This is a great little restaurant for homemade Mexican food. I got huevos rancheros and chose eggs to be scrambled (you can pick how you want your eggs done) and it arrived with all the fixings arranged in a circle and eggs on top. This meal was utterly delicious and I had to eat slowly as I wanted to just inhale it. I came with a friend who lives in Evanston and she also really likes this restaurant which I have not been to before. However, now every time I think about coming back to Evanston to shop, I'm putting it on my "must visit" list. The service is great. The people are nice and they make every effort to honor your preferences -I am gluten-free so they were very careful honor that and to make suggestions. I couldn't have been happier. read more

Phenomenal guac, the first round of chips were slightly stale but the second round was nice and crisp. The tinga enchiladas were delicious! The sides could use a Mexican touch. The rice was dry and tasted boxed but the beans were well seasoned. The chilaquiles had a pleasant taste but could have used more sauce. I got a feeling that most of the items were slightly frozen and had to be dethawed quickly. It's not traditional mexican food by any means but it's good in a pinch. The portions are large and the staff was very sweet. read more

I came for happy hour with my husband. I ordered from the happy hour menu while he ordered from the regular menu. I had the chips and salsa and two tacos. I also ordered the margarita off the happy hour menu. I was very satisfied with my meal and drinks! Everything was delicious. I also tried a bit of my husband's chilaquiles and I think I'll order that next time! read more

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It's my second time their food is really good. I've never had chilaquiles like this. Sunnyside up egg over the carnitas with their green sauce. The sauce isn't spicy but it's really flavorful. As someone who doesn't really like drinking the mocktails are a nice touch to the menu. The restaurant wasnt very busy but we went around 4pm on a Thursday. Everything was clean and the service was very good. I'd go back. read more

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My wife and I both ordered the Mushrooms Al Pastor Enchiladas, served with black beans, rice and small salad. The mushrooms were marinated in a spicy chili paste that tickled our taste buds. Their enchiladas are made with home made corn tortillas, so much better the ones that come pre-made at other joints. There was enough left over to bring some home for lunch. If you're trying to cut down on your carnivore habit, try these -- you'll never miss the meat. read more

La Principal - Mexican Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

This place has gone downhill. It was never great, but the street-takeover patio is a great place to sit. They stopped frying the fish for the baja tacos, which I guess must have been inconvenient for the kitchen, so we opted for alternatives. The tacos arrived in an unappetizing pile on the plates, see below. The carne asada tasted like the meat was boiled and was bland as hell. The al pastor was fine. The queso was an abomination, not fully heated through, and tasted like they added mayo or something to the mixture. Also I didn't read carefully to notice it had corn mixed in. WTAF? And unlike the photo showing tortillas, we received chips instead, which was very confusing. Service was adequate. read more

La Principal - Sad $6 tacos - Mexican Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Genuinely amazing service. Everything was fresh, hot, and juicy. The resteraunt vibe/ambiance was bright and lively but not overwhelming. I think this was some of the best chips and guacamole I've ever had, and I highly recommend the quesabirria dinner read more

La Principal - Quesabirria + consommè dinner with rice and beans, guacamole, and non-alcoholic red wine. - Mexican Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I don't know why this little local gem is only getting 3.5 stars? The food is delicious, really cute atmosphere, excellent staff. And it's not expensive. Give them a try. Oh and I have NEVER not gotten street parking. read more

Good food especially tacos. Poor service, couldn't refill water or provide mole sauce when asked. read more

This place has really ramped up their menu and it is delicious! The flavor profiles are amazing and the selection is great. The staff is friendly and the restaurant is always clean. I can't wait for their summer outdoor space! read more

La Principal - Mexican Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

My son took me to La Principal for my birthday/mother's day yesterday. I was pleasantly surprised that we could get a table immediately, but we were eating right around noon. I ordered their house margarita and enjoyed it. For my main I had the Quesabirria dinner and my son ordered a variety of tacos. I was very pleased with my dinner-- delicious and nicely presented. My son enjoyed his tacos but liked the fish taco the best. It's a nice space and good service in a low key environment. read more

