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Name: La Ciudad
Address: 4515 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL, 60640
Telephone: (773) 728-2887
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.16

La Ciudad

4515 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL, 60640

(773) 728-2887
Store is closed

La Ciudad Menu

Starters

Guacamole

Queso Fundido

Cheese Quesadillas

Flautas

Coctel De Camarones/Shrimp Coctel

Ceviche/Ceviche

Appetizer Combo
Sopas & Ensaladas/ Soups & Salads

Tortilla Soup

Mango and Avocado Salad

La Ciudad Salad
A La Cart

Tacos

Burrito

Tostadas

Tacos De Canastanasta
Mariscos/Seafood

Camarones Al Diablo/ Devils Shrimp

Camarones Aljillo /Garlic Shrimp

Camarones Rellenos/ Stuffed Shrimp
Platillos /Plates

Grilled Chicken/Pollo a La Parilla

Carne Asada/ Marinated Skirt Steak

Carne Tampiquena/Skirt Steak

Chuletas De Puerco/ Grilled Pork Chops

Pollo En Mole/Chicken In Mole

Chile Rellenos/ Stuffed Poblano Pepper

Burrito Dinner/Burrito

Taco Dinner (3)Tacos

Tostadas Dinner

Enchiladas/Enchiladas

Chilango-Burger

Torta Ahogada W/Shoe String Fries
Side Dishes

Rice Or Beans

Rice & Beans

Sour Cream

Tortillas

Chips and Salsa

Small Side of Guacamole

Healthy Meal suggestions for La Ciudad

Starters

Guacamole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Queso Fundido [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheese Quesadillas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Flautas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Coctel De Camarones/Shrimp Coctel [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ceviche/Ceviche [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Appetizer Combo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sopas & Ensaladas/ Soups & Salads

Tortilla Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mango and Avocado Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

La Ciudad Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
A La Cart

Tacos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Burrito [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tostadas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tacos De Canastanasta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Mariscos/Seafood

Camarones Al Diablo/ Devils Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Camarones Aljillo /Garlic Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Camarones Rellenos/ Stuffed Shrimp [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Platillos /Plates

Grilled Chicken/Pollo a La Parilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carne Asada/ Marinated Skirt Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carne Tampiquena/Skirt Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chuletas De Puerco/ Grilled Pork Chops [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pollo En Mole/Chicken In Mole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chile Rellenos/ Stuffed Poblano Pepper [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Burrito Dinner/Burrito [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Taco Dinner (3)Tacos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tostadas Dinner [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Enchiladas/Enchiladas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chilango-Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Torta Ahogada W/Shoe String Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Side Dishes

Rice Or Beans [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rice & Beans [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sour Cream [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tortillas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chips and Salsa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Small Side of Guacamole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.

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Write An Anonymous Review

Marie D.

What a nice surprise. Everything from our waiter Hugo, to the delicious dessert was perfect. The food was fresh and great value, the large portion of fresh ceviche was approx $9, and the skirt steak was just done perfectly and was very flavorful. They act like you are an important guest (we are!) and they are able to anticipate some needs: a dropped fork was replaced almost before it hit the floor. An empty horchata drink was refreshed immediately. We asked of a glass of... Water was pouring while I asked. If this is any indication of the zeal they have for their patrons, I will be moving in immediately. See you soon, and keep the grill on for me
(5)
carolyn h.

4.5 - Buenisimo ! I went with a group of 7 on a Friday night. I loved the food. I had the camarones rellenos. It was a ton of food and it definitely filled me up. I loved the corn salsa that came in the middle of the place. The bacon with the sauce makes the dish fairly rich and filling. They were a little slow with our order but again, we were 7 people on a Friday night. They gave us lots of chips and salsa to keep us munching so it wasn't a problem. The server was super nice, friendly and helpful with recommendations for the menu. Other then the slightly longer wait, this place was awesome. The group had a blast.
(4)
Rob L.

I updated to 5 stars after visiting several times and getting to know the owner. He is so friendly with everyone we bring in. We love going and the food is always incredible. They've really done a great job tweaking the formula and I'm happy to see it paying off. Congratulations on your success! I hope you open one closer to me, but it's well worth the trip.
(5)
Pam D.

This is not your abuelita's taco joints. The menu is pretty much the typical Mexican food fare, but they do it very, very well. We really liked the salsas, especially the verde. The chips were typical chips. The refried beans are made fresh every day (I asked). They have a really nice flavor and aren't runny like many places serve. The same can be said for the rice. It is moist and had nice bits of carrot and potato mixed in. The top is garnished with chopped tomato and cilantro. The extra effort really enhances the visual appeal as well as the taste. Christopher had steak tacos. He said they were probably the best tacos he ever had. I had enchiladas picadillo with mole sauce. They were seriously good. The mole added such a nice flavor and was used as an enhancement rather than like a gravy poured over the food. I simply loved it. We were comped a beautiful glass filled with a raspberry sorbet. A perfect end to a perfect meal. I know they are a BYOB place, and I would surely have loved a margarita, but the horchata goes a long way to make up for it. Factoring in really friendly service and a parking lot to boot , we declare this place a winner!
(5)
Sandra Y.

I went here last week around 3pm with 2 friends. Ceviche was ok. I prefer mine a little more tart (more lime) and more spicy. The empanandas were good. We got chicken, spinach, and shrimp. Then we ordered the combo meal. It was ok. I liked the ambience and you can't go wrong with $10 margarita pitchers! We had mango and it was good. Plus they gave us a slice of tres leches cake which was also very good :)
(3)
Jennifer K.

The food at La Ciudad is outstanding and very affordable. The owner and the wait staff are friendly and attentive. The neighborhood is a little sketchy but once you're inside the restaurant you forget about it. My friends and I eat here all the time and will continue to do so because this place is a real gem.
(4)
Amy R.

Very friendly staff! I think it's byob. Excellent salsas...... Little gem in a weird neighborhood.
(5)
Yanyao N.

Last week I was experiencing a Mexican food obsession. Multiple meals started off with chips and salsa, so upon seeing some glowing CM reviews of this place, I phoned in and made reservations for that night. Tiny restaurants located in places where you wouldn't expect to find stellar food are always a gem (um, La Gondola anybody?) and La Ciudad is no exception. A free parking lot doesn't hurt either. Chips, salsa, and guacamole were complimentary at the beginning of our meal. The salsas were good but the guacamole was too warm. Many tables brought in wine and beer as this place is BYOB but for those that don't drink, I highly recommend the Jamaica (a hibiscus iced tea) or the tamarindo jarrito (the best soda you will ever drink in your life). My dinner consisted of the ceviche-ceviche. Tilapia and shrimp ceviche served over chips. Fresh, limey, delicious. I ate a whole plate by myself. The pork chop entree followed. At first I didn't know how I would manage all this food (chips, salsa, guacamole, ceviche, two pork chops AND mashed potatoes?) but my empty plates really attest to how delicious the pork chop dish was. Pounded thin and tasting so tender it was almost like veal! Served with mashed potatoes with some gravy that tasted like it was spicy bbq sauce spiked. The staff was SO friendly. Everyone greeted us, our server was adorable, and they just seemed very happy that we were dining there. The only downside is that it can get very loud of Friday nights. A 7 party birthday party of women + wine = a headache for Yanyao. Dessert orders to taken home to enjoy. However, the food was tasty and I am determined to come back here for a hopefully quieter lunch. The Chilango burger (topped with frankfurter, ham, and avocado) is calling my name. And of course, a tamarindo jarrito to wash it all down. Tip: Call and make reservations. This place is TEENY TINY.
(4)
Anthony F.

Loved this place for dinner, so we decided to try brunch. The coffee is delicious (they add cinnamon). The fruit plate is great - pineapple sorbet & honey yogurt add the right touch to seasonal fruit. We tried the steak and eggs and the huevos yucateca. The steak is awesome - nice char grilled flavor and chilaquiles were ok (bit crunchier would have been better). The huevos yucateca dish was delicious and a bit spicy according to my friend (she likes spice). Impeccable service (as always). You should try it!
(5)
Abhay S.

Came in here on a Friday night to a very unassuming location. When we arrived around 7pm, the restaurant was nearly empty and in less than 30 minutes, all but 2 tables were filled in this restaurant. (Chicago's finest were customers this evening, so you KNOW this is a good place, they don't mess around) The food and service were excellent. The manager working this evening was extremely friendly and asked several times if we needed anything extra. The staff made sure our chips and salsa and water was always topped off. The food was excellent as well - a real bang for your buck.
(5)
Jelena Z.

You heard it here: you don't have to head south of the border for stellar Mexican eats. Turn your car around and head to Uptown, where a new resto with a free parking lot awaits, the food is inexpensive and.... they're BYOB! I can't think of many things better than pre-batching your own margaritas and toting them along for the ride. It's a cheap date alternative... I am a fan! Our group of four sat down for a Friday lunch to an empty yet peppy red and white space. Within 15 minutes, the eatery was comfortably full. Yes, people are catching on, and quickly! We tried the tilapia and shrimp ceviche for our appetizer. This ceviche is super fresh with pretty (yes, I said pretty) chucks of avocado, cilantro and has a nice citrus bite without being overpowering like some ceviche. Being the burrito maven I am, that is exactly what I ordered for my main. The tortilla is grilled and perfectly flaky throughout (nice touch!) and the steak is seasoned with some sort of warm spice I couldn't identify. Cardamom? Cinnamon? And, the rest of the ingredients don't compete with the delicious steak... a touch of sour cream, a sprinkling of cheese. Well done, friends! We had the recommended flan for dessert. Wow... more dense and richer than most I've tried. Worth the sin and the subsequent trip to the gym. Service is light, friendly and professional... give this one a go, and soon! Next time I return, my tequila's riding shotgun.
(4)
Luan N.

As much as I like to support Uptown businesses, La Ciudad did not win me over. The skirt steak was supposedly marinated, but I was trying to figure out with WHAT?! Because just salt n' peppa don't count right? As for the pastor taco, it seems like they use leaner and better quality pork than most taquieras. However, it seemed like there wasn't enough seasoning. I want to see a little more pink in that taco baby! You look anemic! So maybe the chef had a stuffy nose that week, I don't know. But, I just thought the items I ordered lacked flavor.
(3)
Andrea R.

I haven't spent much time in the Uptown area so I had a bit of a freakout when I got in my car and noticed my husband had taken my GPS. Fortunately, La Ciudad turned out to be easy as pie to find (even for the directionally challenged like myself) and bonus points for their free private parking lot! I opted out of drinking this time since it was the middle of the day, but I'll definitely be partaking in some BYOB action next time. However, I enjoyed plenty of good eats: My party of 4 started off as the only table in the restaurant and they took very good care of us! Some chips and salsa to start (mmm...perfect for this chips addict), an order of incredible guac and uh-mazing ceviche (compliments of the chef). After all that unhealthy deliciousness listed above I opted for the 7 layer salad as my entree. I was bummed to see it had more like 3 layers and wasn't very exciting, but once I added a few of my own layers (some chips and beans) it was pretty good! And probably way healthier than the burrito I originally had my eye on. We had flan for dessert. I'm usually not a flan fan, but this was really tasty! Oh, and I can't forget my necessary cup of coffee as well...a must to get thru the rest of the day. Apps, 4 entrees, flan and 2 coffees came to just about $50. Quite the deal! I"ll be back soon for dinner...with a bottle (or two) of wine in my hands.
(4)
Pascal M.

My German cousins had never had Mexican food. So why not fast track them onto a great spot like La Ciudad? Plus, we can bring all the beer we want! There was a slight wait since the place is bit small, but rotates at a good pace. We hung outside and had a few beers while we waited. To start, had to go with my favorite guilty pleasure. QUESO! I snapped off and had them throw all 3 options of Chorizo, Mushrooms, and poblano. Can't go wrong on this item. We also had their Chicken Flautas which were a bit of a let down. Kinda pedestrian and nothing special going on. For dinner, I had the Camarones Rellenos (stuffed shrimp). Great dish. My cousins got the specials that night. One was not worth raving about, the other was a pork rib dish that was fantastic. Spicy and bold sauce with a great slow cooked shank that was worth having them keep on the menu. La Ciudad is a great Mexican restaurant, with very approachable prices, and will deliver a memorable experience every time you visit.
(4)
David C.

A great find in Uptown.
(5)
David Z.

I was very happy with the food and prices here, but there were a few things that turned me off: 1. Location. Not only is it in the middle of a strip mall, but it is also in a pretty shady area. We took the #78 Montrose bus and got off at Sheridan. In our walk of only a couple blocks, we walked past a guy screaming obscenities to no one in particular, a group of 3 guys hiding in a doorway smoking something that wasn't cigarettes, and we also had a car full of thug-lifes roll by ever so slowly and give us the stinkeye. It was an eventful walk to say the least. 2. Seating. We went on a Friday night without reservations. We went pretty early (around 6:45) and got the last open table, although they did have a few larger tables that had "reserved" signs on them. Throughout the duration of our meal, small groups of 2-4 people came in, and the host/hostess said "sorry we're full, it will be 30-45 minutes." Even as we were waiting with credit cards out in anticipation of the check, they were still turning people away. Why turn someone away when there is going to be a table open in minutes? Maybe they were reserving it for someone with a reservation. Or how about breaking up some of those bigger tables (which are actually just a bunch of 2-person tables pushed together)? I was a little confused when I saw so many people disappointedly turned away. 3. The service wasn't terrible, but it was spotty. My water was always filled, but they didn't bring out my tortillas and I had to ask for them. It also took quite a while for them to bring out the check when we were clearly done eating. Also, my empty beer bottles were never taken off the table until after the meal. It was hard to figure out who the host was, who the waiter was, who the water person was, etc, as they all seemed to do everything. Now that the bad stuff is out of the way, here's the good stuff: 1. BYOB! 2. The food is for the most part excellent. The chips & salsa are spectacular, although the salsa comes in teeny tiny little bowls that will only cover about 10 chips. 3. Decor was nice, and the seating was comfortable (although if you can avoid it, don't sit in the table by the door, as you will get a very cold burst every time the door is opened). All in all, although the "bad" stuff was annoying, I'm still saying this place is 4-star establishment, worthy of a visit from everyone. You might want to drive there though (and set your car alarm), as this area seems pretty shady at best.
(4)
Chris H.

I love La Ciudad! It's a complete diamon in the rough. BYOB (with a corkage fee), great service and amazing (and cheap) food. Most entrees are $8-$12. Its wonderful!
(5)
Whitney Y.

Overpriced for the quality of food. I won't go back again. The tilapia was bland and old, and to charge $12.95 (+ $1 for rice and beans) for 3 tacos that were put into store bought tortillas and topped with iceberg lettuce is ridiculous.
(1)
Jessica G.

Wow. This marvelous little Mexican restaurant has me jumping for joy that I'll be moving in a few blocks away. After my dinner last night, I just can't wait. Homemade sopes were soooo delicious - heaped high and mightily tasty. The chicken with mole was superb - rich, complex sauce slathering the most tender, juicy, delicious chicken you've ever tasted. Even the rice and beans were somehow more tasty and wonderful than normal taqueria fare. The carne asada with chile rellanos was perfectly cooked, and served with garnishes of roasted jalapenos and spring onions. The flan was out-of-this-world good. If I'd had an ounce more room in my belly, I'd have tried the mocha flan too. Even a dish as simple as a chicken burrito was marvelous. My friends who went with me last night, went again tonight to try more food! Our table was served by Armando, brother of the owner. He was delightfully attentive, friendly and cheerful, and really made us feel welcome. Can't wait to go back, and next time I'll know to bring a bottle of wine... or three!
(5)
Eddie C.

The location is not the greatest, BUT worth checking this place out! Service: Friendly, very attentive and attractive. Food: Delicious. Food cam out and I was jealous of everyone's dishes, not that mine was bad. I will definitely be returning to get the bacon wrapped shrimp dish. Drinks: Who doesn't love a BYOB?! We brought beer and they put it some in an ice bucket and the rest was stored in a fridge and brought out without prompt. The best part, I think, was some of our party brought just tequila and the staff took it and made house margaritas! Ambiance: The inside is cute. Nothing super fancy, so it's not stuffy, but far from your hole-in-the wall drunken Mexican joint. They also affixed a really adorable patio in the front. Worth a try.
(4)
Jessica S.

Great service ! We received fresh mahi mahi ceviche after we sat down, our chorizo , pork, and steak tacos were to die for and then we were surprised with cake ! Love this place
(5)
Sarah J.

Great neighborhood place in an area that can use more of them. Have been meaning to check this place out for a while,and finally got there last night. Good food, good service, cute patio,BYOB. We will be back.
(4)
Javier R.

why would you have a lunch menu but you won't serve lunch? take off the lunch menu if you dont offer the service!!!!!
(1)
Bob R.

My son and I had dinner here. He's a regular and always told me how good it is....he was right! It's really unpretentious, and from the outside, it doesn't look like a special place to go to. But the food is outstanding. I had the steak fajitas, and they were as good as I've ever had. Even better was that I couldn't eat it all, so this morning we mixed the leftovers with eggs and enjoyed the meal a second time. I'm definitely going back.
(4)
Rachel L.

Absolutely delicious high-quality Mexican food. This is not your neighborhood $3 burrito joint. The people there are very nice and helpful, and the whole experience was utterly delightful. Definitely a new favorite.
(5)
Moon Beam B.

Wonderful choice recomended by my parents to go to before a show at the Riviera. Brought our own bottle of tequila and they made margaritas for us all evening for only $10 for the mixture for three pitchers of margaritas. The host/wait staff were wonderful, accomodating and the place packed up quickly. The host gave us a gift card to scram because their was a wait. Food was wonderful, I had shrimp empenadas, my girlfriends had the home-made masa quesadillas and shrimp with garlic. The salsa was actually really yummy and so were the cocktails. The food was slightly above average for the countless mexican places in Chicago, but they were completely packed past 6pm and very very busy. Our bill was $51.00 for three people who left full as could be (both on food and tequila)
(5)
chris e.

My favorite Mexican food on the northside. The atmosphere is fantastic (a little on the small side, but adds to the charm). I ended up having the steak burrito suizo, which blew my socks off. The wait staff was excellent. They were friendly, patient, and attentive without being in your face. it's also BYOB, which is a huge plus in the city. If you find yourself on the northside, be sure to take some time to give it a try.
(5)
Bradley S.

Small space, popular spot, reservations recommended. It would also appear that they have a lot of repeat diners given the greatings offered by diners and staff alike. The food is very fresh and a bit inventive. It's in the neighborhood so we'll definitely be back.
(4)
Matthew B.

Great surprise! Buried in a rather rough neighborhood is this gem. Incredibly friendly waiters and very gay-friendly. I like that it is very social without being too loud. Food is a little inconsistent but usually very very good -- it depends on the hour.
(5)
Tiger R.

Really great ceviche; fresh mango and citrus really knocked that out of the park. Ended up getting the mexican paella which was -- not what I was looking for, but still good. Nice ambiance and a good pull away especially given the location.
(4)
John B.

This place is better than it has any right to be. It's tucked away in an unassuming strip mall next to a dollar store. If not for the fenced-in patio, we could easily have missed it. Speaking of the patio, while I'm sure it's nice, I prefer not to eat in a parking lot. Once you get inside, though, it's cute as can be. Vibrant red walls with white banquettes and framed B&W photographs. Immediately you're transported into an entirely new environment. A word of warning: those banquettes aren't padded, they're just painted, so watch your tailbone! The food is good. We went for Yelp eats, and ordered primarily from that menu. The sopes appetizer was small -- it is an appetizer, after all -- but tasty. The little masa bowl was light and pillowy, and the meat was well seasoned. The ceviche was good. It's served on individual chips, which is cute, but the chips soak through pretty quickly. For entrees, we ordered the lamb chops, from the special menu, and the pork chops from the regular menu. Both were nicely cooked. I liked the mole sauce which came with the lamb much better than the tomatillo sauce that was served with the pork. It seemed a bit bland. The portions were a good size, so we split the flantastico for dessert. It was delicious. The cake was very moist -- almost like a tres leches -- and the flan provided a nice contrast. Our serving was about half the size of the slices shown in the photos here on Yelp. It was fine -- we didn't need a huge dessert -- but I'm hoping they weren't serving a half portion for Yelp Eats. The service was terrific. Everyone was very friendly, and out server was enthusiastic. My only complaint was that people kept trying to take my plates before I was finished. First, I'm a tubby guy, so expect that I'm going to clean my plate! But second, just because people are talking, that doesn't necessarily mean that they're done eating. it could mean that they're enjoying themselves. I went back and forth on my star rating for La Ciudad. We had a good time, and I'll definitely be back. There are other menu items I'd like to try, and the experience was good one. But there are lots of good Mexican restaurants in the city. Right now I'm much closer to A-OK than being a fan. And that's perfectly fine!
(3)
Lee H.

Came here for date night. I've lived a block away for months but never had ventured inside yet. I checked in on Yelp and got the Civeche which was very good. The chips were tasty and the salsa was delicious We also took advantage of BYOB and enjoyed a glass of wine with our dinner. The waitstaff was extremely courteous and friendly. Daniel our waiter was extremely helpful in recommending entrees for my date. I ended up going with the carne asada steak and boy am I glad that I did. It was the most flavorful carne asada I've ever had in my life. We were offered the flan that again, was very very tasty. At the end, Daniel offered to box our leftovers for us. Sure is nice not having to ask for that. I'll be coming back here again!
(5)
Tim R.

This place is so nice I had to review it twice. My wife and I come here all of the time. My favorite Mexican place in Chicago. Excellent brunch and dinner. This place also makes my favorite tres leches cake. Also very good salsa. For dinner I recommend the Chile Rellenos and Angel Combo. Plus they have horchata which is sadly hard to find in the city.
(5)
Mary M.

This is such an awesome place to have in one's neighborhood. The decor: on the sleek, minimalist side, red walls, white seating. The food is delicious, flavorful, and presented well, with consideration given to the contrast of sour cream next to mole sauce, and cheese on refried beans. I'm always greeted warmly and seated immediately, and never rushed to get out. However, never being rushed also translates to waiting forever for one's food - the most recent time I went, we had ordered and finished our appetizers before our food-food order had even been taken. This doesn't stand out from the two other times I've been here. The food is fantastic, and worth a wait, but still. Also, it's BYOB, so consider how long you will wait for your food and bring an extra bottle of cheap stuff!
(4)
Nikki C.

when you smile. the whole world smiles with you. this is true. add byob smart daily specials with fresh and nom ingredients free parking inexpensive pricing and cool servers who know how to shake their money makers. La Ciudad should rename itself to Solamente esta Aqui. cuz they has it all y mas. bring friends to help you order the whole menu try it all eat, drink and love la vida comida
(4)
David N.

What a fun place for Mexican food. A friend suggested this place for a group of 6 of us, so we decided to check it out. The staff here is so friendly, I arrived early with another friend, so while we waited for the rest of our group to arrive and for a table, the staff got us a couple chairs and brought us glasses for our wine that we brought (this is a byob). The food here was very good and flavorful. I ordered the tostada dinner with rice and beans, very good. I also enjoyed the chips and salsa which they served three kinds of salsa, all very good. At the end of our meal, our server even brought out a huge slice of cake for our table to share. Excellent food and excellent service.....check this place out!
(4)
Johnny T.

I went back to La Ciudad the night Chicago wept as The Pack went to the Superbowl in our place. I had a hard time finding some friends to come with. Seriously, everyone was in their abode stewing over the loss. Oh, and it was, like, -26349 degrees. That didn't help. But, with the help of some intrepid (read: hungry) friends, I made the trek to Uptown to test out the Yelp Deal deal. I was already a fan of the food at La Ciudad. I reviewed it a while back and was a fan of everything I experienced. Would this time be any different? .... Nope! Everything was as before. As soon as we sat down, I let my server know that I had a Yelp Deal I planned on using. He just smiled and asked which of my friends' beers I wanted to drink. The service continued much the same way all evening. The staff couldn't have been nicer or more accommodating. By the time I finished grazing (you don't get a gut like mine by working out and eating salad) and was ready for the bill, the server brought it out, I gave him the printed-out Deal, he went to the back, subtracted the difference, brought the new bill back out, asked for my e-mail address for follow-up, and told us to have a good night. The whole experience was very easy-peasy. I announced my intention to use the Deal at the beginning of the meal. I wasn't asked to order from a different menu. I didn't receive sub-par service. I wasn't given a hassle about the Deal at the conclusion of the meal. Same great food. Same great service. New awesome Deal!
(4)
CatwomanRoar M.

Category: Won't Break the Bank - 3 Stars I so wanted to love this place. There can never be too many great Mexican places in the city. Food: C 1) Queso Fundido (jalepeno): B+ Flavor was so, so good. Texture, a bit chewy 2) Carne Asada/ Marinated Skirt Steak: C- Flavor.... Bland. Medium rare was overcooked. Used to skirt steak being "overcooked" but never tough & dry. Most places somehow makes em well cooked but juicy & tender. 3) Enchilada w/ Verde sauce: B Bland Chilangos.... back to the drawing board. Food in Mexico city is simple but rarely ever bland!! Drinky-poos: A 1) BYOB 2) You bring the tequila & they make you flavored margaritas? Awesomeness!! Atmosphere/Service: A Service: A+++ Um...... At first I thought all the waiters were shifty-eyed, but it was b/c they were being uber vigilant about making sure your drink was always full & your table always clean. Wow. They're also Super friendly & fun Atmosphere: A Pretty sleek. Good for date night (but gets loud) Really good for medium sized parties celebrating life. Verdict: Shocking, but I'd go again, in maybe 6 months. They're new. Want to give em' time to get their food groove on.
(3)
Christina K.

5 stars all the way for this place! I needed to find a great Mexican place in Uptown for a close friend's bachelorette dinner celebration. After reading many reviews, La Ciudad seemed like the best option. I called and got a reservation and when we were arrived, our service was nothing short of phenomenal. We sat outside since the weather was nice and you honestly wouldn't know that you were in a parking lot. The decor was cute, BYOB was wonderful and the food was outstanding. The staff was extremely accommodating and friendly and made the experience very enjoyable. The bartender even paid for a celebratory round of tequila shots! Awesome. I would definitely recommend La Ciudad to anyone who is looking for a reasonably priced, delicious Mexican restaurant. We had a great time!
(5)
Jason A.

The best horchata in Chicago. It tastes like the leftover cereal milk after devouring a giant bowl of cinnamon toast crunch! As for the food, I highly recommend getting the chicken quesadillas. It's cheap, and it's the best thing on the menu.
(4)
Stephanie F.

