4. Restaurants

Lupita’s Restaurante

700 Main St, Evanston, IL, 60202
  • (847) 328-2255
  • Store is closed

Lupita’s Restaurante Menu

  • Express Lunch Specials & Sandwiches
  • Sandwiches
  • Burritos A La Carte
  • Beverages

Healthy Meal suggestions for Lupita’s Restaurante

  • Express Lunch Specials & Sandwiches
  • Sandwiches
  • Burritos A La Carte
  • Beverages

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  • Jennifer M.

    My husband and I had a great experience here. The empanadas that come with the chips and salsa were excellent. My husband is Mexican and liked the food, which is surprising because he usually only likes Mexican food that is mother makes, and Garcia's in Lincoln Square. The owner Lupita is a sweetheart, and the waitstaff was really great.

    (5)

  • Kate S.

    Lupita's is the best Mexican food I have ever had. Hands down. My family and I have been going here for probably 10 years and the food is still delicious as ever. They have your basic Mexican dishes but also more unique options, too. Our favorites include the fajitas and the enchiladas verdes (to die for), and they usually have a really good fish special. The service is always great and the place is immaculate. There are many good restaurants in Evanston, but whenever I am there, I usually go to Lupita's. It's a given.

    (5)

  • Daryl N.

    I love this place, because it is family owned. Lupita and her family take great pride in their restaurant. Lupita's has different chips and that is why I like them the best. My friend Wendy makes her own tortilla chips by lightly pan frying flour tortillas, not corn, and they are out of this world. Lupitas does the same thing. They fry their own and they us flour tortillas. It has a very different texture and taste. Their prices are reasonable. They have a great variety. The even have upscale specials like duck or mixed grill that are great. But here is the best thing: they let you make your own combinations. So many places will not let you substitute. My favorite is to have a chorizo taco, chicken mole enchilada, and chile releno stuffed with meat. It is not on the menu exactly like that, but they will make it for me and not look at me like I have four heads. God bless Lupita's.

    (5)

  • Alan R.

    I have always had excellent service here. They have tacoitos before the meal and great mole sauce. They bar leaves a bit to be desired, but the food is always authentic.

    (3)

  • Debra C.

    We had a private party in the small back room area. The food was excellent and the flan and fruit tart were especially amazing. The staff was also great. The back room is really nicely decorated and holds about 30 people. I highly recommend it!

    (5)

  • Douglas G.

    This is everything Mexican food can be. This is no standard taco joint. Lupita's is Lupita's place - she puts her heart and soul into everything about it and it shows. The food is fresh, inspired, and delicious at a reasonable price. The only knock on the place is that it is small so often over crowded, but that's a testament to the quality of the food. Lupita's is the best Mexican food in Evanston and for miles around.

    (5)

  • Chris D.

    Lupita's came highly recommended so we chose to spend our few precious hours away from the kids there. I don't think we'll be able to get that time back. The service was prompt and the salsa was good - a little spicier than we expected which for us is a good thing. That's were the pleasantries end. The drinks were Lincoln Park expensive and were only slightly better than store mix. The empanadas were OK - the mushrooms were mushy and bland but the spinach was better. The fish in the talapia tacos was almost certainly frozen. My mole was again fair but to be fair I wasn't ready for the flattened chicken breast it was served over (I'm used to bone in chicken...right?). We happened to get a suggestion for Tipicos (?) at a store near by and ran over for Margaritas. First blush is we're going back - the margaritas were great and the menu looked good enough to try....just wish it was the little family owned shop in the 'hood we thought Lupita's was going to be.

    (2)

  • Jen H.

    Just tried Lupita's for the first time, and had an excellent experience. Most meals were in the $8-$16 range, and definitely large enough to share. We started with an appetizer of fried calamari and onions with a chipotle dip which was delicious (though a little heavy). Their chips and salsa were delicious...though be careful--the salsa is a bit on the hot side! I tried the pollo loco, which is a half-rotisserie chicken with mexican spices, served with rice, beans, tortillas and a mexican salad. All in all, a great meal, and a close rival to my other favorite Mexican restaurant, Las Palmas.

    (4)

  • Patricia S.

    THIS RESTAURANT IS NOT CLOSED!! Excellent food. Specials are fabulous! The music on Friday and Saturday nights add something special to the meal. We have been going to this restaurant since it opened and it is one of our favorites. Lupita greets her patrons as if they were guests in her house. The waitstaff if efficient yet is not overbearing. You can get a discount on your bill if you pay in cash.

    (5)

  • Phil P.

    Can't find it on yelp because it "has closed" I wish I would have, it would of saved us an afternoon and cash. I say cash because they wait until after you get the bill to let you know they only take cash. But don't worry their is an ATM down the block in another restaurant that you can use....that is the solution to their problem. Food=Taco Bell is an upgrade Margarita=neon yellow margarita mix with Jose Cuervo staff=1 guy running the whole restaurant it seamed. He was nice though Coming back? Yes, when a new restaurant opens in its place

    (1)

  • LeeLee S.

    This restaurant isn't closed, but I think different management. Definitely not the same from when we were there a couple of years ago.

    (1)

  • Dee S.

    FACT: If you like this place you've never had good/real Mexican food. "What did you have at Lupita's Dee?" "Oh I had the microwaved burrito with the scolding hot tomatoes and lettuce, thanks for asking!" Yeah, true story.

    (1)

  • Jon L.

    I can only speak for the nachos, which are quite tasty but heavy and greasy. Don't treat them like a meal - you'll get sick of them pretty fast. Nachos are meant to be shared!

    (3)

  • Anette L.

    I love this place .. The best empanadas and the flan to die for. Everything is home made, very clean and casual. Great place for lunch, and also for a first date. On the weekends they have live music playing, lovely!

    (5)

  • Christopher G.

    Had lunch. Tried the tostada's - chicken and beef, and tortilla soup. Was not impressed. I've had better. Shredded chicken was nothing to write home about, beef not bad. Tortilla soup was not good. Seemed too tomato based. Waitress was pleasant, nice service.

    (2)

  • Gourmetgeek 2.

    Lupitas used to be great and we went there lots. But now the service is slow and they stopped taking credit cards. The food's still wonderful, but don't go unless you've got time on your hands and cash in your pocket.

    (2)

  • Marissa P.

    Love this place. Great drinks. Great food. Sometimes they even have someone playing live music. The service has always been pleasant. I love this place for date nights (in fact, this was where we went the evening after we eloped).

    (4)

  • Brian C.

    This place was so close I couldn't believe I had overlooked it for so long. So when a friend came to town we decided to walk over and check it out, hoping for good food, a margarita, and a baby high chair. I'm not going to pretend like they delivered the best Mexican food I've ever eaten in my life. There was nothing mind-blowing about getting a Burrito dinner, but judging on the food alone I would return. But that's not the point of me taking the time to do a review. I was very impressed by the friendly service and the atmosphere. 5 feet from my toddler was a talented guitar player singing and getting a round of applause from our one year old after every song. Will definitely go back.

    (5)

  • Kennen M.

    Garcia's is my go-to place for a pitcher of margarita and some typical Mexican fare. We wanted somewhere further up north that had the same thing, margaritas and good cheap Mexican food, so we opted for this place since it was the only thing really fitting the bill. The interior looks like a recycled old person's diner but it was clean and tidy. The service was a little too brisk in the beginning then was lacking towards the end. Food was marginal Mexican fare, it got eaten but not overly enjoyed. I did appreciate the two types of chips - flour and corn. The regular margarita was fine and I found the prickly pear margarita strangely obscure, tart and not worth the calories. Minutes after arriving home, I got really sick. I don't know it was something I ate or the combination of the greasy chips and the tart alcohol drink. In conclusion, if you are wanting to go somewhere like Garcia's but in the North Shore, just suck it up and drive to Garcia's, you will be more satisfied.

    (2)

  • Vikx M.

    Great place! Good authentic food! Good drinks! Has not disappointed yet. Highly recommended.

    (4)

  • Nikhil A.

    I love this place. First thing that got me so happpy about this place was there salsa and chips which are homemmade and thick. I absolutely love those. Its vegetarian friendly and great food. I have tried most veg options and never been disappointed. Friendly staff and good lunch time menu as well. Check it out for sure Updated- the food quality has gone down a bit :(

    (4)

  • Cassie S.

    There wasn't really anything bad about Lupita's. There just wasn't anything great either (except the service - very attentive). They're stingy with the chips and if you order the guacamole, they don't give you enough chips to go with it, so you have to use some of your salsa chips, but you have to pay if you need an extra basket of salsa chips, so that annoys me in general. Food was fine. Not terribly memorable. The menu just wasn't very inspired. I did enjoy my prickly pear cactus margarita but the syrup was exceptionally sugary (or maybe they just used too much of it, I don't know). Boyfriend enjoyed his beer.

    (2)

  • Gary S.

    Great for weekend brunch!

    (4)

  • Lenore C.

    drove by this restaurant and saw diners in there. definitely NOT CLOSED. had dinner there a few weeks ago and it was OUTSTANDING. had their 'like water for chocolate' menu of scallops. definitely a fabulous meal - terrific + + + + am planning to go there tonight.

    (4)

  • Steve D.

    Drove past this morning (6/19/15) All signs are down. All windows are covered. Door chained shut. It is closed. I don't know why people are saying it's open. Perhaps it was about to close, but hadn't yet. But, this place is absolutely closed. OLD REVIEW: There is an incredibly high mental hurdle to get over when writing a review of Lupitas. I am a big supporter of local, independent restaurants and (even though I read it in other reviews) I've never had a problem with service. Lupita herself is a wonderfully sweet woman. She's the kind of stereotypical Mexican grandmother that you want to be yours. Here's the problem: the food really isn't all that good. And seems to be dropping off. It's basically run-of-the-mill Americanized Mexican food. Nothing special. The flavors are kind of bland. It's not a good sign when the food item you most look forward to are the pre-meal tortilla chips. Which are wonderful. I also really enjoy their flan. However, the bookends for a meal cannot compensate for the meal itself. It is my sincere hope that they really start picking up their kitchen skills, because this is a place that I really WANT to love.

    (2)

  • Amanda O.

    I was NOT impressed. The chips were home made and interesting but far too thick. The salsa was way too hot and there were no other options. I got the chicken fajitas. I really felt like they were way too oily and not enough seasoning. Needed salt. I was also less than impressed with the server. He seemed distracted and we had to repeat ourselves quite frequently. At first I just thought that's how he was until my friend pointed out that he was treating the older demographics in his section much more attentively. It was almost like since we were young he felt like we wouldn't tip so why invest much time in us. Won't go back until I'm old and gray since apparently that's when you get service anyhow.

    (1)

  • Michael D.

    On Saturday morning, May 31, I had the pleasure of breakfasting at a simply wonderful Mexican restaurant, called Lupita's. This restaurant recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, and I can see why.:Located at the corner of Main Street, and Custer Avenue, Lupita's makes having a breakfast out, on a weekend, a real treat. From the very moment I entered this restaurant at 700 Main Street, In Evanston, I was greeted by the very gracious hostess/owner, who welcomed me to her very attractive/colorful restaurant, with wide, open arms. After perusing the breakfast menu, I decided on a pretty traditional repast: 3 eggs over easy, well-done potatoes, and wheat toast. The eggs were perfectly cooked, with 3 yolks showing off their yellow glory. The potatoes were made just the way I like them--well-done/crispy. The toast was also done right, and came in a nice,little basket, accompanied by margarine, and a generous assortment of jellies and jams. In sum, I have found a marvelous breakfast spot, complete with wonderful food, a very gracious/hospitable hostess, and a very warm, cozy ambiance.Try this restaurant soon--you'll be glad you did. Michael Dorn

    (5)

  • Rick R.

    I like this place! The margaritas are potent, fresh and delicious. The food is reasonably priced and tastes relatively authentic ( kinda). I've spent a summer in Mexico and the food reminds me of food I've had there duringIt's not gourmet Mexican but its still good food.

    (3)

  • Ryan S.

    The food here was more of a 3-4 star. The service is where they lacked. While everyone there was very nice they were not the best service. They did tell us from the beginning out meals would take some time. They were out of the Pollo Loco, so one if our group had to change their order. So if you're looking for pretty good not great Mexican food and aren't worried about the service this place is fine. I would go back because the service wasn't so bad I was offended. It was just not on point. I advise checking the place out when you're not in a hurry and just want to relax and spend some time visiting with your group over an OK margarita.

    (2)

  • Amanda W.

    I wanted to love it. So did my husband. We recently moved to the area and live within walking distance. We were so excited to try it out. I can't leave less than 3 stars because the service was really wonderful. Our waitress was as sweet as they come, but the margaritas were really bad. Food was just okay. The live music on a Friday night was a really nice touch!

    (3)

  • tracey z.

    Awesome delicious fantastic!!! Such awesome food and amazing staff! I love it here. Trust me.

    (5)

  • Robert F.

