Quite good Mexican fare The house margs tasted... orange vanilla? It was still delicious. Loves the strawberry marg even more Food was delicious and meat was tender. Kind staff. Great pacing dinner for a friendly catch up. Very cute and chic decor. dare I say I felt like a slice of river north in ravenswood? read more

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Very interesting restaurant, Rojo Gusano. The Queen and I wanted to come here to try their Korean BBQ taco as we love that style of meat. We arrived and were able to park on the street. They have a lovely outside area for dining. There was a gentleman with a small electric keyboard playing in front of the restaurant. Stepping inside, we were greeted with a lovely decor the sound of live music, which was great. Looking over the menu, I was happy to see that they had an option for Korean BBQ as a protein for tacos and burritos as well as Chicken Tinga. For dinner I got the Enchiladas Verdes con Arrachera (Carne asada, handmade tortillas, queso, crema, cebolla, cilantro). This was a good dish but it did not come with any rice or beans, so I had to order that separately. At $29.95, one would expect some sides to come with the dish. The Queen got a Korean BBQ burrito; this is just a burrito, not a dinner so she shared some of my rice and beans. The meat was flavorful but that was a $18.95 burrito. The Doctor simply got three tacos, which came to a little over $20. Don't get me wrong, we will drop money of food and drink. I am that person that got three orders of the Deviled Eggs (baeri kaviari caviar, pickled mustard seed, crispy capers) at Brass Tack at $26 an order, so money is not the issue. But what I do want for my money is a certain quality and value for my food. Now you may think $26 for deviled eggs is cray cray, but the quality of the ingredients, plus the taste were worth it for me. For what we paid for dinner here, while the food was good, it was not what I would expect to pay for regular Mexican food. Rojo isn't what I would consider along the lines of Kie Gol Lanee, Mercadito - River North or Costera Cocina Tulum, so the prices are not in line with what you get. Our server was nice, but not very attentive. We had to keep flagging him down and eventually another server started stepping into help us out. I did order take out from them after this experience, which was a better experience. I got street corn, a burrito and some guacamole, providing the rice/beans and salad from home. Most likely if I order from here again, it would be take out. read more

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We love this place! We go every few months. Many of the negative reviews mention the service, but they are mostly from several years ago. We've only had good service there. The tacos are outstanding and tastes like premium Mexican food, which justifies the price to us. It's a cool space, but can get a bit loud if a band is playing music. read more

Great spot for tacos and live music! Recommend trying their amazing salsas and their Baja fish taco

I would say Rojo Gusano's appeal is more for the vibe and ambiance rather than the food. I had a great time and the service is impeccable but I can't say they're some of the best tacos I've had. I will say the food is clearly of great quality and delicious. Greta spot for a date night or girls night out, I love the patio (especially on nights when they have live music). read more

Rojo Gusano - Fries and Plantains - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We really enjoyed this place They had a live band and they were so good! Service was excellent, although our waitress seemed new but she did great and found answers when she didn't know. Margarita was fire The tacos were really good with fresh tortillas the salsas were so spicy lol and unique we weren't sure what types they were but it was good. read more

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They have a lovely outdoor dining area with musical accompaniment that feels romantic and special. Food wise the guacamole was delicious if a little overpriced. I had the cauliflor mole taco and fish taco. The fresh tortillas are fantastic, the fillings just ok. I was expecting the cauliflower to be fried, but instead it was steamed so healthier but less tasty. The fish was fine. To drink I had the Chipotle Mango which was excellent - sweet and smoky. Dessert was the standout. The churro was outstanding - a little crisp on the outside and pillowy soft in the inside. It was dreamy. The service was very good too. This is a nice date spot. read more

Food and service was great especially considering how busy it was, we went on Cinco de Mayo. One thing that would have me second guessing if I will visit again was the live music, it was way too loud. All of us that had dinner that night were bothered by how loud it was and we asked if they could lower the volume. Music was great just way too loud. Chatted with a friend the next day and she mentioned she had a similar experience and was even seated towards the back of the restaurant. Hopefully they can keep the live music but have the volume at a more tolerable level. read more

