Taco &amp; Burrito Express

Food was great! Love when I find authentic Mexican food, had crunchy juicy flautas de pollo, a…read moretorta and the cocktails were excellent! Our server Angie was efficient and friendly with our whole party (11)! Lovely decor and ambiance! Si buscan comida buena pasen a comer: Comida, Bebidas y música que más quieren! Todo rico!

Service was good Salsa good with a kick but you only get one…read morethen you gotta pay They also charged me $0.25 for my soda refill. Rice and beans very good Spicy hot sauces Rolleno was bomb but a little soggy Good red sauce Jake liked his chimi but Jake also likes all food Margarita felt small for the price

Chicken Chimi

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Sofia's Place

4.4(98 reviews)

2.8 mi

Stopped here for lunch, couple times actually. I like Mexican a lot. Raquel is very nice. Service…read morewas top notch. Food was good and generous portions. Horchata was huge! And very good. Only drawback was price. Almost 30 bucks for a lunch. I played some games in their game room afterwards to try my luck, and won some money to cover lunch and then some! Worth a try if your looking for a nice place to get some good Mexican and play some games. Ill be back for sure.

Ok, I don't know if I was just really hungry or what.... But the tacos here are GOOD. Like…read moreunexpectedly good. After moving to this area, it's been hard finding good quality and good flavor places unless you go to Crystal Lake or Kildeer. However, I think this place is a local Mexican food gem. I got 4 tacos for pick up: ground beef, steak, pastor and barbacoa. Right off the bat, all tacos had a very generous amount of meat and onion/cilantro (my choice of topping) in them. However, on top of that here is what I loved about each taco: Ground beef: it was actually quite well seasoned! All other ground beef tacos I've had in the area are just plain. This one had a beautiful seasoning flavor to it. It caught me by surprise! Steak: it was your typical small cubed low quality taco meat steak. Not as flavorful as the ground beef, but honesty still really good Al pastor: the SEASONING and FLAVOR were just awesome . Honestly most well seasoned pastor I've had in a while. What for me personally could have made this a 10/10, would be if they served it with grilled pineapple mixed in. However that's just my personal flavor preference lol. Overall, still one of the best Al pastor in the area. Barbacoa: it was super moist and tender and again the flavor profile of the way they seasoned it when cooking was just Also got chips and guacamole. Very good. Nice chunks, and not puréed like some places do. Overall I will definitely be coming back here to try the other dishes! Highly recommend!

Checking out this Mexican food restaurant while we're in the area.

Burrito Pastor (Marinated pork)

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Steak Taco (Asada)

La Pequena Mariposa

4.8(10 reviews)

0.9 mi

Delicious sopes! The al pastor is very good. Wish they had carnitas. I don't think I've ever been…read moredisappointed.

I stopped here for the food - and I know there's an entire ice-cream side to this place which I…read moredidn't try, so I'm only reviewing it for the food currently. That being said, the food was good / as expected. The chicken taco was the best out of the 3 I got (chicken, beef, and al pastor) and they all had good flavor. The beef and al pastor reheated on the flat top got a bit too greasy and crunchy/overdone like though but I understand that this place doesn't get a whole lot of traffic around 2/3pm so stuff has to get reheated. The green and orange hot sauces were very good and not as spicy as I would've expected. The limes with the tacos were a nice touch. Overall, I would say there's better places to get tacos around the area BUT... they don't have ice cream like this place so, this one wins sometimes.

Mango yogurt & guava icecream

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El Vado

4.6(20 reviews)

6.4 mi

El Vado used to be my favorite Mexican Restaurant in McHenry County. The food was good, the service…read morewas friendly, and the prices were fair. Plus, it seemed to be run by women, which gave the place a festive family feel. But then some loud young guy took over the restaurant floor, acting like a slick, fake salesman and messed up the whole vibe. The menu became all glossy pictures of food, as if suburban folk needed to see photos of the Tacos & Enchiladas in order to know what their names meant. After that my girlfriend and I stopped coming here. It only takes ONE bad experience.

Everything was INCREDIBLE! I was welcomed and seated right away. The staff was incredible, but the…read morefood...... Speechless!! I travel for work so it was a great surprise to find this place. I had the Carnitas dinner. Everything was perfect. Thank you too the staff for making this visit enjoyable. 10 out of 10!

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Carne Asada Tampiqueña and Steak Fajitas

Carniceria Y Taqueria Campos

4.8(13 reviews)

4.8 mi

Tried to support a local taco place. We didn't even stay to eat. The kitchen was dirty. It felt…read morelike people were living in the restaurant. Several people were not eating their food but Starbucks at the tables. One table was a mess with an old pizza box on it.

