Food was great. Very satisfying, well seasoned and huge portions. Drinks were excellent too! Not at all skimpy on the liquor. Service was lacking, but that could be forgiven somewhat as we went there on a very busy night. A really good find. Unpretentious and simple food made well.
(4)
Rebecca E.
I absolutely love coming here! There is plenty of room, and the staff is very nice. Parking is available after bank hours in the lot next door for free, and there is meter parking in front. I always order either a taco, gordita, or burrito here, filled with the meat of my choice, which can vary from carne asada to al pastor. Being Latina, I never order their platters, since most if it is what I consume at home or with family, that being said, I do not have much to say about their platters. My only complaint with the tacos is that the tortillas they use are flimsy and tend to not hold the generous portions of meat they put in. I can always eat some extra meat left over with my fork, which is great. One thing I would not order is their carnitas. It is not in the menu I believe, we only knew about this because they had a sign that read that they now had carnitas. They were terribly dry and I don't even know what the problem was they just were so terrible, words could not describe it. Also, their tortillas are just not to my liking. Their gorditas are great, however. These people do a great job of packing on the meats. The burritos are HUGE! I could not even finish an entire one. The flour tortilla is immense in size, and they pack it with a lot of meat and tomato and lettuce. You can ask for extras such as guacamole and sour cream, etc. I definitely recommend this place for its great hours, food, and atmosphere.
(4)
Joshlyn T.
Grew up down the street from here! Their quesadillas are a good part of my childhood! And this is hands down my favorite place for some Mexican food! The food here is authentic and fresh and you cannot beat their prices! Living in the suburbs for the past 13 years its pretty hard to find anything close to this place and so I don't mind the 30 minute drive to here! Fresh chips and salsa, like warm chips and freshly made salsa! Burritos are ginormous and are super cheap, could feed a family of 5 no joke, we have leftovers for a few days! My new favorite are the fish tacos!!!! Loveeee it! The horchata here is probably the best I've had and you can't beat their margarita specials! Yum! Service is pretty quick and friendly! Goooo hereeee, I promise you won't be disappointed! PS. Had a little mix-up here recently with my phone order and I was pretty unhappy, but in this situation the good outweighs the bad, therefore 5 stars!
(5)
J T.
We used to like going here but recently we ordered a burrito to go and requested 2 red and 2 green salsas. Now keep in mind their burritos are huge and I love my salsas. The owner (old bald guy) gave us 2 red salsa and 1 green. We asked for 1 more green politely and he refused to give us. He said "How much salsa do you need for a burrito?" He said it would cost 50c for 1 more salsa. Are you kidding me? Salsa is like water for them. If I was eating in the restaurant, I would probably eat more salsa than I requested. He was really rude and I cant believe he would lose a customer or more for refusing 1 little extra salsa! We will not be returning. There are so many Mexican joints around the neighborhood..we will be spending our money elsewhere. Too bad their customer service has gone down so bad and the owner is pinching on pennies to save some salsa...while he should be saving his customers! Thumbs down!
(1)
Crystal M.
This is a great spot to get authentic Mexican food in Chicago. The prices are reasonable, portions are large and the service is excessively prompt (at least it was last night). I ordered the chicken and steak fajitas for $16 and they literally could have fed a family of 4. I didn't tap into a 4th of the food. It was well seasoned, came with an insane amount of guacamole and a side of rice and beans. There is free chips and 3 salsas that comes with every meal, the red salsas are good, the green a little runny and flavorless. I had a frozen strawberry margarita with Petron Silver that was delicious. I'm not a drinker so it took me an hour and a half to finish it. The ladies literally asked me at least 20 times if I needed another. Nope. I just don't roll like that. This was my first time getting the fajitas. Normally I order the Shrimp Diablo which are extremely hot and spicy. It's delicious but I warn you, it's burn your mouth hot.
(4)
Edith s.
Stopped here for Lunch, The Tacos are a bit small for the price, I had a Chicharron en salsa roja and it was pretty tasteful. I also had the Pozole rojo and it was very good and flavorful with plenty of meat and hominy. They have plenty of waitstaff on hand and are very friendly. I'll keep coming for the pozole .
(4)
Ari A.
Chorizo is my favorite taco, it's just the best, there is no comparison. Unfortunately, El Gordo didn't live up to Chorizo being my favorite! The chorizo was way too dry and just didn't live up to the mass appeal this place has been getting. The chicken taco was much better, but we all know you don't get chicken when you want a taco
(3)
Arleen P.
Yummy! Excellent prices for a huge meal. You can easily share any meal you order. Service is quick and food is always fresh.
(5)
Jackie G.
Amazing food!!!!!!! I love everything! Great people great food been here three times in one month lol really recommend it!!
(5)
Serena T.
I'm giving 2 stars because aside from the problem that I had on my last visit the food is awesome. I came here with my two children boyfriend and a friend to eat lunch at around 4 pm. Upon entering we were not greeted then when she finally came to seat us she wanted to sit us at a four person table in which we clearly did not fit. We asked her if we could have a bigger table and she stated no and put the menu back behind the bar. I couldn't believe it. We then just left, when we got in the car we called to speak to a manger and they said there was no manager so I asked for the owner in which I was told they did not know maybe a Mark I just couldn't take it no more and hung up!! I loved going here but now I will be taking my money somewhere else!!!!
(2)
A Z.
There was nothing special about the food. The place seems very dirty and it felt unpleasant eating there. Would not recommend.
(1)
Matt M.
Love it! Best Mexican I've had since moving to the area! Bring your appetite as portions are befitting the name. Great beer prices. Get the steak or chorizo!
(4)
Michelle R.
If I was in the area or lived nearby, this would be my go to Mexican restaurant. Great margaritas! Giant burrito! My husband can only eat half. I had the 2 steak taco lunch special which is $1.25 more after 3 p.m. Found this place on yelp since I was going to be on the area. Thanks yelpers for the margarita pics!
(5)
Todd S.
This place is such a treat. I discovered it after picking a friend up a from O'Hare, I live around the corner and was craving some good margaritas! The service is immediate and friendly.. House made chips with three types of salsa to snack on, which is a meal in itself, are very tasty and fresh. I had the Burrito smothered in melted cheese. Absolutely huge. Made 3 meals out of it. Weirdest thing we noticed was the guacamole on the menu is listed as market price... Never saw that before. But it was creamy and flavorful.. If your in the area, make it a stop. You won't be disappointed.. Oh BTW.. Thursday margaritas are $3! For house margs.. These are quite tasty and have a nice kick!!
(5)
Migi S.
Great place to stop by and get a Mexican style meal. I love the tampiqueña suiza (steak) it's very filling. The tacos al pastor are the best ones. The guava Margarita is the bomb! I have been here about 7 times in the past 4 months. I always have great service the waitress that work there are very friendly. Word of advice don't get the talapia AL mojo de ajo (garlic) they over do it with the garlic. Unless you like garlic a lot then that meal will be perfect for you.
(5)
Raj P.
Not sure what the hype is. I got a chicken burrito and it was dry and bland. The guacamole was okay but nothing special. There are so many better options in the area.
(1)
Diana F.
Absolutely love their food. Really nothing else to say other than that it's always delicious. The meat is always cooked well, not too well done, but not undercooked either and it's always packed with flavor. Took away two stars because I've had some bad service while eating there. They have a guy there who seems to be the manager (usually acts as a hostess as well) who is quite rude and made a snarky remark about my friend's accent. That is not a way to treat customers.
(3)
Jesus G.
Keep coming here after many years and the food is always fresh and tastes great! One of the most authentic Mexican restaurants in Chicago with an awesome mole sauce (always get the steak mole enchiladas)!
(5)
Pito S.
This used to be my favorite go to place to dine in. But after the last two times I have been there, the food gave me food poisoning. As well as good my food served cold. Not to mention the waitresses now come to your table every 3 minutes. Made me feel like they wanted me out of their establishment quickly
(1)
Sigon A.
never will go to this spot again the waitress was very rude made me and my family get. up from table to sit on a table so small fit two plates chips were nasty .....waitress have bad attitude
(1)
Pete D.
The name doesn't lie, burritos are big enough for two meals. The carne asada are true flank steak cuts and I really appreciate that. Image a Chipotle burrito with double meat and hold the rice. Fish tacos are well seasoned and very well. I would want to come back here again.
(4)
Rebecca M.
Love this place!!! Tortilla chips are always fresh and warm. They serve three different types of salsa with your chips and the food portions are huge! You def get your moneys worth. They also have great drink specials and the waitresses are always quick and friendly.
(5)
Emily D.
Been here 2 times in the last month and the food and service is still amazing! It has proven to be a consistent place to dine. Great food and amazing prices. Everyone Ive dined with loves this place. :)
(5)
William M.
Omg the best Mexican food in the city by far. Great drink specials too. Service is good and the food comes quickly. Can't say enough good things
(5)
Julie D.
Excellent tacos and tortas, service, prices, and takeout! I was not at all impressed with their guacamole - it was rather bland. That said, the rest of the food was great, so we will be back.
(4)
Vedran A.
Never again. Came here and was served meat that was cooked earlier in the day. Should have sent the steak burrito back. Terrible practice. Will never eat here again. Nothing more to say.
(1)
Robert R.
Keep forgetting to write a review on this place been so busy. But here it is I've had steak tacos, steak Torta, steak burrito, tampiquena, pozole and beef caldo. Everything till this point has been very good and tasty no complaints I haven't been disappointed yet.
(5)
Maria V.
Great pricing and their portions are extremely generous. Two thumbs up for taste and although they can do better on their alcoholic drinks they are exceptional with everything else including their service.
(5)
Samantha G.
Have been coming here for the past year. Seems as tho the majority of Mexican joints focus on quantity of portions, rather than the quality of food. Not here. This place has kept it's authenticity since I first stepped foot here. Their menudo on the weekends is AMAZING-- the perfect cure for a hangover! Not a fan of menudo? Try the mixed seafood soup. Spicy and hearty, it will clear up your sinuses and keep you happy for the rest of the day. The enchiladas are pretty awesome, and the flautas with chicken are insanely crunchy, with the meat oh so tender! Not all that hungry? Have a quesadilla with steak, yumm!!! Will definitely be trying it all. And you should too! Update: although the food is awesome, service was SHITTY last time. I guess they thought I'd be ok in eating their mistake. I had ordered a side quesadilla with steak. I bit into it, to find there was only cheese. I called the waitress over to show her and said politely, "I just wanted to make sure to show you that there's no steak in it, that way I don't get charged for something that wasn't received. It's already half eaten, so don't worry about making a new one. I don't want you guys to have to make another one". She kept on pushing me to have them make the real one, since "she would be the one getting charged for the mistake"!!! I explained to her that NO OnE would, or should be charged for something that was not made, and that i just was almost finished with my meal and i didn't want them to have to waste food if i wasn't gonna be able to eat it. She was not in the best of mood after that. But seriously, she wanted ME to pay for her or the COOK's mistake??!! I don't think so!! She just chose to take it upon herself to decide the goofy options, instead of checking with the manager first. I am not a bitchy customer, but I've worked in the food service industry before and know what excellent customer service is, something she didn't have. I'm so sad, because this was my go-to spot for Mexican food, and I just don't want to come to this place anymore. It's not even about the price of the damn steak quesadilla; it's about having morals and doing the right thing. I don't care if it was a nickel or 10 bucks. So unfortunate, because I did bring them ALOt of business and highly recommended them to friends and family and came here all the time. Now? I'm taking my business elsewhere. This is Chicago, and there are thousands of Mexican joints that would appreciate my loyal business!
(1)
Christy K.
Absolutely love this place! Waitresses are very attentive even during very busy hours. Drinks are pretty strong. Food is always good. Plus theres free parking in the back. This is our new favorite Mexican restaurant!
(5)
Michael G.
Good margaritas and even better fish tacos. Keep the free chips and salsa coming! The chicken taco was tasty too and I left full and drunk on less than 10 bucks. Timely service and a good atmosphere. Not too loud or crowded, but enough people to not make your table the loudest haha. Definitely coming back soon.
