Angel S.

Paul L.

People are told never to judge a book by its cover. However, sometimes the cover is right. This place looks like a family-run, slightly-divey, taco spot. And guess what? You'd be completely right, without even stepping foot inside. Much like every nut has a bolt, every drunk has a Mr. Salsa. I have frequently stumbled into this place with my below-par Spanish. Want my Spanish lesson for the day? Repeat after me, "Burrito Asada, por favor." That one line will get you a toasted tortilla, greasy and salty carne asada, chihuaha cheese, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes and refried beans. Complimentary salsas as well. Bow your head, and devour. It hits the spot, but won't make you rethink your career choices and switch to being a short order cook for your local tacqueria. There are better, but when you're drunk and hungry, you don't deserve better.

Alex U.

For the money this place does not disappoint. The staff here is very good about customizing the meal to fit your fancy. I've had the caldo de res, tacos (cebolla y cilantro only for me), and the tostadas. All very yummy. Can't go wrong eating here. Not the fanciest place but the staff is super friendly and the food is legit!

Christopher V.

Decent tacos for the price. Don't make a special trip, but not a bad option if you're in the area. Guacamole is pretty good.

Name N.

I used to be a regular here until one day while I was trying to get past a patron (a guy the owner appeared to have known) in the tiny space that was available the owner told me to move out of the way. Another day while I was still eating my food the owner harassed me to give a tip. That was very rude because I would tip every time I visited. Not the best way to treat a customer, especially considering that restaurants like these are a dime a dozen.

Brianna B.

Of three tacos that I tried, only one was any good. The fish taco was great: light (not fried) and flavorful. The veggie taco was boring, and the chile relleno taco was a grease bomb. This place is definitely no Primo Chuki's.

Rob B.

Listen, go here and try it. You'll love it like I do. Back in the day my buddy lived close to this place and said how good it was and I was skeptical. I love good Mexican food. Especially from a little spot run by the same people you see in there all the time. Mr. Salsa's enchiladas are excellent and their tacos and burritos are hard to beat. When I was stationed in Germany and Afghanistan for four years I dreamed about Mr. Salsa. They got good prices and friendly people behind the counter. It's one of my favorites!

Nicole I.

The best cheap Mexican food around! My husband and I get take out from here pretty regularly. I highly recommend the chorizo quesadilla and their fresh chips and guac!

Daniella B.

Delicious and cheap! There were some language barrier issues and they forgot my tamale but then they gave me one for free! We agreed with other reviewers that the pastor is a must eat! Thanks for the recommendations!

Yoo C.

Food was ok but i would not recommend eatting at the restaurant. Space is too small, hectic, and inconvenient.

Daniel R.

Pretty darn good tacos. Coming from Austin where TexMex reigns supreme, this has been a good way to get my taco fix satisfied. Now all I need is some queso.

Blythe B.

I really like this place - and so do my classmates. The first time I went here, there was a line out the door - construction workers. Good sigh. Every time, I go back, I love it. I feel so comfortable in - last week, Mexican subtitled "Rocky" was on and it was nice and hot in the place. Food is always good - I have only gotten bunches of the little tacos and I suppose I should expand my menu knowledge, but I am simply happy with my choices. :)

Adam O.

Great authentic Mexican cuisine for a cheap price. Highly recommend.

Maybe Z.

Delicious vegetarian burrito! Open late with polite staff, Mr. Salsa offers the SPICIEST salsa I've ever had, with hot home-made chips. Thanks Mr. Salsa!

Jenna S.

I feel like I should like this place more, but I just don't. And I think it's because the chips are soooo greasy. Like in a terrible, icky, annoying way. It is possible to make homemade chips less wet with grease but Mr. Salsa has not. Sigh. I got a veggie burrito, which was fine. It tasted like every other taqueria burrito that has ever existed. My husband really, really likes Mr. Salsa, so maybe that will make you want to go here more. Alas, Mr. Salsa is just not doing it for me. I will likely only come here if I'm drunk and need a quick fix. Or just order from GrubHub late night.

Adrienne G.

Late night spot for halfway decent Mexican food. It'll get the job done if your'e starving or drunk, but it's a bit bland. Definitely a take out spot- went here with a friend the other day and we were the only two people there. Nothing special, but if you don't mind a 10 minute walk I'd say go down Sheridan to Taqueria los Caminos de Michoacan. They are super yummy! If you're craving tamales, don't expect your life to be changed by these. They're solid, but nothing to write home about. Staff was pretty nice, although they seemed a bit confused when taking our orders about the number of tamales that came with the tamale dinner (the answer is 2)

Native Princess F.

I can't believe I've been away so long!!! Back again for some tostadas and a huge ass burrito mmmmmmm!#! Thank you Mr Salsa for being so awesome, see you again tomorrow B-)

Kristen S.

Just moved to Uptown, and when I found out that there was a taco joint right around the corner from me, I knew it would be dangerous if it was good. Well, Mr. Salsa, you've ruined me. The al pastor taco is my go-to favorite. I've tried MANY al pastor dishes from various places, and Mr. Salsa is in my top 3. Aside from their wonderful tacos, their tamales are pretty awesome too. Basically, I am always a skeptic of late night food because everything tastes better after a pitcher of margaritas. Thankfully, I've found a gem.

Beth A.

its been a while since i treaded this way and i dont think ill be back...used to be a sweet n tasty deal to eat here...now its subpar and overpriced will the old mr salsa come back :'(

Colleen C.

It's 230am, and the bowling alley lights just came on...What do YOU do? Well, I can tell you what I do. I pile myself +3 into a cab, and head STRAIGHT for Mr. Salsa for some life saving, liver rejuvenating burritos. I could've SWORN they were open 24 hours, but alas this is not the case. As we rolled up to the door, they had all the tables/chairs up, and were moppin' away any last traces of Mexican food. OH NO. (heart drops) I poked my head in (door still unlocked) and asked what time they had closed (about 7 minutes prior). I must've looked so pathetic (seriously), because all of a sudden he started moving stools and throwing things on the grill. My heart soars for Mr. Salsa! And not a grimace or grumble in sight, they were joking around and having fun, talking to us, all in good spirits. This was BEFORE i tipped them, too. So my pals and I belly up to the Mexibar, drink some Grape crush, indulge in Dinner, pt2 a la carne asada and chicken burritos, munch on chips and save ourselves a round of massive el hangovers. I love these guys. Forever. Cash only. Don't forget, they won't budge on that one, I'm afraid.

