Besa Mi Taco
1180 N Arlington Heights Rd, Itasca, IL, 60143
Besa Mi Taco Menu
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Address :
1180 N Arlington Heights Rd
Itasca, IL, 60143 - Phone (630) 773-0722
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Kathy R.
I had the Nachos with skirt steak. Yummy... the restaurant is clean and they have a beautiful patio. They also have accept the Belly Card program to earn free food. Will be back.
(5)Jess F.
This place is pretty good. I used to be a fan of the steak taco platter but now I actually prefer the Chicken taco salad. Their steak seems to have changed a little since a few years ago so I switched to the chicken and the taco salad and I really enjoy that. Their chips are not very good, too hard and no salt on them. They do have excellent salsa though. And inside the restuarant they have a salsa bar you can help yourself to as much salsa as you want which is really nice.
(3)Angela P.
The food here is always good. I usually stick to the 2 taco plate, and it comes to the table within 2-3 min! So quick. I also love the fresh salsa bar. Not authentic Mexican, I don't even think anyone here speaks Spanish, but they still have good food
(5)Dinah T.
I've been going to besa mi taco for sometime now for lunch. The food is pretty good, I usually order their steak taco salad, of a light crispy taco shell with tons of chopped Romain lettuce, shredded cheese, black olives, and red onions topped with grilled steak, slices of avocado, and sour cream. You can also have salad dressing but I tend to opt that out. I also had their corn or flour tacos, and their combo meal of their cheesy enchiladas with ground chicken, ground beef or cheese that comes with rice and refried beans. I don't care much of their serving plates which are thin black plastic plates with plastic utensils. If you asked for water they do have two types of watering dispensers, one is plain with ice the other is with slices of limes and lemons. Drinks are your typical soda or you could actually have a frozen margarita or beer. There is a fresh salsa bar that you can get as much mild or spicy salsa as you'd like. It's great with their warm crispy chips sold separately. Their guacamole is pretty good as well. The food is somewhat authentic but the price can be a little steep for the amount of food you get. It's not your typical divey Mexican restaurant. To order your meal you would go up to the counter and they would call out your number. This place also takes "Belly" accounts if you have one to build up food points for free food:) Inside has plenty of seating whether you want to sit in a booth or grab a table and put them together for a bigger party. They also have outdoor seating as well. Overall I like this place it's clean and the staff is friendly and the food is pretty good I would come back here again.
(4)Dave K.
It's a convenient location to the office, and a change of pace from where everyone seems to gravitate towards. The food is not bad at all, and it is full of customers, yet the staff get people ordered and ready for pick up quite quickly. I'm not sure if it's the tortilla strips or whatever is in the salads, but the salt content is really high, I could taste it halfway through my lunch. All in all, it is a good place, their menu is quite vast and the people are very friendly.
(3)Jess J.
Love this local spot. Good food, good service. Wish they were open later to hit up after a long night. Everything is good. Love the steak burritos, awesome taco salad, great tacos. A good idea to call ahead for pickup and you get your food thru the drive thru window.
(4)Jessica P.
Great steak tacos and mild salsa...i also think the tamales are great, especially if you order the plater which comes with beans and rice... Sometimes the staff can be a bit rude and the food is a little pricy but I still think it's one of the better places around!
(4)Tina L.
I ordered the beef taco salad with ranch dressing. I thought the ingredients were fresh and all the flavors came together nicely. I only wish they would give you a separate big bowl or something, so that you can miss all the ingredients inside. I don't know how we're expected to eat this when the bowl gets broken and eaten, so where will all the insides go after that? And then also, I don't want to keep digging to the bottom to get the lettuce, I want to have most of the ingredients mixed into one bite if possible. I dunno, someone's got to think of something different for this... My boo ordered the torta plate, which basically comes with rice and beans on the side of the torta. It's not the best torta I've had, but it was pretty good. I do like that they have a salsa bar where you can get green and red salsa and pico de gallo...as much as your little heart desires! You know me, I love my sauces. And I love my variety. :)
(3)Steve K.
Went today for lunch, and was disappointed in what is usually is pretty good lunch spot. It was 12:25, prime time. But I have never waited more than 10 minutes for food. First warning was the now hiring signs on the door, they are definitely very short staffed. Placed my order, then found one of the many dirty tables, which I cleaned myself to eat at. I waited, and waited! After 20 minutes, I walked up to the counter and requested a refund. You figure they would try to apologize or offer something conciliatory, but nothing. The portions have been getting smaller here, so it's time to find a new spot for Mexican. They have lost a customer, and I'm sure there will be many more due the complete lack of customer service.
(2)Ryan R.
Ordered the Pastor tacos platter, received stale, chewy corn tortillas, dried out rice and the Pastor was grisly.
(2)James C.
Food = phenomenal! Drive thru wait time = horrendous! Total drive thru experience = meh
(3)Tim J.
I have been to Besa Mi Taco a few times for lunch with my co-workers. Food = Is pretty good. The Cheesy Chicken Burrito is my go to. The Taco salads are also good. Service = Ok. Wait time after you order can be long and annoying. Management = Sucks. Manager is loud and rude. Only issue I have had was when my group at work ordered a tray of Flautas for a work lunch event. We called to get a little better deal and after a few calls we got it. However when we went to pick it up, we were denied any sauce. We had to wait for the manager to come out and tell us it was not part of the deal. We spent 52 bucks on a single tray and they would not even give us any sauce. After we complained the manager gave us 2 little single person sauce trays. Pretty disappointing for how much business my work gives this place. Won't be ordering any catering from them again. Save a penny, loose a customer!
(3)Lalo B.
The Pork (Al Pastor) is their best offering for Tacos or Burritos. The meat is soft and well seasoned.
(4)Tiffany T.
Food is not the best. The drive thru takes forever and for some reason my food I always cold when I get it. I live in walking distance. Only go here if you're starving
(2)Joe I.
After a 4 mile run this evening, I was HUNGRY! So... I haven't been to this place in a few years, and thought I'd give it another try. I wasn't that impressed when I visited before so.... I got the impression not a lot had changed right away. Walking to the counter I overheard a snippet of a conversation between a worker and an older couple. The we're complaining about something, and the worker dude suggested getting the manager...never a good sign. I ordered the Gringo Pollo Burrito. It was big enough, but the first bite told me it should have been named Salty Chicken Burrito. It had tons of sour cream. And was pretty bland. It was supposed to have some special red sauce, but I couldn't find any. And where was the salsa? Ok, this one would be my fault. There is a small table with salsas on it. Duh. It's at the salsa bar. Once found, I took a few small paper cups at dipped out a few samples. The mild was really mild, and the hot was pretty hot. But my main complaint about this "fresh salsa" is that it was puréed beyond recognition. I guess it just didn't look fresh, and certainly didn't taste as fresh as it should. And this gringo likes guacamole in his burritos. Was that an option because I missed that too if it was. Sorry to say not much has changed. Sign on the door says they are looking for cooks and waitresses. I guess that should have been an indicator also.
(2)Tobin h.
I expected lot more from this highly tauted taco joint. It was cold and dirty. Service was pretty good but the sloppy tables and left over lettuce on my tray made for a horrible impression. Don't see a big reason why I would come back so I offer that to you...they don't seem to take pride in perfection. Go to the next taco taquieria because they just don't seem to care very much. They get their office crowd but no pride in being awesome!
(2)Scott H.
Love this place for quick Mexican food at great prices! Love the burritos and tacos. I love all the different salsa selections! Drive thru does take a while but always happy with the food.
(5)Joseph R.
The food is always fresh and I especially like the salsa bar. It isn't the most authentic Mexican, but it seems healthier. I usually just get tacos and find two of them to hit the spot for lunch. The fish tacos are good.
(4)Jennifer S.
I'm going back to my original 2010 assessment. Besa Mi Taco is officially off my lunch list. I had been visiting way too often over the past year and a half. Tacos, chips and salsa. I'd change up the tacos, but that was about it. A few things I don't like...they take far too long at the drive thru, they only have one size drink which isn't enough when eating salty chips and spicy salsa and I'm no longer a fan of their staff. Here's why... There is a man who is usually in a dress shirt and dress pants. I thought he was the manager, now I'm not so sure. Basically, as I wait at the drive up window, he's always touching the girls. I was going to find someone to complain to, but I thought he was the manager. Inappropriate much? I felt uncomfortable and no one was touching me. So last week while waiting at the drive thru (for way too long), I watched a girl literally pick her skin/cuticles/nail polish off her fingers and flick it away. We made eye contact. She looked away and kept doing it. I was so disgusted. This is the area where the food is packed up. I don't want finger skin particles in my lunch, thanks. So I ask for the manager. I'm waiting for the touchy guy to show up and instead a woman who I've never seen before comes to the window. I tell her about the picker girl and before I'm even done, the manager acknowledges that this is a known issue with this girl. Really?!?! I point out how awful this is and ultimately unacceptable. The manager tells me that she checks the girls fingers for cleanliness every day. Huh??? Annoyed and disgusted, I leave. And I won't be back. Yuck. Where's Robert Irvine when you need him? Actually, they don't deserve Robert because they know all about their disgusting issue and don't care to fix it.
(2)David P.
First I have been going to this restaurant since it opened - but yesterday was my last as I had gone 10 miles on my bike to eat a late lunch at 1:30PM. Place was dead and I put my bike next to a vacant table (only 2 other patrons in the whole place) ordered my food and sat down when this manager came up and she told me to move my bike out. I told her that there was no rack or any place to put it and asked if I could just keep it next to me for this time she said no as it is a restaurant and to move it. I complied and went outside (50 degrees it was) since my bike cost me over $ 1,500 and ate outside - as alone my bike was not going to be. She was such a snot nosed witch with no people skills that I will never go there again, it ruined my lunch and just made me so angry - and all for going out to lunch at her shop!
(1)Richard D.
Pretty good place to eat at. The portions are way bigger than they appear on the menu. Very reasonable wait and flavorful. They even serve margaritas. Would recommend this place to anyone traveling through Itasca.
(3)Catherine P.
It was a Thursday afternoon and I asked the ladies in the office if they wanted to order in some lunch. We tossed around a few regular places and one of the women suggested "that Mexican place near Arlington Heights Rd and Devon". I knew exactly what she was talking about: Besa Mi Taco!! My sister goes there regularly and loves it. Let's try it. One of the ladies I work with immediately said she has been there and it NOT a fan. I could not figure out why knowing how much my sis frequents it, so we ended up ordered from here just the two of us to give it a shot. Sure enough, I loved it. I ordered a chicken quesadilla and a taco al pastor and loved every bite. The chicken they used for the quesadilla was grilled white meat chicken breast cubed up. Flour or corn tortillas- your choice. My one and only complaint for take-out is they put lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and guacamole in the same container as the quesadilla and sadly, the lettuce and tomatoes being water-based veggies, can make the tortilla a bit on the soggy side, but if this is my only complaint...we found a winner! I have since returned a few times, once more doing take-out via the drive thru which is really not their forte. The drive thru should only really be for pick up orders. They do not cook fast enough to have you place an order and get it at the window. I think I was in the drive thru for at least 10-15 minutes. The most recent visits have been to dine in and dining in is typically pretty good. Fountain drinks so you can refill before you hit the road. Clean dining room and a salsa bar! Who doesn't like that. All you can eat Salsa. The taco al pastor was sadly, a little cold. The meat is obviously pre-made and that's fine, but they needed to heat it a little more before serving. I didn't complain because of the time crunch, but next time, I will be sure to point out that my last taco was not very hot. The quesadilla seems to be my go-to dish here and even by itself, is enough to make a meal off of. I have no complaints about the potions at all. They put plenty of meat in their tacos. Always a plus for a Mexican place. Def one of my go-to Mexican joints for lunch!
(4)Tim B.
Quick bite, thumbs way up; any importance of outing, maybe next time. Food is slightly above average for what you'd expect for this type of commercial Mexican, getting the cheese sauce IN a burrito preferable to the dip and chips as it quickly turns to plastic, better-than-expected meat quality (minimal fat/gristle bits), free all-you-want salsa bar of salsa rojo and verde (red and green) in both spicy and wussy options, and pico de gallo. Most of the staff has above-average smiles, always nice, though how to modify orders knowledge could improve, and cheap frozen margaritas is a pleasant mid-day relaxer ;) Good chorizo for those who, like me, put a judgement emphasis on that. Generous portions.
(3)Tony H.
Go with a shredded chicken or ground beef taco on a corn tortilla. Top your taco with the freshly made mild, red salsa. You won't go wrong. I stick with the tacos while i'm there and they're impressive. The is not bland, pre-made from a bag. I think they grind it fresh themselves. The horchata isnt' too sweet. The dining room is always packed during lunch, dinner is a better time to go. They close at 9p which i find a hard to make at times. They have a drive through but it's pointless. They make the food from scratch and it takes a good 5-10 minutes for the food to come out, be prepared for a wait in your car. For good food, i don't mind the wait. Don't forget the extra mild salsa.
(5)Barry K.
I have been a fan of this place for years. But, I have to say, I only eat their ground beef tacos with the soft corn tortillas. I love the flavor of the beef and fresh corn tortillas are delicious. But what I really travel sometimes an hour for is their salsa verde picante. I am obsessed with how good it is. I have tried to make it at home and failed several times. It is a wonderful mix of tangy, spicy, savory goodness. I put it on everything. I wish they sold it by the bottle, I would stock up. I usually get the taco platter which comes with 2 tacos (of the larger sized variety,) rice and refried beans. The beans are quite tasty, but the rice is forgettable. If you are a big eater, add an extra taco. Ask for the tacos to be kept separate from the beans and rice. If you dont, they put the tacos on top of the beans and it causes the corn shells to soak up the moisture and they will break apart and cause a big mess. They have other salsas and peppers available at the salsa bar, but I love the verde so much, I never take the other one. They are always very nice to me and very polite. I think it is a family run business owned by people who have other more formal mexican restaurants in the area. If you do it right, you walk out of there with your fingers smelling like corn masa until you wash them. I love it!
(4)Bob R.
