Taqueria Las Cumbres
93 Grant St, Crystal Lake, IL, 60014
Taqueria Las Cumbres Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Crystal Lake for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Crystal Lake for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Crystal Lake for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
93 Grant St
Crystal Lake, IL, 60014 - Phone (815) 455-8200
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Doug P.
Great food Mexican steak made right cheap good food in hole restaurant . No alcohol. And 2nd helping of chips extra. But hot mix not burning .
(5)Adam R.
A pretty standard hole in the wall taqueria. Consistent food delivered to the table every time with decent prices and good, hot, salsa. Can't really argue with a recipe for success. My personal favorite are the steak tacos, with onion and cilantro.
(4)Stephanie L.
Excellent food. Love their chips and salsa. No alcohol, I usually like a margarita when I get Mexican food so this would be my biggest complaint. Also, I've had terrible servers before- high school girls who cared more about talking to each other than getting our order right.
(3)Steve H.
The best authentic Mexican food. Period. Love their chorizo sausage on anything, and they have great steak too. Best salsa too. ALWAYS take a 32oz cup of it to go every time! Great for carry-out or a quick dine in too. They do get busy at the usual peak times, so plan accordingly.
(5)Jenna A.
Table service is great! The pork tacos here are amazing (and the burritos too!) We eat here ALL the time! Great food, good service. What more can you ask? Well, maybe just to serve alcohol? Lol
(5)Joe M.
For being the only customers in the restaurant the service was pretty mediocre. Had to ask for all refills, extra napkins, and stood up to get the check and the plates cleared. That being said, the food was good, freshly prepared and fair portions for the price. Would rather get it to go next time.
(3)Eric P.
Excellent food, small portions, high prices. The restaurant is pretty cramped, so take out is the rule here. All bad things aside, the quality of food wins out and makes this place a must have.
(4)Jeremy S.
The food is awesome, Made fresh minutes after you order it. The only thing that keeps this from getting 5 stars from me is that the hours are not the best. A restaurant like this, in a prime downtown Crystal Lake location, should be open until at least 9-10 pm, but they close, lock up and lights out by 8:30 pm. Try the shrimp burrito. If it is still not on the menu, ask for it.
(4)Julie W.
This place has the worst steak tacos. It felt as if I was chewing on burnt rubber. All over cooked and no flavor. I would never come here again. People were very nice and waitress was very attentive but I would never come here again.
(1)Chad C.
Went here for the first time (and last) last night. Food - not good; service - not good. Waitress must have had a hot date, as she literally asked me if she could sweep around my feet while we were sitting at the table. There was only one other table occupied when we got there, but we had to ask several times for everything: second bowl of salsa, glass of ice for the Coke, napkins, etc. Aside from the chips, the food was very bland. We ordered the nachos (microwaved cheese, evidently), a steak burrito, an al pastor taco, and a chile relleno taco, just so we could try various things. And all tacos come ONLY with cilantro and onion (WHAAAT!?!?!). And it's a quarter EACH if you want a flour tortilla, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, or sour cream. So that turns a $2.50 steak taco into a $3.50 steak taco (if you don't opt for the flour tortilla, which would make it a $3.75 steak taco). $3.75 for a taco? Are you kidding me??? And the food wasn't even very good! What place DOESN'T give you cheese, tomatoes, and lettuce on a steak taco? Pretty proud of their tacos here. $3.50+ for a taco. I can't get over it! Oh, and they close at 8:30 during the week. Not 8, not 9 - 8:30. I don't know how anybody could give this place 4 or 5 (or even 3, really) stars. Go to Raul's in Wauconda, or Sofia's in Island Lake (both on 176). I promise you'll never go back here if you do!
(1)Grant D.
Love this place and hesitate to tell others as I don't want it to get busy, fancy, or the owners to lose their "edge". GREAT fish tacos, excellent other dishes. Our family loves the place and we can always just walk in and be seated. The brisk carry out business tells you many others like the place as well. Can't go wrong here.
(4)Joseph M.
Have gotten take out here for several years, went back tonight for dinner and besides the prices being jacked up from the part, the food was very disappointing. I got three steak tacos and the meat was very over cooked and and tough as nails, my wife got a cheese enchilada which was ok, we ordered a side of chips and salsa and the bill was $27 Really 3 crappy tacos and cheese enchiladas. Won't be back again!!
(1)Anthony Z.
I came here based on a friend suggestion. I had the Beef & Steak Burrito. It was very good. It took a little longer to make than Chipotle, but I can't help but wonder if they don't make everything fresh. The portion size is large enough for 2 meals I will definitely be back again!
(4)Kelley R.
The chips and salsa were good but everything else was just okay.
(2)Jose M.
I grew up eating real authentic Mexican food, and let me tell you this is exactly what it tasted like. It reminds me of when I was a kid and the whole house would fill with the aroma of enchiladas. My favorite is still the simple chicken tacos with rice and beans, but they have a variety of dishes. Bottom line if you're wondering whether this place serves authentic dishes, I can assure you 100% it does.
