I LOVE the food, but know to dine here when I'm not in a rush. The service takes awhile! Appetizer & Entrees: You get free salsa and chips table while waiting for your entree. The salsa tastes freshly made and is sooooo good. My favorite entrees are the salmon and the coconut shrimp. Many of the entrees come with guacamole or beans and rice. Dessert: I usually skip dessert and walk over to a tasty gelato place called Triviata nearby. Environment: The environment feels relaxed and casual. A mix of decorations on the walls and festive music on the speakers. There is a small outdoor seating area as well. Parking: Parking spots line both sides of Main street and is shared among the downtown shops. Be careful when backing out! It's hard to see on-coming cars. Service: Waiters are friendly, but service is slow. Seems that the place is consistently understaffed. read more

Great little spot in Lisle. Love the upstairs outside seating. Nice quaint spot for a drink and good food.

I've tried a lot of Mexican food in my day, and this ranks up there as one of the best experiences. Margaritas are delicious - so long as you have several people, get a pitcher. The price is actually better and the taste is great. The food - order the table side guacamole. Fun presentation and overall, it just tastes better when you see what's going into it :) Everything else we ordered and shared so we could taste more - all great. Nothing was bland, and we wanted to eat up everything. Service was fantastic and prices were fair - I can't wait to come and eat outdoors in the summertime! read more

I can't believe this place is in Lisle. Everything we had was great, save for the Mojito I ordered. That tasted like it was a Mrs. T's mix. Also, my wife's pork tacos were flavorless to the point that she had to order additional guacamole for them. read more

The food here is great, and they have good service to boot. My wife and I highly recommend the Tacos al Pastor (w/ or w/out pineapple) garnished in cilantro and onion. So freakin' tasty! The portions are realistic, and it is a good place to bring your family, friends or significant other. Enjoy! read more

We just moved to Lisle and were told in advance of our move to try Yerbabuena by several people. And it did not disappoint! We already dined there twice in the first week in our new home and will be regulars for sure! And I'm certain we will do carry out as well as dine in. The food is authentic and fabulous. The margaritas are strong and taste like actual margaritas - you can tell they are not made with any sugary store-bought mixes. The only downside is it is a little small and there's not really a lobby or large bar area. However, they renovated the space next door and will be moving in there soon so these problems might be taken care of. read more

I made a dinner reservation via the phone. I mentioned that I was bringing a B-day person. The hostess seemed a bit put off and told me to remind her when I arrived because she would not remember it. When we arrived at our reservation time we were told by the same hostess - an older women (there were two) - that we would have a 15 minute wait and we should head to the bar. At that time we overheard her snap angrily at the other hostess about not taking any more reservations because they were full. After that, I didn't bother reminding her about the birthday. We waited at the bar and she never came around to check on us again. We were heading to an event after dinner so we decided just to eat at the bar. The bartender was great and doing the best he could. He was mixing drinks and tending to the other couples who were at the bar eating. The food was also terrific. The food left a great taste in my mouth. What left a bad taste and what made the evening less special was the treatment by the hostess. I regret I didn't get her name. She was absolutely uninterested. Perhaps she doesn't realize how her attitude and lack of attention affects the patrons. The food was so good I might try it again, but not mention I was there for a special event, not count on my table being ready, and not count on any decent service from that hostess. read more

Nice to be outside enjoying a meal. Portions are very small and drink prices are too high. Consistent fair food. Service was good.

