Salsa bar is great and so is the overall, fast-food restaurant like ambience. What I did not like is that they don't serve any real veggies even if u take a veggie taco / burrito/ fajita. I always like to have some zucchini/ mushroom/ carrots/ squash/broccoli/ etc. but they offered none. So obviously I m going there again. However, the staff is friendly and kind.
(4)
Christina G.
Pretty good Mexican place. We visited for lunch during a workday. There was no wait, and many available tables. I ordered a chicken quesadilla. The portion size was pretty huge, but I wish it had come with sour cream or beans or rice or something. Sure, we had tortilla chips to eat at the table and there were many salsas for us to try at the salsa bar (actually, our main reason for coming), but it felt like the quesadilla was missing something. The salsa bar had many different kinds of salsa. I liked the sweet one with mango and the smokiness of the chipotle salsa too. Next time, I'll try tacos or a burrito, and maybe order a side of rice and beans. The meal just didn't feel complete without them. I would go back.
(3)
David O.
They have gone downhill very fast. Last visit was 3 months ago and it was great, but I went last Saturday and my stomach has been messed up ever since. Do not go unless you want to see a doctor which is what I'm doing if I don't recover by tomorrow!
(1)
Danielle G.
Absolutely love this place! Delicious and consistent. Best tortilla soup in town! So authentic and flavorful. Thank you grande jakes for the tasty food and amazing service!
(5)
Mark D.
First time ordering from here and WOW was I surprised! I thought I had found my regular mexican food go to place elsewhere but came here on a recommendation. I was very impressed even though I only came for takeout for myself, wife, and daughter. While waiting for our order I noticed they had a Salsa Bar for in restaurant patrons which looked great. Each of us enjoyed our meal so much more than from where we've been ordering from. Steak was delicious and we all loved their rice and beans. Looks like Grande Jakes is now going to be our new regular go to place!
(4)
Melissa H.
If the husband and I want great Authentic Mexican food we go here, from the salsa Bar, to the Horchata, to the amazing and huge portion burritos. You can't go wrong with anything you eat here. I love the fact that you can see them cooking everything and how clean it is there. We have had times where the food is so great when we carry it out we call them to compliment them. This is a hidden gem and jewel of Mexican food in the area.
(5)
Mackenzie-An N.
I think Grande Jake's has the best tacos (w/flour tortillas, of course). I normally get chorizo taco and pastor (not sure but it's pork) taco. YUM!! My husband loves their steak tacos. And the horchata is divine.
(5)
Govi S.
If you are in the hunt for good sized, tasty mexican food then you should try this place. I have only been here for lunch cause i work close by and if you want to get lunch on a Friday, try to get there before 11:30am or it gets crowded. They have a good selection of salsas and love their burritos and tortas. If you grab a groupon which is offered often, do grab cause its worth it. Also love there tortilla chips which is placed for the table while you wait for the food.
(4)
Sig P.
Small joint good food. What else can you ask for. You order up at the counter and they bring it to you.
(4)
David C.
Fresh Salsa Bar + Chicken Milanesa Torta = NOMZ. Ok, so reading the bad reviews I have to respectfully disagree. It really is a gem in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago. **THE DETAILS** Service: I have been here about 8+ times and have never had an issue with staff. The cashier is nice and he answered my questions, the staff also brings you free chips and salsa right after you order and sit, and are even attentive while you are dining. Technically, they aren't even formal "wait staff" (since you order at the register) so not sure what people are expecting. They have messed up my order once, but fixed it right away and apologized for the mistake. If the haters want a complete sit-down experience rather than good food, then they can go get TGIF fajitas down the street... Food: The cooks know what they are doing and are authentic. (Sure if you order a taco, you should mention "cilantro & onion" -- but my guess is they don't default to Mexican style to cater toward the surrounding suburbia crowd. I mean, most of the staff is Mexican, do I honestly think that I know more authenticity than them??) The meat is prepared with the correct seasoning and tenderness, and they also use good quality produce which is reflected in the FRESH SALSA BAR. YES. This is a big deal, especially in Chicago. You will not find many salsa bars that can compete (and yes, this is coming from a guy that lived in LA for 5 years?!). They have an assortment of about 8 salsas which include Habanero Mango, Jalapeno Verde, Roasted Red Pepper, and chopped Tomato & Green Pepper pico de gallo. I pile the cups of salsa and pickled veggies and await my food. I munch on the warm tortilla chips and watch some TV while I wait for my order. Then enter: the CHICKEN MILANESA TORTA. 3 words that reign supreme at Jake's. It is amazing how they get a gigantic piece of lightly breaded chicken on the toasty, yet pillowy bread. They top it with some fresh chopped lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado, and sour cream spread... add a little bit of fresh salsa in there, and I am good to go. The torta is the BEST I have had and ranks up there in national standards: Best Taco/Salsa: King Taco, LA Best Burrito: El Farolito, SF Best Tostada: El Taurino, LA Best Torta: Grande Jake's, CHI It is a hike from Chicago though. Luckily, I have family that lives out in Wheeling, and Jake's gives me an ulterior excuse to visit. So, if I ever run into you at Jake's, and we are both eating the milanesa torta... a simple nod of approval will make this review worth every bite.
(5)
Becca T.
We picked up dinner to go tonight. The food was very salty but I did enjoy my tilapia tacos. I had strange encounter with the employee dishing out the chips. I asked for some in a to-go bag with my order. She said,"ask him" (the man at the register) and then just pointed in the air. The lady would not give me the chips.. As she stood next to 3 massive containers of them. It was the strangest thing I had ever seen. Why would you have salsa cups/lids to go but not give the customer chips? Meh.. No rush to go back
(2)
Chris N.
Great family restaurant with excellent food!! We also recently placed a catering order and we couldn't have been any happier with the service. The delivery person was incredibly nice and set everything up for us. He made sure to double check that we had our complete order and that we were satisfied. The food was definitely the hit of the party!! All of our guests raved about how delicious everything was. We would highly recommend them for any of your catering needs!!
(5)
Mikey D.
Grande Jakes!!!! No need to go anywhere else for excellent Mexican food. My absolute favorite! And believe it or not, their burgers are top notch! Yeah, I said burgers. The staff is always friendly and the restaurant is always kept clean. Try this place!
(5)
Robert G.
Never again in this lifetime. Service was marginal at best, acoustics were painful, and the salsa was warm watery ketchup. My wife found very little meat in her tamales, and my al pastor enchiladas were actually sweet with no spice whatsoever. Thankfully I despise retried beans or I would complain about them being served cold. The beer was good though.
(1)
Nick M.
Their tacos are awesome and they do not skimp on the meat and toppings. You can choose from Mexican style or regular style. Mexican style is cilantro and onions on top, and regular is lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes. I recommend the carnitas and grilled steak for meat options. Their rice is great as well as their beans.
(4)
Cameron S.
Enchiladas were good but the tortilla chips tasted funny. Almost stale. They were unsalted, but the texture seemed off. They had a large selection of salsas, but none of them stand out as great. Small place. Atmosphere was ok. May come again
(3)
Drew S.
What can I tell you about Grande Jacks? Oh yeah, it's like totally awesome! OMG the food is delicious, we have dined here often, and would recommend it to anyone who wants to eat great Mexican style food. We have done a fundraiser here and the management is so easy to work with. Wish there were more stars to give. Love this place!!!!
(5)
Reyes F.
Called ahead for take-out, showed up 15 minutes later as instructed. Extremely long line and no separate line for pick up. The trouble is each person / group ahead of me had to place their order and then wait for the food. Needless to say it was a hassle and the food needed to be reheated once getting home. Food was as expected, but it's really hard to mess up Mexican.
(2)
Sarath K.
Authentic Mexican food at a reasonable price. Jakes has been our favorite since years now and they have kept a consistent taste each time. They have very good ambiance for a decent dining and I would recommend this to anybody craving for Mexican food :)
(5)
Katie S.
The cheese enchiladas were delicious! The beans and rice were mediocre. The soda was amazing, there must be something special about the water in the fountain. It was the best fountain drink I have ever had. My bf had been there 2 separate times and said the same thing about the fountain drinks. I will be back fro the enchiladas and soda. :)
(4)
Kassy K.
One of the best Mexican places I've been to in the suburbs. Very authentic and affordable. The burritos are amazinggggg. Hands down one of the best burritos I've had.
(5)
Hersh A.
It's worth checking out this place 'cause they have decent to good food. Good menu variety. Reasonable prices. Good service. Try their Al Pastor anything. It's really delicious. Their Pollo Mole taco is tasty too. Definitely check out their Salsa bar. I've been here once before. Don't remember what I had but it was good. This time around I had a steak taco and Al Pastor Gordita. The steak was so so. The corn tortilla was cold. Overall, an average taco. The Gordita was good. 3 stars.
(3)
Simon K.
Writing reviews for 3-star places always proves to be difficult. By giving it 3-stars, you're basically saying "this place is pretty good but it's not going to be one of my go to places if I'm hungry and I definitely wouldn't take somebody here if they came to visit me from out of town." With all that being said, if you're in the mood for some Mexican food and live within 5 minutes of Grande Jake's I'll say that it is worth stopping by. They even have a nice salsa bar at the back on the restaurant so you can go crazy with your own combination of condiments. Once again, time to re-emphasize: not a life-changing experience but you'll have a decent meal.
(3)
Jason C.
They have some really good Mexican food here for a placed called Jakes. How do you even pronounce that in Spanish? Non the less, I like the fast and friendly service and I especially like the salsa bar that they have in the back. I would recommend this place to a friend.
(4)
Judy L.
Ole, Ole...Ole, Ole!! What's not to like?! 1) Fresh complimentary tri-colored tortilla chips delivered to your table with salsa after you step up to the food counter to place your order. 2) Minimal wait for food to be delivered to your table. 3) SALSA BAR!!! 8 different complimentary salsas! 4) Vegetarian options! Thank you! (had the vegetarian burrito with rice, guacamole, fried onions and peppers, cheese and maybe some other stuff...my lunch was $5). 5) You can get a junior size or regular size for all of the burritos. Looks like all menu items are under $8... 6) Flautas, quesadillas, burritos...oh my! 7) Friendly staff, fast service. 8) Great for a group. Go up to the counter and pay for your own lunch without figuring out the bill at the end.
(5)
Patsy D.
Visited Saturday night. Had the combination dinner, which was good amd the Tri Color Enchiladas. The brown sauce that I guess was supposed to be a mole was really terrible. Overly sweet, overly thick. Nice beer specials on Saturday night. So, in a nutshell, it's a convenient, okay place but skip the mole.
(3)
Gordon G.
Grande Jake's provides the worst of both worlds: Loud, unappealing fast food restaurant atmosphere, with terrible acoustics, at sit down dining room restaurant prices. Not really sure what the appeal to this place is. The food is overpriced for what you get and not authentic in the least. Look elsewhere for Mexican food... not difficult to find with Wheeling and Palatine just down Dundee.
(2)
Kevin G.
I am by no means a great critic of Mexican food but I love this place. The menu is a bit complicated as there is a lot on it. Staff are extremely friendly and helpful and help me when I have questions without making me feel like a dips$#t! :-) I agree, the place is a bit noisy but I never sit down because I always carry out. The salsa bar is very good. Holy Cow the Habanero salsa is off the hook spicy. Beware! :-) Parking is good. Oddly this food doesn't sit like a dead rock in my stomach like everything from El Burrito.
(4)
Kalina N.
Grande Jake's is a fantastic Mexican food restaurant. I love their burrito grande and their horchata. It is not like any horchata you've tried before - absolutely delicious. Would recommend any day!!!
(5)
Sunshine M.
I love this place. The food is consistently delicious. The flavor of the carnitas, chicken and beef are awesome. I tend to get the enchilada suizas and it melts in your mouth. The salsa bar has a ton of unique flavors too. The burritos mas grande are enormous. Just writing this makes me want to go now. And the service is wonderful and always accommodating.
(5)
Maira O.
