A hidden gem. The steak burrito and horchata I had today were on the mark. I got my steak burrito "loaded" which included sour cream, cheese, rice, beans and avocado. This is key: they are generous with the avocado! The fresh cilantro added a little something special. The steak was freshly grilled, juicy and plentiful. Three super salsas available: mild green, smokey spicy red salsa and a peppery HOT green. Granted the $8.50 price tag on the burrito is bordering pricey, but the freshness and portion size make it worth it to me. Super clean dining area. Service was speedy and polite. I'll be back.
(4)
Allison A.
Good, fast, cheap, and easy... Don't worry I am talking about the restaurant. I stopped here the other night as I just wasn't in the mood for my clean eating diet. We got steak, chicken and el pastor tacos. The best part though? The salsas. Most of the flavor on the food came from those. I was very satisfied. They even forgot a part of our order and came running out to get us. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Chuck S.
Best Mexican in Bartlett by far. Love my all American steak burrito, and the kiddos love the quesadillas.
(5)
Joanna A.
I haven't penned a creative review in awhile so forgive my ditty if taint' so pretty. I grew up with a great family who were Mexican from Texas, so I have had many great meals growing up of having fresh food. I have also dined at the best places in Acapulco and can appreciate a freshly prepared meal. I walked in at 3pm and it was empty. Just one other customer before me. I sat at the counter and watched tv. I ordered a stuffed steak burrito with rice, avocado, fresh onion and cilantro and 3 chicken tacos with beans and rice. Order total came to $18.50. I ordered the larger burrito at $8.50, there is a smaller one for $4.25. I am pleased the burrito had fresh ingredients great fresh lively cilantro, REAL AVOCADO and fresh rice. A Good amount of steak. Emily's is 5 minuntes across from the Jewel by Stearns ( strip mall next door where UPS store is). It was worth the tiny extra drive. Will go again for freshly prepped food. Its casual where you can eat there if you grab one of the 4 booths or a place at the counter. Otherwise, don't cook tonight and enjoy take out. PS: I enjoyed the real re fried beans and rice Mexican Restaurant Comparison: Before this restaurant came along Bartlett , Streamwood, and Roselle and yes, even Schaumburg have had pretty much dog food for Mexican Restaurants over the past 14 years that I have been around trying places. I had settled for Chipotle for awhile until I learned about their GMO reporting. Most places over salt meats or use Adobo seasonings containing MSG which can give you wicked headaches and is a toxic additive anyway. Some places use rice from a can !
(5)
Leo G.
Best Mexican food you'll find in the northwest suburbs! All the food is delicious! Very authentic, similar to what you'd find in Mexico. All the meat is tender and full of flavor. They even offer custom catering options! We catered a party for nearly 30 guests, and everyone loved the food...always nice to hear when your hosting a party... and the best part is: its super affordable! I highly recommend getting food from Emily's!
(5)
Mister T.
Pretty good! The tacos tend to be dry. The hot sauce is hot though! I recommend it.
(3)
Robert G.
I've had four good tostadas here, which is more than enough for me to recommend it to anyone looking for some good Mexican food in Bartlett. I've had tostadas with steak, chicken and al pastor. They're, more or less, open-faced tacos. Except instead of sandwich bread, you have a crispy corn tortilla as the base. The veggies are good and all, but you're here for the meats. It doesn't matter what kind of meat you get, it's well seasoned. They also give you some free green salsa on the side (not habanero, surprisingly, just something a bit sour.) Best of all, the tostadas are only $2 and change each, and two is enough to assuage even the most intense lunch craving. I even threw in some yellow rice on the side, which was nicely seasoned as well. For less than $6 for lunch, it's hard to find a better place than Emily's.
(4)
Janette K.
5 flavorless, gristle tacos, $14, 45+ minute wait. Seriously. There was literally no flavor whatsoever in any bite of rubbery, gristle filled meat [al pastor and carne asada] the tortillas were stale. Wasn't given any salsa to make choking them down easier, out of chips. How they've lasted over a year is beyond me.
(1)
Jennifer S.
Hungry for a mouthwatering steak quesadilla or taco?? Then this is the SPOT! I always get a side of guacamole, too. This place is awesome! The sign says "Tacos" because it's a no-nonsense taco joint. My family loves this place! Don't ever change! We love love LOVE your food and service!
(5)
Megan C.
My dad loves this place and is a regular but to me it tastes different from the Mexican food I know. The tacos are good but too greasy for my taste. Rice is slightly hard but the meats are grilled in front of you so they have a nice grilled taste to them. The steak burrito I had was great. The steak was how steak should be and had no fat or veins to the majority of it. Would definitely come back but I wish they had complimentary chips and salsa.
