Beyond being just one of the best Mexican restaurants in the area, this is one of the best places to eat, period. The food is always fresh, hot, and delicious, the menu offers a lot of variety, the restaurant is always very clean, and the prices are great for the amount of good food you get (everything I've ever gotten has come with complementary chips and salsa). I really could not recommend this place higher. They even have chairs and magazines for you to relax for a minute while you're waiting for your order. This seems to be a privately-owned restaurant and I really urge you to check it out - they deserve your support and I want them to be around for a long time.
(5)
Mindy B.
My family had dinner here this evening and it was the 4th time we've dined there over the past several years. In the past we've had iffy service at best but decided to try it again. This will be our last visit. The first thing we noticed after ordering is that they only allow 3 little containers of salsa per ORDER. They were "generous" by giving my family of four each one container. They claim that the price of tomatoes has risen (which it has) but their competition hasn't scaled back their availability of salsa or charged ridiculous prices for extras (case in point: Taco Fresco in Wheaton which has unlimited and excellent salsa). And come on people, "Salsa" is part of your name. If this was the only negative thing we experienced tonight then my star rating would be higher. However, it was only the beginning. It took 20+ minutes to get our order of simple tacos which were luke warm. And the restaurant wasn't even crowded. Then when I bit into my way overcooked flavorless shrimp taco, I was greeted by not one but two crunchy shrimp tails. Disgusting. Don't waste your time and money here!
(1)
Jen R.
I've loved Chicks n Salsa since back when I lived in Glen Ellyn in '08. I used to make a weekly trek there and get the best burrito on the planet: The Gone Fishin'. It's basically a giant fish taco and it's delicious. I can easily put away two. I've had pretty much everything on the menu and it's all great! If you can't find something here that you'd want to eat, there's something wrong with you. I absolutely love the salsa bar, as well. I wish there were a few more offerings but what they do have is good enough to drown your favorite Mexican dish in.
(4)
Adam B.
The classic 3.5 star review. I walked in and I thought I was in a Baja Fresh, between the salsa bar, and black and white decor. I ordered the double leg (2 thighs and 2 legs) with two sides and an extra side. For $9.00, that's really good value. The fact that they have Tazo bottled iced tea is another huge plus in my book, as I am hooked on their Giant Peach tea. They gave me a basket of chips and I tried a couple of the salsas. They were all pretty mild, except for the habanero, which had a good amount of kick. I like green salsas in general, but the chipotle was probably my favorite here. I waited 6 or 7 minutes for my food. The four pieces of chicken I got looked like the runt of the chicken litter; the pieces were so small I thought I was being served pigeon. That said, the seasoning was really good, the skin was crisp, and the meat was juicy. Not a ton of meat granted, but what I had was cooked very well. For sides, I had the grilled veggies. Bell peppers, red onions, and carrots were well seasoned with salt and pepper and tasted great. The garlic mashed potatoes were quite good, but maybe the could have used a little more butter. For the final side, I could have gone with tortillas or corn muffins. I chose the latter and got two pale white muffins. I took a bite of one and there were just a ton of corn kernels inside. To repeat, it was just a plain muffin with corn kernels. It was terrible and I didn't touch it again. I had a good experience. The service was decent, not great, but not bad. I would probably return since most of the food is made very well and is offered at a fair price. But no corn muffins ever again!
(4)
Dan JoNell S.
The service was good, steak fajitas were tasty, enchiladas were good. The food was good for the price, the flan on cake was good, especially since I don't tend to like flan. The quality of the food like spot on for the price. We will go back. Now mind you this is like the restaurant "Baja Fresh" so don't think you are going to be having really authentic stuff, it's just not at that price point. But for the Mexican food I have had in the Midwest, it's worth coming back to. It will be in our rotation of restaurants for sure.
(4)
Ron S.
Chicks 'n' Salsa earns another star. I discovered the grilled fish tacos and burrito are the best thing on the menu. The fish is very good and you can tell that the veggies are fresh chopped - no prepacked bags of veggies here. Service is always friendly and efficient. I'm glad I have rediscovered this restaurant. It has become a favorite lunch destination.
(4)
Nick G.
Food is consistently good, love the beer battered fish tacos
(5)
Alyx K.
We order from here whenever I have a meeting in Lombard, it seems. It's a solid choice for suburban tacos, with decent guacamole and really good salsa. The tacos were a little overwhelmed by the corn tortillas, but overall, fresh and pretty good.
(3)
Kat D.
Cardinal fitness is just a good 50 steps from this place. My logic was, "good job, you had a great workout! Now go get some tacos." I really like this place. Try their Neptune burrito. It's really good. The fish tacos are a MUST! This is probably the best place for fish tacos. The food is made to order so be ready to wait for a bit. If you want it right away, you better call ahead. I appreciate the made to order way because it's truly fresh food and you know that the meat hasn't been sitting there for hours.
(4)
Kate M.
I really want to give more stars. I do. To be fair, I don't eat beef or pork, so I'm missing a big portion of the menu. But everything I've had here has been okay at best. Quesadillas, burritos-- just very bland. Wish I could get a chipotle sauce or something to kick it up to 4 or 5 stars. Staff is friendly, food is fresh. But if you don't eat meat- no Bueno.
(3)
s l.
My five-star review is for the food (or what it ideally should and could be). Twice in a row now I've gotten food that was cold--no excuses for that. The worst transgression (and I'm not discounting my stars for this, but I should) is that the person who took my order was blatantly rude to the point of outright hostility. No excuses for this kind of behavior. The owner had better be on the premises 24/7 to prevent both these occurrences form happening.
(5)
Gianni P.
Not sure what this place is trying to be. Not chipotle and not a sit down Mexican restaurant. The chicken taste like frozen chicken strips and the chips and salsa really had no flavor.
(2)
Angus W.
Boy, things are getting rough for the taco places... there are so many places to get a great taco for just a few bucks that the standards are quite a bit higher now than they were a few years ago. The place is called Chicks 'n' Salsa, so I brought Lisa and my favorite hot sauce with me... I'm glad I brought my chick, but they had a reasonably good hot sauce (el yucateco) there, so I could have left mine at home. OK, in all fairness, it took me a little bit to figure out the concept. I ordered a three taco combo, Steak, Chicken and Carnitas.. and because I felt the need to be thorough (not gluttonous..... thorough) I also got a fish taco (beer battered) and a platter of rice and beans. Lisa got a fish taco and a carnitas taco.. she is not nearly as thorough as I am. We also got a 4oz thingy (ramekin) of Guacamole and some chips. OK, so maybe I was a little hungry. We both tried the fish taco's first.. and realized that they were sorely lacking in flavor... I'm not of the mind to dump salsa on a fish taco.. but we found that they offer fresh chopped cilantro at the salsa bar (four salsa's to pick from.. I like the Habanero one) and there was a slice of lime in my food basket.. cilantro and lime and suddenly my fish taco is pretty good. Not epic, but pretty good. I used salsa's and hot sauce to add flavor to the rest of the tacos, tried them plain first and then added stuff. The steak and chicken were decent, I really liked the carnitas. They served the "rice and beans platter" in kind of a strange way, using a three portion divided plastic plate with one of the sections empty. It was fine, just kind of odd. I liked the restaurant, it's definitely got a fast food feel... but there seems to be a focus on good ingredients. It's good and I would go back, I'm just not excited like I have been at some other places with 4-5 star tacos.
(3)
Tom H.
The same people who say they're addicted to Chipotle, is exactly how I feel about this place. This is my favorite place for the fast/mex/americano styled food. Not sure if what I listed is a thing but you get it. I love the queso dip so much, it's so addicting. I usually get a steak quesadilla or enchiladas. I really, really enjoy both of them. I've tried the fish tacos, which are very good. I've only tried the carinatas tacos which are very solid as well. They also have a salsa bar, which has a variety of 4 type of salsa. To me the salsa ranges from mild, mild, mild to medium. It's all fresh though, which is awesome. They cut up extra cilantro,lemons,limes so you can add that to your salsa concoction. The service here is almost always great and I've never had a real problem. I can't say enough nice things about this place.
(5)
Samantha A.
Let me say first, I am from California so my expectations on Mexican food are very high. I like Baja style Mexican so I ordered the shrimp tacos. They were the small shrimp, not like the typical large shrimp. They had some seasoning but not enough. They didn't have the typical char that comes from cooking them on high heat, they almost tasted boiled. Everything was kinda blah!
(2)
Kavi P.
I do have to say - for a place in the suburbs, the tacos were pretty good. The fish tacos weren't exactly 'the best', but the salsa helped with the experience and I would probably stick with the tacos in the future. Overall - not bad, but I don't think I would make any particular plans to visit this place again unless it was nearby and super convenient. I will, however, definitely come back here at least once just to have the bf try it. When I was visiting, my cashier was in training so he had some confusions - but no points docked for him - probably more so for the person who was overseeing him. She seemed a bit harsh and was talking a little rudely to me when she was trying to clarify something (maybe she stressed out, im not sure but I felt super odd with the whole situation). I do hope to return and give a higher rating with a better experience :-)
(3)
Wheaton M.
In a community surrounded by chain restaurants, we always try to find locally owned restaurants to visit because the food is usually tastier. Chicks N Salsa stands out in the crowd of small local joints by offering both tasty food and great service. We had out of town guests this past week and we went to a chain (uncle Julios) one night and then brought them to Chicks n Salsa the next night. Hands down Chicks n salsa was better. Enjoy!
(4)
D C.
Love love love the fish tacos here! Owners are very friendly, and you can tell take a lot of pride in their restaurant. The food is very fresh and they use good ingredients. I'm a fan!
(5)
Lisa L.
I've been coming here for about a year. I've had their chicken, grilled steak, tamales and many sides. All of it has been good.
(5)
Michael S.
Good service. Good food. Clean restaurant. Call ahead and don't wait. Order a large amount of food and you wait. Good food.
(5)
Torey A.
Chicks 'n' Salsa catered my baby shower this past weekend, and they were outstanding! Cindy was very easy and relaxed to work with, the food showed up right on time, and - most importantly - it was absolutely delicious. I could not have asked for tastier food or nicer service for this special day. Highly recommend for their catering services! FYI - We had 25 people and opted for the taco bar (sooo much amazing food) and quesadilla platters, which were gone in an instant. Thank you Cindy and Chicks 'n' Salsa!
(5)
Cool K.
The high quality of the food at this restaurant, so fresh, so "California", is out of this universe. My wife had a tostada, and it was with chicken, guacamole, and sour cream, as well as ample lettuce, served in a deep dish, and it was absolutely divine. I generally get the classic chicken burrito, which is superb. Highly recommended. We travel from Geneva just to eat here. It's that fantastic. Please click on my review below for more tips and details; I can tell you that this place is still phenomenal. The owner, Cindy, is on premises and keeps things on the up and up, clean and food fresh. Honestly, if we could eat this every day, my wife and I would.
(5)
Pete W.
We get Chicks n Salsa regularly, maybe twice a month. The food is fantastic - always super fresh. The roasted chicken is wonderful, and the fish tacos are outstanding. They also do a great job for platters - is we have a family event or a party or something, we'll often order a platter of tacos and quesadillas, and its always a big hit.
(5)
JR F.
I still give this place 5 stars because I still think their food is excellent HOWEVER... The girl behind the counter the last time I visited was atrocious. I had to repeat each item I ordered 3 times. No joke. And I know it wasn't just me because the gentleman who ordered after me, also had to repeat his order. She definitely didn't have her listing ears on that day. So, after 10 minutes of waiting, I see my order is ready, on the back table, ready to go, and I ask the girl "Hey - is that mine?" she assures me it's not - "It's for a pick up." 10 more minutes pass, she asks me, "Are you still waiting?" Like, that isn't completely obvious? She goes to the back table, looks at the order, and then hands it to me. I say, "Oh, so that IS my order? That food thats been sitting there for 10 minutes?" She replies, "Yeah, well, I'm the only one working the front here." I'm really hoping she won't be working there much longer.
(5)
Celeste T.
This is our go to place when we want Mexican. Always consistent. Great price, love the casual atmosphere. Our kids love it too. Endless amounts of chips to compliment the Salsa bar. Everything is always fresh and just made. Burrito and Steak Tacos are our favorite. YUMMY!
(5)
David M.
My wife and I got some veggie burritos and they were very good. Guacamole was bland but looking forward to eating-in next time and trying the salsa bar.
(4)
Mike O.
While it doesn't have the homey feel of an neighborhood taqueria, CnS does produce a nice product. I'd put it a step above Chipotle and about on par with Baja Fresh. They use quality ingredients, prepare fresh salsas and offer a decent value. I ordered two baja fish tacos (one grilled, the other fried) and a shrimp taco. They are prepared to order, so there's little chance that your food will be room temp. when you dive in. Of the three tacos, I enjoyed the fried fish taco the most, though I might remove the cucumber next time. The shrimp taco was also good, though don't expect large shrimp here (these were between a nickel and quarter in size). The grilled fish taco was OK, but I think the crispiness in the batter makes the deep fried fish a better bet. The salsas were good, but a little toned down for the American palate, I'd say. Thankfully, I spied a bottle of El Yucateco green a few feed down (they also have cholula and tapatio if I remember correctly) so I could fire it up a little bit. I agree with the other reviewers who suggest somewhat larger plastic containers for the salsas. I suspect portion control is trumping eco-friendliness here. The chopped cilantro on the salsa bar is a nice touch that I don't often see. Overall - I was really pleased with my lunch and wish they had a location closer to my home.
(4)
Pierre D.
I must admit living under 1M from Chicks n' Salsa makes me want to have a portion of my paycheck sent directly there as I will be using it. Some of the highlights: Fish Tacos (best outside of San Diego) Breakfast burrito (Chorrizo is not very greasy) Steak burrito Great Salsa bar (while it is small, all of the salsas are delicious, especially the pico) Fried Ice Cream (caramel is very good) The best part about this is the wait time for your order is under 5 minutes AND most of the food is under $8!
(5)
Merril I.
This review is only based on the fish tacos and chips and salsa. One word: perfection. I went two years ago and loved their tacos and I was in the mood for tacos recently and my friend reminded me about our visit back then. We couldn't imagine how we forgot about this place. All of their ingredients taste absolutely fresh and delicious. The salsas are tasty as well, wish the little containers were a bit bigger but otherwise the food is absolutely amazing. The only real downside is that there's only one location. :( definitely best fish tacos in all of Chicagoland!!
(5)
Michael R.
I finally tried Chicks 'n' Salsa after reading about it here for sometime. It's not that close to where I live or work, but I'm glad I went! I hadn't been here since it was a Baja Fresh, which I'd thought was a good concept but was kind of blah. Good variety of options on the menu and I had a really good lunch and will go back for sure. The place is clean and the service was good, especially for a counter service place. Fish taco was very good-fried tilapia I believe-and was so overstuffed, it became 2 tacos. Good mix of cabbage, pico, sauce and fish. I also had the cheese enchiladas, which were decent, rice and beans were good and they dressed it up well with a little cup of guac. Seeing photos of their nachos, they didn't do them justice. I saw several orders pass me by and they looked really good and larger than the photos depicted. Next time, I'll definitely get those...and a fish taco of course!
(4)
Kristen H.
Okay, so my boyfriend and I had take-out from here a few months ago and I was far from impressed and decided that I would probably not eat here again. However, after a long and busy day/evening, with little options open, we decided to give Chicks 'n' Salsa another try. This time instead of ordering the veggie tacos in a spinach tortilla, I just had corn tortillas, and the tacos were much better that way! I only ordered two tacos but they literally load the tacos beyond belief, so if I had had three, I would have had to been carried to the car. We also ordered chips and salsa, and they have a cute little salsa bar that has different varieties. Overall, the salsas were average, with the exception of the tomatillo sauce. The tomatillo sauce was not spicy but had a lot of flavor that it did not need it. Prices are cheap and they have a good variety of healthier options for Mexican food. I will return to try their vegetarian chili!
(4)
Kim N.
I have been trying to get there for ages. I finally made it there last Friday. The baja fish tacos were fabulous. I also loved the selections on the salsa bar. I will definitely go back. I am dying to try the tres leches cake.
(5)
Gina Z.
Fresh, healthy food! Looking for a healthy Mexican alternative with lots of flavor this is your place! I have had tacos, enchiladas, all great with complimentary chips. They have a great salsa bar with mild verde, mild chipolte and a hot to choose from. Place is clean you can bring the kids. Enough seating and great carry out. You must try it!
(5)
Joe E.
Been here on two occasions. I used to work across the way from here. A solid place. Service is a bit slow; I didn't think it would take 15 minutes to cook some chicken and veggies. I was one of two people in the restaurant, so a little disappointing. 4 star food, 2 star service. Probably won't be back unless I'm in the area and there's a deal, or if I'm spontaneous. It's weird; every Glen Ellyn restaurant I go to has slow service. Something in the water?
(3)
Christin N.
This place is awesome .. I haven't found a Mexican restaurant which is tasty and healthy .. Their guacamole is probably the best I have tasted .. Their chicken flauta is good but didn't have enough flavor .. Their cheese enchilada is pretty flavorful .. My toddler likes their cheese quesadilla .. Tastes their nacho supreme today , it was pretty good .. I would come back again for sure ..