Cold tacos, bad service, not authentic, over priced for crappy Mexican food is not cool. Please believe me, I took one bite of my taco and was disappointed and pissed off that this place got good reviews....sometimes I wonder if I should go off others reviews....What a waste of my time!
(1)
John R.
Great food - little pricey But how can you possibly be out of mango salsa at 4:30 on a Friday night??????? Why even have a salsa bar??? Disappointed
(4)
Luis V.
What happened with the old members team??? Food quality and service decrease a lot!!!! Burgers and hot dogs with mexican tortas bread!!!! Steak burritos and taco salad with the meat uncooked. Service very bad, I had to stand up from my table to request more chips in besides the server was interested only to discuss with the cashier to request her tips. I think I will ned to find other mexican restaurant closer.
(1)
Amanda D.
Average at best! Nachos are not that great and the burritos could be better. I prefer el famous burrito any day over this place. BUT way better atmosphere and inside the restaurant is nice.
(3)
Paul G.
First time at Grande Jakes. Recommended by a coworker. Very clean establishment. I read a couple of reviewa about how busy it is, however i was the only one there. Maybe I came during a slow tike. I ordered the grande burrito. It was very yummy. I definately recommend this place. Free chips and salsa is a plus!
(4)
Melissa L.
My dad and I love this spot. I love the salsa bar! I feel they are always out of the mango salsa (my fav), which is the only reason I give 4 stars instead of 5.
(4)
D K.
Best mexican food i had. Good food good price fresh food! Must eat! And there's worker very friendly!! Don't miss here!!! Really food & atmosphere !!!!!!!!!
(5)
Brooke A.
Took my soon to be wife here on our first date a year and two months ago. It was lunch, she got steak quesadillas, I got tacos. Needless to say, I sealed the deal and here we are today. Moral of the story: eating here will attract hot girls to you and you can eventually trick them in to marring you. P.s, if you get the feeling your date wants to make out with you in the parking lot after lunch, she does. Make her wait. Oh yeah, the chips and salsa are really good. As were the beans and rice. They have a salsa bar, which is really good. Prices are pretty good too.
(5)
Kristy N.
I kept a good attitude while trying this place for the first time, but after three strikes I decided I will not be back here. Strike 1: No horchata on a Saturday night. What. The heck. Strike 2: We ordered for dine-in and our food took about 20 minutes to get to us. At least they brought us complimentary chips and salsa. Strike 3: The food was so mediocre. My husband had a burrito and I had carnitas tacos. Both were about as bland as they come. We were excited for authentic Mexican food, and the lack of flavor in our meals had us still craving that authentic Mexican food when we left. Cool atmosphere, crappy food. Don't waste your time.
(2)
Richard A.
It's a great place for lunch! Be sure to come early and beat the rush - line can build up. Nevertheless, the crew is very efficient and food doesn't take all too long to arrive to your table. I would HIGHLY recommend selecting the carnitas in your taco or burrito - it's as moist and tender as they come.
(4)
Victor P.
Great place...yummy food...reasonable price. Would give it 5 stars but needs lengua burritos to get 5 stars from me. :)
(4)
Elina S.
Grande Jake's I am a fan! I think I want to give them more like 3.5 stars because the people working here are super friendly and nice. Came in with my hubby on a Saturday night and wanted to carry out, but then saw the place was hoppin, yep, for good ol' BG, it was hoppin so we decided to eat in. You order up front, get a number, and wait until your food is brought hot to your table. We're used to Mexican food downtown, where you get these innie bity portions, well not here, the tacos are HUGE so we ended up having tons of leftovers, oops, oh well, we shall know for next time. When you sit down, they have a salsa bar ready for you to come pick your flavors. We weren't overly impressed with them even though they have quite the selection. However, the hot chips and salsa they bring complimentary to your table was probably my favorite item here, very fresh, crunch and loved the warm salsa, very authentic to what we had in Mexico. Then we got the guacamole appetizer and for $6 you get a decent portion, but I thought it was okay, nothing extraordinary but not bad either. Now onto the food, we went for all tacos that night so we can't vouch for the tamales nor the fajitas. We got the chicken, steak and pastor tacos. The pastor, which is marinated pork, were definitely the best. They were very tasty, fresh served with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, onion and cilantro. And like I said earlier, each taco is enough to fill most of your plate, so you get your money's worth for $2.75 per taco. I can't say I was impressed with the chicken or steak as I prefer more modern cuisine. But the ladies working there were on top of things, didn't mess up our order, smiled all the time, you just feel happy sitting there listening to Mexican music and admiring the party like atmosphere. This won't be my Saturday night dinner every weekend because I think the food is pretty good, but nothing super impressive. However, the super friendly staff, large portions and decent prices will definitely have us coming back when we're on the crave for Mexican in BG.
(3)
Joe J.
My wife and I have been here many times. The owner Jake is super nice and very personable. Whenever he has a spare moment, he will walk around and check on the patrons. Very important for a local establishment. I normally order the fish tacos. They load them pretty good with all of the usual toppings: cilantro, onions, and mango salsa from the salsa bar. Sometimes they are tasty, sometimes bland. That's what the salsa is for. I've also had the burrito mas grande which is basically a burrito that is soaked in a marinara type sauce. The steak and the chicken is pretty tasty. This is a HUGE meal so be prepared to sleep afterwards. This is one of our go-to spots in the area. Personally I like Las Palmas across the street better. But tonight was one of the worst experiences I've had there. I truly believe it is because Jake wasn't there. My wife ordered the grande jake nachos and I wanted to try the tostada and a tamale. Not a terribly complicated order. We waited for 30 minutes and just got a refill on our chips. This is a ridiculously long time, so we decided to just leave. Asked for a refund, got attitude from the entire staff and walked out. It was ridiculous. We won't be back. Sorry, Jake! I'll be at Las Palmas if you're looking for me.
(2)
Steve W.
Grande Jakes offers lunch specials that will keep even the hungriest gringo satisfied. The salsas are made fresh, and are tasty. The spiciest one, which I believe has some Habanero in it always treats me right. Lunch specials are typically under $10 (w/ out a drink) and come with a heaping mound of rice and refried beans. I'm partial to the Al Pastor tacos, but on my last visit they were out. I chose to go with the Carnitas instead. The pork was flavorful, but a little on the dry side. I still enjoyed my food, but it certainly was an off day for Grande Jake's crew. Don't fill up on the chips, unless you want to......
(3)
david s.
First time at this place, and I took out the tri-color enchiladas. This is 3 different enchilada types plus rice and beans. They put it all into one takeout container, just thrown in there with no separation between the components. A total fail in packing. With the gooey elements all sticking to each other, it was almost impossible to separate anything, and it was all one big conglomerated mess. An obvious lack of care and consideration by the owners of this place. And to top it off, the container itself was inferior, so that the top came off before I got home. Luckily, I had laid it on a flat surface in my car so the it didn't get even further mixed all together. And then the food. It was all too salty, and I am not especially sensitive to salt. But this was noticeable in every bite. I won't be coming back.
(2)
Courtney Y.
I went there for a torta, they didn't have the bread for it apparently. Went to order a blended margarita and they gave it to me in the rocks. I decided to get an order of steak tacos and didn't Get slices of limes with my order... i Asked for a few lime slices and they apparently only had lemons. I asked for a slice of one lime and they told me they have none. Not one slice. Only lemons. What Mexican restaurant doesn't have limes? I understand there is a lime shortage but I decided tobox up my food to go and went to garden fresh And picked up 5 limes for $1. Needless to say I will not return here after the huge disappointment today. I thought they were on point but they have really gone down here. If somethings not on the menu don't advertise it. Free chips and salsa is cool but senor taco is on point with food and and customer service. Def won't risk frustration going back here.
(1)
Michelle Z.
If I could give negative I would. I'm from Southern California so I know good Mexican. The enchiladas Rojas tasted like they were made with tomato sauce. We got it to go and live two blocks away and when we got home my good was cold. It wasn't even warm when they packed it up. The salsa bar wasn't fully stocked and the rice had a weird taste. Very unhappy and overpriced!
(1)
Mike W.
Not bad. Buuuuutt not good! I never knew a Mexican named: Jake. So, I could only suspect this was white peoplez Mexican food. But no worriez, as long as it ain't "Chipotle!" Anyhow, I might someday come back. I MIGHT!! ...Oh, and don't order anything with "steak"....unless you've got the teeth of a Tiger Shark.
(3)
Erica P.
First time there and the rude cashier tells me she can't accept my coupon on my phone, it has to be printed!!! Who prints things anymore? Rude and lost a new customer over a stupid coupon (plus entire staff was sitting on their cell phones). To make things worse the food isn't even good and it's waaaay over priced for a fast food place.
(1)
Melanie H.
I am a grande fan of grande jakes. There are groupons for this place all the time so check before you go! The food is authentic and really good - try the enchiladas or fish tacos. The tortilla soup can be your main course if you want. its grande (get it?). They have a good salsa bar and bring warm chips over as soon as you sit down. what more can you want from a local mexican joint??
(5)
Violet M.
Our family dines here at least once a month, especially on weeknights when I don't feel like making dinner. We like the fast service, the good food(made upon ordering) and affordable prices. Our family of four can have a complete dinner for $30. Unlimited complimentary chips and salsa and a salsa bar. I love their horchata, fish tacos, chicken enchiladas rojas, guacamole, rice and chocolate cake. My husband has tried and liked all their meat tacos. Portions are good, not generous. Staff and owners are friendly. Once, we were waiting a while for our food when the owner came up to us and told us that our order was lost. He apologized profusely and said that our dinner was on the house.
(4)
Chris A.
Good food served fast. My only real complaint is, they don't bring out the entire table's food at one time. Whatever is ready comes out as it's ready. This makes eating as a family kind of hard. The others at the table salivate while you eat.
(4)
Valerie W.
Grande Jake's is a great alternative for Mexican food if you don't want to spend the $ on a sit down restaurant (i.e. Las Palmas across the street) but don't want the poor quality Taco Bell has to offer. When you dine-in, you are given complimentary chips and salsa (even when it's just you, at lunchtime, by yourself!) They have a huge salsa bar in the back of the restaurant with several salsas and pickled veggies to choose from, take as many as you'd like! Food is delivered quickly to the table, and always hot and fresh. The "wait-staff" (you order at the counter) is attentive, and will gladly bring you a box for your leftovers or extra napkins. Even during the lunch rush when I had a 4top (only table available) to myself, I didn't feel rushed. Take-out is a good choice too. They are frequently on groupon now, which makes for an even more inexpensive dinner pick-up on the way home! I've enjoyed their tacos al pastor Mexican style (cilantro and onions). The portions are great for the price. Tacos, burritos, and gorditas were stuffed to the brim. The Texas-style puffy tacos were also great, something different. The only thing I have tried that I didn't care for were the tamales, they were a little dry for my liking. All in all, a great place for take-out or dine-in on a small budget.
(4)
May K.
Sorry, not very good Mexican food. Salsa bar is fabulous but that's as good as it gets. Service was good and attentive and the guacamole was tasty but grande burritos were bland. Restaurant is clean and spacious but unfortunately not worth a revisit. Go to Las Palmas!
(2)
Steven M.
Grande Jake's is a hole in the wall - but its delicious! I've heard of this place for a while and have seen the coupons, but finally decided to stop in here for lunch. I had the steak fajitas, which were absolutely amazing. The only note I can make is that it is a little pricey for what it is. The complimentary chips and salsa bar are a good touch. The service is very quick and good. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Katey C.
First time going to Grande Jakes after hearing a lot about it. The inside is very well kept and clean. The staff was very nice. The salsa bar is cool, and the salsa's were really good. I got the Taco Dinner Plate which included 3 tacos (I got 2 ground beef, 1 chicken), refried beans, and rice. The chicken taco was ok, very bland tasting. It didn't really taste like anything to me. The ground beef tacos were also ok, a little more tasty than the chicken. Refried beans were good, rice was good. My boyfriend got the Steak Burrito, said the steak was fantastic, but skimped him on the meat inside the burrito a little bit. I would go back, I would just get something different, and something that involved steak.
