Low key exterior leads to a pretty cool interior...Like! Food is just fresh and tasty and a tad spicy, just how I like it. Service was friendly and prompt Good selection of beer. Clean. Eat there now. read more

Wifey & me were hungry, having just sat through a rather long & tedious movie, and we needed a good food 'jolt' - something spicy, tangy & tasty. We had to rely on the online map to find the place - it didn't seem too obvious when driving along the street in the dark, and even when walking up to the window, it looked more like a bar than a restaurant. However, as soon as we entered we were greeted very warmly, and sat right down. The waitress & other staff were all really fabulous - pleasant and helpful, and handled our order very efficiently. The chips and two salsas were fantastic (I loved the smoked, wifey preferred the green). The 3 taco option was good though pricey. The Carne Asada was super tasty, and the best of the three we chose (if there's a next time, I'd be happy just getting three of those). The flan dessert was very nicely done, though overpriced at nearly $8. Decor and such isn't much of a factor for me, but I guess the 'diablo' mask motifs are cool and the overall effect is suitably atmospheric, though perhaps a little dark for reading the menus--a little table candle/lamp might have been a nice touch (perhaps also, a big illuminated 'diablo' mask on the outside of the restaurant might help the place stand out better from the street). In summary, apart from the pricing, the food and place were very good, but most of all, the staff made us feel welcome and turned a humdrum evening into something a bit more special. read more

This place is absolutely terrible. They put feta cheese on my tacos and don't own cilantro...nuff said

Easily the best Mexican food in Evanston. It seems the place has overcome some early management issues and is running smoothly with good service. The food is excellent. Fresh chips, two salsas (hot red and tangy green) served when you sit down. Everything comes with decent Spanish rice and tasty beans (bacon charro or black). I had three tacos: spicy shrimp (spicy as advertised, good slaw), potato (actually mashed sweet potato, surprisingly good with the fresh cilantro and onions), and catfish (really good, and I'm not a catfish fan). The house margarita, is a bit tart (which I like) flavorful and potent. The premium margarita is superb. Great atmosphere: upscale funky warehouse. Definitely worth a return visit. read more

This place gives Big Star (in Wicker Park) a run for their money. The tacos are not only authentic and creative, but they are very reasonable for the price. The tacos are filling and 3 was more than enough for me. I tried... 1) Duck Tenders - this was my favorite, a 6/5. They were perfectly crispy and there was a sweet sauce that balanced the flavors beautifully. 2) Carne Asada - Really tender meat, still juicy (which is hard to accomplish when it's cut into small pieces). This really hit the spot and it felt a lot more authentic than any normal "mexican" joint. 3) Spicy Shrimp - Good pieces of shrimp cooked to perfection, and it came with a sweeter aioli, which was enjoyable. The tacos come with rice and beans, served family style, if everyone gets the tacos. Otherwise, it's individual portions. All in all, I think it's a great place to start off the night. And the staff is incredibly friendly! read more

After eating here twice, I've concluded that the food here is so-so. While the tacos have interesting ingredients, upon eating them I found the flavor so mild that it was hard to differentiate the tacos in taste, despite them being very different in terms of meat and toppings. If you're eating here with others and multiple people order tacos, the staff brings the tacos out "family style," which is to say that some random assortment of tacos are put on a plate and brought to your table, so it's confusing and annoying to parse out the tacos to the people who ordered them. The guacamole was also borderline bland, and I didn't like that they incorporated leafy greens into the guac. Compared to how much I pay for better tasting and cheaper food at Mexican restaurants on Clark St. in Rogers Park, the food here gets 1 star. The second star is for their decent service. They don't take reservations here, and they won't seat you until your entire party shows up. read more

The after-9pm special at $2.50 per taco is an insane deal. Try 'em all. Taco Diablo's tacos are sublime, well-balanced, individually conceived dishes. There are no bad choices here, though I feel the shrimp tacos, potato tacos and braised beef tacos stand out in particular. Enchiladas are rich and flavorful, but not greasy. Served with butery-delicious assorted veggies. Not typical Chi-Mex. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Chilaquiles are succulent and savory, layers of sauce and tortillas and dairy goodness, with a runny egg on top (and add extras like meat, optionally). A good breakfast dish. And, their French press coffee is as good as a coffeehouse. Service and atmosphere are dreamy in a weird-good way. Alcohol choices are excellent. Of course there's a wait at popular times! They are serving gourmet food at mid-level prices. I suggest you go afternoons, and late night mid-week. Or better yet, don't. (More tacos for me and my amigos.) read more