(5)Rachael S.
When someone at work highly recommended Las Cumbres, i jumped at the opportunity to find a great Mexican restaurant. Fever since I moved back from Albuquerque, I've been trying to find a place that might even come close to the scrumptious Mexican and New Mexican deliciousness on which I became so spilled. Although this place neither sated my craving for wonderful Mexican food nor did it end my search, Las Cumbres does have a lot going for it. I ordered: asada burrito with jalapeños, guacamole and a horchata. Overall the reasons I gave for over three stars are for key factors: - fresh and flavorful salsa verde (difficult to come by) - the horchata could very well have been home made Reasons I was VERY tempted to give 3 stars: - jalapeños were not fresh, they were canned (jalapeños are cheap) - so-so house salsa and guacamole - for someone traveling 25 minutes, this dish was not worth the commute
(4)Kevin G.
I was worried at first when my friend took me here. Interior is very dated and the term "hole in the wall" comes to mind. However, the food was excellent. Some of the best Mexican food I have ever had. Only recommendation I would make is to update the interior but at the end of the day, the food is what matters most and they delivered.
(4)Jared W.
Definitely among the best Mexican places in the area. It has that nice "hole in the wall" feel to it, and is right in the heart of beautiful downtown Crystal Lake. They offer chips and salsa with chips that are made in house (chips are a touch greasy perhaps, but I liked them), and the guacamole is pretty good too. I was disappointed to see that if you order a pop it comes in a can, but that mattered less to me after I tasted the horchata. I had fish tacos, and really liked them. The fish is grilled rather than breaded and fried like a lot of places do it, and it makes for a great taco. I was glad to see too that they serve their tacos in the authentic style. I'll happily come back here again.
(4)Beth R.
We're new to Crystal Lake and tried this restaurant tonight based on all the good reviews here on Yelp. My husband and I agree that people in this area must not have ever had good Mexican food before, because this is not it. My husband said the fish tacos were "ok" but not as good as another place we go to. My flautas were dry and tasteless. The steak taco was dry and overseasoned, and contained hardly any cilantro or onions. And finally the chips were greasy and so salty we couldn't even eat them... I threw them out. The salsa was bland. Overall, I ate nothing I would want to order again. The girl who answered the phone was pleasant and our order was ready very quickly which was nice. But because of the speed at which it was made, I question if the food was just reheated from frozen... which would explain the dryness of everything. I am absolutely shocked that this place rates as the best restaurant in McHenry county. In my opinion it's not that good and we will not eat here again.
(2)Franklin D.
Go on Sunday and get the posole. (don't think it's on the menu, don't think they have it any other days). It's like delicious soup made with pork shoulder and white hominy, guaranteed to cure any hangover... IF you dump the entire dish of red chile they provide directly into the broth ;) It is a HUGE bowl of soup, enough for two people.
(4)Melanie R.
My husband and I ate here for the first time this past weekend. Neither of us liked the tortilla chips - they were puffy, greasy, and way too salty. Salsa was just "OK". I had enchiladas with mole sauce - those were good though I was surprised the dinner portion was only 2 enchiladas. All other mexican places serve 3 enchiladas. Waitress confirmed that the mole sauce was made there; not from a jar. Rice was bland and beans a pile of liquidy mush - didn't eat either. Husband had the shrimp burrito - he said it was OK, but too heavy on the sour cream. They also overcharged me for the enchiladas. Menu price was $9.99 for the enchiladas with mole and they charged me an additional $1.50 for the mole sauce. What the heck?! $11.50 is a ridiculous price for 2 enchiladas. And if you're looking for ambiance, forgot it. This place is a true dive. It was also exceptionally hot in there...they either needed to up the AC or turn on some fans. The service was also mediocre.
(2)Frank H.
The food was alright, not great though, but the price, is killer for the portions. You pay to much for too little.
(1)Shari L.
Love this place! Good prices, good food! I love the veggie burrito and the shrimp tacos. Hole in the wall - but very clean. The owners clearly take pride in their restaurant. Muy bien!
(4)Stef M.
The chicken tacos are out of this world - seriously. The chicken is so good! This place may be hit or miss if you don't like mild spice/heat - I haven't tried anything here that wasn't at least mildly spiced. I've noticed they've stepped up the table service a bit and it works. Great coffee too. As noted by another viewer, it is correct that this is not a place to go for atmosphere. But, if you are a foodie, you come for the food and you will love it.
(4)Jose O.
Amazing place i had the tacos al pastor, delicious frendly service my friend got a huge burrito really good food the chips and salsa are homade , I'll come back as soon as i can.
(5)Jason G.
The Horchata is amazing! Cheap too! I used to only order the bottle coke, now I can't resist ordering the BIG ASS size (32 oz) and I suck it down every time! I typically order, at least this month, 3 tacos (fish, shrimp & steak). I love the salsa and chips too...everything is made fresh in-house. We love it so much that we must get Las Cumbres nearly once a week. We frequent so much, owner Manuel gave us one of their t-shirts that I sport around town. If you're a soccer fan, you'll enjoy what they have on the 2 tv sets...it's all that is ever on.