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The restaurant itself as far as decor is really impressive. I loved the theme and felt like they really pulled it off with the murals. Very pretty. As for the food, it wasn't bad but it wasn't great. I felt that it lacked a bit of flavor and it also felt over priced. I had the taco kit with the al pastor meat and to me it felt like it needed a bit more seasoning. The drinks weren't bad either but all and all I think this place is a bit overpriced. Service was good. read more

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Loved my dinner here! Parking here is super easy. Drinks were so great--I had the margarita and paloma. Some friends and I shared chips and guacamole, corn, ceviche, and plantains. I also had the cauliflower mole taco and the baja fish taco. Everything was incredible. Highly recommended! read more

This was a pretty mid experience. It's super pretty inside and the staff was super friendly. There was live music and there was a full house. We ordered margaritas which tasted like straight up margaritas mix. I couldn't finish mine. The guac was okay. I went with the tortilla soup which was pretty good. But my friend had 3 tacos and thought they were okay read more

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Two visits so far and more to come. Their food features authentic Mexican flavors not your typical "American texmex" dishes. Drinks were also exceptional with an emphasis on Mexican mexcals both straight up and in cocktails. Our service was friendly and prompt. On some nights they have live music. They also have a bar you can visit if you arrive early or wish to just stop in for a drink. One of the few AUTHENTIC Mexican restaurants in Chicago. The decor is pleasant as well-again, true Mexican themed. Will continue to return for the amazing food and overall experience. read more

I love it when I can give a positive upgrade! I came here with my sister-in-law and had a really pleasant experience. We dined at Rojo Gusano for dinner on mother's day and was thrilled to see there was live music! The musician was so talented, rocking out on guitar and singing songs from Amy Winehouse to Lizzo. She really made the vibes fun, I hope she's a regular performer throughout the summer! I was so happy when our server told me they have NA margaritas. With the salt rim and everything! It tasted delicious. Our server was very kind and checked on us frequently throughout the evening. I also enjoyed the food much more this time around! We shared nachos, chips & guac, and the street corn. Everything tasted fresh and was enjoyable. Really happy to have come back here! The churros and ice cream was the perfect way to end the evening. read more

Rojo Gusano - NA marg - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Stopped by early around 2p on a Thursday. Only ones in the place but a wierd time. Cute Mexican place, paintings, plants , big bar at the end and a band setting up for later Drinks were excellent we had margarittas and mezcalittas. Delicious and beautiful with Garnish. Was light lunch for us and we just had tacos, order of beans( runny kind) and guacamole, fresh and well seasoned. All tacos were tasty and filled on blue corn tortillas. Service was friendly and fast. Would recommend for drinks alone but food was good. read more

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First time at Rojo Gusano restaurant and there was plenty of seating. The list of tacos is expansive and the chef uses an array of ingredients throughout the menu. I personally did not like the al pastor tacos as it was too fatty. The service is great. One drink would love to see on the menu is horchata. read more

Rojo Gusano - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came in after touring whiskey distillery they are right next door. Was pleasantly surprised to be handed a brunch menu. Guess it was Saturday! Went with pork belly tacos. They came with sunny side up eggs on them which I was little surprised by.The tacos came with potato wedges. Ordered a michaladea with dos Equis beer. read more

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I visited Rojo Gusano for the first time when I met a group of friends there for lunch. We arrived around 1:30pm and found the place completely empty. We were subsequently greeted warmly and seated promptly. The atmosphere was relaxing and comfortable. The decor is aesthetically pleasing and unpretentious. We were able to sit for a while before ordering. We all had tacos and drinks. We ordered the chips & salsa and nachos as appetizers. They both were good. I had the carne asada, chicken tinga, and al pastor tacos. The tacos were okay, but nothing to rave over. I like the steak tacos the best. I've had better chicken and steak tacos elsewhere. Everyone thought their food was decent enough and enjoyed the overall experience. I also ordered a side of the black beans, which weren't very flavorful. The portion size was enough to share, though. I ordered Mexican Coke, but all my friends had cocktails. They said the drinks were pretty good. Our waiter was friendly and attentive as well. I'd probably visit again if i happened to be in the area, but I wouldn't go out. of my way to eat there or anything. It's more of a happen-to-be-there spot rather than a destination, in my opinion. read more