(3)
Franklin D.
I had the flautas, carnitas inside and guac outside.... delicious! But soft-shell, not deep fried like a typical taquito. Also got a chile relleno "on the side" just to see what they tasted like. LOT of cheese, but decent overall. You order up at the counter, and then get a number to take back to your table. They bring you colored tortilla chips (beige, red, and brown) before you get your food. Also there is a salsa bar with white-people style escabeche (mostly carrots, almost no jalapenos) and various bland/mild salsas.
(3)
Ali R.
3.5 stars Service - 4 stars: Attentive Friendly Staff. Complimentary chips and salsa bar. Food - 3.5 stars: I typically go the taqueria style route and order the carne asade tacos - "Mexican style" (onions and cilantro only). I don't get a lot of taste from any ingredient but I'm giving it 3.5 stars because it's the best in my area. Decor - 3 stars: Clean, bright and comfortable. You can't tell from the outside, but the inside is nicely decorated for a fast causal restaurant.
(3)
Howard C.
This is a much overdue review. We got to Jake's a lot. It kinda took over as our family weekly hangout. I love their mole chicken tacos. I think the mole sauce is wonderful. I've never really been into mole before, but I had never really tried it. This might be sweeter than most. Chile relleno taco is also quite awesome. Free chips and when you dine in and there are normally seats available. They can be busy on a weekday night between 6-8. The shrimp burrito is tasty as well. We definitely enjoy it as a whole. The atmosphere is nice and chill as well. The owner is always around as well. They are always looking to help in whatever way they can. Enjoy yourself!
(4)
Margaret B.
Really nice neighborhood place. Fresh food. Nice salsa bar to pass the time while waiting. Big portions for the price. The mole is just OK but everything else is pretty great.
(4)
Taylor M.
I gave this restaurant five stars keeping in mind that it is a FAST FOOD type of Mexican restaurant. I never wanted to go to Grande Jake's before because I thought it would be like just another Chipotle. However, my mom wanted to go to dinner one night and suggested we meet up here. When I first pulled into the parking lot, I was not expecting much from the food based on the outward appearance of this strip mall joint. The sign doesn't really stand out, so I even drove past the place one time. Also, the map on yelp is not correct which did not help me when trying to find Grande Jake's. I ordered the steak burrito, which was reasonably priced and HUGE. With my burrito, I tried a variety of salsas from the salsa bar. The salsa bar also provided yummy spicy pickled veggies. Even though you order at a register, there are servers walking around the restaurant who bring your food, clear your plates and bring you unlimited chips. I also had a chance to enjoy the delicious frozen sangria. The service here is amazing. Everyone is VERY friendly and accommodating. Overall, Grande Jake's was nothing like I expected. I will definitely be returning soon!
(5)
Andrew N.
Great quick and inexpensive Mexican food Grande Jake's is a chain, but it's a local chain so it's OK by me. For the most part, they're the best local Mexican fast-food cuisine that you'll find in the area. They're inexpensive, but the quality is pretty high. I usually get their chorizo taco (with onion and cilantro only a.k.a "Mexican style.") It's really good. Stay away from the Al Pastor (Pork) it's pretty low quality. Also, their quesadillas with meat in them are REALLY greasy. Also, the carnitas tacos look really bad, and are incredible tasty. They sell burgers too. I've got one and they're pretty good. Try it with guacamole. Lastly, they have the BEST Horchata I've ever had. Grande Jake's stands out because of its salsa bar. They have a bunch of complimentary salsas here- try the mango. Their service is amazing too. They bring you water and tortilla chips even if you ordered to go.
(4)
Richard C.
excessive salt much? usually, you expect a lot of salt in restaurant food, and i get it and i can overcome that extra dose of salt in other restaurants. however, this place i cannot. from both 2 visits, the spanish rice and refried beans tasted like salted for preservation for 10 years. to be frank, tacos and enchilladas were acceptable in salty level but for having uneatablely salty rice and beans, 2 star for you instead of 3. meh.
(2)
Arley C.
I must update my review of Grande Jake's. The food is far better than the average taqueria. The Carnitas is by far the best pork I have had since living in San Jose, so good that I have been their twice this week for tres carnitas tacos. Tonight I thought I would try something I had seen another customer order, the "Cowabunga Chimichungua"...wow, was thing meal massive. If you want a meal and a hefty amount of leftovers, you cannot beat this bargain. Excellent quality Mexican food, at fast Mexican food prices. For me, I just know not to go during family dinning hour, as the place is filled with sport families and their 2.5 children, causing long delays with food service and excessive noise and squees.
(5)
Lois C.
I've been to Grande Jake's once but it was delicious and definitely a place I'd want to go back to. One thing that I really like in any place is great service and friendly staff and this is exactly what Grande Jake's is composed of. Another PERK is that they have unlimited chips and a salsa bar with many salsas to chose from.
(3)
Tasty X.
Bland Mexican food. Maybe this is what appeals to the kind of people in the area and maybe this is why it is always packed? There are a lot of great alternatives to this joint. Hell, Taco Bell is across the street and that even tastes better (blech). If you are looking for anything authentic, look elsewhere. I will say the owner is nice and his customer service is great. I wish he would impart some of this wisdom on his employees. They are rude and they have sent me home with the wrong food twice now. It's not easy to do, they give out numbers. The salsa bar is okay. Nothing too hot. And again with the bland theme they taste all the same. Flies everywhere when we were there. Dirty joint. Just stay away.
(2)
Rob W.
Been here a couple of times. The storefront is more appealing than the food, which is just so/so. The salsas are pretty good there though. It's a little pricier than I expected and one thing that I don't care for is the loud spanish radio station music in the place. I don't mind the station itself - but the volume is a little too high in a place without any acoustical tile. I'll go back again - but I won't be running to the place.
(3)
Ellie S.
I must preface this review by saying that we intended to go to Las Palmas but, it was closed. We still wanted Mexican food so we headed to Grande Jake's. Upon entry to the restaurant it stunk of tar and the place was packed. I am assuming the back alley was freshly repaved as the parking lot was not and hence the smell and I assume the crowds were a result of many Las Palmas customers. Either way the place reaked of tar, it was super crowded, the soda machine was flat and it took forever to get our food. Staff was super nice and food was good. I am going to try to keep an open mind and check this place out again some time just in case I just happened to go on the worst possible day.
(2)
Brian T.
So gross... I think they topped the enchiladas with jalepeno American cheese and the grease and salt are out of control even for Mexican food... A real kick in the teeth with las palmas across the street. Even the chips are out of a bag
(1)
Matt B.
Best Mexican food in the area by far! They have a wide variety of salsas and the mas grande burrito is huge! Great value especially with the free chips and salsa. Definitely worth a stop.
My husband and I moved to Buffalo Grove after I had spent 10 years living on the north side of Chicago. In all of that time, I've never had Mexican food even half as good as Grande Jake's. Who would've thought I could find the best Mexican food in the suburbs?! First of all, they have hands-down the most succulent, finger-licking, out-of-bounds enchiladas north of the border. Especially the chicken mole enchiladas. They have a sweet mole sauce with just enough of a savory, spicy kick to balance the whole thing out. They even have a dish called Enchiladas Tri-Color where you can try the mole as well as two other kinds of their delicious enchiladas. Also off the charts is their Chile Rellenos. The battered and fried outside shell has a little crispiness to it which teams up well with the gooey cheese and the pepper. This place even has a free Salsa Bar! We eat here at least once a week and we've never had a bad meal there.
(5)
Briana V.
I was expecting a sit down full service restaurant so I missed that sort of atmosphere. But the food was so good that it didn't matter. Keep it up.
(4)
Linda SingaSong S.
All I've been hearing at my work place for the past month was ... "Grande Jake this.....Jake burritos.... size of my head... veggie blah blah." I'll admit, I was hesitant on trying out this place because they are pickly picky eaters, and think Taco Bell is a great joint. :T (errrr...no comment) If I eat a bad burrito, I will TELL yOU! It's unlikely of me to order food without a true animal protein source, but since I wanted a "semi-light" lunch, I opted for the veggie burrito, Wow wowww wooowie, this burrito was humongeous!!! My veggie burrito had a ton of flavor, and the red & green bell peppers, & the onions were perfectly seasoned and grilled. It was encased in a thick layer of cheese, black beans in a giant of a tortilla wrap. For a condiment kind of gal, I never once thought about dipping my 'rrrito a side of salsa, tomatillo, or condiment for this meal. So satisfying. And most of all, light!!! A LIGHT burrito? Mentirosa?? I'm serious, I tried my friends burrtio filled with deliciousl ayer of chorizo, fried, egg, and rce... and that was light as well!! No worries about falling into a '''rito-induced coma.
(4)
Mike S.
We eat their every week , unreal they are the best and prices are even better. Greta tacos, great Sangria and Margaritas.
(4)
Salma T.
This place unbelievable. The salsa bar is awesome. Great service, friendly staff. This place is highly recommended.
(5)
Wayne P.
I have been going to Grande Jakes since day one. Went to Grande Jakes for a carry out. Not only did it take like 25 minutes to get my order, there was a shortage of salsa at the salsa bar. Other people at the salsa bar were complaining too. It was also very messy. Spoke with manager who refilled some of the salsas after a 10 minute delay. I asked her to have the owner Jake call me. He never returned my call. Spoke with his wife the following day and she told me he would call. NO RETURN CALL!! I guess he does not care about his regular customers. I will not go back!!!
(1)
Christina B.
The best mole I've ever had! The fajitas are pretty good too and they have a nice selection of self serve salsas. They are always very friendly and helpful. A nice casual place to go, but it does need more seating. We've also ordered party platters as well and all of our family loves it.
(4)
Julie S.
I love this place!! The food is very good and the service is great. The owner is usually walking around asking how everything is. Very nice guy! The salsa bar is my favorite. The mango salsa is the best I've had! They have a groupon now almost everyday and have had a lot of regular groupons as well. It makes the food very affordable. If you haven't been here, it's a must!
(5)
Harini P.
Really great food, I mean it is fast-food Mexican but it is really delicious. They are very nice and cater our company's weekly lunches. Yes, their fajitas are mostly onions and green peppers but it is delish. They are a great company to work with and do an awesome job. This is a favorite with the whole company.
(4)
Gregory B.
Boy, locals rave about this place. Too bad it's across the street from the best Mexican restaurant I've been to since living in New Mexico. Jake wouldn't make it out of the gate if located anywhere in the southwest. The owners and staff here are warm hearted and wonderful. The salsa bar idea is fun. The prices are excellent. The ingredients are fresh. And the burritos are strictly gringo, gringo.
(3)
Matt R.
Cool restaurant in a small ass plaza everyone drives by constantly. Waitresses and the owner are ridiculously polite, bar nothing. Place gets 4 stars instead of 5 because it has enough screaming children inside that you'd think ti was a chucky cheese. The food was inexpensive, I guess this is a chain/franchise that does pretty well. Food was good quality. When I ordered flautas they had so much guacamole on them that I could barely see the flautas underneath. Not that I'm complaining about that much guac, because I'm not.
(4)
Randy H.
Amazing, authentic burritos, fajitas & salsa bar!! Look for their Groupon for daily savings!!
(5)
Amy T.
I would not go to the salsa bar. I see people sometimes double dipping into their already used salsa cups, and it's not the most hygenic. I even saw a girl dripping liquid out of her already used salsa cup back into the salsa bar. Gross. The food is overly salty, and the chicken was so tough, I had problems chewing it. I don't care for the artificially colored taco chips either. You can tell the food is sitting around a long time, and it's just not fresh tasting. They also don't bring all the food at the same time. I've been there several times when some of us got our food, and it got cold while waiting a long time for others at our table to get the rest of our food. The rice is also overly mushy, and overpowered by garlic salt. The bright side is that the staff is friendly, and the servers are nice and accommodating. I don't think I'll be back though.
(2)
Ruth Ann M.