(4)
Ed B.
This is a decent Mexican restaurant. The biggest thing it has going for it is everything is made fresh, so it tastes fresh. Because of that, you're paying a bit more and getting a bit less....not the "burrito as big as your head" you'd get at a late night place. You're also getting something that tastes a lot better though. I'd say the prices are about in line with say, Chipotle, if it helps. They just updated their menu and added some new things as well so if you like Mexican food you'll definitely find something you like. I really like their steak offerings. Don't be fooled though....this is not "authentic" Mexican food. It is however, authentic American Mexican food, which is what most people really mean when they say that. And its good. I'd say its probably my third favorite Mexican place and if you're in the area you should give it a try.
(4)
Joshua W.
Very good for something that is close by. The tacos were create and made to order, which is always a good thing. The guacamole was pretty bad though. A little bit pricy to justify going there more often.
(3)
Johnny M.
Best in Bartlett & great people too!
(5)
Jennifer S.
I'm not wasting any time. I learned that Emily's Mexican Grill was open for business and five hours later, I was here for dinner. The hubby and I wandered over to the shopping center across the street from Jewel and noticed a few people milling about inside. We walked in and quickly decided on our carryout order. So this restaurant has been open for about a month. It is family owned and operated (my favorite!). A couple of cousins and the mom/aunt are hustling to run this fresh operation. The grand opening complete with free tacos al pastor is scheduled for the first week of November. I don't know an exact date, but it's worth a visit to find out before then. Anyhow, there is seating for about 12 people although they are definitely doing mostly carryout. The whole look is bare bones right now, but it's clean, the kitchen is wide open and they are totally focused on the food. Let's talk about the food. Shall we? We ordered a steak burrito without cilantro, chicken quesadillas (not on the menu for our son), a side of rice, a side of refried beans, a chicken taco, a steak taco and a ground beef taco (all tacos with onion and lettuce). Dinner for three for under $20! Heck to the yeah!! So the good and the not-so-good...the burrito arrived with cilantro. The hubby wasn't thrilled but still enjoyed the meal. Quality steak that was very filling. The chicken quesadillas were perfect. Beautifully cooked chicken breast showed up in both the quesadilla and the taco. Order the steak or the chicken...or both! The rice was nice. The beans arrived with melted cheese and that addition was a surprise. The tacos were delicious even though they arrived with cilantro and onions rather than lettuce and onions. The tortillas were pliable and clearly fresh. We watched the auntie/mom slice the fresh beef off a roast before she grilled it. You can't get any better than that! The ground beef taco was kinda boring, but the steak and the chicken made up for that. The wait time was a little lengthy and they knew it. They're still finding their groove, so they apologized, but we were totally okay with waiting for a fresh cooked dinner. Plus, the Bears game was being recorded on the DVR so we weren't missing anything! To recap, try the chicken or steak. Call ahead to cut down on your wait time. And support this local, non-chain business! It's nice to have somewhere different to go that is five minutes from home. Let's keep it that way, Bartlett friends. :-)
(4)
r w.
ordered 4 steak tacos...onion, cilantro, cheese...you would think simple enough not to screw it up...charged for the cheese, not sure where they put it since it wasn't on the tacos...steak tough and chewy...tried them when they first opened...not good then...not good now
(2)
Jenel M.
Friendly service and fresh, fast mexican food. Loved the tacos. Great price!
(4)
Leni M.
Fantastic, authentic Mexican food with a great price to match. Small, family owned place with some of best service I've had in awhile. Fresh made right in front of you. I had the loaded burrito and let me tell you, it WAS loaded! We'll be coming again, that's for sure.
(5)
Jaimee L.
Loved it! Got two steak tacos and can't complain. If you love authentic mexican good you have to check out this place.
(5)
Cory H.