The first and last time I went to Besa Mi Taco was several years ago. At the time, I was not impressed and never went back But, today I was craving a Burrito and didn't want to drive anywhere. Besa Mi Taco is in the same lot that the building I work in is located, so I decided to give them another try. This time, I simply went there to order Steak Burrito to take back to the office. It was around 1PM and there were not too many patrons. The restaurant has the look and feel of a chain Mexican/Tex Mex place. They have a fairly typical menu consisting of tacos, burritos, enchiladas, tortas, and tamales. They also offer food for "gringos" and salads. I seem to recall that the last time I was here I ordered tacos, thinking they would be the best since they are in the name of the restaurant. Since I ordered a burrito, I can't say whether or not they were better than last time. However, the burrito was not bad. There was a healthy portion of steak, tender and tasty. The beans were good, and the lettuce and tomato were fresh. One thing I do recall I liked last time were their salsas. I had the spicy red salsa today and it was very good. They grilled the burrito, a touch that I like. But, the tortilla itself was a little doughy. Overall, the burrito was not the best I've ever had, buut it was far from the worst. All in all, not too bad. The servers were pleasant and helpful. The place itself looked clean. One thing that sets them apart from other "fast food" tex-mex restaurants is they offer Frozen Margaritas in several flavors. Too bad this was lunch in the middle of the workday. They look pretty good. I may have to go back there after work is done for the day.
(3)John P.
They charge 30 cents for a cup of ice water. Seriously. What's next... Are you going to charge for plastic-ware and napkins? Left a bad taste in my mouth even though the tacos were good.
(3)Lisa M.
Food is good as long as it doesn't get cold, then the grease congeals and is not so yummy any more. I would have given this more stars if not for the rude man who wanted to charge me $2.50 for a top off of my horchata. It was maybe 1/4 of the cup I asked for but he was bound and determined to make me pay for another full serving. I probably won't be back after that.
(3)Stacy M.
I wanted to like this place, it's so close to home and i love tacos, but nope. I got steak tacos to go. they come with lettuce, cheese, and tomato i think? i added cilantro and onion and was told it would be an extra charge. that's fine. i waited a little for my food, checked out the salsa bar, looked interesting. when i got my food she asked if i wanted mild or hot salsa. i picked hot and after she walked away realized i should have asked for a container to get the green salsa at the bar, but oh well. once i got home and ate my tacos i realized i definitely should have asked for the salsa. the meat didn't have any real flavor to it. this place definitely fit my "bigger isn't better" thoughts on taco places. it filled me up but i don't ever see myself going back here. very americanized chain.
(2)Colleen F.
It is impossible for them to get an order correct. I have given them 3 chances in the drive thru and they always send me the wrong food out. I'm done!
(1)Bob B.
I did a drive thru this time. Service was quick even though just a few cars ahead of me. Shredded chicken tacos was my choice. The chicken was tender with just the right amount of juicy. Fresh veggies and flour shell. I went with mild salsa when asked, which was very mild. No zing at all. Good overall!
(4)Sheena P.
Flat out rude service from who seemed to be the GM, and the burritos were just awful, a salty, bland, greasy mess . At least of you're gonna have bad service, have good food, right? I had to throw most of the food away, so awful. I have a stomach ache from the very little I did eat. What a shame, used to be so good . Rude service and gross food? Last time I go there ever.
(1)Stuart T.
I'm going to pump this place up a little bit but at the same time I gotta tell the powers that be (if they're reading this), that there are plenty of other Mexican restaurants with more than 2 1/2 or 3 stars in this area. One thing I would suggest is to put chips out by the salad bark. You shouldn't have to pay extra for chips when you've got a salsa bar. The chile relleno was good. The red sauce was great the green sauce was great. The place is clean & the staff is nice. One more suggestion would be to offer a bean chimichanga.
(4)Odranre B.
Food not that great especially for being a bit on the expensive side. Plenty of parking. Plenty of elbow room inside.
(2)Glen M.
Translates to bland flavorless pretend to be Mexican food! Worst Burrito suizo I've ever had! Never going back! Tastes like boiled chicken lettuce and sour cream in a tortilla ! Taco Bell has more flavor! Quick RUN FOR THE BORDER!
(1)Crazy P.
I've been here several times because its one of the few taco places close to my house. The food is ok, but nothing to get excited over. The service is continually getting worse - most recently I stopped by on a Saturday evening when they weren't busy and tried the drive thru. Well, I waited about 5 minutes before anyone came to the speaker, then the guy says "give me a minute". I had half a mind to just leave and probably should have. It took a few more minutes until he took my order and when I went to pay he disappeared. 5 minutes later someone different came to the window and asked me if I paid. I nearly flipped because I had the charge receipt and clipboard in my hand and my receipt was still sitting on the register. When I told her I paid, she stared at me. It took another 5 minutes for my food and then she forgot the drink. Then I get the drink and the top pops off the second I get it in the car and spills in my car. The food was terrible when I finally got to eat it so I ended up throwing most of it out. In total, $11 in the garbage and 20 minutes of bs trying to use their drive thru. Then another 10 minutes cleaning lemonade from my car. Needless to say I'm not going back. There is better customer service at the DMV...
(1)Beth G.
Again, this review and update is based solely on their Mexican Chopped Salad, because it is the only thing I eat here. I have to up my rating because it's stayed consistent through the years. The taco shell is always fresh and never greasy. They don't skimp on the fixins, it's prepared quickly, and it's a semi-healthy lunch for only 6 bucks. Plus it's the closest place to where I work. I still would not eat anything else at Besa Mi Taco as I am not a fan of bland, faux Mexican. But the Mexican Chopped Salad remains pretty damn good.
(3)Matthew W.
Brutal! When the Portillo's next door is PACKED and this place is EMPTY it should have been a clear warning.... Everyone who works here is friendly and helpful, but the FOOD is BLAND - in fact I would say the burrito SUCKS - it would remind me of eating the packing "peanuts" that come in boxes and end up all over the house (if I ate them). Salsa bar is ok, but NO NO - NEVER NEVER 1 Quesadillas (bland) 3.99 Burritos 5.99 + Xtra chx 1.99 Platters 5.99 P/Ench beef 2 Pepsi 3.98 Total - $23.86
(1)Jennifer H.
The enchiladas were pretty good, very hot and had lots of shredded chicken and sauce, and that's coming from a person who considers herself a Mexican foodaholic. The Spicy Chicken taco salad was a lot of food for the price, but there was too little spice to it. This was a prime example of a ton of lettuce and some other stuff thrown on top. Also, when you have a specialty salad on the menu, usually there is a specialty dressing to go along with it...not here. Overall an okay experience, but I'll stick to my southside taco joints, thanks.
(3)Chrissy H.
My family and I used to be regulars here. We would come for dinner about once a week. You would think seeing the same people every week would prompt the manager to at least acknowledge you and say "hi". The food is ok... it was close to home and convenient. However, we have stopped going due to the poor service and poor management. I can only guess the manager is a relative because he has no personality and no business being a manager of a restaurant.
(2)Peter F.
Better and cheaper then Taco Bell.
(4)Julie R.
Considering this is not technically a sit-down Mexican restaurant, the food is outstanding. For the same price, if not cheaper compared to Taco Bell, you get authentic food made quick to order. I usually get the corn tortilla tacos with beans instead of meat. They are very tasty and the hot salsa offered at the salsa bar is the best around. My husband will get the chicken quesadilla which is also unique and very flavorful. Another plus is that they have $3.50 frozen margaritas. I would not come here looking for a dinner date or sit-down restaurant style meal, but for a quick dinner or lunch it works very well.
(4)Sonya D.
They first opened in 07. This place was great!!!! The meat was moist, flavorful, and grilled. I know real taco spots like La Pasadita in Chicago. This place was closest to home and the tacos were almost as good. Today I went there and it was a huge mistake. The meat was chopped into tiny pieces, very dry, can tell it was just fried, lacked flavor, charged me $1.40 for 3 slices of brown avacado. This place used to be a jem, now it's like every other mexican chain establishment. I will never go back!!
(1)Joseph E.
I've gone to Besa Mi Taco quite a few times over the past several years although typically with coworkers. I never thought of it as a great experience; merely passable. One thing I noticed is that the establishment is severely cutting their expenses. They no longer use plastic cups for their salsa and the napkin dispenser and silverware trays have been completely removed. It looks more spartan inside but it also feels very lacking-- especially when you want a napkin and have to wait for your order to receive it. Today I went with a group of three-- we arrived around 11:30am. There was no one in line and about three people eating. We ordered basic lunch items and I decided to try the Taco salad with grilled chicken breast. Oh-- and a horchata to drink. My guess is they don't get a lot of orders for the "grilled" chicken breast as it took near ten minutes for my order to come out; probably a few minutes past that as my coworkers already had their meals and were eating. It's rare that I have to ask the staff when my order will be ready although I have had similar experiences at this place before, albeit years ago. My taco salad arrived with a generous glop of sour cream on top and a huge mound of sliced chicken breast. However none of it appeared like it had been grilled and the whole thing just had a very "empty" taste to it-- it's a whole lot of nothing for around 9 bucks (with a drink). I feel like any semblance of a soul this place ever had (which wasn't much) has been completely removed by this point. If you want cheap Mexican food that has more bang for your buck I can think of a few other places in mind but from now on I'm going to have to give this one a pass.
(2)Ammy F.
I went there last week with my family,we were not impressed with the food choice. Girl that worked at the register was really mean And not very professional. We had to wait more than 15 minutes to get a burritos. Will not go back.
(3)Joe M.
I am a fan of the food here. The drive thru does take a bit of time but I think that the food makes up for it. I usually get the enchiladas platter and it has yet to disappoint.
(4)Rhonda G.
When you say something in Spanish it automatically sounds more interesting, romantic, etc. Which would explain why I found myself at place lovingly called "kiss my taco". Now think about it's slang connotation...umm, yeah. Name aside, this place didn't suck and actually hit the spot (ha! not THAT spot). Definitely not the best I ever had but not the worst (keep in mind that I was absolutely starving). I got a chicken burrito and although it tasted fine, it didn't have any of the Mexican flavor that you would expect/commonly find. I might go back if I find myself famished and in the area. Oh yeah, some meals came with fries which seems quite odd.
(3)Charles S.
Eeeek... They were a good place to go and grab a beer (bottled) at a cheaper price than the Hyatt Place. The chips were stale and the salsa had NO kick. Not to mention the cheap paper containers used for teh salsa bar. The Tacos were bland and could only be helped by the bland salsa. Though I will say the produce used in the Tacos did seem "fresh"... just bland.
(2)Brittany L.
Not bad food for the price. I ordered the fajitas through the drive thru and by the time I got home everything was still hot. Nothing too special about the food itself. If you are looking for your typical local Mexican restaurant go here.
(3)D C.
Great and friendly staff. Nice atmosphere. Good food. I prefer the grilled chicken soft tacos, but many of my coworkers like the taco salad. Not a fan of the guac, but it doesn't stop me from going there weekly. The hot salsa is perfect. For the most part, the service is very fast. There is one day I try to avoid it though - Cinco De Mayo.
(4)Anthony V.
I visit here on occasion whenever I'm in the area. They have been consistently good with the items that I have ordered. My favorite is the Grilled Chicken Burrito. What I like is that it isn't too spicy so you can modify it to your liking. I have never had a bad experience and the food comes out very promptly. I would recommend it to anyone that wants a decent, quick meal. It's a fast food style restaurant that doesn't have servers. They do have a drive thru if you are in a time crunch. I will keep eating here when I'm in need of a meal.
(4)Dave G.
The Mexican Chopped Salad is awesome, so that is what I am basing my review upon this is all my work buddies and I get from here. The salsa the give you is pretty runny and watery but it always seems to be fresh and it tastes pretty good.
(4)Tim P.
The food here is good for the price. I'd eaten there several times before reading this review and I think the other reviewers are missing the point of this place. The enchiladas are good and the chocolate cake they have for dessert is certifiably fantastic. It is not world class food, but it is fast, inexpensive and good.
(3)Hans H.
Went to actually eat in the restaurant. No free chips and salsa? Minus one star. I have to say that my initial review was based on their al pastor. Their beef and chicken are actually quite bland, unfortunately. Yeah, like the other yelpers said, there are better local places. Average at best, but I'll still go there. In fact, I'm going to go there right now...
(3)Nick S.
Absolute gem.
(5)j s.
For the second time in 2 weeks I went through the drive up and have received an incorrect order. A salad, no onions, ranch dressing on the side can't be that difficult, can it? The food is good here, but the help is something else. I'm not going there again.
(2)Nicole L.
I was so excited when I saw this new Mexican place had opened. Unfortunately it was like a version of Baja Fresh, complete with a salsa bar, except Baja is better (if only barely). Love the name though!
(2)Carolyn M.
NEGATIVE 5 STARS!!! Wow this is quite possibly the most foul disgusting crap I have EVER had. My folks were having their house remodeled and they stayed at the Eaglewood for the weekend so we met them there and took the kids swimming and after we were hungry for Mexican food. We came across besa mi taco BIG MISTAKE. At first we were happy when we saw the prices weren't so bad.... Then we got our food....... I've had better frozen dinners except that I suspect that it might have been one of those $1 banquet frozen dinners. I had the chicken enchilada plate. The sauce had a funky taste, the cheese I'm pretty sure was American melted on top, there was maybe a quarter of a chicken breast cut up in TWO ENCHILADAS (probably cause they were about 2 inches long). The rice and beans were boring but I wish I had more than the three bites of each they gave me to give it a chance! I ordered a margarita which was pitiful! We also ordered nachos that were supposed to have all this stuff on them soooo they came in a metal takeout container and in it was a handful of crushed up chips covered in a hard layer of that same crusty American cheese with a glob of sour cream and a glob of guacamole. Impossible to eat. Not to mention the fact the guy taking the orders with the overdone brows was soooooo rude. They don't have napkins anywhere in the restaurant you have to ask, so you would think ol Mr. Friendly would be used to being asked for them but NOOOO he gave me an attitude, rolled his eyes, and gave me 4 napkins for the table of EIGHT!!! So then we left and ordeal was over until the drive home and the tummy aches hit us all. Let's just say that the rest of the night was not fun with one bathroom!!! DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME!!! Small update: HA just happened to notice a friend is the first on the previous reviews of this crap shack, I could have saved some time had I read this before wasting my time, money, and risking my digestive health here!!!
(1)Robert G.
Margaritas were "Country Time" lemonade quality. Food was "Taco Bell" quality. Not some place I would go out of my way for a meal.
(2)Diana M.
called in to order for company lunch had an order or 45 employees and the rude help armando can't answer a question and hangs up ...lost my business and i am glad i did not order anyway ..look at the bad reviews bad food bad customer service i bet my tacos he will be out of business by thanksgiving thank you very mucho mr taco!
(1)Angie B.
Love their guacamole here too bad the chips are extra. The food is completely tex mex and what i have tried has been good but the prices are a little up there. The restaurant itself is pretty big, nice decor and they have a small salsa bar. I have never had an issue finding parking either.
(3)Cristin B.
The food is amazing. I've never been disappointed. The service is always friendly and it's a great atmosphere.
