With the frigid Midwest winters and a flair for pizza, you wouldn’t expect Chicago to boast some of the best Mexican restaurants outside of California and Texas. However, once you start exploring Second City’s dining scene, you might be surprised how many truly incredible Mexican eateries it has to offer. Whether you’re looking for inventive, upscale takes on traditional fare, or you’re on the hunt for the best off-the-beaten-path bites, our list of Chicago’s best Mexican restaurants can guide you to an amazing meal.
Related: Best Restaurants in Lincoln Park
Where to Find the Best Mexican Restaurants in Chicago
Frontera Grill
Neighborhood: River North
Address: 445 N. Clark St., Chicago, 60654
Cost: $$
One of the most popular restaurants in Bravo star Rick Bayless’ empire of eateries, Frontera pays homage to regional Mexican cuisine – complete with hand-shaken margaritas, wood-fired asadas, and complex mole sauces. Frontera Grill serves weekend brunch, lunch, and dinner with a robust menu of complex dishes starring fresh ingredients. Legend has it that Bayless himself grows tomatoes, herbs, and chiles on his rooftop to ensure the restaurant’s salsa is as fresh as possible.
What to Eat:
Ordering well at Frontera is easy thanks to a menu section dedicated to time-honored classic dishes, including Bayless’ tortilla soup, smoked chicken taquitos, and sopecitos rancheros (a traditional Southern Mexican dish with a crispy corn base topped with braised meats and a spicy tomato-y sauce).
Birriera Zaragoza
Neighborhood: Archer Heights
Address: 4852 S. Pulaski Rd., Chicago, 60632
Cost: $
This Archer Heights joint specializes in one main dish: goat birria. The tender, stewed goat meat complemented by a rich consomme is basically the only item on the menu, but don’t let yourself feel disappointed. This birria is so good, the Michelin Guide honored Bierriera Zaragoza as a Bib Gourmand winner four years in a row, including this year.
What to Eat:
While you can’t choose your main dish, you can choose the way it’s served: small or large portions; bone-in or boneless; on a plate or bowl; or in a taco or quesadilla. Every plate or bowl comes with diced onions, cilantro, limes, hot sauce, chiles, and fresh tortillas so that you can fix your birria exactly the way you like it.
Tzuco
Neighborhood: River North
Address: 720 N. State St., Chicago, IL 60654
Cost: $$
Born in Guerrero, Mexico, Chef Carlos Gaytán went on to become the first Mexican Chef to receive a Michelin star in 2013 and 2014 – and he hasn’t slowed down yet. From the gorgeous setting to the Mexican-made ceramic dishes to the warm, earthy tones at every turn, Gaytán’s Tzuco is a culinary and visual experience. Thanks to a spacious chef’s counter, guests can watch the culinary team create inventive dishes inspired by the old and new flavors of Mexico.
What to Eat:
Don’t miss the unique seafood dishes, such as the Tikin Xic, starring marinated skate wing, grilled octopus tacos, and squid ink ceviche. And, save room for dessert. The menu has included charred corn ice cream, Mexican meringues, and other inspired sweets in the past.
Chilam Balam
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Address: 3023 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657
Cost: $$
After working at Chef Skip Bayless’ Frontera Grill and Topolobampo, chef Natalie Oswald moved on to Chilam Balam, where she delivers some of the best Mexican food in Chicago on her creative and frequently changing menu of small plates. The name Chilam Balam comes from the Mayan prophecy of the Earth’s last cycle ending in 2012. Of course, the world didn’t end, but it serves as a reminder that we’ll eventually run out of the natural resources this planet provides. That’s why the restaurant thinks local and green, offering fresh seasonal ingredients in a charming space.
What to Eat:
Chef Oswald offers a taste of the seasons on her menu, including hearty cold-weather grilled tuna with pumpkin feta purée, mixed rice, and salsa negra, and the bright flavors of a grilled plantain salad in the summer. Visit any time of year to try something new. We guarantee it’ll be good. Chef Oswald has earned the Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand Award every year since 2013 and she doesn’t seem to be stopping yet.
Mi Tocaya Antojería
Neighborhood: Logan Square
Address: 2800 W. Logan Blvd., Chicago, 60647
Cost: $$
Mi Tocaya embodies Chef and owner Diana Dávila’s family travels to Mexico, embracing adventurous flavors and cooking styles. Some dishes feature heirloom ingredient preparations, such as saka morra, a prehispanic corn dish similar to grits that you’ll find in the Caderas de Pollo Tatemadas. Dávila has earned plenty of accolades for her work at Tocaya, including being named a finalist for the 2023 Beard Award for Best Chef, Great Lakes.
What to Eat:
Chef Dávila’s menu can feel like a tour of Mexico, including dishes inspired by the Aztecs as well as Cabo, Oaxaca, and other regions. Don’t skip the vegetable-forward dishes, such as the Spaghetti Squash “Elote” style, highlighting the salty-sweetness of Mexican corn.
Live Near Your Favorite Mexican Food in Chicago
If you’re looking for an apartment near your favorite restaurants – maybe even near the best Mexican restaurants in Chicago – AptAmigo’s experts can help. Here’s how it works: you tell us your budget, lifestyle, and living preferences, and we’ll send you a list of buildings that could work for your needs. From there, you can send us your favorites, and we’ll help you find your perfect match. The best part? It’s absolutely free.
From Mexican restaurants in downtown Chicago to sports bars in Old Town, we ensure you find a home right where you want to live.
