Food was great! Waitresses shouldn't have to refill water though. We had to ask twice for water refills on a Sunday afternoon.

This was our first visit to Hacienda Real as our friends recommended this restaurant. Overall, it was a pleasant experience. There's plenty of parking, which is always a plus. It was crowded and we were quoted a 45-minute wait for a table, so we chose to dine at the bar. Bar staff accommodating, friendly, and attentive. The complimentary chips arrived warm and fresh, and the salsa stood out with its unique, earthy flavor. The Watermelon Margarita was delivered literally smoking!! It very was refreshing, delicious, perfectly blended, and dangerously smooth. It tasted like it had little alcohol, but it definitely sneaks up on you. We also tried the shrimp ceviche, which had a distinctive flavor profile; umami-forward, citrusy, and slightly sweet, all tied together by a rich sauce. For our entrée, we ordered the fried whole salmon. Unfortunately, it was overcooked and dry. However, the rich sauce and flavorful vegetables helped redeem the dish. Despite one miss, we enjoyed the unique flavors and would return to explore more of the menu. read more

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We were looking forward to this restaurant however while the food is just ok the service is extremely bad we went with six people and they messed Up several of our orders. They had a special and when they stated we were wrong we had to find it in our email This caused us to find a manager to Get this resolved this should never have happened. We had hopes this Would be out go plsce and we were Disappointed!! read more

Drove past this place a couple times, finally decided to give it a try and, boy, have I been missing out. The complimentary chips and salsa were a great start. Chips had the right amount of salt and the salsa had some heat but not too much. After that, I ordered some traditional guacamole which was equally delicious. Tasted very fresh and lively. For my entree, I had the burrito bandera. Absolutely phenomenal. The steak had the perfect amount of seasoning and tenderness, and the green, cheese, and ranchero sauce that topped it was immaculate. Our server, Alma, was very attentive and checked in regularly without feeling overbearing. We sat outside on a nice weekend afternoon, and the cool breeze was refreshing and didn't deter away from the experience at all. read more

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The food at Hacienda Real is absolutely delicious! Everything was fresh and full of flavor. The staff was super friendly and welcoming. Great atmosphere and perfect for family dinner. Highly recommend! read more

I dined at Hacienda Real with 8 friends on a Saturday night at 6pm. The table they seated our original party of 8 (we had an unexpected extra), was extremely small and left little room for movement. Our server was friendly, attentive, and helpful with ordering. He definitely knew the menu well and did wonderfully with recommendations. I tried the margarita trio, and they were all boozy and pretty decent. I ordered a burrito with no meat, and had a pineapple margarita as well. The drinks are good, but the burrito was lacking in flavor. The portions are huge, but the prices are HIGH for what you're getting. I feel like Hacienda Real truly focuses on presentation. Everything you order comes out looking nice, but the lighting everything on fire and making everything about entertainment was a sensory overkill. And I mean, they almost quite LITERALLY light everything on fire here. They do add a 3% removable service fee, and a WHOPPING 20% large party fee (this is typically 10-18% so holy moly, maybe try paying your employees). Careful when you pay using the QR code, as it'll prompt you to tip another 20% (43% extra total? Please). My total bill was just over $70. Typically, I wouldn't mind spending this much on a special meal, but there wasn't anything spectacular about anything I consumed. read more

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So I just moved to Illinois and was feeling Mexican food. Driving I noticed a pretty busy restaurant. Nice decor, clean, busy in a good way. Waitress said this was an authentic Mexican meal in which I asked from which I asked from which part of Mexico. (She smiled and said from the Mexican part) lol. Chips came out warm and salsa was a chipotle roasted salsa sauce (it was great) I ordered the 3 enchiladas with 3 different sauces with rice and beans. The dark enchilada with traditional mole stuffed with chicken was delicious. I would order it again. Service was excellent ... great job read more

Hacienda Real - Enchiladas Tri Color - Seafood Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

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Came here for lunch on a Friday. We were able to be sat right away. They have items marked GF on their menu. I informed the server I had a gluten allergy. I ordered the pick 2 - cheese enchilada and a vegan chorizo taco. It came with rice and beans. I also had an unsweetened ice tea which had a lemon flavor. Everything was delicious! One of the best dishes I have had. Also, they bring out chips and salsa to start. read more

Hacienda Real - Seafood Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

Second thought, next day I looked back and felt the portions were so small for a cheese and ground beef enchilada that for the price was really not great at all. the rice and beans were lacking as well. I still like Dos Amigos and Issacs as a preference. read more

