El Mero Mero has long been on my list to try! The restaurant is located in Historic Downtown Schaumburg. The inside completely transports you to another atmosphere. I loved the painted mural, patterned tiling, and feature lights. My husband and I visited to enjoy their Mix & Match Taco special on Tuesdays. We tried all four of the tacos apart of the special and thoroughly enjoyed the flavor. The favorite by far was the Al Pastor followed by the Carne Asada & Tacos Americanos. The taco shells seem freshly pressed and we both enjoyed the corn over flour. The complimentary chips and salsa were definitely a medium heat but chips are served fresh and hot. Their regular prices are a bit of a premium but food is good quality and portions. I would certainly come back to try more of their offerings in the future! Notable Specials: -Monday's: $8 Cheese Quesadillas & $7 House Margaritas -Tuesday's: $3 Mix & Match Tacos (Tacos Americanos, Al Pastor, Carnitas, and Carne Asada Tacos only; minimum 3 to an order) -Wednesday's: Half Priced Sangria read more

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We met some friends for dinner on Cinco De Maya. We had a reservation and were seated immediately. The server told us that due to lack of staffing,service would be slower than normal which was fine for us since we hadn't seen our friends in a while. My wife had their Margarita special which was a very small portion. I had a Mexican beer. In my opinion,drink prices were a little high. They gave us complimentary chips and salsa but the portion of chips was small for a table of 4. We started with the Ceviche which was very good. We asked for chips and our server said to use the ones on the table which was odd. He later brought out more chips after we were done. My wife had the Mexican Chopped salad. Adding avocado or a protein were additional. I had the Tacos Camarones al Tequila on flour tortillas. Rice and beans were extra. Very flavorful but messy. I had to eat with a fork and knife! For the money,I feel there are many other Mexican restaurants in the area. We might give them another try when staffing is not an issue. read more

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Our first time at El Mero Mero and it wasn't too busy on a Sunday night. I took note of the $1 Classic Margaritas on Monday nights. The chips and salsa are a great start made even better with a side of guacamole. I ordered the skirt steak entree and it came with pico de gallo, lettuce, black beans, grilled onion and jalapeños and a side of tortillas. My husband had the cheese enchiladas and they were very cheesy. The skinny margarita was pretty weak but still tart and refreshing. Hubby ordered a shot of tequila to add to his drink because he said it tasted non-alcoholic to him. The churros for dessert were sweet and hot in temperature with a side of chocolate sauce. It appears to be a large churro fried, then cut into 6 smaller pieces for dipping and sharing. It was a nice place for an affordable meal in a warm and intimate setting. I look forward to trying other dishes here, like the chopped salad or ceviche. read more

El Mero Mero - Cheese enchiladas. - Mexican Near Me - Schaumburg, Illinois

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I attended a birthday party at El Mero Mero last month. One positive thing to note is that they do have a private area to the side, which is perfect for parties. The ambiance is lively, yet cozy. As we were a very large group, I would say that the service was solid. Our main waiter was attentive, helpful, and very friendly! He explained what every dish was. The food was preselected; carne asada tacos, chicken tacos, enchiladas, and shrimp fajitas. I do think the enchiladas de mole were very good. They were bursting with the flavors of chocolate and spices, and the chicken was tender as well. The shrimp fajitas were also another winner; the shrimp was juicy and had just the right amount of spice to it. The complimentary chips and salsa were good; nothing amazing. Unfortunately, I am taking one star off because the tacos were disappointing. I found both the carne asada and chicken to be quite dry. Whatever flavors the shrimp and enchiladas had, the tacos lacked. I want to note that I ordered a cucumber margarita and it was amazing! read more

I went here for the first time last night. When we walked in, there was a sign for specials. I don't remember what the name of the special was but it was basically a fajita taco. Sautéed onions and peppers topped with cheese. You could get steak or chicken. My boyfriend and I both got steak. They were amazing! The steak was so tasty! They were also topped with bacon, which was surprisingly good. I wish I would have taken a picture last night but this is my one left over taco. I topped it with their green salsa (also delicious). The staff is all friendly and helpful. I can't wait to go back! read more