    Have been coming here for 20 years (including previous location). Authentic food, family owned and operated. A favorite of my sister-in-law and her kids, who used to live in Mexico City. Food is good, pick one of the daily specials if you can. Lupita is a pastry chef, desserts are great. Delicious, authentic Mexican food. Not a taqueria, not Americanized, just good food. Convenient, across street from Main St. Metra stop, parking in lot behind restaurant. They just spruced up the decor a bit, too.

    (4)

  • Yanyao N.

    My most recent meal at Lupita's was not what it used to be. I specifically chose this place for dinner before tackling Christmas menu shopping because at dinner, they always had these little mini ham and cheese pockets that came with the basket of chips - never for lunch, always for dinner. We came and everyone working looked pretty rushed. Apparently they weren't planning to open but decided to anyway, and there were a lot of people in here using some kind of Groupon deal? All I wanted was fish tacos! I used to love these fish tacos. Now, they were served on a single corn tortilla (my heart weeps if there isn't a double corn tortilla) with smaller, less tender pieces of fish than before. Not as satisfying. Oh, and the little ham and cheese bonus snack things were gone from the basket of chips. I almost cried. J ordered a prickly pear margarita which never came, until we asked about it when our entrees were brought out. Our server went to the bar and made one and comped it, which was very sweet of them to do - they were really trying hard but were unfortunately just understaffed that night. (Otherwise, this would have been a 2-star). As much I like that this is family-owned and the service is friendly, the food is not winning me over as it used to.

    (3)

  • Rosanna L.

    This place is average. The entertainment was fun but the food isn't great. They don't offer tamales as a regular dish which I was bummed about because they are my favorite. The chips and salsa and mini empanadas is a great start. The classic margaritas are good but not worth $30/pitcher. The food was decent nothing sepctacular. The server was friendly and helpful with giving recommendations. The bill was $119 for 5 ppl which is a bit hefty.

    (3)

  • Shana O.

    I absolutely love Lupita's! Best chile relleno a I've ever eaten. I request them with tampiquena sauce, yum! Lupita herself is wonderful and makes her customers feel so welcomed. Great food, great specials, great margaritas, live music on the weekends and family friendly. Love it, always have!

    (5)

  • Adam C.

    I grew up in southern California and have lived in many places where really good Mexican food was just a given. Since I've moved to Chicago in the last 15 years, it has been a long and challenging quest for me to find really decent Mexican food anywhere in this town, especially the North Shore 'burbs. The reviews on Yelp make Lupita's out to be mediocre, which at first is astonishing to me. Having just eaten there an hour ago for lunch, I can tell you that both my wife and I loved everything we ordered. The chips and salsa were so delicious and not like every other Mexican place for miles around. The chicken mole enchiladas were absolutely amazing in every way possible. Even the rice (which I normally don't even touch) was tasty enough for me to finish. I also had a side of fried plantains which were perfectly prepared and just the right ripeness for a sweet flavor to come through. My wife had the ground beef tostadas and kept remarking how delicious they were. Little Lupita came by the table to deliver our entrees herself and she was incredibly sweet. All in all, you can't help but get the impression that this food is made with care and love, not just throwing it together as quickly as possible. I can see why some people don't like this place, and it has everything to do with the fact that they have only experienced the poor quality Mexican food that other places serve and over time, they have grown to simply like it that way. Somebody even commented that Chili's fajitas are better. Really? I rest my case.

    (4)

  • Robyn B.

    I think this is the best Mexican restaurant on the North Shore. Highly recommended!

    (5)

  • Nancy M.

    The food is really just ok, BUT what I love is that they give you a 20% discount if you pay with cash. nice...

    (4)

  • D.J. A.

    The enchiladas suizas with chicken are the best! Lean shredded white meat chicken and a mild and tasty sauce. Best enchiladas I have EVER had.

    (5)

  • Natalie B.

    How does this place get good reviews?? 1) The waitstaff is rude and service is generally awful--no one checked on soda refills or to ask how our food was which brings me to #2 2) husband's food was ice cold. Clearly food is not made to order--just reheated and they forgot to reheat his. Sent it back, but not without eye rolling 3) Salsa tastes like it came from a jar. 4) like someone else said, chips are horrible. Better Mexican food around here--skip this one.

    (1)

  • Ann C.

    1. Fridays and Saturday nights they have a live guitarist playing Mexican music and an occasional "American" tune sung in Spanish. My husband and I are both musicians and this guy gets a thumbs up on talent for guitar, harmonica, and vocals. 2. By 8pm, the place was already emptying out-- we have a kid, so we're early diners and many of the other folks looked older, so ?maybe? easy to get a table with live music on a Saturday night if you dine later. 3. Food was solid and authentic. I had concerns when I read some of the horrible reviews, but my husband and I were impressed. We traveled in Mexico when Tulum had only one hotel that was still under construction. We own two Mayan cookbooks. The menu on the night we were there included such hard-to-find specialties as Quesadillas de Huitlacoche (Huitlacoche is a fungus that grows on corn and is delicious when properly prepared) and Tacos Sudados wrapped and steamed in banana leaves. 4. Service. They were busy when we got there (an NU game had just let out, so maybe that was it or maybe it's the live music). I wouldn't call the service "bad." I would more compare it to European. If you're looking for a quick in-and-out-turn-the-table-bite-before-a-movie this may not be your place if they're busy. If, however, you'd enjoy some music while in the company of good friends and good conversation with friendly and responsive servers who don't show up the instant your plate or glass is empty, this is a good fit. I've had bad service-- neglectful, forgetful, inattentive, etc. This is not bad service. This is European service. 5. Parking. If the street is full, there's a public metered lot directly around the corner from them, with a brick walkway in the corner leading to the sidewalk back to them. Despite the picture on Yelp, the place is not diner-looking. There are vinyl booths but the decor is nice and the lighting is soft. Margarita's had kick, so designate a driver or take public transportation (the metra and L are right nearby). Last night was our first visit, but with the quality of the food and the live music, we're adding this to our list of favorite options. Really glad I wasn't scared off by the bad reviews and diner-y looking picture.

    (4)

  • M X.

    Won't go back. 1. The waiter gave us about 30 seconds and without any greeting asked us if we were ready to order. 2. Asked for bean enchiladas and he tells us that they can't do it because the enchiladas are pre-made (never heard that before). 3. Asked for an onion and jalapeno quesadilla and he brings bottled jalapenos on the side. 4. After the food came, he never asked us if we needed anything else, so I get up to go find him and the staff is standing around eating fruit with their bare hands in the bar area. 5. Asked for spicy salsa and and he shows me some bottle, then brings their regular salsa mixed with tabasco. After I asked who the manager is, the waiter got very attentive, but the service was terrible. No wonder it was empty on a Saturday night. Too bad, it's a cute place, but I don't expect it will be around much longer.

    (1)

  • Pam D.

    I have had spicier Mexican food at a Friday night Minnesota Lutheran Church potluck dinner. This was absolutely the blandest most unappealing Mexican food I have ever eaten and that includes Taco Bell. The chips were dreadful, greasy and flavorless. The salsa was tasteless. I had one of the lunch specials that was comprised of marinated pork on corn tortillas and a bowl of soup. They did not have the soup that was supposed to come with the dish, so I substituted chicken caldo. The broth was timid like a soup you would serve to someone recovering from ulcers. Yes, it contained lots of veggies and meat but there was absolutely nothing Mexican about it. The marinated pork .... flatter than the tortilla it sat on. Christopher had the enchiladas. BORING!!!! The sauce was one step up from Campbell's Tomato Soup. The beans were dreadful and the rice nondescript. I used to come here occasionally several years ago and back then the food was pretty good. I am dumbstruck by the meal we were served today. The service was nothing to write home about either. No one ever asked us if we wanted drink refills or how our meal was. Maybe they were afraid we would tell them.

    (1)

  • James B.

    The service is friendly and prompt. The food is average. I had the chicken fajitas and sad to say, Chili's are better. The veggies and chicken combined to make a homogenous mush that did not impress. My girlfriend ordered the chicken quesadillas. After they got the order correct (the server apologized for giving the kitchen the wrong info the first time), they came out looking like a 2am drunken effort. I really wanted to like this little place. We even sat next to Lupita who appeared to be a very nice woman. Maybe if she were still cooking up the dishes things would have been different.

    (2)

  • Mir J.

    Anyone who does not like this place does not know what Mexican food is. This is the stuff you get in California!

    (5)

  • Marcee W.

    Ate here many years ago and remembered a delicious meal. Returned recently and although I enjoyed the tilapia tacos that I ordered, I was a bit surprised to see that the fish was fried (I thought I was making a healthier choice!). I vote yes on the homemade chips and guac and my friend loved the mojito and grilled skirt steak she ordered. Food was a bit pricey, but parking was easy, service was attentive and food was fresh and tasty.

    (4)

  • David R.

    I am sorry to report that Lupita's chicken enchiladas suizas are no longer the best around. In fact, I wouldn't put them in anywhere near the top half of any list, based on the ones that I had this evening. It's been over a year since my last visit: was this a drastically subpar but isolated night for their kitchen, or has the quality slid so far? I felt a flicker of apprehension when they handed me the carryout bag within four minutes of placing my order. The sight which greeted me under the lid was sad confirmation of my fears. There was very little sauce, and no cheese to speak of. The chicken was dry throughout and downright tough in one spot At least the tortillas were near the ideal consistency. My order of guacamole was terribly bland as well. Overall it was a low-quality effort. Disappointing, to say the least. Although not quite as convenient to my commute home, there are plenty of taquerias who can do it much better just across the Chicago border on Clark Street. I'll stick with those.

    (2)

  • Marie D.

    I want to like Lupita's more than I do, mostly because I like Lupita's story and I've been going there since she opened way back in the mid-90's. I think that it used to be much, much better, the last two times we went (last weekend being the last time) it was very disappointing. I don't like this style of tortilla chips, but to each their own. The guacamole was pretty bland and unappetizing. I had the Enchiladas Verdes, one beef, one cheese, one chicken. All were bland. My kids and husband were equally unimpressed with their meals. Service was OK, but not great. Unfortunately, we won't be going back. We just haven't been happy there lately.

    (2)

  • Dave P.

    Lupita's has some of the best Mexican food in Chicago. The prickly pear margaritas are delicious and the steak fajitas and soft tacos are some of the best entrees on the menu. Friendly staff, a warm environment and relaxing music all make Lupitas a great choice for a night out.

    (5)

  • Mary Pat F.

    I really wanted to like this place - the staff was very friendly. The wine list was ridiculous - $30 a bottle for not great white wine - COME ON!! Portions small, food bland and unexciting - terrible chips - tasted like dough. Kicker was when the check came we questioned the total - seems like $90 for three was high - turns out we used a $25 restaurant.com certificate and they added the tip in before the check was presented. We are SO careful to tip on the entire amount - good thing we caught it. Might fly in Evanston but we live in Uptown were you can get GREAT Mexican food for much less.

    (2)

  • Que P.

    I love Lupita's! I've had many lunches and over a dozen dinners @ Lupita's and have always had a great time and wonderful meal. Lupita takes great pride in her restaurant and it shows.

    (5)

  • Michael M.

    Awesome. Name another restaurant where you can get huitlecoche sopas In the middle of January. For that matter even in season. Lupitas is not only a local gem, the family restaurant is a unique authentic Mexican restaurant. If you want Texmex go somewhere else. If you want real food, go out of your way to get to lupitas.

    (5)

  • Ju L.

    The chips are fresh and warm and the salsa has got a great kick --basically, amazing-- but a refill will cost you a pretty penny. Everything else was pretty standard. Good Mexican food but nothing that really interested me. Maybe I'm just not a fan of real Mexican food, because it certainly didn't taste bad or seem unfresh or even inauthentic. ...Stupid Taco Bell, tainting our taste buds. Atmosphere was cute and a bit quirky, with images of the Virgin Mary on the walls and fake flowers on each table. We were the only table there and they were vacuuming even though it was like 3pm. The waitress, however (was this Lupita herself??) was extremely friendly.

    (3)

  • Katrina L.

    I really want to like this place: it's family-owned and it's not Chipotle. I just want to find a decent Mexican restaurant in Evanston that serves Enchiladas that I can access by foot, bus or the purple line. I'm usually pretty easy to please, but it just didn't cut it for me. I ordered 3 enchiladas: 2 chicken and 1 beef. The chicken was really dry and not saucy enough, the beef was cut in small pieces and again, lacking sauce. The tortillas also tasted stale. The sauce, tasted like canned tomato sauce. The rice is not your typical Mexican rice, it's more like pilaf and it was flavorless. Maybe it was an off night? I'll try this place again, mostly because the servers were really nice and maybe I just tried the wrong menu item.

    (2)

  • Peter N.

    Decent flavors, decent portions, but lacking that little bit extra to earn that fifth star. The mole was pretty bitter, which I know it is supposed to be, but a little too much bakers chocolate. First time I've had deep fried chips... almost kind of like a cross between a regular chip and a croissant. The band playing on friday night was awesome.