Delightful! My friends and I started with the cheese and chorizo appetizer. Wonderful. Their homemade salsa at the table (two kinds) is outstanding. Main meal was the angel platter (one Chile Relleno and carne asada) were very flavorful. My only gripe was the food was room temperature. But still very tasty! Really the best part of La Cuidad is the service. The waiters and bus boys were awesome. Our server really took the time to explain things to us, and made sure we were happy. Service was outstanding....6 stars! Overall, very pleased with this place and would recommend to a friend. Plus its BYOB which always makes me happy.
(4)
Monica K.

I didn't actually eat much, but from what I did eat I wasn't blown away. I started with tortilla soup, had a spinach/cheese empanada, and one taco. The presentation of the tortilla soup was really nice, but underneath the display of tortilla chips, the soup was salty, lumpy, and just overall so-so. The empanada was crispy on the outside and filled well on the inside, but the cheese/spinach mix was also a little salty for me. The taco...honestly? Can't remember. We had really great service, however. The place is BYOB, so if you bring in your own margarita mix and tequila, they'll mix it in back for you and bring out fresh glasses as soon as you start to get low. They were also very patient with us, since we were taking our sweet time ordering appetizers and our meals. If I lived near here, I would probably come back...but unfortunately there are places closer to me (Los Nopales) that I'd go to first.
(3)
Megan G.

I came here for a friend's birthday dinner on Saturday. When the cab driver stopped and said we were there I thought there had to be a mistake. Not because the neighborhood is "dangerous" or "seedy" - the restaurant is just very out of place in this little strip mall and its sign is pretty easy to miss. Assured that yes, this WAS the place, I headed in. La Ciudad was bustling but our reserved table was waiting for us. Our waiter quickly brought out the glasses and opened our BYOB wine. La Ciudad was also very understanding about the fact that we had a few late cancellations and were taking up seats that could have been released for other patrons (people, seriously, when someone asks you to confirm your RSVP, do it.) I ordered the carne asada and chile relleno plate and the table ordered queso fundido to start. The queso fundido was okay - nothing special, but how can you go wrong with melted cheese? My entree was very good, but it came out decidedly lukewarm (I suspect the preparation of my entree was complete before others at the table and they let mine sit before serving). To be fair, I didn't complain and it wasn't enough to ruin the food for me, but it was a bit annoying. What was even more annoying was the bill we received at the end of the meal. We'd been under the impression La Ciudad had no corkage fee, but we were charged $3 per bottle of wine. Not a big deal and we may have been in error, but FYI. We were also charged for refills on chips and salsa that were brought to the table. We weren't asked if we wanted these and they were taken off the bill after we complained. Finally, we a piece of cake was brought out for the birthday girl and we were charged for it. Again, not the end of the world, but this all added up to a rather sour note to end the meal. We felt we were being nickled and dimed and it had a definite negative effect on my impression of La Ciudad.
(3)
Gayle S.

Wow good food, nice atmosphere and the desert was to die for :-) Will definitely go back..it's byob which I liked we brought beer, some people brought wine and another table brought tequila. We all 3 had different meals and we were all happy with our choice.
(5)
Lauren H.

After seeing the great reviews, I decided to hold my birthday dinner here even though I had never been before. I should have tried it out first. Arrived a little early and they had the table set and held, so props for that. But that was the highlight. The server opened the bottles of wine of the others, but I had to ask to have my champagne opened after a while. Even if I wasn't the girl with the tiara on her head you think he would have offered sooner. We started with the queso fundido, which I think had been sitting for a little bit because it wasn't that melty. It was okay (who doesn't love cheese, after all), but I have had better elsewhere. For my main course I had two veggie empanadas along with a side of rice and beans. Everything was lukewarm and kind of bland. I just was not impressed. The tres leches cake they brought me with a candle was presented beautifully and was very good, that was the best part of the dinner. There was one snafu--when we got the bill, I noticed they had charged us for chips and salsa, which was supposed to be gratis. It wasn't the amount but the principle, so when I asked the server, he said it was because we had had seconds. But despite his saying we had said we wanted more, no one on the other end had been asked, and I know for sure I had not at my end. He kindly took them off the bill after some protestation by me, but I should not have had to do that, it was awkward (I swear we were never asked if we wanted more, they were just brought. We wouldn't have had them--we didn't even need them at that point at the meal). Also, please note there is a $3 per bottle corkage fee. Oh well. At least the company was lovely!
(2)
Andrew J.

Hugo is the best!
(5)
Rachel G.

After hearing rave reviews for this place, I had to check it out. And thanks to a Yelp Deal, I got to do it for half off! This place is pretty small and there is no real waiting area, so I would try and not get a table near the door otherwise people will be standing next to you all night. Not very private if you ask me. We had reservations though we didn't need them and so we got seated promptly. But then we waited about 15 min before a waiter even awknowledged us, let alone offered water. After that is was smooth sailing thankfully. I don't remember what everyone in my party ordered, but I ordered a pastor burrito and it was delicious. Lots of fresh ingredients and all the different flavors worked well together. It was huge too and I took half of it home for lunch the next day. We ordered the guac as an appetizer it was hands down some of the best I have ever tasted. We cleaned that plate real good! Since this spot is BYOB, the price for 1 app and 4 entrees was $50. Not bad at all for a pretty nice dinner out. The restaurant itself is cute and cozy and the noise level stays pretty low considering how many people can actually pack this place. I definitely will be back!
(4)
Kate D.

Amazing! When we got there around 5, we were the only customers. But everything about this place is great. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was nice, and the staff was outstanding. I had the red enchiladas, and my boyfriend had the lamb [which was beautiful]. Both wonderful, and plenty of food. We were so full, and when the waiter asked if we were interested in dessert, we said "no thanks, not this time." A few minutes later, he brought us a slice of flan and said "on the house." This waiter became my new favorite person. That dessert was amazing--to die for. I've never had anything like it, and apparently didn't know what I was missing. And the service was equally good. They were attentive without being annoying. Our drinks were refilled before they hit the half empty mark, and our food came out quickly. We'll definitely be back.
(5)
Jillian V.

I adore this place and it's dangerously close to my apartment! Let's be blunt: the location is really unfortunate and sometimes scary. I've eaten there many times and somehow always seem to witness some sort of fist fight or crazy drama through the front window. But, it's definitely worth it! First off, it's BYOB which is always great and the servers are very nice about keeping your beer in the fridge or opening and pouring your wine for you. In fact, I'm just going to go ahead and say how much I love the staff right now; They are VERY nice and VERY accommodating. Want veggie enchiladas even though they aren't on the menu? No prob. Want fish instead of chicken on the mango salad. You're gold. I'm certainly not trying to advocate annoying them with a million special requests - don't do that - but it is nice to know that they're reasonable and genuinely want you to have a great meal. You get free chips with two types of salsa. The green is fantastic with big chunks of roasted tomatillo in it. Yum! Here's a list of everything I can vouch for: Mushroom Queso Fundito - naughtily delicious Veggie and beef empanada - veggie preferred but both good Mango and avocado salad - very generous with avocado! Loved it! Chilango burger - a silly dish that everyone loved. Fries are really good. Chicken enchiladas - Green sauce! The mole was a little too sweet for me. Pastor taco - I don't usually like pork, but this was awesome! Beef Sopes - I would romance and marry these if it was legal in IL Tortilla soup - the best I've ever had anywhere. Absolutely fantastic! Finally, a very special shout out to the Huevos Rancheros which was everyone's favorite dish so far. The ranchero sauce is nice and bright and somehow, with some mysterious voodoo, the fried corn tortillas stayed crispy and delicious until the end despite being smothered in sauce. Go eat here, guys!
(5)
Kristin S.

It was good, not great. I had the salmon which was reco'd by our server and it was good, but I wish I'd tried something else instead. My husband had the mole and that was pretty tasty. The food was good overall, but again, after reading reviews, I was expecting a lot. Service was fast and friendly, but I wasn't super happy with my recommended entree, so it wasn't 100% The BYOB factor would definitely bring us back to try again if La Ciudad were closer to us. As it stands, though, I don't think we'll make a separate trip back unless we happen to be in the area.
(3)
Theodore J.

Definitely not what you'd expect from Uptown! A very nice place with upper-scale food.
(4)
Kellie T.

I grew up in a small Arizona border town. Authentic Mexican "street tacos" were a short 15 minute drive away. On this side of the border, tacos of the same quality were easily obtainable. Now, I'm well over 1500 miles from the place that has the food I so loved. Moved to Chicago from AZ 6 months ago. As such, I've been in search of the perfect "taco" ever since. I was excited to see La Ciudad on Yelp: right in my 'hood, and great ratings, to boot. All in all, I wasn't terribly impressed with the tacos. _______ Getting down to brass tacks... Complimentary chips and salsa: A-OK chips, but a bit too much salt (whatever, really--brush it off the chip). Salsa was fantastico! Great, fresh salsa rojo and some sort of smoky chipotle-esque green stuff. Was the closest to authentic I've seen here yet! Appetizer: The appetizer sampler for two, consisting of chicken flautas and carne asada sopes. The sopes were *delicious*--juicy carne and a wonderfully conflicting soft/crunchy to the pillowy sope bread. The flautas weren't so great--the chicken was quite dry. No juice to speak of. The pico de gallo on the plate was good and fresh, too. Bonus points for that. Dinner: Three taco combination plate with rice and refried beans. Beans: just okay. Not great, but not horrible. They held their own as beans. Rice: not bad at all. Not too sticky or wet. Had peas and carrots in it, which is common to some Mexican rice dishes. ********THE TACOS************* (I had three carne asada tacos, my wife had 3 pastor tacos.) Pastor: Nowhere NEAR authentic. Very much over-marinated in some strange, heavily tomato-based sauce, reminiscent of BBQ. Over abundantly dressed in grilled onions. Tasty in its own (albeit strange) right, but not at all what we had in mind. Tasted as though it was the intent of the establishment to add something decidedly "upscale" to the value of the humble pastor street taco. 3 out of 5 stars. Carne Asada: Great disappointment. HELLA salty. I second the person whose observation found a lack of any sort of pleasant marinade outside of salt and pepper. I combated this with a healthy heaping of salsa and lots of lime juice. The meat was quite nice, however. Good quality, and far less gristly than some other places' carne tacos. Still, I give them only a 2 out of 5. ________ Not bad, but not as great as some seem to think. I might give them another try, if nothing else than for one of their specials (I passed on the marinated lamb chops the first time). Overall, a great atmospheric take on Mexican food, but I must insist that the food not mimic the more "upscale" setting. Let the street taco bask in the glory of its simplicity!
(3)
Laura L.

I absolutely love this place. I took my grandmother there on Mother's Day and the staff could not have been nicer. They totally pampered her, spoke to her in spanish, brought her extra peppers when she asked and even gave us complimentary chocolate dipped strawberries at the end. Not to mention, the absolute BEST churrizo tacos I've had in, ohh, EVER!
(5)
Hannah C.

Mango and Avocado salad - winner (and also huge portions)! Flautas and tacos - solid! Loved this restaurant for the food, ambiance, and service. Don't be deterred by its very random strip mall location and go early because both indoor and outdoor seating fill quickly. The only thing I was confused about was BYOB fee $4... it might be per bottle or just a guesstimation of how much the table is drinking.
(5)
Joseph H.

Let me say a few words about this place. I will never ever take my girlfriend to this spot because she didn't appreciate the neighborhood. I won't get into details, but let's just say this place is in an area that is rough around the edges. But, I'll tell you one thing, if I'm gonna live in Chicago, then I'm gonna get around to see the city. Was the food good? Yes, but the queso dip was hard melted cheese. I'm not sure if that is intended (I had the audacity to think the queso was potentially authentic), but it didn't kick off the meal well in my book. My girlfriend got the carne asada which was delicious. I got the enchiladas. The food was an A-. Best thing they did all night? Free desert. We took a quick look at the desert menu, decided to hop on the red line to Tarantino's on Armitage, but before we could grab the check and a pretty looking desert was on our table. I honestly can't remember what it was, but regardless FREE is always the $hit. Final words...BYOB, exceptionally friendly staff (it appeared like any waitress or waiter helped you out with no dedicated tables - in a word, awesome), and solid eats. I'll just show up here with a hearty crew next time.
(4)
Terrence C.

Man.. a let down in my eyes. Typically highly rated yelp supported restaurants rarely fail. I had a less than stellar evening at La Ciudad. La Ciudad means "the city", and they really picked an awesome spot to be located. It's hood. I live walking distance, and still decided to drive. It's nestled in a small strip mall between a dollar store, and a laundry mat if I recall corruptly. Was able to get seated quickly on a saturday night without reservations which was fantastic. The bus boys really work their tails off. They were very aware, and running around with bread and water. There is a huge language barrier with bus staff. My server was slow to get to our table. Really slow. maybe 20 minutes before she came to us (at this point we were ready to order). I hate that. Salsa verde was great! Fresh, spicy and delicious.(this was the highlight of the meal) Shrimp and tilapia ceviche was first out. It was overkill on the lime. Really sour. None the less, ate it all. Bacon wrapped shrimp were just par. Shrimp were big, but a little overcooked. Also had chicken flautas in mole sauce. This was my first time trying mole, and i hated it. Many people said that this was the best mole they had, so I'm hoping I'm cut out for the lesser quality mole? It was extremely bitter past the point I could tolerate. Service was the nail in the coffin. Stared at our messy but obviously finished plates for an additional 10 minutes. Then played the muddled 3rd grade spanish game with a bus boy to get our waitresses attention. Throughout the meal, we did see our waitress once to ask how the food was or if we needed anything else. The potential in the food is there, and I'm confident that I simply ordered things that were not to my taste. The service was horrible, and I will think twice before I return.
(2)
Char Y.

We came after reading plenty of great reviews. It is located in a strip mall and easily missed. We ordered Queso fondito - ok, very greasy Cerviche - cold and tasteless Empanada - ok Lamb - ok very dry Chicken mole - ok also dry Mole burrito - ok, big portion but dry Mango cheesecake - very good loved it Mocha flan - good I am very surprised that all the meat dishes were dry and under seasoned. The mole sauce was good, but not good enough to cover the lack of taste or juiciness. The service was excellent.
(2)
Jeremy R.

I'm a foodie (I hate that term), and cooking is a serious hobby. Suffice it to say, I'm pretty critical of restaurants. My partner and I met a friend for dinner at La Ciudad last night. I was craving a good mole and our friend suggested this place. It was outstanding. I'm hard-pressed to think of a time I enjoyed Mexican food more. Everything from the salsas to the fried ice cream dessert was above expectation - the decaf coffee was even good. Their mole was quite simply the best I've ever had. I'm very pleased to have a new restaurant to add to my favorites - especially one so close to me. It's not the cheapest dinner, but it is moderately priced for what you get. I'm very happy to give this restaurant my highest recommendation.
(5)
Christine F.

I CAME BACK FOR MORE. AND I CONQUERED. We had a Yelp coupon for La Ciudad, and I was seriously craving some delicious Mexican food, so we made a res for Friday night and off we went. Weather was spectacularly shitty. It was 80 degrees earlier in the day, and then it dropped to about 40 degrees. Weather Gods, suck my peen. Anyway. La Ciudad built a cute little patio in the front of the restaurant! I'm sure it will get some use this summer. We brought some beer, so we cracked one open post haste and they tossed the rest in the cooler. Excellent. Empanadas were one of the special apps (they came in steak and veggie) so each of us got an empanada and we got an app size order of guac. My only issue with the guac is that there were extremely large pieces of avocado....I would have mashed it up a little more. Otherwise? Flavors were good. The veggie empanada was stuffed with mushrooms and cheese, and it had a crispy outside with a ooey-gooey inside. The salsas that came with them were smokey and hot. Mmmmm. For a main course I ordered the chile rellenos (again....I'm a creature of habit) and as expected they were delicious. They were smothered in a ranchero sauce and stuffed with chihuahua cheese. The sides of beans and rice were also delicious. I ordered my guac with my entree, because I am a glutton. Everything was great. For dessert, we got the FLANtastico (a chocolate cake with flan on top) and a lava cake. Both were very good, the Flantastico was quite rich, but nice in small doses. Yay for La Ciudad! I love you so much.
(4)
David S.

Since we moved to Chicago about a year ago we were looking for a close spot we could always count on.....and we found it. We are in almost weekly at this point and the owners welcome us personally with every visit. I really can't say enough...every dish I have had is amazing, the service is phenomenal and prices are very reasonable. Since opening the patio the questionable folks that used to hang out have disappeared which is even better. I hope the brothers who own and run La Ciudad continue to prosper in this spot, they are great people and their food and hospitality is even better.
(5)
melissa r.

5 stars for the service! Hugo, need we say more. 3.5 for the food. We had the Angel combo (chile relleno and carne asada) and carne asada/enchelada combo. The carne asada, skirt steak, was seasoned perfectly, but one was medium and the other rare and we ordered both medium rare. Also, the portions were off. One plate had a lot of steak the other a little. Did not love the enchelada, tasteless and the black mole too sweet. The beans, both pinto and black, just amazing! I don't think I've had beans this taste outside of Mexico or my house. The chile relleno was very good with a very spicy tomato salsa. BYOB is great. Location good because it's close to where we live, but the curb appeal is not so great. We will go again.
(4)
Shawn C.

OK...I'm not seeing what the fuss is all about. Is this place good, yes. 4 and 5 star??? No. I guess it's all relative from where you start. Very good neighborhood destination type places such as Los Nopales in Lincoln Square and Nuevo Leon in Pilsen was the bar for me and this one isn't quite there yet. However, they do some things very well. We started with the chips and salsa. The chips, were just kinda hard. I could see them sitting in a huge bin in the kitchen, maybe that's why...just sitting and waiting. They also lacked salt...I'm sorry, chips need salt, period. We also got some Guacamole and it was fine, nothing stellar. Again it needed salt and lime juice. We did get the queso con chorizo and it was tasty and not greasy which i like. Our dinner arrived and my steak taco I have to say was yummy. Nothing to improve on there I like rice and beans and that seems to hit or miss at many mexican places. Here it was the beans...sigh.. The chicken mole that someone else had was very tasty. Someone got enchiladas with ranchero sauce and it was unbelievably bland...I mean the ranchero sauce looked and tasted like crushed tomatoes. The dessert, tres leche cake was delicious I have to say. The service was very good, nothing to improve. Attentive and very welcoming. Also, Yes this is in a strip mall and no it doesn't look as scary as other people make it out to be. I would eat here again if I were in this neighborhood and wanted Mexican. I wouldn't travel here just to eat here, if that helps anyone.
(3)
John C.

All I can say is WOW! Area is a little ghetto but the place is nice and the food is very good. The mole was the best we've ever had. The Angle combo was very good. Wish I had this back home.
(5)
Jeff G.

i'd really give this a 3.5 but rounded down only because the average rating of 4.5 seems a bit high to me. me and the GFriend's summation was that we would go back again with some beers and try their burritos. the two salsas they brought out were nice and fresh and tasty. our main courses were good but not outstanding. for example, the chile relleno, i really didn't like the breading, it was kind of soggy. the carne asada was indeed good. chicken fajitas were also fairly decent but not amazing. also, i thought fajitas are supposed to be brought out to your table sizzling in a hot pan? I had to live in TX for work for a few years and all fajitas are served that way.
(3)
Shauna D.

I have always had a great experience here, location aside. I agree with the previous review, the owner and staff are enough to make you want to keep coming back. I used to live in Ravenswood so this wasn't far, but this particular block is not the most scenic and serene. I imagine this is the only reason that La Cuidad isn't more well known. BYOB, great food, great prices, and over-the-top excellent service. We would go once a month or so and the owner would recognize us and welcome us warmly. Your glass will never go empty, and you will never have to scan the room or patio for a server. This restaurant IS in a parking lot, so you don't have to stress about street parking and wandering around in a not-so-great neighborhood. They do have a fenced patio just off the parking lot in front if you're in the mood to be outside, although sometimes the loiterers and passersby of the neighboring businesses can be a bit mood-killing and distracting. Tip* - if you like REAL margaritas and not that ready made stuff, just bring your ingredients and they will make the margaritas for you there! And prepare to CRAVE their homemade salsa. The portions are huge and at no cost to quality. Do yourself a favor and go off the beaten path one of these nights for a great and affordable evening.
(4)
Darlene L.

Service is kind and affable. Outdoor patio is nothing fancy but certainly Is cute and cozy. Food is mediocre. Chips, while plentiful, are fried and a bit limp. Two salsas, red and green, are mild and could use a little heat. Guac is a large serving and the chunky type. Entrees are large with sides of rice and beans but also need a more flavorful punch. In total, dining experience was so so. They do try hard here and have a solid following. However, food needs to pack a better punch to compete with Chicago's better Mexican eateries.
(3)
Mary S.

Cute, small place. Easy parking. Great food. Great service. BYOB. For appz, we had both the beef and the vegetable empanadas. I probably preferred the beef, but both were very flavorful. The sopes were good, but not great. The quality of the meat was excellent, but they weren't as tasty as the empanadas. The main course was the carne asada dinner. Very tender and seasoned. Huge for the price. The rice was really excellent too. Mexican rice is usually bland, but this was delicious. Definitely the best I've had. The fresh seasoned tomatoes on the side were really tasty. The service was great as well. Very friendly and accommodating. It's a little far north, but worth the drive. CHECK IT.
(5)
Karen A.

One of Uptown's little hidden culinary gems! Tucked away in a strip mall along Sheridan (really!) is this romantic little joint that has incredible food and fantastic prices. BYOB, white table clothes, you will find lovingly prepared food, excellent service in a clean, intimate and dimly-lit setting. We tried the special mini-taco carnitos, the burrito ( yes- a sublime burrito!), and chili rellenos and carne asado. All were OUTSTANDING. This is a great upscale mexican restaurant with $ prices. Yum- mee. If you go there, please don't tell anyone else- it'll be our little secret....:)
(4)
marissa l.

I was praying that this was going to be worth the trip through my Uptown neighborhood or my boyfriend was going to kill me before the gangbangers did. But thankfully it was amazing and I was to thank for the great find (thanks Yelp). I wasnt sure what to expect here even after reading the reviews. The walk over was scary but not unexpected here. The closer we got we saw normal people enjoying dinner we felt a bit more comfortable. Its actually a nicely decorated little place. First the waiter was so sweet he asked right away if we wanted a bottle opened and they brought us water. Yes its BYOB-awesome! They were very helpful with ordering apps and entrees. Honestly everything we had was great. I would highly reccomend getting Ceviche, Guacamole, Chicken Burrito. We even had some dinner entertainment with some sort of a bust happening right outside on the streed. Now come on where can you get all of this in one place?
(5)
Elizabeth C.

This place really is a neighborhood gem, I hope they never leave! I prefer their lunch to their dinner, I have a soft spot for tortas! I would recommend the tortoas. The service here is fantastic, everyone is always so friendly.
(4)
Paul S.

This place opened up 6 months ago and we just got around to trying it -- we should never have waited so long. The staff are obviously very happy and the atmosphere is nice. It's BYO, which is a good thing. The food is excellent... Great chicken soup, ceviche, and guacamole. And also: best. mole. ever. I usually order a Pollo en Mole to test out a new Mexican restaurant, and this one didn't disappoint. It has a very nice balance of roasted chilies and chocolate.
(5)
Thanh L.

It's not in the best looking location (strip mall in sketchy looking area) but once you're inside, it's modern and sleek. The food is delicious and affordable. The best part is, it's a BYOB. I've been coming here for the past few years and haven't been disappointed. A welcomed gem in Uptown.
(4)
Bonita G.

Ended up on yelp looking for a great Mexican place near my new apartment. El Ciudad did not disappoint.. wow! I've eaten a lot of Mexican food, so I consider my standards pretty high and I like my places authentic. That being said, I cannot rave enough about this place. The best chicken I have ever had in my life. So moist and delicious. Plus it's BYOB! We brought a bottle of tequila in the other night and they made us margaritas! Thanks, guys. (We did get charged $3 a person, but hey. How many places will just offer to make you margaritas? Especially since they don't actually serve alcohol, I thought this was pretty nice.) Plus the service is so fantastic. This was my second visit and both times the waiters have been super attentive and so nice. We've gotten free dessert both times! The tres leches cake is to die for. You will not be disappointed by El Ciudad, I guarantee it. Yes, it's in a strip mall off Wilson. BUT IT'S SO GOOD.
(5)
Cristine K.

A neighbourhood gem. We didn't have to wait for a large table on a Saturday, but we were early. BYOB always helps. The food was good but not memorable. The price range is good for large groups.
(3)
Marta P.

I have to admit that my expectations were not set too high for this Mexican restaurant that was in a former JJ Fish location. We went out of curiosity more than anything. We were totally blown away! In more ways that one. The shrimp diablo dish almost set my mouth on fire, but aside from my wimpy palette the food was really good. The service was attentive without being over bearing and ambiance was simple and clean. We have tried to go back since but don't seem to make reservations far enough in advance for a weekend night.
(4)
Nick B.

Whoa, whoa, whoa! I think the BYOB got to everybody's heads a little bit! As an Uptown resident, it was great to see a new restaurant open up down the street to glowing reviews. 4.5 stars on here? I had to stop by and SOON! I rallied up two friends, grabbed some cheap wine, and stopped in at La Ciudad on Friday night. I don't think sketchy strip mall even begins to describe where La Ciudad is hidden in. When I pulled in with my friend, I immediately had to reassure him that I wasn't taking him out on a drug run. We parked and met my other friend inside. Despite the exterior, the inside of the restaurant is modern, slick, and pretty chic. I loved the deep red walls bouncing off the porcelain booths, chairs, and tables. Cool! For food, we started with the chips and guacamole. Not bad...but definitely not my favorite I've had before. I prefer my guacamole to be fully smashed without chunks of avocado still in it. The red salsa was just OK, too, but I really enjoyed the verde sauce that was brought out with the chips. For dinner, I went ahead with a black bean burrito, and my friends went with cheese quesedillas and chicken tortas. My burrito was very plain. It didn't have a kick or spice to it that really made it exciting. I ate the whole thing, knowing that I had a night of drinking debauchery ahead, but I could take it or leave it next time. Very dry. The quesedillas were sort of disappointing as well. I love corn quesedillas, most people don't, and these were corn. Despite the tortilla, the cheese felt a little dry, too. Maybe the cooking was just having an off day but usually I devour quesedillas and I didn't want to go back for another piece. I didn't have the chicken tortas, but my friend said they were good. We capped the dinner off with their vanilla ice cream with pistachios, tasty! Overall, I just didn't get caught up in the hype. The BYOB is amazing and kept the check low which is always refreshing on a Friday night. I would probably go back, but I won't rush over next time. If you are going for a night out though, make sure you stock up on your favorite beverage because I don't think the food will knock you out.
(3)
Minna A.

