I rarely leave negative reviews, and I almost never assume discrimination. Unfortunately, this experience was disappointing from beginning to end. Three of us, all Latina women, visited this restaurant expecting authentic Mexican food and good service. From the moment we were seated, it felt like we were treated differently than other customers. We waited approximately 45 minutes for our food, even though we had only ordered tacos. Meanwhile, multiple tables that were seated after us received their food well before we did. It was difficult not to notice the difference in how our table was being served. The food was equally disappointing. The shrimp tacos were nothing like authentic shrimp tacos--they contained tiny, overcooked pieces of shrimp with only onion and cilantro. I expected fresh shrimp with a slaw and sauce, or at the very least shrimp that hadn't been overcooked. The tortillas also tasted like they had only been lightly warmed instead of properly cooked. The steak tacos were bland and desperately needed seasoning. The only part of our three meals that stood out in a positive way was the rice. As a Latina, it was especially disheartening that the staff, who were also Latino, made us feel unwelcome. I can't say why we received such different service, but after watching other guests who arrived after us get their meals first, it certainly left us feeling overlooked. I hope the restaurant takes a hard look at both its customer service and the quality of its food. read more

I had not planned to return to Las Mañanitas, but some good friends live nearby and have become regulars. So we've been there a few more times. They have clearly improved a lot. They still do margaritas in those cafeteria style pitchers, but that was always just fine with me. The previous owner, who did not seem at all friendly and supportive of the community that supported his business, appears to be gone. The whole vibe is more friendly, service-oriented, and updated. They continue to serve a lot of favorite items from the Reagan administration, but it looks and tastes to me like they're working with fresher and more expertly prepared ingredients. New cooks in the past couple of years? I dunno. But it's better. Guacamole used to be meh; now its really good. Enchiladas and fajitas are much improved also. Prices are higher. But they're higher everywhere. Glad I gave them another chance after all. read more

The main courses were quite good. I will think about that steak burrito - but it really needed a bit of pico or something to brighten it. The skirt steak was very good as well. But the margaritas were so very expensive. And the chips were quite stale. The atmosphere was excellent - they didn't have overwhelming music or noise in a very nice way. Definitely a plus. The staff was kind but rushed. Generally, the prices were so high and we need to buy the extras to make the meal feel complete so we likely won't go back. But if you are in the neighborhood it was a good option. read more

Las Mananitas Mexican Restaurant - Skirt steak lightly breaded. - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Overpriced, average Mexican food. The refried beans were pretty good, but the tacos and chips were nothing special that I could've gotten anywhere. And the cheese was just nasty. If I'm paying $20+ for a few tacos then they better be good. Also, I ordered a regular Coke, and they charged me $5 for it which is abit pricey for just a fountain soda to begin with, but then I got charged for a refill. Is that a new thing restaurants are doing now? Because I've never been charged for a refill before and it's pretty ridiculous. They are better than Taco Bell, but definitely not worth what they are charging and you can find much better Mexican food elsewhere. read more

This is a lovely Mexican Restaurant with a nice, colorful and authentic Mexican decor and a warm and welcoming ambiance. I ordered the Tacos De Camarones (shrimp tacos) and my friend had Carne Asada and Flan for dessert. So tasty. The waitstaff is very attentive and friendly. read more

my partner, who is blind and was alone, yesterday, ordered a steak buritto that was $14.00 not too long ago, had a non alcoholic beverage and was charged $35.00. He added a $7.00 tip. Food was poor quality and grossly overpriced. Will not go back to this restaurant. read more

Bland and extremelyoverpriced. Didn't think anyone could mess up a basic steak taco. Salsa was water downed stuff from a jar. Too bad.