Valerie J.

Joy of many nights... bane of my booty - I love Mr. Salsa even though their food goes right to my thighs (and other areas where fat cells like to accumulate:) We live half a block from here so most nights we drop buy to at least buy some chips and salsa. Their salsa is pretty darn good, especially the green - and one miraculous night (Sept 12th!) both sauces were amazingly hot n spicy - Yum!! First having tried their chicken chalupas and tacos, I was pleased, but the chicken also comes with some fat/gristle I could do without. The stuffed poblanos are awesome, but a heart attack waiting to happen. A delicious, decadent heart attack. Enter the tamales - they are often out of them, but they are so good when you can get them. We ordered a ton for Thanksgiving and happily munched on them for the following week :) Their rice and beans are also great - truly authentic and yummy refried beans :) Very happy this place exists... and if my willpower were stronger, I'd be glad they were so close ;) As it stands, I am there far too many nights than is healthy :) Thank you, Mr. Salsa!! (It is also BYOB, and cash only :) oh, and the guys who work here are nice also :)

Rose M.

My absolute favorite place to get tacos in Chicago. Cheap (less than $2 per taco), authentic, and delicious! Get the pork tacos and tamale. You won't regret it!

Sabina L.

Love this place :) great food and service. The tacos are nice and fresh. And authentic. Spicy guacamole is yummy as well. Super sweet workers and great prices !

Claire M.

Haha. This was a fun night. One of my friends from high school (I grew up in Virginia) was in town on a visit from law school in Minnesota and the friend of his that he stays with lives on the same block that I did for awhile when I was in college! On this most recent visit, we were returning to his friend's place from an open mic night. It was after midnight and I was thrilled at the suggestion of some late night tacos. (I was getting the drunken munchies.) Now, due to the fact that I was a little impaired, my recollection may be a tad fuzzy. I recall standing on the sidewalk out front (and when I lived here, there wasn't a whole lot going on on that happy corner of Montrose, Mr. Salsa was actually a Chinese place back then) but now there's, well, Mr. Salsa - and a bar that I believe was dog-friendly! I also couldn't help staring at the building above where a car was just hanging out on someone's ledge. I kept thinking it was going to jump down and that would've been sad. Supposedly cats always land on their feet (?) so he/she probably would've survived. Oh, there was also a Chase conveniently located a couple storefronts down. I think I know this because I made my husband go get cash for me since Mr. Salsa didn't accept credit cards. We got some chips with uh, salsa (it IS Mr. Salsa after all). I ordered some kind of vegetarian tacos. I think I got three of them. Nice and cheap. So we walked back to my friend's friend's place - to the apartment of my friend's friend - whatever, and sat down on the front steps and savored our food. I think I shoved an entire taco into my mouth in one bite, it was so good. Made me wish I still lived there too, I don't have a place like that half a block away from me here in Forest Park but I would if I still made my residence on the 4200 block of good ole Kenmore. Hey and I could bring my dog to the bar, too!

Jelena Z.

I feel that it's my civic responsibility to update this review and let fellow late-night burrito seekers know that Mr. Salsa isn't what it once was. Or maybe it's me that's done the changing? You see, in the almost three years since I've last had a Mr. Salsa burrito and penned that initial review, much has changed. My Mexican grub list now has 36 entries ( yelp.com/list/all-mariac… ) so it's safe to say that my taco/burrito/gordita palate has been, um, refined. I recently dropped in for a standard chicken burrito (without tomatoes, per usual) and came home with a droopy mess of a burrito. Tomatoes everywhere, no sour cream, an excess of boring pinto beans and subpar chicken. The burrito was very loosely wrapped so I skipped ahead to cutting into the meat of the carnage and it wasn't pretty. For a burrito in this town, $6 is actually on the high side so it best be good. Really good. This burrito? I'd give it a sloppy C-. Not sure if it was just an off-night, but this burrito maven has too many other "A" taquerias on her list to risk a C- eating experience. Next!

Caroline D.

Love the holy heck out of this place. I've never ordered anything except the nachos because they're so good I can't even imagine it. They're the spendiest thing on the menu (gasp! $11!) but will last you for two meals at least. The people are always friendly. Clean kitchen, clean customer bathroom, super excellent food. It's cash only so be prepared!

Brian H.

My fav Mexican spot. I've been to hundreds and this place is the best! Love the staff, and the food is killer!

Andrea R.

So, I just left this place very dissatisfied with my friend. I ordered a chicken burrito suiza. While we were waiting I went to the back to wash my hands. There wasn't any soap in the kitchen sink dispenser, and very little dribbled out when I went into the bathroom. Gross. And then my burrito came out and the meat looked like the grimiest lowest quality crap ever and I couldn't stomach it. I'm not a picky eater. I was disgusted. After like ten minutes of mulling over whether or not to complain, (the server never checked up on us obviously because she didn't care. She was at the counter with a guy on her phone.) I said I was really sorry but I didn't like the chicken and asked if I could get something else instead. The girl said something in Spanish to the guy, and then they just asked if I was going to pay for the burrito. That's it. YIKES. Not even an offer to make things ok for me in any slight way at all. I never complain in restaurants because I'm a server, but this was so bad.

Jay H.

Solid but unspectacular, although I was completely sober and having dinner. Pastor burrito was excellent, and burrito had a nicely crisped exterior. Quality touch. Chicken was flavorful, but as others have commented, a bit gristly. Guacamole was fresh and basic. Red salsa was good. I asked for but did not get the salsa verde. Place is clean, and the family team was fast and friendly.

Andrew R.

So after a long, long St. Patty's day with good friends, we were looking for something to sate our late night hunger and what could be better than.....mexican food. Okay, not the best St. Patty's day choice, but at the time it was within walking distance, open, and had a good reputation so we made the trek. We get inside and it's perfect. Bare bones, old, cramped, and with good smells floating around. I got the cabeza quesadilla and a pastor burrito. The quesadilla was just meat and cheese, always a great combination. The meat was cooked until tender and not any more. I was a bit skeptical about cabeza but it worked well. The pastor burrito was really good too, and had a big portion of meat. I got some red salsa and some green salsa with my food and they were both good. Could have used a tad more spicy, but for the average person it was probably a healthy amount. Overall the food was really good, it's open late, the staff is efficient, and it was pretty cheap. Definitely going back for more!