El Mero Mero - The fajita taco special - Mexican Near Me - Schaumburg, Illinois

With so many Mexican food places available in the area I was surprised how good the food was. The tacos were yummy and flavorful. The tamales are fluffy and packed with flavor. Good selection and attentive service. Definitely recommend read more

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Good service and foods. . read more

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We chose El Mero Mero to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with our friends because they were accepting reservations. We were seated promptly when we arrived. Our waiter warned that they were short staffed and kept apologizing for the wait but we didn't mind at all since we wanted to visit. There was a line of people waiting to be seated for a bit. I had the Monday margarita special. It is only 10 ounces but had good flavor. Chips and salsa for the table were small but complimentary. I questioned why we didn't get separate chips for our ceviche and he brought out more. The ceviche tasted fresh and was enough for my husband and I to share. Our friends enjoyed the Tamales appetizer which was a great value. Every entree came out hot and as ordered. The atmosphere was pretty chill for a holiday which we thought was nice compared to loud blaring music at another place we tried last year. We agreed that we would return on a summer evening to enjoy their patio. read more

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Flavorful texture layers with ok friendly service Cute place, under new management as far as I understand since some time in 2024? I know this was not a good place in 2021 or 2022. Nice clean setting around a bar, with about 12 tables for 4, can be combined, inside and some tables outside on the patio for outdoor dining (didn't count those). I got the Carnitas, they had a nice porky flavor. There is guac that comes with it which is nice. The thing that puts it over the top is that they must cook the carnitas on a flat top before putting it in the 2 corn shells. The carnitas end up with a light crunch to it which counters the creamy guac. The slight grainiess of the corn taco shells, which hold together very well, brings in multiple layers of texture. I think there was a slight crispiness to it from some onions and a squish from the tomatoes in the pico. 14 bucks for 3 tacos. The chips were nice, made in house, crispy, not salty but really needs to have the salsa on it, neither are good on their own but compliment each other well. Getting orders in and getting our food was an appropriate time. Though we had to ask for water refills, I would have liked them just refilling us without asking. Our one friend did not get his "is Pepsi ok" until after we had our food already, not sure why. We did not get refills on chips and salsa even though I had asked for more. Staff are friendly but they seem overwhelmed for some reason. I tried my friends mole, it was creamy, slightly chocolatey. I will try that next time I go. I will go again. read more

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Very disappointed tonight, I'm a recurring customer. I ordered out for my family's dinner. We ordered the steak taco dinner and a kids chicken taco dinner, the enchiladas dinner & a couple other items On the menu. The steak tacos were burnt and hard. The enchiladas were dry. Not near enough salsa & for all of our dinners they only gave one salsa. For the price you pay they should not be so cheap with the salsa our dinner was over 100 dollars. I've never had a problem when eating in so maybe it is just their takeout. But either way very disappointing. read more

Met some coworkers for lunch here out of convenience and WOW! We absolutely loved the food. Carnitas portion was huge and delicious - not too fatty. Chicken fajitas were outstanding, as were the enchiladas. All ingredients were super fresh. Loved the salsa too - perfect spice level. Excellent, friendly service. Will definitely be coming back here! read more

El Mero Mero - Carnitas Dinner - Mexican Near Me - Schaumburg, Illinois

I'm honestly shocked this place doesn't have 5 stars! The food is incredible, the service is top-tier, and the atmosphere is always lively and fun. Fair prices for an experience that's worth every penny! read more

They know how to cook meat! The service was just a little slow since it was early afternoon and there was only one server/host but the food was worth the wait. We had the chicken tacos and steak sopes and both were really outstanding. The portions were perfect as well, reasonable portions without feeling like we wasted a bunch of food. read more

El Mero Mero - Chicken Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Schaumburg, Illinois

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My husband and I came here the other day and we LOVED everything about it. We parked in the back lot and we sat outside for a late lunch/early dinner, and it was pretty busy. Our waitress was so nice and spoke between English and Spanish a lot. Luckily I took Spanish in high school and college! Ha! It was a cool experience and made it an authentic experience. While we sat on the patio, it was a beautiful evening. We ordered the queso for an appetizer, very good but the cheese was a bit more stretchy than I'm used to) and I ordered a red sangria. The sangria came in a fishbowl and it was so good but so strong. The sangria was much more strong than sweet if that's what you like. For dinner, I ordered the steak tacos on corn tortillas with a side of rice. Everything was fresh and full of flavor. The salsa verde was even to die for and was pretty spicy! My husband thoroughly enjoyed his tacos, too, and we still talk about how amazing this place is everytime we pass by. We pass by all the time, too, so we will 100% be back very soon! The prices aren't bad at all either. read more