Gimme Mo' Mole! Their mole is amazin' full of spices and sweets. Not to mention it's BYOB and super sleek inside. How come more people aren't raving about this place? Is it because of the location in a strip mall? Either way, I love it here and I'm heading back for mo mole sooN!
(5)
Nick M.

Me: Bless me father for I have sinned Priest: Confess to me your sins so you can repent Me Again: Father I've committed one of the seven deadly sins... Gluttony Priest: I'm listening Me Me Me: I couldn't stop myself! I swear the devil made this delicious evil food, each bite was better then the last and it just kept coming and coming. Now I confess that I had a little too much Jesus juice the night before but my group who hadn't, were being little piggy's too. The Ceviche was so fresh it the fish was still moving and it was mouth watering. Plus they already put it on the chips for you for easy access, if this isn't the devils work, I don't know what is!! The Guacamole and the fried cheese with mushrooms were heavenly, whoops sorry father! Priest: Proceed my child Whoa Me: It didn't stop with the sinful appetizers, no! I consumed my 3 chicken taco dinner like I haven't eaten in days, carefully so not to miss a spec of food, except for that all over my face. I was ravenous I tell you, ravenous!! I couldn't stop myself the food was the perfect blend of spices and cooked perfectly. But I was not the only one, my companions ripped through their Enchiladas, Chicken Mole (one of the best ever eaten), and a burrito suizo (size of my arm). You must try the Flan! On top of the food, the staff is excellent! You don't really have one server helping you, it's the whole staff. They all work every table together like a tag team. Father, everything was so perfect I feel like I might sin again. Priest: I see... well, the only way to repent it to tell me the name of this place and where it's located!! Me, Myself, and I: HWhAt?!?! Priest: It sounds fantastic and god wants me to try it out for myself!! Me Agree: Well then Father you should know the food is really cheap (Four of us ate for about $20 a person) and there is free parking in the lot. Plus it's BYOB. The area is not the best but no one should bother you. AMEN!!
(4)
Daniel S.

My favorite Mexican in the city. Lots of good options around, but this is a winner. I have had 3 great meals and 1 good meal- I'll take those odds. The location definetly doesn't fit the restaurant, but it is not unsafe. The staff is wonderful too. AND its BYOB. The chips and salsa are solid and meals are great. They even add a nice fenced off seating area in the summer for outdoor dining. This is a 5STAR for the type of food and price range for sure- good Mexican dining.
(5)
Gricelda R.

The service here was awesome a really nice server took care of us, I went with my b.f a couple of weeks ago but da bad thing was that they over charged us $7!! On the.credit card.and when I called they daid I had to come in person!! Eventhough they made the "mistake"! And I had no time to go!! Don think ill be going back just for the fact that they didnt care about the overcharge.Or weren't willing to do anything about it!!
(2)
Heidi M.

My husband and I went because we love Mexican fare, wanted to sit outside and drink some of our wine we bought in Napa (BYOB). This fit the bill perfectly:-) We were very happy with the service, food and price-point. We would probably come back often, but we rarely go up to Uptown. It was a nice change-up though. They have some of the best service I have ever received and we eat out a lot. Open a second location in Wicker Park:-)
(4)
Nicole P.

Pulling up to this place, you might think to yourself "ummmm....so why did we decide to try the place in the rundown strip mall??". But don't worry, you made a great choice to come to this restaurant! Like most Mexican places, they immediately bring out the chips and salsa. I like my salsa really spicy, so I thought it could use more spice, but not everyone does, so I understand. We also ordered some guacamole to eat with the chips, which was tasty. My boyfriend ordered the Angel combo which has a stuffed poblano pepper and half a portion of carne asada. I tried a bite of his stuffed pepper and I definitely got the spice I was looking for! It was really good. I ordered the Burrito Suizo with chorizo inside. I devoured 3/4 of my plate before I stopped and realized I just at a large man's portion of rice, beans and burrito. But, despite my disgust in myself, I still had room for a few bites of Flantastico for dessert. Definitely a must have to end my meal! The best part about this place is it's BYOB. We brought 2 bottles of wine with us and drank every last drop. Great service and flavorful dishes! Definitely give this place a try!
(5)
Jeremy G.

Uptown is stepping it up with this wonderful Mexican restaurant. This is NOT TEXMEX, this is a carefully prepared menu of classic mexican dishes. If you love mole, this is the place to go. The staff is wonderful, and thankful for your business. The ambiance is unexpected . . . . modern latin . We go back again and again to enjoy this hidden little gem!
(5)
Katie M.

We went for a birthday party and walked past this place twice because the shopping center made La Cuidad look more like a laundromat than a fairly upscale Mexican restaurant, but I was pleasantly surprised. I checked in on facebook and within minutes several of my friends were messaging me telling me how great the restaurant is and what I should order. I ended up getting the chile rellenos. I admit, they were good. Frantic text message worthy? Not so much. It tasted like a decent-quality Mexican restaurant like most others in the city. Don't get me wrong, everything was good, but not a place I'd travel all the way up to Uptown to get on a random night.
(3)
Randall W.

Seriously, this is honestly the best Mexican Restaurant that I have been too in a very long time. The Food was great, the price was right, they even brought out a birthday treat for my wife. I believe that every person in the restaurant spoke to us. I think the most telling compliment about the restaurant, is that it feels as if you have left Uptown and are in an entirely different place...of course this changes once you leave, but while inside...theres no other place that you'd want to be. Do yourself a favor and Go!
(5)
Porscha W.

Just left for lunch- The food was awesome, as was the service especially for $15. I had the little taco for an appetizer (.80 cents) and the pork chops for my etree (about $8), it came to a measly 10 bucks. I left a 5 dollar tip. Hugo was very friendly- I'll be back very soon.
(4)
James V.

I have the privilege of living right across the street (practically) and I can go whenever I want! My roommate and I went last Saturday evening, right before the dinner rush and were absolutely ASTONISHED! We ordered the trio appetizer which had sopes, guac, and taquitos. All were really tasty and the sopes were home made and impressively tasty. Also, being the skeptic that I am, I ordered horchata (which I learned they make from scratch - not a mix) and it came with a stick of canela... I had to stop myself from chugging it, it was so good! Then, again, being a true skeptic, I decided to really give this place a test and I ordered the pollo en mole. Not only was the chicken done perfectly, the mole was the best I have ever had! Nuevo Leon, y'all need to catch up to La Ciudad when it comes to mole. To finish, our waiter brought us complimentary raspberry sorbet, which was a perfect way to cleanse our pallets. That reminds me, our server was one of the most delightful and authentically pleasant people I have ever had serve me. I used to manage a restaurant, and I know contrived when I see it, and contrived this gentleman was not. My roommate and I have been raving about this place ever since and plan on going back many, many, many times. I suggest that, if you plan to go anytime around dinner, that you call and make a reservation. The dining room is very intimate and fills up quickly. Also, wear a nice shirt and look presentable, otherwise you'll feel like a schlep if you're dressed in a hoodie and shoes with holes in them like I was.
(5)
Irene O.

Service was awesome! Don't forget to ask for the specials; we missed 'em cuz we were enjoying some sun outside! The Pastor tacos were great! The salsas are super tasty too!
(4)
Chenee L.

I looove it here! I went to La Ciudad for my birthday last night with a few friends, and it was such a fun experience! The food was outstanding!! Similar items to a typical mexican place, but more yummy. We had the guacamole, the queso fundido, I ordered the carne tampiqueÃ±a (carne asada with an enchilada and rice and beans), and I tried my friends' pork chops and mini chicken tacos, and EVERYTHING was delicious!! But the best part to me was the service! They were super friendly and attentive-- opened and poured our wine for us, and our server (who I think was also the owner?) brought us TWO rounds of shots AND a free plate of vanilla flan, strawberry sorbet, and vanilla ice cream for me, all on the house :) So basically you should go here... actually no don't cuz we want it all to ourselves!
(5)
Sandra G.

It's an interesting blend combining the elements of a taqueria, usually a rectangular layout with a counter at the back, with the upscale Mediterranean vibe and dÃ©cor of say....Barcelona. To start, yes, you guessed it...guacamole and to top off the gluttonous escapade, enchiladas, just like they were flown in from Los Arcos restaurant in Mexico City. The added touch of the DF on the back counter for those DFqueÃ±os missing their beloved home city, calls for props for La Ciudad. Parking was plenty in their parking lot, but the place is BYOB so don't forget to bring your bottle with you. As a side note, although it may look as though you'll find a liquor-selling establishment in the neighborhood and/or in the strip-like mall this place is located in, you're more likely to get jacked up than f'd up. Go throw a bottle in the trunk of your car so you're better prepared than we were the next time you're in uptown and decide to give La Ciudad a try.
(4)
Doug F.

I've given up on food service in Chicago, until I walked into here. Hands down the best restaurant service I have ever experienced in Chicago or anywhere. I'm even including 5 star upscale restaurants in Hong Kong, New York and even Japan. The service is that good. I normally don't even bother factoring service into my reviews of restaurants because service is a lost art. Normally, I look mainly at the food and cost. But again, La Ciudad's service was 5 stars plus. They really took care of my party of four and everybody was very impressed. The Food we had: LAMB RIB-LETS in MOLE SAUCE (Special) - 3 lamb rib-lets in an excellent chocolate mole sauce that is complex and sweet. Rib-lets were cooked perfectly. (about $19) DEVIL'S SHRIMP - 6 Jumbo shrimp were just tasty with not too much heat (in my opinion). Delicious. ($14.95) FLANTASTICO - Must Try! Awesome. Just melts in your mouth and makes it dance! Definite Highlight of the meal. ($7) TRES LECHES CAKE - Moist and scrumptious! Tried two and both were gone in seconds! ($7) Dining room was clean, modern and comfortable. Outside patio is fenced in by a wooden fence. The location is in a dumpy strip mall, but don't let the outside fool you. The inside is a clean, classy and comfortable. We were taken aback by the dumpy outside signage, crappy strip mall and iffy neighborhood, but again the inside ambiance is very nice. Overall, La Ciudad delivers Fine Creative Upscale Mexican dining with 5 star service a must try for the service alone.
(5)
C M.

I brought my mom here last Friday night when she was visiting. I made a reservation before hand since it was a Friday night. We got there at 7 and it turns out we didn't need the reservation. However, as the night went on, we probably would have needed one - side note - this was Cinco de Mayo weekend. I decided to drive there although it would be easily accessible by bus. I drove by it twice because I didn't see it. They have a white sign with light colored lettering which made it difficult to see. Their parking lot was full so I ended up parking immediately next door in the laundromat parking lot (which was totally fine.) Inside was very nice and would be really cute for a date. The service was fast and attentive. I'm not an adventurous eater so I had their chicken tacos. They were not out of this world but they were good. BUT...their Chocolate Lava Cake was AMAZING!!! I wouldn't expect dessert at a Mexican place to be so awesome, but it was Heavenly. --A lot of the reviews say that this is in a sketchy part of town. Come on guys. This is Uptown, not Lincoln park.
(4)
Amelia R.

let me say, this is perfect. I found my diamond in the ruff, and la cuidad is romantic, sexy and the place to share intimate moments. BYOB is always a plus and the waitor , is handsome....plus the vibe ooooh so right
(5)
Carla d.

Thanks YELP! I took yr suggestion to try this BYOB and had a great experience. Food was delicious and the service was SUPER nice. Totally recommend the mocha 3-leches!
(5)
Carly O.

Heck Yeah! La Ciudad hits all of the right notes. If I could give the place six stars for service I would. After reading the reviews I really should have made a reservation, but decided to show up and hope for the best. With pre-mixed margaritas in tow, I was greeted by the host who was trying to figure out if he could seat 3, but couldn't because of reservations. Not a problem. I cozied up to the host stand and waited patiently. I was offered water by two different people. When my girl friends showed up, they gave us ceviche on the house. Which was absolutely delicious. Super fresh. Once we were seated, we were given three salt rimmed glasses with limes and they poured the margaritas into a pitcher with ice. My glass was never empty as they came by and refilled constantly. The guacamole was good. Not the best I've ever had, but the chips were super light and crispy and I liked the slight tinge of spicy that would hit you later. The al pastor tacos are definitely worth trying. Chile rellenos and tostadas were also given rave reviews by my friends. It's true, there are a lot of Mexican restaurants in the city serving up these same dishes. La Ciudad may not be doing anything super original, but that's not the point. The people working there are incredibly friendly. I want nothing but the best for them, so you should check it out. It's a wonderful addition to Uptown.
(5)
Jen B.

I finally had a chance to go to La Ciudad the day it was featured in the Red Eye. I love it and will definitely be back!! There's not too many chic eateries (especially for Mexican) in the area and it's very easy to find. It's right off the Wilson Lake Shore Drive exit. For appetizers, everything was excellent and you can't beat BYOB! The queso fundido was TO DIE FOR! The Guac is the best I've ever had. Great flavor and they keep the tortilla chips flowing=) For the entree, I had enchiladas de Mole. The mole is really, really delish. I also tried my friend's Burrito w/ Ranchero sauce which was equally delicious. I can't rave enough about the desserts. We had every single item on the list. Very gourmet and big portion sizes for your buck. The Mocha Flan has great flavor and I keep dreaming about the Mango Cheescake. YUMMMMM! I love the decor and ambiance. Hugo and his brother (the owners) are really nice guys and make sure you are comfortable and well fed! You can tell they put a lot of care into their menu and restaurant. No wonder it's a hot spot!
(5)
D.A. P.

Mole, beef ribs, reasonably priced guac, creative dishes, free fresh salsa with chips, and byob! Thank you....(emotional pause)....thank you! Chicago needs you, I need you. On top of these major pluses please add excellent and friendly staff. Not only did our very sweet waitress rattle off some Spanish with my multilingual buddy visiting from Atlanta and give us a complimentary dessert, but as we are leaving she says in an incredibly unforced, sincere way, "It was my absolute pleasure to serve you." Wow. My buddy got teary eyed. So again, La Ciudad, I thank you in the best, unforced way I know how; 5 stars and a promise to return ASAP.
(5)
Missy M.

Part of me started to second guess our pick for dinner when we rolled up into a strip mall, but thankfully the place stuck out as chic and modern and I was excited to start the night! We had reservations for 4 at this BYOB for a friend's birthday and we had a great little table, already set up with wine glasses, white linen and a reserved sign. Great touch! The staff was super friendly and let us taste the mole sauce ahead of time to be sure about our order. We started with the combo appetizer...flautas, guac and sopes. Very tasty, crisp and fresh! For the main course, my BF got carne asada with an enchilada on the side with black mole, which was delicious! I had the camarones el diablo...spicy shrimp! They had a hell of a kick with a delicious compliment of corn salsa. I was in heaven! Perfect portion size as well. We ended the meal with one of the best flans I have ever had outside Acapulco, and our server gave us a piece of mango cheesecake on the house. So delicious!! Wonderful evening with a tab under $100 for 4 people to boot! Great job and I hope people check this little gem out in Uptown!
(4)
Jovanna F.

I went to La Ciudad last night for the first time with a group of 6 girls and had an amazing experience. The food was delicious. I'm a vegetarian and they made the burrito meat-free. One of the best burritos I've ever had. The staff was super friendly and very attentive to our needs. Did I mention I was with 6 other girls?? Haha. Their desserts were delicious too-- we got the molten chocolate lava cake and flan. This is one of those restaurants that I will go back to. It's one of those places that you just want to support-- you'll see when you go. Great prices too. Thank you, La Ciudad for your kind and flawless service. I will be back soon.
(5)
Carolynne M.

Thank god the mushroom soup I had was a special and not on the regular menu, because that easily could have started a dangerous addiction. Easily the most amazing, flavourful, wonderfully delicious thing I could have ordered. You would think something like mushroom soup is sort of bland and innocent, like what you get out of the Campbell's can, but trust me. If they can elevate a simple dish to this level then you know you are safe in whatever else you choose to order.
(5)
Jeff F.

Really good mexican food. Good chips and salsa, the carne asada tampiquena is excellent, and we love the tres leches cake. It's BYOB, and they make great margaritas if you provide the booze. Their horchata is good too. Excellent service.
(5)
Patrick P.

Great food. Nice, quaint BYOB. Service was great. Give this place a try. I had enchiladas that were YUM YUM YUM!
(5)
eric w.

THE BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT in Chicago!! The atmosphere-- simple, yet very classy--...the staff- extremely welcoming and friendly, and the FOOD!!-- amazing. ALL OF IT. ALL of it is fresh and home-made....the guacamole, the queso fundido, ..the appetizers, even the simple burrito... magnificent. and finally, the desserts..... tres leches and flan (only 2 i have had thus far...)- sublime. PLEASE don't let this gem fail due to its "not pristine" location.... Its definitely my new favorite restaurant in the city!
(5)
ForTheLoveofFood M.

My friend did a lot of research for a good BYOB place close to where we live, so he was naturally stoked when he came across the fantastic reviews for La Ciudad. Sadly, we felt a little disappointed, but, lets start with the positive. Inside, the restaurant is chic. I really enjoyed the red walls with the modern furniture and black and white photos of spain- that was great. It was a good place for a dinner for 2 or 3, but I wouldn't invite anymore than 4 people because it would get a little cramped. So the atmosphere is pretty decent. The waiters were really nice and very attentive, which being a small place they should be, but I really did feel taken care of and my water glass was never empty, not even half empty. So the staff was great. The BYOB part was my next favorite feature about the restaurant. I love a good BYOB place, but the food needs to satisfy me as well.... The atmosphere and BYOB were the best part about my experience. Sadly the review goes down from here. Pulling up to the restaurant, it's not just sketchy, it's a little ghetto. Honestly, I would never drive by and think, "Oh hey, that looks like a cool restaurant inside the strip-mall." The balloon arch outside doesn't attract customers, if I wasn't told it was awesome, I would keep driving/walking by. The food was not anything special. I already have low expectations when eating and Mexican restaurants because it takes a lot for a taco to impress me- and this didn't impress me. We ordered guac, which was pretty decent. I ordered quesadilla, which again, was nothing special. My friend ordered a vegetarian burrito and my other friend ordered chicken tacos- again which were just O.K. We ordered vanilla ice cream and pistachios for dessert, which was just that- nothing that wow'd me. This place was just O.K. Will I go back? Probably not. I may consider it if they get another location, but that's a BIG if. Sorry to go against the mainstream here, but meh, wasn't impressed at all.
(3)
Samantha B.

It doesn't look like much from the outside, but the interior is really nice. My visit was during lunch hours. The food was priced cheap and the owner, I think, gave us complimentary guac with our chip and salsa and raspberry sherbet for dessert. I think the sherbet was homemade....so good! I ordered flautas which came with Spanish rice. It was delicious! I also ordered two ground beef tacos, but they came out a little too burnt for me. The owner/server took it off our bill because I didn't really eat them. Besides the tacos, I had a great dining experience and I plan to visit again during dinner time. Oh, and all of our dishes looked really pretty!
(4)
Kimothee Z.

Delicious modern jewel in uptown. Everytime I go there, the service is terrific, the food is tasty, and its byob. Doesn't get much better. Their mole is something special as well.
(4)
Ryan P.

This was a great find last night. We had had a recommendation from a friend and it lived up to the billing. We have just moved to the neighborhood and were hoping for some nice gems. Great service, great food and it is BYOB. Given we happen to be the only people in the place, but it was exactly what I was looking for out of a restaurant. We started with queso fundido with chorizo which was delightful. My wife ordered the enchiladas with verde which was fantastic. I ordered the burrito suizo with mole. It was very good, however I was hoping for a little more spice/heat with my mole. We ended with an on the house dessert of tiramisu. I am excited to go back and can't wait to bring friends.
(4)
Marisa A.

I LOVE this place. The food is amazing. I've been there twice and both times I ordered the short rib and mashed potatoes. The meat is tender, juicy, and smothered in a smoky chipotle sauce. The potatoes are whipped to velvety perfection just like you'd expect from a higher end restaurant. And for $17.95 I am stuffed. But don't let the idea of ~Mexican cuisine throw you off, this isn't a low rent tacqueria. It's very clean, warm, and I believe candlelit in the evenings. The service is good without being stuffy-- I get the feeling that the people who run the place are generous people. They offered glasses for our BYOB Coronas, offered to store them in their fridge, and gave us limes. I've also had the ceviche, guacamole, and bites of the steak tacos and carne asada. All perfect, especially that creamy, lime-y, garlicky guac... mmmm. Is it possible that I have no complaints about this establishment?! Yup. You know they're doing something right when the location isn't ideal (hidden away in a strip mall in Uptown next to a video store) but they're always packed at night. Make a reservation so you can be sure to get a table!
(5)
Paulina M.

Ouch. My tummy hurts. I just came back from La Ciudad. But it's not what you think. I just ate SO much, and it was great. I think my favorite thing was the shrimp in a little spicy sauce w/some corn and other additives in the middle of the plate. I'm not sure what the name was b/c we received the sample for free, but it's not the ceviche which we also had as an appetizer (that was good too, just more typical). Anyway, the food was superb, the staff war RIDICUOUSLY nice (as soon as an ince cube melted I pretty much had someone rushing over to refill my glass). I also had the chile rellenos which were good and the mango cheesecake which was yummy (and not something I'm used to seeing on Mexican menus which usually cap desserts at flan). This place is sort of a mix between the typical small Mexican food joint on the corner and a more urban, modern, small restaurant (the food also reflects both themes). Luckily, it's still affordable. Between the two of us, my husband and I agreed that the shrimp in the spicy sauce was the best, and the cheesecake was definitely worth a try. I WOULD have taken some pics if my husband didn't complain about feeling uncomfortable about me clicking away.
(5)
Team B.

Excellent Service! We brought Margaritas (in a water jug) and they supplied sliced limes and salted glasses for us. The guacamole was tasty, and the tres leches cake (special desert) was fantastic. Wish there were more vegetarian options.
(4)
Anissa K.

They smiled as my husband and I switched sodas two times. Two - no, three guys helped with bagging our order. As Ben took our bags, the owner warned him to be careful with my bag of tostadas. When we got home, we found our guacamole garnished. Not just with a slice of lime, but a little tortilla rose made of two chips. Really, it doesn't get better. Oh wait - the food is amazing. And they have Mexican coke. Done, done, and did.
(5)
Jeremy B.

A great addition to Uptown. Went here on a Friday night and was immediately seated. The place went from having 2 tables occupied to having every seat in the house taken in about a half hour. Everything at La Ciudad was amazing - the atmosphere & decor, the service, the prices and of course the food. Brought a bottle of wine as it is BYOB but next time will do as others did and bring tequilla and a mixer. The staff will make the margarita for you - ice, limes and salted glass! My one minor complaint would be that they need a better vent system. Almost everyone ordered at the same time and the place became a little smokey from all the steaks on the grill. So much so that my clothes smelled a bit and friends noticed at the bar we went to post dinner. But all in all, a great dining experience. Our server even brought us a free desert!
(5)
Brian S.

Great food, good prices, BYOB...what's not to love? The place doesn't look like much from the outside, but the food is great and is well worth the visit!
(5)
Anne B.

Good, good good stuff.
(4)
Tomas H.

I've been to La Ciudad three times and especially the last time, last night - we had a spectacular time - from the service from Hugo to Armando - to the refined food... just awesome! After years of looking for authentic Mexican food, with a unique flare and service that matches - I almost gave up until we found found La Ciudad... well folks, it's here. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Tara P.

Here comes Donny Downer with a mediocre review. I was super excited to see this place looking all spiffy in the crappy strip mallish place at the corner of my block. The food is just ok. Ceviche starter is served on chips that quickly become soggy - they should serve with chips on the side instead. The mango and avocado salad was disappointingly bland. The star of the show was easily the Pollo en Mole - the mole sauce is superb and the chicken perfectly cooked and tender. The service is definitely worth 5 stars, but the thrill of having a nice-looking byob restaurant in this spot is probably what has prompted so many of my fellow Uptowners to write stellar reviews. That said, I'll be back, because La Ciudad has a lot of potential and is very welcome in our neck of the woods.
(3)
Mike M.

This place was fantastic, and I can't wait to return!! Bringing your own tequila was a fresh idea and the mix that they made for us with it was wonderful! The ceviche was the highlight of the meal to me, with the Torta Ahogada lacking in flavor a little bit, and I would not order that again, but there are plenty of other dishes that looked good. With my friend knowing the chef and owners, we were given a complimentary desert to share that was wonderful!! Friendly and fun service, and the ambiance and noise level was perfect.
(4)
Benji F.

Simply excellent. I would dare a person to find something wrong with this wonderful addition to a city wrought with faux fine Mexican dining. While many trendy Mexican joints taste like someone set fire to a cilantro field, La Ciudad tastes like they love the food they make for you. All three times I ate there in the last two weeks (yes, it's that good to eat there that often), I left the restaurant feeling like I was enriched by the experience. The staff was gracious each time, the food was fresh and delicious and the bill was low. Think of this as a spa, a spa where you eat authentic Mexico City cuisine. The first time I was there, I had a chorizo taco, Chuletas and guacamole. The freshness and cleanliness of the flavors showed through immediately. Guacamole is a hit or miss dish. It's either a creamy, salty gift from the Gods. Or it's a slop-mess of forest brown and green goo, with a cilantro clusterfuck to hide any wrongdoing. La Ciudad's guac was excellently balanced between the avo, onion and spices. The chorizo was charred just enough to give it that extra texture, but still had the sharp, pungent flavors one wants when ordering the sausage. Chorizo can permeate every other course it accompanies with its oils, but not so here. It was bright, vibrant and supported the other courses. Then came the climax: Chuletas grilled pork chop under a citrusy spicy tomatillo sauce, with a side of mashed potatoes covered in a peppery ranchero sauce. The pork had a slight chewiness that let the juices run through to come together with the skin's charred smoke flavor. While my friend and I tore into our main courses in silence, the tomatillo and ranchero sauces merged to make the silky potatoes even more bold. The next time I was there, I had the BEST torta I've ever had. Torta Ahogada, which had slow cooked pork, lettuce, tomato, jack cheese, avocado slices and is doused in ranchero. If you don't know the glory of a great torta, you are missing one of the world's finest foods. The pork was perfect again, spiced simply and cooked to tender melt-in-mouth glory. The bread was pillowy and fresh, and the sauce pulled it all together. Hugo, one of the owners, talked with us the first time I was there for a while about how he's simply trying to make good food for people. He and his business partner opened last November, and they've gotten good feedback so far but they need more support. Then he brought us berry sorbet. These people truly care about their efforts here. HELP US MAKE SURE THEY STAY IN BUSINESS AND GO HERE! If there's any part of you that likes Mexican food, get your ass to this place and enjoy yourself. Don't thank me, thank them.
(5)
Jeffrey S.

