Close Icon
Gear IconImportant Reminder:The Foursquare City Guide app officially sunset on December 15, 2024, with the web version following in early 2025. However, your check-in journey doesn’t end here! Join us on Swarm, where new adventures await.
Learn more
Time Out's 22 best Mexican restaurants in Chicago
Carnitas Uruapan is one of Time Out's 22 best Mexican restaurants in Chicago.

1. Carnitas Uruapan

8.5
1725 W 18th St, Chicago, IL
Mexican Restaurant · Heart of Chicago · 22 tips and reviews

Serious EatsSerious Eats: It's all about the carnitas here, which you can order by the pound.

Ixcateco Grill is one of Time Out's 22 best Mexican restaurants in Chicago.

2. Ixcateco Grill

3402 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL
Mexican Restaurant · Albany Park · 8 tips and reviews

Nuri P.Nuri Pazol: Reservations never hurt! Don’t be afraid to specify your spice needs — the chef cooks to order.

Mi Tocaya Antojería is one of Time Out's 22 best Mexican restaurants in Chicago.

3. Mi Tocaya Antojería

8.9
2800 W Logan Blvd (California), Chicago, IL
Mexican Restaurant · Logan Square · 20 tips and reviews

Staff PicksStaff Picks: With its vivid dining room and ambitious take on Mexican cuisine, Mi Tocaya may be your new go-to for tacos al pastor---or something completely different, like the rich and earthy fideos secos soup.

Birrieria Zaragoza is one of Time Out's 22 best Mexican restaurants in Chicago.

4. Birrieria Zaragoza

8.8
4852 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL
Mexican Restaurant · Archer Heights · 20 tips and reviews

Melanie D.Melanie Denise: Roasted goat, bone-in, large plate. Add quesadilla, and spicy salsa. Great eats. Friendly staff. Byob.

Topolobampo is one of Time Out's 22 best Mexican restaurants in Chicago.

5. Topolobampo

8.0
445 N Clark St (Illinois), Chicago, IL
Mexican Restaurant · River North · 29 tips and reviews

Shannon J.Shannon Jeropke: Topolobampo was nominated for Outstanding restaurant 2017 James Beard Award.

La Chaparrita Taqueria is one of Time Out's 22 best Mexican restaurants in Chicago.

6. La Chaparrita Taqueria

8.7
2500 S Whipple St, Chicago, IL
Taco Restaurant · Little Village · 26 tips and reviews

Serious EatsSerious Eats: This family-run taqueria in Little Village is one of Chicago's true treasures. Truth be told, pretty much any of their tacos de fritangas could be featured on this list.

7. Quiote

2456 N California Ave (Altgeld St), Chicago, IL
Mexican Restaurant · Logan Square · 15 tips and reviews

Shannon J.Shannon Jeropke: Runner up for Best Single-Focus Bar at the 2017 Time Out Chicago Bar Awards.

Birrieria Reyes de Ocotlan is one of Time Out's 22 best Mexican restaurants in Chicago.

8. Birrieria Reyes de Ocotlan

8.2
1322 W 18th St (btwn S Ada St & S Loomis St), Chicago, IL
Mexican Restaurant · Pilsen · 11 tips and reviews

GQ MagazineGQ Magazine: There's nothing fancy about it other than the food, which is great. Try the goat tacos. They're incredible.

Leña Brava is one of Time Out's 22 best Mexican restaurants in Chicago.

9. Leña Brava

8.8
900 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL
Mexican Restaurant · Fulton Market · 33 tips and reviews

Shannon J.Shannon Jeropke: Leña Fire ($13) Thanks be to the agave gods for the sweet nectar that is mezcal and sotol.

Taqueria El Mezquite is one of Time Out's 22 best Mexican restaurants in Chicago.

10. Taqueria El Mezquite

8.0
1756 W 18th, Chicago, IL
Mexican Restaurant · Heart of Chicago · 11 tips and reviews

Serious EatsSerious Eats: The taquero gets the tortilla warmed up perfectly each time and enhances it with a dip in some beef fat.

Dos Urban Cantina is one of Time Out's 22 best Mexican restaurants in Chicago.

11. Dos Urban Cantina

2829 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL
Mexican Restaurant · Logan Square · 21 tips and reviews

Shannon J.Shannon Jeropke: Hibiscus punch ($10) with blanco tequila, lime juice, hibiscus tea and pineapple shrub garnished with a pineapple wedge, lime wheel and fresh mint leaves.