A guy I work with swears by this place and takes carry-out at least once a week. Me? I had my first Yerb experience today actually, for lunch with a couple of colleagues. The lunch crowd was sparse, which I actually enjoyed because that meant I could hear the guy across from me. The chips and salsa were very good, warm tortilla chips with salsa that had a bit of a kick to it. I had the talapia tacos with pico de gallo. It wasn't a particularly large portion (another bonus, considering it's lunch) but it was excellent. The fish was very flavorful, and the combination of cabbage, rice, guacamole, and pico added to the flavor in a very pleasing way. Overall I liked this restaurant, I like it when Italian restaurants have Italians cooking the food and when Chinese restaurants have Chinese cooking the food (and so on), here, they have Mexicans cooking Mexican cuisine and you can tell in how the food turns out. I would definitely recommend this place and will probably go back. read more

I'm not a big Mexican cuisine fan, but once in a while, I get a craving. So, a friend and I tried this place tonight. We ate al fresco. The air was dry, the breeze light and the sun was not a threat. Like another reviewer (Frank M.), I am surprised that this place so many high marks. I just don't see or taste the justification. I ordered the soft corn shell chicken tacos. The waitress was very attentive and cheerful. We always had chips and salsa on the table and plenty to drink. Our meals came out rather quickly and looked fine. However, it was the blandest Mexican food that I have ever tasted. At one point, I was really was not sure if I was eating shredded chicken or fish. I don't recall shredded meat in the last taco that I had eaten. The restrooms and inside of the place looked clean and bright. Nearby parking was in easy reach at this time of day. I imagine this more as a lunch place. Or, perhaps as a quick choice for a weary commuter getting off the train and trying to get a quick bite before the next day's grind. I probably will not return there for a second try. read more

My husband and I have been living in Lisle for almost 4 years now. Whenever any friends or family want to do dinner in Lisle, our go to is ALWAYS Yerba Buena. It's within walking distance, it's in an awesome location if you want to take the train. The decor is warm, and the staff is always friendly. Pro's: -Awesome food. I'm talking about food you crave when you haven't had it in awhile. I always get the enchiladas verdes, tastes so good! My husband usually tries different things (he's always been more adventurous) but when he can't decide, the burrito mole is his go-to. - The quality of the food is top notch... veggies taste fresh, meats are always cooked to perfection... their beans are awesome!! - Table side guac... fabulous - Chips and salsa are perfect! I can't eat spicy, and the salsa is flavorful without being an attack on the palate. - Get a margarita... you will not be disappointed - We do takeout a lot, they always get our order correct, and it tastes just as good as if we were eating in the restaurant Cons -When its busy, its BUSY. It can be hard to get a table, especially in the summer - Sometimes the service is slow and it can be a bit of a bummer, puts a damper on a good night - Their menu is so large, it can be hard to choose sometimes. It's full of great things, but it can take a long time just to get through it!! - The bar is very small... Overall, we love Yerba Buena, and will continue to come back time and time again!! It's nice to go somewhere where they know your name! read more

I lived in lisle for 5yrs. and this restaurant was, by far, the best Mexican restaurant. Many of my friends and family members came to visit and I always brought them to this restaurant. Due to graduate school, I didn't get a chance to come as often as I used to. Today (7-9-18) I was able to visit. I was excited to see the new building and renovations. Unfortunately my visit was very uncomfortable.. I'll start by saying it was not crowded. 1. Mistake: There were plenty of seats inside and out. When I walked in, a hostess was checking out a customer. It only takes a few seconds to look up and say "I'll be with you in a min".....NOTHING WAS SAID 2. Mistake I was never greeted. I stood by the door way waiting for someone to say something. Waiters and waitresses were walking around but CLEARLY ignoring me. I decided to seat myself at the bar. 3. Mistake 5min in still nothing. There was a lady in the corner going over the books (most likely a manager). She gets up and walk over with a menu. Gently places it's down and walk away.....AGAIN.. no "hello, how are you, give us a min etc....NOTHING" 4. Mistake A gentleman finally come over " have you been helped" my response "no and u was starting to wonder if anyone was working the bar or should I have a seat at the table in order to get service ". He proceeds to say no and boldly lie saying "we're just really busy". 5. Mistake There was a waitress who came to the bar several times and not once greeted me. 6. Mistake Another young lady came in and all staff greeted her immediately. Apparantly, the restaurant is u der new Management and common courtesy doesn't exist for everyone. I never experienced poor customer service before the change and will not experience it again. I understand my comments will not have an effect on the profits of this establishment. However, its important my voice is heard and I will not visit nor recommend this place again. Sincerely, LaToya read more

