I simply do not understand the negative reviews. As a Texas-transplant (I lived there for 30 years, including three in San Antonio), I've sampled a LOT of Mexican food, both great and not-great. Guajuanto is one of my favorite Mexican-food restaurants of all time. The quality of the food itself is fabulous: clean, local, seasonal and often organic. The dishes always exceed my expectations. This place excels even in something as simple as a salad dressing: Last night I had the (organic) arugula salad and couldn't decide between the lime vinagrette and chipotle dressing so the waiter was nice enough to bring me samples of each. (The service there has always been extraordinarily good.) I chose the lime but was torn because the chipotle was also stunningly tasty (have to go back soon for that one.) Their chicken flautas are maybe the best I've ever had and the tamales I had last night were delish. Anyone with a hankering for great Mexican food to warm you in what may be another brutal winter should give this place a try. I consider it the very best Mexican food within driving distance.
(5)
Yvonne Y.
Same crew as the closed Holey Guacamole. They basically expanded to a bigger place and renamed it. Foodwise, it's Americanized Mexican food and the El Mocajete is fun to eat and delicious. Besides that, I usually get the chile relleno and my husband gets the enchilada. We come often because it's a family restaurant and there are lots of kids/babies on any given night. The wait is looooong on Fri and Sat night so come early if your kid doesn't want to wait. I love the staff as they're really friendly. Just wish it wasn't so crowded there.
(4)
Marie D.
My family of four went to Guanajuato for the first time on Friday night. The restaurant was busy but we were seated right away. Our waiter was friendly but rushed. We ordered the fresh guacamole to start; it was very fresh, but on the mild/bland side. We mixed in some of the salsa to spice it up a bit. I ordered tilapia tacos; they were good, but not great - again, a bit bland. The rice was a bit dried out and the beans were OK, not great. The menu lists recommended wine for each meal, so I ordered the wine recommended for my dish. I didn't look closely, so I was surprised when my tilapia tacos were served with a Pinot Noir - I was expecting a white wine. The wine was good, but we were stunned when we got the bill, as it was $13/glass (the price was not listed on the menu). My husband ordered beef tacos and said they were very good. Our children each ordered the children's steak tacos (great kids' menu) and really enjoyed them. All in all we thought the food was average, the prices too high (close to $80 for a casual Mexican meal for two adults and two kids), and the service was well-intended but a bit harried. Guanajuata also had two mariachis strolling from table to table, but it seemed that one of these men couldn't sing to save his life. They were nice, though, and gave us their card: Gorgeous George and Ferdinand Fantastico!
(2)
Grace D.
Fresh mexican. Yum! Went last night split a salad with papya, beets and greens with a lemon dressing and chicken (amish free range) verde enchiladas. Both were great. I judge mexican joints by the chips and salsa which were both excellent. I enjoyed that the enchiladas were served with black beans and sauteed spinach - a healthier twist vs. mexican rice. The only weird part was our waitress who kept pushing alcohol and the specials on us. Plus, the manager walked up and down the aisle which led me to believe that perhaps he made her nervous - he certainly made me feel a little uncomfortalbe. The menu was heavy on the seafood and didn't have a lot of the typical mexian fare which I think is a postive. If you are in the area give it a try.
(4)
Jennifer M.
In a word: inedible. Being from Texas and having lived in the food heaven that is Wicker Park for years, I was prepared to manage expectations going into this place. Based on Yelp reviews I thought the worst it could be was "blah". After the appetizer course the food was ASPIRING to be just blah. Guacamole was brown and tasteless. Salt and lime couldn't save it. Salsa was similarly tasteless, no attempts were made to save it as it was too far gone. Ceviche was the worst dish I've ever had- the only one i have ever considered sending back (though i didn't). The first bite tasted like the fish had been rinsed with a dirty, mildewy dishrag. Second (and final) bite was only marginally better because I caught more of the sauce (which tasted a whole lot like cocktail sauce...ceviche??) Enchiladas poblanas were disappointing but mostly edible (I made it through one out of 3). Rice and beans were the highlight of the meal. Rick Bayless offers a store bought mole sauce that puts this one to shame. Maybe unfair to compare anyone to Bayless, but considering what the restaurant was charging, we would have all been better off if they had just used his sauce and charged 5 times what it would've cost for me to make the dish myself. Child's plate of nachos with chicken looked like a mountain of dog food. All you could see was shredded chicken. The plate was served dangerously hot, which seems odd considering that nachos can only be found on the children's menu so you'd think they would know better. Between the dangerous and ridiculously inappropriate temperature and the off putting appearance of the dish, my otherwise eat-anything-anytime child wouldn't go near the nachos for several minutes. When she finally did try some of the cheese she spit it out. I would be shocked if this place ever rises to the level of blah, but I'll never know because I'm never going back.
(1)
Stephanie A.
a great little restaurant featuring authentic mexican dishes using authentic mexican products. my son and I always enjoy a meal here, from the soups to the desserts. my son enjoys the mexican sodas and the make a mad margarita for the adults. love it when they have the mariachi serenading during dinner.
(5)
Hannah Y.
My mom hates it! It's okay though.... It's fake mexican food though!!!!! Just a heads up!
(1)
Philip P.
El Mocajete was rippin' hot but tasty. My wife ordered the enchiladas poblanos with mole and loved it. Service was great but the restaurant is a bit cramped when it's busy. A bit on the pricey side, but would like to come back again to sample some of their wines.
(3)
William G.
The service was very good and the tilapia I had was delicious. My margarita, however, was one of the worst I've ever had. Almost all sour mix and nothing else. I would still go back. The food was worth it.
(4)
Alan M.
What a cute, cute place. Nice location, in a mall with parking, a full bar (quite an extensive selection of tequillas), a nice menu... the waitress was attentive, the service was good... they seated us quickly, and there was a musician playing... Now if only the food had lived up to that. We had fish tacos, shrimp tacos, Carne Asada and margaritas. The margaritas were decent. The rest? I have to agree with others... bland and forgetable. The black beans were plentiful, but flavourless. The rice also plentiful, was bland, cheese was on everything and the dominant flavour. Don't get me wrong... it's not "bad"... it's just that it's not "good" either. It's just so-so. I had such hopes.
(2)
Emily I.
Decent margaritas and food. Good service. I have to agree with other reviewers that the food isn't great but you're also in Glencoe.. Your expectations can't be that high.
(3)
Belinda N.
