Cafe El Tapatio

In Short – Small and packed to the hilt with customers, this Mexican joint serves up specialties like caldo de camarones (shrimp soup in tomato base) and pechuga--a grilled double chicken breast, topped with sauteed mushrooms, green-chili sauce and cheese. The drinks are served in huge goblets. Options include the Rolls Royce margarita, a mix of Cuervo 1800, Cointreau and Grand Marnier.

Editor's Tips

Where to Sit:: Prime seats during the summertime are at tables on the shaded patio.
Parking:: Metered spots are available on Ashland, but watch out for impatient drivers. This stretch of Ashland is traditionally a speedy thoroughfare.

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User Reviews (28)

ambiance	75.0% positive	“Besides the comfortable outdoor seating, the service was rude and the food was the same quality as the 5 dollar enchiladas down the street.” “It is a small place with a very cozy Mexican atmosphere.”
drinks	76.35000228881836% positive	“The wait was about 1.5 hours when we were told 45 minutes. All the while we were staring at open tables. The drinks were overpriced and weak. The ceviche was just plain bad. The enchiladas were stale and lacking flavor. Afterwards we felt depressed and vi” “The food is good and the portions are large and, while the drinks are a bit pricey, they are worth it; there is nothing much more refreshing on a hot summer day than a delicious pitcher of their mango margaritas.” “The food was delicious and the drinks are remarkable.” “great food and drinks”
food quality	83.00999641418457% positive	“great food and drinks” “Chicago is a large city and let me tell you that the food at El Cafe Tapatio was pretty bad compared to other resturants in Chicago.” “have been here a few times with the girls and we have never had a bad meal!” “have been searching for really good and inexpensive Mexican food.” “That's because the food is pretty darn good.” “The wait was about 1.5 hours when we were told 45 minutes. All the while we were staring at open tables. The drinks were overpriced and weak. The ceviche was just plain bad. The enchiladas were stale and lacking flavor. Afterwards we felt depressed and vi” “The food was not as fresh and it was hardly worth the 30 minute drive that it is from my house.” “excellent service, great food, authentic” “And the food is terrific.” “When we called in tonight to order our food, the man we spoke to said he would give us the food, but we needed to understand it's NORMAL for shredded chicken to have BONES!” “Besides the comfortable outdoor seating, the service was rude and the food was the same quality as the 5 dollar enchiladas down the street.” “can't help but get the tortilla soup (which comes with rice and is a huge bowl) whenever I go there.” “The soup wasn't bad tasting, but it was had "cold spots" in it.” “Yes this place is busy but busy doesnt mean good food.” “The beef flauta was my favorite.” “very authentic mexican food.” “Great food, great margaritas.” “The food was delicious and the drinks are remarkable.” “For dinner I had Chicken smothered in fresh mushrooms, onions and Mexican cheese.” “Hands down the best Mexican food in the city.” “The food is good and the portions are large and, while the drinks are a bit pricey, they are worth it; there is nothing much more refreshing on a hot summer day than a delicious pitcher of their mango margaritas.” “Great guacamole, great salsa and the tortilla soup was delicious!” “Ok, so I ordered it and the carrots were under cooked which made me think they ran out and threw some more in to make up for it, and the zucchini was fresh but.” “But not fine enough to overcome the bad food.” “Great food and truly authentic!” “It is far and away the best mexican food in town.” “It's seriously good food” “The food is excellent, the staff is friendly, and the price is right.” “Their guacamole is wonderful - the salsa had the perfect amount of spice that you could still actually taste it and it didn't burn off your taste buds.” “have eaten here for years and I have always enjoyed the food, but my last experience was just average.” “Maybe I will have a bad meal.” “Good Mexican food and margaritas” “The food itself was good, with the exception of the CHICKEN BONES we found inside!” “Chicago has some really excellent Mexican food.” “had enchiladas suizas with a rich mole sauce--excellent.”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“It has a huge menu - the service is friendly - it's very easy on the pocket book!”
overall	84.68999862670898% positive	“The wait was about 1.5 hours when we were told 45 minutes. All the while we were staring at open tables. The drinks were overpriced and weak. The ceviche was just plain bad. The enchiladas were stale and lacking flavor. Afterwards we felt depressed and vi” “great mexican restaurant.” “It was honestly the best dinner I have had at a restaurant in many months.” “great restaurant.”
return potential	100.0% positive	“love this place and will continue to go back!”
service	91.66999816894531% positive	“It has a huge menu - the service is friendly - it's very easy on the pocket book!” “The food is excellent, the staff is friendly, and the price is right.” “Service is friendly and swift.” “Decent Atmosphere, Good service (once you are seated), you can grocery shop while you wait.” “excellent service, great food, authentic” “Besides the comfortable outdoor seating, the service was rude and the food was the same quality as the 5 dollar enchiladas down the street.”
value	61.71000003814697% positive	“can't help but get the tortilla soup (which comes with rice and is a huge bowl) whenever I go there.” “It has a huge menu - the service is friendly - it's very easy on the pocket book!” “The food is good and the portions are large and, while the drinks are a bit pricey, they are worth it; there is nothing much more refreshing on a hot summer day than a delicious pitcher of their mango margaritas.” “The wait was about 1.5 hours when we were told 45 minutes. All the while we were staring at open tables. The drinks were overpriced and weak. The ceviche was just plain bad. The enchiladas were stale and lacking flavor. Afterwards we felt depressed and vi” “The food was not as fresh and it was hardly worth the 30 minute drive that it is from my house.” “actually don't like writing this review because I don't want a huge crowd where I can't get a seat.” “The food is excellent, the staff is friendly, and the price is right.” “have been searching for really good and inexpensive Mexican food.” “Besides the comfortable outdoor seating, the service was rude and the food was the same quality as the 5 dollar enchiladas down the street.”
wait time	19.37999963760376% positive	“The wait was about 1.5 hours when we were told 45 minutes. All the while we were staring at open tables. The drinks were overpriced and weak. The ceviche was just plain bad. The enchiladas were stale and lacking flavor. Afterwards we felt depressed and vi” “The food was not as fresh and it was hardly worth the 30 minute drive that it is from my house.”