(4)
Jacki A.
I'm starting to really admire this place more and more. It has a nice charm to it and frankly, I like that. I love how they give you chips for every table even though it isn't a traditional Mexican restaurant. I love the large amount of salsas one can choose from. Both times I have come here it has been delicious and fresh. I wish the staff at the counter was more friendly but that's just me. They seemed very down and bland when I was there and I wish I felt more comfortable to ask more questions about the menu. I guess I wish I just felt more welcome. Also, the way the place works wasn't really examined to me either. What if it was my first time there? It wasn't, but I was still sort of confused as to how everything worked. Regardless of that setback I will probably be back, I just suggest a little staff work but other than that everything is great.
(4)
Nausheen H.
I could live off tacos. You can find fish tacos pretty easily all over the US, but BAJA fish tacos are a tall order... and this place has the best baja fish tacos this side of California! I've tried the grilled and fried fish versions and they are both pretty good. This place has a pretty extensive menu - they even have taquitos and they run promotions pretty often. It's kind of an out of the way place, but it's worth the drive. Service is great as well. The salsa bar is just "ok"... but overall, this is a great alternative to your neighborhood Chipotle and much more "authentic" tasting.
(4)
Bridget D.
I work in the suburbs, so when lunchtime rolls around, I'm often in a wasteland of chain restaurants. While I love chains from time-to-time (Chili's, ya dig), sometimes I want something less predictable and processed. A former co-worker recently suggested we meet at Chicks 'n' Salsa for a quick lunch - I was obviously interested because Mexican food is my favorite cuisine. And I LOVED this place. First of all, there's a salsa bar. Five kinds of salsa, lemons, lime and cilantro to add to your meal at will. Or if you're me, pile on a plate and eat with a fork. I got a Taco Salad (watchin' the carbs yo) but it was immensely pleased with the grilled Tilapia, guacamole, sour cream, etc., that came on top. I didn't realize there was rice at the bottom - next time I'll skip that. The kind lady behind the counter suggested the steak so that's on my list next. My two lunchtime friends both ordered the fish tacos - one grilled, one battered and fried. Both looked amazing and were completely devoured. Another bonus: all the Mexican hot sauces I've dreamed of were available by the pop fountain. Cholula, Tapatio, Valentina. I obviously doused my meal in these. Also, it's a fast-casual, which is great for a work lunch. Order at the counter, sit down, they bring the tasties to your table. Overall, feels like the cool brother of Chipotle who moved here from California, if that makes sense. Condiment bars are vastly underrated.
(5)
Haleema M.
Food is okay, but their tres leches cake is great.
(3)
Andrew L.
I LOVE this place! I haven't had anything here I didn't like. Everything is made to order so plan accordingly on a weekend evening, but the food is well worth the wait. The staff is always friendly and helpful, and everything is clean. Zeroing in on specific items, the fish tacos are award winners, I'm sort of in love with the Neptune burrito, and they always come through with breakfast on those mornings I just don't have time to cook. One persons trash is another persons treasure? Well the garbage burrito is definitely a treasure! Bottom line, eat here!
(4)
Marta M.
love the food... its always so fresh and yummy! The salsa bar has a good variety of delicious fresh salsa as well. I LOVE their battered fish tacos and Neptune burrito (crab, talapia, AND shrimp - MMMMMMMM)!
(4)
Ashley L.
Delicious food and excellent service! We went to Chicks 'n' Salsa a week ago to try it for the first time and loved it! From the service from when we walked in to the delicious food! We loved the salsa bar and the salsa verde is amazing! We had a chicken burrito bowl and a steak burrito, both excellent and we'd get it again. We went back a week later and had the same great service and great food! This time we tried the tamale, spinach and cheese quesadilla and a steak burrito. They gave us an extra bag of chips to go and we grabbed some of my favorite salsa verde. Needless to say, we've been here twice in a week and will be frequent customers in the future when we crave mexican! Definitely worth a try if you haven't tried it already!
(5)
M. A.
Amazing food and prices are very reasonable. I love the complimentary salsa and chips. Will come again !!
(5)
Boon K.
Alvina took me here for lunch and we had to get the fish tacos and half a chicken. The fish tacos were crispy and really good. They are pretty big so 2 would have been perfect for me. I really like their salsa, all had great favor. The chicken I was ok with but keep in mind I am still in love with peruvian chicken in DC. I wasn't crazy for the side dishes which we choose bean and rice, it was a little bland for me.
(3)
Brandy W.
First things first. Is THIS a former Baja Fresh location? Because I'm from the west and we have loads of those out there. The rounded salsa bar, the checkered floor... even the tables look like a Baja Fresh just up and left and this place replaced it the next day. Anyway, it was pretty good. I'd still say Chipotle is better, but it was fresh and I especially loved all 4 salsa options in their serve-yourself salsa bar. Free chips as well and I'm a happy lady. I ordered an avocado tostada and an el cheapo burrito for a total of about $7 and enjoyed them both. They were both good and the avocado was a decent amount on the tostada. The husband had a chicken burrito and a fish taco (but wasn't as impressed as the Chicago Tribune). All for around $17. Moral of the story is that we'd go back... but since we live about 10 miles away, I doubt it will be on a regular basis. Enjoyed it though!
(4)
Ms G.
Great fish tacos! Plenty to eat for lunch or dinner, and I loved the help yourself salsa bar.
(4)
Deanna D.
Chicks 'n Salsa. It's all fresh. It's all made to order. It's worth a visit. I especially enjoy the Baja fish tacos. Sometimes I order the traditional fried version and sometimes I order grilled. Both are good and come with cabbage, cucumber, cilantro, & chipotle mayo. I cannot say these are as good as the fish tacos I had in San Diego, but those are tacos of legend. For the Midwest, these are darned good tacos! I probably don't need to tell you this, but order three. I've had the shrimp tacos too, but don't expect much shrimp. I also enjoy the chicken enchiladas with salsa verde. You may alternately order with salsa roja. Comes with rice and beans. I always choose the black beans and they are very good. The Spanish rice, however, is tasteless and dry and a waste of space. You cannot compare an enchilada here with anything you may have eaten in New Mexico, but it will satisfy your craving. I will eat more enchiladas here. I have also tried Chicks 'n Salsa's marinated, fire-grilled chicken. I though it was great. I had a baked sweet potato on the side which made me very happy. I like the salsa bar. There's a nice selection to choose from. The service here is hit & miss. Though always polite, sometimes employees seem to be paying attention and sometimes not. Sometimes service is fast and sometimes it is not. Service is always slower here than at fast food chains because the food is made to order. I'll trade speed for better food. Chicks 'n Salsa will also work with you if you have dietary restrictions. Because they make their items when you order them, they can adjust many dishes to meet your needs.
(4)
Cristie F.
I found Chicks 'n' Salsa to be relatively unimpressive, yet significantly better than Taco Bell. Any way you slice it, this is fast food. ::Mexican Eats:: - Half Chicken - Great flavor. Drier than the Sahara Desert. No bueno. - Spanish Rice - Again, great flavor. Overcooked and dry. - Black Beans - No complaints. - Homemade Vegetarian Chili - Average. It could have used a kick! - Breakfast Burrito with Bacon & Sausage - I didn't sample, but was told it was really good. ::Perks:: - Fast and friendly service - Salsa bar with varying levels of spicy salsa - Very clean - Fair prices - Complimentary chips Overall, Chicks 'n' Salsa isn't too shabby. It's not my numero uno spot for Mexican food. However, in a pinch, I'd stop in again and try something other than the chicken.
(3)
Dave S.
I'm giving Chicks 'n Salsa four stars, based solely on their fish tacos. It's possible that fish tacos are like sake, in that it's never as good as your first time. (At least it was that way for me with sake.) My first time with a fish taco was in Virginia Beach with my wife, celebrating our first anniversary. We found a tiki-dive bar that was deserted somehow, and we ate fish tacos and drank Iron City Light aluminum bottles while listening to Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" album in its entirety. It was the first night of our trip and one of those moments that I wish I could re-live often. Oh, to be young, in love, drinking lousy beer at an empty bar and thinking it's the greatest thing in the world. The fish tacos at Chicks n' Salsa are quite good. They offered the fish grilled, but even the cashier will suggest fried. (In America, TGI Fried.) They balance the other ingredients well, and each taco is good-sized but can still handle some of the salsa choices available in the dining area without considerable overspill. While waiting for the tacos, CnS will give you chips for the self-serve salsa. My biggest complaint is the plastic cups for the salsa. They are very small. I guarantee that, whenever anyone eats salsa at home, they use a container bigger than what CnS offers. It's a flattened shot glass, it is. If the salsa offered was thicker, you could fit a flattened shot glass' worth on three chips. So you end up filling lots of flattened shot glasses, figuring out that you're using more plastic than if you had one decently-sized container. Please offer bigger salsa containers, guys. If you're worried about people stealing a bunch, don't offer lids. The decor is pretty sterile, with chairs that aren't very comfortable. If loud and active music were present, I'd think that CnS was using the "push them out the door" strategy. Despite the big views of the parking lot, this is not a casual dining place in which to casually dine. (And yet, there's a mysterious music stand in the corner, behind a big fern. Does that get used? Does CnS have musicians appear? Could I play "Guantanamera" for fish tacos someday?) Funny how I've never had the chicken here. Several times I've planned on it, yet find myself imagining lime juice on the taco and down my chin, and my fate is sealed. If only Dominick's next door offered aluminum bottles of IC Light.
(4)
Renita M.
I bookmarked Chicks n Salsa over two years ago. I'm glad it's still around for me to try. I wasn't blown away, but I did think it was tasty and solid food. (The ever-popular three and a half stars, here, for the overall experience -- four star food.) The menu is an eensy bit confusing. We definitely wanted chips and salsa with our food, and the menu does not indicate that you get chips with your order. I also think it would be nice to have "combos" where you can add a side without getting a full "side order" of beans or whatever. Some of the entrees come with sides but most don't and it's a little hard to tell what does. That said we ended up with three (fried) fish tacos for me, a steak torta for him, and chips and salsa to share. The chips did not appear to be freshly made but were still pretty good; the salsa IS freshly made and was quite good. They had mild chipotle and pico de gallo, medium salsa verde and hot habanero. We didn't try the habanero although I imagine it probably wasn't that hot -- the medium barely gave me a tingle. I did like the flavor of it a lot, though. My tacos were quite delicious but also messy. They were piled wrapped in paper in a little boat, and I got cabbage and chipotle mayo all over the place. How about a plate, guys? (I know, I could have asked for one.) The tortillas also stuck to the paper some. But the fish was well-fried and the cucumber-cabbage slaw was very good. I appreciated three big juicy lime wedges, too. My husband reported that his torta was very tasty, but soon after we left the restaurant he started feeling queasy, so clearly something didn't sit right with him. He'll be a hard sell to return, but I can imagine I'll be back on my own. I want to try the burritos and more of that salsa verde.
(3)
Holly R.
LOVE this place. Every order you place is made fresh so if you don't want the corn, they don't put it on. They have a self-serve salsa bar which is very nice. I go there for lunch and use their free wi-fi on my portable device while I enjoy my "wet-style" grilled tilapia bowl. It's absolutely delicious and very satiating.
(5)
Insun M.
Pros: - They offer seafood tacos and burritos! (Shrimp tacos are amazing) - Everything is grilled, fried, and assembled to order. - Clean Cons: - Ordering just 2 tacos near closing time will still take about 10 minutes so calling ahead is key.
(4)
Nancy G.
I go there for their fish tacos, they are the best in the suburbs, that I know of. I prefer tacos on corn tortillas and you can have your choice there. I am from California and I still haven't found fish tacos like they have out there, but being on the ocean does help. You can order them grilled, that's the way I like them, or fried if you prefer. They taste fresh and I think they are reasonably priced. The customer service is nice, you don't have to tip since it's counter service.
(4)
Aimee M.
I've been lucky enough to visit SoCal many times to get to try some really good fish tacos. So I'm always in search of good fish tacos here in LaNoise, because who doesn't want to be reminded of sun/surf once in a while? Right off, I notice that CNS is very clean and bright. Bright from all the windows. Not a lot to see though, except to watch the people coming and going in the strip mall. Service was very friendly. I checked out the salsa bar (it's really just a small salsa table) and they offer a few different kinds of salsa. Mild tomatillo, Spicy habanero, mild green chili, pico de gallo, a bowl of chopped cilantro and a plate of lemon wedges. The green chili salsa was my favorite, it had a nice flavor, but I would have preferred more spice. The fish tacos were just ok. I got the battered fish, but next time I think I'll go with it grilled. I did like all the cabbage, cucumbers and tomatoes added in. It had a nice spicy mayo sauce that added some good flavor. I just didn't find the fish itself all that flavorful. The shrimp tacos though--those were excellent. The shrimp are small, but fresh. Great flavor throughout. it was also loaded with fresh lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes. I thought I only ordered one shrimp taco with fried shrimp, but I my order showed up with 2 shrimp tacos (the other taco with grilled shrimp). Heh, lucky me. The menu is quite large. Between other types of tacos, there are burritos, quesadillas, grilled chicken, desserts, sides of chips/guac/beans. All orders come with a small side of crispy fresh tortilla chips! Lots more to try at future visits. Oooh and they serve breakfast too! No delivery, but you can call your order in for pick up.
(4)
Rebecca R.
This place is great! I have been back three times, and each visit was delicious! I have ordered a veggie quesadilla, shrimp taco, grilled fish taco, rice and black beans, and chips with salsa. Everything was fresh and full of flavor. I have decided to forget the rice and beans and order an extra taco because the rice and beans are very standard while the fish and shrimp tacos are awesome. The service is always very friendly and they call you by name when your order is ready. You can eat there or take it to go. When they pack it up, it comes in great spill-proof containers that keep it warm and give you a huge helping of homemade chips. This place is fresh, friendly, and delicious!
(5)
Michael D.
A friend of mines wife fancies herself as a fish taco afficiantado, and she recommended I try this joint out as we share the same desire for this fine delicacy. I did my research, checked the Yelp reviews and read the menu cover to cover prior to even getting in the car to make the trip. Upon arrival I didn't need to think twice about my order...three fish taco meal, two baja (fried) and one grilled. And while I waited for my order to be completed, Guacamole. A quick stop at the salsa bar... (seriously than a bar bar... Salsa bars are my second favorite type of bar) and I sat down to begin my journey into Chicks N Salsa.. The Guac was pretty good and very affordable considering the portion (almost double what you would get at the likes of Chipotle) chips were standard. Salsas were all very good. On to the tacos..Not disappointed. Nice meaty cuts of fish. Good crunch on the fry. Fresh veggies of cucumber and cabbage were a nice compliment. My only minor complaint is I wanted more of the spicy mayo.. I'm sure I could have asked for some, but I was busy eating. The grill taco was just as good. Nice flavor and a nice piece of fish. Such a pleasure to enjoy tacos when I don't have to dump salt on them for flavor. OH! And they have horchata... as most Mexican restaurants should.. Very Cinnamony. Can't wait till I'm in the area again..
(5)
Joanne W.
I finally moseyed on over to Chick's N Salsa to try their infamous Baja Fish Tacos featured on the Hungry Hound. They were aight. Here's the skinny. CNS touts itself on fresh food and healthy alternatives offering up sides of grilled veggies, baked sweet potatoes and a salsa bar....but that comes at a price. Two bucks will land you half a baked sweet potato. Yikes. Eight bucks will get you three of their Baja Fish Tacos. I'm guessing these tacos are not as good as they were during Steve Dolinsky's visit. The portion is nice on the tacos and they are served with a cabbage slaw, mayo based sauce, cilantro and a lime wedge. You also have your choice of grilled fish or corn tortillas. I opted to go the "classic" route and found the fish was overly battered. I'm not sure CNS has piqued my interest enough to go back and try something else. The price point is an issue but I suppose I might go back if I had a hankering for fish tacos.
(3)
Todd B.
Who has the best baja fish taco in Chicagoland? Chicks 'n' Salsa. And that's just where it starts. Everything is made fresh onsite. It's healthy, it's homemade, it's reasonably priced and it tastes good. What's not to like about that? Come to beautiful Glen Ellyn, check out Chicks 'n' Salsa and have a great meal!
(5)
Stacey J.
When my boyfriend said this place was like a Baja Fresh I was nervous cause that place is no good. Thankfully I can say the opposite of this place!!! This place is so good! The Baja Fish Tacos (battered) are so delicious!!! Grilled too! And the chicken flautas..... Nom nom nom!!! They are so crispy and fluffy! I cannot wait to go there again and try more!!!
(5)
Anastacia B.
I probably shouldn't tell you this- but the torta's here are as big as your head (hello sharing!), you can custom pick your ingredients, and they rival any I've had at "real" Mexican restaurants. The chips and salsa need their own paragraph. All are made on the premise from fresh real ingredients. My sister always has a stash at her house. When ever she shares people repeatedly say it's the best they've had. Different flavors and heats. Now the chicken, it was fine. I'm comparing it to Pollo Loco(similar citrus marinade and grilled) which is the king of all chicken not fried in my book. Fish tacos are stellar. Yes this is "fast" food, yes it can take awhile to get because- there is actually a cook taking fresh ingredients and preparing them to order. Bonus- it is LOCALLY owned by a woman.
