Tacos El Norte
1580 S Milwaukee Ave, Libertyville, IL, 60048
Tacos El Norte Menu
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Diabetics at Taco Bell
The biggest concern for diabetics is to find healthy food with less sugar at restaurants. The hunt for the right food becomes even more challenging for diabetics when dining at a fast food restaurant. Well, Taco Bell changes that with Fresco style. Simply ask or order an item from the Taco Bell menu in Fresco Style.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at Taco Bell:
Crunchy Taco Supreme
Nutrition Fact: 190 calories, 11g Fat (4.5g Sat. Fat), 340mg sodium, 15g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 8g Protein
Fresco Steak Soft Taco
Nutrition Fact: 150 calories, 4g Fat (1.5g Sat. Fat), 460mg sodium, 17g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 10g Protein
Fresco Soft Taco – Shredded Chicken
Nutrition Fact: 150 calories, 6g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 9g Protein
Fresco Soft Taco Beef
Nutrition Fact: 160 calories, 6g Fat (2.5g Sat. Fat), 480mg sodium, 18g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 8g Protein
Veggie Power Menu Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 480 calories, 19g Fat (5g Sat. Fat), 970mg sodium, 65g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 13g Fiber, 14g Protein
Bean Burrito
Nutrition Fact: 380 calories, 11g Fat (4g Sat. Fat), 1060mg sodium, 55g Carbs, 3g Sugar, 9g Fiber, 14g Protein
Mini Skillet Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 180 calories, 11g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Foods to Avoid at Taco Bell for Diabetics:
You must avoid all kinds of Drinks and Freezes at Taco Bell if you have diabetes. Almost every beverage offered at Taco Bell contains high sugar content.
High Cholesterol at Taco Bell
Fast food restaurants are known for serving high calorie, greasy food with lots of sugars. Taco Bell changes this trend by offering Fresco Style option where your favorite food item is prepared using pico de gallo as it will cut down 20 – 30 calories easily from the original meal.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Taco Bell:
Mini Skillet Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 180 calories, 11g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Breakfast Soft Taco – Egg & Cheese
Nutrition Fact: 170 calories, 9g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 330mg sodium, 15g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, less than 1g Fiber, 7g Protein
Spicy Tostada
Nutrition Fact: 210 calories, 10g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 440mg sodium, 22g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 5g Fiber, 6g Protein
Fresco Crunchy Taco – Beef
Nutrition Fact: 140 calories, 7g Fat (2.5g Sat. Fat), 300mg sodium, 14g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 6g Protein
Shredded Chicken Mini Quesadilla
Nutrition Fact: 200 calories, 10g Fat (3.5g Sat. Fat), 490mg sodium, 15g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 1g Fiber, 10g Protein
Crunchy Taco Supreme
Nutrition Fact: 190 calories, 11g Fat (4.5g Sat. Fat), 340mg sodium, 15g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 8g Protein
Spicy Potato Soft Taco
Nutrition Fact: 230 calories, 12g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 460mg sodium, 27g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Foods to Avoid at Taco Bell for High Cholesterol:
It is best to avoid Bacon or Steak dishes at Taco Bell as such dishes contain a lot of fat. Also, try to avoid all kinds of Drinks and Freezes which are full of sugars resulting in empty calories.
Visit below restaurant in Libertyville for healthy meals suggestion.
High Blood Pressure at Taco Bell
People with high blood pressure must avoid food with high sodium levels. You can either ask the people at Taco Bell to add less salt in your food or choose the food items with less sodium content or customize your order using Taco Bell's own nutrition calculator.
Food Suggestions to Control Blood Pressure at Taco Bell:
Fresco Chicken Soft Taco
Nutrition Fact: 150 calories, 6g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 9g Protein
Spicy Tostada
Nutrition Fact: 210 calories, 10g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 440mg sodium, 22g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 5g Fiber, 6g Protein
Grilled Breakfast Burrito - Sausage
Nutrition Fact: 340 calories, 17g Fat (5g Sat. Fat), 730mg sodium, 36g Carbs, 3g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 11g Protein
Veggie Power Menu Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 480 calories, 19g Fat (5g Sat. Fat), 970mg sodium, 65g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 13g Fiber, 14g Protein
Foods to Avoid at Taco Bell for High Blood Pressure:
Taco Bell offers a wide range of Grande Scrambler Burritos, Crunch wraps, and Quesadillas which are high in sodium. It is important to limit the sodium intake at Taco Bell and avoid any meal with over 750-800mg sodium.
Visit below restaurant in Libertyville for healthy meals suggestion.
High Cholesterol at Taco Bell
Fast food restaurants are known for serving high calorie, greasy food with lots of sugars. Taco Bell changes this trend by offering Fresco Style option where your favorite food item is prepared using pico de gallo as it will cut down 20 – 30 calories easily from the original meal.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Taco Bell:
Mini Skillet Bowl
Nutrition Fact: 180 calories, 11g Fat (2g Sat. Fat), 430mg sodium, 16g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Breakfast Soft Taco – Egg & Cheese
Nutrition Fact: 170 calories, 9g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 330mg sodium, 15g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, less than 1g Fiber, 7g Protein
Spicy Tostada
Nutrition Fact: 210 calories, 10g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 440mg sodium, 22g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 5g Fiber, 6g Protein
Fresco Crunchy Taco – Beef
Nutrition Fact: 140 calories, 7g Fat (2.5g Sat. Fat), 300mg sodium, 14g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 6g Protein
Shredded Chicken Mini Quesadilla
Nutrition Fact: 200 calories, 10g Fat (3.5g Sat. Fat), 490mg sodium, 15g Carbs, less than 1g Sugar, 1g Fiber, 10g Protein
Crunchy Taco Supreme
Nutrition Fact: 190 calories, 11g Fat (4.5g Sat. Fat), 340mg sodium, 15g Carbs, 2g Sugar, 3g Fiber, 8g Protein
Spicy Potato Soft Taco
Nutrition Fact: 230 calories, 12g Fat (3g Sat. Fat), 460mg sodium, 27g Carbs, 1g Sugar, 2g Fiber, 5g Protein
Foods to Avoid at Taco Bell for High Cholesterol:
It is best to avoid Bacon or Steak dishes at Taco Bell as such dishes contain a lot of fat. Also, try to avoid all kinds of Drinks and Freezes which are full of sugars resulting in empty calories.
Visit below restaurant in Libertyville for healthy meals suggestion.
Q&A on Taco Bell
Who owns Taco Bell?
Taco Bell is a restaurant chain subsidiary owned by Yum! Brands, Inc. which controls the restaurant division of PepsiCo.
When does Taco Bell stop serving breakfast?
Taco Bell starts serving breakfast from 6 a.m. which is one hour later than other competitors. However, the restaurant chain continues serving breakfast till 11 a.m. which is half an hour later than other competitors.
When is Taco Bell happy hour?
Happy hour at Taco Bell starts from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Are Taco Bell beans healthy?