03/06/10

Bones in my burrito!

by katesmith at Citysearch

I've been here half a dozen times and have never had a 'good' experience. Others I have dined with had a better time, which is the reason I've come back...until now.

My boyfriend and I both ordered the El Grandioso Burrito " Suizo" with chicken to go. The food itself was good, with the exception of the CHICKEN BONES we found inside! There were multiple bones in each of our burritos, but mine was the worst- one was 2 1/2 inches long!

I called just to let them know about the issue and the man I spoke with was very apologetic. I wasn't expecting anything, but he offered to give us with a complimentary dinner provided we didn't tell anyone about the bones!

When we called in tonight to order our food, the man we spoke to said he would give us the food, but we needed to understand it's NORMAL for shredded chicken to have BONES! I don't think so!

I'm sorry to say, but I will never be going back again and I would warn everyone reading this against it too!

Pros: Close to my apartment
Cons: Bones in my food!

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09/14/09

WAS one of my favorite places

by LYNN at Citysearch

OK...I thought it was just me, but recent reviews support my most recent experience.

I have eaten here for years and I have always enjoyed the food, but my last experience was just average. The food was not as fresh and it was hardly worth the 30 minute drive that it is from my house. I attributed it to the economy. I'm sure the turn-over can't be as good as it was and maybe they have even changed suppliers. I can't quite put my finger on it but the taste was a little off :(

Pros: inexpensive
Cons: parking was always bad(but it was worth it)

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06/05/09

WHAT?? I can't believe the recent reviews

by GoodFoodGoodDrink at Citysearch

I don't know, maybe they had a few bad days or something - but I can't believe the bad reviews... maybe they were really made by another MX Restaurant?

I've had 3 dishes there and it was wonderful every time. Their guacamole is wonderful - the salsa had the perfect amount of spice that you could still actually taste it and it didn't burn off your taste buds.

It has a huge menu - the service is friendly - it's very easy on the pocket book!

I actually don't like writing this review because I don't want a huge crowd where I can't get a seat... but I have to defend them.

I love this place and will continue to go back!!! Maybe I will have a bad meal... it can happen - but they are worth it to try it again!

Pros: AMAZING - everything
Cons: ahhh... it's 100 feet from my house and not 50

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01/05/09

I hate when servers lie about freshness!!

by Georginadel at Citysearch

I am a self described critic of Mexican cuisine having travelled all over Mexico and learned to make it myself I know what is "authentic" and was is catering to non Mexicans. So anyway, I've been to this place a couple times before within the last three years and really can't remember it being as bad as it was tonight. The margaritas were ok, strong but you could tell it wasn't top shelf. My fault for not asking for top shelf! The salsa lacked 'kick', not spicy at all, my taste buds were yawning!! When approached by our waiter to take our order I asked "please tell me, is the 'caldo de res' (beef soup) made today (Monday-I know dumb question) or from the weekend?" I expected an honest answer which probably would have made me 1. order something else 2. patronize the restaurant again, but no, instead he said it was fresh and that they made it every day. Ok, so I ordered it and the carrots were under cooked which made me think they ran out and threw some more in to make up for it, and the zucchini was fresh but...the kicker and this is how I know a soup is at least a day old is, the POTATO!! The potato was a couple of days old at best. My husband didn't even finish his burrito which you can't go wrong on; flour tortilla, steak, cheese, sour cream, and he said it was horrible. Needless to say we won't be going back, EVER!! There are a gazillion Mexican restaurants in the city and not all are good but this one is definitely not good!

Pros: PARKING WAS EASY
Cons: SALSA, MARGARITA LACKED KICK

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12/23/08

I'd love to see Gordon Ramsey's reaction

by Chicgail at Citysearch

So the margaritas were fine. But not fine enough to overcome the bad food.

We ordered the poblano soup which came out to the table at the same time as our entrees. Even the server couldn't figure out what to do with it all. We sent back the entrees, where I am sure they sat under heat lights for the next 20 minutes. The soup wasn't bad tasting, but it was had "cold spots" in it. It was either heated up in a microwave or it was frozen and not fully defrosted before it was served.

My husband's skirt steak tasted heavily tenderized instead of properly marinated, and the short ribs left me with indigestion.

All I could think of is how Gordon Ramsey would have reacted on Kitchen Nightmares if he had been brought in to help this "favorite" Mexican restaurant and tasted what we did.

Chicago has some really excellent Mexican food. This was not one of the places that serve it. Suffice it to say, we won't be back.

Pros: Drinkable margaritas; inexpensive food.
Cons: Dreadful food, poorly served and presented.

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Cafe El Tapatio

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What People Are Saying About Cafe El Tapatio

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Editor's Tips

03/06/10

Bones in my burrito!

by katesmith at Citysearch

09/14/09

WAS one of my favorite places

by LYNN at Citysearch

06/05/09

WHAT?? I can't believe the recent reviews

by GoodFoodGoodDrink at Citysearch

01/05/09

I hate when servers lie about freshness!!

by Georginadel at Citysearch

12/23/08

I'd love to see Gordon Ramsey's reaction

by Chicgail at Citysearch

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