I've been to Hacienda Real twice recently. My first visit was for a social gathering with colleagues. Everyone enjoyed the queso and guacamole, which came in different flavors. The pineapple guacamole was my favorite! I returned a week or so later for lunch. I had the enchiladas off the brunch/lunch menu, which came with a large side of potatoes. Everything tasted great! I also enjoyed their strawberry lemonade, which was full of flavor. The restaurant is nicely decorated and on both visits our servers were friendly and attentive. Hacienda Real is a welcome addition to the area and I know I'll be back! read more

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Hacienda Real is a must-visit! The restaurant is absolutely gorgeous inside and out, the ambiance alone makes it perfect for a date night or group dinner. We started with drinks that came out with sparklers (so fun!) and they were both strong and delicious. For appetizers, the trio guacamole (pineapple, pico, and mango) with chips was phenomenal, and the queso dip was a hit too. For mains, we had the bean & cheese chimichangas (super cheesy and flavorful) and the veggie enchiladas tricolor (I'd get them on flour tortillas next time, but still so good!). To end the night, the churro cart stole the show, not only was the presentation amazing, but the churros themselves were delicious. Service was friendly and attentive from start to finish. Between the gorgeous vibes, great food & drinks, and phenomenal presentation, I highly recommend Hacienda Real. Plus, they have multiple locations which makes it even better! read more

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There is a lot of great intention for this restaurant however, the execution is a bit clunky. By looking at their website, the photos of their food and the combinations of flavors look remarkable. The interior is beautifully and artfully decorated. From an outside perspective, this place would easily get five stars. In reality, however, the techno music was so loud and repetitive. Nobody needs to feel like they are at a rave while trying to enjoy a dinner with friends. Additionally, it seems like their trademark thing over and over and over again is to light things on fire. Just about every course that we had, something was burning on the plate. It was cool the first or second time but by the sixth and seventh time in one meal, it felt a bit overdone. I really appreciate the Mocktail offerings. For my meal I ordered the HR's Filet Real. I would order this at every single visit. It was so good. My steak was beautifully cooked and the bone marrow was an impressive and delightful addition. Overall, my food and beverage was great, but the restaurant experience left something to be desired. read more

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Fun time with good food! Really enjoyed our experience! The presentation is a whole part of the meal that takes things to the next level. Fun touches like flaming plates and bubbling drinks make for a delightfully immersive time! The inside was well decorated and lively! The drinks from the bar were delicious and well crafted. The food featured some standard Mexican fare, but more complex dishes like Paella were well executed and tasty. Their carne asada was also delicious and a fairly good value. The menu had something for everyone without being overly complex. Some great options for vegetarians as well. Our server was great and attentive to our needs. He was knowledgeable about the menu and was welcoming. One note, our party was 5 people. They considered this a large party and automatically added tip to our total. We typically tip 20% anyhow (that was the total added). However, just a heads up for anyone who might want ti go with a group. read more

Third time for the wife and I . We ordered the Paella and it was delicious! It even had octopus and it was very tasty and tender. We ordered guacamole and was disappointed. There was some overripe avocado in there and it ruined the batch. I know avocado has a short shelf life and as soon as it gets brown spots it needs to go in the trash ! Good margaritas and good service at the bar . Would recommend. One star removed for the guac. read more

The food was great!! we got seated at a reasonable time and there was a great atmosphere! me and my family will be back soon!!

Food and ambiance was great, seats were tight and table was small. Service took awhile to get to our table, however once they did they were very kind. Barely any room for anything. read more

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I went here with a couple of friends for their birthday because it was new in Vernon Hills and we wanted to try it out. The inside of it was decorated really nice and it had a cute little vibe going on. Our server was not however, attentive and seemed to be bothered when we needed him for something. We didn't really need a lot. We just needed our waters refilled and order another drink after they were empty for about 30 minutes. We probably would've ordered more if he came back more often. It was also really hard to find him when we wanted to close out we had to go to another server to get our check so that we could leave. The drinks were good but very expensive and I can get drinks like that down the street for a little bit cheaper. The food was fine. It was OK but one thing I noticed was there a lot of theatrics in the restaurant everything that I saw whether it was drinks or food had some kind of fire going on on the platform that it was served on I think it was very unnecessary, and if it brings the cost down for the food and the drinks, I say get rid of the fire. I probably will not be back because there's a lot of other restaurants in the area that are better and I'm sad because this is kind of new and it was very close to our house and I wanted to be able to like it read more