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Such a beautiful space ! Ahhh Great service and some of the best food I've eaten in awhile ! I can't wait to visit again ! read more

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Best vegetarian tacos in the city, really imaginative and creative ingredients. Great brunch. Great mezcal, great service. The live can get a bit too loud, but that's okay. read more

I've been here a couple of times, and in both instances have left underwhelmed. They have apparently a fresh take on both taco salad and quesadillas that don't resemble those dishes at any other Mexican restaurant I've been. Ok, but not what I was expecting. I get the vibe that they used to be a food truck and decided to be a restaurant. Serve yourself utensils and napkins. Single item order served without any accompaniment (sides, condiments) on a small plate, kinda like it came out of the truck window. Can't be bothered to cut tortillas into chips before frying. Maybe all of this is new and cool, but it's not for me. read more

Great vibes and decor and very convenient parking. Two of us got guacamole, corn and 4 tacos and were full. The guacamole and side dishes are generous size and tacos have a lot of meat. We couldn't decide if the Korean beef or the couch initial pork was better, both were great. I also like the sangria and have lived the plantains on previous visits. read more

My husband and his friends came in this past Saturday night. Brought in friends from out of town and friends who recently moved into the neighborhood, very excited to show off the secret gem that is Rojo Gusano. While the live music was entertaining the service was absolute garbage. Without exaggeration the server did not come back to the table for over 30 minutes after initially serving the food. Our table wanted to order additional drinks and the server frequented all the tables around but did not come back to ours. This left a sour taste in our book and has tainted our experience at Rojo Gusano. Incredibly disappointment with the service. read more

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The decor and service in here is spectacular!! From the food I recommend the Baja fish tacos and the chips and salsa. read more

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Tacos are pretty expensive ($4.50) and leave a bit to be desired. Margarita is great but is similarly steep in price. Service was awesome and would be the only justification for four stars, however I was overly-struck by food that just seemed to be lacking. Tacos flavors were a bit off- though the Korean Beef and chicken were my favorites of the menu (tried about six of them). Live in the area but will I be back? Not super confident. Good spot for drinks but not food. read more

Rojo Gusano - Carne asada, Chicken, Korean BBQ, Al Pastor - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wow me and 2 friends had a great dinner here on a Saturday night- highly recommend going Saturday nights because there is amazing live music!! Not only good food but a fun lively ambiance where they have cute plants all over and great lighting. We got the guac as a starter which was DELICIOUS and you can choose from different toppings. Then I got the mole taco(a little spicy for me) and epazote(mushrooms) taco both great veggie options! I enjoyed the epazote more. My friend got 2 garlic shrimp tacos which she loved. The tortillas are what made it: they definitely taste homemade and authentic! Best Mexican I have had in a while. I will definitely be going back. The server was attentive and friendly as well! read more

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Me and my friend decided to attend here on Sunday May 2nd to try out this spot. It was new to us so we decided to give it a shot. I order 3 tacos the Korean, the shrimp & the pork belly. Right off the bat the tacos were cold but I wasn't sure if it was served like that, & didn't want to complain. When I started eating the shrimp taco it definitely looked weird when I took the first bite the shrimp felt as if it wasn't cooked properly but in my head am like maybe that's the way it looks. So I kept eating it , I even told my friend I hope I don't get sick because of this welp! Sure did the next day I woke up throwing up all day. It wasn't a pleasant time for me. The waiter came around maybe like 3 times. When he took our order and to offer us desert and then the bill. I feel like he could've came around more to as how was the food ? But nope , and like I mention before I don't like to complain. The drink was good, and the restaurant itself looks nice but I think the food needs to be worked on. Just beware of the shrimp tacos!!!! Don't end up like me the next day read more