(4)
Kevin S.
FIRST OF ALL I AM A MEXICAN AMERICAN THAT GREW UP WITH TRADITIONAL MEXICAN COOKING. I tried their breakfast chilaquiles with sunny side up eggs. The meal was by far one of the best I've had coming from a Mexican restaurant. - Great size in portions. Good amount for a cheap price. - The music was great. They had Rigo Tovar to Luis Miguel. - The only negative was the beans which were tasteless and too oily. - Overall the meal and the experience was excellent.
(4)
Carmelo R.
Absolutely love this place. Best tacos in the north-side of the city. Food is always freshly served and great drink specials during the week. I've had just about everything on the menu and have yet to have a complaint.
(5)
Elma B.
The dine-in service is super fast even if the place is loaded. Always give you warm chips with the salsa trio. The shrimp is amazing. They use good quality steak and always give you large portions. I love everything except the beans...they are really thick and taste canned.
(4)
Jacqueline S.
I have been coming here with my family for maybe 15 years. The food is delicious and authentic. I have had so many different things here but one of my favorites is the parrillada mixta (grilled arrachera, rib eye, pork chops, chicken breast, and chorizo with rice, beans, guacamole, and tortillas) - it says for 2 people but it can feed 4 for about $40. The horchata (rice water drink) is really good here as well.
(5)
Beatriz R.
Ohh Baby!! What can I say I came here one night and man oh man was this place good!!!.. I came a little on the late night around 10ish and the place was pretty much still packed so that was def a good sign. I don't really know where to start since everything was pretty damn good. We ordered some guacamole and Ceviche ( and this was my first time having ) and both were extremely good. The portions are rather LARGE!! but worth it. Ceviche was amazing I really enjoyed it tasted fresh and not to salty! I ordered some Flautas 2 steak 2 chicken and man oh man they were pretty good I preferred the chicken personally the steak was a lil too well done for me, but had great flavor. The rice was pretty good as well and anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE RICE lol and damn was I inlove. My dear friend that night order a Steak a la Mexican and he loved it as well and I think I did too lol. This place is def a go to place for good Mexican food and I will be making my appereance more often!!
(5)
Heather N.
The best mexican food I've ever had!!! I love their burritos with everything on it, minus the beans! They're huge! I usually order 1 and split it with my husband.
(5)
Clint B.
1st time there......4 stars, probably more like 4.5, and see a 5 star future after a few more visits. Fairly small looking place from the outside, but they have 2 units side by side. Probably seats 80+ Went there for a Sunday lunch and it was pretty packed! A very good sign! Waitress pretty much ran to us when we walked in, quickly sat us, and less than a minute later brought out Chips and a 3 Salsa setup! Mild green, Mild Pico, Hot Red. Hot Red was our favorite! Great flavor, not insanely spicy! Overwhelmed by the menu, so many choices! Basic, simple tacos all the way to complex Dinners! About 10 different ways to order Shrimp alone!! We went with the Shrimp a la Diabla, and a Shrimp/Octopus Cocktail. Added a few Fish Tacos for good measure, and even 1 Lengua Taco! The A La Diabla had great taste and nice level of heat! you can tell care was taken in the preparation of the sauce and shrimp! The Cocktail was very fresh tasting, the shrimp and octopus were very tender, but not mushy! Only regret was getting a Small Cocktail instead of a Large, and we probably over did it with 1-2 of the Fish Tacos as they were HUGE! Had to pretty much cut the fish in 1/2 just to fit the taco in my mouth! Lengua was made by a Pro perfect balance of firm and tender! (So many places don't know Lengua should melt in your mouth almost like liver!) Waitress was very attentive and cleared plates as we finished them! Awesome place, we're very lucky to have it so close to where we live. There are 100s of Taco Spots in Chicago! This place is just a nice step above the rest with a bit more of an extensive menu!.....But even if you're just looking for a quick Taco...etc...Still a great spot to visit! About $55 for a huge seafood lunch for 2, including a bucket of Beer! And after having tried almost every Mexican beer in the last 20yrs, I made an official decision that Negra Modelo is my favorite! The XX Oscura was pretty damn good too!
(4)
May F.
This is by far one of my favorite authentic Mexican restaurants. I love their food! I always get the green chicken enchiladas or the green chilaquiles. Both are extremely good. The portions are great and the price isn't that high. Totally recommend eating here.
(5)
Gina M.
Great anytime. To go or dine in. Salsa is the very freshest and tastiest that you will find anywhere!
(5)
Kim B.
Consistent complaints about stale chips from patrons can't be made up. They say they are made every morning. So what. They are still stale by 5. They lose a star for stale chips. In a Mexican restaurant...that's a problem.
(4)
Areli R.
I walked in to this location by accident and was so glad I did. I have visited this restaurant two times and have not been dissapointed. Actually, the service really sucked the 2nd time, the woman who took our order forgot way too many items but then someone else took over. Food is delicious and burritos are huge and overfilled with beef. I would definitely come here again.
(4)
Lucy F.
This place is not bad at all, I will say an average Mexican reataurant. I order the steak burrito make sure you come hungry because they are not small. The service is great the waitresses help each other out, making the service great. Their home made waters are delicious specially the Horchata! They also sell alcohol, I tried their strawberry margarita and it was not that bad. Their guacamole is a good size portion and they give you plenty of chips.
(4)
Carlos O.
Ate here Saturday night with my work partner. Have frequented this establishment numerous times in past, but not of late. Wow prices shot way up. Not the fanciest place or area to warrant this. I use to recommend often in past for Mexican food, but no longer. I had the enchiladas dinner, my friend the taco dinner. We both felt somewhat ill that night and next morning. Not sure if will return with so many other places to try in area.
(2)
Jill A.
Unbelievable margaritas. Yummy food. Good service.
(5)
Michael E.
I think they are one of the best Mexican places around...their steak is yummy n their horchata is to die for!!!
(4)
Marvin M.
Thanks to good friends who recommend great restaurants in Chicago. I was in Chicago visiting my parents for a few days. Chicago has so many local restaurants that have been here for several years and have the same customers coming here for years. My favorite type of food to eat while I am here is Mexican. Orlando seems to be lacking compared to Chicago. @Tarajroth ordered the Strawberry Margarita. @Xobejm ordered their Lemonade. Fresh guacamole. It was just okay. Nothing to write home about. Didn't taste as fresh as it claimed it would. Queso fundido with chorizo. Now, this one was perfect. I ordered it with corn tortillas. All that cheese would make @wholycheesus very happy. Burrito Suizo de Carne Asada. Huge portions! This was very tasty. I ate half and took the other half home. I always finish all my food, but tonight I couldn't. Guisado De Puerco. This was Papi's dish. Papi wanted it as spicy as possible. The server suggested the green sauce. Papi loved how spicy it was and loved the flavor. Enchiladas Suizas de Pollo. This was Ita's dish. Ita liked them. She didn't love them. The red sauce was a bit overwhelming for her. Chimichanga De Pollo with rice and beans. This was my friends dish. @xobejm ordered the steak tacos. They came with lettuce which is a first for me. She seemed to have liked them. She prefers just onions and cilantro. Torta de Carne Asada. This was my others friends dish. It looked fantastic. Burrito Suizo. I like to order it with steak, onions, and cilantro. The meat was well prepared and it truly was the perfect bite. Cheesecake. Very good. Tres Leches. Their best dessert in the restaurant in my opinion. Flan. I did not like it. As I mention in my other blogs, I am very picky about my flan. This is one did not pass the test. Great place to come and hang out. Very loud when we went. Soccer games are playing in the background and kids are screaming. Our server was very helpful and patient with us. The woman who I spoke to at the register had a rude sort of attitude when I asked about parking in the back. Not a great way to impress a customer when entering. Food was great! The guacamole needs some help.
(3)
Pete V.
Steak tacos were great. The enchilada verde was a little watery and lacked spiciness. It is a decent place to eat after 11 pm. Don't know if it's worth trying again.
(3)
Patryk Z.
Best burrito at this area. Very good diner plates. They serv free warm corn chips with dips when u waiting at your food!
(4)
Bien D.
Really good service! They have the glass bottle coke! Best coke to drink than can or plastic bottle..it order the 3steak taco dinner! Wow plenty plenty of food! For one person! They definitely do not weight their food! If you leave not stuffed from there your nuts!
(4)
Tom B.
I had Tampiqueña. It cost $15 bucks and was worth every penny. A large portion of perfectly seasoned and prepared skirt steak was delicious and complimented with rice, beans, guac and an enchilada. Three different sauces is always a good sign. There's plenty of space, a friendly staff and nice decor. I dug it! This place is extremely authentic, surprising considering the predominantly Polish neighborhood. El Gordo translates to "the fat guy" ....perfect!
(4)
Lucy P.
For my first time it was good I had the pozole and chilakiles and I love the salsa nice yummmmiiii see u soon
(4)
Jose C.
Man. El Gordo is our new favorite local Mexican restaurant. This place is awesome! Decent prices, big portions, and excellent quality. Tacos, enchilladas, and the best horchata I've ever had. And to top it off, a great lively atmosphere. This is definitely a neighborhood spot, not one of those well-known places famous for being on Check Please. But it is a great neighborhood spot, bringing together people of all ethnicities and ages. BTW, go to the El Gordo website. The music that plays is some really good vintage Mexican music.
(5)
Marissa G.
could definitely have more flavor. the rice tasted like water and the meat could have been more tender.
(3)
Char Y.
We went on a week night with a groupon and had great service. We order horchata - ok, very sweet guacamole - ok, need more salt, has lettuce on the bottom which was strange skirt steak - completely seasonless fajita - huge portion but also seasonless overall the food was in HUGE portions, but quality was ok.
(3)
Sean L.
I thought the Burrito suzio was going to break my leg if it fell off my plate. The burrito was delicious!
(5)
Cc D.
love this as my go to Mexican fix!! ,chorizo,al pastor,tilapia tacos are Delicious..I've also tried the chicken but it's my least favorite..dry.cheese,avocado is extra but they put tons!!I've also had the guacamole which is market price..always a generous portion..I highly suggest to come for the lunch specials and also for the weekly specials on margaritas!!
(5)
Evelyn L.
I come here regularly, the staff is lovely and always very attentive, the food is good, enchiladas in green sauce are my favorite, the skirt steak is always cooked to my liking, and the salsas are delicious. Oh! I almost forgot, the fish tacos are great and so is the beef caldo! I have never had a bad meal here and I have been coming here for years.
(5)
Nancy C.
Best food ever! I'm a mom who cooks traditional Mexican food. When I don't feel like cooking and need a drink and grama can watch the kids this my go to place. I oder the tilapia dinner, my hubby gets the alpastor tacos or steak torta, my kids have rice and beans and we all share. Good food and drinks, cheap, great staff, and kid friendly. I feel at home without having to wash dishes! Awesome place, and I better stop talking about them or I won't find an empty seat there next time I go. So, no body go, please!
(5)
karen l.
Super delicious, cheap Mexican food.
(5)
Optima P.
Delicious food, fast service and great location. I've been here over 5times and every time they prove to be better. Gauc is amazing! We are regulars here
(4)
Esteban P.
I'm still digging on this place, but I went back the following weekend after our burrito quest. This time I had the Enchiladas de Pollo con Salsa Verde. The dinner plate was piled with food. The enchiladas were flowing with cheese and drenched in green salsa. The flavor however was not what I expected. I green salsa was just ok, and the enchiladas were just average. The chicken was really moist, and plentiful, but the flavor was lacking. I rice was average as well, but the beans did rock. I ordered the enchiladas as a test. It's not easy to make good enchiladas, and I wanted to make sure they lived up to the 5 star rating I kinda jumped to fast to give them. To earn a 5 star rating all the food should be good to great (mostly great though). So, to recap... 5 star burrito, beans and horchata, 3 star enchiladas. I'll keep you updated if I feel the need to adjust again.