Tim K.

Bottom line is this... BEST FRIGGIN TACOS IN CHICAGO! I swear by this and all my taco condenseur friends will back me up...Nothing is better then drinking at Driftwood just next door and stopping in for a drunken taco...Personally the steak taco is my favorite but others tend to lean towards the chicken....if you are a salsa fan then I would suggest you pick-up the green bottle and prepare for a zesty treat ...first try it with their complementary and endless chips....then smother your tacos in it..trust me its sublime...However if you are not one for spicy stuff then try the taco without it...my GF is this way and still gave a 5 star rating (read her review, Andrea M.)... You really got to get over here sometime ASAP...you not just missing out on something your missing out on EVERTYTHING!

Chelsea S.

Only drawback is the cash-only policy, otherwise I would have eaten every meal at Taqueria Mr. Salsa. Their tacos are delicious and cheap. I've tried the pollo, al pastor, and carne asada and all are so so good. They put lettuce and sour cream on, and their salsa verde is my favorite. I've also had their burrito with carne asada, and it's a heart-attack waiting to happen, so good for a cold-Chicago night. Being from California, it was comforting to have delicious and cheap Mexican food close by. My best experiences here were always late at night when I'd have the taxi drop me off at Taqueria Mr. Salsa rather than my apartment. One of the brothers behind the counter always appreciated my drunken Spanish and would throw in an extra taco for good luck. Once they were closing the restaurant down and opened up just for me and my friend! It's comforting to know that at the end of a long night, you can count on something!

Christine T.

Went there for the first time at 3:00pm on a Saturday. Almost passed it by because we saw the "Free HIV Testing" sign in the window and thought that it was a medical clinic rather than a taqueria. We ordered al pastor tacos and guac and chips for take out. The al pastor tacos were above average and priced right. The guac was okay but could have used some lime juice and extra cilantro. The guac was not a bad deal for the $5.00 price, though. **Cash only**

Angela L.

I love this place! There are quite a couple of mexican places around the Sheridan-Wilson area. I must say that Mr. Salsa is the best out of the 3 that I have tried! The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is very very casual. They are pretty busy sometimes but that just shows that people love their food! We drop by on our way for Target runs and the food is great! Love their tacos with Carne Asada, ordered with with rice and beans and I devoured it. The chicken burrito was great too. The staff is really nice even though I have trouble communicating with them since I have a hard time understanding accents in general, but they are always very patient with me! For what a taco place should be Mr. Salsa definitely is worth 4 stars. The down side for me is that I dont love their chips and salsas that come with it, which is a big let down. But the actual food makes up for it! Super convenient, fast, yummy, and prices are great! Definitely will be frequenting this place!

Chad D.

Affordable. Delicious. Mr. Salsa. I was thinking about subtracting 1 star for not accepting credit cards. But the food was good enough to make up for it. Had three tacos: beef, chorizo, and pastor. Side of rice and beans. Came out to about ten bucks and everything was perfect. Meat was well cooked and spiced, toppings were fresh. Will return!

Nikki C.

Thank CC's mom and dad for shaking and baking to make a little CC shine onto this world as she just reminded me I actually crossed the threshold of this place and partook of the meat and tortillas. I so forgot I ate the night of prom and just thought I had mashed faces with the tamale guy or his sister as I had salsa breath all night... now I know it was with Mr. Salsa and his chicken tacos I licked and sucked that night. through the clouds of random images in my mind, I can only remember the smiles in my tummy as I chomped and chewed. It was a dive of a place, but smelled good and felt mighty nice in my tummy to go along with the vodka, whiskey, beer and altoids. good stuffs. es bueno!

Krystina B.

Thank goodness I only live a block away from this place! The owners are all so friendly and I love that they endure my not so great Spanish. The fish tacos with their fresh pico de gallo are fantastic and sometimes I literally cannot resist going in for one. Their nachos are also great. They use real shredded muenster cheese, not the gross yellow slimy stuff. Super delicious. Super friendly. I will keep supporting these guys for sure!

Brett F.

Admittedly, I don't remember getting to Mr. Salsa - I shamelessly blame Lefko of Blue Stem fame and not my own lightweightedness, natch - unfortunately I also don't remember paying, ordering, chewing or even getting home. Coincidence? I think not. Don't mind my continued, unabashed finger pointing at Lefko. Fortunately for me (and all of you) I do remember a few things about my visit to Mr. Salsa... + The cooks are hilarious and great sports with 2am drunks + My steak burrito with extra sour cream was tasty and (barely) saved me from hitting the porcelain throne Friday night + Said burrito was super crispy on the outside and filled with oozy schmoozey goodies like rice, beans and tomatoes on the inside. Yum! + My coke in a bottle was throwback, retro fabulousness. Almost as good as a Jarritos! + Despite my false claims, I've never stolen a DVD player. I was just trying to make you feel less like a hoodlum, Sir. Besides, everyone knows it's all about the Blu Ray. Duh. Now go eat your beans.

Jeff G.

ordered picadillo taco and carne asada taco. both were good, but both had a lot of lettuce on it, an no onion or cilantro. i usually assume that a taqueria will put onion and cilantro on a taco, or at least ask me if i want those on there. service was slow (for the 5 people that came in right after me). i don't think i need to go back, many other taco joints i would try out first. periodically during me dinner some questionable people came in like the crack ho that came in looking for 4 quarters for her $ bill. kind of lose your appetite after that

Emma M.

Chimichangas all day. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Call me Mrs. Salsa I highly recommend if.

Paul L.

People are told never to judge a book by its cover. However, sometimes the cover is right. This place looks like a family-run, slightly-divey, taco spot. And guess what? You'd be completely right, without even stepping foot inside. Much like every nut has a bolt, every drunk has a Mr. Salsa. I have frequently stumbled into this place with my below-par Spanish. Want my Spanish lesson for the day? Repeat after me, "Burrito Asada, por favor." That one line will get you a toasted tortilla, greasy and salty carne asada, chihuaha cheese, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes and refried beans. Complimentary salsas as well. Bow your head, and devour. It hits the spot, but won't make you rethink your career choices and switch to being a short order cook for your local tacqueria. There are better, but when you're drunk and hungry, you don't deserve better.