I enjoyed the tacos here. I like their variety and the sides. Prices are fair considering these aren't average steak tacos. The service is cool rather dining in or ordering to go and the restaurant/bar area is cute and quaint. I definitely recommend if you like non traditional tacos. read more

Absolutely everything is delicious here! My husband and I frequent this place and are always happy we came. The staff are lovely, the interior is unique and cozy but spacious, and the outdoor seating during the summer is a must! They have vegan and vegetarian options as well and plenty of delicious drink options (the classic margarita is too good!). Oh and the churros are an absolute MUST. Thank me later! read more

The food and drink were all wonderful and delicious, but there wasn't an adult in sight. I don't mind supporting student workers - I was a busser back in the day - but they either need to be trained to regularly scan the tables for water levels or else leave us a carafe. And we only had one cocktail, because no one came to ask us if we would like a second. Thankfully, the cute bar next door was still open once we were done eating. Great service experience there. read more

My favorite hobby is going to nice restaurants, and La Principal is one of the best in the Chicago area. I have had multiple MUCH better meals here than at Maple and Ash (different type of place, but still). La Principal could (and maybe should!) be charging a lot more for its absolutely divine pork shank. Additionally, we had La Principal cater our pre-wedding dinner, and people were blown away by the chicken tinga, lamb barbacoa, and beef shortrib tacos. I spent a long time in Los Angeles - never had tacos this good. Do yourself a favor and get here before they realize they should be charging double!!! read more

We had been wanting to try this place since it is within walking distance of home. We had been there years before, when I believe it was a different restaurant, and enjoyed it quite a bit, we were hoping for the same type of experience for a rare date night out. It was not. When we walked in at 6:50, the hostess asked us if we would be done by 7:30, because they had a reservation coming in. We were very taken aback and said some of that would depend on them. She said "oh, we'll be fast". I asked what would happen if we weren't out by then, she said she would have to figure something out. Way to set a bad tone and make their seating our problem. If they couldn't seat us, they should have said that and we would have found somewhere else, no problem. She ended up putting us in a dark corner, which we did not mind, however, we didn't realize it would affect our service. It took over ten minutes for the server to come to our table, so them being fast was out the window. We ordered the queso fundido, a strawberry and a mango margarita, a short rib torta, and chilaquiles. The drinks were very small for $14, but they were at least not watered down and were delicious. The queso fundito was good, if you had ordered something that was not queso fundido. It was some sort of cream cheese dip, nothing traditional. Delicious, but zero percent what we expected. Don't expect traditional here, it is very much "white people" Mexican food, tried to make trendy. The short rib torta was pretty good, had a very nice spice and came with a delicious salsa roja that was smokey without being overpoweringly hot. Chilaquiles were also delicious, the over easy eggs were cooked nicely. All in all, the food was good. Not traditional, but still delicious. In absentia of anything else, we would gladly eat it again. However, due to the service, we will not be going back. After it took a full ten minutes for the server to acknowledge us (you know, because they're fast!), and even get our drink order (we knew what we wanted by then and ordered all at once), the next time we saw her was when she was giving us the check. I had been planning to order dessert, I was very interested in trying the pumpkin flan. I said as much when she set down the check (admittedly, a slightly passive aggressive tone at that point), but she "didn't hear". I mentioned it again when she came to collect it, and expressed how frustrating the service had been between her and the hostess. She blamed it on working a double (I don't think they are even open long enough to have "doubles"), it being busy, us being in the corner. The corner one irritated me, you know that table is in your section, it isn't news you need to be checking on them. She did have the good grace to speak to her manager and give us a discount, so I do appreciate that she did what she could to make it right. We weren't even looking for that, I just wanted to express how frustrating the service was. So, all in all, despite the food being good, we will not be returning. The service was way too poor for the cost of the meal. I suppose if you are doing take-out, it wouldn't matter as much, but the experience dining in really soured us on the place. No one was rude, they were just an absolute mess. read more

One of my all time favorite and go-to restaurants! The tacos are filled with delicious flavors, and something for everyone to enjoy. My personal favorite is the Carne Asada or the Pescado, but I have to say I've never tried one I don't like. On top of that, the interior design of the restaurant is absolutely stunning, with bright colors and fun chairs on every wall. The servers are always kind and friendly, and I never leave unhappy. If you are to hit any restaurant in South Evanston, definitely try La Principal. read more

La Principal - Mexican Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Tried to eat here on a Saturday at 8:40 pm...and the bartender says the kitchen is closed. Website says they close at 10 pm.