Beans are rich in protein, fiber, and minerals like iron and phosphorous. Hence, Taco Bell beans are healthy in nature. However, there are claims that Taco Bell uses a rehydrated slew of mystery ingredients instead of beans. So, simply inquire about the beans before ordering items serving Taco Bell beans.
Which Taco Bell is closest to me?
Use our Restaurant Listings directory to find Taco Bell nearby.
Which Taco Bell sauce is hottest?
Diablo is the hottest Taco Bell sauce.
Which Taco Bell sauce is best?
In terms of popularity, the Mild sauce is undoubtedly the best Taco Bell sauce favored by Americans.
Which Taco Bell sauces are vegan?
Hot and Mild sauces are certified vegan.
Which Taco Bell has nacho fries?
Taco Bell has a habit of discontinuing and relaunching Nacho Fries. You can find the Taco Bell locations nearby to see if the Taco Bell store has Nacho Fries.
Which Taco Bell is open right now?
Taco Bell opens at 6 a.m. in the morning and stays open until 3 a.m. the next day at major locations. In New York city, the Taco Bell stores stay open till 11 p.m. or 12 midnight.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
About Taco Bell
Taco Bell is a haven for Mexican delicacies such as tacos, quesadillas, burritos, nachos, and other specialty items. Owned by Yum! Brands, Inc. Taco Bell is one of the fastest growing American chains of fast food restaurants. The restaurant operates from 7,072 different locations which are mostly run by independent franchisees and licensees.
The background story of Taco Bell is interesting and inspiring for budding entrepreneurs. The fast-food brand is the brainchild of Glen Bell, who started his first food venture as a hot dog seller in San Bernardino, California. The year was 1948. After witnessing long queues outside a Mexican restaurant called Mitla Café across the street, Bell saw the opportunity and demand for hard-shelled Tacos. He reverse-engineered the recipe and later started selling Tacos and called the venture Taco-Tia.
Later, the name changed from Taco-Tia to El Taco. Eventually, Glen Bell sold the company to his partner and opened the first Taco Bell in Downey in 1962. By 1964, the restaurant also got its first franchise in Torrance. The 100th Taco Bell restaurant was opened by 1965. PepsiCo acquired Taco Bell from Glen Bell in 1978 and the restaurant brand is currently a subsidiary of Yum! Brands which looks after the restaurant business of PepsiCo.
Healthy Food Options at Taco Bell
You may believe that a healthy lifestyle doesn't go well at a fast food restaurant. Well, that's not the case with Taco Bell. Surprisingly Taco Bell offers a variety of healthy options, thanks to the in-house registered dietician who monitors the whole menu. The dietician ensures that each item on the menu is free from additives and preservatives, colors, and artificial flavors. The dietician also ensures that the food served at Taco Bell doesn't contain high-fructose corn syrup, low sodium levels, and reduced use of partially hydrogenated oil.
More than 75% of food items served at Taco Bell falls under 500 calories. Taco Bell also features the Fresco Style option which helps the customers to maintain healthy diet plan without missing out on taste. In Fresco style option, Taco Bell switches pico de gallo with cheese, sour cream, guac, and mayo-based sauce. Taco Bell takes care of almost every health preference of its customers.
Tips for Dining at Taco Bell
Diabetics can also try other Fresco styled Taco items such as Fresco Crunchy Taco, Fresco Grilled Steak, and Fresco Soft Taco Beef. These are other healthy alternatives of Tacos for diabetics which contains an adequate amount of starch and minimum or no fat content. Switch the regular sauce or cheese with pico de gallo and you can easily reduce the sodium intake and fat content for your body. It will help maintain blood pressure levels and control high cholesterol.
Q&A on Taco Bell
Who owns Taco Bell?
Taco Bell is a restaurant chain subsidiary owned by Yum! Brands, Inc. which controls the restaurant division of PepsiCo.
When does Taco Bell stop serving breakfast?
Taco Bell starts serving breakfast from 6 a.m. which is one hour later than other competitors. However, the restaurant chain continues serving breakfast till 11 a.m. which is half an hour later than other competitors.
When is Taco Bell happy hour?
Happy hour at Taco Bell starts from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Are Taco Bell beans healthy?
Beans are rich in protein, fiber, and minerals like iron and phosphorous. Hence, Taco Bell beans are healthy in nature. However, there are claims that Taco Bell uses a rehydrated slew of mystery ingredients instead of beans. So, simply inquire about the beans before ordering items serving Taco Bell beans.
Which Taco Bell is closest to me?
Use our Restaurant Listings directory to find Taco Bell nearby.
Which Taco Bell sauce is hottest?
Diablo is the hottest Taco Bell sauce.
Which Taco Bell sauce is best?
In terms of popularity, the Mild sauce is undoubtedly the best Taco Bell sauce favored by Americans.
Which Taco Bell sauces are vegan?
Hot and Mild sauces are certified vegan.
Which Taco Bell has nacho fries?
Taco Bell has a habit of discontinuing and relaunching Nacho Fries. You can find the Taco Bell locations nearby to see if the Taco Bell store has Nacho Fries.
Which Taco Bell is open right now?
Taco Bell opens at 6 a.m. in the morning and stays open until 3 a.m. the next day at major locations. In New York city, the Taco Bell stores stay open till 11 p.m. or 12 midnight.
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Address :
1580 S Milwaukee Ave
Libertyville, IL, 60048 - Phone (847) 837-3488
- Website https://eatelnorte.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 9:00pm
- Mon : 10:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- 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
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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Efrain F.
I came to this restaurant for Mother's Day yesterday with my family a group of 11. The service was terrible the waitress had an attitude the whole time and when we spoke to the manager the waitress confronted us. She told us that we should not have to talk to the manager and that she was not being rude. Common are we back in third grade so we again talked to the manager and she apologized for the employee. I will never go back food was mediocre service was horrible!!!!!!!
(1)Kathy K.
This is our go-to place when our group of friends want to go out with the kids for a reasonable dinner out. And when I mean a group I'm talking five to six families. We've never had a problem with seating. The menu offers a fairly broad selection, including a kids' menu with fries and a burger for those so inclined. The specials are tasty and the drinks are typical restaurant drinks - nothing too crazy and not as strong as you would make them at home. I will say that the most frustrating thing about this place is staying hydrated! We always joke about asking for glasses of water and making sure to remind our servers that we would like our water filled. Our chip baskets stay filled, but water seems to be another story. My kids enjoy eating on the outdoor patio when weather allows, and my girlfriends and I have enjoyed being able to laugh a night away seated in one of their huge booths or upper-level section. I can't speak to their desserts because I don't need to be eating fried ice cream after eating refried beans. Really, no one does. Most nights I'm not sure how this place stays open, but I'm glad it's here.
(3)Jacob J.