First time here, last time here. If you're looking for bad service and unauthentic, luke-warm Mexican food, this is the place for you. The woman that works the check-in desk is a slightly nicer version of the Soup Nazi. The bartender didn't know how to make a mojito. The restaurant masquerades itself as upscale until you sit down & use your paper napkin rollup with utensils that are not high quality enough to be used in a college cafeteria. Do yourself and your stomach a favor and go somewhere else. We should have driven a few extra miles to Invicto in Naperville. read more

Salsa was bland and a ketchup after taste. Basically no flavor to anything, just blah! Service was just okay. read more

Been here a dozen times... it has gone down hill. Awful service, barely adequate food and overpriced drinks.

Yerbabuena is a good example of the "Mexican American" or "Tex Mex" approach which is fairly common in the Illinois suburbs. High points include fresh guacamole made tableside and a willingness on the part of the chef to experiment with mangoes, fish and cilantro. Not my first choice for "authentic Mexican" but a local, comfortable staple that knows what the customer base is looking for. The Camarones diablo and Tacos al Pastor con Pineapple Suiza are executed well and make for great comfort food around Cinco de Mayo. Consider getting a dessert to share. I have been pleasantly surprised by these before. read more

First let me start this off with the front check in host was very rude! the younger host working was very nice! we went to the upstairs bar and i would give the bartender last night 10 stars!!! awesome drinks and very nice guy! Now the issues. Poor service... Slow service... and chips and salsa that were bland and had no flavor nor any presence of being house made or anything! 30 min or more for tacos! i wouldn't have mind waiting 30 min if they had flavor or had not been dried out! also when you work with the food industry and can tell when food has been sitting under a food warmer for a while there is a problem with service! Only reason ill ever go back is for drinks only! read more

My wife and I have been to this place many times and have never been disappointed! I agree with the last reviewer that this place is something you stumble upon but what a find. Every time we go, the staff is always friendly, the service is fast and the food is very good. We love the ships and salsa we get and their meat is delicious. Maybe not as good as Uncle Julio's but close. Highly recommended!!! read more

If the only negative you can think of is that the place is too popular than you have found a winner. Friday night about 6 pm. We waited about 20 minutes to be seated and enjoyed a fabulous margarita on the patio. I absolutely love when the owner of a small business walks around asking how everything was. You could see the pride in his eyes! The food was exactly what I wanted- cilantro, mango, jalapeño and fresh ingredients. They probably have your typical taco and fajita stuff but the specials caught my eye. The hostess was very pleasant. The server was attentive and friendly. The energy level was great. Don't come here though because I don't want it to get too popular and not be able to dine here. read more

Born and raised in Southern California for 30+ years of my life means I have a requirement: I need to eat tasty Mexican food. I've been in the Midwest for two years and my fiancée and I try every Mexican restaurant we can (like once/month....if I could, it'd be everyday....haha!). We came upon this gorgeous place a few months ago, but my stipulation is that I wanted nice weather to sit on the patio for this great visit. Fast forward to now: it's my birthday and I do Mexican food for my birthday every year. I finally got to sit on the patio at Yerbabuena!!! Today!! I ordered a Cadillac margarita. It was nice! Generally, margaritas lend me instant heartburn and this one did not. My fiancée knew I'd want nachos to start, even though we had fresh, warm, and delicious chips and salsa to snack on. The nachos were the best nachos I've ever had! We topped them with chicken and this chicken was the best and most moist chicken I've ever had. I know, I know, I just said that.... But I was blown away. My fiancée, who is a tough critic and not a nacho lover, even thought they were great. I'll be honest, I was full then....but I had to keep going! I ordered shrimp tequila Diablo (sauce on the side thanks to our wonderful and helpful server Arianette) and my fiancée ordered tacos (pineapple salsa rings a bell). We only ate half and have left overs for later. I think they churn out their own tortillas, which were delicious. Shrimp was perfect. The guac was a tad bland, but if that's they only thing.....I'm more than okay with it. My fiancée and I will be returning to Yerbabuena for our following Mexican food cravings. I wish we'd have went months ago, however it served for the perfect birthday meal. read more