(5)Amanda V.
This place sucks. It's expensive and the service sucks. You can go to a real Mexican restaurant and probably get more for your money. This place is just a rip off. The last time I ate there my boyfriend and I saw a couple mice wandering around on the patio. Yes, it was outside but still that's pretty gross. Won't be returning.
(1)Laura O.
Ugh! Chips tasted old. The salsa bar was okay. I ordered the enchilada dish. The staff recommended the cheese enchilada. I was quite disappointed that they used cheddar cheese instead of chihuahua cheese or other Mexican cheese. In short- food tasted bland and CHEAP ! The chairs were quite small and different looking- and i don't think I am a big person- just an average size girl- but the chair was a snug fit. It made me wonder for those who may be larger- how would they get in to the seat! The room looked festive but there is a picture of a woman trying to look sexy while eating a chip- that ruined the decor of the place. And what the heck- the female staff looked like they wore clothes made or a roller rink- I don't know if they were trying to copy Hooters idea of dressing their servers or what? It did NOT fit the place. Overall- this place was a big disappointment.
(1)Amrita J.
Ok so I was in Itasca, IL this week for work, and decided to try this place for dinner one night, despite the reviews I had already seen from Jonathan K. LoL! (Which almost made me change my mind might I add....)...... So I ordered a taco platter which was just okay.....it was pretty bland as mentioned in other reviews. I would say the best part of the meal was the frozen margarita I had, and the "salsa"bar.....the salsa was very good. Definitely not like Baja Fresh (as Nicole L. mentioned).....Baja Fresh has food that actually tastes YUMMY!!! :) Needless to say, I will not be going back here if I'm looking to eat Mexican food.
(2)Jim L.
I didn't think it was possible to find two 1 star restaurants RIGHT NEXT to each other. I tried to find something nice to say....really. But my fellow reviewers have said it all... The best I can come up with is the cute name....translation: Kiss My Taco. Sorry, I kissed it goodbye.
(1)AK Y.
Stayed at local hotel and needed a quick eat. Hotel shuttle recommended and I tried it out. Pleasantly surprised quick and fresh. Great prices for step above fast food.
(3)Mark J.
I went back today to give it a second try. The food tasted better and the service was faster, I received my food around 5 minutes after I placed my order. However, I was disgusted when I sat down at the table. It was coated in a thin layer of dried leftovers that I could feel when I put my hands down. Probably from the night before seeing that I was there at 11:15 am. The place was completely empty upon arriving and once again all employees were standing in back talking. It was like the table hadn't been cleaned the night before and it stunk. I looked at the table next to me and leftover food (lettuce, cheese) was on the bench. Will not be returning for a 3rd visit, I prefer to eat at clean establishments.
(2)Johnny X.
I must first start off by stating that i am thoroughly impressed by Besa Mi Taco's ability to screw up every single possible aspect of the fast food dining experience. I mean, seriously; you have to TRY to get zeroes across the board. And yet, there it is. I have given this place FOUR chances to do what they claim to do, and have only been able to not absolutely piss me off only ONE of those times. Even then, I wasn't even satisfied; I was just not pissed off. All four times, I went around lunch hour (11:30 - 1ish). I understand that the place is surrounded by office buildings, and is going to get a lot of traffic. The problem is, THEY don't understand it, even though they've been open since 2004. I have seen the line regularly reach the doorway of the place and snake around, several times during the course of my meals, and this doorway is a good 40-50 feet from the registers. And how many registers do they need to handle a REGULAR clientele that size? Well, they think 2 should be enough. It's not like they just don't have the staffing, its that they just don't have the physical registers. That's right - all these years of long lines and waiting customers, and they never sprung for a single additional register. I've also been stuck at the end of that line, and timed 12 minutes on one particular visit (yeah, I'm that guy. I'm in a line doing nothing, and I have a watch). i stayed because I don't have any set time limit on my lunch break, but I bet a lot of these other people do, and I am astounded by the level of patience they have. The place is also very open, and thus, noisy and echo-y. To really drive this fact home and make you appreciate it, they put the shortest, meekest girls they can find at the registers, so you have to literally lean over the register and get right in their face just to hear what they're saying. Even though I'm the third guy in line I watched do this, they still give me this dirty look like I'm doing something totally bizarre and unacceptable. Today, I ordered four steak tacos. I did not give them any kind of custom order. 4 steak tacos and a large pop. That's it. I stood at the pickup area until they got an order number that was TWENTY ahead of mine. I understand that certain foods take time, like baked apple pancakes or a deep-dish pizza, but I had ordered the most basic of all Mexican food groups. And its not like they had to cook more steak or something, I saw plenty of steak dishes whizzing past me. I asked the girl if she had an ETA on #96. I had to repeat this twice, and then yelled it at her the third time. I got that nice dirty look that they apparently train their employees to give again. She walked away, then came back and started handing out peoples orders again. She didn't even look at me. 5 minutes later, she asks what my order number was. I hand her my ticket, but by that point, someone was carrying it over. She slid it across the counter to me, both without apologizing, nor without making eye contact or even smiling. Now on to the food: I have gotten four dishes there: Tacos, a torta, a burrito, and a couple of enchiladas. All four of these taste EXACTLY THE SAME. I'm not even exaggerating. It's honestly astounding that they manage this. It wasn't until today that I finally realized how this can possibly be: ALL THE FOOD IS BLAND AS HECK. Seriously. I took a BIG bite out of my first taco at lunch, and you know what I thought? "WOW. This is a really flavorful tortilla." Yeah, the tortilla. I immediately realized that ALL I could taste is the tortilla. You know you're in trouble when the most flavorful part of your food is the part that is SUPPOSED to be bland. So, I inspected. I had my tortilla there, yes. There was a decent helping of tomatoes in there, a bunch of lettuce, a TON of cheese, and a decent amount of steak. So, its not that they just skimped on anything, the food really was this bland! I was honestly legitimately intrigued. I couldn't believe it. i forekd out a few pieces of steak and popped them in my mouth. They tasted like nothing, like water, or air or plain jello. It was downright bizarre. The texture was horrible, too: it was like a very dry pork. I even thought it might ACTUALLY be pork, and then realized that they don't serve pork there. It was bad times. I got through about a taco and a half, and couldn't take it anymore. I brought it back to the counter, explained my situation, and told them I'm going to need my money back. The manager offered to cook me a fresh dish, but I explained to him that the way they cook their food IS the problem, so his idea wouldn't help. he did give me my money back without much hassle, which was indeed pleasant. The amount I paid was in excess of $10, which is also EGREGIOUS for four tacos and a pop. that's like $2 each for four servings of cardboard in a tasty tortilla. Finally, what's with the name? Veiled sexual reference, anyone? They've even got lips on the sign. Gross.
(1)Mike P.
i should of listened to the bad reviews on here for this place....even El Burrito Loco is better than this place....I got my tacos and I've never seen so much grease on a taco before....the flour shell seriously was wet....I work down the street and I don't think I'll ever go here again.
(2)Teagan C.
I must first start off by stating that I am thoroughly impressed by the amount of time put into the lengthy term paper presented on Besa Mi Taco's service. (I am also enlightened with the way you managed to turn the word 'echo' into an adjective.) It makes no sense why you went back to this place after the second time of receiving such horrific service. I have to say Besa Mi Taco is a great place to get tasty food fast. Unlike Qdoba and Baja, Besa Mi Taco uses real cheese to melt on their dishes. Their nachos literally melt in your mouth with a delicious combination of beans, cheese, guacamole, sour cream, and your choice of meat. Because my boyfriend is a vegetarian, we both also appreciated the variety of vegetarian dishes that they offer. The vegetables found in their veggie burritos and veggie quesadillas are undoubtedly always fresh and grilled to perfection. I also appreciate the option of choosing my meal to be on flour or corn tortilla. Their noon time rush is no different than the noon time rush at its neighboring restaurant. With great food there comes a great amount of people. Though I too have first handedly seen customers impatiently wait for their food, I have also taken note of the fast paced workers behind the counter. It's clear that they're trying to get the food out as fast as they can. The atmosphere of Besa Mi Taco is very enjoyable as well. Their satellite radio station plays everything from Spanish rock to catchy salsa. As for putting the 'shortest, meekest girls they can find at the registers,' I do not understand what height has to do with the service of the girls. I've encountered nothing but sweetness and manners from each and every of their workers. These waitresses always take my picky orders with a smile on their faces. I have not once encountered this so called 'dirty' look. It makes me wonder what could possibly provoke such sweet girls to exhibit such a look. Furthermore, there is an always pleasant busboy saving you the trouble from tossing away your garbage. If you're in an absolute hurry and can't step down for some food, the service at drive-thru is extraordinary. Not once has the adorable girl in drive-thru forgot to ask me what kind of salsa I would like with my meal. I've always driven away with plenty of napkins, salsa, and food. I have seen this girl fill my pop while taking another person's order and handing me my change all at once. Great service is never a question for this outstanding restaurant. The food: My absolute favorite dish at Besa Mi Taco is their tacos al pastor. 'Al Pastor' is pork marinated with a blend of different spices. So for those of you who were broken hearted that pork could not be found on the menu because of a person's inability to read it correctly, have no fear, the pork at Besa Mi Taco is pure pleasure. If you happen to be on a tighter budget, Besa Mi Taco also offers 99 cent tacos of ground beef and ground chicken. Their tacos are the bulkiest tacos I've ever eaten. It is evident that the cooks are not shy when it comes to the amount of meat in the tacos. They also come garnished with lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese. (If you're a picky eater like me, no one has a problem with adding cilantro, sour cream, and onions to the bulkiness.) In all honesty, your taste buds have to be altogether ruined for you to call the food bland. Finally, the name Besa Mi Taco is quite comical to those with a sense of humor. There's nothing veiled about the name. It comes complete with the slogan, "Food so fresh, you wanna slap it." I would recommend this tasty joint to anyone and everyone. I would also urge that if a restaurant has let you down more than twice, don't bother going back.
(5)Tina L.
I ordered the beef taco salad with ranch dressing. I thought the ingredients were fresh and all the flavors came together nicely. I only wish they would give you a separate big bowl or something, so that you can miss all the ingredients inside. I don't know how we're expected to eat this when the bowl gets broken and eaten, so where will all the insides go after that? And then also, I don't want to keep digging to the bottom to get the lettuce, I want to have most of the ingredients mixed into one bite if possible. I dunno, someone's got to think of something different for this... My boo ordered the torta plate, which basically comes with rice and beans on the side of the torta. It's not the best torta I've had, but it was pretty good. I do like that they have a salsa bar where you can get green and red salsa and pico de gallo...as much as your little heart desires! You know me, I love my sauces. And I love my variety. :)
(3)Steve K.
Went today for lunch, and was disappointed in what is usually is pretty good lunch spot. It was 12:25, prime time. But I have never waited more than 10 minutes for food. First warning was the now hiring signs on the door, they are definitely very short staffed. Placed my order, then found one of the many dirty tables, which I cleaned myself to eat at. I waited, and waited! After 20 minutes, I walked up to the counter and requested a refund. You figure they would try to apologize or offer something conciliatory, but nothing. The portions have been getting smaller here, so it's time to find a new spot for Mexican. They have lost a customer, and I'm sure there will be many more due the complete lack of customer service.
(2)Ryan R.
Ordered the Pastor tacos platter, received stale, chewy corn tortillas, dried out rice and the Pastor was grisly.
(2)James C.
Food = phenomenal! Drive thru wait time = horrendous! Total drive thru experience = meh
(3)Tim J.
I have been to Besa Mi Taco a few times for lunch with my co-workers. Food = Is pretty good. The Cheesy Chicken Burrito is my go to. The Taco salads are also good. Service = Ok. Wait time after you order can be long and annoying. Management = Sucks. Manager is loud and rude. Only issue I have had was when my group at work ordered a tray of Flautas for a work lunch event. We called to get a little better deal and after a few calls we got it. However when we went to pick it up, we were denied any sauce. We had to wait for the manager to come out and tell us it was not part of the deal. We spent 52 bucks on a single tray and they would not even give us any sauce. After we complained the manager gave us 2 little single person sauce trays. Pretty disappointing for how much business my work gives this place. Won't be ordering any catering from them again. Save a penny, loose a customer!
(3)Lalo B.
The Pork (Al Pastor) is their best offering for Tacos or Burritos. The meat is soft and well seasoned.
(4)Tiffany T.
Food is not the best. The drive thru takes forever and for some reason my food I always cold when I get it. I live in walking distance. Only go here if you're starving
(2)Kathy R.
I had the Nachos with skirt steak. Yummy... the restaurant is clean and they have a beautiful patio. They also have accept the Belly Card program to earn free food. Will be back.
(5)Dinah T.
I've been going to besa mi taco for sometime now for lunch. The food is pretty good, I usually order their steak taco salad, of a light crispy taco shell with tons of chopped Romain lettuce, shredded cheese, black olives, and red onions topped with grilled steak, slices of avocado, and sour cream. You can also have salad dressing but I tend to opt that out. I also had their corn or flour tacos, and their combo meal of their cheesy enchiladas with ground chicken, ground beef or cheese that comes with rice and refried beans. I don't care much of their serving plates which are thin black plastic plates with plastic utensils. If you asked for water they do have two types of watering dispensers, one is plain with ice the other is with slices of limes and lemons. Drinks are your typical soda or you could actually have a frozen margarita or beer. There is a fresh salsa bar that you can get as much mild or spicy salsa as you'd like. It's great with their warm crispy chips sold separately. Their guacamole is pretty good as well. The food is somewhat authentic but the price can be a little steep for the amount of food you get. It's not your typical divey Mexican restaurant. To order your meal you would go up to the counter and they would call out your number. This place also takes "Belly" accounts if you have one to build up food points for free food:) Inside has plenty of seating whether you want to sit in a booth or grab a table and put them together for a bigger party. They also have outdoor seating as well. Overall I like this place it's clean and the staff is friendly and the food is pretty good I would come back here again.
(4)Dave K.
It's a convenient location to the office, and a change of pace from where everyone seems to gravitate towards. The food is not bad at all, and it is full of customers, yet the staff get people ordered and ready for pick up quite quickly. I'm not sure if it's the tortilla strips or whatever is in the salads, but the salt content is really high, I could taste it halfway through my lunch. All in all, it is a good place, their menu is quite vast and the people are very friendly.
(3)Jess F.
This place is pretty good. I used to be a fan of the steak taco platter but now I actually prefer the Chicken taco salad. Their steak seems to have changed a little since a few years ago so I switched to the chicken and the taco salad and I really enjoy that. Their chips are not very good, too hard and no salt on them. They do have excellent salsa though. And inside the restuarant they have a salsa bar you can help yourself to as much salsa as you want which is really nice.
