Cafe El Tapatio

Let’s face it; there are a plethora of Mexican restaurants in Chicago. But my favorite by far is Café El Tapatio. This family run business has been around for many years. The prices are great, their drinks are fabulous and their food is delish! While it may be Americanized, it’s still tasty and above all very, very consistent.

Sometimes you just have that one restaurant where you always order the same thing, and you find that you crave it. This is my go-to place for Mexican. My husband and I always order the burrito suizo (and split it because it’s gigantic). We’re never disappointed. The staff is always the same and they know their customers well. Street parking is quite manageable, even during Cubs season, and if that doesn’t work for you they are very close to the Paulina stop on the Brown Line.

This neighborhood gem is worth its weight in frijoles. They have great outdoor seating in the summer, and have recently renovated the inside. Be warned, there will be a line on the weekends. But grab a mojito and settle in because it’s worth the wait.