(4)
Jean-Philippe B.
It was just like being in Mexico ! The food was amazing and in huge portions (maybe a bit too big, I had food for 2 days). I've done a lot of mexican restaurants downtown and in the suburbs, but this one is by far the best ! The service is flawless, they are great with kids and happy to answer questions about their big menu. I can still remember the taste and my stomach is craving to go back
(5)
Eric P.
The food is great and the service is attentive. I believe if they ditch the microwave for whatever they use it for, El Gordo will move up in rating. Chips and trio of salsas are outstanding!
(3)
Alice M.
This place has been getting bigger and bigger and for good reason! Their food is to date probably the BEST (or at least one of the best) Mexican places I've had the pleasure of eating at, and I've eaten quite a bit of Mexican since I started eating at El Gordo as a kid. My favorite parts are anything with steak. Used to get their tacos which are pretty good and occassionally their tortas, but now have been getting the tostadas, which are also really good. I may not have tasted the extent of their menu but their good business tells me that those aren't the only dishes that are good here! I don't crave Mexican all that often, but when I do, I'm thinking of this place.
(5)
Agnes P.
Don't come here on a hot summer day; the air conditioning doesn't work and the smells of the place literally come together as one and make you want to loose your lunch before you even order... Lots of new staff as well and I'm guessing they were hired before they even looked at the menu themselves because we've had our order messed up twice already; with three times in one day. We got charged extra then because they charged us separately for each item instead of the meals we originally ordered. We called over the waitress and all of a sudden she cant speak english and does not understand! See ya later, El Gordo, I will be going elsewhere.
(2)
Valerie H.
This is hands down, my favorite Mexican restaurant. My boyfriend brought me here a few years ago, and I was hooked from the first time I came. There is a little parking lot behind store for convenient parking. We are always greeted and seated quickly. The waitresses are always smiling and very friendly. I've had mainly chicken tacos, chicken and steak fajitas, and burritos, all of it is delicious. My boyfriend is a fish lover so he'll often get fish tacos and he says those are fabulous as well. We are always greeted with a bowl of warm nacho chips and 2 types of salsa (one is a mild pico de gallo and the other is a hotter salsa). The chips are always refillable. And to end off a great meal we usually get flan - also fantastic. This place is a must visit for everyone. Great food, great service, cute cultural feel to it, and we are always feeling El Gordo after eating there.
(5)
D A.
With traffic I am 45 minutes from here. But I went on Saturday, ordered 2 carne asada (steak) tacos, one fish taco and small side of guacamole. The steak tacos are good but their fish tacos are amazing!!!!!!! So amazingly good, I went back on Sunday (the next day) and got 3 fish tacos. The put lettuce, tomato, diced avocado, and lime juice on huge pieces of talapia fish--on fresh corn tortillas. So good. The guacamole is a bit bland and needs more salt, but can easily be fixed, with some salt. The chips are light, and crisp. Some other mexican restaurants in this area, have crappy chips. Did not try the burrito yet, because they said it doesn't have cheese in it. I am sure I will be back. Thanks Yelpers! You are how I found this place!
(4)
Ricardo O.
LOVE THIS PLACE! Great food and service. Prices are decent and the quality of the food is delicious! Never had anything bad to say about this place. Totally recommend this place
(5)
Melissa M.
I don't know why I keep letting people talk me into going here. Perhaps I keep hoping that the next time will be better. But, no... must've been wishful thinking. This place is just terrible. I like steak tacos so I tend to order them pretty consistently at Mexican restaurants. While their tacos have plenty of meat in them, the meat has no flavor and lots of what I call "chewy-gooies" (chunks o' fat)! ICK!! This last time I thought I'd be adverturous and get one ground beef tostada with my two steak tacos... blah!! Again... lots of ground beef, but quantity does not make up for quality. The beef was dry and burnt. You could tell that they'd left it sitting on the grill too long... there were black bits throughout. To cover it up, they smothered the top with sour cream. ICK x2!! The rice and beans? Nothing to write home about. The service? Eh. Don't ask me to go back here. There's just nothing to draw me back. I won't go... I refuse... {crossing arms in defensive mode}... hmph!
(1)
Carmen B.
Have been there before but hadn't reviewed. Went again on Friday for dinner with the husband. He had the lengua in green salsa (+great flavor and large serving; -was lukewarm) and I had the special with half carne asada and 1 chile relleno. My meal was ok, I was hoping for more flavor though. And my chile relleno was also lukewarm. We also ordered guacamole (+huge for the price; -no flavor, I had to add salt and lime), queso fundido with chorizo (-super greasy), and a gordita de chicarron con salsa verde (-chicharron was barely warm). They definitely need to work on warming up the sauces before adding it to the food because I think if the food would have actually been hot, it would have gotten 3 stars. But at least we got a lot for a little because I had a Restaurant.com certificate. I would be more bothered had we paid full price for it all.
(2)
Amanda D.
A PIECE OF HEAVEN ON EARTH. I have been going here all my life and have loved it since childhood. I am obsessed with their burritos and drinks but everything here is AMAZING. Their meat, veggies, desserts :if you want mouth watering Mexican food you need look no further. Come. Order. Receive. Enjoy. All I am waiting for is that day when they add delivery to their list of services...it will be a monuments affair indeed.
(5)
Jamie S.
My most favorite Mexican place in the whole city, hands down. We have been eating there regularly for as long as I can remember. Maybe 20 years? I won't eat refried beans or drink horchata from anywhere else because it cannot compare. This place is perfection. Years ago my friend and I went there to pick up some takeout. As we were putting all the containers in the car, one fell, opened, and landed upside down in the street, right in the gutter. Who's dinner was it? MINE of course... I said F-it and flipped it over, scraped off the top layer of Chicago summer street filth (mixed with sour cream), and brought it home and ate it anyway. THAT is how freaking good this place is.
(5)
Rencie H.
Good food, friendly service, decent prices. :-)
(4)
Kasia K.
stake burrito suizo. never taste bad. enchiladas r always great. it was so hard to order sth else but today tampiquenia was a heaven! thx for make my day. again!
(5)
Emilio D.
I Absolutely Think this is the Best Mexican Restaurant in the Chicago Area. It has no theme to bring you in the door like bands or karaoke etc.,,, Just Really Great Food At Reasonable prices. I eat Out so much and been to so many Mexican Restaurants That El Gordo Stands Way Over All the Competion. You Try about 100 or more Mexican restauants and then you come to one conclusion El Gordo Is The Best.
(5)
Conor M.
In a city filled with authentic Mexican restaurants you really have to have great food to stand out. El Gordo's stands out for me. The tacos and burritos are excellent, especially the pork. They put out two salsas, one fresh version and one with roasted peppers and tomatoes, and they are both wonderful. The roasted pepper is definitely the spiciest of the two and while that's right in my wheelhouse you may want to proceed with caution...but do try it! They make a good pozole on the weekends. I haven't tried the menudo here yet but will soon. My current favorite dish is the chilaquiles with salsa verde. Now THAT'S a great breakfast/hangover food! Simply put, El Gordo's is one of my favorite Mexican places in the city.
(4)
J T.
All I can say is.....yum!!! The food is awesome here! This was my first visit. I had the steak burrito suizo, it was fantastic and not to mention it weighed about 2lbs! It also was as big as my head! Definitely recommending this place!
(5)
Joe C.
Wow...really? How the hell did I manage to drive past this place a million times and never stop in. Well the orange facade of the building finally caught my attention. The GF and I stopped in for a quick dinner the other night. And I knew I was going enjoy my dinner. The place was pretty full. Soccer on the TVs, lots of families eating Sunday dinner and huge plates of food getting served all around me. We started out with some guacamole, it was very good. The warm chips they bring to the table made it even better. The GF had the carne asade dinner. When they brought our food out she was in shock at the size of her steak, it was basically the size of the plate. It was even done the right way, cut very thin and grilled. It even came with cebollitas and grilled jalapeno peppers. Lucky for me she doesn't like the jalapenos so those always get passed onto my plate. Now the GF isn't a big meat eater but she loved the steak. Great flavor cooked just right. I ordered the EL Gordo combo which was half order of carne asada and a chile relleno, this is usually how I judge a place by how good their chile relleno is, and El Gordo passed! it was very good, the breading wansn't to thick, cheese was oozing out and had just the right amount of heat. The normal sides (rice/beans) were good. I favored the rice more it had great flavor. The beans were so so. Overall this place is great..no frills, good mexican food...Just the way I like it. The Portions are huge, prices are great and parking is easy. Ill defiantly be back. Actually, I think Ill hit this place up for dinner tonight!
(5)
Evan K.
Portions are huge, everything's good. I didn't try a burrito until recently, but let me tell you; huge and delicious. I've been coming here for years. It's an awesome restaurant in the neighborhood, and I think anyone who lives close or is willing to drive to it definitely should give it a try. It's awesome.
(5)
Orlando R.
I went here with a friend for a quick bite to eat while the Bengals were kicking the shit out of my Bears. Chicken burrito - very big and very good. A definite yes for burrito lovers. Horchata - not very sweet. I have had better. Try at your own risk. Chips - crisp and not stale. Good. Pico de gallo and hot sauce - fresh and tasty. Excellent. Parking in the back is free but the concrete is not smooth. Sissy car owners may want to stay away. There is no decor but it is clean and relatively cheap. The service was ok. The waitress was working on a potentially bigger tip with a family and it showed. I had to speak Spanish (not a concern for me), so review your basics just in case. I would go back.
(4)
Jon B.
Two words: four dollar margaritas. (The food, particularly the chicken taco, is pretty good, too.)
(4)
Tony M.
Tacos al pastor con todo amazing
(5)
Robert G.
Bottomline - A good taco shop with some better than average seafood options. Great Mexican food options in Chicago are pretty sparce. There are lots of hole-in-the-wall taco shops, but few of them do very good food. For me El Gordo is an exception. I've eaten here several times and always enjoyed it more than the other places near by. It's not the best in Chicago, but certainly worth calling out. The typical taco shop options are here - tacos, burritos, plates, combos. But there is also a separate menu for seafood plates. I've always gotten quality fish. The tacos here are of the larger gringo size rather than the small street taco size. You're getting plenty of food for your money. And the salsa bar is pretty basic, but all of the options are done well. I don't think the tortillas are made fresh, but you can't have everything. Great Margaritas. Great prices. I love fish tacos. This place is open very late.
(4)
Efrain M.
Not horrible, but pretty bleh. The service was good, very pleasant and the Michelada wasn't bad. then things go down hill, how could they serve refried beans with a crust on top? The mole was cloyingly sweet, their pozole was watery and bland. I'm not sure what the 4 & 5 star reviews are all about, they must not get out much.
(2)
Amber C.
Yummers! I work in the area, so my coworkers and I frequent this place. It's cheap, yummy, and the servings are huge. Try the Chilaquiles. Some of the best I've had.
(4)
Theresa M.
I don't know why.. but my family and I have been frequenting this place lately. For some reason it now seems better than it did a couple years ago. Maybe they have different cooks?? Hmmm not sure what it is...but man.. there food has been soooo good lately!! Their meat has real flavor all of a sudden and just plain..YUMMY!! :) two thumbs up!!
(5)
Andrea S.
I reviewd the wrong location ! Here's the right one. Oops. Good food and prices! Nice beer selection... Stay away from the margs! They taste like the mix you can buy at a department store. EW! I like going at nite when they have the REALLY bad karaoke singers! SO FUNNY! The dinner plates are good and alot of food, the tacos are good for a quick bite and cheap. They keep the chips and salsa coming ofcourse. Some of the waitresses are strange. Definitely recommend the food :) ! I like the plate that comes with steak, shrimp, and chicken ... you'll have to split it but it's really good. Also, the steak a la mexicana. Yummy.
(4)
Nicole S.