Where to begin.... Called in a phone order for a steak taco dinner with cilantro, onion lettuce and cheese., chips and salsa, quac and chips and two chicken quesadillas. Was told the cheese was .25 extra, no prob. Told to come in 15 minutes. I show up 15 minutes later and see the food sitting on the table all bagged up. The male employee is just starting to fill some sauces in cups and looking around kind of like a lost puppy opening cabinets, fridges etc. A dine in customer get there food served to them by the young male. (as I stand and wait). I repeated the order just to make sure he had it all. he agreed it was all in the bag. WRONG Get home, open food. Guess what, tacos have no cheese or lettuce. I called the store just to mention they forgot the cheese etc, he immediately tells me they did put cheese, then he says they didn't and to check my receipt he doesn't THINK he charged me. Ok whatever obviously this kid will be working a register forever with his personality. I hang up, take a bite of the taco...STEAK IS COLD. Call back and asked why it is cold. He tells me it cant be cold. They made it today and the steak is always hot. So not fresh. I open the guac, out of the 4oz cup they give you about 2oz for $4. The chips were store bought milagro brand as I watched them fill the bags. The guy on the phone tells me to microwave it and if I don't like it call the manager. Ok is the manager there, no. When will he be in? I don't know, whats the managers name? Jesus. I asked him if they always have this type of attitude. he said I don't know. Well they obviously don't know much. What I got today was horrible. Hopefully my $20 will help them pay the attorney fees, to break the lease within the next few months at 968 S Bartlett Rd since there is no way they are going to make it. So anyone looking to buy some new restaurant equipment, maybe you should leave your number with "The Manager" because I don't see them needing it much longer. For Mexican restaurants being a dime a dozen, you would think you would provide better food and service. Skip this place and head down to El Faro.
(1)
Andy W.
This was a treat for a quick burrito to go. Service was quick and courteous, steak was grilled as I waited for order, all very fresh. Very clean restaraunt, and the food was very good.
(5)
Karim T.
Just did take out lunch there. I was a bit surprised my burrito was $8:50! Thought right away that this was my last time here. Once back in my office, I was delightfully surprised at how good and fresh it was. I'll be back, but not too often for that price. Will try the tacos next, which also seem a tad pricey at 2 bucks a pop. They need some take out menus and next time some napkins in my bag! Wish I could give 3.5 stars
(3)
Callie S.
Fresh steak tacos grilled while you wait. The spicy salsa is worth a try, too. I'm glad there's a good taco place in my neighborhood! Hola, Emily!
(4)
Jeff G.
Just saw that this has replaced Sandwichville, so we thought we'd try it out. Great food at a good price, tried the chicken taco which had great flavor. The Quesadilla was good, the Steak Burrito was good as well maybe a bit too much beans but still good. We will definitely be trying it again! Glad we have a nice local place to grab good tacos. The menu is very basic and straightforward, but that's a good thing. Stick to what you do best and we'll keep coming back for the great food!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Michelle R.
A hidden gem. The steak burrito and horchata I had today were on the mark. I got my steak burrito "loaded" which included sour cream, cheese, rice, beans and avocado. This is key: they are generous with the avocado! The fresh cilantro added a little something special. The steak was freshly grilled, juicy and plentiful. Three super salsas available: mild green, smokey spicy red salsa and a peppery HOT green. Granted the $8.50 price tag on the burrito is bordering pricey, but the freshness and portion size make it worth it to me. Super clean dining area. Service was speedy and polite. I'll be back.
(4)Allison A.
Good, fast, cheap, and easy... Don't worry I am talking about the restaurant. I stopped here the other night as I just wasn't in the mood for my clean eating diet. We got steak, chicken and el pastor tacos. The best part though? The salsas. Most of the flavor on the food came from those. I was very satisfied. They even forgot a part of our order and came running out to get us. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Chuck S.
Best Mexican in Bartlett by far. Love my all American steak burrito, and the kiddos love the quesadillas.
(5)Joanna A.
I haven't penned a creative review in awhile so forgive my ditty if taint' so pretty. I grew up with a great family who were Mexican from Texas, so I have had many great meals growing up of having fresh food. I have also dined at the best places in Acapulco and can appreciate a freshly prepared meal. I walked in at 3pm and it was empty. Just one other customer before me. I sat at the counter and watched tv. I ordered a stuffed steak burrito with rice, avocado, fresh onion and cilantro and 3 chicken tacos with beans and rice. Order total came to $18.50. I ordered the larger burrito at $8.50, there is a smaller one for $4.25. I am pleased the burrito had fresh ingredients great fresh lively cilantro, REAL AVOCADO and fresh rice. A Good amount of steak. Emily's is 5 minuntes across from the Jewel by Stearns ( strip mall next door where UPS store is). It was worth the tiny extra drive. Will go again for freshly prepped food. Its casual where you can eat there if you grab one of the 4 booths or a place at the counter. Otherwise, don't cook tonight and enjoy take out. PS: I enjoyed the real re fried beans and rice Mexican Restaurant Comparison: Before this restaurant came along Bartlett , Streamwood, and Roselle and yes, even Schaumburg have had pretty much dog food for Mexican Restaurants over the past 14 years that I have been around trying places. I had settled for Chipotle for awhile until I learned about their GMO reporting. Most places over salt meats or use Adobo seasonings containing MSG which can give you wicked headaches and is a toxic additive anyway. Some places use rice from a can !
