Mexican inspired cuisine for the entire family

(708) 352-5100

9932 W 55th St
Countryside, IL 60525 41.7906 -87.8676

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cafesalsa.com

Years in business

Established in 1984

Hours:

Mon-Thu 11am-9:30pm

Fri 11am-10:30pm

Sat 11am-10:30pm

Sun 11am-9:30pm

Open 7 Days

Price:

$

Last updated 2.06.12

Category:

Restaurants, Banquet Rooms, Catering, Reception Centers

Payment Methods:

American Express, Diners Club, Discover, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Family-Friendly Dining, Romantic Dining, Outdoor Dining, Lunch Spot, Group Dining

General Info:

Open 7 Days

Cuisine:

Mexican

Smoking Permitted:

Section, Bar; Section

Editor's Tips

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What People Are Saying About Cafe Salsa

The Owner

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – Founded in 1981, this cantina's brightly colored walls and multihued decor set a festive tone. Dishes include traditional carnitas, chicken mole, chilis relleno, tacos, enchiladas and more. A kids menu (at the Countryside location) features items like tacos, hamburgers, chicken nuggets and grilled cheese.

Editor's Tips

What to Drink:
Margaritas are a favorite with the after-work crowd. Additionally, you'll find more than 40 different tequilas behind the bar.
What to Drink:
The Countryside location features a full bar and offers more than 50 kinds of tequila.
Catering:
Salsa also offers catering, featuring a choice of a taco or fajita buffet, party trays, and several other side options.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “It has a nice atmosphere but it ends there.”
  2. “The ambiance is warm and exciting, and they provide great service.”
  3. “Th atmosphere is nice and I have always had good service but the food is always so so.”
  4. “The drinks were flowing, the atmosphere was fun and the food was fabulous.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “The drinks are excellent and the bartendar knows how to take care of the customer.”
  2. “The place does get loud at night, but the food, drinks and great service make up for it”
  3. “The drinks were flowing, the atmosphere was fun and the food was fabulous.”
  4. “One of the best steak burritos in town and Conner behind the bar makes a killer Margarita.”
food quality
86.92000389099121% positive
  1. “The food and service is amazing.”
  2. “Great steaks seafood and the margaritas are the best I've ever had.”
  3. “The food was great and we can get in and out in under an hour.”
  4. “This is the best mexican restaurant that I have ever eaten at, the food is excellect.”
  5. “It has acceptable Mexican food, average Margeritas, and good service.”
  6. “It has good home style mexican food.”
  7. “The service was good, but the food wasn't worth the money or time.”
  8. “Their salsa is usually good, but the entrees are hit or miss.”
  9. “Sometimes I've had things smothered in icky cheese or dried out meat.”
  10. “My favorite though is the Chipotle Chicken, a very large chicken, whole breast served with a spicy chipotle salsa and garlic mashed potatoes.”
  11. “Cafe Salsa delivers what it promises, good hearty food at a decent price.”
  12. “Not only is it great food, but great service.”
  13. “The place does get loud at night, but the food, drinks and great service make up for it”
  14. “We ordered food for 70 people for MOSAIC event and the response was so good!”
  15. “Very authentic without just beans rica and burrito.”
  16. “Sure if I want a five course or even seven course chef menu tan I will go to Tompolubumpo, or for delicious inspiration I will travel to Mixteco, but I always find myself going to places that deliver every time.”
  17. “Th atmosphere is nice and I have always had good service but the food is always so so.”
  18. “The drinks were flowing, the atmosphere was fun and the food was fabulous.”
  19. “used to dine here frequently 4+ years ago, and the food was very good.”
  20. “One of the best steak burritos in town and Conner behind the bar makes a killer Margarita.”
  21. “The worst Mexican food I've ever eaten.”
  22. “Cafe Salsas has taken great care with the menu offering a variety of interesting dishes.”
  23. “The food at the Oakbrook Cafe Salsa was dry and tasteless.”
  24. “best margaritas that i have had, best salsa also, try the stuffed carne asada or the chipolte chicken - both are made perfect, i dont usually order tacos or enchiladas or burritos so i cant comment on them but the house speacialties are great and i would ”
  25. “The food at Cafe Salsa is the best in Chicago.”
  26. “like my food spicy, so I always request the Salsa Brava in addition to the table Salsa for the chips and order a roasted jalapeno with my meal (not on the menu, but never a problem).”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “It is not greasy, the chips are homemade, and offers a huge menu.”
  2. “like my food spicy, so I always request the Salsa Brava in addition to the table Salsa for the chips and order a roasted jalapeno with my meal (not on the menu, but never a problem).”
  3. “Cafe Salsas has taken great care with the menu offering a variety of interesting dishes.”
  4. “Sure if I want a five course or even seven course chef menu tan I will go to Tompolubumpo, or for delicious inspiration I will travel to Mixteco, but I always find myself going to places that deliver every time.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “hope they can turn things around becasue we need a good place out here and the patio is great in the summer.”
  2. “This is the best mexican restaurant that I have ever eaten at, the food is excellect.”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “have been to some of the best Mexican restaurants in the world, and in this city and still come back to Cafe Salsa.”
service
100.0% positive
  1. “The ambiance is warm and exciting, and they provide great service.”
  2. “Not only is it great food, but great service.”
  3. “The food and service is amazing.”
  4. “The drinks are excellent and the bartendar knows how to take care of the customer.”
  5. “love the staff and the service they provide.”
  6. “It has acceptable Mexican food, average Margeritas, and good service.”
  7. “Th atmosphere is nice and I have always had good service but the food is always so so.”
  8. “The service was good, but the food wasn't worth the money or time.”
  9. “We ordered food for 70 people for MOSAIC event and the response was so good!”
  10. “Servers, hostesses and bartenders are very polite and knowledgeable.”
  11. “The place does get loud at night, but the food, drinks and great service make up for it”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “This place is great and so are the prices.”
  2. “It is not greasy, the chips are homemade, and offers a huge menu.”
  3. “Cafe Salsa delivers what it promises, good hearty food at a decent price.”
  4. “The service was good, but the food wasn't worth the money or time.”
  5. “The prices are reasonable.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/31/10

