Food and service was great, but when you get a margarita pay extra for a higher quality tequila... the house tequila isn't good... highly recommend the place... read more

This place has been a fixture in Arlington Heights for years. Good food and great for large parties.

We went to Javier's for the first time on Saturday night. We wanted Mexican and were in the area. The restaurant looks like a traditional Mexican place without getting carried away with fake decor. The place was full but there were still some tables available. We chose to eat at the bar which made it much easier to stay in touch with the servers here - who were great by the way. We got chips and salsa as soon as we sat down. The salsa was a killer. I was joking when I asked if they had anything hotter. They did, but we decided not to try it. There was a lot of activity behind the bar, and the Margaritas were particularly popular. I prefer Corona on draft and my wife doesn't drink. I had the Calamares Fritos from the appetizer list. Calamari is my usual choice for an appetizer. These were prepared like I had never tasted before. I was told up front it was a unique recipe and I loved them and will definitely have them again when we go back. There were a ton of traditional Mexican dishes on the menu and we were struggling to decide what to order, so we both told the server what we liked and let her bring us what she thought we would want. I added tacos to that order just because I like to judge Mexican restaurants by how they do their tacos. They were good but I couldn't enjoy them as much because there was just so much other food. My wife ordered a fish taco out of curiosity and the feedback was she liked it and that there was a lot of fish. We had a combination platter, as determined by our server that included enchiladas and burritos. They were without a doubt the best I've had for a long time, and possibly forever. Wife had something similar and loved it. This would also be something we will have when we go back. Even though we really didn't have any room left, we shared a fried ice cream which turned out to be the perfect ending from a meal that was somewhat heavier than we've had in a while. But it was great and even though it is a bit of a trek, we will be back. read more

Javier's - Mexican Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

Food and service was great! We loved sitting outside on the patio. I highly recommend Javier's for a great dinner and relaxing evening!

Stopped in for a late lunch in July while we were in Arlington Heights to catch the Metra train. Not crowded at all. Pretty large menu for food and drinks. The four of us had a variety of menu items and all of us had nothing but good things to say. Large portions and enough to take home for seconds. Great service. Great prices and great food. If we get back to the area we will stop in again. A go to place in my book. read more

I've been here 3 times so far. The first time for lunch with fajita was kind of underwhelming. The second time for drinks in the summer was really nice - their outside patio is beautiful, it was a warm summer night, service was good. The third time was for lunch again and I was positively surprised. I eat Keto / Low Carb and ordered the Taco Salad (minus the Taco) with steak. Very generous serving and fresh and tasty. Service was quick and efficient too. This was in summer and my lunch date didn't want to be too hot outside so we sat inside and to my surprise the temperature in the room was just perfect. I was afraid to freeze but no - it was just right. I'd go again: It's not haute cuisine but it's a decent mexican place. read more

Javier's is a staple in Arlington Heights. Great service, delicious food and reasonably priced. My family has been coming for years and we're never disappointed with the food. Our favorites are the mole poblano and the tres tacos combination plates. Our favorite tacos are the guisado de res, tinga de pollo, el pastor and the lengua (beef tongue). You can't find lengua tacos anywhere else in the area and these are delicious. The flan is delicious if you want a dessert as well. Be sure to support this great business! read more

Javier's - Guisado de res (left) and beef lengua (right) tacos - Mexican Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

We lived here for a year and went to Javier's more than any other restaurant. Our favorites were steak fajita tacos and ceviche. Great service! read more

Alas, as long time customers and local residents, we have been coming to Javier's and enjoying their food (for almost 30 years) so to have to post my first less than stellar review is heartbreaking. While not fancy, Javier's has always been nothing, if not consistently good Mexican American food. But tonight's takeout was especially subpar. Started with three steak tacos ( which had somehow fallen out of their styrofoam container and had settled into the bottom of the take out paper bag. Yeck, and we didn't find out until arrived home, too late to go back), as well as a house specially, (Arroz con Pollo) that was mostly devoid of chicken and broth...I'm sorry, what the heck (just rice and tomato??). But the topper on disappointing was the usually homemade and delish salsa (I mean I remember craving this stuff when pregnant with my first child over 29 years ago) that had a distinct metallic (and processed) after taste?? While I totally support local and can understand the rising cost of ingredients in today's marketplace, if this order is indicative of the current standards at Javier's...nope nope and nope. What a shame, It used to be so much better than this. read more