(5)Leo G.
Best Mexican food you'll find in the northwest suburbs! All the food is delicious! Very authentic, similar to what you'd find in Mexico. All the meat is tender and full of flavor. They even offer custom catering options! We catered a party for nearly 30 guests, and everyone loved the food...always nice to hear when your hosting a party... and the best part is: its super affordable! I highly recommend getting food from Emily's!
(5)Mister T.
Pretty good! The tacos tend to be dry. The hot sauce is hot though! I recommend it.
(3)Robert G.
I've had four good tostadas here, which is more than enough for me to recommend it to anyone looking for some good Mexican food in Bartlett. I've had tostadas with steak, chicken and al pastor. They're, more or less, open-faced tacos. Except instead of sandwich bread, you have a crispy corn tortilla as the base. The veggies are good and all, but you're here for the meats. It doesn't matter what kind of meat you get, it's well seasoned. They also give you some free green salsa on the side (not habanero, surprisingly, just something a bit sour.) Best of all, the tostadas are only $2 and change each, and two is enough to assuage even the most intense lunch craving. I even threw in some yellow rice on the side, which was nicely seasoned as well. For less than $6 for lunch, it's hard to find a better place than Emily's.
(4)Janette K.
5 flavorless, gristle tacos, $14, 45+ minute wait. Seriously. There was literally no flavor whatsoever in any bite of rubbery, gristle filled meat [al pastor and carne asada] the tortillas were stale. Wasn't given any salsa to make choking them down easier, out of chips. How they've lasted over a year is beyond me.
(1)Jennifer S.
Hungry for a mouthwatering steak quesadilla or taco?? Then this is the SPOT! I always get a side of guacamole, too. This place is awesome! The sign says "Tacos" because it's a no-nonsense taco joint. My family loves this place! Don't ever change! We love love LOVE your food and service!
(5)Megan C.
My dad loves this place and is a regular but to me it tastes different from the Mexican food I know. The tacos are good but too greasy for my taste. Rice is slightly hard but the meats are grilled in front of you so they have a nice grilled taste to them. The steak burrito I had was great. The steak was how steak should be and had no fat or veins to the majority of it. Would definitely come back but I wish they had complimentary chips and salsa.
(4)Ed B.
This is a decent Mexican restaurant. The biggest thing it has going for it is everything is made fresh, so it tastes fresh. Because of that, you're paying a bit more and getting a bit less....not the "burrito as big as your head" you'd get at a late night place. You're also getting something that tastes a lot better though. I'd say the prices are about in line with say, Chipotle, if it helps. They just updated their menu and added some new things as well so if you like Mexican food you'll definitely find something you like. I really like their steak offerings. Don't be fooled though....this is not "authentic" Mexican food. It is however, authentic American Mexican food, which is what most people really mean when they say that. And its good. I'd say its probably my third favorite Mexican place and if you're in the area you should give it a try.
(4)Joshua W.
Very good for something that is close by. The tacos were create and made to order, which is always a good thing. The guacamole was pretty bad though. A little bit pricy to justify going there more often.
(3)Johnny M.
Best in Bartlett & great people too!
(5)Jennifer S.
I'm not wasting any time. I learned that Emily's Mexican Grill was open for business and five hours later, I was here for dinner. The hubby and I wandered over to the shopping center across the street from Jewel and noticed a few people milling about inside. We walked in and quickly decided on our carryout order. So this restaurant has been open for about a month. It is family owned and operated (my favorite!). A couple of cousins and the mom/aunt are hustling to run this fresh operation. The grand opening complete with free tacos al pastor is scheduled for the first week of November. I don't know an exact date, but it's worth a visit to find out before then. Anyhow, there is seating for about 12 people although they are definitely doing mostly carryout. The whole look is bare bones right now, but it's clean, the kitchen is wide open and they are totally focused on the food. Let's talk about the food. Shall we? We ordered a steak burrito without cilantro, chicken quesadillas (not on the menu for our son), a side of rice, a side of refried beans, a chicken taco, a steak taco and a ground beef taco (all tacos with onion and lettuce). Dinner for three for under $20! Heck to the yeah!! So the good and the not-so-good...the burrito arrived with cilantro. The hubby wasn't thrilled but still enjoyed the meal. Quality steak that was very filling. The chicken quesadillas were perfect. Beautifully cooked chicken breast showed up in both the quesadilla and the taco. Order the steak or the chicken...or both! The rice was nice. The beans arrived with melted cheese and that addition was a surprise. The tacos were delicious even though they arrived with cilantro and onions rather than lettuce and onions. The tortillas were pliable and clearly fresh. We watched the auntie/mom slice the fresh beef off a roast before she grilled it. You can't get any better than that! The ground beef taco was kinda boring, but the steak and the chicken made up for that. The wait time was a little lengthy and they knew it. They're still finding their groove, so they apologized, but we were totally okay with waiting for a fresh cooked dinner. Plus, the Bears game was being recorded on the DVR so we weren't missing anything! To recap, try the chicken or steak. Call ahead to cut down on your wait time. And support this local, non-chain business! It's nice to have somewhere different to go that is five minutes from home. Let's keep it that way, Bartlett friends. :-)
(4)r w.