My co-workers had been telling me about this place for quite some time, but I'd been reluctant to go. Reasoning? ; Because of prior bad experiences at random suburban Mexican food spots. It was the end of summer and the remainder of good sun days and light jacket weather. Due to it being such a nice day, we were already limited to seating and their deck was already full. Servers inside moved slowly and weren't the most attentive unless you sat in the bar area, where many seemed to be grazing. I wish there was more conversation with the waitress, hardly a hello, thank you or goodbye. Would've liked her opinion on menu favorites or other must try dishes, but that kind of customer relation was non existent. The menu is quite simple and they have many options to suit your spend. Meals are offered throughout the day and there are specials offered for all three meal times. Chilaquiles has always been a meal that has brought me success at Mex breakfast spots, but I have yet to try it here. Been here a couple times now and can say that while the meal is the right price, one can often leave feeling satisfied (or sometimes comatose), though the taste is just too damn bland. For me that is. I've tried using the different salsas and hot sauces, but, it doesn't help me. But everyone else I've dined with has loved it. If you work in the area and need a place you can go for a relatively easy, quick meal within your budget, this is a bookmark not to pass up. I've heard good things about the night life, so, looking forward to checking this place out for a happy hour sometime. For those unfamiliar, this restaurant is located at the base of an office building. Kind of strange. There is a patio which overlooks Milwaukee ave and a small pond which only encircles this small area. During most summers this is one very popular spot for lunch and dinner.
(3)Kayla C.
This place has a beautiful layout as well as scenery which includes eye catching Mexican decor. You can choose to sit indoors or on the patio next to a waterfall. I was very impressed with their service. They tended to us right away both times I have been there. The food was very delicious and the portions very generous. I loved their margaritas! At one point during our dinner the sun got obnoxiously bright and the waitress came over right away and closed the curtains. We didn't even have to ask. Now that's service!
(5)Jennifer L.
Really disappointed. That's how I felt after eating my dinner here :( I was super-excited to come check it out. My Mom dines here, and even my son had been here before, but I had not. So they brought me here the other night. When I first walked in, I was a bit in awe of the amazing building they are in! There's so many different levels and hidden nooks, and it was all decorated for Halloween - they get a 5+ stars for awesome architecture! It almost felt magical, like you didn't know what to expect around the corner - another staircase up? Another down? VERY COOL. Plus, they have an outdoor patio with waterfalls and running water - AWESOME. The disappointment came with the actual food: up first: chips n salsa. Salsa was O.K.. Nothing to write home about. I ordered the 3-taco dinner, this is my staple mexican plate. I'm extremely picky: so i always order the 3-taco meal, i get ground-beef tacos with JUST meat and cheese. Very simple. And it always comes iwth rice and beans. I looooove me some Refried Beans. The problem is that the beans were like eating soggy drywall - absolutely NO FLAVOR. UGH. The rice was decent, no complaints there. The tacos on the other hand, a let-down. It was the meat itself, it just didn't have any flavor! Like, where's the seasoning?! I had to add so much salt to it that at the end I just gave up. I didn't like really anything I had. I've had tacos all over, these had to be some of the worst. The tortillas themselves were great! It was definitely the meat that was the problem. My Mom and son seemed satisfied with theirs, and I didn't want to ruin it, so I didn't ask how they liked theirs because then they'd ask me. The waitress was decent: she came back a couple times to check on us which was good. And she kept the drinks filled. I will give this place another chance - because I really WANT to like it. It's such a fun atmosphere/ambiance. If it's any better next time, I'll def update my review.
(2)Chris F.
Dirty dirty dirty. Menus, tables, booths and floors. Was optimistic, but disappointed.
(2)Carly R.
Cute atmosphere, delicious food, and great prices. This is the closest thing you're getting to real Mexican food in the 847. Whenever my friends and I are home from college, we make a point of going here. On our budget and our need for good food it's a no brainer. I can't give it 5 stars due to the service. It's pretty quick regarding getting food delivered and refills on drinks and chips, however I can't help but notice some attitude from the wait-staff. They still do a good job though. Tacos El Norte is one of the best restaurants in the "burbs."
(4)Billy W.
Really like this place. It's really well decorated but it's kind of difficult to find if you don't know where you're looking. Food was excellent and the service was really great. Food came out quickly and was made correct. I will be coming back here.
(5)Shay S.
Heard so much hype over the Mundelein location so decided to do lunch with the boyfriend here. Well, maybe we've been watching too much Kitchen Nightmares lately... but there is no excuse for this place. This area is very heavily populated with Hispanics and it is a shame and a disgrace this is what they serve to the public? Come on. Waitress didn't even know about the special beer advertised on multiple posters in the restaurant. I had to get up from my booth in the back of Margaritaville or wherever the decor was suggesting I was, walk to the front, up some stairs and show her. She still had no clue. She offered to let me try some Angry Orchard since it was fruity like the beer I wanted. Aggrivating but not worth tarnishing their reputation. Once I sat down with my half glass of free cider, ordered a pomegranate margarita and regular frozen lime for him, we began to check the place out. We joked about how huge the menu was and how it was repeating itself. Menu was too big. Half this with half that beef. Half this with half that chicken... on and on. We noticed how they rigged the wobbly TABLES with napkins. Multiple tables. Actually, most. The energy savings sticker and plastic film were still on the itty bitty tv across the huge dining room that would be impossible to watch from any angle of the room. Then no matter where you looked there was decore galore! I didn't know if I was in Mexico, Margaritaville or for all I knew, on the moon. Oh well. I was entertained by looking. I heard a ding go off and a few minutes after ordering our food was brought to us. Were both convinced the food was microwaved because the plate was piping hot, and the food- only warm. My tacos were less than appetizing. Chewy. Flavorless except for the upcharge of guacamole I asked for. Our margaritas were strong and overly sweetened. Too much mixer in his, and mine tasted nothing like pomegranate. Plated were finished with some nasty looking rice and beans. Food was just not good. Our server also forgot to bring my boyfriend a special drink he was very excited for- something special on some Mexican menus... oh well. Probably would have been a let down with a price tag like the rest of this meal.
(1)Glen L.
This is a smallish restaurant in a not-particularly-fashionable, but it delivers well above its weight.A smallish but balanced menu turns out to be brilliantly created and beautifully served - Nice and friendly staff.
(5)Kathia G.
Two stars because the food is okay. I love the patio area and the company I was with but the service... Service there is terrible!
(2)Dritan K.
Where to start with this review? Three of us dined here for lunch. None of us were remotely impressed. The salsa and chips did not taste fresh. The salad had the weird choice of being topped with sauced pulled chicken, as opposed to grilled chicken as one would expect. That did not work. We didn't get any sauces for the tacos. Which brings me to the number one reason for giving this place one star: the tacos were so dry I almost choked with every bite. So difficult to swallow I had to add avocado from the salad and the appetizer salsa to even get it down. Seemed to match the consensus at the table.
(1)Taylor M.