I love dining at this place the food is great but delivery has much to be desired. If you use grubhub I feel they've jipped me a lot on chips or the quality. I don't order delivery from them anymore due to this. I do still like to dine here since the food is good.
(4)
Julia W.

I cannot possibly say enough how excited I am that La Ciudad is bringing some much need flavor to a part of uptown that was sorely lacking. Since it's just a hop and a skip (not far enough for a jump) out my front door, I've been back several times. I have yet to try something on the menu that wasn't scrumptious. Plus, it's BYOB! La Ciudad is hopefully a sign of good things to come in the neighborhood!
(4)
J. P.

Aside from this place being in a sketchy neighborhood and within close proximity of a pawn shop, it's a good restaurant. The garlic shrimp served with roasted corn (and I believe a poblano pepper) was a little spicy for me, but the cream sauce was excellent and helped cool it down. My husband's tacos were yummy and I really liked the complimentary chips and fresh salsa. I didn't like the tortilla soup. It tasted...funny. Our waitress had no problem switching it out for chicken soup but unfortunately I didn't care for that too much either. I like my soup without fatty pieces of chicken and that's just a preference. I do agree that they need better ventilation in this place. There was only one other couple dining there and they smoked us out with their dishes. The owner came around quite a bit and I understand he was aiming to be attentive, but I felt a little rushed to make my dinner decision. It seems that after our food arrived though, the service was incredibly slow and it took a long time to get our plates cleared and receive our check though the staff was plentiful and only three couples (including us) were dining. While I did have a pleasant dinner, I don't know that I'd rush back.
(3)
Nathan H.

Came for a birthday party recently. Wow!! The ceviche was outstanding and the shrimp rellenos were out of this world! The entire staff was accomodating and our waitress (I believe she's new) was a sweetheart. I couldn't recommend this place more.
(5)
Norbert W.

What a great addition to our neighborhood! It's wonderful to have such a nice, reasonably priced restaurant so close. Even if you don't live very close, it's worth the trip. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable, the ambiance is welcoming and pleasant, and the food is great! I highly recommend the bacon wrapped shrimp as an appetizer. We actually ordered this for a party, and one plate was gone before Armando left our apartment! I am also a big fan of the pork chops! The green salsa is wonderful, but if you like a heartier flavor I prefer the mole! OLE!
(5)
Denise E.

La Ciudad has fresh food, nice service and the fact that it is a BYOB was a nice addition. There was 4 people in my group. We had 2 appetizers and each had an entree, the bill was $40.00 per couple, not bad at all. The food was pretty good, not amazing but worth the effort it took to get there. The service was friendly and attentive, would definitely go back. One note, reservations are probably the way to go. The restaurant is pretty small.
(4)
D K.

Excellent food. Great service. This place never disappoints. I'm a vegetarian, and while there are not a lot of vegetarian options on the menu, they are very accomodating! The Chilles Rellenos are delicious. The batter is light, the peppers are always very fresh. And they are happy to make vegetarian enchiladas for me as well. The desserts are wonderful. I highly recommend the chocolate lava cake.
(5)
magic g.

the food is good, but with such amazing selection of mexican cuisine in the city ... there are simply better taco places. i do have to say that the cevice was fresh & nicely spicy also, the service has been exquisite: our 3 year old was on the moody site & the chef went out of his way to accommodate - complementary ice cream did the trick! :) thx
(3)
RJ W.

First time we have been disappointed. Look at my two previous ratings and they were both 5 stars...so .... Went for breakfast on Saturday and had the SLOWEST service EVER... the waiter was very nice, but there were only two tables and it took almost an hour and a half to eat breakfast...and we had to ask for coffee multiple times, it was never refilled.... and then, the prices for what you get are frankly out of line for breakfast. $9 for the smallest omelette I have had and some reheated cut up potatoes.. we love the owners and have been here many times... and will be back for lunch and dinner, which have always been great.. but I dont think we will return for breakfast anytime soon.. way too many other options out there with better service and better value...
(2)
Beth W.

La Ciudad is awesome. We have been about 5 times and have never been disappointed. The service is really great and they act as though every customer is very important. We always get the ceviche to start which is really fresh. Our favorite dishes are the chicken mole and the chile rellenos. The specials are always really good too-the oaxacan tamales and lamb that were on special were soo tasty. La Ciudad has great food, its byob, and has great service!
(4)
Ivan S.

Great food and it is on our way home from the dog beach. We've been here a few times, once for my birthday with a dozen people. Scores an extra star for being BYOB! I love the stuffed shrimp and the chicken mole.
(5)
Lex N.

Great food, great people, great atmosphere. It's all great. The owner (I'm assuming he is the owner) greeted my friend and I, who he remembered from last time, with the warmest welcome. He brought us over a free appetizer which was a ceviche. Delicious! He came to our table to talk to us a few times and even brought us over a slice of the tres leche cake at the end of our meal. Talk about a nice guy! From that one visit, I know I will be back here many times in the future.
(5)
Tonia L.

Upscale decor and excellent service. A real surprise to find in a funky strip mall! Even though this place has only been open less than a week, there was no confusion or service burps, as is usual with new restaurants. Delicious food. The skirt steak was tender, and the chicken tostadas were crisp and not greasy. The guacamole was fresh. The co-owner brought us some appetizers to taste: chips with roasted corn on them and chips with a mixture of ceviche on them. Both were excellent. It's BYOB, so the only disappointment was that I didn't get to have a tasty margarita with my meal. I don't know if they're applying for a liquor license or not. Free wifi, although I didn't try it.
(4)
Jerry C.

The mole is from a jar, because "it is too hard to make" um, ok, of course mole's hard to make; that's why people go to a restaurant to order it Fried eggs are easy to make and that's why I never order it in a restaurant. We got billed for a refill of the tortillas. They gave me three tortillas to start. I know some Mexicans who can eat three tortillas in five minutes. Also, was there always a corkage fee? Hmm... think they are starting to cut a few corners.
(4)
John G.

Their food is great and the host & staff are wonderful. The restaurant itself is very cramped.
(3)
michele b.

Ate way more than I intended to for a weekday lunch! Salsa and chips, were tasty (particularly the green sauce). The steak burrito...well, I usually don't expect much, but it actually was tasty and not one of those overstuffed messes that you see at some place like Chipotle. No, this was toasted nice in both sides, filled with juicy pieces of steak, refried beans, fresh lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and sour cream. Good! Then there was the lava cake I absolutely should not have had. OMG! I can die now. Awesome. Comparable in quality, if not better than those at more expensive & fancier restaurants. The decor was minimal, modern, and warm. The service was great. Hugo, my waiter was very friendly, attentive, and nice. I will be going again...next time for dinner equipped with a bottle of margarita. What a welcomed addition to the neighborhood!
(5)
Kevin H.

The folks at La Ciudad in uptown are always super friendly. They always serve fresh tasty food and it's a great environment for the location. The waiter staff gets high marks for their attentiveness and making you feel very welcome. They give you lots of great crispy chips and tasty salsa while your order is being prepared.. This place is awesome! The owner, staff, waiters and servers are always super nice, friendly and helpful with menu recommendations. They are very helpful with ordering apps and entrees. All of the food that they've recommended tasted great. I highly recommend checking them out if you in the mood for some great tasting authentic mexican food. La Ciudad. The name refers to the city of the world in population, Meso-American history/culture, and peligro: El Distrito Federal de Mexico (Mexico City).
(5)
Hannah L.

This is a fantastic find in Uptown. I went based on the great reviews on here and was not disappointed. Went on a Sunday evening and got a table immediately. Our server was attentive and genuine. To start, the green and red salsas that come with the chips are pretty good, but the guacamole ranks as some of the best I've had. I had the garlic shrimp and my friend had a giant burrito. Both entrees were very satisfying. We tried the creme brulee and the tres leches cake for dessert and both were delicious. Bottom line, this is not what it looks like from the outside. I will definitely be back when I'm in the neighborhood again. Side note: the entree prices have increased 10-15% from what's listed on the website.
(5)
Heather S.

A total gem in the neighborhood. Everything was excellent -- the service, the salsas, the preparation of the meals, and even the coffee. The quality of the food was great -- the sauces were just perfect and didn't overwhelm or drench the dish and the flavors were rich & nuanced. Definitely worth the trip if you live around here or if you're just in the area en route to Target.
(5)
Cindy P.

Two words:delicious & fresh. We had the ceviche which was excellent and I ordered the mole chicken and my friend had the taco platter. My mole was savory and tender, just perfect. But the piÃ¨ce de rÃ©sistance was the mocha tres leches. OMG...that's all I can say...
(5)
Jon R.

Great service and tasty food. The menu is traditional Mexican and everything we've tried has been great. Not the greatest location, but definitely worth a visit.
(4)
Rachael C.

So happy to have La Ciudad move in! The staff is very friendly, the space is simple and cute, and this area of Uptown needs more decent restaurants badly. Had grilled shrimp in mole, husband had one of the pork dishes (it's been a while, but still wanted to get the review up since it's new.) Agree with other reviews - really needs better ventilation, but we got seated immediately and received a tasty ceviche sample. I don't have anything negative to say, but nothing extremely positive yet, either. I'd like to see them go to the next step - seems like they're trying to decide what palates to play to, and are being a little conservative in the seasoning and menu selection. It could be really, really good (and I'd love to see it) or just become another comfortable mexican place. Either way, I'l be back, but I know which I'd prefer.
(3)
Kelly C.

Food is still GREAT. Upscale so a bit more expensive, but my update and start-takeaway is for their lunch menu. I work in the area and was really happy when I saw they had a lunch menu with lower prices available for takeout. The problem is that they have raised their prices since printing that menu, and "are in the process of printing new ones" with the new prices. Well, they said that 2 months ago, and then again today. A restaurant should stand by its advertised prices until it has released a new menu. BTW, the old and out-of-date prices are the ones still listed on their website as well.
(4)
Shawn K.

Cute and cozy interior. Food was decent. I thought the rice and black beans sides were above average. I also liked the chips although the salsa was not good. And I don't like being charged for chips and salsa. It was a little weird that four of us ordered carne asada, but none of us were asked how we wanted it prepared, and then they were all different levels of done-ness. I would probably go back because there looked to be some other interesting things on the menu.
(3)
Richard M.

Came here for moms birthday. loved it. trendy, classy, cozy all mixed in one. Great service and great food. Sometimes its hard to find real good authentic Mexican food in a modern style type of restaurant. this place proved me wrong. A+ all the way around.
(5)
Mark M.

Only one visit but I will be back. I had a simple burrito but it was a huge serving and delicious.I ordered with changes and it was served correctly. The service level was very high despite being a smaller venue in a strip mall. don't let the location stop you from visiting La Ciudad- the service and food quality will surprised you. We ordered guacamole extra and it was kind of pricey imo as was the entire bill despite being a BYOB place.
(5)
Emwhyy D.

So I ordered some tacos today && the tres leches cake. The cake was the bomb. The best ive had by far. The tacos on the other hand..not so much. But the guy was really nice. Thats good service even over the phone. So I give 4 stars for now..
(4)
Crystal N.

Minus one star for no longer delivering to my area! What's that all about??? :-(
(4)
Andrew L.

As a part time Chicago Mexican food aficionado, I have sampled enough of the genre to know a winner when I experience it. I have now eaten here with great results on two occasions and will certainly have many more to follow. The only problem is that I've discovered how good the Pollo en Mole dish is and have a hard time branching out to new dishes when we eat there (the MOLE is fantastic.. wonderful sweet and spicy mix, smooth and not chalky -- which is my #1 hang up with mole in most places -- LaCiudad's mole is seriously nice and complex, without overwhelming the rest of the dish). Not to mention how well the sauce tastes when it mixes with the rice on the side. A perfect dish -- I've had it twice and it has been cooked perfectly both times. This is not to say that I haven't tried other dishes. I've attended in parties of four both times and both meals have inspired everyone to want to share how good their dishes are with the table. From high-end (salmon, the Angel combo, some absolutely huge shrimp) to low (Enchiladas Suiso, tacos) -- the food has been stellar. Throw in a very attentive, friendly and helpful waitstaff and you have a hidden gem in Uptown! (Did I mention how affordable it is? The BYOB helps, but you can get a basic taco or burrito for around $7 to something more "date night" worthy for $12-15..)
(4)
maxwell p.

Set amidst a row of strip mall grocery stores, dry cleaners, etc this new Uptown-upscale mexican joint is a big hit. Fantastic service, 5+, attentive waiter who placed our six pack in the fridge, brought us chilled glasses and limes(awesome). Chips and salsa were delicious, the tomatillo/garlic/lime salsa was very fresh. My dining partner and I shared the ceviche, which was pretty darn good, and we had the pork chops and taco's. Very fresh ingredients, great quality meat. The reason this place doesn't get five stars is b/c the location is awkward, the dining room could be larger, and you have to walk throught he kitchen to get to the bathroom. Great food made with care, moderately priced, BYOB. Hugo was the best host!
(4)
Gareth D.

Another review in draft status for forever... so basically let me spare you, and just say I am gushing over the tortilla soup from there on a weekly basis, despite not getting up there nearly that frequently. I've never had one so thick, savory and delicious. They're always super friendly there, and it's a great environment for the location.
(5)
Mathew O.

Wow. Now sure what's happened to this place but things are not the same. We gave this 5 stars once upon a time, not anymore. So lets talk about their delivery. When they tell you 30-40 minutes it means 90 minutes. The food itself will likely be cold and look like its was bouncing around the back seat. Hugo, one of the owners, may or or may not give a crap. This food is overpriced for the quality food and lack of concern for the customers. FYI, pointing fingers at the delivery driver is the best excuse they have. This is just a damn shame!
(2)
anna k.

I love this place. We had a birthday party here with about 14 people and they rolled out the red carpet. the waiter was great, he helped everyone through the menu and made sure we had enough appetizers for the table. Service and food were awesome and this place is sooooo super cute that you want to come back again and again
(5)
katharine k.

Deeelicious! The food at this little mexican byob restaurant is absolutely fantastic. It's not uber-gourmet yet its also not greasy, massive portioned chain-restaurant style. It's a perfect balance of cooked perfectly to maintain the tastes you want from Mexican staples yet done better than most places in the same price range/restaurant category. I ate here last night with my sister and the location was perfect for us -- she coming from river north and me from evanston -- it was just about half way. We both drove past it a number of times because it doesnt exactly pop out from the street, and its sandwiched between a number of other shops, but when we found it it was great. We sat outside in a fenced in patio (fence = ideal because otherwise you'd be eating in the parking lot) and the waiter was extremely friendly. We had the guacamole and falutas to start (both were amazing, the later shouldnt be missed) and then split the chicken quesadilla for our entree. The chicken quesadilla was one of the best ive ever had -- its like slow cooked, tender chicken in small bits (think texture of pulled pork) in a corn shell with lots of cheese. Unreal. The waiter even brought us a free dessert of tres leches cake on the house -- so nice! So while the area around is a little shady, the restaurant is a hit and i will definitely return for amazing food, good service and the byob policy.
(4)
Lyle B.

We went there this past Friday night, and it was great from start to finish. The place filled up quickly after 7PM, and the staff is genuinely friendly and very attentive and accomodating. Seating is close and intimate. The food was excellent! We had the mixed appetizers plate to start with, as well as the tacos plate and carne asada entrees. Everyone seemed to be having a great time, but maybe that was due to the BYOB margaritas people had. The staff is apparently willing to mix those for you! I have a feeling we will be back soon.
(4)
Dolly V.

Whaaaaaat? Why didn't I find out about this place sooner?? The food here is crazy good and the service is outstanding! I don't know what else to say that hasn't already been said. It's perfectly disguised in a tiny strip mall. Who would have thunk? I love the Horchata here too. Definitely will come back. Such wonderful hospitality - La Ciudad - you've just gained another loyal patron!
(4)
J C.

It's always a pleasure dining here. They continue to serve top notch ingredients and the dishes are consistently very good. The owners are always friendly and generous when it comes to accomodating their guests. Take-out is good too. I highly recommend.
(5)
Jen K.

Some people have visions of sugar plums dancing in their head- I have steak tostados... Even now as I write this, I am 2 seconds away from dashing out the door and getting more. So so yummy! I could eat here everyday!
(5)
David M.

We have been to La Ciudad a couple of times now, once the first week they were open, the second last week. The first time we were in the service was excellent. I had the Diablo Shrimp which were well-prepared and perfectly spicy. We also received the ceviche on the house. That was a great bonus and very tasty. The second time in I was completely blown away by the special, which was oven roasted beef rib with mashed potatoes. When I walked in I would not have thought that I would walk away having had the best mashed potatoes I've ever had. The sopes appetizer special also set everything off greatly. The friendly BYOB atmosphere is a welcome change of pace to this part of Uptown and definitely worth a try.
(5)
Joya V.

We live just a few steps away from this place and just had a chance to visit for the first time tonight. I'm sad we didn't go earlier. This place was just wonderful. First, the food was outstanding. They bring you a roasted tomato (red) and a tomatillo (green) salsa with great chips. The salsas were amazing - not too spicy for me (a good thing), but very flavorful. Then we had the chili rellenos appetizer, which was also amazing. At this point, I was convinced that we would become regulars here. For dinner, we had the mole chicken - this was the best cooked and best tasting chicken I have had. The meat was perfectly done, so moist, and just falling off the bone. The mole sauce was delightful, and the rice on the side (a humongous portion!) was very delicious too (had potatoes, corn and other veggies in it). My husband had the Angel platter, which had a chili rellenos, carne asada. The chili was out of this world good. The steak was okay, a little on the chewy side, which is typical for skirt steak. In their defense, he asked for it rare, and even though this was a very thin piece of meat, they succeeded at making it perfectly rare. The portions were enormous - we took home half of the mole chicken and rice - and the prices were super reasonable. Some places try to fool you - when the portions are big, they're trying to make up for bad food, but that wasn't true here. The food was fantastic! We were served by two super cute waiters who were very nice, had good recommendations to make for our meals, kept our chips, salsa, and water full all the time, and were just exceedingly pleasant. We probably wouldn't have the carne asada again, but the mole was absolutely the best! The decor inside was clean, simple, and really classy. This place as adorable ambiance, nice mariachi music (not too loud), and a few fun holiday decorations as well. Next time I want to try their salmon entree (which the guys sitting next to us recommended highly....this wasn't their first time here) and some deserts (they looked fabulous). It's so nice to see such a classy restaurant joining the Uptown neighborhood!! We plan to go there again often!! Oh, plus, it's BYOB - can't go wrong with that!
(5)
Ruth G.

This place has great food. I had camarones al diablo, and everything was delish. The rice and shrimp was flavorful, portions were big, and the price was reasonable. The byob was a bonus, they made us some excellent margaritas!
(4)
Araceli R.

love it......love it....we when there today saturday for dinner always perfect all the staff nice and friendly byob....always delicious we try the tamal oaxaqueno & camarones rellenos and the guava empanada for dessert never disapoined and the music fantastic.......thanks mr armando.dilan,rafa and all the wonderfull staff see you soon.....ara & jenny :)
(5)
J I.

Well I'll say the dish I ordered which was a steak burrito topped with melted cheese was pretty darn good. My wife's dish was chicken with mole sauce and will probably be more desirable for a select few. It was nice that they had margarita glasses with lime for the bottle of margarita that we provided...it's BYOB woo hoo.The service was great but the place was extremely hot inside during summer. During the whole dinner we were sweating and by the end of the meal, we just wanted to leave because it became too uncomfortable. FIX the A/C!!! This kinda ruined the experience and the other turn off was the shady neighborhood. Bring your pepper spray because after sundown I wouldn't want to walk around there alone. If this place was in a better neighborhood and had working A/C, I would of given it one more star.
(3)
Jeff K.

We were one of the first couples to try out this place. We met the owners and fell in love with the fact that two brothers run the place and all of their employees are top notch and offer friendly and attentive service. Anytime we want something special, they accomodate. We have had almost everything on the menu but still prefer the simpler dishes, i.e. tacos, chiles rellenos, etc. Their steak tacos are the bomb. This is a gem in a not so hot neighborhood and we are thrilled that it is doing so good.
(5)
George K.

If you're short on time and can't read the entire review, then the only thing you need to know is that is place is amazing and you should definetly come here. The restaurant itself is a hidden gem in the Uptown neighborhood. It is a cozy restaurant that has the best service I have seen. Our waiter was very attentive, helpful and also had a great a personality. We ordered a burrito and a steak and they were delicious, I would definaltly go back there again even if the service bad. It is a BYOB establishment which is always a great thing. Overall, I was very pleased and would recommend this place to everyone.
(5)
Vincent C.

What a great find! The service was upbeat, energetic, friendly, and eager, and the food was authentic and outstanding. The chicken that came with the mole was falling off the bone tender, though the mole could have been more distinctive. We're definitely coming back for the sopes: the meat is fantastic, and the masa was truly special: light, crunchy, and delicious. But next time, we're bringing some sangria or tequila!
(4)
Sara S.

A true diamond in the rough! With great food, friendly staff, and a welcoming ambiance, you can't go wrong with this place! Be sure to save room for dessert as the tres leches cake and the mocha flan are out of this world!
(5)
Jon F.

Excellent! My new favorite Mexican spot in Chicago. The service is incredible as is the quality of the food, the portions are more than generous, the parking is free and easily accessible, and $4 for BYOB. I highly recommend the albondigas (meatballs) if they're available. We will be returning!
(5)
Kristin V.

BYOB. Hard to find (in a strip mall). Best pollo con mole I've had in Chicago.
(4)
Maureen S.

Wow, wow, wow. This is one of the best-kept secret places for Mexican in Chicago. I am always looking for a great Mexican place, and my socks are still missing. What is really cool is that it's in the most surprising place...this strip mall is kinda...well...you know how Wilson and Sheridan is...it's a little creepy-crawly for my taste. But once you go inside, you totally forget the outside world or the strip mall parking lot and creepy-crawlies, and you are totally transported to somewhere hip downtown. What was most amazing to me was the great service! These brothers care about what they do, and it shows in the food and service. I went in on a Saturday for lunch by myself for my first visit. I got 5-star treatment and was checked on at least 15 times...brother Hugo has such a great presence. And so does his brother. The food was awesome...the flautas were tender and light and the guacamole great. I was going to ask Hugo who the owner was since I was so impressed and wanted let management know how lucky he or she was to have him; turns out Hugo was one of the owners! Every time I come in there, he remembers everything about me and what I like. I am a small-business owner myself, and wanted to figure out their secret. I bring people in there and say, "Watch how much they tend to you." The food is awesome. I would highly recommend this place for a very great experience; it's one of the best I've had in Chicago. These guys do it right. Maureen S.
(5)
Bev h.

there are very few BYOB places that will let you walk into their establishment toting a 4 gallon Jug of margaritas complete with its' own pour spout, so i'm obviously thrilled that my neighborhood mexican restaurant is one of them! upon walking in with The Jug, the super friedly staff didn't even blink before asking us all if we wanted salt on our glasses and whisking said Jug back to the cooler. we were provided with pitchers all night, and never had to wait for a refill. these guys deliver seriously A+ service! and the food is pretty bomb, too. my sis got the special paella, which was one of the spiciest dishes i've tried in a long time, but full of flavor! everyone had great things to say about their meals, and we even got a gratis piece of tres leche cake for the table- thanks! if you're in uptown and feel like indulging in some badass mexican food, holla at me and i'll meet you here! don't worry, i'll bring the margaritas.
(5)
Emily B.

Yum, yum, and yum!! La Ciudad left me with a big smile and happy stomach tonight. I went with 2 friends, was greeted by a very friendly/accommodating server who did a great job of giving us just the time we needed in between his stops at the table. His recommendations were spot on.... The chips were ridiculously fresh out of a fryer and seasoned perfectly with lime and salt and the guacamole was a nice start. I had the Enchiladas with Ranchero Sauce. Nothing fancy, but super tasty. One friend had the Pastor Burrito and the other had the Chiles Relleno which were both very well seasoned and "oh my" inspiring in looks as they were placed in front of them. Finished off with the Tres Leches...light, airy, and full of flavor. We were good to go! Love the little fenced in area and the hospitality provided by the staff!!
(4)
Stitch P.

The queso fundido with poblano peppers is a must have. I've been to this restaurant multiple times and I keep coming back. Delicious!
(4)
C C.

This review is LONG overdue. Sorry. In the last 2 years my husband and I have lived in Chicago, we've probably visited La Cuidad over 20 times. I'm not going to lie, the first time we went, I was a bit hesitant as it isn't in the best area. However, I learned my lesson - never judge a book by its cover. Had we left, as I had originally proposed, we would have never found our most favorite Mexican restaurant in Chicago. I can honestly say I've never had a bad meal at La Cuidad - been there for breakfast, lunch and dinner and it's always top notch. We frequently try the ceviche (yummy!) and love the taco plate, mole, and fajita platter. Of course, you must try their tres leches dessert; it is out of this world! Honestly, it's a great restaurant, excellent customer service, and amazingly tasty food. It's a must try!
(5)
Jocelyn F.

This is one of my favorite restaurants. Good Mexican is often times hard to find in Chicago. But my 2 Grub Hub orders from here have been less than stellar. The ceviche was not even edible, when at the restaurant when I order it, it's the best in town. It's like I am not even getting their food when I order online. Also, the $4 for chips and salsa is about two handfuls of chips and 2 little cups of salsa. NOT WORTH IT - even though their salsa is AMAZING. And, lastly, their tacos, on delivery, are so greasy that the tortillas are orange and soaked and inedible. Completely disappointed. La Cuidad, you get 1 star for Grub Hub, 4 stars for dine-in.
(3)
Angela B.

The food is great and the service even better! I have been a regular customer here for about a year and even though I moved to a new neighborhood, I still take every chance to get back here when I can. I've never had a bad meal here. But beware... you may go for dinner and find yourself sharing sangria with a neighbor table past closing time (which isn't a bad thing)! Good service, good food, and good company. Highly recommended.
(5)
Jim C.

