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    Yolo Mexican Eatery

    4.1 (195 reviews)
    ModerateMexican

    Yolo Mexican Eatery Photos

    YOLO MEXICAN EATERY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Classy
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Yolo Mexican Eatery

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    Free chips and salsa!
    Jessica Y.

    After much indecision about where my parents wanted to go for their 32nd anniversary dinner, my dad finally made the executive call to go eat "Mexican". I quickly Yelped around, and found Yolo. To everyone's surprise, we had never heard of this place, and it was less than 5 miles away. I was relieved to see that it looked classy in the pictures, and not a hole-in-the-wall taco joint (no disrespect, but we're celebrating 32 years of marriage here!). I called and made a reservation for 3 at 7:30pm. Although the lady's tone indicated that it wasn't very busy for a Thursday evening, there was only one table open (ours) when we walked in. (Note: street parking is limited, but there is a free parking lot 1/2 a block south towards Oakton.) The restaurant is small - about 6-8 tables and 2 booths. It was dimly lit, and as the pictures told me, classy. We brought a few bottles of beer (BYOB - $2 corkage fee/wine bottle/6-pack of beer/mixed drink), and ate the free bottomless chips and salsa while we perused the menu. The chips were really sturdy and crunchy, and the salsa was tasty with a little spiciness (a little on the liquidy side than I prefer). Ceviche de Camaron was our appetizer choice. This was superb. I really don't even like shrimp, but I liked it diced up with the freshness of the mango and pineapple. It was really really good, and both of my parents also really liked it. For our entrees: My dad ordered the Lomo De Puerco Poblano (pork tenderloin in a pumpkin seed sauce mixed with poblano pepper, corn and sour cream served with mixed vegetables and sweet potato puree). This was delicious. The tenderloin had a crispy exterior, and the pumpkin seed sauce was a perfect accompaniment. I'm also not a fan of mashed sweet potatoes, but the puree was seasoned perfectly. My mom ordered the Salmon al Ajonjoli (salmon filet topped with a sesame seed sauce served with rice and vegetables). She originally wanted the Camarones Ixtapa, but they were all out of shrimp after making our ceviche (note: shrimp dishes seem to be popular; must try the shrimp next time). We were a little wary of ordering fish, but it was devine. The salmon was pan fried to perfection, and the sesame seed sauce had an orange flavor that really elevated the flavors. I ordered the Mole Negro Yolotl (chicken breast (bone-in) in our own delicious 32 ingredient Black Mole sauce served with rice and beans). I am always hesitant to order mole, it's really hit or miss with me. Our server offered me a tasting, and I was convinced that I needed to get this dish. The mole wasn't overbearing, and the chocolate taste did not come through too strongly. The chicken meat fell off the bone, I didn't even have to use my knife to shred pieces off. The rice and beans were also really good. I wanted to order the flan for dessert, but they had ran out! (Awwwwwww, but note to self, the flan is good enough to sell out!). They had mango cheesecake left, but that sounded a little too rich for our tastes and bulging waistlines. All in all, we spent less than $80 for the meal. For 3 people, the spectacular service (our server lady was so nice!), the BYOB bargain, and amazing food - we were extremely happy! My mom kept talking about how she had to go back. It's always nice to find a fancy restaurant in your neighborhood! I would highly recommend Yolo to anyone and everyone!

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    Ask the Community - Yolo Mexican Eatery

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    Guzman y Gomez - Evanston

    Guzman y Gomez - Evanston

    4.0
    (49 reviews)
    4.0 mi

    Always great service and food - much better than nearby Chipotle in all regards…read more I order online often and generally go dairy free - my order has been correct every single time! A friend and I went in last week and Brandon was kind enough to throw in pair of churros, made our days. I would suggest this place over and over

    I don't know who Guzman or Gomez are, but I'd like to offer them my thanks for the fast, relatively…read morecheap, vegan-friendly Mexican options. My first thought was, "This is like Chipotle, if Chipotle was actually good," and I'm sticking with that. Perhaps that can be the new slogan for Guzman y Gomez. Run with it, put it on your bags and cups, just make sure to pay me back in free burritos. It's not exactly the same model as Chipotle. You don't watch the magic happen, so there's no opportunity to request a little more of this or a bit less of that. But the staff here are so eager to please, I always find I get exactly what I was looking for anyway. If you need a little more of anything, just ask, and they're happy to oblige. Plus, this place has so many more options than Chipotle, it's crazy. Better food, better atmosphere, just better overall. During my first visit, I had the pleasure of chatting with one of the chefs, Dustin, and I could hear the passion for cooking in how he spoke about this role here. He broke down all their vegan options for me and made sure my first burrito was an absolute hit. It's probably that first visit that got me hooked, so G y G is lucky to have a guy like him. Two vegan mayos, chipotle or herb, both delicious. Pulled shiitake mushroom, seasoned beautifully and cooked to order. Perfectly cooked rice, yummy fajita veggies, salsa options galore, it was all spot on. Super authentic Mexican? No, but that's ok. "Inspired by authentic Mexican food" is fine by me. And how'd they manage to get so many friendly employees? I've been here a half a dozen times, and everyone is so damn chipper and happy to help. Plus, the music is upbeat and fun, not some dreary corporate playlist. I actually *want* to eat in, which I rarely look forward to in a fast food spot. I'm loving it. There are times when you just need something satisfying and fast that doesn't break the bank. This place brings that energy via fresh ingredients prepared with expertise. Plus, as I said, Chipotle is garbage. I'm glad Guzman y Gomez decided to pop up in Evanston.