Alex U.

For the money this place does not disappoint. The staff here is very good about customizing the meal to fit your fancy. I've had the caldo de res, tacos (cebolla y cilantro only for me), and the tostadas. All very yummy. Can't go wrong eating here. Not the fanciest place but the staff is super friendly and the food is legit!

Christopher V.

Decent tacos for the price. Don't make a special trip, but not a bad option if you're in the area. Guacamole is pretty good.

Name N.

I used to be a regular here until one day while I was trying to get past a patron (a guy the owner appeared to have known) in the tiny space that was available the owner told me to move out of the way. Another day while I was still eating my food the owner harassed me to give a tip. That was very rude because I would tip every time I visited. Not the best way to treat a customer, especially considering that restaurants like these are a dime a dozen.

Brianna B.

Of three tacos that I tried, only one was any good. The fish taco was great: light (not fried) and flavorful. The veggie taco was boring, and the chile relleno taco was a grease bomb. This place is definitely no Primo Chuki's.

Rob B.

Listen, go here and try it. You'll love it like I do. Back in the day my buddy lived close to this place and said how good it was and I was skeptical. I love good Mexican food. Especially from a little spot run by the same people you see in there all the time. Mr. Salsa's enchiladas are excellent and their tacos and burritos are hard to beat. When I was stationed in Germany and Afghanistan for four years I dreamed about Mr. Salsa. They got good prices and friendly people behind the counter. It's one of my favorites!

Nicole I.

The best cheap Mexican food around! My husband and I get take out from here pretty regularly. I highly recommend the chorizo quesadilla and their fresh chips and guac!

Daniella B.

Delicious and cheap! There were some language barrier issues and they forgot my tamale but then they gave me one for free! We agreed with other reviewers that the pastor is a must eat! Thanks for the recommendations!

Yoo C.

Food was ok but i would not recommend eatting at the restaurant. Space is too small, hectic, and inconvenient.

Daniel R.

Pretty darn good tacos. Coming from Austin where TexMex reigns supreme, this has been a good way to get my taco fix satisfied. Now all I need is some queso.

Blythe B.

I really like this place - and so do my classmates. The first time I went here, there was a line out the door - construction workers. Good sigh. Every time, I go back, I love it. I feel so comfortable in - last week, Mexican subtitled "Rocky" was on and it was nice and hot in the place. Food is always good - I have only gotten bunches of the little tacos and I suppose I should expand my menu knowledge, but I am simply happy with my choices. :)

Adam O.

Great authentic Mexican cuisine for a cheap price. Highly recommend.

Maybe Z.

Delicious vegetarian burrito! Open late with polite staff, Mr. Salsa offers the SPICIEST salsa I've ever had, with hot home-made chips. Thanks Mr. Salsa!

Jenna S.

I feel like I should like this place more, but I just don't. And I think it's because the chips are soooo greasy. Like in a terrible, icky, annoying way. It is possible to make homemade chips less wet with grease but Mr. Salsa has not. Sigh. I got a veggie burrito, which was fine. It tasted like every other taqueria burrito that has ever existed. My husband really, really likes Mr. Salsa, so maybe that will make you want to go here more. Alas, Mr. Salsa is just not doing it for me. I will likely only come here if I'm drunk and need a quick fix. Or just order from GrubHub late night.

Adrienne G.

Late night spot for halfway decent Mexican food. It'll get the job done if your'e starving or drunk, but it's a bit bland. Definitely a take out spot- went here with a friend the other day and we were the only two people there. Nothing special, but if you don't mind a 10 minute walk I'd say go down Sheridan to Taqueria los Caminos de Michoacan. They are super yummy! If you're craving tamales, don't expect your life to be changed by these. They're solid, but nothing to write home about. Staff was pretty nice, although they seemed a bit confused when taking our orders about the number of tamales that came with the tamale dinner (the answer is 2)

Native Princess F.

I can't believe I've been away so long!!! Back again for some tostadas and a huge ass burrito mmmmmmm!#! Thank you Mr Salsa for being so awesome, see you again tomorrow B-)

Colleen C.

It's 230am, and the bowling alley lights just came on...What do YOU do? Well, I can tell you what I do. I pile myself +3 into a cab, and head STRAIGHT for Mr. Salsa for some life saving, liver rejuvenating burritos. I could've SWORN they were open 24 hours, but alas this is not the case. As we rolled up to the door, they had all the tables/chairs up, and were moppin' away any last traces of Mexican food. OH NO. (heart drops) I poked my head in (door still unlocked) and asked what time they had closed (about 7 minutes prior). I must've looked so pathetic (seriously), because all of a sudden he started moving stools and throwing things on the grill. My heart soars for Mr. Salsa! And not a grimace or grumble in sight, they were joking around and having fun, talking to us, all in good spirits. This was BEFORE i tipped them, too. So my pals and I belly up to the Mexibar, drink some Grape crush, indulge in Dinner, pt2 a la carne asada and chicken burritos, munch on chips and save ourselves a round of massive el hangovers. I love these guys. Forever. Cash only. Don't forget, they won't budge on that one, I'm afraid.

Patrick M.

Good burritos

Valerie J.

Joy of many nights... bane of my booty - I love Mr. Salsa even though their food goes right to my thighs (and other areas where fat cells like to accumulate:) We live half a block from here so most nights we drop buy to at least buy some chips and salsa. Their salsa is pretty darn good, especially the green - and one miraculous night (Sept 12th!) both sauces were amazingly hot n spicy - Yum!! First having tried their chicken chalupas and tacos, I was pleased, but the chicken also comes with some fat/gristle I could do without. The stuffed poblanos are awesome, but a heart attack waiting to happen. A delicious, decadent heart attack. Enter the tamales - they are often out of them, but they are so good when you can get them. We ordered a ton for Thanksgiving and happily munched on them for the following week :) Their rice and beans are also great - truly authentic and yummy refried beans :) Very happy this place exists... and if my willpower were stronger, I'd be glad they were so close ;) As it stands, I am there far too many nights than is healthy :) Thank you, Mr. Salsa!! (It is also BYOB, and cash only :) oh, and the guys who work here are nice also :)

Rose M.