(5)Jim W.
Great burritos and tacos. Lunch menu is very reasonable, I always add the rice and beans. Oddly, many items come with fries. I've never had the fries, not sure a burrito fry combo is for me. Soda is available via cans or bottles, no fountain drinks. Limited seating space gets full quickly at lunch, but it's worth the few minutes wait. Great food, great price, worth a visit.
(4)Dan B.
Great food! This is not a fancy restaurant by any means so if that is what you are looking for go elsewhere. However, if you want great food this is the place to go. Very reasonably priced, great service and great food. I don't know what more there is to say. Go there and be thankful you have taste buds.
(5)Jeff S.
Bumping up Las Cumbres to 5 stars. I think the only thing that was keeping the fifth star out of the equation on my first trip was the overhyped fish tacos. (Thanks for nothing Yelp :P) Well, after eating here a good 10 times or more in the past year I've tried every taco they make and the fish just got better and better. Grilled just right with the perfect mix of lemon juice and spicy heat. I'm still not a fan of the extra-greasy chorizo though, but the chelle rellano taco is really good. The tortas are also great. Here's a quick tip, get the small cheese quesadilla and add steak plus ask for grilled onions and peppers. Awesome. Also the first basket of chips and salsa is complimentary but you'll be charged for refills. They've added some dinner entrées to the new, nicer menu as you no longer order off of the old pink paper menus . And I swear they've painted the walls and changed the decor a bit recently, but I can't say for sure. I usually just watch whatever football..err...soccer match is on the TV when we go there and sip from the 5 gallon bucket of horchata.
(5)jan l.
The Chicago Tribune gave Las Cumbres a really favorable review last week, I was thrilled to see. Obviously, as M S. said below, he/she is missing it. If you're looking for an overall "experience", at a Mexican Restaurant that's not a chain? This is probably not it. I don't think calling it a dive is fair. It's extremely clean, and yes, it's small. It's a family run restaurant. And no, nothing "posh" LOL. We have been eating here on a regular basis for easily 5 years. The service has always been fine. They don't fall all over you, but they take care of you. We have never once not had our chips and salsa refilled, ever. And yes, they try to save money with canned pop. The chips and salsa are wonderful, the steak taco's are my favorite taco in the entire area.The peppery taste is just wonderful! My husband loves the al pastor and the poblano taco. The shrimp soup is devine, as is everything we've ever tried there. I did a little test one time with a steak taco from a grocery store/taqueria in Crystal Lake that I used to frequent and Las Cumbres. I purchased both, and ate them together. I haven't been back to the grocery/taqueria in 5 years. So, if you're looking for a posh interior, cozy atmosphere and freebies, you're probably better off at the On the Border chain. If you're looking for fresh ingredients, made to order, and not Americanized Mexican food? Give Taqueria Las Cumbres a try, it is fabulous!!!
(5)Scott S.
This is great mexican food. Ive eaten here several times and never been disappointed. Its my choice for authentic mexican food in the area.
(5)Jake M.
I can best describe this place as a best kept secret / hole in the wall. The food is great and fresh and very affordable.
(5)The Truth ..
Went here Saturday for lunch with my family. We all ordered the taco dinner,which is three tacos with refried beans and rice. My wife and daughter ordered the steak,chicken and al pastor tacos. Their tacos were all overcooked and dry. I ordered the shrimp, fish and chile rellenos tacos. Except for the chile rellenos taco, we all agreed that these were some of the worst tacos we have ever eaten. Absolutely nothing tasted fresh and had any flavor. The salsa verde was watery and the salsa rojo was just bad. Just another poor quality Mexican restaurant in McHenry county.
(1)Jeremy S.
Update: Get the shrimp tacos. Some of the best things I've ever tasted.
(5)Ann C.
Two words.... shrimp tacos. Five words.... you have to try them. Seriously, the shrimp taco's are wonderful. Perfectly seasoned and delicious. I ordered a steak burrito (without lettuce) and a shrimp taco. I figured I would eat half of the burrito and my hubby would get the other half. Our wonderful waiter brought my burrito without lettuce and my shrimp taco without lettuce.... even though I forgot to order it without lettuce. He said he would add lettuce if I wanted, but figured I wouldn't because I was lettuce free on my burrito. What a smart young man! The kids ordered cheese quesadillas and they came with fries. Great way to make kids happy! As we were leaving, my daughter realized she forgot her "magic sticks" (straws)... she ran back in to get them... our waiter saw her and handed her his whole stack of straws. She was a happy girl. Excellent fish tacos + yummy Mexican Coke + great staff = we will be back.
(5)Alex B.
Best Al Pastor tacos I have had since leaving Mexico City! Always very nice and quick with the takeout. Mil Gracias!
(5)Brit W.
Hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant with friggin BANGIN' authentic Mexican food! My boyfriend and I would go here 1-3 times A WEEK. Fish tacos are AMAZING. Esp. with adding avocado, fresh squeezed lime juice, and some verde salsa YUMMM. Shirmp tostadas are wonderful, same with burritos. The quesadillas are nice and toasty too. Table salsa is super fresh and tasty, as well as the chips! Service is very friendly. If they're busy, it'll get slow or you'll have to wait for a table (as there aren't many...) LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. My fav is the fish tacos and shrimp tostadas :) Mm mm mmmm!!
(5)Jamie R.
I read all the reviews and drove out of my way to try this restaurant. When I arrived I saw the all the awards they received for being a favorite restaurant. We started off with the chips and salsa. The salsa was very delicious. The chips were salty, which I liked, but had a lingering after taste I couldn't identify. We ordered guacamole and chips and were brought a dish that had roughly two tablespoons of avocado, with barely anything mixed in with it and no chips. Confused, we asked her if this is a side order or full order and she said side. We let her know we wanted a full. She brought us the full order with chips and we could finally try it. It had no flavor. It had zero seasoning. I decided to order steak enchiladas. I asked which cheese would be on and inside. She said Mexican. I said, fine, as any Mexican cheese would be sufficient. My cousin order cheese enchiladas with a mole sauce and my mom ordered steak tostadas. So, the food arrives. I take the first bite and all I taste is Parmesan cheese. It is all over the top of my enchiladas. It was on top of everyone's dishes. This is NOT Mexican cheese. All of us would have asked it to be left off as we don't want Italian cheese on our Mexican food. As I went to take a bite of my rice, there was a massive long black HAIR, from under the rice to on top of it. I called her over and showed her. When she offered me something else, I declined. At that point, everyone else stopped eating. We get the bill and the cheese enchiladas which the menu states $9.99 were charged and additional $1.75 for mole. The menu did not state this and she did not mention this when ordering. Other than the salsa, I can't find one good thing about this restaurant.
(1)Silvija S.
I saw some great reviews on yelp and thought I'd give it a try. Great service, fresh and very tasty food. Clean and cute little restaurant; a real jewel in Crystal Lake. So I brought my friends from work. They all loved it and said they want to come again soon!
(5)John D.
The best Mexican restaurant I have ever been too. The chorizo burritos are awesome. The prices are great. Where can you go out to eat with 2 people and only spend $16?
(5)Lynn P.
I am a local business owner in Historic Downtown Crystal Lake myself so I attempt to support other local businesses. Because of this I ordered from Taqueria Las Cumbres and was INCREDIBLY IMPRESSED by the food, prices, quality, speed and customer service. If you are looking for GREAT real Mexican Food you cannot go wrong with this place. So, if you see the 'I will be back in 5 minute' sign at my store, Enlightened Balance, you will know I am running to pick up amazing Mexican food!
(5)M S.
So maybe I'm missing something, but my family and I didn't think this place was all that. I know it's gotten a lot of good reviews and it was even recommended to us by a co-worker, but hmm, we just found it to be so so. To me, eating out is about the overall experience, not just the food. It's also about the service, environment, location, etc. As said here many times, this restaurant is definitely a dive. There are maybe ten tables in the whole place and it feels like a tight fit. There is nothing about the decor that is posh or warm and happy. So please don't go thinking this will be a cozy atmosphere. As for the service that's been so highly rated, we didn't experience that. Perhaps we came on an off night, but the waitress we had didn't crack a smile once. We had to ask her for things more than once and she never checked on us to see if everything was okay. The sodas come in cans and there are no free refills. Also, according to our waitress, you don't get free refills of chips and salsa. We were with four adult sized people and the basket of chips, (which I found to be just okay and on the greasy side) is relatively small, and we finished them quickly. The food is not bad but not exceptional either. I've had better and I've had worse. I imagine if you order take out from here, you'd like it well enough. Having said all of this, they definitely had customers and were busy. The prices are quite good, too, but again, for us, it's about the overall experience, not just the food. So therefore, I am only giving it 2 stars.
(2)Sarah C.
Awesome...great taqitos and tacos...authentic Mexican dive... The chips are crispy and light...and I probably ate about 25....husband had 2 beef tacos and I had a tostada....so good and crispy....fresh marinaded chicken....
(5)Thomas C.
This place rocks! We have moved through the menu on successive visits and each time the take away is "This place rocks" . This last visit, we decided to succumb to the hype and step away from the "dishes familiar and known". We had the shrimp tacos, fish tacos, chile rellenos tacos. These were all tasty and now cause a crave in the pit of my stomach, saying.. "must have those tacos"... What I love about this place is how great the staff is with kids. There are times when dining with kids when you can sense the apprehension, anxiety and downright disdain that you brought them here. That is NOT the case here. The staff was friendly, and went out of the way to make my kids feel at home. They serve french fries with their kids quesadillas.. As Charlie Sheen's kids would say "Winning"
(5)G K.