Stopped by Taco Diablo when we'd heard through the grapevine that they'd finally opened. It's on an odd stretch of Davis St that needs a little fun and cool. (But a quick round the corner from the movies!) We weren't ravenous so we only had the taco special: three tacos mix and match. All were delish, but especially the spicy shrimp and carne asada. We'll be back with either a bigger group or emptier tummies. P.S. previous comments dissed on the service. Our waiter couldn't have been nicer and was very professional for such a casual place. read more

I love this place. As a displaced Texan constantly searching for delicious Mexican food served with a laid-back Austin vibe, I was delighted to find this place. The spicy margarita is the stuff of legends and, in spite of the heat, goes down way too easy! When it comes to the food, make sure you start with guacamole served with basket after basket of salty, crunchy chips. Seriously, these chips are to DIE for and so are the accompanying salsas. I've tried every taco on the menu and my favorites are the shrimp and the crunchy chicken. I've also had their quesadillas and highly recommend them as well. As a heads-up, this place gets CROWDED so if you're coming with a large group, it's best to come early. Though there are worse things than getting stuck at their (awesomely ornate) bar.... read more

Food is terrific! Ordered an assortment of tacos. I would recommend any of the fish (Mahi Mahi, Tilapia), the potato or the steak tacos . You really can't go wrong with any of them. The fresh guacamole was a nice departure from the ordinary, as it wasn't overly mashed. Thus, resulting in great textures to go with the terrific flavors read more

First went Friday -The taco's were amazing - fresh, huge flavor and packed full to where they overflow...the green sauce for the chips is medium heat with a huge savory flavor that I could eat all day, Went back today with one of my daughters and the tacos floored her, then Flan was given to us and both my daughter and I hate flan but grab a little bit on our forks and after tasting it said Good God that's great and ate it all up. Wow they don't know how to be anything but wickedly good. Price is on the mark - food is on point - worth every penny Best tacos in Evanston and most places I been in Chicago!!! read more

Fantastic food, drinks and service! I had the Enchiladas Rojo. It came with the best pinto beans and Spanish rice I've ever had. Delicious margaritas and we couldn't have asked for better service! Our server checked on us frequently and made sure soft drinks and water were always full. If someone wasn't busy helping customers, they stayed busy making sure everything was clean. read more

Very cute room with a welcoming hostess. Excellent margaritas were well balanced and just boozy enough. Great chips and flavorful red and green sauce, just no heat. The food broadly seemed to lack punch; however, my biggest complaint was the inattentive server who left drinks and water empty and threw the check down. No one from the restaurant thanked us as we left. I was a server for 10 years and these behaviors would've left me jobless. I'd go back, but only for the drinks. read more

Tacos are good. The rice and beans kinda suck. Waiter was helpful. Chips and salsa are really good.

Scrumptious food - every time. I'm especially partial to the lamb tacos. The decor is fun, too.

Very flavorful! We loved the chips and two kinds of salsa that arrived at our table shortly after we sat down. Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable. My husband and I shared the spicy shrimp, carnitas, brisket and fish tacos and our friend had the chicken enchiladas. The tacos were juicy and generous with their filling. We enjoyed all of them, but our favorites were the carnitas and the shrimp. The enchiladas were incredible - just the right amount of everything good and a very generous portion. The beans and rice served with both dishes were good, but not as great as the other items. All in all one of the best Mexican food experiences we have had in a long time. We'll be back for more! read more

Taco Diablo - Mexican Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Confusing with the three restaurants. We could not sit on rooftop and have tacos. Wait staff had too many tables so service was extremely slow. Nice beer selection however waitress did know much about them. Messed up final bill. Otherwise good good. read more

Davis st. itself isn't really that much. When I first heard about Taco Diablo, I thought it was just another Mexican establishment. I have no intention of offending restaurants that serve Mexican food, but I always had preconceived notions that they were delicious but oily and cheap. When I walked into Taco Diablo, my first impressions based on the "Mexican" tag, the street it was located on, and the ordinary-looking door quickly faded away. I was delighted at the decor especially the ornate middle-eastern lamps that hung over the bar. I also loved the Cartoon spin that they put on the restaurant (two baby devils with a taco in between :) ) . We had a pleasant and helpful server. But more importantly the tacos..OMG they were absolutely delicious. We had four I think: Carne Asada, Beef Machaca, Crispy Almond Duck Tenders, and Pork Carnitas. Every single one of them had a distinct delicious flavor attached to it. It still clear in my mind...the smokiness of the Carne Asada, the orange spice of the duck, etc. Alongside the tacos, we were served black beans, rice, and bacon bean stew. The portions did not seem a lot but, the above was enough to fill both my friend and I. To finish, I ordered a Horchata rum desert cocktail which got me a bit tipsy and satisfied. I'm definitely going back. It's places like Taco Diablo that along with places like Found that make the following true: No matter what quiet town you visit, there's always good food somewhere. read more