Tasty food for minimal money AND they have outlets for me to work on my computer. Sold! They do get pretty busy at lunch time, so go a little early. Their extensive menu will make you want to come back over and over again. They offer traditional Mexican fare plus some more Americanized options for your boring friends and family members. Their fresh salsa bar makes dining an experiment, which I greatly enjoy. I suggest stopping by Grande Jakes if you're in the area. I haven't found anything quite as good nearby.
(4)
Michele B.
Sooo cold out I really needed something spicy to keep me warm, so I headed to the Yelp pages to find a good local Mexican place. Well I just rolled home (because I was so full) and I gotta hand it to you guys--it was good!. I've seen this place for the past year or so and from the outside I thought meh. Tonight changed everything. A salsa bar with all the chips you want, and I had the pastor burrito (which was the size of a football) and the special of the night frozen sangria. The service was great, brought more chips as we needed and asked how everything was. TERRIFIC! My daughter and I really didn't need anything else to eat, but I am a sucker for fish tacos and these were spot on. Not all breaded and fried, but grilled with tomatoes and onions. Very clean, friendly place with great service. Definite do-over.
(4)
Chuck D.
The boyfriend and I argued about 3 vs 4 stars for nearly the whole meal (this happens a lot). I think maybe I thought 3 because I was angry that my fajitas were $15, while his just as huge burrito was only $7.50! I don't know why he over looked that like 90% of the burrito was lettuce though (albeit very fresh lettuce). Originality points for the chorizo and egg burrito, though! Supposedly there is a add bacon option (aka the way straight to my heart), but they were out. My fajitas were certainly delish! After adding some hot sauce, the super moist chicken and fresh veggies with the homemade tortilla were perfect! Yummy! To be honest, it's not that my meal was $15, it's that there is a weird pricing scale that doesn't sit right with me. Maybe it's just my own ignorance though. Love the salsa bar and the service. I would gladly come here again if meeting up with people going here already, but probably wouldn't go back on my own anytime soon. In the area and craving tex Mex? Definitely stop by. Just beware that the 1 $ sign only applies to parts of it's menu.
(3)
Raul B.
It's not real mexican food. More like a upscale taco bell. Alcohol And for the prices las palmas Across the street provides better atmosphere. Mariachi margaritas and music. I guess it's a nice place for non Mexicans to go to without dealing with mexicans but still enjoying somewhat Mexican food
(3)
Ben S.
3.5 stars I settled for the 3-star rating, as the rice they put in their burritos is not vegetarian, but they do not tell this outright to their customers. I had been coming here for a few months before I finally ordered a veggie burrito and Jake asked me if I still wanted the rice, as it was not vegetarian. Thanks Jake, took you long enough to let me know. Aside from that, the food is pretty good here. I really enjoy getting the various flavors of cheese enchiladas they offer. The enchiladas verdes are excellent, and it makes a great lunch or dinner. The salsa bar is a great plus with flavors ranging from a spicy yet zesty habanero lime to the traditional mild tomato salsa. All of the salsas taste very fresh. Grande Jake's is great if you're looking for a nice and quick meal that is a few steps above Taco Bell across the street. I don't think it compares to Las Palmas, however. If they introduced a few more vegetarian options, they would earn back my half star.
(3)
AJ H.
Grande Jake's has become our go to place for Mexican food. Everything is very fresh and more authentic and flavorful than typical American-Mexican fast food places. We prefer to eat at the restaurant so we can get free chips and salsa--the salsa bar is amazing and has a great variety to choose from. They often have Groupons available, making it an even better deal. I am taking one start off because sometimes, when placing an order to go, we have had some problems with them forgetting about our order or complaining about us wanting to take salsa from the salsa bar instead of the standard mild salsa that comes with to go orders of chips and salsa. I think this is more of an issue with one individual employee.
(4)
Eugene K.
The Good: Mexican cuisine is actually near the bottom of my international food cravings, BUT Grande Jakes has pulled it up a notch. There are four Mexican restaurants I would at again: Allende's, Frontera (and other Bayless enterprises), Some dive in the south side my brother went to that had amazing fajitas, and Grande Jakes. They have a great salsa bar, unlimited chips, and great service and a friendly staff that make it hard to find much to complain about. Their tortas are what knock it out of the park for me. I have all my friends hooked on them :) especially the steak milanesa. The Bad: Their burritos are meh, reminds me of any burrito you would order from a semi authentic Mexican restaurant. Anything you get with chorizo will give you 500cc's of saturated fat directly into your veins. They are oozing with oil rendered out of the meat. The Ugly: The place is crawling with 5-0. I mean I know the type of people that would be down with unlimited chips and soda. It might ruin the mood when local law enforcement decides to eat at the table next to you. But in all fairness I think the owners extend a generous discount to public servants and that's admirable. The only decent Mexican outside of the city in my opinion. Make sure you get the torta!
(4)
Denzil K.
Never let me down. Great taco (mexican style), unlimited chip, and salsa bar. Find myself going there 2 or 3 times a month - which is alot for me.
(4)
Lace V.
Had a carnitas fresco burrito, very good! The ingredients were fresh. It was big to, I had half left over and paid under $7! The salsa buffet was a nice touch. They were also VERY fast. If I am in the area again I will for sure visit Grande Jake's. One odd thing and it may be the yelp software or maybe its the map of this place on the site... either way my smart phone wouldn't let me check in when I was sitting in the restaurant. I even restarted and tried. Nothing, It kept telling me I was to far away. Just mentioning.
(4)
Megan T.
We placed a HUGE order on Sunday and the staff here was great! They got the entire order right, and were so accommodating. As we were going though the order before we left they gave us a permanent marker put names on everyones order. They also brought out boxes for us to carry the order in and even helped us to the car with our order. While we were waiting for the order to finish they gave us free chips and salsa. The food was great and I didn't hear one complaint from anyone! I would recommend this place both for the food and for the customer service!
(5)
Mark T.
Great Mexican in the area. I actualy prefer it over Las Palmas across the street. Salsa bar & chips are great as well. Plenty of variety. I've had their fajitas, chicken tacos and fish tacos. All are great. The fajitas are a bit greasy but can easily feed a family of 3! Their flour tortillas are amazing! Overall I prefer their tacos, particularly their grilled fish tacos.
(4)
George M.
If you are looking for great, authentic mexican food at reasonable prices this is the place to try. The staff is extremely friendly and attentive to all your needs whether it's more napkins or more chips in your basket. They have a great salsa bar inside with plenty of flavors and spice levels to try. On a recent Friday night I sat outside with my wife and daughter and noticed the non-stop traffic of people going into the restaurant for food. I will definitely return and explore other items on their extensive menu of delicacies. Thank you for the great Mexican food and service in the suburbs.
(5)
andy p.
Been going there since I moved to the area. Best Mexican Value. All orders prepared fresh. Beans are a little watery but tasted good. One of the few places with carnitas which are yummy!!! Service is great!!
(5)
Joseph P.
This little storefront is quite different from the Mexican restaurants in the area. In some ways it is like the neighborhood counter joints in Wheeling, but the food here is consistently much better than almost anywhere around. The choices for meats are so much greater than the "Chicken or Beef" of most places, and the options are uniformly great. It is one of the few places where the rice and beans are not just plate adornments, they are decent accompanyments. The "Cowboy Combo" is an especially good choice as you can sample 3 of their "areas" in one - skirt steak, stuffed pepper, and an enchilada. Don't miss the varieties at the salsa bar - most are completely unique. Service is mostly bringing you chips and salsa then the items you order at the counter, but it is friendly. On some weekend nights it can get crazy in there before the crowd thins out, and there is really no place to wait until a table opens up.
(4)
Faith E.
I like Grande Jake's. I didn't think I would because the name sounds Americanized and therefore thought the food would be bad. But I found the food for the most part to be quite good and flavorful. A few items are just ok but overall it fills my Mexican food craving I have every few days or more.... but that's another story. I really enjoy the salsa bar as the variety is great and they actually offer salsas that are spicy and flavorful (in my opinion- nothing's ever spicy enough for me). Love the habanero salsa!! I also think the employees are some of the friendliest I've encountered at a Mexican joint- I'm usually greeted with a smile, offered a bag for all my salsas, thanked for coming, and it all seems sincere. Pretty solid overall and worth a try.
(3)
Paul S.
Great place, not super authentic or a place to take a date, but great food, friendly staff, and super cheap prices as long as you stay away from the dinner plates. My only complaint is that it is usually pretty hot in the restaurant. A few bites of one of the spicy salsas tend to make me forget about that. Also I can't believe people complain about the Groupon now deal. The terms are clear on Groupon. In addition this is the entire premise of Groupon now! (Get people in when business is slow.) It is people like that make me so glad I am not in the food or retail business.
(5)
Liza T.
This place rocks. The taco salad and tostadas prolly my fave. The tacos are excellent as well. Never had a bad experience!
(5)
Drew H.
Have been coming here the past few years on a regular basis and have never been disappointed. The food is good and you get free chips and a variety of salsa. The food is reasonably priced and the portions are good as well. I usually get burritos, but friends of mine have tried other items and always enjoyed them. I would recommend giving this place a try.
(4)
Christopher P.
The best suburban mexican food ever! I've been there so many times now that I've lost count, and make a point that if I'm in the burbs I have to eat there if possible. I've never had a bad meal. Their Texas Style Puffy Tacos, while not authentic like I've seen on the Food Network, are the bomb. The same goes for their Cowabunga Chimichangas and the Tex-Mex Style Burritos. Even the cheeseburgers here are great (AND HUGE!). The best horchata too. As long as they keep churning out great food, I'll keep coming. Only downside is that when you do take-out they can be kind of slow to prepare the food compared to the time you've been told it will be ready, which is a big deal when you're on a time limit.
(5)
Bella G.
Recently moved to the area and wanted to try this place since it's always filled with people. The tacos were pretty good the steak could be a little more charred. The guacamole was fresh and soooo good and the salsa they serve with the chips is amazing... well to me anyway. The have a "salsa bar" where you can pick your own sauces and salsas which is pretty cool. They have waitress' who bring you chips and salsa when you sit and also bring your order to your table but they don't take your order which I thought was a little weird. The Horchata was really good also. Definitely coming back to try the margaritas.
(4)
Seema D.
We visited them for the first time for lunch. We ordered a Taco salad, nachos and fajita chicken salad along with a house margarita. The portions were quite big, lots of different kinds of salsas. They had atleast 4-5 veggi options to chose from. The service was quite good, the staff was very friendly, prompt n energetic. Not a crazy expensive place. The place had a good vibe with lively music. All in all a nice place to go to.
(3)
Kevin D.
I am giving this 4 stars because I cannot give it 3 1/2. Tonight must have been "pissed at the late dining customers" night. The food was good as usual, but the service SUCKED!! First of all, we are regular customers. When you have go ask for chips and salsa and then go to another table to get your place settings, not good customer service. To ask for extra chips and salsa is a challenge. We were directed to the salsa bar for more mild salsa.(not served at the salsa bar) The food comes, and first time having the fajitas and I wish there would be constant heat to better melt the cheese and char the onions. BUT I DIGRESS......The food is dropped off at the table, and the server disappears. The only reason we got extra sour cream was because she happened to be by the table cleaning the counter. We asked, and she replies with, "it's extra" not, "Sure, let me get that for you. But it is extra" We will go back to Grande Jake's again. The food is great as always. Just don't go after 8.
(4)
Jay W.
I was torn on this one! First trip there my wife and I were impressed. They seemed to do everything right. Yes it's not true Mexican in the sense, like what you'd get In the "ethnic" neighborhoods (no that's not a slur) down in the city or even in some burbs. But it was a really interesting fusion of MX and what lots of Americans want when they go out to eat. The food wasn't greasy, they have healthier options, an interesting salsa bar... it all seemed to be coming together. So why the 3 stars? First of all they get 5 stars for friendliness and hospitality. A+ there. But the food is just OK. Steak isn't the best. Meat isn't cooked to order, it's sitting there and reheated as they go. Big portions. Place gets crowded. But our last time there my wife and I both had our stomachs turned inside out. Me, worse than her. Oh the burn! Was it the salsa? C
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot 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 : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
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.