For what it is--casual 5-star home style Mexican, carry out or dine in if you prefer. Skip the strip mall chain restaurants for the real deal. Chicken burrito and steak tacos!
(5)Mike C.
I wanted to like this place, i REALLY did as it's hard to find good Mexican food in the burbs. The food was, Eh! Now i am spoiled to have lived most my life in Chicago and have been to most of the best taco joints there, but my quest to find an equivalent meal in the burbs continues on. I ordered the 3 taco dinner and wanted to try a few different ones so i got the Carne Asada, Al Pastor, and Chile Relleno. Biggest disappointment was the steak. It was bland, tasteless, and had a boring meat flavor as if it was just cooked dry with no seasonings. The Chile Relleno was not great either. It was VERY greasy, the breading basically fell off, the Chile was flavorless until i reached the top which had a faint heat. Not at all impressed. The last taco was the Al Pastor. This was not bad, i have had much better but it was flavorful and tender. I did LOVE the homemade chips and green salsa, the Horchata was pretty good too. After reading all the great reviews i thought i had found my suburban Mexican fix. I am sadly still on the hunt. If only Las Asadas or La Palapita would open up in the NW burbs.
(2)Sharon C.
You Yelp reviewers were right, Taqueria Las Cumbres is great! We went for lunch on Monday and we weren't disappointed. Between five of us we ordered tacos, chilies rellenos, tostadas and taco salad. I've never had a fish taco before and this one was delicious! the guacamole was good to. I believe the tortilla chips are home made. Our server was a delightful young woman who patiently walked us through our menu options.
(5)Keith W.
Amazing authentic Mexican food. I always get tacos and they are always great. The Al Pastor tacos are excellent, but so are the chicken, steak, shrimp and fish tacos too. The people are always friendly and the owner is usually there when I stop in. It is a little hole in the wall authentic Mexican restaurant. It is not a high end fake Mexican place. I always do carry out, so I can't comment on the dine in service. The place is always clean and the food is always great.
(5)John K.
If it wasn't for the food. I would never come back. Service slow slow. Waiting 20 min to get card back after paying. Every Fri same thing. Grrrrrrrrr
(1)Sihun K.
Great recommendations from the yelpers. I went with fish and shrimp tacos, and the chile rellano. Very good, and a great price. I've been looking for a place that had good fish tacos. Taquerias beats everyone in town. I will try adding the avocado next time. I did find some things interesting. The restaurant is L shaped and you order and wait in this narrow corridor. They have a large screen tv always on a soccer channel in that corridor so there are quite a few people standing there. As you wait for your food and watch soccer, people are squeezing in and around you the whole time making it a very unique experience. Definitely will be back.
(5)Tom Z.
Wow! The food is really good... The decor isn't fancy, but don't let that deter you from going here. I had a steak burrito. The steak was tender, juicy and full of flavor. The chips and salsa were really good. The salsa was fresh and great flavor. The people were really nice. It was clean inside, but a little small. I will be returning!
(4)Laurin G.
Thank you, Yelp (and Yelpers) for turning me on to this place! Based on the reviews here, we tried it for dinner tonight and were very impressed! You guys were dead on! The salsa was good and the chips were freshly fried. The carne asada (steak) tacos were truly the best I've ever had! (and I've had plenty!) Flavorful marinated meat, with grill marks and was very tender and juicy. And at $1.60 each, how can you go wrong? My husband got the chile relleno tacos ($2.00) each, and they were huge, stuffed full of cheese, and absolutely delicious! My son got the steak burrito, which he also enjoyed very much. He almost cried when we were halfway home and he discovered he had left his 1/2 a burrito on the table! I don't think we'll need to look any further for wonderful, authentic Mexican food in this area as long as Taqueria Los Cumbres is around!
(5)Quinn B.
Huge fan of Mexican and this place is terrific... Relaxed atmosphere, courteous staff and authentic food. Everything I've had has been great and it's nice to get a Mexican coke in a bottle. It's also a pleasure to get the check and think they made a mistake because they charged too little for the meal. Throw the address in the GPS because it can be hard to find if you're not familiar with downtown Crystal Lake.
(5)Andy L.
Some of the best fish tacos in the area! Add avocado for a really nice flavor. Their pastor is also amazing. Worth the price, which is actually quite reasonable. I usually carry out because the inside isn't much and it can get cramped when busy. I wouldn't go anywhere else in Crystal Lake for some quality Mexican food.
(5)Chelsea L.
I'm amazed I haven't reviewed this place already! I used to work down the street from here and we would walk down and get burritos for lunch all the time. Fantastic, fresh, friendly, and pretty fast! My stand-by favorite is the steak burrito with guac and mexi-coke. Yum!
(4)Matt N.