I am still thinking about the best dinner I had here a few weeks ago. I ordered the chips and salsa and the Korean BBQ Rice Bowl. So many good flavors! Turns out I have been snoozing on fried plantains? Tried them here and they were amazing. It was a Saturday night and there was a band playing nice background music. The restaurant was busy, but the food still came out quickly! Great vibes and great service, will definitely be back. read more

Rojo Gusano - Korean BBQ Rice Bowl - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My favorite taco place! Great food and drink! I love when they have live music! Staff is always nice and friendly - typically quick service too. I've even celebrated a birthday there! read more

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Get the verde enchiladas! So good. Stay away from the mole enchilada though, not good at all. I also liked the mango habanero guacamole, then those there was no spice to it at all. Service is good and the decor is nice! read more

Stopped by here for an improptu lunch and had a great time! I loved all the mezcal cocktail options, the mezcal mule was great. We got the enfrijoladas and chilaquiles. They tasted great and great portions for the price. Definitely looking forward to returning. read more

Rojo Gusano - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Food wasn't your run of the mill Mexican...more like maybe a Spanish style (if I had to guess)? The ceviche I ordered had pineapple in it and was sweet and tangy rather than the usual lime base that I'm used to. It was tasty, just different. My granddaughter's chicken quesadilla had a tomato sauce that tasted a bit like enchilada sauce, which was unexpected- again, good, but not your usual Mexican fare. My Mezcalita (cocktail) was nice and strong, and pretty tasty, and my daughter ordered a Diet Coke on the rocks, lol. That came in a bottle. The decor and ambiance was interesting and fun - classy and nice to look at. The music was good and the place would be good for happy hour or a party. Service was attentive and prices were reasonable. We'd come back for sure! read more

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I very much enjoyed my first dining experience here. My husband and I had reservations for Saturday night. The place was hopping when we arrived, and everyone we encountered who worked there was super nice. Turns out they lost our reservation, but we were still seated right away. There's a nice outdoor patio area, but we chose to sit inside because it was super hot. There was live music playing outside which was nice, but it was a shame you couldn't hear it indoors. The interior space is very pretty with a lot of cool artwork. We placed an order for drinks and appetizers quickly. The nachos arrived before our drinks did, and they were amazing. Our server apologized for the drink delay, and I was glad we at least had water. When the drinks arrived, they were very good. I had a margarita which was delicious and was served with a lovely flower garnish: very pretty. For our main meal, we shared the Hawaiian empanada, which honestly was just okay. My husband got four different tacos. He liked them all, but enjoyed some more than others. I ordered what I thought were steak enchiladas, but the menu was a little confusing and what I actually got were three cheese enchiladas next to a giant slab of carne asana. It was all very good. I wasn't asked how I'd like my steak cooked, and it was prepared pretty well done. I liked it but thought it was odd not to be asked my preference. We skipped dessert because we were super full, but had after-dinner drinks. My husband had mezcal, which he loved. I had a glass of mediocre and overpriced pinot noir: oh well. Overall, it's a nice place and I will definitely go back at some point. read more

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I found this little gem on a train ride to the city. Took the train to Ravenswood from the northern suburbs and ubered 7mins to the location. Could be a 15 minute walk in warm weather. The vibe when you walk in is Mexican cantina. When seated, it gives tiki vibes. We started with cocktails, Rojo and Mezcalada- we enjoyed them so much we got seconds. We also started with the guacamole which came plain and we added pico to it (there were about 4 "topping" options) it was delicious and a great portion for 2 people. Then, we tried the tacos. We got about all the tacos on the menu. My favorites were: Korean bbq, pork belly, Baja fish and coliflor con mole (in no particular order). They were just so delicious and unique. They come in blue corn tortilla and are quite filling. Rice and beans are ordered separate. The servers were kind and attentive. There was also a live band, a little jazzy for my liking at a mexican restaurant lol. read more