I vaguely recalled Guanajuato getting rave reviews somewhere, so I lured my coworker there to join me for lunch. It was a first and last for both of us. First, they gave us dinner menus listing entrees in the $18 range, kinda high for lunch. It was only after we specifically inquired about a lunch menu that our waiter suddenly remembered the $2 tacos lunch special. Our waiter would disappear for long stretches, even after checking on us and promising to bring missing sides and drink refills. Oh, and the food. Tacos were quite good albeit plain: tortillas, meat, cilantro, onions. Hard to go wrong there, although they were a bit dry. Word of warning - don't order the shrimp soup. They warn you that it's spicy, and they got that part right, but it's also incredibly salty, bordering on inedibly salty (and I love salt). So between the lackadaisical service, the super high prices, and the so-so food, I'll keep looking. Maybe this place is fun at night. Or for you locals, what you save on babysitters can buy you a margarita or three. Hope this place improves.
(2)
Natalie N.
Since Guanajuato opened, I have noticed the quality of food and service diminishing. Originally, I was ecstatic to see a good Mexican restaurant open on the North Shore. Sadly, this was my last and final attempt. The quality of food was poor, the service was poor, and oh my, the owner's attitude was poor. She refused to give us her name when we stated THREE times that we were not happy with the quality of the food. She WALKED AWAY FROM US! I finally had to get her name from another employee. As a business owner, this type of customer service blows me away. In a nutshell, Guanajuato is sub-par as far as Mexican restaurants are concerned and it is incredibly over priced!!!
(1)
Jen B.
When I first started going here, I was in love. But wow have things changed! The quality of the food has declined significantly and is certainly not worth the price! The servers could not be more unprofessional. There is a heavy blonde waitress who ALWAYS has an attitude and clearly does not care about the customers whatsoever. Service is very slow. Unfortunately, due to the rude staff and the overpriced food, I do not think I will be going back.
(2)
Rhett H.
Easily my favorite Mexican restaurant! Lunch menu is perfect...inexpensive, large portions and freaking delicious! Friendly and attentive staff keep me coming back:)
(5)
J S.
Can't figure out some of these reviews. I go here probably twice a month and never have a bad experience. The margaritas are awesome and so is the food. It can be a bit pricey with drinks but I expect that. Don't let the negative reviews stop you. This is one of the best Mexican restaurants in the city or suburbs.
(5)
Andrea R.
Soooo I've been avoiding this Mexican restaurant, which is conveniently located down the street from our house, for years due to the average Yelp reviews. When a friend booked it for a recent moms night out I silently cringed, but said I'd attend since I'm not one to pass up a GNO (and margarita). There turned out to be no margartias on this particular night, but there was sangria. And while it wasn't the best sangria I've ever had it sure beat putting the kids to bed. As for the food and service I'm going with 4 stars. The shrimp tacos I ordered were good, although not quite as good as those at the nearby Taco Nano*. But yes, I'd order the shrimp tacos again. The staff at Guanojuato kept the food coming and made sure our glasses were filled with sangria. The owner happened to be present that night and a fellow mom mentioned she find the service to be better when she's around. I'll be back.... perhaps next time with the husband (and even kids) in tow. * yelp.com/biz/taco-nano-n…
(4)
Lyle J.
This deserves higher than a 3.0 avg rating I feel. I imagine it is tough to please people in this community though. They have a wine selection that is simpler/smarter than many restaurants that purport themselves to be winecentric. It would be in their interest to maybe include some other cocktails in their drink list. It is clear though that the mission is to be very tequila-forward. I found the quality of the House Especial margarita to be quite good. The salsa is pleasant, little heat but nice freshness. Chips are not particularly ambitious, but well salted. Guacamole was not noteworthy, not to say great or bad. It was of a very 'soft' make. Lacking acid and salt a bit for me, but clean and fresh. I liked that the guacamole is available with jicama/cucumber/radish. Though they don't display such, you are able to get items (goat taco in my case) a la carte. This is hugely important to me, but I find it better to not have to ask. I understand the reasons, but getting people to try more things is excellent business. Our server was a pleasant, sincere guy. I was brought the wrong soup even after we had double-clarified . I didn't mention it though, as the Tortilla Soup looked great, and it was very nice. The goat taco was very good. Juicy, hydrated, healthy (but dead, no worries) it was not stringy or dry or gamey. It is much like a light barbacoa, which is what they call it. The steak special tonight was good. Hangar steak, well cooked. The only bit about it to take umbrage with is that a special should be divergent from a standard every-day menu item, or with a price-incentive. There was neither. There was an overall positive vibe here and Chef came out to speak with tables, seeming very enthusiastic and genuine about his food, fresh ingredients and their bevy of tequilas. Appreciated the passion without pretense.
(4)
Brock L.
Live in the City surrounded by dozens of fantastic Mexican spots, but this may be the best Mexican in the city or the north shore. The el molcajete is unreal. Had almost everything on this menu, and never been disappointed. Shocked by such negative reviews on here, but you also have to understand the neighborhood it's in, most people in that area are hard to please...if you know what I mean.
(5)
Andrew B.
Best mexican food on the north shore. Great service and great prices. You can't beat Guanajuato!
(5)
Pam D.
The hubby & I were on our way to the Wilmette Summer Fest where we were volunteers in the Beer & Wine Garden (that was total fun!) and decided to grab a quick dinner at Guanajuato (please don't ask me how to pronounce it...IDK). Sat in the bar and were greeted by the bartender telling us he "would be right there". Wished I kept the bill, I think his name was Thomas but, whoever he was, he gave us great service! I ordered the white wine Sangria & the hubby his usual coke. Thomas told me to take a sip of the Sangria which I did. It wasn't so good but, I tried not to be so picky. So, I said it was fine. Thomas said he didn't make it and if I wanted he would make me HIS white wine Sangria. After another 3 sips, I beckoned to Thomas, the original Sangria was undrinkable. He said no problem "let me make you mine". OMG! Honestly, one of the best white wine Sangria's I have ever drank! Bursting with vibrant flavors: orange, lemon, apples, and yes... I could taste the wine along with fresh mint. Wish I could've ordered a 2nd one but, we were off to Wilmette's Summer Fest. Volunteers cannot be late. We ordered the Nachos a la Mexicana with a side of guacamole, delicious! Hope to return for a relaxing meal where we can take our time and I can enjoy that 2nd Sangria!
(4)
Brian C.
The food here never disappoints. If you think that mediocre Tex-Mex is authentic Mexican food then don't come here. The food is delicious, fresh and authentic .