My absolute favorite place to get tacos in Chicago. Cheap (less than $2 per taco), authentic, and delicious! Get the pork tacos and tamale. You won't regret it!

Sabina L.

Love this place :) great food and service. The tacos are nice and fresh. And authentic. Spicy guacamole is yummy as well. Super sweet workers and great prices !

Claire M.

Haha. This was a fun night. One of my friends from high school (I grew up in Virginia) was in town on a visit from law school in Minnesota and the friend of his that he stays with lives on the same block that I did for awhile when I was in college! On this most recent visit, we were returning to his friend's place from an open mic night. It was after midnight and I was thrilled at the suggestion of some late night tacos. (I was getting the drunken munchies.) Now, due to the fact that I was a little impaired, my recollection may be a tad fuzzy. I recall standing on the sidewalk out front (and when I lived here, there wasn't a whole lot going on on that happy corner of Montrose, Mr. Salsa was actually a Chinese place back then) but now there's, well, Mr. Salsa - and a bar that I believe was dog-friendly! I also couldn't help staring at the building above where a car was just hanging out on someone's ledge. I kept thinking it was going to jump down and that would've been sad. Supposedly cats always land on their feet (?) so he/she probably would've survived. Oh, there was also a Chase conveniently located a couple storefronts down. I think I know this because I made my husband go get cash for me since Mr. Salsa didn't accept credit cards. We got some chips with uh, salsa (it IS Mr. Salsa after all). I ordered some kind of vegetarian tacos. I think I got three of them. Nice and cheap. So we walked back to my friend's friend's place - to the apartment of my friend's friend - whatever, and sat down on the front steps and savored our food. I think I shoved an entire taco into my mouth in one bite, it was so good. Made me wish I still lived there too, I don't have a place like that half a block away from me here in Forest Park but I would if I still made my residence on the 4200 block of good ole Kenmore. Hey and I could bring my dog to the bar, too!

Jelena Z.

I feel that it's my civic responsibility to update this review and let fellow late-night burrito seekers know that Mr. Salsa isn't what it once was. Or maybe it's me that's done the changing? You see, in the almost three years since I've last had a Mr. Salsa burrito and penned that initial review, much has changed. My Mexican grub list now has 36 entries ( yelp.com/list/all-mariac… ) so it's safe to say that my taco/burrito/gordita palate has been, um, refined. I recently dropped in for a standard chicken burrito (without tomatoes, per usual) and came home with a droopy mess of a burrito. Tomatoes everywhere, no sour cream, an excess of boring pinto beans and subpar chicken. The burrito was very loosely wrapped so I skipped ahead to cutting into the meat of the carnage and it wasn't pretty. For a burrito in this town, $6 is actually on the high side so it best be good. Really good. This burrito? I'd give it a sloppy C-. Not sure if it was just an off-night, but this burrito maven has too many other "A" taquerias on her list to risk a C- eating experience. Next!

Caroline D.

Love the holy heck out of this place. I've never ordered anything except the nachos because they're so good I can't even imagine it. They're the spendiest thing on the menu (gasp! $11!) but will last you for two meals at least. The people are always friendly. Clean kitchen, clean customer bathroom, super excellent food. It's cash only so be prepared!

Brian H.

My fav Mexican spot. I've been to hundreds and this place is the best! Love the staff, and the food is killer!

Andrea R.

So, I just left this place very dissatisfied with my friend. I ordered a chicken burrito suiza. While we were waiting I went to the back to wash my hands. There wasn't any soap in the kitchen sink dispenser, and very little dribbled out when I went into the bathroom. Gross. And then my burrito came out and the meat looked like the grimiest lowest quality crap ever and I couldn't stomach it. I'm not a picky eater. I was disgusted. After like ten minutes of mulling over whether or not to complain, (the server never checked up on us obviously because she didn't care. She was at the counter with a guy on her phone.) I said I was really sorry but I didn't like the chicken and asked if I could get something else instead. The girl said something in Spanish to the guy, and then they just asked if I was going to pay for the burrito. That's it. YIKES. Not even an offer to make things ok for me in any slight way at all. I never complain in restaurants because I'm a server, but this was so bad.

Jay H.

Solid but unspectacular, although I was completely sober and having dinner. Pastor burrito was excellent, and burrito had a nicely crisped exterior. Quality touch. Chicken was flavorful, but as others have commented, a bit gristly. Guacamole was fresh and basic. Red salsa was good. I asked for but did not get the salsa verde. Place is clean, and the family team was fast and friendly.

Andrew R.

So after a long, long St. Patty's day with good friends, we were looking for something to sate our late night hunger and what could be better than.....mexican food. Okay, not the best St. Patty's day choice, but at the time it was within walking distance, open, and had a good reputation so we made the trek. We get inside and it's perfect. Bare bones, old, cramped, and with good smells floating around. I got the cabeza quesadilla and a pastor burrito. The quesadilla was just meat and cheese, always a great combination. The meat was cooked until tender and not any more. I was a bit skeptical about cabeza but it worked well. The pastor burrito was really good too, and had a big portion of meat. I got some red salsa and some green salsa with my food and they were both good. Could have used a tad more spicy, but for the average person it was probably a healthy amount. Overall the food was really good, it's open late, the staff is efficient, and it was pretty cheap. Definitely going back for more!

Tim K.

Bottom line is this... BEST FRIGGIN TACOS IN CHICAGO! I swear by this and all my taco condenseur friends will back me up...Nothing is better then drinking at Driftwood just next door and stopping in for a drunken taco...Personally the steak taco is my favorite but others tend to lean towards the chicken....if you are a salsa fan then I would suggest you pick-up the green bottle and prepare for a zesty treat ...first try it with their complementary and endless chips....then smother your tacos in it..trust me its sublime...However if you are not one for spicy stuff then try the taco without it...my GF is this way and still gave a 5 star rating (read her review, Andrea M.)... You really got to get over here sometime ASAP...you not just missing out on something your missing out on EVERTYTHING!

Kristen S.