I've been going to El Gordo since they opened and they do have very good Authentic Mexican food! For some reason I always forget aobut them and after getting food elsewhere say "damn should have gone to El Gordo!" They are a little pricier then most mexican places in the area but you get large portions of food! Steak burritos, tacos, enchiladas, tortas, the chips and salsa everything I've tried has been very good! When it comes to dining I can be extremely picky about consistency which is the only thing that has prevented me from giving them 5 stars. Every once in a while something is a little off or the steak is dry or chewy. Sorry, the good grossly outweighs the bad at least in the number of times I've eaten there but I figured it was worth mentioning and will continue to eat here. The place itself nothing too fancy but it's clean and service has always been good.
(4)
Piotr S.
I used to love this place but they have got really bad last time i was there i was served stale ass chips with my meal, NOT GOOD
(1)
Tom Z.
I had the chance to visit the restaurant again. This time I had the burrito and this thing was BIG! The flavor was very good. I had the rice and beans with the meal and found the beans to be some of the best refried beans I have had. I will continue to visit El Gordo.
(4)
Emanuel S.
El Gordo's is one of Chicago's well known secrets. The outside of it just makes it look like another Mexican restaurant that is easily overlooked. Once you go inside, you may even mistake it for "just another spanish joint", but when you order your food that's when you realize...not only do you have quality but you have huge quanities to back it up. El Gordo is known for their burritos, which make a Subway footlong look like a McDonald's Happy Meal. Personally burritos are too messy for me..and I have the worst luck with getting sauces on my nice shirts. So I just stick with the skirt steak dinner. The beers are decent, they have two beers on tap if I'm not mistaken...but I never see it used. I also see that they have a "bar" area, but the door is always closed, so I never feel comfortable to actually open that door and check out the bar area. Overall it's great food, at a wonderful price.
(5)
Ashley B.
My uncle took me here and I must say that is an amazing place! Really good Mexican for a good price. They have this awesome plate, which is just made up of all the goodness they make and it's delicious, definitely share worthy, but great food!
(4)
J R.
Without a doubt, the best enchiladas I've ever had! Friendly servers, good food, etc.
(5)
Manny Q.
Man I love this fucking place! I live around the are so im here constantly. I love how the waitresses recognize you and you`re order. I never have to feel like a burden because they already know what I like on my orders, and the waitresses are so nice. The food is deff ace!, you deff get your moneys worth. I get full with 1 sope or 1 gordita! another of my fave are quessadillas de pollo. Damn im getting hungry just reviewing. This is a good place to take a date, ive taken many and all of them seem to love this joint.
(5)
Jen M.
We've been Friday night regulars at El Gordo since we moved into the neighborhood five+ years ago. It is the best cheap Mexican near our house. I get the same thing every time which includes avocado tostada and cebollitas (grilled bulb onions), which need to be tried. In addition, the margaritas are great and not poured lightly. The waitstaff knows us well and are incredibly friendly with us. They do not deliver, but have a great carry out business that will serve you well. If you are expecting fancy, please readjust your expectations immediately. This is a tile, fake plants, karaoke Fridays, red vinyl tablecloth establishment. However, if you are there for conversation with friends and family, great food at cheap prices, then you've come to the right spot.
(5)
Marlyn L.
This El Gordo is waaaaaaaaaay better than the one on Fullerton. For some reason, the tacos (meat especially) are more flavorful. I usually either get two tacos or one sope. Here is a breakdown of what I likes up in there: SOPE ($2.50 or $2.75ish): A ton of meat piled onto a bed of refried beans, topped with lettuce, tomato and (gasp) avocado. Oh, they put cheese on it too but IDL cheese, so I order it without. Tip: ask for cilantro with it. TACO ($2) A ton of meat with onions and cilantro on two tortillas. I suggest two if you are hungry. One if probably gonna leave you a bit nibbly. If you are a big burly man, I'd say more than two... or just get the burrito. BURRITO ($4.75 or $5ish) HUGE, Humongo sized burrito with pretty much the same ingredients as usual. I can share one of these with another person and be satisfied. A big burly man can prob be ok with just one. MARGARITA (??? idk $6ish???) NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO do not drink it. Yuck. DOS XX (Amb and Lag) They serve you like an entire lime tree with your beer. It's awes. Go on a Friday night to hear people karaokeing. It's hilarious. I especially love the duets. Sometimes you can't even tell who is singing (hombre o mujer?). The best ones are the drunken cowboys. Yeehaw. The staff may be a bit off with their English, so just try to keep the chit chat at a minimum. Some are kinda mean looking but most are nice. Fast service and excellent food every time. I haven't tried their desserts yet. Too full to order more. Open late, til about 2 am. Cash only if your order is under $10!!!! And often, it can be under ten bucks bc they have cheap prices. Otherwise, they take credit card. Meter parking out front, but try parking in the diagonal parking spots on Mango Ave (by the IHOP) or on Menard (passing El Gordo if you are going west). =)
(4)
Stella C.
I've never had anything else but I absolutely love their torta de chorizo. It's too big for me to finish in one sitting, but it's still super tasty heated up the next day. My mouth waters just thinking about this sandwich. I just wish I wasn't such a health nut and go ahead and grab one right now!!!
(4)
Carlos P.
Love the Menudo on the weekends. Great flavor with lots of meat.
(3)
Ron R.
Not sure if it's just me, but the steak tacos are outstanding. Haven't had this good of steak in tacos for a while. I live around the area and this place by far tops the list for me when it comes to steak tacos.
(4)
Dan G.
The food here is fine. I am knocking them down a star/star and a half for pricing. They must have recently changed their pricing. I ordered a steak burrito with cheese, onion, cilantro, cream, and tomato. Total: $8.64. Huh?? Their steak was sitting on the grill waiting to be heated up just like every other busy eatery that serves tacos/burritos. I do like their food, but their pricing is making me look at other options. The food isn't THAT good to equate to the pricing.
(2)
Anjee J.
El Gordo is freaking unreal. Hell, I'm SHOCKED that such a place exists in the cultural wasteland that is Dunning! I have NEVER had a bad dining experience here, which is a rarity in the world of Mexican cuisine. I usually just opt for tacos with cilantro and onion, but they make a damn good torta as well and their burrito is better than many I've had in the past. Their chorizo is rich in flavor and non-greasy (TRY IT, SERIOUSLY), their steak is cooked to perfection and their chicken is actually moist (a feat for Mexican restaurants, I've come to notice). Great rice, great horchatas, great everything. Best of all, everything is CHEAP and their portions are very generous in addition to being delicious. You'll even be impressed by the complimentary homemade chips and salsa. Fair warning, though, it only comes in two flavors: super spicy and even more spicy. While I'm beyond addicted to their simple yet perfect tacos, I will definitely have to try some of their entrees soon. The dinners I've lurked out over people's shoulders look fabulous. God, it sickens me to think that for years Taco Burrito King was my default for Mexican food in the neighborhood; the thought of going back to their processed cheese and mountains of sour cream and rubbery steak and soggy tortillas literally makes me gag. Ugh... Super Nachos... Kill me now. Needless to say, I will keep coming back here for years, regardless of where I move to in the city next. I've been to dozens of Mexican restaurants, and nowhere - from the ridiculously talked-up La Pasadita or even all the taquerias I've been to in Rogers Park - can top this place.
(5)
Tricia R.
My family and I have been going to Gordo's for many years. The food has always been delicious and fresh. The staff have been friendly and treat you like family. Their prices are reasonable for a family to visit multiple times a month.
(5)
Fritzie H.
Let me start this off by saying that authentic Mexican restaurants don't require reservations. Lalo's and Uncle Julio's ARE NOT authentic! My family and I have been regulars at El Gordo for years. Never really had a complaint other than bitchy waitresses (story of my life) until about 6 months ago. We went with a group of 15-20 and we didn't make reservations because most traditional ma and pop's Mexican restaurants don't require them. It's unheard of unless you're in the loop or at an Americanized version of a Mexican restaurant. Plus they have two sides and it was a weekday so the chances of it being packed were slim to none. We get there and the place is dead except for about two other small tables. I tell the waitress how many people we had and she tried to stuff us by the door. Are you shitting me? Can we sit on the other side? "No it's not open tonight" Why not? "because the lights are off." How about you flick on the switch and bam! "I'm sorry we can't do that." SERIOUSLY? I totally thought she was joking. I was extremely upset and took our business elsewhere. (El Jerezano) Another Mexican restaurant. We were seated immediately. Haven't been back since. I'll be fair and rate them on the food as well. I already took off three stars for service. The food is okay but nothing spectacular. I usually go for the tacos de lomo. They have less chunks of fat. The torta and burrito de asada are pretty good and better than most places. Like most Mexican restaurants, they have my sangria and sidral nice and cold. If they would upgrade their service, they'd be better off.
(2)
Hector R.
Great food! Good service and not to pricey.
(4)
Kevin G.
This motherfucker is WILD. All the mexicans know your fat white ass is coming from 10 miles out. Best horchata in the city, biggest burrito in the city, best fucking tortas too. This place is baller to the maximum. Damn the food poisoning, you will eat like a king until you're sick. I gare-own-tee. Fuck yeah.
(5)
Georgia T.
I love El Gordo's. Great food, excellent prices, and open late. They make a good steak torta. I really like their salsa. The staff is friendly and attentive and there's always plenty of street parking.
(5)
Diana C.
Good stuff. Great food, great prices, great service. Missed the 5-star mark because the tequila they make their "regular" margaritas is crap and *will* make you sick...get the "gold" margarita for an additional .75 and you'll be fine.
(4)
J T.
Its hard to find a solid good Mexican restaurant in that location of the city. El Gordo hits the spot! When I go to a Mexican Restaurant, the first thing I do is order an Horchata drink. The taste of an Horchata at a Mexican joint will tell you how good the food will be, and I have to say they have one if not the best Horchata in Chicago (And I have tried MANY). I went with all my family and I have to say that all the food looked and tasted great. They also have the "parriladas" or table grills which come with a mix of meats and seafood or whatever you're preference is. This restaurant is authentic Mexican food and does not get any better. I've never been to el Gordo until recently so I don't if they were always been this great. This place is worth the trip from anywhere in Chicago.
(5)
B. L.
Authentic Mexican food is served with a smile here. Their decor is also authentic. The food is high quality and the portions are huge. I hope to go back soon.
(4)
Tony L.
Very good authentic Mexican food. They actually put a lot of steak in the burritos too. Reasonably priced and good service too. Parking in the back or meters on the street. Definitely worth trying and worth coming back to. They have killer Mararita's too.
(4)
You Kno W.
Yuck. Went to this place at the recommendation of other reviewers. I left over 3/4 of my dinner untouched. My husband was sick afterwards. The waitstaff was accommodating and service was good. I don't think I'm brave enough to give it another try though. Maybe you will be?
(1)
Daria Z.
This place is a huge hit among my friends. This was our mandatory lunch spot for quite some time. They're steak tacos and burritos are divine. The burritos are so big you should really consider splitting one with a friend. The staff is super friendly and the decor is adorable. They also offer their own smoothies which they sprinkle with cinnamon in a variety of flavors. I HIGHLY recommend coming here - there's a good chance you'll get hooked.
(5)
Myron M.
Quite possibly the biggest burrito I've ever had. The freindly staff keeps your glasses filled and the chips and salsa coming. Great authentic Mexican food.
(4)
andrea p.
I absolutely love ElGordo, it is the most authentic mexican restaurant in the area. Dont just try their tacos and burritos expand your palate to their selections of parriladas or ""grills". My family and I go often for reunions and the food is superb. The meat is fresh tasty and well seasoned as well as their chicken and seafood. I have almost tried everything from their soups to sopes and my favorite the Tampiquena Suiza. Its a huge piece of steak with melted chesse on top plated next to some avocado, rice, beans ,salad and an enchilada. You can share this with 2 people and you will be more than stuffed. All of that food for $13. Plus their sopes, tortas and tacos are to die for. Also they have the best Sangria available, it has fruit pieces and it is served perfectly, not to strong not to weak. Definitely a must go. The decor is crappy, but the food is AWESOME. I am actually craving it , while I describe it ..