(5)
Kim G.
Tasty. My husband always eats the goat taco. He's always talking about the goat.
(4)
Jennifer G.
Best Mexican in the North Shore!!! Friendly service, excellent margaritas, the best guacamole of anywhere! I am very picky about fresh avocados and they are always fresh here. Also, the fish is amazing here:) I have no complaints. My daughter has a dairy allergy and they are extremely accommodating. Great place for the whole family or a casual date.
(5)
Alex J.
The worst Mexican food in Chicagoland. Poor quality presentation, ingredients and taste. Drinks are great at the bar. Bartenders are great. But, sorry food is slop. There are so many great authentic Mexican restaurants around who needs to pay the over inflated prices for a bunch of beans.
(1)
Judd H.
One of my favorite places in the area. We do dine in and carry out all of the time. Try any of the seafood main courses or specials and you will not be disappointed. . . authentico . . . They also have a straight habanero salsa, which is pure heat, but amazing. They have a lunch special which is hard to beat as well - like $5 burittos or tacos.
(5)
Elizabeth B.
I didn't listen to the other mediocre reviews because I thought, "This is the North Shore so I'm sure these rich peeps have deluded expectations." Oh how judgmental and wrong I was. The quality is minimally palatable for the price. I also lived in AZ for four years so I feel like there are some basic standards for Mexican. Not met here. Staff is super friendly and attentive, but unless they change chefs or the prices, we won't be back.
(2)
cary o.
Went there for dinner on Valentines day. The host was a grouchy old man who wasnt very welcoming, plus when he was sitting us in the bar, I pointed to the dining area (because the bar was very cramped and too bright), he didnt seem to care. The chairs in the bar area are literally up against each table and you had to move your table into your partner to get out or just totally bump the person behind you. I wanted a margarita and the server mentioned the special cherry margarita, it turned out to be in a champagne glass full of ice, you literally couldnt drink it unless you wanted the ice to spill all over your face, I shouldve asked for a straw for this $15 over priced drink. What a waste of $15. The food.... over priced and BLAND. I cant believe this place is so busy!!! Have the uppity north side families never travelled to the south west or mexico even??? My boyfriend ordered a bland chili relleno and he said it tasted bland and they covered it with tomato sauce. I ordered salmon tacos and wow, super dry and super bland. The live music was nice but all in all, we will never go back. We can find better mexican food on Clark street or the south side and we LOVE taco diablo (but they burnt down recently!! Sad!). i guess this is good for the uppity north shore people with zero taste level and dont care about blowing $80 on a bland sad dinner for two. If you want quality good authentic mexican food, do not go there. But if you are happy with the mcdonalds overpriced mexican food, its perfect for you!
(1)
Ilana O.
The place: music playing, welcoming staff, decent sized place, but then again, these are the suburbs - space isn't the same commodity that it is in the city. The staff is attentive...almost to a fault. One server came and refilled the water, and not 30 seconds later another server poured water literally up to the brim...I hadn't even taken a sip, and didn't really need my water to almost spill. Also one server started to grab my utensils when I was still working on my plate, I just put them down for a moment. That was a little weird. The taste: decent, a little overpriced. The taco salad is served in a large shell that was fun to eat, but a little tricky too. I like mixing all of my salad ingredients, but with this layout, you have to eat layer by layer, or take things out...so it tasted good but was a little more challenging. We also got some tacos, that were really tasty. My face: The damage - around $32 for 2 people. Not terrible with no drinks on a Friday night. Would try it again because the flavors are good, but I probably wouldn't order this salad again.
(3)
W H.
I eat here about once a week. There is a lot of love that is put into this place. You can just tell. As a vegetarian, this place just hits the spot. Chef Giovanni is a genius when it comes to unique savory ingredients and hearty flavors. Not only is the food really good, the staff/ management are excellent as well as the cozy intimate atmosphere. They have always been accommodating towards my vegetarian diet and helpful with my options. I'm from the SW, so I am pretty critical of Mexican food and this place does it for me like no other. Chips and salsa are always fresh and to die for. The Grilled Veggie Burrito is possibly the best I've ever had of it's kind. The Tacos and Tostada del Campo are pretty amazing as well. They also have a complete bar menu with several great bottled beers and several tequilas on hand.
(5)
Mike G.
This is the best Mexican restaurant we have found on the North Shore after looking for the last two decades. I am surprised by other reviewers' comments about lack of authenticity. My wife grew up in Mexico, we both enjoy the food there in the places that don't cater to tourists, and the food here makes us both feel we are back there again. It is certainly not the Tex-Mex style that many Americans might view as "authentic Mexican", although they do offer mainstays like fajitas that seem to be a north-of-the-border obsession. The fresh ingredients that Guanajuato uses in their homemade salsas make them so much better than the canned alternatives. If you are looking to really spice things up, ask them to bring one of their more robust choices - I like the one made from chile de arbol. The seafood dishes are especially good, but I often can't resist the steak choices or the goat tacos. If you can resist the cliche of margaritas (which are excellent), try one of the wine choices. I personally find that the zinfandel goes well the spice palette in the meat dishes.
(5)
Brian S.
Excellent. I would go with the tortilla soup and the carne asada. Don't forget the margaritas! Excellent selection and variety. Skinny margaritas are excellent. We often come to relax and enjoy after a tough day.
(5)
Rick R.
only been to this place for lunch about a dozen times and it's usually every other saturday round noon where I'll down a couple of their spectacular margaritas. Food is great especially the chile rellenos which are my fave and also the queso fundido and the breakfast favorite chilequelles which are so yummy. They also have a sister restaurant next door called Everest Burger (dont know how they got that name) but had the breakfast burrito there and coffee which was out of this world...whoops I'm reviewing Guanajato, sorry. Anyway, go to both!
(4)
Karen T.
Guanajuato has been our go-to Mexican restaurant for years. We don't go often enough to be considered regulars, but we do go consistently. The menu is varied, the food is decent, although on two recent occasions it seems that some of the innovation that had been evident in past visits was nowhere to be seen. And, best of all, there is a huge tequila selection, and the margaritas are fine, fine, fine. It is busy on the weekends and reservations are necessary. But, and this is a big one, there is no excuse for the manager to berate a customer for showing up with five people rather than the four who had reserved. Yes, I bear some responsibility in this, as I had reserved a booth for four old friends to get together and at the last minute added a dear friend who had surgery and had not been out of the house all winter. But to embarrass me, and the latecomer, treating us as an angry parent would lecture an irresponsible teenager is inexcusable. As punishment we had to squeeze (his words) five adults into a booth for four. Yes, there were no tables. And, yes, I had asked for a booth. But, no, that should not give cause to treat anyone in that manner. I suspect that this is my last visit to Guanajuato. Too bad.