Just moved to Uptown, and when I found out that there was a taco joint right around the corner from me, I knew it would be dangerous if it was good. Well, Mr. Salsa, you've ruined me. The al pastor taco is my go-to favorite. I've tried MANY al pastor dishes from various places, and Mr. Salsa is in my top 3. Aside from their wonderful tacos, their tamales are pretty awesome too. Basically, I am always a skeptic of late night food because everything tastes better after a pitcher of margaritas. Thankfully, I've found a gem.

Beth A.

its been a while since i treaded this way and i dont think ill be back...used to be a sweet n tasty deal to eat here...now its subpar and overpriced will the old mr salsa come back :'(

Chelsea S.

Only drawback is the cash-only policy, otherwise I would have eaten every meal at Taqueria Mr. Salsa. Their tacos are delicious and cheap. I've tried the pollo, al pastor, and carne asada and all are so so good. They put lettuce and sour cream on, and their salsa verde is my favorite. I've also had their burrito with carne asada, and it's a heart-attack waiting to happen, so good for a cold-Chicago night. Being from California, it was comforting to have delicious and cheap Mexican food close by. My best experiences here were always late at night when I'd have the taxi drop me off at Taqueria Mr. Salsa rather than my apartment. One of the brothers behind the counter always appreciated my drunken Spanish and would throw in an extra taco for good luck. Once they were closing the restaurant down and opened up just for me and my friend! It's comforting to know that at the end of a long night, you can count on something!

Andrea M.

After a night of drinking at the bar next door the only rational next place to stop would be Mr. Salsa. If you are looking for a clean overdone eating establishment then this is not the place for you. However, if you are looking for the most amazing after drinking middle of the night nachos well then you would be at the right spot. There chips and salsa are also yummy, but mind your drunk friend as mine started to eat out of a foreign basket of chips that had been sitting on the counter for who knows how long. She blames the mishap on the beer I blame it on the awesomeness of Mr Salsa.

Amy J.

Decent take out Mexican. No better or worse than a standard Chicago taco joint, howevere, much more expensive, than the greasy taco joints on clark or Broadway and Lawrence, but the food quality is the same. I mean, $9 for some f**kin nachos? Regular nachos were $3.75 and the Nachos surpeme was $9 so I ordered it expected somethign great. It was just chips, cheese, some meat, etc. - the standard $6 nachos you would get anywhere else. The chile rellenos tacos made me feel kinda queasy to. The fish taco was good. I don't get the 4 and 5 star reviews. If you want 4 or 5 star Mexican go w/La Cuetzala or a number of other places. If you want cheap, but good Mexican go w/Rocky's. I don't get it.

Phranque W.

Mr. Salsa is truly my favorite place to eat Mexican food. I love the flavorings of the meat and the mix of red and green salsa for the complimentary chips that come with each meal. They recognize me when I come in and already know what I like. Good people with great food. They do take CASH ONLY so be sure to stop by an ATM before going there.

Angela L.

I love this place! There are quite a couple of mexican places around the Sheridan-Wilson area. I must say that Mr. Salsa is the best out of the 3 that I have tried! The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is very very casual. They are pretty busy sometimes but that just shows that people love their food! We drop by on our way for Target runs and the food is great! Love their tacos with Carne Asada, ordered with with rice and beans and I devoured it. The chicken burrito was great too. The staff is really nice even though I have trouble communicating with them since I have a hard time understanding accents in general, but they are always very patient with me! For what a taco place should be Mr. Salsa definitely is worth 4 stars. The down side for me is that I dont love their chips and salsas that come with it, which is a big let down. But the actual food makes up for it! Super convenient, fast, yummy, and prices are great! Definitely will be frequenting this place!

Chad D.

Affordable. Delicious. Mr. Salsa. I was thinking about subtracting 1 star for not accepting credit cards. But the food was good enough to make up for it. Had three tacos: beef, chorizo, and pastor. Side of rice and beans. Came out to about ten bucks and everything was perfect. Meat was well cooked and spiced, toppings were fresh. Will return!

Nikki C.

Thank CC's mom and dad for shaking and baking to make a little CC shine onto this world as she just reminded me I actually crossed the threshold of this place and partook of the meat and tortillas. I so forgot I ate the night of prom and just thought I had mashed faces with the tamale guy or his sister as I had salsa breath all night... now I know it was with Mr. Salsa and his chicken tacos I licked and sucked that night. through the clouds of random images in my mind, I can only remember the smiles in my tummy as I chomped and chewed. It was a dive of a place, but smelled good and felt mighty nice in my tummy to go along with the vodka, whiskey, beer and altoids. good stuffs. es bueno!

Krystina B.

Thank goodness I only live a block away from this place! The owners are all so friendly and I love that they endure my not so great Spanish. The fish tacos with their fresh pico de gallo are fantastic and sometimes I literally cannot resist going in for one. Their nachos are also great. They use real shredded muenster cheese, not the gross yellow slimy stuff. Super delicious. Super friendly. I will keep supporting these guys for sure!

Brett F.

Admittedly, I don't remember getting to Mr. Salsa - I shamelessly blame Lefko of Blue Stem fame and not my own lightweightedness, natch - unfortunately I also don't remember paying, ordering, chewing or even getting home. Coincidence? I think not. Don't mind my continued, unabashed finger pointing at Lefko. Fortunately for me (and all of you) I do remember a few things about my visit to Mr. Salsa... + The cooks are hilarious and great sports with 2am drunks + My steak burrito with extra sour cream was tasty and (barely) saved me from hitting the porcelain throne Friday night + Said burrito was super crispy on the outside and filled with oozy schmoozey goodies like rice, beans and tomatoes on the inside. Yum! + My coke in a bottle was throwback, retro fabulousness. Almost as good as a Jarritos! + Despite my false claims, I've never stolen a DVD player. I was just trying to make you feel less like a hoodlum, Sir. Besides, everyone knows it's all about the Blu Ray. Duh. Now go eat your beans.

Christine T.