Ritu W.
Salsa bar is great and so is the overall, fast-food restaurant like ambience. What I did not like is that they don't serve any real veggies even if u take a veggie taco / burrito/ fajita. I always like to have some zucchini/ mushroom/ carrots/ squash/broccoli/ etc. but they offered none. So obviously I m going there again. However, the staff is friendly and kind.
(4)Christina G.
Pretty good Mexican place. We visited for lunch during a workday. There was no wait, and many available tables. I ordered a chicken quesadilla. The portion size was pretty huge, but I wish it had come with sour cream or beans or rice or something. Sure, we had tortilla chips to eat at the table and there were many salsas for us to try at the salsa bar (actually, our main reason for coming), but it felt like the quesadilla was missing something. The salsa bar had many different kinds of salsa. I liked the sweet one with mango and the smokiness of the chipotle salsa too. Next time, I'll try tacos or a burrito, and maybe order a side of rice and beans. The meal just didn't feel complete without them. I would go back.
(3)David O.
They have gone downhill very fast. Last visit was 3 months ago and it was great, but I went last Saturday and my stomach has been messed up ever since. Do not go unless you want to see a doctor which is what I'm doing if I don't recover by tomorrow!
(1)Danielle G.
Absolutely love this place! Delicious and consistent. Best tortilla soup in town! So authentic and flavorful. Thank you grande jakes for the tasty food and amazing service!
(5)Mark D.
First time ordering from here and WOW was I surprised! I thought I had found my regular mexican food go to place elsewhere but came here on a recommendation. I was very impressed even though I only came for takeout for myself, wife, and daughter. While waiting for our order I noticed they had a Salsa Bar for in restaurant patrons which looked great. Each of us enjoyed our meal so much more than from where we've been ordering from. Steak was delicious and we all loved their rice and beans. Looks like Grande Jakes is now going to be our new regular go to place!
(4)Melissa H.
If the husband and I want great Authentic Mexican food we go here, from the salsa Bar, to the Horchata, to the amazing and huge portion burritos. You can't go wrong with anything you eat here. I love the fact that you can see them cooking everything and how clean it is there. We have had times where the food is so great when we carry it out we call them to compliment them. This is a hidden gem and jewel of Mexican food in the area.
(5)Mackenzie-An N.
I think Grande Jake's has the best tacos (w/flour tortillas, of course). I normally get chorizo taco and pastor (not sure but it's pork) taco. YUM!! My husband loves their steak tacos. And the horchata is divine.
(5)Govi S.
If you are in the hunt for good sized, tasty mexican food then you should try this place. I have only been here for lunch cause i work close by and if you want to get lunch on a Friday, try to get there before 11:30am or it gets crowded. They have a good selection of salsas and love their burritos and tortas. If you grab a groupon which is offered often, do grab cause its worth it. Also love there tortilla chips which is placed for the table while you wait for the food.
(4)Sig P.
Small joint good food. What else can you ask for. You order up at the counter and they bring it to you.
(4)David C.
Fresh Salsa Bar + Chicken Milanesa Torta = NOMZ. Ok, so reading the bad reviews I have to respectfully disagree. It really is a gem in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago. **THE DETAILS** Service: I have been here about 8+ times and have never had an issue with staff. The cashier is nice and he answered my questions, the staff also brings you free chips and salsa right after you order and sit, and are even attentive while you are dining. Technically, they aren't even formal "wait staff" (since you order at the register) so not sure what people are expecting. They have messed up my order once, but fixed it right away and apologized for the mistake. If the haters want a complete sit-down experience rather than good food, then they can go get TGIF fajitas down the street... Food: The cooks know what they are doing and are authentic. (Sure if you order a taco, you should mention "cilantro & onion" -- but my guess is they don't default to Mexican style to cater toward the surrounding suburbia crowd. I mean, most of the staff is Mexican, do I honestly think that I know more authenticity than them??) The meat is prepared with the correct seasoning and tenderness, and they also use good quality produce which is reflected in the FRESH SALSA BAR. YES. This is a big deal, especially in Chicago. You will not find many salsa bars that can compete (and yes, this is coming from a guy that lived in LA for 5 years?!). They have an assortment of about 8 salsas which include Habanero Mango, Jalapeno Verde, Roasted Red Pepper, and chopped Tomato & Green Pepper pico de gallo. I pile the cups of salsa and pickled veggies and await my food. I munch on the warm tortilla chips and watch some TV while I wait for my order. Then enter: the CHICKEN MILANESA TORTA. 3 words that reign supreme at Jake's. It is amazing how they get a gigantic piece of lightly breaded chicken on the toasty, yet pillowy bread. They top it with some fresh chopped lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado, and sour cream spread... add a little bit of fresh salsa in there, and I am good to go. The torta is the BEST I have had and ranks up there in national standards: Best Taco/Salsa: King Taco, LA Best Burrito: El Farolito, SF Best Tostada: El Taurino, LA Best Torta: Grande Jake's, CHI It is a hike from Chicago though. Luckily, I have family that lives out in Wheeling, and Jake's gives me an ulterior excuse to visit. So, if I ever run into you at Jake's, and we are both eating the milanesa torta... a simple nod of approval will make this review worth every bite.
(5)Becca T.
We picked up dinner to go tonight. The food was very salty but I did enjoy my tilapia tacos. I had strange encounter with the employee dishing out the chips. I asked for some in a to-go bag with my order. She said,"ask him" (the man at the register) and then just pointed in the air. The lady would not give me the chips.. As she stood next to 3 massive containers of them. It was the strangest thing I had ever seen. Why would you have salsa cups/lids to go but not give the customer chips? Meh.. No rush to go back
(2)Chris N.
Great family restaurant with excellent food!! We also recently placed a catering order and we couldn't have been any happier with the service. The delivery person was incredibly nice and set everything up for us. He made sure to double check that we had our complete order and that we were satisfied. The food was definitely the hit of the party!! All of our guests raved about how delicious everything was. We would highly recommend them for any of your catering needs!!
(5)Mikey D.
Grande Jakes!!!! No need to go anywhere else for excellent Mexican food. My absolute favorite! And believe it or not, their burgers are top notch! Yeah, I said burgers. The staff is always friendly and the restaurant is always kept clean. Try this place!
(5)Robert G.
Never again in this lifetime. Service was marginal at best, acoustics were painful, and the salsa was warm watery ketchup. My wife found very little meat in her tamales, and my al pastor enchiladas were actually sweet with no spice whatsoever. Thankfully I despise retried beans or I would complain about them being served cold. The beer was good though.
(1)Nick M.
Their tacos are awesome and they do not skimp on the meat and toppings. You can choose from Mexican style or regular style. Mexican style is cilantro and onions on top, and regular is lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes. I recommend the carnitas and grilled steak for meat options. Their rice is great as well as their beans.
(4)Cameron S.
Enchiladas were good but the tortilla chips tasted funny. Almost stale. They were unsalted, but the texture seemed off. They had a large selection of salsas, but none of them stand out as great. Small place. Atmosphere was ok. May come again
(3)Drew S.
What can I tell you about Grande Jacks? Oh yeah, it's like totally awesome! OMG the food is delicious, we have dined here often, and would recommend it to anyone who wants to eat great Mexican style food. We have done a fundraiser here and the management is so easy to work with. Wish there were more stars to give. Love this place!!!!
(5)Reyes F.
Called ahead for take-out, showed up 15 minutes later as instructed. Extremely long line and no separate line for pick up. The trouble is each person / group ahead of me had to place their order and then wait for the food. Needless to say it was a hassle and the food needed to be reheated once getting home. Food was as expected, but it's really hard to mess up Mexican.
(2)Sarath K.
Authentic Mexican food at a reasonable price. Jakes has been our favorite since years now and they have kept a consistent taste each time. They have very good ambiance for a decent dining and I would recommend this to anybody craving for Mexican food :)
(5)Katie S.
The cheese enchiladas were delicious! The beans and rice were mediocre. The soda was amazing, there must be something special about the water in the fountain. It was the best fountain drink I have ever had. My bf had been there 2 separate times and said the same thing about the fountain drinks. I will be back fro the enchiladas and soda. :)
(4)Kassy K.
One of the best Mexican places I've been to in the suburbs. Very authentic and affordable. The burritos are amazinggggg. Hands down one of the best burritos I've had.
(5)Hersh A.
It's worth checking out this place 'cause they have decent to good food. Good menu variety. Reasonable prices. Good service. Try their Al Pastor anything. It's really delicious. Their Pollo Mole taco is tasty too. Definitely check out their Salsa bar. I've been here once before. Don't remember what I had but it was good. This time around I had a steak taco and Al Pastor Gordita. The steak was so so. The corn tortilla was cold. Overall, an average taco. The Gordita was good. 3 stars.
(3)Simon K.
Writing reviews for 3-star places always proves to be difficult. By giving it 3-stars, you're basically saying "this place is pretty good but it's not going to be one of my go to places if I'm hungry and I definitely wouldn't take somebody here if they came to visit me from out of town." With all that being said, if you're in the mood for some Mexican food and live within 5 minutes of Grande Jake's I'll say that it is worth stopping by. They even have a nice salsa bar at the back on the restaurant so you can go crazy with your own combination of condiments. Once again, time to re-emphasize: not a life-changing experience but you'll have a decent meal.
(3)Jason C.
They have some really good Mexican food here for a placed called Jakes. How do you even pronounce that in Spanish? Non the less, I like the fast and friendly service and I especially like the salsa bar that they have in the back. I would recommend this place to a friend.
(4)Judy L.
Ole, Ole...Ole, Ole!! What's not to like?! 1) Fresh complimentary tri-colored tortilla chips delivered to your table with salsa after you step up to the food counter to place your order. 2) Minimal wait for food to be delivered to your table. 3) SALSA BAR!!! 8 different complimentary salsas! 4) Vegetarian options! Thank you! (had the vegetarian burrito with rice, guacamole, fried onions and peppers, cheese and maybe some other stuff...my lunch was $5). 5) You can get a junior size or regular size for all of the burritos. Looks like all menu items are under $8... 6) Flautas, quesadillas, burritos...oh my! 7) Friendly staff, fast service. 8) Great for a group. Go up to the counter and pay for your own lunch without figuring out the bill at the end.
(5)Patsy D.
Visited Saturday night. Had the combination dinner, which was good amd the Tri Color Enchiladas. The brown sauce that I guess was supposed to be a mole was really terrible. Overly sweet, overly thick. Nice beer specials on Saturday night. So, in a nutshell, it's a convenient, okay place but skip the mole.
(3)Gordon G.
Grande Jake's provides the worst of both worlds: Loud, unappealing fast food restaurant atmosphere, with terrible acoustics, at sit down dining room restaurant prices. Not really sure what the appeal to this place is. The food is overpriced for what you get and not authentic in the least. Look elsewhere for Mexican food... not difficult to find with Wheeling and Palatine just down Dundee.
(2)Kevin G.
I am by no means a great critic of Mexican food but I love this place. The menu is a bit complicated as there is a lot on it. Staff are extremely friendly and helpful and help me when I have questions without making me feel like a dips$#t! :-) I agree, the place is a bit noisy but I never sit down because I always carry out. The salsa bar is very good. Holy Cow the Habanero salsa is off the hook spicy. Beware! :-) Parking is good. Oddly this food doesn't sit like a dead rock in my stomach like everything from El Burrito.
(4)Kalina N.
Grande Jake's is a fantastic Mexican food restaurant. I love their burrito grande and their horchata. It is not like any horchata you've tried before - absolutely delicious. Would recommend any day!!!
(5)Sunshine M.
I love this place. The food is consistently delicious. The flavor of the carnitas, chicken and beef are awesome. I tend to get the enchilada suizas and it melts in your mouth. The salsa bar has a ton of unique flavors too. The burritos mas grande are enormous. Just writing this makes me want to go now. And the service is wonderful and always accommodating.
(5)Maira O.
