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    Tequila CJ Cantina Grill

    3.0 (358 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Closed 8:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Tequila CJ Cantina Grill Photos

    Business Info

    TEQUILA CJ CANTINA GRILL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Happy hour specials
    Good for kids

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    Chicken enchiladas, suizas w/molé

    Not coming back. To start with, the downloadable online menu should be updated to reflect the current high prices. $2 to make my enchiladas, 'suizas?' Come on!!! Speaking of..... I ordered the enchiladas with chicken in molé sauce, to go. It was definitely hot and fresh but tasted just 'ok.' Twice, I came across what I like to call, "feet and beaks." It was probably cartilage but large chunks. No way, Jose! And the beans were pretty gnarly, too. Crunchy, with a 'dark' oil taste; almost burnt or bitter-like. Again, I say, "No way, Jose; not coming back!"

    Melanie R.

    This place is so fun and inviting! Perfect for a small party or just a treat yourself dinner. I went many times including for a birthday party and LOVED my cocktail!

    My husband and I ate in the restaurante Piña Rellena we were satisfied. We order to go DO NOT ORDER BEEF MILANESA taste like rubber, worse milanesa in my hole life, skinny steak over breaded and hard fried. My son just ate the rice and beans I asked for corn tortilla and they gave me flour tortilla very disappointed. This was on April 17th.

    Queso panela con chorizo
    Nancy M.

    The food is delicious! Everything is freshly made, the portions are big. The environment is the best always feels like an event is happening. Great for parties! And the prices are incredible! The only thing is the parking. And the weekends they're always very busy.

    Scorpio Sisters celebrating our birthday!!
    Leticia A.

    Girls' Night Success! On November 3, 2023, the ladies and I had the BEST girls' night out celebrating both my birthday and Sam's -- and Tequila CJ's Cantina Grill did not disappoint! The vibe was energetic, the food was delicious, and the drinks were chef's kiss. The service was warm and welcoming, and the south side energy made the whole night even better. This is definitely a must-visit spot if you're looking for great food, great drinks, and an even better time with your favorite people. We'll absolutely be back!

    28 Ounce??? XL Margarita $31 EACH.
    Cheryl V.

    Paper napkin wrapped silverware at $50-60 per person? NOPE. My husband and I are on the hunt for a new Mexican favorite, cuz let's face it, we are Mexican food connoseiurs! My first warning should have been having to request queso blanco on my nachos. Otherwise you get whatever yellow cheese they typically serve. Now, let's start with the GOOD. The hostesses on Friday night August 1, 2025. So sweet, polite, helpful and accommodating. The music was SO LOUD at 6pm. I asked to be moved because of this, they couldn't find a table, so they lowered the volume! Earned: ONE STAR Waitress, Yera, so polite, nice and checked on us regularly. She earned our 2nd star. completely FOOD: Well something gave me the raging doo-doos within hours. I NEVER get sick, cast iron stomach! I ordered chicken enchiladas en mole. I don't blame them entirely, I should never eat chicken made in the USA and I typically don't because chicken farming in this country is a travesty. So I split the fault of this calamity with the USDA and Tequila CJ. No veggies served. The plate of enchiladas en mole lacked presentation. No lettuce, tomatoes, avocado slices, nothing. This made for a lackluster dining experience. Very little carne asada on the 12 nachos. OMG Margarita: We were told the XL margarita was 28 oz. it was not. Further, figuring that at most a margarita would be $18 to $20 with premium tequila and 28 oz, we ordered without looking at the prices. Y'all, $31/EACH for what was MAYBE 12-14 oz drink (see photo). It was good. RATING: NO STARS because the unbelieveable price of $62 for two drinks on Archer Avenue, low rent district in Chicago cancelled that star completely. I was WONDERING why our two drinks came with FIREWORKS, cuz they were saying "GOTCHA". Also when your average cost per person is $50-60, why do I get silverware wrapped in cheap napkins instead of an actual cloth napkin and a place setting? But kudos to whoever is managing, promoting this spot cuz they are making bank. Place was packed! Good on you, just not out of my pocket again! FYI, from Google: A 28-ounce glass holds 3.5 cups of liquid. could you get even 2 cups of liquid in these glasses? I think not.

