wrong with a crispy beef taco. Oh, wait, these are not crispy they are soppy greasy soft corn tortillas. Hmm, why wasn't that put on the menu? I didn't want soppy greasy soft shell I wanted a hard shell. Needless to say I ate maybe half a taco, and a few bites of refried and rice since those were not good either. The husband ordered tamales and barely ate any of his either. I left full, and I'm not sure from what. I went home and lied in bed, I felt really greasy and disgusting after eating there. I'm a big fan of ambiance but folks, you can't eat at a place for that alone. read more

This is another place that I walk past several times a week but have never gone inside. Until this week. And, damn if I haven't been missing out. El Mariachi is a tiny restaurant--it may seat 20 people in its cramped dining room--but the service is excellent, the portions generous, and the food quite good. Word has gotten around in the years that I've been missing out. Nearly every seat was full by the time we left. Let's start off with an easy one: Queso Fundido. A big glob of melted cheese with optional chorizo tossed in. Excellent. The serving was ginormous--they must have sapped the udders of 20 cows to get enough milk for that portion. You're going to need a couple of extra tortillas for this one. For dinner? Fajitas. Chicken for me, shrimp for the other half. Both were excellent, if maybe a little heavy on the veggies. Again, we both had to ask for a fourth tortilla to finish the serving. Service was prompt, cordial, and helpful throughout. See, now we're mad at ourselves for passing by this place so many times. Won't be making that mistake again. read more

We stayed at a hotel right around the corner and decided to stop in one night. The place is VERY small (maybe 8-10 tables). The food was good but we were a little disappointed that they did offer the type of white queso dip that we have in the South. It was not a soft cheese but rather a more firm consistency. It tasted perfectly fine but my daughter snubbed her nose at it because it is not what she is used too. The service was a bit slow too which was surprising to me since the place was practically empty. The only thing I could think is maybe they get a lot of take out orders and that keeps them busy. read more

This is most definitely my favorite place to go for Mexcian in Chicago. There are no-frills in this place...only consistently great food that tastes homemade. Carne asada is always good, great guacamole and chips, and excellent chicken enchiladas en mole. I'm pretty picky about my mole. This mole sauce comes very close to the mole I ate at my Grandma's house growing up. The people who work here are always welcoming. The prices are very affordable...and sometimes you get your beer in a boot mug! I really enjoy when I get a boot mug. Now, there are 2 locations - 1 by Roscoe/Broadway and one closer to Irving Park/Broadway. I prefer the one by Roscoe. It's a smaller space and just feels more homey. read more

After years and years of walking by this teeny weeny Mexican joint, I finally tried it out after an early evening of extended happy hour indulgence. Chips were super crispy, and the guac was just right and creamy. The chicken mole was excellent. Pounded flat, very tender and juicy, with a savory sweet and rich mole. Exceptional flavor. Service was great! read more

I got takeout here once, right when I moved to Boystown. It was okay. Then a few weeks later I took my mother here, & as soon as we ordered our drinks, we both noticed ROACHES THE SIZE OF MY PINKIE FINGER crawling around in the kitchen. One made it into the dining area & the waiter stepped on it & tried to pretend there was nothing going on. My mother & I told him what we saw & he refused to acknowledge it, though he was clearly ashamed. We left & now I get nauseous every time I walk by. Really is a shame, as I heard they had a good margarita. In retrospect I probably should have called the health department or something, but I honestly wanted to think about it as little as possible. AVOID. read more

My only experience with El Mariachi is through delivery, but if you are looking for a $6.00 burrito the size of a small child to be delivered to your door by a friendly Mexican man on a Thursday night so that you don't have to get up from the couch during Lost, this is your place. Also, try the side order tamales - for only $2.75, great size for the price, and one of the few Mexican joints around my 'hood where you can get tamales as sides instead of ordering an entre. (The last time I ordered they were a little bit dry, but still good.) Also, they always throw in chips and salsa, which are both pretty fantastic. read more

I love, love, Love, LOVE El Mariachi!! I'm not one who frequents Mexican restaurants... I'm not really a fan, but I decided to try El Mariachi because I was craving some steak cooked Mexican style... Decided to order in from GrubHub and I ordered the El Mariachi combo. Broiled steak, chicken flauta, and chile relleno were the best I've had. Delivery was super fast and my food wasn't all over the place as is the situation with most delivery. Tried the horchata and it was very sweet, but good! I like my drinks so sugary I can feel my teeth rotting. The rice and beans were the best I've ever had! I cannot believe I haven't tried this place sooner! read more