Great food! The salsa is amazing. The manager has the WORST RBF I've ever seen. She seemed angry we were there. Girl, fix your face! The food will bring us back again. read more

I brought a friend to give Yerbabuena another shot, on a non-holiday evening. Our pork nachos were wonderful. We both agreed that it was the best flavored pork we'd eaten in a long time. The cheese was flavorful and there was plenty of it. But yet again, the service failed us. Our waiter was working every table in the joint as well as on the patio, alone. Both our water and soda glasses were empty for 10 minutes before someone even walked by, made eye contact with the glasses and us, and then ignored it for another 10 minutes. I almost went up to the bar myself and got out refills. Our waiter again disappeared after we finished our food. We were going to order dessert, but our waiter finally brought by the check without even asking us if we were interested. We figured that was fine; with the service we were experiencing, we would've been there another 45 minutes just to get dessert, so we went home and baked cookies. read more

Authentic Mexican Food. What does authenticity really count for? I'm not sure. To different people it's worth more or less. To me, I guess it's worth less. I'd always been told this was "Authentic Mexican" and the whole time I was there I was told it was "Authentic Mexican." The food was good. I'll give them that. But, I was limited to 5 items. I'm'a vegetarian, so I could get almost nothing on the menu. I'd wager that I could order something special if I wanted to, but I stuck to the menu. I wish I could tell you what I ordered, but I can't recall its and it's not online. It was tacos with cactus, though. I just can't remember its fancy name. I arrived around 5pm (kind of early to be going out for dinner) and the place was almost empty. There were two tables of people other than my own. Both tables populated by the usual pre 5pm dinner crowd. By the time I left (around 6:30) there were at least 4 tables waiting to be seated. A drastic change from when I arrived. Apparently, Yerbabuena is THE Mexican restaurant in Lisle. You wouldn't know from the outside how nice the place it. It looks like a dive from outside, or as close to a dive as you can get in downtown Lisle. Upon entering, I was amazed by the bright and skippy atmosphere. The services were happy, fun and more than willing to put up with my party and I (which is a chore for Mexican restaurants, as we're tequila connoisseurs [that and my dad's a bit on the loco side]). The drinks menu was full of Margarita options, which excited us at first. Then we realized how they did that. They put every variation of Margarita on the list. "Margarita, House Margarita, Golden Margarita" and "Blue Margarita" all varied by one shot. And all cost more than $6 and all tasted like that crappy $4 bottle of Margarita mix. The good news is: they have real Margaritas. For $12 a piece. Nevermind. Beer? Cool, beer. $4.50 bottles of Miller Lite. Ok... no. Wait, the meals are at least ten dollars a piece?! Ok. This all makes sense. Not the restaurant I was expecting. So, the food comes. And it's delicious. But, not nearly as much food as I was expecting for the cost. The burritos were on the small size, the tacos had barely any veggies in them and the amount of rice and beans was disappointing. At least the food was delicious. And, I guess authentic. But, like I said: for what does authenticity count? The tacos with cactus were a bit on the awkward side, to be honest. It was a strangely sweet taste mixed with an awkward sauce that seemed to clash. If that's authentic Mexican, then I would much prefer Tex-Mex. I enjoyed the meal, but it wasn't as filling or delicious as many other restaurants I've been to. I definitely would eat here again to give it another shot, but it's definitely not on my list of "I HAVE TO EAT THERE AGAIN" restaurants. If you like "Authentic Mexican," and you're in Lisle/Naperville/Downers/Wheaton/Woodridge/Bolingbrook, I guess you should check this place out. read more