(4)
Rachel J.
Oh yum. Hot, fresh, and inventive dishes served here. I have tried a few things off the menu here, and I must say I have discovered the PERFECT order. One shrimp taco, one fried fish taco, and a sharable-size guacamole. The "sauce bar" is always neat, and well stocked with little cups and lids for the taking. Go ahead and get sauced, dude! The staff, from the front end to the cooks all got it goin' on. For this price, I feel like a thief.
(5)
Abe I.
This place rocks. Definitely not fast Mexican food like Chipotle. You'll need some patience after you put in your order, but the guaranteed freshness is certainly worth the wait ! They always give you free chips and tiny containers for their amazing salsa bar which is never a disappointment. I love their tortilla chips & I like mixing the pico de gallo salsa with the chipotle salsa. I've only ever had their tacos and tostadas, but both are extremely delectable and inevitably fresh ! Their guacamole is addicting ! The women who work there are really nice to me and always give me extra chips for free which is awesome. The fact that they have free wifi is pretty awesome too, considering that this is their only location and that they're independently owned. It may not have that Mexican taqueria feel, but I'm glad it doesn't ! It's nice, clean, quiet, and conveniently located right next to my gym. I'll always pick this place over Chipotle, because I feel great supporting this small independent place. If you're ever in Glen Ellyn, give this place a try.
(5)
Brian H.
Chicks n' Salsa. Compared to Qdoba or Chipotle or Baja Fresh, CNS is my favorite. You can read about their dishes on one of the other 80+ reviews here. I want to point out that their catering is really excellent; they'll work with you and your budget and you get a good deal more food than you expect. (I guess if people were big big eaters or took more meat than they should, you'd run out, but for most crowds, when they say it'll serve 10 it really serves 12.) They provide all the plates and forks if you need it, and serving spoons and all the rest. Much cheaper than comparable places for catering. Highly recommended!
(4)
William B.
Love their Baja fish tacos!! Burnt the roof of my mouth on 'em, because they were fresh out of the fryer. Totally worth it. Nice little salsa bar.
(4)
Shawn K.
Really good fish tacos and salsa dishes
(4)
David K.
All right. My boyfriend and I are piggies. We ordered the quarter chicken meal, tex-mex corn, spanish rice, chips, 3 baja fish tacos, 3 shrimp tacos, and 3 chicken taquitos. Everything was fresh and pretty good, but we decided when we come back we're only getting fish tacos. The fish was battered evenly, not greasy, and the portions were good. The bf took the cucumbers out because that's not how they do it in Cali.... Shrug. The restaurant itself is clean. Not a lot of people that dine in, but a ton of carry-out patrons. They also have a salsa bar. And yes, being a child (or a wonderful yelp reviewer), I tried all of them. Nothing special there... the pico is decent, and the green sauce pairs best with the fish tacos. Warning for those that don't like spicy: the habanero sauce isn't fire-hot but the kind that creeps up on you so don't get overly confident ;) Overall, good for fish tacos; meh for everything else.
(3)
Shannon M.
After recently having awesome soft tacos at Bien Trucha in Geneva, the young man and I craved more, so we tried Chicks 'n' Salsa this week-end. I guess i have to say...meh. Not terrible, but I was hoping for better. The steak taco was definitely lackluster; in fact, I'll tell you right now, don't even bother. The chorizo had much more going for it flavor-wise; would be nice hangover food. The highly-touted Baja fish taco was okay, but I guess I don't get what's so earth-shattering about it. Still, the fish and chorizo were the way to go among the tacos I tried. The "salsa bar" was weak. They gave us a couple of little cups of standard salsa when we placed our order; then we went to check out the salsa bar to the right of the counter. There's a big sign talking about tomato shortages due to bad weather in Florida (that was ages ago...). So we're down to one salsa (tomatillo), plus cilantro, lemons and limes. At least make some roasted jalapenos à la Taco Fresco or something. It really looked pathetic. We got there just in time, before a big rush of people came in for dinner. So clearly people like this place. It wasn't that it was bad, I just didn't think it was off the charts. Of course there's a lot more on the menu so I guess I just haven't met up with my dream dish as yet. Maybe when I do I'll be doing the chicken dance of joy.
(3)
Dalibor Z.
The 50's Diner ... mexican joint. I, also was confused initially. Ok, so I'm glad I waited to do this review till today. Here's the scale of things. Chipotle and Qdoba are 4 stars almost every time. Slight differences in experience based on location and staff, but for the most part, consistent. This place would have been a 4, but then I had a 5 star Mexican joint today. And I had to drop it down. If you didn't read the name, and just walked in, initially, the layout and decor remind me of a "modern 50s Diner" ... and then you realize it's Mexican food. I got a breakfast quesadilla which was pretty good, and a fairly large size, served with chips, for the price. The rest of the group got 2 burritos and a burrito bowl. The group review for the other 3 dishes was a collective "meh". I tried one of the burritos, and I had to agree. Not a lot of seasoning on the meat in the burritos, and overall just a good flavor, not great. A single complaint I have was that it did sort of take longer than I would have liked to get the food. I mean to get something that's half as big as a Chipotle burrito, in a place that's half as busy, it took easily three times the amount of time. Overall, it wasn't awfully priced, and I wouldn't mind going back, but if there's a choice, I'd go somewhere else.
(3)
Ali Z.
I've eaten at Chicks 'n' Salsa on a few occasions and if given the choice, would still rather go across the street to Chipotle instead. I tried the highly touted fish tacos and found them utterly flavorless, both the fried and grilled versions. The fish was mushy and lacked seasoning. The shrimp tacos were okay, not that much better than the ones at Baja Fresh. The food is made fresh to order which I like, but expect a 15-20 minute wait for your food to be ready even if it's just a couple of tacos. The complimentary chips and salsa bar are pretty good and gives you something to do during the long wait. Overall, while Chicks 'n' Salsa makes a good effort, the flavor of the food just isn't there. Don't see myself returning here any time soon.
(3)
Tara E.
Love, love, love! Food is excellent! Service is great. Place is clean. They cater to people who have allergies. Also, they have a salsa bar! They give free tortilla chips with any order. Make sure you get the horchata or the strawberry lemonade. They are so refreshing!
(5)
Ali B.
I tried the food alone, but go for the fish tacos! Normally fish and tacos don't sound like a winning combinations but this is awesome. My WHOLE family loves these, even my sister who doesn't like Mexican food usually. I recommend grilled over fried. We just wish they offered a two taco option. 3 tacos is too many and 1 taco isn't quite enough. We like to split 4 tacos between 2 people by ordering 1 and 3 tacos. The chips are festively colored for the holidays. Love the pico de gallo but less is more with the guacamole because it doesn't keep well. There's also free wi-fi there.
(4)
Aaron F.
Been eating here at least once a week for about two years now. Good stuff & overall really friendly service. The WI-FI makes it convenient for a working lunch.
(5)
Munn H.
I happened to see Chick n Salsa when I was in the shopping center it's located in. I had the 1/4 chicken with two sides (sweet potato w/butter & cinnamon & grilled vegetables) and a Horchata to drink. It was all excellent. The place is clean, the help personable, the food is good and the prices reasonable. Except for the lack of table service (order at the counter), this place would hold its own against most up scale Mexican places. I'll be back!
(5)
Wendy C.
A couple weeks ago I went here with a friend. I ordered the fish taco (grilled) since my friend highly recomended it. I'm glad I listened because it was the first fish taco I ever had and definitley not the last. It was so tasty and a very refreshing meal with the cabbage, cucumbers and tomatoes in the taco. These ingredients might seem strange at first, but they compliment the fish very nicely. The salsa bar is simple, but it's a nice touch. Guacamole is a must.
(4)
bobbi n.
Since my trip to San Diego last fall, I have been craving fish tacos like mad. And while several restaurants have attempted them, none came close to anything I had on my trip. After reading the good reviews of the fish tacos on yelp, and being in the neighborhood (thanks to the much improved iphone app!) I decided that I must try them. And they did not disappoint. I ordered the baja tacos and my husband ordered the chicken enchiladas. Because we didn't really realize the size of our meal, we also ordered nachos. (Photos posted of all three.) Nachos were large and toppings were fresh (guac that came with it was great and the cheese actually tasted like real cheese, not some cheese-like substitute.) Baja tacos were excellent - almost exactly like what I had in San Diego. My husband thought the enchiladas were "pretty good," but I wasn't too impressed with the bite I had, although the sides that came with it were good. One negative was that the seating area was a little dirty (staff just need to sweep up the floors and clean the tables a bit more often), although the kitchen area was immaculate, so don't think that I'm critiquing the whole operation. Also, everything is served in disposable containers - even with disposable flatware. Considering that the flatware was wrapped in plastic, I doubt that it was biodegradable, although I could be wrong. All of the extra garbage seemed a bit unnecessary and made me feel like I should bring my own plate and fork with me next time. What made it even more ironic was the fact that right next to where you picked up the food, they have a copy of a news article with the headline mentioning how "eco-friendly" the food is. The food may be eco-friendly, but what they serve it on sure isn't. I will definitely be back for the fish tacos though and think that if you're a fan of them, you can't go wrong here. If only they served margaritas, it would be upgraded to regular hang-out status!
(4)
Matt H.
I feel like I've tried enough things here to write an honest review. I try to avoid writing a review having had just one meal (if iit's practical, that is) I've now tried fish tacos (grilled and battered/fried), steak burrito, grilled chicken, chips, salsas... My summation of everything is "OK". It's *good*, not anything great. Not a lot of bold flavors going on or anything really special. It is fresh and there are a lot of healthy options (sweet potatoes, +1) which is really nice. The fish tacos are pretty good. Above average. The battered is just too much when combined with the mayo-ey slaw. The grilled was much better. Again, not too much flavor. When I added the spicy salsa it was pretty good. I just needed some heat. The chicken was pretty good, but again, a place I frequent near my work (Stav's) serves a grilled chicken with much better spices for about the same price. It was a good value though...at 7.75 for a half chicken and 2 sides + chips/tortillas, that's a good deal. The steak burrito, again, not to sound like a broken record, was pretty much flavorless. Just a huge mess of ingredients with no real taste. Not trying to sound like a hater....like i said it is fairly inexpensive, a good value and they have fresh ingredients. The salsa bar is nice and I liked all of the options. As far as fast food mexican places go, I'd rather eat here than Chipotle , but that's as far as I can really go.
(3)
Chrissy W.
So my pal Tony is the mayor and the duke of this place. I used to love love love it. So I'm thinking to myself tonight, "I'll treat the P's to a taco dinner." Errr...make that a burrito dinner, as I'm the only one who made the sad mistake of ordering a taco. So, I asked the guy what he thought of the tamales...his answer wasn't quite enough to make me believe that they were going to be great. I'm down with that...figured I'd try em anyways. Not terrible, but not the best. They were pretty average...not a lot of meat, not a lot of flavor, but throw on some of their delightful habañero salsa, melt some cheddar cheese and anything is phenom. The taco disappointed me most though...They over steamed the tortilla, so it was falling apart and stuck to the wax paper. I had to eat it with a fork. It was a big ole mess. Tasted great though. I love adding some extra pico and some of the habañero salsa to the tacos. Yum Yum. Mom dug her chicky burrito and Dad was a huge fan of his gargantuan beefy burrito goodness. The chips were a hit and the salsas never disappoint. So overall grade C++ Don't mess up the taco next time, and it'll be a solid B. :D
(3)
Adam K.
Went here for a lazy Sunday-night dinner. I order the shrimp tacos and my wife ordered the chicken quesadillas, we also ordered their guacamole and chips, all for about $20, though we did have a $3 off coupon. I guess if I had to boil it down to one sentence, I would say that I didn't feel as though I got my money's worth. The tacos were good, not great, Leslie said the same of her food. I did like that we were able to sit outside, I did enjoy the food, but nothing blew me away. If you're looking for a fairly reasonable sit-down meal, this place is good for that. The food is about as authentic as you can get at a quick-serve Mexican place and it tastes fresh. Good place for young families with kids. Reminded me a lot of Baja Fresh, almost exactly the same feel.
(4)
Karl C.
If you happen to stumble onto Chicks 'N Salsa when getting off the interstate, you'll be pleasantly surprised. When you walk in, the restaurant strikes you as a very clean and vibrant Baja Fresh-looking joint. But there's more than meets the eye. It's rather spacious for being in a strip mall so it could be a good place for large groups. Although Chicks 'N Salsa is clean and quasi-Americanized, its fish tacos pass the test. My girlfriend and I ordered a few each and it gets our stamp of approval. The taco itself was very flavorful and struck me as "healthy," with an assortment of vegetables inside. They have a salsa station, and their spicy habanero has a good kick to it. The pico de gallo was alright as well. Their chips were freshly-cooked, flavorful and very crispy. Whomever was behind the counter seemed to recognize that I had not been there before, so she took the time to explain the salsa station, etc. and gave me a coupon for my next visit. Although it got very little traffic while we ate (around 5:00 PM), it took a little while to get our orders. So don't expect McDonald's-style fast food service but they were very prompt in delivering it and the staff seems very friendly. I would go again, especially for their fish tacos.
(4)
Larry B.
My wife and I are hooked on the Chicken Family Pack: a whole chicken cut up, corn muffins, grilled veggies, a baked sweet potato, pico de gallo and salsa - ready for takeout or dine-in in 10 minutes. We can't eat it all and have leftovers for another dinner. Why, you ask? * It's delicious. The chicken is marinated so well the flavor goes through the skin and into the meat. The veggies go perfectly with the pico de gallo. The baked sweet potato with brown sugar is a treat in itself. The muffins are soft, sweet, chewy (who needs dessert?). * It's healthy. This is a claim rarely heard from Mexican restaurants. They do not use lard or MSG. The salsas and guacamole are made fresh every day. The rice & beans are 100% vegetarian. The food is not greasy or fatty, which is what you get at a typical cheap Mexican place. * Your food is ready fast. I phone in my order, hop in my car and it's always ready by the time I get there. On really busy weekend nights I have to wait 15 minutes. * The price is right. The family pack totaled $18.39 and they honored the $1 off coupon you get with every order. Some people whine about the ambiance, which is "modern luncheonette," but it's OK with me. The decor is clean, casual and efficient. Also, there is no noisy bar full of drunks, there's no loud TV blaring Mexican programs, but there is a help-yourself bar of multiple salsas. Look for the sign of the chicken with the giant sombrero and you can't go wrong.
(5)
Michael C.
The best fish tacos - trying to decipher exactly what I love about them. It's not just one thing but a number of things when, all put together, make for an excellent taco. First - the fish (fried with a light, tasty batter) tastes like fish...not too fishy but you know it's fish. Next - the sauce...some sort of creamy sauce which comes to life when you squeeze fresh lime juice on top. Next - the toppings...all fresh and in abundance. Lastly - the shell...two moist corn tortillas to transport it to my mouth. Yum! They also have a decent salsa bar. Ambiance wise it's the quality of a sit down restaurant but the feel of a fast-food joint. Strange because it takes about as long to get your food as a sit-down place but, because of the ambiance, you expect it to be much quicker. They placate you with a free bowl of chips and salsa. Why anyone would go to Taco Bell when you could go here is beyond me!
(4)
David K.
We used to come here for the Chicken dinners, which are awesome, but I have recently been coming for the awesome Fish Tacos. Make sure to get the deep fried one, as opposed to the grilled one. The crunchy texture really makes it great to go with the cabbage. As Steve Dolinsky says, best Fish Tacos in the area! Recently I also got a Steak and Potato burrito that comes with a very hearty sauce - a recommendation from the guy at the counter, and it was surprisingly good, better than an average big burrito with steak. I love this place and treasure it more now that Tierra Grill is gone.
(5)
Stove P.
My stomach is fully satisfied now that I've found my Mexican safe haven within 5 miles from my house. A lot of my reviews are full of arguments that are so easily agreeable they're pretty much useless. Like, this pizza tasted so much better than that plastic cup I ate for breakfast. Or, the staff at the theatre made the Nazis seem like pure evil. Now reeling this back to legitimate Yelp review talk, it would be VERY easy for me to say Chicks n Salsa rolls its eyes at Chipotle, but it's something I must state considering their proximity to one another. Chipotle is just across Roosevelt, and I don't care that they are both in the 7th Heavenish town of Glen Ellyn, there is NOTHING worth tasting on that side of the street. Here are some useful facts. I ordered 3 vegetable tacos, a side of guac, and an iced tea for ten dollars. I wish it had been cheaper, but I also wish my hair didn't give off the idea that I'd just escaped from an African tribe. Guess I'll have to deal with this. The cashier is a cute lady with two braids. She might keep these braids every day as a job requirement. Who knows? I just know it was appealing. The restaurant is as clean as whistle. I felt so bad at the end of my meal that I'd made a mess. I cleaned it up myself. I hate feeling guilty. I can understand how it might be difficult to retrieve your order when your name is called. Lucky for us, it wasn't crowded, but on a busy night, they'll need to raise their voices. Vegetarians will be well fed! Bring your pale, brittle body here and eat with me! Overall, this is my favorite Mexican place around!