I have driven past this Tacos el Norte a million times and told myself one day I would stop by and check it out... that day was Monday night to celebrate a friend's birthday. When we arrived, we were seated at a booth on the lower level (I recommend you avoid sitting here because you will be forgotten!). Our waitress came right away to take our order. Since we had never been here before, we asked for another minute. It took a good 15 minutes for her to return. My friend began to order her meal and then asked for a margarita as well. We were reprimanded by the waitress and rudely told we needed to order the drinks at the end. When my boyfriend ordered carne asada, he was told that they were all out of the meat dishes. It would have been nice if they had told us this when we first arrived. He quickly chose something different since we were afraid it would be another 15 minutes before the waitress came back. Our drinks came out quickly, the girls ordered flavored margaritas. They had little to no tequila in them and were SUPER sweet and sugary. As for water, it was never refilled and remained empty for the meal. We also ordered cerviche for an appetizer. The appetizer arrived after our meals. It also did not come with tortilla chips, so we asked for more. The waitress forgot. We hunted down the busboy and he finally got us some chips for the cerviche. My boyfriend ordered chile rellenos with beef and she placed the order wrong and forgot the beef. Other than that, the food itself was pretty good. Since it was my friend's birthday, I wanted to ask the waitress if the restaurant did anything special. I excused myself to "go to the bathroom". I tried to find our waitress and she was nowhere to be found. I asked the friendly hostess and she made it happen. They sang Happy Birthday and brought out a dish of vanilla ice cream, with only one spoon. Again we tried to find the waitress to ask for more spoons to split the dessert, but she was nowhere to be found. We found a busboy who brought us out spoons. As soon as they brought out the dessert, we asked for the check. We waited for a good 20 minutes and never received it. We kept trying to gain the attention of any staff member to no avail. Finally, I got up and went to another waitress who got our check which was sitting on the counter. After 30 minutes of waiting for the check, we paid and left. I forgot my doggie bag on the table, but was too annoyed to go back in and get it.
(2)Mrjustice ..
While one can certainly find better Mexican Restaurants especially in the City, for Libertyville area, I thought this place was pretty good. It definately 'scratched my itch' for Mexican food, anyway. The Combo plates are a really good value, and there are a LOT of them to choose from.
(4)Leigh W.
Finally visited this place last night with 6 other people. We were seated right away and the waitress kept up with our drink orders as we straggled in separately. Salsa and chips were kept topped up, as were our drinks. The waitress was even kind enough to do 7 separate checks, which I am usually loathe to even request, but who carries cash any more? The place had a decent crowd, but was not so loud that we couldn't converse. Live band was playing in the bar as well (Dave Matthews covers, from what I heard) I found the menu to be entirely overwhelming and the number of combo options seemed redundant. I ordered a combo with a quesadilla, taco and enchilada that also came with rice and beans. All this plus a soft drink (free refills) cost me $10. I don't think that's overpriced at all. That would all be at least $6 at Taco Bell and this is good food!
(4)J T.
Allow me to introduce you to a little piece of par-a-dise. It is, Tacos... EL NORTE! On a hot afternoon, my friend suggested Tacos... El Norte! What is this mysterious place, shimmering like a mirage across the water as I drive by on Milwaukee Avenue, an oasis within a big black office building? Finally I would find out. And I was not dissapointed. We walked into an expansive, multilevel space and were greeted by a smiling face. "Would you like to sit inside or outside??" The interior was warm and inviting but the weather was nice, and the place was not crowded, so we sat outside. A cool breeze blew across the patio as we watched the cars passing on the road, somehow seeming far away across the rippling pond. We had two combination plates. I had a large horchata. The breeze blew a little stronger, carrying some napkins and a plastic lid away and into the pond. Sadly, we watched them float away. A tiny but vivacious spider scampered across the table and, rather than fleeing at my attempts to shoo him, turned and faced my advancing fingertip with arms raised in challenge. The chips were brought out before the salsa. The food was good, average mexican fair in my opinion. The horchata was excellent, as most are. Our waitress was softspoken with a beautiful face and heart-shaped diamond earings. I commented in spanish on the impressive size of the horchata, to let her know that I could speak that language. She politely avoided eye contact for the rest of our visit... I was pleased with our visit to Tacos El Norte. I felt we had taken a short trip to somewhere far away, to a warm carribean shore. The food is not out of this world but plenty tasty for me. I would recommend it for the novelty of feeling like you are on vacation, when really you're sitting at the base of a distateful office complex across a little green pond from a noisy thoroughfare in a Chicago suburb... Magic!
(4)Tiffany L.
Tacos El Norte is usually my go to place if I want mexican food in the suburbs, because I know it's usually decent. However, I've noticed that all the Tacos El Norte locations (there's gotta be like, 12 of them) are all slightly different, even though they all claim to be the same place. This location is probably the worst, food-wise, that I've been to. I got my usual 2 tacos al pastor dinner here. Everything on my plate was WAAAAY too salty, especially the rice. The pork kind of had a weird porky aftertaste that you really don't want with meats, and it was oozing grease and sauce. Not appetizing. Skip this place.
(2)Vishal B.
VERY reasonably priced, fast kitchen, hit or miss service, easy parking and pretty restaurant. This is a great lunch spot! I have hosted many parties in the back room, they always take care of us. Food quality has decreased a bit in the last year, so thats the only reason it does not get 5 stars. Menu is very large, there are many options and the staff is not scared of putting in special orders.
(4)Mya C.
I really like the food here. Their menu is expansive and there are always pretty good specials. When dining in, food is served fast... I mean really fast. For the past few times i've dined in, our food was served (2 people) within 2-3 minutes of ordering. I had no complaint with this, especially because we were really hi..hungry. But it makes you wonder if the food is already prepared or what is really going on. I know it's not rocket science to put together a few enchiladas. Nah, don't over-think it. Anywhere that provides never ending chips and salsa should not be questioned. Recommended!
(4)Tricia A.