    (4)

  • Sydney V.

    Not impressed at all. The food is definitely bland and I felt like I was at a Chi Chi's. I had the steak fajitas and the meat had a weird, tenderized taste. I barely ate any of it. The waiter asked if I wanted to take my leftovers to go and when I said no, I expected him to ask if anything had been wrong with the dish since it was clear I'd barely touched it. Apparently, he wasn't concerned and just walked away. My husband had the chicken mole which he said was ok but not great. Be warned: they take Restaurant.com gift certificates but you have to have a printed version to use them. I tried to redeem via the iPhone app but the owner, Lupita, refused to honor it. She said she needed a paper copy for "IRS reasons". Huh? It's too bad she didn't honor it because we wouldn't ordered cocktails, appetizers, and dessert. We won't be back. If you want good upscale Mexican in Evanston, try That Little Mexican Cafe. The entrees might be a dollar or two more expensive but the food is much better and the atmosphere nicer.

    (2)

  • Marilu M.

    Food was ok but service was horrible. We didn't know who are server was and he never came around to check if we needed anything. It wasn't even busy when we went. We had to ask the hostess for our check because all the servers were busy hovering over her. Will never go there again.

    (1)

  • Victoria h.

    I was teeter-tottering between 2 and 3 stars. 3 stars it is! We walked in around 1:30 on a Wednesday afternoon. Our server (the only server we saw) sat us at a booth and brought super spicy, watery salsa and incredibly greasy chips. I ordered a non-alcoholic sangria and husband ordered an iced tea. Non-alcoholic sangria = bottled sugar. It was disgusting. There was not an ounce of juice (sad face). The food, in general, was flavorless. Not a grain of salt. Not an ounce of spice. The prices were descent (lunch for 2, and 2 drinks were $20 with taxes), but the food was just "eh".

    (3)

  • Alice G.

    I just had dinner here - I ordered the chiles rellenos de queso. They were very good, reminded me of my mom's and grandma's ones. So I say - the real deal. Which is a big deal to me. I asked for the "very spicy ones", but they actually were not spicy at all. Very tasty, though. They have a good kids' menu. For dessert, we had a flan, very good flavor as well. Their rice is quite tasty also, but it's flavor reminded me more of Spanish cuisine, it has a saffron taste. By all means, order it, they cook it very well, the grain keeps its shape beautifully, it was great. Just not a very Mexican flavor, in my opinion. A lot of people have mentioned the chips on their review. They are not my kind of chips - they are white flour tortilla chips, and I prefer corn chips. The waiter was very nice and attentive. Music was nice, and then a guy started to play the guitar and sing some classic Mexican tunes, which was even better. I'm very happy to have found authentic chiles rellenos here, I'll be coming back often and will explore the other items on the menu. YUM!

    (5)

  • Ahzea M.

    Terrible. Despite the poor reviews, I went in with a very open mind! It really IS as terrible as the reviews claim. The food isn't bad. It's ok, not excellent, and not worth the price. Margarita was ok, but not authentic. Tasted like something off the grocery store shelf. Service was friendly, but very poor. Completely slow and quite inattentive. They served our rice and beans cold. The entire place smelled like smoke as if something burnt...the entire place! The waiter tried to suggest white wine when we asked for red. Then he offered sangria instead of red. That's why we went with margaritas.

    (1)

  • Allan M.

    I hate to do this, but I realized after getting a food item with mole sauce at Campeche that was almost as good as the one at Lupita's, that it isn't worth giving this place 2 stars at all. I think this is more like a 1.5, that I'd round down to 1 star. If you wanna eat at a halfway decent Mexican restaurant within Evanston, head to Las Palmas instead, in the downtown area. It isn't my favorite Mexican restaurant in the Chicagoland area, but it's superior to this restaurant in every way possible.

    (1)

  • Sarah D.

    Ok, this is might be harsh. Food was actually pretty good. Not the best Mexican food I've ever had, but pretty tasty. My husband and I tried this place a few weeks ago because it is 1 block away from our home and decided to try it out. Overall, restaurant is pretty dirty. It just feels dirty. Prices, seemed pretty normal to expensive, but I assumed that my portion would be like the typical sized portion that I get at other Chicagoland Mexican places. I am a sucker for authentic Mexican food and especially variations of skirt steak recipes. My husband got a combo plate and I got the skirt steak. 50+ dollars later, I was still hungry. I am not a big person and I ate every single bite of food possible on my plate. So did my husband. And we ate all the chips. To me, completely unacceptable.

    (1)

  • Vincent C.

    Not the best, but probably the most expensive Mexican food I've ever had. So avocados don't grow in Illinois, but $7 for guacamole and chips? Yikes. The pollo enchiladas rojas is pretty bland, probably because it's filled with boring boiled chicken. But that isn't a knock on boiled chicken, because I've had some awesome burritos filled with tasty boiled chicken. On the topic of burritos, if you're looking for Mission-style burritos, you need to look elsewhere, but their steak burrito really hits the spot. The convenience factor for Lupita's is incredible, so we keep going back to get our fix of decent Mexican food. There's just a level of comfort grease here that you can't get at Chipotle.

    (3)

  • Jill K.

    I really love this place. It's a total hole-in-the-wall but I think they have the best carnitas in the neighborhood. Portions for breakfast are huge so best to split something. The staff are also really nice and great service.

    (4)

  • Emmy M.

    Just came back from my first visit and I was pleasantly surprised. I ordered a strawberry margarita which I thought tasted very nice, not at all grocery store off the shelf as I read earlier. I'm not saying fresh from the garden either. It was fine people! Plus it was blended thoroughly so the ice was very fine which made it very smooth. I often find I have to chew margaritas - not the case here. The food was all very fresh. My tacos were perfectly crispy (I love a loud crunch when I bite into a taco). The chicken was tender but light on flavor. The beef tacos had much more flavor. The quality of both meats - very good, these things can sometimes be suspect. Rice and beans were standard. I like things hot/spicy so I had to ask for hot sauce. The flan was awesome, creamy and not too sweet. On the outside, it looks a little more like something you would do for take-out, I walked by it many times not knowing it was a full restaurant. Dining in was really quite pleasant. It was clean, the ambiance music was a perfect conversational volume. Decor, eh...I would do a few things differently The waitstaff were warm and professional and the place was busy. For a standard mexican cafe, I really quite liked it. It wasn't trying too hard with sombreros and blankets everywhere a la "FIESTA"! I was most impressed by the fresh ingredients. I would go here at least once a month to catch up with friends or something casual with family. Probably not romantic dinner. Based on the reviews I'm reading and the food I've tasted, I'm curious to try other dishes. Right now, I'm feeling optimistic.

    (4)

  • Mark M.

    By far this is our favorite Mexican restaurant in the area. Lots of item on the menus and a very friendly staff.

    (5)

  • Shradha A.

    The best-friend took me here for a late V-Day celebration after he heard an ad on NPR about live music there! The food was not very good, it was okay. The desserts looked good on other peoples' tables. We got enchiladas and nachos and not impressed. The music was good though and that's all we enjoyed! Veg Review: Not Friendly at all

    (3)

  • Kate M.

    Cute little place with live music and very good food. The wait staff wasn't terrific, if they all spoke good English I'd have given 5 stars. The food was 5 star worthy and the live music was a little loud but a nice touch. The staff situation was odd at best. A nice man who couldn't speak hardly any English came to take our drink order. My friend asked "what flavor margarita's do you have?" and he stared at her like she had three heads. She asked again, still nothing. She said "Margaritas? Are there different flavors?" and the waiter (whom I suspect was a bus boy) looked at her husband as if he could translate. I was looking through the menu for a beverage section in hopes of heading of this international incident. On the specials menu they had a mango margarita listed. I told Jeanette this and pointed it out on the menu. The waiter then tried to look at my menu to see what I was pointing at. Apparently this was the only thing he understood. You could point out what you wanted on the menu. Luckily the guys knew they wanted beer and I was just having water. Although the guys ordered Dos XX and got Tecate it was still beer so they were happy. Whew! Next came the hostess. She came over to our table and asked if we had any questions about the menu. She was extremely helpful and knew the menu by heart. Alas, she was not our waitress. Then was the actual waiter. He spoke fairly good English but there was a little trouble with questions. In all honesty, we're not the crazy Americans who just speak louder when someone doesn't understand us. This was just bizarre at a restaurant smack in the middle of Evanston. The waiter had to come back 4 times before getting everything we asked for. I was the only one at the table with fajitas (there were 4 of us) and he stood there for 30 seconds trying to figure out who the tortilla shells were for when he came back with them (they were forgotten the first time around). Um, I think they go with my fajitas? Unfortunately the bus boy came back for our dessert order. Again, you cannot ask any questions you really need answered and the only option is pointing to the menu. He understands that perfectly. I seriously don't understand why he's taking orders. It was comical. All in all, we will go back. The food was delicious and the music, although a little loud, was really nice. It's a small place so I imagine they can get crowded pretty quick.

    (4)

  • Jane M.

    Our dinner started off okay until several unruly kids ran around being so loud that we could not have a conversation or even digest our food. I appealed to the mgr who did nothing! The last straw was when the parent told us to get fu**ked. Don't tolerate it! Demand a free meal; at least we got that. TERRIBLE experience!! So-so food. Rating - ZERO!

    (1)

  • eStephanie M.

    Steak tacos? Bland. Rice and beans? Bland. Chicken with chorizo? Bland if not for the chorizo. If they made the chorizo in house, I'm sure it would be bland too. On the other hand, the salsa for the chips was good and so was my margarita. Sadly, that's not enough for me to come back to this place.

    (2)

  • Tonja P.

    My husband & I dined here once here before nothing to impressive. As we were looking for a more authentic Mexican restaurant. We decided to eat in and order online. We made our decision based on price and placed the order.. When we arrived they charged a significantly more than shown on the website. The cashier would not honor the website price and said oh.. sorry I haven't had time to change the prices. This experience left a bad taste in my mouth.

    (1)

  • Caitlin C.

    Heard about this place from a friend and decided to check it out -- I will forever more question that friend's food judgement. Started out with very thick, greasy chips that didn't hit the spot at all. I ordered the flautas and a margarita, husband got the chicken mole. The margarita was undrinkable. I would bet money that the pre-made mix had lemon-lime gatorade in it. You couldn't pay me to drink another one. My chicken flautas had absolutely NO SEASONING. Tasted like they boiled some chicken, wrapped it in a corn tortilla and fried it. The mole sauce wasn't bad, but the chicken in that dish was also very dry and flavorless. Overall, quite a disappointment. We won't be back.

    (1)

  • Karl M.

    We have been to Lupita's on and off over the past several years. It certainly isn't the greatest Mexican we've ever had, but it's decent. This review is based on our recent experience last weekend. We were in the mood to go there last Saturday night. Since it was about 6:40pm, we called ahead. I asked if there was a table for four available in about 20 minutes, or around 7pm. He said yes but it would be in the back. Well, 20 minutes later, we walk In and stand in the door for 5 minutes before anyone on the staff acknowledges we were there. Then she asks if we need help, I explain that we called ahead about a table for four, and she said she would see which one might work. After 10 more minutes of standing at the door being ignored, we just walked out. Lame! That is a sorry excuse for customer service. We will not return there. Plenty of other fine Mexican in Rogers Park and elsewhere - and places that would be happy to give us a table!

    (1)

  • Joshua N.

    I've eaten here quite a few times and always enjoy it. It is a nice little family owned mexican place conveniently located near the Main St. CTA and Metra stops. Great service and very clean restaurant. Good bargain for lunch. The chips that they bring out before your meal are fantastic and they typically have some specials running in addition to the regular menu. I recommend the mushroom empanadas and chilis rellenos. Decent flan for dessert. Lupita's stands out a bit over the other Mexican places in Evanston.

    (4)

  • Christine P.

    We came to Lupita's with a small group, including a small-ish child. The food was excellent and fast, given that there were multiple people/groups showing up at the same time. And, the Margaritas were fantastic!

    (4)

  • Jade T.

    I must admit, I'm not a fan of Mexican food. However, it was a cold, depressing day here in Evanston and I was in the mood for something close and ethnic. Being tired of Asian and South Asian food (yes, you heard me right), I decided to give Lupita's a shot for lunch. The main of Lupita's was its vegetarian friendly lunch specials and convenient location. Like many Mexican restaurants, Lupita's offers complimentary chips and salsa. The chips were thick, crisp, and flaky, as if they were baked, not fried. It was the perfect complement to the extra spicy, home-made salsa. While most of the dishes gave you the option of beef or chicken, several dishes could be made vegetarian (with cheese - sorry, vegans). I ordered the Enchiladas Rojas with an extra side of mole sauce. (I was inspired by an episode on Food Network where Guy Fieri makes mole sauce.) FYI, the refried beans are cooked in vegetable oil, not lard. The portion sizes were good and the enchiladas weren't too crisp or mushy. I would order it again. My boyfriend had the Vegetable Fajitas which came with lots of vegetables: broccoli, cauliflowers, mushrooms, and carrots to name a few. It was spicy, but tolerable. You may need to order extra tortillas. I found the dishes to be less greasy and sloppy than other "authentic" Mexican restaurants. Oh, and try the Jarritos. It is not as sweet as American soda. The service was very polite, but slow at times. However, for the price and quality, Lupita's is a safe bet for a good meal.