(2)
Eric H.
Been to Guanajuato numerous times and think it offers good value. Vegetarian tacos for me and they are tasty with a nice green salad. House salsa is on the bland side, but they will supply a hot habanero salsa to blend in if asked. Very tasty coconut flan! Friendly service and fine atmosphere.
(4)
Mary Z.
Decent food, horrible service. We came in for lunch on a Saturday. We ordered a pitcher of sangria, but the waitress told us they were out. Bummer! 3 of the 4 of us were ok with margaritas as an alternative, so I asked how many servings in a pitcher. The waitress told us about 4. Imagine our surprise when we she plunked down a HUGE pitcher (at least 8 servings) that we later discovered had a $30 price tag. Really?? The worst part was trying to pay our bill. It took us 10 minutes to catch our waitress' attention (in a virtually empty restaurant) after all the dishes had been cleared from the table, and she told us she would bring the bill "right out." 10 minutes after that, we managed to flag her down again, and she said their computer system was down, so they were having trouble producing a bill. Over the course of the next 15 minutes we asked her and the manager multiple times to just bring us a menu and a pencil so we could calculate the bill ourselves and get the heck out of there, all to no avail. Finally, after we had been sitting there for 35 minutes after finishing our meal, they brought out a bill. My sister asked the waitress if they had comped anything from our meal to make up for the inordinate wait. The waitress' reply was "no" in a tone of voice that said she thought we were idiots for even asking. The manager rushed over and said that he would comp the margaritas, which was good, but the damage had been done. We DEFINITELY won't be back.
(2)
Melissa G.
Best Mexican food on the north shore. Great service!
(5)
Barbara S.
The food wasn't bad, but the portions were paltry and they charged extra for sour cream-- that is like charging extra for ketchup. The prices were high for an unappetizing plate.
(1)
Lola L.
i will say the same thing about guanajuato that i said about everest burger in the same strip mall...bland. we got the tacos and chilaquiles. the chilas. were dry. the tacos were okay, but the tortillas themselves were not tasty. the quality of the meat was good. the rice and beans were average. you can't say it's "bad" mexican food. the chicken soup (broth, veggies) was perfect except for the grilled chicken in the soup! i understand nuevo-latino, but i don't care for grilled chicken in my soup. ;) unfortunately --will not be visiting again.
(3)
Jayne D.
Since this place has a bar and is walking distance from home, I've been going here since it was in the soft-opening stage. Had I rated it after the first visit, I'd have given 2-3 stars because I thought the food, while fresh, was bland. Apparently the chef has discovered that not everyone who dines on the North Shore has the taste buds of a nursing home resident because the food has become spicier and more flavorful with each visit. They could still dial up the heat a bit more (give us some habeneros please!) but at least the salsa has a fair amount of kick now. My favorite entrees are the steaks. From the carne asada to the weekend specials smothered in veggies, cactus and cheese, the meat is cooked and seasoned as good as any place else and reasonably priced. As for drinks, the margaritas can be made with a huge selection of tequila and they are always potent. There's also a decent selection of craft beers like Rogue Dead Guy Ale. The dining room is not very big, but we never seem to have to wait long. If you don't want to dine with kids, go around 9; on some nights, this place can almost feel like Chuckie Cheese.
(4)
Lori H.
I went to Guanajuato for lunch. We were one of two tables seated and seemed to wait forever for our meals. While the food was edible -- the descriptions of what was to come with our entrees did not match what was eventually brought out. Quesadillas served with no sides?! We requested sour cream, salsa, guac and then charged 75 cents a piece for the add ons. My steak was cooked well; however, again no onions, lettuce, pico de gallo to make a wrap with. As far as atmosphere - it's a typical strip mall restaurant.
(2)
Janet G.
Here is all you need to know about Guanajuato: a giant sign in the window THURSDAY MARGARITAS $6. Then order a few margaritas and see that the bill charges $10 each. Call the waitress over to show her the mistake and she claims: "You didn't specify the $6 margaritas!" Then check your AMEX a few weeks later to see the total has been changed, only a few dollars, but also really shady. Too bad.
(2)
Ruth P.
OK. The food was nice, the drinks were nice, until about 12 hours after we got home, and then we all developed food poisoning. 'Nuff said.
(1)
Kendra M.
Good food and good selection. Try the chile relleno, goat tacos, or carne asada. Excellent margaritas with many tequila options. Expensive for Mexican food, sometimes too busy, but i'm walking distance, which is a big plus.
(3)
Christina B.
Great food for a local Mexican restaurant. Enjoyed the many tequilas offered!
(4)
Lauren F.
The food is okay, got a couple dishes mostly bland. Their taco, which should be a staple, seemed fresh but lacked flavor and toppings. The margaritas are decent but for the price, taste basically the same as a BOGO pitcher from somewhere cheaper. The food is okay, the tequila and beer selection is good and they have some patio seating. Worth a try, if you like overpriced Amexican food.
(3)
Durham B.
This place is our new favorite including all the others in Highwood and Highland Park.... Their Habanero (Verde)and Rojas (both on request over their standard table salsa) are excellent! And hot!!!! Their grilled talapia tacos are fantastic, as is their tamales and barbacoa. The ambiance and service are great too, plus the mariachi Trio de Dos adds some nice background flair.... They also havean extensive (I mean 15+ )microbeer list as well as a great selection of wines. We couldn't be happier finding this place. We'll be back...
(5)
Chris D.
Their steak burrito will blow you away it's so amazing.
(4)
jim a.
A great go to Mexican restaurant spot. Kid friendly with authentic Mexican cuisine. Service is above average and on weekends the have a fun Mariachi band that I invited to play at a recent local party. good spot.
(4)
Nick S.
The food is good, and the service is decent...one of the waitresses did not check to see if we needed anything as often as she should have (she barely checked every 20 mins.)...other than that, Guanajuato is a great place! Good service every time except the one above!
(4)
Pam F.
Food was horrible and way over priced. We ordered the guacamole asking if if were freshly prepared, was told by waitress they make it when ordered. It was delivered in a small bowl with the guacamole shaped like they just scooped it out with an ice cream scooper and tasted like it came from the Jewel down the street. The entire menu is way overpriced. Service was just ok. Don't waste your time or money.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Traveller O.