I usually reserve my review writing efforts to sing the praises of a new favorite eatery (who doesn't want a bit of help finding good food??), but this time I feel the need to share our unbelievable experience to protect the rest of the yelp community! My husband and I finally tried this Tacos El Norte based upon our neighbors recommendations, and were pleasantly surprised with it all. We'd already been to the one in Highwood that is little more than a diner, so we didn't expect much better, but it was totally different. The service was good, the food was tasty and the atmosphere was pretty cool. We wanted to sit on the terrace but it was booked with a corporate event - no biggie, we'll try next time. That was about a month ago. We finally managed to get back to the restaurant Saturday for my brother's graduation. He graduated from a nearby tech school, our entire family would be out in our area to attend, so my mom asked me for a suggestion for a taco place for us all to have dinner afterwards. My husband and I were thrilled to be able to take them all here (instead of our usual choice in Waukegan) and reserved a terrace table to make it even better. We reserved a table for 12 people, eleven adults and one high chair. Once we arrived the first sign of trouble was a sign posted on the door "no credit cards tonight, cash only". This was a little off-putting since we had such a large group, but we rallied and my parents used the ATM located inside the door to make sure that they would have enough cash to cover dinner. We were also told once we checked in with the hostess to make sure that we were aware of the situation, a problem with the line making the machine unusable, etc. Sure, we understand. No problem! We were shown to our tables - two rounds put together with 12 chairs pushed together around them, making at least two of the seats sit inside of the "hole" between the two tables. Really?? When is this appropriate seating for any large group? After requesting that they do something different another table was brought over and we were seated more comfortably. We ordered drinks and water - which took a bit longer than it should have to get water, but whatever - and when the "bucket of beer" arrived the beer was semi-cold at best. All six bottles were in ice and the outside of the bottles felt cold, but once you took a drink it was anything but cold. My husband grew frustrated and took the bucket to the manager to complain, where he was informed that HALF OF THE RESTAURANT WAS OUT OF POWER and it was affecting the bar area side. Wouldn't this be another thing to add to that lovely notice on the door?? And wouldn't that mean that the hostess basically lied about why they couldn't take credit cards in the first place? Also, they didn't seem to find a problem with serving us borderline room-temp beer saying that it felt fine, to which my husband responded "then you drink it". The topper was when the MANAGER told my husband that we were "free to leave". Wait, what?! My husband very sternly explained that we had invited seven out of town family guests to this restaurant and was sure that this manager could do better than that - also suggesting that he might try to make the situation better, not worse. Only after this comment did the manager offer to get us a new bucket of beer, iced down properly, on the house. The remainder of the meal consisted of mediocre service, and food to match. To say that my family from out of town was less than impressed is an understatement, and we were very embarrassed by the entire chain of events. We'll keep going to Toluca in Waukegan for our family taco nights. Tacos El Norte is off my list for good.
(1)M J.
I have gone Milwaukee Avenue (Illinois 21) a lot of times passing this place, and I always wanted to make a point of stopping here especially with it having a very nice patio over a small pond and being in a unique location inside of an office building. The food here was all right though I cannot say it was the best Mexican food I have ever had. The food was average though I can honestly say it was not bad. I was more inclined to give this restaurant a three star review, but I did not want to go so far as to say "A Okay" especially with there being better options in the area. Again, the food was not bad but simply average. As for the service here, it is very hit or miss. I completely agree with the other reviews on here that if one sits in the recessed dining room inside during the summer that one will more or less get lost in the shuffle finding it hard to get the attention of staff. It is for that reason why during the summer I eat outdoors on the patio otherwise it is tough to find waitstaff indoors. I completely agree with one of the reviewers on here that waitstaff can disappear at times making it tough to get refills and even the check which is pretty annoying. I had gotten disappointed that after the meal is served the waitstaff pretty much disappears. I suppose that is all right for a quick serve diner, but for a restaurant I would expect staff to check in periodically. The service here leaves a lot to be desired, and I would have expected a lot better especially in light of it being located in a prime location. Honestly, even "On the Border" down the street offers a lot better service which a far more attentive staff than this place, and mind you that restaurant is a chain! I would not necessarily discourage folks from eating here, but if one does have other options such as On the Border, then it would be good to go there. However, if one does have time to kill and a lot of patience, then this place is not bad especially considering the food is decent and along the same quality as a chain such as On the Border and Pepe's. If one is in a hurry and is looking for a quick meal, then this restaurant is not the place to go because the service is pretty slow.
(2)John K.
Awesome music on Friday Night. Great salsa night on Saturdays. Took my wife there for our anniversary, and she loved it. Saturday night crowd is fine dinning and everyone enjoys the great atmosphere. We just love it, authentic Mexican at it finest. The guacamole with the complimentary chips and salsa are out of this world. Reminds me of our honeymoon in Cancun! With the view of the waterfalls and the beer garden the only thing missing was the white beach!
(5)Judy W.
OK, maybe not really A-OK. I find the place to be very nice. Over the years, I have frequented other businesses in that same location. It's a great place to sit outside. The service is good, and the few items I've purchased have been very tasty and priced right. I think the only thing I really didn't like was the menu. It was too large. I think they would do better by having half as many items, and to make those items be amazing.
(3)Rachel L.
Well, I've had more disappointing Mexican food. Summary: The service: Slow and inattentive. I had to go find the waitress to get the check after she didn't show up at all after the food was served. We had to ask multiple times for water and even got the other drinks first. The chips showed up without salsa. Food: Seriously mediocre. Salsa tasted like it came from a can. The steak was really really tough, and came served without the sauce it was supposed to have (the waitress did notice that and brought the sauce in a separate bowl). The margaritas were decent but not fantastic.
(2)Michele B.
Good service-great margaritas-chips were not very fresh and the mole pretty disappointing. Nice atmosphere-may try again.
(3)Barbra F.
I wish this Tacos El Norte was closer to my home. I can't tell you how much I love it. This location is in a weird location, you have to drive into this industrial/office park area to get to the parking lot. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. AND there is a pond outside with a water fall. On my most recent visit we sat inside at a booth right by the water fall. So peaceful. The food is always good here. I have never ordered something that I didn't like. My favorite is the shrimp cocktail. Shrimp, avocadoes, onions, jalapenos, and goodness. Yum. I saw that some reviews say the service is slow. Okay, yes I would agree that the service is slow. This isn't Chili's. Plan to savor your time.
(5)Lee N.
They have decent food. However, the fact that we had four adults a 3 year old child and a seven month infant and we were still charged 18% gratuity for a party of six, sours me on the idea of returning. After about 8:30, all the sudden there were knats flying around everywhere as we were trying to wind down our meal and enjoy our margaritas we were fanning away knats. That ruined it for me. They were all over, hovering around our leftovers.
(3)Eric W.
Food was very good. Menu was much different than the one online. Love sitting on the patio on a warm evening. The salsa was very good. Fresh tasting. Just the right amount of heat. For dinner I had a chicken with chipotle sauce entree. Great flavors. Beans were done well and were not dried out. Enjoyable dinner. Service was just "meh." Server was not very attentive. Took a while to pay and leave, which is a HUGE pet peeve of mine.
(4)Jenn D.
Came here for lunch on a Tuesday. Service was very slow even through the restaurant wasn't busy. Food was just okay. Portions were large.
(2)Susan S.
Ate here a while ago. This place was very mediocre. Sitting outside is the highlight in the summer very average , service is slow .
(2)Mad I.
Oh man, the location is great, the food comes out quick, but the EMPLOYEES! Total disaster, from the hostess (2 of them, neither of which seemed inclined to greet any guest, give wait times, hand me a menu, walk me to my table-she pointed-nada) to the waitress that took the order never to return.... This place needs to restructure, BAD.
(3)Azhar S.
Wow! Amazing Mexican food! One of the best Mexican places to eat at ever. The food was fresh and the place was super clean. This location is huge. Lots of space for seating and the staff were super nice and patient. I've only been there once but the food was completely memorable. I'd go back again for sure.
(5)Gina H.