    (4)

  • Hijo d.

    Lupita's is poorly executed Mexican food. Everything we had was bland. The deep fried chips were not fresh, and were oily and soggy. The salsa had no kick to it and relied on onions for flavor, rather than cilantro and chile. The enchiladas with red sauce and chicken came out lukewarm and the chicken was stringy and overcooked. The rice and beans were a similar temperature and had no flavor. I had eaten here approximately four years ago and it was much better. I will not go back.

    (1)

  • David B.

    I FINALLY visited Lupitas after practically living across the street from it for the last year and a half. As for as Mexican food in Evanston goes, I typically visit Las Palmas and have been pretty happy with it. However, I am now extremely happy that I visited Lupitas. Its a cute little place that appears to get pretty busy on the weekend. The atmosphere is somewhat family, somewhat friendly and somewhat intimate. Its nice overall but nothing too special. Upon sitting down you're greeted with some outstanding Salsa and homemade chips. I found the menu and prices to be pretty nice. I ended up having a mango magarita and this special chicken breast dish which included pototoes with chorizo in a nice spicy salsa. I absolutely loved it. My affair with Lupitas is off to a great start. I'll continue tasting and maybe, just maybe I'll leave my regulars.

    (4)

  • Erin S.

    Still loving this place! Friday nights are bustling, live music filled and full of happy patrons! We ordered their calamari (which must be "secret" b/c it's not on the menu) the sauce was a perfect combo of tangy+smoky and really punched up the flavor! The salsa was four-alarm HOT tonight too! (And I couldn't be happier about it!) But we were incredibly full and had to skip desert, but I was intrigued by their special strawberry-kiwi tart! If you try it, tell me how it is! Excellent as ever Lupita, keep up the good work! See ya soon!

    (5)

  • PJ S.

    Had dinner with a group of friends here. Meh. The highlight of this meal for me was the chip basket. Not the chips, though -- they were oddly flaky and kind of oily, not the crisp and crunchy texture that I prefer (and, they do have the crisp, crunchy chips because we all got one stuck in our refried beans!). No, the things I enjoyed the most were the little taquitos in the chip basket. They were a nice touch, but I have no idea what they were filled with. Maybe the reason I ate so many was to sort that out. Would have gotten a second round, but they charge for refills! What? We didn't order any drinks because we had already had a cocktail before dinner, so maybe we missed out on that highlight. We also didn't order any specials because they were kind of pricey, so, again, maybe that was something else that we did wrong. But, I think that a restaurant's regular menu should reflect a certain level of quality, and not have the specials be AMAZING and everything else be just blah. I ordered the enchiladas verdes, hubby had the fish tacos, a friend had the enchiladas rojas, and another friend had a combo meal. Everything seemed under salted and under spiced. I couldn't taste anything in the green salsa; it may as well just have been food coloring. The refried beans were just brown mush. The fish tacos tasted like a fast food fish sandwich, and had kind of an off fishy flavor as well. Guacamole needed something as well to bump up the flavor. There was a nice mound of mixed greens on my plate but it wasn't dressed with anything (there was a lump of sour cream in the middle though...wasn't sure how those fit together). I don't know -- I left feeling full, but not satisfied. The live music was nice, and our servers were nice, too. "Nice" is about the best adjective I can come up with though. And, man, what was up with the place being totally dead at 9:45 on a Saturday? Oh, they close at 10.

    (3)

  • Dan S.

    Good, but not great. The service was attentive and fast and the food was okay. Nothing special. We had a $25 off coupon, and the waiter added the gratuity on to make sure we would tip on the full amount. He should have told us he was dong this first.

    (3)

  • Jims L.

    I went to Cross-Rhodes today hoping to get a delicious Greek meal only to find out that they only take cash. So I ventured around and found Lupita's.. I had the fish tacos but they had the smelly fish smell.. I guess they tasted good though.. My boyfriend had the chimichangas, but they were two tiny little pieces, and the rest of the plate was covered with beans, rice, and shredded lettuce.. They seem to have a good lunch selection.. I don't think I'd go back again, except to get fish tacos, but ONLY because, besides That Little Mexican Cafe whose tacos are about twice as expensive, it's hard to find fish tacos in this area!!

    (3)

  • Danielle R.

    The inside is actually pretty small compared to what you'd expect. The chips and salsa were seemingly homemade and pretty tasty... spicy salsa. I ordered the chicken enchiladas suizas (sorry for any misspellings). The sauce and cheese on top of them were delicious and really helped the enchilada itself which were decent. The chicken was generic and the accompanying rice was okay too. Overall it was a typical place... however, other dishes may be tastier, I'd be willing to go back and try again!

    (3)

  • Daniel Y.

    Nice price. Good lunch specials. Food is pretty much the most authentic in the area.

    (4)

  • Atl L.

    Was just thinking about Lupita's and read MA's review and remembered why we haven't been back. He's right, it did seem as if it was packaged. I remember my salsa verde had a strange flourescent shade to it. Such a bummer since it's close by. Evanston needs a good, cheap Mexican restauruant!! Two stars since service has always been friendly and the margaritas are decent.

    (2)

  • Darryl J.

    The chips and salsa with the mini empanadas were good. Sure the service is not the best in the world, but it's adequate and gets the job done for me. I thought the food had good flavor that came together really well (I had a combo plate). The non-alcoholic sangria is basically the bottled sangria soda (in a glass bottle) you can get at Walgreens or many other Mexican stores. Yeah it's sugary, but it's fine with me. When I go out to eat Mexican food, I'm not exactly thinking about eating healthy. The food is not as cheap as many other Mexican places in Chicago, but it's a good option considering the availability of Mexican food in the area.

    (3)

  • Joyce M.

    Really cute atmosphere and sometimes wonderful live music. Greasy chips and okay food. Very uncomfortable waiting area if you need to wait.

    (3)

  • Brian K.

    The salsa and chips are amazingly tasty and fresh but redoubly amazing when paired with nachos. I had a steak burrito which was better than most I've had. Food came out crazy fast and was plated nice n pretty-like. However, the margarita was probably one of the best I'd had -- even including those made in Mexico. We had some sort of chocolate cake technology that was an explosion of flavors. Go here.

    (5)

  • Adam S.

    Tooling around Evanston the other day and decided to head in here. Kind of scary on the inside, like your Grandmother's house a little bit, but if you can get beyond that, the food is pretty good. We went for lunch and had standard tex-mex fare. Some of their specials sounded good and a bit more exotic, but some of them weren't available. One complaint though - they drop the free chips off at the table and instead of some nice warm tortilla chips, they were like these fried wonton things; like the leftover crab rangoon pieces without the crab. Is this a blatant cultural thing I am ignorant to or does "tortilla chips" just mean something else at Lupita's?

    (3)

  • eneda h.

    We decided to go there for lunch saturday with some friends that were visiting. I remembered we had been there once but I could not remember why we never went back. Well Saturday lunch reminded me why! La Lupita is the worst Mexican food I have ever eaten. We went there at 2:30 and were told that we could not be served lunch menu anymore, so we all had to order from the dinner menu, which was ok. The table cover was sticky and messy and I did not like the food, it just did not taste right. I usually order fajitas and I thought that was one of the worst fajitas I had had in my whole life. We also had sangria which was even worse than the food and a total rip off. Very disappointing experience and this time I am writing a review so as not to let myself forget!

    (1)

  • Roy A.

    Pretty good place with real friendly staff. Food is alright and I'd prefer going down the street to Las Palmas probably although it's close in food to this. Fairly crowded on weekends and the chips that come before the meal may be the best part as they are not really chips but empanadas filled with beef and other surprises. I see that many people disliked this but I thought it was different and pretty damn good. All in all it's your basic Mexican fare at a decent price for the most part. There are better Mexican places but probably not in Evanston so this place does fine enough.

    (3)

  • Ann Y.

    This place really was not good at all. First the chips are the worst chips I have ever had in my life and guess what they charge for refills- WTF? Isn't the joy of going to a mexican restaraunt the unlimited chips. My dinner was subpar and the server was non existant. My husband had the mole and was really unimpressed. We won't be going back.

    (1)

  • Annie W.

    The food was decent, and on Saturdays there is sometimes live music, which is not so loud that it disrupts your dinner. I'd have to say the music was the highlight of the meal. It was otherwise so-so. My husband and I honestly regretted not just going to Las Palmas. One thing I don't like is that when they bring out the chips and salsa, they put pork empanadas on top. In case you are pork-averse, you should know.

    (2)

  • Susan W.

    We have eaten here several times and not been disappointed. Live, unobtrusive music, (at least, when we dined there) smaller venue, casual atmosphere. Recently had Pollo Loco Mexican Style, a half char broiled chicken. Ordered it for the side of plantain, found the chicken to be well seasoned and surprisingly juicy. My husband had the seafood tacos and loved them also. Like some other reviewers, I would have preferred the pre-dinner chips not to be deep fried and I found the salsa too hot. But overall, find it to be good food at reasonable prices. Surprised by some of the negative reviews--they don't match our experience.

    (4)

  • Brooke W.

    Lupitas is good Mexican food in Evanston. I love, love, love their chips and salsa and that's the main reason I go here. They'll give you as much as you want and they always bring them out right after you sit down. I also like their burritos, although they're a little different than any other I've had. The chicken burrito is all chicken, nothing else mixed in. It's served on a plate with lettuce, tomato, rice and beans so can open up the burrito and stick the stuff on the plate in there with the chicken, but usually I just cut it all up and eat it that way. Portions seem a little small when they come out, but I always leave full, so it's the right amount of food unlike most Mexican places which give you way more than any one person could possibly eat.

    (4)

  • Larz F.

    Service is okay, but the food just isn't that good. I thought it sort of bland and over cooked. There just aren't that many good mexican restaurants in Evanston.

    (2)

  • Tim O.

    You won't really get great food unless you go for the specials, but once you learn this lesson you won't be disappointed. The Margarita's are amazing.

    (3)

  • justine s.

    Generous portion sizes. The mexican chips they serve with salsa are fresh homeade and are sweet and delicious! Decent fast service and reasonably priced. Food quality is average to above average. Family style mexican.... Yummie!

    (4)

  • Courtney B.

    I really love this place. I usually switch it up and order different things when I go and have loved everything. There chip are out of this world. And I know gaucamole is guacamole: But Lupita's is quite nice. It's right of the metra too so its easy for us city kids to get too.

    (5)

  • Shae L.

    The meat was absolutely horrible. I think I actually threw up in my mouth a little bit. I ordered the tostada meal (how do you screw up a tostada?) and my food actually came out before my diet coke. When I took a bit of the food, I really thought that the food might be rotten. I kindly tried to let the waiter know and he brought me Lupita herself. After I tried to explain to her in a whisper as not to disturb or hurt business, she let me know that all I was trying to do was get a discount (this all happens after I pay full price for bad food and terrible service). Finally, I leave with my 2 little girls and wish them luck in the future and walk away frustrated. So, to get right to it, the food was horrible and the service was even worse.

    (1)

  • Jeff H.

    I've been here 3-4 times and have never been disappointed. The salsa is very fresh and full of flavor. You can probably get cheaper mexican elsewhere, but it's still not that bad (around $30 for two or so) and the food is great.

    (5)

  • Chika S.

    Nice ambiance, decent service. I can't say anything good about the food, except that it was... no, I can't even say it was great looking. Bland, blah, yick. My husband and I both felt the same way. I think it is also very expensive. Maybe we tried all the wrong dishes... but we won't be back. We have been spoiled by upscale Frontera and bargain Nuevo Leon in the city.... oh how I miss them...

    (2)

  • Amy B.

    Brought back memories of Chi Chi's. Seems popular with senior citizens and people with children who order cheeseburgers. The chips that so many have commented on are awful because they're made with flour not corn. Yuk.

    (1)

  • Sara M.

    Not a Fan!!!! 3rd time and I've learned my lesson. You'd think the extra-special prickly pear cactus margs would be at least interesting - they tasted like red pop and I'm pretty sure there was no alcohol. Didn't go to get drunk, thought we'd spend some time enjoying chips, apps and dinner, so ordered a pitcher. $35 for gooey sticky red syrup. Food was fine, unremarkable. Our tab - $75. $35 for the goo. I asked about the margs, indicated I wasn't pleased. Was told they're "imported". Yeah, from the red pop factory. Server, who I believe is family, didn't seem to concerned. No one did. First time I was there, maybe 3 years ago, I didn't like the sangria. Same thing, very sweet and gooey. In between was in for lunch and a beer. It was fine (no sugar added to the beer!!!!). Too many other Mexican restaurants do it well to waste money on mediocre food and HORRIBLE beverages. Oh yeah - what's with the "chips"?