El Mariachi has the best mexican food in chicago. I used to live near it and would eat their food at least weekly. You can call and get the food to go. The steak tacos are absolutely incredible. The chimichangas are also great. Everything I have eaten there has been outstanding. Problem - once I brought my girlfriend there, and in between "mmm" 's and "this is so good" 's, a huge cockroach walked by on the wall. We were discouraged for a few minutes, but the food is so good that you are willing to risk remaining in a substandard environment to finish the meal. Hopefully they have that problem under control as it is the only reason they are not getting a 5. And yes, the dining area is small but for some reason I never had a problem getting a table, and it makes the place more cozy. read more

Delivery is poor. Food quality is okay, but it's cold. 4 times we have ordered from them and they always get the order wrong, twice over charging us for things we didn't even order. If you're a vegetarian watch out you're likely to get meat. All I can give is my own experience, and based on that I say DO NOT ORDER DELIVERY FROM HERE. read more

I'm going to be brief and narrow down this review in 3 points. First, I have been in fast-food burrito joints that were better tasting than this. Second, steak quesadilla was very greasy. Third, charging me for a $9 Margarita that just tasted as if you never put any tequila in it and then water it down is not cool by me. I think you should pay attention closely to my third point. Their sweet and sour mix tasted like watered down chemicals. Very disappointing. read more

My boyfriend and I eat at El Mariachi on nearly a weekly basis. The seating sucks -- no question of that. But the food and drinks are great. It's not unbelievably outstanding, but it's certainly good and cheap enough to justify weekly visits. Our Realtor introduced us to the original El Mariachi location at Broadway/Sheridan back in 2006, and we loved it. It easily had four times the seating capacity of the Broadway/Roscoe location. Sadly, they close that location in 2007 when they opened their new "El Mariachi Tequila Bar", which is terrible. Not only are the words "tequila bar" code for "d-bag watering hole", but they also changed their menu a lot. read more

I mostly order in from El Mariachi, given the tiny seating capacity. But during the summer it's a wonderful dinner destination, as they leave the big windows open to the street. I always get the chile relleno burrito. That's right, they have chile relleno IN A BURRITO. It's enough for two meals, and the second half is just as delicious the next day. The salsas are fresh and spicy. The guacamole is good, not great. This location has better food that the one at Broadway and Sheridan, but the other location has much better space. Take your pick! read more

One of my favorite Mexican restaurants in the hood! Love their food and the prices are always right. For some reason we always get a table in less than five minutes, even when the place is full packed and is small as it can be. Good option away from the more commercial Mexican restaurants around the area. read more

Strutting around my apartment buzzed and satisfied describes how my night ended after an impromptu first trip to El Mariachi. I can happily say I enjoyed a great Mexican meal, margaritas included, without carrying a food baby shortly thereafter. At first glace it appears like most Mexican restaurants, but once the lights are dimmed and your entree arrives- you realize El Mariachi is a cut above. As other posters have noted, it is a cozy intimate setting. So if you would like to enjoy the pleasures of Mexican food and drink while being able to hear the person across from you all for a reasonable price- this is it. MMM MMM Salsa snob approved for the variety of salsas provided during visit! read more

Small venue but was seated within five minutes. The food was basic but good. I thought the salsas, served free with chips, were very good. The disappointment: their margaritas. They didn't offer a "skinny" one so I settled for a regular and had to return it. It tasted as though it had a lot of fake sour mix. I likely won't go back as I appreciate a good margarita (or Mezcal) with Mexican cuisine. read more

Tiny hole in the wall. Decent food, my enchiladas were a little on the dry side, but I think it had a good enough flavor that I'd give it another shot. My wife had a chimichanga and liked it. The rice had a good flavor as did the beans. Service was decent, and the sopapillos for dessert were tasty. read more

