As a born and raise Mexican. Ground beef tacos? Sorry but not good. Where is the steak? Although the place looks very mexican and the cooks ARE mexican the menu was more of a fake. Had the chicken flautas, my husband had the chicken mole enchiladas. Power mix orchata, really? Not the best, chicken seemed old and probably it was pure dark meat. We ate because we were hungry. Sad to say but probably would have had a better lunch and paid less in Chipotle, (almost across the street) too bad it wasn't open yet. The only reason I gave it a star was because of good service, or else it would have gotten none.
(1)
Katy D.
Try the yummy Pica Pica on Wednesdays - this super casserole is very tasty and worth a trip to Tapalpa just for it to make your week complete.
(4)
Melissa H.
OK so I went back to my FAV Mexican place and it was anything but. I ordered the taco salad and the kid's meal taco for my son. The meat was flavorless with green peppers in it I think? My son picked around it and I spent $7.00 on a meal that he didn't even eat. My taco salad had one dop of sour cream so I asked for more and was charged $1.25 for it. Really? I had to go to the hostess and get my check come to find my waiter sitting there chatting it up with his co-workers. I said Adios and left. Looking forward to Good Tequila that opens soon in the Dominicks Plaza. Maybe it will force Tapalpa to STEP it up and lower their prices.
(3)
Cristie F.
Yesterday I had anticipated a fabulous lunch that consisted of veggie sushi rolls (thrilling, I know!). Instead I was told I was going to be heading out of the office for some Mexican food. Was I excited? Honestly, not so much! My stomach had been killing me all day and the thought of eating rice and beans just made it turn even more! Anyhow, to my surprise, I had an absolutely great experience!! Upon arriving, we pulled into the lot and walked into a VERY authentic Mexican restaurant...this wasn't like the local Chevy's or Taco Bell. We were seating right away and given a huge basket of warm tortilla chips and the sweetest, most delicious salsa I've ever had!! The menu was huge (however somewhat pricy) and I decided to go with cheese enchilladas. When my platter came out I was shocked...it could have fed me and my two co-workers!! I dug right in and loved every second of it. The cheese was spilling out of the corn torillas and the mild red pepper sauce was perfect....not too spicy, but still had a kick. One of my co-workers opted to try the Chiles Rellenos and was kind enough to let me try it as well.... Let me just say this, it's pretty much my new favorite item! The crispy batter, the gooey cheese, and the Poblano pepper was one of the best things I've eaten in a long time. I definately give it a Rachel Ray "YUM-O." I think next time I'll give it a whirl after work hours where I can dive into a gigantic Margarita!!
(5)
Eric W.
Fantastic, authentic Mexican restaurant. I've been there a few times, mainly Cinco de Mayo 2011. A very lively atmosphere on that day, extremely busy. It was somewhat chilly out so the patio wasn't a great option, but people were out there anyways simply because of the wait. On other weekdays I've been there for lunch, you can usually get a seat right away...possibly a minute or two wait. I usually go with the enchiladas suizas, and they are as good as you will find.
(5)
Jackie H.
Normally avoidant of any Mexican food north of, well, Texas, I threw caution to the wind and drove the block around the corner from my hotel. The waitstaff greeted me and promptly found me a booth. I enjoyed the chips (a little lack luster) and salsa (a solid "good" rating) while checking out the awesome decor. I am personally impressed by the 1800 Reposado bottle craftfully recreated as a piñata. $1.50 house margaritas weren't anything to shake a stick at, either. I ordered the special of the evening, pork enchiladas and was surprised by the soup of the day: chicken noodle that smelled exactly like the pack o Lipton soup my Nana made everyone when we were sick. Overall, not bad for Chicago Mexican.
(3)
Jennifer B.
On any given day, at least ten nurses drown their sorrows on margarita's at this place. On top of that I once had the whole patio singing "Feliz Navidad" on July 17th. Ok, the food is good also and I do have to admit that i once drank the salsa from a container. I don't have anything bad to say about the place. A perfect local Mexican restaurant.
(5)
erin g.
as an arizona native, i'm always on the lookout for good mexican food in the burbs. trust me when i say that this is a diamond in the rough!! great atmosphere, awesome enchiladas, amazing floutas, friendly service, and best of all delicious chips and salsa! my bf and i have already gone back for more and will be heading there again soon. not giving it five stars because it still isn't up there with some of my spots in tucson, but for the chicago area, it's pretty damn great. check this place out.
(4)
Bill B.
Not bad, but nothing special. Been going there for 20+ years out of convenience and not much else. The service is excellent and I like the decor (only in the middle booth); otherwise, it's an okay experience. I like how people from the NW suburbs and Elk Grove especially swoon at the mention of Tapalpa merely because it's the only sit-down Mexican restaurant within a 3-mile radius. These liberals are ridiculous..."I have a black friend", "I have an asian friend", "I know this mexican restaurant!". Good service, ok food, convenient.
(2)
Paul N.
Great food, small location, but pretty authentic as far as taste. Get there reasonably early because this place gets packed (esp. on Weekends). The food cost more than Chicago's Mexican restaurants, and the parking is pretty scarce. The location is in front of a shady apartment complex...there is safety in numbers and don't leave anything expensive in the car. On special occasions they have mariachi singers, pretty fun but they can get annoying.
(4)
Tater S.
Hands down one of the best mex rest in the area. I am never disapointed in the quality of the food. My one complaint would be that the steak they use for the tacos could use some seasonig ( kinda bland). The cream of cylantro soup is a must try if you go there on a saturday.
(4)
Roberta H.
Love the food and outdoor patio!
(4)
Cyndi K.
This is a very small, family owned restaurant that serves the BEST Mexican food around. They are truly interested in making sure the customers enjoy thenselves. Some nights there are even Mariachi wandering through the restaurant. The shredded beef Chimichanga is huge in both flavor and size. I have never had a bad meal here. A great place to go with friends for a casual, not too expensive but delicious meal. Oh, and the strawberry margaritas are great too. The only problem is that they are closed on Sundays.
(5)
Janis W.
They had a margarita drink special for $1.50. And the food was pretty darn good. I recommend stopping here before shopping at IKEA. It makes that long wait in the checkout go by faster.
(4)
Laura O.
Charming place! Delicious food!! Nice staff!! Cool patio area to sip on margaritas!
(4)
Brett N.
I really enjoy the food at this tiny family owned Mexican restaurant. The owners are constantly walking around the restaurant making sure that everything with your meal is up to the highest standards. Margaritas here are very tasty and the food is excellent. I'm a big fan of the shredded beef tacos and find it hard to order something else. Last time I went I got a wonderful surprise when I saw that they had an appetizer with Tacos al Pastor. This is my favorite meat to put on a taco and I have to say that Tapalpa did not disappoint. These bite size tasty morsels were well worth the money. I'm salivating right now thinking of the food I am writing about, and can't wait to return...VERY SOON!!
(4)
Chris D.
The spinach enchiladas, fajitas and cheese enchiladas are yummy. Great atmosphere.
(4)
Peter F.
Benn going to this great Mexican eatery for 20 years and it is always good. Great wait staff. Can't beat the prices.
(4)
R N.
Been a regular at this place for several years. It's the best in the area, and there are a LOT of mexican restaurants in the area. The service and food quality are top notch. Good portions reflect great value.
(5)
D D.
Everytime I go to Tapalpa I leave happy and full. They have great food, decent prices, and good drinks! The prices are reasonable for how much food you get. If you order an entree you get their house soup with it, the soup is different everyday but man, they are awesome every time. The service could be better and they have a pair of men walking around with guitars singing, which depending on how many drinks you have could be a lot of fun! The atmosphere is pretty dark and very cozy, pretty authentic. Definitely check it out, it gets busier earlier on the weekends, everytime I've gone after 8pm and it finally had died down so there isn't much of a wait. Oh and theres just a very small bar so don't plan on chillin at the bar all night, because its usually full full full.
(4)
Rawlins R.
Tapalpa is one of the better Mexican options in the area. With every meal you receive complimentary chips and salsa. They have lunch specials as well as daily specials. I always get the burrito suizo because it is pretty big. I enjoy eating knowing that I will be satisfied in terms of portion size. This is a fork and knife kind of burrito as you will realize once it comes to the table. The burrito comes with a side of rice with sour cream on the side.
(4)
Emily W.
This restaurant was chosen as the place for my best friend's birthday dinner with a group of girlfriends and we had an amazing service with strong drinks and delicious food! Some dinner prices are high, but the food portions are big so you get your money's worth! I ordered fish tacos that came with a side of rice and beans; they were very light and tasted great. I also had two different margaritas for the night; a fruity cranberry and then a lime. Overall, everyone loved their food/drinks and we all had an awesome time celebrating our friend's birthday! Just an FYI, they give customers complimentary "dessert" shots :)
(5)
Dominic V.
Food was ok and service was good the bus boy took such good care of us he basically waited on us and was so nice !
(5)
Peggy M.
Yelp did it again...steered me in the right direction. The first round of chips were not too fresh but the salsa was great with the right kick of spice. The second round of chips were definitely fresh...but I still gotta judge and knock off one star...for that and the fact the waitress forgot we asked for straws for our water..oh she remembered. .almost half way thru our dinner:-( But here's the reason why we will be back....the guava margarita was strong , yummy and tasted fresh.. definitely not that pre made bottled crap. And margaritas for $2.25 on Mondays? Yes I said that. This one was $5 but regular lime margaritas were $2.25. The fiance had steak chimichanga and it was ginormous. He said the steak was tender and full of flavor. I had the chicken flautas,which is my go to..and it was bomb. The crispy tortilla shell was not too greasy but crisp and had a good crunch..and the chicken was so tender..definitely not over cooked. The spices definitely tasty. Rice and beans were also BOMB. So please do yourself a favor and go here. The complimentary after dinner Bailey's shot with whip cream didn't hurt, either.
(4)
Danielle S.
I honestly don't know how this place gets so many good reviews. I came here a long time ago when I first moved here and I was underwhelmed. Now years later, I still am not a fan. First of all, they are really pricey for what they serve. Their margaritas are small, weak, overpriced, and taste salty (even though I did not get salt on the rim). The plates are plastic, like something I would have had in college. They don't have regular queso (what?!). The steak tacos were good (small, but good), but the pork were too spicy and covered in a sauce concoction that I was not a fan of. Really the only things they have going for them are their outdoor area and the service. Beyond that I just don't get it. I gave them another try...but I think it will be my last.
(2)
Joann E.
My husband and I have agreed this is our favorite Mexican restaurant. The chips and salsa are so so tasty and every dish I have had has been excellent. Service is always good. Sometime the place can seem a little cramped. Tables very close together. But that's a small complaint. Margaritas? Yes please. Try them!
(4)
Michael D.
I'm from Los Angeles where they have better Mexican food than Mexico. I thought we would find this place to be really good since it seemed to have the Mexican flair of a good spot. Not really but the food was okay. Giving it a four star because we came here for a work bday celebration and they just didn't have the seating for all of us when we walked in but they made it work, and while short staffed! Pretty cool of them and I appreciated it, even though it wasn't my bday.
(4)
John W.
I met two coworkers for lunch. I ordered a vegetarian burrito. Pretty sure it's not on the menu but the waiter told me they had one. AMAZING! Peppers, zucchini, cauliflower, onion, beans and all kinds of wonderful ingredients. All smothered in a wonderful salsa. OH did I say it was as big as my thigh. All our dishes came with a delicious home made creamy mushroom soup with huge chunks of mushrooms. Of course we had to get a pitcher of Margarita which was good and was served as a full pitch and half full glasses. What a nice presentation. The server was perfectly attentive. I love when a serve knows when you want something but leaves you alone otherwise. One of my coworkers ordered the Pollo Relleno. HUH? Chicken breast wrapped around a chipotle pepper stuffed with cheese, battered, smothered with wine butter sauce and baked. WTF! He said it was as good as it sounds. I believe him. I will certainly be back.
(5)
JOana R.
Absolutely love this place Great service great food appetizer soup was excellent drinks were excellent,steak with mushrooms, was excellent will definitely be coming back, this place is a WINNER . BEST Margaritas I ever had.
(5)
Phil P.