    Menu- sad menu. They told us they had no chicken

    If I could give tequilas a 0 I would. We had a reservation made 2 weeks in advance for my father in law. At 7pm for 14 people. We received a call from the hostess at 6:15 telling us if we would consider canceling because they were not busy and wanted to close the restaurant early. My husband kindly ask why we didn't get a heads up at an earlier time? She couldn't give us an answer besides that they wanted to close early at or by 7:30pm. We hurried to get our party of 14 together to be at the restaurant by 6:30. When we arrived they sat us down with a smaller version of the menu. They told us they couldn't make chicken flautas. They only had something similar (potato enchiladas ) . We wanted a few other things listed on the menu but restricted us from ordering because they didn't have the ingredients. I felt super embarrassed for brining my family here and having them rush through the entire experience. Btw the restaurant was not empty. Lights went out at 7:20pm

    Piña Colada
    Angela M.

    This is the perfect establishment to celebrate a birthday, life event, or date spot... the ambiance, the music, the service and attention to detail were all perfect. My family ordered the Fajitas Mixtos plate (which portion was big enough to serve 2-3 people), their delicious carne en Jugo (fed me for two days), and for dessert we enjoyed their beautifully plated red velvet cake. For drinks, mother ordered margaritas and my piña colada was definitely something I'd go back for alone. It was so pretty and the orchid is real! All around great establishment and I look forward to coming back.

    Flautas
    Kate M.

    Probably closer to 3.5 stars when it comes to food, but the friendly and welcoming staff definitely bumped it up to 4! Tequila CJ is a super spacious Mexican space in the Garfield Ridge neighborhood. We met some friends who live in the neighborhood here to celebrate a birthday and meet their new baby. Because it is so spacious it ended up being the perfect spot for this. Like I mentioned, the staff working was really wonderful. To drink I sipped on an iced horchata which was so yummy! We started with queso and chips and salsa. The salsa was hot even for me, and I like spice! For my meal I ordered the flautas with chicken. They came out looking SO delicious and piled with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream. Unfortunately the actual flavors were underwhelming, with the chicken being pretty dry and bland. The others I were with seemed to really enjoy their meal, so I'm thinking I should have just tried something different. Overall we had a good time and enjoyed the hospitality!

    Fajitas
    Queta S.

    The food was actually really good. We ordered the nachos as an appetizer. I loved how every tortilla chip was perfect. Each bite was perfectly assembled. The fajitas were also delicious. The service was pretty rushed. They have a 90 minute per table. We got there around 4 pm and it was pretty empty. However, we already felt rushed. We had just been seated and they were already asking for our order. We didn't even get a chance to check the menu. They do have live music so that would explain how they got full so fast and why there was a wait by the time we left.

    Skert steak   Carne Asada Tradicional

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    Bocaditos Mexican Cuisine - Enchiladas Maya

    Bocaditos Mexican Cuisine

    4.2(120 reviews)
    7.8 miWest Loop, Near West Side
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    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

    Stopped by Bocaditos Mexican Kitchen in Chicago on a Wednesday night before a Blackhawks game and…read moreit was the perfect pre-game spot. The aguachiles were easily our favorite -- super fresh and full of flavor, with really well-balanced ingredients. You can tell the food is made to order and not rushed. The chips and salsa were also way better than your typical starter. The chips came out warm and crisp, and the salsa was smooth, flavorful, and super addictive. We also tried a few drinks, and they were excellent -- well-made, not overly sweet, and a great way to start the night before heading to the game. Our server was amazing -- friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. They kept checking in at all the right times and made the whole experience relaxed and enjoyable even with the pre-game crowd. Definitely a great spot to hit anytime you're in the area looking for solid Mexican food and a fun vibe.

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    Barrio - Quesabirria tacos

    Barrio

    4.1(1.4k reviews)
    9.1 miNear North Side
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    Cinco de Mayo at Barrio was EVERYTHINGGG…read more We fully committed to the holiday and ordered honestly the entire menu and somehow every single thing that came out was better than the last. Starting with margaritas (because obviously ‍), queso and chips that were dangerously good, and the chicken empanadas that came out perfectly crispy with so much flavor. We kept looking at each other after every bite like "okay wait... THIS is the best thing here" and then another plate would arrive and prove us wrong again The carnitas fried rice??? I genuinely cannot stop thinking about it. So savory, flavorful, comforting, and packed with crispy carnitas on top with the eggs and pickled onions... literally unreal. And then the skirt steak tacos absolutely stole the show. The steak was cooked perfectly, packed with flavor, and paired so perfectly with all the toppings and sauces. Every single bite tasted fresh and homemade in the best way possible. And can we talk about the ambience for a second because WOW. The music, the energy, the vibe inside, everyone celebrating, the drinks flowing -- it felt like the perfect Cinco de Mayo dinner spot. The service was also AMAZING from start to finish and made the entire experience even better. One of those dinners where you leave already talking about when you're coming back If you're looking for the place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, date night, tacos & margaritas, or honestly just an incredible dinner in general... this is IT

    What a fun spot! We had reservations (glad we did) and sat in the bar area at a high-top table…read morealong the window. Perfect seat in my opinion. Views of the city right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of downtown Chicago. What I tried: + chips and queso - 8/10 + ribeye with rice and beans (was a special) - 7.5/10 + spicy margarita - 8/10 Great service!