superb

by el slippery at Citysearch

best margaritas that i have had, best salsa also, try the stuffed carne asada or the chipolte chicken - both are made perfect, i dont usually order tacos or enchiladas or burritos so i cant comment on them but the house speacialties are great and i would put it up against frontera grill anyday!

  • Pros: chipolte chicken, stuffed carne asada
  • Cons: none that i know of
1 Star Rating: Poor

01/07/10

disappointed

by FIG at Citysearch

I have been to Cafe Salsa a number of times over the last couple years. Th atmosphere is nice and I have always had good service but the food is always so so.

The last time we went the waitress highly recommded a specific margarita. It was horrible. Very sour and weak- there was a bitter aftertaste too. Our quacamole came next and that was flavorless. It was thin and watery and tasted like it was cut with mayo or sour cream. Their salsa is usually good, but the entrees are hit or miss. Sometimes I've had things smothered in icky cheese or dried out meat. The first time I had the rice it tasted like a powdery mix out of a box. I hope they can turn things around becasue we need a good place out here and the patio is great in the summer.

  • Pros: good salsa, nice atmosphere
  • Cons: inconsistent
3 Star Rating: Average

04/22/09

Great!

by mirook at Citysearch

I just came from Korean and I love this restaurant!!! We ordered food for 70 people for MOSAIC event and the response was so good!!!

  • Pros: love it!
4 Star Rating: Recommended

01/22/09

Delivers what it promises

by reality2u at Citysearch

Cafe Salsa delivers what it promises, good hearty food at a decent price. If I want art I go to the art museum. If I want pretentiousness moronic drivel I read Artful reviewers or read fast food nation. The key to Cafe Salsa's success is by delivering the customer what they want and not pretending to be something they are not. I have been to some of the best Mexican restaurants in the world, and in this city and still come back to Cafe Salsa. Sure if I want a five course or even seven course chef menu tan I will go to Tompolubumpo, or for delicious inspiration I will travel to Mixteco, but I always find myself going to places that deliver every time. From their Carne Asada to the Burrito Suizo Grande every item delivers. Morons like coldhardtruth2 or jimmycassata are nothing more than guttersnipes who haven't the knowledge or the where with all to run a successful restaurant and have had their own restaurants crushed by the consistency of Cafe Salsa, nice try but Cafe Salsa rules the roost.

  • Pros: Abundence
  • Cons: gets packed on the weekends
1 Star Rating: Poor

08/25/08

Has REALLY gone downhill!

by nicolekoziel at Citysearch

I used to dine here frequently 4+ years ago, and the food was very good. I went last night, and I was HIGHLY disappointed. The food has really gone downhill since my last visit. I had one of the specials, the crab cake appetizer, and it was very fishy tasting and not fresh. I had a taco dinner that was mediocre at best. The service was good, but the food wasn't worth the money or time.

  • Pros: Good service
  • Cons: fishy, not fresh food

The Details on Cafe Salsa

Place Categories:

  • great hearty food
  • great service
  • best mexican restaurant
  • great place
  • worst mexican food
  • usually good cafe salsa
  • best margaritas
  • nice th atmosphere
  • wonderful healthy twist
  • good home style mexican food
  • warm ambiance
  • very polite bartenders
  • great steaks seafood
  • very polite hostesses
  • very polite servers
  • decent price
  • bitter aftertaste
  • acceptable average margeritas
  • best conner
  • love staff
  • wonderful painting
  • mediocre taco dinner
  • icky cheese
  • unique management
  • excellent drinks