A solid 3.5 Stars The restaurant is located in downtown Arlington Heights with street parking available or just a block away is a parking garage. They have a decent size bar as soon as you walk in if your looking more for the hangout bar feel. They have tons of seating indoors and out. For the outdoors they have sidewalk seating which is nice on a cool summer night or they have a covered patio area which is really nice as well. The restaurant has very traditional Mexican vibes with their decor inside and out. On to the food, they give you chips and salsa as soon as you sit down which is nothing special not a huge fan of the brand of chips. I tried their guacamole and it's fairly bland but if you mix that with their pico de gallo it's makes the perfect guac!Not a huge fan of their margaritas either bc I like fresh ingredient margaritas I don't like sour mix at all so personal preference. They have a lot of traditionally Mexican dishes but by far the best thing I have had here is their ***Steak fajitas they are smack your mama good!!! Whatever seasoning they use is so full of flavor it makes my mouth water. They best part is they have a fajita plate for 2 which is awesome for me and my husband. Their steak Burrito which is the same steak as the fajitas is also very good. It's a great restaurant for children with lots of different options for them. The staff is very friendly and attentive. read more

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What happened to this place ? Been coming here for years . Always order the chiles Rellenos and recently it came with a " chunk" of unmelted white cheese inside , not chihuahua. I complained to the server and was told . Thats the we make it in Mexico! Oh really ?? New management? New cooks ? Wont be back soon . read more

Love this place service is fantastic. The food is always top quality and the drinks are well worth it. Margaritas to die for! Definitely recommend read more

I have been coming here for over 15 years, back when it was called La Chicanita. Let me start off with saying here that the food is very good. Most authentic of the Mexican restaurants in downtown Arlington Heights. The service here can be hit or miss, but that often times comes with a very busy place. I find myself coming here less and less over the years for one reason: the drinks. My goodness their margaritas are a complete disaster. Tastes like off brand clearance powder margarita mix was used with stale sour mix that was opened a year ago. Sorry, but if I am sitting down at a Mexican restaurant for dinner I am going to want a tasty margarita and this place cannot get it right. Every year or two I come back hoping they got it down and I am left regretting it. They cannot pour decent cocktails or mixed drinks either. The ambiance is cool. Nice booths and side areas with outside seating as well. I'd give 3.5 stars because the food is on point. But 4 stars is not accurate from me because I can easily make better drinks at home. I doubt that will change because that is not stopping the crowds - good for them I suppose.... read more

Been there numerous times. Food is always good. My wife loves it since I introduced her to Javier's. Great service.

Good location; was able to find a parking spot on the street. Nice atmosphere. Attentive server. Ordered a house sangria, which was unlike any I've had - kind of a muted red color and had a taste of coconut. Not bad, but not my usual. Chips and salsa on the table. Salsa was hot so we asked for something milder and it was good. Ordered queso and chips; queso could have been a little thicker. We both ordered combo entries - enchilidas, small burritos, tacos. Food was okay but nothing special. Entries came with rice and beans, but sour cream was an add-on. Really? Menu prices weren't reflected of what we were charged; maybe they just increased their prices recently and didn't get around to having new menus printed so I'll give them the benefit of a doubt. As other have noted, the food is bland. Not a deal breaker, but there are other places with more flavorful cuisine. read more

One star for the pleasant server. Other than that the food was awful. Salsa served with chips tasted like watered down tomato soup with a tad of cilantro mixed in. Entree was bland, with the exception of the crazy amount of salt that was added to the recipe. Could not even eat it. And you have to pay extra for their dried out rice and reheated beans? Waiter didn't mention the additional price when offering them. Head south over the tracks to the two wonderful Mexican restaurants you'll find there. Hoping Javier's has some type of revival. It's really declined over the years. read more

Had a really great time here with my family and some family friends. Service was quick, friendly, and attentive, and the food was great. We also really enjoyed the strawberry margarita pitcher. Highly recommend the pork chimichanga. Prices were reasonable, especially with the large food quantity. read more