The wife was in the mood for some good Mexican food, but not a taqueria. After digging through Yelp for something we hadn't had in a while, I came across Tapalpa and was reminded of the good ol' days of living in EG and frequenting this place at least twice a month, so we headed over. I remember it to be very small and tight, so we decided to go early and beat the rush. When we got there around 5:30 on a Monday night, we were the only ones there. Got seated, received the chips (yum) and salsa (eh) and the menus. After learning that they only make spinach enchiladas on Fridays and Saturdays, which was odd, the wife decided on the Veggie fajita burrito. I got the chicken enchiladas, and mom got the veggie tostadas. There was definitely a LOT of food, which was deemed more than fair for the price. Enchiladas were tasty, as were the beans and rice that came with the dinner. Mom and wife shared the tostadas and didn't have room for the burrito, which was fine by me because hey, that's tomorrow's lunch! Service was super friendly, but minus one star for the slowness. Had to ask 3 times for a sofa refill, and the grilled jalapenos came out when we were ready for the check. No worries though, with our full bellies, we still left very happy.
(4)
Trina J.
No earth shattering changes but there are a few things worth noting. There's patio seating and lunch specials. The lunch specials change from day to day but are about $8.50 before tax and include a soft drink. Service is consistently good and so is the food. This makes the place a good go to when in the area. It's still not a favorite but it is okay. A solid Mexican establishment.
(3)
Anthony R.
Overall this was a pretty good Mexican restaurant. A little on the small and cramped side on the inside of the place. The patio looked pretty nice, but it was raining and they were not seating there when we got there. The skirt steak was cooked well and tasted good. You do get free chips and salsa, but the salsa was on the average side. Service was friendly, but had to ask multiple times to get refills. I definitely would come back again, but not one of my favorite mexican places (there are just so many to choose from, lol). They are definitely a good change of place to mix it up though.
(3)
Andrea S.
Pretty good! Food was great, came quickly, nice and hot. All servers were very friendly From the busser, to the host, to the server. Friendliness goes a long way and leaves a lasting impression. We moved our group from outside to inside after we already had appetizers delivered and drinks. I work in the industry and I know that makes workers nuts because its highly inconvenient (it looked like it was going to rain) The staff couldn't be nicer about it... I would pleasantly recommend this cute restaurant to you folks.
(4)
Jen K.
I wanted to try something new while visiting my family, so we do all the same restaurants over and over. Glad we saw this place. The decor both inside and out, scream authentic Mexican. We were sat immediately. Our waitress was very nice. She seemed a little frazzled most of the time though. Maybe she was new. We got a pitcher of margaritas for the table. They were delicious and strong. The menu has a lot on it which makes for a tough choice, but I opted for something different. I tried the pollito poblano. It's cheese inside a pepper, wrapped in a chicken... I know. Weird. But it was awesome. The other people had a burrito and the enchiladas. Both were very good as well. We were given a green herby soup before our meal and a shot of dessert liqueur after the meal. Overall, I am a fan.
(4)
Maria R.
Fun, cozy atmosphere, light-hearted, friendly service and delicious food. All a pleasant surprise for a small group of us looking for a low key, last minute get together. There was also a mariachi duo that sang beautifully. Everything was good, but our especially favorite dishes ... Combinacion Tapalpa (skirt steak & cheese stuffed poblano pepper dinner), the steak was tender and seasoned perfectly, the other favorite was the Mini Tamales Verde. I LOVE tamales and have never tasted ones this fresh and delicious. The pieces melted in my mouth. Mmmm I could go back for some again. The margaritas were great and they topped the night off with Carmel schnapps & Kailua shots which were amazing. Overall an awesome night and a new place we will visit again in the near future.
(5)
Paula A.
Great little place....went with a group of 5 (2 were kids 4 and 6) and all of us really liked our meal. I had the taco special two steak Two pork with cilantro and onions. Great cilantro sauce and salsa on the side. Also came with an 8oz margarita for $9.99. Tasty and a great price! Kids split a steak fajita. Steak was perfectly seasoned and they really have you a lot of meat....some places it's all peppers and onions. My uncle had the carnitas special and boyfriend had the taco salad. Both said yum. Also loved the little shot they gave you with the check....something kinda coffee ish with whipped cream....we will be back for sure!
(4)
Sam O.
Frozen Mango margaritas are the Jam! Ask for an extra shot of tequila if you get it frozen. Steak fajitas were good...my buddy got the breakfast burrito which also was very good. Overall it was a solid choice for Mexican food.
(4)
Laura L.
Was on our way to Busse Lake to see if was defrosted yet and needed someplace close to eat so we picked Tapalpa, We read the reviews (thanks yelpers) and figured why not and glad we did. Very nice atmosphere, great service and wonderful staff. The owner came over after he heard it was our first time being there and was very pleasant, he welcomed us and chatted with us a bit. We didn't get to hear the mariachi (maybe next time) but heard they're good. All around great!!!
If you like authentic Mexican food, a sophisticated place to eat, clean and upbeat environment, high standards guest service, come to TAPALPA! Ahua!
(5)
Jennifer S.
Long time customer; first time reviewer. I am celebrating my thirteen anniversary at work next week and I have been visiting Tapalpa since I started at this job. I don't think they were a brand new restaurant at that time, so I'm thinking that they got to be doing something right to have such a long standing history with their doors open for business. Here are the things that I love! It's a welcoming place. The owner and staff are so nice. The mole is dark and tasty - muy bien! They are plenty of seating - both inside and outside. I used to actually take a lunch break and dine in. During the warmer months, I recall dining outside sometimes. It's a nice break in the day. After dinner, I've always received a sweet dessert shot. I'm not much of a drinker, but I sure enjoy that treat! Plus, they have a lunchtime special now that is $6.95. Sounds like the perfect carryout lunch to me! A few of my not so favorite things? Their chips are boring. The salsa works, but the chips aren't worth the calories. I don't love the tomato chunks mixed in with the chicken. I'm sure they do it to add flavor, but I don't like chunky tomatoes in anything. This is a personal preference. They're not a fancy spot, but the food is consistent. And the people are great! I'm grateful that Tapalpa has lasted as long as I have in the area. Here's to many more years, my friends!
(4)
Barb S.
The service was great however I was disappointed in my Chimichanga. I got the ground beef but all I could see and taste were refried beans, hardly any beef. The margarita was good. I had a $50 gift cert, the bill was $46.50 but they would not give me the change or another cert for the remainder. I gave $3 less in the tip, hey it's only fair right?
(3)
Tony M.
Not bad. I ate the steak tostada dinner plate as i was hoping to order carnitas or tongue taco dinner plates but was surprised they had a basic meat selection for tacos like chicken, steak and even ground beef yikes! But as far as steak taco dinner plates goes, it was decent. My son very much enjoyed the apple filled burrito and cinnamon ice cream desert.
(3)
Alicia W.
This place is one of my go-to restaurants for my dinner dates with friends. The prices are a little high compared to some other Mexican restaurants but the food is always great and the portions are huge! I can never finish it all in one sitting. They have $1.50 margaritas Monday-Thursday, which are delicious as well. I have never had bad service from the staff either, they have always been very friendly. Definitely one of my favorite dinner spots in the area!
(5)
Tom F.
This place is great... The owners are real cool people.. Mexican Food at the best place.... I like to go there for there 1.50 margarettis... half price apps....
(5)
Ken K.
Not a fan. First, a little background - I work in Woodfield area, wife came to take me to lunch day after Christmas...tried to take her to a great little Mexican place I went to with co-workers, all of whom were off that day (found out later it was called Los Compadres) - got lost in Elk Grove (don't go that way often, all the streets there look alike - grey and dingy) and somehow stumbled into Tapalpa. Resurant is typical cheap mexican place in a strip mall - slightly tacky, plastic tablecloths, etc. etc. etc....no problem, that's what we were looking for. The prices however, were not that of a cheap little mexican place. Now - I like a good meal and am willing to pay for it...but this place was WAY out of line with the other tacky mexican places in strip malls in the area....lunch of an appitizer, a burrito, a quesedella and 2 diet cokes was $43.44....$52 bucks w/tip. Place I was thinking of (and about 3 others in area off the top of my head) would have been less than $40, tip included. Was it worth it? Comparatively speaking, no. But let's discuss the food: Chips and Salsa - included as in most places in the area - not bad, but did not stand out. Queso Fundito - again, uneventful - but I did like they served it in a taco salad shell - i think the shell soaked in a lot of the grease, which is nice. Steak Burrito - Steak was tender, big pieces, and of good quality. But bland, as were the rest of the ingredients Quesadellia (SP)- wife ordered this, when asked how it was she said "fine"....which could mean a variety of things....none of which would be in the 4-5 star range. In closing - not BAD, but nothing to write home about...and NOT worth the money.
(2)
Andrew F.
Fish tacos on corn tortilla done well, tilapia crispy on the outside, hot and tender on the inside. Maybe a bit too much shredded cabbage but that was easily pushed aside. Refried beans very good, bits of bean, not whipped to puree. Rice unremarkable. Generous portions. Cilantro soup outstanding, like a bisque, with a light cilantro flavor and creamy texture. Service was prompt.
(4)
Jay W.
First of all, I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but this is NOT one of the best, or even better, Mexican restaurants in the burbs. Not by a long shot. I know they've been here a while, but from what I saw people seem to like the booze more than the food. I think they have a following, and good for them, it's just not for us. We checked it out at the insistence of my sister, who had a great time here with her family recently. But, I should have known, my sister doesn't know Mexican food. And her kids, well, they raved about it - but the only other MX food they've ever had is Taco Bell. I have a more discriminating and experienced palette for this food, and I was not impressed. The food is average to average plus, not bad but not remarkable, as it should be for the prices they charge. Chips and salsa are weak, chips taste commercially made and the salsa reminds me of the jarred style. I don't think it is jarred, but it reminds me of the "Pace" style. Mild, which we like, but has that jarred consistency/flavor. Salty, tomatoey flavor overwhelms the rest of the ingredients. I got the carnitas, which I will say were NOT greasy. However, they were borderline dry. It was $15 and they gave me about 4 oz. of meat, with a bunch of beans and some other sides/garnish. Not at all impressed. My wife's tacos were equally underwhelming - and pricey. $13 for a taco dinner. Lastly, service. The waiter was decent, except everything moved at SLOW MOTION. Half an hour to get our food after ordering. Both the waiter and owner (presumably) came by to check on us as we sat there, waiter gave us some lame excuse about too many carry-out orders. Hey, that's YOUR problem - don't leave your dining room customers waiting. The owner asked us how everything was, when we told her we'd been waiting way too long she said she'd check on our food - but instead went to the counter and started chatting on the phone and doing other things. She never followed up. The waiter finally came to tell us he would bring the check, he then proceeded to take food and drink orders from FOUR TABLES before he made his way to the back. Next time we saw him he had a huge tray of drinks in his hand. Maybe it finally registered with him that we were perturbed, so he set the tray down and brought our check. Total wait for the check, about twenty minutes. If you want MUCH better food and half the price, but no liquor or atmosphere to speak of, try Los Compadres on Algonquin. If you want MUCH better food slightly cheaper with great service in a nice setting and liquor service, try Hacienda de Roselle. I've had Mexican food all over, they are two of the better places around.
(2)
Donna M.
The shredded beef tacos were good, not great. The pieces of meat were big, which would seem to be a positive, except the marinade couldn't get inside and the beef was dry. I arrived as soon as they opened and had tacos a la carte and sopapillas. Not impressed with the sopapillas, very doughy. The waitress was nice but was actually eating on the other side of where I was sitting. A little awkward. This place is solid just not solidly amazing. On the positive side, they offer an app plate called the Supreme Botana which is yummy assuming they haven't changed it since I had it last. If they had bunuelos I would give them 8 stars.
(3)
Toni B.
Yummo! We love us some Tapalpa! We actually don't come to eat here often, and we live like 3 minutes away..I dont know why though! I usually go there to get my taco salad shells, which I find hilarious, because EVERY TIME they say, "No meat?!? Just the Shell?!?! haha! yes please! For only $1 per delicious shell (or they charge my hubby $2 per shell which I find too funny), we are set! We came here the other evening and sat in their outdoor patio, which was very nice. Our waiter was cool and attentive and so were the bus boys! I ordred my usual meal at a Mexican restuarant, cheese enchilladas...now Im very picky about my enchilladas, but they were delicious! My hubby ordred the Pica Pica special, which seemed very similar to fajitas, and he really enjoyed it! The chips and salsa were delish...we ate almost two baskets of the chips! They have weekly specials on drinks and food! If you are the EGV area, check them out!
(5)
Kevin J.
Have been here several times over the last two years. Last two visits have been ok but not what we experienced in previous visits. This time service was slow took way to long. We ordered Tacos and enchiladas. How Long does that take? Server never came back until we were finished and my enchiladas were Luke warm. This is the second time hot food was not hot. That's a basic. Taste was good. Prices are ok. May try one more time.
(3)
John D.