Holy cow, these reviews weren't kidding! After reading several reviews, I decided I need to try this spot for myself to see if this place could really pull off the hype that this site has been giving it. Hands down, every good thing that is being said is absolutely true and then some! It's true that it would be very hard to find unless you're looking for it as it is pretty small and off the main roads of downtown Crystal Lake. However, if you're in the area and have a craving for some Mexican food there is nothing even close so you have to go find it! They cover everything you could want in an authentic Mexican restaurant - Tacos, Tortas, Burritos, Gorditas, Quesadillas, Tostadas, Fajitas, Seafood plates, Combo plates, all the different sides and the list goes on. They even serve Mexican breakfast meals and if you're really weird you could even order a cheeseburger if you wanted! Although with all the amazing food choices I have no idea why you would ever do that! Highly recommend anything with Asada (grilled steak) in it. I personally love their burritos, and for a small charge you can get multiple kinds of meats in your burrito, such as steak and chicken, which I have done and thoroughly enjoyed! One thing I have to make sure everyone knows about is their fish tacos. They are not on the menu and I cannot understand why they are hiding this fantastic gem from the general public. All you have to do is ask and you will be thankful that you did, I promise! A lot of people have commented on their Authentic "Mexican" Coke which is definitely an awesome choice. However, for me when it comes to nonalcoholic Mexican beverages it's all about the Horchata (Rice Water) and this place has some of the best Horchata I have ever tasted! Aside from the food, the service is great, the wait staff friendly, and the wait is usually short. My only complaint is that I wish they had later hours so I could eat here more, especially after a night after the bars! Also, something I noticed is that someone posted pictures of their menu on here. Everything looks accurate except for the Sunday hours. The menu on here shows them being open until 8:00 PM when they are actually only open until 7:00 PM so don't make that mistake!
(5)Lauren W.
Last Friday, I had a craving for Mexican food. But then I remembered that it was Friday during Lent, and was kind of bummed. However, it was no big deal since Las Cumbres offers a fish burrito that I tried. I was extremely impressed by the quality of the fish and the overall taste. There is literally not a single bad thing that I can say about this place since everything I have tried there is extremely delicious!
(5)William L.
This is a favorite spot for the lady and I to grab lunch when I'm working from home. When she said she had a great taqueria (not in the city) in mind for lunch, I was skeptical. And I was also wrong. Que magnifico! I've had the chicken, al pastor, and chorizo tacos and all of them are phenomenal. They are traditional, taqueria-style tacos only topped with onion and cilantro, but other toppings are available for just a pinch extra. Service is fantastic and the chips and salsa are homemade and very fresh.
(5)Brian P.
Best taco's and friendly service in Crystal Lake. Small place and best for take out in my opinion but the food is worth the trip.
(4)Fernando M.
Love this place. Had some great steak tacos
(5)Jennifer G.
This is the best Mexican restaurant in Crystal Lake, bar none. I usually get a steak burrito, sometimes chicken and they are fantastic. The ingredients are always fresh and the salsas that come with are good - I like the verde personally. Now let's talk horchata. If you've had good horchata and have been looking for a place to get some, this is IT. I've had horchata at other Crystal Lake Mexican restaurants and it's either too floral-ish or it's kind of soapy-tasting...yes, soapy and not good. Taqueria could sell me their horchata by the liter and I would love them for it. :) They offer a full menu from steaks to seafood, burritos to gorditas, chips and salsa or guacamole as well as side dishes. They also have a breakfast section and a small menu that I call the kid section although it's not a kids menu per say - it's burgers and chicken sandwiches for those of us with picky eaters and nice for a one stop shop. Location...It is small and slightly off the beaten path and not a place I would have ordinarily gone to if not for the recommendation of my sister. There are several similar looking restaurants in Crystal Lake, but the food isn't nearly as good and the service isn't nearly as friendly. Their staff are never rude and they don't make you feel like you're imposing on them by ordering food (which we have all felt at one time or another!) I would recommend the Taqueria to anyone looking for yummy, authentic Mexican food at reasonable prices.
(5)Therese D.
Went for the 3rd time and still loving it! This time I had the pozole; homemade broth with tender shreds of pork and firm hominy. It is served with fresh onions, limes, a shaker of mexican oregano and a spicy red condiment of some sort. So delicious on a chilly February day. I tried the horchata on another yelper's recommendation - it tasted just like rice pudding with cinnamon. The kids get the quesadillas and nachos, a jarritos and everyone is happy!
(4)Margaret O.
Definitely the best mexican food in town. The steak tacos are my favorite and their salsa is delicious! Also! Great friendly staff
(5)Debbie A.
They were good. Not fantastic, but good. They're server was very quick and did her job very well! Bad thing is...no booze :-(
(4)Trey M.
A Hole-in-the Wall? Yes. Authentic Mexican Food? Absolutely! Wow, Taqueria Las Cumbres is fantastic! You start of with fresh, handmade chips with a mild sauce. If you like it hotter, which I do, ask for the picante sauces. The verde sauce is the spiciest sauce I've found in IL. Had the fish tacos. Very, Very Good! Fresh, not greasy...tons of flavor! The rice and beans are very authentic, just like you get down in Texas, which is really, really rate in IL. May be the best mexican restaurant in IL. We'll definitely be back.