I simply do not understand the negative reviews. As a Texas-transplant (I lived there for 30 years, including three in San Antonio), I've sampled a LOT of Mexican food, both great and not-great. Guajuanto is one of my favorite Mexican-food restaurants of all time. The quality of the food itself is fabulous: clean, local, seasonal and often organic. The dishes always exceed my expectations. This place excels even in something as simple as a salad dressing: Last night I had the (organic) arugula salad and couldn't decide between the lime vinagrette and chipotle dressing so the waiter was nice enough to bring me samples of each. (The service there has always been extraordinarily good.) I chose the lime but was torn because the chipotle was also stunningly tasty (have to go back soon for that one.) Their chicken flautas are maybe the best I've ever had and the tamales I had last night were delish. Anyone with a hankering for great Mexican food to warm you in what may be another brutal winter should give this place a try. I consider it the very best Mexican food within driving distance.
(5)Yvonne Y.
Same crew as the closed Holey Guacamole. They basically expanded to a bigger place and renamed it. Foodwise, it's Americanized Mexican food and the El Mocajete is fun to eat and delicious. Besides that, I usually get the chile relleno and my husband gets the enchilada. We come often because it's a family restaurant and there are lots of kids/babies on any given night. The wait is looooong on Fri and Sat night so come early if your kid doesn't want to wait. I love the staff as they're really friendly. Just wish it wasn't so crowded there.
(4)Marie D.
My family of four went to Guanajuato for the first time on Friday night. The restaurant was busy but we were seated right away. Our waiter was friendly but rushed. We ordered the fresh guacamole to start; it was very fresh, but on the mild/bland side. We mixed in some of the salsa to spice it up a bit. I ordered tilapia tacos; they were good, but not great - again, a bit bland. The rice was a bit dried out and the beans were OK, not great. The menu lists recommended wine for each meal, so I ordered the wine recommended for my dish. I didn't look closely, so I was surprised when my tilapia tacos were served with a Pinot Noir - I was expecting a white wine. The wine was good, but we were stunned when we got the bill, as it was $13/glass (the price was not listed on the menu). My husband ordered beef tacos and said they were very good. Our children each ordered the children's steak tacos (great kids' menu) and really enjoyed them. All in all we thought the food was average, the prices too high (close to $80 for a casual Mexican meal for two adults and two kids), and the service was well-intended but a bit harried. Guanajuata also had two mariachis strolling from table to table, but it seemed that one of these men couldn't sing to save his life. They were nice, though, and gave us their card: Gorgeous George and Ferdinand Fantastico!
(2)Grace D.
Fresh mexican. Yum! Went last night split a salad with papya, beets and greens with a lemon dressing and chicken (amish free range) verde enchiladas. Both were great. I judge mexican joints by the chips and salsa which were both excellent. I enjoyed that the enchiladas were served with black beans and sauteed spinach - a healthier twist vs. mexican rice. The only weird part was our waitress who kept pushing alcohol and the specials on us. Plus, the manager walked up and down the aisle which led me to believe that perhaps he made her nervous - he certainly made me feel a little uncomfortalbe. The menu was heavy on the seafood and didn't have a lot of the typical mexian fare which I think is a postive. If you are in the area give it a try.
(4)Jennifer M.
In a word: inedible. Being from Texas and having lived in the food heaven that is Wicker Park for years, I was prepared to manage expectations going into this place. Based on Yelp reviews I thought the worst it could be was "blah". After the appetizer course the food was ASPIRING to be just blah. Guacamole was brown and tasteless. Salt and lime couldn't save it. Salsa was similarly tasteless, no attempts were made to save it as it was too far gone. Ceviche was the worst dish I've ever had- the only one i have ever considered sending back (though i didn't). The first bite tasted like the fish had been rinsed with a dirty, mildewy dishrag. Second (and final) bite was only marginally better because I caught more of the sauce (which tasted a whole lot like cocktail sauce...ceviche??) Enchiladas poblanas were disappointing but mostly edible (I made it through one out of 3). Rice and beans were the highlight of the meal. Rick Bayless offers a store bought mole sauce that puts this one to shame. Maybe unfair to compare anyone to Bayless, but considering what the restaurant was charging, we would have all been better off if they had just used his sauce and charged 5 times what it would've cost for me to make the dish myself. Child's plate of nachos with chicken looked like a mountain of dog food. All you could see was shredded chicken. The plate was served dangerously hot, which seems odd considering that nachos can only be found on the children's menu so you'd think they would know better. Between the dangerous and ridiculously inappropriate temperature and the off putting appearance of the dish, my otherwise eat-anything-anytime child wouldn't go near the nachos for several minutes. When she finally did try some of the cheese she spit it out. I would be shocked if this place ever rises to the level of blah, but I'll never know because I'm never going back.
(1)Stephanie A.
a great little restaurant featuring authentic mexican dishes using authentic mexican products. my son and I always enjoy a meal here, from the soups to the desserts. my son enjoys the mexican sodas and the make a mad margarita for the adults. love it when they have the mariachi serenading during dinner.
(5)Hannah Y.
My mom hates it! It's okay though.... It's fake mexican food though!!!!! Just a heads up!
(1)Philip P.
El Mocajete was rippin' hot but tasty. My wife ordered the enchiladas poblanos with mole and loved it. Service was great but the restaurant is a bit cramped when it's busy. A bit on the pricey side, but would like to come back again to sample some of their wines.
(3)William G.
The service was very good and the tilapia I had was delicious. My margarita, however, was one of the worst I've ever had. Almost all sour mix and nothing else. I would still go back. The food was worth it.
(4)Alan M.
What a cute, cute place. Nice location, in a mall with parking, a full bar (quite an extensive selection of tequillas), a nice menu... the waitress was attentive, the service was good... they seated us quickly, and there was a musician playing... Now if only the food had lived up to that. We had fish tacos, shrimp tacos, Carne Asada and margaritas. The margaritas were decent. The rest? I have to agree with others... bland and forgetable. The black beans were plentiful, but flavourless. The rice also plentiful, was bland, cheese was on everything and the dominant flavour. Don't get me wrong... it's not "bad"... it's just that it's not "good" either. It's just so-so. I had such hopes.
(2)Emily I.
Decent margaritas and food. Good service. I have to agree with other reviewers that the food isn't great but you're also in Glencoe.. Your expectations can't be that high.
(3)Belinda N.