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when seated there is one complimentary basket of chips and salsa any additional basket or salsa they charge for. the grilled chicken taco americano was delicious I enjoyed it tasted awesome. the Pina colada was also great as well i ended up getting two of them. the service was on the slow end the waitress was more concentrated on the guests sitting outside. overall though the food quality is on point very fresh and tasty this place is on the pricey side but worth it for the quality of food. read more

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The food was unusual for Mexican food, no flavor, sloppy sauces, service was horrendous. Pricey for what you get.

I like this place, food has always been pretty good. Wait staff was busy, food came out really late as its been this way the past few times, even when it wasn't busy and I've only seen 2 tables in the restaurant. Overall nice outdoor patio, clean restaurant, good food. Would still recommend checking it out if you are in the area. Just know the wait could be long. read more

El Mero Mero - Half salad Sopa Azteca - Mexican Near Me - Schaumburg, Illinois

El Mero Mero is right across the street from Schaumburg Town Square, on Schaumburg Road, just west of Roselle Road. If you ever went to El Meson, this is the same building. It's been years since I ate at El Meson, so I don't recall everything about the interior but I know it was updated. They have a small, but very nice looking bar and about 20 or so tables. We were a party of four and we were seated right away. They were busy - we got there around 7 PM and the place filled up within the next 10-minutes. The servers all more masks, which we felt was thoughtful given mask mandates have been lifted. No drinks for us this time. Chips and Salsa, one Steak taco dinner, one Carnitas taco dinner, one Al Pastor Al La Carte (3 tacos without the sides), and one Sopa Azteca. One item of note - you cannot mix the tacos other than on Tuesdays. If you order Carnitas, you cannot substitute. The orders all are three tacos. The chips were homemade, fresh, and hot when they arrived. The salsa was a habanero salsa with a bit of spicy but not too much. We asked if they had anything spicer and they brought out some. Not sure what it was made of. It had a red creamy color and did have some zest to it. I think we gorged on the chips and salsa. The tacos were okay. We all felt the meat was too wet, almost reminiscent of a stew. Eating the tacos wasn't easy because of that. The Carnitas had guacamole on top which was a nice touch. The rice and beans were outstanding. They aren't particularly generous with the amount of rice they give you but the beans were spectacular. Rather than pinto beans, they use black beans which gave them a firmer texture and were much more flavorful than traditional pintos. But would I say that El Mero Mero is the next best thing out there? Unfortunately no. The food was no better than other more traditional Mexican restaurants in the area and they are higher in price. I certainly would not say you shouldn't try it. The food is good. And I wish I'd tried one of their Margueritas. (They looked epic.) read more

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This cute little Mexican restaurant deserves more hype! I came here with two of my friends who recommended it, and I will definitely be coming back! Food: Excellent. The chips and salsa were very good. The chips have a distinct texture to them that I really liked. They're on the softer side, but not too soft. We also ordered a bowl of guacamole and asked for them to make it extra spicy. They did not disappoint! I ordered the tacos Al pastor with beans and rice (the dinner). Those were mouthwatering! Al pastor is my favorite and it's always great finding Mexican restaurants that make it perfectly. Some are better than others and El Mero Mero's are at the top of my list now. They had a nice drink selection. My friend and I had their margaritas on the rocks and they were really good, and big! The atmosphere is pretty upbeat! They have a nice sized patio area for outside dining. The tables are spaced far enough apart. Service is just as good outside and our waitress took good care of us. The service overall was A+++ Our waitress was great and one of the men who was working came to our table a few times to see how things were going. He was really fun to talk with and had a great sense of humor! Made the night more enjoyable! We ultimately stayed until close. I'd definitely recommend coming here if you love Mexican food! read more