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    Barrio - Interior views

    Interior views

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    Chicken fajitas

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    XOchimilco Mexican Restaurant - XO steak

    XOchimilco Mexican Restaurant

    4.8(358 reviews)
    12.1 miRavenswood
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    My second time here, the first time for my dinner companion. Everything was incredibly good, from…read morethe greeting we got when we arrived, to the service and the food...oh my, the food! Appetizers were quac and chips, and shrimp ceviche. The guac was really good, but the ceviche was the star. Served on a bed of cucumbers, it was visually beautiful, and the flavor was fresh and complex. There was also a LOT of it. We ended up taking some home. Entrees were steak and shrimp for me, and Tampiquena for my friend. In both dishes, the steak was done to perfection. The sauce that came with my shrimp was spicy and deep--lots of flavor layers there. Both of us took home portions of our meals because there was a lot of food on the plates. Finally, the service--the servers are attentive without hovering. If we needed something, they were there, but never intrusive. It is hard to believe this is a little neighborhood spot, given the service and the quality of the food. It was not too busy tonight--we ate early--but I recommend reservations. It is very popular with the neighborhood. Bottom line, we each had 2 margaritas, appetizers, and entrees, and our bills with tip were around $105.00 each--totally worth it! Try this little gem--you won't regret it.

    Terrific food and service. We felt very welcome and enjoyed our dishes immensely. Pleasant and…read morelively ambiance.

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    El Xangarrito - Cheesecake

    El Xangarrito

    4.8(216 reviews)
    12.3 miLincoln Square, Ravenswood

    Thanks to Yelp El Xangarrito has been on my list for sometime, and I was not disappointed. It is a…read morevery small family-owned Mexican restaurant but the seating does not make you feel cramped. We did make reservations/wait list and was seated immediately. We started off with chips and salsa, and the salsa was a bit too spicy for me, but everyone else enjoyed it. We started with the Chicken Poblano - a savory dish with creamy poblano sauce mixed with chicken and sliced poblano peppers topped with corn. We all enjoyed it. Most of the reviews recommended the enchiladas and we ordered a variety of them. The Enchiladas Poblanos stuffed with chicken and cheese. The poblano sauce was rich and smoky. We also had the Enchiladas Morita. They were filled with shrimp and cheese. It was so flavorful and the morita chile added so much flavor. Each dish was served with a side jicama salad. Their special was a shrimp pasta with lobster. It came with full lobster tail. The sauce was creamy and flavorful. It is also BYOB, which is a nice option. Service was excellent, friendly offered recommendations. This is probably one of my favorite Mexican restaurants and highly recommend.

    Xangaritto continues to be a beacon of delicious food and friendly hospitality. They switched…read moreowners about a year ago and the beginning was a little rocky but today was an amazing experience. I love coming here for the tampiquena and the enchiladas. The tamipquena is marinated in something delicious, pretty sure it includes adobo chiles, making the tamipquena flavorful and tender. The enchiladas have some of the best sauces. We especially love then poblano sauce on the chicken enchiladas. The enchiladas have some tender chicken and the sauce is slightly spicy and creamy. Everyone is super friendly, the waiting staff and chef take pride in their work and it shows. I continue to strongly recommend this place for a delicious dinner out. This is not your typical Mexican restaurant. It s a cozy elevated escape.

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    El Xangarrito - Traditional Pastor Tacos

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    El Xangarrito - Steak Enchiladas Mole. A generous portion to share or to take some home with you for a late night snack.

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    Steak Enchiladas Mole. A generous portion to share or to take some home with you for a late night snack.

    Manchamanteles Restaurant - Enchiladas Potosina

    Manchamanteles Restaurant

    4.4(145 reviews)
    9.1 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.

    Photos
    Manchamanteles Restaurant
    Manchamanteles Restaurant - Dobladas De Mole Negro! Delicious

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    Manchamanteles Restaurant - Queso Fundido!!(keepsmilingphoto.com)

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    Tequila CJ Cantina Grill - mexican - Updated June 2026

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