The wife & I had a great dinner here last week. A ton of great food, BYOB is key & the service is great . I'll go again.
(4)
Loan L.

This place is too adorable. The servers are friendly and the food is delicious. I had the garlic shrimp which was simply to die for. My aunt had the three taco dinner which were also quite yummy. The service is a definite 5 stars. Never once did we have to look or wave for anyone's attention. They really want their clients to be happy and it shows with their attitude and their attention to their food. This place is a true hidden gem.
(5)
P T.

Very pleased to have found this restaurant a few weeks ago, especially given the lack of good Mexican restaurants in Chicago. La Cuidad is a bit more upscale and a little pricier, but if you want a decent restaurant meal that is something more than a tacqueria (which I love, so I'm not dismissing them), it's worth it. The mole tamales and the burrito suizo were excellent, and even the normally tasteless side serving of rice and beans were delicious. The staff was incredibly friendly and appreciative of our business. Both the decor and the music are tasteful and not the usual Mexican stuff. There is outdoor seating--in the parking lot out front--but I'm a little too cowardly to eat in a parking lot where cars are circulating.
(4)
Emily S.

One of the best Mexican restaurants in town. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but once you're inside you're transported to a beautiful place. First, the salsa is so good. And unlimited. I preferred the red over the green, but the green salsa was very tasty too. Plus it's BYOB. I highly recommend La Ciudad!
(5)
Katrena G.

I have been to this restaurant twice in the past year and while I enjoyed my dinner both times I was not blown away. I would not be in a hurry to go there again unless I was in the area. Also, the margarita mix is horrible. The food portion were a nice size and the service was fine. My friend sent his burger back because it was cooked well done when he requested it rare. Overall, a good dinner but not awesome.
(3)
Dana P.

The location is kind of sketchy, but the food is amazing! The tacos are fabulous. I recommend the al pastor and the chorizo. The staff is really great but they are not in a hurry however we took our time and enjoyed ourselves very much. The outdoor seating is great in the summer too.
(5)
Jay H.

This is a big favorite for me! Every time I've gone to this restaurant I've had a really great experience. The staff is genuinely nice, and very attentive. The food is so excellent and fresh! My favorites are the "Chuletas De Puerco" (pork chops with tomatillo sauce) and the "Torta Ahogada" (a chicken sandwich dipped in ranchero sauce). The desserts are nice also, especially the Flantastico and the Tres Leches. The prices are easy on the pocket book and it is also b.y.o., so you can control costs. Go and see for yourself why everyone gives it five stars on Yelp. I bet you'll find yourself writing a nice review!
(5)
Tavi P.

Hidden gem in the big city. The food is amazing and the owners and great!!! I recommend this place to everyone!!!
(5)
Louis S.

I saw that La Ciudad had opened near my apartment and was curious almost immediately. I have been slightly disappointed with "stylish" Mexican restaurants in the past, but La Ciudad is the real deal. The food was spectacular, in terms of flavor, portion size and price. My friend and I split an order of guacamole to start and were thrilled by the quality and flavor. I ordered the steak torta and it was one of the best tortas I have ever eaten. After our meal, we spoke with Hugo, one of the owners, and he re-iterated the restaurant's goal of being an authentically good Mexican restaurant at a good price. I personally believe that La Ciudad exceeds those modest goals dramatically and recommend anyone who enjoys Mexican cuisine to stop in for a meal.
(5)
Eric D.

This place is great... The service is the best, the ambiance is very nice and the food is excellent!
(5)
Angela F.

The food and service is ALWAYS 5 stars here. I keep coming back to try everything on the menu. So far, so great! The salsas and chips and guacamole is the best way to start. Then the first thing you should try is the 3 taco dinner! All the food here is freshly prepared and burst with flavor. LC does everything the way it should be done. There are not enough superlatives in this world to describe the staff here. The service is attentive and genuine. They take reservations, too. Of course, I love this place. And, I don't mind one bit that its BYOB.
(5)
Justin P.

My wife and I love this place. Everything on the menu that we have tried has been excellent. The only complaint is it is BYOB. It would be great if they could offer beer or margaritas.
(4)
Kerri C.

I've been looking for a food Mexican restaurant within walking distance (besides what's on Clark...which is getting a little tiresome) so my mom and I ventured to La Ciudad after the marathon. I would have never noticed it before in this shopping center, but yelp came through on this place. It wasn't very busy so we were seated right away. We started with guacamole which was very good. The salsas were good, but def. get the guac. It's BYOB, so that's something to consider. I mentioned the not on the menu vegetarian enchiladas (that I read about on yelp) and was happy that they would accommodate. Our waiter (I think the owner?) talked about how they make them differently than the ones with chicken. I love enchiladas so I was excited to try them. I'm somewhat odd in that I eat the sides first usually one at a time and then the main entree, which worked against me this night. I ate the rice, then the beans (both excellent) and then stuck my fork into chicken enchiladas! It was weird because we talked about how they were made before I ordered. I know it was just a mistake, but given that we had a conversation about the vegetarian options and that it wasn't busy, I was a little disappointed. By this point my mom had finished her food so I got a new order of veggie enchiladas to go which I never got around to eating. I will come back, but will most likely order the stuffed pepper which I've read good things about.
(4)
James L.

I don't generally give low reviews but the food was "ok." The service was great. The atmosphere is great but if you ate great Mexican food before, than this place is not for you. Of course, you'll have to see for yourself.
(2)
Joshua W.

Great food. Chile rellanos was awesome. Carne asada was pretty good. Service was awesome. BYOB. What could be bad? Will definitely be back.
(5)
tarneka M.

On many occasions, my friends and I have been asked to leave because the staff is ready to go home. At La Ciudad, the staff shut down the kitchen and began to party with us! Great food and service. It felt like a family celebration!
(4)
joe f.

Wow... this place used to be a JJ Fish. That really scared ALL of us. However, this shit is sweet! It wasn't too busy but I hear weekends have been crazy. I rallied friends here by telling them this isn't a burrito/taco joint and they were like "at Sunnyside and Sheridan?" With that in mind I went looking for authentic food and willing to pay. The prices were good. Not saying they were cheap but you are paying for a certain amount of quality. The five stars includes the amazing service we received. Thanks dudes. The only negative thing I can think to say is that a vegan friend came and there wasn't much for her to choose from. I know authenticity is key but maybe give her some option. Ending note...this review made me hungry. Gonna head over in the morning. Good shit Uptown.
(5)
Ben N.

I am a HUGE fan of the hole in the wall greasy spoon mexican joint, and while La Ciudad diverges greatly from that it was a very welcome change. The restaurant has savory and honest Mexican fare that definitely diverges from the norm. Pork chops, marinated steak, and beef ribs galore. The staff is attentive and friendly, and they certainly add to the experience. You should be looking forward to indulging at La Ciudad.
(4)
Katie M.

What am I missing?? Why does everyone love this place? Can't figure out the appeal. After pulling up to this RESTAURANT IN A STRIP MALL, I judged but went in with a good attitude! Food was nothing special. The staff was nice enough but our waiter couldn't understand our orders or give us entree suggestions as English is most likely his second language. Frustrating. One star for free and easy parking!
(1)
Nate B.

Had the mole, appetizer taster and the triple leche cake. Appetizers were quality, fresh and simple tastes but well made, excellently cooked. Not unusual or amazing, but well done. The Mole Chicken was one of the best I have ever had. The dark and white meat were both perfectly moist, tender and hot. The sauce was savory and dark with a beautiful balance of spicy and sweet. The serving was huge and even the accompanying rice was perfectly cooked. Tender but slightly crunchy and not sticky. I would go back just to eat the rice with that mole sauce. We split it and the amount of food was perfect for two. I would happily paid $20 for that much and it was only $15. The triple leche cake was really unique and good. Might be excessively sweet for some people but I liked it and I usually slice the frosting off cake I eat. The cake itself was soaked in some kind of cream sauce so it had the weight and density of a light cheesecake with the sponginess of a really moist pound cake. The icings around and on the cake were brightly flavored and added to the dish. We are super excited to have this place near our house and its high on my list of places I would like to bring friends or family to. Highly recommended.
(5)
Anita D.

Went there for lunch and the service was TERRIBLE and slow....the food was tasty but they were out of tortilla chips. I was with co-workers who had to be back by a certain time and if you are going to offer lunch specials it shouldn't take 35 mins to cook the food and another 10 to get to us.
(2)
Cecilia C.

I was impressed by the reviews and here so I decided to go see for myself! La Ciudad has done a great job at turning a strip mall local into a chic little restaurant. It really makes great use of it's space and has great decorative touches. I assume the name alludes to the capital of Mexico, (el D.F.) by looking around...and shows off a modern, urban Mexico unlike most restaurants we're used to. The service was warm, quick, and professional. A little stiff at times, but overall, very pleasant. We ordered quacamole, a parillada (a big plate of meat! as my companion exclaimed) and finally a flan. ~ chips and salsa: crunchy chips with a nice corn taste and amazing salsas you can tell are homemade. Each very unique and flavorful. ~ quacamole: Very cold, and the edges were somewhat brown soon after. It is fairly dark in there, so it was hard to see how much. We ate it all anyways, but I was ok. ~ parillada: a sturdy parillada. Good options, some chicken and beef, shrimp. The green onions that came with it was totally raw so I made a funny face when I bit into it, but my companion found it perfect. Our short ribs were downright bloody, which I found perfect. We both got totally stuffed on it. ~ Alert- Flan snob! I'm sorry, I know some of you liked it but *shakes head* I couldn't finish it. Flan should be airy and fluffy, soft. This was thick and had a dense consistency. I mean, not terrible, but not great. It was mediocre flan. Only the very edges had that great flan texture that holds the flavor in it's little crevices. Hmm...tasty crevices. I do have to say know, they gave us a complimentary sherbet of some sort that was amazing. I wish I had gotten that, because it would have let the flan snob lay dormant and kept my little tummy happy. Overall, I think it's a great change of place from the usual Mexican, but it's still genuine. I've gone to other places to try to be more authentic or chic, whatever, but they lack the heart and I end up really disliking them. La Ciudad, despite any nitpicking on my behalf, remains standing.
(4)
Jessica J.

What a great meal! I'm usually pretty boring when it comes to mexican restaurants - I'll order the chicken enchiladas and call it a day. I'm so glad I ate here and took the risk to step out of my comfort zone - the stuffed shrimp was just ridiculously good. We started with queso fundido and empanadas and ended with the tres leches and lave cake. Everything was delicious, and I can't wait to go back. The menu isn't the largest, and the location isn't the nicest, but it's a welcome additional to Uptown, and I hope it helps the neighborhood.
(5)
erica d.

Wow the food was delicious. The service was spectacular!! the whole staff here is top notch. We started with the queso fundido and the mixed greens salad with garlic calamari mmmmm that is all I have to say about that. Mark had the chicken enchiladas in ranchero salsa with black beans and rice. He loved the black beans and rice he also said the salsa was perfect he just wished the chicken had been a bit more moist. I had the grilled Mahi Mahi with salsa a small salad and a cheese and corn stuffed roasted red pepper....WOW every morsel was wonderful. When we were done and asked for the check our awesome waiter surprised us with a complimantery Tres Leches cake with Ice Cream now if that is not a perfect ending I don't know what is. We would have given this place five stars if it was not for the fact that the table for two has extremely limited space.
(4)
Steve Z.

I'm only giving two stars because my Carne asada was awful it was as tough as shoe leather no joke and no flavor. I will say service was very friendly and helpful also they took my meal off the bill which alot of places wouldn't of done. I did complain about meat which I never do in a restaurant. we tried almost all appetizers and they were very good along with the Chips and salsa. byob is also a plus and the 3 leches cake was very tasty. everyone else had steak also and said it was just ok so I recommend not trying Carne asada for a better experience. It would of been 4 stars if I had a good piece of steak =(
(2)
Kevin D.

I come here a few times each month and it never disappoints! I have had most items on the menu by this point and I haven't come across a bad dish yet. Even the Chalango burger is surprisingly good! But the chicken taco dinner is easily my favorite meal on the menu. Some of the best tacos I have ever had! Plus everyone who works here is incredibly friendly!
(5)
Adam Q.

Love the food here. The owner came out and met me on a few occasions and asked how my food was. Went here on a date and he threw in a off the menu dessert for us. My date and I loved it. Definitely one of my new favorite places in Uptown. The outside can be a little misleading but the interior decorum is great and I like that they have a fenced off patio area in the front for those nice sunny days. Definitely recommend you trying this place out. Plus it's BYOB!!!
(5)
Kendrick W.

I'm writing this review, but admit I need to give it a second go round. My food was great, but others disagreed. However since it's my review, I'm giving it 4 stars and let the others write their own dang reviews. Let's start with the Guacamole. Wow. I mean wow. It was pretty darn good, not the run of the mill. I couldn't put those chips down to save room for my main dish. 5-Stars. Margarita-So this place is BYO, however if you bring the Tequila they will make the Margarita Mix for you. So put that crappy mixer you buy at the store away (you know that neon green stuff) and let them do it for you. I want to say that costs around 10-12 bucks, so maybe a little on the pricey side for just the mixer...However it is delicious and they don't mess around, they make it strong. 4-Stars Food-I had the enchiladas with the mole sauce. I was a fan. It was nothing to write home about, but there also wasn't anything to complain about. Good solid enchiladas. The price however felt a little steep. meals run in the 12-15 range. There's definitely cheaper to be had... Overall good experience. Maybe a touch more than I want to pay, but on a great summer day sitting in the sun, the Guac and Margaritas made me forget it all.
(4)
Tony M.

It might not look like much on the outside, but this is actually a really good place. It's chill, the staff is friendly, and the food was solid. I had the steak and shrimp fajitas, which were on point. The only downsides? The atmosphere/decor is kind of meh (but whatever), and I wish the chips were served warm as opposed to room temperature (but again, whatever). Give me good, reasonably priced entrees, and I'll come back.
(4)
Candice G.

Bringing Four Loko tall boys to a nice, romantic BYOB restaurant sounded like a fun kind of bad idea when it popped in my head, but as it turns out (to no one's surprise but my own), it's just the bad kind of bad idea. Don't do this. No matter how funny you know it'll be to tell your friends you'll handle all the liquor and then show up with two 6-packs of flavored Four Loko to see their horrified faces, it's not worth the repercussions and side effects of drinking Four Loko, which include nausea, vomiting (if you're lucky), heart palpitations, and a headache so hard that the thought of hanging yourself from a shower curtain rod seems like a step up on the enjoyability scale. It's just the absolute worst. On a related note, I think it speaks to the character of La Ciudad that despite my bringing quite possibly the most degenerate drink of the last decade into their fine establishment, the staff still treated us like royalty and even offered to put our sh*tty beverages on ice... as if it were champagne. This is probably my favorite restaurant in the city for group dining. I've been on so many group outings and double dates here and everything has always been above and beyond outstanding. The BYOB factor plays into their success quite a bit, and that they aren't at all picky about what you bring is great. Bring sangria, they'll bring you glasses with ice and an array of chopped up fruit. Bring a Gatorade sports tub with pour spout nozzle full of god only knows what type of moonshine concoction and they'll still treat you as a king amongst men, despite your trailer park beverage bringing. The area around here with laundromats and dingy liquor stores isn't fantastic or scenic, but there is a free parking lot (invaluable in this part of town), the inside is quaint and romantic, they are really sweet about taking reservations, and in the summer they carve out a small patio area in one of the parking spaces and actually make it look like a really nice place to dine. When I come here, my group usually insists on guacamole and/or ceviche. The ceviche is bomb; the guac is fine, but I should also note that I've never had guac at any establishment that I thought was all that great. For main dishes, I recommend checking out their chalkboard of specials because they do a stellar job on coming up with unique items, as my dining partners can attest. Me? I always get the same damn thing because I love it so much: The Camarones Diablo. I just can't get enough of those spicy little skrimps... plus there are few things I enjoy more than eating the exoskeleton of a weaker creature. Empowering, amiright? No? Well fine, but that doesn't change the fact that these shrimps are damn delicious. One thing you absolutely NEED to get, is the Tres Leches dessert. And don't be shy about telling your friends that you aren't willing to share. Get your own -- it's every man for himself in the dessert department here and you'll all be better friends for it. It's a dish that's just too damn good to share. The prices here are pretty damn economical for a romantic-ish spot, so I highly recommend it for a date night. Def uber it out here because it's very easy to get crunk here and then uber it elsewhere for a high chance of doin' it because it'll just put you all in the mood (unless you drink Four Loko, then you'll just want to die). Dinner + apps usually run us around $20 a person and of course we BYO Boone's Farm so that saves us some pennies as well.
(5)
Fernando B.

Welcome to cockroach heaven. Went for dinner with my wife after seeing the good yet reviews and was simply shocked to see how little they cared about the evident roach infestation behind the large booth against the wall. Needless to say I barely touched the food after seeing the bugs. Just disgusting.
(1)
Belle L.

BYOB The only Mexican fine dining in the area with excellent portions (dish usually serves 2) at a decent price. Seafood-centric. Chips and Salsa(s) -- gratis for dining in. Plentiful that I took it home and made a breakfast dish with fried egg. Tortilla Soup ($5) -- a generous cup portion. Loaded with ingredients that are meticulously shredded and sliced. The best in town! Calamari -- perfectly even breaking. The fresh cracked pepper makes a difference in taste that it becomes addictive. Excellent cooking temp. Mexican Paella ($23.95) -- you must love seafood to enjoy this dish. Lots of fish, mussels, squid. Serves 2+. The only dish in town! Flan Napolitano ($6) -- a relief to see and enjoy a dessert that is still near $5. Good for 2. Firm flan. Balanced flavor. House Coffee ($2) -- I am ecstatic about the price. Perfect balance of coffee and cinnamon. Bottomless. Venue -- clean and super organized. The back room bathroom is also clean. Service -- excellent. Water is quickly filled. Say, "Hi" to Hugo friends...as he remembers every patron that walks in. I look forward to Brunch.
(5)
Harlean A.

This place is amazing! We had a group of 6 outside and everything was great from the service to the food to the atmosphere!
(5)
Catriona A.

Cannot say enough good things about this place! We go all the time because we are just down the block and are always greeted so warmly and receive amazing service and amazing food. Any of their dishes with chorizo are amazing and it is hard for me to chose between steak, chicken, or chorizo tacos! I always make sure to save room for the lava cake as well!
(5)
Haris S.

So its 9:30pm and 4 of us sibling are home alone and I get random craving for a Molten Lava Chocolate cake. I toss this idea of making one to my younger sister and we decided to head to Jewel-Osco to grab the ingredients. I just randomly decided to search yelp for Chocolate Lava cake and La Cuidad was the closest restaurant that showed up. I called them up at around 9:35 to confirm if they do in fact serve Molten Lava Cake. Soon we head out but realize that they close at 10:00pm so we won't make it in time. I call up the restaurant and ask they can make it to-go. The gentleman on the phone said yes but asked if we wanted to dine in. I told he we won't make it before 10 and he was like, "Don't worry about it, just come and we will take care of you". This alone made me very comfortable as the worse thing to do it go into a restaurant 10-15 minutes before closing and 8 out of 10 times, you will receive a very bad service. We walked in a few minutes later and really liked the quite and cozy atmosphere. We were the only table at the moment but its monday night so no surprises there. After being seated, we were also given complimentary chips and salsa which was pretty good. Fast forward to when our Chocolate Lava Cakes and I can say that for $5.50 a pop, it was a perfect. The only thing I can say is that there wasn't much melted chocolate inside of the cake and it was felt more like a brownie but we were still satisfied. We ordered 4 cakes and each and every single one of us liked it. I asked for an extra scoop of ice cream with my order and they were kind enough to give all of us an extra scoop of ice cream. I will surely be back to try out some of their main entrees but so far this place will be my go to spot during my random sweet cravings.
(5)
Colleen N.

We decided to try La Ciudad based off some of the other reviews which mentioned how good the food is, despite people's comments about the relatively high prices. Some other reviews did ring true as we approached the restaurant. The white table cloths and wine glasses on the table didn't seem to fit with the strip mall atmosphere. We opted to sit outside since the weather was nice and the patio was actually very nice. It is fenced in with a high white fence which makes feel less like you're in a strip mall. Now the important part- the food, presentation and service were phenomenal! We were a little apprehensive about the prices and truthfully they are a bit high for the area. BUT they brought out endless chips and salsa which was extremely tasty! I mean these people brought out extra chips without even asking us if we wanted more! The salsa was no ordinary canned salsa either, it was very authentic. I ordered the chicken burrito suizo which was very good. SO filling! I was able to save the rest for lunch tomorrow which I am looking forward to. My fiancÃ© got the steak tacos and was a little worried they wouldn't fill him up but they are so overstuffed he was able to bring one home as well. The water glasses were never empty and the wait staff was so friendly and attentive. We let then know how much we liked the food and they even brought us out a free dessert (despite how full we were we scarfed that sucker down in less than a minute!). Overall we would highly recommend this place if you're willing to spend a little more for quality and friendly service!
(5)
Sandra S.

We have eaten at the restaurant once but usually get our food for take out. The food is delish. We just love it there. The owner is so nice and welcoming. He really goes the extra mile to make sure the customers are 100% happy with food and service. The portions are good size. The food is always spot on and amazing and the owner remembers his repeater customers and always throws something a little extra in for us! We will miss this place when we move from uptown. Wish this place was far from the terrible area it's in!
(5)
Elizabeth W.

Had a romantic, filling dinner here with my boyfriend. We started with the complimentary chips and salsa then ordered queso fundito with chorizo which was tough to serve and messy but tasted great (served with perfectly toasted flour tortillas). We each got the chicken enchiladas, one ranchero and one verde. Chef came out with complimentary fresh pico with avocado which was a delightful surprise. Next time I'll have to save room for dessert!
(4)
Bronson P.

The servers are super nice and I could tell the owner is really passionate about the food here. The chicken tacos were tasty and the chips and salsa addictive. Big serving sizes, and they even gave us a round of tequila. Very cool setup and design and I loved the Mexico City theme. We ate here on Cinco de Mayo, and a live DJ was playing -- my only complaint was that the music was too loud for such a small place.
(4)
Maria V.

We ordered steak taco dinners. The rice & beans & guac were fresh. However, we ordered cheese and extra salsa for the tacos and it wasn't on the tacos. The steak was a bit chewy and tasteless. Overall, it tastes average like a lot of taco shops in Chicago. Disappointing and still pricey with delivery.
(2)
Far K.

We ordered the vegetarian enchilada, and chicken tacos. Both the of the dishes were horrible; the chicken was not seasoned and seamed a bit under cooked. The enchilada had too much melted cheese, the rice was too dry, and over all was not tasty. The dessert sample was decent. The only good thing was the BYOB part, other than not would not recommend this place or go back again.
(2)
Alex C.

Food was just below ok and definitely overpriced. Had the vegetarian options so maybe the meat options are good. The staff was attentive and friendly. The three stars are for the food quality and the price.
(3)
Svetlana Ceca T.

Food was really tasty .Looking from the outside it doesn't look so nice like the inside...We got a chips immediately with water and server was really polite .We ordered "dinner tacos" and we will definitely try more mexican food from now on...
(5)
Ivan R.

Ordered my food for delv Torta De asada Taco Del chorizo Taco De al pastor Excited to receive my food when the delv driver brought it to me in a thermo bag. Why was my torts warm and al pastor warm but my taco De chorizo hot. Well because the steak and al pastor where probably already cooked and set on a 9in pan. I played 20 $ for my Mexican food... That was overpriced food. Taco De chorizo was really good..torta had good flavor but not enough meat for the 10$. Let's not go over cost of the food... I was charged 200% over cost. Smh. I'm a cook myself with a degree and a salesman also. I wouldn't order from here no more unless it had shaved gold on my torta... Salsas were pretty OK the green roasted one was good. My torta came with fries.. Wait is this a Mexican place ? I didn't want fries plus. They were cold, couldn't eat them with myvalso cold ketchup.
(2)
Nicole V.

La Ciudad is one of the best dining experiences we've had in a long time! Came here on a weeknight and the owner Hugo was so friendly, he welcomed us warmly, explained the menu, have recommendations and even gave us some free empanadas since we were first timers. We had the garlic shrimp, and jalapeÃ±o burger with sausage, and they were AMAZING!!! The flavors were so fresh and delicious, high quality ingredients for sure and well prepared. The space itself is small but mighty, they've done a fantastic job of decorating. Overall, we just LOVE this place. Will be back asap for sure!!!
(5)
Jordan F.

Great service and delicious food. The flan is to die for!!!
(5)
Julie S.

We love this place! Friendly service, casual & intimate atmosphere, delicious food - and BYOB! Tilapia tacos, colossal shrimp cocktail, guacamole, ceviche, and halibut - A sampling of our favorites!! Did I mention the empanadas? Oh the empanadas - Delicioso!!
(5)
Adriane P.

Reviews and being in the area inspired us to check this spot nestled in a strip mall in Uptown out. It's always busy so reservations are encouraged. We were late but luckily sat immediately. It's an interesting decor that I found a bit 80's, however, my well traveled and smart dining partner informed me it is contemporary Mexican decor and rather stylish there. It's BYOB so we brought a pack of delicious Daisy Cutter. We learned later they charged us $4.50 corkage fee for the CANNED IPA. I've experienced BYOBs charging corkages if they have a partial or full bar, but this spot doesn't, so I found that lame. We started with complimentary chips with salsa. It was good and had plenty of kick; one was a salsa verde and one was a smoky chipotle. They charge for a refill of chips which they bring-lame! With Yelp check-in you get a free appetizer (Thanks Yelp!!). But were informed we could only get the ceviche. It was three different colored chips with tilapia and shrimp ceviche on top. It was bland. Upon server recommendation my dining partner, a big fan of seafood, got the Mexican Paella. They both encouraged me to get the Lamb with mole. The Paella had fish, calamari, shrimp, and chicken on a bed of Spanish rice with some peppers. Everything was battered and fried except the tiny shrimp and chicken bits. He didn't care for it. I was more fond of the dish and would give it a B- if you are in the mood for fried seafood. Like I said, the shrimp were teeny, it wasn't what we were expecting, and there was one BIG piece of funky calamari that was scary but the rings were good (though small). My lamb with mole was served with mashed potatoes. Great presentation, however, did not taste good. I'm a mole fan and didn't care for the overly spiced sauce. Way too much cinnamon, cloves, and I think ginger. The potatoes were not well prepared... bland city and had undercooked chunks. The meat was edible, but overpowered by the spice cabinet emptied in the sauce and not juicy or tender. He didn't care for it either. The service was good, the chips and salsas good, everything else was mundane.
(2)
Beatriz T.