Cold tacos, bad service, not authentic, over priced for crappy Mexican food is not cool. Please believe me, I took one bite of my taco and was disappointed and pissed off that this place got good reviews....sometimes I wonder if I should go off others reviews....What a waste of my time!
(1)John R.
Great food - little pricey But how can you possibly be out of mango salsa at 4:30 on a Friday night??????? Why even have a salsa bar??? Disappointed
(4)Luis V.
What happened with the old members team??? Food quality and service decrease a lot!!!! Burgers and hot dogs with mexican tortas bread!!!! Steak burritos and taco salad with the meat uncooked. Service very bad, I had to stand up from my table to request more chips in besides the server was interested only to discuss with the cashier to request her tips. I think I will ned to find other mexican restaurant closer.
(1)Amanda D.
Average at best! Nachos are not that great and the burritos could be better. I prefer el famous burrito any day over this place. BUT way better atmosphere and inside the restaurant is nice.
(3)Paul G.
First time at Grande Jakes. Recommended by a coworker. Very clean establishment. I read a couple of reviewa about how busy it is, however i was the only one there. Maybe I came during a slow tike. I ordered the grande burrito. It was very yummy. I definately recommend this place. Free chips and salsa is a plus!
(4)Melissa L.
My dad and I love this spot. I love the salsa bar! I feel they are always out of the mango salsa (my fav), which is the only reason I give 4 stars instead of 5.
(4)D K.
Best mexican food i had. Good food good price fresh food! Must eat! And there's worker very friendly!! Don't miss here!!! Really food & atmosphere !!!!!!!!!
(5)Brooke A.
Took my soon to be wife here on our first date a year and two months ago. It was lunch, she got steak quesadillas, I got tacos. Needless to say, I sealed the deal and here we are today. Moral of the story: eating here will attract hot girls to you and you can eventually trick them in to marring you. P.s, if you get the feeling your date wants to make out with you in the parking lot after lunch, she does. Make her wait. Oh yeah, the chips and salsa are really good. As were the beans and rice. They have a salsa bar, which is really good. Prices are pretty good too.
(5)Kristy N.
I kept a good attitude while trying this place for the first time, but after three strikes I decided I will not be back here. Strike 1: No horchata on a Saturday night. What. The heck. Strike 2: We ordered for dine-in and our food took about 20 minutes to get to us. At least they brought us complimentary chips and salsa. Strike 3: The food was so mediocre. My husband had a burrito and I had carnitas tacos. Both were about as bland as they come. We were excited for authentic Mexican food, and the lack of flavor in our meals had us still craving that authentic Mexican food when we left. Cool atmosphere, crappy food. Don't waste your time.
(2)Richard A.
It's a great place for lunch! Be sure to come early and beat the rush - line can build up. Nevertheless, the crew is very efficient and food doesn't take all too long to arrive to your table. I would HIGHLY recommend selecting the carnitas in your taco or burrito - it's as moist and tender as they come.
(4)Victor P.
Great place...yummy food...reasonable price. Would give it 5 stars but needs lengua burritos to get 5 stars from me. :)
(4)Elina S.
Grande Jake's I am a fan! I think I want to give them more like 3.5 stars because the people working here are super friendly and nice. Came in with my hubby on a Saturday night and wanted to carry out, but then saw the place was hoppin, yep, for good ol' BG, it was hoppin so we decided to eat in. You order up front, get a number, and wait until your food is brought hot to your table. We're used to Mexican food downtown, where you get these innie bity portions, well not here, the tacos are HUGE so we ended up having tons of leftovers, oops, oh well, we shall know for next time. When you sit down, they have a salsa bar ready for you to come pick your flavors. We weren't overly impressed with them even though they have quite the selection. However, the hot chips and salsa they bring complimentary to your table was probably my favorite item here, very fresh, crunch and loved the warm salsa, very authentic to what we had in Mexico. Then we got the guacamole appetizer and for $6 you get a decent portion, but I thought it was okay, nothing extraordinary but not bad either. Now onto the food, we went for all tacos that night so we can't vouch for the tamales nor the fajitas. We got the chicken, steak and pastor tacos. The pastor, which is marinated pork, were definitely the best. They were very tasty, fresh served with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, onion and cilantro. And like I said earlier, each taco is enough to fill most of your plate, so you get your money's worth for $2.75 per taco. I can't say I was impressed with the chicken or steak as I prefer more modern cuisine. But the ladies working there were on top of things, didn't mess up our order, smiled all the time, you just feel happy sitting there listening to Mexican music and admiring the party like atmosphere. This won't be my Saturday night dinner every weekend because I think the food is pretty good, but nothing super impressive. However, the super friendly staff, large portions and decent prices will definitely have us coming back when we're on the crave for Mexican in BG.
(3)Joe J.
My wife and I have been here many times. The owner Jake is super nice and very personable. Whenever he has a spare moment, he will walk around and check on the patrons. Very important for a local establishment. I normally order the fish tacos. They load them pretty good with all of the usual toppings: cilantro, onions, and mango salsa from the salsa bar. Sometimes they are tasty, sometimes bland. That's what the salsa is for. I've also had the burrito mas grande which is basically a burrito that is soaked in a marinara type sauce. The steak and the chicken is pretty tasty. This is a HUGE meal so be prepared to sleep afterwards. This is one of our go-to spots in the area. Personally I like Las Palmas across the street better. But tonight was one of the worst experiences I've had there. I truly believe it is because Jake wasn't there. My wife ordered the grande jake nachos and I wanted to try the tostada and a tamale. Not a terribly complicated order. We waited for 30 minutes and just got a refill on our chips. This is a ridiculously long time, so we decided to just leave. Asked for a refund, got attitude from the entire staff and walked out. It was ridiculous. We won't be back. Sorry, Jake! I'll be at Las Palmas if you're looking for me.
(2)Steve W.
Grande Jakes offers lunch specials that will keep even the hungriest gringo satisfied. The salsas are made fresh, and are tasty. The spiciest one, which I believe has some Habanero in it always treats me right. Lunch specials are typically under $10 (w/ out a drink) and come with a heaping mound of rice and refried beans. I'm partial to the Al Pastor tacos, but on my last visit they were out. I chose to go with the Carnitas instead. The pork was flavorful, but a little on the dry side. I still enjoyed my food, but it certainly was an off day for Grande Jake's crew. Don't fill up on the chips, unless you want to......
(3)david s.
First time at this place, and I took out the tri-color enchiladas. This is 3 different enchilada types plus rice and beans. They put it all into one takeout container, just thrown in there with no separation between the components. A total fail in packing. With the gooey elements all sticking to each other, it was almost impossible to separate anything, and it was all one big conglomerated mess. An obvious lack of care and consideration by the owners of this place. And to top it off, the container itself was inferior, so that the top came off before I got home. Luckily, I had laid it on a flat surface in my car so the it didn't get even further mixed all together. And then the food. It was all too salty, and I am not especially sensitive to salt. But this was noticeable in every bite. I won't be coming back.
(2)Courtney Y.
I went there for a torta, they didn't have the bread for it apparently. Went to order a blended margarita and they gave it to me in the rocks. I decided to get an order of steak tacos and didn't Get slices of limes with my order... i Asked for a few lime slices and they apparently only had lemons. I asked for a slice of one lime and they told me they have none. Not one slice. Only lemons. What Mexican restaurant doesn't have limes? I understand there is a lime shortage but I decided tobox up my food to go and went to garden fresh And picked up 5 limes for $1. Needless to say I will not return here after the huge disappointment today. I thought they were on point but they have really gone down here. If somethings not on the menu don't advertise it. Free chips and salsa is cool but senor taco is on point with food and and customer service. Def won't risk frustration going back here.
(1)Michelle Z.
If I could give negative I would. I'm from Southern California so I know good Mexican. The enchiladas Rojas tasted like they were made with tomato sauce. We got it to go and live two blocks away and when we got home my good was cold. It wasn't even warm when they packed it up. The salsa bar wasn't fully stocked and the rice had a weird taste. Very unhappy and overpriced!
(1)Mike W.
Not bad. Buuuuutt not good! I never knew a Mexican named: Jake. So, I could only suspect this was white peoplez Mexican food. But no worriez, as long as it ain't "Chipotle!" Anyhow, I might someday come back. I MIGHT!! ...Oh, and don't order anything with "steak"....unless you've got the teeth of a Tiger Shark.
(3)Erica P.
First time there and the rude cashier tells me she can't accept my coupon on my phone, it has to be printed!!! Who prints things anymore? Rude and lost a new customer over a stupid coupon (plus entire staff was sitting on their cell phones). To make things worse the food isn't even good and it's waaaay over priced for a fast food place.
(1)Melanie H.
I am a grande fan of grande jakes. There are groupons for this place all the time so check before you go! The food is authentic and really good - try the enchiladas or fish tacos. The tortilla soup can be your main course if you want. its grande (get it?). They have a good salsa bar and bring warm chips over as soon as you sit down. what more can you want from a local mexican joint??
(5)Violet M.
Our family dines here at least once a month, especially on weeknights when I don't feel like making dinner. We like the fast service, the good food(made upon ordering) and affordable prices. Our family of four can have a complete dinner for $30. Unlimited complimentary chips and salsa and a salsa bar. I love their horchata, fish tacos, chicken enchiladas rojas, guacamole, rice and chocolate cake. My husband has tried and liked all their meat tacos. Portions are good, not generous. Staff and owners are friendly. Once, we were waiting a while for our food when the owner came up to us and told us that our order was lost. He apologized profusely and said that our dinner was on the house.
(4)Chris A.
Good food served fast. My only real complaint is, they don't bring out the entire table's food at one time. Whatever is ready comes out as it's ready. This makes eating as a family kind of hard. The others at the table salivate while you eat.
(4)Valerie W.
Grande Jake's is a great alternative for Mexican food if you don't want to spend the $ on a sit down restaurant (i.e. Las Palmas across the street) but don't want the poor quality Taco Bell has to offer. When you dine-in, you are given complimentary chips and salsa (even when it's just you, at lunchtime, by yourself!) They have a huge salsa bar in the back of the restaurant with several salsas and pickled veggies to choose from, take as many as you'd like! Food is delivered quickly to the table, and always hot and fresh. The "wait-staff" (you order at the counter) is attentive, and will gladly bring you a box for your leftovers or extra napkins. Even during the lunch rush when I had a 4top (only table available) to myself, I didn't feel rushed. Take-out is a good choice too. They are frequently on groupon now, which makes for an even more inexpensive dinner pick-up on the way home! I've enjoyed their tacos al pastor Mexican style (cilantro and onions). The portions are great for the price. Tacos, burritos, and gorditas were stuffed to the brim. The Texas-style puffy tacos were also great, something different. The only thing I have tried that I didn't care for were the tamales, they were a little dry for my liking. All in all, a great place for take-out or dine-in on a small budget.
(4)May K.
Sorry, not very good Mexican food. Salsa bar is fabulous but that's as good as it gets. Service was good and attentive and the guacamole was tasty but grande burritos were bland. Restaurant is clean and spacious but unfortunately not worth a revisit. Go to Las Palmas!
(2)Steven M.
Grande Jake's is a hole in the wall - but its delicious! I've heard of this place for a while and have seen the coupons, but finally decided to stop in here for lunch. I had the steak fajitas, which were absolutely amazing. The only note I can make is that it is a little pricey for what it is. The complimentary chips and salsa bar are a good touch. The service is very quick and good. I will definitely be back.
(5)Katey C.
First time going to Grande Jakes after hearing a lot about it. The inside is very well kept and clean. The staff was very nice. The salsa bar is cool, and the salsa's were really good. I got the Taco Dinner Plate which included 3 tacos (I got 2 ground beef, 1 chicken), refried beans, and rice. The chicken taco was ok, very bland tasting. It didn't really taste like anything to me. The ground beef tacos were also ok, a little more tasty than the chicken. Refried beans were good, rice was good. My boyfriend got the Steak Burrito, said the steak was fantastic, but skimped him on the meat inside the burrito a little bit. I would go back, I would just get something different, and something that involved steak.