I vaguely recalled Guanajuato getting rave reviews somewhere, so I lured my coworker there to join me for lunch. It was a first and last for both of us. First, they gave us dinner menus listing entrees in the $18 range, kinda high for lunch. It was only after we specifically inquired about a lunch menu that our waiter suddenly remembered the $2 tacos lunch special. Our waiter would disappear for long stretches, even after checking on us and promising to bring missing sides and drink refills. Oh, and the food. Tacos were quite good albeit plain: tortillas, meat, cilantro, onions. Hard to go wrong there, although they were a bit dry. Word of warning - don't order the shrimp soup. They warn you that it's spicy, and they got that part right, but it's also incredibly salty, bordering on inedibly salty (and I love salt). So between the lackadaisical service, the super high prices, and the so-so food, I'll keep looking. Maybe this place is fun at night. Or for you locals, what you save on babysitters can buy you a margarita or three. Hope this place improves.
(2)Natalie N.
Since Guanajuato opened, I have noticed the quality of food and service diminishing. Originally, I was ecstatic to see a good Mexican restaurant open on the North Shore. Sadly, this was my last and final attempt. The quality of food was poor, the service was poor, and oh my, the owner's attitude was poor. She refused to give us her name when we stated THREE times that we were not happy with the quality of the food. She WALKED AWAY FROM US! I finally had to get her name from another employee. As a business owner, this type of customer service blows me away. In a nutshell, Guanajuato is sub-par as far as Mexican restaurants are concerned and it is incredibly over priced!!!
(1)Jen B.
When I first started going here, I was in love. But wow have things changed! The quality of the food has declined significantly and is certainly not worth the price! The servers could not be more unprofessional. There is a heavy blonde waitress who ALWAYS has an attitude and clearly does not care about the customers whatsoever. Service is very slow. Unfortunately, due to the rude staff and the overpriced food, I do not think I will be going back.
(2)Rhett H.
Easily my favorite Mexican restaurant! Lunch menu is perfect...inexpensive, large portions and freaking delicious! Friendly and attentive staff keep me coming back:)
(5)J S.
Can't figure out some of these reviews. I go here probably twice a month and never have a bad experience. The margaritas are awesome and so is the food. It can be a bit pricey with drinks but I expect that. Don't let the negative reviews stop you. This is one of the best Mexican restaurants in the city or suburbs.
(5)Andrea R.
Soooo I've been avoiding this Mexican restaurant, which is conveniently located down the street from our house, for years due to the average Yelp reviews. When a friend booked it for a recent moms night out I silently cringed, but said I'd attend since I'm not one to pass up a GNO (and margarita). There turned out to be no margartias on this particular night, but there was sangria. And while it wasn't the best sangria I've ever had it sure beat putting the kids to bed. As for the food and service I'm going with 4 stars. The shrimp tacos I ordered were good, although not quite as good as those at the nearby Taco Nano*. But yes, I'd order the shrimp tacos again. The staff at Guanojuato kept the food coming and made sure our glasses were filled with sangria. The owner happened to be present that night and a fellow mom mentioned she find the service to be better when she's around. I'll be back.... perhaps next time with the husband (and even kids) in tow. * yelp.com/biz/taco-nano-n…
(4)Lyle J.
This deserves higher than a 3.0 avg rating I feel. I imagine it is tough to please people in this community though. They have a wine selection that is simpler/smarter than many restaurants that purport themselves to be winecentric. It would be in their interest to maybe include some other cocktails in their drink list. It is clear though that the mission is to be very tequila-forward. I found the quality of the House Especial margarita to be quite good. The salsa is pleasant, little heat but nice freshness. Chips are not particularly ambitious, but well salted. Guacamole was not noteworthy, not to say great or bad. It was of a very 'soft' make. Lacking acid and salt a bit for me, but clean and fresh. I liked that the guacamole is available with jicama/cucumber/radish. Though they don't display such, you are able to get items (goat taco in my case) a la carte. This is hugely important to me, but I find it better to not have to ask. I understand the reasons, but getting people to try more things is excellent business. Our server was a pleasant, sincere guy. I was brought the wrong soup even after we had double-clarified . I didn't mention it though, as the Tortilla Soup looked great, and it was very nice. The goat taco was very good. Juicy, hydrated, healthy (but dead, no worries) it was not stringy or dry or gamey. It is much like a light barbacoa, which is what they call it. The steak special tonight was good. Hangar steak, well cooked. The only bit about it to take umbrage with is that a special should be divergent from a standard every-day menu item, or with a price-incentive. There was neither. There was an overall positive vibe here and Chef came out to speak with tables, seeming very enthusiastic and genuine about his food, fresh ingredients and their bevy of tequilas. Appreciated the passion without pretense.
(4)Brock L.
Live in the City surrounded by dozens of fantastic Mexican spots, but this may be the best Mexican in the city or the north shore. The el molcajete is unreal. Had almost everything on this menu, and never been disappointed. Shocked by such negative reviews on here, but you also have to understand the neighborhood it's in, most people in that area are hard to please...if you know what I mean.
(5)Andrew B.
Best mexican food on the north shore. Great service and great prices. You can't beat Guanajuato!
(5)Pam D.
The hubby & I were on our way to the Wilmette Summer Fest where we were volunteers in the Beer & Wine Garden (that was total fun!) and decided to grab a quick dinner at Guanajuato (please don't ask me how to pronounce it...IDK). Sat in the bar and were greeted by the bartender telling us he "would be right there". Wished I kept the bill, I think his name was Thomas but, whoever he was, he gave us great service! I ordered the white wine Sangria & the hubby his usual coke. Thomas told me to take a sip of the Sangria which I did. It wasn't so good but, I tried not to be so picky. So, I said it was fine. Thomas said he didn't make it and if I wanted he would make me HIS white wine Sangria. After another 3 sips, I beckoned to Thomas, the original Sangria was undrinkable. He said no problem "let me make you mine". OMG! Honestly, one of the best white wine Sangria's I have ever drank! Bursting with vibrant flavors: orange, lemon, apples, and yes... I could taste the wine along with fresh mint. Wish I could've ordered a 2nd one but, we were off to Wilmette's Summer Fest. Volunteers cannot be late. We ordered the Nachos a la Mexicana with a side of guacamole, delicious! Hope to return for a relaxing meal where we can take our time and I can enjoy that 2nd Sangria!
(4)Brian C.
The food here never disappoints. If you think that mediocre Tex-Mex is authentic Mexican food then don't come here. The food is delicious, fresh and authentic .