Was invited by a couple friends to meet here for dinner. We pulled up and I was kinda put off as it was like in a tiny strip mall, but we walked in and it's such a cute place. Small, but very cute and most importantly BYOB!!! We brought our own bottle of Patron and were only charged 10 bucks for them to make up margarita pitchers. It's nowhere near the best Mexican food, but the empanadas were pretty good and the service was extremely friendly. I would come back if I happened to be in the area meeting friends.
(2)
Dana G.

Date night stocked with La Fin Du Monde and Modus Hoperandi. Looking for a BYOB. Yelp led us to this strip mall wonder. Free parking! Yes! We were greeted and asked if we had reservations. We didn't but it was not a problem and were seated right away. I swear I turned my head for a second to close the bag after getting the beers out and the server already had all our beers poured into glasses.. whoa. ninja. My small bladder had me in the "pi pi room" more than once and even though you have to walk through the kitchen to get to it, the staff was so polite and friendly as I invaded their turf. Stellar A+ service all around. The food was amazeeee. The salsa is nice and spicy! Get. The. Ceviche! Sooo fresh and flavorful. They pour it over chips that somehow never got soggy. (on second thought it's probably because the 4 of us wolfed it down in record time, just sparing a few fingers in the process) I got a burrito and it was ooey gooey cheesy and tasted great even reheated later. It was huge I couldn't finish it.... that doesn't mean I would turn down a free desert. One bite of the Tres Leches cake and suddenly I had room for more. I normally don't like Tres Leches but this was different. It tasted like the most heavenly light and moist cheesecake ever. I don't remember what anyone else ordered because I was in burrito land, but I heard no complaints. Everything was good. The decor is cozy and modern. The place is not too big but its not cramped. We went around Valentine's Day and they even had a little bowl of conversation hearts at the table! Adorable. Save some cash without sacrificing service or flavor. Definitely hit up La Ciudad!
(5)
Denise A.

By far the best Mexican restaurant in the city. Get over the location because it's really not that bad. We've both driven and taken the bus, sat inside and outside (LOOOOOVE the makeshift patio!! Awesome idea!) numerous times each and there has never been a thing to worry about. On to the food. Amazing. We've tried all different things and everything has been wonderful. You can always tell how good the food will be by the chips and salsa so the minute we sat down the first time we knew it would be a treat. The owners are wonderful. They know who we are every time and chat and see how we're doing. Hugs all around! That is service!! Anyways. All around amazing place. Definitely definitely give it a try!
(5)
Jarod S.

This place makes my heart melt. The servers are super attentive and friendly, the food is delicious, atmosphere is nice and it's BYOB. I've eaten here with large groups, on dates and for breakfast and each time has been great. It's just around the corner from my place and while most people think it's in a "sketchy" area it's got a good vibe. I'll eat here over that dog food at Ceasars or El Mariachi in happy-Lincoln Park-Lakeview-land any day!
(5)
Heather B.

This is by far one of my favorite places to eat in Chicago. It's a gem. The owner greets each guest at the door with a welcome and handshake. He remembers us each time we come in. I love paella and I am loving it at La Ciudad! It is stuffed with flavor and not skimpy on the seafood like other restaurants can be. The food is delicious and a pretty great price. The chorizo is great, the guacamole is very good, and the salsas are perfect! It may be located in a less than desirable location, but it is worth going! The place is warm and cozy and the staff are very nice. We have become regulars and have to pace ourselves on how often we go!
(5)
Colleen C.

7 guests. Mexican bests. Friday night. Budget tight. La Ciudad! My amiable group of 7 arrived at 630 (reservations recommended for larger groups) and after traversing the DANGEROUS 'hood (tongue in cheek) and seedy strip mall (but with strip malls does come free strip mall parking, alas), we entered beloved La Ciudad. We drank, we ate...the bill arrived and no one freaked out. Hurrah! Comfortable, stylish red booths and modern interior, low lights, buzzing patrons, BYOB and exceptional service. Truly exceptional on a busy Friday night when everyone wants to eat NOW, they all load up their own booze, etc. It was without a doubt, flawless. The food? Pretty darn swell...as anticpated. My taco dinner was a tad bland, but other dishes really stood out like garlic shrimp, guac, burrito dinner, flautas and tostada dinner. The Tres Leches cake ($5!?) was absolutely fantastic, and not a bite was left. Many "ooooohs" emitted from the table around, even from those swearing they simply did not have room for dessert. No one can resist this Tres Leches, yo. It's crazy good. Your own wine/beer. Your own family. Your own sanity. Need to entertain? La Ciudad to the rescue in Uptown. Hot date, but pinching pennies? La Ciudad will impress. Total = $130/tip for a fam stuffed and drunk silly, plus tres leches. Math? Less than $20/pp. You'd pay almost this much at a taqueria with 1/10 the ambience!
(4)
Amy H.

Giant shrimp stuffed with cheese and wrapped in crispy bacon. That should really be all that you need to know but I'll add that the owner and staff were very hospitable and the ceviche was delicious. Also, the sopes were pretty good. There is a corkage fee, which is to be expected, but other than that we weren't charged for anything extra as other reviews have stated.
(4)
Rhonda G.

My rule when trying a new Mexican place is to go with something typical and simple. If they get it right I will proceed. Unfortunately I was not impressed with my food. Dry chicken tacos, mushy rice that was neither Mexican nor worthy of being called rice. My black beans were a bit salty but the best thing on the plate. In a city such as this one with Mexican options in every direction, I'll leave La Ciudad to its current fan base The place is very unassuming on the outside, yet very nice on the inside. I think the food matches what you expect from the exterior.
(2)
Helen A.

Its true that the run down strip mall this restaurant is in should not be a judge for what you'll find inside the restaurant: A cozy atmosphere and friendly staff. Before I go off on a rant, as reviews often do, the bottom line for me: its a friendly BYOB place that i feel bad giving an eeeh review to, but....the food was not great, ok, but not great. Would only return with a big group that loves BYOB. I mostly tried the seafood dishes, so perhaps veer away from those and it might live up to the raves. Pricewise was just a touch high for the quality.
(3)
Scott B.

Came by for Sunday brunch and found the place near-empty around noon-thirty. I had the fresh-tasting and veggie-filled Omletta Latina. It came with an okay side of diced potatoes with ketchup. Girlfriend had tasty chorizo tacos and refried beans though she says her rice tasted like it came from a box. Good service that remembered to put my sour cream on the side and brought us additional lime slices when we asked for them. Looks better inside than outside.
(3)
Daniel W.

La Ciudad is the best Mexican restaurant period! The Staff Hugo, the owner, is the nicest most genuine individual I have ever met. He makes you want to come to La Ciudad just to come see him. The other wait staff are very prompt and friendly. The Food La Ciudad's food is amazing. Large portions at a great price. I have tried almost everything (we are regulars and go a few times a month) and the food is amazing. Is it better than Frontera? No, is Frontera's food better than La Ciudad, maybe a tiny bit, but not for the price. The only Con The area leaves much to be desired with a very dangerous feel. With that being said, we risk our lives day after day just for the experience/food at La Ciudad.
(5)
Chad V.

I would love to give this place 5 stars but my food took a while. However, when it came it was simply DELICIOUS. I'm not sure if the mole is homemade but it was the best I've ever had and I've been to a handful of decent mexican restaurants in the city. Ceviche was delicious and we received a free tres leches for the wait. Kind of wondering what's up with the 220lb limit on the chairs, (sorry... if you're 215lbs and eat a burrito you're going to have to move to a bench). However, the atmosphere is GREAT FOR A DATE and the price is nice. I will be coming back!
(4)
Amanda M.

My husband and I are new to the area and we like to hit up local places. After reading the reviews of La Ciudad, we decided to give it a try. Our waiter (we think he may have some ownership in the restaurant) was incredibly nice and the food was great. We tried the pork taco special, the guacamole, the chicken tacos and the tres leches and it was all really good. They do not serve drinks, but it is BYOB, which they were more than helpful to supply us with glasses for our drinks. In Florida, BYOB does not exist, so I am really enjoying these places! La Ciudad is right off the red line, but it seems to be in a risky part of town given all the police blue lights. However, we had no problems and we will definitely go back again.
(4)
Christi D.

The first two times I went to La Ciudad, I was extremely satisfied and surprised by this tucked away spot. They supply you with a margarita mix for $10 if you bring your own tequila! This was a huge plus for me because I love a good margarita. But, the last time I went, I felt like I was drinking straight lime juice! It was so weird because we had brought in a HUGE bottle of tequila. Well, when they brought my bottle back, they had barely used ANY - and we ordered TWO pitchers. Needless to say, I did not get my $20 worth of margaritas that night and the service was pretty bad. We were constantly waiting. I'm giving La Ciudad 4 stars because the food is, in fact, delicious and on most nights - the service is great. I definitely recommend anyone looking for authentic Mexican food to this place! The Chile Relleno and flautas are my favorite!
(4)
Tera D.

What a find!!! Thank you Yelp, directing me somewhere awesome in a neighborhood I'd never otherwise venture into. This place is in a super random, dingy looking strip mall. But when you walk in you're transported into a world of casual gourmet dining. We ordered all the specials, so I'm not super helpful for recommending dishes. The bottom line, though, is order something saucy, because the chef is clearly a sauce genius. The bf had a mole dish, and it was the best mole I've ever tried. Mine was a fish dish with a tangy tomato based sauce that I could have licked off the plate. And then, no matter how full you are (and you will be VERY full), order the tres leches cake!!!!!!! Just do it. You won't be sorry.
(5)
Richie D.

Amidst Uptown's chaos sits La Ciudad. The name doesn't refer to Chicago but THE city of the world in population, Meso-American history/culture, and peligro: El Distrito Federal de Mexico (Mexico City). I stepped in here on a hot summer day to only a humungous fan being the only thing keeping us from peeling over dead. With the haphazard noises outside and bums a walkin' in front of this strip mall storefront, I truly felt like I was in La Ciudad. The open arms of the owner and aromas coming out of the kitchen was what kept me alive and not frightened. First off, it's BYOB so bring that chilled bottle of white, or bold, dark red wine. We started off with the ceviche with shrimp and tilapia soaked in fresh, acidic lime juice with plenty of serving chips to dig in. It was refreshing and ceviche without the fishy "Chicken of the Sea" taste. As for an entree, I couldn't let myself get anything other than the POLLO EN MOLE and thankfully I didn't get detoured from choosing another menu item. The boney chicken was full of shreddable moisture and all flavors of the complex spices that goes in to mole. It was extremely savory and not too spicy or sweet. That's my biggest recommendation. The owner said we must get dessert--those darn Latinos never want you to leave their place unsatisfied or with a bit of empty stomach space. He recommended the MOCHA FLAN and offered to buy it if we disliked it. Usually I eat anything in front of me, however, flan is written in dark ink to avoid at all costs: sluggish consistency, ugly look running with juices, gelatin touch, and blah taste. I take back everything negative I've said!! This mocha flan was flavorful, more mousse-like instead of gelatin, and a perfect ending to our Mexican meal. With this in mind, I still probably won't eat flan anywhere other than at La Ciudad fearing that it will not be near as good. MOLE (and edible flan) SEARCH: COMPLETE!
(5)
E L.

Customer service is off the charts, the manager will always make sure the customer is happy, and the food is awesome. We regularly eat here and we love it.
(5)
Mike P.

I'm withholding the 5th star until I have an opportunity to dine in, maybe this weekend. Anyway, last weekend, after spending the last 3 1/2 years living in Uptown and never visiting La Ciudad, I finally ordered take out for my wife and I. I thought my burrito was great and the wife enjoyed her tacos so we can definitely head back sometime. Need to bring my dad too as he's a Mexican food junkie. He also loves Pho, but not at the same time. That would be gross. Anyway, La Ciudad: Scary to walk or drive to, warm and inviting with great food on the inside. Huzzah!!!
(4)
Anuj S.

Very hard to decide how to rate this place. It's one of those places where my reviews are mixed. Service: So they made quite a few mistakes in service, in my opinion. But somehow they always redeemed themselves at the end of the day, so I'm not really dinging them for service. For example, I called ahead and was told I'm added to a waiting list. The wait was supposed to be 35 minutes. We arrived after 30 and I was told that the wait is 20 minutes. I was like... OK, then why did I call ahead? The guys asked me, well what did I tell you on the phone? I'm like, you told me 35 minutes and that was 30 minutes ago. He kind of denied it. Then all of a sudden he felt like being kind again and sort of seated us at a temporary table and said we could move as soon as a bigger table is available. Very nice of him in the end. We ordered with one waiter, and then another waiter came and asked if we had questions about the menu. Both guys look very similar, they must be brothers. :-) So it was confusing for a second, but then I realized that there were 2 separate guys. Anyways, he apologized and moved on. When serving our enchiladas, they brought them out with verde (green) sauce when we clearly ordered ranchera (red) sauce. Upon pointing that out, he immediately volunteered to get that fixed. One big positive at the end... for no apparent reason, they brought us a free tres leche dessert. It was delicious. I gotta say, if they hadn't done that, I think I would've had to think real hard to go one star lower on the rating. As it stands right now I'm going to be very understanding and not ding them on service at all. Throughout, I have to say that the waiter was very nice. Always smiling and following up with us, so I'm gonna say good service, despite a few execution mistakes. Hey, I'm easy. Food: So if it's not service, then why only 3 stars? Most people on yelp have given them 4 or 5. Well, I think the food was hit or miss. The chips and salsa were really good. They actually bring out two salsa; the red one was much better than the green, imho. Then I tried the tostadas, and they were quite good. I think it was the black beans. They were really flavorful. Also corn and other toppings were a nice touch. Then the enchiladas. So they brought out a second set of them with ranchera sauce instead of verde sauce and they were just OK. I think the sauce was kind of weak. The cheese wasn't that great, either. Kind of on the drier side. Now, I don't know if they didn't turn out as well, since they pretty much rushed to put them together due to the wrong sauce mistake the first time around, or not, but bottomline they were very average. The the complimentary tres leche cake. It was excellent. But food overall, average, I think. It is a BYOB, so that's really cool. Definitely a plus. That's about it... overall a mixed experience.
(3)
Minh D.

Excellent authentic Mexican food here. I would call this place fine Mexican restaurant. I was impressed on my first time here. Salsa.... ground up using blender.... resulting in much more flavorful dips. chips are great, not so hard like most places. Horchata, best I have tasted! Ceviche (old school made with tilapia) best I have tried. Chille Rellenos - slightly better than most restaurant but not the best. Service is great, comparable to high end restaurants. Location? Hmm.... This restaurant does not belong here, in a neighbor surrounded by CHA subsidized high rises... you will see many shady individuals hanging around the block when coming to this restaurant. If you don't mind going to this type of hood. The food here is exceptional, a bit expensive but the high quality more than makes up for it.
(5)
Darrin T.

Really, really amazing food, and BYOB to boot! Queso fundido was top-notch, and not greasy... which is rare. Great quality cheese and chorizo. The sopes are also delectable. The star if the night was the pork loin in tomatillo sauce, with mashed potatoes. Tender, tasty pork and some of the best mashed taters I have ever tasted!!! So, why not a 5? The split plate charge ($4). Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate it for people who come in and split an entree between 2 people and get nothing else. $4 is still a bit high- but I get it. But we had 2 appetizers (@ $9 EACH!!) plus a pitcher of Margaritas, and split an entree. You made your $$$ off of us, don't go the cheapskate route and charge us a split plate fee.... and if you DO, how about actually SPLITTING the frikkin' plate?!! It still came out on ONE plate, so what was the stupid fee for??!!!! So it was a sour ending to an otherwise fantastic meal. We will go back, but make sure we "play the game" and order one of our apps as a main course to avoid the $4 "idiot fee".
(4)
Jonny V.

Great service and some delicious food. The salsa is really good and Grandma's coffee had a great spicy kick to it. We've been here a few times and we'll definteily go back.
(5)
Phallon P.

Came here a few days ago with a group of friends, the food was great, the presentation was great and the waitstaff was very nice and accommodating. I look forward to coming back.
(4)
Caroline A.

I don't eat Mexican food very often, so La Ciudad was a nice treat for me! It is a cute little restaurant located in a strip mall with fresh food, great service and a parking lot!! Yes! I have to agree with the other yelpers - the ceviche was excellent. Fresh and light with chunks of tilapia and shrimp, the dish has a tangy kick to it. Portion sizes are pretty hearty too, so you might want to share with a friend. I had their chicken tacos. And I almost ate the whole thing. The marinated chicken was a bit on the salty side, but was balanced out by the rest of the plate. I loved the Spanish rice as well. Service was very good. I would come here more often if I lived in the area!
(4)
Dina R.

WOW!!! If you are looking for exceptional service and tasty food all wrapped up in a small cozy atmosphere, this is the place to go!!! The food tasted very fresh with its own homemade twist. The restaurant is small, but it works. It has a very nice feel and isn't very loud. The thing that impressed me most about La Ciudad was the service. I think its the best service I have received in a restaurant in a long time. As soon as your drink needed to be refilled, they were on it! If you ran out of salsa, they made sure you had more, and they were extremely friendly! I would highly recommend this place to anyone!
(5)
Caroline M.

I went here today and ordered a vegetarian burrito. It came out and looked lovely... then I cut into it. All that was inside was lettuce and corn! I was so disappointed. However, I told the waiter and he corrected the problem. He promptly brought me out another dish... vegetarian empanadas with rice and beans. It was very good and at the end of the meal they also brought us out a free slice of tres leches cake. The overall service was very good, but their version of a veggie burrito leaves much to be desired.
(3)
Julia C.

Some of the best mexican food in Chicago......if you can make it through the horrible neighborhood to get there. Located in a strip mall off Sheridan, this place does not seem like it's something special. It really is a diamond in the rough. From the outside looking in, you know you're somewhere special. Everything we've had from here is amazing in including a mole chicken, and a shimp dish. Most recently we went here for takeout to go to a movie in the park. We got the appetizer plate and a salad, both were amazing. The meat is all top quality tasting, very flavorful and moist. The salsas are incredible too. Definitely worth walking through the neighborhood to get to.
(4)
Silvana P.

My now husband and I went to this restaurant a few months ago and forgot to write a review. This restaurant TOTALLY ROCKED MY WORLD. EVERYTHING WAS AWESOME, I mean EVERYTHING! From the salsa to apps, to entrees to dessert....SO SO DELICIOUS. You MUST go!!!!
(5)
Ashley W.

Wow, this place is the business! Granted it's located between Wilson & Sheridan one of the most sketchiest places in Chicago, but the place & the food is awesome. A group of us went on a Monday night, and we were the 1st patrons there. The server was super nice and somehow managed to turn out 1 bottle of Margarita mix into 3 pitchers-Awesome! The table shared homemade guac & chips (really fresh), camarones el diablo (shrimp were not overcooked and had a nice heat that wasn't overbearing), pollo en moe & enchiladas with mole (some of the best mole I've had in a very long time). We were super stuffed and it was great to lounge around and not feel rushed to leave/ Definitely give this place a chance and remember it's a BYOB.
(4)
Jay H.

We stopped in here for lunch. The people were friendly and helpful. The man who seemed to be the owner stopped by and checked in on us. The food was good. I ordered a "tarta" not really knowing what to expect and what I got was a delicious sandwich was perfect for a lunch that didn't weigh me down. We had the kids with us and they liked it too.
(4)
Peter C.

Overall a good experience...was a bit cramp.
(4)
Jennifer S.

This restaurant is in an area that truly needs quality businesses! The service is fantastic..everyone is very kind and attentive. The food is very good..I Love the ceviche and the deserts are the perfect finish! Thanks!
(5)
Tiffany N.

I have been here about 3 times, going back tonight and EVERY time. The service is fantastic, the food is phenomenal, the atmosphere is chill. I think the location isn't that great but its worth being in the area. I loveeeee this restaurant.
(5)
Sean R.

We have been here three times and it has never dissappointed. The service is beyond outstanding. You can tell that they love what they do in this restaurant and are truly appreciative that you chose to visit them. As for reviews about charges for corkage and extra chips etc. I just don't see it. First of all, if you can't afford to go out eat at home. Secondly, there is nothing in this restaurant that I would call overpriced so personally I would not complain about paying few extra bucks here or there. The food and service make it worth it anyway. We have had the Angel Combo, Mahi Mahi, Ceviche, Calamari, Chicken in Mole, Corizo Tacos among other things. No complaints on any of it. Go here, you will be treated well and you will eat well. Period
(5)
rachel c.

A sophisticated Mexican restaurant situated in a surprising location, between Pollo Loco and Miss Eggroll. Don't let the location fool you! The food was really good. Very inexpensive (most dishes around $10). Good portion sizes. Attentive and respectful server. Simple yet nice decor. Apps were great. Queso fundido with poblano peppers. Ceviche on tortilla chips. A nice zesty salad. I had the chicken enchiladas for an entree with the verde sauce. Quite tasty. The refried beans were great. I didn't love my rice, but my friend loved hers. My boyfriend had the garlic shrimp dish, which was quite tasty, though surprisingly in a cream sauce. And I have a gluten allergy, which was not a problem at all. Definitely worth more than one visit.
(4)
Jeff N.

I went to La Ciudad the other night after a friend of mine suggested that we all go to a restaurant that none of us had ever been to before. My experience was excellent, for the following reasons: (1) Due to personal oversight and misunderstanding, me and a friend both ordered dinners that had ground beef in it--as we were both vegetarians, this was slightly problematic. The waiter was very calm about it and immediately offered to bring us the same meal only veggie style. The vegetarian taco dinner was amazing--it was mostly a corn base with other vegetables and spices mixed in. So the taste started out on the sweeter side, but had a bit of a zing to it. The meal was also served with this rice that was out of this world amazing. (2) We followed up dinner with a dessert--the Mango Cheesecake. Incredible. That's all I can really say about it. (3) The restaurant itself and the staff all contributed to such a quaint, comfy kind of atmosphere. Note: It is BYOB, but there is a $3 corking fee, per bottle. Slightly irritating, but the rest of your experience will make up for it! I'll definitely be going back again soon!
(5)
Chris U.

I have been wanting to go to this place ever since I heard of it opening a few months ago. I saw pictures of it online, and the place just looked cool. I went there with my fiancee last weekend, 2.20.2010, and had a great meal. I have to say that it isn't in the best location, but we walked there around 6:30pm, and we were fine. We walked home after dinner around 8 and again we were fine. It is uptown, get over it. When we walked in we were immediately greeted with a smile from a man, he sat us right away. With in a minute there was chips and salsa on the table. The salsa was fantastic. We ordered some guacamole, which was also good. For my entree I order the special for that evening which was a roasted beef rib, with a side of potatoes. It was so delicious!! The meat was tender, and tasty. I hope they have this special the next time I go back. My fiancee had bacon wrapped shrimp, and said that it was good also, but she kept eating my beef rib. The service was impeccable, my glass was never more then half empty, the water guy must have come by 15 times. I was really thirsty. To top this all of it is a BYOB!! You cant beat that. One negative is that there isn't really any liquor stores close by, at least we didn't see any, so we had to walk down to the Jewel on Montrose and Sheridan. It wasn't that far, but it would be nice if there was one in the strip mall. I will be coming back here for sure!! Also make sure to make a reservation well in advance, the place is tiny, and fills up quick.
(4)
KL M.

Absolutely DELICIOUS dishes, presented beautifully. My husband & I tried quite a few dishes on the menu & consequently were so full that we had to take half of our entrees home. The ceviche was very fresh & outstanding. Our entrees, both specials, were divine. Great service too. We'll be coming back for sure!!!
(5)
Dejan B.

We were very happy with this place. The service was great, very nice, attentive, and virtually bending over backwards for us without being annoying. The food came promptly and to say it was delicious does not begin to describe its culinary quality. The steak we had was seasoned perfectly (though I personally needed to add some salt it would do fine without) and it was grilled awesomely. The beans and the rice were also great. And I ate almost 2-1/2 baskets of chips with that awesome red sauce. You REALLY need to try the chips with that red sauce (the green one was not as good) but I think the red one had some crack in it...mmmmm...The place is on the smaller side but enough space and most importantly for me that night had a restroom ;) Another great thing was there was a free parking lot with ample space and even a nice fenced in patio to sit outside when the weather is nicer. I would highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)
Christopher C.

Homerun! Food was delicious. Menu was original. Service was on the ball! My wife and I will definately return. Ceviche could be best in city ever.
(5)
Evan T.

Man, I love this place. I've tried most everything on the menu and my favorite has to be the Camarones del Diablo. The mole chicken is a close second. The food is great but the service is what makes this a five star rating.
(5)
Alina S.

Their steak burrito is the best on the north side, hands down. The mole is also fantastic. I'll definitely be back to try more dishes. The restaurant is a surprise in the ratty strip mall, next to the really awful chinese place next door, but it's worth the trip.
(5)
Tom G.

Easily the best restaurant in Chicago. I have been coming here for almost 2 years now, and never been disappointed. The service is amazing, my friends and family are always treated like royalty - as if we were the only customers in the place. Out of town guests I've brought here always ask for a return trip when they come visit again. The guacamole and ceviche are fresh and tasty, and everything from the chicken mole to carne asada to steak tacos are fantastic. If they have the special chicken tamale steamed in a banana leaf, do yourself a favor - it's one of the best things I've ever eaten. Thank you Armando, Hugo, Dylan, (and everyone else) for making this such a welcoming, special place in Uptown.
(5)
Scott T.

The food was delicious and the service was charming. I had the chicken burrito suizo; juicy chicken and vegetables all topped with chihuahua cheese and served with a side of rice and beans. The place is byoyb so we walked to the liquor store and got a bottle of Jose and our server made us some delicious frozen margaritas. Our experience could not have been better. Thanks, La Ciudad!
(5)
Michael A.