    (1)

  • Victoria h.

    I was teeter-tottering between 2 and 3 stars. 3 stars it is! We walked in around 1:30 on a Wednesday afternoon. Our server (the only server we saw) sat us at a booth and brought super spicy, watery salsa and incredibly greasy chips. I ordered a non-alcoholic sangria and husband ordered an iced tea. Non-alcoholic sangria = bottled sugar. It was disgusting. There was not an ounce of juice (sad face). The food, in general, was flavorless. Not a grain of salt. Not an ounce of spice. The prices were descent (lunch for 2, and 2 drinks were $20 with taxes), but the food was just "eh".

    (3)

  • Tonja P.

    My husband & I dined here once here before nothing to impressive. As we were looking for a more authentic Mexican restaurant. We decided to eat in and order online. We made our decision based on price and placed the order.. When we arrived they charged a significantly more than shown on the website. The cashier would not honor the website price and said oh.. sorry I haven't had time to change the prices. This experience left a bad taste in my mouth.

    (1)

  • Caitlin C.

    Heard about this place from a friend and decided to check it out -- I will forever more question that friend's food judgement. Started out with very thick, greasy chips that didn't hit the spot at all. I ordered the flautas and a margarita, husband got the chicken mole. The margarita was undrinkable. I would bet money that the pre-made mix had lemon-lime gatorade in it. You couldn't pay me to drink another one. My chicken flautas had absolutely NO SEASONING. Tasted like they boiled some chicken, wrapped it in a corn tortilla and fried it. The mole sauce wasn't bad, but the chicken in that dish was also very dry and flavorless. Overall, quite a disappointment. We won't be back.

    (1)

  • Karl M.

    We have been to Lupita's on and off over the past several years. It certainly isn't the greatest Mexican we've ever had, but it's decent. This review is based on our recent experience last weekend. We were in the mood to go there last Saturday night. Since it was about 6:40pm, we called ahead. I asked if there was a table for four available in about 20 minutes, or around 7pm. He said yes but it would be in the back. Well, 20 minutes later, we walk In and stand in the door for 5 minutes before anyone on the staff acknowledges we were there. Then she asks if we need help, I explain that we called ahead about a table for four, and she said she would see which one might work. After 10 more minutes of standing at the door being ignored, we just walked out. Lame! That is a sorry excuse for customer service. We will not return there. Plenty of other fine Mexican in Rogers Park and elsewhere - and places that would be happy to give us a table!

    (1)

  • Joshua N.

    I've eaten here quite a few times and always enjoy it. It is a nice little family owned mexican place conveniently located near the Main St. CTA and Metra stops. Great service and very clean restaurant. Good bargain for lunch. The chips that they bring out before your meal are fantastic and they typically have some specials running in addition to the regular menu. I recommend the mushroom empanadas and chilis rellenos. Decent flan for dessert. Lupita's stands out a bit over the other Mexican places in Evanston.

    (4)

  • Jade T.

    I must admit, I'm not a fan of Mexican food. However, it was a cold, depressing day here in Evanston and I was in the mood for something close and ethnic. Being tired of Asian and South Asian food (yes, you heard me right), I decided to give Lupita's a shot for lunch. The main of Lupita's was its vegetarian friendly lunch specials and convenient location. Like many Mexican restaurants, Lupita's offers complimentary chips and salsa. The chips were thick, crisp, and flaky, as if they were baked, not fried. It was the perfect complement to the extra spicy, home-made salsa. While most of the dishes gave you the option of beef or chicken, several dishes could be made vegetarian (with cheese - sorry, vegans). I ordered the Enchiladas Rojas with an extra side of mole sauce. (I was inspired by an episode on Food Network where Guy Fieri makes mole sauce.) FYI, the refried beans are cooked in vegetable oil, not lard. The portion sizes were good and the enchiladas weren't too crisp or mushy. I would order it again. My boyfriend had the Vegetable Fajitas which came with lots of vegetables: broccoli, cauliflowers, mushrooms, and carrots to name a few. It was spicy, but tolerable. You may need to order extra tortillas. I found the dishes to be less greasy and sloppy than other "authentic" Mexican restaurants. Oh, and try the Jarritos. It is not as sweet as American soda. The service was very polite, but slow at times. However, for the price and quality, Lupita's is a safe bet for a good meal.

    (4)

  • Hijo d.

    Lupita's is poorly executed Mexican food. Everything we had was bland. The deep fried chips were not fresh, and were oily and soggy. The salsa had no kick to it and relied on onions for flavor, rather than cilantro and chile. The enchiladas with red sauce and chicken came out lukewarm and the chicken was stringy and overcooked. The rice and beans were a similar temperature and had no flavor. I had eaten here approximately four years ago and it was much better. I will not go back.

    (1)

  • David B.

    I FINALLY visited Lupitas after practically living across the street from it for the last year and a half. As for as Mexican food in Evanston goes, I typically visit Las Palmas and have been pretty happy with it. However, I am now extremely happy that I visited Lupitas. Its a cute little place that appears to get pretty busy on the weekend. The atmosphere is somewhat family, somewhat friendly and somewhat intimate. Its nice overall but nothing too special. Upon sitting down you're greeted with some outstanding Salsa and homemade chips. I found the menu and prices to be pretty nice. I ended up having a mango magarita and this special chicken breast dish which included pototoes with chorizo in a nice spicy salsa. I absolutely loved it. My affair with Lupitas is off to a great start. I'll continue tasting and maybe, just maybe I'll leave my regulars.

    (4)

  • Erin S.

    Still loving this place! Friday nights are bustling, live music filled and full of happy patrons! We ordered their calamari (which must be "secret" b/c it's not on the menu) the sauce was a perfect combo of tangy+smoky and really punched up the flavor! The salsa was four-alarm HOT tonight too! (And I couldn't be happier about it!) But we were incredibly full and had to skip desert, but I was intrigued by their special strawberry-kiwi tart! If you try it, tell me how it is! Excellent as ever Lupita, keep up the good work! See ya soon!

    (5)

  • Christine P.

    We came to Lupita's with a small group, including a small-ish child. The food was excellent and fast, given that there were multiple people/groups showing up at the same time. And, the Margaritas were fantastic!

    (4)

  • PJ S.

    Had dinner with a group of friends here. Meh. The highlight of this meal for me was the chip basket. Not the chips, though -- they were oddly flaky and kind of oily, not the crisp and crunchy texture that I prefer (and, they do have the crisp, crunchy chips because we all got one stuck in our refried beans!). No, the things I enjoyed the most were the little taquitos in the chip basket. They were a nice touch, but I have no idea what they were filled with. Maybe the reason I ate so many was to sort that out. Would have gotten a second round, but they charge for refills! What? We didn't order any drinks because we had already had a cocktail before dinner, so maybe we missed out on that highlight. We also didn't order any specials because they were kind of pricey, so, again, maybe that was something else that we did wrong. But, I think that a restaurant's regular menu should reflect a certain level of quality, and not have the specials be AMAZING and everything else be just blah. I ordered the enchiladas verdes, hubby had the fish tacos, a friend had the enchiladas rojas, and another friend had a combo meal. Everything seemed under salted and under spiced. I couldn't taste anything in the green salsa; it may as well just have been food coloring. The refried beans were just brown mush. The fish tacos tasted like a fast food fish sandwich, and had kind of an off fishy flavor as well. Guacamole needed something as well to bump up the flavor. There was a nice mound of mixed greens on my plate but it wasn't dressed with anything (there was a lump of sour cream in the middle though...wasn't sure how those fit together). I don't know -- I left feeling full, but not satisfied. The live music was nice, and our servers were nice, too. "Nice" is about the best adjective I can come up with though. And, man, what was up with the place being totally dead at 9:45 on a Saturday? Oh, they close at 10.

    (3)

  • Dan S.

    Good, but not great. The service was attentive and fast and the food was okay. Nothing special. We had a $25 off coupon, and the waiter added the gratuity on to make sure we would tip on the full amount. He should have told us he was dong this first.

    (3)

  • Patricia S.

    THIS RESTAURANT IS NOT CLOSED!! Excellent food. Specials are fabulous! The music on Friday and Saturday nights add something special to the meal. We have been going to this restaurant since it opened and it is one of our favorites. Lupita greets her patrons as if they were guests in her house. The waitstaff if efficient yet is not overbearing. You can get a discount on your bill if you pay in cash.

    (5)

  • Phil P.

    Can't find it on yelp because it "has closed" I wish I would have, it would of saved us an afternoon and cash. I say cash because they wait until after you get the bill to let you know they only take cash. But don't worry their is an ATM down the block in another restaurant that you can use....that is the solution to their problem. Food=Taco Bell is an upgrade Margarita=neon yellow margarita mix with Jose Cuervo staff=1 guy running the whole restaurant it seamed. He was nice though Coming back? Yes, when a new restaurant opens in its place

    (1)

  • LeeLee S.

    This restaurant isn't closed, but I think different management. Definitely not the same from when we were there a couple of years ago.

    (1)

  • Dee S.

    FACT: If you like this place you've never had good/real Mexican food. "What did you have at Lupita's Dee?" "Oh I had the microwaved burrito with the scolding hot tomatoes and lettuce, thanks for asking!" Yeah, true story.

    (1)

  • Jon L.

    I can only speak for the nachos, which are quite tasty but heavy and greasy. Don't treat them like a meal - you'll get sick of them pretty fast. Nachos are meant to be shared!

    (3)

  • Anette L.

    I love this place .. The best empanadas and the flan to die for. Everything is home made, very clean and casual. Great place for lunch, and also for a first date. On the weekends they have live music playing, lovely!

    (5)

  • Christopher G.

    Had lunch. Tried the tostada's - chicken and beef, and tortilla soup. Was not impressed. I've had better. Shredded chicken was nothing to write home about, beef not bad. Tortilla soup was not good. Seemed too tomato based. Waitress was pleasant, nice service.

    (2)

  • Gourmetgeek 2.

    Lupitas used to be great and we went there lots. But now the service is slow and they stopped taking credit cards. The food's still wonderful, but don't go unless you've got time on your hands and cash in your pocket.

    (2)

  • Marissa P.

    Love this place. Great drinks. Great food. Sometimes they even have someone playing live music. The service has always been pleasant. I love this place for date nights (in fact, this was where we went the evening after we eloped).

    (4)

  • Brian C.

    This place was so close I couldn't believe I had overlooked it for so long. So when a friend came to town we decided to walk over and check it out, hoping for good food, a margarita, and a baby high chair. I'm not going to pretend like they delivered the best Mexican food I've ever eaten in my life. There was nothing mind-blowing about getting a Burrito dinner, but judging on the food alone I would return. But that's not the point of me taking the time to do a review. I was very impressed by the friendly service and the atmosphere. 5 feet from my toddler was a talented guitar player singing and getting a round of applause from our one year old after every song. Will definitely go back.

    (5)

  • Kennen M.

    Garcia's is my go-to place for a pitcher of margarita and some typical Mexican fare. We wanted somewhere further up north that had the same thing, margaritas and good cheap Mexican food, so we opted for this place since it was the only thing really fitting the bill. The interior looks like a recycled old person's diner but it was clean and tidy. The service was a little too brisk in the beginning then was lacking towards the end. Food was marginal Mexican fare, it got eaten but not overly enjoyed. I did appreciate the two types of chips - flour and corn. The regular margarita was fine and I found the prickly pear margarita strangely obscure, tart and not worth the calories. Minutes after arriving home, I got really sick. I don't know it was something I ate or the combination of the greasy chips and the tart alcohol drink. In conclusion, if you are wanting to go somewhere like Garcia's but in the North Shore, just suck it up and drive to Garcia's, you will be more satisfied.

    (2)

  • Vikx M.

    Great place! Good authentic food! Good drinks! Has not disappointed yet. Highly recommended.

    (4)

  • Nikhil A.

    I love this place. First thing that got me so happpy about this place was there salsa and chips which are homemmade and thick. I absolutely love those. Its vegetarian friendly and great food. I have tried most veg options and never been disappointed. Friendly staff and good lunch time menu as well. Check it out for sure Updated- the food quality has gone down a bit :(

    (4)

  • Cassie S.

    There wasn't really anything bad about Lupita's. There just wasn't anything great either (except the service - very attentive). They're stingy with the chips and if you order the guacamole, they don't give you enough chips to go with it, so you have to use some of your salsa chips, but you have to pay if you need an extra basket of salsa chips, so that annoys me in general. Food was fine. Not terribly memorable. The menu just wasn't very inspired. I did enjoy my prickly pear cactus margarita but the syrup was exceptionally sugary (or maybe they just used too much of it, I don't know). Boyfriend enjoyed his beer.

    (2)

  • Gary S.

    Great for weekend brunch!

