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    Rojo Gusano

    3.6 (251 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Order Rojo Gusano Takeout or Delivery

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    Business Info

    ROJO GUSANO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Rojo Gusano

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    Denyce M.

    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.

    Fries and Plantains
    Natalie R.

    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).

    Tigui D.

    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.

    Plantains Chips and Salsa

    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.

    Corn
    Isabella R.

    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.

    Guacamole
    Marlene S.

    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

    NA marg
    Kate M.

    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.

    Beans and salsa

    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.

    Alex B.

    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.

    Grant A.

    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.

    Nachos
    Sonya M.

    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.

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    10 years ago

    Amazing food and service. My new spot for quality Mexican food. I recommend the small bites, guacamole, tamale, and any tacos.

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    9 years ago

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    Page 7 of 7

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    Ask the Community - Rojo Gusano

    Are the vegetable options (mushroom, cauliflower tacos) modifiable to be vegan?

    Do we need to make a reservation?

    Are dogs allowed on the patio?

    Yes, I just walked by and dogs were on their patio.

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    La Mejikana - Taco de Lomito

    La Mejikana

    4.3(448 reviews)
    7.0 miPilsen
    $$

    We arrived not knowing it was a bar crawl happening but we still got in and waited for a table. It…read moretook 30 minutes to get a table bc of the bar crawl. As much as it was packed from 2:30 til 3:30 we were still were able to order a drink at bar. Martin was so nice and took our order and brought it to us being we went back to waiting line. The place is small with a hard time to walk around when it's full. It's a nice bar restaurant and didn't realized until we were leaving that there's a back area. The bartenders could be a little more social and happy bc that seem a bit dull and unhappy working there. Unlike Martin he was happy. Mildred was our server and she did phenomenal. The food and drinks were great

    It was not stated anywhere else on their digital menu that they their tacos come individually;…read morecompared to their three taco plate option, but thanks to checking the yelp menu first I was able to make my choice for 2 birra tacos! (inquire about the 4% service charge added) No rice or beans with any of my parties' dishes, not sure if that is an option. Time to be seated was less than five minutes for a party of four around 2:20 PM on a Sunday; busier times or days enforce their 90 minute time limit policy per table. The food was well seasoned, wish I tasted it a little more on the meat itself, yet all the vegetables tasted crisp and fresh. If you are looking to have intimate conversations be prepared to speak a lot louder, the DJ booth by the front keeps it pretty lively, but difficult to hold conversations across the table. Open authentic Mexican soda is always refreshing, and if you're looking for a place that has soft serve margaritas this is one of them. If you notice and unusual wait time or slow service please make your choice accordingly as I started to notice it was a case by case basis like some of the previous reviews had mentioned.

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    La Mejikana - Interior of Buisness

    Interior of Buisness

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    Bocaditos Mexican Cuisine - Enchiladas Maya

    Bocaditos Mexican Cuisine

    4.2(123 reviews)
    5.4 miWest Loop, Near West Side
    $$$

    Went here for my birthday dinner on a Saturday night. Nice atmosphere and music but not too loud…read morefor conversation. I loved the decorations. I ordered the steak and shrimp fajitas they were expensive but excellent! Came out on a sizzling plate. I tried the Habernita drink and sangria. The habernita drink had mezcal, orange, pineapple, and habanero so had a nice kick to it. My friend told server it was my birthday secretly and they came out with a sparkler had birthday music playing and shots of tequila for my table! We had a great time and I will definitely be back! I recommend coming here to celebrate your birthday or just to have a delicious meal

    I'm not one to knock out places that I haven't been for the first time but this one won't be seeing…read moreme ,any time soon. The food was bland and lacked flavor, the enchiladas didn't have the texture and quality you'd expect for a place that's close enough to down town to make its presence known. The service wasn't bad just lacked effort. The server upsold side dishes , but never brought them out. Had them removed from the check. The ambiance is great , nice decor , great music and spacious. The chicken was diced and dry from being reheated so it had those crunchy edges, which don't belong in an enchilada lol. The drinks were sweet and tasty. Overall try if you're gonna be drinking rather than looking forward to the meal.

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    Empty restaurant

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    Sabroso! Mexican Grill - Enchiladas

    Sabroso! Mexican Grill

    4.7(551 reviews)
    4.5 miUkrainian Village, West Town
    $$

    Jesus was the best server I've ever gotten made it his mission to make sure we had everything and…read moreanything we needed definitely needs a raise for such a good service reminded of my grandpa which made it feel just like home definitely had a great experience thank you beautiful atmosphere and delicious food

    Four of us (two adults and two kids) visited Sabroso! Mexican Grill for the first time during a…read moretrip to Chicago. I must admit that I had low expectations because quite frankly, I have not enjoyed Mexican food outside of Mexico or California. However, we were hungry, and it was near where we were staying, so I decided we should check it out, and I am so glad we did! The food was great. Both adults and the VERY picky children in our group all enjoyed our meals. I ordered the green chicken enchiladas and the other adult ordered a chile relleno combo, which I also got to try. Everything was delicious and devoured by all! We were so full but the owner talked us into the chocoflan, and we did not regret trying it. It was soooo good! Speaking of the owner, the service was great. We really enjoyed how he and the rest of the staff were very courteous. It is a small establishment, and it gets a good amount of people, so I assume that there are waits during peak hours. I highly recommend Sabroso! And we plan to return the next time we are in the area.