I honestly didn't know you could mess up a taco, but here we are. To call the tacos dry would be an egregious understatement. I don't even know how tacos can be that dry. It was like swallowing a bean bag in every bite. My wife had the nachos, which were covered in what can best be described as spaghetti sauce. Chef Boyardee would make more authentic nachos. The salsa was good that came with the chips, which I would say is the only redeeming quality where the food was concerned. The service was slow. Our waiter was nice, but we rarely saw him. We sat outside, and it wasn't exactly packed out there. It took a long time for everything, and we didn't get checked on. Want a refill on that drink? Good luck. Sitting outside was the other redeeming quality, but it's hard to mess up an outside seating area. Harder than messing up tacos apparently. I can't recommend this place. The food was not good, the service was slow, and the prices are way too high. If I'm paying $23 for tacos, those tacos better be something special. Sadly, they were not. And $2 for some cilantro? Really? Save yourself the time, money, and disappointment. read more

We came to eat here around 9pm on a Saturday and to my surprise it was pretty empty but nonetheless we were hungry and craving some good tacos. We ordered the queso fundido with chorizo to start. Oh em gee! Literally so delicious I highly recommend this as a starter. A few of us ordered the steak tacos, others ordered nachos and burritos. Everyone was super happy with their food. The photos that I posted of the food were pretty dark because inside the restaurant it was a very low lit romantic vibe going on. Definitely recommend for a date night. The service was very fast and the waiters polite. read more

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Now we do love La mañanitas but honestly, since the old owner passed away, the new owner is just robbing customers left and right. The staff is great. I don't blame them. However our waiter yesterday wanted to charge us for cheese for a little sprinkle cheese that you put in a taco. He said he's only allowed to give 12 things, free, lettuce and tomato but not the cheese. More importantly we spent about three to $400 there every month. We are a good customer. They did nothing for my partner's taco which was overcooked and he didn't even finish his meal for the first time ever. We're not going back we made a decision. It's sad, but they've lost our business. Additionally, they charge for extra chips, they charge you for extra tortillas, they used to give you a lot more food and now you order fajitas that you can hardly get one meal out of it I go on and on and on. read more

Came in for the late Cubs game and everything around Wrigley was packed after the 1st game ended so my daughter and I headed east to Broadway to find a restaurant. We walked a block south and saw Las Manantias had an outdoor eating are and with it being 78 degrees outside we took a leap of faith on the few reviews that had been posted. I ordered the enchiladas, 2 beef, 1 cheese and my daughter ordered the nachos (meatless). She enjoyed the nachos (how can you screwup nachos). The enchiladas were good but the sauce was pretty thin and runny with not much flavor so in comes the salsa! This helped a lot. The margaritas were sweet but tasty. Beautiful day in Chicago eating Mexican food with my daughter...PRICELESS. read more

Las Mananitas Mexican Restaurant - Menu and chips - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Service was not close to ok, Not once did the server came up to check if we needed anything. We asked another server if he can bring us tortillas that our server forgot to bring and we never got neither the tortillas or not even an iced tea refill, tables all around us were complaining about the same shitty service read more

Came here before a night Cubs game. Restaurant was a bit of a ghost town when we walked in and didn't really feel inviting. If I came here by myself I wouldn't have stayed. Our server was kind, but one of the policies is that a bill can only be split two ways, in 2023 there should be a better option. We split a chicken quesadilla which was "fine" but I don't really need it again. Overall there are many other options in the area that have better food and ambiance. read more

Las Mananitas Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Excellent food and excellent service!! The mole chicken enchiladas is one of the best all home made read more

We used to really enjoy this place. Friendly staff, good Mexican food. That's still true, but we were there last night. $23 for a burrito?!! Are you kidding me?! Our bill for four people, including just one glass of wine and a kid's meal, was $131 (including a modest tip). read more

Came here on Friday evening for dinner with some friends. It was pretty crowded by then but we were able to get seats outside. I got the tacos de bistec, which comes with a side of rice and beans. The tacos were really great - the cilantro and onions definitely upped the flavor. No complaints. We also ordered a large margarita pitcher which poured around 5 glasses (brought out with salt rims). The margs were pretty strong but also super delicious so beware! Overall - a great Mexican place with great tacos and great margs. Service was also great and fast and super accommodating (helping us seat 4 people at our smallish table). Definitely recommend for anyone looking for good and authentic Mexican food! read more

Las Mananitas Mexican Restaurant - Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Really poor service and lunch took almost an hour- and it wasn't busy. Prices are really expensive. 4 dollars for a soda and a dollar for each refill?! No thanks! read more

This place is bomb. The reviews I read seem to mostly be about service and ambiance, but food seems to always be highly recommended. I personally enjoyed all three - mole was like my abuelita used to make and the service was great. I think we found our new neighborhood Mexican spot. read more