    (4)

  • Lenore C.

    drove by this restaurant and saw diners in there. definitely NOT CLOSED. had dinner there a few weeks ago and it was OUTSTANDING. had their 'like water for chocolate' menu of scallops. definitely a fabulous meal - terrific + + + + am planning to go there tonight.

    (4)

  • Steve D.

    Drove past this morning (6/19/15) All signs are down. All windows are covered. Door chained shut. It is closed. I don't know why people are saying it's open. Perhaps it was about to close, but hadn't yet. But, this place is absolutely closed. OLD REVIEW: There is an incredibly high mental hurdle to get over when writing a review of Lupitas. I am a big supporter of local, independent restaurants and (even though I read it in other reviews) I've never had a problem with service. Lupita herself is a wonderfully sweet woman. She's the kind of stereotypical Mexican grandmother that you want to be yours. Here's the problem: the food really isn't all that good. And seems to be dropping off. It's basically run-of-the-mill Americanized Mexican food. Nothing special. The flavors are kind of bland. It's not a good sign when the food item you most look forward to are the pre-meal tortilla chips. Which are wonderful. I also really enjoy their flan. However, the bookends for a meal cannot compensate for the meal itself. It is my sincere hope that they really start picking up their kitchen skills, because this is a place that I really WANT to love.

    (2)

  • Amanda O.

    I was NOT impressed. The chips were home made and interesting but far too thick. The salsa was way too hot and there were no other options. I got the chicken fajitas. I really felt like they were way too oily and not enough seasoning. Needed salt. I was also less than impressed with the server. He seemed distracted and we had to repeat ourselves quite frequently. At first I just thought that's how he was until my friend pointed out that he was treating the older demographics in his section much more attentively. It was almost like since we were young he felt like we wouldn't tip so why invest much time in us. Won't go back until I'm old and gray since apparently that's when you get service anyhow.

    (1)

  • Michael D.

    On Saturday morning, May 31, I had the pleasure of breakfasting at a simply wonderful Mexican restaurant, called Lupita's. This restaurant recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, and I can see why.:Located at the corner of Main Street, and Custer Avenue, Lupita's makes having a breakfast out, on a weekend, a real treat. From the very moment I entered this restaurant at 700 Main Street, In Evanston, I was greeted by the very gracious hostess/owner, who welcomed me to her very attractive/colorful restaurant, with wide, open arms. After perusing the breakfast menu, I decided on a pretty traditional repast: 3 eggs over easy, well-done potatoes, and wheat toast. The eggs were perfectly cooked, with 3 yolks showing off their yellow glory. The potatoes were made just the way I like them--well-done/crispy. The toast was also done right, and came in a nice,little basket, accompanied by margarine, and a generous assortment of jellies and jams. In sum, I have found a marvelous breakfast spot, complete with wonderful food, a very gracious/hospitable hostess, and a very warm, cozy ambiance.Try this restaurant soon--you'll be glad you did. Michael Dorn

    (5)

  • Rick R.

    I like this place! The margaritas are potent, fresh and delicious. The food is reasonably priced and tastes relatively authentic ( kinda). I've spent a summer in Mexico and the food reminds me of food I've had there duringIt's not gourmet Mexican but its still good food.

    (3)

  • Ryan S.

    The food here was more of a 3-4 star. The service is where they lacked. While everyone there was very nice they were not the best service. They did tell us from the beginning out meals would take some time. They were out of the Pollo Loco, so one if our group had to change their order. So if you're looking for pretty good not great Mexican food and aren't worried about the service this place is fine. I would go back because the service wasn't so bad I was offended. It was just not on point. I advise checking the place out when you're not in a hurry and just want to relax and spend some time visiting with your group over an OK margarita.

    (2)

  • Amanda W.

    I wanted to love it. So did my husband. We recently moved to the area and live within walking distance. We were so excited to try it out. I can't leave less than 3 stars because the service was really wonderful. Our waitress was as sweet as they come, but the margaritas were really bad. Food was just okay. The live music on a Friday night was a really nice touch!

    (3)

  • tracey z.

    Awesome delicious fantastic!!! Such awesome food and amazing staff! I love it here. Trust me.

    (5)

  • Robert F.

    Have been coming here for 20 years (including previous location). Authentic food, family owned and operated. A favorite of my sister-in-law and her kids, who used to live in Mexico City. Food is good, pick one of the daily specials if you can. Lupita is a pastry chef, desserts are great. Delicious, authentic Mexican food. Not a taqueria, not Americanized, just good food. Convenient, across street from Main St. Metra stop, parking in lot behind restaurant. They just spruced up the decor a bit, too.

    (4)

  • Yanyao N.

    My most recent meal at Lupita's was not what it used to be. I specifically chose this place for dinner before tackling Christmas menu shopping because at dinner, they always had these little mini ham and cheese pockets that came with the basket of chips - never for lunch, always for dinner. We came and everyone working looked pretty rushed. Apparently they weren't planning to open but decided to anyway, and there were a lot of people in here using some kind of Groupon deal? All I wanted was fish tacos! I used to love these fish tacos. Now, they were served on a single corn tortilla (my heart weeps if there isn't a double corn tortilla) with smaller, less tender pieces of fish than before. Not as satisfying. Oh, and the little ham and cheese bonus snack things were gone from the basket of chips. I almost cried. J ordered a prickly pear margarita which never came, until we asked about it when our entrees were brought out. Our server went to the bar and made one and comped it, which was very sweet of them to do - they were really trying hard but were unfortunately just understaffed that night. (Otherwise, this would have been a 2-star). As much I like that this is family-owned and the service is friendly, the food is not winning me over as it used to.

    (3)

  • Rosanna L.

    This place is average. The entertainment was fun but the food isn't great. They don't offer tamales as a regular dish which I was bummed about because they are my favorite. The chips and salsa and mini empanadas is a great start. The classic margaritas are good but not worth $30/pitcher. The food was decent nothing sepctacular. The server was friendly and helpful with giving recommendations. The bill was $119 for 5 ppl which is a bit hefty.

    (3)

  • Shana O.

    I absolutely love Lupita's! Best chile relleno a I've ever eaten. I request them with tampiquena sauce, yum! Lupita herself is wonderful and makes her customers feel so welcomed. Great food, great specials, great margaritas, live music on the weekends and family friendly. Love it, always have!

    (5)

  • D.J. A.

    The enchiladas suizas with chicken are the best! Lean shredded white meat chicken and a mild and tasty sauce. Best enchiladas I have EVER had.

    (5)

  • Natalie B.

    How does this place get good reviews?? 1) The waitstaff is rude and service is generally awful--no one checked on soda refills or to ask how our food was which brings me to #2 2) husband's food was ice cold. Clearly food is not made to order--just reheated and they forgot to reheat his. Sent it back, but not without eye rolling 3) Salsa tastes like it came from a jar. 4) like someone else said, chips are horrible. Better Mexican food around here--skip this one.

    (1)

  • Marie D.

    I want to like Lupita's more than I do, mostly because I like Lupita's story and I've been going there since she opened way back in the mid-90's. I think that it used to be much, much better, the last two times we went (last weekend being the last time) it was very disappointing. I don't like this style of tortilla chips, but to each their own. The guacamole was pretty bland and unappetizing. I had the Enchiladas Verdes, one beef, one cheese, one chicken. All were bland. My kids and husband were equally unimpressed with their meals. Service was OK, but not great. Unfortunately, we won't be going back. We just haven't been happy there lately.

    (2)

  • Adam C.

    I grew up in southern California and have lived in many places where really good Mexican food was just a given. Since I've moved to Chicago in the last 15 years, it has been a long and challenging quest for me to find really decent Mexican food anywhere in this town, especially the North Shore 'burbs. The reviews on Yelp make Lupita's out to be mediocre, which at first is astonishing to me. Having just eaten there an hour ago for lunch, I can tell you that both my wife and I loved everything we ordered. The chips and salsa were so delicious and not like every other Mexican place for miles around. The chicken mole enchiladas were absolutely amazing in every way possible. Even the rice (which I normally don't even touch) was tasty enough for me to finish. I also had a side of fried plantains which were perfectly prepared and just the right ripeness for a sweet flavor to come through. My wife had the ground beef tostadas and kept remarking how delicious they were. Little Lupita came by the table to deliver our entrees herself and she was incredibly sweet. All in all, you can't help but get the impression that this food is made with care and love, not just throwing it together as quickly as possible. I can see why some people don't like this place, and it has everything to do with the fact that they have only experienced the poor quality Mexican food that other places serve and over time, they have grown to simply like it that way. Somebody even commented that Chili's fajitas are better. Really? I rest my case.

    (4)

  • Robyn B.

    I think this is the best Mexican restaurant on the North Shore. Highly recommended!

    (5)

  • Nancy M.

    The food is really just ok, BUT what I love is that they give you a 20% discount if you pay with cash. nice...

    (4)

  • Dave P.

    Lupita's has some of the best Mexican food in Chicago. The prickly pear margaritas are delicious and the steak fajitas and soft tacos are some of the best entrees on the menu. Friendly staff, a warm environment and relaxing music all make Lupitas a great choice for a night out.

    (5)

  • Mary Pat F.

    I really wanted to like this place - the staff was very friendly. The wine list was ridiculous - $30 a bottle for not great white wine - COME ON!! Portions small, food bland and unexciting - terrible chips - tasted like dough. Kicker was when the check came we questioned the total - seems like $90 for three was high - turns out we used a $25 restaurant.com certificate and they added the tip in before the check was presented. We are SO careful to tip on the entire amount - good thing we caught it. Might fly in Evanston but we live in Uptown were you can get GREAT Mexican food for much less.

    (2)

  • Que P.

    I love Lupita's! I've had many lunches and over a dozen dinners @ Lupita's and have always had a great time and wonderful meal. Lupita takes great pride in her restaurant and it shows.

    (5)

  • Michael M.

    Awesome. Name another restaurant where you can get huitlecoche sopas In the middle of January. For that matter even in season. Lupitas is not only a local gem, the family restaurant is a unique authentic Mexican restaurant. If you want Texmex go somewhere else. If you want real food, go out of your way to get to lupitas.

    (5)

  • Ann C.

    1. Fridays and Saturday nights they have a live guitarist playing Mexican music and an occasional "American" tune sung in Spanish. My husband and I are both musicians and this guy gets a thumbs up on talent for guitar, harmonica, and vocals. 2. By 8pm, the place was already emptying out-- we have a kid, so we're early diners and many of the other folks looked older, so ?maybe? easy to get a table with live music on a Saturday night if you dine later. 3. Food was solid and authentic. I had concerns when I read some of the horrible reviews, but my husband and I were impressed. We traveled in Mexico when Tulum had only one hotel that was still under construction. We own two Mayan cookbooks. The menu on the night we were there included such hard-to-find specialties as Quesadillas de Huitlacoche (Huitlacoche is a fungus that grows on corn and is delicious when properly prepared) and Tacos Sudados wrapped and steamed in banana leaves. 4. Service. They were busy when we got there (an NU game had just let out, so maybe that was it or maybe it's the live music). I wouldn't call the service "bad." I would more compare it to European. If you're looking for a quick in-and-out-turn-the-table-bite-before-a-movie this may not be your place if they're busy. If, however, you'd enjoy some music while in the company of good friends and good conversation with friendly and responsive servers who don't show up the instant your plate or glass is empty, this is a good fit. I've had bad service-- neglectful, forgetful, inattentive, etc. This is not bad service. This is European service. 5. Parking. If the street is full, there's a public metered lot directly around the corner from them, with a brick walkway in the corner leading to the sidewalk back to them. Despite the picture on Yelp, the place is not diner-looking. There are vinyl booths but the decor is nice and the lighting is soft. Margarita's had kick, so designate a driver or take public transportation (the metra and L are right nearby). Last night was our first visit, but with the quality of the food and the live music, we're adding this to our list of favorite options. Really glad I wasn't scared off by the bad reviews and diner-y looking picture.

    (4)

  • M X.

    Won't go back. 1. The waiter gave us about 30 seconds and without any greeting asked us if we were ready to order. 2. Asked for bean enchiladas and he tells us that they can't do it because the enchiladas are pre-made (never heard that before). 3. Asked for an onion and jalapeno quesadilla and he brings bottled jalapenos on the side. 4. After the food came, he never asked us if we needed anything else, so I get up to go find him and the staff is standing around eating fruit with their bare hands in the bar area. 5. Asked for spicy salsa and and he shows me some bottle, then brings their regular salsa mixed with tabasco. After I asked who the manager is, the waiter got very attentive, but the service was terrible. No wonder it was empty on a Saturday night. Too bad, it's a cute place, but I don't expect it will be around much longer.

    (1)

  • Pam D.