I went to Javier's the other night while on the area with my mother as the restaurant was recommended. We decided to split the medium chimichanga and two tacos plate between the two of us. The portion was very large. I ate the one beef taco and one chicken taco (the beef taco was better). The beef chimichanga was good too from what I am told. The mild salsa we requested beforehand with the chips was excellent. However the best part of our meal was the flan. It was best flan I've ever had in my entire life. Highly recommended. While the service was lacking as the pleasant waiter really did not come back to check on us until the end (other than another employee giving us more water) I will still definitely be back when in the area. read more

This Mexican restaurant has to be my least favorite in downtown Arlington heights. The service was not very accommodating- my guest asked what beers they had and the server didn't know. We waited a good amount of time before we received stale and flavorless chips, not a great start. The food was decent, but by the time the check came we were disappointed in the lack of flavor and the high price- not a great value. You would be better off checking out other restaurants in the area. read more

Chicken Taco Plate takeout is the bomb! OMG, shut the front door! Generous amounts of light and dark meat is perfectly seasoned and tender w/ crispy lettuce and fresh tomato on grilled soft flour shells. I want to drink a bottle of that red sauce, it's so good. The rice is simply delicious with no clumps. The refried beans aim to please. The plating in the clamshell is meticulous. Just open that baby up and one knows it's going to be awesome at first sight. If this is any indication of the rest of their menu, I'm going to try it all. I'll be back! Oh gawd, I'm going to lick this plate clean. read more

Javier's - Chicken Taco plate - Mexican Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

This is probably my favorite Mexican restaurant in all of the Chicagoland area. I have been coming here in all its incarnations (La Chickenita) since the 1990's! Pick anything on the menu and it will not disappoint. read more

Got the mango frozen margarita. Very good. The sangria was amazing. Beware- a large is enormous!! Salsa is delicious. Chips are a little plain but ok. I got the steak burrito with cheese and guacamole added. Really good. Would get again. My husband ordered the ground beef enchiladas. He said they were a little boring. He would not get again. He did not like the mole sauce. Service was good. Waiter was nice. Will come back. read more

Have been going to Javier's for almost 20 years and I'm sorry to say I will not be going back anytime soon. I ordered the combination platter which I have ordered for years and there was not one item on the plate that I enjoyed. Felt like my Chimichanga was microwaved, was soft and dry, Tamale was so dry it fell apart on my fork and lastly my enchilada wasn't wrapped in a tortilla, just covered in cheese and sauce. Portion sizes were small as well. My wife and son had pretty much the same experience with their platters. Service was good, only reason I didn't give 1 star. read more

We were one of the summer evening. Great outdoor seating. Fantastic drinks and amazing food. I hope the outdoor seating in the summer continues. Would love to return back for a repeat. read more

It used to be a wonderful place to go with the family but lately the food is lacking some taste as well as drop off in service

Good food. I had a combination plate that had a ground beef small burrito, enchilada and a chicken flauta. Beans and rice included. Was well seasoned and delicious. The service was very good. The atmosphere was nice. Pricing is a bit on the high side, and they also charge credit card fees. My wife liked her margarita, but pricey for the size of her drink at $14. Overall, would say great place for Mexican food. read more

My margarita was great.. That's the extent of it.. My tacos were not authentic.. Had lettuce and tomatoes rather the onions and cilantro. The guacamole and ceviche were so bland it was disappointing. The staff was great but so quick to kick us out exactly at 9pm when they closed. I'd rather go to an authentic Mexican restaurant with food that's actually seasoned. read more

Awesome spot(sarcasm). Sat at the bar for 20 minutes and not one person acknowledged me. Food is meh, service clearly doesn't even exist. Walked out and went down the street to place my takeout order. read more

Today my wife and I made our second stop at this establishment.My wife's fajitas we're accented by a dynamite sauce.She also bragged about the Sangria.well,I will not only brag about the 3 Tongue tacos but rave about the carefully ( not slipshod) made Old Fashione.I like this place it can be a restful and quite place to have a pre rush- hour dinner.I admit that we have a few other Mexican restaurants that we favor but,in my book,this one is gaining ground fast on the others. read more

We've been going to Javiers for just over five years now and we've been very satisfied with everything from salsa, food, drinks and service, to even the ambiance. I'm sorry to say that we feel, to us, that Javiers has gone down in every area. Our recent dinner was the final straw. For awhile now (well over a year now) the food has just not been tasting the same and I question any Mexican restaurant and it's food if they can't make a good salsa. Shame, salsa was horribly watered down, (& it's not the 1st time either). Just that makes me question all their food. I hope Javiers realizes that there are some people that can tell when restaurants cut corners, stretch things out or substitute. Sorry but goodbye for now. read more

