The Mexican Paradise Cafe
436 Lake St, Antioch, IL, 60002
The Mexican Paradise Cafe Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Antioch for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Antioch for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Antioch for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
436 Lake St
Antioch, IL, 60002 - Phone (847) 838-1903
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Dagwood S.
Good local mexican food and margarita. I mostly go there during the summer to sit outside on the curb, have some tacos and beers. Good local favorite. Can't go wrong!
(4)Dan H.
I am a big fan of this place I've only eaten here a couple times but it's great every time. They're tied best tacos in Anticoh with Paco's and All food is fresh and tasty. They offer seating on the sidewalk in downtown Antioch. This is great if you love people watching or soaking up some sun in the summer.
(4)Cassie G.
They give chips and salsa which are really good. The steak tacos and tortas are delicious. Prices are cheap as well.
(5)Michelle F.
Nice place lots of tvs and a big bar, but not enough to distract you from the fact that the food is probably the same as what is served in a Mexican hospital... Bland bland bland service is okay. Three stars because at least it's cheap. For a better Mexican fix grande jakes or letty's have better stuff
(3)Brett K.
New to the area, just used Yelp to pick a Mexican restaurant for lunch, didn't read any reviews. Salsa is fresh and delicious. Chips also homemade and crispy. I ordered a burrito, it was awesome and huge. My drink was never empty and our service was great. Only negative was lack of parking. The decor was inviting and looks like a good place for dinner and some drinks. I will be back, and rest of my group also had nothing but good things to say. Menus looked large and expansive, with lots to choose from. Can't wait to be back to try some other dishes.
(4)G P.
Ok I want to set some things straight about Mexican Paradise. I've been to a ton of Mexican places in my day owned by all types including owners raised on traditional cooking south of the border. This place does come pretty close to the best of them and the price point for that is crazy good. I have been working my way through the menu and have not hit a dish or portion size I don't like. Flavor is good, maybe not secret recipe spices from the jungle, but more than fair. People complain about the service, but you need to figure out your price point for service. I find M.P. more than fair in that regard. Your dish price is lower because they are not constantly providing the dressed to the nines service of places that charge three times the price. They hire and train the basics so you can afford to go out to eat. I'd rather be able to afford to go here and get OK service than be treated amazing and not be able to afford to go regularly. I don't pay for service, I pay for food. Bring my food and drink and that is all you have to do for under 15 dollars price point. It's called food and commerce, basic economics. They are family owned and they are a fixture of the community donating to causes. With family you will get some family issues (as I read a few reviews on here) but if you want no small businesses run by family just remember your last meal at a Chipotle, or Taco Bell. That is what you are basically willing to concede to. I prefer the family dynamic, even their heated discussions during rushes. It's called passion and makes me understand they are real people with real lives serving our community. If your experience is terrible ask for the owners, they care immensely about their business and public image to their guests. They take care of bad servers, I've seen some be pushed out the door over the years. You need to communicate issues, not just write about them online... Overall try them, I recommend. I love them.
(5)Adam Z.
Wow! Our super tacos were so super we could barely eat 2! We came in with our baby at 8 on a Sunday evening. We just had water and 2 super tacos each. They gave us really good service and our tacos were LOADED!
(5)Sarah C.
Tonight me and my boyfriend ordered takeout. Just two burritos and an appetizer of guacamole. So we pick up and go home and think they've forgotten our guac, but in actually they gave us a tablespoon smear of guacamole and charged us 3 dollars for it. So we go back and ask them why we were given this when we ordered an appetizer. The short very angry blonde manager cut me off and proceeded to be very VERY hostile over us complaining. She told us we must have ordered a side of guac. We said no. She insisted me must have ordered a small. WE WERE NEVER ASKED A SIZE AND WE SAID "APPETIZER OF GUACAMOLE" She still insisted we ordered wrong. Refusing to even give us a chance to talk. When she got sick of being a bitch I guess she asked what size we wanted. We said a medium. I made it very clear that I was NOT paying even more especially since we already had to come back. I felt so sorry for the poor new cashier that took our order, mistakes happen. That manager has no people skills and shouldn't be near a customer. What a joke. Fighting with a customer over a side. Wow.