(5)nicole h.
Wow. I love you, Yelp. If it weren't for you, I would have never found this place. The reviews are spot on. Taqueria Las Cumbres rocks. I'm a pescetarian. I eat fish. But I totally discriminate. I won't eat fish everywhere. Only good fish. And I'm a huge fan of fish tacos. Let me tell you--these are the best I've ever had. The condiments on the individually wrapped made-with-love tacos don't overpower the favor of the citrusy pan fried fish. They're freakin' awesome. Hubby had the bistek a la mexicana (a recommendation from our lovely server) and he says the meat was yummy, tasty, flavorful...seared with roasted jalapenos and he totally dug it. Only downer--no alcohol. But the giant glass bottle of coke and bucket of delicious horchata totally sealed the deal. We're in love with this place.
(5)Jeremy B.
I've been here twice and both times excellent! Fish tacos keep me coming back
(5)Craig M.
I had some time to kill on Father's day and was starving by lunch time. We weren't going to be eating dinner till around 7pm so I needed something to tide me over. I was in the mood for mexican and had considered riding my motorcycle all the way to Buffalo Grove to get some Grande Jakes (my favorite) but decided to see if there was a good mexican place near me. Yelp was one of the top hits in my search and I learned that Taqueria Las Cumbres was not too far from me and I decided to trust the yelpers and ride into Downtown Crystal Lake. I never would have found this place otherwise since there is never a reason for me to be in that downtown area. I ordered 3 tacos, 2 steak, 1 chicken and a large horchata. The chips and salsa they gave me were good (note to self, save room for the actual food) and the large horchata is 32 ounces for $2.50. I don't know if there are free refills on this (in my experience, usually not) but I can't think of another place in McHenry County that has 32 oz. horchata. The ingredients used were great, I was filled up with good food and my overall impression was that I'd definitely go back. I liked it so much I went back to do a carry out order today. I ordered 3 tacos again, steak, shrimp, chicken. In the to-go bag they included 3 salsas and 2 lime wedges. It was a great lunch on a beautiful day. I will definitely be going back. Since it's Monday, I can say, I will likely be back at least 2 more times this week.
(4)Paul N.
The best, great consistent quality, only negative cant get a cold beer with your meal! But that's the beauty of take out
(5)Cadence G.
this is where i was introduced to my first fish taco. i hope it will be my last fish taco on my deathbed. ...........i wouldnt go that far. this isnt baja california, but its the best in the midwest.
(5)Bill A.
It was just ok for lunch. Hole in the wall. No liquor. Soda brought to the table in a can. Atmosphere was minimal. Food was just ok. I had the pork tacos on waitress recommendation. They were fatty and gristly. Don't understand all the rave reviews on this one. Won't go back.
(2)James V.
Best authentic Mexican food in the county, hands down (period). If you like Mexican food, you would be an idiot not to eat here. If you don't like the food here, you can't be my friend (period).
(5)Michelle G.
Best mexican restaurant in Crystal Lake. Small, so there isn't a ton of seating. Great chips - my sons always want to go here when they are in town. Great food - good prices!
(4)Gary B.
Stopped in with my wife and son for dinner. I had the chicken quesadellas, wife had the chicken tacos. Both were outstanding. Chips and Salsa before the meal was also excellent.
(5)Emily S.
Great find for the suburbs. Do not be fooled by the exterior. I have traveled extensively to Mexico City and the tortas rivaled the tortas I had there. Very authentic Mexican food. Don't forget to add the avocado!
(4)Ben P.
This is THE best mexican food you can find in Chicagoland. This is a heavily family run business and it is consistently good every time I go and great service as well. The staff is warm and friendly and always seem to be happy we're dining at their restaurant. My favorite order: steak tacos, quesadilla, chips w/ guacamole, arroz, and a lime jarritos. Every single thing is the best that I've had at any Mexican place in Chicago proper or elsewhere around the city. The menu is extensive and the other items I've tried are excellent. The place is usually pretty busy. You can dine in for table service w/ chips and an outstanding homemade salsa, or take out. Or call in for pick up. Prices are pretty low for the quality of food you're getting. I would seriously make a special trip to Crystal Lake just to go. It really is that good. Out of all the taquerias I've tried there's no other place I crave like this one! And I can't say a single negative thing about it.
(5)Deirdre R.
Love this place! I used to run by it all the time always wondering if this little hole in the wall was any good. Let me tell you, YES it is. Honest and true food more from in and around Mexico City rather than what we in the US, middle America, think of when we think of Mexican food. I grew up on more of the Tex-Mex style and this is even better. High quality ingredients, simple presentation, yummy hot sauce, *fresh* made chips and the fish tacos are AMAZING. Please don't even try any from anywhere else. I'm sure they have other things to eat but it's the fish tacos that keep me coming back time after time. And oh yea, have a *real* Coke-a-cola from Mexico made with real cane sugar - not High Fructose Corn Syrup. Such a nice treat for a quick bite to eat.