Two words. Tamale Thursday. And if that's not your jam, they have well-executed standards that don't disappoint. Great, local option!

I came for dinner last night and it was great! I really enjoyed the atmosphere here. Small, but it has a fun and lively vibe. The tacos are pretty darn LIT! I ordered the lamb, shrimp, and pescado (baja). I wouldn't order the lamb one again. Wasn't bad but just wasn't my favorite after having the shrimp and pescado. THAT PESCADO BAJA WAS EVERYTHING! Be sure you get that! I should have ordered 3 of those bad boys! Also, I will say the tacos are pretty good size. It reminds of the street tacos in Mexico as far as flavor and just creativity. I would avoid the rice and beans which is a side order. It just wasn't special enough to order to me. Instead, opt to share some guac and chips which was delicious! Now, please get a marg! You just have to do it! I got the one with mezcal in the mix, and man oh man, was it flavorful and strong. Happy hour specials from Tues-Fri at 3-6 so hit it up. read more

I can't say there was anything about this restaurant that made it stand out for me. The place felt a bit cramped for my taste. I feel like they tried to cram as many tables as possible Into a small space. The food was a mixed bad. Amazing appetizers (queso fundido, Albondigas, guacamole), bland main course( baby kale and arugula salad, pollo adobo). All the waitstaff were teenagers. So, not very cognizant ( not did they care) of being careful to place hot plates next to children. The whole experience was a bit "meh". read more

This is a great upgrade on the previous Mexican restaurant, whose name escapes me at the moment. The menu is adventurous and diverse without trying too hard and prices are modest (most of the tacos are available for $4.00). I grew up on street cart eloteras, and a lot of the offerings resurrect that same feeling if at somewhat higher prices. It's different from the standard Mexican restaurant while still feeling accessible - a family favorite is the carnitas taco ($3.00), which has braised pork, corn, poblano and pineapple relish and Cotija cheese. They have very good vegetarian options that go beyond the standard refried beans smothered with cheese. My favorite is the sweet potato taco (sweet potatoes, red mole, pickled red cabbage, pepitas and cotija taco) for $4.00. This is a great spot and one you should certainly hit ASAP. read more

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I finally tried this place , the service was great , the Al pastor tacos was delicious , will definitely be back to try their tortas . read more

La Principal - Al pastor tacos - Mexican Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I'm honestly hoping I don't get sick. I didn't finish, but considering I paid $31 for 2 small tacos & an order of guacamole and hadn't eaten all day- I had to eat some of it. Something was off about the food tonight. The guacamole was tasteless, the chips tasted like out of a bag. The steak taco was tough and the meat was in these weird hunks not chopped as it usually is. It also had these ridiculously huge pieces of onion in it. There was no hint of lime or seasoning to it, no cilantro or avocado but it was take out. The Baja fish taco- that was definitely off and I didn't finish it. The cabbage slaw was sour (off sour) and there was no mango relish on it. I used to eat at this place once every couple of months, but it's added to the scrap heap of places I will never dine again. Nearly 30% more for cost and quality way down. There was barely anybody in the place when I went to get my order- it was Friday. How do you make food awful when you're not busy? I'm really despising eating out as of late. I can cook better at home without the insane costs and low quality read more

This is the 4th. Time I go to la Principal and they never disappoint me . It is a great service , beautiful place and delicious food .

Nice place Good food Pozole is terrific! I haven't been there in awhile but there was a walk up window in the morning, great idea since it's near the train station! read more

Was there with a friend recently for a late lunch. Service was friendly and attentive and the food tasty. I had a couple of tacos and a really good margarita and my friend had chicken (nice portion too). We were impressed with how the manager handled a small situation - exceeded expectations. We look forward to returning soon (patio season!) read more

Amazing Taco's a small gem in south Evanston. If your into upscale Mexican fare, this is the place.