(5)Kim G.
Tasty. My husband always eats the goat taco. He's always talking about the goat.
(4)Jennifer G.
Best Mexican in the North Shore!!! Friendly service, excellent margaritas, the best guacamole of anywhere! I am very picky about fresh avocados and they are always fresh here. Also, the fish is amazing here:) I have no complaints. My daughter has a dairy allergy and they are extremely accommodating. Great place for the whole family or a casual date.
(5)Alex J.
The worst Mexican food in Chicagoland. Poor quality presentation, ingredients and taste. Drinks are great at the bar. Bartenders are great. But, sorry food is slop. There are so many great authentic Mexican restaurants around who needs to pay the over inflated prices for a bunch of beans.
(1)Judd H.
One of my favorite places in the area. We do dine in and carry out all of the time. Try any of the seafood main courses or specials and you will not be disappointed. . . authentico . . . They also have a straight habanero salsa, which is pure heat, but amazing. They have a lunch special which is hard to beat as well - like $5 burittos or tacos.
(5)Elizabeth B.
I didn't listen to the other mediocre reviews because I thought, "This is the North Shore so I'm sure these rich peeps have deluded expectations." Oh how judgmental and wrong I was. The quality is minimally palatable for the price. I also lived in AZ for four years so I feel like there are some basic standards for Mexican. Not met here. Staff is super friendly and attentive, but unless they change chefs or the prices, we won't be back.
(2)cary o.
Went there for dinner on Valentines day. The host was a grouchy old man who wasnt very welcoming, plus when he was sitting us in the bar, I pointed to the dining area (because the bar was very cramped and too bright), he didnt seem to care. The chairs in the bar area are literally up against each table and you had to move your table into your partner to get out or just totally bump the person behind you. I wanted a margarita and the server mentioned the special cherry margarita, it turned out to be in a champagne glass full of ice, you literally couldnt drink it unless you wanted the ice to spill all over your face, I shouldve asked for a straw for this $15 over priced drink. What a waste of $15. The food.... over priced and BLAND. I cant believe this place is so busy!!! Have the uppity north side families never travelled to the south west or mexico even??? My boyfriend ordered a bland chili relleno and he said it tasted bland and they covered it with tomato sauce. I ordered salmon tacos and wow, super dry and super bland. The live music was nice but all in all, we will never go back. We can find better mexican food on Clark street or the south side and we LOVE taco diablo (but they burnt down recently!! Sad!). i guess this is good for the uppity north shore people with zero taste level and dont care about blowing $80 on a bland sad dinner for two. If you want quality good authentic mexican food, do not go there. But if you are happy with the mcdonalds overpriced mexican food, its perfect for you!
(1)Ilana O.
The place: music playing, welcoming staff, decent sized place, but then again, these are the suburbs - space isn't the same commodity that it is in the city. The staff is attentive...almost to a fault. One server came and refilled the water, and not 30 seconds later another server poured water literally up to the brim...I hadn't even taken a sip, and didn't really need my water to almost spill. Also one server started to grab my utensils when I was still working on my plate, I just put them down for a moment. That was a little weird. The taste: decent, a little overpriced. The taco salad is served in a large shell that was fun to eat, but a little tricky too. I like mixing all of my salad ingredients, but with this layout, you have to eat layer by layer, or take things out...so it tasted good but was a little more challenging. We also got some tacos, that were really tasty. My face: The damage - around $32 for 2 people. Not terrible with no drinks on a Friday night. Would try it again because the flavors are good, but I probably wouldn't order this salad again.
(3)W H.
I eat here about once a week. There is a lot of love that is put into this place. You can just tell. As a vegetarian, this place just hits the spot. Chef Giovanni is a genius when it comes to unique savory ingredients and hearty flavors. Not only is the food really good, the staff/ management are excellent as well as the cozy intimate atmosphere. They have always been accommodating towards my vegetarian diet and helpful with my options. I'm from the SW, so I am pretty critical of Mexican food and this place does it for me like no other. Chips and salsa are always fresh and to die for. The Grilled Veggie Burrito is possibly the best I've ever had of it's kind. The Tacos and Tostada del Campo are pretty amazing as well. They also have a complete bar menu with several great bottled beers and several tequilas on hand.
(5)Mike G.
This is the best Mexican restaurant we have found on the North Shore after looking for the last two decades. I am surprised by other reviewers' comments about lack of authenticity. My wife grew up in Mexico, we both enjoy the food there in the places that don't cater to tourists, and the food here makes us both feel we are back there again. It is certainly not the Tex-Mex style that many Americans might view as "authentic Mexican", although they do offer mainstays like fajitas that seem to be a north-of-the-border obsession. The fresh ingredients that Guanajuato uses in their homemade salsas make them so much better than the canned alternatives. If you are looking to really spice things up, ask them to bring one of their more robust choices - I like the one made from chile de arbol. The seafood dishes are especially good, but I often can't resist the steak choices or the goat tacos. If you can resist the cliche of margaritas (which are excellent), try one of the wine choices. I personally find that the zinfandel goes well the spice palette in the meat dishes.
(5)Brian S.
Excellent. I would go with the tortilla soup and the carne asada. Don't forget the margaritas! Excellent selection and variety. Skinny margaritas are excellent. We often come to relax and enjoy after a tough day.
(5)Rick R.
only been to this place for lunch about a dozen times and it's usually every other saturday round noon where I'll down a couple of their spectacular margaritas. Food is great especially the chile rellenos which are my fave and also the queso fundido and the breakfast favorite chilequelles which are so yummy. They also have a sister restaurant next door called Everest Burger (dont know how they got that name) but had the breakfast burrito there and coffee which was out of this world...whoops I'm reviewing Guanajato, sorry. Anyway, go to both!
(4)Karen T.
Guanajuato has been our go-to Mexican restaurant for years. We don't go often enough to be considered regulars, but we do go consistently. The menu is varied, the food is decent, although on two recent occasions it seems that some of the innovation that had been evident in past visits was nowhere to be seen. And, best of all, there is a huge tequila selection, and the margaritas are fine, fine, fine. It is busy on the weekends and reservations are necessary. But, and this is a big one, there is no excuse for the manager to berate a customer for showing up with five people rather than the four who had reserved. Yes, I bear some responsibility in this, as I had reserved a booth for four old friends to get together and at the last minute added a dear friend who had surgery and had not been out of the house all winter. But to embarrass me, and the latecomer, treating us as an angry parent would lecture an irresponsible teenager is inexcusable. As punishment we had to squeeze (his words) five adults into a booth for four. Yes, there were no tables. And, yes, I had asked for a booth. But, no, that should not give cause to treat anyone in that manner. I suspect that this is my last visit to Guanajuato. Too bad.