I've been coming here for 20+ years and it's been a Boystown staple, and the LGBTQ+ community has made this place last this long. But this past Pride parade (6/26/22) was the last straw. This place is the worst! They don't give two shiz about our community! They are so rude and the old man owner (who was sitting smugly in the front area( needs to retire or sell this place to people who actually want to serve the community. This place benefits from their location because it's always been on the parade route and ppl want to situate themselves in their patio area or nearby. The least they can do is open on time. Their open hours are from noon till whenever and we were in line for 40 min before they opened (late!) When we asked to be seated after waiting for their late opening the rude staff were so unpleasant to deal with! (No! We were told in such unpleasant terms to be seated outside. And the rude host just went to the next person to seat without trying to even accommodate us. Just no) Food has gone way way down hill and altho the drinks are still potent, I will never come back to patronize such a horrible establishment. The nachos, guac are barfable! I mean other establishments actually prepare for this day and get added staff and encourage patrons to come in and enjoy the parade in their establishment. NOT here! They couldn't care less and it shows! The place was practically empty and it looks like our community already is ignoring this horrible place! Good! Don't go here! Go to a place that cares about their customers! read more

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I called and ordered the Enchilada Suizas to go. I was surprised upon arrival when the total was $25 when this used to be $16ish. I just shrugged it off, paid and left a $5 tip - no biggie. I walked the 5 mins around the block back home, opened the box, and was shocked to see the slop I was given. Everything was mixed together and looked horrible! I carefully carried the bag so there's absolutely NO way things got this mixed up on the short walk around the corner. I usually don't make a fuss, however, I decided to call them to leave feedback. The guy was nice but says that I must have caused this but that's literally impossible. It's pretty obvious that they just threw the food in the box and/or it was mishandled BEFORE it was given to me. Oh, and he mentioned they raised the prices but $30 for chicken enchiladas is crazy. Needless to say I will not eat here or suggest this place to friends again. Adding a picture of what it looked like before I started to eat it (I added the extra sour cream on top but you get the idea). read more

Las Mananitas Mexican Restaurant - Enchiladas Suizas - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've lived a block from Las Mañanitas for more than five years and it's always looked so cute from the outside but for whatever reason it took until recently to actually go in. Now I'm disappointed I hadn't been in sooner! One of the limiting factors is definitely the lack of vegan options readily available on their menu. They don't even have a vegetable-only fajita option...? Maybe they'd make it for us/others, but we don't like to be troublesome if we don't have to. Anyway, my partner and I got a pitcher of margaritas and two vegetarian burritos (since they didn't list cheese or sour cream and otherwise appeared fully plant-based). The margs were super strong and the pitcher refilled our glasses a few times over! The food was also fantastic. We loved the way they toasted the giant burrito, and the tortilla was packed full of well-cooked, sautéed veggies including onions, peppers, and potatoes. The service was nice and relatively attentive. We'll definitely be back sooner than it took to try it the first time. read more

Las Mananitas Mexican Restaurant - Vegetarian Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A local favorite. Killer margaritas and great food. Really good authentic specials. Had the conchinita pipil and was blown away.

If you like expensive, mediocre food, this just might be the place for you! My wife, our friend and I went here for lunch. Our first hint was that this decent sized restaurant had only one other couple eating there. The food was average to bland. My wife and our friend ordered banana margaritas. They were ok, but they were $15.00 apiece for what other Mexican restaurants would consider a small margarita glass. When we got the check, we saw a line item for $15.00 and just assumed, given the size, that that was for both. Nope! I ended up ordering a Diet Coke which came in a 10 ounce glass filled with ice for $3.00. I never was offered a refill. Among the three of us, we went thru the chips and salsa as we waited for our food, so our friend asked our waiter if he could bring out some more. The waiter did indeed bring out more without saying a word. We later saw on the check that we were charged $3.00 for the chips and $3.00 for an extremely small bowl of salsa. We never thought to ask if it was going to be an extra charge seeing as every other Mexican restaurant we've ever gone to just brings out more chips and salsa without the customer even having to ask. You'd think they could have told us that it was an extra charge. Nope! I ordered Enchiladas Verde which were solid, but the rice and beans were a bit light on the serving size. Our friend got Enchiladas Suizas and, we only found out once we got the bill, that she was charged an extra $1.00 for the cheese - and there wasn't much of it at that. My wife ordered fajitas which were extremely bland. She asked if they had any hot sauce or salsa and the waiter brought back a bottle of Cholula saying that's all they had. I hope that's not what they bring out for anyone that orders tacos. All in all, this joint has lots of hidden costs for food that's just meh. Let the buyer beware! read more