Maybe this was an off day but a couple friends and I dropped in for lunch, wanted to sit outside since it was the only nice day this week, and seriously there were like 3 staff members working. Don't need to state the obvious that it took forever!! Forever to be acknowledged, forever to order, forever to be served. Got there at 1230, left at 2. Stayed any chatted because the weather was great, but they are s l o w... Hope they adjust their staff for lunchtime. Good thing we were not on a time crunch!
(2)Shawn I.
THIS is really the place to go for a full-heaping plate of Mexican food for not a lot of money. I'm a big fan of their combo meals, and for under $9 you probably get 4lbs of food plus unlimited chips and salsa. The service has always been good and accurate, wait times for food are always fast even during peak hours. TAKE OUT IS AWESOME HERE. Phone ahead, and food is ready in 10 minutes. I often call for takeout when I'm driving around town and I get the idea for Mexican food. Food is ready to go when I get there. They have good TV's and lots of seating. Yay!
(4)Jake D.
I've always loved both the chain and this specific location for the food, drink, and the outside patio. Much to our surprise and not a particularly pleasant one, there is a new, upscale menu. That it is simplified and graphically attractive is an improvement, the prices not. The service has never been overly attentive, but on this occasion it was atrocious. A bad combination that portends not well for the future.
(2)Lorna K.
I went Tacos El Norte attracted by the big patio sitting area. However, the server was clearly rushing us. My friend and I had the worst taco salads I've ever tried! Poorly seasoned, not even a hint of cilantro (it's a Mexican food!), I even found pieces of potato in the ground beef, which made me feel like I was served leftovers! I will not go there again!
(1)Nick J.
We really loved this place. It's under different ownership than the one in Highwood and we liked it a lot more, mainly because of the atmosphere - huge windows, spacious, murals on the wall, cozy feel. The food overall was great. The waitress recommended a Chile Rellano, which I'd never had before and it was amazing. My wife had the fajita, which was great as well and we loved the fries. I would recommend against the enchiladas as they were quite small. Prices were just as reasonable as at the Highwood location.
(5)David F.
Just had another delightful evening at TeN. Is it the best Mexican ever? Well, no. But the food is satisfying. But a summer evening on their gorgeous patio is quite a treat. The service was truly fantastic -- friendly, attentive, and engaging. We lingered long after our meal and had a few extra drinks just enjoying the atmosphere. Oh. It is all very reasonably priced. Will foodies flock here? No. Cool and trendy? No. A pleasant evening for friends and family. Yep.
(4)Laura B.
Horrendous Service. We Didn't see our waitress for 25 minutes after being seated. The couple next to us that sat down 15 minutes after us had drinks and ordered their meals by the time we even saw our waitress. Another table had similar issues. A patron actually went to the bar and brought over the drinks for another table because they overheard how frustrated they were with the staff. After waiting for our appetizer for another 40 minutes, we asked for the check, went to the front of the restaurant (so she would actually bring the check) and decided to go to another restaurant for dinner. I wonder how long it would have taken if we waited it out..... This was absolutely ridiculous. They need more staff and trained staff if they are going to run a legitimate business.
(1)Chicago Gal G.
Atmosphere is wonderful at Tacos El Norte. Loved sitting by the waterfall. Service was outstanding for a busy Friday evening. The food though, not great. I ordered the Shrimp Fajitas. I have never had a bad Fajitas dish until now. There was no seasoning or sauce. The 6 shrimp were dry and tasteless. I had to pour the chip salsa on my dish to add some flavor and moistness. Huge disappointment.
(2)Jennifer W.
This is one of the better Tacos el Norte locations. Most of the staff is nice and attentive. You always get your food quickly and the patio is nice in the summer. My only complaint would be they need more staff on the weekends.
(4)Amanda S.
We had speedy service, but the staff coulda been a little friendlier. Food was quick and delicious. This Libertyville location is my favorite of all the ones in the western Chicago suburbs because of the awesome deck by a cute pond. Left very full and very satisfied. Decent price and oh my god the horchata is to die for.
(4)Waleska T.
The food is not bad, but the service it's terrible. If you are Latino you are going to be waiting a long time for the waitress to take your order.
(2)Sergio V.
No Pozole on a Sunday?!?! Really?!?! Pretty sure that would get you killed in Mexico.
(3)Yvette M.
The location and atmosphere is great! The food is dry and no flavor. I wouldn't go back to actually eat food here but maybe the bar is better.
(3)Kevin B.
Pretty decent food. Nothing special.
(4)Luis O.
Decently good Mexican food. Although it seems to come out a bit too fast for comfort... Drinks are decent and decently priced. As you can see, everything is just decent. The one highlight for this location is the huge outdoor eating space.
(4)Michelle M.
Unfortunately, there are better Mexican restaurants to go to. The food is not fresh at all. When you order any kind of meat its always in a sauce because its not fresh and that's how they keep it in the back. The meat is chewy and tough doesn't matter if you order steak, chicken, shrimp its terrible.. Even the vegetables are old and made days prior. We have been going there for years and its a nice location but the food is not great, so sadly we are going elsewhere. The service staff is nice, but slow.
(2)Julie S.
When I saw that Tacos El Norte was going to a big, sit-down restaurant location, I was beyond excited. I had been a wonderful patron of the smaller, short-order location on Lake St/45. Sad to say, I was a little disappointed. The space is great. The building is interesting, with a separate bar, multi-level dining area, and large water feature outside floor-to-ceiling windows. The area is painted vibrantly with orange, pinks, and greens. Very large dining area, so the wait should be short if any. The service here is the weirdest thing. It is almost as if you don't have one server for your entire meal, but rather as any server passes by, they ask you if you need anything. It was quite confusing the first time we were here, as I wasnt sure if I had actually asked the right person for anything. Didn't know who to tip either. Not bad service, just odd way to run a restaurant. Honestly, the food is better at the old, small grease-pit location. It is good, but just average here. The menu is huge so you can always find something you want. Extensive drink menu at the bar is nice, though the live entertainment has always been a little overbearing for me to want to sit in the bar for any amount of time. They're new to this location, so maybe they are learning as time goes by. But for now, three stars. The place looks good, but if you dont care about the ambiance, there are far better places to go for Mexican in the area.
(3)Shawn M.
Lunch specials are great and food on the patio is a nice escape.
(5)Linda K.
I love this place. Every time I come here the service is magnificent and the food is amazing. I have been to other locations and this one is by far superior.
(5)Emma M.
I came here with my family for dinner the other night and was pretty disappointed. The place is huge so even though it was busy we were seated right away. The food was just bad. I got caldo de pollo (chicken soup) and it came in a huge bowl that was filled with potatoes, carrots, onions and chicken parts. And in parts I mean like ribs, neck and some other strange things. I couldn't even eat the chicken- there was dark blood all over it. I spooned the soup for a while and then pushed it to the side to eat my taco. The taco was very bland and the steak was pretty chewy. My brother ordered steak fajitas and his friend ordered the shrimp fajitas. It ended up that they cooked the steak in the same pan as the shrimp so his steak tasted like shrimp. Gross. If I want steak I want it to taste like steak. My dad made sure to lecture the manager about that one! The only good thing was that our waitress was nice.