(5)Sean G.
Best Mexican Food around. Good prices and good service, everyone there is really nice. Give this place a try!
(5)Ryan K.
Friendly people working there. Good food.
(4)Dean P.
Great food, simple but nice decor, clean, friendly staff, fast service, and good prices!!
(5)Thom P.
I love this place. The food is simple and fresh!!! In my opinion this is the best Mexican in the area. It's has no frills but the food is awesome. They have servers wait on tables so make sure you leave a tip!
(5)Jason H.
Since moving to McHenry County three years ago, I was fortunate to get this restaurant recommended to me after experiencing several disappointments for Mexican food. This little place deserves all of the kudos provided by the earlier reviews. Between my wife and I, we are fans of the seafood (shrimp or fish) tacos and burritos and almost get those exclusively when ordering. Prior to our recent fish kick, we thoroughly enjoyed the chorizo, chile relleno, steak and chicken tacos. I also tried the chorizo, steak and chicken varieties of the gorditas and tostadas and came away very satisfied. Las Cumbres also has very good guacamole, so that is a treat from time to time. Oh, and the Mexican Coke was new to me when I tried it and has become another mainstay in my order. Save your wallet and your time by going to Las Cumbres for your Mexican desires. Great value, great and consistent food, and excellent service by Manuel and his team. And if you are in a hurry, their take-out service is convenient as well!
(5)Jillian S.
This place is AMAZING. This is the most authentic Mexican food you will found in these parts. The food is so reasonably priced, and the flavors are phenominal. If you haven't been to Taqueria Las Cumbres - do yourself a huge favor, and take the plunge. You will find yourself coming back here again and again!
(5)James M.
This is a great Taqueria! The Mexican food is cheap & tasty, service is fast & friendly! I'm always here for a quick bite whether it's the tacos or the burritos, asada or al pastor, it's all good!
(5)Rayna M.
Ate here once, and I it became my "taco spot". We go here all the time. Small hole-in-the-wall kind of place, but the food is amazing!! We've had all the tacos - my favorites are the steak and ground beef. My husband is a fan of the fish and the chile relleno tacos. Shrimp tostada is also amazing.I come here all the time with my kids, since they also love it. Awesome food and a great place to just relax.
(5)Gregory B.
I still love this place. Great authentic Mexican fare at a great value. 0 ambiance. Absolutely great chile r and I love the horchata.
(5)Teri P.
I heart the Taqueria. I seriously considered moving into downtown just so I could live within walking distance--it's that good. This is THE best mexican food in the county, for sure. The poblano pepper gordita is my favorite, but the burritos, tacos, beans, homemade chips...everything is amazing. They also cater and whenever we've had their stuff people have raved about it. So much deliciousness, such good prices....go here, please! it's amazing.
(5)Jimmy K.
This is the best Mexican food in the area...period! My wife is a picky eater and she loved it too!
(5)Jessica S.
Delicious! Went for a late lunch. I got the chicken torta with fries and a coke in a glass bottle for $6.99. How cool is that cheap and tasty. The food was awesome. The chips and salsa were good. The gucamole looked like it was having an off day? It was not good at all. Blah. My hubbie got the grilled fish tacos and said they were just ok. I definetely plan to return for the torta or to try some other kinds of tacos.
(4)Keith B.
Hidden gem? You have to be on the look out for it. No frills, but great food. Love the gorditas and picaditas. Salsa verde they bring out for your meal is spicy (and delicious). They don't serve alcohol, but a margarita or Negra Modelo would make the food even better. Great salsa too!
(5)troy r.
My favorite place around for Mexican food. Anything I've had there has been cheap and very good.
(5)Larry B.
Great little taqueria. Good, cheap and pretty quick. Not fancy. Good for take out. THe fish and shrimp tacos are very good. Good Guacamole too. I nice little find.
(4)Mark R.
muy bueno..for the price..cant be beat.
(5)Ron J.
This place is . . .tiny, but great for a quick meal. The food is very good and always made to order with fresh ingredients and flavorful. Wish they would add tomatoes & cheese as standard to the onions & cilantro that they now only include on the tacos. But that aside, this is good food, clean, and run by a nice family. Definitely worth the visit.
(4)Mike L.
By far the best tasting Mexican food around. The chips and salsa alone are worth 4 stars, but everything else is off the charts good. The only issue I can bring up is that when they get a little busy (say, 4 take out orders and 4 tables), things grind to a halt. It took 40 minutes to get our food when that happened last week. However, it's well worth the wait, and you can just get more chips and guacamole. We do love Taqueria!
(4)K S.
I eat here all the time. I recommend the fish tacos but I've had almost everything and it's all good. The most consistently fresh meat I've ever had at a mexican restaurant. One tip is if you get a burrito, get it to go so the cheese has time to melt. And if you get sour cream, get it on the side.
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