Hacienda Real - Pineapple marg - Seafood Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

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Back again, love this place. Food is fresh, service is great and I crave it now! Not inexpensive but so worth it read more

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The food was very delicious!! The waitress made sure we had enough chips and salsa before the food arrived. Yea, the music is a little loud ( based on the reviews below) but it didn't bother us. Overall, good experience! read more

Hacienda Real - Salmon Al Cilantro - Seafood Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

This place is great, especially the octopus. The service is great too, with much integrity, as I left my credit card there and the receptionist was very efficient and kind in returning it. It is usually quite crowded, so best to reserve. Very clean interior and the outside is nice too. read more

The carne asada was delicious! Fresh and tasty! Our server was lovely and knowledgeable of the menu. The environment was modern and cozy. Beautiful spot! read more

The ambiance when you come in is nice. Lively music and the restaurant is clean and modern. We were seated in a booth a table away from the kitchen entrance inside the bar area. Our server was the bartender. She was nice and attentive. The restaurant was not busy when we were there so she was able to tend bar for the restaurant and serve our table. The chips and salsa came out and it was good. I ordered their burrito bandito and my husband got the 2 item combo with an enchilada and a burrito. It took a little longer than I would have expected given the restaurant was only half full but we were not in a hurry so didn't think much of it. Our server brought our food out and made mention that the plates were very hot. Well when I saw my dish I knew it sat too long somewhere. The burrito bandito has a red, cheese and green sauce to give it a one third/ one third/ one third look but mine was no longer sauce, it was so baked in from sitting somewhere that i really couldn't taste much difference. When I cut it in half I found the steak was very large pieces. I decided to use my fork and knife and cut the first piece, I was surprised to find it was cooked medium rare. I am not used to that in a burrito and honestly, I didn't enjoy it, it made it chewy. My husband found his plate to have been somewhere too long also. He had to use a fork and knife to cut his enchilada because it was overcooked. I think one reason I was disappointed was that in the doorway of the kitchen 4 people pretty much stood and talked for much of the time. So if our food was ready and the bartender was busy one of them could have grabbed the two dishes and brought them out. All in all - we were disappointed, now if the service is quicker about getting the fresh food out maybe it will be better. Not sure we would be back but would tell friends they should try and see how their experience is. read more

Outstanding food and experience!! We have been here a few times, and it has been consistently fantastic - our new favorite spot! Mi novia es americana, y le encanta este lugar! Sabemos apreciar la buena comida mexicana!. Samantha was our server, and she was kind, attentive, and knowledgeable. 10/10!!! read more

Hacienda Real - Amazing appetizers and drinks!!! - Seafood Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

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Never had a bad meal here and we are repeat customers. Excellent Food and Service. We have shared the sizzling fajitas combo (shrimp, chicken and steak) enough for 2, enchiladas (particularly with pistachio mole) and very tasty desserts. We highly recommend this restaurant. read more