(1)Lindsay S.
I am not a food snob. I am not a foodie. I'm not even that picky, but I have to say that this was some of the worst mexican food I've ever had. It was almost inedible. The service was so bad that we had to actually go find the waitress to pay our bill after waiting an exorbitantly long time. We will not be returning here.
(1)Russ G.
Excellent food and friendly waitresses. Our meal was perfect here.
(5)Becky P.
I LOVE THIS PLACE! Service is great, you are never without a drink. Food is about as close to authentic as you can get this far north. The restaurant itself has a really nice interior, but I prefer to sit outside. The location is kind of random, but that's ok!
(5)Kari K.
Every once in a while I get a craving for ceviche & since this place is on my way home from work, it's a convenient place to stop. I've probably gone about half a dozen times & have been pretty satisfied in general, it's not knockout delicious but pretty tasty nonetheless.... until tonight I ordered my usual- large ceviche, which consists of chunks of whitefish marinated in lime juice with chopped onions, tomatoes, peppers & spices. I've had ceviche many times at many different places including here & it's always basically the same. When I got home & poured i out on my plate I found what appeared to be shrimp cocktail. I was so annoyed to have to drive back. I told the hostess I ordered ceviche not shrimp cocktail. She told me "oh maybe they gave you shrimp ceviche". I had ordered regular ceviche & never had any confusion before. When she brought it back I asked her if it was fish & she said yes. When I got home the second time the only difference was they chopped the shrimp. Based on other reviews, this place has a real problem with service. I will not be going back.
(2)Jay W.
I have been to this place a few times mainly because they have a nice patio. The food is OK, but the service is always pretty bad. There is better Mexican food in the area.
(2)Jef K.
For years driving down Milwaukee Ave I would always comment to my wife that the location that was Grill on 21 looked interesting, yet we never seem to have made the trip there. A few months ago we saw the the sign that Tacos El Norte was filling in the spot that was once Grill on 21. Having finally visited Tacos El Norte (TEN) for dinner, I have to say it was a good experience, and would definitely head back. Pros: - Restaurant felt spacious, even when it was busy, and had a nice decor - The variety of food choices on the menu offered just about something for everyone to enjoy - A nice variety of margaritas and bar selection - Even on a busy Friday night, there was little wait for a table - Good Guacamole with the chips - The Weekend specials give you a lot of food for under $10 Cons: - While the food was good, it was not out of this world good. - While the live music on weekends is nice, it can be a bit too loud in the bar for conversations Overall: The next time we plan to meet with friends for tacos and margaritas, we would definitely think to come back to Tacos El Norte.
(3)Raphael A.
Yummy Mexican food at great prices. If it is nice out, enjoy the deck and some margaritas!
(4)Scott B.
If it weren't for the great outside patio they have, I honestly do not know how this place would stay in business. My first experience I was overcharged for an order of tacos. Unfortunately, I didn't notice this until I got home. Usually being astute, I slipped. So, this is my fault. With this being said, it could've been an honest mistake? The second experience, the food was just as disgusting as the first visit. Instead of being safe and ordering a Dos Equis, I tried one of their margaritas. Gross, overpriced, and weak! I don't think I'll dine here again. Oh wait, I don't even think I'd come here for drinks again. There are too many good Mexcian options in this area to waste my dinero on Tacos el barfo.
(2)Brent B.
Decent food but watch your bill VERY carefully as the manager likes to play games with pricing if you're a white $$ gringo, e.g. if you ask for guacamole on an item, he'll try to charge you the guac appetizer price and see if you notice or care. Habitually sneaky managers.
(2)Jason Z.
Pretty good Mexican food, and a nice/comfortable dining environment. No complaints but nothing outstanding, either. You can expect to pay at least $8-9 per meal.
(3)Whitney D.
oh HELL no. Did they really just try and give me a fried ice cream coated in RAISIN BRAN? Goodbye. The food is super cheap and the quality reflects that. It's beautiful, but the food is such an insult to real Mexican food it's really not worth stopping by at all. Maybe it tastes better when you're drunk? I will never know.
(2)Mark L.
Every time we go here we get good, friendly and fast service. You can pretty much customize your order however you want. Decent food. Good prices. Great patio. Not sure what else you can ask for unless you are expecting a lot out of this place, which, look at the place , you shouldn't be. Hope they stick around in that location which seems to be cursed.
(4)Lindsey W.
I resisted coming here on multiple occasions because the option always seemed to land on the table, so to speak, on nights when they had live dancing and/or music going on. I'm prone to migraines a lot, so I try to stay away from places that are noisy. I finally gave in and went here with my boyfriend one night, and have been back a handful of times since. The food is tasty, and the service is wonderful. I read some other reviews here and was surprised that some reviewers had issues with other servers checking on their table. I appreciate great service where ever I go, and I think it's great that anybody in the building is willing to refill your drink or get you more salsa, etc. at any given moment. It beats the alternative of sitting there parched, or without a condiment you'd like. I will say in regards to the music and dancing, the bar area seems to be pretty separate from the dining area, so if you're sensitive to loud noises and things, you should be just fine. I haven't gone when those things are happening yet, but the place seems spacious enough to accommodate those looking to have a quieter meal. In short, my drinks were kept full - which means a lot considering I frequently go through at least five or six glasses of water during a meal out, especially if it's even the slightest bit spicy! The chips and salsa were kept topped off, and my food was hot and to my liking. Those are the foundations of a good restaurant experience, along with smiles from the staff - and I certainly got that here. Reasonably priced, and overall a nice place to sit down and have a decent meal.
(4)Carlos R.
Been going here for a couple of years. The food used to be just OK but recently they made some changes and it's now excellent. Along with the outdoor deck it's a great place to sneak away for lunch. Docked one star due to the fact they can get slow service wise when it gets a bit busy.
(4)Bing F.
Not sure why this place is getting so much hate in the reviews; maybe because it's a chain or maybe because it is situated in a pretty nondescript office building complex. It's actually very lovely inside and the food is very authentic. I'm letting them slide on the stacked baskets of chips, obviously not fresh, that I viewed as I walked in. Everything else, from the margaritas to my beef tongue main course, were extraordinarily tasty and good for the soul. Service was excellent, salsa music was great and I left with a smile on my face. What more can you ask for?
(5)Dylan M.
The food here is your basic American Mexican menu. Some of the items are more interesting than others. The guacamole didnt impress it was bland and didnt seem very fresh. Perhaps asking for it spicy would be worth a try. The food in general was all pretty bland actually so might need to specify to kick things up a notch. The chile relleno was nicely done and so where the veggie tacos ask for plenty of avocado. The frozen margaritas are premade in a machine BOOO...ordered a specialty margarita on the rocks but the mix they use isn't very good and it was pretty weak. The service was good until the end when I had to ask 3 times for the check. The patio is a reason to come here.