This has to be hands down the best Mexican restaurant, in the Northwest Suburbs, if not all Chicagoland. It is very cozy and welcoming. The food is very authentic and spectacular, including specialties from their home town of Tapalpa, Mexico.
(5)
Mike A.
First the chips are terrible. Not even homemade. Taste like they come out of a bag. Ordered the chimichanga with steak and it was terrible. The chimichanga wasn't crispy and the steak was a pile of mush with the beans that were in it. at least i think they were beans. My wife had the burrito and it was just as bad.. I have tried to like this place and the many times I have been here its been awful. but this was the icing on the cake.. Prices are high too.. don't go here..
(1)
Angela J.
Was there yesterday afternoon around 4:15. We choose to sit outside wasn't bad but way too windy. The waiter whose been there forever was awful. He was soo slow we ordered a few margaritas we had the lame chips and salsa which I could make better at home. He never came back to take our order. It was not busy mind you he is just a horrible server. After about 30 minutes we paid and left and went to Good tequila instead and had a great meal and way better drinks.
(2)
Joe I.
I am a big fan of their "Seafood Enchilada" , and today my friends got the tacos and some other chicken enchilada and they said they were really good also. I've enjoyed Tapalpa's for many years now (10+), and their consistency in good quality food is something you can count on. Others can disagree, but I like & enjoy their chips & salsa...if you've ever been to Mexico you will find that most chips tend to be on the bland side. Warning! If you do go during the first part of February or late January (like we did earlier this year) you may feel like you are entering the heavily decorated den of Cupid himself...so it may feel a bit strange if there are non-romantic parties sitting down for a meal! Otherwise, a great little strip-mall Mexican Restaurant!
(4)
Susan S.
We love this place! Food is always good and fresh. A few different items than just traditional Mexican offerings like burritos and tacos. Staff is friendly and the coziness makes you enjoy your time. The cilantro soup is the best. My out of town family requests to eat here every time they come to visit.
(5)
Ericka A.
You can't spell Queso Fundido without F-U-N! It is quite fitting considering that every time I meet up with the NW Suburban Dinner crew I have a boat load of fun. And it's also fitting considering I was served a boat load of the aforementioned Queso Fundido with chorizo. Mami like. From start to finish I was impressed with the service and the quality and quantity of the food. Our waitress was super sweet, sprinkling bits of Spanish in while we ordered. A "gracias" here, "What would you like, Senor?" there. She smiled politely as we butchered the names on the menu. As it should be, they serve you chips and salsa before the meal. Some places like to get stingy and give you a small bowl of chips. Not here. They brought out pile after pile of chips. Good chips. Crunchy and not greasy. They went well with the fresh salsa and hot sauce. It was a Tuesday, so I started out with their drink special: $1.50 margarita. Not a fan. Only thing I didn't like. Too salty. Blech. Switched over to horchata and was much happier. I don't even know that I needed that margarita to begin with because they bring you out cute little Kahlua shots at the end of the meal - at least for our group. I don't know if that's typical. My friend Mike and I decided to maximize our Mexican by both ordering an entree and splitting it. He got the red snapper with white wine, butter and garlic. It was topped with diced tomato, some cilantro, onion and olives. It was blow your mind good. There is nothing worse than having badly cooked fish and I was worried it might come out dry. It was moist and flavorful. I also dislike olives, but I overlooked it and enjoyed everything that it came with. My choice was one of their Tapalpa specialties, a broiled skirt steak covered in poblano sauce and cheese. All entrees were served with a side of refried beans, rice and a small bowl of vegetable soup. The soup would be perfect if you're sick. Heck, it's perfect if you're not sick!
(5)
Renita M.
Arroz con pollo. It means "rice with chicken." To me, growing up eating a lot of Puerto Rican food, arroz con pollo means a specific dish: rice with bone-in chicken parts cooked in it, fragrant with adobo and saffron, small bits of veggies, possibly some ham and olives or capers. I've discovered, though, that if you order this at a Mexican restaurant you are likely to get something that contains both chicken and rice, but may not otherwise resemble the dish described above. At our regular haunt in Bloomingdale, the chicken is boneless and the veggies are large chunks, but it's similar. At Tapalpa, you will receive something else entirely -- my arroz con pollo was large-diced chunks of chicken breast with tomato, onion and peppers, served over rice and slathered with cheese. Which is not to say it isn't delicious. It is. And after eating too many chips and my delightful little cup of vegetable soup, I have about 2/3 of my giant plate of arroz con pollo to eat for lunch today. (Thanks, Mike O, for setting up the latest NW Suburban dinner!) (PS Apparently the three Spanish words in my review made the site think I was writing in Spanish? Hahaha...)
(4)
Mike O.
Though I was never here before, I kept hearing good things about this place. I came here with my NW Suburban friends for dinner on a weeknight. Tapalpa is hard to miss though it is close to a large outdoor shopping area along Arlington Heights Road. We got a long booth out of the way of most of the commotion in the restaurant. Certainly our service was nothing to complain about. I ordered a horchata as my drink. It was a bit strong on the cinnamon, but not bad at all, though I prefer more of a vanilla flavor personally. I got the bandarilla special, which was a huge platter with two fried tortillas with shredded chicken rolled up inside, rice, beans and a scoop of both guacamole and sour cream on top. Looking at the serving size, it's easily two or maybe 3 meals, depending on how much you like to pig out. As we waited for our food, the chips and salsa kept coming. I particularly liked their hotter variety of salsa, which though it packed a punch was very flavorful. While I didn't run my usual "burrito benchmark" test on them, I was very pleased with my choice of dinner. I got flan as my dessert to complete what was a fantastic meal at a nice Mexican place.
(4)
Charlotte P.
I've been to Tapalpa twice, and as someone who grew up eating authentic Mexican food, it's pretty good. The soup they bring with the meal is always nice--I particularly enjoyed the cream of cilantro. The margaritas are fantastic, but then it is pretty hard to mess up a margarita, I'd think. It is a bit pricey for standard Mexican fare, but as somewhere to go on occasion, I'm willing to pay a bit more. Came with my girlfriends one rainy December night, and we had the mariachis that wouldn't go away--one was flirting with my Spanish speaking girlfriend. At first it was charming, but then when our food came and they still stood there and played, it veered towards awkward, and when they started another song when that song was finished, it became downright annoying. Also, if it's crowded, be prepared to wait awhile--and don't expect to be surrounded by shiny happy people. Service is always good--food is decent--hit them when they're not packed and you'll have a good experience.
(3)
Linda C.
GREAT local eatery! FOOD: hefty hefty portions! One dish could certainly feed two! I really appreciate they also have daily specials to change things up if you come here often! I enjoy their steak and chicken fajitas (enough for two) but their chicken tacos are also delicious! Love coming here hungry so I can snack on those chips and salsa first while I wait for my meal... the meals even come with the daily special soup! SERVICE: SUPER FRIENDLY and upbeat! If you need something, they are on it in a heartbeat! ATMOSPHERE: A little dark but clean. Servers and other employees make it seem homey. DAILY SPECIALS: $1.50 original margaritas (frozen or on the rocks) on WEDNESDAYS!
(4)
Mark F.
I've been on the hunt for the best near-my-house Mexican food and this may be the place. I've kept the same basic criteria in the places I've visited thus far: 1) Margarita tastiness (regular, on the rocks, with salt - I'm keepin' it real here) 2) Chips and salsa crunch and tastiness (I like a little heat but not anything obscene) 3) Chicken burrito awesomeness They did really, REALLY well on 1 & 2. The burrito was substantial in size and the chicken was moist but it seemed to miss the mark with the rice and had 0 heat but still tasty. Tapalpa had an added bonus that blew my mind. A 2-man Mariachi band. I couldn't help but do the white man overbite and dance before, during and after my meal. Check this place out. The chips are crunchy. The salsa was addicting. And the margarita (get the Cabo Wabo kind!) were so tasty and smooth. The best to date. But try something other than a burrito and you're bound to have a great experience.
(4)
Taylor M.
If this review was only on the quality of Tapalpa's food, I would have given them 5 stars. However, the weak margaritas and almost nonexistent service brought my review down a star! I loved the chips and salsa, but the waiter was not really around to bring any refills. I ordered the Chimichanga Suiza with shredded beef and I really enjoyed it. The portions were huge! The meal came with a soup as well! I ordered a half pitcher of margaritas and was really disappointed. It tasted like a flavorless Icee. I really wouldn't be surprised to find out they forgot the tequila. I also really hated how the bathroom is a one person stall for such a large restaurant and bar. I hate having to wait in line for the bathroom during dinner! I would return for the food, but not the drinks.
(4)
Sarah H.
I think this is one of Elk Grove's hidden treasures! I was just there this week catching up with a friend of mine, we grew up down the street from this place and we were discussing how much we love it there! I love that this is not a chain, and you can tell by the pictures everywhere that this is a friends & family kind of place. The food is always fantastic, as well as the service. AND you got to love the live music! My favorite time to go is the summer when you can sit on the patio, but this place is good any time of year.
(4)
Michele B.
YUMMMMMMMM--went here because a client of mine from Houston (you know Houston they always think they are authorities on Mexican food) said it was the best she has found "up North". Not sure about best-but pretty darn close. Of course it being a Friday, had to have a Margharita--ordered a honeydew flavored frozen one--note to self--stick with the original--no taste-lots of ice, no booze--we ordered a half pitcher (great concept), but seriously no liquor. Chips and salsa were great, but it being crowded, our server was not to be found with refills. We flagged a busboy and he found our waiter who quickly forgot to bring more until he came back with our drink order. Entrees on the other hand were really tasty--I love mole and they did not disappoint. I had their regional specialty "Tapalpa chicken enchilada" which came with rice and beans with shredded cheese on top. Lots of food and very well done. My client had the Chimichunga (sp) and the chicken was moist and abundant. They serve entrees with a small bowl of soup and it was Cream of Cilantro also very good and creamy and hot. When our check came they told us that when you order a signature dinner and drink they send over a complimentary shot--it was great. Waiter said it was butterscotch and Baileys with whip cream on top. Now that was a total surprise--sooooo good. I will go back, maybe not on a Friday when it is packed to see how the service measures up---and for more chips.
(4)
Noel P.
I've been a customer of Tapalpa for 14 years and just love everything they have to offer. Abraham, Judy and their entire staff are outstanding! I recently had them cater an event I was having at work. I use a lot of caterers but Tapalpa impressed me with all their special details. You never have to question the incredible quality of their food but it was the little things, like bringing decorations, special table coverings, special festive dishes, brightly colored cups, etc. They had one person show up early to set up and the food came piping hot right on time for lunch service. I have never received so many compliments from my coworkers about how nice the luncheon was and how great the food was. I highly recommend using them for catering and with out a doubt at least visit them for lunch or dinner. You won't be disappointed!!
(5)
Joe M.
Very good Mexican food that is not too expensive. The service is typically very good. There is a wide variety of food and drink. This is a very popular place and gets pretty busy on the weekends so be prepared for some noise. Also has a live mariachi band which is fun.
(4)
Katy M.
Great food and atmosphere. The food is delicious and the margaritas are big and tasty. We have loved this place ever since we moved to the NW suburbs and we take company there all the time. It is a great place to go. Love!
(5)
Mike J.
We've been here twice - the first time we were with a larger group and everything was pretty good (I don't remember exactly what I ordered the first time, but I know I left with a positive impression). The second time we ordered enchiladas and were disappointed to get a plate of obviously microwaved (or badly re-heated) enchiladas. Also, considering there are better options in the area, this place was a little pricey.
(2)
Manny M.
Read some reviews and after reading the one that said, "...as someone who grew up eating authentic Mexican food, it's pretty good." and thought, I have to try it! Was in the mood for a burrito and needless to say, was not impressed at all. Not AUTHENTIC! Maybe authentic TEX-MEX, but not authentic. I ordered my burrito in SPANISH so I assumed that they would bring me a dry burrito, instead I got something I do not like, which is the SUIZO style burrito. I wasn't even asked if I preferred it dry or estilo suizo. No green sala. Guac was slightly browning. And the horchata, was horrible. Way too sweet and watered down, so it tasted more like cinnamon, vanilla and SUGAR. If you're American and grew up eating TexMex, you will probably like this place. I didn't so I'm not a fan. I'm not sure about the restaurant atmosphere, because I did carry-out, but it looks like a quaint little place to eat. I'll stick to Buenos Dias. That place is 10x better and there horchata and burrito are not hit or miss.
(1)
Joe B.