This was my 2nd time here and really happy with the food, service and ambiance. They are very friendly and attentive to their customers. The steak tacos aren't greasy. Their black beans and rice are probably the best I ever had. I had the Enchilada Trio. I ordered Pollo and topped it with half Mole and half Habenero sauce. The Mole wasn't the best, but it was good. The Habenero sauce wasn't spicy, which I was surprised. It all had a good fresh taste though and would ordered t again. They seemed to have cleaned up and expanded the outdoor seating area. It looks amazing and I can't wait to go back and sit outside one day. Great local Mexican restaurant with quality food. read more

El Mero Mero - Enchilada Trio Pollo with Mole & Habenero sauce. - Mexican Near Me - Schaumburg, Illinois

Food was alright. I ordered the steak chimichanga which was nothing special. It needed a bit more seasoning. read more

El Mero Mero - Steak Chimichanga - Mexican Near Me - Schaumburg, Illinois

The food is fine but I remain disappointed with the nickel and diming and tonight's fraudulent representation of the tip not being included when it was. They charge you for a second salsa with chips and for onions on a taco, but tonight, after being handed a small computer terminal to close out the bill, I did not see a spot for or a gratuity included. The server said it will be at the end. She however included it already, didn't tell me and resulted in me double tipping. Very dishonest. I will not be going back and as I eat Mexican once or twice a week, you lost a lot of business. read more

Sat at the bar and had some steak tacos. My first time coming here and they had packed in the taco, so it was pretty filling for the price being paid. They had other options for food and drink. Would definitely come back again. read more

The free water and lemonade and it's the best restaurant ever so so so so so so so so so good

El Mero Mero, during the summer i'd always pass by and see a ton of people eating outside and I can see why now Upon walking in got greeted by our server offered to have a seat anywhere we'd like What me and my wife ordered Chips + Salsa - picking up the chip and feeling how warm it was and seeing how the chip was double layered was very good Frozen Mango Margarita- Tasted as if I was drinking a Mango Smoothie, not too sweet just right Chicken Quesadilla- After first bite can tell this was such a great quality Quesadilla will definitely order again Shrimp Tacos- Were packed and delicious Combo Fajitas Steak Shrimp and Chicken- The Shrimp and Chicken were great. Just had an issue with the Steak, not sure if it was the seasoning but had such a interesting aftertaste that I couldn't really eat it. Overall will not knock El Mero Mero This is a such a gem prefer this place over Fat Rosies Also they have such a great top shelf liquor of Buffalo Trace Distillery. read more

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Great food and awesome margaritas. The service is on point. Very friendly we have become regulars

Food = excellent. Best Chicken enchiladas in town. Get them with habanero sauce. Service = Laura is the best waitress! Got to check this place out. read more

My mother and I came here yesterday for Memorial Day. Almost every guest was sitting outside except for us. The waiters were constantly running in and out of the restaurant to serve food. I was initially nervous because our waiter said the food could take time to come out due to the crowd outside. I felt like a customer who goes to dine in at a fast food restaurant and the priority was automatically given to drive thru customers. However, our waiter, Eddie, went above and beyond by providing exceptional service in a timely manner. He was cheerful, polite, and answered any questions we had. He removed any initial hesitation I had about the restaurant. The food was delicious. My strawberry margarita was massive and not too sweet. I ordered three shrimp tacos with rice and beans. The tacos were tasty and I love the sauce they put on the shrimp tacos. The rice and beans were delicious as well. My mother ordered the potato and poblano pepper tacos with rice and beans. She loved the food so much that she finished every molecule of food on the plate. I was heading in that direction as well, but was too full lol. Overall, the restaurant provides great customer service and has delicious food. Definitely recommend and plan to return! read more

El Mero Mero - Three shrimp tacos with rice and beans, and three potato and poblano pepper tacos with rice and beans. - Mexican Near Me - Schaumburg, Illinois

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The food here is excellent! The staff are efficient and so friendly! This is my go-to place for Mexican dining!