Being from Texas I wasn't sure what to expect from Mexican food in Chicago but this place was amazing!! They used authentic Mexican cheeses; their chorizo was fantastic! I highly recommend you try them!!! read more

Las Mananitas is like a home away from home. The menu is extensive and the seafood options are outstanding. Service from the longstanding servers is also superb. For those who frequent, it is a staple. The margaritas are the best in town! read more

We were here a couple of weeks ago on a Saturday and loved it, so we went back this Saturday. Completely disappointed. We had hair in our bowl of chips, it was at the bottom, so we naturally stopped eating them. Our server came to the table and poured that bowl into our new bowl. We told him NO that has hair in it. He did bring us a fresh bowl. We ordered 2 mini pitchers of Margarita's the first one was $39.00 the second one was $36.00 ( you basically get 3 Marguita's out of the mini pitcher. My problem is that he charged us $3.00 for a new bowl of chips and decided to charge us $1.00 for limes. These chargers were not on our bill the week prior. I'm surprised they didn't charge us for the hair in the bowl. So you got our money this weekend but we won't be coming back. Sad because I've been going there off and on for years. So long... read more

No and No. I've come here off and on for over 20 years. If you want overpriced, water downed margaritas with employees talking trash about you in Spanish even if you're fluent, otherwise - AVOID. 1app and 2 margaritas = 46$ Maybe it's a step up from chipotle with very dated decor and bad service Condescending read more

Las Mananitas Mexican Restaurant - the bar - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Beware of hidden charges. They charged $3.00 for hot sauce ( a condiment) because we ordered an appetizer instead of dinner. I understand if I ordered chips and salsa but not just salsa. A spoonful cost $3.00! We were regulars because the margaritas were awesome. We spend more for premium alcohol and never complained. The wait staff is awesome. I'm going to miss the banter. The hidden charges, not so much. Not a good business model to treat loyal customers. I guess change is good. Time to build a loyal following at Cescas. read more

First of all the chips were definitely cooked in old oil and the salsa tasted like WATER ! LI came here on a date ordered Carne Asada dinner. I received two cuts of ROUND and extremely fatty steaks NOT SKIRT steak which is what is authentically used for this dish. There was also no onion with the meal so I waved my server down to bring a green onion, he brought back fajita onions which is not what I asked for so I told him I'd do without it. The meal came with underwhelming rice and beans and the steaks were absolutely UNEATABLE ! Flavor was okay but there was so much fat that I had a hard time chewing and swallowing without fear of choking. My partner and I were starving so we ate the rice and beans because after the onions the server never came back to see if we were enjoying the meal, when we waved him down again it was for the check but showed him that we had not eaten but maybe 2-3 bites each of our steaks. I told him had he come to check on us I wouldn't have even eaten the sides. He said he had to call the owner to see what he could do, the meal was comped $5 because he couldn't get ahold of the owner. We did not take the food home. This place is trash and if your staff can't help manage issue like this without calling the owner idk why anyone would go. So glad we didn't decide to order drinks. Honestly this was sooo disgusting. I had high hopes it looks cute at night looking in, but wtf is keeping this place going is probably the senior population that no longer has their sense of taste anyways. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY HERE PLEASE read more

This is our 2nd time coming here and every time has been great. This place is totally underrated. The food is so flavorful, probably the best salsa I've ever had, just ordered the tostadas and it's SO flavorful, finely chopped steak. The service is always great! But every time we are here it's been so slow!!! More people seriously need to try this place. It's so hard finding a good Mexican restaurant in Chicago and this place is definitely our top 3 (my boyfriend is Mexican, so he knows and he's very picky.) thank you for giving us our new favorite neighborhood restaurant that gives us very well made classic dishes! read more

Las Mananitas Mexican Restaurant - Very well made classics! - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Charging for soda refills!... seriously... costs you like .005 cents per refill... not even a penny. Also, food is underseasoned, very bland. read more

Food was average. The $50 pitcher of margaritas that had NO alcohol in it was inexcusable. Total rip off.