Speed, price, tastes great!!! Have to try it! Real tacos and a Coke in glass bottle. Can't beat…read moresimple, good, and fast!

Steak tacos

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Menu posted above

Raul's Burrito Express

4.3(125 reviews)

3.1 mi

Yelp recommended this spot as being 1) close to me and 2) great!…read moreIt was very close to me and I would say it was good, but not GREAT. I ordered a carne asada burrito (no beans). The girl at the register was very friendly while helping me and taking phone orders. I think everyone is biased towards the Mexican food they have eaten the most of and for me that's San Diego. The carne asada meat is cute us into tiny bits at Raul's and seemed to be much saucier than I am used to. I might try this place again if I am in the area but I would order something else.

Great food and good service. The food was tasty and plentiful. The only thing I would do is use a…read morebetter cut of meat, there was too much grizzle. Even if you have to bump the price up. But all in all it was a good experience and I would do it again. GOOD SPOT.

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Carlos River Cafe

3.5(117 reviews)

1.8 mi

Love this spot. Classic feeling Mexican. Open kitchen. A few tables. Quality food. All the…read moreclassics. Very fair prices. Highly recommend for a quick classic taco night.

Excellent food one of our favorite Mexican restaurants. Amazing tostadas and tacos are fantastic…read more Service was great and the ambiance is good.

Steak Burrito Dinner

Amazingly authentic and delicious mexican fare. Well priced

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Chicken Tacos

Los 2 Primos Mexican Restaurant

4.4(10 reviews)

4.0 mi

Tasty food, friendly service, and it has become one of our local favorites! The restaurant is clean…read moreand inviting and now there's outdoor dining as well. Highly recommend!

Authentic Mexican food with great service. We had carne asada tacos, sope de asada, and tostada de…read moreceviche de camarones, along with the complimentary chips and salsa. The tacos were flavorful and had warm fresh tortillas. The ceviche was excellent and so fresh. All the salsas we tried were obviously home made and very fresh and flavorful too. We both like spicy and loved the level of spice, so for some they may be a little hot. Highly, highly recommend as a great eat in lunch spot or big orders to go. We were there for about 45 mins for lunch and they had tons of to go orders! We will definitely be back to try more things because everything looked and smelled amazing.

Menuuu

MENU

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Combination 1

Whiskey Diablo

4.3(80 reviews)

6.2 mi

Bring salt! Good atmosphere, good drinks(Mango Tango!), good service. Sadly, the food was…read moredisappointing: I ordered tacos and my husband ordered a Chile relleno burger; both were pretty tasteless. The proteins (beef and chicken) were not seasoned. Even the 'spicy' sauce for the tacos was bland. We had to request salt just to be able to eat what we ordered. However, the tableside guacamole and chips were good.

Date of visit: December 13, 2025…read more I love a good Mexican place, and as much as I enjoy Carlos's, it is good to have other options for when I go to visit my friend in the McHenry/Spring Grove area. The restaurant is very large with a variety of seating options including some interesting swings. I say interesting because it's really more of a novelty than anything; honestly, do you really want to have a seat that moves while you're eating chips with salsa? The menu is interesting, with a heavy focus on birria (think brisket, if you're unfamiliar) including in a dipped/fried taco as well as a grilled cheese sandwich, which is what I went with. While the meat in the sandwich was good, there was very little cheese to speak of, and that should be an important component of a grilled...cheese. However the chips and salsa were excellent, with some of the best chips I've had in quite some time, they really taste like more. In terms of the salsa, they are not lying with the "Diablo" in their name. If you are not a fan of spicy, stay away from the salsas as even the mild is fairly potent after a few chips. Also note that sour cream is available but doesn't tend to come WITH things by default, so be prepared to ask for that if it's a key part of your Mexican meals. Also disappointing, the tacos come with raw onions on top. This isn't mentioned on the menu, and was a very unwelcome addition to the dish. Service was a bit of a mixed bag; Jasmine was nice and attentive but struggled on some aspects, including telling us what the three salsas were when she brought them to the table, and saying that birria was a "biscuit," which thoroughly confused us. She asked if we wanted more chips and we declined, but then she brought more anyways.

Back wall of restaurant

Diablo taco

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Tableside guacamole and interior atmosphere

La Huerta 5

4.5(56 reviews)

7.0 mi

Everything was delicious You can either eat there or take home. They even have a little grocery…read morestore attached so you can shop before or after you eat.