(1)Logan H.
Worst place I've EVER. EVER been too!! If you want to be talked to like trash by the owner and staff and receive horrible service, then by all means go to this sad excuse of a restaurant. Hear me out: First off, the service took forever, and they were out of half the things we were trying to order. Fair enough, a common issue in restaurants. But then when we got our food and it was wrong and asked it to be corrected. The waitress accused us of being rude and the owner, INSTEAD of trying to rectify the situation, began lecturing us on how we shouldn't treat her staff that way and how she didn't understand why this was such a big deal. Mind you nothing rude was said to the staff. We simply wanted our orders fixed. She then remarked on things we said to each other IN PRIVATE. She then stormed off, called us bad things, and was not seen for another 15 minutes. Then the manager came out and comped only one meal and told us never to come again. Please save your money and self respect and do not go to this trashfest. You're better of at McDonald's, which the owner told us we should've gone to instead.
(1)Rob M.
Mexican Paradise has become a regular stop almost weekly. Steak tacos are awesome as is the margaritas!
(5)Christine G.
Pork tamales are the BEST! Steak nachos are one of my other favorites as well. The owners are awesome and everyone is very friendly.
(5)Melinda W.
My husband and I just moved to the area and thought we would try this place out based on the reviews and it was a complete fail. We got steak tacos, when I ordered I said "two orders of steak tacos" and rice and beans. My husband got home from picking them up and he had two tacos. Last I checked an order is 3 tacos. Not to mention they were bland, tasteless and I feel like I could have made better at home. I'm giving two stars because the rice and beans were good. But that's the only good thing I have to say about this establishment.
(2)Kari A.
The meat had no seasoning. We just moved here from Southern California and went on recommendations that it was the best Mexican food in the area and we won't be back. My husband got the taco salad and I got the California burrito and my son got the fried mac and cheese. We all left very disappointed.
(1)Lindsey R.
Service is good, margarita's are good, food is ok. Not a bad spot for a drink & snack with a friend especially with the patio outside. It wouldn't be my first choice for dinner.
(4)Ryan P.
Best Mexican place in the area! Since moving locations, this is a great place to go sit at the bar and enjoy a few tacos with a few beers. The staff is awesome, and owners are very friendly, and accommodating. Place is very clean, food has always been good. Only downside for me is sometimes they are too busy for dine in. Love this place!
(5)Christina K.
If you want mediocre food and service then this is the place for you! Food is...alright. portions seemed off for the price. I was hoping it was a authentic restaurant. But no. I can dig tex mex though. I must have came in on a bad day. They had a huge table of what seemed to be either family or friends. Which is cool. But don't ignore your customers to sit and chit chat with other people. I won't be back.
(2)Alyssa D.
The food is okay. I am from the border so I have high standards. The barbacoa is very fatty and was not very flavorful at all. I will say that I enjoy their salsa! Very spicy! The few times I have been service was incredibly slow. I was also there when there was about four other patrons.
(2)M W.
Great service! Awesome food! And a clean, comfortable, and welcoming environment. Vegetarian options, and great salsa!
(5)Mary Z.
I've been wanting to write this review since the day I was introduced to this restaurant. This may be a long review but hopefully useful to anyone wanting to indulge in some GREAT mexican food (mainly steak lovers) First and foremost the environment setting is sports bar like with a Full service bar and more/less 5 big TVs. They have bar seats as well as dining seating. They are never short staffed and all their staff are very friendly, attentive and more importantly have yet to mess up my very complicated orders. The owners are always on site and conversing with the patrons. The atmosphere is mellow and laid back. You're never rushed to leave and the staff will quickly clear off your table if you want to stick around to finish watching one of the games on their TVs. Now for the food. Like most mexican restaurants I've been to they offer u a decent amount of warm homemade tortilla chips with yummy homemade (grilled tomato*) salsa. (You'll be licking your fingers asking for more. Now i WILL recommend you try their steak burritos, or anything steak for that matter. I promise you have NEVER tasted so much goodness in every bite. I've been to one too many mexican restaurants, from local chains to authentic hole in walls. But I have never tasted steak as juicy, flavorful and tender as Mexican Paradise's. I know most people have bitten into their burritos and chomped on something they wish they hadn't but eating here- every single bite is better than the last. Finally I would like to say I haven't gone to another Mexican restaurant since my first time eating here and said "this is better than Mexican Paradise" because there isn't anything YET that's better than This place!! I know this was long, but it was totally worth the time spent writing! Love everything about this restaurant and worth the trip out to Antioch once a month!!