(4)
Melissa H.
This is a great place for some inexpensive, healthy Mexican fare. Unlike Chipotle, you won't need to worry about ingesting half your day's calories, either. This is a smaller, strip mall joint (but on the corner, so it's easy to see), with friendly people and clean facilities. I'm not into fish, but I tried their chicken tacos. I like that you can chose your tortilla type and it comes pretty clean (ie you control how spicy you want it). They've got a great salsa bar. Your food comes with a good amount of veggies on it in the first place, and it's not drowning in cheese that will leave you feeling 'gut-bombed.' Tacos are about $2 a piece and I was full on 2 of them. Great for a cheap date! Lots of choices and good prices. I'll be back to try something else.
(4)
Hummad H.
Disappointed to say the least. I found this place on Yelp with all the great reviews, and I remembered eating here many years ago. The food wasn't bad... it just wasn't good. It was pretty flavorless. We tried the grilled fish taco, chicken nachos and chicken and steak tacos. The steak and chicken was lacking any flavor, and the salsas also were lacking. It's a shame too, because the place is clean, and the staff seemed nice enough.
(2)
Eric R.
Chicks N' Salsa is my annual birthday dinner choice, and everyone in the family has a favorite item. I love love love the fish tacos - the closest I've found to true baja style anywhere in the midwest. My wife eats the chicken, which is deliciously marinated in fruit juices. The kids eat quesadillas and love the Mexican cake dessert. The owner is often there cooking or working the register; she clearly works hard and takes pride in her restaurant and it feels good to support a local business owner. The atmosphere is clean and comfortable and is a step up from fast food joints. Overall you cannot go wrong with this place.
(5)
Traci Z.
The fish tacos are awesome. We went there for dinner on Friday because I saw they had fish tacos. I enjoy fish tacos, if they are made correctly and have good flavors. The fish tacos here was the best I have tried in a long time. They were so light and tasty. I was very excited that we found this place. My boyfriend got just a regular beef burrito and he enjoyed it. The habanero salsa was delicious. Loved they gave you some chips to go along with the meal. The employees were friendly. I am pretty sure the owner was the one who took our order and she was very nice. She was talking to us like we were old friends. Since it was our first time there, we had a lot of questions and she was very helpful and patient answering them. I will definitely be returning. I would love to try something else but the fish tacos will probably always win!
(4)
Tony H.
Still a huge fan, but now they're offering a sweet honey chipotle barbecue sauce to put on top of whatever you choose, for an extra 50¢. You've got to try a chicken burrito with this bbq sauce, and ask for some of the fiery habañero salsa ontop of that. It's foodgasmically awesome.
(4)
Michael R.
I really want to like this place as my sister raves about it, but all is not right. First the good: Fish tacos, both fried and grilled, are excellent. The Wrapple (apple-stuffed fried burrito) is a unique treat. The salsa bar, when fully stccked, is a great thing. Finally, the chicken is quite tasty. Now the Not-So-Good: The service is SLOW. I waited 25 minutes once when there were only two other customers in the place (and one was already eating). The side dishes are sub par, including the beans, rice, guacamole, chips, mashed potatoes, etc. The pork, chorizo, and steak tacos are uninspired. Finally, every time I've been there something in the order was messed up. I'll keep going back for the fish tacos, but the place is what it is.
(3)
Maria P.
Let me start off by saying I gave this place a second chance. The first time I went I waited about 15 to 20 minutes for my food. The second time, I waited as well. I have no problem waiting if the food is decent, don't get me wrong. My husband and I have tried their fish tacos which are supposed to be the best and unfortunately tasted kind of fishy. The shrimp tacos were decent, as were the quesadillas. I can't say that I'll be running back any time soon.
(2)
Marcia M.
The lady owner charges me much more that the price on the menu over her head and insists that it is her right to charge me whatever she wants. I don't personally know her so I assume she is prejudiced against me for some reason. She says her prices change constantly and no one knows what they will be until the cash register prints the price.?! Don't go there until she prints an apology!!!
(1)
Sujan P.
Corn muffin- so decadent, I love the chew corn kernels inside. Delicious Horchata- tasty Chips and salsa- that's some good salsa, not the best, but good Tres leches cake- delicious, usually hard to find in these parts. Always get a coupon- sweet!
(4)
Daniel M.
Chicks 'N Salsa is my number one source for fish tacos. I've been here many, many times and still cannot shake the amazingness. You'll pay a bit more here than most Mexican-style restaurants but it's worth it. I've tried their fish tacos (grilled and beer battered), guacamole, and churros. Guacamole was a bit pricey for amount. Flavor is above most commercial guacamoles. Meh. I ordered my churro with the chocolate option and they provide a small plastic cup filled with warm chocolate sauce. If you have no shame in polishing off a gluttonous, chocolate churro after eating a full meal here then I applaud you. Although, I have also pulled off this monstrous feat. Fish tacos get their own paragraph.The fish tacos here are excellent, fact. They put a lots of fresh vegetables, tilapia , cilantro, and a healthy dose of chipotle mayo on this beast. It comes in two styles 1) beer battered and fried 2) grilled. I strongly suggest the beer battered, for it is far superior in flavor. I thought the grilled variety was kinda weak. They also have a salsa bar with mini-lakes of salsa. Hot sauce is actually pretty hot which is good for a young esophagus like my own. Other salsas are of high marks too. In conclusion, I suggest trying the fish tacos beer battered, it may change your life.
(5)
Jody J.
Having lived in San Diego for 4 years I am pretty picky about the fresh mex food. This place isn't half bad, just not quite Southern California. Having recently moved to Glen Ellyn, we have been trying a lot of the local places to eat. Chicks 'N Salsa has become one on our regular rotation. Yes, it does take a little time to get your food, but that is b/c it is all made to order. We have gotten a few items for dinner (burittos, tacos) which are all decent, but our favorite reason for going there is the breakfast burritos. They are served all day long, just wish they would open at 7 am to grab one of the way to work, but has been our Sunday morning savior. Everyone there is extremely friendly and helpful. I would much rather frequent a place like this over Chipotle or Qdoba which are right down the street. All-in-all, definitely worth a try.
(4)
alicia b.
Well I went here in the summer, its close to my work and always drive past it and love the name soo damn cute and obvious why didnt I ever think of that? My friend and I took our boy Dan for his bday becasue we heard they have fish tacos and dan luvs fishy tacos! We ordered nachos to share and each of us got a variety of tacos. We sat down and saw what we assumed were our nachos sitting on the counter but no one called us or brought them to us(btw we were the only ones in the place). So we just waited and finally the lady brought them over and they were cold and old by that time. But whatever we were hungry so we chowed down.Our tacos were all ok but nothing to great.I would probably never go back and they totally rape you it was like $35 for a couple tacos and an order of nachos. I tell ya, I wish this place was better so we could have another lunching place
(3)
Jeanette K.
There have been so many great reviews on this place that I expected to be blown away by the food. It was good, but not like in a I-will-drive-30-miles-and-traipse-through-the-Âsnow-to-get-to-Sultan's-Market kind of way. Maybe because I didn't try the award-winning fish tacos. Maybe because I use too many dashes in my reviews. Anyways, I had the half chicken dinner. The chicken was excellent. You can really taste the citrus marinade, which turns the edges of the chicken a slight yellow-orange color. I also had the rice and black beans with my meal, which were kinda bland. The salsas on the salsa bar were ok, again nothing fabulous. The BF ordered nachos and taquitos; both were meh. Overall, Chicks and Salsa is way above Boston Market and even the Rosticeria, but it has yet to make my eyes roll into the back of my head. I'll have to come back for the fish tacos.
(3)
Chester R.
5 years later, i'm lowering it one star. the service is getting worse. i don't even bother going here for lunch anymore........takes like 15 minutes to get a simple 2 tacos order, and half the time they screw it up. the food is good...but really expensive........long waits, poor accuracy. the owner needs to pay for better help. it's all really young kids that work there.
(3)
Mike P.
Fish tacos the best? Not so much, and kind of a long wait for fast food. I live in the area and I enjoy a good fish taco. 'Don't see myself coming back in the near future.
(2)
Dianna R.
BEST FISH TACOS :) :) :) :) :) When I came into this restaurant and saw that the Chicago Tribune said that they had the best fish taco in Chicago, I HAD to give it a try. Man, they were not kidding' around :) I ordered two grilled tilapia tacos and they were fantastic. The fish was tasty and cooked well. The veggies and condiments were super fresh and flavorful. Also, I was a big fan of the tortilla; I think it was corn and not a regular flour one which was neat and different. Overall, I really appreciated the non-greasy aspect of their food. It was kind of nice to get a fresh and light taco which left me full but not uh-oh-I-think-I-just-ate-a-gut-bomb-full :) (Maybe I will change my mind when I go back and try the fried fish tacos, but based on the other reviews I think this review will stay as is.) Side Note: The guacamole is also super good. If you are a guac-fanatic like myself, I wouldn't pass this up.
(5)
Michele S.
Not your ordinary tacos. I love the food here. Tasty and near authentic. I would tell everyone to try this place. Yummy. Try their fish tacos and you will not regret it.
(4)
Pat E.
Good, but I have gone their twice and they have messed up my order. Better off going to Los down the road! It is also very hidden in the strip mall it is located in!
(3)
Joe G.
This restaurant was recommended to me by a friend and they were dead on it was awesome The fish tacos are a must have grilled or battered. Great menu something for everyone. Clean, inexpensive, nice portions. Five Stars
(5)
Christina A.
Wow! Wow! Wow! The food is simply amazing! And the prices?? Incredible. We love the nachos with chicken and Fish tacos!! The salsas are heaven in a tiny cup. If you haven't been here yet because it's in a strip mall... please... do yourself a favor and go eat.
(5)
Marissa H.
After living in the Southwest for a couple of years, I was really missing decently made fish tacos. Chicago has the worst Mexican food out of anywhere I've lived. Where is the good food? Well, holy crap. Glen Ellyn, apparently. Chicks 'N Salsa is closer to the Mexican border than I ever was. That might be the Taco Bell logo, but honestly...it's really amazing and nothing like Taco Bell. Sometimes I just order one fish taco and then fill up about six containers of salsa to eat with the chips they give you with your meal. It's so wonderful!!! I probably will have to go eat here for lunch now because my mouth is watering away thinking about it. I can't deny myself fish tacos when I come in here, but I have also tried the chicken, which is delicious. If you want good fish tacos, come here. SERIOUSLY. Perfect texture/flavors and everything. It's just perfect.
(5)
Dave H.
My wife and I decided to try this place because they always send us coupons. We got the fish tacos and they were ok. This place is built like a Baja Fresh with many salsas and sides. Fish tacos are hard to find so this is your best bet in Glen Ellyn.
(3)
Monica F.
After stopping in looking for a good fish taco (or 2) and being completely satiated, I've made this fine establishment my new favorite place. Their food rocks! I always get the fish tacos, 2 grilled and 1 fried and always leave full. Very fresh ingredients and not greasy at all. The limes you get to squeeze on the tacos makes it soooo good. And their guacamole is fan-freaking-tastic. It's worth the trip just to try that alone. Only negative is one time the red head lady behind the counter yelled at the kid at the register in front of a bunch of customers to the point that his face turned bright red. I felt bad for him. Besides that, this place is money
(4)
Sandra F.
This is one of my favorite places to eat in Glen Ellyn. Cindy is an amazing chef and the chicken cooking on the open grill is nearly enough to make you drool!! The food is fresh, good for you and one of my favorite things - shrimp fajitas - is perfect for Lent. You also get your choice of salsas to top off the yummy food - perfect. Prices are outstanding - perfect place for lunch or dinner.
(4)
Marty M.
Great salsa. Had burrito was great looks forward to coming back and try more things like the fish tacos
(4)
Janine N.
Excellent Fish Taco's - I do like too that they have the low carb tortillas. Excellent fresh taste to them as well. I think for someone like me that had never had them before - I'm a BIG fan now. Prices are good too. Friendly service as well.
(4)
Cyn P.
I am a fan! The menu is not extensive, but everything they serve is delicious, and there are some healthy food options such as sweet potato, and grilled veggies. I love getting a 1/4 chicken with 2 sides - the aforementioned grilled veggies and sweet potato - all for about $7 with tax. The salsa bar is the best feature. Ask for chips as a side and make as many trips to the salsa bar as you want. Muy Muy Delicioso!!!
(4)
J O.
Fried fish tacos are really good, but don't eat too much cuz you'll get sick of them. Takes awhile for them to make...
(4)
Daniel P.
I was looking for a good, quick meal that wasn't fast food and stumbled upon this little treasure. I had the enchiladas with steak, which tasted fantastic with the works on top. Black beans and rice are always a favorite. My only issue was that the steak was a bit chewy, which although I realize it's not a steakhouse, it could be improved. Altogether, excellent!
(4)
Katharine K.
I love their grilled fish tacos, which taste very fresh and have nice flavor combinations. I usually add a side of fresh grilled veggies to my meal as well as guacamole to spoon over everything (Just 'cause I love guac.), and I am happy! My husband really likes their burritos and the kids like the quesadillas. They have a nice little salsa bar too. I do wish though that they didn't use throw away utensils and plates/bowls for dine in; it bothers the environmentalist in me. :~)
(4)
Robyn C.
Yes...it does exist...a nice, clean little store front locale where a vegetarian who loves Mexican food can have a spicy chile relleno and his meat-eating better half can have fall-off-the bone marinated chicken and a baked sweet potato. No texting each other from different locations required! Chicks 'n Salsa in Glen Ellyn took the place of an incredibly bland Baja Fresh and has improved the corner lot on Baker Hill. If you like chicken, go with the marinated 1/4 or 1/2 with the sides. The sweet potato is the best, served of course a-la-oink with butter and brown sugar. Hubby loves the rellenos and the open salsa bar. Most things are wildly inexpensive and come with your choice of flour, corn or low carb tortillas. For those of you with families (or if you don't mind leftovers) they have a great deal for $9.99 that includes really good chicken and two large sides. For the locals...watch those coupons. They often offer $5 off on a $15 order...my husband and I had leftovers on an $11 tab. Small gripes: packed during weekday lunch hours and occasional slow service. Salsas definitely could be spicier, hence the 4 star rating. Small in the scope of things. Go on, split a chicken.
(4)
Jennifer B.
The food is delicious and fresh. The pico de gallo and the guacamole are both really really good. I got the shrimp quesadilla, which was awesome. I'm not a fan of having to pay extra for salsa if you order chips and guac, but the rest of the food was so good I'll over look it.
(4)
Nicole L.
I tried this place about 1-2 years ago and was rather shocked to read the reviews here as I didn't think it was anything special. To me it's just like Baja Fresh - bland. That being said, I'm not a fish taco fan, so maybe those are good, but the chicken tacos and salsa are nothing worth writing home about.
(2)
Daryl D.
A bunch of people in our area rave about this spot. I say take a pass. Being from the southwest this is far from mexican food. Fish Tacos were soggy and bland. It took forever to get our food. It seemed like they were rushing their process and maybe thats why the food was so average. There are lots of mexican food choices in the area find somewhere besides here.
(2)
Calysta L.
I was super hung over when I brother took me to his place, so the huge signature burrito with steak helped soak up all the previous night's debauchery at Simone's and Martin's Corner (see my reviews). The place is really clean, a good space if you have a large group, and there is a salsa bar. The salsa bar has spicy habanero, mild tomatillo, pico de gallo, and chipotle. Surprisingly, since I was in the Midwest, the spicy habanero was actually spicy. The burrito came stuffed with steak, rice, tomatoes, beans, cheese, and cilantro, and was quite tasty.
(4)
Patricia M.
I am from California but grew up locally. Finally had a chance to get to Chicks n Salsa. Definitely one of the best most freshest Mexican places in the area. I had the fish tacos and they were the closest thing to CA fish tacos that I have found here! Guac is yummy and the fresh salsas were very close to the CA taquerias. I highly recommend it. Prompt and friendly service also.
(4)
Brian F.
Excellent citrus marinated grilled chicken along with the best fish tacos this side of Baja. I highly recommend the double-leg meal and the fried fish tacos.
(4)
andy d.
darn good chicken! i love the tortilla soup, the tacos are good. free chips and salsa with lunch. yummy!
(4)
Dave N.
Behind this unassuming stripmall facade and fast service set-up lurks some of the best TexMex in Chicago. Deservingly well known for its excellent marinated grilled chicken and fish tacos, the true cognoscenti order the carnitas. Succulent, caramelized pulled pork that melts in your mouth with fresh pliant corn tortillas and crisp vegetables. The best carnitas tacos I've had. Honestly, the food's better here than at most of the much more expensive Mexican options. If you're driving down Roosevelt and feeling a bit peckish, stop here.
(4)
Karen S.