(3)Jess J.
Love this local spot. Good food, good service. Wish they were open later to hit up after a long night. Everything is good. Love the steak burritos, awesome taco salad, great tacos. A good idea to call ahead for pickup and you get your food thru the drive thru window.
(4)Jessica P.
Great steak tacos and mild salsa...i also think the tamales are great, especially if you order the plater which comes with beans and rice... Sometimes the staff can be a bit rude and the food is a little pricy but I still think it's one of the better places around!
(4)Angela P.
The food here is always good. I usually stick to the 2 taco plate, and it comes to the table within 2-3 min! So quick. I also love the fresh salsa bar. Not authentic Mexican, I don't even think anyone here speaks Spanish, but they still have good food
(5)Joe I.
After a 4 mile run this evening, I was HUNGRY! So... I haven't been to this place in a few years, and thought I'd give it another try. I wasn't that impressed when I visited before so.... I got the impression not a lot had changed right away. Walking to the counter I overheard a snippet of a conversation between a worker and an older couple. The we're complaining about something, and the worker dude suggested getting the manager...never a good sign. I ordered the Gringo Pollo Burrito. It was big enough, but the first bite told me it should have been named Salty Chicken Burrito. It had tons of sour cream. And was pretty bland. It was supposed to have some special red sauce, but I couldn't find any. And where was the salsa? Ok, this one would be my fault. There is a small table with salsas on it. Duh. It's at the salsa bar. Once found, I took a few small paper cups at dipped out a few samples. The mild was really mild, and the hot was pretty hot. But my main complaint about this "fresh salsa" is that it was puréed beyond recognition. I guess it just didn't look fresh, and certainly didn't taste as fresh as it should. And this gringo likes guacamole in his burritos. Was that an option because I missed that too if it was. Sorry to say not much has changed. Sign on the door says they are looking for cooks and waitresses. I guess that should have been an indicator also.
(2)Tobin h.
I expected lot more from this highly tauted taco joint. It was cold and dirty. Service was pretty good but the sloppy tables and left over lettuce on my tray made for a horrible impression. Don't see a big reason why I would come back so I offer that to you...they don't seem to take pride in perfection. Go to the next taco taquieria because they just don't seem to care very much. They get their office crowd but no pride in being awesome!
(2)Scott H.
Love this place for quick Mexican food at great prices! Love the burritos and tacos. I love all the different salsa selections! Drive thru does take a while but always happy with the food.
(5)Joseph R.
The food is always fresh and I especially like the salsa bar. It isn't the most authentic Mexican, but it seems healthier. I usually just get tacos and find two of them to hit the spot for lunch. The fish tacos are good.
(4)Stuart T.
I'm going to pump this place up a little bit but at the same time I gotta tell the powers that be (if they're reading this), that there are plenty of other Mexican restaurants with more than 2 1/2 or 3 stars in this area. One thing I would suggest is to put chips out by the salad bark. You shouldn't have to pay extra for chips when you've got a salsa bar. The chile relleno was good. The red sauce was great the green sauce was great. The place is clean & the staff is nice. One more suggestion would be to offer a bean chimichanga.
(4)Jennifer S.
I'm going back to my original 2010 assessment. Besa Mi Taco is officially off my lunch list. I had been visiting way too often over the past year and a half. Tacos, chips and salsa. I'd change up the tacos, but that was about it. A few things I don't like...they take far too long at the drive thru, they only have one size drink which isn't enough when eating salty chips and spicy salsa and I'm no longer a fan of their staff. Here's why... There is a man who is usually in a dress shirt and dress pants. I thought he was the manager, now I'm not so sure. Basically, as I wait at the drive up window, he's always touching the girls. I was going to find someone to complain to, but I thought he was the manager. Inappropriate much? I felt uncomfortable and no one was touching me. So last week while waiting at the drive thru (for way too long), I watched a girl literally pick her skin/cuticles/nail polish off her fingers and flick it away. We made eye contact. She looked away and kept doing it. I was so disgusted. This is the area where the food is packed up. I don't want finger skin particles in my lunch, thanks. So I ask for the manager. I'm waiting for the touchy guy to show up and instead a woman who I've never seen before comes to the window. I tell her about the picker girl and before I'm even done, the manager acknowledges that this is a known issue with this girl. Really?!?! I point out how awful this is and ultimately unacceptable. The manager tells me that she checks the girls fingers for cleanliness every day. Huh??? Annoyed and disgusted, I leave. And I won't be back. Yuck. Where's Robert Irvine when you need him? Actually, they don't deserve Robert because they know all about their disgusting issue and don't care to fix it.
(2)David P.
First I have been going to this restaurant since it opened - but yesterday was my last as I had gone 10 miles on my bike to eat a late lunch at 1:30PM. Place was dead and I put my bike next to a vacant table (only 2 other patrons in the whole place) ordered my food and sat down when this manager came up and she told me to move my bike out. I told her that there was no rack or any place to put it and asked if I could just keep it next to me for this time she said no as it is a restaurant and to move it. I complied and went outside (50 degrees it was) since my bike cost me over $ 1,500 and ate outside - as alone my bike was not going to be. She was such a snot nosed witch with no people skills that I will never go there again, it ruined my lunch and just made me so angry - and all for going out to lunch at her shop!
(1)Richard D.
Pretty good place to eat at. The portions are way bigger than they appear on the menu. Very reasonable wait and flavorful. They even serve margaritas. Would recommend this place to anyone traveling through Itasca.
(3)Matthew W.
Brutal! When the Portillo's next door is PACKED and this place is EMPTY it should have been a clear warning.... Everyone who works here is friendly and helpful, but the FOOD is BLAND - in fact I would say the burrito SUCKS - it would remind me of eating the packing "peanuts" that come in boxes and end up all over the house (if I ate them). Salsa bar is ok, but NO NO - NEVER NEVER 1 Quesadillas (bland) 3.99 Burritos 5.99 + Xtra chx 1.99 Platters 5.99 P/Ench beef 2 Pepsi 3.98 Total - $23.86
(1)Catherine P.
It was a Thursday afternoon and I asked the ladies in the office if they wanted to order in some lunch. We tossed around a few regular places and one of the women suggested "that Mexican place near Arlington Heights Rd and Devon". I knew exactly what she was talking about: Besa Mi Taco!! My sister goes there regularly and loves it. Let's try it. One of the ladies I work with immediately said she has been there and it NOT a fan. I could not figure out why knowing how much my sis frequents it, so we ended up ordered from here just the two of us to give it a shot. Sure enough, I loved it. I ordered a chicken quesadilla and a taco al pastor and loved every bite. The chicken they used for the quesadilla was grilled white meat chicken breast cubed up. Flour or corn tortillas- your choice. My one and only complaint for take-out is they put lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and guacamole in the same container as the quesadilla and sadly, the lettuce and tomatoes being water-based veggies, can make the tortilla a bit on the soggy side, but if this is my only complaint...we found a winner! I have since returned a few times, once more doing take-out via the drive thru which is really not their forte. The drive thru should only really be for pick up orders. They do not cook fast enough to have you place an order and get it at the window. I think I was in the drive thru for at least 10-15 minutes. The most recent visits have been to dine in and dining in is typically pretty good. Fountain drinks so you can refill before you hit the road. Clean dining room and a salsa bar! Who doesn't like that. All you can eat Salsa. The taco al pastor was sadly, a little cold. The meat is obviously pre-made and that's fine, but they needed to heat it a little more before serving. I didn't complain because of the time crunch, but next time, I will be sure to point out that my last taco was not very hot. The quesadilla seems to be my go-to dish here and even by itself, is enough to make a meal off of. I have no complaints about the potions at all. They put plenty of meat in their tacos. Always a plus for a Mexican place. Def one of my go-to Mexican joints for lunch!
(4)Tim B.
Quick bite, thumbs way up; any importance of outing, maybe next time. Food is slightly above average for what you'd expect for this type of commercial Mexican, getting the cheese sauce IN a burrito preferable to the dip and chips as it quickly turns to plastic, better-than-expected meat quality (minimal fat/gristle bits), free all-you-want salsa bar of salsa rojo and verde (red and green) in both spicy and wussy options, and pico de gallo. Most of the staff has above-average smiles, always nice, though how to modify orders knowledge could improve, and cheap frozen margaritas is a pleasant mid-day relaxer ;) Good chorizo for those who, like me, put a judgement emphasis on that. Generous portions.
(3)Beth G.
Again, this review and update is based solely on their Mexican Chopped Salad, because it is the only thing I eat here. I have to up my rating because it's stayed consistent through the years. The taco shell is always fresh and never greasy. They don't skimp on the fixins, it's prepared quickly, and it's a semi-healthy lunch for only 6 bucks. Plus it's the closest place to where I work. I still would not eat anything else at Besa Mi Taco as I am not a fan of bland, faux Mexican. But the Mexican Chopped Salad remains pretty damn good.
(3)Bob R.
The first and last time I went to Besa Mi Taco was several years ago. At the time, I was not impressed and never went back But, today I was craving a Burrito and didn't want to drive anywhere. Besa Mi Taco is in the same lot that the building I work in is located, so I decided to give them another try. This time, I simply went there to order Steak Burrito to take back to the office. It was around 1PM and there were not too many patrons. The restaurant has the look and feel of a chain Mexican/Tex Mex place. They have a fairly typical menu consisting of tacos, burritos, enchiladas, tortas, and tamales. They also offer food for "gringos" and salads. I seem to recall that the last time I was here I ordered tacos, thinking they would be the best since they are in the name of the restaurant. Since I ordered a burrito, I can't say whether or not they were better than last time. However, the burrito was not bad. There was a healthy portion of steak, tender and tasty. The beans were good, and the lettuce and tomato were fresh. One thing I do recall I liked last time were their salsas. I had the spicy red salsa today and it was very good. They grilled the burrito, a touch that I like. But, the tortilla itself was a little doughy. Overall, the burrito was not the best I've ever had, buut it was far from the worst. All in all, not too bad. The servers were pleasant and helpful. The place itself looked clean. One thing that sets them apart from other "fast food" tex-mex restaurants is they offer Frozen Margaritas in several flavors. Too bad this was lunch in the middle of the workday. They look pretty good. I may have to go back there after work is done for the day.
(3)Barry K.
I have been a fan of this place for years. But, I have to say, I only eat their ground beef tacos with the soft corn tortillas. I love the flavor of the beef and fresh corn tortillas are delicious. But what I really travel sometimes an hour for is their salsa verde picante. I am obsessed with how good it is. I have tried to make it at home and failed several times. It is a wonderful mix of tangy, spicy, savory goodness. I put it on everything. I wish they sold it by the bottle, I would stock up. I usually get the taco platter which comes with 2 tacos (of the larger sized variety,) rice and refried beans. The beans are quite tasty, but the rice is forgettable. If you are a big eater, add an extra taco. Ask for the tacos to be kept separate from the beans and rice. If you dont, they put the tacos on top of the beans and it causes the corn shells to soak up the moisture and they will break apart and cause a big mess. They have other salsas and peppers available at the salsa bar, but I love the verde so much, I never take the other one. They are always very nice to me and very polite. I think it is a family run business owned by people who have other more formal mexican restaurants in the area. If you do it right, you walk out of there with your fingers smelling like corn masa until you wash them. I love it!
(4)John P.
They charge 30 cents for a cup of ice water. Seriously. What's next... Are you going to charge for plastic-ware and napkins? Left a bad taste in my mouth even though the tacos were good.
(3)Lisa M.
Food is good as long as it doesn't get cold, then the grease congeals and is not so yummy any more. I would have given this more stars if not for the rude man who wanted to charge me $2.50 for a top off of my horchata. It was maybe 1/4 of the cup I asked for but he was bound and determined to make me pay for another full serving. I probably won't be back after that.
(3)Stacy M.
I wanted to like this place, it's so close to home and i love tacos, but nope. I got steak tacos to go. they come with lettuce, cheese, and tomato i think? i added cilantro and onion and was told it would be an extra charge. that's fine. i waited a little for my food, checked out the salsa bar, looked interesting. when i got my food she asked if i wanted mild or hot salsa. i picked hot and after she walked away realized i should have asked for a container to get the green salsa at the bar, but oh well. once i got home and ate my tacos i realized i definitely should have asked for the salsa. the meat didn't have any real flavor to it. this place definitely fit my "bigger isn't better" thoughts on taco places. it filled me up but i don't ever see myself going back here. very americanized chain.
(2)Colleen F.
It is impossible for them to get an order correct. I have given them 3 chances in the drive thru and they always send me the wrong food out. I'm done!
(1)Bob B.
I did a drive thru this time. Service was quick even though just a few cars ahead of me. Shredded chicken tacos was my choice. The chicken was tender with just the right amount of juicy. Fresh veggies and flour shell. I went with mild salsa when asked, which was very mild. No zing at all. Good overall!
(4)Sheena P.
Flat out rude service from who seemed to be the GM, and the burritos were just awful, a salty, bland, greasy mess . At least of you're gonna have bad service, have good food, right? I had to throw most of the food away, so awful. I have a stomach ache from the very little I did eat. What a shame, used to be so good . Rude service and gross food? Last time I go there ever.
(1)Odranre B.
Food not that great especially for being a bit on the expensive side. Plenty of parking. Plenty of elbow room inside.
(2)Crazy P.
I've been here several times because its one of the few taco places close to my house. The food is ok, but nothing to get excited over. The service is continually getting worse - most recently I stopped by on a Saturday evening when they weren't busy and tried the drive thru. Well, I waited about 5 minutes before anyone came to the speaker, then the guy says "give me a minute". I had half a mind to just leave and probably should have. It took a few more minutes until he took my order and when I went to pay he disappeared. 5 minutes later someone different came to the window and asked me if I paid. I nearly flipped because I had the charge receipt and clipboard in my hand and my receipt was still sitting on the register. When I told her I paid, she stared at me. It took another 5 minutes for my food and then she forgot the drink. Then I get the drink and the top pops off the second I get it in the car and spills in my car. The food was terrible when I finally got to eat it so I ended up throwing most of it out. In total, $11 in the garbage and 20 minutes of bs trying to use their drive thru. Then another 10 minutes cleaning lemonade from my car. Needless to say I'm not going back. There is better customer service at the DMV...
(1)Jennifer H.
The enchiladas were pretty good, very hot and had lots of shredded chicken and sauce, and that's coming from a person who considers herself a Mexican foodaholic. The Spicy Chicken taco salad was a lot of food for the price, but there was too little spice to it. This was a prime example of a ton of lettuce and some other stuff thrown on top. Also, when you have a specialty salad on the menu, usually there is a specialty dressing to go along with it...not here. Overall an okay experience, but I'll stick to my southside taco joints, thanks.