    I have had spicier Mexican food at a Friday night Minnesota Lutheran Church potluck dinner. This was absolutely the blandest most unappealing Mexican food I have ever eaten and that includes Taco Bell. The chips were dreadful, greasy and flavorless. The salsa was tasteless. I had one of the lunch specials that was comprised of marinated pork on corn tortillas and a bowl of soup. They did not have the soup that was supposed to come with the dish, so I substituted chicken caldo. The broth was timid like a soup you would serve to someone recovering from ulcers. Yes, it contained lots of veggies and meat but there was absolutely nothing Mexican about it. The marinated pork .... flatter than the tortilla it sat on. Christopher had the enchiladas. BORING!!!! The sauce was one step up from Campbell's Tomato Soup. The beans were dreadful and the rice nondescript. I used to come here occasionally several years ago and back then the food was pretty good. I am dumbstruck by the meal we were served today. The service was nothing to write home about either. No one ever asked us if we wanted drink refills or how our meal was. Maybe they were afraid we would tell them.

    (1)

  • James B.

    The service is friendly and prompt. The food is average. I had the chicken fajitas and sad to say, Chili's are better. The veggies and chicken combined to make a homogenous mush that did not impress. My girlfriend ordered the chicken quesadillas. After they got the order correct (the server apologized for giving the kitchen the wrong info the first time), they came out looking like a 2am drunken effort. I really wanted to like this little place. We even sat next to Lupita who appeared to be a very nice woman. Maybe if she were still cooking up the dishes things would have been different.

    (2)

  • Mir J.

    Anyone who does not like this place does not know what Mexican food is. This is the stuff you get in California!

    (5)

  • Marcee W.

    Ate here many years ago and remembered a delicious meal. Returned recently and although I enjoyed the tilapia tacos that I ordered, I was a bit surprised to see that the fish was fried (I thought I was making a healthier choice!). I vote yes on the homemade chips and guac and my friend loved the mojito and grilled skirt steak she ordered. Food was a bit pricey, but parking was easy, service was attentive and food was fresh and tasty.

    (4)

  • David R.

    I am sorry to report that Lupita's chicken enchiladas suizas are no longer the best around. In fact, I wouldn't put them in anywhere near the top half of any list, based on the ones that I had this evening. It's been over a year since my last visit: was this a drastically subpar but isolated night for their kitchen, or has the quality slid so far? I felt a flicker of apprehension when they handed me the carryout bag within four minutes of placing my order. The sight which greeted me under the lid was sad confirmation of my fears. There was very little sauce, and no cheese to speak of. The chicken was dry throughout and downright tough in one spot At least the tortillas were near the ideal consistency. My order of guacamole was terribly bland as well. Overall it was a low-quality effort. Disappointing, to say the least. Although not quite as convenient to my commute home, there are plenty of taquerias who can do it much better just across the Chicago border on Clark Street. I'll stick with those.

    (2)

  • Ju L.

    The chips are fresh and warm and the salsa has got a great kick --basically, amazing-- but a refill will cost you a pretty penny. Everything else was pretty standard. Good Mexican food but nothing that really interested me. Maybe I'm just not a fan of real Mexican food, because it certainly didn't taste bad or seem unfresh or even inauthentic. ...Stupid Taco Bell, tainting our taste buds. Atmosphere was cute and a bit quirky, with images of the Virgin Mary on the walls and fake flowers on each table. We were the only table there and they were vacuuming even though it was like 3pm. The waitress, however (was this Lupita herself??) was extremely friendly.

    (3)

  • Katrina L.

    I really want to like this place: it's family-owned and it's not Chipotle. I just want to find a decent Mexican restaurant in Evanston that serves Enchiladas that I can access by foot, bus or the purple line. I'm usually pretty easy to please, but it just didn't cut it for me. I ordered 3 enchiladas: 2 chicken and 1 beef. The chicken was really dry and not saucy enough, the beef was cut in small pieces and again, lacking sauce. The tortillas also tasted stale. The sauce, tasted like canned tomato sauce. The rice is not your typical Mexican rice, it's more like pilaf and it was flavorless. Maybe it was an off night? I'll try this place again, mostly because the servers were really nice and maybe I just tried the wrong menu item.

    (2)

  • Peter N.

    Decent flavors, decent portions, but lacking that little bit extra to earn that fifth star. The mole was pretty bitter, which I know it is supposed to be, but a little too much bakers chocolate. First time I've had deep fried chips... almost kind of like a cross between a regular chip and a croissant. The band playing on friday night was awesome.

    (4)

  • Sydney V.

    Not impressed at all. The food is definitely bland and I felt like I was at a Chi Chi's. I had the steak fajitas and the meat had a weird, tenderized taste. I barely ate any of it. The waiter asked if I wanted to take my leftovers to go and when I said no, I expected him to ask if anything had been wrong with the dish since it was clear I'd barely touched it. Apparently, he wasn't concerned and just walked away. My husband had the chicken mole which he said was ok but not great. Be warned: they take Restaurant.com gift certificates but you have to have a printed version to use them. I tried to redeem via the iPhone app but the owner, Lupita, refused to honor it. She said she needed a paper copy for "IRS reasons". Huh? It's too bad she didn't honor it because we wouldn't ordered cocktails, appetizers, and dessert. We won't be back. If you want good upscale Mexican in Evanston, try That Little Mexican Cafe. The entrees might be a dollar or two more expensive but the food is much better and the atmosphere nicer.

    (2)

  • Marilu M.

    Food was ok but service was horrible. We didn't know who are server was and he never came around to check if we needed anything. It wasn't even busy when we went. We had to ask the hostess for our check because all the servers were busy hovering over her. Will never go there again.

    (1)

  • Alice G.

    I just had dinner here - I ordered the chiles rellenos de queso. They were very good, reminded me of my mom's and grandma's ones. So I say - the real deal. Which is a big deal to me. I asked for the "very spicy ones", but they actually were not spicy at all. Very tasty, though. They have a good kids' menu. For dessert, we had a flan, very good flavor as well. Their rice is quite tasty also, but it's flavor reminded me more of Spanish cuisine, it has a saffron taste. By all means, order it, they cook it very well, the grain keeps its shape beautifully, it was great. Just not a very Mexican flavor, in my opinion. A lot of people have mentioned the chips on their review. They are not my kind of chips - they are white flour tortilla chips, and I prefer corn chips. The waiter was very nice and attentive. Music was nice, and then a guy started to play the guitar and sing some classic Mexican tunes, which was even better. I'm very happy to have found authentic chiles rellenos here, I'll be coming back often and will explore the other items on the menu. YUM!

    (5)

  • Ahzea M.

    Terrible. Despite the poor reviews, I went in with a very open mind! It really IS as terrible as the reviews claim. The food isn't bad. It's ok, not excellent, and not worth the price. Margarita was ok, but not authentic. Tasted like something off the grocery store shelf. Service was friendly, but very poor. Completely slow and quite inattentive. They served our rice and beans cold. The entire place smelled like smoke as if something burnt...the entire place! The waiter tried to suggest white wine when we asked for red. Then he offered sangria instead of red. That's why we went with margaritas.

    (1)

  • Allan M.

    I hate to do this, but I realized after getting a food item with mole sauce at Campeche that was almost as good as the one at Lupita's, that it isn't worth giving this place 2 stars at all. I think this is more like a 1.5, that I'd round down to 1 star. If you wanna eat at a halfway decent Mexican restaurant within Evanston, head to Las Palmas instead, in the downtown area. It isn't my favorite Mexican restaurant in the Chicagoland area, but it's superior to this restaurant in every way possible.

    (1)

  • Sarah D.

    Ok, this is might be harsh. Food was actually pretty good. Not the best Mexican food I've ever had, but pretty tasty. My husband and I tried this place a few weeks ago because it is 1 block away from our home and decided to try it out. Overall, restaurant is pretty dirty. It just feels dirty. Prices, seemed pretty normal to expensive, but I assumed that my portion would be like the typical sized portion that I get at other Chicagoland Mexican places. I am a sucker for authentic Mexican food and especially variations of skirt steak recipes. My husband got a combo plate and I got the skirt steak. 50+ dollars later, I was still hungry. I am not a big person and I ate every single bite of food possible on my plate. So did my husband. And we ate all the chips. To me, completely unacceptable.

    (1)

  • Vincent C.

    Not the best, but probably the most expensive Mexican food I've ever had. So avocados don't grow in Illinois, but $7 for guacamole and chips? Yikes. The pollo enchiladas rojas is pretty bland, probably because it's filled with boring boiled chicken. But that isn't a knock on boiled chicken, because I've had some awesome burritos filled with tasty boiled chicken. On the topic of burritos, if you're looking for Mission-style burritos, you need to look elsewhere, but their steak burrito really hits the spot. The convenience factor for Lupita's is incredible, so we keep going back to get our fix of decent Mexican food. There's just a level of comfort grease here that you can't get at Chipotle.

    (3)

  • Jill K.

    I really love this place. It's a total hole-in-the-wall but I think they have the best carnitas in the neighborhood. Portions for breakfast are huge so best to split something. The staff are also really nice and great service.

    (4)

  • Emmy M.

    Just came back from my first visit and I was pleasantly surprised. I ordered a strawberry margarita which I thought tasted very nice, not at all grocery store off the shelf as I read earlier. I'm not saying fresh from the garden either. It was fine people! Plus it was blended thoroughly so the ice was very fine which made it very smooth. I often find I have to chew margaritas - not the case here. The food was all very fresh. My tacos were perfectly crispy (I love a loud crunch when I bite into a taco). The chicken was tender but light on flavor. The beef tacos had much more flavor. The quality of both meats - very good, these things can sometimes be suspect. Rice and beans were standard. I like things hot/spicy so I had to ask for hot sauce. The flan was awesome, creamy and not too sweet. On the outside, it looks a little more like something you would do for take-out, I walked by it many times not knowing it was a full restaurant. Dining in was really quite pleasant. It was clean, the ambiance music was a perfect conversational volume. Decor, eh...I would do a few things differently The waitstaff were warm and professional and the place was busy. For a standard mexican cafe, I really quite liked it. It wasn't trying too hard with sombreros and blankets everywhere a la "FIESTA"! I was most impressed by the fresh ingredients. I would go here at least once a month to catch up with friends or something casual with family. Probably not romantic dinner. Based on the reviews I'm reading and the food I've tasted, I'm curious to try other dishes. Right now, I'm feeling optimistic.

    (4)

  • Mark M.

    By far this is our favorite Mexican restaurant in the area. Lots of item on the menus and a very friendly staff.

    (5)

  • Shradha A.

    The best-friend took me here for a late V-Day celebration after he heard an ad on NPR about live music there! The food was not very good, it was okay. The desserts looked good on other peoples' tables. We got enchiladas and nachos and not impressed. The music was good though and that's all we enjoyed! Veg Review: Not Friendly at all

    (3)

  • Kate M.

    Cute little place with live music and very good food. The wait staff wasn't terrific, if they all spoke good English I'd have given 5 stars. The food was 5 star worthy and the live music was a little loud but a nice touch. The staff situation was odd at best. A nice man who couldn't speak hardly any English came to take our drink order. My friend asked "what flavor margarita's do you have?" and he stared at her like she had three heads. She asked again, still nothing. She said "Margaritas? Are there different flavors?" and the waiter (whom I suspect was a bus boy) looked at her husband as if he could translate. I was looking through the menu for a beverage section in hopes of heading of this international incident. On the specials menu they had a mango margarita listed. I told Jeanette this and pointed it out on the menu. The waiter then tried to look at my menu to see what I was pointing at. Apparently this was the only thing he understood. You could point out what you wanted on the menu. Luckily the guys knew they wanted beer and I was just having water. Although the guys ordered Dos XX and got Tecate it was still beer so they were happy. Whew! Next came the hostess. She came over to our table and asked if we had any questions about the menu. She was extremely helpful and knew the menu by heart. Alas, she was not our waitress. Then was the actual waiter. He spoke fairly good English but there was a little trouble with questions. In all honesty, we're not the crazy Americans who just speak louder when someone doesn't understand us. This was just bizarre at a restaurant smack in the middle of Evanston. The waiter had to come back 4 times before getting everything we asked for. I was the only one at the table with fajitas (there were 4 of us) and he stood there for 30 seconds trying to figure out who the tortilla shells were for when he came back with them (they were forgotten the first time around). Um, I think they go with my fajitas? Unfortunately the bus boy came back for our dessert order. Again, you cannot ask any questions you really need answered and the only option is pointing to the menu. He understands that perfectly. I seriously don't understand why he's taking orders. It was comical. All in all, we will go back. The food was delicious and the music, although a little loud, was really nice. It's a small place so I imagine they can get crowded pretty quick.

    (4)

  • Jane M.

    Our dinner started off okay until several unruly kids ran around being so loud that we could not have a conversation or even digest our food. I appealed to the mgr who did nothing! The last straw was when the parent told us to get fu**ked. Don't tolerate it! Demand a free meal; at least we got that. TERRIBLE experience!! So-so food. Rating - ZERO!

    (1)

  • eStephanie M.

    Steak tacos? Bland. Rice and beans? Bland. Chicken with chorizo? Bland if not for the chorizo. If they made the chorizo in house, I'm sure it would be bland too. On the other hand, the salsa for the chips was good and so was my margarita. Sadly, that's not enough for me to come back to this place.