This place is tasty. Fish tacos - grilled were excellent. Also the burritos are great. I could really eat here everyday. It definitely has better Mexican food than other nearby restaurants.
(5)
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Address :Baker Hill Shopping Center,874 Roosevelt Rd
Glen Ellyn, IL, 60138
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
M. H.
Beyond being just one of the best Mexican restaurants in the area, this is one of the best places to eat, period. The food is always fresh, hot, and delicious, the menu offers a lot of variety, the restaurant is always very clean, and the prices are great for the amount of good food you get (everything I've ever gotten has come with complementary chips and salsa). I really could not recommend this place higher. They even have chairs and magazines for you to relax for a minute while you're waiting for your order. This seems to be a privately-owned restaurant and I really urge you to check it out - they deserve your support and I want them to be around for a long time.
(5)Mindy B.
My family had dinner here this evening and it was the 4th time we've dined there over the past several years. In the past we've had iffy service at best but decided to try it again. This will be our last visit. The first thing we noticed after ordering is that they only allow 3 little containers of salsa per ORDER. They were "generous" by giving my family of four each one container. They claim that the price of tomatoes has risen (which it has) but their competition hasn't scaled back their availability of salsa or charged ridiculous prices for extras (case in point: Taco Fresco in Wheaton which has unlimited and excellent salsa). And come on people, "Salsa" is part of your name. If this was the only negative thing we experienced tonight then my star rating would be higher. However, it was only the beginning. It took 20+ minutes to get our order of simple tacos which were luke warm. And the restaurant wasn't even crowded. Then when I bit into my way overcooked flavorless shrimp taco, I was greeted by not one but two crunchy shrimp tails. Disgusting. Don't waste your time and money here!
(1)Jen R.
I've loved Chicks n Salsa since back when I lived in Glen Ellyn in '08. I used to make a weekly trek there and get the best burrito on the planet: The Gone Fishin'. It's basically a giant fish taco and it's delicious. I can easily put away two. I've had pretty much everything on the menu and it's all great! If you can't find something here that you'd want to eat, there's something wrong with you. I absolutely love the salsa bar, as well. I wish there were a few more offerings but what they do have is good enough to drown your favorite Mexican dish in.
(4)Adam B.
The classic 3.5 star review. I walked in and I thought I was in a Baja Fresh, between the salsa bar, and black and white decor. I ordered the double leg (2 thighs and 2 legs) with two sides and an extra side. For $9.00, that's really good value. The fact that they have Tazo bottled iced tea is another huge plus in my book, as I am hooked on their Giant Peach tea. They gave me a basket of chips and I tried a couple of the salsas. They were all pretty mild, except for the habanero, which had a good amount of kick. I like green salsas in general, but the chipotle was probably my favorite here. I waited 6 or 7 minutes for my food. The four pieces of chicken I got looked like the runt of the chicken litter; the pieces were so small I thought I was being served pigeon. That said, the seasoning was really good, the skin was crisp, and the meat was juicy. Not a ton of meat granted, but what I had was cooked very well. For sides, I had the grilled veggies. Bell peppers, red onions, and carrots were well seasoned with salt and pepper and tasted great. The garlic mashed potatoes were quite good, but maybe the could have used a little more butter. For the final side, I could have gone with tortillas or corn muffins. I chose the latter and got two pale white muffins. I took a bite of one and there were just a ton of corn kernels inside. To repeat, it was just a plain muffin with corn kernels. It was terrible and I didn't touch it again. I had a good experience. The service was decent, not great, but not bad. I would probably return since most of the food is made very well and is offered at a fair price. But no corn muffins ever again!
(4)Dan JoNell S.
The service was good, steak fajitas were tasty, enchiladas were good. The food was good for the price, the flan on cake was good, especially since I don't tend to like flan. The quality of the food like spot on for the price. We will go back. Now mind you this is like the restaurant "Baja Fresh" so don't think you are going to be having really authentic stuff, it's just not at that price point. But for the Mexican food I have had in the Midwest, it's worth coming back to. It will be in our rotation of restaurants for sure.
(4)Ron S.
Chicks 'n' Salsa earns another star. I discovered the grilled fish tacos and burrito are the best thing on the menu. The fish is very good and you can tell that the veggies are fresh chopped - no prepacked bags of veggies here. Service is always friendly and efficient. I'm glad I have rediscovered this restaurant. It has become a favorite lunch destination.
(4)Nick G.
Food is consistently good, love the beer battered fish tacos
(5)Alyx K.
We order from here whenever I have a meeting in Lombard, it seems. It's a solid choice for suburban tacos, with decent guacamole and really good salsa. The tacos were a little overwhelmed by the corn tortillas, but overall, fresh and pretty good.
(3)Kat D.
Cardinal fitness is just a good 50 steps from this place. My logic was, "good job, you had a great workout! Now go get some tacos." I really like this place. Try their Neptune burrito. It's really good. The fish tacos are a MUST! This is probably the best place for fish tacos. The food is made to order so be ready to wait for a bit. If you want it right away, you better call ahead. I appreciate the made to order way because it's truly fresh food and you know that the meat hasn't been sitting there for hours.
(4)Kate M.
I really want to give more stars. I do. To be fair, I don't eat beef or pork, so I'm missing a big portion of the menu. But everything I've had here has been okay at best. Quesadillas, burritos-- just very bland. Wish I could get a chipotle sauce or something to kick it up to 4 or 5 stars. Staff is friendly, food is fresh. But if you don't eat meat- no Bueno.
(3)s l.
My five-star review is for the food (or what it ideally should and could be). Twice in a row now I've gotten food that was cold--no excuses for that. The worst transgression (and I'm not discounting my stars for this, but I should) is that the person who took my order was blatantly rude to the point of outright hostility. No excuses for this kind of behavior. The owner had better be on the premises 24/7 to prevent both these occurrences form happening.
(5)Gianni P.
Not sure what this place is trying to be. Not chipotle and not a sit down Mexican restaurant. The chicken taste like frozen chicken strips and the chips and salsa really had no flavor.
(2)Angus W.
Boy, things are getting rough for the taco places... there are so many places to get a great taco for just a few bucks that the standards are quite a bit higher now than they were a few years ago. The place is called Chicks 'n' Salsa, so I brought Lisa and my favorite hot sauce with me... I'm glad I brought my chick, but they had a reasonably good hot sauce (el yucateco) there, so I could have left mine at home. OK, in all fairness, it took me a little bit to figure out the concept. I ordered a three taco combo, Steak, Chicken and Carnitas.. and because I felt the need to be thorough (not gluttonous..... thorough) I also got a fish taco (beer battered) and a platter of rice and beans. Lisa got a fish taco and a carnitas taco.. she is not nearly as thorough as I am. We also got a 4oz thingy (ramekin) of Guacamole and some chips. OK, so maybe I was a little hungry. We both tried the fish taco's first.. and realized that they were sorely lacking in flavor... I'm not of the mind to dump salsa on a fish taco.. but we found that they offer fresh chopped cilantro at the salsa bar (four salsa's to pick from.. I like the Habanero one) and there was a slice of lime in my food basket.. cilantro and lime and suddenly my fish taco is pretty good. Not epic, but pretty good. I used salsa's and hot sauce to add flavor to the rest of the tacos, tried them plain first and then added stuff. The steak and chicken were decent, I really liked the carnitas. They served the "rice and beans platter" in kind of a strange way, using a three portion divided plastic plate with one of the sections empty. It was fine, just kind of odd. I liked the restaurant, it's definitely got a fast food feel... but there seems to be a focus on good ingredients. It's good and I would go back, I'm just not excited like I have been at some other places with 4-5 star tacos.
(3)Tom H.
The same people who say they're addicted to Chipotle, is exactly how I feel about this place. This is my favorite place for the fast/mex/americano styled food. Not sure if what I listed is a thing but you get it. I love the queso dip so much, it's so addicting. I usually get a steak quesadilla or enchiladas. I really, really enjoy both of them. I've tried the fish tacos, which are very good. I've only tried the carinatas tacos which are very solid as well. They also have a salsa bar, which has a variety of 4 type of salsa. To me the salsa ranges from mild, mild, mild to medium. It's all fresh though, which is awesome. They cut up extra cilantro,lemons,limes so you can add that to your salsa concoction. The service here is almost always great and I've never had a real problem. I can't say enough nice things about this place.
(5)Samantha A.
Let me say first, I am from California so my expectations on Mexican food are very high. I like Baja style Mexican so I ordered the shrimp tacos. They were the small shrimp, not like the typical large shrimp. They had some seasoning but not enough. They didn't have the typical char that comes from cooking them on high heat, they almost tasted boiled. Everything was kinda blah!
(2)Kavi P.
I do have to say - for a place in the suburbs, the tacos were pretty good. The fish tacos weren't exactly 'the best', but the salsa helped with the experience and I would probably stick with the tacos in the future. Overall - not bad, but I don't think I would make any particular plans to visit this place again unless it was nearby and super convenient. I will, however, definitely come back here at least once just to have the bf try it. When I was visiting, my cashier was in training so he had some confusions - but no points docked for him - probably more so for the person who was overseeing him. She seemed a bit harsh and was talking a little rudely to me when she was trying to clarify something (maybe she stressed out, im not sure but I felt super odd with the whole situation). I do hope to return and give a higher rating with a better experience :-)
(3)Wheaton M.
In a community surrounded by chain restaurants, we always try to find locally owned restaurants to visit because the food is usually tastier. Chicks N Salsa stands out in the crowd of small local joints by offering both tasty food and great service. We had out of town guests this past week and we went to a chain (uncle Julios) one night and then brought them to Chicks n Salsa the next night. Hands down Chicks n salsa was better. Enjoy!
(4)D C.
Love love love the fish tacos here! Owners are very friendly, and you can tell take a lot of pride in their restaurant. The food is very fresh and they use good ingredients. I'm a fan!
(5)Lisa L.
I've been coming here for about a year. I've had their chicken, grilled steak, tamales and many sides. All of it has been good.
(5)Michael S.
Good service. Good food. Clean restaurant. Call ahead and don't wait. Order a large amount of food and you wait. Good food.
(5)Torey A.
Chicks 'n' Salsa catered my baby shower this past weekend, and they were outstanding! Cindy was very easy and relaxed to work with, the food showed up right on time, and - most importantly - it was absolutely delicious. I could not have asked for tastier food or nicer service for this special day. Highly recommend for their catering services! FYI - We had 25 people and opted for the taco bar (sooo much amazing food) and quesadilla platters, which were gone in an instant. Thank you Cindy and Chicks 'n' Salsa!
(5)Cool K.
The high quality of the food at this restaurant, so fresh, so "California", is out of this universe. My wife had a tostada, and it was with chicken, guacamole, and sour cream, as well as ample lettuce, served in a deep dish, and it was absolutely divine. I generally get the classic chicken burrito, which is superb. Highly recommended. We travel from Geneva just to eat here. It's that fantastic. Please click on my review below for more tips and details; I can tell you that this place is still phenomenal. The owner, Cindy, is on premises and keeps things on the up and up, clean and food fresh. Honestly, if we could eat this every day, my wife and I would.
(5)Pete W.
We get Chicks n Salsa regularly, maybe twice a month. The food is fantastic - always super fresh. The roasted chicken is wonderful, and the fish tacos are outstanding. They also do a great job for platters - is we have a family event or a party or something, we'll often order a platter of tacos and quesadillas, and its always a big hit.
(5)JR F.
I still give this place 5 stars because I still think their food is excellent HOWEVER... The girl behind the counter the last time I visited was atrocious. I had to repeat each item I ordered 3 times. No joke. And I know it wasn't just me because the gentleman who ordered after me, also had to repeat his order. She definitely didn't have her listing ears on that day. So, after 10 minutes of waiting, I see my order is ready, on the back table, ready to go, and I ask the girl "Hey - is that mine?" she assures me it's not - "It's for a pick up." 10 more minutes pass, she asks me, "Are you still waiting?" Like, that isn't completely obvious? She goes to the back table, looks at the order, and then hands it to me. I say, "Oh, so that IS my order? That food thats been sitting there for 10 minutes?" She replies, "Yeah, well, I'm the only one working the front here." I'm really hoping she won't be working there much longer.
(5)Celeste T.
This is our go to place when we want Mexican. Always consistent. Great price, love the casual atmosphere. Our kids love it too. Endless amounts of chips to compliment the Salsa bar. Everything is always fresh and just made. Burrito and Steak Tacos are our favorite. YUMMY!
(5)David M.
My wife and I got some veggie burritos and they were very good. Guacamole was bland but looking forward to eating-in next time and trying the salsa bar.
(4)Mike O.
While it doesn't have the homey feel of an neighborhood taqueria, CnS does produce a nice product. I'd put it a step above Chipotle and about on par with Baja Fresh. They use quality ingredients, prepare fresh salsas and offer a decent value. I ordered two baja fish tacos (one grilled, the other fried) and a shrimp taco. They are prepared to order, so there's little chance that your food will be room temp. when you dive in. Of the three tacos, I enjoyed the fried fish taco the most, though I might remove the cucumber next time. The shrimp taco was also good, though don't expect large shrimp here (these were between a nickel and quarter in size). The grilled fish taco was OK, but I think the crispiness in the batter makes the deep fried fish a better bet. The salsas were good, but a little toned down for the American palate, I'd say. Thankfully, I spied a bottle of El Yucateco green a few feed down (they also have cholula and tapatio if I remember correctly) so I could fire it up a little bit. I agree with the other reviewers who suggest somewhat larger plastic containers for the salsas. I suspect portion control is trumping eco-friendliness here. The chopped cilantro on the salsa bar is a nice touch that I don't often see. Overall - I was really pleased with my lunch and wish they had a location closer to my home.
(4)Pierre D.
I must admit living under 1M from Chicks n' Salsa makes me want to have a portion of my paycheck sent directly there as I will be using it. Some of the highlights: Fish Tacos (best outside of San Diego) Breakfast burrito (Chorrizo is not very greasy) Steak burrito Great Salsa bar (while it is small, all of the salsas are delicious, especially the pico) Fried Ice Cream (caramel is very good) The best part about this is the wait time for your order is under 5 minutes AND most of the food is under $8!
(5)Merril I.
This review is only based on the fish tacos and chips and salsa. One word: perfection. I went two years ago and loved their tacos and I was in the mood for tacos recently and my friend reminded me about our visit back then. We couldn't imagine how we forgot about this place. All of their ingredients taste absolutely fresh and delicious. The salsas are tasty as well, wish the little containers were a bit bigger but otherwise the food is absolutely amazing. The only real downside is that there's only one location. :( definitely best fish tacos in all of Chicagoland!!
(5)Michael R.
I finally tried Chicks 'n' Salsa after reading about it here for sometime. It's not that close to where I live or work, but I'm glad I went! I hadn't been here since it was a Baja Fresh, which I'd thought was a good concept but was kind of blah. Good variety of options on the menu and I had a really good lunch and will go back for sure. The place is clean and the service was good, especially for a counter service place. Fish taco was very good-fried tilapia I believe-and was so overstuffed, it became 2 tacos. Good mix of cabbage, pico, sauce and fish. I also had the cheese enchiladas, which were decent, rice and beans were good and they dressed it up well with a little cup of guac. Seeing photos of their nachos, they didn't do them justice. I saw several orders pass me by and they looked really good and larger than the photos depicted. Next time, I'll definitely get those...and a fish taco of course!
(4)Kristen H.
Okay, so my boyfriend and I had take-out from here a few months ago and I was far from impressed and decided that I would probably not eat here again. However, after a long and busy day/evening, with little options open, we decided to give Chicks 'n' Salsa another try. This time instead of ordering the veggie tacos in a spinach tortilla, I just had corn tortillas, and the tacos were much better that way! I only ordered two tacos but they literally load the tacos beyond belief, so if I had had three, I would have had to been carried to the car. We also ordered chips and salsa, and they have a cute little salsa bar that has different varieties. Overall, the salsas were average, with the exception of the tomatillo sauce. The tomatillo sauce was not spicy but had a lot of flavor that it did not need it. Prices are cheap and they have a good variety of healthier options for Mexican food. I will return to try their vegetarian chili!
(4)Kim N.
I have been trying to get there for ages. I finally made it there last Friday. The baja fish tacos were fabulous. I also loved the selections on the salsa bar. I will definitely go back. I am dying to try the tres leches cake.
(5)Gina Z.
Fresh, healthy food! Looking for a healthy Mexican alternative with lots of flavor this is your place! I have had tacos, enchiladas, all great with complimentary chips. They have a great salsa bar with mild verde, mild chipolte and a hot to choose from. Place is clean you can bring the kids. Enough seating and great carry out. You must try it!
(5)Joe E.
Been here on two occasions. I used to work across the way from here. A solid place. Service is a bit slow; I didn't think it would take 15 minutes to cook some chicken and veggies. I was one of two people in the restaurant, so a little disappointing. 4 star food, 2 star service. Probably won't be back unless I'm in the area and there's a deal, or if I'm spontaneous. It's weird; every Glen Ellyn restaurant I go to has slow service. Something in the water?
(3)Christin N.
