Fantastic food. The servers were nice, it took a hot minute for the food to come out but it was well worth it.

Wow what a pleasant surprise: Beans - well beans are beans Tortillas are thin & homemade Shrimp with mildly spicy sauce ,very good & sizable plus cooked perfectly. The Coleslaw the Coleslaw The Cokeslaw was 6 STARS!!!! Had to do round 2 the next day! read more

Restaurante Chacahua - Beans & double side of Slaw - Mexican Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

This restaurant was smaller than I expected, but as they say, great things come in small packages. This place was no exception. The food was fresh, authentic and plentiful. Both the entrees, Red Snapper and Grilled shrimp, were excellent, as was the Calamari. Chips and sauces were complimentary. Zulema, who waited on us, was fantastic and very friendly. The restaurant was very clean and fresh looking. It holds around 50 people. It is in a small strip shopping center and parking was readily available. We will be back. read more

I ordered carry out and the food was delicious. We had guacamole and chips, tlayuda with carne enchilada, and mole chicken. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful. The mole had the perfect amount of heat and depth of flavor. The restaurant had a nice festive atmosphere. Next time I am in the area I will dine in. read more

Restaurante Chacahua - carne enchilada Tlayudas (1 carne-a single meat) - Mexican Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

This place was good super clean place and service was good always asking if we needed anything else. Friendly and felt warm with a cold breeze when they would open the main door lol but it's winter in and around Chicago. So this place is a bit far up north of Chicago but if your in the area go check it out autentico Oaxaca Mexican food good flavor for sure I would go again if I'm in the area for sure. As for the bill it wasn't too bad like other places. read more

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Nice, casual restaurant with an attentive waitstaff and interesting and delicious food. The sausage appetizer, pork/pineapple taco and fish were especially good. read more

Chacahua is a new restaurant that opened in the former Inka Peru and before that, Cluckers restaurant. It's bright and colorfully decorated, though small. It highlights Oaxacan cuisine, particularly tlayudas, as well as seafood and mixed plates. I asked the owner how to pronounce the name (cha-ca-wah) as well as what it meant. He pointed out a mural of Laguna Chacahua, where he was from, and described it as a beautiful non-touristy place, shallow water with colorful cabins on the water, a fun place to eat, drink and relax. Sounds lovely. I pulled up the map and it's a one hour taxi from Puerto Escondido and 7 hours from Acapulco. He offered us Agua Fresca and I picked cantaloupe. The mug they served it in was gigantic and the water was thick with cantaloupe pulp. My companion had a horchata and they also have hibiscus. They provided freshly fried chips and salsa. We started with guacamole and I ordered chicken enchiladas. I asked them for whichever sauce was the mildest and they served verde sauce. It was still a little spicy for me but there were three enchiladas with rice, beans and a little salad, plated very attractively. My friend had a shrimp (fried) taco and carne asada taco with a side of grilled onions. We enjoyed our meals, the food was attractive and good portions, the setting was lively and fun, and the service was very friendly and hospitable. The menu was in Spanish so it took a little time to decipher although the owner was quite nice and eager to describe the dishes and make recommendations. There have been a few Mexican restaurants that have opened recently in the HP/Highwood area and they are all good/noteworthy in different ways. Chacahua is notable in that it specializes in Oaxacan cuisine which is different. I think I would come back to try the specialty tlayuda which sounds a bit like a Oaxacan pizza -- fried crunchy tortilla covered in layer of refried beans and covered with lettuce, meat, cheese and salsa. I enjoyed the atmosphere, colorful travelogue pictures and would like to share a mixed plate of the seafood. I wish Chacahua luck, and would also like to visit the place that inspired it. read more

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The food was absolutely delicious!! The service was great, our waiting staff kept on checking in on us ! Small and quiet yet very clean establishment! We will be coming back!! Thank you Ailin for your food recommendations !! 10/10!!! read more

These folks have excellent food and service. Lots of variety on a lunch special menu. Upon walking in you immediately notice how clean and well kept the restaurant is too. Diverse menu with a focus on Oaxaca style seafood cooking but if you're up for a taqueria style meal- they've got that covered too. Sauces are homemade even bits of avacado in the green sauce. read more

Restaurante Chacahua - Taco lunch special and a skirt steak Huarche special. - Mexican Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

Check your bill. We dined in for lunch for the first time as a party of two. I had the carne asada burrito and the other person had a couple of tacos. We both thought the quality and portions were decent but everything was very bland. The restaurant was clean and service was fine. The kicker was a 20% dine-in charge automatically added to the bill. While I know 3% service charges are common now, I've never seen gratuity (if that's what this was intended to be) added for a party of two. There was no note of this automatic charge on the menu and we paid cash so it was not for the credit card fee. It seemed like they were hoping you wouldn't notice and would tip 20% on top of that. I wouldn't return as there are many better, honest Mexican restaurants in the area. read more

AMAZING FRESH AUTHENTIC FOOD! Been here 3 or 4 X's already. PRICES ARE WONDERFUL for the AMAZING QUALITY & Generous portions!!! Staff are allll so friendly and accomadating . They have amazing lunch specials which we can't wait to try next. Owner chef sooo happy to greet and say hello to his clientele when not cooking up STELLAR FOOD! There is nothing even similar in Highland Park or Highwood to his type of food. You won't be disappointed. Everything is Very Fresh and even the tortillas are homemade! Love this restaurant read more