There are certain places that can win you over with good service if the food is mediocre... this isn't one of those places. The waiter was nice but oh so forgetful.. the typcial chips and salsa were boring and without flavor and the food which were simple tacos were not appetizing at all. I have never drank so much soda to wash down the food ever. I see the ratings on here and I don't get it... I see the mention of liquor specials which I did see plastered all around but if you must have liquor to enjoy the food its not the place for me.
(2)
Justin G.
I don't get it. The locals love this place. It's ok, like 2 and 1/2 stars. The meals were decent, but overpriced for what it was and the soup tasted like it had a canned base. I don't think I'll be back.
(3)
Richard S.
I am NOT a picky eater nor a complainer. I rarely write a review. However, this place was so ridiculous that our experience there must be passed on. The place was crowded, we foolishly assumed that it must therefore be ok. We ordered the chicken fajetas. They arrived; no seasoning on the chicken - bland. That which accompanied the entree, chips, onions, etc. was equally bland. We ordered drinks; weak. On top of everything else, every menu item was very much overpriced. The music was off key which was well-suited for the unpleasant evening spent there. We have our own rating scale; 0 is 0, 2.5 is poor to fair, 5.0 is average, 7.5 is very good and 10.0 is excellent. We give it a 1 for ample parking. In reality, they deserve an empty parking lot.
(1)
Dan K.
This was a sleeper restaurant that I had driven past many times. WOW...Was I glad I decided to stop finally and give it a try. This is now one of my favorite Mexican places to eat at. I highly recommend the chimichanga!! The service was very friendly and the $2 beer special on a Saturday night was great. To sum up my overall experience I would have to say was like the free shot they give everyone. Warm and sweet with a hint of hotness!!!
(4)
Dan K.
Went here for the first time about a month ago, and I liked it a lot. I went with a total of 6 people, and the service was still pretty decent. The inside was pretty typical of a Mexican joint... Lots of decorations, color, and an all around fiesta-like atmosphere. The girls had some sangria which they liked. I had the house dish, which I don't remember the name. But it had Tapalpa in it. It was pretty good, but very filling. The portions are huge. The burritos are your typical football shaped variety. Our waiter was a wisecracker. One guy ordered a veggie burrito and he brought back a burrito "with extra meat." When someone else ordered the same item (enchiladas) as another person, he said, sorry we are out, how about enchiladas instead? It was more weird than funny. Anyway, it's still a good place to eat, and a nice gem in suburbia.
(4)
Kathy G.
i think this place is great and the food is also great but they have raised prices and cant afford to do this each time we go just my husband and myself we spend almost 50.00 + including tip. when we started going it was around 30.00. yes prices did increase and this is how to loose customers because they can't afford to go as ofter as we use to. I make drinks and cook at home for a lot less and just as good. Don't get me wrong great place but need to keep it afforadble. I do miss this place they have good prices at other places affordable to go and have a good time. This food is not that expensive to make. The drinks have been watered down we use to get good drinks not anymore they do water the drinks now.
(3)
shizuku n.
The food is really good and the free salsa with the chips had flavor. The $1.50 margarita special is a nice way to get some alcohol without being overbearing on my wallet as well. (I'm not that good with alcohol so not so sure about the taste) The only bad thing was . . . the wait. Everything seems very slow paced. Food comming, water refills, getting the bill, everything got done nice and well. but just took sometime.
(4)
Amanda H.
My husband and I went there for the first time last week. My close friend has been raving about this hidden gem for over a year. I finally made the pilgrimage and it was amazing. The service was top notch! Our waiter was prompt, attentive and very polite. The food was out of this world too! I really didn't expect too much b/c Mexican food has always been Mexican food, where ever you go. This place is totally different. Everything was fresh, hot and super tasty. One aspect of the restaurant that really stood out to me was not the service and not the food, but the fact that they decorated the booth walls with pictures from their years of business. There are hundreds of pictures of customers there. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone that likes food! =)
(5)
Jennifer H.
CATERING! CATERING!! CATERING!!! We have been to Tapalpa a few times for dinner and really liked it! When it was time for my son's First Communion party and I was looking for caterers, I decided to forgo the usual chicken and pasta and look for something different. I called Tapalpa and was fortunate to speak directly to Abraham, the owner. He couldn't have been more helpful or accomodating. I ordered the" hot taco bar" for 50! No problem. When I told him how much my husband enjoyed their chorizo, he threw in a small bowl at no charge for him. He arrived exactly on time with his own tablecloth, wrapped settings and plates, colorful bowls filled with the freshest salsa, pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, and queso. Four huge piping hot chaffing dishes of beans, delicious rice, ground beef, and chicken for filling. Plus a huge basket of tortilla chips, baskets of warm soft tortillas and another basket of hard shell tortillas. He asked nothing of me and was in and out in 20 minutes and was not intrusive to the party in the least! He is coming back to pick up his materials. All of this for an amazing price. Probably the best catering we have ever had. Our guests took home "to go" containers and LOVED the food. Thank you Tapalpa and Abraham for a VERY successful party for my son.
(5)
George R.
Tapalpa is one of my preferred restaurants for good Mexican food. The inside is festive, cozy and colorful. I usually get enchiladas with verde sauce (green) and ground beef filling. The dinner plate comes with generous sides of Spanish rice and refried beans. Their chips are average and the salsa has some good heat to it. Guacamole is pretty good too. I've always been stuffed after my entree and have only ordered dessert once. I was so full after dessert that I vowed not to ever eat that much food again. But the past few times at the conclusion of my meal, my server came over with a complimentary mini shot of Bailey's and butterscotch topped with whipped cream. Ahhh, now that's just the right amount of sweetness I need for dessert! Their menu is pretty extensive, so there are plenty of reasons to go back! Location is a little ways north of the intersection of Biesterfield Road and Arlington Heights Road. Note: They are closed on Sundays.
(4)
Ron W.
I work near this wonderful Mexican Restaurant and I have coming here for years. The food never has changed and that is a great thing. I have tried many different Mexican restaurants in the area and every time I come back here I say to myself "They are not as good as Tapalpa". I usual order the Seafood Enchilada but recently I had the tacos and wow so simple but fresh and just great! I like the Chips and Salsa and the homemade hot sauce. When it comes down to it and I get the craving for Mexican food, this is where I go!
(4)
Rob R.
Love this place! The service is great, the staff is always happy to see you. The food and the outdoor seating is some of the best the EGV. The owner is usually there and like to come by and say Hi. The $1.50 "special" Margaritas on Mon, Tues and Weds are more of a reason to go!
(5)
Ron R.
An authentic Mexican restaurant has to have several things going for it to be a **** or ***** for me. Don't get me wrong, a three meets the standard; however, this--to me--is a little too Americanized. Very comfortable and decent food; but a four star has a certain vine and a five star simply UPS the ante in terms of food authenticity. So it's good...not wow good
(3)
Ling L.
Not many Mexican places impress me here because the meat lacks definition, and the sides of rice and beans are mediocre. Tapalpa surprises me with their flavorful entrees, salsa and fantastic service. The menu offers the usual fare, but there's a section that boasts dishes from the town of Tapalpa, hence the name. Duh. :) We ordered the arrachera con salsa y queso (numero 49). It is a broiled skirt steak in a pool of Poblano pepper and sour cream sauce, covered with melted cheese. The steak comes nicely medium as requested and we can taste every fine seasoning in it along with the light sour cream Poblano sauce. It is definitely the more preferred dish. The burrito Suizo did not disappoint either but it's obvious which is the clear favorite. Prices are steep. Our #49 costs $15.50, an ouch for lunch. And the supreme fajita (chicken, shrimp, steak) is a whopping $24.50. Good thing is the portions are enough for 2 meals so the price pretty much evens out. They have specials every day. Check their web site for details. Our server started the conversation in Spanish and was pleased we attempted the bare minimum He was especially wowed when I rolled my r's in the ordering of the arrachera. We will return. It sure beats Pepe's and La Magdalena. Note to drivers without GPS: it's not easy to find this place as it's tucked at the corner of a tiny strip. Coming from Busse woods, along Arlington Heights, it's going to be the first strip to your right as you curve around the bend.
(4)
Johnny B.
This weeks honey couldn't decide where or what she wanted. So I said Mexican! Yelp helped me find this pearl in Suburbia. It is a Mexican Restaurant which they have in Austin Tx. Located in a strip mall. Kind of tacky inside and out, but very good food and excellent service. Strolling Mariachi's too! The honey knew what she wanted as she peeked on line at the menu. She chose the combo of Bistec (steaak) and stuffed chicken breast with a great sauce. Of course it came with rice and refried beans. I chose on the the Friday specials, enchilleda's stuffed with spinach and cheese. Mine was great. Just enough of a kick to know it is a bit spicy. It comes to you slowly, not blowing your mouth out with heat. The honey liked her entree. The portions were more than ample and at a reasonable price. The lady also had 2 (count them) Apple Martini's. I was a bit fearful of having to carry her out. As a little plus, the waiter brought a small teas cup of Baileys, butterscotch and whip cream topping. A nice finish. But the ambience was great and not rushed at all. Being two days b4 Xmas, the restaurant was decorated and the staff wore their finest and Santa's helpers hats. Cute. It is a local joint as there was a lot of conversation at the main door between patrons and staff. For all you Chicago food snobs, they have plastic tablecloths and good food without unbrellas in your drinks. Didn't even think of going to White Castle after dinner (LOL). Wait staff and busboys very attentive and personable. I'll be back.... Johnny Chitown
(4)
Nick S.
I thought the decor in this place was charming and the servers were nice. My cousin recommended this place. I thought it was ok. I could give it one more star, but I really didn't like their salsa. It was watery. I'm used to the Latin food in the city, so I have pretty high expectations.
(3)
Priya G.
I will agree that the food here is made well and tastes good (the corn chowder soup is delicious) but I do not think it is worth how much they charge for each entree. I believe they have raised their prices recently and if you are an avid lover of Mexican food, you will know that there is much better, authentic food available at a more affordable price. Their horchata is also terrible- they don't use a machine to make it but instead a powder, so the drink tastes way too chalky. The margaritas are cheap and for good reason- they are small and watered down. Their poor service added to an overall "Meh" experience. You do not feel like you are being waited on, but rather just waiting..and waiting to have someone, anyone come by.
(2)
Rachel D.
Great chips and salsa and maragritas too! I hate Mexican restaurants that use margarita mix and Tapalpa does not! I love their taco dinner and also they have this great little dessert liquor served in a shot glass with whipped cream its really good!!
(4)
M M.
Tapalpa can be summed up in one word: warm. The atmosphere, the service, and obviously the food all convey a great sense of warmth. The decor makes for a comfortable eating environment. The soft pink glow of the place evokes the west coast of Mexico at the last moments of sunset (aren't I a freakin' poet?). To some people the atmosphere might be a little tacky, but to me it feels like the perfect place for Mexican food. The service was quick and friendly. One of the big points in its favor was the way the staff treated what appeared to be its regulars. Some customers were enthusiastically gretty by name when they entered, others had waitstaff more than happy to chat at the tables. Service that personal and attentive makes a huge difference. But most important was the food, and it was great. The menu is huge and includes standard Mexican favorites mixed with a few more specialized dishes from the region of Mexico in which the actual city of Tapalpa is located. I got the Tuesday special, banderillas, which were essentially giant chicken flautas. The chicken was that perfect taqueria style, cooked and seasoned to absolute deliciousness. Great rice and beans too. So overall Tapalpa is just pleasant. Despite how close to EGV we live, we tend not to go there for anything, but when our travels bring us north, it's nice to know there's an excellent, friendly Mexican restaurant waiting for us.
(4)
Christoph A.
Great atmosphere and food! Very well priced for how much you get and the staff are very outgoing and friendly. Better yet, they have guys that go around and sing and play guitars to you if you want while you eat. The restaurant is a little small and cramped, but who cares when you're enjoying a margarita and some good food.
(4)
Nick S.
Been going since I was little. Amazing food and great atmosphere.
(5)
Bill B.
Been going here for like 18 years and am yet to find better mexican food anywhere. Seriously. All meals come with homemade soup and after dinner shot. Most of the servers are also very freindly. How can you beat that?
(5)
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Address :770 S Arlington Heights Rd
Elk Grove Village, IL, 60007
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Verito U.
As a born and raise Mexican. Ground beef tacos? Sorry but not good. Where is the steak? Although the place looks very mexican and the cooks ARE mexican the menu was more of a fake. Had the chicken flautas, my husband had the chicken mole enchiladas. Power mix orchata, really? Not the best, chicken seemed old and probably it was pure dark meat. We ate because we were hungry. Sad to say but probably would have had a better lunch and paid less in Chipotle, (almost across the street) too bad it wasn't open yet. The only reason I gave it a star was because of good service, or else it would have gotten none.