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    GYG Burrito with Fries and a Drink!
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    Uncle Julio's

    Uncle Julio's

    2.8
    (797 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    the service was absolutely amazing 10/10 recommen! Adil provided such great service!! Will be…read morecoming back!!

    When I first went on Yelp to make reservations, I noticed Uncle Julio's had only 3 stars. I…read morehonestly thought, "That's surprising!" because I've eaten there many times before and always had a great experience. Unfortunately, after going back last night, I can understand some of the reviews. Hear me out... First, the atmosphere was a little chaotic. Dishes kept being dropped and shattered throughout the restaurant. We were jumping every few minutes waiting for someone to yell "OPA!"... except this isn't a Greek restaurant. Not sure what was happening, but it definitely took away from the relaxing dinner vibe. As for the food and service, this is where I was most disappointed. I used to think the prices matched the quality, but this time the value just wasn't there. I ordered the steak and chicken fajitas, which used to come loaded with onions and peppers. This time, there were only onions, a few pieces of steak, and mostly chicken. Our waitress also forgot the flour tortillas and the toppings, and we had to repeatedly ask for things throughout the meal. Unfortunately, each item took quite a while to arrive, and by the time the toppings came out, I was pretty much finished eating. We never got pico either, and at that point I didn't even bother asking because dinner was basically over. We also asked for more chips and salsa, which took a while to arrive as well. The food itself still tastes good, and that's what makes this disappointing. But when a dinner out requires me to keep reminding the restaurant what needs to come to the table, my family might as well have stayed home. At least there would have been no interruptions--and I would have been the one bringing out the meal anyway! I really hope this was just an off night because I have enjoyed Uncle Julio's for years. But for now, I'm not sure we'll be rushing back.

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    Uncle Julio's
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    Jose's Hacienda

    Jose's Hacienda

    4.6
    (30 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $

    Who are these people giving this place high ratings?!…read more Jose's Hacienda is located on the 3rd floor in a business building, located between Westfield Old Orchard and Niles North. The building is definitely outdated, and we really enjoyed the old school elevator! The place is very bare bones, and the eatery seemed to be in the building's mail room. The menu offers breakfast items salads, tacos, tortas, burritos, wraps, and chimichangas. We came here for a late lunch, and not sure if there even was a lunch rush, but the staff were already cleaning up to close and no other patrons were on site. We made sure that they were still open, and after redoing a hard yes, we ordered: +a carnitas taco +an al pastor taco +a carne asada taco +and, a carne asada burrito It was probably one of the worst Mexican eateries we've been to, ever. The tacos, in which they looked appetizing, were just not great. The carnitas that we had ordered was some type of an ofal-like protein and was disgusting. They sefinitely got the order incorrect. I wanted to try their chimichanga, but they stated the fryer wasn't working - I'm thinking they already had it turned off for the day and didn't want to start it back up. The burrito itself was awful - it was not even rolled correct and was so loose - it was 75%-80% shredded lettuce, and the bits of carne asada had mostly fat and cartilage. The burrito was also dripping with liquid, most likely from the tomatoes or some weird watered sauce that was drizzled inside. The salsas were fine, but didn't help the food at all. Also, nothing was temperature hot, as it was all lukewarm. You can tell that even reheating things properly wasn't going to happen here. Unfortunately, we lost our appetite quickly, and all the items were tossed. There is a menu up at the counter, and a soda vending machine that seemed to have been unplugged; there was a refrigerator off to the side for a limited selection of drinks. Staff were friendly. The place closes at 3 PM, but should just close at 12:30/1 PM. Obviously, they refuse to offer their full menu past a certain time and seem to have a hard time keeping it open until their posted closing hours. Plenty of parking in the large lot. +worst Mexican food +on the 3rd floor +plenty of parking

    Ordered take out with some coworkers and I got the Al Pastor tacos + Steak Quesadilla. It was…read morepretty flavorful and a good portion size for the price. Overall seems like a pretty lowkey local spot.

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    Jose's Hacienda
    Jose's Hacienda
    Tortilla soup is unbelievable, and Jose is such a nice guy!

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    Tortilla soup is unbelievable, and Jose is such a nice guy!

    Yolo Mexican Eatery - mexican - Updated July 2026

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