Awesome tacos. I had skirt steak, round steak, pork. Gotta go back a see if they offer ground beef.read more

Menu on 2018-Jan-09

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Tacos Pastor with extra toppings... Pastor is the best

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12 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Megan C.

1

29

0

12 years ago

If you are looking for one of those good small town secrets this is it. I am not saying the food is the best you will ever have but I am saying its pretty damn good. Everything is well seasoned and authentic. My husband and I love the burrito suizo because the sauce is deliciously tangy I think the best thing about this place is how quaint it is. You will most likely see Armando and get to know him if you keep coming back. The atmosphere is extremely casual and I always get a 'family kitchen' feel. The sit down area is small and nothing spectacular but it is a great little spot to go with the husband for a modestly priced meal or a few friends for margaritas. read more

Jocelyn B.

100

1

0

8 years ago

Food is so good and the people are incredible. So friendly. Prices are great too! We've had the tacos, burritos, quesadillas and even the chicken strips. Everything is so good. The sauces are all homemade and delicious. I highly recommend this place. We do carry out but I love the atmosphere of the restaurant. If you're looking for a quick pickup dinner or a not so pricey date night... I highly recommend. read more

Michael C.

0

3

0

10 years ago

Small hole in the wall but the most polite and smiling staff you will find anywhere. Plus the food is as authentic as it gets living out in the far Chicago suburbs. I was very impressed with the steak here and choose this restaurant over all the other Mexican food joints in the area. read more

Rafael R.

0

1

0

3 years ago

I recently moved to Island lake and I gotta say this is the best Mexican food I've tried in a long time. The service was great, the staff were always smiling and attentive. I highly recommend this restaurant!!!! keep it up! read more

Megan H.

0

6

0

14 years ago

Good moderatley priced authentic mexican food at its best. Its just a tiny little dine in or out resturant but its a fun place to meet friends for dinner and have a good margarita. read more

chad H.

0

2

0

18 years ago

Small, but one of my favorate fast mexi food places, The owners are great people... Fantastic Margaratis!!!

Todd S.

0

5

0

11 years ago

The food is excellent and prices are what you'd expect. Their chicken quesadilla is the best I've ever had.

Scott U.

0

19

4

6 years ago

This place is incredible!!! Soooo good!!! Food is consistently delicious and the service is great!

Alondra S.

10

1

10 years ago

Taco y burrito te espera que vengas a que pruebes su rica comida..........ay un nuevo dueño

Brittney J.

0

12

0

4 years ago

Love love this place. They have very tasty food and lots of flavor. Very good prices too.

Laura H.

33

2

0

8 years ago

Absolutely my favorite Taco place!!! I recommend the steak tacos YUM!

M. O.

0

3

0

4 years ago

Best Mexican food in Island Lake!

Taco & Burrito Express - mexican - Updated September 2026

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El Sombrero Mexican Restaurant

4.4

(177 reviews)

It's a quiet little place, but they do have some outdoor seating too. The salsa is good, especially…read morethe verde (spicy). The chips are ok, definitely not fresh or made in house. I got a strawberry daiquiri and it was very good. The sopapillas were delicious treat. We got guacamole, I'd pass just because it doesn't have much flavor at all. I would recommend if you're in the area. The staff is all very friendly.

This place was very good. When the chips and salsa are awesome it's always a good sign!…read more I had the menudo and enchiladas. All were very tasty and the service was top notch! Muy exelente! I will be coming back when I am in town next.

El Vado

4.6

(20 reviews)

El Vado used to be my favorite Mexican Restaurant in McHenry County. The food was good, the service…read morewas friendly, and the prices were fair. Plus, it seemed to be run by women, which gave the place a festive family feel. But then some loud young guy took over the restaurant floor, acting like a slick, fake salesman and messed up the whole vibe. The menu became all glossy pictures of food, as if suburban folk needed to see photos of the Tacos & Enchiladas in order to know what their names meant. After that my girlfriend and I stopped coming here. It only takes ONE bad experience.

Everything was INCREDIBLE! I was welcomed and seated right away. The staff was incredible, but the…read morefood...... Speechless!! I travel for work so it was a great surprise to find this place. I had the Carnitas dinner. Everything was perfect. Thank you too the staff for making this visit enjoyable. 10 out of 10!

La Huerta 5

4.5

(56 reviews)

Everything was delicious You can either eat there or take home. They even have a little grocery…read morestore attached so you can shop before or after you eat.