(1)Katy D.
Try the yummy Pica Pica on Wednesdays - this super casserole is very tasty and worth a trip to Tapalpa just for it to make your week complete.
(4)Melissa H.
OK so I went back to my FAV Mexican place and it was anything but. I ordered the taco salad and the kid's meal taco for my son. The meat was flavorless with green peppers in it I think? My son picked around it and I spent $7.00 on a meal that he didn't even eat. My taco salad had one dop of sour cream so I asked for more and was charged $1.25 for it. Really? I had to go to the hostess and get my check come to find my waiter sitting there chatting it up with his co-workers. I said Adios and left. Looking forward to Good Tequila that opens soon in the Dominicks Plaza. Maybe it will force Tapalpa to STEP it up and lower their prices.
(3)Cristie F.
Yesterday I had anticipated a fabulous lunch that consisted of veggie sushi rolls (thrilling, I know!). Instead I was told I was going to be heading out of the office for some Mexican food. Was I excited? Honestly, not so much! My stomach had been killing me all day and the thought of eating rice and beans just made it turn even more! Anyhow, to my surprise, I had an absolutely great experience!! Upon arriving, we pulled into the lot and walked into a VERY authentic Mexican restaurant...this wasn't like the local Chevy's or Taco Bell. We were seating right away and given a huge basket of warm tortilla chips and the sweetest, most delicious salsa I've ever had!! The menu was huge (however somewhat pricy) and I decided to go with cheese enchilladas. When my platter came out I was shocked...it could have fed me and my two co-workers!! I dug right in and loved every second of it. The cheese was spilling out of the corn torillas and the mild red pepper sauce was perfect....not too spicy, but still had a kick. One of my co-workers opted to try the Chiles Rellenos and was kind enough to let me try it as well.... Let me just say this, it's pretty much my new favorite item! The crispy batter, the gooey cheese, and the Poblano pepper was one of the best things I've eaten in a long time. I definately give it a Rachel Ray "YUM-O." I think next time I'll give it a whirl after work hours where I can dive into a gigantic Margarita!!
(5)Eric W.
Fantastic, authentic Mexican restaurant. I've been there a few times, mainly Cinco de Mayo 2011. A very lively atmosphere on that day, extremely busy. It was somewhat chilly out so the patio wasn't a great option, but people were out there anyways simply because of the wait. On other weekdays I've been there for lunch, you can usually get a seat right away...possibly a minute or two wait. I usually go with the enchiladas suizas, and they are as good as you will find.
(5)Jackie H.
Normally avoidant of any Mexican food north of, well, Texas, I threw caution to the wind and drove the block around the corner from my hotel. The waitstaff greeted me and promptly found me a booth. I enjoyed the chips (a little lack luster) and salsa (a solid "good" rating) while checking out the awesome decor. I am personally impressed by the 1800 Reposado bottle craftfully recreated as a piñata. $1.50 house margaritas weren't anything to shake a stick at, either. I ordered the special of the evening, pork enchiladas and was surprised by the soup of the day: chicken noodle that smelled exactly like the pack o Lipton soup my Nana made everyone when we were sick. Overall, not bad for Chicago Mexican.
(3)Jennifer B.
On any given day, at least ten nurses drown their sorrows on margarita's at this place. On top of that I once had the whole patio singing "Feliz Navidad" on July 17th. Ok, the food is good also and I do have to admit that i once drank the salsa from a container. I don't have anything bad to say about the place. A perfect local Mexican restaurant.
(5)erin g.
as an arizona native, i'm always on the lookout for good mexican food in the burbs. trust me when i say that this is a diamond in the rough!! great atmosphere, awesome enchiladas, amazing floutas, friendly service, and best of all delicious chips and salsa! my bf and i have already gone back for more and will be heading there again soon. not giving it five stars because it still isn't up there with some of my spots in tucson, but for the chicago area, it's pretty damn great. check this place out.
(4)Bill B.
Not bad, but nothing special. Been going there for 20+ years out of convenience and not much else. The service is excellent and I like the decor (only in the middle booth); otherwise, it's an okay experience. I like how people from the NW suburbs and Elk Grove especially swoon at the mention of Tapalpa merely because it's the only sit-down Mexican restaurant within a 3-mile radius. These liberals are ridiculous..."I have a black friend", "I have an asian friend", "I know this mexican restaurant!". Good service, ok food, convenient.
(2)Paul N.
Great food, small location, but pretty authentic as far as taste. Get there reasonably early because this place gets packed (esp. on Weekends). The food cost more than Chicago's Mexican restaurants, and the parking is pretty scarce. The location is in front of a shady apartment complex...there is safety in numbers and don't leave anything expensive in the car. On special occasions they have mariachi singers, pretty fun but they can get annoying.
(4)Tater S.
Hands down one of the best mex rest in the area. I am never disapointed in the quality of the food. My one complaint would be that the steak they use for the tacos could use some seasonig ( kinda bland). The cream of cylantro soup is a must try if you go there on a saturday.
(4)Roberta H.
Love the food and outdoor patio!
(4)Cyndi K.
This is a very small, family owned restaurant that serves the BEST Mexican food around. They are truly interested in making sure the customers enjoy thenselves. Some nights there are even Mariachi wandering through the restaurant. The shredded beef Chimichanga is huge in both flavor and size. I have never had a bad meal here. A great place to go with friends for a casual, not too expensive but delicious meal. Oh, and the strawberry margaritas are great too. The only problem is that they are closed on Sundays.
(5)Janis W.
They had a margarita drink special for $1.50. And the food was pretty darn good. I recommend stopping here before shopping at IKEA. It makes that long wait in the checkout go by faster.
(4)Laura O.
Charming place! Delicious food!! Nice staff!! Cool patio area to sip on margaritas!
(4)Brett N.
I really enjoy the food at this tiny family owned Mexican restaurant. The owners are constantly walking around the restaurant making sure that everything with your meal is up to the highest standards. Margaritas here are very tasty and the food is excellent. I'm a big fan of the shredded beef tacos and find it hard to order something else. Last time I went I got a wonderful surprise when I saw that they had an appetizer with Tacos al Pastor. This is my favorite meat to put on a taco and I have to say that Tapalpa did not disappoint. These bite size tasty morsels were well worth the money. I'm salivating right now thinking of the food I am writing about, and can't wait to return...VERY SOON!!
(4)Chris D.
The spinach enchiladas, fajitas and cheese enchiladas are yummy. Great atmosphere.
(4)Peter F.
Benn going to this great Mexican eatery for 20 years and it is always good. Great wait staff. Can't beat the prices.
(4)R N.
Been a regular at this place for several years. It's the best in the area, and there are a LOT of mexican restaurants in the area. The service and food quality are top notch. Good portions reflect great value.
(5)D D.
Everytime I go to Tapalpa I leave happy and full. They have great food, decent prices, and good drinks! The prices are reasonable for how much food you get. If you order an entree you get their house soup with it, the soup is different everyday but man, they are awesome every time. The service could be better and they have a pair of men walking around with guitars singing, which depending on how many drinks you have could be a lot of fun! The atmosphere is pretty dark and very cozy, pretty authentic. Definitely check it out, it gets busier earlier on the weekends, everytime I've gone after 8pm and it finally had died down so there isn't much of a wait. Oh and theres just a very small bar so don't plan on chillin at the bar all night, because its usually full full full.
(4)Rawlins R.
Tapalpa is one of the better Mexican options in the area. With every meal you receive complimentary chips and salsa. They have lunch specials as well as daily specials. I always get the burrito suizo because it is pretty big. I enjoy eating knowing that I will be satisfied in terms of portion size. This is a fork and knife kind of burrito as you will realize once it comes to the table. The burrito comes with a side of rice with sour cream on the side.
(4)Emily W.
This restaurant was chosen as the place for my best friend's birthday dinner with a group of girlfriends and we had an amazing service with strong drinks and delicious food! Some dinner prices are high, but the food portions are big so you get your money's worth! I ordered fish tacos that came with a side of rice and beans; they were very light and tasted great. I also had two different margaritas for the night; a fruity cranberry and then a lime. Overall, everyone loved their food/drinks and we all had an awesome time celebrating our friend's birthday! Just an FYI, they give customers complimentary "dessert" shots :)
(5)Dominic V.
Food was ok and service was good the bus boy took such good care of us he basically waited on us and was so nice !
(5)Peggy M.
Yelp did it again...steered me in the right direction. The first round of chips were not too fresh but the salsa was great with the right kick of spice. The second round of chips were definitely fresh...but I still gotta judge and knock off one star...for that and the fact the waitress forgot we asked for straws for our water..oh she remembered. .almost half way thru our dinner:-( But here's the reason why we will be back....the guava margarita was strong , yummy and tasted fresh.. definitely not that pre made bottled crap. And margaritas for $2.25 on Mondays? Yes I said that. This one was $5 but regular lime margaritas were $2.25. The fiance had steak chimichanga and it was ginormous. He said the steak was tender and full of flavor. I had the chicken flautas,which is my go to..and it was bomb. The crispy tortilla shell was not too greasy but crisp and had a good crunch..and the chicken was so tender..definitely not over cooked. The spices definitely tasty. Rice and beans were also BOMB. So please do yourself a favor and go here. The complimentary after dinner Bailey's shot with whip cream didn't hurt, either.
(4)Danielle S.
I honestly don't know how this place gets so many good reviews. I came here a long time ago when I first moved here and I was underwhelmed. Now years later, I still am not a fan. First of all, they are really pricey for what they serve. Their margaritas are small, weak, overpriced, and taste salty (even though I did not get salt on the rim). The plates are plastic, like something I would have had in college. They don't have regular queso (what?!). The steak tacos were good (small, but good), but the pork were too spicy and covered in a sauce concoction that I was not a fan of. Really the only things they have going for them are their outdoor area and the service. Beyond that I just don't get it. I gave them another try...but I think it will be my last.
(2)Joann E.
My husband and I have agreed this is our favorite Mexican restaurant. The chips and salsa are so so tasty and every dish I have had has been excellent. Service is always good. Sometime the place can seem a little cramped. Tables very close together. But that's a small complaint. Margaritas? Yes please. Try them!
(4)Michael D.
I'm from Los Angeles where they have better Mexican food than Mexico. I thought we would find this place to be really good since it seemed to have the Mexican flair of a good spot. Not really but the food was okay. Giving it a four star because we came here for a work bday celebration and they just didn't have the seating for all of us when we walked in but they made it work, and while short staffed! Pretty cool of them and I appreciated it, even though it wasn't my bday.
(4)John W.
I met two coworkers for lunch. I ordered a vegetarian burrito. Pretty sure it's not on the menu but the waiter told me they had one. AMAZING! Peppers, zucchini, cauliflower, onion, beans and all kinds of wonderful ingredients. All smothered in a wonderful salsa. OH did I say it was as big as my thigh. All our dishes came with a delicious home made creamy mushroom soup with huge chunks of mushrooms. Of course we had to get a pitcher of Margarita which was good and was served as a full pitch and half full glasses. What a nice presentation. The server was perfectly attentive. I love when a serve knows when you want something but leaves you alone otherwise. One of my coworkers ordered the Pollo Relleno. HUH? Chicken breast wrapped around a chipotle pepper stuffed with cheese, battered, smothered with wine butter sauce and baked. WTF! He said it was as good as it sounds. I believe him. I will certainly be back.
(5)JOana R.
Absolutely love this place Great service great food appetizer soup was excellent drinks were excellent,steak with mushrooms, was excellent will definitely be coming back, this place is a WINNER . BEST Margaritas I ever had.
(5)Phil P.
The wife was in the mood for some good Mexican food, but not a taqueria. After digging through Yelp for something we hadn't had in a while, I came across Tapalpa and was reminded of the good ol' days of living in EG and frequenting this place at least twice a month, so we headed over. I remember it to be very small and tight, so we decided to go early and beat the rush. When we got there around 5:30 on a Monday night, we were the only ones there. Got seated, received the chips (yum) and salsa (eh) and the menus. After learning that they only make spinach enchiladas on Fridays and Saturdays, which was odd, the wife decided on the Veggie fajita burrito. I got the chicken enchiladas, and mom got the veggie tostadas. There was definitely a LOT of food, which was deemed more than fair for the price. Enchiladas were tasty, as were the beans and rice that came with the dinner. Mom and wife shared the tostadas and didn't have room for the burrito, which was fine by me because hey, that's tomorrow's lunch! Service was super friendly, but minus one star for the slowness. Had to ask 3 times for a sofa refill, and the grilled jalapenos came out when we were ready for the check. No worries though, with our full bellies, we still left very happy.