(3)Chrissy H.
My family and I used to be regulars here. We would come for dinner about once a week. You would think seeing the same people every week would prompt the manager to at least acknowledge you and say "hi". The food is ok... it was close to home and convenient. However, we have stopped going due to the poor service and poor management. I can only guess the manager is a relative because he has no personality and no business being a manager of a restaurant.
(2)Tony H.
Go with a shredded chicken or ground beef taco on a corn tortilla. Top your taco with the freshly made mild, red salsa. You won't go wrong. I stick with the tacos while i'm there and they're impressive. The is not bland, pre-made from a bag. I think they grind it fresh themselves. The horchata isnt' too sweet. The dining room is always packed during lunch, dinner is a better time to go. They close at 9p which i find a hard to make at times. They have a drive through but it's pointless. They make the food from scratch and it takes a good 5-10 minutes for the food to come out, be prepared for a wait in your car. For good food, i don't mind the wait. Don't forget the extra mild salsa.
(5)Glen M.
Translates to bland flavorless pretend to be Mexican food! Worst Burrito suizo I've ever had! Never going back! Tastes like boiled chicken lettuce and sour cream in a tortilla ! Taco Bell has more flavor! Quick RUN FOR THE BORDER!
(1)Julie R.
Considering this is not technically a sit-down Mexican restaurant, the food is outstanding. For the same price, if not cheaper compared to Taco Bell, you get authentic food made quick to order. I usually get the corn tortilla tacos with beans instead of meat. They are very tasty and the hot salsa offered at the salsa bar is the best around. My husband will get the chicken quesadilla which is also unique and very flavorful. Another plus is that they have $3.50 frozen margaritas. I would not come here looking for a dinner date or sit-down restaurant style meal, but for a quick dinner or lunch it works very well.
(4)Sonya D.
They first opened in 07. This place was great!!!! The meat was moist, flavorful, and grilled. I know real taco spots like La Pasadita in Chicago. This place was closest to home and the tacos were almost as good. Today I went there and it was a huge mistake. The meat was chopped into tiny pieces, very dry, can tell it was just fried, lacked flavor, charged me $1.40 for 3 slices of brown avacado. This place used to be a jem, now it's like every other mexican chain establishment. I will never go back!!
(1)Joseph E.
I've gone to Besa Mi Taco quite a few times over the past several years although typically with coworkers. I never thought of it as a great experience; merely passable. One thing I noticed is that the establishment is severely cutting their expenses. They no longer use plastic cups for their salsa and the napkin dispenser and silverware trays have been completely removed. It looks more spartan inside but it also feels very lacking-- especially when you want a napkin and have to wait for your order to receive it. Today I went with a group of three-- we arrived around 11:30am. There was no one in line and about three people eating. We ordered basic lunch items and I decided to try the Taco salad with grilled chicken breast. Oh-- and a horchata to drink. My guess is they don't get a lot of orders for the "grilled" chicken breast as it took near ten minutes for my order to come out; probably a few minutes past that as my coworkers already had their meals and were eating. It's rare that I have to ask the staff when my order will be ready although I have had similar experiences at this place before, albeit years ago. My taco salad arrived with a generous glop of sour cream on top and a huge mound of sliced chicken breast. However none of it appeared like it had been grilled and the whole thing just had a very "empty" taste to it-- it's a whole lot of nothing for around 9 bucks (with a drink). I feel like any semblance of a soul this place ever had (which wasn't much) has been completely removed by this point. If you want cheap Mexican food that has more bang for your buck I can think of a few other places in mind but from now on I'm going to have to give this one a pass.
(2)Ammy F.
I went there last week with my family,we were not impressed with the food choice. Girl that worked at the register was really mean And not very professional. We had to wait more than 15 minutes to get a burritos. Will not go back.
(3)Joe M.
I am a fan of the food here. The drive thru does take a bit of time but I think that the food makes up for it. I usually get the enchiladas platter and it has yet to disappoint.
(4)Rhonda G.
When you say something in Spanish it automatically sounds more interesting, romantic, etc. Which would explain why I found myself at place lovingly called "kiss my taco". Now think about it's slang connotation...umm, yeah. Name aside, this place didn't suck and actually hit the spot (ha! not THAT spot). Definitely not the best I ever had but not the worst (keep in mind that I was absolutely starving). I got a chicken burrito and although it tasted fine, it didn't have any of the Mexican flavor that you would expect/commonly find. I might go back if I find myself famished and in the area. Oh yeah, some meals came with fries which seems quite odd.
(3)Charles S.
Eeeek... They were a good place to go and grab a beer (bottled) at a cheaper price than the Hyatt Place. The chips were stale and the salsa had NO kick. Not to mention the cheap paper containers used for teh salsa bar. The Tacos were bland and could only be helped by the bland salsa. Though I will say the produce used in the Tacos did seem "fresh"... just bland.
(2)Brittany L.
Not bad food for the price. I ordered the fajitas through the drive thru and by the time I got home everything was still hot. Nothing too special about the food itself. If you are looking for your typical local Mexican restaurant go here.
(3)D C.
Great and friendly staff. Nice atmosphere. Good food. I prefer the grilled chicken soft tacos, but many of my coworkers like the taco salad. Not a fan of the guac, but it doesn't stop me from going there weekly. The hot salsa is perfect. For the most part, the service is very fast. There is one day I try to avoid it though - Cinco De Mayo.
(4)Anthony V.
I visit here on occasion whenever I'm in the area. They have been consistently good with the items that I have ordered. My favorite is the Grilled Chicken Burrito. What I like is that it isn't too spicy so you can modify it to your liking. I have never had a bad experience and the food comes out very promptly. I would recommend it to anyone that wants a decent, quick meal. It's a fast food style restaurant that doesn't have servers. They do have a drive thru if you are in a time crunch. I will keep eating here when I'm in need of a meal.
(4)Dave G.
The Mexican Chopped Salad is awesome, so that is what I am basing my review upon this is all my work buddies and I get from here. The salsa the give you is pretty runny and watery but it always seems to be fresh and it tastes pretty good.
(4)Carolyn M.
NEGATIVE 5 STARS!!! Wow this is quite possibly the most foul disgusting crap I have EVER had. My folks were having their house remodeled and they stayed at the Eaglewood for the weekend so we met them there and took the kids swimming and after we were hungry for Mexican food. We came across besa mi taco BIG MISTAKE. At first we were happy when we saw the prices weren't so bad.... Then we got our food....... I've had better frozen dinners except that I suspect that it might have been one of those $1 banquet frozen dinners. I had the chicken enchilada plate. The sauce had a funky taste, the cheese I'm pretty sure was American melted on top, there was maybe a quarter of a chicken breast cut up in TWO ENCHILADAS (probably cause they were about 2 inches long). The rice and beans were boring but I wish I had more than the three bites of each they gave me to give it a chance! I ordered a margarita which was pitiful! We also ordered nachos that were supposed to have all this stuff on them soooo they came in a metal takeout container and in it was a handful of crushed up chips covered in a hard layer of that same crusty American cheese with a glob of sour cream and a glob of guacamole. Impossible to eat. Not to mention the fact the guy taking the orders with the overdone brows was soooooo rude. They don't have napkins anywhere in the restaurant you have to ask, so you would think ol Mr. Friendly would be used to being asked for them but NOOOO he gave me an attitude, rolled his eyes, and gave me 4 napkins for the table of EIGHT!!! So then we left and ordeal was over until the drive home and the tummy aches hit us all. Let's just say that the rest of the night was not fun with one bathroom!!! DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME!!! Small update: HA just happened to notice a friend is the first on the previous reviews of this crap shack, I could have saved some time had I read this before wasting my time, money, and risking my digestive health here!!!
(1)Sheena P.
Flat out rude service from who seemed to be the GM, and the burritos were just awful, a salty, bland, greasy mess . At least of you're gonna have bad service, have good food, right? I had to throw most of the food away, so awful. I have a stomach ache from the very little I did eat. What a shame, used to be so good . Rude service and gross food? Last time I go there ever.
(1)Odranre B.
Food not that great especially for being a bit on the expensive side. Plenty of parking. Plenty of elbow room inside.
(2)Crazy P.
I've been here several times because its one of the few taco places close to my house. The food is ok, but nothing to get excited over. The service is continually getting worse - most recently I stopped by on a Saturday evening when they weren't busy and tried the drive thru. Well, I waited about 5 minutes before anyone came to the speaker, then the guy says "give me a minute". I had half a mind to just leave and probably should have. It took a few more minutes until he took my order and when I went to pay he disappeared. 5 minutes later someone different came to the window and asked me if I paid. I nearly flipped because I had the charge receipt and clipboard in my hand and my receipt was still sitting on the register. When I told her I paid, she stared at me. It took another 5 minutes for my food and then she forgot the drink. Then I get the drink and the top pops off the second I get it in the car and spills in my car. The food was terrible when I finally got to eat it so I ended up throwing most of it out. In total, $11 in the garbage and 20 minutes of bs trying to use their drive thru. Then another 10 minutes cleaning lemonade from my car. Needless to say I'm not going back. There is better customer service at the DMV...
(1)Jennifer H.
The enchiladas were pretty good, very hot and had lots of shredded chicken and sauce, and that's coming from a person who considers herself a Mexican foodaholic. The Spicy Chicken taco salad was a lot of food for the price, but there was too little spice to it. This was a prime example of a ton of lettuce and some other stuff thrown on top. Also, when you have a specialty salad on the menu, usually there is a specialty dressing to go along with it...not here. Overall an okay experience, but I'll stick to my southside taco joints, thanks.
(3)Chrissy H.
My family and I used to be regulars here. We would come for dinner about once a week. You would think seeing the same people every week would prompt the manager to at least acknowledge you and say "hi". The food is ok... it was close to home and convenient. However, we have stopped going due to the poor service and poor management. I can only guess the manager is a relative because he has no personality and no business being a manager of a restaurant.
(2)Amrita J.
Ok so I was in Itasca, IL this week for work, and decided to try this place for dinner one night, despite the reviews I had already seen from Jonathan K. LoL! (Which almost made me change my mind might I add....)...... So I ordered a taco platter which was just okay.....it was pretty bland as mentioned in other reviews. I would say the best part of the meal was the frozen margarita I had, and the "salsa"bar.....the salsa was very good. Definitely not like Baja Fresh (as Nicole L. mentioned).....Baja Fresh has food that actually tastes YUMMY!!! :) Needless to say, I will not be going back here if I'm looking to eat Mexican food.
(2)Jim L.
I didn't think it was possible to find two 1 star restaurants RIGHT NEXT to each other. I tried to find something nice to say....really. But my fellow reviewers have said it all... The best I can come up with is the cute name....translation: Kiss My Taco. Sorry, I kissed it goodbye.
(1)AK Y.
Stayed at local hotel and needed a quick eat. Hotel shuttle recommended and I tried it out. Pleasantly surprised quick and fresh. Great prices for step above fast food.
(3)Mark J.
I went back today to give it a second try. The food tasted better and the service was faster, I received my food around 5 minutes after I placed my order. However, I was disgusted when I sat down at the table. It was coated in a thin layer of dried leftovers that I could feel when I put my hands down. Probably from the night before seeing that I was there at 11:15 am. The place was completely empty upon arriving and once again all employees were standing in back talking. It was like the table hadn't been cleaned the night before and it stunk. I looked at the table next to me and leftover food (lettuce, cheese) was on the bench. Will not be returning for a 3rd visit, I prefer to eat at clean establishments.
(2)Johnny X.
I must first start off by stating that i am thoroughly impressed by Besa Mi Taco's ability to screw up every single possible aspect of the fast food dining experience. I mean, seriously; you have to TRY to get zeroes across the board. And yet, there it is. I have given this place FOUR chances to do what they claim to do, and have only been able to not absolutely piss me off only ONE of those times. Even then, I wasn't even satisfied; I was just not pissed off. All four times, I went around lunch hour (11:30 - 1ish). I understand that the place is surrounded by office buildings, and is going to get a lot of traffic. The problem is, THEY don't understand it, even though they've been open since 2004. I have seen the line regularly reach the doorway of the place and snake around, several times during the course of my meals, and this doorway is a good 40-50 feet from the registers. And how many registers do they need to handle a REGULAR clientele that size? Well, they think 2 should be enough. It's not like they just don't have the staffing, its that they just don't have the physical registers. That's right - all these years of long lines and waiting customers, and they never sprung for a single additional register. I've also been stuck at the end of that line, and timed 12 minutes on one particular visit (yeah, I'm that guy. I'm in a line doing nothing, and I have a watch). i stayed because I don't have any set time limit on my lunch break, but I bet a lot of these other people do, and I am astounded by the level of patience they have. The place is also very open, and thus, noisy and echo-y. To really drive this fact home and make you appreciate it, they put the shortest, meekest girls they can find at the registers, so you have to literally lean over the register and get right in their face just to hear what they're saying. Even though I'm the third guy in line I watched do this, they still give me this dirty look like I'm doing something totally bizarre and unacceptable. Today, I ordered four steak tacos. I did not give them any kind of custom order. 4 steak tacos and a large pop. That's it. I stood at the pickup area until they got an order number that was TWENTY ahead of mine. I understand that certain foods take time, like baked apple pancakes or a deep-dish pizza, but I had ordered the most basic of all Mexican food groups. And its not like they had to cook more steak or something, I saw plenty of steak dishes whizzing past me. I asked the girl if she had an ETA on #96. I had to repeat this twice, and then yelled it at her the third time. I got that nice dirty look that they apparently train their employees to give again. She walked away, then came back and started handing out peoples orders again. She didn't even look at me. 5 minutes later, she asks what my order number was. I hand her my ticket, but by that point, someone was carrying it over. She slid it across the counter to me, both without apologizing, nor without making eye contact or even smiling. Now on to the food: I have gotten four dishes there: Tacos, a torta, a burrito, and a couple of enchiladas. All four of these taste EXACTLY THE SAME. I'm not even exaggerating. It's honestly astounding that they manage this. It wasn't until today that I finally realized how this can possibly be: ALL THE FOOD IS BLAND AS HECK. Seriously. I took a BIG bite out of my first taco at lunch, and you know what I thought? "WOW. This is a really flavorful tortilla." Yeah, the tortilla. I immediately realized that ALL I could taste is the tortilla. You know you're in trouble when the most flavorful part of your food is the part that is SUPPOSED to be bland. So, I inspected. I had my tortilla there, yes. There was a decent helping of tomatoes in there, a bunch of lettuce, a TON of cheese, and a decent amount of steak. So, its not that they just skimped on anything, the food really was this bland! I was honestly legitimately intrigued. I couldn't believe it. i forekd out a few pieces of steak and popped them in my mouth. They tasted like nothing, like water, or air or plain jello. It was downright bizarre. The texture was horrible, too: it was like a very dry pork. I even thought it might ACTUALLY be pork, and then realized that they don't serve pork there. It was bad times. I got through about a taco and a half, and couldn't take it anymore. I brought it back to the counter, explained my situation, and told them I'm going to need my money back. The manager offered to cook me a fresh dish, but I explained to him that the way they cook their food IS the problem, so his idea wouldn't help. he did give me my money back without much hassle, which was indeed pleasant. The amount I paid was in excess of $10, which is also EGREGIOUS for four tacos and a pop. that's like $2 each for four servings of cardboard in a tasty tortilla. Finally, what's with the name? Veiled sexual reference, anyone? They've even got lips on the sign. Gross.