This place is awesome .. I haven't found a Mexican restaurant which is tasty and healthy .. Their guacamole is probably the best I have tasted .. Their chicken flauta is good but didn't have enough flavor .. Their cheese enchilada is pretty flavorful .. My toddler likes their cheese quesadilla .. Tastes their nacho supreme today , it was pretty good .. I would come back again for sure ..
(4)Jacki A.
I'm starting to really admire this place more and more. It has a nice charm to it and frankly, I like that. I love how they give you chips for every table even though it isn't a traditional Mexican restaurant. I love the large amount of salsas one can choose from. Both times I have come here it has been delicious and fresh. I wish the staff at the counter was more friendly but that's just me. They seemed very down and bland when I was there and I wish I felt more comfortable to ask more questions about the menu. I guess I wish I just felt more welcome. Also, the way the place works wasn't really examined to me either. What if it was my first time there? It wasn't, but I was still sort of confused as to how everything worked. Regardless of that setback I will probably be back, I just suggest a little staff work but other than that everything is great.
(4)Nausheen H.
I could live off tacos. You can find fish tacos pretty easily all over the US, but BAJA fish tacos are a tall order... and this place has the best baja fish tacos this side of California! I've tried the grilled and fried fish versions and they are both pretty good. This place has a pretty extensive menu - they even have taquitos and they run promotions pretty often. It's kind of an out of the way place, but it's worth the drive. Service is great as well. The salsa bar is just "ok"... but overall, this is a great alternative to your neighborhood Chipotle and much more "authentic" tasting.
(4)Bridget D.
I work in the suburbs, so when lunchtime rolls around, I'm often in a wasteland of chain restaurants. While I love chains from time-to-time (Chili's, ya dig), sometimes I want something less predictable and processed. A former co-worker recently suggested we meet at Chicks 'n' Salsa for a quick lunch - I was obviously interested because Mexican food is my favorite cuisine. And I LOVED this place. First of all, there's a salsa bar. Five kinds of salsa, lemons, lime and cilantro to add to your meal at will. Or if you're me, pile on a plate and eat with a fork. I got a Taco Salad (watchin' the carbs yo) but it was immensely pleased with the grilled Tilapia, guacamole, sour cream, etc., that came on top. I didn't realize there was rice at the bottom - next time I'll skip that. The kind lady behind the counter suggested the steak so that's on my list next. My two lunchtime friends both ordered the fish tacos - one grilled, one battered and fried. Both looked amazing and were completely devoured. Another bonus: all the Mexican hot sauces I've dreamed of were available by the pop fountain. Cholula, Tapatio, Valentina. I obviously doused my meal in these. Also, it's a fast-casual, which is great for a work lunch. Order at the counter, sit down, they bring the tasties to your table. Overall, feels like the cool brother of Chipotle who moved here from California, if that makes sense. Condiment bars are vastly underrated.
(5)Haleema M.
Food is okay, but their tres leches cake is great.
(3)Andrew L.
I LOVE this place! I haven't had anything here I didn't like. Everything is made to order so plan accordingly on a weekend evening, but the food is well worth the wait. The staff is always friendly and helpful, and everything is clean. Zeroing in on specific items, the fish tacos are award winners, I'm sort of in love with the Neptune burrito, and they always come through with breakfast on those mornings I just don't have time to cook. One persons trash is another persons treasure? Well the garbage burrito is definitely a treasure! Bottom line, eat here!
(4)Marta M.
love the food... its always so fresh and yummy! The salsa bar has a good variety of delicious fresh salsa as well. I LOVE their battered fish tacos and Neptune burrito (crab, talapia, AND shrimp - MMMMMMMM)!
(4)Ashley L.
Delicious food and excellent service! We went to Chicks 'n' Salsa a week ago to try it for the first time and loved it! From the service from when we walked in to the delicious food! We loved the salsa bar and the salsa verde is amazing! We had a chicken burrito bowl and a steak burrito, both excellent and we'd get it again. We went back a week later and had the same great service and great food! This time we tried the tamale, spinach and cheese quesadilla and a steak burrito. They gave us an extra bag of chips to go and we grabbed some of my favorite salsa verde. Needless to say, we've been here twice in a week and will be frequent customers in the future when we crave mexican! Definitely worth a try if you haven't tried it already!
(5)M. A.
Amazing food and prices are very reasonable. I love the complimentary salsa and chips. Will come again !!
(5)Boon K.
Alvina took me here for lunch and we had to get the fish tacos and half a chicken. The fish tacos were crispy and really good. They are pretty big so 2 would have been perfect for me. I really like their salsa, all had great favor. The chicken I was ok with but keep in mind I am still in love with peruvian chicken in DC. I wasn't crazy for the side dishes which we choose bean and rice, it was a little bland for me.
(3)Brandy W.
First things first. Is THIS a former Baja Fresh location? Because I'm from the west and we have loads of those out there. The rounded salsa bar, the checkered floor... even the tables look like a Baja Fresh just up and left and this place replaced it the next day. Anyway, it was pretty good. I'd still say Chipotle is better, but it was fresh and I especially loved all 4 salsa options in their serve-yourself salsa bar. Free chips as well and I'm a happy lady. I ordered an avocado tostada and an el cheapo burrito for a total of about $7 and enjoyed them both. They were both good and the avocado was a decent amount on the tostada. The husband had a chicken burrito and a fish taco (but wasn't as impressed as the Chicago Tribune). All for around $17. Moral of the story is that we'd go back... but since we live about 10 miles away, I doubt it will be on a regular basis. Enjoyed it though!
(4)Ms G.
Great fish tacos! Plenty to eat for lunch or dinner, and I loved the help yourself salsa bar.
(4)Deanna D.
Chicks 'n Salsa. It's all fresh. It's all made to order. It's worth a visit. I especially enjoy the Baja fish tacos. Sometimes I order the traditional fried version and sometimes I order grilled. Both are good and come with cabbage, cucumber, cilantro, & chipotle mayo. I cannot say these are as good as the fish tacos I had in San Diego, but those are tacos of legend. For the Midwest, these are darned good tacos! I probably don't need to tell you this, but order three. I've had the shrimp tacos too, but don't expect much shrimp. I also enjoy the chicken enchiladas with salsa verde. You may alternately order with salsa roja. Comes with rice and beans. I always choose the black beans and they are very good. The Spanish rice, however, is tasteless and dry and a waste of space. You cannot compare an enchilada here with anything you may have eaten in New Mexico, but it will satisfy your craving. I will eat more enchiladas here. I have also tried Chicks 'n Salsa's marinated, fire-grilled chicken. I though it was great. I had a baked sweet potato on the side which made me very happy. I like the salsa bar. There's a nice selection to choose from. The service here is hit & miss. Though always polite, sometimes employees seem to be paying attention and sometimes not. Sometimes service is fast and sometimes it is not. Service is always slower here than at fast food chains because the food is made to order. I'll trade speed for better food. Chicks 'n Salsa will also work with you if you have dietary restrictions. Because they make their items when you order them, they can adjust many dishes to meet your needs.
(4)Cristie F.
I found Chicks 'n' Salsa to be relatively unimpressive, yet significantly better than Taco Bell. Any way you slice it, this is fast food. ::Mexican Eats:: - Half Chicken - Great flavor. Drier than the Sahara Desert. No bueno. - Spanish Rice - Again, great flavor. Overcooked and dry. - Black Beans - No complaints. - Homemade Vegetarian Chili - Average. It could have used a kick! - Breakfast Burrito with Bacon & Sausage - I didn't sample, but was told it was really good. ::Perks:: - Fast and friendly service - Salsa bar with varying levels of spicy salsa - Very clean - Fair prices - Complimentary chips Overall, Chicks 'n' Salsa isn't too shabby. It's not my numero uno spot for Mexican food. However, in a pinch, I'd stop in again and try something other than the chicken.
(3)Dave S.
I'm giving Chicks 'n Salsa four stars, based solely on their fish tacos. It's possible that fish tacos are like sake, in that it's never as good as your first time. (At least it was that way for me with sake.) My first time with a fish taco was in Virginia Beach with my wife, celebrating our first anniversary. We found a tiki-dive bar that was deserted somehow, and we ate fish tacos and drank Iron City Light aluminum bottles while listening to Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" album in its entirety. It was the first night of our trip and one of those moments that I wish I could re-live often. Oh, to be young, in love, drinking lousy beer at an empty bar and thinking it's the greatest thing in the world. The fish tacos at Chicks n' Salsa are quite good. They offered the fish grilled, but even the cashier will suggest fried. (In America, TGI Fried.) They balance the other ingredients well, and each taco is good-sized but can still handle some of the salsa choices available in the dining area without considerable overspill. While waiting for the tacos, CnS will give you chips for the self-serve salsa. My biggest complaint is the plastic cups for the salsa. They are very small. I guarantee that, whenever anyone eats salsa at home, they use a container bigger than what CnS offers. It's a flattened shot glass, it is. If the salsa offered was thicker, you could fit a flattened shot glass' worth on three chips. So you end up filling lots of flattened shot glasses, figuring out that you're using more plastic than if you had one decently-sized container. Please offer bigger salsa containers, guys. If you're worried about people stealing a bunch, don't offer lids. The decor is pretty sterile, with chairs that aren't very comfortable. If loud and active music were present, I'd think that CnS was using the "push them out the door" strategy. Despite the big views of the parking lot, this is not a casual dining place in which to casually dine. (And yet, there's a mysterious music stand in the corner, behind a big fern. Does that get used? Does CnS have musicians appear? Could I play "Guantanamera" for fish tacos someday?) Funny how I've never had the chicken here. Several times I've planned on it, yet find myself imagining lime juice on the taco and down my chin, and my fate is sealed. If only Dominick's next door offered aluminum bottles of IC Light.
(4)Renita M.
I bookmarked Chicks n Salsa over two years ago. I'm glad it's still around for me to try. I wasn't blown away, but I did think it was tasty and solid food. (The ever-popular three and a half stars, here, for the overall experience -- four star food.) The menu is an eensy bit confusing. We definitely wanted chips and salsa with our food, and the menu does not indicate that you get chips with your order. I also think it would be nice to have "combos" where you can add a side without getting a full "side order" of beans or whatever. Some of the entrees come with sides but most don't and it's a little hard to tell what does. That said we ended up with three (fried) fish tacos for me, a steak torta for him, and chips and salsa to share. The chips did not appear to be freshly made but were still pretty good; the salsa IS freshly made and was quite good. They had mild chipotle and pico de gallo, medium salsa verde and hot habanero. We didn't try the habanero although I imagine it probably wasn't that hot -- the medium barely gave me a tingle. I did like the flavor of it a lot, though. My tacos were quite delicious but also messy. They were piled wrapped in paper in a little boat, and I got cabbage and chipotle mayo all over the place. How about a plate, guys? (I know, I could have asked for one.) The tortillas also stuck to the paper some. But the fish was well-fried and the cucumber-cabbage slaw was very good. I appreciated three big juicy lime wedges, too. My husband reported that his torta was very tasty, but soon after we left the restaurant he started feeling queasy, so clearly something didn't sit right with him. He'll be a hard sell to return, but I can imagine I'll be back on my own. I want to try the burritos and more of that salsa verde.
(3)Holly R.
LOVE this place. Every order you place is made fresh so if you don't want the corn, they don't put it on. They have a self-serve salsa bar which is very nice. I go there for lunch and use their free wi-fi on my portable device while I enjoy my "wet-style" grilled tilapia bowl. It's absolutely delicious and very satiating.
(5)Insun M.
Pros: - They offer seafood tacos and burritos! (Shrimp tacos are amazing) - Everything is grilled, fried, and assembled to order. - Clean Cons: - Ordering just 2 tacos near closing time will still take about 10 minutes so calling ahead is key.
(4)Nancy G.
I go there for their fish tacos, they are the best in the suburbs, that I know of. I prefer tacos on corn tortillas and you can have your choice there. I am from California and I still haven't found fish tacos like they have out there, but being on the ocean does help. You can order them grilled, that's the way I like them, or fried if you prefer. They taste fresh and I think they are reasonably priced. The customer service is nice, you don't have to tip since it's counter service.
(4)Aimee M.
I've been lucky enough to visit SoCal many times to get to try some really good fish tacos. So I'm always in search of good fish tacos here in LaNoise, because who doesn't want to be reminded of sun/surf once in a while? Right off, I notice that CNS is very clean and bright. Bright from all the windows. Not a lot to see though, except to watch the people coming and going in the strip mall. Service was very friendly. I checked out the salsa bar (it's really just a small salsa table) and they offer a few different kinds of salsa. Mild tomatillo, Spicy habanero, mild green chili, pico de gallo, a bowl of chopped cilantro and a plate of lemon wedges. The green chili salsa was my favorite, it had a nice flavor, but I would have preferred more spice. The fish tacos were just ok. I got the battered fish, but next time I think I'll go with it grilled. I did like all the cabbage, cucumbers and tomatoes added in. It had a nice spicy mayo sauce that added some good flavor. I just didn't find the fish itself all that flavorful. The shrimp tacos though--those were excellent. The shrimp are small, but fresh. Great flavor throughout. it was also loaded with fresh lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes. I thought I only ordered one shrimp taco with fried shrimp, but I my order showed up with 2 shrimp tacos (the other taco with grilled shrimp). Heh, lucky me. The menu is quite large. Between other types of tacos, there are burritos, quesadillas, grilled chicken, desserts, sides of chips/guac/beans. All orders come with a small side of crispy fresh tortilla chips! Lots more to try at future visits. Oooh and they serve breakfast too! No delivery, but you can call your order in for pick up.
(4)Rebecca R.
This place is great! I have been back three times, and each visit was delicious! I have ordered a veggie quesadilla, shrimp taco, grilled fish taco, rice and black beans, and chips with salsa. Everything was fresh and full of flavor. I have decided to forget the rice and beans and order an extra taco because the rice and beans are very standard while the fish and shrimp tacos are awesome. The service is always very friendly and they call you by name when your order is ready. You can eat there or take it to go. When they pack it up, it comes in great spill-proof containers that keep it warm and give you a huge helping of homemade chips. This place is fresh, friendly, and delicious!
(5)Michael D.
A friend of mines wife fancies herself as a fish taco afficiantado, and she recommended I try this joint out as we share the same desire for this fine delicacy. I did my research, checked the Yelp reviews and read the menu cover to cover prior to even getting in the car to make the trip. Upon arrival I didn't need to think twice about my order...three fish taco meal, two baja (fried) and one grilled. And while I waited for my order to be completed, Guacamole. A quick stop at the salsa bar... (seriously than a bar bar... Salsa bars are my second favorite type of bar) and I sat down to begin my journey into Chicks N Salsa.. The Guac was pretty good and very affordable considering the portion (almost double what you would get at the likes of Chipotle) chips were standard. Salsas were all very good. On to the tacos..Not disappointed. Nice meaty cuts of fish. Good crunch on the fry. Fresh veggies of cucumber and cabbage were a nice compliment. My only minor complaint is I wanted more of the spicy mayo.. I'm sure I could have asked for some, but I was busy eating. The grill taco was just as good. Nice flavor and a nice piece of fish. Such a pleasure to enjoy tacos when I don't have to dump salt on them for flavor. OH! And they have horchata... as most Mexican restaurants should.. Very Cinnamony. Can't wait till I'm in the area again..
(5)Joanne W.
I finally moseyed on over to Chick's N Salsa to try their infamous Baja Fish Tacos featured on the Hungry Hound. They were aight. Here's the skinny. CNS touts itself on fresh food and healthy alternatives offering up sides of grilled veggies, baked sweet potatoes and a salsa bar....but that comes at a price. Two bucks will land you half a baked sweet potato. Yikes. Eight bucks will get you three of their Baja Fish Tacos. I'm guessing these tacos are not as good as they were during Steve Dolinsky's visit. The portion is nice on the tacos and they are served with a cabbage slaw, mayo based sauce, cilantro and a lime wedge. You also have your choice of grilled fish or corn tortillas. I opted to go the "classic" route and found the fish was overly battered. I'm not sure CNS has piqued my interest enough to go back and try something else. The price point is an issue but I suppose I might go back if I had a hankering for fish tacos.
(3)Todd B.
Who has the best baja fish taco in Chicagoland? Chicks 'n' Salsa. And that's just where it starts. Everything is made fresh onsite. It's healthy, it's homemade, it's reasonably priced and it tastes good. What's not to like about that? Come to beautiful Glen Ellyn, check out Chicks 'n' Salsa and have a great meal!
(5)Stacey J.
When my boyfriend said this place was like a Baja Fresh I was nervous cause that place is no good. Thankfully I can say the opposite of this place!!! This place is so good! The Baja Fish Tacos (battered) are so delicious!!! Grilled too! And the chicken flautas..... Nom nom nom!!! They are so crispy and fluffy! I cannot wait to go there again and try more!!!
(5)Anastacia B.