Awesome tacos. I had skirt steak, round steak, pork. Gotta go back a see if they offer ground beef.read more

Tacos El Norte

3.7

(131 reviews)

Tacos El Norte in McHenry. The absolute best tacos anywhere…read more They also have the best chilies rellenos and wonderful shrimp soup on the weekends.

Wasn't bad but not even close to the tacos el Norte in Lindenhurst…read more Service was good and friendly place was clean but food was just ok. Much smaller portions too.

Carniceria Y Taqueria Campos

4.8

(13 reviews)

Tried to support a local taco place. We didn't even stay to eat. The kitchen was dirty. It felt…read morelike people were living in the restaurant. Several people were not eating their food but Starbucks at the tables. One table was a mess with an old pizza box on it.

Speed, price, tastes great!!! Have to try it! Real tacos and a Coke in glass bottle. Can't beat…read moresimple, good, and fast!

Antojitos Mexicanos La Fonda

4.5

(27 reviews)

Been going here since they opened, I've tried other Mexican food places. Fastacos, el Vado, one…read moreisland lake, etc... this is the best food there has ever been. 10/10 if you think about going anywhere, ignore that idea and come here.

I was in Crystal Lake and was looking for a place to get lunch. We ended up at Antojitos for…read moreauthentic Mexican food. The restaurant is not for inside dining so be prepared for ordering to go. I ordered enfrijoladas for $12. I've never had them and didn't know what to expect. The price was somewhat steep but the portion and weight was definitely hefty. The food was scrambled eggs layered with corn tortillas, beans, cheese, and sauce. I wasn't crazy about it but it is more my personal taste with corn tortillas. This happened to be a solid dish and I would recommend checking them out.

Three Amigas

3.3

(9 reviews)

Freshly cooked steak burrito--absolutely delicious! Super friendly people and great food.read more

Date of visit: August 5, 2023…read more Note: This review is for the food truck 3 Amigas, which listed an address that matches the store and appears to be an extension of the brick-and-mortar location. The woman running the truck was very efficient and knowledgeable, answering questions about the food available, sending orders to the "Kitchen" and handling payment with deftness and ease. I really appreciated her ability to keep the line moving! She was also accurate with my order. Unfortunately it was an all-around meh quesadilla. I ordered with ground beef since that's not something I eat often and I considered this a special treat. While the tortilla was pretty standard, there wasn't a ton of flavor to the ground beef and the cheese was nearly non-existent, a definite disappointment. There was also no sour cream to accompany the dish, which I feel would have gone a long way towards improving the overall taste flavor of the quesadilla. The menu referred to it as a Super Quesadilla, but we seem to have wildly differing definitions of "super!"

Taqueria Las Cumbres

4.1

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Voted as one 2011's BEXT Mexican Restaurants in McHenry County, many dishes at Taqueria Las Cumbres…read morelive up to the hype. However a few dishes, as well as some plating designs are a little lacking. The Ambience was pretty stark too. But the Service however was friendly and informative. I particularly enjoyed the "Pariliada". Some dishes that missed the mark were the Chicken Enchiladas Verde, and the basic Taco Plate. Overall, Taqueria Las Cumbres is worth a visit, but not unique enough for a special occasion.

My boyfriend and I went on a date here a couple nights ago and our server was wonderful, very…read moreattentive! And the food was very delicious! I got quesabirria tacos and my boyfriend got a burrito dinner. It's a very chill vibe (or it was when we went but it was a bit late when we went). Very good pricing, service, and atmosphere!

La Trinidad - McHenry

4.2

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This is a very nice Mexican place in Mchenry. The combo platter I had on my first visit was good…read morewith the chicken tamale, taco and enchilada. Salsa is nicely balanced and not too spicy for me. But rest assured, they have other salsas that are hotter. The fried tilapia I had my second visit was just exactly what I was craving. Crispy fish with warm tortillas. Really good. The people there are very warm and welcoming. They provided attentive service. My husband really liked it here too.

Went for dinner with friends. We got there and there was a few big parties so the service was a…read morelittle slow but no big deal. The staff was great and took care of us. And we were not in a rush. The food was much more flavorful this time. I have been a few times and thought I had reviewed in the past. I had fajitas they were on special. Very tasty with a nice flavor. The salsa was ok. The other people had tacos, burrito, and stark fajita I had the chicken. The only issue I had was the window was so cold and the draft coming in made it not comfortable to take my hoodie off.

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