(3)Franklin D.
I had the flautas, carnitas inside and guac outside.... delicious! But soft-shell, not deep fried like a typical taquito. Also got a chile relleno "on the side" just to see what they tasted like. LOT of cheese, but decent overall. You order up at the counter, and then get a number to take back to your table. They bring you colored tortilla chips (beige, red, and brown) before you get your food. Also there is a salsa bar with white-people style escabeche (mostly carrots, almost no jalapenos) and various bland/mild salsas.
(3)Ali R.
3.5 stars Service - 4 stars: Attentive Friendly Staff. Complimentary chips and salsa bar. Food - 3.5 stars: I typically go the taqueria style route and order the carne asade tacos - "Mexican style" (onions and cilantro only). I don't get a lot of taste from any ingredient but I'm giving it 3.5 stars because it's the best in my area. Decor - 3 stars: Clean, bright and comfortable. You can't tell from the outside, but the inside is nicely decorated for a fast causal restaurant.
(3)Howard C.
This is a much overdue review. We got to Jake's a lot. It kinda took over as our family weekly hangout. I love their mole chicken tacos. I think the mole sauce is wonderful. I've never really been into mole before, but I had never really tried it. This might be sweeter than most. Chile relleno taco is also quite awesome. Free chips and when you dine in and there are normally seats available. They can be busy on a weekday night between 6-8. The shrimp burrito is tasty as well. We definitely enjoy it as a whole. The atmosphere is nice and chill as well. The owner is always around as well. They are always looking to help in whatever way they can. Enjoy yourself!
(4)Margaret B.
Really nice neighborhood place. Fresh food. Nice salsa bar to pass the time while waiting. Big portions for the price. The mole is just OK but everything else is pretty great.
(4)Taylor M.
I gave this restaurant five stars keeping in mind that it is a FAST FOOD type of Mexican restaurant. I never wanted to go to Grande Jake's before because I thought it would be like just another Chipotle. However, my mom wanted to go to dinner one night and suggested we meet up here. When I first pulled into the parking lot, I was not expecting much from the food based on the outward appearance of this strip mall joint. The sign doesn't really stand out, so I even drove past the place one time. Also, the map on yelp is not correct which did not help me when trying to find Grande Jake's. I ordered the steak burrito, which was reasonably priced and HUGE. With my burrito, I tried a variety of salsas from the salsa bar. The salsa bar also provided yummy spicy pickled veggies. Even though you order at a register, there are servers walking around the restaurant who bring your food, clear your plates and bring you unlimited chips. I also had a chance to enjoy the delicious frozen sangria. The service here is amazing. Everyone is VERY friendly and accommodating. Overall, Grande Jake's was nothing like I expected. I will definitely be returning soon!
(5)Andrew N.
Great quick and inexpensive Mexican food Grande Jake's is a chain, but it's a local chain so it's OK by me. For the most part, they're the best local Mexican fast-food cuisine that you'll find in the area. They're inexpensive, but the quality is pretty high. I usually get their chorizo taco (with onion and cilantro only a.k.a "Mexican style.") It's really good. Stay away from the Al Pastor (Pork) it's pretty low quality. Also, their quesadillas with meat in them are REALLY greasy. Also, the carnitas tacos look really bad, and are incredible tasty. They sell burgers too. I've got one and they're pretty good. Try it with guacamole. Lastly, they have the BEST Horchata I've ever had. Grande Jake's stands out because of its salsa bar. They have a bunch of complimentary salsas here- try the mango. Their service is amazing too. They bring you water and tortilla chips even if you ordered to go.
(4)Richard C.
excessive salt much? usually, you expect a lot of salt in restaurant food, and i get it and i can overcome that extra dose of salt in other restaurants. however, this place i cannot. from both 2 visits, the spanish rice and refried beans tasted like salted for preservation for 10 years. to be frank, tacos and enchilladas were acceptable in salty level but for having uneatablely salty rice and beans, 2 star for you instead of 3. meh.
(2)Arley C.
I must update my review of Grande Jake's. The food is far better than the average taqueria. The Carnitas is by far the best pork I have had since living in San Jose, so good that I have been their twice this week for tres carnitas tacos. Tonight I thought I would try something I had seen another customer order, the "Cowabunga Chimichungua"...wow, was thing meal massive. If you want a meal and a hefty amount of leftovers, you cannot beat this bargain. Excellent quality Mexican food, at fast Mexican food prices. For me, I just know not to go during family dinning hour, as the place is filled with sport families and their 2.5 children, causing long delays with food service and excessive noise and squees.
(5)Lois C.
I've been to Grande Jake's once but it was delicious and definitely a place I'd want to go back to. One thing that I really like in any place is great service and friendly staff and this is exactly what Grande Jake's is composed of. Another PERK is that they have unlimited chips and a salsa bar with many salsas to chose from.
(3)Tasty X.
Bland Mexican food. Maybe this is what appeals to the kind of people in the area and maybe this is why it is always packed? There are a lot of great alternatives to this joint. Hell, Taco Bell is across the street and that even tastes better (blech). If you are looking for anything authentic, look elsewhere. I will say the owner is nice and his customer service is great. I wish he would impart some of this wisdom on his employees. They are rude and they have sent me home with the wrong food twice now. It's not easy to do, they give out numbers. The salsa bar is okay. Nothing too hot. And again with the bland theme they taste all the same. Flies everywhere when we were there. Dirty joint. Just stay away.
(2)Rob W.
Been here a couple of times. The storefront is more appealing than the food, which is just so/so. The salsas are pretty good there though. It's a little pricier than I expected and one thing that I don't care for is the loud spanish radio station music in the place. I don't mind the station itself - but the volume is a little too high in a place without any acoustical tile. I'll go back again - but I won't be running to the place.
(3)Ellie S.
I must preface this review by saying that we intended to go to Las Palmas but, it was closed. We still wanted Mexican food so we headed to Grande Jake's. Upon entry to the restaurant it stunk of tar and the place was packed. I am assuming the back alley was freshly repaved as the parking lot was not and hence the smell and I assume the crowds were a result of many Las Palmas customers. Either way the place reaked of tar, it was super crowded, the soda machine was flat and it took forever to get our food. Staff was super nice and food was good. I am going to try to keep an open mind and check this place out again some time just in case I just happened to go on the worst possible day.
(2)Brian T.
So gross... I think they topped the enchiladas with jalepeno American cheese and the grease and salt are out of control even for Mexican food... A real kick in the teeth with las palmas across the street. Even the chips are out of a bag
(1)Matt B.
Best Mexican food in the area by far! They have a wide variety of salsas and the mas grande burrito is huge! Great value especially with the free chips and salsa. Definitely worth a stop.
(5)Robert D.
Quick service, affordable, fresh. Defiantly going back!!
(4)Emily K.
My husband and I moved to Buffalo Grove after I had spent 10 years living on the north side of Chicago. In all of that time, I've never had Mexican food even half as good as Grande Jake's. Who would've thought I could find the best Mexican food in the suburbs?! First of all, they have hands-down the most succulent, finger-licking, out-of-bounds enchiladas north of the border. Especially the chicken mole enchiladas. They have a sweet mole sauce with just enough of a savory, spicy kick to balance the whole thing out. They even have a dish called Enchiladas Tri-Color where you can try the mole as well as two other kinds of their delicious enchiladas. Also off the charts is their Chile Rellenos. The battered and fried outside shell has a little crispiness to it which teams up well with the gooey cheese and the pepper. This place even has a free Salsa Bar! We eat here at least once a week and we've never had a bad meal there.
(5)Briana V.
I was expecting a sit down full service restaurant so I missed that sort of atmosphere. But the food was so good that it didn't matter. Keep it up.
(4)Linda SingaSong S.
All I've been hearing at my work place for the past month was ... "Grande Jake this.....Jake burritos.... size of my head... veggie blah blah." I'll admit, I was hesitant on trying out this place because they are pickly picky eaters, and think Taco Bell is a great joint. :T (errrr...no comment) If I eat a bad burrito, I will TELL yOU! It's unlikely of me to order food without a true animal protein source, but since I wanted a "semi-light" lunch, I opted for the veggie burrito, Wow wowww wooowie, this burrito was humongeous!!! My veggie burrito had a ton of flavor, and the red & green bell peppers, & the onions were perfectly seasoned and grilled. It was encased in a thick layer of cheese, black beans in a giant of a tortilla wrap. For a condiment kind of gal, I never once thought about dipping my 'rrrito a side of salsa, tomatillo, or condiment for this meal. So satisfying. And most of all, light!!! A LIGHT burrito? Mentirosa?? I'm serious, I tried my friends burrtio filled with deliciousl ayer of chorizo, fried, egg, and rce... and that was light as well!! No worries about falling into a '''rito-induced coma.
(4)Mike S.
We eat their every week , unreal they are the best and prices are even better. Greta tacos, great Sangria and Margaritas.
(4)Salma T.
This place unbelievable. The salsa bar is awesome. Great service, friendly staff. This place is highly recommended.
(5)Wayne P.
I have been going to Grande Jakes since day one. Went to Grande Jakes for a carry out. Not only did it take like 25 minutes to get my order, there was a shortage of salsa at the salsa bar. Other people at the salsa bar were complaining too. It was also very messy. Spoke with manager who refilled some of the salsas after a 10 minute delay. I asked her to have the owner Jake call me. He never returned my call. Spoke with his wife the following day and she told me he would call. NO RETURN CALL!! I guess he does not care about his regular customers. I will not go back!!!
(1)Christina B.
The best mole I've ever had! The fajitas are pretty good too and they have a nice selection of self serve salsas. They are always very friendly and helpful. A nice casual place to go, but it does need more seating. We've also ordered party platters as well and all of our family loves it.
(4)Julie S.
I love this place!! The food is very good and the service is great. The owner is usually walking around asking how everything is. Very nice guy! The salsa bar is my favorite. The mango salsa is the best I've had! They have a groupon now almost everyday and have had a lot of regular groupons as well. It makes the food very affordable. If you haven't been here, it's a must!
(5)Harini P.
Really great food, I mean it is fast-food Mexican but it is really delicious. They are very nice and cater our company's weekly lunches. Yes, their fajitas are mostly onions and green peppers but it is delish. They are a great company to work with and do an awesome job. This is a favorite with the whole company.
(4)Gregory B.
Boy, locals rave about this place. Too bad it's across the street from the best Mexican restaurant I've been to since living in New Mexico. Jake wouldn't make it out of the gate if located anywhere in the southwest. The owners and staff here are warm hearted and wonderful. The salsa bar idea is fun. The prices are excellent. The ingredients are fresh. And the burritos are strictly gringo, gringo.
(3)Matt R.
Cool restaurant in a small ass plaza everyone drives by constantly. Waitresses and the owner are ridiculously polite, bar nothing. Place gets 4 stars instead of 5 because it has enough screaming children inside that you'd think ti was a chucky cheese. The food was inexpensive, I guess this is a chain/franchise that does pretty well. Food was good quality. When I ordered flautas they had so much guacamole on them that I could barely see the flautas underneath. Not that I'm complaining about that much guac, because I'm not.
(4)Randy H.
Amazing, authentic burritos, fajitas & salsa bar!! Look for their Groupon for daily savings!!
(5)Amy T.
I would not go to the salsa bar. I see people sometimes double dipping into their already used salsa cups, and it's not the most hygenic. I even saw a girl dripping liquid out of her already used salsa cup back into the salsa bar. Gross. The food is overly salty, and the chicken was so tough, I had problems chewing it. I don't care for the artificially colored taco chips either. You can tell the food is sitting around a long time, and it's just not fresh tasting. They also don't bring all the food at the same time. I've been there several times when some of us got our food, and it got cold while waiting a long time for others at our table to get the rest of our food. The rice is also overly mushy, and overpowered by garlic salt. The bright side is that the staff is friendly, and the servers are nice and accommodating. I don't think I'll be back though.
(2)Ruth Ann M.