(1)Mike P.
i should of listened to the bad reviews on here for this place....even El Burrito Loco is better than this place....I got my tacos and I've never seen so much grease on a taco before....the flour shell seriously was wet....I work down the street and I don't think I'll ever go here again.
(2)j s.
For the second time in 2 weeks I went through the drive up and have received an incorrect order. A salad, no onions, ranch dressing on the side can't be that difficult, can it? The food is good here, but the help is something else. I'm not going there again.
(2)Nicole L.
I was so excited when I saw this new Mexican place had opened. Unfortunately it was like a version of Baja Fresh, complete with a salsa bar, except Baja is better (if only barely). Love the name though!
(2)Robert G.
Margaritas were "Country Time" lemonade quality. Food was "Taco Bell" quality. Not some place I would go out of my way for a meal.
(2)Diana M.
called in to order for company lunch had an order or 45 employees and the rude help armando can't answer a question and hangs up ...lost my business and i am glad i did not order anyway ..look at the bad reviews bad food bad customer service i bet my tacos he will be out of business by thanksgiving thank you very mucho mr taco!
(1)Angie B.
Love their guacamole here too bad the chips are extra. The food is completely tex mex and what i have tried has been good but the prices are a little up there. The restaurant itself is pretty big, nice decor and they have a small salsa bar. I have never had an issue finding parking either.
(3)Cristin B.
The food is amazing. I've never been disappointed. The service is always friendly and it's a great atmosphere.
(5)Amanda V.
This place sucks. It's expensive and the service sucks. You can go to a real Mexican restaurant and probably get more for your money. This place is just a rip off. The last time I ate there my boyfriend and I saw a couple mice wandering around on the patio. Yes, it was outside but still that's pretty gross. Won't be returning.
(1)Peter F.
Better and cheaper then Taco Bell.
(4)Tim P.
The food here is good for the price. I'd eaten there several times before reading this review and I think the other reviewers are missing the point of this place. The enchiladas are good and the chocolate cake they have for dessert is certifiably fantastic. It is not world class food, but it is fast, inexpensive and good.
(3)Hans H.
Went to actually eat in the restaurant. No free chips and salsa? Minus one star. I have to say that my initial review was based on their al pastor. Their beef and chicken are actually quite bland, unfortunately. Yeah, like the other yelpers said, there are better local places. Average at best, but I'll still go there. In fact, I'm going to go there right now...
(3)Nick S.
Absolute gem.
(5)Laura O.
Ugh! Chips tasted old. The salsa bar was okay. I ordered the enchilada dish. The staff recommended the cheese enchilada. I was quite disappointed that they used cheddar cheese instead of chihuahua cheese or other Mexican cheese. In short- food tasted bland and CHEAP ! The chairs were quite small and different looking- and i don't think I am a big person- just an average size girl- but the chair was a snug fit. It made me wonder for those who may be larger- how would they get in to the seat! The room looked festive but there is a picture of a woman trying to look sexy while eating a chip- that ruined the decor of the place. And what the heck- the female staff looked like they wore clothes made or a roller rink- I don't know if they were trying to copy Hooters idea of dressing their servers or what? It did NOT fit the place. Overall- this place was a big disappointment.
(1)Teagan C.
I must first start off by stating that I am thoroughly impressed by the amount of time put into the lengthy term paper presented on Besa Mi Taco's service. (I am also enlightened with the way you managed to turn the word 'echo' into an adjective.) It makes no sense why you went back to this place after the second time of receiving such horrific service. I have to say Besa Mi Taco is a great place to get tasty food fast. Unlike Qdoba and Baja, Besa Mi Taco uses real cheese to melt on their dishes. Their nachos literally melt in your mouth with a delicious combination of beans, cheese, guacamole, sour cream, and your choice of meat. Because my boyfriend is a vegetarian, we both also appreciated the variety of vegetarian dishes that they offer. The vegetables found in their veggie burritos and veggie quesadillas are undoubtedly always fresh and grilled to perfection. I also appreciate the option of choosing my meal to be on flour or corn tortilla. Their noon time rush is no different than the noon time rush at its neighboring restaurant. With great food there comes a great amount of people. Though I too have first handedly seen customers impatiently wait for their food, I have also taken note of the fast paced workers behind the counter. It's clear that they're trying to get the food out as fast as they can. The atmosphere of Besa Mi Taco is very enjoyable as well. Their satellite radio station plays everything from Spanish rock to catchy salsa. As for putting the 'shortest, meekest girls they can find at the registers,' I do not understand what height has to do with the service of the girls. I've encountered nothing but sweetness and manners from each and every of their workers. These waitresses always take my picky orders with a smile on their faces. I have not once encountered this so called 'dirty' look. It makes me wonder what could possibly provoke such sweet girls to exhibit such a look. Furthermore, there is an always pleasant busboy saving you the trouble from tossing away your garbage. If you're in an absolute hurry and can't step down for some food, the service at drive-thru is extraordinary. Not once has the adorable girl in drive-thru forgot to ask me what kind of salsa I would like with my meal. I've always driven away with plenty of napkins, salsa, and food. I have seen this girl fill my pop while taking another person's order and handing me my change all at once. Great service is never a question for this outstanding restaurant. The food: My absolute favorite dish at Besa Mi Taco is their tacos al pastor. 'Al Pastor' is pork marinated with a blend of different spices. So for those of you who were broken hearted that pork could not be found on the menu because of a person's inability to read it correctly, have no fear, the pork at Besa Mi Taco is pure pleasure. If you happen to be on a tighter budget, Besa Mi Taco also offers 99 cent tacos of ground beef and ground chicken. Their tacos are the bulkiest tacos I've ever eaten. It is evident that the cooks are not shy when it comes to the amount of meat in the tacos. They also come garnished with lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese. (If you're a picky eater like me, no one has a problem with adding cilantro, sour cream, and onions to the bulkiness.) In all honesty, your taste buds have to be altogether ruined for you to call the food bland. Finally, the name Besa Mi Taco is quite comical to those with a sense of humor. There's nothing veiled about the name. It comes complete with the slogan, "Food so fresh, you wanna slap it." I would recommend this tasty joint to anyone and everyone. I would also urge that if a restaurant has let you down more than twice, don't bother going back.
(5)Tony H.
Go with a shredded chicken or ground beef taco on a corn tortilla. Top your taco with the freshly made mild, red salsa. You won't go wrong. I stick with the tacos while i'm there and they're impressive. The is not bland, pre-made from a bag. I think they grind it fresh themselves. The horchata isnt' too sweet. The dining room is always packed during lunch, dinner is a better time to go. They close at 9p which i find a hard to make at times. They have a drive through but it's pointless. They make the food from scratch and it takes a good 5-10 minutes for the food to come out, be prepared for a wait in your car. For good food, i don't mind the wait. Don't forget the extra mild salsa.
(5)Glen M.
Translates to bland flavorless pretend to be Mexican food! Worst Burrito suizo I've ever had! Never going back! Tastes like boiled chicken lettuce and sour cream in a tortilla ! Taco Bell has more flavor! Quick RUN FOR THE BORDER!
(1)Kathy R.
I had the Nachos with skirt steak. Yummy... the restaurant is clean and they have a beautiful patio. They also have accept the Belly Card program to earn free food. Will be back.
(5)Dinah T.
I've been going to besa mi taco for sometime now for lunch. The food is pretty good, I usually order their steak taco salad, of a light crispy taco shell with tons of chopped Romain lettuce, shredded cheese, black olives, and red onions topped with grilled steak, slices of avocado, and sour cream. You can also have salad dressing but I tend to opt that out. I also had their corn or flour tacos, and their combo meal of their cheesy enchiladas with ground chicken, ground beef or cheese that comes with rice and refried beans. I don't care much of their serving plates which are thin black plastic plates with plastic utensils. If you asked for water they do have two types of watering dispensers, one is plain with ice the other is with slices of limes and lemons. Drinks are your typical soda or you could actually have a frozen margarita or beer. There is a fresh salsa bar that you can get as much mild or spicy salsa as you'd like. It's great with their warm crispy chips sold separately. Their guacamole is pretty good as well. The food is somewhat authentic but the price can be a little steep for the amount of food you get. It's not your typical divey Mexican restaurant. To order your meal you would go up to the counter and they would call out your number. This place also takes "Belly" accounts if you have one to build up food points for free food:) Inside has plenty of seating whether you want to sit in a booth or grab a table and put them together for a bigger party. They also have outdoor seating as well. Overall I like this place it's clean and the staff is friendly and the food is pretty good I would come back here again.
(4)Dave K.
It's a convenient location to the office, and a change of pace from where everyone seems to gravitate towards. The food is not bad at all, and it is full of customers, yet the staff get people ordered and ready for pick up quite quickly. I'm not sure if it's the tortilla strips or whatever is in the salads, but the salt content is really high, I could taste it halfway through my lunch. All in all, it is a good place, their menu is quite vast and the people are very friendly.
(3)Jess F.
This place is pretty good. I used to be a fan of the steak taco platter but now I actually prefer the Chicken taco salad. Their steak seems to have changed a little since a few years ago so I switched to the chicken and the taco salad and I really enjoy that. Their chips are not very good, too hard and no salt on them. They do have excellent salsa though. And inside the restuarant they have a salsa bar you can help yourself to as much salsa as you want which is really nice.
(3)Jess J.
Love this local spot. Good food, good service. Wish they were open later to hit up after a long night. Everything is good. Love the steak burritos, awesome taco salad, great tacos. A good idea to call ahead for pickup and you get your food thru the drive thru window.
(4)Jessica P.
Great steak tacos and mild salsa...i also think the tamales are great, especially if you order the plater which comes with beans and rice... Sometimes the staff can be a bit rude and the food is a little pricy but I still think it's one of the better places around!
(4)Tina L.
I ordered the beef taco salad with ranch dressing. I thought the ingredients were fresh and all the flavors came together nicely. I only wish they would give you a separate big bowl or something, so that you can miss all the ingredients inside. I don't know how we're expected to eat this when the bowl gets broken and eaten, so where will all the insides go after that? And then also, I don't want to keep digging to the bottom to get the lettuce, I want to have most of the ingredients mixed into one bite if possible. I dunno, someone's got to think of something different for this... My boo ordered the torta plate, which basically comes with rice and beans on the side of the torta. It's not the best torta I've had, but it was pretty good. I do like that they have a salsa bar where you can get green and red salsa and pico de gallo...as much as your little heart desires! You know me, I love my sauces. And I love my variety. :)
(3)Steve K.
Went today for lunch, and was disappointed in what is usually is pretty good lunch spot. It was 12:25, prime time. But I have never waited more than 10 minutes for food. First warning was the now hiring signs on the door, they are definitely very short staffed. Placed my order, then found one of the many dirty tables, which I cleaned myself to eat at. I waited, and waited! After 20 minutes, I walked up to the counter and requested a refund. You figure they would try to apologize or offer something conciliatory, but nothing. The portions have been getting smaller here, so it's time to find a new spot for Mexican. They have lost a customer, and I'm sure there will be many more due the complete lack of customer service.
(2)Ryan R.
Ordered the Pastor tacos platter, received stale, chewy corn tortillas, dried out rice and the Pastor was grisly.
(2)James C.
Food = phenomenal! Drive thru wait time = horrendous! Total drive thru experience = meh
(3)Tim J.
I have been to Besa Mi Taco a few times for lunch with my co-workers. Food = Is pretty good. The Cheesy Chicken Burrito is my go to. The Taco salads are also good. Service = Ok. Wait time after you order can be long and annoying. Management = Sucks. Manager is loud and rude. Only issue I have had was when my group at work ordered a tray of Flautas for a work lunch event. We called to get a little better deal and after a few calls we got it. However when we went to pick it up, we were denied any sauce. We had to wait for the manager to come out and tell us it was not part of the deal. We spent 52 bucks on a single tray and they would not even give us any sauce. After we complained the manager gave us 2 little single person sauce trays. Pretty disappointing for how much business my work gives this place. Won't be ordering any catering from them again. Save a penny, loose a customer!
(3)Lalo B.
The Pork (Al Pastor) is their best offering for Tacos or Burritos. The meat is soft and well seasoned.
(4)Tiffany T.
Food is not the best. The drive thru takes forever and for some reason my food I always cold when I get it. I live in walking distance. Only go here if you're starving
(2)Angela P.
The food here is always good. I usually stick to the 2 taco plate, and it comes to the table within 2-3 min! So quick. I also love the fresh salsa bar. Not authentic Mexican, I don't even think anyone here speaks Spanish, but they still have good food
(5)Joe I.
After a 4 mile run this evening, I was HUNGRY! So... I haven't been to this place in a few years, and thought I'd give it another try. I wasn't that impressed when I visited before so.... I got the impression not a lot had changed right away. Walking to the counter I overheard a snippet of a conversation between a worker and an older couple. The we're complaining about something, and the worker dude suggested getting the manager...never a good sign. I ordered the Gringo Pollo Burrito. It was big enough, but the first bite told me it should have been named Salty Chicken Burrito. It had tons of sour cream. And was pretty bland. It was supposed to have some special red sauce, but I couldn't find any. And where was the salsa? Ok, this one would be my fault. There is a small table with salsas on it. Duh. It's at the salsa bar. Once found, I took a few small paper cups at dipped out a few samples. The mild was really mild, and the hot was pretty hot. But my main complaint about this "fresh salsa" is that it was puréed beyond recognition. I guess it just didn't look fresh, and certainly didn't taste as fresh as it should. And this gringo likes guacamole in his burritos. Was that an option because I missed that too if it was. Sorry to say not much has changed. Sign on the door says they are looking for cooks and waitresses. I guess that should have been an indicator also.