(4)Trina J.
No earth shattering changes but there are a few things worth noting. There's patio seating and lunch specials. The lunch specials change from day to day but are about $8.50 before tax and include a soft drink. Service is consistently good and so is the food. This makes the place a good go to when in the area. It's still not a favorite but it is okay. A solid Mexican establishment.
(3)Anthony R.
Overall this was a pretty good Mexican restaurant. A little on the small and cramped side on the inside of the place. The patio looked pretty nice, but it was raining and they were not seating there when we got there. The skirt steak was cooked well and tasted good. You do get free chips and salsa, but the salsa was on the average side. Service was friendly, but had to ask multiple times to get refills. I definitely would come back again, but not one of my favorite mexican places (there are just so many to choose from, lol). They are definitely a good change of place to mix it up though.
(3)Andrea S.
Pretty good! Food was great, came quickly, nice and hot. All servers were very friendly From the busser, to the host, to the server. Friendliness goes a long way and leaves a lasting impression. We moved our group from outside to inside after we already had appetizers delivered and drinks. I work in the industry and I know that makes workers nuts because its highly inconvenient (it looked like it was going to rain) The staff couldn't be nicer about it... I would pleasantly recommend this cute restaurant to you folks.
(4)Jen K.
I wanted to try something new while visiting my family, so we do all the same restaurants over and over. Glad we saw this place. The decor both inside and out, scream authentic Mexican. We were sat immediately. Our waitress was very nice. She seemed a little frazzled most of the time though. Maybe she was new. We got a pitcher of margaritas for the table. They were delicious and strong. The menu has a lot on it which makes for a tough choice, but I opted for something different. I tried the pollito poblano. It's cheese inside a pepper, wrapped in a chicken... I know. Weird. But it was awesome. The other people had a burrito and the enchiladas. Both were very good as well. We were given a green herby soup before our meal and a shot of dessert liqueur after the meal. Overall, I am a fan.
(4)Maria R.
Fun, cozy atmosphere, light-hearted, friendly service and delicious food. All a pleasant surprise for a small group of us looking for a low key, last minute get together. There was also a mariachi duo that sang beautifully. Everything was good, but our especially favorite dishes ... Combinacion Tapalpa (skirt steak & cheese stuffed poblano pepper dinner), the steak was tender and seasoned perfectly, the other favorite was the Mini Tamales Verde. I LOVE tamales and have never tasted ones this fresh and delicious. The pieces melted in my mouth. Mmmm I could go back for some again. The margaritas were great and they topped the night off with Carmel schnapps & Kailua shots which were amazing. Overall an awesome night and a new place we will visit again in the near future.
(5)Paula A.
Great little place....went with a group of 5 (2 were kids 4 and 6) and all of us really liked our meal. I had the taco special two steak Two pork with cilantro and onions. Great cilantro sauce and salsa on the side. Also came with an 8oz margarita for $9.99. Tasty and a great price! Kids split a steak fajita. Steak was perfectly seasoned and they really have you a lot of meat....some places it's all peppers and onions. My uncle had the carnitas special and boyfriend had the taco salad. Both said yum. Also loved the little shot they gave you with the check....something kinda coffee ish with whipped cream....we will be back for sure!
(4)Sam O.
Frozen Mango margaritas are the Jam! Ask for an extra shot of tequila if you get it frozen. Steak fajitas were good...my buddy got the breakfast burrito which also was very good. Overall it was a solid choice for Mexican food.
(4)Laura L.
Was on our way to Busse Lake to see if was defrosted yet and needed someplace close to eat so we picked Tapalpa, We read the reviews (thanks yelpers) and figured why not and glad we did. Very nice atmosphere, great service and wonderful staff. The owner came over after he heard it was our first time being there and was very pleasant, he welcomed us and chatted with us a bit. We didn't get to hear the mariachi (maybe next time) but heard they're good. All around great!!!
(4)Megan K.
I came for dinner one evening and was quickly seated on the patio. The waiter was very attentive, probably a little over attentive, in my opinion. I wanted a regular margarita but he mistook my order and I ended up getting the $1.50 special margarita. It wasn't very good but I could certainly taste the tequila. I suppose if you are looking for a bargain for some drinks, this would be a good option. The chips and salsa were okay, pretty standard for any Mexican restaurant. For dinner, I got the quesadilla with chicken. It was plated in a really interesting way, almost like a roll rather than flat. It was pretty tasty but the sour cream and guacamole servings were a bit small. I thought the price of the entrée was reasonable. However, as others have said, some other entrees and sides are a little bit ridiculous. For instance, 9$ for a small guacamole? I think the regular size was $15, that's about the same price you'd pay for an appetizer at a swanky restaurant. They brought a mini-shot of Kahlua, I think, for dessert with the check. It was kind of nice, I've never had a restaurant serve something like that. It was interesting but I won't complain about it.
(4)Saul C. A.
If you like authentic Mexican food, a sophisticated place to eat, clean and upbeat environment, high standards guest service, come to TAPALPA! Ahua!
(5)Jennifer S.
Long time customer; first time reviewer. I am celebrating my thirteen anniversary at work next week and I have been visiting Tapalpa since I started at this job. I don't think they were a brand new restaurant at that time, so I'm thinking that they got to be doing something right to have such a long standing history with their doors open for business. Here are the things that I love! It's a welcoming place. The owner and staff are so nice. The mole is dark and tasty - muy bien! They are plenty of seating - both inside and outside. I used to actually take a lunch break and dine in. During the warmer months, I recall dining outside sometimes. It's a nice break in the day. After dinner, I've always received a sweet dessert shot. I'm not much of a drinker, but I sure enjoy that treat! Plus, they have a lunchtime special now that is $6.95. Sounds like the perfect carryout lunch to me! A few of my not so favorite things? Their chips are boring. The salsa works, but the chips aren't worth the calories. I don't love the tomato chunks mixed in with the chicken. I'm sure they do it to add flavor, but I don't like chunky tomatoes in anything. This is a personal preference. They're not a fancy spot, but the food is consistent. And the people are great! I'm grateful that Tapalpa has lasted as long as I have in the area. Here's to many more years, my friends!
(4)Barb S.
The service was great however I was disappointed in my Chimichanga. I got the ground beef but all I could see and taste were refried beans, hardly any beef. The margarita was good. I had a $50 gift cert, the bill was $46.50 but they would not give me the change or another cert for the remainder. I gave $3 less in the tip, hey it's only fair right?
(3)Tony M.
Not bad. I ate the steak tostada dinner plate as i was hoping to order carnitas or tongue taco dinner plates but was surprised they had a basic meat selection for tacos like chicken, steak and even ground beef yikes! But as far as steak taco dinner plates goes, it was decent. My son very much enjoyed the apple filled burrito and cinnamon ice cream desert.
(3)Alicia W.
This place is one of my go-to restaurants for my dinner dates with friends. The prices are a little high compared to some other Mexican restaurants but the food is always great and the portions are huge! I can never finish it all in one sitting. They have $1.50 margaritas Monday-Thursday, which are delicious as well. I have never had bad service from the staff either, they have always been very friendly. Definitely one of my favorite dinner spots in the area!
(5)Tom F.
This place is great... The owners are real cool people.. Mexican Food at the best place.... I like to go there for there 1.50 margarettis... half price apps....
(5)Ken K.
Not a fan. First, a little background - I work in Woodfield area, wife came to take me to lunch day after Christmas...tried to take her to a great little Mexican place I went to with co-workers, all of whom were off that day (found out later it was called Los Compadres) - got lost in Elk Grove (don't go that way often, all the streets there look alike - grey and dingy) and somehow stumbled into Tapalpa. Resurant is typical cheap mexican place in a strip mall - slightly tacky, plastic tablecloths, etc. etc. etc....no problem, that's what we were looking for. The prices however, were not that of a cheap little mexican place. Now - I like a good meal and am willing to pay for it...but this place was WAY out of line with the other tacky mexican places in strip malls in the area....lunch of an appitizer, a burrito, a quesedella and 2 diet cokes was $43.44....$52 bucks w/tip. Place I was thinking of (and about 3 others in area off the top of my head) would have been less than $40, tip included. Was it worth it? Comparatively speaking, no. But let's discuss the food: Chips and Salsa - included as in most places in the area - not bad, but did not stand out. Queso Fundito - again, uneventful - but I did like they served it in a taco salad shell - i think the shell soaked in a lot of the grease, which is nice. Steak Burrito - Steak was tender, big pieces, and of good quality. But bland, as were the rest of the ingredients Quesadellia (SP)- wife ordered this, when asked how it was she said "fine"....which could mean a variety of things....none of which would be in the 4-5 star range. In closing - not BAD, but nothing to write home about...and NOT worth the money.
(2)Andrew F.
Fish tacos on corn tortilla done well, tilapia crispy on the outside, hot and tender on the inside. Maybe a bit too much shredded cabbage but that was easily pushed aside. Refried beans very good, bits of bean, not whipped to puree. Rice unremarkable. Generous portions. Cilantro soup outstanding, like a bisque, with a light cilantro flavor and creamy texture. Service was prompt.
(4)Jay W.
First of all, I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but this is NOT one of the best, or even better, Mexican restaurants in the burbs. Not by a long shot. I know they've been here a while, but from what I saw people seem to like the booze more than the food. I think they have a following, and good for them, it's just not for us. We checked it out at the insistence of my sister, who had a great time here with her family recently. But, I should have known, my sister doesn't know Mexican food. And her kids, well, they raved about it - but the only other MX food they've ever had is Taco Bell. I have a more discriminating and experienced palette for this food, and I was not impressed. The food is average to average plus, not bad but not remarkable, as it should be for the prices they charge. Chips and salsa are weak, chips taste commercially made and the salsa reminds me of the jarred style. I don't think it is jarred, but it reminds me of the "Pace" style. Mild, which we like, but has that jarred consistency/flavor. Salty, tomatoey flavor overwhelms the rest of the ingredients. I got the carnitas, which I will say were NOT greasy. However, they were borderline dry. It was $15 and they gave me about 4 oz. of meat, with a bunch of beans and some other sides/garnish. Not at all impressed. My wife's tacos were equally underwhelming - and pricey. $13 for a taco dinner. Lastly, service. The waiter was decent, except everything moved at SLOW MOTION. Half an hour to get our food after ordering. Both the waiter and owner (presumably) came by to check on us as we sat there, waiter gave us some lame excuse about too many carry-out orders. Hey, that's YOUR problem - don't leave your dining room customers waiting. The owner asked us how everything was, when we told her we'd been waiting way too long she said she'd check on our food - but instead went to the counter and started chatting on the phone and doing other things. She never followed up. The waiter finally came to tell us he would bring the check, he then proceeded to take food and drink orders from FOUR TABLES before he made his way to the back. Next time we saw him he had a huge tray of drinks in his hand. Maybe it finally registered with him that we were perturbed, so he set the tray down and brought our check. Total wait for the check, about twenty minutes. If you want MUCH better food and half the price, but no liquor or atmosphere to speak of, try Los Compadres on Algonquin. If you want MUCH better food slightly cheaper with great service in a nice setting and liquor service, try Hacienda de Roselle. I've had Mexican food all over, they are two of the better places around.
(2)Donna M.
The shredded beef tacos were good, not great. The pieces of meat were big, which would seem to be a positive, except the marinade couldn't get inside and the beef was dry. I arrived as soon as they opened and had tacos a la carte and sopapillas. Not impressed with the sopapillas, very doughy. The waitress was nice but was actually eating on the other side of where I was sitting. A little awkward. This place is solid just not solidly amazing. On the positive side, they offer an app plate called the Supreme Botana which is yummy assuming they haven't changed it since I had it last. If they had bunuelos I would give them 8 stars.
(3)Toni B.
Yummo! We love us some Tapalpa! We actually don't come to eat here often, and we live like 3 minutes away..I dont know why though! I usually go there to get my taco salad shells, which I find hilarious, because EVERY TIME they say, "No meat?!? Just the Shell?!?! haha! yes please! For only $1 per delicious shell (or they charge my hubby $2 per shell which I find too funny), we are set! We came here the other evening and sat in their outdoor patio, which was very nice. Our waiter was cool and attentive and so were the bus boys! I ordred my usual meal at a Mexican restuarant, cheese enchilladas...now Im very picky about my enchilladas, but they were delicious! My hubby ordred the Pica Pica special, which seemed very similar to fajitas, and he really enjoyed it! The chips and salsa were delish...we ate almost two baskets of the chips! They have weekly specials on drinks and food! If you are the EGV area, check them out!