(5)Raegan D.
LOVE the nachos - but ask them to melt the cheese a bit if you order them. :)
(4)Dining Bunny G.
First time there and we will be back!
(4)Lisa R.
My husband and I just left from having a great experience here eating lunch. Great steak tacos, and the best steak taco salad! Plus, our waitress couldn't have been nicer. We're new to the area, and she gave us some great tips on other nearby restaurants that also have great food to try. We will definitely be making this one of our regular go to restaurants. Loved it!!
(5)Favre A.
This place has 4 stars? I guess the standards of Mexican food and customer service have significantly diminished in this town. The new location? Nothing new about this location except they moved 100 feet up the street to a bigger spot so they can hire more new people to be bigger jerks than before. Nothing new about the food either. It's even worse than it was before. Very bland and no comparison to real Mexican food. It's apparently the owners cut costs and still hire young rude girls that spend more time on they're phoned texting than with the customers. Owners must feel great making a small profit by providing less than edible food and as a bonus they throw in bad service. We won't be back
(1)Mr C.
Food was really good portion size was great for the price. Place and service very good. Guacamole was ok We will be back.
(4)Justin E.
This place is great! As long as I've been going here (about 3-4 years), I've never experienced the bad service I'm reading about. At any rate, I have a gluten sensitivity so Mexican food has become somewhat of a "go-to" for me. Their chips and salsa are seriously as good as it gets. I've actually nearly filled up on them on more than one occasion while waiting for my food to arrive and had to take some of my meal in a to-go box. Yes, the wait can be a little long, but remember guys... this is a "cafe". Exactly as the name suggests, not a fancy 5 star restaurant with a myriad of chefs. It's usually 1-2 guys doing the cooking and that's it. Everything is made fresh and in my opinion the portions are perfect. As a gluten-free diner, I've often asked them to make me a quesadilla on a corn tortilla instead of flour. These are delicious! Though Antioch doesn't have much scenery to offer, sitting outside in the Summer months is a nice offering. All in all, this is as good as it gets for mexican food in the area. A few poor reviews or not, I say keep up the good work! You always have customers when I come in and that speaks for itself.
(5)Scott P.
Excellent food and good service. I wouldn't have gone without having read the reviews because it is such a little mom and pop type place.
(5)Janet K O.
Stopped in for dinner, My daughter had steak fahitas, she loved them . I ordered The steak taco plate. It was delish...Best chips Ive had in a Mexican restrant. Service was excellent. We will def.be back soon..
(4)Tim W.
I love the food there. The new location is great. There is a lot of room unlike the old location. The food is the best Mexican food around. I love their Tortas and chips. The staff is very friendly and the place is clean.
(5)Douglas J.
Food is great but the owner is an ass on the phone. Love Mexican, but I'm going to Grande Jakes from now on. If I feel the need to get insulted again, I'll reconsider.
(1)Shannon T.
Food is great, but the only thing that prevents me from giving 5 stars is atmosphere. Why is it always so dang quiet in here? Please turn on some music, good music adds to overall experience. I don't want to just hear other customers voices bouncing off the walls.
(4)Corin W.
Dude--thought this place had closed but I'm so glad to discover they haven't. In-freaking-credible chips and salsa! And the chilies rellenos tacos--yes you heard me right--are superb. Really some of the best Mexican around. Right off the main strip in Antioch. All freshly made. Really enjoyed the service too. great job guys!
(5)Vincent B.