    (2)

  • Jims L.

    I went to Cross-Rhodes today hoping to get a delicious Greek meal only to find out that they only take cash. So I ventured around and found Lupita's.. I had the fish tacos but they had the smelly fish smell.. I guess they tasted good though.. My boyfriend had the chimichangas, but they were two tiny little pieces, and the rest of the plate was covered with beans, rice, and shredded lettuce.. They seem to have a good lunch selection.. I don't think I'd go back again, except to get fish tacos, but ONLY because, besides That Little Mexican Cafe whose tacos are about twice as expensive, it's hard to find fish tacos in this area!!

    (3)

  • Danielle R.

    The inside is actually pretty small compared to what you'd expect. The chips and salsa were seemingly homemade and pretty tasty... spicy salsa. I ordered the chicken enchiladas suizas (sorry for any misspellings). The sauce and cheese on top of them were delicious and really helped the enchilada itself which were decent. The chicken was generic and the accompanying rice was okay too. Overall it was a typical place... however, other dishes may be tastier, I'd be willing to go back and try again!

    (3)

  • Daniel Y.

    Nice price. Good lunch specials. Food is pretty much the most authentic in the area.

    (4)

  • Atl L.

    Was just thinking about Lupita's and read MA's review and remembered why we haven't been back. He's right, it did seem as if it was packaged. I remember my salsa verde had a strange flourescent shade to it. Such a bummer since it's close by. Evanston needs a good, cheap Mexican restauruant!! Two stars since service has always been friendly and the margaritas are decent.

    (2)

  • Darryl J.

    The chips and salsa with the mini empanadas were good. Sure the service is not the best in the world, but it's adequate and gets the job done for me. I thought the food had good flavor that came together really well (I had a combo plate). The non-alcoholic sangria is basically the bottled sangria soda (in a glass bottle) you can get at Walgreens or many other Mexican stores. Yeah it's sugary, but it's fine with me. When I go out to eat Mexican food, I'm not exactly thinking about eating healthy. The food is not as cheap as many other Mexican places in Chicago, but it's a good option considering the availability of Mexican food in the area.

    (3)

  • Joyce M.

    Really cute atmosphere and sometimes wonderful live music. Greasy chips and okay food. Very uncomfortable waiting area if you need to wait.

    (3)

  • Brian K.

    The salsa and chips are amazingly tasty and fresh but redoubly amazing when paired with nachos. I had a steak burrito which was better than most I've had. Food came out crazy fast and was plated nice n pretty-like. However, the margarita was probably one of the best I'd had -- even including those made in Mexico. We had some sort of chocolate cake technology that was an explosion of flavors. Go here.

    (5)

  • Adam S.

    Tooling around Evanston the other day and decided to head in here. Kind of scary on the inside, like your Grandmother's house a little bit, but if you can get beyond that, the food is pretty good. We went for lunch and had standard tex-mex fare. Some of their specials sounded good and a bit more exotic, but some of them weren't available. One complaint though - they drop the free chips off at the table and instead of some nice warm tortilla chips, they were like these fried wonton things; like the leftover crab rangoon pieces without the crab. Is this a blatant cultural thing I am ignorant to or does "tortilla chips" just mean something else at Lupita's?

    (3)

  • eneda h.

    We decided to go there for lunch saturday with some friends that were visiting. I remembered we had been there once but I could not remember why we never went back. Well Saturday lunch reminded me why! La Lupita is the worst Mexican food I have ever eaten. We went there at 2:30 and were told that we could not be served lunch menu anymore, so we all had to order from the dinner menu, which was ok. The table cover was sticky and messy and I did not like the food, it just did not taste right. I usually order fajitas and I thought that was one of the worst fajitas I had had in my whole life. We also had sangria which was even worse than the food and a total rip off. Very disappointing experience and this time I am writing a review so as not to let myself forget!

    (1)

  • Roy A.

    Pretty good place with real friendly staff. Food is alright and I'd prefer going down the street to Las Palmas probably although it's close in food to this. Fairly crowded on weekends and the chips that come before the meal may be the best part as they are not really chips but empanadas filled with beef and other surprises. I see that many people disliked this but I thought it was different and pretty damn good. All in all it's your basic Mexican fare at a decent price for the most part. There are better Mexican places but probably not in Evanston so this place does fine enough.

    (3)

  • Ann Y.

    This place really was not good at all. First the chips are the worst chips I have ever had in my life and guess what they charge for refills- WTF? Isn't the joy of going to a mexican restaraunt the unlimited chips. My dinner was subpar and the server was non existant. My husband had the mole and was really unimpressed. We won't be going back.

    (1)

  • Annie W.

    The food was decent, and on Saturdays there is sometimes live music, which is not so loud that it disrupts your dinner. I'd have to say the music was the highlight of the meal. It was otherwise so-so. My husband and I honestly regretted not just going to Las Palmas. One thing I don't like is that when they bring out the chips and salsa, they put pork empanadas on top. In case you are pork-averse, you should know.

    (2)

  • Susan W.

    We have eaten here several times and not been disappointed. Live, unobtrusive music, (at least, when we dined there) smaller venue, casual atmosphere. Recently had Pollo Loco Mexican Style, a half char broiled chicken. Ordered it for the side of plantain, found the chicken to be well seasoned and surprisingly juicy. My husband had the seafood tacos and loved them also. Like some other reviewers, I would have preferred the pre-dinner chips not to be deep fried and I found the salsa too hot. But overall, find it to be good food at reasonable prices. Surprised by some of the negative reviews--they don't match our experience.

    (4)

  • Brooke W.

    Lupitas is good Mexican food in Evanston. I love, love, love their chips and salsa and that's the main reason I go here. They'll give you as much as you want and they always bring them out right after you sit down. I also like their burritos, although they're a little different than any other I've had. The chicken burrito is all chicken, nothing else mixed in. It's served on a plate with lettuce, tomato, rice and beans so can open up the burrito and stick the stuff on the plate in there with the chicken, but usually I just cut it all up and eat it that way. Portions seem a little small when they come out, but I always leave full, so it's the right amount of food unlike most Mexican places which give you way more than any one person could possibly eat.

    (4)

  • Larz F.

    Service is okay, but the food just isn't that good. I thought it sort of bland and over cooked. There just aren't that many good mexican restaurants in Evanston.

    (2)

  • Tim O.

    You won't really get great food unless you go for the specials, but once you learn this lesson you won't be disappointed. The Margarita's are amazing.

    (3)

  • justine s.

    Generous portion sizes. The mexican chips they serve with salsa are fresh homeade and are sweet and delicious! Decent fast service and reasonably priced. Food quality is average to above average. Family style mexican.... Yummie!

    (4)

  • Courtney B.

    I really love this place. I usually switch it up and order different things when I go and have loved everything. There chip are out of this world. And I know gaucamole is guacamole: But Lupita's is quite nice. It's right of the metra too so its easy for us city kids to get too.

    (5)

  • Shae L.

    The meat was absolutely horrible. I think I actually threw up in my mouth a little bit. I ordered the tostada meal (how do you screw up a tostada?) and my food actually came out before my diet coke. When I took a bit of the food, I really thought that the food might be rotten. I kindly tried to let the waiter know and he brought me Lupita herself. After I tried to explain to her in a whisper as not to disturb or hurt business, she let me know that all I was trying to do was get a discount (this all happens after I pay full price for bad food and terrible service). Finally, I leave with my 2 little girls and wish them luck in the future and walk away frustrated. So, to get right to it, the food was horrible and the service was even worse.

    (1)

  • Jeff H.

    I've been here 3-4 times and have never been disappointed. The salsa is very fresh and full of flavor. You can probably get cheaper mexican elsewhere, but it's still not that bad (around $30 for two or so) and the food is great.

    (5)

  • Chika S.

    Nice ambiance, decent service. I can't say anything good about the food, except that it was... no, I can't even say it was great looking. Bland, blah, yick. My husband and I both felt the same way. I think it is also very expensive. Maybe we tried all the wrong dishes... but we won't be back. We have been spoiled by upscale Frontera and bargain Nuevo Leon in the city.... oh how I miss them...

    (2)

  • Amy B.

    Brought back memories of Chi Chi's. Seems popular with senior citizens and people with children who order cheeseburgers. The chips that so many have commented on are awful because they're made with flour not corn. Yuk.

    (1)

  • Sara M.

    Not a Fan!!!! 3rd time and I've learned my lesson. You'd think the extra-special prickly pear cactus margs would be at least interesting - they tasted like red pop and I'm pretty sure there was no alcohol. Didn't go to get drunk, thought we'd spend some time enjoying chips, apps and dinner, so ordered a pitcher. $35 for gooey sticky red syrup. Food was fine, unremarkable. Our tab - $75. $35 for the goo. I asked about the margs, indicated I wasn't pleased. Was told they're "imported". Yeah, from the red pop factory. Server, who I believe is family, didn't seem to concerned. No one did. First time I was there, maybe 3 years ago, I didn't like the sangria. Same thing, very sweet and gooey. In between was in for lunch and a beer. It was fine (no sugar added to the beer!!!!). Too many other Mexican restaurants do it well to waste money on mediocre food and HORRIBLE beverages. Oh yeah - what's with the "chips"?

    (1)

  • Jennifer M.

    My husband and I had a great experience here. The empanadas that come with the chips and salsa were excellent. My husband is Mexican and liked the food, which is surprising because he usually only likes Mexican food that is mother makes, and Garcia's in Lincoln Square. The owner Lupita is a sweetheart, and the waitstaff was really great.

    (5)

  • Kate S.

    Lupita's is the best Mexican food I have ever had. Hands down. My family and I have been going here for probably 10 years and the food is still delicious as ever. They have your basic Mexican dishes but also more unique options, too. Our favorites include the fajitas and the enchiladas verdes (to die for), and they usually have a really good fish special. The service is always great and the place is immaculate. There are many good restaurants in Evanston, but whenever I am there, I usually go to Lupita's. It's a given.

    (5)

  • Daryl N.

    I love this place, because it is family owned. Lupita and her family take great pride in their restaurant. Lupita's has different chips and that is why I like them the best. My friend Wendy makes her own tortilla chips by lightly pan frying flour tortillas, not corn, and they are out of this world. Lupitas does the same thing. They fry their own and they us flour tortillas. It has a very different texture and taste. Their prices are reasonable. They have a great variety. The even have upscale specials like duck or mixed grill that are great. But here is the best thing: they let you make your own combinations. So many places will not let you substitute. My favorite is to have a chorizo taco, chicken mole enchilada, and chile releno stuffed with meat. It is not on the menu exactly like that, but they will make it for me and not look at me like I have four heads. God bless Lupita's.

    (5)

  • Alan R.

    I have always had excellent service here. They have tacoitos before the meal and great mole sauce. They bar leaves a bit to be desired, but the food is always authentic.

    (3)

  • Debra C.

    We had a private party in the small back room area. The food was excellent and the flan and fruit tart were especially amazing. The staff was also great. The back room is really nicely decorated and holds about 30 people. I highly recommend it!

    (5)

  • Douglas G.

    This is everything Mexican food can be. This is no standard taco joint. Lupita's is Lupita's place - she puts her heart and soul into everything about it and it shows. The food is fresh, inspired, and delicious at a reasonable price. The only knock on the place is that it is small so often over crowded, but that's a testament to the quality of the food. Lupita's is the best Mexican food in Evanston and for miles around.

    (5)

  • Chris D.

    Lupita's came highly recommended so we chose to spend our few precious hours away from the kids there. I don't think we'll be able to get that time back. The service was prompt and the salsa was good - a little spicier than we expected which for us is a good thing. That's were the pleasantries end. The drinks were Lincoln Park expensive and were only slightly better than store mix. The empanadas were OK - the mushrooms were mushy and bland but the spinach was better. The fish in the talapia tacos was almost certainly frozen. My mole was again fair but to be fair I wasn't ready for the flattened chicken breast it was served over (I'm used to bone in chicken...right?). We happened to get a suggestion for Tipicos (?) at a store near by and ran over for Margaritas. First blush is we're going back - the margaritas were great and the menu looked good enough to try....just wish it was the little family owned shop in the 'hood we thought Lupita's was going to be.

    (2)

  • Jen H.

    Just tried Lupita's for the first time, and had an excellent experience. Most meals were in the $8-$16 range, and definitely large enough to share. We started with an appetizer of fried calamari and onions with a chipotle dip which was delicious (though a little heavy). Their chips and salsa were delicious...though be careful--the salsa is a bit on the hot side! I tried the pollo loco, which is a half-rotisserie chicken with mexican spices, served with rice, beans, tortillas and a mexican salad. All in all, a great meal, and a close rival to my other favorite Mexican restaurant, Las Palmas.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

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Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch, Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Quiet
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes

Categories

Mexican Cuisine

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

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

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

Lupita’s Restaurante

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