I have visited many Mexican restaurants all over Chicago and in some parts of the country. This place is like many of them, nothing special stands out although there are some dishes that you may not find in all Mexican restaurants. As an appetizer I had the shrimp in the chipotle sauce. The shrimp was good but the sauce wasn't at all spicy and it did not have much chipotle flavor. My girlfriend ordered enchiladas and they were not the best I ever tasted but they were alright, much like most restaurants. Same thing with the rice and beans, ordinary. I had the burrito which was a little disappointing. not only was it smaller than most burritos but it did not have all the ingredients a burrito typically has. Finally the desert. The waiter said that he recommended the flan so we ordered the flan. It turned out to be the same as any other flan. It tasted good but there was nothing special about it. The service was good and friendly. The place inside was nicely decorated and it was cozy. you would think that a place like this would be in a more upscale neighborhood but it is not. Every time I looked out the window I felt like I was in the ghetto, then I realized that we actually were in the ghetto. I would only give this place two and a half stars and half a star for their choice of music (Prince Royce). They should either improve their food or lower their prices just a bit.
(3)
Tanya W.

This place is really a hidden gem. If you want high quality delicious Mexican food for a great price, you have to check out La Ciudad. Plus, it's BYOB! You can't beat it! The service is great and most importantly the food is always top notch! I usually get the chicken burrito b/c it's so fresh and tasty, but recently I tried the skirt steak and chile relleno...all I can say is phenomenal! Definitely check out this place if you have a group of friends that would like to share great food and as much booze as you can carry in!
(5)
Neecy L.

Horrible. The place was not that crowded and I waited 30 minutes for my tacos. It's 2.50 for one taco...overpriced! And the steak was soooo dry! On top of that they added lime to my meat. The service is good, the food is horrible
(2)
Fred S.

We had another great meal at La Ciudad. Great guacamole, tostadas, black bean soup, lamb chops and paella! The mole that came with the lamb chops was chocolatey, smoky and spicy but didn't overwhelm the lamb. Service is wonderful. This restaurant is a diamond in the rough!
(5)
B W.

A true hidden gem. This is the kind if restaurant that makes chicago one of the best places to eat. You come here to be wowed by food, and that's it. You're not paying for ambience or location or status, just some of the best food you can come by in a modest part of chicago's north side. I wouldn't change a thing at la ciudad; the food and service scream of professionalism and talent, and I know I'll be back in here enjoying many more meals to come. Highly, highly recommended
(5)
Alex K.

Wanted to update my original review from about 2 years ago to say that I still absolutely love La Ciudad - so much so, I got engaged there! I currently live in the suburbs, but when my fiancee and I started dating, I lived in the city. In April I was ready to propose, and we went to the city to celebrate the 4th anniversary of our first date by going for margaritas at Cesar's on Clark - the same place we went that first night. For dinner, I made us reservations at La Ciudad. After some libations, we headed north, found a spot to park right outside, and our table was ready right at 7:30. We brought some win and they brought glasses and poured for us. Right from the start, I knew one thing hadn't changed: the great service. The staff is friendly and extremely helpful. We ordered the queso fundido with chorizo to go along with the complimentary chips and salsa as an appetizer - delicious!! I'm a sucker for just about anything with chorizo in it and the cheese blend was delicious. It did get a little 'rubbery' as it cooled, but that's what happens when you make your queso with real cheese, not velveeta. :) For entrees, I went with the Camarones Rellenos -stuffed shrimp. Giant, succulent shrimp stuffed with cheese, deep friend, and wrapped in bacon. HEAVENLY. Served with rice and veggies in a delicious sauce. I will definitely order it again. My other half went with the Carne Tampiquena - marinated skirt steak with an enchilada. She loved it and the steak was perfectly seasoned, bursting with flavor, and incredibly tender. For dessert we decided on one of the specials, the Guava Empanada. It was fresh and hot with the delicious guava filling in the center and served with vanilla ice cream and a chocolate drizzle, fantastic! At this point my girlfriend excused herself to use the restroom. The waiter cleared away the dessert dishes and I left the ring box at her seat. She didn't notice it at first - in fact, our server noticed it before she did! He broke into a broad smile and said 'Congratulations!!' at which point my soon-to-be fiancee finally noticed the jewelry box sitting in front of her. She was thrilled, and the staff made it such a nice experience. They came out with a camera to take pictures of us and seemed really happy that I chose to do it at their restaurant. They even brought us out a round of shots of some really excellent blanco style tequila and limes, on the house! A huge, HUGE thumbs up to the entire staff a La Ciudad for making our night so memorable. If only I still lived in the city I'd be eating there weekly! Great food, and amazing service with a huge smile. EAT HERE!
(5)
H W.

This is my new favorite place!! Both the food and the service are amazing. Mole and tres leches--best I have ever had. You need to go here.
(5)
Y. W.

I've had food from here twice. I have tried the ground beef tacos and the steak torta. Both were amazing. I was suprised at how huge the torta was. There food isn't greasy and almost tastes healty. My only complaint is, the resturant looks too dark inside and they dont have the hours or an open/closed sign on the windows. My mom suggested that to them and the woman behind the counters reply was, "you think we should...? someone else suggested that to us, too". The service was great.
(4)
Odette O.

My husband & I had a last minute decision last Saturday night to have dinner a La Ciudad. It was a fantastic idea! We arrived around 8pm, and the place was packed except for a table for two. The hosts kindly held the table for us while we ran down the street to Jewel to pick up some beer. Awesome! This was just the beginning of the great service. They were so friendly and attentive to us. The atmosphere was great - fun and relaxed. And, most importantly, the food was good. Loved the ceviche. We also LOVED the TWO (yes, two) desserts which they brought to us to try while we settled our check - for free! In fact, the flan and the sorbet were the best part of our meal. Our server insisted that we try the flan. And another server just brought the sorbet along for the hell of it. Great way to end such a welcoming experience. We will be back. And thanks La Ciudad, for hosting such a perfect last-minute decision dinner.
(5)
Gerardo A.

La Ciudad serves the BEST steak tacos in town. Also, the Chilango burger is amazing.
(5)
Matthew R.

We had really great mole chicken here, as well as a very good steak tostada. The food was great, but the customer service was excellent. The waiter was very accommodating of every request and even brought us a free desert just because. I highly recommend La Ciudad.
(5)
B.J. S.

What a great surprise. We were looking for a place we could walk to in Uptown and found this on Yelp. The staff was very attentive and kind. The food was delicious. We had the burrito and the chicken with mole. They had two different kids of salsa with the chips and they put our beer in the cooler. We will definitely be going back for more!
(4)
Joe P.

WOW WOW WOW!! I just got back from La Ciudad a few minutes ago. What a GREAT place. The staff was extremely friendly and the food was exceptional. Their Guacamole was the best I've ever had. I also had the Chicken with Mole and my friend Adam had the Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp. We both thought this was the best new restaurant we've tried in years. We can't wait to go back!
(5)
Elsa R.

La Ciudad is a very welcome addition to the Uptown dining scene. The decor is spare but chic, the food is delicous and the service is very courteous and friendly. The restaurant doesn't try to hit you over the head with the fact that it serves Mexican food -- no blaring music or stereotypical decorations assault you while you're dining. The owners really want to contribute to making the neighborhood more lively and livable, so, in return, the neighborhood should support this restaurant.
(4)
Tracy R.

I love love love La Ciudad! Mwah! My husband read something about it somewhere and we're always up for trying something new so we went in one Saturday evening. The place was small and every table was full... very high energy, but beautifully lit, and the smells coming from the open kitchen were incredible. Our waiter was this enigmatic man who made fantastic suggestions and he really truly made us feel welcome, like we were regulars. BYOB is always a bonus too. This place feels like a secret that all the foodies and smarties are in on. Yes, it's in a totally dicey neighborhood, but you can park right in the lot out front. The food here is incredible- everything I've tried from the shrimp wrapped in bacon and stuffed with cheese to the enchiladas en mole have been sublime. Our waiter assured me that they have a unique and wondrous flan and although as I told him, we're not flan fans (something about that jiggly, slightly sweaty texture is such a turn off) we agreed to try it. I'm generally not one for desserts in Latin cuisine so I was pleasantly shocked when my gorgeous mocha flan arrived looking like a heavenly slice of cheesecake. OMG. I don't know and I don't WANT to know how the chef does it, but LaCiudad flan is like a cross between cheesecake, creme brulee, and mousse. I've taken many friends here and they've all had the same opinion - no one I know every orders flan anywhere but this place. I actually ended up here on my birthday this summer and one of my friends covertly told our waiter that it was my birthday... well I had the first ever birthday flan, complete with candle, presented by every single employee singing and smiling and really making me feel like I was a part of THEIR family. This gringa was *touched*. Their tres leches cake is also in a league of its own.... This is just a incredible place with the most amazing staff, a comfortable and stylish space, excellent and creative dishes, surprisingly low prices, and exactly the right atmosphere for a couple of friends or a date. Brave the neighborhood and you may even have a story to tell, besides the one about how awesome your dinner was :o)
(5)
Marie K.

Fantastic food, get the appetizer sampler. Very friendly service. Will be my new go to for Mexican food.
(5)
Gretchen H.

The food is absolutely delicious! Everything about this place is fantastic! I would recommend La Ciudad to everyone.
(5)
Lisa D.

Once you get over the sketchy strip mall that this is located in (and yes, it can be a bit smokey but it's not so bad), you will totally have a great experience here! EVERYONE that served us was so super nice and not too pushy. Plus, the food was fantastic! We ordered the ceviche (absolutely delicious), the skirt steak and enchiladas verde (chicken). We couldn't be more pleased with everything we ate--very flavorful and well prepared. No complaints about the food at all. We didn't have time for dessert but will definitely return again!
(4)
Christopher T.

Excellent neighborhood restaurant. Friendly wait-staff. Wonderful food! BYOB! A must try!
(5)
Sara V.

Holy Guacamole! I seem to have a tradition of going to Mexican restaurants for my birthday. So this last year, thanks to Yelp, I chose La Ciudad for it's proximity, prices, and BYOB-ness. An excellent choice to start off a new year right! The food was delicious. I recall the standout being the Avocado and Mango salad that a friend had, but every. single. dish. was tasty. Service was fantastic, even before a friend notified them that it was my birthday. They were funny, attentive, and managed not to seem frazzled, even though it was a busy Friday night. Oh boy is this place small though. We had a group of 5 and that seemed to be about as large of a group they could fit in (on a busy night like a Friday at any rate). But the ambiance was perfect, somehow intimate even though you could easily tune into the conversations at other tables, somehow happening even though I'm not really sure what that word means, and fun fun fun! Plainly put, I loved La Sierra (the birthday Tres Leches cake didn't hurt) and I will absolutely return.
(5)
Javier Q.

Hola!!! So my friend had his dinner party here. I like to try new places n ive had my fair share of mexican food around the city. I dont like to be mean....I just like to say the truth...n truth is...the food I tasted sucked and it wasnt worth the money in my opinion. Smh Lets start with me recieving the mexican burger..I wanted to try something different than the typical tacos..burritos. Now this burger should had been called mexican or whatever burger its called...but i do have a great new name for it... a HOT MESS BURGER...yup I said it.... a HOT MESS BURGER.... now let me explain why I thought this burger didnt meet the price of $14 lol This burger had 3 types of pig parts on the burger shared by a cow patty... the 3 pig parts is this.... ham..slice of ham... bacon....mmm bacon....and a hot dog...on top of a cow burger....a McDonald's size portion patty might I add.... this combination screams heart attack. ..or a ghetto person created this experiment in their home......drunk. It also contains avocado...tomato...and a slice of half a jalapeÃ±o. Im guessing these ingredients are the mexican touch. This my friends is a hot mess burger...not worth $14 if I were to give this a price I would say free created at a BBQ after u drank 5 hard shots of liqour. .....I do have a great idea u can add as a new mexican burger... a fat burger...cheese...avocado slices...tomato...bacon..roasted poblano...with a chiptole mayonnaise on a fresh delicious bun ...now that's a mexican burger I would create...sounds better than a mixture of pig parts n charge an arm and a leg. I also ordered an appetizer of chorizo quesadilla... it wasnt special..shouldve just called it a taco ... came with 3 chorizo cheese on a corn tortilla...portions were small... Ã—_Ã— I tried my friends stuffed poblano... that was good. Yay ....also tried another dish of shrimp wrapped in bacon which was also good. Would I come back? Nope. Overpriced for the quality of food. Also they r great at cleaning the table...very fast...so quick they took away my small piece of chorizo quesadilla I didnt even finish Ã—_Ã— ...I mean I was going to finish it Ã—_Ã— .... also they brought my friend a bday cake we got for him... after the happy birthday song once again they grabbed the cake quik as shyt. I mean... can we take pictures of him and the cake...together? Lol Also warning if u bring a party... no split checks... pay ALL together ^_^ ..so have fun pulling ur calculator out ur galaxy and iphones n have a fiesta....arrrrrrrrriiiiibaaaaa!!! Have an amazing and delicious day everybody!
(2)
Miguel C.

Ordered food got wrong restaurant refused to refund or replace. It's sad been eating here for years. Will never eat there again just because of the lack customer service.
(1)
Allison E.

Delivery took over an hour to arrive and the burrito I had ordered was soggy and way overpriced.
(3)
G M.

Went with a large group of people. The service was great even for a Sat night. Everyone liked the food. Nothing fancy. Just typical tex-mex. Not one person complained. It was BYOB and everyone brought a variety of things. No charges for all the alcohol and they even put the beer in their fridge to keep it cold for us. We had a great time.
(5)
Peater J.

This place frustrates me.... It really does... Positives: -Really, very good food -Nice Owners -Near my home Cons: -Pricey -Doesn't fit into the neighborhood -Doesn't really live up to it's potential I've been here several times. The food is excellent, it's really is. But, the restaurant doesn't fit the neighborhood and the prices don't fit the neighborhood. I'm never one to complain about prices, but charging nearly 10 bucks for guacamole near the "not-so-great" corner on Sheridan and WIlson is ridiculous. I know Avocados were particularly expensive this year, but 10 bucks is still too much. I dined here not long ago had guacamole and chicken enchiladas and paid 30 bucks with tip. If I could have had the same meal for around 20 bucks with tip, I would come her almost weekly. This restaurant, despite it's awesome food, is perpetually empty. I've never seen the place actually busy nor have I seen customers waiting to be seated here. If this place would just lower it's prices a bit, at least similar to other mexican restaurants in the area, and maybe go for a fast-casual type menu, this place would do great. I also wish the restaurant would lose it's white tablecloth mentality, simplify and and serve a more accessible menu that fits the neighborhood. There's no shame in serving great tacos, burritos, enchiladas, tortas, tamales, while still doing some more upscale food. While they do have those items on the menu, I feel cheap when I don't order the 18 dollar entree. Who wants to look stupid eating a burrito when surrounded by white tablecloths, well-dressed waiters and 20 dollar entrees? Every time I come back here it seems like this restaurant gets more and more expensive and out-of-touch with the neighborhood it's supposed to serve.
(2)
Christian L.

100th time I have been here, always good and consistent. Had their Paella for the first time, all I have to say is lawwddy to da baby jebus it is delicioso. And the owner Hugo the owner is the nicest guy and and as cute as a beanie baby
(5)
Cammeo M.

Excellent food and AMAZING service. The owner took such great care of us and is a wonderful person doing his part to make his community better. Everything was super fresh and made to order. Try the pastor burrito, you won't regret it! Will definitely be back again!
(5)
Gigi V.

Omg. What a find!!! Being of Mexican descent I know what is great Mexican food and this restaurant is top notch on not only authenticity but quality as well. Ordered the carne asada gorditas delish. Also tried the green chili vegetarian enchiladas. They gave corn peepers in them among other fresh ingredients, wow!!! They were also phenomenal!!! I will be back VERY soon!!!
(4)
Julie Y.

Been here a couple of times and have never really enjoyed my food.. The staff is nice and it's pretty entertaining but for reason the food isn't that great.
(3)
Michael Anne A.

Food was overpriced, though I did enjoy it. But it all went downhill when, while waiting for the bathroom that's awkwardly in the middle of the kitchen, my friend and I saw a giant bucket of shrimp just sitting out in the open. So no, methinks not.
(1)
Rosanna L.

BYOB has been the make or break deal lately for my group of 30+. Well with such a large party it's hard to find places that will accommodate us let alone save us some $ on liquor. Luckily, La Ciudad was able too. Very cute interior decor and friendly workers. With such a big party we were forewarn that we would have a limited menu, which is great, so it won't take long for our food to come out. However, most of the options had mole sauce in it and not one of the people in our group really enjoys it. I tried it once and didn't like it had a taste of it here and still can't enjoy it. Also our plates were taken quickly which is great to clear up space, but also it became a little pushy. They asked people for their plates when some of them weren't even done. I had the queso fondido con chorizo and really enjoyed the fullness and flavor of it. The complimentary chips and salsa was decent, but thumbs down for extra charge after the first batch of chips. The tortilla soup was very bland, it's a vegetable soup with tortilla strips dumped on top. Others had the steak and enjoyed it, but avoided the mole. Maybe if I come back I can try other things on the menu besides the overwhelming options of mole.
(3)
Dennis K.

Delicious food, and fast! Living in Edgewater can be difficult to get great food delivered fast. Not only were the burritos and appetizer on point, the delivery guy was courteous. I have also eaten in the restaurant and the quality was excellent. Please go and support this gem!
(5)
Matt M.

Had a really excellent lunch here today. Chicken enchiladas with mole, al pastor burrito, and great chips and salsa. The staff were super friendly and my wife and I plan to come back soon!
(5)
DessSoFresh K.

Okay, their food on the menu is SO PRICEY for food that's good but not amazing. Way too overpriced and would no recommend. Instead, try Fiesta Mexicana if you want to stay in uptown.
(2)
Brett I.

This is one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Chicago. The food is very good, almost as good as the best Mexican places, but it is the service that really makes it outstanding. Hugo, the owner, goes out of his way to make you feel welcome in his restaurant. My favorite dish so far was a special - Pollo Salsa Verde. If you see it on the menu get it. The flavors are out of this world! They have an outdoor seating area. If the weather is nice bring a bottle of Tequila and sit outside. It is BYOB and they have ingredients for making margaritas.
(5)
D M.

Tried this place out for the BYOB option. The food was really good, but very expensive. The service was great, everyone friendly. My husband and I were very happy with this place until we got our bill. We ordered two $15 dishes and nothing else. Our bill came to $48 before tip! They ended up adding TWO CORK FEES FOR 2 BEER CANS! Would have been nice if they had told us. Would have brought 1 bottle of wine instead... Just felt very taken advantage of. Needless to say, we wont be back.
(1)
Jeffie J.

This is a trendy, upscale restaurant in an unappealing location. If you can get over the location (which is not easy to do), you may dine well here. The restaurant itself is red and white, with well spaced tables. The servers are upbeat and know the menu well. We started with ceviche which was tart, tasty and well prepared. Next I had chicken enchiladas in a rich chocolate mole with not a hint of sweetness. My friend had the picadillo and cheese burrito, which he said he enjoyed; I tried it and it didn't seem special at all. The sides were refried beans and rice and were forgettable; the chips were pretty ordinary too. Dessert was a half chocolate, half flan cake, beautifully presented, but it was chilled and not sweet enough to my taste. I have a feeling that this restaurant can do better. It has a sort of clubby feel to it, and that's not something you're going to find easily on this bleak, derelict stretch of Sheridan Avenue. This place didn't live up to its potential, on my visit, at least.
(3)
Native Princess F.

Ruined a Valentine's day dinner for me. :-( I should've kept reading the reviews on this place, had the fundido (microwaved), $22 entree, and dessert for me. The bf had ceviche and fish tacos (ok), was so not worth the $ paid for meal!! The only thing that had any flavor on my plate was the sorry piece of carne asada on it, the stuffed poblano was pbbbt and the rice and beans had absolutely NO FLAVOR. The fried ice cream was okay, nothing I would purchase again...ever. The only reason I gave 2 stars was for the service, service was great!!! Maybe they need to have the waitress in the back cooking, she couldn't possibly do any worse. Save your $ and go elsewhere, Mr Salsa has more flavor for a better price.
(2)
Chetty K.

Not really all that good. The chips are made on site, which is cool. But are greasy enough to kill a horse....that's a real no-shitter, too. Ugh.
(1)
Max P.

I just signed up for Yelp specifically to write this review. I have visited with my girlfriend a handful of times and afterwards I always say, I need to write them a great review. Each time the service is wonderful and the food is outstanding. This place serves gourmet quality dishes for a fraction of the price you would pay in other neighborhoods. Exceptional value. It is never busy, and it may be in crisis if people don't learn about it this hidden gem soon. If you have been on the fence about this place or need a strong recommendation GO HERE NOW! You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Kafi L.

This review is only for desert. My husband had the Carmel tres leche cake and he said it was excellent. Why this area? Not trying to be boogie but Really!!!
(5)
Lee F.

Went in with good expectations. The food certainly was good, at least when we finally got it, that is. We were one of two tables on a Sunday afternoon and the service was terrible. The water was never refilled and the appetizer we ordered was not given to the kitchen. Two of the four in our party did not get what they ordered. To get the waiter to bring the check we had to stand and get our coats on and stand by the door. He was too busy chatting with the cook and some other mystery guest to take care of the customers. Probably won't go back here, since there's much better service pretty much anywhere in the area.
(2)
Sarah W.

I went to La Ciudad last week with a few people who had been visiting from out of town. We sat outside and had Daniel as our server. I can honestly say that Daniel was an Amazing server. He gave our table a lot of attention and was very informative as well as polite. I will say I am stickler for people who have manners and he definitely got my approval for our visit! Kudos to Daniel. As for the food, It was very good! It definitely hit the spot. This place is BYOB. Which I have to give it a two thumbs down for that. I don't know if it's just me but I don't always decide if I am going to drink at dinner until I am at dinner so BYOB places are not for me. This place also has a corking charge, It's not terrible and is pretty cheap. But serving alcohol definitely would be better than having the customers bring their own alcohol. Overall, The service was amazing as well as the food. However, the BYOB factor wasn't ideal..
(4)
Fawn J.

Well only do the free appetizer check in offer if you like Ceviche - no other appetizers allowed. Prices a bit high, but over all seems nice. Food is EXCELLENT! Well worth the cost!
(5)
Peter G.

Amazing food. Great service
(5)
Daniel C.

This is one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in the city. Not only because it's by my house but because the food is fantastic! I've been dining here for a while and my last visit was truly the best. Marcello recognized me as a regular and gave me excellent service as usual. I appreciate it when a restaurant goes a little farther in pleasing their diners. In a great city with wonderful restaurants I choose to go to my regulars for the food, the ambience and the service. Every time I'm here I get incredible service, amazing food and a good dining experience with friends. If your looking for yummy food in a great atmosphere check this place out. You won't be disappointed. Thanks for everything Marcello! I'm a loyal fan!
(5)
Livvy O.

This place really is a diamond in the rough of Uptown. From the outside, it doesn't look like much but the inside is very trendy/modern. I went during lunch so the service was top notch considering it was me and another couple eating in. I ordered the chicken taco meal with rice and beans. I loved that all the ingredients were really fresh. I really enjoyed the rice, considering it's hard to find a place that makes good Mexican rice. The beans looked well prepared... they didn't look like they came from a can like most Mexican restaurants. The chips and salsa were soo good too. The chips tasted like they were freshly made, nice and warm. I loved the red salsa! I devoured all the chips and salsa! Ohhhh, and the best part...the high class Horchata in a wine glass. Not only did it look good, but it tasted fantastic! So freshly made. It's also hard to find a place that makes good Horchata that's not all watered down. Glad I finally found a good Mexican place besides Fiesta on the north side. Prices are reasonable too. And, they have a parking lot!! I can't wait to go back for the desserts...the pictures on here look yummy!
(5)
Mark L.

We love this place! Last night we celebrated a birthday and the staff and owner Hugo made it a really special night. I personally ate the Halibut and believe it to be the best entree on the menu. Others enjoyed the Carne Asada, chicken mole , and paella. We will continue supporting this Uptown Gem.....
(5)
Elizabeth S.

Ok. This place could seriously be a high end hotel restaurant from my experience ordering delivery. Holy crap! I was craving something very late and had called 5 places that were closing etc. finally get on the phone with this place from googling restaurants near by.. The guy that answered the phone was so polite it almost blew my socks off ! It's so hard to find friendly staff like this. He told me they didn't have what I wanted on the menu but they would make it for me !!! Then to make it even better he asked me how my day was ?! I was taken aback at how friendly he was and the delivery guy was sweet too ! Top notch service and it was a delivery! Going to have to go to this place soon.
(5)
Paige M.

It pains me to have to write this, because I love supporting businesses in my neighborhood, but La Ciudad has disappointed me twice. The food was just not impressive for the price. There are so many Mexican joints in Chicago I believe you need to really impress me to justify charging over $10 for a plate that is identical to something down the street. They also have a $5 BYOB cork fee that surprised me at the end. Their windows were smashed in a while ago, which is terrible, but they still haven't fixed them. A huge draft was flowing through the whole time, so I ate with my winter coat on. Overall, very mediocre experience that did not encourage me to come back any time soon.
(2)
Philippe C.

What a pity, we used to love this place but tonight was a disaster. 2 hour wait on food, food really bad, very large loud party with no manners the other side of the restaurant, no apologies or anything and a 5$ a bottle corcage fee that should have been comped (we were a party of 9 with 9 bottles). We have eaten at and supported this local place for years but no more.....sad
(1)
Megan M.

Love this place. I go here pretty frequently with a friend and I typically get the tortas and steak tacos because they are both to die for. The owners are so nice. One time we stupidly forgot to bring alcohol so they gave us some tequila shots for free. I've also received a few free desserts there just because they value their customers. I love that it's BYOB, just don't forget to bring something.
(5)
Lori K.

It's BYO, but it's pretty far north for me. The food with just okay, nothing special. I think this place needs to commit - are they going to be dirty Mexican or are they going to be an edge better.
(2)
Karen D.

Went here for the first time with some neighborhood friends and we all really liked this place. The food was fresh and very flavorful. The lamb in mole was out of this world and the snapper. I had the fajitas which had a lovely smoky overtone. We really liked that it is BYOB, but be warned the corkage fee is $4 and seems tied to the number of bottles/beers you open. The staff was very attentive and friendly.
(5)
Asper K.