ordered 4 steak tacos...onion, cilantro, cheese...you would think simple enough not to screw it up...charged for the cheese, not sure where they put it since it wasn't on the tacos...steak tough and chewy...tried them when they first opened...not good then...not good now
(2)Jenel M.
Friendly service and fresh, fast mexican food. Loved the tacos. Great price!
(4)Leni M.
Fantastic, authentic Mexican food with a great price to match. Small, family owned place with some of best service I've had in awhile. Fresh made right in front of you. I had the loaded burrito and let me tell you, it WAS loaded! We'll be coming again, that's for sure.
(5)Jaimee L.
Loved it! Got two steak tacos and can't complain. If you love authentic mexican good you have to check out this place.
(5)Cory H.
Where to begin.... Called in a phone order for a steak taco dinner with cilantro, onion lettuce and cheese., chips and salsa, quac and chips and two chicken quesadillas. Was told the cheese was .25 extra, no prob. Told to come in 15 minutes. I show up 15 minutes later and see the food sitting on the table all bagged up. The male employee is just starting to fill some sauces in cups and looking around kind of like a lost puppy opening cabinets, fridges etc. A dine in customer get there food served to them by the young male. (as I stand and wait). I repeated the order just to make sure he had it all. he agreed it was all in the bag. WRONG Get home, open food. Guess what, tacos have no cheese or lettuce. I called the store just to mention they forgot the cheese etc, he immediately tells me they did put cheese, then he says they didn't and to check my receipt he doesn't THINK he charged me. Ok whatever obviously this kid will be working a register forever with his personality. I hang up, take a bite of the taco...STEAK IS COLD. Call back and asked why it is cold. He tells me it cant be cold. They made it today and the steak is always hot. So not fresh. I open the guac, out of the 4oz cup they give you about 2oz for $4. The chips were store bought milagro brand as I watched them fill the bags. The guy on the phone tells me to microwave it and if I don't like it call the manager. Ok is the manager there, no. When will he be in? I don't know, whats the managers name? Jesus. I asked him if they always have this type of attitude. he said I don't know. Well they obviously don't know much. What I got today was horrible. Hopefully my $20 will help them pay the attorney fees, to break the lease within the next few months at 968 S Bartlett Rd since there is no way they are going to make it. So anyone looking to buy some new restaurant equipment, maybe you should leave your number with "The Manager" because I don't see them needing it much longer. For Mexican restaurants being a dime a dozen, you would think you would provide better food and service. Skip this place and head down to El Faro.
(1)Andy W.
This was a treat for a quick burrito to go. Service was quick and courteous, steak was grilled as I waited for order, all very fresh. Very clean restaraunt, and the food was very good.
(5)Karim T.
Just did take out lunch there. I was a bit surprised my burrito was $8:50! Thought right away that this was my last time here. Once back in my office, I was delightfully surprised at how good and fresh it was. I'll be back, but not too often for that price. Will try the tacos next, which also seem a tad pricey at 2 bucks a pop. They need some take out menus and next time some napkins in my bag! Wish I could give 3.5 stars
(3)Callie S.
Fresh steak tacos grilled while you wait. The spicy salsa is worth a try, too. I'm glad there's a good taco place in my neighborhood! Hola, Emily!
(4)Jeff G.
Just saw that this has replaced Sandwichville, so we thought we'd try it out. Great food at a good price, tried the chicken taco which had great flavor. The Quesadilla was good, the Steak Burrito was good as well maybe a bit too much beans but still good. We will definitely be trying it again! Glad we have a nice local place to grab good tacos. The menu is very basic and straightforward, but that's a good thing. Stick to what you do best and we'll keep coming back for the great food!
(4)