Located in downtown Evanston , a fancy little Mexican, dine in kind of a place. Very good food although slightly on the expensive side. This is not your regular taco place, this is a place you go when you want to celebrate. Good ambience, fairly good service, good list of alcohol to choose!! read more

No better Mexican place in Evanston!! Fantastic food, drinks and service. For the night, my wife and I tried the fundido, char chicken with mole, assortment of tacos (duck, potatoes and crispy chicken) and for drinks, the capirinha and the spicy margherita. Every single dish was absolutely fantastic. For me, the highlights were the fundido and margherita, those are must gets with future visits. The only downside is the place isn't big, so if its a weekend night, you may need to wait 20-30 minutes. read more

The food here is simply delicious. We started with Jalapeño Torridos, which are jar grilled Jalapeño Peppers with lime and sea salt. They are warm, soft yet still have a bit of crunch and pleasant texture to them, and are deliciously spicy. And aside from the sea salt not unhealthy. For my meal I had the spicy grilled shrimp tacos with chili aioli, radish and cabbage, served with cilantro and onion. The shells were soft and warm, the veggies fresh, cool, and crunchy, the shrimp warm and juicy. Everything had wonderful flavor and lots of spice. Also the chips they brought to the table were warm and did not taste or feel greasy. They were crunchy but not flimsy and could handle the salsa with out breaking. They also had a very nice texture and flavor to them. The green salsa was sweet and chunky, while the red one was more traditional with a smoky spice that sneaks up on you. The coffee was hot and strong as well. The place is clean and comfortable with a fair amount of light. The staff is friendly though in terms of service I'd like to see a few tweaks. They are not very good at checking back in once the food is brought and you have to flag them down for more coffee or whatever your drinking as well as the check. Also, they have a tendency to bring the starter and main course at almost if not at the same time. Which is a personal pet peeve of mine but might not bother you. But over all you are getting delicious food, served by pleasant people, in a nice comfortable atmosphere, at perfectly reasonable prices. So I certainly recommend them. read more

Love the cool environment with very fun cheeky Mexican inspired art and unusual twists on Mexican food. Try the Carne Asada with dark coffee rub char-grilled with robust Cascabel mole, pickled onion, guajillo mashed potato. It's a the best thing on the menu we've had. Feeling like a twist on the usual tacos? Try the duck or mashed potato tacos. The mole chicken thighs were disappointing- the meat was a bit dry - seemed like they weren't cooked in the mole, just topped with the sauce. Standard items like beans chips and guacamole were good. I tried their spicy margarita that was supposed to be a sweet, tart and spicy drink but compared to others I've had it wasn't well balanced. It's on my list as a great place to go - would be a cool happy hour hangout too. Just needs a bit work on some items - the ideas are great but execution is a bit short. Get a great chef to perfect the recipes and it will be on the top of my list. Also bummed it's not open on Sunday's for lunch. read more

pretty good place to grab some tacos! I loved the carne asada and chicken tinga tacos. the pork carnitas one was simply okay to me. the chips were warm and the salsa was fresh! friendly service and a clean atmosphere, likely to stop in again for a bite and another delicious og margarita! read more

Having lived about two blocks away from Big Star for most of my Chicago life, I have to say that Taco Diablo is sooooo much better than that overhyped place. The only gripe is that they don't take reservations, so on weekend nights be prepared to wait 30 minutes or longer for a table. But on weekdays, you can easily snag a table, especially if the weather is bad. I especially love their tortas, which I think are better than Frontera's. The bread is perfect, the meat well seasoned and tender. I've had their tacos before, and they were good, but not spectacular (I think it's something about the meat to other fillings ratio). Did I also mention free chips and salsa? The green one is particularly spectacular for a non-spicy-food-eating person like me. read more