The food was DELISH!! They had incredible vegan options and plenty of amazing non vegan options too. Love the vibe and the salsa!!

We ate at La Principal for the first time last night and we will be back soon. There are many tacos to choose from - our friends tried and loved four of them. The enchiladas are clearly freshly cooked and, so, not soggy at all. We can't wait to sample the rest of the menu! read more

You go to La Principal for tacos but don't forget the tortas - which are my favorites . And of course sangria read more

La Principal - Tortas Ahogado - Mexican Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Place is small so get there early enough to get a good table by the window! Drinks are good and food is decent. The service can be a bit slow when they get busy so be sure to order all you want when they come around. read more

My family of four popped in to La Principal for a late lunch/early dinner this afternoon; it was our first visit. Restaurant seating wasn't open yet so we grabbed two two-tops in the bar (sometimes it's nice to not sit with grumpy teenagers ). Service was prompt, accommodating, and friendly. My husband and I liked our margarita and Bloody Mary. A scan of the bar shows that La Principal has a good selection of mezcal and some local beers, and they have a happy hour Tuesday through Friday from 3-6. We ordered three chicken tinga tacos, two fish tacos, one al pastor tacos, an ahi tuna tostado, guacamole and chips, and two churros with chocolate sauce. Unfortunately, none of us really liked our meals. I thought the ahi tuna would be seared but it was raw and over-salted to the point of being inedible. The waitress was kind about it and had it removed from our bill. I tried some of my son's fish taco because he wasn't crazy about it and I thought it was okay but not great. None of us liked the al pastor taco. The guacamole was okay but had too much onion for my taste. The churro was a bit doughy but very tasty and the chocolate sauce was delicious. I like the vibe at La Principal. It has a relaxed energy but it's not boring or sterile. A seat in the front window on a sunny day with friends would be a great way to pass an afternoon or evening. I'd return to La Principal for drinks but not for food. read more

La Principal - Food menu - Mexican Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Great atmosphere, decent prices, The Chicken Tinga is really good. The Short Rib is good whatever you have it on. The happy hour is back, at least for now. Get vaccinated and boosted, mask up and head over. There is an example of a place that needs to be supported, even if it's just delivery. read more

The food and ambience was great. The salsa and chips and also the Adobo chicken were delicious and the service was terrible by the server because after the entree was served she never checked on us to see if we needed anything like water etc for over an hour. We were not happy with the service which could have been better. read more

This is a quaint place that has a walkthrough that's open sometimes even! ATMOSPHERE/ARCHITECTURE: 8/10 It's difficult to pin down exactly what ambience this place emits, but it's something along the lines of a rustic modern feel. It seats maybe 30-40 at most inside. As mentioned, it features a small walkthrough, think like a drive through, but you can walk up to it and get tacos. It's a neat little feature that I appreciate. SERVICE: 7/10 Servers were knowledgable and helpful. FOOD: 8/10 Generally, I thought the food was quite good. Short Rib Torta - 7/10 - I expected more from this one. It had a good base, but it was a little weak in overall flavor. I did like it but it was not anything particularly special. Carnitas - 8/10 - This one was solid. The meat was not too fatty as is the issue with a lot of carnitas, which may or may not be up your alley, but I like mine a little more lean. The flavor was solid. Pescado - 6/10 - I think I may have high standards for fish tacos, but this one felt on the weaker side for me. The fish was kind of bland and the taco overall was not well put together. Chicken Tinga - 9/10 - This one is very good. This taco is bursting with flavor, the chicken has a nice sear to it, and overall a very well crafted taco. I'd recommend this one. It's also rather unique as I have not had any anywhere else quite like it. VALUE: 6/10 The food is on the expensive side for a taco joint. The tacos are small and each one is $4-5, which is pricey for a taco. The better question though is, are they worth it at that price? It's hard to answer that, but personally, I don't think so. The only one I'd shell out that much for is the chicken tinga. That one was quite good. The rest honestly, compared to $2-3 tacos you can get elsewhere are not that much better if not the same in terms of quality. PROBABILITY OF RETURN: 6/10 I would think of coming back here again to try some other options, but it's not immediately on my "Return to" list. TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT: Overall, worth trying once. OVERALL: 7/10 read more