(5)
Lee-Han H.
the place is awesome! the food is 100% mexican with spices and many flavors. cheap cheap food, great decor. lots of smiles and laughter.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes 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.
Juan M.
Food was great. Very satisfying, well seasoned and huge portions. Drinks were excellent too! Not at all skimpy on the liquor. Service was lacking, but that could be forgiven somewhat as we went there on a very busy night. A really good find. Unpretentious and simple food made well.
(4)Rebecca E.
I absolutely love coming here! There is plenty of room, and the staff is very nice. Parking is available after bank hours in the lot next door for free, and there is meter parking in front. I always order either a taco, gordita, or burrito here, filled with the meat of my choice, which can vary from carne asada to al pastor. Being Latina, I never order their platters, since most if it is what I consume at home or with family, that being said, I do not have much to say about their platters. My only complaint with the tacos is that the tortillas they use are flimsy and tend to not hold the generous portions of meat they put in. I can always eat some extra meat left over with my fork, which is great. One thing I would not order is their carnitas. It is not in the menu I believe, we only knew about this because they had a sign that read that they now had carnitas. They were terribly dry and I don't even know what the problem was they just were so terrible, words could not describe it. Also, their tortillas are just not to my liking. Their gorditas are great, however. These people do a great job of packing on the meats. The burritos are HUGE! I could not even finish an entire one. The flour tortilla is immense in size, and they pack it with a lot of meat and tomato and lettuce. You can ask for extras such as guacamole and sour cream, etc. I definitely recommend this place for its great hours, food, and atmosphere.
(4)Joshlyn T.
Grew up down the street from here! Their quesadillas are a good part of my childhood! And this is hands down my favorite place for some Mexican food! The food here is authentic and fresh and you cannot beat their prices! Living in the suburbs for the past 13 years its pretty hard to find anything close to this place and so I don't mind the 30 minute drive to here! Fresh chips and salsa, like warm chips and freshly made salsa! Burritos are ginormous and are super cheap, could feed a family of 5 no joke, we have leftovers for a few days! My new favorite are the fish tacos!!!! Loveeee it! The horchata here is probably the best I've had and you can't beat their margarita specials! Yum! Service is pretty quick and friendly! Goooo hereeee, I promise you won't be disappointed! PS. Had a little mix-up here recently with my phone order and I was pretty unhappy, but in this situation the good outweighs the bad, therefore 5 stars!
(5)J T.
We used to like going here but recently we ordered a burrito to go and requested 2 red and 2 green salsas. Now keep in mind their burritos are huge and I love my salsas. The owner (old bald guy) gave us 2 red salsa and 1 green. We asked for 1 more green politely and he refused to give us. He said "How much salsa do you need for a burrito?" He said it would cost 50c for 1 more salsa. Are you kidding me? Salsa is like water for them. If I was eating in the restaurant, I would probably eat more salsa than I requested. He was really rude and I cant believe he would lose a customer or more for refusing 1 little extra salsa! We will not be returning. There are so many Mexican joints around the neighborhood..we will be spending our money elsewhere. Too bad their customer service has gone down so bad and the owner is pinching on pennies to save some salsa...while he should be saving his customers! Thumbs down!
(1)Crystal M.
This is a great spot to get authentic Mexican food in Chicago. The prices are reasonable, portions are large and the service is excessively prompt (at least it was last night). I ordered the chicken and steak fajitas for $16 and they literally could have fed a family of 4. I didn't tap into a 4th of the food. It was well seasoned, came with an insane amount of guacamole and a side of rice and beans. There is free chips and 3 salsas that comes with every meal, the red salsas are good, the green a little runny and flavorless. I had a frozen strawberry margarita with Petron Silver that was delicious. I'm not a drinker so it took me an hour and a half to finish it. The ladies literally asked me at least 20 times if I needed another. Nope. I just don't roll like that. This was my first time getting the fajitas. Normally I order the Shrimp Diablo which are extremely hot and spicy. It's delicious but I warn you, it's burn your mouth hot.
(4)Edith s.
Stopped here for Lunch, The Tacos are a bit small for the price, I had a Chicharron en salsa roja and it was pretty tasteful. I also had the Pozole rojo and it was very good and flavorful with plenty of meat and hominy. They have plenty of waitstaff on hand and are very friendly. I'll keep coming for the pozole .
(4)Ari A.
Chorizo is my favorite taco, it's just the best, there is no comparison. Unfortunately, El Gordo didn't live up to Chorizo being my favorite! The chorizo was way too dry and just didn't live up to the mass appeal this place has been getting. The chicken taco was much better, but we all know you don't get chicken when you want a taco
(3)Arleen P.
Yummy! Excellent prices for a huge meal. You can easily share any meal you order. Service is quick and food is always fresh.
(5)Jackie G.
Amazing food!!!!!!! I love everything! Great people great food been here three times in one month lol really recommend it!!
(5)Serena T.
I'm giving 2 stars because aside from the problem that I had on my last visit the food is awesome. I came here with my two children boyfriend and a friend to eat lunch at around 4 pm. Upon entering we were not greeted then when she finally came to seat us she wanted to sit us at a four person table in which we clearly did not fit. We asked her if we could have a bigger table and she stated no and put the menu back behind the bar. I couldn't believe it. We then just left, when we got in the car we called to speak to a manger and they said there was no manager so I asked for the owner in which I was told they did not know maybe a Mark I just couldn't take it no more and hung up!! I loved going here but now I will be taking my money somewhere else!!!!
(2)A Z.
There was nothing special about the food. The place seems very dirty and it felt unpleasant eating there. Would not recommend.
(1)Matt M.
Love it! Best Mexican I've had since moving to the area! Bring your appetite as portions are befitting the name. Great beer prices. Get the steak or chorizo!
(4)Michelle R.
If I was in the area or lived nearby, this would be my go to Mexican restaurant. Great margaritas! Giant burrito! My husband can only eat half. I had the 2 steak taco lunch special which is $1.25 more after 3 p.m. Found this place on yelp since I was going to be on the area. Thanks yelpers for the margarita pics!
(5)Todd S.
This place is such a treat. I discovered it after picking a friend up a from O'Hare, I live around the corner and was craving some good margaritas! The service is immediate and friendly.. House made chips with three types of salsa to snack on, which is a meal in itself, are very tasty and fresh. I had the Burrito smothered in melted cheese. Absolutely huge. Made 3 meals out of it. Weirdest thing we noticed was the guacamole on the menu is listed as market price... Never saw that before. But it was creamy and flavorful.. If your in the area, make it a stop. You won't be disappointed.. Oh BTW.. Thursday margaritas are $3! For house margs.. These are quite tasty and have a nice kick!!
(5)Migi S.
Great place to stop by and get a Mexican style meal. I love the tampiqueña suiza (steak) it's very filling. The tacos al pastor are the best ones. The guava Margarita is the bomb! I have been here about 7 times in the past 4 months. I always have great service the waitress that work there are very friendly. Word of advice don't get the talapia AL mojo de ajo (garlic) they over do it with the garlic. Unless you like garlic a lot then that meal will be perfect for you.
(5)Raj P.
Not sure what the hype is. I got a chicken burrito and it was dry and bland. The guacamole was okay but nothing special. There are so many better options in the area.
(1)Diana F.
Absolutely love their food. Really nothing else to say other than that it's always delicious. The meat is always cooked well, not too well done, but not undercooked either and it's always packed with flavor. Took away two stars because I've had some bad service while eating there. They have a guy there who seems to be the manager (usually acts as a hostess as well) who is quite rude and made a snarky remark about my friend's accent. That is not a way to treat customers.
(3)Jesus G.
Keep coming here after many years and the food is always fresh and tastes great! One of the most authentic Mexican restaurants in Chicago with an awesome mole sauce (always get the steak mole enchiladas)!
(5)Pito S.
This used to be my favorite go to place to dine in. But after the last two times I have been there, the food gave me food poisoning. As well as good my food served cold. Not to mention the waitresses now come to your table every 3 minutes. Made me feel like they wanted me out of their establishment quickly
(1)Sigon A.
never will go to this spot again the waitress was very rude made me and my family get. up from table to sit on a table so small fit two plates chips were nasty .....waitress have bad attitude
(1)Pete D.
The name doesn't lie, burritos are big enough for two meals. The carne asada are true flank steak cuts and I really appreciate that. Image a Chipotle burrito with double meat and hold the rice. Fish tacos are well seasoned and very well. I would want to come back here again.
(4)Rebecca M.
Love this place!!! Tortilla chips are always fresh and warm. They serve three different types of salsa with your chips and the food portions are huge! You def get your moneys worth. They also have great drink specials and the waitresses are always quick and friendly.
(5)Emily D.
Been here 2 times in the last month and the food and service is still amazing! It has proven to be a consistent place to dine. Great food and amazing prices. Everyone Ive dined with loves this place. :)
(5)William M.
Omg the best Mexican food in the city by far. Great drink specials too. Service is good and the food comes quickly. Can't say enough good things
(5)Julie D.
Excellent tacos and tortas, service, prices, and takeout! I was not at all impressed with their guacamole - it was rather bland. That said, the rest of the food was great, so we will be back.
(4)Vedran A.
Never again. Came here and was served meat that was cooked earlier in the day. Should have sent the steak burrito back. Terrible practice. Will never eat here again. Nothing more to say.
(1)Robert R.
Keep forgetting to write a review on this place been so busy. But here it is I've had steak tacos, steak Torta, steak burrito, tampiquena, pozole and beef caldo. Everything till this point has been very good and tasty no complaints I haven't been disappointed yet.
(5)Maria V.
Great pricing and their portions are extremely generous. Two thumbs up for taste and although they can do better on their alcoholic drinks they are exceptional with everything else including their service.
(5)Samantha G.
Have been coming here for the past year. Seems as tho the majority of Mexican joints focus on quantity of portions, rather than the quality of food. Not here. This place has kept it's authenticity since I first stepped foot here. Their menudo on the weekends is AMAZING-- the perfect cure for a hangover! Not a fan of menudo? Try the mixed seafood soup. Spicy and hearty, it will clear up your sinuses and keep you happy for the rest of the day. The enchiladas are pretty awesome, and the flautas with chicken are insanely crunchy, with the meat oh so tender! Not all that hungry? Have a quesadilla with steak, yumm!!! Will definitely be trying it all. And you should too! Update: although the food is awesome, service was SHITTY last time. I guess they thought I'd be ok in eating their mistake. I had ordered a side quesadilla with steak. I bit into it, to find there was only cheese. I called the waitress over to show her and said politely, "I just wanted to make sure to show you that there's no steak in it, that way I don't get charged for something that wasn't received. It's already half eaten, so don't worry about making a new one. I don't want you guys to have to make another one". She kept on pushing me to have them make the real one, since "she would be the one getting charged for the mistake"!!! I explained to her that NO OnE would, or should be charged for something that was not made, and that i just was almost finished with my meal and i didn't want them to have to waste food if i wasn't gonna be able to eat it. She was not in the best of mood after that. But seriously, she wanted ME to pay for her or the COOK's mistake??!! I don't think so!! She just chose to take it upon herself to decide the goofy options, instead of checking with the manager first. I am not a bitchy customer, but I've worked in the food service industry before and know what excellent customer service is, something she didn't have. I'm so sad, because this was my go-to spot for Mexican food, and I just don't want to come to this place anymore. It's not even about the price of the damn steak quesadilla; it's about having morals and doing the right thing. I don't care if it was a nickel or 10 bucks. So unfortunate, because I did bring them ALOt of business and highly recommended them to friends and family and came here all the time. Now? I'm taking my business elsewhere. This is Chicago, and there are thousands of Mexican joints that would appreciate my loyal business!
(1)Christy K.
Absolutely love this place! Waitresses are very attentive even during very busy hours. Drinks are pretty strong. Food is always good. Plus theres free parking in the back. This is our new favorite Mexican restaurant!
(5)Michael G.