Went there last night since a couple of years ago. Man it has changed. First I was stuck at a table after waiting to be seated for awhile where I was in a corner with a wall light right at the back of my head. Not only did I have that but it trapped the loud noises into that corner so my husband and I couldn't even talk because of how loud this woman was talking. As for the food, very disappointing. I couldn't even brag about the drinks. I would have given lower stars but maybe they can look at this review and bring Javier's back to what it use to be like. Very good. read more

Prime location. Poor execution. I want to start off by saying that I love Arlington Heights. It's probably one of the cuter Chicago suburbs out there with it's little storefronts, easy-to-access public transportation (a rarity in these parts), highly walkable, the largest Japanese market in the Midwest, a world-class race track and more, but I feel like downtown Arlington Heights suffers at the hands of its own popularity at times. It could be so much more, with local businesses who are there because they offer something unique to the community, not just because being in the downtown area is enough to draw a large enough crowd of people to turn a profit while they serve mediocre, hackneyed, over-priced food that's not offensive enough to keep people away from the convenience of eating/drinking there next time they're walking through a downtown area again. Harsh. I know. And it's not as if this phenomenon of mediocrity is an anomaly for suburban downtown areas, lord knows Naperville, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, etc have their fair share of sub-par cash cows, so I don't mean to take it out on AH, but there comes a time when it does become offensive enough to take a stand and merely request to be treated with a certain level of respect and not have our intelligence as consumers insulted. I have no problem waiting an hour or more for good food, but I do have a problem waiting that time to be sat in a section with a server who acted as if we were an inconvenience and imposing on him, serving us not only our dinners, but a heaping helping of condescension as well. I have a problem with a place that's all flash with it's cute decor and colorful vibe, but bland as hell when it comes to a menu that seems no different than any tiny strip mall serving Mexican fare of tacos, burritos, enchiladas and fajitas, only here a basic taco meal with no meat and no sides will run you at least $11 + attitude. The salsas were pretty spot on with flavorless. One might as well have been solely blended tomato and the other had heat but no taste. As far as beverages, I'd never met an horchata I didn't love until Javier's. I felt like I was drinking a Splenda smoothie. I think I stomached 3 sips before I gave it away. A first for sure. The menu was so basic it was hard to ignore. I've never looked at so many pages of items and felt like i was seeing no differentiation. I'm no chef, but I felt like there wasn't anything on there I couldn't have made at home and after tasting it, I felt like I could have made it better myself- and that's saying something coming from me. It's with a heavy heart that I write such criticisms, and I actually mulled over this review for two weeks and tried to convince myself that Javier's was 'fine', but for the experience that I had and everything I took in, I don't feel like it's fine and it wouldn't feel genuine to portray my experience any other way. read more

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When my parents suggested going out for dinner when I was home over the weekend I was excited. I was even more excited when they wanted Mexican. My mom wanted to go to El Jardin at The Glen, but dad didn't want to drive quite that far, so Javier's it was! My family and I have been coming to Javier's ever since it was La Chicanita, which was probably at least six or seven years ago because I'm pretty sure I was in high school. Javier's is delicious. I always go with the combination where you can pick from a few items. Most recently I got two chicken enchiladas and a pork tamal. The enchiladas had a yummy red sauce and the perfect amount of cheese oozing onto the plate. The tamal wasn't the greatest I've ever had, but I would order it again. The combinations come with rice, beans (loveee), and a side salad. The service has always been quick. The water guy is on his game. My glass was always refilled just as I had taken the last sip. Until next time, Javier's! read more

Javier's - Combinación: two chicken enchiladas and a pork tamal. Served with refried beans and rice. - Mexican Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