Sometimes it's about walking in and meeting the kind hostess who has a smile and is genuinely happy to see you (as if he/she met you before)! Audrey was so kind. Went the extra mile and made me want to come back to have such friendly service. Thank you for hiring wonderful people! read more

La Principal - Audrey- so sweet! - Mexican Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

La Principal was on my list of bookmarks for some time now and I was glad to finally pay them a visit. This is a Mexican restaurant that just opened in town and I was excited to give them a try. I've heard rave reviews on Yelp regarding their food quality. That alone piqued my interest. Second, the exterior and interior design of the restaurant had a kitschy vibe with modern furniture and fixtures. Post visit, I have mixed feelings about this restaurant. The noise takes some getting used to. The music level was fine. In fact, it was on the soft side. Music being the only exception, it was just loud all around. I'm not sure if the acoustics in the building are poor but the booming conversations were the main issue. I could barely carry on a conversation with my friend without competing with the noise and talking louder; to the point of shouting! This was very frustrating and I was growing rather annoyed by it. I shouldn't have to yell across the table to talk to my friend while we're having dinner. Regardless of the hip and lively atmosphere, the food was very hit or miss. HIT Queso Fundido - comes with flour tortillas but I subbed it with corn chips. The queso was excellent and the bubbly creamy cheese spread had a slight brown char on the top. It was delightful. This was well seasoned with hints of chorizo crumbles. I'll have to say this dish is worth ordering and was the favorite part of my meal. MISSES Red mole short rib taco - This would have been on the hits side had it not been for the extreme spiciness of the taco's ingredients. If you like your food on the hot side, (and I mean HOT!) then maybe you'll enjoy this dish. They put slivers of habanero peppers on the top of the taco and for me, that heat overpowers the rest of the taco. It completely took away from the juiciness of the short rib which I honestly felt should have been the star of the show. I would recommend having the peppers on the side or eliminating them all together if the heat is absolutely not your thing. They also put pickled red chilies. Perhaps this is a "preference" thing but I don't like pickled anything and they could've done well without this on the taco. Pescado taco - The beer and mescal battered cod had a crispy outer skin and soft flaky center. The seasonings for the fish were on point, but again, the pickled cucumber and onions thing has to go. I felt like the sour pickle taste tended to clash versus complement the fish. Es is no bueno mi amigo! NOTE: Sauces are very hot. I would use sparingly to taste. Use with caution! read more

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This ain't it chief. I ordered 4 tacos. 2 chicken tingas and 2 Carnitas tacos. The tacos look pretty, they're dressed well with the appropriate fixings. Taste wise the meats dont have a whole lot going on. The tacos while juicy aren't exploding with flavor. I've gotten use to Carnitas that makes me want to dance. The chicken has a glimpse that there could be some depth, some unexplored complexity. Just doesn't transpire. read more

La Principal - Mexican Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I came here mainly for drinks on a Tuesday evening right after work (around 5:30 or 6). We were able to get a table right away, and our server was great -- attentive and friendly, but not hovering. The drinks were amazing (and strong, which is good considering the $9/$10 price tag). After drinking for a bit we decided to order some small plates. I ordered a sweet potato taco ($4) and my friends ordered the same taco plus some grilled corn. The taco was pretty good...the flavors were nice, and it was surprisingly spicy (and I love spicy food), but there were a few things I didn't love. I can't quite put my finger on it...I think the shell wasn't warmed quite enough for the filling, because there was some weird temperature discrepancy going on. I love that you can order individual tacos, especially when you just want something small to munch on. But $4 for a tiny veggie taco is a bit steep. If I had wanted a full dinner I would have had to order 4 of them, and $16 would be overkill for what you get. As other people have mentioned, it's strange that there aren't complimentary chips and salsa. That seems to be standard at a lot of places, and given the prices here it would be nice. I would be more open to buying a $4 taco if I had the illusion of getting something else with it. I won't be rushing back here anytime soon, but I would definitely be open to coming here again if someone wants to go here. Their coffee window is awesome, too, so I would go there frequently if I still lived down the street. read more

La Principal - Sweet potato taco ($4 for one). - Mexican Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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