Good margaritas and even better fish tacos. Keep the free chips and salsa coming! The chicken taco was tasty too and I left full and drunk on less than 10 bucks. Timely service and a good atmosphere. Not too loud or crowded, but enough people to not make your table the loudest haha. Definitely coming back soon.
(4)Kevin S.
FIRST OF ALL I AM A MEXICAN AMERICAN THAT GREW UP WITH TRADITIONAL MEXICAN COOKING. I tried their breakfast chilaquiles with sunny side up eggs. The meal was by far one of the best I've had coming from a Mexican restaurant. - Great size in portions. Good amount for a cheap price. - The music was great. They had Rigo Tovar to Luis Miguel. - The only negative was the beans which were tasteless and too oily. - Overall the meal and the experience was excellent.
(4)Carmelo R.
Absolutely love this place. Best tacos in the north-side of the city. Food is always freshly served and great drink specials during the week. I've had just about everything on the menu and have yet to have a complaint.
(5)Elma B.
The dine-in service is super fast even if the place is loaded. Always give you warm chips with the salsa trio. The shrimp is amazing. They use good quality steak and always give you large portions. I love everything except the beans...they are really thick and taste canned.
(4)Jacqueline S.
I have been coming here with my family for maybe 15 years. The food is delicious and authentic. I have had so many different things here but one of my favorites is the parrillada mixta (grilled arrachera, rib eye, pork chops, chicken breast, and chorizo with rice, beans, guacamole, and tortillas) - it says for 2 people but it can feed 4 for about $40. The horchata (rice water drink) is really good here as well.
(5)Beatriz R.
Ohh Baby!! What can I say I came here one night and man oh man was this place good!!!.. I came a little on the late night around 10ish and the place was pretty much still packed so that was def a good sign. I don't really know where to start since everything was pretty damn good. We ordered some guacamole and Ceviche ( and this was my first time having ) and both were extremely good. The portions are rather LARGE!! but worth it. Ceviche was amazing I really enjoyed it tasted fresh and not to salty! I ordered some Flautas 2 steak 2 chicken and man oh man they were pretty good I preferred the chicken personally the steak was a lil too well done for me, but had great flavor. The rice was pretty good as well and anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE RICE lol and damn was I inlove. My dear friend that night order a Steak a la Mexican and he loved it as well and I think I did too lol. This place is def a go to place for good Mexican food and I will be making my appereance more often!!
(5)Heather N.
The best mexican food I've ever had!!! I love their burritos with everything on it, minus the beans! They're huge! I usually order 1 and split it with my husband.
(5)Clint B.
1st time there......4 stars, probably more like 4.5, and see a 5 star future after a few more visits. Fairly small looking place from the outside, but they have 2 units side by side. Probably seats 80+ Went there for a Sunday lunch and it was pretty packed! A very good sign! Waitress pretty much ran to us when we walked in, quickly sat us, and less than a minute later brought out Chips and a 3 Salsa setup! Mild green, Mild Pico, Hot Red. Hot Red was our favorite! Great flavor, not insanely spicy! Overwhelmed by the menu, so many choices! Basic, simple tacos all the way to complex Dinners! About 10 different ways to order Shrimp alone!! We went with the Shrimp a la Diabla, and a Shrimp/Octopus Cocktail. Added a few Fish Tacos for good measure, and even 1 Lengua Taco! The A La Diabla had great taste and nice level of heat! you can tell care was taken in the preparation of the sauce and shrimp! The Cocktail was very fresh tasting, the shrimp and octopus were very tender, but not mushy! Only regret was getting a Small Cocktail instead of a Large, and we probably over did it with 1-2 of the Fish Tacos as they were HUGE! Had to pretty much cut the fish in 1/2 just to fit the taco in my mouth! Lengua was made by a Pro perfect balance of firm and tender! (So many places don't know Lengua should melt in your mouth almost like liver!) Waitress was very attentive and cleared plates as we finished them! Awesome place, we're very lucky to have it so close to where we live. There are 100s of Taco Spots in Chicago! This place is just a nice step above the rest with a bit more of an extensive menu!.....But even if you're just looking for a quick Taco...etc...Still a great spot to visit! About $55 for a huge seafood lunch for 2, including a bucket of Beer! And after having tried almost every Mexican beer in the last 20yrs, I made an official decision that Negra Modelo is my favorite! The XX Oscura was pretty damn good too!
(4)May F.
This is by far one of my favorite authentic Mexican restaurants. I love their food! I always get the green chicken enchiladas or the green chilaquiles. Both are extremely good. The portions are great and the price isn't that high. Totally recommend eating here.
(5)Gina M.
Great anytime. To go or dine in. Salsa is the very freshest and tastiest that you will find anywhere!
(5)Kim B.
Consistent complaints about stale chips from patrons can't be made up. They say they are made every morning. So what. They are still stale by 5. They lose a star for stale chips. In a Mexican restaurant...that's a problem.
(4)Areli R.
I walked in to this location by accident and was so glad I did. I have visited this restaurant two times and have not been dissapointed. Actually, the service really sucked the 2nd time, the woman who took our order forgot way too many items but then someone else took over. Food is delicious and burritos are huge and overfilled with beef. I would definitely come here again.
(4)Lucy F.
This place is not bad at all, I will say an average Mexican reataurant. I order the steak burrito make sure you come hungry because they are not small. The service is great the waitresses help each other out, making the service great. Their home made waters are delicious specially the Horchata! They also sell alcohol, I tried their strawberry margarita and it was not that bad. Their guacamole is a good size portion and they give you plenty of chips.
(4)Carlos O.
Ate here Saturday night with my work partner. Have frequented this establishment numerous times in past, but not of late. Wow prices shot way up. Not the fanciest place or area to warrant this. I use to recommend often in past for Mexican food, but no longer. I had the enchiladas dinner, my friend the taco dinner. We both felt somewhat ill that night and next morning. Not sure if will return with so many other places to try in area.
(2)Jill A.
Unbelievable margaritas. Yummy food. Good service.
(5)Michael E.
I think they are one of the best Mexican places around...their steak is yummy n their horchata is to die for!!!
(4)Marvin M.
Thanks to good friends who recommend great restaurants in Chicago. I was in Chicago visiting my parents for a few days. Chicago has so many local restaurants that have been here for several years and have the same customers coming here for years. My favorite type of food to eat while I am here is Mexican. Orlando seems to be lacking compared to Chicago. @Tarajroth ordered the Strawberry Margarita. @Xobejm ordered their Lemonade. Fresh guacamole. It was just okay. Nothing to write home about. Didn't taste as fresh as it claimed it would. Queso fundido with chorizo. Now, this one was perfect. I ordered it with corn tortillas. All that cheese would make @wholycheesus very happy. Burrito Suizo de Carne Asada. Huge portions! This was very tasty. I ate half and took the other half home. I always finish all my food, but tonight I couldn't. Guisado De Puerco. This was Papi's dish. Papi wanted it as spicy as possible. The server suggested the green sauce. Papi loved how spicy it was and loved the flavor. Enchiladas Suizas de Pollo. This was Ita's dish. Ita liked them. She didn't love them. The red sauce was a bit overwhelming for her. Chimichanga De Pollo with rice and beans. This was my friends dish. @xobejm ordered the steak tacos. They came with lettuce which is a first for me. She seemed to have liked them. She prefers just onions and cilantro. Torta de Carne Asada. This was my others friends dish. It looked fantastic. Burrito Suizo. I like to order it with steak, onions, and cilantro. The meat was well prepared and it truly was the perfect bite. Cheesecake. Very good. Tres Leches. Their best dessert in the restaurant in my opinion. Flan. I did not like it. As I mention in my other blogs, I am very picky about my flan. This is one did not pass the test. Great place to come and hang out. Very loud when we went. Soccer games are playing in the background and kids are screaming. Our server was very helpful and patient with us. The woman who I spoke to at the register had a rude sort of attitude when I asked about parking in the back. Not a great way to impress a customer when entering. Food was great! The guacamole needs some help.
(3)Pete V.
Steak tacos were great. The enchilada verde was a little watery and lacked spiciness. It is a decent place to eat after 11 pm. Don't know if it's worth trying again.
(3)Patryk Z.
Best burrito at this area. Very good diner plates. They serv free warm corn chips with dips when u waiting at your food!
(4)Bien D.
Really good service! They have the glass bottle coke! Best coke to drink than can or plastic bottle..it order the 3steak taco dinner! Wow plenty plenty of food! For one person! They definitely do not weight their food! If you leave not stuffed from there your nuts!
(4)Tom B.
I had Tampiqueña. It cost $15 bucks and was worth every penny. A large portion of perfectly seasoned and prepared skirt steak was delicious and complimented with rice, beans, guac and an enchilada. Three different sauces is always a good sign. There's plenty of space, a friendly staff and nice decor. I dug it! This place is extremely authentic, surprising considering the predominantly Polish neighborhood. El Gordo translates to "the fat guy" ....perfect!
(4)Lucy P.
For my first time it was good I had the pozole and chilakiles and I love the salsa nice yummmmiiii see u soon
(4)Jose C.
Man. El Gordo is our new favorite local Mexican restaurant. This place is awesome! Decent prices, big portions, and excellent quality. Tacos, enchilladas, and the best horchata I've ever had. And to top it off, a great lively atmosphere. This is definitely a neighborhood spot, not one of those well-known places famous for being on Check Please. But it is a great neighborhood spot, bringing together people of all ethnicities and ages. BTW, go to the El Gordo website. The music that plays is some really good vintage Mexican music.
(5)Marissa G.
could definitely have more flavor. the rice tasted like water and the meat could have been more tender.
(3)Char Y.
We went on a week night with a groupon and had great service. We order horchata - ok, very sweet guacamole - ok, need more salt, has lettuce on the bottom which was strange skirt steak - completely seasonless fajita - huge portion but also seasonless overall the food was in HUGE portions, but quality was ok.
(3)Sean L.
I thought the Burrito suzio was going to break my leg if it fell off my plate. The burrito was delicious!
(5)Cc D.
love this as my go to Mexican fix!! ,chorizo,al pastor,tilapia tacos are Delicious..I've also tried the chicken but it's my least favorite..dry.cheese,avocado is extra but they put tons!!I've also had the guacamole which is market price..always a generous portion..I highly suggest to come for the lunch specials and also for the weekly specials on margaritas!!
(5)Evelyn L.
I come here regularly, the staff is lovely and always very attentive, the food is good, enchiladas in green sauce are my favorite, the skirt steak is always cooked to my liking, and the salsas are delicious. Oh! I almost forgot, the fish tacos are great and so is the beef caldo! I have never had a bad meal here and I have been coming here for years.
(5)Nancy C.
Best food ever! I'm a mom who cooks traditional Mexican food. When I don't feel like cooking and need a drink and grama can watch the kids this my go to place. I oder the tilapia dinner, my hubby gets the alpastor tacos or steak torta, my kids have rice and beans and we all share. Good food and drinks, cheap, great staff, and kid friendly. I feel at home without having to wash dishes! Awesome place, and I better stop talking about them or I won't find an empty seat there next time I go. So, no body go, please!
(5)karen l.
Super delicious, cheap Mexican food.
(5)Optima P.
Delicious food, fast service and great location. I've been here over 5times and every time they prove to be better. Gauc is amazing! We are regulars here
(4)Esteban P.
I'm still digging on this place, but I went back the following weekend after our burrito quest. This time I had the Enchiladas de Pollo con Salsa Verde. The dinner plate was piled with food. The enchiladas were flowing with cheese and drenched in green salsa. The flavor however was not what I expected. I green salsa was just ok, and the enchiladas were just average. The chicken was really moist, and plentiful, but the flavor was lacking. I rice was average as well, but the beans did rock. I ordered the enchiladas as a test. It's not easy to make good enchiladas, and I wanted to make sure they lived up to the 5 star rating I kinda jumped to fast to give them. To earn a 5 star rating all the food should be good to great (mostly great though). So, to recap... 5 star burrito, beans and horchata, 3 star enchiladas. I'll keep you updated if I feel the need to adjust again.