This review is for health concerns of the quality of food being served, I had a carry out order of burritos and tacos for my family. As I was eating, bit into something very hard, causing a chip off my molar tooth. Found it was a stone which is the size of a bean. I warned the rest of my family, and then my son who was also eating another burrito, had a similar stone in his food. I called the restaurant back, and reported the incident, I was told someone would call me back, but no one did. They were not even decent to refund me anything on my order. At this time, I have reported to Cook County Dept of Health on food safety concerns at this restaurant. Although I used to like their unique taste and food over the years, I am not going back to this restaurant again. read more

El Mero Mero - Stones that were found in two of the Burritos - Mexican Near Me - Schaumburg, Illinois

Took the family here after a baseball game in Schaumburg because of the outdoor patio. The patio is great and has a lot of seating. Things got off to a tough start as it took over 15 minutes for us to get a server or menus. The restaurant wasn't busy so I'm a little confused by that. The slow service continued throughout the meal. We finally got to order. My kids got a quesadilla and the other a taco salad. They both enjoyed their meals. My wife got the quesabiriia tacos and I got the shrimp tacos. Both dishes were really good and had great flavor. Everything seemed extremely fresh. The rice and beans were also very good. We ended the night with churros and fried ice cream and both were delicious. One turnoff however was what we experienced in the bathroom. My son and I witnessed an employee (which seemed to turn out to be a chef) use the bathroom and proceeded to not wash their hands when finished. This was a major turn off for us and definitely stayed in the back of our minds while eating. Luckily we were starving. All in all a pretty good meal with some minor issues that can be fixed. We will possibly return to this place when in the area. read more

El Mero Mero - Shrimp tacos - Mexican Near Me - Schaumburg, Illinois

Went there tonight to get a margarita. My friend asked for a top shelf tequila. I asked the bartender how much more it would be, he told me $3-4 dollars more. Okay, we received our bill $38.09 per margarita. I was shocked, asked the supervisor how much a regular margarita costs, he didn't know, maybe $14/15 dollars. I will NEVER go back, ever. The margarita was not good and for the bartender to not let us know that the margarita $3-$4 dollars more was $38.09. Craziness I support local businesses, however, I don't support this business, ever. read more

Food was decent but service is seriously lacking. Once seated it was 15-20 minutes before flagging down the busser (who was very attentive) to send over our waitress to take our drink order. She had been by our table multiple times & never even acknowledged us. She did later apologize for the wait. Saving Grace was the food which was mid to decent. The meal was a good value but probably won't be back. read more

ORDER TYPE: Dine-in MEAL: Lunch (Veg) First, they served me with Tortilla chips and sauce like any other Mexican restaurant I ordered a Enchilada Suiza (V) which was topped with melted cheese and ranchero sauce. It also had rice and black beans on side. This enchilada had zucchini, corn and other vegetables. The presentation of the food was really good and were served hot PROS: Tasty Food Very good customer service CONS: Little expensive for a vegetarian food Ambience was alright read more

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Yum. All ingredients were fresh and taste was spot on. This place deserves a try when you have a taste for Mexican. I got the Enchiladas Trio with cheese, beef, and chicken with all three sauces. Beans and rice were very good. Wife got the fajita taco salad with shrimp. Prices are only a few bucks more then your local hut. The pineapple Mojito was really good as well. Give this place a try. read more

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We were greeted fast and took a seat in the outdoor dining area. It's perfectly shaded with minor sun so it's nice to eat out there! It's right about across the Schaumburg library and next to Mugs pizza. The food was delicious but personally i would rate it 8/10. It was more pricey than I thought. When the lady asked if I wanted rice and beans, I didn't know it was an extra charge.... And the drinks aren't that cheap either soo I had to chug down the wine I ordered, although it was pretty bitter (Cabernet) I should gotten Pinot. read more

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The food and ambience were good but the service was terrible. When the server came to us, she seemed bothered. She never offered us the dessert menu after we ate the main meal. Also, It took over 30 minutes to get our bill. read more

A must go if you are in the Schaumburg area! Just off of Schaumburg Road! Food is incredible! I have been here about 4 times now and it's been amazing every time. Everything is made with love and the staff are always fun and welcoming! Music is always going with great Spanish hits the out door area is 10/10! Must go!!!! read more

El Mero Mero - Carne Asada Dinner - Mexican Near Me - Schaumburg, Illinois

Never disappointed at Mero Mero. Great food and margaritas!. Try the frozen raspberry, so good!

Omg the curls are to die for. Was so surprised that they were authentic in their flavors. Great food prices are well worth it. There was no left overs. I had enchiladas and husband had carnitas tacos. Both were perfect. I'm giving up on Lalos and their high prices. read more