This is a new place taking over the old Chili's location in Vernon Hills. We made a reservation and that was a good idea as the place was fairly busy. We checked in and the hostess brought us to a booth that was so cramped, so they brought us to a table in the bar area instead. The chairs are these green padded/cushioned chairs that are wide enough for Jennifer Lawrence to sit in, but anyone with a slightly wider hip profile don't fit. Thankfully they have wooden chairs with leather/faux leather seat cushions and back cushions that fit a broader profile and was quite comfortable. As we settled in and began perusing the menu, a waiter came over and told us we had to move to a table that was the exact same as the table we were at due to a party that had reserved the table we were currently sitting at along with a larger table next to it. So, we got up and moved to a third table. They brought our menus, chips, salsa, and switched the chair for me. However, with three people involved in the operation, you'd think one would bring water. Nope. We waited about 20 minutes for anyone to bring water. We had plenty of servers and bussers and the manager walk by our table numerous times, but no water was ever brought. Our waiter finally arrived and asked if we wanted something to drink. We both wanted water and then asked to put our food order in as we knew we would be waiting an even longer time to order and receive the food. We both ordered fajitas. My wife got the chicken and I got the triple combo. Steak and shrimp fajitas cost $23. Chicken is $21. A combination of two meats is $23. A combination of all three meats is $23. Weird that a combo cost the same as one meat. My wife requested no refried beans, just extra rice. I requested no onions, pico de gallo, sour cream or refried beans. I also requested no tortillas. Our food arrived and my wife had the beans. Mine was made fine, but their were tomatoes. It doesn't mention it on their menu, but there they are. I moved them aside and began to eat. They bought my wife a new side of rice and salad sans beans. The rice was flavorless. Next up the fajitas. My wife said her fajitas lacked flavor. Mine had some seasoning, but not a ton. And there was more steak than chicken or shrimp, and it was kind of tough. My wife received corn tortillas. I had to flag down our waiter to swap them for flour tortillas. I was amazed he didn't ask us which we wanted. We also asked for more water as the glasses were empty and he never refilled them. So, my wife and I finish our meals, and stack pther dishes and used cutlery on top of them. Our waiter stops by the tables opposite ours but doesn't say or take the dirty plates. A busser walks by three separate times, looks at the plates, and does nothing. Even the original waiter who swapped our table from one side of the restaurant to the other stopped and soke to us about potentially cutting our waiter some slack "as he is new." My wife says, "technically, everyone is new since this is a new restaurant." He replies, no, new to serving." And with that, he looks at us, looks at the pile of dirty plates, and walks away. Then the manager comes over and asks, "food was good? Service was good, right?" What do you say to that? Truthfully, the service from literally everyone in the restaurant was terrible. I finally got the check (I had to ask for it) and I was able to pay via Apple Pay (the Toast app). Oh, and in case you're wondering; the table they moved us from to the other side of the restaurant? No party ever showed up for the table we were originally seated. Ever. Gotta tell ya, there are plenty if Mexican restaurants in the Vernon Hills / Libertyville / Lincolnshire areas and this I can avoid going to. No Manches and Tacos El Norte are way better options. read more

First time on Saturday! Fantastic on every level. No reservation but arrived earlyish and were seated immediately. 30 minutes later it was packed. Waitress was amazing and attentive. Every dish (enchiladas, chimmi, burrito) was terrific. Try the churro dessert too what a delight. Can't wait to go again. read more

Good food. The staff were really nice. We went to celebrate my mom's birthday they brought out a nice cake piece and they sang feliz cumpleaños to her. She loves it ! Only thing don't get the pictures they take. they're $20 a piece and the frame looks soooooo cheap. Other than that great place read more

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We went out for a girls night and had a really nice dinner. The staff were all friendly and attentive. The decor is so beautiful and it gives off really cool vibes. Being a picky eater, I was able to slightly modify an entree and it came out delicious. Overall we had a really nice time with delicious food and tasty drinks. read more

Hacienda Real - Lava cake - Seafood Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

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The atmosphere was amazing and authentic. The free chips and salsa were delicious. The waitress staff were amazing and efficient. The food came out hot and fresh. read more

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There is a particular kind of optimism that attends a first visit to a new restaurant, a willingness to extend grace in exchange for the promise of a new favorite. Hacienda Real, the recent arrival to the Vernon Hills dining scene, earns much of that grace on the strength of its food and its atmosphere -- and then spends a good portion of it back over the course of an uneven evening.Let me begin with what the kitchen and the room get right, because it is considerable. The space itself is a genuine pleasure to sit in. There is a warmth to the design and a liveliness to the energy that announces, the moment you walk in, that some care has gone into how this place is meant to feel. The bar deserves particular mention. We spent a stretch there waiting on our table -- a larger party will do that to you, and the wait was reasonable rather than punishing -- and both the drinks and the attention we received were first-rate. It is a good sign when a restaurant's bar can hold you happily, and this one did.The transition to the table started well. Our server greeted us promptly, got us settled with refreshed drinks and starters, and took our order with the kind of attentiveness that suggests a smooth evening ahead. And the food, when it arrived, largely delivered on that suggestion. We ranged widely across the menu, from generous combination platters to the honest simplicity of a well-made taco, and the kitchen acquitted itself admirably across the board. Each plate arrived thoughtfully presented, the quality evident and the flavors clean and satisfying. This is a kitchen that knows what it is doing and takes visible pride in sending out food that looks as good as it tastes.Which makes the service lapse all the more frustrating. After taking our order, our server effectively vanished. Drinks went unrefreshed, small needs went unmet, and we were left with that particular low-grade disappointment of wanting attention and finding none -- this despite a dining room that appeared amply, even generously, staffed. Where the breakdown occurred I cannot say, but the contrast between the polished start and the absent middle was hard to ignore.And yet. The mark of a place worth returning to is whether, at the end of a flawed meal, the table still wants to come back, and ours did, without much debate. The food is good. The atmosphere is genuinely appealing. The service stumble reads as the kind of early-days inconsistency a new restaurant can iron out -- and one suspects Hacienda Real will. On the strength of what it does well, it has earned a second visit. It would do well to make sure that next time, the service keeps pace with the kitchen. read more