The atmosphere is great, but when it comes to food, not so great and overpriced. We ordered 6 different tacos (duck, lamb, vegetable, crispy fish, cod fish, and shrimp) None of them were good nor fresh. We did not order any drinks, so cannot comment on them. We will not go back for food. read more

Waiter started us out with free chips and salsa for lunch, which was a nice touch. My wife and I ordered tacos and each one was better than the last! The food came out really quickly which worked out perfect since we were accompanied by a sleeping baby. I would definitely come back again for dinner! read more

Taco Diablo - Mexican Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Let me start by saying the food was "ok". Nothing wrong with it, nothing exceptional about it. I've had similar food at your basic Mexican restaurant on Clark St in Chicago. If you want a beer, a cocktail, 6 tacos and guac for $70 than this is your place. Don't forget to tip read more

This place does not disappoint! The Crunchy Chicken tacos are my favorite, but whenever I am with friends, they always rave about what they order...from the chorizo to the catfish. I'm not big on salad, but their dressing will have you craving more. Their house margarita is strong, but oh so good. The decor is adorable, yet refined. And the waitstaff is always on point. Make sure you check out their lunch special. Two tacos and a side salad is a perfect lunch that will fill you up. I can't promise that you won't want to come back for dinner, though! I definitely recommend this place to anyone looking to try a fun spin on Mexican food! read more

I think this is a cute little place that is very unique for Evanston. I have liked all of the food I have ordered, but I seem to order the same thing every time. I get the guacamole and chips for the table, and then the 3 taco combo with the carne asadas and the pork. The margaritas are very good. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because compared to other taco places, it's a little too much money for the amount of tacos you get. It could be because it's in Evanston, but go to Roger Park if you're not looking to sit down and drink margaritas. Margaritas: $8 - $10 Taco Combo: $12 read more

Went here today (Dec. '16) and was very, very pleased. I had an American Pale Ale and my girlfriend had the Vodka drink off the menu. Both were recommended by the nice bartender who was passionate about Robert Plant and good music in general. The ambiance of this place is great. It's a little dark in there for these (10 hours of screen time a day eyes) but it works here as the Diablo (devil) theme really helps the place stand out on the aesthetics front. Food wise-everything was on point. The chips n salsa and the guac were both very solid. I am not a huge guac guy but it was tasty and the salsa was good enough to take home. For entrees I got the pork carnitas torta which was, and I try and shy away from using this overplayed word-but well-EPIC. The sauce and extras are perfect for my taste buds. I could go on, but you will just have to try it for yourself. Yummmmmm!!! The lady got the tacos and they were also killer. The duck and pork chorizo were heavenly and the smoked brisket kicked butt. The rice n beans (that come with the tacos) and the cabbage and raddish slaw (that come with the Torta) all were worth finishing. So I will say that when I went in it was near dead so that could be a factor, but all I can say was that it was an excellent meal. Price wise, at about $80 I think it was a slightly decent value. A couple of drinks, aps and entrees at $40/pp. seems fair for such a great meal in a nice place. Customer service was very good. In short you can spend more and get less but why would you when you have this gem. I will definitely be back. read more

Went with a friend for lunch. We split 6 tacos between the two of us, and it came with chips (delicious salsa), beans (amazing frijoles charros), and rice. The standout tacos were the beef cheeks, the shrimp, and the chorizo with duck and egg. They don't have tamales on the menu. I found this confusing. They have a fabulous beer list, a great whiskey/rye/bourbon/scotch list, and a beautiful tequila list. Already planning on going back to try more tacos and have a drink or three. read more

This place has been totally transformed since its days as Bill's Blues. Let's start with the aesthetics; this is a beautiful restaurant. You get what you expect: this is modern mexican cuisine and the decor is very new school. Service was wonderful when I went, but I also went months after they opened. Chips and salsa were good, but the salsa fresca that came with the meal was the star of the show as far as salsa is concerned. I had the three taco platter with two of the duck + pork chorizo tacos as well as the chicken thigh with mole. My friend had one of each duck taco (the other being the crispy almond duck tenders) and the carnitas. I will say from what I've experienced and what I've heard from others the crispy almond duck and chicken thigh mole are the way to go with the tacos. Be careful with the lime wedges, a lot of the flavors they use are fairly subtle and a little too much lime is going to overpower. The plate also came with rice and beans (choice of black or charro). Just excellent, beautifully presented and served. Will definitely be returning sometime soon, need to continue to work my way through the menu. read more