I probably shouldn't tell you this- but the torta's here are as big as your head (hello sharing!), you can custom pick your ingredients, and they rival any I've had at "real" Mexican restaurants. The chips and salsa need their own paragraph. All are made on the premise from fresh real ingredients. My sister always has a stash at her house. When ever she shares people repeatedly say it's the best they've had. Different flavors and heats. Now the chicken, it was fine. I'm comparing it to Pollo Loco(similar citrus marinade and grilled) which is the king of all chicken not fried in my book. Fish tacos are stellar. Yes this is "fast" food, yes it can take awhile to get because- there is actually a cook taking fresh ingredients and preparing them to order. Bonus- it is LOCALLY owned by a woman.
(4)Rachel J.
Oh yum. Hot, fresh, and inventive dishes served here. I have tried a few things off the menu here, and I must say I have discovered the PERFECT order. One shrimp taco, one fried fish taco, and a sharable-size guacamole. The "sauce bar" is always neat, and well stocked with little cups and lids for the taking. Go ahead and get sauced, dude! The staff, from the front end to the cooks all got it goin' on. For this price, I feel like a thief.
(5)Abe I.
This place rocks. Definitely not fast Mexican food like Chipotle. You'll need some patience after you put in your order, but the guaranteed freshness is certainly worth the wait ! They always give you free chips and tiny containers for their amazing salsa bar which is never a disappointment. I love their tortilla chips & I like mixing the pico de gallo salsa with the chipotle salsa. I've only ever had their tacos and tostadas, but both are extremely delectable and inevitably fresh ! Their guacamole is addicting ! The women who work there are really nice to me and always give me extra chips for free which is awesome. The fact that they have free wifi is pretty awesome too, considering that this is their only location and that they're independently owned. It may not have that Mexican taqueria feel, but I'm glad it doesn't ! It's nice, clean, quiet, and conveniently located right next to my gym. I'll always pick this place over Chipotle, because I feel great supporting this small independent place. If you're ever in Glen Ellyn, give this place a try.
(5)Brian H.
Chicks n' Salsa. Compared to Qdoba or Chipotle or Baja Fresh, CNS is my favorite. You can read about their dishes on one of the other 80+ reviews here. I want to point out that their catering is really excellent; they'll work with you and your budget and you get a good deal more food than you expect. (I guess if people were big big eaters or took more meat than they should, you'd run out, but for most crowds, when they say it'll serve 10 it really serves 12.) They provide all the plates and forks if you need it, and serving spoons and all the rest. Much cheaper than comparable places for catering. Highly recommended!
(4)William B.
Love their Baja fish tacos!! Burnt the roof of my mouth on 'em, because they were fresh out of the fryer. Totally worth it. Nice little salsa bar.
(4)Shawn K.
Really good fish tacos and salsa dishes
(4)David K.
All right. My boyfriend and I are piggies. We ordered the quarter chicken meal, tex-mex corn, spanish rice, chips, 3 baja fish tacos, 3 shrimp tacos, and 3 chicken taquitos. Everything was fresh and pretty good, but we decided when we come back we're only getting fish tacos. The fish was battered evenly, not greasy, and the portions were good. The bf took the cucumbers out because that's not how they do it in Cali.... Shrug. The restaurant itself is clean. Not a lot of people that dine in, but a ton of carry-out patrons. They also have a salsa bar. And yes, being a child (or a wonderful yelp reviewer), I tried all of them. Nothing special there... the pico is decent, and the green sauce pairs best with the fish tacos. Warning for those that don't like spicy: the habanero sauce isn't fire-hot but the kind that creeps up on you so don't get overly confident ;) Overall, good for fish tacos; meh for everything else.
(3)Shannon M.
After recently having awesome soft tacos at Bien Trucha in Geneva, the young man and I craved more, so we tried Chicks 'n' Salsa this week-end. I guess i have to say...meh. Not terrible, but I was hoping for better. The steak taco was definitely lackluster; in fact, I'll tell you right now, don't even bother. The chorizo had much more going for it flavor-wise; would be nice hangover food. The highly-touted Baja fish taco was okay, but I guess I don't get what's so earth-shattering about it. Still, the fish and chorizo were the way to go among the tacos I tried. The "salsa bar" was weak. They gave us a couple of little cups of standard salsa when we placed our order; then we went to check out the salsa bar to the right of the counter. There's a big sign talking about tomato shortages due to bad weather in Florida (that was ages ago...). So we're down to one salsa (tomatillo), plus cilantro, lemons and limes. At least make some roasted jalapenos à la Taco Fresco or something. It really looked pathetic. We got there just in time, before a big rush of people came in for dinner. So clearly people like this place. It wasn't that it was bad, I just didn't think it was off the charts. Of course there's a lot more on the menu so I guess I just haven't met up with my dream dish as yet. Maybe when I do I'll be doing the chicken dance of joy.
(3)Dalibor Z.
The 50's Diner ... mexican joint. I, also was confused initially. Ok, so I'm glad I waited to do this review till today. Here's the scale of things. Chipotle and Qdoba are 4 stars almost every time. Slight differences in experience based on location and staff, but for the most part, consistent. This place would have been a 4, but then I had a 5 star Mexican joint today. And I had to drop it down. If you didn't read the name, and just walked in, initially, the layout and decor remind me of a "modern 50s Diner" ... and then you realize it's Mexican food. I got a breakfast quesadilla which was pretty good, and a fairly large size, served with chips, for the price. The rest of the group got 2 burritos and a burrito bowl. The group review for the other 3 dishes was a collective "meh". I tried one of the burritos, and I had to agree. Not a lot of seasoning on the meat in the burritos, and overall just a good flavor, not great. A single complaint I have was that it did sort of take longer than I would have liked to get the food. I mean to get something that's half as big as a Chipotle burrito, in a place that's half as busy, it took easily three times the amount of time. Overall, it wasn't awfully priced, and I wouldn't mind going back, but if there's a choice, I'd go somewhere else.
(3)Ali Z.
I've eaten at Chicks 'n' Salsa on a few occasions and if given the choice, would still rather go across the street to Chipotle instead. I tried the highly touted fish tacos and found them utterly flavorless, both the fried and grilled versions. The fish was mushy and lacked seasoning. The shrimp tacos were okay, not that much better than the ones at Baja Fresh. The food is made fresh to order which I like, but expect a 15-20 minute wait for your food to be ready even if it's just a couple of tacos. The complimentary chips and salsa bar are pretty good and gives you something to do during the long wait. Overall, while Chicks 'n' Salsa makes a good effort, the flavor of the food just isn't there. Don't see myself returning here any time soon.
(3)Tara E.
Love, love, love! Food is excellent! Service is great. Place is clean. They cater to people who have allergies. Also, they have a salsa bar! They give free tortilla chips with any order. Make sure you get the horchata or the strawberry lemonade. They are so refreshing!
(5)Ali B.
I tried the food alone, but go for the fish tacos! Normally fish and tacos don't sound like a winning combinations but this is awesome. My WHOLE family loves these, even my sister who doesn't like Mexican food usually. I recommend grilled over fried. We just wish they offered a two taco option. 3 tacos is too many and 1 taco isn't quite enough. We like to split 4 tacos between 2 people by ordering 1 and 3 tacos. The chips are festively colored for the holidays. Love the pico de gallo but less is more with the guacamole because it doesn't keep well. There's also free wi-fi there.
(4)Aaron F.
Been eating here at least once a week for about two years now. Good stuff & overall really friendly service. The WI-FI makes it convenient for a working lunch.
(5)Munn H.
I happened to see Chick n Salsa when I was in the shopping center it's located in. I had the 1/4 chicken with two sides (sweet potato w/butter & cinnamon & grilled vegetables) and a Horchata to drink. It was all excellent. The place is clean, the help personable, the food is good and the prices reasonable. Except for the lack of table service (order at the counter), this place would hold its own against most up scale Mexican places. I'll be back!
(5)Wendy C.
A couple weeks ago I went here with a friend. I ordered the fish taco (grilled) since my friend highly recomended it. I'm glad I listened because it was the first fish taco I ever had and definitley not the last. It was so tasty and a very refreshing meal with the cabbage, cucumbers and tomatoes in the taco. These ingredients might seem strange at first, but they compliment the fish very nicely. The salsa bar is simple, but it's a nice touch. Guacamole is a must.
(4)bobbi n.
Since my trip to San Diego last fall, I have been craving fish tacos like mad. And while several restaurants have attempted them, none came close to anything I had on my trip. After reading the good reviews of the fish tacos on yelp, and being in the neighborhood (thanks to the much improved iphone app!) I decided that I must try them. And they did not disappoint. I ordered the baja tacos and my husband ordered the chicken enchiladas. Because we didn't really realize the size of our meal, we also ordered nachos. (Photos posted of all three.) Nachos were large and toppings were fresh (guac that came with it was great and the cheese actually tasted like real cheese, not some cheese-like substitute.) Baja tacos were excellent - almost exactly like what I had in San Diego. My husband thought the enchiladas were "pretty good," but I wasn't too impressed with the bite I had, although the sides that came with it were good. One negative was that the seating area was a little dirty (staff just need to sweep up the floors and clean the tables a bit more often), although the kitchen area was immaculate, so don't think that I'm critiquing the whole operation. Also, everything is served in disposable containers - even with disposable flatware. Considering that the flatware was wrapped in plastic, I doubt that it was biodegradable, although I could be wrong. All of the extra garbage seemed a bit unnecessary and made me feel like I should bring my own plate and fork with me next time. What made it even more ironic was the fact that right next to where you picked up the food, they have a copy of a news article with the headline mentioning how "eco-friendly" the food is. The food may be eco-friendly, but what they serve it on sure isn't. I will definitely be back for the fish tacos though and think that if you're a fan of them, you can't go wrong here. If only they served margaritas, it would be upgraded to regular hang-out status!
(4)Matt H.
I feel like I've tried enough things here to write an honest review. I try to avoid writing a review having had just one meal (if iit's practical, that is) I've now tried fish tacos (grilled and battered/fried), steak burrito, grilled chicken, chips, salsas... My summation of everything is "OK". It's *good*, not anything great. Not a lot of bold flavors going on or anything really special. It is fresh and there are a lot of healthy options (sweet potatoes, +1) which is really nice. The fish tacos are pretty good. Above average. The battered is just too much when combined with the mayo-ey slaw. The grilled was much better. Again, not too much flavor. When I added the spicy salsa it was pretty good. I just needed some heat. The chicken was pretty good, but again, a place I frequent near my work (Stav's) serves a grilled chicken with much better spices for about the same price. It was a good value though...at 7.75 for a half chicken and 2 sides + chips/tortillas, that's a good deal. The steak burrito, again, not to sound like a broken record, was pretty much flavorless. Just a huge mess of ingredients with no real taste. Not trying to sound like a hater....like i said it is fairly inexpensive, a good value and they have fresh ingredients. The salsa bar is nice and I liked all of the options. As far as fast food mexican places go, I'd rather eat here than Chipotle , but that's as far as I can really go.
(3)Chrissy W.
So my pal Tony is the mayor and the duke of this place. I used to love love love it. So I'm thinking to myself tonight, "I'll treat the P's to a taco dinner." Errr...make that a burrito dinner, as I'm the only one who made the sad mistake of ordering a taco. So, I asked the guy what he thought of the tamales...his answer wasn't quite enough to make me believe that they were going to be great. I'm down with that...figured I'd try em anyways. Not terrible, but not the best. They were pretty average...not a lot of meat, not a lot of flavor, but throw on some of their delightful habañero salsa, melt some cheddar cheese and anything is phenom. The taco disappointed me most though...They over steamed the tortilla, so it was falling apart and stuck to the wax paper. I had to eat it with a fork. It was a big ole mess. Tasted great though. I love adding some extra pico and some of the habañero salsa to the tacos. Yum Yum. Mom dug her chicky burrito and Dad was a huge fan of his gargantuan beefy burrito goodness. The chips were a hit and the salsas never disappoint. So overall grade C++ Don't mess up the taco next time, and it'll be a solid B. :D
(3)Adam K.
Went here for a lazy Sunday-night dinner. I order the shrimp tacos and my wife ordered the chicken quesadillas, we also ordered their guacamole and chips, all for about $20, though we did have a $3 off coupon. I guess if I had to boil it down to one sentence, I would say that I didn't feel as though I got my money's worth. The tacos were good, not great, Leslie said the same of her food. I did like that we were able to sit outside, I did enjoy the food, but nothing blew me away. If you're looking for a fairly reasonable sit-down meal, this place is good for that. The food is about as authentic as you can get at a quick-serve Mexican place and it tastes fresh. Good place for young families with kids. Reminded me a lot of Baja Fresh, almost exactly the same feel.
(4)Karl C.
If you happen to stumble onto Chicks 'N Salsa when getting off the interstate, you'll be pleasantly surprised. When you walk in, the restaurant strikes you as a very clean and vibrant Baja Fresh-looking joint. But there's more than meets the eye. It's rather spacious for being in a strip mall so it could be a good place for large groups. Although Chicks 'N Salsa is clean and quasi-Americanized, its fish tacos pass the test. My girlfriend and I ordered a few each and it gets our stamp of approval. The taco itself was very flavorful and struck me as "healthy," with an assortment of vegetables inside. They have a salsa station, and their spicy habanero has a good kick to it. The pico de gallo was alright as well. Their chips were freshly-cooked, flavorful and very crispy. Whomever was behind the counter seemed to recognize that I had not been there before, so she took the time to explain the salsa station, etc. and gave me a coupon for my next visit. Although it got very little traffic while we ate (around 5:00 PM), it took a little while to get our orders. So don't expect McDonald's-style fast food service but they were very prompt in delivering it and the staff seems very friendly. I would go again, especially for their fish tacos.
(4)Larry B.
My wife and I are hooked on the Chicken Family Pack: a whole chicken cut up, corn muffins, grilled veggies, a baked sweet potato, pico de gallo and salsa - ready for takeout or dine-in in 10 minutes. We can't eat it all and have leftovers for another dinner. Why, you ask? * It's delicious. The chicken is marinated so well the flavor goes through the skin and into the meat. The veggies go perfectly with the pico de gallo. The baked sweet potato with brown sugar is a treat in itself. The muffins are soft, sweet, chewy (who needs dessert?). * It's healthy. This is a claim rarely heard from Mexican restaurants. They do not use lard or MSG. The salsas and guacamole are made fresh every day. The rice & beans are 100% vegetarian. The food is not greasy or fatty, which is what you get at a typical cheap Mexican place. * Your food is ready fast. I phone in my order, hop in my car and it's always ready by the time I get there. On really busy weekend nights I have to wait 15 minutes. * The price is right. The family pack totaled $18.39 and they honored the $1 off coupon you get with every order. Some people whine about the ambiance, which is "modern luncheonette," but it's OK with me. The decor is clean, casual and efficient. Also, there is no noisy bar full of drunks, there's no loud TV blaring Mexican programs, but there is a help-yourself bar of multiple salsas. Look for the sign of the chicken with the giant sombrero and you can't go wrong.
(5)Michael C.
The best fish tacos - trying to decipher exactly what I love about them. It's not just one thing but a number of things when, all put together, make for an excellent taco. First - the fish (fried with a light, tasty batter) tastes like fish...not too fishy but you know it's fish. Next - the sauce...some sort of creamy sauce which comes to life when you squeeze fresh lime juice on top. Next - the toppings...all fresh and in abundance. Lastly - the shell...two moist corn tortillas to transport it to my mouth. Yum! They also have a decent salsa bar. Ambiance wise it's the quality of a sit down restaurant but the feel of a fast-food joint. Strange because it takes about as long to get your food as a sit-down place but, because of the ambiance, you expect it to be much quicker. They placate you with a free bowl of chips and salsa. Why anyone would go to Taco Bell when you could go here is beyond me!
(4)David K.
We used to come here for the Chicken dinners, which are awesome, but I have recently been coming for the awesome Fish Tacos. Make sure to get the deep fried one, as opposed to the grilled one. The crunchy texture really makes it great to go with the cabbage. As Steve Dolinsky says, best Fish Tacos in the area! Recently I also got a Steak and Potato burrito that comes with a very hearty sauce - a recommendation from the guy at the counter, and it was surprisingly good, better than an average big burrito with steak. I love this place and treasure it more now that Tierra Grill is gone.
(5)Stove P.
My stomach is fully satisfied now that I've found my Mexican safe haven within 5 miles from my house. A lot of my reviews are full of arguments that are so easily agreeable they're pretty much useless. Like, this pizza tasted so much better than that plastic cup I ate for breakfast. Or, the staff at the theatre made the Nazis seem like pure evil. Now reeling this back to legitimate Yelp review talk, it would be VERY easy for me to say Chicks n Salsa rolls its eyes at Chipotle, but it's something I must state considering their proximity to one another. Chipotle is just across Roosevelt, and I don't care that they are both in the 7th Heavenish town of Glen Ellyn, there is NOTHING worth tasting on that side of the street. Here are some useful facts. I ordered 3 vegetable tacos, a side of guac, and an iced tea for ten dollars. I wish it had been cheaper, but I also wish my hair didn't give off the idea that I'd just escaped from an African tribe. Guess I'll have to deal with this. The cashier is a cute lady with two braids. She might keep these braids every day as a job requirement. Who knows? I just know it was appealing. The restaurant is as clean as whistle. I felt so bad at the end of my meal that I'd made a mess. I cleaned it up myself. I hate feeling guilty. I can understand how it might be difficult to retrieve your order when your name is called. Lucky for us, it wasn't crowded, but on a busy night, they'll need to raise their voices. Vegetarians will be well fed! Bring your pale, brittle body here and eat with me! Overall, this is my favorite Mexican place around!