(5)Kevin J.
Have been here several times over the last two years. Last two visits have been ok but not what we experienced in previous visits. This time service was slow took way to long. We ordered Tacos and enchiladas. How Long does that take? Server never came back until we were finished and my enchiladas were Luke warm. This is the second time hot food was not hot. That's a basic. Taste was good. Prices are ok. May try one more time.
(3)John D.
This has to be hands down the best Mexican restaurant, in the Northwest Suburbs, if not all Chicagoland. It is very cozy and welcoming. The food is very authentic and spectacular, including specialties from their home town of Tapalpa, Mexico.
(5)Mike A.
First the chips are terrible. Not even homemade. Taste like they come out of a bag. Ordered the chimichanga with steak and it was terrible. The chimichanga wasn't crispy and the steak was a pile of mush with the beans that were in it. at least i think they were beans. My wife had the burrito and it was just as bad.. I have tried to like this place and the many times I have been here its been awful. but this was the icing on the cake.. Prices are high too.. don't go here..
(1)Angela J.
Was there yesterday afternoon around 4:15. We choose to sit outside wasn't bad but way too windy. The waiter whose been there forever was awful. He was soo slow we ordered a few margaritas we had the lame chips and salsa which I could make better at home. He never came back to take our order. It was not busy mind you he is just a horrible server. After about 30 minutes we paid and left and went to Good tequila instead and had a great meal and way better drinks.
(2)Joe I.
I am a big fan of their "Seafood Enchilada" , and today my friends got the tacos and some other chicken enchilada and they said they were really good also. I've enjoyed Tapalpa's for many years now (10+), and their consistency in good quality food is something you can count on. Others can disagree, but I like & enjoy their chips & salsa...if you've ever been to Mexico you will find that most chips tend to be on the bland side. Warning! If you do go during the first part of February or late January (like we did earlier this year) you may feel like you are entering the heavily decorated den of Cupid himself...so it may feel a bit strange if there are non-romantic parties sitting down for a meal! Otherwise, a great little strip-mall Mexican Restaurant!
(4)Susan S.
We love this place! Food is always good and fresh. A few different items than just traditional Mexican offerings like burritos and tacos. Staff is friendly and the coziness makes you enjoy your time. The cilantro soup is the best. My out of town family requests to eat here every time they come to visit.
(5)Ericka A.
You can't spell Queso Fundido without F-U-N! It is quite fitting considering that every time I meet up with the NW Suburban Dinner crew I have a boat load of fun. And it's also fitting considering I was served a boat load of the aforementioned Queso Fundido with chorizo. Mami like. From start to finish I was impressed with the service and the quality and quantity of the food. Our waitress was super sweet, sprinkling bits of Spanish in while we ordered. A "gracias" here, "What would you like, Senor?" there. She smiled politely as we butchered the names on the menu. As it should be, they serve you chips and salsa before the meal. Some places like to get stingy and give you a small bowl of chips. Not here. They brought out pile after pile of chips. Good chips. Crunchy and not greasy. They went well with the fresh salsa and hot sauce. It was a Tuesday, so I started out with their drink special: $1.50 margarita. Not a fan. Only thing I didn't like. Too salty. Blech. Switched over to horchata and was much happier. I don't even know that I needed that margarita to begin with because they bring you out cute little Kahlua shots at the end of the meal - at least for our group. I don't know if that's typical. My friend Mike and I decided to maximize our Mexican by both ordering an entree and splitting it. He got the red snapper with white wine, butter and garlic. It was topped with diced tomato, some cilantro, onion and olives. It was blow your mind good. There is nothing worse than having badly cooked fish and I was worried it might come out dry. It was moist and flavorful. I also dislike olives, but I overlooked it and enjoyed everything that it came with. My choice was one of their Tapalpa specialties, a broiled skirt steak covered in poblano sauce and cheese. All entrees were served with a side of refried beans, rice and a small bowl of vegetable soup. The soup would be perfect if you're sick. Heck, it's perfect if you're not sick!
(5)Renita M.
Arroz con pollo. It means "rice with chicken." To me, growing up eating a lot of Puerto Rican food, arroz con pollo means a specific dish: rice with bone-in chicken parts cooked in it, fragrant with adobo and saffron, small bits of veggies, possibly some ham and olives or capers. I've discovered, though, that if you order this at a Mexican restaurant you are likely to get something that contains both chicken and rice, but may not otherwise resemble the dish described above. At our regular haunt in Bloomingdale, the chicken is boneless and the veggies are large chunks, but it's similar. At Tapalpa, you will receive something else entirely -- my arroz con pollo was large-diced chunks of chicken breast with tomato, onion and peppers, served over rice and slathered with cheese. Which is not to say it isn't delicious. It is. And after eating too many chips and my delightful little cup of vegetable soup, I have about 2/3 of my giant plate of arroz con pollo to eat for lunch today. (Thanks, Mike O, for setting up the latest NW Suburban dinner!) (PS Apparently the three Spanish words in my review made the site think I was writing in Spanish? Hahaha...)
(4)Mike O.
Though I was never here before, I kept hearing good things about this place. I came here with my NW Suburban friends for dinner on a weeknight. Tapalpa is hard to miss though it is close to a large outdoor shopping area along Arlington Heights Road. We got a long booth out of the way of most of the commotion in the restaurant. Certainly our service was nothing to complain about. I ordered a horchata as my drink. It was a bit strong on the cinnamon, but not bad at all, though I prefer more of a vanilla flavor personally. I got the bandarilla special, which was a huge platter with two fried tortillas with shredded chicken rolled up inside, rice, beans and a scoop of both guacamole and sour cream on top. Looking at the serving size, it's easily two or maybe 3 meals, depending on how much you like to pig out. As we waited for our food, the chips and salsa kept coming. I particularly liked their hotter variety of salsa, which though it packed a punch was very flavorful. While I didn't run my usual "burrito benchmark" test on them, I was very pleased with my choice of dinner. I got flan as my dessert to complete what was a fantastic meal at a nice Mexican place.
(4)Charlotte P.
I've been to Tapalpa twice, and as someone who grew up eating authentic Mexican food, it's pretty good. The soup they bring with the meal is always nice--I particularly enjoyed the cream of cilantro. The margaritas are fantastic, but then it is pretty hard to mess up a margarita, I'd think. It is a bit pricey for standard Mexican fare, but as somewhere to go on occasion, I'm willing to pay a bit more. Came with my girlfriends one rainy December night, and we had the mariachis that wouldn't go away--one was flirting with my Spanish speaking girlfriend. At first it was charming, but then when our food came and they still stood there and played, it veered towards awkward, and when they started another song when that song was finished, it became downright annoying. Also, if it's crowded, be prepared to wait awhile--and don't expect to be surrounded by shiny happy people. Service is always good--food is decent--hit them when they're not packed and you'll have a good experience.
(3)Linda C.
GREAT local eatery! FOOD: hefty hefty portions! One dish could certainly feed two! I really appreciate they also have daily specials to change things up if you come here often! I enjoy their steak and chicken fajitas (enough for two) but their chicken tacos are also delicious! Love coming here hungry so I can snack on those chips and salsa first while I wait for my meal... the meals even come with the daily special soup! SERVICE: SUPER FRIENDLY and upbeat! If you need something, they are on it in a heartbeat! ATMOSPHERE: A little dark but clean. Servers and other employees make it seem homey. DAILY SPECIALS: $1.50 original margaritas (frozen or on the rocks) on WEDNESDAYS!
(4)Mark F.
I've been on the hunt for the best near-my-house Mexican food and this may be the place. I've kept the same basic criteria in the places I've visited thus far: 1) Margarita tastiness (regular, on the rocks, with salt - I'm keepin' it real here) 2) Chips and salsa crunch and tastiness (I like a little heat but not anything obscene) 3) Chicken burrito awesomeness They did really, REALLY well on 1 & 2. The burrito was substantial in size and the chicken was moist but it seemed to miss the mark with the rice and had 0 heat but still tasty. Tapalpa had an added bonus that blew my mind. A 2-man Mariachi band. I couldn't help but do the white man overbite and dance before, during and after my meal. Check this place out. The chips are crunchy. The salsa was addicting. And the margarita (get the Cabo Wabo kind!) were so tasty and smooth. The best to date. But try something other than a burrito and you're bound to have a great experience.
(4)Taylor M.
If this review was only on the quality of Tapalpa's food, I would have given them 5 stars. However, the weak margaritas and almost nonexistent service brought my review down a star! I loved the chips and salsa, but the waiter was not really around to bring any refills. I ordered the Chimichanga Suiza with shredded beef and I really enjoyed it. The portions were huge! The meal came with a soup as well! I ordered a half pitcher of margaritas and was really disappointed. It tasted like a flavorless Icee. I really wouldn't be surprised to find out they forgot the tequila. I also really hated how the bathroom is a one person stall for such a large restaurant and bar. I hate having to wait in line for the bathroom during dinner! I would return for the food, but not the drinks.
(4)Sarah H.
I think this is one of Elk Grove's hidden treasures! I was just there this week catching up with a friend of mine, we grew up down the street from this place and we were discussing how much we love it there! I love that this is not a chain, and you can tell by the pictures everywhere that this is a friends & family kind of place. The food is always fantastic, as well as the service. AND you got to love the live music! My favorite time to go is the summer when you can sit on the patio, but this place is good any time of year.
(4)Michele B.
YUMMMMMMMM--went here because a client of mine from Houston (you know Houston they always think they are authorities on Mexican food) said it was the best she has found "up North". Not sure about best-but pretty darn close. Of course it being a Friday, had to have a Margharita--ordered a honeydew flavored frozen one--note to self--stick with the original--no taste-lots of ice, no booze--we ordered a half pitcher (great concept), but seriously no liquor. Chips and salsa were great, but it being crowded, our server was not to be found with refills. We flagged a busboy and he found our waiter who quickly forgot to bring more until he came back with our drink order. Entrees on the other hand were really tasty--I love mole and they did not disappoint. I had their regional specialty "Tapalpa chicken enchilada" which came with rice and beans with shredded cheese on top. Lots of food and very well done. My client had the Chimichunga (sp) and the chicken was moist and abundant. They serve entrees with a small bowl of soup and it was Cream of Cilantro also very good and creamy and hot. When our check came they told us that when you order a signature dinner and drink they send over a complimentary shot--it was great. Waiter said it was butterscotch and Baileys with whip cream on top. Now that was a total surprise--sooooo good. I will go back, maybe not on a Friday when it is packed to see how the service measures up---and for more chips.
(4)Noel P.
I've been a customer of Tapalpa for 14 years and just love everything they have to offer. Abraham, Judy and their entire staff are outstanding! I recently had them cater an event I was having at work. I use a lot of caterers but Tapalpa impressed me with all their special details. You never have to question the incredible quality of their food but it was the little things, like bringing decorations, special table coverings, special festive dishes, brightly colored cups, etc. They had one person show up early to set up and the food came piping hot right on time for lunch service. I have never received so many compliments from my coworkers about how nice the luncheon was and how great the food was. I highly recommend using them for catering and with out a doubt at least visit them for lunch or dinner. You won't be disappointed!!
(5)Joe M.
Very good Mexican food that is not too expensive. The service is typically very good. There is a wide variety of food and drink. This is a very popular place and gets pretty busy on the weekends so be prepared for some noise. Also has a live mariachi band which is fun.
(4)Katy M.
Great food and atmosphere. The food is delicious and the margaritas are big and tasty. We have loved this place ever since we moved to the NW suburbs and we take company there all the time. It is a great place to go. Love!
(5)Mike J.
We've been here twice - the first time we were with a larger group and everything was pretty good (I don't remember exactly what I ordered the first time, but I know I left with a positive impression). The second time we ordered enchiladas and were disappointed to get a plate of obviously microwaved (or badly re-heated) enchiladas. Also, considering there are better options in the area, this place was a little pricey.
(2)Manny M.
Read some reviews and after reading the one that said, "...as someone who grew up eating authentic Mexican food, it's pretty good." and thought, I have to try it! Was in the mood for a burrito and needless to say, was not impressed at all. Not AUTHENTIC! Maybe authentic TEX-MEX, but not authentic. I ordered my burrito in SPANISH so I assumed that they would bring me a dry burrito, instead I got something I do not like, which is the SUIZO style burrito. I wasn't even asked if I preferred it dry or estilo suizo. No green sala. Guac was slightly browning. And the horchata, was horrible. Way too sweet and watered down, so it tasted more like cinnamon, vanilla and SUGAR. If you're American and grew up eating TexMex, you will probably like this place. I didn't so I'm not a fan. I'm not sure about the restaurant atmosphere, because I did carry-out, but it looks like a quaint little place to eat. I'll stick to Buenos Dias. That place is 10x better and there horchata and burrito are not hit or miss.