My wife and I have been coming here for almost 10 years. We noticed a change in the service and in the food when plans were announced to build the new building next door. It's as if the long term goal of expanding has been realized, and now this place is going to coast on the accolades of years past. Service is slow and the food isn't that good anymore - bland, no flavor, and the presentation looks like it's slopped on the plate. Getting seated upstairs is the kiss-of-death; you're not getting a drink in less than 15 minutes, your food will not be hot. It is clear, no one gave any real thought to the logistics of operating a multiple floor facility, and just counted the dollar per seat increase of having the extra room. read more

This is one of my favorite little spots! The food is amazing, the service is kind, professional and caring. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for beautifully cooked Mexican fare. Truly cooked with love. Try the Chicken Mexican Pizza and sangria! read more

We decided to try this place on a whim while waiting on my car to be serviced. Cute place, nice location and loved the upstairs area. We were seated right away on a Friday at 6:30. Nothing special though, ugh was hoping it would be great! Chips were ok but cold (I'm sorry but I love hot salty chips and these were neither) salsa was really good and fresh. My husband had an ok steak chimichanga, I had the enchiladas and asked for three different kinds (cheese, chicken, spinach). Very bland sauce and fillings on all 3 were equally bland. Beans and rice, just ok. We each had a margarita and those were pretty solid. However due to the lack of seasoning, I can't go above 2 stars. There are far superior Mexican restaurants out there to visit instead. read more

Very good Mexican food! The fresh guacamole was amazing. The Patron margaritas were top notch. I really enjoyed the steak fajitas. All of the employees were very friendly. Nice atmosphere. Had a tough time finding a place to park, but it was well worth it. read more

We have probably been here over 20 times in the last year. We have always enjoyed the food and service. Left tonight after a blown reservation. The new hostess/manager/resident grump Marlene was poor at handling the issue. I bet she will not be working there long. One thing you can count on is that we won't be back until she is gone. I'm shocked that the owners allow this type of attitude. read more

Very nice smaller mexican restaurant, authentic flavor in a trendy atmosphere. Very good bar selections, menu selections AND desserts for once. Very nice staff, not too long waits for food to arrive. read more

Meh - it's gringo Mexican. They had some more exciting looking items on their menu - chicken with mango, fish with a tropical fruit salsa...almost Caribbean in feel, but I wasn't in the mood for it that night, so I went with flautas. So I'm totally willing to be told that, like Mi Lupita in St. Louis, the gringo stuff is just that, and the specialty dishes are where the magic happens. The flautas were piping hot, tasty and reasonably well seasoned. Came with decent beans, the standard rice, and some good guac, which wasn't cut with white onion as it so often is. Really no complaints, but nothing exceptional here. I do want to say that their salsa is simply terrible - tomato sauce out of a can with not a hint of spice or chile pepper, but plenty of fresh diced onion. Service was fine, price seemed reasonable. I would go back to Yerbabuena, as aside from the salsa, it's fine. But there are so many other better Mexican options in Chicago...I wouldn't make this my first stop. read more

Every once in a while it's important to stay in touch with the suburban scene :) Erica and I were having dinner with her mom in the burbs and we chose a local Mexican favorite (especially since we had just returned from Mexico :). We had a nice meal highlighted by a huge bowl of table side guacamole and pitcher of tasty margarita. We all managed to order various forms of tilapia - tacos, fajitas and main dish. I'd say the food was a bit underwhelming but certainly filling. It probably was a bit of a mistake/oversight NOT to stick to traditional steak tacos or chicken quesadilla. I ordered the Tilapia Diablo on a suggestion from our server (the same server that was very overwhelmed with his job...). It was a decent piece of fish, but all they did was throw some jalapenos and green peppers on the fish with a side of rice and beans. Erica's fajitas were pretty good, served with all the fixings and arrived pipping hot. She ordered it with mango to add a nice citrus and fruit flavoring. Jean's tacos looked tasty with nice a pico de gallo and guacamole topping. I didn't try it but I assume the tilapia was as well cooked as mine. Yerbabuena was packed as we left and many people were coming for pick ups. It's a nice suburban Mexican staple with all the traditional options. I'd stick with the regular choices, get the guacamole and enjoy the margaritas. read more