Straight up- the Mexican food here sucks. We dropped for a quick bite before going out, but knew we wanted something lighter than the usual burrito. So we ordered a few things: guac, chicken quesadillas, and the queso fundido. The guac was pricy and SMALL... we maybe had one bowl of chips to go with it before it was all gone. The chicken quesadillas were forgettable, and the queso cooled down WAY too fast where the cheese became stale. My mentee, who is a huge queso fan, was definitely not impressed. However... What you come here for are the stiff margaritas and quick access to all the other crazy places you'll find here in Boystown! A large margarita ($36+) can be shared between 3-4 people, or by yourself of course. They were delicious and strong, so we were all prepared to get hammered esp when the food couldn't save it. So what have we learned? Food is meh. Margaritas are EYYYYYYYYYYYYY! read more

Las Mananitas Mexican Restaurant - Chicken Quesadillas - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I don't know who the lightweight is that said "a pitcher of margarita's will make a group of 4 tipsy" but I don't agree. Granted, I don't remember much about my meal after ordering a pitcher for 2 of us, but one sip of that fresh lime juice and you'll be hooked. Did we order 2 pitchers or just 1? Who can remember? Besides a weakness for margarita's, I also have an obsession with chips and salsa. When they're put in front of me, I can't NOT eat them. When they're on it (like Las Mananitas is) on refilling them, I might as well not even order an entree. Excellent salsa.. not your typical pico that is usually served. No sir, this had some excellent flavor to it! My entree was a trio of chicken street tacos. I really think lime, chicken and cilantro go well together, so these suckers were devoured in minutes. I'll be back.. especially for the margarita! read more

Las Mananitas Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've literally been coming back to this restaurant for 12 years now, wow I'm getting old... In better news, NOTHING HAS CHANGED - in the best way. The food still tastes great, portion sizes are the same (huge). And, more recently I've switched from lime margaritas on the rocks to the frozen strawberry and it's next level. I still always get the same dish, enchiladas rojas with a side of guac. I literally have never had anything else here, but my friends and family have and no one has ever had a bad meal. Outdoor seating in the summer is an extra bonus. read more

Waited 1h+ for unseasoned food. Was denied cilantro for my chimichanga and the quesadilla appetizer was luke warm. Waiter table touched every other table but ours. We wanted to give grace to the server and establishment since it was pretty busy but the table of 2 white men besides our table of 2 black women, it just seemed like alot of confirmation bias happening. We were seated at 4 and it took 30 minutesfor us just to get water at the table. Sent the food back to the waitor and explained i didnt like it and it tasted bland and Fernando was just si passive agressive. Guacamole was bland as if it is pre-packed from a bag and overall just didn't like the service. Take that "best mexican food in town" quote off your recipt, Thanks for nothing Fernando read more

I love this restaurant and have for many years. The waitstaff are very attentive and friendly, the food is delicious, and the location great. In short, highest recommendations! read more

I don't like giving a substandard review, but this place needs to improve the quality of their food (bland - my friend got a large chicken burrito which wasn't as good as Chipotle and I got the shredded beef tacos - both bland in taste), they need to update their menu offering with fresher ingredients. read more

This place has always been a dump and always will be. I don't frequent here any longer as I've been to Mexico many times now and was just in Mérida where the food was amazing. I had a long day so tonight I just wanted a strong margarita. Even though they don't taste good they are strong and it's two blocks from my house so I walked over for just a quick margarita and quac. Well I show up at 8:14 and the doors locked . I call and the old man answers who I think is the owner. I say why is the door locked he says we close at 8:30. I say it says the kitchen closes at 8:30 and the restaurant at 9. He says we're closed I say well then post the correct information because it's wrong . He says it isn't and I say well yeah is because it's 8:14. Just post we close at 8:14. He hangs up on me. Rude gross behavior. Don't waste your time it's a dump and they are rude always have been. This dump will definitely go down with the old man and good riddance. read more

Las Mananitas Mexican Restaurant - The hours posted which they don't keep and then argue with you over them. False information. Even the answering machine says 9pm. - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My God, went with 10 friends on Saturday 10/15/22. I haven't had such great Mexican food like this in like forever. It even beats the ones in the Palm Springs area where it should be authentic. read more