(4)Jean-Philippe B.
It was just like being in Mexico ! The food was amazing and in huge portions (maybe a bit too big, I had food for 2 days). I've done a lot of mexican restaurants downtown and in the suburbs, but this one is by far the best ! The service is flawless, they are great with kids and happy to answer questions about their big menu. I can still remember the taste and my stomach is craving to go back
(5)Eric P.
The food is great and the service is attentive. I believe if they ditch the microwave for whatever they use it for, El Gordo will move up in rating. Chips and trio of salsas are outstanding!
(3)Alice M.
This place has been getting bigger and bigger and for good reason! Their food is to date probably the BEST (or at least one of the best) Mexican places I've had the pleasure of eating at, and I've eaten quite a bit of Mexican since I started eating at El Gordo as a kid. My favorite parts are anything with steak. Used to get their tacos which are pretty good and occassionally their tortas, but now have been getting the tostadas, which are also really good. I may not have tasted the extent of their menu but their good business tells me that those aren't the only dishes that are good here! I don't crave Mexican all that often, but when I do, I'm thinking of this place.
(5)Agnes P.
Don't come here on a hot summer day; the air conditioning doesn't work and the smells of the place literally come together as one and make you want to loose your lunch before you even order... Lots of new staff as well and I'm guessing they were hired before they even looked at the menu themselves because we've had our order messed up twice already; with three times in one day. We got charged extra then because they charged us separately for each item instead of the meals we originally ordered. We called over the waitress and all of a sudden she cant speak english and does not understand! See ya later, El Gordo, I will be going elsewhere.
(2)Valerie H.
This is hands down, my favorite Mexican restaurant. My boyfriend brought me here a few years ago, and I was hooked from the first time I came. There is a little parking lot behind store for convenient parking. We are always greeted and seated quickly. The waitresses are always smiling and very friendly. I've had mainly chicken tacos, chicken and steak fajitas, and burritos, all of it is delicious. My boyfriend is a fish lover so he'll often get fish tacos and he says those are fabulous as well. We are always greeted with a bowl of warm nacho chips and 2 types of salsa (one is a mild pico de gallo and the other is a hotter salsa). The chips are always refillable. And to end off a great meal we usually get flan - also fantastic. This place is a must visit for everyone. Great food, great service, cute cultural feel to it, and we are always feeling El Gordo after eating there.
(5)D A.
With traffic I am 45 minutes from here. But I went on Saturday, ordered 2 carne asada (steak) tacos, one fish taco and small side of guacamole. The steak tacos are good but their fish tacos are amazing!!!!!!! So amazingly good, I went back on Sunday (the next day) and got 3 fish tacos. The put lettuce, tomato, diced avocado, and lime juice on huge pieces of talapia fish--on fresh corn tortillas. So good. The guacamole is a bit bland and needs more salt, but can easily be fixed, with some salt. The chips are light, and crisp. Some other mexican restaurants in this area, have crappy chips. Did not try the burrito yet, because they said it doesn't have cheese in it. I am sure I will be back. Thanks Yelpers! You are how I found this place!
(4)Ricardo O.
LOVE THIS PLACE! Great food and service. Prices are decent and the quality of the food is delicious! Never had anything bad to say about this place. Totally recommend this place
(5)Melissa M.
I don't know why I keep letting people talk me into going here. Perhaps I keep hoping that the next time will be better. But, no... must've been wishful thinking. This place is just terrible. I like steak tacos so I tend to order them pretty consistently at Mexican restaurants. While their tacos have plenty of meat in them, the meat has no flavor and lots of what I call "chewy-gooies" (chunks o' fat)! ICK!! This last time I thought I'd be adverturous and get one ground beef tostada with my two steak tacos... blah!! Again... lots of ground beef, but quantity does not make up for quality. The beef was dry and burnt. You could tell that they'd left it sitting on the grill too long... there were black bits throughout. To cover it up, they smothered the top with sour cream. ICK x2!! The rice and beans? Nothing to write home about. The service? Eh. Don't ask me to go back here. There's just nothing to draw me back. I won't go... I refuse... {crossing arms in defensive mode}... hmph!
(1)Carmen B.
Have been there before but hadn't reviewed. Went again on Friday for dinner with the husband. He had the lengua in green salsa (+great flavor and large serving; -was lukewarm) and I had the special with half carne asada and 1 chile relleno. My meal was ok, I was hoping for more flavor though. And my chile relleno was also lukewarm. We also ordered guacamole (+huge for the price; -no flavor, I had to add salt and lime), queso fundido with chorizo (-super greasy), and a gordita de chicarron con salsa verde (-chicharron was barely warm). They definitely need to work on warming up the sauces before adding it to the food because I think if the food would have actually been hot, it would have gotten 3 stars. But at least we got a lot for a little because I had a Restaurant.com certificate. I would be more bothered had we paid full price for it all.
(2)Amanda D.
A PIECE OF HEAVEN ON EARTH. I have been going here all my life and have loved it since childhood. I am obsessed with their burritos and drinks but everything here is AMAZING. Their meat, veggies, desserts :if you want mouth watering Mexican food you need look no further. Come. Order. Receive. Enjoy. All I am waiting for is that day when they add delivery to their list of services...it will be a monuments affair indeed.
(5)Jamie S.
My most favorite Mexican place in the whole city, hands down. We have been eating there regularly for as long as I can remember. Maybe 20 years? I won't eat refried beans or drink horchata from anywhere else because it cannot compare. This place is perfection. Years ago my friend and I went there to pick up some takeout. As we were putting all the containers in the car, one fell, opened, and landed upside down in the street, right in the gutter. Who's dinner was it? MINE of course... I said F-it and flipped it over, scraped off the top layer of Chicago summer street filth (mixed with sour cream), and brought it home and ate it anyway. THAT is how freaking good this place is.
(5)Rencie H.
Good food, friendly service, decent prices. :-)
(4)Kasia K.
stake burrito suizo. never taste bad. enchiladas r always great. it was so hard to order sth else but today tampiquenia was a heaven! thx for make my day. again!
(5)Emilio D.
I Absolutely Think this is the Best Mexican Restaurant in the Chicago Area. It has no theme to bring you in the door like bands or karaoke etc.,,, Just Really Great Food At Reasonable prices. I eat Out so much and been to so many Mexican Restaurants That El Gordo Stands Way Over All the Competion. You Try about 100 or more Mexican restauants and then you come to one conclusion El Gordo Is The Best.
(5)Conor M.
In a city filled with authentic Mexican restaurants you really have to have great food to stand out. El Gordo's stands out for me. The tacos and burritos are excellent, especially the pork. They put out two salsas, one fresh version and one with roasted peppers and tomatoes, and they are both wonderful. The roasted pepper is definitely the spiciest of the two and while that's right in my wheelhouse you may want to proceed with caution...but do try it! They make a good pozole on the weekends. I haven't tried the menudo here yet but will soon. My current favorite dish is the chilaquiles with salsa verde. Now THAT'S a great breakfast/hangover food! Simply put, El Gordo's is one of my favorite Mexican places in the city.
(4)J T.
All I can say is.....yum!!! The food is awesome here! This was my first visit. I had the steak burrito suizo, it was fantastic and not to mention it weighed about 2lbs! It also was as big as my head! Definitely recommending this place!
(5)Joe C.
Wow...really? How the hell did I manage to drive past this place a million times and never stop in. Well the orange facade of the building finally caught my attention. The GF and I stopped in for a quick dinner the other night. And I knew I was going enjoy my dinner. The place was pretty full. Soccer on the TVs, lots of families eating Sunday dinner and huge plates of food getting served all around me. We started out with some guacamole, it was very good. The warm chips they bring to the table made it even better. The GF had the carne asade dinner. When they brought our food out she was in shock at the size of her steak, it was basically the size of the plate. It was even done the right way, cut very thin and grilled. It even came with cebollitas and grilled jalapeno peppers. Lucky for me she doesn't like the jalapenos so those always get passed onto my plate. Now the GF isn't a big meat eater but she loved the steak. Great flavor cooked just right. I ordered the EL Gordo combo which was half order of carne asada and a chile relleno, this is usually how I judge a place by how good their chile relleno is, and El Gordo passed! it was very good, the breading wansn't to thick, cheese was oozing out and had just the right amount of heat. The normal sides (rice/beans) were good. I favored the rice more it had great flavor. The beans were so so. Overall this place is great..no frills, good mexican food...Just the way I like it. The Portions are huge, prices are great and parking is easy. Ill defiantly be back. Actually, I think Ill hit this place up for dinner tonight!
(5)Evan K.
Portions are huge, everything's good. I didn't try a burrito until recently, but let me tell you; huge and delicious. I've been coming here for years. It's an awesome restaurant in the neighborhood, and I think anyone who lives close or is willing to drive to it definitely should give it a try. It's awesome.
(5)Orlando R.
I went here with a friend for a quick bite to eat while the Bengals were kicking the shit out of my Bears. Chicken burrito - very big and very good. A definite yes for burrito lovers. Horchata - not very sweet. I have had better. Try at your own risk. Chips - crisp and not stale. Good. Pico de gallo and hot sauce - fresh and tasty. Excellent. Parking in the back is free but the concrete is not smooth. Sissy car owners may want to stay away. There is no decor but it is clean and relatively cheap. The service was ok. The waitress was working on a potentially bigger tip with a family and it showed. I had to speak Spanish (not a concern for me), so review your basics just in case. I would go back.
(4)Jon B.
Two words: four dollar margaritas. (The food, particularly the chicken taco, is pretty good, too.)
(4)Tony M.
Tacos al pastor con todo amazing
(5)Robert G.
Bottomline - A good taco shop with some better than average seafood options. Great Mexican food options in Chicago are pretty sparce. There are lots of hole-in-the-wall taco shops, but few of them do very good food. For me El Gordo is an exception. I've eaten here several times and always enjoyed it more than the other places near by. It's not the best in Chicago, but certainly worth calling out. The typical taco shop options are here - tacos, burritos, plates, combos. But there is also a separate menu for seafood plates. I've always gotten quality fish. The tacos here are of the larger gringo size rather than the small street taco size. You're getting plenty of food for your money. And the salsa bar is pretty basic, but all of the options are done well. I don't think the tortillas are made fresh, but you can't have everything. Great Margaritas. Great prices. I love fish tacos. This place is open very late.
(4)Efrain M.
Not horrible, but pretty bleh. The service was good, very pleasant and the Michelada wasn't bad. then things go down hill, how could they serve refried beans with a crust on top? The mole was cloyingly sweet, their pozole was watery and bland. I'm not sure what the 4 & 5 star reviews are all about, they must not get out much.
(2)Amber C.
Yummers! I work in the area, so my coworkers and I frequent this place. It's cheap, yummy, and the servings are huge. Try the Chilaquiles. Some of the best I've had.
(4)Theresa M.
I don't know why.. but my family and I have been frequenting this place lately. For some reason it now seems better than it did a couple years ago. Maybe they have different cooks?? Hmmm not sure what it is...but man.. there food has been soooo good lately!! Their meat has real flavor all of a sudden and just plain..YUMMY!! :) two thumbs up!!
(5)Andrea S.
I reviewd the wrong location ! Here's the right one. Oops. Good food and prices! Nice beer selection... Stay away from the margs! They taste like the mix you can buy at a department store. EW! I like going at nite when they have the REALLY bad karaoke singers! SO FUNNY! The dinner plates are good and alot of food, the tacos are good for a quick bite and cheap. They keep the chips and salsa coming ofcourse. Some of the waitresses are strange. Definitely recommend the food :) ! I like the plate that comes with steak, shrimp, and chicken ... you'll have to split it but it's really good. Also, the steak a la mexicana. Yummy.
(4)Nicole S.