The best Mexican food we've had in IL. We started with the duck chorizo - not something I would normally order but my husband loves duck, one bite and I was so glad we ordered it. So tasty. I had a pomegranate margarita that was to die for. I ordered the 3 tacos plate, my choices- carne asada, potato and the catfish. All stellar. My husband ordered the carne asada in mole. huge plate, said it was tasty. We selected the pinto beans with bacon as one of the sides, yummy! Atmosphere was bustling, seemed to be the place to be. So excited to find good Mexican in town! read more

I keep coming back here! My favorite order is the taco plate with chicken mole, beer battered fish, and brisket, rounded off with a hot joy margarita. The chips are great and always come to the table hot! read more

The ambience is perfect for dinner/night out with friends/dates. Service was quick, like most Mexican restaurants you get chips and salsa to start and their chips were some of the best I've had. The $15 for three tacos deal can't be beat. You can mix and match any one of their tacos and each one I tried was excellent (I'd especially recommend the shrimp, fish and brisket), and it comes with a bottomless side of rice and beans. $5 Modelo Especial on draft on top of that made for an excellent dinner out. The bar area has a very unique devil/demon theme and it looks like they even have their own draft beers that I'll try next time I go. Relatively cheap and highly recommended, my new favorite Mexican restaurant in Evanston. read more

Taco Diablo - $15 taco dinner plate. - Mexican Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

This place deserves the "Mexican Seal of Approval." The tacos are always on point and super flavorful. I don't like vegetarian items, and my favorite taco there is their potato taco. It's super flavorful and delicious, that I forget there is no meat inside. Just please get rid of those taco holders, those are for amateurs and take up valuable taco/plate ratio. Definitely recommend! read more

My buddy and me were looking for a good place to eat near the Hospital in Evanston. We ran into Taco Diablo lol. This place looked pretty cool, atmosphere is awesome with the lighting and ambiance. We were served by Eli, he was very attentive and excellent waiter. The rest of the staff were also very good with us! He advised us on what are the good drinks and food. We had G's margarita! Very good drink and the food was excellent! The price wasn't that bad and i was very happy with the meal! The steak tacos were delicious just like Eli recommended! I would come back for sure to this location! I really enjoyed my meal! I recommend this restaurant for great food, service and atmosphere! read more

They didn't have burritos I was upset. Like what Mexican restaurant doesn't have burritos?? #fake

Most definitely beyond as good as it gets! I have been to many Mexican restaurants in the Chicagoland area trying desperately to find THE place I can put at the top of my all time fav list. Well folks, this place is amazing. The ambiance is uplifting and festively "dark". Amusing, stylish and inviting. The crew didn't miss a beat and I have to be honest, I am one tough cookie to please. A friend told me the bartender had skills so, I started off with a Margarita and was totally shocked! The bartender can make one hell of a Margarita!!!! I then ordered some tacos (shrimp, fish and carne). I was expecting to get some average tasting taco but was blown away! Taco Diablo has authentic tacos! They came out out very quick and were overflowing with the goods. The beans were out of this world and the Chilaquiles top all I have had before. Now was the moment to test the chefs skills so I asked to sample some mole (a mexican festival sauce, by far my favorite of all mexican foods) I have only had one amazing mole in my life and have yet to find one that equals. Not what I was expecting to be honest. I was expecting to taste it and just toss it in the pile of yet another failed amature attempt. Folks, I have found the BEST mole. I cannot even express to you just how heavely and rich this mole is. It has a delicate and unique blend of pure mole perfection. I will see you soon Taco Diablo and please keep the heat up, no wimpy sauces! It's not hot if the fire isn't coming from hell. Great job to all of you! Truely an award winning experience. read more

The absolute best fish taco and margarita I've ever had! This diablos den of dark, cool vibe of an eatery. I ordered the three taco dinner. You can order from an array of choices from potato to carne asada and every thing in between. The taco dinner comes with a side of rice and beans. Your choice being black beans or pintos. I opted for the black beans and they were delicious. For my margarita of choice I ordered the saint and sinner I believe was the name of it. It was made on the rocks with mezcal, campari, grapefruit bitters, and lime juice. Oh M G!!!!! When I say delicious I cannot think of a better description. I've never had anything like it! Ahhhmaazing! Last, but certainly not least. I had a carne asada taco, a crispy chicken taco, and an amazing fish taco! The fish taco was made of cod and it was beer battered crunchy crispy deliciousness! I can't get over it yum! Will return for sure. This place rocked! read more