Went there for the first time at 3:00pm on a Saturday. Almost passed it by because we saw the "Free HIV Testing" sign in the window and thought that it was a medical clinic rather than a taqueria. We ordered al pastor tacos and guac and chips for take out. The al pastor tacos were above average and priced right. The guac was okay but could have used some lime juice and extra cilantro. The guac was not a bad deal for the $5.00 price, though. **Cash only**

Jeff G.

ordered picadillo taco and carne asada taco. both were good, but both had a lot of lettuce on it, an no onion or cilantro. i usually assume that a taqueria will put onion and cilantro on a taco, or at least ask me if i want those on there. service was slow (for the 5 people that came in right after me). i don't think i need to go back, many other taco joints i would try out first. periodically during me dinner some questionable people came in like the crack ho that came in looking for 4 quarters for her $ bill. kind of lose your appetite after that

Jason W.

Really tasty food here. The chicken and pastor were pretty awesome. They have a mini chimichanga on their menu that if definitely worth ordering.

Angela D.

The vegetarian burrito at Mr. Salsa reflects my personal ideal: generous portions of rice, beans, cheese, avocado slices (NOT guacamole), onions, lettuce and tomatoes. All in a warm, grilled tortilla. Basically, everything but the meat. This is how it should be--I hate places that charge extra for avocado or even rice on a veggie burrito. Hello--THERE'S NO MEAT ON IT! Excellent smoky salsas and greasy, salty chips. And cheap!

Louis W.

This place is a winner. It's a hole-in-the-wall-late-night-I've-shut-down-two-­bars-and-need-food-in-me-before-I-wake-up-and-­meet-my-parents-for-brunch-because-they-fly-back-­to-Boston-tomorrow-and-I'll-never-hear-the-end-of-­it-if-I-show-up-still-drunk-greasy-Mexican-food joint. The guys who run it are friendly and funny. The food is really quite good and the delivery is very quick. If you are expecting a Michelin 5 Star Spanish/French fusion meal then...you've really missed the boat. Like, Dennis Nedry missed the boat. If you've just gotten out of a Hot Chip concert at the Riv and have a craving for meats: brother, you've found home.

Adam M.

Sadly I must take away one star because I can't get no late night tacos!!!! The last two times I tried to fulfill my craving I have been denied. Once was a Saturday night at about 1:45. Stopped by on my way home and they were closing up - uno mas taco de carne asada, por favoooooor!?! Nope. The second time was a Tuesday night at 11:30. Starving for some tacos after a night of up and down poker winning, they denied me again. Worst part about this is they don't have any hours posted, at least none that I can find, so I am at a loss as to how late their actually open and on which nights. Mr. Salsa - pleeeease stay open a little later so you can remain the best late-night tacos on the northside......I miss your carne asada goodness.

Kevin A.

UPDATE: GIVE IT TO ME SHEPHERD STYLE!!!! Er...Al Pastor that is. The carne asada may not be up to par, but the al pastor tacos are perfection. ***************************** LIKE WHITE CASTLE... Mr. Salsa is best enjoyed late at night after consuming mass quantities of beer. When enjoyed sober, the food is solid, but not stellar taqueria fare. That said, the place is aptly named because their salsas are fantastic. I love that their chips are fried fresh with each order and the guys behind the counter are great. Finally, a note of warning to all your Mexican Coke enthusiasts. The bottle I had here contained HFCS instead of cane sugar if that matters to you.

Mike P.

Really like the laid back attitude of the cook. "Take it easy" he implored me as I tried to pay for my burrito immediately after ordering it. The place is spartan in its appointments. However, like the other taquerias in the neighborhood, Mr. Salsa can deliver a solid meal for minimal bucks. Good salsa, and a good place to watch the Exorcist over-dubbed in Spanish, as I did on my last visit.

Jims L.

The man who took my order and handled my cash as well as those of at least 5 other customers before me helped the cook by putting on all the toppings for my tacos with his bare, dirty hands (lettuce, tomatoes). I don't even like eating food from my OWN hands after I've touched money. Didn't count the tacos as he put them in my bag to go, or check it there afterwards. Then realized he gave me 5 out of the 6 I had ordered, only once I got home.

Jennifer K.

On 3/4/2010, I became ill from eating the Guacamole at Mr.Salsa. My stomach didn't agree with the food, and 10 minutes later, I was sick. Today, I decided to go to the restaurant for pico de gayo. I look down, and I see a bug in my food. I rushed back to the restaurant to confront the cook, and demanded my money to be handed back to me. I've noticed that the cooks do NOT wear cooking gloves. In addition, the cook has been acting as the cashier and as the cook. After handling money, he only rinses his hands. He does not use soap. I've had food at Mr.Salsa a few times, and all of the times, the same person does not properly wash their hands. I'm extremely disgusted with this restaurant. 2 thumbs down. Save your money, folks.

Brian W.

I ducked in with a friend for tacos (pollo, asada), and they were fine. Maybe a little small, yet adequately tasty. The steak proved a better choice than the chicken, which bordered on dry and crumbly. As for extras, not all taquerias give you chips and salsa to munch on, so that's a positive. The place was clean, and the staff were welcoming but a little distractingly loud with their personal conversations. I've had better hole-in-wall Meixcan, but I've had much, much worse -- so I'd definitely return for a second try.

Arturo B.

3.75 stars. Ever since a friend had a party at the bar next door (Driftwood), I have been coming back to this place religiously for the al pastor tacos- some of the best I know of in the city. The pork is perfectly seasoned and not as fatty as most places around town. Served with fresh chopped onions and cilantro, I usually add cheese and avocado. Two or three of these makes a delicious, inexpensive meal. One note: This is one of many Mexican places in Chicago that serves avocado as an extra, but not guacamole. It would be nice if they went the whole nine yards. Great al pastor, though.

Marie G.

Compared to other taquerias, four and a half stars. Compared to other restaurants, three is about right. I think I'd be inclined to add another star if they served a jicama salad or black beans, but it's plenty delicious as is. Mr. Salsa taught me the right way to make guacamole, that the al pastor taco (or burrito) with lime and cilantro kicks serious a**, and to ask about the carrot-garlic-jalapeno-onion stuff they serve. Mmmm, it's been a while, Mr. Salsa. Oh! And I've eaten here sober. Many, many times. I used to live around the corner and once I ate here five days in a row. And you can byob.

tammy s.