(2)Tobin h.
I expected lot more from this highly tauted taco joint. It was cold and dirty. Service was pretty good but the sloppy tables and left over lettuce on my tray made for a horrible impression. Don't see a big reason why I would come back so I offer that to you...they don't seem to take pride in perfection. Go to the next taco taquieria because they just don't seem to care very much. They get their office crowd but no pride in being awesome!
(2)Scott H.
Love this place for quick Mexican food at great prices! Love the burritos and tacos. I love all the different salsa selections! Drive thru does take a while but always happy with the food.
(5)Joseph R.
The food is always fresh and I especially like the salsa bar. It isn't the most authentic Mexican, but it seems healthier. I usually just get tacos and find two of them to hit the spot for lunch. The fish tacos are good.
(4)Stuart T.
I'm going to pump this place up a little bit but at the same time I gotta tell the powers that be (if they're reading this), that there are plenty of other Mexican restaurants with more than 2 1/2 or 3 stars in this area. One thing I would suggest is to put chips out by the salad bark. You shouldn't have to pay extra for chips when you've got a salsa bar. The chile relleno was good. The red sauce was great the green sauce was great. The place is clean & the staff is nice. One more suggestion would be to offer a bean chimichanga.
(4)Jennifer S.
I'm going back to my original 2010 assessment. Besa Mi Taco is officially off my lunch list. I had been visiting way too often over the past year and a half. Tacos, chips and salsa. I'd change up the tacos, but that was about it. A few things I don't like...they take far too long at the drive thru, they only have one size drink which isn't enough when eating salty chips and spicy salsa and I'm no longer a fan of their staff. Here's why... There is a man who is usually in a dress shirt and dress pants. I thought he was the manager, now I'm not so sure. Basically, as I wait at the drive up window, he's always touching the girls. I was going to find someone to complain to, but I thought he was the manager. Inappropriate much? I felt uncomfortable and no one was touching me. So last week while waiting at the drive thru (for way too long), I watched a girl literally pick her skin/cuticles/nail polish off her fingers and flick it away. We made eye contact. She looked away and kept doing it. I was so disgusted. This is the area where the food is packed up. I don't want finger skin particles in my lunch, thanks. So I ask for the manager. I'm waiting for the touchy guy to show up and instead a woman who I've never seen before comes to the window. I tell her about the picker girl and before I'm even done, the manager acknowledges that this is a known issue with this girl. Really?!?! I point out how awful this is and ultimately unacceptable. The manager tells me that she checks the girls fingers for cleanliness every day. Huh??? Annoyed and disgusted, I leave. And I won't be back. Yuck. Where's Robert Irvine when you need him? Actually, they don't deserve Robert because they know all about their disgusting issue and don't care to fix it.
(2)David P.
First I have been going to this restaurant since it opened - but yesterday was my last as I had gone 10 miles on my bike to eat a late lunch at 1:30PM. Place was dead and I put my bike next to a vacant table (only 2 other patrons in the whole place) ordered my food and sat down when this manager came up and she told me to move my bike out. I told her that there was no rack or any place to put it and asked if I could just keep it next to me for this time she said no as it is a restaurant and to move it. I complied and went outside (50 degrees it was) since my bike cost me over $ 1,500 and ate outside - as alone my bike was not going to be. She was such a snot nosed witch with no people skills that I will never go there again, it ruined my lunch and just made me so angry - and all for going out to lunch at her shop!
(1)Richard D.
Pretty good place to eat at. The portions are way bigger than they appear on the menu. Very reasonable wait and flavorful. They even serve margaritas. Would recommend this place to anyone traveling through Itasca.
(3)Beth G.
Again, this review and update is based solely on their Mexican Chopped Salad, because it is the only thing I eat here. I have to up my rating because it's stayed consistent through the years. The taco shell is always fresh and never greasy. They don't skimp on the fixins, it's prepared quickly, and it's a semi-healthy lunch for only 6 bucks. Plus it's the closest place to where I work. I still would not eat anything else at Besa Mi Taco as I am not a fan of bland, faux Mexican. But the Mexican Chopped Salad remains pretty damn good.
(3)Bob R.
The first and last time I went to Besa Mi Taco was several years ago. At the time, I was not impressed and never went back But, today I was craving a Burrito and didn't want to drive anywhere. Besa Mi Taco is in the same lot that the building I work in is located, so I decided to give them another try. This time, I simply went there to order Steak Burrito to take back to the office. It was around 1PM and there were not too many patrons. The restaurant has the look and feel of a chain Mexican/Tex Mex place. They have a fairly typical menu consisting of tacos, burritos, enchiladas, tortas, and tamales. They also offer food for "gringos" and salads. I seem to recall that the last time I was here I ordered tacos, thinking they would be the best since they are in the name of the restaurant. Since I ordered a burrito, I can't say whether or not they were better than last time. However, the burrito was not bad. There was a healthy portion of steak, tender and tasty. The beans were good, and the lettuce and tomato were fresh. One thing I do recall I liked last time were their salsas. I had the spicy red salsa today and it was very good. They grilled the burrito, a touch that I like. But, the tortilla itself was a little doughy. Overall, the burrito was not the best I've ever had, buut it was far from the worst. All in all, not too bad. The servers were pleasant and helpful. The place itself looked clean. One thing that sets them apart from other "fast food" tex-mex restaurants is they offer Frozen Margaritas in several flavors. Too bad this was lunch in the middle of the workday. They look pretty good. I may have to go back there after work is done for the day.
(3)Catherine P.
It was a Thursday afternoon and I asked the ladies in the office if they wanted to order in some lunch. We tossed around a few regular places and one of the women suggested "that Mexican place near Arlington Heights Rd and Devon". I knew exactly what she was talking about: Besa Mi Taco!! My sister goes there regularly and loves it. Let's try it. One of the ladies I work with immediately said she has been there and it NOT a fan. I could not figure out why knowing how much my sis frequents it, so we ended up ordered from here just the two of us to give it a shot. Sure enough, I loved it. I ordered a chicken quesadilla and a taco al pastor and loved every bite. The chicken they used for the quesadilla was grilled white meat chicken breast cubed up. Flour or corn tortillas- your choice. My one and only complaint for take-out is they put lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and guacamole in the same container as the quesadilla and sadly, the lettuce and tomatoes being water-based veggies, can make the tortilla a bit on the soggy side, but if this is my only complaint...we found a winner! I have since returned a few times, once more doing take-out via the drive thru which is really not their forte. The drive thru should only really be for pick up orders. They do not cook fast enough to have you place an order and get it at the window. I think I was in the drive thru for at least 10-15 minutes. The most recent visits have been to dine in and dining in is typically pretty good. Fountain drinks so you can refill before you hit the road. Clean dining room and a salsa bar! Who doesn't like that. All you can eat Salsa. The taco al pastor was sadly, a little cold. The meat is obviously pre-made and that's fine, but they needed to heat it a little more before serving. I didn't complain because of the time crunch, but next time, I will be sure to point out that my last taco was not very hot. The quesadilla seems to be my go-to dish here and even by itself, is enough to make a meal off of. I have no complaints about the potions at all. They put plenty of meat in their tacos. Always a plus for a Mexican place. Def one of my go-to Mexican joints for lunch!
(4)Tim B.
Quick bite, thumbs way up; any importance of outing, maybe next time. Food is slightly above average for what you'd expect for this type of commercial Mexican, getting the cheese sauce IN a burrito preferable to the dip and chips as it quickly turns to plastic, better-than-expected meat quality (minimal fat/gristle bits), free all-you-want salsa bar of salsa rojo and verde (red and green) in both spicy and wussy options, and pico de gallo. Most of the staff has above-average smiles, always nice, though how to modify orders knowledge could improve, and cheap frozen margaritas is a pleasant mid-day relaxer ;) Good chorizo for those who, like me, put a judgement emphasis on that. Generous portions.
(3)Matthew W.
Brutal! When the Portillo's next door is PACKED and this place is EMPTY it should have been a clear warning.... Everyone who works here is friendly and helpful, but the FOOD is BLAND - in fact I would say the burrito SUCKS - it would remind me of eating the packing "peanuts" that come in boxes and end up all over the house (if I ate them). Salsa bar is ok, but NO NO - NEVER NEVER 1 Quesadillas (bland) 3.99 Burritos 5.99 + Xtra chx 1.99 Platters 5.99 P/Ench beef 2 Pepsi 3.98 Total - $23.86
(1)Barry K.
I have been a fan of this place for years. But, I have to say, I only eat their ground beef tacos with the soft corn tortillas. I love the flavor of the beef and fresh corn tortillas are delicious. But what I really travel sometimes an hour for is their salsa verde picante. I am obsessed with how good it is. I have tried to make it at home and failed several times. It is a wonderful mix of tangy, spicy, savory goodness. I put it on everything. I wish they sold it by the bottle, I would stock up. I usually get the taco platter which comes with 2 tacos (of the larger sized variety,) rice and refried beans. The beans are quite tasty, but the rice is forgettable. If you are a big eater, add an extra taco. Ask for the tacos to be kept separate from the beans and rice. If you dont, they put the tacos on top of the beans and it causes the corn shells to soak up the moisture and they will break apart and cause a big mess. They have other salsas and peppers available at the salsa bar, but I love the verde so much, I never take the other one. They are always very nice to me and very polite. I think it is a family run business owned by people who have other more formal mexican restaurants in the area. If you do it right, you walk out of there with your fingers smelling like corn masa until you wash them. I love it!
(4)John P.
They charge 30 cents for a cup of ice water. Seriously. What's next... Are you going to charge for plastic-ware and napkins? Left a bad taste in my mouth even though the tacos were good.
(3)Lisa M.
Food is good as long as it doesn't get cold, then the grease congeals and is not so yummy any more. I would have given this more stars if not for the rude man who wanted to charge me $2.50 for a top off of my horchata. It was maybe 1/4 of the cup I asked for but he was bound and determined to make me pay for another full serving. I probably won't be back after that.
(3)Stacy M.
I wanted to like this place, it's so close to home and i love tacos, but nope. I got steak tacos to go. they come with lettuce, cheese, and tomato i think? i added cilantro and onion and was told it would be an extra charge. that's fine. i waited a little for my food, checked out the salsa bar, looked interesting. when i got my food she asked if i wanted mild or hot salsa. i picked hot and after she walked away realized i should have asked for a container to get the green salsa at the bar, but oh well. once i got home and ate my tacos i realized i definitely should have asked for the salsa. the meat didn't have any real flavor to it. this place definitely fit my "bigger isn't better" thoughts on taco places. it filled me up but i don't ever see myself going back here. very americanized chain.
(2)Colleen F.
It is impossible for them to get an order correct. I have given them 3 chances in the drive thru and they always send me the wrong food out. I'm done!
(1)Bob B.
I did a drive thru this time. Service was quick even though just a few cars ahead of me. Shredded chicken tacos was my choice. The chicken was tender with just the right amount of juicy. Fresh veggies and flour shell. I went with mild salsa when asked, which was very mild. No zing at all. Good overall!
(4)Nick S.
Absolute gem.
(5)Julie R.
Considering this is not technically a sit-down Mexican restaurant, the food is outstanding. For the same price, if not cheaper compared to Taco Bell, you get authentic food made quick to order. I usually get the corn tortilla tacos with beans instead of meat. They are very tasty and the hot salsa offered at the salsa bar is the best around. My husband will get the chicken quesadilla which is also unique and very flavorful. Another plus is that they have $3.50 frozen margaritas. I would not come here looking for a dinner date or sit-down restaurant style meal, but for a quick dinner or lunch it works very well.
(4)Sonya D.
They first opened in 07. This place was great!!!! The meat was moist, flavorful, and grilled. I know real taco spots like La Pasadita in Chicago. This place was closest to home and the tacos were almost as good. Today I went there and it was a huge mistake. The meat was chopped into tiny pieces, very dry, can tell it was just fried, lacked flavor, charged me $1.40 for 3 slices of brown avacado. This place used to be a jem, now it's like every other mexican chain establishment. I will never go back!!
(1)Brittany L.
Not bad food for the price. I ordered the fajitas through the drive thru and by the time I got home everything was still hot. Nothing too special about the food itself. If you are looking for your typical local Mexican restaurant go here.
(3)D C.
Great and friendly staff. Nice atmosphere. Good food. I prefer the grilled chicken soft tacos, but many of my coworkers like the taco salad. Not a fan of the guac, but it doesn't stop me from going there weekly. The hot salsa is perfect. For the most part, the service is very fast. There is one day I try to avoid it though - Cinco De Mayo.
(4)Anthony V.
I visit here on occasion whenever I'm in the area. They have been consistently good with the items that I have ordered. My favorite is the Grilled Chicken Burrito. What I like is that it isn't too spicy so you can modify it to your liking. I have never had a bad experience and the food comes out very promptly. I would recommend it to anyone that wants a decent, quick meal. It's a fast food style restaurant that doesn't have servers. They do have a drive thru if you are in a time crunch. I will keep eating here when I'm in need of a meal.
(4)Joseph E.
I've gone to Besa Mi Taco quite a few times over the past several years although typically with coworkers. I never thought of it as a great experience; merely passable. One thing I noticed is that the establishment is severely cutting their expenses. They no longer use plastic cups for their salsa and the napkin dispenser and silverware trays have been completely removed. It looks more spartan inside but it also feels very lacking-- especially when you want a napkin and have to wait for your order to receive it. Today I went with a group of three-- we arrived around 11:30am. There was no one in line and about three people eating. We ordered basic lunch items and I decided to try the Taco salad with grilled chicken breast. Oh-- and a horchata to drink. My guess is they don't get a lot of orders for the "grilled" chicken breast as it took near ten minutes for my order to come out; probably a few minutes past that as my coworkers already had their meals and were eating. It's rare that I have to ask the staff when my order will be ready although I have had similar experiences at this place before, albeit years ago. My taco salad arrived with a generous glop of sour cream on top and a huge mound of sliced chicken breast. However none of it appeared like it had been grilled and the whole thing just had a very "empty" taste to it-- it's a whole lot of nothing for around 9 bucks (with a drink). I feel like any semblance of a soul this place ever had (which wasn't much) has been completely removed by this point. If you want cheap Mexican food that has more bang for your buck I can think of a few other places in mind but from now on I'm going to have to give this one a pass.
(2)Ammy F.
I went there last week with my family,we were not impressed with the food choice. Girl that worked at the register was really mean And not very professional. We had to wait more than 15 minutes to get a burritos. Will not go back.
(3)Joe M.