Our first clue should have been while we were waiting at the hostess station, a woman rushed by us to the ladies room clutching a napkin to her mouth. Later they apparently called an ambulance for her because the dining room was bathed in throbbing red lights coming in from the windows. We were disappointed that there was a private party being held on the ENTIRE outdoor seating area, and as such we couldn't be seated there on what was a beautiful late summer evening. Our next impression was that service was nearly non-existent. I felt that this was because the dining room was understaffed- not that the servers were inattentive. After finally being seated and waiting for what seemed like an eternity to have our drink orders taken, I considered for a moment just telling the hostess to forget it that we would go elsewhere. But we stuck it out for better or worse, largely because we had a coupon. While waiting we tried to chat among ourselves but the steady din in the background made it difficult. I'd put this down to poor acoustic design if I had to guess. The food was basically the very typical Gringoized tex-mex that we all have seen time and again, nothing that I could see that was really unique or special. It seemed almost as if they ran to a Tacos El Norte, ordered takeout and re-plated it in the kitchen. Today I have a bit of stomach distress and I generally have a cast-iron stomach; making me question if the overall experience was worth the 20% off coupon that we used. read more

We've passed Javier's 100 times. My wife has been there with her friends, and I want to say we went there a number of years ago when it had a different name. Either way, this time was a good experience. The ambiance is fun. It's a bit dark, but I guess that sets the mood. The decorations are authentically Mexican. The colors are vibrant and there are lots of Mexican masks that adorn the walls. The place is also deceivingly large. We went for an early dinner on a Friday night. Since it was early, it was not crowded and we were seated immediately. They immediately serve chips and salsa. Personal preference, I like chips thin, these were rather thick and crisp. The salsa was moderately spicy and very fresh. For an appetizer, we ordered guacamole. The small size is very adequate for two. And, it was very good. It was fresh, with a good amount of garlic, lime and jalapenos. Very tasty. I had a chicken burrito dinner. They serve two medium sized burritos on the plate with Mexican rice and re-fried beans. My wife had cheese enchiladas. I can't speak for her meal (which she said was very good), but the burrito was outstanding. The rice was also excellent. The beans - I like some texture to them. Their version is smooth and I was not as thrilled with them. But, overall, the food was great and WAY too much. Both of us ended up taking home enough for dinner tomorrow night. read more

Very mid taco. Rather go to chipotle tbh. Not worth my time however, Flank steak with the French fries is Gas. Also Pepsi pretty decent. read more

Javier's - Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Arlington Heights, Illinois

We went here for our work holiday party! The place was so cute but unfortunately the food just wasn't good! The guacamole was bland and needed salt! Come on we're at a Mexican place and can't even do that right? Jewel has better guacamole lol! One of us ordered horchata and couldn't even take another sip! They used a mix one so it was horrible! How is this place authentic? Then I ordered steak with rice/ beans etc. It was okay, needed some seasoning for sure! My coworker had tacos and it was a plain dry steak tacos on a hard shell. My 10 yr old can plate and even do better than that! The Margaritas was the only good thing there! I had the Agave margarita and it was delicious! The Rumchata shot was good too! I would not come back here , I've never been so disappointed at a Mexican joint read more

Terrific place. Nice tequila choices and flights. Excellent combo plates. Their chorizo is outstanding and the green sauce enchilada is very tasty. An excellent American-Mexican type place. read more

I've been eating at Javier's when it was known as La Tejanita and then La Chicanita. From what I've heard and can tell, it has stayed in the same family over all those years. My sister ate tacos here in the '70's when it was a little storefront on Dunton St. that sold groceries and had tacos in the back of the store. Javier's has very consistent high-quality Tex-Mex food. It is not quite as hip as some of the newer Mexican places in town, but that is part of the charm for me. It is dependable comfort food we've grown up with, in a relaxing environment. You definitely get your money's worth! Get a booth if one is open for the complete experience. I love the combination plates with tostadas, tacos, and enchiladas. My wife loves the ceviche and guacamole as do I. The rice and beans are always great too. That is my barometer of a Mexican restaurant - are the rice and beans good? Javier's are always great. (If a place can't do decent rice and beans...well, that tells you something...) Fajitas are a great choice as well. The staff has been there for quite a while, so that tells me people like to stick around, and we have never had bad service. I cannot think of a bad dinner I've ever had there and I'm going back to 1982 or so! If you haven't eaten at Javier's, I suggest you try it out and it's pretty likely you will become a regular! read more

The food was good but the water we had assumed I was not 21so he asked if another id then my friend ordered tacos and he was trying to get 10 and the water assumed he cud not eat that much but then the check came and just know you can only have one check for each table he forgot to give my card back thank god I catch him down before I left just not good Service I had better at other restaurants before read more