During a long weekend in Chicago I was staying nearby El Mana so based on the Yelp reviews it…read moreseemed like a great place to grab some dinner. El Mana is just a small storefront restaurant in a corner plaza. Inside is very basic, no real decor, simple tables and chairs. The clientele seems to be mainly Hispanic which is always a good sign. For such a small place the menu is fairly extensive including breakfast and a whole page of seafood entrees. I ended up ordering the Camerones Al Mojo De Ajo (shrimp in garlic sauce). While waiting for my food I enjoyed the chips and salsa, good flavor and fresh, although the salsa was a bit salty. In about 10 minutes my food came out nicely presented on a pretty fish shaped dish, a large portion of shrimp, rice and a simple salad topped with fresh avocado slices and some warm flour tortillas. The shrimp were excellent plump and meaty in a zippy sauce laced with garlic. The rice was a great compliment, while the salad gave a nice fresh crisp element to the meal. Overall an excellent meal and a great dinner. El Mana is a great place to get some excellent Mexican food at a reasonable price, portions are generous, flavors a big, bold and straightforward. Service was good, but this is not a high end place, really not much to see and really nothing except great food.

Delicious fresh and authentic Mexican food. Very glad we stopped here. Family owned and operated,…read moreeverything was delicious

First time visit. Crowded and noisy restaurant. Many tables in a relatively small place. Parking…read moreis also limited. Price is comparable to other local restaurants I frequent. Food was good and service was a little slow but considering how busy they were, it was efficient. The spice in the spicy jalapeño Margarita appears to be dependent on how hot the jalapeño is. I was hoping for a truly spicy drink but have not found that anywhere - yet. The only downside for me was the extra charge for paying by credit or debit card.

Very cute!!!! Please be good! Please be good! Please be good!…read more Update: The steak had an odd taste, almost had a sour or spoiled taste. Never had bad meat before so I wasn't sure, but I couldn't eat it. Asked what seasoning was used but she never came back with an answer. The drinks were great. But I would be afraid to order food again. Ugh!!! We really wanted to love this place, so cute and close, but no.

Food was great- get the corn elote, guac and salsa trio- great app. Loved the shrimp tacos, DH…read moreloved the chicken w mole sauce. Service was sweet- kind and perfect amount of attention. One idea- get light dimmers! Ambience would be so much better on Saturday night with softer, dimmer lights. Only downside- it was SO bright!

Very good food , get the Habanero sauce and a flavor explosion in your mouth. You'll be tasting it…read morelong after the meal and probably next morning as it exits ...wow

Came in as a guest for a private party- graduation- in their second floor. The service was very…read moregood. The server walked around making sure everything was tidy and clean. The bartender made sure to bring coffee as soon as he noticed it was needed. They also kept refilling the chips and food area. The party had a buffet table with rice, beans, tortillas, chicken, and beef plus a toppings table with salsa, sour cream, chips, cilantro and onion. The food is good for Tex Mex food, they use too much cumin for my liking. Overall the service was great and I would come in if I'm in the neighborhood.

Perfect spot for a quick margarita or a family dinner! The food is always fresh and comes out fast…read more Highly recommend the guacamole and chips and the fajitas so good every time. Service is attentive and consistent, and they even have a private event space with its own bar, which is a great bonus. Definitely a go-to local favorite!

Had a Birria Ramen and a QuesaBirria(beef)both delicious. More flavorful than others I have had…read more They do have original goat birria as well!!!

AMAZING. We've had our fair share of fantastic tacos (my husband is Mexican AND we lived in the…read morecity for years), but birrieria y taqueria exceeded my expectations... I would say top 3 Mexican places we've ever been to! We each ordered a few tacos, and my husband's fave was the pastor, while my fave was the birria, but all of them were honestly perfection. Horchata was great, rice and beans were fantastic, and pricing was definitely decent given the quality. I'm going to be craving their food weekly. I get the high praise now! We'll be back. :)

Came here on a whim because I saw online they were having a karaoke night on Saturday and we…read morearrived just in time before the kitchen closed at 10pm! They have karaoke every first Saturday of the month til midnight, and it was busy. The waiters at the restaurant almost didn't let us in because we were with our infant baby and the only side that was open was the bar and karaoke area that has slot machines. But luckily, one of the karaoke hosts recognized us and we were able to dine in and I was able to perform once! Our baby doesn't mind loud noises and fell asleep an hour into being there despite the hustle and bustle of Saturday night karaoke. While I was excited to perform and sing, I made sure to bring my appetite! When we arrived, we sat in the far back near the restrooms. It took a while for someone to take our order, so we flagged down one of the busboys, and he was wonderful. He brought us two orders of chips and salsa as we waited for the bartender to take our order. My husband and I shared the Campana Combo plate which was higher in price on the menu compared to their online website. The Campana Combo plate included a beef taco, beef chile relleno, chicken enchilada, and bistec a la mexicana with a side of rice and beans. We also ordered a sopapia as dessert! My husband is Mexican and he's told me about sopapias as an inside joke we have, but we didn't know they existed! It was a light, fluffy puff pastry drizzled with honey and came with a side of strawberries and jam. My husband also ordered two modelos with limes and I had a coke with two refills in between singing. The coke was a little flat. Altogether, the price was $45.37 for our meal. I am glad they were willing to let us dine in despite bringing our baby along. He's gotta come everywhere with us - we've got no other choices! Karaoke was very fun. Online it says every first Saturday of the month from 9-12am, so next time I'll try to come earlier! The karaoke spots fill up fast, and you've got to tell the host/DJ your song and name to get in line. One of the waiters, Peter, was a regular singer and he was wonderful to listen to! It was some of the tastiest Mexican food I've tried. Next time, I would love for the chile relleno to come on the side without sauce so I could taste the crispiness of the batter! Ambiance had some .....interesting characters who came out to watch, the singers were fun and sang a variety of music genres, and the crowd was supportive... lots of high fives and claps were given to me after I performed. We would definitely come back for the food and the karaoke, but they gotta keep letting us bring our baby, haha!

I've been going to this location for what seems like forever. The food is always delicious!…read more Tonight we tried a new appetizer the Birra Bites--so yummy!! Think Mexican Eggroll. I had steak fajitas-the streak was so tender and perfectly flavor. Others had a combo platter and shrimp chimichanga &said they were delicious as well. A big shout out to our waiter, Florian! He was funny and gave impeccable service. I always appreciate when the server reads the order back to you and checks on your table just enough,

This place is a total gem! If you're looking for great food and great vibes, it's a 10/10. The…read moreenergy is super laid-back, the music is always on point, and the staff is incredibly friendly.

the food is OK. The service is very very, very slow. There's just not enough workers to wait…read moreforever to get your food.