(3)Kelly M.
This is my sister's favorite place, and my family ends up here all the time for celebrations. I'm just kind of "meh" on this place. There's nothing wrong with it, per se, but nothing of note, either. Most recently, I had a two-taco platter with an avocado taco and a chicken taco, along with rice and beans. Beans came from a can, rice was not memorable. I liked the tacos, but those are difficult to screw up. The chips are not homemade, which is a red flag for me. I will say that the service is fast and the food is hot.
(3)Joel O.
My first time at tacos el norte. They have a number of locations in and around Chicago. This place is huge! There is a patio big enough to house its own restaurant. The food was typical for a Mexican place, and it was pretty decent. Not the best place I have been but not the worst by far. The service was decent as well. Nothing too special, but overall I would go again.
(4)Beth P.
Service was nice and quick, but the food was the absolute worst Mexican food I have ever tasted in my life. Truly vile! The guacamole was chopped tomato with very little avocado and the steak was inedible.
(2)Taylor M.
Just left after a nice dinner with my wife an inlaws. None of us had eaten there before but were happy in the end. Fair prices and very fast service and good food. The only complaint I have is the Suizo Burrito. I ordered the fried pork because I'd never had it before...big mistake - I'd recommend you do not order that either.
(4)Jacqueline N.
Lots of parking and fast service. It is reasonably price but the food is not the "best" mexican food. But it was A-OK. I got the fish ceviche because I did not have much of an appetite. It was light and refreshing but the shell was much too thick, which made it difficult to chew. But I guess if it was not thick enough then it would not be able to support all of the food on top. There was fish, onion, cilantro, few slices of avocado, tomatoes and lime juice. It was light and refreshing. I would like to return to try other dishes that Tacos El Norte has to offer. The decor for this Tacos El Norte is much better than the other ones. A bit higher end than the other Tacos El Norte location. It looked much Classier and roomy for large parties to congregate. It was an enjoyable, comfortable experience even if the food was not the best.
(3)Nataliya A.
The place was clean and friendly The fountain outside is gorgeous Tons of seating A large selection of food Food comes out at lightening speed Portions are large Food itself is not the most amazing. My steak on the taco was pulling and chewy. Service is very friendly Good place for lunch or happy hour
(3)Katie M.
FRIDAY, JAN 16,2015 SERVICE WAS HORRENDOUS! I'm so disappointed in our lunch today. We were a party of 3, which brought the guest total of the entire place to around 10, so it was not a matter of being too busy. The food was delicious, as always but our 3 drinks arrived when our food did, we asked 3 times for a side of peppers and I ended up clearing our table of empty plates, never even receiving a visit from a waitress (I use this term lightly) to get a refill. It appeared the 3-4 girls who were sitting and chatting were under age as well because 2- 3 people went behind the bar to pour liquor into shot glasses so that the young girl could finish making the drinks. Completely pathetic. I guess this place has lost some more patrons because we certainly will not be returning.
(1)Ray F.
I'm giving this place three stars for just being average. I'll go one more time before writing the place off. I was excited when I saw this place open just down the road from me. I thought this meant I didn't have to travel all the way to Gurnee if I wanted the more "upscale" Tacos El Norte dining experience. I love the Gurnee location. The food, service and decor are all wonderful. The Libertyville location doesn't have the same effect on me. We had multiple waiters and none of them seemed to really be paying attention to our table. I always had to flag someone down to get a refill or more chips. Despite being the same "supposed" recipes as other locations our food was more on the bland side. My wife had grilled Tilapia and I went with the more typical taco dinner. It was edible, of course, but it didn't have the same excellent taste as the other locations I've been to. In any case, I'll give this place one more try since I don't like to write off a place after just one visit. If it disappoints again I'll be lowering my rating and never coming back.
(3)Richard B.
Hey, it's a taco joint folks! Enjoy a cheap lunch. The 3 taco special for $4 is pretty darn filling for the money. Staff is nice, parking easy.
(3)Kristen C.
I went to tacos el norte with my husband and my 4 small kids on Saturday night. It was a great experience! Loved the veggie fajitas I ordered and kids loved their kids taco meals. The waitress was amazing and best part was the bill was only 70 for a family of 6 with full meals! I really thought the waitress was the best part, I wish I would of asked her name so I could right it in this review.
(5)Joel H.
We've been to Tacos El Norte twice now since it moved into the office center that used to house Grill 21 and the Milwaukee Road House. The service has been a bit off both times we've visited for dinner, from the hostess stand to the table service. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it just doesn't seem like the staff here is really dialed in to provide a good restaurant experience. One odd example is that I had to explain to my waitress what the Chorizo and Egg burrito I ordered was as she took the order. What? Mexican Sausage? Just tell the cooks Chorizo and Egg and they will know what you mean. On our second visit, the hostess sat us at a dirty table and hastily wiped it with a napkin before seating us there. The wait staff was quite a bit off both times as well. We're talking restaurant 101 basics that were missing or odd during both of our visits. Because of this, we probably will not be back. Food was OK- middle of the road Mexican food. Definitely nothing special.
(2)kimberly k.
They need to drain their beef in the tacos. My order came swimming in a pool of orange grease. The waitstaff is slow. Food came too fast, almost like it's already been prepared. Greasy chips and they tasted of bad oil. I may give them one more try just for the outside seating!
(2)Nate R.
Friendly service, great food and awesome atmosphere!
(4)Jasmine G.
I'll admit, the venue is really attractive; the inside is beautifully painted and the view of the pond outside is really nice even in the wintertime. As for the food, it seems to decrease in quality with each visit. The penultimate time I came, I ordered a carne asada, which I ended up leaving almost completely uneaten as it was damn near impossible to cut it up and even harder to chew. Today, I went with my family, and we were seated near the kitchen. The waitress brought us silverware and asked us to forgive her for the rushed appearance, and they were extremely busy at the moment. I honestly wondered if she was hallucinating; we were the only table seated indoors, and the outdoor patio was only half full. As we watched the kitchen staff make our food, we realized that every platter of ours was being zapped in the microwave before being served. Gross! Since when does freshly-made food need to be sent through the microwave as a final step? Needless to say, our food had a strange taste and quality to it, and it was especially worse after we realized we had to shell out $70 for this subpar food. I can get over the fact that it certainly isn't authentic Mexican food, but now it isn't even GOOD food. Had I been asked six months ago, I would've given Tacos El Norte rave reviews, but that isn't the case. I doubt I'll be returning again.
(1)Dave B.
The old adage you can put lipstick on a pig but it's still a pig applies here. The restaurant itself is very nice and inviting. The problem is your going to pay top dollar for location and get cheap Mexican food in return. The food is no different than their other locations but the price is. I paid $65 including tip for a family of 4 (2 kids under 11). If you crave cheap Mexican food do yourself a favor and go to one of their other locations or El Famous Burrito and save the cash. You'll still get a good dose of gas and heartburn and have money left over for a bottle of Pepto Bismol.
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