I've been going to El Gordo since they opened and they do have very good Authentic Mexican food! For some reason I always forget aobut them and after getting food elsewhere say "damn should have gone to El Gordo!" They are a little pricier then most mexican places in the area but you get large portions of food! Steak burritos, tacos, enchiladas, tortas, the chips and salsa everything I've tried has been very good! When it comes to dining I can be extremely picky about consistency which is the only thing that has prevented me from giving them 5 stars. Every once in a while something is a little off or the steak is dry or chewy. Sorry, the good grossly outweighs the bad at least in the number of times I've eaten there but I figured it was worth mentioning and will continue to eat here. The place itself nothing too fancy but it's clean and service has always been good.
(4)Piotr S.
I used to love this place but they have got really bad last time i was there i was served stale ass chips with my meal, NOT GOOD
(1)Tom Z.
I had the chance to visit the restaurant again. This time I had the burrito and this thing was BIG! The flavor was very good. I had the rice and beans with the meal and found the beans to be some of the best refried beans I have had. I will continue to visit El Gordo.
(4)Emanuel S.
El Gordo's is one of Chicago's well known secrets. The outside of it just makes it look like another Mexican restaurant that is easily overlooked. Once you go inside, you may even mistake it for "just another spanish joint", but when you order your food that's when you realize...not only do you have quality but you have huge quanities to back it up. El Gordo is known for their burritos, which make a Subway footlong look like a McDonald's Happy Meal. Personally burritos are too messy for me..and I have the worst luck with getting sauces on my nice shirts. So I just stick with the skirt steak dinner. The beers are decent, they have two beers on tap if I'm not mistaken...but I never see it used. I also see that they have a "bar" area, but the door is always closed, so I never feel comfortable to actually open that door and check out the bar area. Overall it's great food, at a wonderful price.
(5)Ashley B.
My uncle took me here and I must say that is an amazing place! Really good Mexican for a good price. They have this awesome plate, which is just made up of all the goodness they make and it's delicious, definitely share worthy, but great food!
(4)J R.
Without a doubt, the best enchiladas I've ever had! Friendly servers, good food, etc.
(5)Manny Q.
Man I love this fucking place! I live around the are so im here constantly. I love how the waitresses recognize you and you`re order. I never have to feel like a burden because they already know what I like on my orders, and the waitresses are so nice. The food is deff ace!, you deff get your moneys worth. I get full with 1 sope or 1 gordita! another of my fave are quessadillas de pollo. Damn im getting hungry just reviewing. This is a good place to take a date, ive taken many and all of them seem to love this joint.
(5)Jen M.
We've been Friday night regulars at El Gordo since we moved into the neighborhood five+ years ago. It is the best cheap Mexican near our house. I get the same thing every time which includes avocado tostada and cebollitas (grilled bulb onions), which need to be tried. In addition, the margaritas are great and not poured lightly. The waitstaff knows us well and are incredibly friendly with us. They do not deliver, but have a great carry out business that will serve you well. If you are expecting fancy, please readjust your expectations immediately. This is a tile, fake plants, karaoke Fridays, red vinyl tablecloth establishment. However, if you are there for conversation with friends and family, great food at cheap prices, then you've come to the right spot.
(5)Marlyn L.
This El Gordo is waaaaaaaaaay better than the one on Fullerton. For some reason, the tacos (meat especially) are more flavorful. I usually either get two tacos or one sope. Here is a breakdown of what I likes up in there: SOPE ($2.50 or $2.75ish): A ton of meat piled onto a bed of refried beans, topped with lettuce, tomato and (gasp) avocado. Oh, they put cheese on it too but IDL cheese, so I order it without. Tip: ask for cilantro with it. TACO ($2) A ton of meat with onions and cilantro on two tortillas. I suggest two if you are hungry. One if probably gonna leave you a bit nibbly. If you are a big burly man, I'd say more than two... or just get the burrito. BURRITO ($4.75 or $5ish) HUGE, Humongo sized burrito with pretty much the same ingredients as usual. I can share one of these with another person and be satisfied. A big burly man can prob be ok with just one. MARGARITA (??? idk $6ish???) NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO do not drink it. Yuck. DOS XX (Amb and Lag) They serve you like an entire lime tree with your beer. It's awes. Go on a Friday night to hear people karaokeing. It's hilarious. I especially love the duets. Sometimes you can't even tell who is singing (hombre o mujer?). The best ones are the drunken cowboys. Yeehaw. The staff may be a bit off with their English, so just try to keep the chit chat at a minimum. Some are kinda mean looking but most are nice. Fast service and excellent food every time. I haven't tried their desserts yet. Too full to order more. Open late, til about 2 am. Cash only if your order is under $10!!!! And often, it can be under ten bucks bc they have cheap prices. Otherwise, they take credit card. Meter parking out front, but try parking in the diagonal parking spots on Mango Ave (by the IHOP) or on Menard (passing El Gordo if you are going west). =)
(4)Stella C.
I've never had anything else but I absolutely love their torta de chorizo. It's too big for me to finish in one sitting, but it's still super tasty heated up the next day. My mouth waters just thinking about this sandwich. I just wish I wasn't such a health nut and go ahead and grab one right now!!!
(4)Carlos P.
Love the Menudo on the weekends. Great flavor with lots of meat.
(3)Ron R.
Not sure if it's just me, but the steak tacos are outstanding. Haven't had this good of steak in tacos for a while. I live around the area and this place by far tops the list for me when it comes to steak tacos.
(4)Dan G.
The food here is fine. I am knocking them down a star/star and a half for pricing. They must have recently changed their pricing. I ordered a steak burrito with cheese, onion, cilantro, cream, and tomato. Total: $8.64. Huh?? Their steak was sitting on the grill waiting to be heated up just like every other busy eatery that serves tacos/burritos. I do like their food, but their pricing is making me look at other options. The food isn't THAT good to equate to the pricing.
(2)Anjee J.
El Gordo is freaking unreal. Hell, I'm SHOCKED that such a place exists in the cultural wasteland that is Dunning! I have NEVER had a bad dining experience here, which is a rarity in the world of Mexican cuisine. I usually just opt for tacos with cilantro and onion, but they make a damn good torta as well and their burrito is better than many I've had in the past. Their chorizo is rich in flavor and non-greasy (TRY IT, SERIOUSLY), their steak is cooked to perfection and their chicken is actually moist (a feat for Mexican restaurants, I've come to notice). Great rice, great horchatas, great everything. Best of all, everything is CHEAP and their portions are very generous in addition to being delicious. You'll even be impressed by the complimentary homemade chips and salsa. Fair warning, though, it only comes in two flavors: super spicy and even more spicy. While I'm beyond addicted to their simple yet perfect tacos, I will definitely have to try some of their entrees soon. The dinners I've lurked out over people's shoulders look fabulous. God, it sickens me to think that for years Taco Burrito King was my default for Mexican food in the neighborhood; the thought of going back to their processed cheese and mountains of sour cream and rubbery steak and soggy tortillas literally makes me gag. Ugh... Super Nachos... Kill me now. Needless to say, I will keep coming back here for years, regardless of where I move to in the city next. I've been to dozens of Mexican restaurants, and nowhere - from the ridiculously talked-up La Pasadita or even all the taquerias I've been to in Rogers Park - can top this place.
(5)Tricia R.
My family and I have been going to Gordo's for many years. The food has always been delicious and fresh. The staff have been friendly and treat you like family. Their prices are reasonable for a family to visit multiple times a month.
(5)Fritzie H.
Let me start this off by saying that authentic Mexican restaurants don't require reservations. Lalo's and Uncle Julio's ARE NOT authentic! My family and I have been regulars at El Gordo for years. Never really had a complaint other than bitchy waitresses (story of my life) until about 6 months ago. We went with a group of 15-20 and we didn't make reservations because most traditional ma and pop's Mexican restaurants don't require them. It's unheard of unless you're in the loop or at an Americanized version of a Mexican restaurant. Plus they have two sides and it was a weekday so the chances of it being packed were slim to none. We get there and the place is dead except for about two other small tables. I tell the waitress how many people we had and she tried to stuff us by the door. Are you shitting me? Can we sit on the other side? "No it's not open tonight" Why not? "because the lights are off." How about you flick on the switch and bam! "I'm sorry we can't do that." SERIOUSLY? I totally thought she was joking. I was extremely upset and took our business elsewhere. (El Jerezano) Another Mexican restaurant. We were seated immediately. Haven't been back since. I'll be fair and rate them on the food as well. I already took off three stars for service. The food is okay but nothing spectacular. I usually go for the tacos de lomo. They have less chunks of fat. The torta and burrito de asada are pretty good and better than most places. Like most Mexican restaurants, they have my sangria and sidral nice and cold. If they would upgrade their service, they'd be better off.
(2)Hector R.
Great food! Good service and not to pricey.
(4)Kevin G.
This motherfucker is WILD. All the mexicans know your fat white ass is coming from 10 miles out. Best horchata in the city, biggest burrito in the city, best fucking tortas too. This place is baller to the maximum. Damn the food poisoning, you will eat like a king until you're sick. I gare-own-tee. Fuck yeah.
(5)Georgia T.
I love El Gordo's. Great food, excellent prices, and open late. They make a good steak torta. I really like their salsa. The staff is friendly and attentive and there's always plenty of street parking.
(5)Diana C.
Good stuff. Great food, great prices, great service. Missed the 5-star mark because the tequila they make their "regular" margaritas is crap and *will* make you sick...get the "gold" margarita for an additional .75 and you'll be fine.
(4)J T.
Its hard to find a solid good Mexican restaurant in that location of the city. El Gordo hits the spot! When I go to a Mexican Restaurant, the first thing I do is order an Horchata drink. The taste of an Horchata at a Mexican joint will tell you how good the food will be, and I have to say they have one if not the best Horchata in Chicago (And I have tried MANY). I went with all my family and I have to say that all the food looked and tasted great. They also have the "parriladas" or table grills which come with a mix of meats and seafood or whatever you're preference is. This restaurant is authentic Mexican food and does not get any better. I've never been to el Gordo until recently so I don't if they were always been this great. This place is worth the trip from anywhere in Chicago.
(5)B. L.
Authentic Mexican food is served with a smile here. Their decor is also authentic. The food is high quality and the portions are huge. I hope to go back soon.
(4)Tony L.
Very good authentic Mexican food. They actually put a lot of steak in the burritos too. Reasonably priced and good service too. Parking in the back or meters on the street. Definitely worth trying and worth coming back to. They have killer Mararita's too.
(4)You Kno W.
Yuck. Went to this place at the recommendation of other reviewers. I left over 3/4 of my dinner untouched. My husband was sick afterwards. The waitstaff was accommodating and service was good. I don't think I'm brave enough to give it another try though. Maybe you will be?
(1)Daria Z.
This place is a huge hit among my friends. This was our mandatory lunch spot for quite some time. They're steak tacos and burritos are divine. The burritos are so big you should really consider splitting one with a friend. The staff is super friendly and the decor is adorable. They also offer their own smoothies which they sprinkle with cinnamon in a variety of flavors. I HIGHLY recommend coming here - there's a good chance you'll get hooked.
(5)Myron M.
Quite possibly the biggest burrito I've ever had. The freindly staff keeps your glasses filled and the chips and salsa coming. Great authentic Mexican food.
(4)andrea p.
I absolutely love ElGordo, it is the most authentic mexican restaurant in the area. Dont just try their tacos and burritos expand your palate to their selections of parriladas or ""grills". My family and I go often for reunions and the food is superb. The meat is fresh tasty and well seasoned as well as their chicken and seafood. I have almost tried everything from their soups to sopes and my favorite the Tampiquena Suiza. Its a huge piece of steak with melted chesse on top plated next to some avocado, rice, beans ,salad and an enchilada. You can share this with 2 people and you will be more than stuffed. All of that food for $13. Plus their sopes, tortas and tacos are to die for. Also they have the best Sangria available, it has fruit pieces and it is served perfectly, not to strong not to weak. Definitely a must go. The decor is crappy, but the food is AWESOME. I am actually craving it , while I describe it ..
(5)Lee-Han H.
the place is awesome! the food is 100% mexican with spices and many flavors. cheap cheap food, great decor. lots of smiles and laughter.
(5)