Outdoor patio, cold libations, scrumptious food... what's not to like? You can always tell a great Mexican restaurant by their chips, salsa, and of course their guac! Check check and check! Yerbabuena gets high marks on all three. Not only do they rock the guac (p.s. love the fact they literally make it on your table), their food is plentiful and muy deliciosa! Oh yeah, broke out the Spanish for this review... you know I'm serious. Their meats are oh so tender and are packed with flavor like they've been cooking all day. No doubt, very authentic. The only reason why I didn't dish out 5 stars was that they can get pretty busy and at times the service was a little slow. But hey, once the weather is nice, everyone's all about meeting up with friends and family for some good eats! I can't really blame the place for being so popular! read more

1st time here and I will be back many times. Margaritas are nice and well balanced. But the real treasure is on the back page of the menu, in Miguel's Specials. We had the chipotle mango salmon, which was a revelation! Veggie fajitas also surprisingly well balanced and light. Great place, great service, great food! read more

Ate here for the first time this past Sunday evening with my large family. While the food was outstanding, as noted many times here on Yelp, the service was less than satisfactory. It took us 90 minutes to get our food, and I am pretty sure that we were waited on by the Manager. While we had a constant supply of chips, truly excellent salsa, and drinks, 2 hour Mexican restaurant meals is not something I look forward to with my grandchildren. All in all, GREAT food but they have to get this service issue fixed. read more

This place was a great, cheap, close to home spot with good food and great margaritas. My taco dish was pork and pineapple tacos. I believe it was $15. Can't beat that price. Came with rice and beans. Free chips and salsa on the table to start. Tastes like they make their own tortilla chips. Delish! I'm a tough critic of margaritas but these were super tasty. Not too sweet or sour. I also tried the red sangria (which was not even on the drink menu), but I wasn't a fan. Overall, I must say I will definitely go back when I have a craving for Mexican. Oh, side note, it was very very warm in there. It may be worth it to wait for a table outside on the sidewalk seating area. read more

These people have their act together! The food and service were excellent! I was impressed at how well the staff worked together, covering for each other to make sure guests were happy. They turned the tables within less than 1 minute - which is a good sign that management is paying attention. They accommodated my food allergy with no problem. It's a little noisy but I am hopeful that the new expansion to the south helps this. read more

I've been here a couple times, and the food is really tasty. Nice atmosphere, friendly service. I AM a bit concerned about another review citing being turned away for a table for one. I dine alone sometimes, and I would be mortified to be turned away. Will definitely keep that in mind for this particular restaurant. read more

My wife and myself tried this place today. We had high hopes and went in with an open mind. The margaritas are delicious and the service was pretty good. No complaints there! BUT the food really disappointed very bland and just not very good. I would recommend for margaritas but not for a meal! Sorry Yerbabuena maybe will give you another try this summer! The 100 bucks I spent could of been used for better quality else where! read more

The customer service is awful. The hostess was completely clueless. She acted like customer were an inconvenience. Especially if your order was not big. read more

Just to clarify: we are native Texans, that have an affinity for Mexican and Tex-Mex. As such, we are having a hard time here in the midwest. We are trying to make a trip to all possible Mexican eateries knowing we will eventually find one. Based on reviews we were hopeful to come into Yerba and be delighted. Anytime it starts off with salsa that has no flair at all, we can count on bad things. They do have a spicy sauce if you ask for it, which helps. Step 2, the margarita. Tasted like a weak margarita mix. Where is the fresh lime and punch? Oh well, off to the dinner portion of the evening. The Verde Enchiladas with Chicken was terribly disappointing. The verde sauce had little to no flavor, and the chicken was very dry. The Chile Relleno was better, but still very plain. Service was good, and people were friendly. Past that, we would be hard pressed to find a reason to return. read more