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    Sabroso! Mexican Grill - Interior din6

    Interior din6

    Sabroso! Mexican Grill - Enchiladas

    Enchiladas

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    5 Rabanitos - Chilaquiles verdes

    5 Rabanitos

    4.2(851 reviews)
    6.9 miPilsen
    $$

    The chef who owns this restaurant trained with Rick Bayless for 19 years and it really comes out in…read morehis cooking. All of the food was absolutely delicious. We came later on a Monday night so we did not have to wait to get a seat although it was still pretty busy. The place is decorated nicely. Well on a block with many other Mexican businesses. Located right off the pink line it is very easy to get to and also noted to be near the Mexican art Institute. The chicken mole enchiladas were delicious. Spicy and bitterness of the chocolate balanced super well. rice was also cooked perfectly. The shredded beef dish was short rib and mashed potatoes. They were meant to be assembled into a homemade tortilla - a very interesting concept. The homemade tortillas were so warm and fluffy. I have never had such good tortillas. I took a tamale plate home. It was large and had a good portion of shredded pork. Super flavorful, but also I felt the texture might've been firmer than I would've expected.

    I was introduced to the place by a Mexicans from Chicago and it's such a hidden gem. She suggested…read morethe we try the sopes and i don't regret it at all. I got the chicken tinga and carne asada and it was really good. We had the verde ceviche (not pictured) and it was a table fav. We also got the elotes which were good but nothing special. It was my first time have queso fundido and i really like its. The staff was really friendly and the place is so cute. Most places are going for a minimalist look not but the bright blue, green, and yellow works really well today as well as the various artwork!

    Photos
    5 Rabanitos - Interior

    Interior

    5 Rabanitos - Chips & Guac

    Chips & Guac

    5 Rabanitos - This bright mural on the side of 5 Rabanitos drew us is for refreshing Micheladas!

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    This bright mural on the side of 5 Rabanitos drew us is for refreshing Micheladas!

    Manchamanteles Restaurant - Enchiladas Potosina

    Manchamanteles Restaurant

    4.4(151 reviews)
    2.9 miBucktown
    $$

    Manchamanteles is as fun and exciting on the inside as its boldly colored outside would lead you to…read morebelieve. The staff are donned in themed regalia, and will gleefully sing you a happy birthday song even if you're quite far from adolescence (and also a few days out from your actual birthday). The moles were all phenomenal, and the mezcal margarita pitcher more than satisfied our group. The interior is a bit bright and skews somewhat family oriented, so I wouldn't recommend it for every crowd. But for my group of friends and I, Manchamanteles more than delivered in food, service, and fun alike.

    Came here on Valentine's Day with a reservation, there were three of us, one kid. It was full of…read morefamilies, some couples. The had a tasting menu but we opted out of it. They give you a complimentary spicy trail mix. We started with the guacamole, it was okay. Then I got a traditional margarita, my partner got a pina colada with strawberries, and my kid got a pink lemonade (Marz Brewing made). The margarita was good, not strong but not too watery. For dinner I got the chicken fajitas, the waiter asked if I wanted just chicken which I though was odd because I ordered the chicken fajitas and I wasn't sure what he meant or if he meant no veggies, it came with veggies luckily. It also came with tortilla, corn, and a side of refried black beans with cojita, and rice. It was all okay. My partner got the lamb mole, it was sweet and savory, not spicy. And it came with tortillas. They have a lot of mole options, so if you're into that definitely come here to try! Overall it was just okay.

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    Manchamanteles Restaurant
    Manchamanteles Restaurant - Dobladas De Mole Negro! Delicious

    Dobladas De Mole Negro! Delicious

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    Frontera Grill - Trio Ceviche

    Frontera Grill

    3.9(2.8k reviews)
    5.2 miNear North Side
    $$

    The vibes were really nice for casual Mexican food. Dim lighting, candles on the table, and a cozy…read moreatmosphere. 8/10. The Chicken Taquitos (8.5/10) were perfectly crispy with tender, smoky chicken inside paired with fresh guac. The Corn-Masa Quesadillas (8/10) were more like crispy cheese-filled turnovers. The cheese pull was crazy, and the tomatillo salsa added a nice tangy kick. The Enchiladas de Birria (8/10) had tender, savory birria with a nice crunch from the cabbage and radish. The chile-sesame salsa added a great depth of flavor. The Barbacoa (7/10) was tender. I wasn't a fan of the salsa borracha, but the consome was delicious with a nice kick. The Fried Sweet Plantains (8/10) were soft and caramelized. The crema and cheese were a great addition. Overall, a solid spot for Mexican food when you want something a little nicer than a casual taco spot.

    It's a terrific still solid stalwart of restaurants in Chicago's legendary portfolio of amazing…read moredining experiences. Creative authentic Mexican specialties and delicious specials. The service is impeccable warm and welcoming! The restaurant interior and adjoining dining experiences are beautifully art directed from Rick Bayles's brilliant eye for art culture and food. The mole is lendary and the branzino was delicious. Beautiful food great full bar and drinks.

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    Frontera Grill - Back room, additional eating area at the bar

    Back room, additional eating area at the bar

    Frontera Grill - Duck carnitas

    Duck carnitas

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    Rojo Gusano - mexican - Updated September 2026

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