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Just returned from lunch. Had the seafood chivihe on a tostsdo. While most of the seafood was good the crab was artificial. The shrimp and octopus were great We split chicken mole and chicken enchiladas with great green sauce. Great lunch good service read more

This new restaurant did not disappoint. We went up to Highwood on a whim and ended up here for some truly AUTHENTIC Mexican food from the South-West state of Oaxaca?... very colorful decor. No liquor liscense yet. The quacamole was good. The shrimp my wife got looked good. My Shrimp Diablo was Amazing. Spicy with a great flavor. Recommended. read more

Great, flavorful, and authentic food. Everyone was very welcoming and kind. I will be coming again!

While I can't attest to the ambience of this restaurant, I can 100% recommend the food. My husband and I have ordered delivery twice from this place and every dish we've tried has been outstanding. There's an emphasis on seafood which we love but also a full range of meat dishes. Ingredients are fresh and well prepared. My husband says we're going to have to try every dish! read more

Restaurante Chacahua - Taco de Arrachera/ Skirt Steak I added rice and beans to "make it a meal" - Mexican Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

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We've eaten here 3x, and each time has been terrific. The flavors are fresh and original. Best ceviche and guacamole in the area, and the seafood dishes are outstanding. Their seasonings are creative and presentation is always inviting. The owners/staff are friendly and welcoming. We've tried familiar dishes as well as some of the chef's regional Oaxacan specialties, all consistently great. Check this place out! read more

This place was extremely disappointing and overpriced. The chicken fajitas were dry and overcooked, and the $4 upcharge for just four shrimp--essentially a dollar per shrimp--felt unreasonable. The meat was tough, the peppers were undercooked, and the sides were laughably small--maybe two tablespoons each of rice and beans. There was no queso with the fajitas like I have with our usual Mexican spot, and a 20% tip was automatically added to the bill, bringing our total to $77 for just two meals. It felt like a scam. I won't be coming back. Also I don't get the comments about it being "authentic" Mexican food. There's nothing authentic about this. Putting Spanish on the menu doesn't make a Mexican restaurant authentically Mexican. read more

Mezcal was great. And food was very authentic the staff was friendly and everything was amazing read more

Restaurante Chacahua - Mexican Near Me - Highwood, Illinois

Our 2nd time at this restaurant and we love the food. The best shrimp dishes we've had in any Mexican restaurant. And the best chips anywhere (they make their own). Great looking interior. Check out this place. read more

Authentic food and chips are top notch! If you have an appetite they have the portions! Best guacamole ever!

Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Amazing flavors and food. Authentic Mexican food. Great margaritas.

Stopped in after a walk. This place is amazing. Great food, atmosphere and the staff is excellent. Very friendly and attentive. Food is 10/10. Everything was a hit! We ordered the surf and turf and shrimp fajitas. Their fresh drinks are amazing as well. read more

The service is wonderful and caring...and they recognize the regulars. The Enchiladas Mole? Just perfect for me! And I love the Carne Asada, too. Also their chips.....mmmmm! Plus, the Guacamole is freshly made and super delicious. I go there for lunch, mostly, but might try a dinner. Again, very nice and friendly atmosphere. So a great place to take someone for a lovely meal and conversation. read more

Absolutely amazing food. We have a bunch of great Mexican food in Highwood, so when Chacahua opened up, I didn't bat an eye. But they are phenomenal, and now our go-to spot. Their tortillas are homemade. The ceviche is so delicious. We've been running through the menu, trying new dishes each time and have been so impressed with each item. It does take a little time for food, but it's all made fresh, so be patient, and you'll be rewarded with friendly service and a happy tummy. read more

Great traditional and tasty Food,Great atmosphere and great service !!! I Highly recommend this place to anyone

This place offers amazing food options! The portions are huge, tasty and are presented beautifully. The food has just the right amount of heat. If you like it spicy, you're in the right place as they offer that too. We ordered 3 different dishes that were all fresh and delicious. Definitely worth trying this spot. We took home a lot of leftovers which were equally as good the next day. read more

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Wow, that's my feelings in a nutshell! The food what delectable, could've been served at a 5-star restaurant and I wouldn't have batted an eye. We had the whole tilapia with the Ranchera sauce and my mouth is still watering from the flavor of the sauce combined with the tenderness of the fish. We also shared a shrimp taco and a fish taco. The shrimp was cooked and flavored ​brilliantly and the fish taco was just yummy. Thank you for existing. I hope the area is wise enough to allow you to endure. ​ read more

Truly a great experience! with all the great Mexican restaurants in Highwood, this restaurant stands out with some incredible seafood dishes! The ceviche is out of this world (best I,ve had in Chicago). My husband is a big fan of the shrimp fajitas. Definitely going back to try more items. In addition they have some terrific aqua frescas (specialty homemade fruit enhanced waters). read more

Amazing food!! Much better quality than any mexican I have had in a while in the northshore. Portions are very generous too! Get the shrimp fajitas and octopus cocktail! read more

Delicious menu choices and a beautiful decor. Go more than once as there are many good things to try either for lunch or dinner.