El Mariachi - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was pleasantly surprised by El Mariachi. We went to El Mariachi on cinco de mayo - yeah, I know, I haven't yelped in a while. We wanted Mexican food on cindo de mayo, but apparently everyone else also had the same idea. I called the restaurant to see what the wait time was, and I asked that they add me to the wait list. I initially got a little bit of push back, but the hostess finally obliged, and we were seated almost immediately in the back patio next to a bunch of fresh herbs. We ordered a couple of large top shelf margaritas (I haven't figured out if it's worth the extra money to upgrade). The menu has a good mixture of your traditional affordable Mexican fare to some more creative items. I also liked that there were many options for side dishes, which is a good thing because sometimes, I do want a change from the typical Mexican rice and refried beans. The chips are also extra greasy and delicious. I would definitely return here again - it's a good alternative for Mexican food outside of Pilsen. read more

Two days post- half marathon and I was a little sore. I decided that a delicious margarita would do the trick, not that I advocate medicating through alcohol, of course. My friend and I checked out El Mariachi, because it was close to his place and had fairly easy access to the 145 to take me home afterwards. Let me take you through the meal. Arrived to a mostly empty space that was very dimly lit with quiet music playing (read: we almost needed a flashlight to read the menu dim). It had am almost romantic vibe to it, which was not my plan at all. We were seated immediately, and within seconds had chips and salsa and water. Very nice. The salsa was delicious, but honestly I didn't LOVE the chips. They were okay, but a little too greasy for my taste. Our server came up shortly after we started stuffing our faces with the chips and we ordered our drinks (margarita for me, Pacifico for him) and some guacamole. A minute later, ta-da, there's the guac, which was great. Very tasty and an ample supply! We each ordered enchiladas - me the chicken with chipotle salsa, him the beef with mole sauce (just because he wanted to say "mole, mole, mole.") The food came out really fast, and we dove in forgetting about the delicious guac. Overall, my dish was alright. It wasn't the best I've had, but definitely not the worst. Very solid and I almost cleaned the plate. Then I realized we had leftover guac that was going to waste. So sad. After walking out, I realized that my muscle pain was gone. The margarita did its work and I was full, happy and ready for bed. Overall it was a decent place, and if I'm in that 'hood again I would consider going back. read more

I think the cucumber margaritas made my first review a little over-zealous. I've been back a couple times. No more cucumber margaritas -- they don't offer them anymore. It's sad, because they were delicious. The food is still good, but not great. The service is still great. It's still a winner, but I can't rave about it anymore....nothing special. read more

Awesome food, friendly staff, and adorable little dining area. Comfortable and easy location, right on Broadway.

It's surprising how one outstanding feature of a restaurant can turn me into a regular, even if the rest of it is average. At El Mariachi, they have two of these things. One is their complimentary chips and salsa. Rather, just the chips. They are warm, greasy and crisp - what turns out to be the ideal combination. Whatever else I get for dinner, keep those chips coming! The other is their servers, who are friendly (without trying to be your fake friend for the night - see my Fish Bar review) and attentive. The Tex-Mex menu is a bit above average and we've liked everything we've had there. The mole is particularly robust. This El Mariachi is a small, welcoming, neighborhood place, which is nice considering that most Lakeview restaurants are just for screaming, vomiting, crying and posing. read more

I accidentally came here the other night when I mistook this place for a restaurant I had been to before. Have to say, it was a happy accident. Seems like a well kept secret (or not to the taste of those in the neighborhood) since me and two friends were able to get seats right away at 6pm on a Saturday. I was starving and the chips and salsa were great. They had a fresh mild salsa with a lot of cilantro and a chipotle salsa that was a little spicier (and definitely awesome). The server seemed to disappear into the back for long periods of time, but I was in no rush, so no matter. I could not resist trying the only thing on the menu that I had not seen anywhere else. Plantain enchiladas. They were SO good. The sauce on top tasted like a slightly bitter mole and there was just enough saltiness with the cheese to counter the plantains' sweetness. My fellow diners seemed equally enthusiastic about their selections (which, I believe, were a chicken burrito and a vegetarian combo of sorts). I'll definitely try this place again, maybe to check out their lunch options. read more

Wonderful Mexican food. Fresh made tortillas, great salsa. Great salad. The chilies rellanos was well prepared, very tasty. Friendly staff, fun decor, beautiful plating. read more

Service: good Atmosphere: Authentic, intimate Food: Average This was one of our very special places for years. Lately the last two times we've been very disappointed. It seems the food quality went down a few notches. I still love the chips and salsa. We asked for extra napkins they never arrived, we asked for the check it took a long time to arrive read more