I live locally here in Antioch and have given this establishment many second chances but if your content making just enough money to pay your bills and your wait staff then I guess my review will fall on deaf ears. I have lived in Antioch for almost 4 years now and have frequented this establishment on many occasions. I can not say for a second that the food is bad because it's not, it's the arrogant " my friends own the restaurant, so I can talk to you any way I please " attitude and mentality that keeps this place from making some major coin. The girl they have working at night is the main reason I won't return ever again. She is constantly on her cell phone being inattentive to customers and it's a travesty if you interrupt what she's doing to get condiments or another drink. This wasn't the first time either. I've always said it's not what you say but how you say it. If I'm ordering triple steak in my burrito common sense is going to tell me there is an additional charge, I didn't need the smart ass comment " You do know that's going to be extra right, we don't do extra for free " comment. I've had other encounters with poor service with other employees over the years and I know I've called and expressed concern and received the same attitude from management fielding the call. Teach your employees some manners and customer service etiquette and you might see an increase in sales when you run that register tape at night. ...
(1)B B.
Price to quality great value. I really like the place..quick service pretty decent Mexican food. Great for Antioch! There are some better places in the county, but nothing closer then Gurnee.
(4)Sandra A.
A lot of our friends rave about this restaurant, but we've visited a few times and have finally decided that we're just not interested in returning for dinner anymore. There's nothing bad about Mexican Paradise Cafe. Their chips are good, and the salsa is decent. The meats in the entrees are of good quality, the food is made fresh and served warm, and the portion sizes are generous. There's just one important thing missing: flavor. The entrees look yummy, smell yummy, but the taste is a let down... just too bland. Service is iffy. Sure, there are days when we all hate to go to work, but it can't kill you to smile, right? There's just no excuse for unfriendly service. This restaurant is very casual and there's not a whole lot of atmoshphere to speak of. The entrance opens into a fairly small dining room, so the experience can be quite chilly in the wintertime as people come and go... bring a sweater. There is outdoor seating in the warmer months, which does make it a nice place to meet friends for some drinks and a bite to eat in the summertime.
(2)Mike S.
Brian and Lisa are great! Best tongue tacos! Sounds bad but try them. Great food and service and very clean.
(5)Tim H.
Great small Mexican Cafe in a small downtown area. Owners are very friendly. I like the steak torta, but the tacos are an excellent value when ordering ala carte. My 5 person family eat's here on a regular basis for under $25 and then heads over to the moving theater across the street.
(4)Anne B.
We order take out from this place once a month. The food is really good authentic Mexican. The salsa is excellent and the barbacoa tacos are really good. Other people have said the staff is rude but I've never experienced that. In fact they are always friendly and smiling when I go in.
(4)Ben R.
This is the best Mexican restaurant I have ever ate at. The family that runs and owns the restaurant are the nicest and friendliest people around. The food is great the al pastor is to die for at some times it may take awhile for them to cook it but it is definitely well worth the wait. Don't miss out on this little treasure of Antioch.
(5)Renato P.
Wow, was I pleasantly surprised at how good this place was. I went here on a whim and walked out of here really digging this place. I have to start off with my opinion that the chips here were fantastic. The salsa was really good making the perfect pairing. I started with the nachos, probably the best steak nachos I've very had. I was somewhat disappointed with the enchiladas, I felt the sauce was odd, but the steak and cheese were both really good. I probably wouldn't order those again, the dish was good though. I did try some of the beef burrito suizo, and I felt it was really good. The rice and beans that came with the meal was some of the better sides I've had in the far northern burbs. I live nowhere near here, but would readily go back here.
(4)Sean B.
Not a fan! My mom makes better shredded beef tacos than this place.
(1)Patrick S.
Best Mexican food there is, besides this one place in Chicago. I don't know what a restaurant has to do to get 5 stars from Katey H. The chick drove 45 minutes just to go there, raves about how it has the best guacamole ever, then gives it 4 stars. I'm assuming her hand just slipped, but she should really go back and correct that because it's bringing down the place's average review. And if you think Grande Jake's is better, you move out of town.
(5)