It's called La Ciudad which means 'The City' in Spanish. Not exactly rocket science to figure this out, I know. But, I noticed and wondered what kind of name that's supposed to be anyway. What does that have to do with what they serve or do? (Ok, I just looked it up after I wrote the review. It turns out that it's in the style of mexico city, mostly modern. Thank you, now I understand. Fair enough) The restaurant is in a shocking location, frankly. A (very) crappy strip mall on a questionable street in uptown. So to see the high regard given via yelp, 4.5 stars, made me think that this must be a hidden gem. Why, otherwise, would there be hundreds of reviews for something in an out of the way location such as this. If you're coming on a weekend, make a reservation. They are packed. The decor is a stab at modern mexican. If you like red walls, you're in luck. Overall, it's nice enough. Not too large of a space, but ok in most regards. Not fancy. The bathroom is thru the kitchen, for example. We were seated and were served chips with two types of salsas. Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful. A+ in every regard. Fresh and a nice blend of flavors. Pace Picante sauce take note. The service was excellent throughout. Although at one point, the waiter suggested that we not fill up on chips since our food was going to be delicious. Mind your business. We ordered quickly. We went with what looked like the house specialties. She had lamb with mole. I had mexican paella. Both were very meh. I like lamb, but doused with mole, it was just terrible. Glad I didn't order that. The mexican paella was bits of fish/chicken/etc deep fried over rice. Not much flavor. A disappointment. I only had a few bites, to be honest. On the plus side, the presentation was nice. Maybe my expectations were too high or we ordered the wrong stuff. But once the food showed up, my opinion of this place took a nose dive. If I did go back, I'd definitely order something different.
(3)
Maegan W.

So lucky to have this great place so close to us!! We do carry out quite a bit and always get the steak tacos, chips, and salsa. They have the best steak tacos! Deliver us fast and always correct (which I feel like is a rarity). Since they are byob we made margaritas and went for dinner with a couple friends last night. We had so much fun and their service is great! I had steak tacos per usual and my husband had the angel combo which was steak and a stuffed pepper. He wasn't impressed with his steak but I thought the stuffed pepper was so good! I'll prob get that next time :) we were super bummed the patio was full so we had to sit inside; hopefully we will get back there again before summer is over.
(5)
Delightful D.

Let me start by saying this has to be the best customer service I have received in i dont know how long. The spot is small and you walk in and the space is warm and cozy u already feel at home. Then a man walks up to you with the biggest smile on his face and then your like this is gonna be a great night. I didnt know it was byob but the waitor sent his driver to get my friend and I a bottle from the nearest jewel so we didnt have to walk. Wow and wow. Then we get our bottle he makes us some delish drinks and then later on in the night he's like you girls want shots? Duhhh and made us some delish shots. Don't go here if your looking for a rushed meal they dont want you to be in a hurry everything is chill here. Food we had all pastor tacos, verde and mole enchiladas. Food hit the spot, this is a must go to place for excellent, five star customer service. Ask for Hugo the sweetest most thoughtful waitor I have ever met.
(5)
James K.

For what it is this place is pretty decent. They don't do anything that will blow you away but what they do is done right. We used the free appetizer for check in which is always welcome and ordered the cerviche which could be considered a risk (read the other reviews) but was actually pretty good. I got the Angel Platillos which is a half serving of skirt steak and one Chile Rellenos and it was delicious. There was a garnishment of grilled green onions and a grilled jalapeno in addition to the normal rice and beans (did I taste bacon in there?). The GF got the enchiladas and requested one of each type. This sometimes gets an eye roll but they accommodated and it was once again pretty good. Small things like the garnishment, table cloths, free starter with check in and a comped desert (vanilla ice cream on a fresh (warm) baked brownie drizzled in chocolate syrup), and Daniel (our server) made this place 5 stars. A solid 5 stars for a $$ place. As always YRMV.
(5)
Kristin M.

I love La Ciudad. We frequently dine here and have been more than pleased every time. Recently, we had La Ciudad cater dessert, Tres Leches, at our wedding on Saturday, October 5th. We love their tres leches...it's absolutely amazing and you should try it! Even through the rain and with Chicago's traffic, they arrived at our downtown reception on time. Our guests loved the Tres Leches! We are so happy we had La Ciudad cater dessert at our reception. Thank you, Hugo!
(5)
c e.

In spite of being in a strip mall, this place has fantastic food and a surprisingly great atmosphere. Yummm.
(5)
Mitchell F.

Great burritos and excellent chips/salsa. Delivery was quick and friendly. I would recommend it to anyone looking for great food.
(5)
Mr X.

Fish tacos and ceviche were alright, but carne asada was puny, skip the fried ice cream
(2)
Jeremy S.

Very pleased with the meal. Food was great all the way around. Friends are regulars here and know the owner. Food had great flavor. The chips & salsa prior to our meal were great! I'll go back anytime.
(4)
Christa Lei S.

I love this place. It's BYOB. When I started drafting this review, they didn't have a corkage fee... now they do. :( This doesn't detract them that many points, but it' still a bummer. Everytime I keep coming back to this place it gets more and more expensive, and the portions get smaller (though they still are huge, but comparatively to what I've had before... it doesn't even hold a candle!) Everyone here treats you like family, mostly because they ARE family. It's very authentic, and surprisingly classy for a Mexican place. I wasn't aware there could be Mexican fine-dining, but this would be it-- at pretty good prices. My favorite thing on the menu to eat is the lamb chops with mole, because it smells DELICIOUS. The presentation of the lamb with mole is kind of odd, but ends up smelling great. They also have delicious tres leches, but it's getting smaller :(
(4)
Christine N.

I don't know what happened... I came here with three other people on a Friday night. The inside tables were all taken up, so we were seated outside. We waited an hour for our food to come out and only one plate came out at first. About 10 minutes later, the rest of our entrees came. I ordered a simple steak taco dinner, and unfortunately, I had a horrible experience with my food. The steak seemed like they were boiled. They were chewy, dry, and unseasoned. There wasn't any taste to it at all. I only had one of the three tacos... It was that bad. The service wasn't that great either. It seemed like it was a whole new staff unsure of what they were doing. No one came by the check up on us to see how our food was or if we needed anything. I sent my dish back to the kitchen, and about 20 minutes later, the manager or maybe the owner of the place came by to our table. We had explained to him why we were upset, unfortunately, I don't think he wanted to listen to what we had to say. He sent us a complimentary dessert (which was simply delicious) and comped our whole bill. Maybe it was an off night because of how busy it was... I'm willing to give this place another shot but definitely on a week night.
(1)
Doug G.

We live right around the corner from La Ciudad and used to love to come here. Unfortunately, they've been going downhill for the last year. We came here for brunch a couple months back while parents were in town. We started with some empanadas as appetizers that were clearly clearly reheated from who know when. They were still cold in the center! Next, when we got our meals, my egg dish that was supposed to be served with grilled poblano peppers and home fries came out with salsa salsa verde and rice and beans. When I returned the dish thinking that they had simply gotten my order wrong, I got another plate again smothered in salsa with french fries on the side. We decided that it was just an off day with a substitute cook and recently came back for dinner, which was again a disappointing showing. The ceviche was clearly several days old and the the pork tacos were just meh. What's more, they raised their prices. La Ciudad, why can't you go back to being the amazing, unassuming gem in the middle of a strip mall?!
(2)
Tonya O.

Love, love, love La Ciudad! Good food and great atmosphere! I'm surprised that some people are rating the RESTAURANT on the location that it happens to be in?? When you review a business shouldn't it be about your experience within that business? Unless you were mugged on your way into the establishment, I don't think it's relevant. In my opinion, if the neighborhood is such as issue for you don't venture in, and if you want to review a neighborhood you should probably do that on the "neighborhood's page" or "a neighborhood review site". As for the restaurant, the food is good and the service is great! The owner is always there when I dine, and he is one of the warmest people I've ever met. He has a real passion for making change and impacting the community in a positive way (one of the reasons they do so well in their current location). I've seen the menu evolve here, but I tend to stick with my staples (tacos, flautas, Ceviche, and Chile Rellenos). I've had nothing but great experiences at La Ciudad and they always take care of me. The Tres Leche is also very very good!
(5)
John I.

Yelp reviews brought me here, and they're spot on. The appetizer sampler is a smorgasboard for the tongue, without having to find out if there's a Swedish neighborhood in Mexico city. Delicious guacamole, fajitas, and sopes. I had the combo steak & chile relleno--both were outstanding. And it's BYOB to boot. We sat outdoors--creative use of a wooden floor and space taking up several parking spaces in the strip mall. Felt like we were secluded. The neighborhood is a little sketchy, but the new El station is MUCH improved and the streets are well-lit in between. Great to have a decent restaurant in this neighborhood (and worth traveling from downtown to get here). Friendly, very personal service as noted elsewhere.
(4)
Stephanie L.

Made the trek up here after reading all of the amazing Yelp reviews on this Mexican BYOB hot spot. They have a free parking lot which is nice. This area is a bit shady though so be mindful of that. Its in a little strip mall which adds to the flair of this place. They have a great little patio that has a fence around it so you are not bothered by the riff raff. The staff is SUPER nice. Everyone was smiling and happy. Our server was really nice as well. Not the most attentive, but this place had a very laid back atmosphere. We had the guacamole, some of the special empanadas, the diablos shrimp and the La Ciudad salad. It was all pretty tasteful, but nothing that I absolutely loved. Its totally cheap though so that is nice. Not to mention, its BYOB so thats good. I thought the food was good, not great. The staff was super nice. The location was not really my scene, but fine for something a little different. Overall, if I was in the area, I would probably stop in, but I wouldnt go out of my way to come here again.
(4)
Christie V.

I had a quite positive dining experience here--mainly due to the good customer service, but was horrified to discover a very unfortunate roach problem. My only intent with this post is to encourage management to get it under control. Great place, but needs to sort the insect problem immediately.
(2)
Emily Z.

Trying to decide if the fact that my favorite part of the meal as the complementary chips and salsa is a bad thing or a good thing? Either way the homemade salsa was amazing! The service was good and they even brought out limes for our 6pack of Corona's! We had a sampler appetizer that was just okay but the Fajitas we split were really great and we both took enough home for lunch the next day! I will definitely be back for fajitas on the patio!
(4)
Ramya P.

Have you experienced meals where a friendly waiter made your experience so much better? That's exactly what happened when I went out with a group of 10 friends on a Saturday night to catch up and celebrate a bunch of stuff. Our waiter had the most gleeful smile and accommodated our noisy group. I would recommend reservations as its not very spacious and it gets quite busy during the weekends. With my yelp check in, we got a free appetizer for the entire table. We got the guac which was delish!! The chips and salsa are addictive. A few of us were vegetarians and they customized a lot of entrees. My faves were the fajitas, tacos and the burrito. After all that food, we just got one dessert for the whole table, the cheesecake (I think) was yum! Good food, good service and reasonable prices IMHO deserves all 5 stars...
(5)
Brett F.

I've arrived in La Ciudad (for you laymen: The City) and I La La Love it! What isn't to love at this quaint little spot in Uptown? They've absolutely hit the mark on bringing tasty Mexican bites, genial service and the bounty of BYOB together in a sleek package that manages to scream 'neighborhood hottie meets fashionable city maven', all while residing in a slightly hideous strip mall. Kudos! Lucky me to stumble upon La Ciudad's reviews just prior to planning a casual bday group dinner for 16 hungry dining out junkies. A definite change of pace for our group, but undeniably a marvelous one! The La Ciudad boys handled our challenging chow crew with simplicity, grace and utter hospitality... we were attended to with quick, efficient service and nonstop smiles. Love it. In addition to great attitudes, which obviously count for a lot, even better was the swift margarita attention. As a BYOB establishment (score!) that means you're free to bring your own tequila, mixers, beer, you name it. La Ciudad is quick on the uptake, however, and uses this as just another opportunity to serve you well by keeping you plied with salted rim glasses, refills on ice and pitchers aplenty. Perfection embodied. Nibbles are equally lovely in 'the city'. Think amazing tilapia and shrimp ceviche marinated to a tangy goodness, crispy steak flautas kissed with sour cream, zippy chorizo tacos and bacon wrapped shrimp stuffed with cheese then fried to a crispy deliciousness. OlÃ©! Also not to be missed is the totally terrific Carne TampiqueÃ±a - a mouthwatering marinated skirt steak (medium rare, please) served with a rich molÃ© enchilada, spiced rice and frijoles negras. Slap it all together on a tortilla, you little Armadilla, it's a thing of beauty! Tres Saludes para La Ciudad. Go Uptown!
(4)
Jennie T.

I loved their cerviche! There was something different about it than other cerviches that I've had, but I couldn't pinpoint what it was. It must have been the spices they used. I've been craving for some pozole, so I ordered their special-- chicken pozole. It was a large bowl of soup. Unfortunately, it wasn't that impressive, and so this colored my review. I really should have listened to my instinct and saved my tongue for something much more satisfactory. I thought the soup was a little bland, even after I put in all the garnishes. It was very disappointing. What saved the restaurant from getting only 3 stars was their customer service. Our server was very nice. He spoke Spanish to my friend and I knowing that I was trying to learn, and he'd translate whenever I didn't understand. Then, at the end of the night, he gave us a complimentary dessert from his hometown. It was some sort of flan on top of chocolate cake. It was very good, even though my dining partner and I were both very full at this point. My friend took home some chicken mole and subsequently told me that her Mexican boyfriend loved it, so I'm willing to give La Ciudad another try. Perhaps that's what I'll order next.
(4)
Bhrandon H.

Giving this place 3 stars is hard because the food was really terrific. Possibly the best Mexican sit-down restaurant I've been to in Chicago. The issue is that both me and my dates orders were incorrect. She was somehow given a vegetarian meal while I had one meat substituted for another. We didn't complain because it was so delicious. Everything was cooked and flavored perfectly. I would have given them at least 4 stars if the orders were right. The staff also seemed overwhelmed. The service wasn't rude or dismissive, just over-taxed and therefore sub-par. I will give them another try though.
(3)
Anne C.

We went to La Ciudad for a friend's birthday dinner on a recent Saturday evening. The restaurant is small and cozy, BYOB, and a favorite of the birthday girl. Our experience, however, was a series of hits and misses: Pros: -The food is good. Entrees were solid, the guacamole was good, and the fried ice cream and tres leches cake is out of this world. -You can't go wrong with a BYOB. -The yummy chips and salsa were replenished throughout the meal. -Friendly service and reasonable prices. And they were great about letting us spilt the bill between multiple people. Cons: -While the service was friendly, it was sooooooo slow. And a little spotty. We waited almost an hour for our entrees. I know we were a big group, but the restaurant is small and many groups that came it after us were being served before us. They were apologetic after a while and continued to bring out chips, but we just really wanted our enchiladas at that point. -Order inaccuracy. There was a lot of confusion over who ordered what, which stuffing/sauces someone ordered on their enchiladas, and some plates arrived much later than others. Not sure how this was an issue either as they were using a very small menu that evening that only had 5 or 6 entree options to choose from. -Bill issues-- After reviewing our bill we realized that it belonged to one of the other large parties dining there. They brought back the correct bill and while our total was about $30 less than the incorrect bill, the gratuity (that they automatically add for a big party) was about $4 more... not sure who did the math on that one, but we weren't pleased. Especially after our lengthy wait for our food. If I was in the neighborhood and with a small group I would give La Ciudad another try. The birthday girl had been here a few times (with smaller groups) and said this was never a problem previously. For a big party though, I'll probably head elsewhere to find a restaurant that can handle it.
(3)
Diana T.

They make margaritas for you and it's a lot of fun so bring your own tequila! The food is only okay. You really can't go wrong with the guacamole, but the entrees were only so-so. The menu is not very extensive so there aren't a lot of options to choose from but there's an upside if you are indecisive. I would recommend the mini tacos! The staff is extremely, extremely friendly, and it's very accessible since there's a El stop only two-three blocks away.
(3)
Peter N.

Excellent mole, chicken was fall off the bone. First trip, there seemed to be a new server that had no idea what he was doing. Saw a lone couple get seating outside on a cold day flailing to try and get waiters attention for drinks/orders. Second trip, it seemed like a manager or owner was helping to serve tables and it was going much more smoothly even with the patio and dining room filled. When he messed up my order (chicken instead of steak) he made it right. Kitchen was a bit slow that night, but understandable since it's not slop-house mexican food.
(4)
Andy M.

I will make my update short and sweet. This is some of the best Mexican food in town. I had a steak burrito suizo that was orgasmic. We had a group of 16 people gathered for the birthday of the wonderful Alene A. The staff at La Ciudad handled the work load with ease. The whole group was well fed and Liquored up. Here's the bottom line: If you are looking for a inexpensive dining experience that will blow you away, head on down to La Ciudad. Great food, fabulous service and BYOB. Who could ask for anything more.
(5)
Elizabeth L.

Amazing food. Nice atmosphere. Unfortunate location. But did I mention the AMAZING food? A good step in the right direction towards revitalizing Uptown. Unfortunately, need more to follow that lead.
(4)
Doug W.

Ordered for delivery. Came about an hour and a half late. Food in its container was all scrambled as if it had been on its side for a long time. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with beans on my tacos, just not all over the outside of them. I called after it was 20 minutes late and was rushed off the phone. The delivery guy made no mention of how late he was. This may be a fine place to eat in person but I will never order delivery from La Ciudad again.
(1)
Mel M.

staff is friendly. they have an outdoor patio now which is a plus (weather permitting). food is great, big platters. it's BYOB (awesome). ceviche and chips and salsa to die for. good for dates or groups.
(5)
Angie M.

I have absolutely no qualms giving La Ciudad a big, luscious, five sexy stars. My party was treated like royalty from the moment we stepped on the premises to the very end of our lavish, delicious meal. Truly, a stellar dining experience. Let me set the scene: It's about 9pm on a Friday night. My beach volleyball team had just played an intense two hour session at Montrose Beach. We were hungry. We were sweaty. We were ready to kick off the weekend right with a dinner amongst good friends. Team Paddywhack cleaned ourselves up a bit, dusted off the sand and headed over to La Ciudad. We arrived to see a full restaurant and a packed patio. Undeterred, my posse of six hung back, cracked open a few of the beers we'd toted along (La Ciudad is BYOB) and decided to wait it out. Because a few of my co-diners are serious regulars, the crew at La Ciudad stepped up to the plate to get us sat as quickly as possible. In La Ciudad terms, that means setting up a table for us outside the designated outdoor dining area. The regular patio at La Ciudad is nothing fancy; just a fenced in area of the parking lot since the restaurant resides in strip mall. Our table was set up just outside the fenced in patio... right on the sidewalk of the parking lot in front of the Chinese restaurant that looks like it serves as a front for a drug operation. Classy? No. Hilarious? Yes. Did we gladly sit there? You bet! The best part was that since we were outside the restaurant, we could smoke at our table. Double bonus! I went with the chicken burrito smothered in a deep, dark mole sauce. Winner, for sure. The burrito was so big it took up the entire plate, so even the largest of appetites could probably only take down 1/2 of that bad boy. The chicken was moist and flavorful and the mole sauce was outstanding. While I could probably talk for hours about how good the food is at La Ciudad, what really made the trip was our fantastic, above and beyond service. Our beers were replenished at lightening speed. Our desserts were served on a lovely platter that had "Happy Lollapalooza" spelled out in raspberry sauce since one of our diners had been raving about The Palooza that night. We were catered to, gushed upon and given the highest level of service I can remember receiving at a restaurant. I absolutely LOVE La Ciudad. Its my new go-to for Mexican food.
(5)
Alison W.

I'm giving this place 5 stars because of the overall experience I've had. Hugo was our server and he was the most friendly, helpful, happy, accommodating server. We brought beers this time around, and they give you a chilled glass which I very much appreciate. For their food I would give them 4-stars. It's really good, and we have never had anything bad, but haven't come across anything out of this world yet either. Their salsas are really good and Hugo brought us a chef's special one which was smokey chipotle. He also gave us a complimentary dessert to share, it was a mix of chocolate cake and flan. Pretty delicious! This place is great for groups and if you ever go here, ask for Hugo!
(5)
Melissa B.

This place is still one of my favorites! We went back for Yelp eats last night and had a great time. We started outside but had to move in when I could no longer handle the sweat running down my legs. Food is always awesome, BYOB (this time I brought tequila for a pitcher of margaritas) and the best staff around! These guys make me want to eat here everyday. Love them! In my opinion you can't really go wrong with anything on the menu. There is something about the steak that I just love. Now I'm wishing I cleaned my plate last night. I have been meaning to try Brunch there for some time as well. I'll update in a few weeks when I make it in.
(5)
Ryan T.

What a surprise. I'd say that if it wasn't the army of positive yelp reviews that led me here. However, despite the fact it was in a strip mall, I had high expectations for La Ciudad because of the reviews. It's really cool and creative Mexican. I got Mexican Paella, which was great. I think this is a great place to go to if you're looking for something besides the more generic Mexican-American fare.
(4)
Joon L.

La Ciudad is awesome! Very tasty food, awesome staff! Hugo muchas gracias! Daniel and the rest of the crew, you guys are cool! Mucho gusto amigos!
(5)
Anne C.

Still love it there- Hugo is the best and makes you feel like you are eating in his kitchen with his signature "pick where you want to eat this is your home tonight!" I feel like I'm at home!
(4)
Clay R.

Ordered take out from here last night. Never tried the place but went off yelp reviews. We had the chicken with Mole sauce, and tacos. Both were AMAZING. The rice that came with it was to die for! Seriously. Will be coming here again. Can't wait to actually dine in!
(5)
Cassidy W.

This place is awesome. Our group got the ceviche, the empanadas trio, and the tacos cochinita. SO GOOD. The atmosphere was great and the service superb. Definitely coming back!
(5)
Erika G.

Believe the hype! It looks like the love everyone has for this place is not misguided. And I love that it's tucked into a crappy strip mall next to a laundromat and a pawn shop. Maybe this area of town is finally stepping up. When you walk in, you're right in the midst of the dining room, and last night it was packed, every table full. Tables turn over quickly, though, and I had barely two sips of my cheap champagne BYOB before our table was ready. Yeah, BYOB! There's a $3 corkage fee, but for that, the charming host opened my cheap bottle of champagne with a flourish AND gave my friend and I two cool green champagne glasses, which he kept filled! When we whipped out the bottle of Red that she'd brought - more specialty glassware! I ordered the Carne Asada, and it was delicious. Prepared just right, medium rare and juiiiiiicy. Came with black beans and rice and a small salad - very good! For dessert, we shared the Flan. Really tasty, not overly sweet and drizzled with chocolate. The prices are great and the servers could not be more charming, friendly and cute! Pop over to this little joint and enjoy.
(4)
Jack P.

I've been to many Mexican restaurants, but I never recall not wanting a Chile Relleno to end, nor having a new restaurant exceed my expectations on food, flavor and quality of service, as this did. I made plans with friends to come here before I knew it was part of "Yelp Eats" week, but that gave us the added benefit of a special treat-a paired down menu and special prices. While we did peruse the full regular menu, we all took advantage of the three-course Yelp menu. And the lineup was: Ceviche - beautifully presented on bright orange chips and bursting with citrus and cilantro flavors Tortilla soup - reported as delicious though I did not try it Sopas - again, great presentation and titillating to the taste buds Combo of Chile Relleno and carne asada - perfect portions without the large "gobs" of cheese, and nicely garnished with grilled scallions. Three of the four of us ordered this and we were delighted. Flavor, flavor, flavor. Lamb Chops with mole - while not a huge mole fan, I did like the lightness and subtlety of theirs. The lamb was delicious, too. Tres Leches cake, and another two-layer flan/chocolate cake offering. These were reasonable portions and some of the best pastry I've had in awhile. Artistically executed, too. I cannot say enough about the genuinely warm and personal service, from all staff, but especially from Hugo, our server. If there is any place I'd like to place on a weekly visit list, it's La Ciudad. Unforgettable, casually upscale and seductive is how I would rate it.
(5)
Flor G.

I have been to this place 2 times, once they were super busy, another there were barely any people there. Both times...the food was absolutely delicious! I love that it is BYOB and the waiters are attentive. The ceviche is delicious, the enchiladas are AWESOME. I would encourage anyone who loves Mexican food, to try it, it's not like any burrito king or anything like that, definitely better quality!! Yeah, the neighborhood isn't the best, and if you are bothered or concerned by that, then go when it's not prime time so that you can park right in the small lot that they share w other businesses.
(5)
Maayan S.

This place is great. The location might be less than ideal... but the spot is worthy of the attention it's started getting since opening in November. It's understated and simply delicious. The service is great - super friendly, super helpful. Everyone is smiling. The food is great. There is parking, too, so that's a bonus. It's also BYOB. Recommend calling for a reservation because it's small and fills up! Or just go a little later, and that's a safer bet if you're feeling spontaneous. We will definitely be back there -- and soon. Really good stuff.
(4)
alicia d.

After randomly coming across this place online and seeing all of the reviews, we decided to take a chance on this hidden gem. This place rocks!! The food was delicious and a great deal for the $$! The owner was super nice and they took great care of us. The chocolate lava cake is phenomenal too... we will definitely be going back often. Don't let the random location scare you off because this place is a MUST!
(5)

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Address : 4515 N Sheridan Rd
Chicago, IL, 60640
Phone (773) 728-2887
Website https://www.laciudadchicago.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :5:00 pm - 10:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

Claim Restaurant

Mexican Cuisine

If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.

Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.

Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.

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La Ciudad

4515 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL, 60640

La Ciudad Menu

Starters

Sopas & Ensaladas/ Soups & Salads

A La Cart

Mariscos/Seafood

Platillos /Plates

Side Dishes

Healthy Meal suggestions for La Ciudad

Starters

Sopas & Ensaladas/ Soups & Salads

A La Cart

Mariscos/Seafood

Platillos /Plates

Side Dishes

Marie D.

carolyn h.

Rob L.

Pam D.

Sandra Y.

Jennifer K.

Amy R.

Yanyao N.

Anthony F.

Abhay S.

Jelena Z.

Luan N.

Andrea R.

Pascal M.

David C.

David Z.

Chris H.

Whitney Y.

Jessica G.

Eddie C.

Jessica S.

Sarah J.

Javier R.

Bob R.

Rachel L.

Moon Beam B.

chris e.

Bradley S.

Matthew B.

Tiger R.

John B.

Lee H.

Tim R.

Mary M.

Nikki C.

David N.

Johnny T.

CatwomanRoar M.

Christina K.

Jason A.

Stephanie F.

Monica K.

Megan G.

Gayle S.

Lauren H.

Andrew J.

Rachel G.

Kate D.

Jillian V.

Kristin S.

Theodore J.

Kellie T.

Laura L.

Hannah C.

Joseph H.

Terrence C.

Char Y.

Jeremy R.

Christine F.

David S.

melissa r.

Shawn C.

John C.