(1)Joe B.
There are certain places that can win you over with good service if the food is mediocre... this isn't one of those places. The waiter was nice but oh so forgetful.. the typcial chips and salsa were boring and without flavor and the food which were simple tacos were not appetizing at all. I have never drank so much soda to wash down the food ever. I see the ratings on here and I don't get it... I see the mention of liquor specials which I did see plastered all around but if you must have liquor to enjoy the food its not the place for me.
(2)Justin G.
I don't get it. The locals love this place. It's ok, like 2 and 1/2 stars. The meals were decent, but overpriced for what it was and the soup tasted like it had a canned base. I don't think I'll be back.
(3)Richard S.
I am NOT a picky eater nor a complainer. I rarely write a review. However, this place was so ridiculous that our experience there must be passed on. The place was crowded, we foolishly assumed that it must therefore be ok. We ordered the chicken fajetas. They arrived; no seasoning on the chicken - bland. That which accompanied the entree, chips, onions, etc. was equally bland. We ordered drinks; weak. On top of everything else, every menu item was very much overpriced. The music was off key which was well-suited for the unpleasant evening spent there. We have our own rating scale; 0 is 0, 2.5 is poor to fair, 5.0 is average, 7.5 is very good and 10.0 is excellent. We give it a 1 for ample parking. In reality, they deserve an empty parking lot.
(1)Dan K.
This was a sleeper restaurant that I had driven past many times. WOW...Was I glad I decided to stop finally and give it a try. This is now one of my favorite Mexican places to eat at. I highly recommend the chimichanga!! The service was very friendly and the $2 beer special on a Saturday night was great. To sum up my overall experience I would have to say was like the free shot they give everyone. Warm and sweet with a hint of hotness!!!
(4)Dan K.
Went here for the first time about a month ago, and I liked it a lot. I went with a total of 6 people, and the service was still pretty decent. The inside was pretty typical of a Mexican joint... Lots of decorations, color, and an all around fiesta-like atmosphere. The girls had some sangria which they liked. I had the house dish, which I don't remember the name. But it had Tapalpa in it. It was pretty good, but very filling. The portions are huge. The burritos are your typical football shaped variety. Our waiter was a wisecracker. One guy ordered a veggie burrito and he brought back a burrito "with extra meat." When someone else ordered the same item (enchiladas) as another person, he said, sorry we are out, how about enchiladas instead? It was more weird than funny. Anyway, it's still a good place to eat, and a nice gem in suburbia.
(4)Kathy G.
i think this place is great and the food is also great but they have raised prices and cant afford to do this each time we go just my husband and myself we spend almost 50.00 + including tip. when we started going it was around 30.00. yes prices did increase and this is how to loose customers because they can't afford to go as ofter as we use to. I make drinks and cook at home for a lot less and just as good. Don't get me wrong great place but need to keep it afforadble. I do miss this place they have good prices at other places affordable to go and have a good time. This food is not that expensive to make. The drinks have been watered down we use to get good drinks not anymore they do water the drinks now.
(3)shizuku n.
The food is really good and the free salsa with the chips had flavor. The $1.50 margarita special is a nice way to get some alcohol without being overbearing on my wallet as well. (I'm not that good with alcohol so not so sure about the taste) The only bad thing was . . . the wait. Everything seems very slow paced. Food comming, water refills, getting the bill, everything got done nice and well. but just took sometime.
(4)Amanda H.
My husband and I went there for the first time last week. My close friend has been raving about this hidden gem for over a year. I finally made the pilgrimage and it was amazing. The service was top notch! Our waiter was prompt, attentive and very polite. The food was out of this world too! I really didn't expect too much b/c Mexican food has always been Mexican food, where ever you go. This place is totally different. Everything was fresh, hot and super tasty. One aspect of the restaurant that really stood out to me was not the service and not the food, but the fact that they decorated the booth walls with pictures from their years of business. There are hundreds of pictures of customers there. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone that likes food! =)
(5)Jennifer H.
CATERING! CATERING!! CATERING!!! We have been to Tapalpa a few times for dinner and really liked it! When it was time for my son's First Communion party and I was looking for caterers, I decided to forgo the usual chicken and pasta and look for something different. I called Tapalpa and was fortunate to speak directly to Abraham, the owner. He couldn't have been more helpful or accomodating. I ordered the" hot taco bar" for 50! No problem. When I told him how much my husband enjoyed their chorizo, he threw in a small bowl at no charge for him. He arrived exactly on time with his own tablecloth, wrapped settings and plates, colorful bowls filled with the freshest salsa, pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, and queso. Four huge piping hot chaffing dishes of beans, delicious rice, ground beef, and chicken for filling. Plus a huge basket of tortilla chips, baskets of warm soft tortillas and another basket of hard shell tortillas. He asked nothing of me and was in and out in 20 minutes and was not intrusive to the party in the least! He is coming back to pick up his materials. All of this for an amazing price. Probably the best catering we have ever had. Our guests took home "to go" containers and LOVED the food. Thank you Tapalpa and Abraham for a VERY successful party for my son.
(5)George R.
Tapalpa is one of my preferred restaurants for good Mexican food. The inside is festive, cozy and colorful. I usually get enchiladas with verde sauce (green) and ground beef filling. The dinner plate comes with generous sides of Spanish rice and refried beans. Their chips are average and the salsa has some good heat to it. Guacamole is pretty good too. I've always been stuffed after my entree and have only ordered dessert once. I was so full after dessert that I vowed not to ever eat that much food again. But the past few times at the conclusion of my meal, my server came over with a complimentary mini shot of Bailey's and butterscotch topped with whipped cream. Ahhh, now that's just the right amount of sweetness I need for dessert! Their menu is pretty extensive, so there are plenty of reasons to go back! Location is a little ways north of the intersection of Biesterfield Road and Arlington Heights Road. Note: They are closed on Sundays.
(4)Ron W.
I work near this wonderful Mexican Restaurant and I have coming here for years. The food never has changed and that is a great thing. I have tried many different Mexican restaurants in the area and every time I come back here I say to myself "They are not as good as Tapalpa". I usual order the Seafood Enchilada but recently I had the tacos and wow so simple but fresh and just great! I like the Chips and Salsa and the homemade hot sauce. When it comes down to it and I get the craving for Mexican food, this is where I go!
(4)Rob R.
Love this place! The service is great, the staff is always happy to see you. The food and the outdoor seating is some of the best the EGV. The owner is usually there and like to come by and say Hi. The $1.50 "special" Margaritas on Mon, Tues and Weds are more of a reason to go!
(5)Ron R.
An authentic Mexican restaurant has to have several things going for it to be a **** or ***** for me. Don't get me wrong, a three meets the standard; however, this--to me--is a little too Americanized. Very comfortable and decent food; but a four star has a certain vine and a five star simply UPS the ante in terms of food authenticity. So it's good...not wow good
(3)Ling L.
Not many Mexican places impress me here because the meat lacks definition, and the sides of rice and beans are mediocre. Tapalpa surprises me with their flavorful entrees, salsa and fantastic service. The menu offers the usual fare, but there's a section that boasts dishes from the town of Tapalpa, hence the name. Duh. :) We ordered the arrachera con salsa y queso (numero 49). It is a broiled skirt steak in a pool of Poblano pepper and sour cream sauce, covered with melted cheese. The steak comes nicely medium as requested and we can taste every fine seasoning in it along with the light sour cream Poblano sauce. It is definitely the more preferred dish. The burrito Suizo did not disappoint either but it's obvious which is the clear favorite. Prices are steep. Our #49 costs $15.50, an ouch for lunch. And the supreme fajita (chicken, shrimp, steak) is a whopping $24.50. Good thing is the portions are enough for 2 meals so the price pretty much evens out. They have specials every day. Check their web site for details. Our server started the conversation in Spanish and was pleased we attempted the bare minimum He was especially wowed when I rolled my r's in the ordering of the arrachera. We will return. It sure beats Pepe's and La Magdalena. Note to drivers without GPS: it's not easy to find this place as it's tucked at the corner of a tiny strip. Coming from Busse woods, along Arlington Heights, it's going to be the first strip to your right as you curve around the bend.
(4)Johnny B.
This weeks honey couldn't decide where or what she wanted. So I said Mexican! Yelp helped me find this pearl in Suburbia. It is a Mexican Restaurant which they have in Austin Tx. Located in a strip mall. Kind of tacky inside and out, but very good food and excellent service. Strolling Mariachi's too! The honey knew what she wanted as she peeked on line at the menu. She chose the combo of Bistec (steaak) and stuffed chicken breast with a great sauce. Of course it came with rice and refried beans. I chose on the the Friday specials, enchilleda's stuffed with spinach and cheese. Mine was great. Just enough of a kick to know it is a bit spicy. It comes to you slowly, not blowing your mouth out with heat. The honey liked her entree. The portions were more than ample and at a reasonable price. The lady also had 2 (count them) Apple Martini's. I was a bit fearful of having to carry her out. As a little plus, the waiter brought a small teas cup of Baileys, butterscotch and whip cream topping. A nice finish. But the ambience was great and not rushed at all. Being two days b4 Xmas, the restaurant was decorated and the staff wore their finest and Santa's helpers hats. Cute. It is a local joint as there was a lot of conversation at the main door between patrons and staff. For all you Chicago food snobs, they have plastic tablecloths and good food without unbrellas in your drinks. Didn't even think of going to White Castle after dinner (LOL). Wait staff and busboys very attentive and personable. I'll be back.... Johnny Chitown
(4)Nick S.
I thought the decor in this place was charming and the servers were nice. My cousin recommended this place. I thought it was ok. I could give it one more star, but I really didn't like their salsa. It was watery. I'm used to the Latin food in the city, so I have pretty high expectations.
(3)Priya G.
I will agree that the food here is made well and tastes good (the corn chowder soup is delicious) but I do not think it is worth how much they charge for each entree. I believe they have raised their prices recently and if you are an avid lover of Mexican food, you will know that there is much better, authentic food available at a more affordable price. Their horchata is also terrible- they don't use a machine to make it but instead a powder, so the drink tastes way too chalky. The margaritas are cheap and for good reason- they are small and watered down. Their poor service added to an overall "Meh" experience. You do not feel like you are being waited on, but rather just waiting..and waiting to have someone, anyone come by.
(2)Rachel D.
Great chips and salsa and maragritas too! I hate Mexican restaurants that use margarita mix and Tapalpa does not! I love their taco dinner and also they have this great little dessert liquor served in a shot glass with whipped cream its really good!!
(4)M M.
Tapalpa can be summed up in one word: warm. The atmosphere, the service, and obviously the food all convey a great sense of warmth. The decor makes for a comfortable eating environment. The soft pink glow of the place evokes the west coast of Mexico at the last moments of sunset (aren't I a freakin' poet?). To some people the atmosphere might be a little tacky, but to me it feels like the perfect place for Mexican food. The service was quick and friendly. One of the big points in its favor was the way the staff treated what appeared to be its regulars. Some customers were enthusiastically gretty by name when they entered, others had waitstaff more than happy to chat at the tables. Service that personal and attentive makes a huge difference. But most important was the food, and it was great. The menu is huge and includes standard Mexican favorites mixed with a few more specialized dishes from the region of Mexico in which the actual city of Tapalpa is located. I got the Tuesday special, banderillas, which were essentially giant chicken flautas. The chicken was that perfect taqueria style, cooked and seasoned to absolute deliciousness. Great rice and beans too. So overall Tapalpa is just pleasant. Despite how close to EGV we live, we tend not to go there for anything, but when our travels bring us north, it's nice to know there's an excellent, friendly Mexican restaurant waiting for us.
(4)Christoph A.
Great atmosphere and food! Very well priced for how much you get and the staff are very outgoing and friendly. Better yet, they have guys that go around and sing and play guitars to you if you want while you eat. The restaurant is a little small and cramped, but who cares when you're enjoying a margarita and some good food.
(4)Nick S.
Been going since I was little. Amazing food and great atmosphere.
(5)Bill B.
Been going here for like 18 years and am yet to find better mexican food anywhere. Seriously. All meals come with homemade soup and after dinner shot. Most of the servers are also very freindly. How can you beat that?
(5)