Tasty food for minimal money AND they have outlets for me to work on my computer. Sold! They do get pretty busy at lunch time, so go a little early. Their extensive menu will make you want to come back over and over again. They offer traditional Mexican fare plus some more Americanized options for your boring friends and family members. Their fresh salsa bar makes dining an experiment, which I greatly enjoy. I suggest stopping by Grande Jakes if you're in the area. I haven't found anything quite as good nearby.
(4)Michele B.
Sooo cold out I really needed something spicy to keep me warm, so I headed to the Yelp pages to find a good local Mexican place. Well I just rolled home (because I was so full) and I gotta hand it to you guys--it was good!. I've seen this place for the past year or so and from the outside I thought meh. Tonight changed everything. A salsa bar with all the chips you want, and I had the pastor burrito (which was the size of a football) and the special of the night frozen sangria. The service was great, brought more chips as we needed and asked how everything was. TERRIFIC! My daughter and I really didn't need anything else to eat, but I am a sucker for fish tacos and these were spot on. Not all breaded and fried, but grilled with tomatoes and onions. Very clean, friendly place with great service. Definite do-over.
(4)Chuck D.
The boyfriend and I argued about 3 vs 4 stars for nearly the whole meal (this happens a lot). I think maybe I thought 3 because I was angry that my fajitas were $15, while his just as huge burrito was only $7.50! I don't know why he over looked that like 90% of the burrito was lettuce though (albeit very fresh lettuce). Originality points for the chorizo and egg burrito, though! Supposedly there is a add bacon option (aka the way straight to my heart), but they were out. My fajitas were certainly delish! After adding some hot sauce, the super moist chicken and fresh veggies with the homemade tortilla were perfect! Yummy! To be honest, it's not that my meal was $15, it's that there is a weird pricing scale that doesn't sit right with me. Maybe it's just my own ignorance though. Love the salsa bar and the service. I would gladly come here again if meeting up with people going here already, but probably wouldn't go back on my own anytime soon. In the area and craving tex Mex? Definitely stop by. Just beware that the 1 $ sign only applies to parts of it's menu.
(3)Raul B.
It's not real mexican food. More like a upscale taco bell. Alcohol And for the prices las palmas Across the street provides better atmosphere. Mariachi margaritas and music. I guess it's a nice place for non Mexicans to go to without dealing with mexicans but still enjoying somewhat Mexican food
(3)Ben S.
3.5 stars I settled for the 3-star rating, as the rice they put in their burritos is not vegetarian, but they do not tell this outright to their customers. I had been coming here for a few months before I finally ordered a veggie burrito and Jake asked me if I still wanted the rice, as it was not vegetarian. Thanks Jake, took you long enough to let me know. Aside from that, the food is pretty good here. I really enjoy getting the various flavors of cheese enchiladas they offer. The enchiladas verdes are excellent, and it makes a great lunch or dinner. The salsa bar is a great plus with flavors ranging from a spicy yet zesty habanero lime to the traditional mild tomato salsa. All of the salsas taste very fresh. Grande Jake's is great if you're looking for a nice and quick meal that is a few steps above Taco Bell across the street. I don't think it compares to Las Palmas, however. If they introduced a few more vegetarian options, they would earn back my half star.
(3)AJ H.
Grande Jake's has become our go to place for Mexican food. Everything is very fresh and more authentic and flavorful than typical American-Mexican fast food places. We prefer to eat at the restaurant so we can get free chips and salsa--the salsa bar is amazing and has a great variety to choose from. They often have Groupons available, making it an even better deal. I am taking one start off because sometimes, when placing an order to go, we have had some problems with them forgetting about our order or complaining about us wanting to take salsa from the salsa bar instead of the standard mild salsa that comes with to go orders of chips and salsa. I think this is more of an issue with one individual employee.
(4)Eugene K.
The Good: Mexican cuisine is actually near the bottom of my international food cravings, BUT Grande Jakes has pulled it up a notch. There are four Mexican restaurants I would at again: Allende's, Frontera (and other Bayless enterprises), Some dive in the south side my brother went to that had amazing fajitas, and Grande Jakes. They have a great salsa bar, unlimited chips, and great service and a friendly staff that make it hard to find much to complain about. Their tortas are what knock it out of the park for me. I have all my friends hooked on them :) especially the steak milanesa. The Bad: Their burritos are meh, reminds me of any burrito you would order from a semi authentic Mexican restaurant. Anything you get with chorizo will give you 500cc's of saturated fat directly into your veins. They are oozing with oil rendered out of the meat. The Ugly: The place is crawling with 5-0. I mean I know the type of people that would be down with unlimited chips and soda. It might ruin the mood when local law enforcement decides to eat at the table next to you. But in all fairness I think the owners extend a generous discount to public servants and that's admirable. The only decent Mexican outside of the city in my opinion. Make sure you get the torta!
(4)Denzil K.
Never let me down. Great taco (mexican style), unlimited chip, and salsa bar. Find myself going there 2 or 3 times a month - which is alot for me.
(4)Lace V.
Had a carnitas fresco burrito, very good! The ingredients were fresh. It was big to, I had half left over and paid under $7! The salsa buffet was a nice touch. They were also VERY fast. If I am in the area again I will for sure visit Grande Jake's. One odd thing and it may be the yelp software or maybe its the map of this place on the site... either way my smart phone wouldn't let me check in when I was sitting in the restaurant. I even restarted and tried. Nothing, It kept telling me I was to far away. Just mentioning.
(4)Megan T.
We placed a HUGE order on Sunday and the staff here was great! They got the entire order right, and were so accommodating. As we were going though the order before we left they gave us a permanent marker put names on everyones order. They also brought out boxes for us to carry the order in and even helped us to the car with our order. While we were waiting for the order to finish they gave us free chips and salsa. The food was great and I didn't hear one complaint from anyone! I would recommend this place both for the food and for the customer service!
(5)Mark T.
Great Mexican in the area. I actualy prefer it over Las Palmas across the street. Salsa bar & chips are great as well. Plenty of variety. I've had their fajitas, chicken tacos and fish tacos. All are great. The fajitas are a bit greasy but can easily feed a family of 3! Their flour tortillas are amazing! Overall I prefer their tacos, particularly their grilled fish tacos.
(4)George M.
If you are looking for great, authentic mexican food at reasonable prices this is the place to try. The staff is extremely friendly and attentive to all your needs whether it's more napkins or more chips in your basket. They have a great salsa bar inside with plenty of flavors and spice levels to try. On a recent Friday night I sat outside with my wife and daughter and noticed the non-stop traffic of people going into the restaurant for food. I will definitely return and explore other items on their extensive menu of delicacies. Thank you for the great Mexican food and service in the suburbs.
(5)andy p.
Been going there since I moved to the area. Best Mexican Value. All orders prepared fresh. Beans are a little watery but tasted good. One of the few places with carnitas which are yummy!!! Service is great!!
(5)Joseph P.
This little storefront is quite different from the Mexican restaurants in the area. In some ways it is like the neighborhood counter joints in Wheeling, but the food here is consistently much better than almost anywhere around. The choices for meats are so much greater than the "Chicken or Beef" of most places, and the options are uniformly great. It is one of the few places where the rice and beans are not just plate adornments, they are decent accompanyments. The "Cowboy Combo" is an especially good choice as you can sample 3 of their "areas" in one - skirt steak, stuffed pepper, and an enchilada. Don't miss the varieties at the salsa bar - most are completely unique. Service is mostly bringing you chips and salsa then the items you order at the counter, but it is friendly. On some weekend nights it can get crazy in there before the crowd thins out, and there is really no place to wait until a table opens up.
(4)Faith E.
I like Grande Jake's. I didn't think I would because the name sounds Americanized and therefore thought the food would be bad. But I found the food for the most part to be quite good and flavorful. A few items are just ok but overall it fills my Mexican food craving I have every few days or more.... but that's another story. I really enjoy the salsa bar as the variety is great and they actually offer salsas that are spicy and flavorful (in my opinion- nothing's ever spicy enough for me). Love the habanero salsa!! I also think the employees are some of the friendliest I've encountered at a Mexican joint- I'm usually greeted with a smile, offered a bag for all my salsas, thanked for coming, and it all seems sincere. Pretty solid overall and worth a try.
(3)Paul S.
Great place, not super authentic or a place to take a date, but great food, friendly staff, and super cheap prices as long as you stay away from the dinner plates. My only complaint is that it is usually pretty hot in the restaurant. A few bites of one of the spicy salsas tend to make me forget about that. Also I can't believe people complain about the Groupon now deal. The terms are clear on Groupon. In addition this is the entire premise of Groupon now! (Get people in when business is slow.) It is people like that make me so glad I am not in the food or retail business.
(5)Liza T.
This place rocks. The taco salad and tostadas prolly my fave. The tacos are excellent as well. Never had a bad experience!
(5)Drew H.
Have been coming here the past few years on a regular basis and have never been disappointed. The food is good and you get free chips and a variety of salsa. The food is reasonably priced and the portions are good as well. I usually get burritos, but friends of mine have tried other items and always enjoyed them. I would recommend giving this place a try.
(4)Christopher P.
The best suburban mexican food ever! I've been there so many times now that I've lost count, and make a point that if I'm in the burbs I have to eat there if possible. I've never had a bad meal. Their Texas Style Puffy Tacos, while not authentic like I've seen on the Food Network, are the bomb. The same goes for their Cowabunga Chimichangas and the Tex-Mex Style Burritos. Even the cheeseburgers here are great (AND HUGE!). The best horchata too. As long as they keep churning out great food, I'll keep coming. Only downside is that when you do take-out they can be kind of slow to prepare the food compared to the time you've been told it will be ready, which is a big deal when you're on a time limit.
(5)Bella G.
Recently moved to the area and wanted to try this place since it's always filled with people. The tacos were pretty good the steak could be a little more charred. The guacamole was fresh and soooo good and the salsa they serve with the chips is amazing... well to me anyway. The have a "salsa bar" where you can pick your own sauces and salsas which is pretty cool. They have waitress' who bring you chips and salsa when you sit and also bring your order to your table but they don't take your order which I thought was a little weird. The Horchata was really good also. Definitely coming back to try the margaritas.
(4)Seema D.
We visited them for the first time for lunch. We ordered a Taco salad, nachos and fajita chicken salad along with a house margarita. The portions were quite big, lots of different kinds of salsas. They had atleast 4-5 veggi options to chose from. The service was quite good, the staff was very friendly, prompt n energetic. Not a crazy expensive place. The place had a good vibe with lively music. All in all a nice place to go to.
(3)Kevin D.
I am giving this 4 stars because I cannot give it 3 1/2. Tonight must have been "pissed at the late dining customers" night. The food was good as usual, but the service SUCKED!! First of all, we are regular customers. When you have go ask for chips and salsa and then go to another table to get your place settings, not good customer service. To ask for extra chips and salsa is a challenge. We were directed to the salsa bar for more mild salsa.(not served at the salsa bar) The food comes, and first time having the fajitas and I wish there would be constant heat to better melt the cheese and char the onions. BUT I DIGRESS......The food is dropped off at the table, and the server disappears. The only reason we got extra sour cream was because she happened to be by the table cleaning the counter. We asked, and she replies with, "it's extra" not, "Sure, let me get that for you. But it is extra" We will go back to Grande Jake's again. The food is great as always. Just don't go after 8.
(4)Jay W.
I was torn on this one! First trip there my wife and I were impressed. They seemed to do everything right. Yes it's not true Mexican in the sense, like what you'd get In the "ethnic" neighborhoods (no that's not a slur) down in the city or even in some burbs. But it was a really interesting fusion of MX and what lots of Americans want when they go out to eat. The food wasn't greasy, they have healthier options, an interesting salsa bar... it all seemed to be coming together. So why the 3 stars? First of all they get 5 stars for friendliness and hospitality. A+ there. But the food is just OK. Steak isn't the best. Meat isn't cooked to order, it's sitting there and reheated as they go. Big portions. Place gets crowded. But our last time there my wife and I both had our stomachs turned inside out. Me, worse than her. Oh the burn! Was it the salsa? C
(3)