Rojo Gusano - Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A couple friends and I stopped in for brunch. The brunch entrees we ordered were pretty bland and the cinnamon in cafe de olla was way too overpowering. If you're stopping in, I suggest sticking to the tacos. read more

I hadn't planned to eat here but was walking with friends to another place and the restaurant looked warm and inviting, so we checked it out. I was very pleasantly surprised by the ambiance of this place - the wall art, the artificial ferns hanging from the ceiling, the bamboo chairs/walls. They had live music, too! The food was authentically Mexican and reminded me of Oaxaca - bright colors and flavors outside the standard ones at most US Mexican restaurants. Service was friendly. A great place to try something different or bring a date! Only giving 4 stars because it was a little pricey for what you get. Tacos were standard street taco size, so not very big, and were priced at $5 each (or $6.50 each when you factor in tax/tip). That adds up quickly when you order several of them. Drinks were $15 each (or nearly $20 with tax/tip) which was also pretty steep, though the mojito was served in a pint glass so at least you do get more of it. Looking at other tables, the soup and salad/rice bowls gave you better value so that may be worth trying next time. I'll come back, but given the prices, not right away. Still, worth it for a nice night out. read more

The food is really tasty. Vegetarian tacos and meat tacos on purple tortillas. The beet salad was excellent and fresh. Service was prompt and this place is aesthetically pleasing to look at. The night I visited, there was a live 3 person band playing bluesy sounds. read more

Rojo Gusano - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I wish I would have read some of the reviews before I came here. Rojo Gusano was recommended to me for their tacos, and they were very mediocre and certainly not worth the price in my opinion. The chips and guac was $13 which felt like way too much considering the portion. Not to mention, a lot of places give chips and salsa for free when you dine in. The ambiance and decor was pretty cool though. Our sever seemed a bit rushed and also didn't seem to have a good grasp on the menu, but that was OK. In any case, I don't think I would recommend this place to anyone but it wasn't too bad. read more

Great food great ambiance. great service! also has great vibe and music. Great drinks with beautiful mixology.

Tried this place out from initially being drawn to the ambiance and the decor. Definitely stayed for the delicious tacos! The food is a little bit pricey but comparable to other eateries in this area. I had the chorizo con papa, pork belly, and fish tacos and all were excellent. One of the best set of tacos i have eaten in years...just wish they were a little bigger for the 4.50/each price tag. Service was quick and multiple staff members were attentive to our table. A great local place - look forward to returning soon. read more

Rojo Gusano - Chorizo con papa taco, pork belly taco, Baja fish taco, Jamaica agua fresca, mojito, shrimp taco, Korean BBQ taco - Mexican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Well, the good news is that the food here is tasty! I loved the large crispy tortillas and the vegetarian tacos were excellent- my whole group eats meat but the veggie combos sounded good and they didn't disappoint. The reason I gave it three stars is because this is definitely a 'gentrified tacos' kind of place. You know what I mean! $13 cocktails, three bite tacos for $5 a pop. Usually the trade off here is menu knowledge; I asked about an ingredient I'd never seen in a drink and got a shrug. The timing was off too because we got our appetizers before we had our drinks. I sat with empty cocktail and water glasses for half the meal and neither another drink or a refill was offered. I'm not super picky about service. As a service industry veteran, I get it. Every place has a different vibe. I wouldn't care whatsoever if the servers didn't know the menu or were halfhearted about refills if this was a lowkey taco place with prices to match but if you're going to charge the same prices as Big Star, I wish the service was a little more hands on. Another weird thing is that two ingredient cocktails are the same price tag as their craft drinks; my friend was charged $13 for a Bombay Sapphire and tonic which, to me, is a lot for a taco place in Ravenswood. Not a bad place but I'm not tripping over myself to return either. read more