Behold the God of Mexican. Holy hell. Fresh chips, the hottest but best salsa I've ever had, FAST and hilarious service, CHEAP!!!! and behold... the tacos. My friend, "I don't remember the tacos last night. Were they good?" Me: "They were heaven." Her: "That good, huh?" Me: "I think you took one to bed with you." Her: "I'll have to go when I'm sober."

Brian J.

I have lived in the neighborhood for quite some time around the corner from Mr.Salsa. Honestly,it is the last place I would eat in the neighborhood if I had to get something to eat. Yeah they are open late but the food is hardly to be desired. I really do not see what people like about this place. Even when they were across the street they weren't that great. Maybe if I was bombed out of mind I wouldn't mind the food that much. Ive had better Mexican food just about everywhere. I just do not like the meat the serve or the spices they use on it . It doesn't help it at all. Maybe if you drown it in their salsa it would edible, but thats about it . Kinda smells funky inside too which is a deal breaker for me.

Amelia R.

eat it everyday, this place is kinda questionable about cleanliness. but over all the place sure needs to be remodeled....love it n e ways

Lakshmi R.

Open at 2A! What more do you need? After a night out painting the town red, I am usually ready for dinner #2 right about 2A. Amazing quesadillas for $2 each and burritos and fajitas for $6! They taste jus like they do in Mexico (I should know - I jus came back from a vacation in Acapulco!!!) The decor is plain and uninspiring and there is some spanish channel on the tv; Cash only place but there is an ATM down the street - you only need $12 + tip total for 2 ppl. Free chips and salsa too.... food + price combo definitely makes it a 4 star

Angel S.

It's one of those hole in the wall Mexican joints that have burritos so big it could feed a family of 4! Plus they use real chicken here and not the disgusting ground chicken that some of the places feed you. The chips are never stale and neither is the sense of humor that comes from the guys working behind the counter.

Hal C.

The food is about 3 stars, but the service has pretty much always been awful here. It's not worth it for me to come here anymore, and I live about a block away. I don't mind that it's hard to order with the space they have, but they make it that much harder by not giving anyone an idea what to do, when they want you to pay, etc. Acknowledging that customers are there is always a nice thing to do. Language barrier ain't an excuse there. I'll stick to Amistad.

Juls M.

I recently moved to Chicago with my boyfriend after living in San Francisco for a couple years. The search for savory new restaurants is on! During a celebratory night of drinking at the Driftwood (our new local spot) after we finished unpacking our apt, Shorty (one of the cooks) brought us over some carne asada tacos w/ tomatillo salsa & onions to welcome us to the neighborhood. These suckers were good. Better than any taco I've had in The Mission good. Spicy, juicy, and yet the tortillas held-up. Mr. Salsa (and Shorty) can consider us to be their new best friends.

Pinaki S.

Counter Service! I got a cabeza de res taco. I'm not sure what cabeza de res is (head of the cow?). Had a big piece of avocado. Proprietor calls me buddy. Not bad.

Chris S.

The best Mexican food that I've had in the States, and I've tried a lot of them! The staff is always friendly and don't speak a lot of english, the patrons are always all Mexican and there's always Univision on TV there, all signs of great Mexican restaurant!

Michael C.

Pretty great hole-in-the-wall tacqueria, good for some pretty tasty tacos, burritos, etc., be it late night or to carry out. Just a tiny place where you can see them make your food (and where they store everything and clean up, etc.), but all that makes it seem authentic. Tasty food here

Bev h.

i finally got some mr. salsa this weekend, and that shit is damn good! i would give it 5 stars if they would get some regular hours. in retrospect, i should not have eaten all those nachos at 3:30 in the morning, but at the time i was in drunk heaven. they also brought out some badass pico de gallo for us to inhale while we watched them make our food. yessss.

Greg S. J.

YES! YES!! YES!!! Wonderful tacos, and yes I am biased because I used to live across the street but they are damn good. They are juicy and big. Do not miss the Pico de Gallo. It packs some heat and the fresh-made tortilla chips are crunchy, spicy goodness that cannot be beat after a night out on the town. Did I mention the guys behind the counter? You will not find a friendlier bunch in the entire city. Just go! You'll see what I mean. If you want a few cervezas to wash it down with just drift next door to the Driftwood.

Matt C.

Recently moved up here and had heard some positive things about this place. My dad and I hit it up last month and I have been back numerous times since. This food is fresh and made to order and for around $5, you can get filled up better than anything you could get at Subway. Chicken tacos are out of this world and bursting with flavor at first bite and the french fries are better than your standard taqueria fare. All in all, damn fine bang for your buck @ Mr. Salsa.

Araceli R.

mr salsa the best tacos in chicago love it nice friendly guys but........ hey use some gloves please see you soon:)

Jeremy G.

Awesome tacos. Go for the carry out, there's not alot of seating. Coke in a glass bottle makes me very happy.

Tara P.

Yet another fine taqueria in Uptown. Cheap yet still delicious, and they cut and fried up the chips before our adoring eyes. When they say the green sauce is hot, they mean it.

Jerry L.

This is my favorite mexican fast food on the north side of the city. Pastor Torta is what I'm talking about. The name doesn't lack either good salsa the green one rotates between a avacado salsa and a plantain salsa, red one is the best though. I actually ate here everyday for two weeks in a row about a year ago and still hadn't tried everything. Really good fish and goat specials. Good prices great food and funny service. Hey if you can't handle the heat get out of the kitchen, because the service is as authentic as one could get. this is a must try.

Silvana N.

I get a burrito from Mr. Salsa at least once a week. These guys are not messin' around. Always excellent proportions, proper tortilla crispiness and they don't skimp on the avocado. Plus, the vegetarian burrito is $4 and it's more than enough food for any sane person's lunch. $4! And delicious. Also, the guys who work there refuse to speak to me in English, even though I don't speak any Spanish. I think they are taking my cultural education upon themselves, and I appreciate it. The salsa is delicious, the place is clean. I like to sit at the counter and watch them cook.

Adam M.

Kevin A.

Mike P.

Jennifer K.

Brian W.

Arturo B.

Jason W.

Angela D.

Bev h.

Matt C.

Araceli R.

Jeremy G.

Tara P.

Jerry L.

Emma M.

Chimichangas all day. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Call me Mrs. Salsa I highly recommend if.

Hal C.

Juls M.

Andrea M.

Amy J.

Chris S.

Michael C.