(2)Eric H.
Been to Guanajuato numerous times and think it offers good value. Vegetarian tacos for me and they are tasty with a nice green salad. House salsa is on the bland side, but they will supply a hot habanero salsa to blend in if asked. Very tasty coconut flan! Friendly service and fine atmosphere.
(4)Mary Z.
Decent food, horrible service. We came in for lunch on a Saturday. We ordered a pitcher of sangria, but the waitress told us they were out. Bummer! 3 of the 4 of us were ok with margaritas as an alternative, so I asked how many servings in a pitcher. The waitress told us about 4. Imagine our surprise when we she plunked down a HUGE pitcher (at least 8 servings) that we later discovered had a $30 price tag. Really?? The worst part was trying to pay our bill. It took us 10 minutes to catch our waitress' attention (in a virtually empty restaurant) after all the dishes had been cleared from the table, and she told us she would bring the bill "right out." 10 minutes after that, we managed to flag her down again, and she said their computer system was down, so they were having trouble producing a bill. Over the course of the next 15 minutes we asked her and the manager multiple times to just bring us a menu and a pencil so we could calculate the bill ourselves and get the heck out of there, all to no avail. Finally, after we had been sitting there for 35 minutes after finishing our meal, they brought out a bill. My sister asked the waitress if they had comped anything from our meal to make up for the inordinate wait. The waitress' reply was "no" in a tone of voice that said she thought we were idiots for even asking. The manager rushed over and said that he would comp the margaritas, which was good, but the damage had been done. We DEFINITELY won't be back.
(2)Melissa G.
Best Mexican food on the north shore. Great service!
(5)Barbara S.
The food wasn't bad, but the portions were paltry and they charged extra for sour cream-- that is like charging extra for ketchup. The prices were high for an unappetizing plate.
(1)Lola L.
i will say the same thing about guanajuato that i said about everest burger in the same strip mall...bland. we got the tacos and chilaquiles. the chilas. were dry. the tacos were okay, but the tortillas themselves were not tasty. the quality of the meat was good. the rice and beans were average. you can't say it's "bad" mexican food. the chicken soup (broth, veggies) was perfect except for the grilled chicken in the soup! i understand nuevo-latino, but i don't care for grilled chicken in my soup. ;) unfortunately --will not be visiting again.
(3)Jayne D.
Since this place has a bar and is walking distance from home, I've been going here since it was in the soft-opening stage. Had I rated it after the first visit, I'd have given 2-3 stars because I thought the food, while fresh, was bland. Apparently the chef has discovered that not everyone who dines on the North Shore has the taste buds of a nursing home resident because the food has become spicier and more flavorful with each visit. They could still dial up the heat a bit more (give us some habeneros please!) but at least the salsa has a fair amount of kick now. My favorite entrees are the steaks. From the carne asada to the weekend specials smothered in veggies, cactus and cheese, the meat is cooked and seasoned as good as any place else and reasonably priced. As for drinks, the margaritas can be made with a huge selection of tequila and they are always potent. There's also a decent selection of craft beers like Rogue Dead Guy Ale. The dining room is not very big, but we never seem to have to wait long. If you don't want to dine with kids, go around 9; on some nights, this place can almost feel like Chuckie Cheese.
(4)Lori H.
I went to Guanajuato for lunch. We were one of two tables seated and seemed to wait forever for our meals. While the food was edible -- the descriptions of what was to come with our entrees did not match what was eventually brought out. Quesadillas served with no sides?! We requested sour cream, salsa, guac and then charged 75 cents a piece for the add ons. My steak was cooked well; however, again no onions, lettuce, pico de gallo to make a wrap with. As far as atmosphere - it's a typical strip mall restaurant.
(2)Janet G.
Here is all you need to know about Guanajuato: a giant sign in the window THURSDAY MARGARITAS $6. Then order a few margaritas and see that the bill charges $10 each. Call the waitress over to show her the mistake and she claims: "You didn't specify the $6 margaritas!" Then check your AMEX a few weeks later to see the total has been changed, only a few dollars, but also really shady. Too bad.
(2)Ruth P.
OK. The food was nice, the drinks were nice, until about 12 hours after we got home, and then we all developed food poisoning. 'Nuff said.
(1)Kendra M.
Good food and good selection. Try the chile relleno, goat tacos, or carne asada. Excellent margaritas with many tequila options. Expensive for Mexican food, sometimes too busy, but i'm walking distance, which is a big plus.
(3)Christina B.
Great food for a local Mexican restaurant. Enjoyed the many tequilas offered!
(4)Lauren F.
The food is okay, got a couple dishes mostly bland. Their taco, which should be a staple, seemed fresh but lacked flavor and toppings. The margaritas are decent but for the price, taste basically the same as a BOGO pitcher from somewhere cheaper. The food is okay, the tequila and beer selection is good and they have some patio seating. Worth a try, if you like overpriced Amexican food.
(3)Durham B.
This place is our new favorite including all the others in Highwood and Highland Park.... Their Habanero (Verde)and Rojas (both on request over their standard table salsa) are excellent! And hot!!!! Their grilled talapia tacos are fantastic, as is their tamales and barbacoa. The ambiance and service are great too, plus the mariachi Trio de Dos adds some nice background flair.... They also havean extensive (I mean 15+ )microbeer list as well as a great selection of wines. We couldn't be happier finding this place. We'll be back...
(5)Chris D.
Their steak burrito will blow you away it's so amazing.
(4)jim a.
A great go to Mexican restaurant spot. Kid friendly with authentic Mexican cuisine. Service is above average and on weekends the have a fun Mariachi band that I invited to play at a recent local party. good spot.
(4)Nick S.
The food is good, and the service is decent...one of the waitresses did not check to see if we needed anything as often as she should have (she barely checked every 20 mins.)...other than that, Guanajuato is a great place! Good service every time except the one above!
(4)Pam F.
Food was horrible and way over priced. We ordered the guacamole asking if if were freshly prepared, was told by waitress they make it when ordered. It was delivered in a small bowl with the guacamole shaped like they just scooped it out with an ice cream scooper and tasted like it came from the Jewel down the street. The entire menu is way overpriced. Service was just ok. Don't waste your time or money.
(1)