(4)Melissa H.
This is a great place for some inexpensive, healthy Mexican fare. Unlike Chipotle, you won't need to worry about ingesting half your day's calories, either. This is a smaller, strip mall joint (but on the corner, so it's easy to see), with friendly people and clean facilities. I'm not into fish, but I tried their chicken tacos. I like that you can chose your tortilla type and it comes pretty clean (ie you control how spicy you want it). They've got a great salsa bar. Your food comes with a good amount of veggies on it in the first place, and it's not drowning in cheese that will leave you feeling 'gut-bombed.' Tacos are about $2 a piece and I was full on 2 of them. Great for a cheap date! Lots of choices and good prices. I'll be back to try something else.
(4)Hummad H.
Disappointed to say the least. I found this place on Yelp with all the great reviews, and I remembered eating here many years ago. The food wasn't bad... it just wasn't good. It was pretty flavorless. We tried the grilled fish taco, chicken nachos and chicken and steak tacos. The steak and chicken was lacking any flavor, and the salsas also were lacking. It's a shame too, because the place is clean, and the staff seemed nice enough.
(2)Eric R.
Chicks N' Salsa is my annual birthday dinner choice, and everyone in the family has a favorite item. I love love love the fish tacos - the closest I've found to true baja style anywhere in the midwest. My wife eats the chicken, which is deliciously marinated in fruit juices. The kids eat quesadillas and love the Mexican cake dessert. The owner is often there cooking or working the register; she clearly works hard and takes pride in her restaurant and it feels good to support a local business owner. The atmosphere is clean and comfortable and is a step up from fast food joints. Overall you cannot go wrong with this place.
(5)Traci Z.
The fish tacos are awesome. We went there for dinner on Friday because I saw they had fish tacos. I enjoy fish tacos, if they are made correctly and have good flavors. The fish tacos here was the best I have tried in a long time. They were so light and tasty. I was very excited that we found this place. My boyfriend got just a regular beef burrito and he enjoyed it. The habanero salsa was delicious. Loved they gave you some chips to go along with the meal. The employees were friendly. I am pretty sure the owner was the one who took our order and she was very nice. She was talking to us like we were old friends. Since it was our first time there, we had a lot of questions and she was very helpful and patient answering them. I will definitely be returning. I would love to try something else but the fish tacos will probably always win!
(4)Tony H.
Still a huge fan, but now they're offering a sweet honey chipotle barbecue sauce to put on top of whatever you choose, for an extra 50¢. You've got to try a chicken burrito with this bbq sauce, and ask for some of the fiery habañero salsa ontop of that. It's foodgasmically awesome.
(4)Michael R.
I really want to like this place as my sister raves about it, but all is not right. First the good: Fish tacos, both fried and grilled, are excellent. The Wrapple (apple-stuffed fried burrito) is a unique treat. The salsa bar, when fully stccked, is a great thing. Finally, the chicken is quite tasty. Now the Not-So-Good: The service is SLOW. I waited 25 minutes once when there were only two other customers in the place (and one was already eating). The side dishes are sub par, including the beans, rice, guacamole, chips, mashed potatoes, etc. The pork, chorizo, and steak tacos are uninspired. Finally, every time I've been there something in the order was messed up. I'll keep going back for the fish tacos, but the place is what it is.
(3)Maria P.
Let me start off by saying I gave this place a second chance. The first time I went I waited about 15 to 20 minutes for my food. The second time, I waited as well. I have no problem waiting if the food is decent, don't get me wrong. My husband and I have tried their fish tacos which are supposed to be the best and unfortunately tasted kind of fishy. The shrimp tacos were decent, as were the quesadillas. I can't say that I'll be running back any time soon.
(2)Marcia M.
The lady owner charges me much more that the price on the menu over her head and insists that it is her right to charge me whatever she wants. I don't personally know her so I assume she is prejudiced against me for some reason. She says her prices change constantly and no one knows what they will be until the cash register prints the price.?! Don't go there until she prints an apology!!!
(1)Sujan P.
Corn muffin- so decadent, I love the chew corn kernels inside. Delicious Horchata- tasty Chips and salsa- that's some good salsa, not the best, but good Tres leches cake- delicious, usually hard to find in these parts. Always get a coupon- sweet!
(4)Daniel M.
Chicks 'N Salsa is my number one source for fish tacos. I've been here many, many times and still cannot shake the amazingness. You'll pay a bit more here than most Mexican-style restaurants but it's worth it. I've tried their fish tacos (grilled and beer battered), guacamole, and churros. Guacamole was a bit pricey for amount. Flavor is above most commercial guacamoles. Meh. I ordered my churro with the chocolate option and they provide a small plastic cup filled with warm chocolate sauce. If you have no shame in polishing off a gluttonous, chocolate churro after eating a full meal here then I applaud you. Although, I have also pulled off this monstrous feat. Fish tacos get their own paragraph.The fish tacos here are excellent, fact. They put a lots of fresh vegetables, tilapia , cilantro, and a healthy dose of chipotle mayo on this beast. It comes in two styles 1) beer battered and fried 2) grilled. I strongly suggest the beer battered, for it is far superior in flavor. I thought the grilled variety was kinda weak. They also have a salsa bar with mini-lakes of salsa. Hot sauce is actually pretty hot which is good for a young esophagus like my own. Other salsas are of high marks too. In conclusion, I suggest trying the fish tacos beer battered, it may change your life.
(5)Jody J.
Having lived in San Diego for 4 years I am pretty picky about the fresh mex food. This place isn't half bad, just not quite Southern California. Having recently moved to Glen Ellyn, we have been trying a lot of the local places to eat. Chicks 'N Salsa has become one on our regular rotation. Yes, it does take a little time to get your food, but that is b/c it is all made to order. We have gotten a few items for dinner (burittos, tacos) which are all decent, but our favorite reason for going there is the breakfast burritos. They are served all day long, just wish they would open at 7 am to grab one of the way to work, but has been our Sunday morning savior. Everyone there is extremely friendly and helpful. I would much rather frequent a place like this over Chipotle or Qdoba which are right down the street. All-in-all, definitely worth a try.
(4)alicia b.
Well I went here in the summer, its close to my work and always drive past it and love the name soo damn cute and obvious why didnt I ever think of that? My friend and I took our boy Dan for his bday becasue we heard they have fish tacos and dan luvs fishy tacos! We ordered nachos to share and each of us got a variety of tacos. We sat down and saw what we assumed were our nachos sitting on the counter but no one called us or brought them to us(btw we were the only ones in the place). So we just waited and finally the lady brought them over and they were cold and old by that time. But whatever we were hungry so we chowed down.Our tacos were all ok but nothing to great.I would probably never go back and they totally rape you it was like $35 for a couple tacos and an order of nachos. I tell ya, I wish this place was better so we could have another lunching place
(3)Jeanette K.
There have been so many great reviews on this place that I expected to be blown away by the food. It was good, but not like in a I-will-drive-30-miles-and-traipse-through-the-Âsnow-to-get-to-Sultan's-Market kind of way. Maybe because I didn't try the award-winning fish tacos. Maybe because I use too many dashes in my reviews. Anyways, I had the half chicken dinner. The chicken was excellent. You can really taste the citrus marinade, which turns the edges of the chicken a slight yellow-orange color. I also had the rice and black beans with my meal, which were kinda bland. The salsas on the salsa bar were ok, again nothing fabulous. The BF ordered nachos and taquitos; both were meh. Overall, Chicks and Salsa is way above Boston Market and even the Rosticeria, but it has yet to make my eyes roll into the back of my head. I'll have to come back for the fish tacos.
(3)Chester R.
5 years later, i'm lowering it one star. the service is getting worse. i don't even bother going here for lunch anymore........takes like 15 minutes to get a simple 2 tacos order, and half the time they screw it up. the food is good...but really expensive........long waits, poor accuracy. the owner needs to pay for better help. it's all really young kids that work there.
(3)Mike P.
Fish tacos the best? Not so much, and kind of a long wait for fast food. I live in the area and I enjoy a good fish taco. 'Don't see myself coming back in the near future.
(2)Dianna R.
BEST FISH TACOS :) :) :) :) :) When I came into this restaurant and saw that the Chicago Tribune said that they had the best fish taco in Chicago, I HAD to give it a try. Man, they were not kidding' around :) I ordered two grilled tilapia tacos and they were fantastic. The fish was tasty and cooked well. The veggies and condiments were super fresh and flavorful. Also, I was a big fan of the tortilla; I think it was corn and not a regular flour one which was neat and different. Overall, I really appreciated the non-greasy aspect of their food. It was kind of nice to get a fresh and light taco which left me full but not uh-oh-I-think-I-just-ate-a-gut-bomb-full :) (Maybe I will change my mind when I go back and try the fried fish tacos, but based on the other reviews I think this review will stay as is.) Side Note: The guacamole is also super good. If you are a guac-fanatic like myself, I wouldn't pass this up.
(5)Michele S.
Not your ordinary tacos. I love the food here. Tasty and near authentic. I would tell everyone to try this place. Yummy. Try their fish tacos and you will not regret it.
(4)Pat E.
Good, but I have gone their twice and they have messed up my order. Better off going to Los down the road! It is also very hidden in the strip mall it is located in!
(3)Joe G.
This restaurant was recommended to me by a friend and they were dead on it was awesome The fish tacos are a must have grilled or battered. Great menu something for everyone. Clean, inexpensive, nice portions. Five Stars
(5)Christina A.
Wow! Wow! Wow! The food is simply amazing! And the prices?? Incredible. We love the nachos with chicken and Fish tacos!! The salsas are heaven in a tiny cup. If you haven't been here yet because it's in a strip mall... please... do yourself a favor and go eat.
(5)Marissa H.
After living in the Southwest for a couple of years, I was really missing decently made fish tacos. Chicago has the worst Mexican food out of anywhere I've lived. Where is the good food? Well, holy crap. Glen Ellyn, apparently. Chicks 'N Salsa is closer to the Mexican border than I ever was. That might be the Taco Bell logo, but honestly...it's really amazing and nothing like Taco Bell. Sometimes I just order one fish taco and then fill up about six containers of salsa to eat with the chips they give you with your meal. It's so wonderful!!! I probably will have to go eat here for lunch now because my mouth is watering away thinking about it. I can't deny myself fish tacos when I come in here, but I have also tried the chicken, which is delicious. If you want good fish tacos, come here. SERIOUSLY. Perfect texture/flavors and everything. It's just perfect.
(5)Dave H.
My wife and I decided to try this place because they always send us coupons. We got the fish tacos and they were ok. This place is built like a Baja Fresh with many salsas and sides. Fish tacos are hard to find so this is your best bet in Glen Ellyn.
(3)Monica F.
After stopping in looking for a good fish taco (or 2) and being completely satiated, I've made this fine establishment my new favorite place. Their food rocks! I always get the fish tacos, 2 grilled and 1 fried and always leave full. Very fresh ingredients and not greasy at all. The limes you get to squeeze on the tacos makes it soooo good. And their guacamole is fan-freaking-tastic. It's worth the trip just to try that alone. Only negative is one time the red head lady behind the counter yelled at the kid at the register in front of a bunch of customers to the point that his face turned bright red. I felt bad for him. Besides that, this place is money
(4)Sandra F.
This is one of my favorite places to eat in Glen Ellyn. Cindy is an amazing chef and the chicken cooking on the open grill is nearly enough to make you drool!! The food is fresh, good for you and one of my favorite things - shrimp fajitas - is perfect for Lent. You also get your choice of salsas to top off the yummy food - perfect. Prices are outstanding - perfect place for lunch or dinner.
(4)Marty M.
Great salsa. Had burrito was great looks forward to coming back and try more things like the fish tacos
(4)Janine N.
Excellent Fish Taco's - I do like too that they have the low carb tortillas. Excellent fresh taste to them as well. I think for someone like me that had never had them before - I'm a BIG fan now. Prices are good too. Friendly service as well.
(4)Cyn P.
I am a fan! The menu is not extensive, but everything they serve is delicious, and there are some healthy food options such as sweet potato, and grilled veggies. I love getting a 1/4 chicken with 2 sides - the aforementioned grilled veggies and sweet potato - all for about $7 with tax. The salsa bar is the best feature. Ask for chips as a side and make as many trips to the salsa bar as you want. Muy Muy Delicioso!!!
(4)J O.
Fried fish tacos are really good, but don't eat too much cuz you'll get sick of them. Takes awhile for them to make...
(4)Daniel P.
I was looking for a good, quick meal that wasn't fast food and stumbled upon this little treasure. I had the enchiladas with steak, which tasted fantastic with the works on top. Black beans and rice are always a favorite. My only issue was that the steak was a bit chewy, which although I realize it's not a steakhouse, it could be improved. Altogether, excellent!
(4)Katharine K.
I love their grilled fish tacos, which taste very fresh and have nice flavor combinations. I usually add a side of fresh grilled veggies to my meal as well as guacamole to spoon over everything (Just 'cause I love guac.), and I am happy! My husband really likes their burritos and the kids like the quesadillas. They have a nice little salsa bar too. I do wish though that they didn't use throw away utensils and plates/bowls for dine in; it bothers the environmentalist in me. :~)
(4)Robyn C.
Yes...it does exist...a nice, clean little store front locale where a vegetarian who loves Mexican food can have a spicy chile relleno and his meat-eating better half can have fall-off-the bone marinated chicken and a baked sweet potato. No texting each other from different locations required! Chicks 'n Salsa in Glen Ellyn took the place of an incredibly bland Baja Fresh and has improved the corner lot on Baker Hill. If you like chicken, go with the marinated 1/4 or 1/2 with the sides. The sweet potato is the best, served of course a-la-oink with butter and brown sugar. Hubby loves the rellenos and the open salsa bar. Most things are wildly inexpensive and come with your choice of flour, corn or low carb tortillas. For those of you with families (or if you don't mind leftovers) they have a great deal for $9.99 that includes really good chicken and two large sides. For the locals...watch those coupons. They often offer $5 off on a $15 order...my husband and I had leftovers on an $11 tab. Small gripes: packed during weekday lunch hours and occasional slow service. Salsas definitely could be spicier, hence the 4 star rating. Small in the scope of things. Go on, split a chicken.
(4)Jennifer B.
The food is delicious and fresh. The pico de gallo and the guacamole are both really really good. I got the shrimp quesadilla, which was awesome. I'm not a fan of having to pay extra for salsa if you order chips and guac, but the rest of the food was so good I'll over look it.
(4)Nicole L.
I tried this place about 1-2 years ago and was rather shocked to read the reviews here as I didn't think it was anything special. To me it's just like Baja Fresh - bland. That being said, I'm not a fish taco fan, so maybe those are good, but the chicken tacos and salsa are nothing worth writing home about.
(2)Daryl D.
A bunch of people in our area rave about this spot. I say take a pass. Being from the southwest this is far from mexican food. Fish Tacos were soggy and bland. It took forever to get our food. It seemed like they were rushing their process and maybe thats why the food was so average. There are lots of mexican food choices in the area find somewhere besides here.
(2)Calysta L.
I was super hung over when I brother took me to his place, so the huge signature burrito with steak helped soak up all the previous night's debauchery at Simone's and Martin's Corner (see my reviews). The place is really clean, a good space if you have a large group, and there is a salsa bar. The salsa bar has spicy habanero, mild tomatillo, pico de gallo, and chipotle. Surprisingly, since I was in the Midwest, the spicy habanero was actually spicy. The burrito came stuffed with steak, rice, tomatoes, beans, cheese, and cilantro, and was quite tasty.
(4)Patricia M.
I am from California but grew up locally. Finally had a chance to get to Chicks n Salsa. Definitely one of the best most freshest Mexican places in the area. I had the fish tacos and they were the closest thing to CA fish tacos that I have found here! Guac is yummy and the fresh salsas were very close to the CA taquerias. I highly recommend it. Prompt and friendly service also.
(4)Brian F.
Excellent citrus marinated grilled chicken along with the best fish tacos this side of Baja. I highly recommend the double-leg meal and the fried fish tacos.
(4)andy d.
darn good chicken! i love the tortilla soup, the tacos are good. free chips and salsa with lunch. yummy!
(4)Dave N.
Behind this unassuming stripmall facade and fast service set-up lurks some of the best TexMex in Chicago. Deservingly well known for its excellent marinated grilled chicken and fish tacos, the true cognoscenti order the carnitas. Succulent, caramelized pulled pork that melts in your mouth with fresh pliant corn tortillas and crisp vegetables. The best carnitas tacos I've had. Honestly, the food's better here than at most of the much more expensive Mexican options. If you're driving down Roosevelt and feeling a bit peckish, stop here.
(4)Karen S.
This place is tasty. Fish tacos - grilled were excellent. Also the burritos are great. I could really eat here everyday. It definitely has better Mexican food than other nearby restaurants.
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