The only thing worse than the food was the service. It took forever for us to order and we ordered guacamole and then our meals. They brought everything at once. The guac was a dingy oxidized green and very salty. I had what I guess is their version of Chile Rellenos. The pepper was cooked to mush and the filling was 3rd rate. We had to ask for the table to be cleared while we waited for dessert. Every single Mexican restaurant in Highwood is better than this place and it was packed. I don't understand it. read more

They did a wonderful job transforming this place. Gorgeous and fun feeling. The menu is great with options such as chiliquiles (even though it doesn't say comes with egg), you have modern flair and old school choices. Salsa was tasty and the speciality drinks are fun. I thought the prices were fair and the service is what you should expect from a more upscale place. I recommend the taco salad and chilaquiles. read more

Food and service perfect!! The ambience is amazing. Had shrimp enchiladas was the best I ever had!!

Food is delicious service on point, highly recommended for a one hit wonder date night. Thanks to Fernanda, our service waiter. Awesome service. read more

Hacienda Real - Seafood Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

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We went at 2:45 for a late lunch/early dinner and were pleased to find out we were 15 minutes early for the end of brunch/lunch and still in the happy hour window (until 4). The hostess took her time seating us (but probably because we enterrés at the very end of her shift), but our waitress/bartender was always on top of things while we were there. We decided to get the Texas Margaritas (1/2 off during happy hour, so we ended up getting two of course) and those were very good. Probably would've been our choice at first from the margarita selection, although I did order a mojito marg for my second drink (and can highly recommend that as well! For tte meal, we both ended up getting tte breakfast burrito chipotle which was very filling and had a tasty sauce on top. The breakfast potatoes were great with red peppers and jalapeños in the mix to make them extra tasty. I wished there had been almost double the serving of those. Overall, the experience was pleasant and we'll certainly be back again. read more

BEWARE....3% service charge and it's NOT a credit card fee; I asked! I was told it was for "outside supplies that had to be brought in". Oh hell no! They did take it off but many don't even look at their bills and this is what they are banking on!!! We received one bill with the service charge ($3.98) My friend and I split the bill and then they charged us EACH $3.98 service charge!! VERY DECEPTIVE!!! And it's NOT stated ANYWHERE on the menu!!! Legally they must disclose that!! Another BS fee!!! I honestly may not go back just because of this!!! read more

The food was very delicious and filling. The drinks are superb. The only downside is the extremely high price for the tequila shots, $54 for two shots. I'll go here again for the food and regular drinks but no more shots! Way overpriced. read more

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The food and decor are fantastic! The service is great, super comfortable booths. We had a great first meal there two months ago and went there tonight 12/20/25. What ruined the whole experience was THE MUSIC! When we arrived at 5PM it was a disco/club synthetic drum track for a dance club that caters to 19-23 year olds. It was too loud but by 6 they turned it down a bit. Then they switched to a different a different totally digital track that had the same pattern over, and over, and over, and over, and over. It was also for children at clubs downtown. Perhaps they think it adds a vive of "energy". It also makes it hard to talk to someone on the other side of the booth. We will not recommend it to our friends and neighbors based on the music, otherwise it's great! But besides that Mrs. Lincoln enjoyed the play! Ned & Sue read more

the food and drinks are absolutely phenomenal. As someone hispanic this is authentic and superb. Our server was so great and attentive and every presentation + taste of our food was top tier. It's a vibe here!!! -sincerely a Milwaukee visitor read more

Hacienda Real - Seafood Near Me - Vernon Hills, Illinois

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I was really looking forward to coming in, as I've always had positive experiences here. Unfortunately, last night was very disappointing. The woman working at the bar (the gentleman working with her is always incredibly kind) made me feel judged for ordering from the happy hour menu. She then proceeded to speak negatively about me in front of several coworkers (about 6-7) saying she "hates this type of customer" as if I couldn't hear her. It was uncomfortable and honestly embarrassing. I'm currently going through some financial hardship, and I had been looking forward to a simple night out--especially the drinks with the fire feature, which were instead brought out plain. Our bill still came to $75, and I made sure to tip 20%, even including a takeout order for a friend whose dog had just been put down that day--I wanted to do something kind for her. Despite that, it was clear she was frustrated or upset, and it really affected the experience. read more