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Cafe El Tapatio, Chicago, IL

Cafe El Tapatio

4.7
4.7
342 Reviews
$31 to $50
Mexican

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 11 times today
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Good for groups
  • Great for outdoor dining
The Parra family has owned and operated this cheerful restaurant for 46 years and make frequent trips to Mexico for menu ideas and cook up several family specialties. Beyond the standard tacos, burritos, and chimichangas are dishes such as crepas de pollo.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Latin American, Mexican / Regional American (Southwestern)
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Fri–Sun 11:00 am–3:30 pm Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 3:30 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:30 pm–9:30 pm Sun 4:00 pm–8:30 pm
  • Phone number
    (773) 327-5475
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Neighbourhood
    Lakeview / East Lakeview
  • Cross Street
    W. Roscoe St
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    Brown Line - PaulinaBus - Route 9 (Ashland and Roscoe)
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wine

What 342 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Chicago / Illinois

    Mexican

  • Chicago

    Mexican

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Cafe El Tapatio is celebrated for its "excellent service" and "delicious food," making it a favorite for many. The margaritas and churros receive special praise as "the best." While the atmosphere is generally festive and enjoyable, some diners noted challenges with noise and seating arrangements. Overall, it's a top choice for Mexican cuisine in Chicago.

342 Reviews
  1. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    10/10! I’ve had many great nights here and this was no exception. The service is excellent they went above and beyond and the food was delicious and fast.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Ree

    VIP

    Chicago

    19 reviews

    5.0

    19 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Mezcal drinkers, get here! And the best churros I've ever had!

    Is this helpful?

  3. Mary

    Chicago

    20 reviews

    4.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on February 9, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    El Tapatío is one of our favorite dinner spots. Food and service is consistently excellent.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Derek

    VIP

    Chicago

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on February 8, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food! Great service! Great margaritas! We had the Taberna and a chille rellenos plus beef enchiladas. Perfect.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Nicholas

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 2, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Love coming here. Excellent food, service, and atmosphere.

    Is this helpful?

  6. John

    Atlanta

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent service! Bartender was great! Food was delicious!

    Is this helpful?

  7. Craig

    VIP

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 25, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Best Mexican food and drinks in Chicago! Everything on the menu is a a hit

    Is this helpful?

  8. Siiri

    Chicago

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on January 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always a great meal and festive atmosphere. The service was outstanding! We had a lovely evening with our college age boys. They loved it!

    Is this helpful?

  9. Katie

    Chicago

    8 reviews

    4.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on January 1, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Had a reservation, was told upon arrival that it would be a 40 minute wait if we wanted a table inside for our reservation. We were seated in the outdoor area that alternated between really hot and really cold. Food and drinks were delicious but the outdoor area killed the vibe.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Ashanti

    San Francisco

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on December 29, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    LOVEE this place. The food never ever disappoints!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Cafe El Tapatio offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (773) 327-5475.

Cafe El Tapatio is rated 4.7 stars by 342 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 11 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Cafe El Tapatio

3400 N. Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60657

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    W. Roscoe St
  • Neighbourhood
    Lakeview / East Lakeview
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Fri–Sun 11:00 am–3:30 pm Dinner Tue–Thu, Sun 3:30 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:30 pm–9:30 pm Sun 4:00 pm–8:30 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Latin American, Mexican / Regional American (Southwestern)
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    Brown Line - PaulinaBus - Route 9 (Ashland and Roscoe)
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wine
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