Xoco is one of Time Out's 22 best Mexican restaurants in Chicago.

12. Xoco

8.8
449 N Clark St (at W Illinois St), Chicago, IL
Mexican Restaurant · Near North Side · 358 tips and reviews

Time Out ChicagoTime Out Chicago: XOCO, Rick Bayless', fast-casual ode to tortas, caldos, churros and chocolate. Read more.

5 Rabanitos is one of Time Out's 22 best Mexican restaurants in Chicago.

13. 5 Rabanitos

8.5
1758 W 18th St (Wood St), Chicago, IL
Mexican Restaurant · Heart of Chicago · 21 tips and reviews

MartinMartin: Queso Fundido: Warm Melted Cheese, Crispy Chorizo, Poblano Rajas, Tortillas

Masa Azul is one of Time Out's 22 best Mexican restaurants in Chicago.

14. Masa Azul

2901 W Diversey Ave (at N Francisco Ave), Chicago, IL
Latin American Restaurant · Logan Square · 33 tips and reviews

Time Out ChicagoTime Out Chicago: The aguacate at Masa Azul is one of the 100 best things we ate this year. http://tmout.us/rLOtk Read more.

Taqueria Traspasada #2 is one of Time Out's 22 best Mexican restaurants in Chicago.

15. Taqueria Traspasada #2

8.3
811 N Ashland Ave (btwn Chicago Ave & Fry St), Chicago, IL
Mexican Restaurant · Noble Square · 31 tips and reviews

Patrick L.Patrick Labadie: The pastor tacos are some of the best in Chicago. Also, dude behind the counter is super friendly and patient even when your drunk friends are taking forever to order.

Las Palmas is one of Time Out's 22 best Mexican restaurants in Chicago.

16. Las Palmas

1835 W North Ave (Honore), Chicago, IL
Mexican Restaurant · Wicker Park · 22 tips and reviews
Taqueria La Oaxaquena is one of Time Out's 22 best Mexican restaurants in Chicago.

17. Taqueria La Oaxaquena

7.6
3382 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL
Mexican Restaurant · Kilbourn Park · 11 tips and reviews

Serious EatsSerious Eats: The chicken in mole is a good place to start, but don't skip the grilled cecina taco.

Lonesome Rose is one of Time Out's 22 best Mexican restaurants in Chicago.

18. Lonesome Rose

8.8
2101 N California Ave (Point Street), Chicago, IL
Mexican Restaurant · Logan Square · 20 tips and reviews

Kenny U.Kenny Ugel: Really great margaritas and cocktails. The guacamole and Truck Stop Nachos are solid as well. Tacos were just ok.

Pueblo Nuevo is one of Time Out's 22 best Mexican restaurants in Chicago.

19. Pueblo Nuevo

8.2
4342 N Central Ave (at W Montrose Ave), Chicago, IL
Mexican Restaurant · Portage Park · 14 tips and reviews

Jonathan H.Jonathan Hernandez: Portions are huge and The pozole aka soup is Stupendous!!!!!

Taquería Los Comales 3 is one of Time Out's 22 best Mexican restaurants in Chicago.

20. Taquería Los Comales 3

7.8
1544 W 18th St, Chicago, IL
Mexican Restaurant · Pilsen · 29 tips and reviews

Luis G.Luis Guerrero: Try the quesadillas with steak and wash it down with a strawberry licuado.

Sol De Mexico is one of Time Out's 22 best Mexican restaurants in Chicago.

21. Sol De Mexico

7.9
3018 N Cicero Ave (Belmont), Chicago, IL
Mexican Restaurant · Cragin · 12 tips and reviews

KristinKristin: LOVED the Sopes Sortidos "Xilonen" and the Mar Cielo y Tierra azteca. Order a side of Plantanos con Crema for dessert. The Cilantro Julep was awesome - sweet, but not too sweet.

Birreria La Torre is one of Time Out's 22 best Mexican restaurants in Chicago.

22. Birreria La Torre

6.2
6724 S Pulaski Rd (at 67th Pl), Chicago, IL
Mexican Restaurant · West Lawn · 2 tips and reviews

Shannon J.Shannon Jeropke: Though all of the soups (birria, posole and menudo) are way better than average, it’s the carne en su jugo that kills