I am a fan of the food here. The drive thru does take a bit of time but I think that the food makes up for it. I usually get the enchiladas platter and it has yet to disappoint.
(4)Rhonda G.
When you say something in Spanish it automatically sounds more interesting, romantic, etc. Which would explain why I found myself at place lovingly called "kiss my taco". Now think about it's slang connotation...umm, yeah. Name aside, this place didn't suck and actually hit the spot (ha! not THAT spot). Definitely not the best I ever had but not the worst (keep in mind that I was absolutely starving). I got a chicken burrito and although it tasted fine, it didn't have any of the Mexican flavor that you would expect/commonly find. I might go back if I find myself famished and in the area. Oh yeah, some meals came with fries which seems quite odd.
(3)Charles S.
Eeeek... They were a good place to go and grab a beer (bottled) at a cheaper price than the Hyatt Place. The chips were stale and the salsa had NO kick. Not to mention the cheap paper containers used for teh salsa bar. The Tacos were bland and could only be helped by the bland salsa. Though I will say the produce used in the Tacos did seem "fresh"... just bland.
(2)Dave G.
The Mexican Chopped Salad is awesome, so that is what I am basing my review upon this is all my work buddies and I get from here. The salsa the give you is pretty runny and watery but it always seems to be fresh and it tastes pretty good.
(4)Tim P.
The food here is good for the price. I'd eaten there several times before reading this review and I think the other reviewers are missing the point of this place. The enchiladas are good and the chocolate cake they have for dessert is certifiably fantastic. It is not world class food, but it is fast, inexpensive and good.
(3)Hans H.
Went to actually eat in the restaurant. No free chips and salsa? Minus one star. I have to say that my initial review was based on their al pastor. Their beef and chicken are actually quite bland, unfortunately. Yeah, like the other yelpers said, there are better local places. Average at best, but I'll still go there. In fact, I'm going to go there right now...
(3)Carolyn M.
NEGATIVE 5 STARS!!! Wow this is quite possibly the most foul disgusting crap I have EVER had. My folks were having their house remodeled and they stayed at the Eaglewood for the weekend so we met them there and took the kids swimming and after we were hungry for Mexican food. We came across besa mi taco BIG MISTAKE. At first we were happy when we saw the prices weren't so bad.... Then we got our food....... I've had better frozen dinners except that I suspect that it might have been one of those $1 banquet frozen dinners. I had the chicken enchilada plate. The sauce had a funky taste, the cheese I'm pretty sure was American melted on top, there was maybe a quarter of a chicken breast cut up in TWO ENCHILADAS (probably cause they were about 2 inches long). The rice and beans were boring but I wish I had more than the three bites of each they gave me to give it a chance! I ordered a margarita which was pitiful! We also ordered nachos that were supposed to have all this stuff on them soooo they came in a metal takeout container and in it was a handful of crushed up chips covered in a hard layer of that same crusty American cheese with a glob of sour cream and a glob of guacamole. Impossible to eat. Not to mention the fact the guy taking the orders with the overdone brows was soooooo rude. They don't have napkins anywhere in the restaurant you have to ask, so you would think ol Mr. Friendly would be used to being asked for them but NOOOO he gave me an attitude, rolled his eyes, and gave me 4 napkins for the table of EIGHT!!! So then we left and ordeal was over until the drive home and the tummy aches hit us all. Let's just say that the rest of the night was not fun with one bathroom!!! DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME!!! Small update: HA just happened to notice a friend is the first on the previous reviews of this crap shack, I could have saved some time had I read this before wasting my time, money, and risking my digestive health here!!!
(1)Robert G.
Margaritas were "Country Time" lemonade quality. Food was "Taco Bell" quality. Not some place I would go out of my way for a meal.
(2)Diana M.
called in to order for company lunch had an order or 45 employees and the rude help armando can't answer a question and hangs up ...lost my business and i am glad i did not order anyway ..look at the bad reviews bad food bad customer service i bet my tacos he will be out of business by thanksgiving thank you very mucho mr taco!
(1)Angie B.
Love their guacamole here too bad the chips are extra. The food is completely tex mex and what i have tried has been good but the prices are a little up there. The restaurant itself is pretty big, nice decor and they have a small salsa bar. I have never had an issue finding parking either.
(3)Cristin B.
The food is amazing. I've never been disappointed. The service is always friendly and it's a great atmosphere.
(5)Amanda V.
This place sucks. It's expensive and the service sucks. You can go to a real Mexican restaurant and probably get more for your money. This place is just a rip off. The last time I ate there my boyfriend and I saw a couple mice wandering around on the patio. Yes, it was outside but still that's pretty gross. Won't be returning.
(1)Peter F.
Better and cheaper then Taco Bell.
(4)Laura O.
Ugh! Chips tasted old. The salsa bar was okay. I ordered the enchilada dish. The staff recommended the cheese enchilada. I was quite disappointed that they used cheddar cheese instead of chihuahua cheese or other Mexican cheese. In short- food tasted bland and CHEAP ! The chairs were quite small and different looking- and i don't think I am a big person- just an average size girl- but the chair was a snug fit. It made me wonder for those who may be larger- how would they get in to the seat! The room looked festive but there is a picture of a woman trying to look sexy while eating a chip- that ruined the decor of the place. And what the heck- the female staff looked like they wore clothes made or a roller rink- I don't know if they were trying to copy Hooters idea of dressing their servers or what? It did NOT fit the place. Overall- this place was a big disappointment.
(1)Amrita J.
Ok so I was in Itasca, IL this week for work, and decided to try this place for dinner one night, despite the reviews I had already seen from Jonathan K. LoL! (Which almost made me change my mind might I add....)...... So I ordered a taco platter which was just okay.....it was pretty bland as mentioned in other reviews. I would say the best part of the meal was the frozen margarita I had, and the "salsa"bar.....the salsa was very good. Definitely not like Baja Fresh (as Nicole L. mentioned).....Baja Fresh has food that actually tastes YUMMY!!! :) Needless to say, I will not be going back here if I'm looking to eat Mexican food.
(2)Jim L.
I didn't think it was possible to find two 1 star restaurants RIGHT NEXT to each other. I tried to find something nice to say....really. But my fellow reviewers have said it all... The best I can come up with is the cute name....translation: Kiss My Taco. Sorry, I kissed it goodbye.
(1)AK Y.
Stayed at local hotel and needed a quick eat. Hotel shuttle recommended and I tried it out. Pleasantly surprised quick and fresh. Great prices for step above fast food.
(3)Mark J.
I went back today to give it a second try. The food tasted better and the service was faster, I received my food around 5 minutes after I placed my order. However, I was disgusted when I sat down at the table. It was coated in a thin layer of dried leftovers that I could feel when I put my hands down. Probably from the night before seeing that I was there at 11:15 am. The place was completely empty upon arriving and once again all employees were standing in back talking. It was like the table hadn't been cleaned the night before and it stunk. I looked at the table next to me and leftover food (lettuce, cheese) was on the bench. Will not be returning for a 3rd visit, I prefer to eat at clean establishments.
(2)Johnny X.
I must first start off by stating that i am thoroughly impressed by Besa Mi Taco's ability to screw up every single possible aspect of the fast food dining experience. I mean, seriously; you have to TRY to get zeroes across the board. And yet, there it is. I have given this place FOUR chances to do what they claim to do, and have only been able to not absolutely piss me off only ONE of those times. Even then, I wasn't even satisfied; I was just not pissed off. All four times, I went around lunch hour (11:30 - 1ish). I understand that the place is surrounded by office buildings, and is going to get a lot of traffic. The problem is, THEY don't understand it, even though they've been open since 2004. I have seen the line regularly reach the doorway of the place and snake around, several times during the course of my meals, and this doorway is a good 40-50 feet from the registers. And how many registers do they need to handle a REGULAR clientele that size? Well, they think 2 should be enough. It's not like they just don't have the staffing, its that they just don't have the physical registers. That's right - all these years of long lines and waiting customers, and they never sprung for a single additional register. I've also been stuck at the end of that line, and timed 12 minutes on one particular visit (yeah, I'm that guy. I'm in a line doing nothing, and I have a watch). i stayed because I don't have any set time limit on my lunch break, but I bet a lot of these other people do, and I am astounded by the level of patience they have. The place is also very open, and thus, noisy and echo-y. To really drive this fact home and make you appreciate it, they put the shortest, meekest girls they can find at the registers, so you have to literally lean over the register and get right in their face just to hear what they're saying. Even though I'm the third guy in line I watched do this, they still give me this dirty look like I'm doing something totally bizarre and unacceptable. Today, I ordered four steak tacos. I did not give them any kind of custom order. 4 steak tacos and a large pop. That's it. I stood at the pickup area until they got an order number that was TWENTY ahead of mine. I understand that certain foods take time, like baked apple pancakes or a deep-dish pizza, but I had ordered the most basic of all Mexican food groups. And its not like they had to cook more steak or something, I saw plenty of steak dishes whizzing past me. I asked the girl if she had an ETA on #96. I had to repeat this twice, and then yelled it at her the third time. I got that nice dirty look that they apparently train their employees to give again. She walked away, then came back and started handing out peoples orders again. She didn't even look at me. 5 minutes later, she asks what my order number was. I hand her my ticket, but by that point, someone was carrying it over. She slid it across the counter to me, both without apologizing, nor without making eye contact or even smiling. Now on to the food: I have gotten four dishes there: Tacos, a torta, a burrito, and a couple of enchiladas. All four of these taste EXACTLY THE SAME. I'm not even exaggerating. It's honestly astounding that they manage this. It wasn't until today that I finally realized how this can possibly be: ALL THE FOOD IS BLAND AS HECK. Seriously. I took a BIG bite out of my first taco at lunch, and you know what I thought? "WOW. This is a really flavorful tortilla." Yeah, the tortilla. I immediately realized that ALL I could taste is the tortilla. You know you're in trouble when the most flavorful part of your food is the part that is SUPPOSED to be bland. So, I inspected. I had my tortilla there, yes. There was a decent helping of tomatoes in there, a bunch of lettuce, a TON of cheese, and a decent amount of steak. So, its not that they just skimped on anything, the food really was this bland! I was honestly legitimately intrigued. I couldn't believe it. i forekd out a few pieces of steak and popped them in my mouth. They tasted like nothing, like water, or air or plain jello. It was downright bizarre. The texture was horrible, too: it was like a very dry pork. I even thought it might ACTUALLY be pork, and then realized that they don't serve pork there. It was bad times. I got through about a taco and a half, and couldn't take it anymore. I brought it back to the counter, explained my situation, and told them I'm going to need my money back. The manager offered to cook me a fresh dish, but I explained to him that the way they cook their food IS the problem, so his idea wouldn't help. he did give me my money back without much hassle, which was indeed pleasant. The amount I paid was in excess of $10, which is also EGREGIOUS for four tacos and a pop. that's like $2 each for four servings of cardboard in a tasty tortilla. Finally, what's with the name? Veiled sexual reference, anyone? They've even got lips on the sign. Gross.
(1)Mike P.
i should of listened to the bad reviews on here for this place....even El Burrito Loco is better than this place....I got my tacos and I've never seen so much grease on a taco before....the flour shell seriously was wet....I work down the street and I don't think I'll ever go here again.
(2)j s.
For the second time in 2 weeks I went through the drive up and have received an incorrect order. A salad, no onions, ranch dressing on the side can't be that difficult, can it? The food is good here, but the help is something else. I'm not going there again.
(2)Nicole L.
I was so excited when I saw this new Mexican place had opened. Unfortunately it was like a version of Baja Fresh, complete with a salsa bar, except Baja is better (if only barely). Love the name though!
(2)Teagan C.
I must first start off by stating that I am thoroughly impressed by the amount of time put into the lengthy term paper presented on Besa Mi Taco's service. (I am also enlightened with the way you managed to turn the word 'echo' into an adjective.) It makes no sense why you went back to this place after the second time of receiving such horrific service. I have to say Besa Mi Taco is a great place to get tasty food fast. Unlike Qdoba and Baja, Besa Mi Taco uses real cheese to melt on their dishes. Their nachos literally melt in your mouth with a delicious combination of beans, cheese, guacamole, sour cream, and your choice of meat. Because my boyfriend is a vegetarian, we both also appreciated the variety of vegetarian dishes that they offer. The vegetables found in their veggie burritos and veggie quesadillas are undoubtedly always fresh and grilled to perfection. I also appreciate the option of choosing my meal to be on flour or corn tortilla. Their noon time rush is no different than the noon time rush at its neighboring restaurant. With great food there comes a great amount of people. Though I too have first handedly seen customers impatiently wait for their food, I have also taken note of the fast paced workers behind the counter. It's clear that they're trying to get the food out as fast as they can. The atmosphere of Besa Mi Taco is very enjoyable as well. Their satellite radio station plays everything from Spanish rock to catchy salsa. As for putting the 'shortest, meekest girls they can find at the registers,' I do not understand what height has to do with the service of the girls. I've encountered nothing but sweetness and manners from each and every of their workers. These waitresses always take my picky orders with a smile on their faces. I have not once encountered this so called 'dirty' look. It makes me wonder what could possibly provoke such sweet girls to exhibit such a look. Furthermore, there is an always pleasant busboy saving you the trouble from tossing away your garbage. If you're in an absolute hurry and can't step down for some food, the service at drive-thru is extraordinary. Not once has the adorable girl in drive-thru forgot to ask me what kind of salsa I would like with my meal. I've always driven away with plenty of napkins, salsa, and food. I have seen this girl fill my pop while taking another person's order and handing me my change all at once. Great service is never a question for this outstanding restaurant. The food: My absolute favorite dish at Besa Mi Taco is their tacos al pastor. 'Al Pastor' is pork marinated with a blend of different spices. So for those of you who were broken hearted that pork could not be found on the menu because of a person's inability to read it correctly, have no fear, the pork at Besa Mi Taco is pure pleasure. If you happen to be on a tighter budget, Besa Mi Taco also offers 99 cent tacos of ground beef and ground chicken. Their tacos are the bulkiest tacos I've ever eaten. It is evident that the cooks are not shy when it comes to the amount of meat in the tacos. They also come garnished with lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese. (If you're a picky eater like me, no one has a problem with adding cilantro, sour cream, and onions to the bulkiness.) In all honesty, your taste buds have to be altogether ruined for you to call the food bland. Finally, the name Besa Mi Taco is quite comical to those with a sense of humor. There's nothing veiled about the name. It comes complete with the slogan, "Food so fresh, you wanna slap it." I would recommend this tasty joint to anyone and everyone. I would also urge that if a restaurant has let you down more than twice, don't bother going back.
(5)