EL TRADITIONAL Reviews

It may be a bit pricey, but their food tastes great. The staff there are pretty attentive and knowledgeable. Burrito they have is pretty big, soft, and juicy from my experience.

Good entrees not supported by a weak execution of cocktails.

Margaritas were good. Food kind of bland, I had the combination plate, with one chicken enchilada, 1 poblanos taco, just not a lot of flavor.

If you re looking for brown guac, this is the best place to get it. Extra charges on everything and the tacos/quesadilla s are dull tasting. Honestly, I can look past no flavor tacos, not a big deal, you ll always eat them a few times a year right... but the brown guac... come on, you know those avocados had to be from a few days ago.

There are better places for amazing Mexican food, many other places, food wasn't what I expected and those margaritas and other drinks not really tasty, plus you have to wait too long to get your food on your table and honestly for me not a great place.

Great happy hour! Cant beat this place. Great food great drinks!

Excellent place to eat everything was very good and the staff with the customers were tremendously attentive, I was delighted to visit it again.

Great food, people and atmosphere! Carlos, Luis and the entire staff make you feel right at home when you arrive. I recommend this establishment for small or big parties. The service is top notch and so is the decor. They really know how to take care of there customers!

Really nice place. Friendly and fun. Food is awesome for Chicago Mexican

Our favorite Mexican restaurant in the area! Great food and service.

Being so close to work I really enjoy the food. the prices are high though especially since there are so many lunch options near by.

Very bad experience the attention very good very friendly but the food is lousy

Skirt steak with salsa Verde was very good. I would return.

the service is always good. the food is marvelous!! i really recommend the tortas at lunch!

Nice happy hour, good margaritas, and recommend the chorizo queadillas

The food was great. Service was very slow. It's always is. Not waiters fault. Not enough help.

My family enjoyed a delicious meal here around lunch time. The food was served quickly, and it was a good stop for a lunch break at work.

Go here. Great food, great beer selection, great guys

Good food lod of draft beer. Service a little slow at times but not bad. Would go again.

Exceptional selection of beers from Mexico, both bottled and draft. Excellent traditional Mexican dishes with a variety of sauces. I will be going back as soon as I get a chance.

Food was really good and the pricing is competitive for location. However, the reason I'm only posting 3 stars is due to the wait, which I shall explain.
The staffing is friendly, but the problem stems from the wait time. Perhaps it was a busy Friday night, but we waited intermittently for food after our order was split with an initial order of appetizers and children order, then a significant wait, perhaps 15 minutes or so, for my wife and myself to order. The person I assume as the shift manager asked if we were helped, which within that time frame, our server was helping us, but the time between us and the other tables was starting to increase

When the waiter returned to us after all orders were handled, the service then went smoothly and he continued to follow up until after we asked for boxes for unfinished food. We waited an additional 15 minutes, not noticing time elapsed until we suddenly felt as if we had remained a while. The 15 minutes included searching for other staff and the receptionist until we finally asked a busboy to assist us, which ended up with another fellow, the replacement receptionist who operated the payment tablet. He explained the waiter assisting us was sent to the freezer, resulting in confusion of personnel and our wait.

Overall, I was happy with the food and pricing, but the service was not ideal.

Friendly, quick service at lunch time. Their hottest mole isn't very hot, but it delivers admirably on flavor! On the whole, this eatery is worth visiting regularly.

Wanted a shrimp and steak mexican taco lunch. Even offered to pay extra for the shrimp taco....he wouldn't. When the tacos came they were soggy. No cilantro. And there were tomatoes. And....the shrimp were teeny tiny and had no flavor! The rice and beans were mediocre. The best part of the meal was the speed and the chips.

Great food and fast service. The homemade mole is a must have. Prices are very reasonable and the menu is diverse. I will come back if I'm in the area.

Great Mexican restaurant in an out of the way setting well worth the visit.

Very good food and service, not your normal mexican dishes. Too bad don't normally open for lunch on the weekend.

I certainly loved the food and customer service, excellent location right next to my house. The employees are always very kind. Will come back again.

This spot is awesome! Affordable prices, big dishes and the staff are always welcoming.

Great customer service and the good is delivered to the table fast! Great tasting Mexican food!

We attended for a coworkers going away happy hour event. Our waiters were friendly & fast. The food is decent & pretty traditional Mexican with a hint of Tex-Mex. we had a great time. Would definitely go again.

This place is my preferable place. Of all restaurants I know I like it most. I always suggests to my friends to go to visit this restaurant. when I I need a decent lunch, this restaurant comes straight to my mind. best and diverse food and a rich menu.well mannered team, and good spirit. Not less important, the tariff is fair. I recommend this spot with pleasure.

Excellent food. Quick service. Friendly staff. Service can be slow when busy.

I always come grabbing some food here. I loved the prompt customer service and well cooked dishes. 5 stars.

Atmosphere great, service good, price not bad, entree was too salty.

Great beer selection and their margaritas are on point.

Had my son's first caminon there, staff was great, my attention was paramount! A fantastic place to eat and celebrate!

Discovering this gem for lunch has changed my view of Mexican food in the Chicago area. It is delicious and more traditional than most places serving typical fajitas and burritos. The food is very authentic and absolutely delicious. I especially loved the chips. I will definitely return for lunch or dinner. The waitstaff was particularly helpful in explaining menu items to us and they are all very friendly. There is also a private room for group functions, which I would consider if I am planning an event. Parking is plentiful.

Excellent food for the $$. Very friendly staff as well.

Over priced for what you get. Not flavorful enough.

A beautiful Mexican restaurant to go with family and friends, delicious food and excellent service.

Great margaritas and you have to try Grandma's recipes: soup and some of the appetizers.

My family and I loved this place. The service was really top notch and the food was wonderful!!! The servings are of good portions and the taste is really authentic. The guacamole and the fried dough appetizers are a must. If you're passing through or live in this area don't miss this place!!!

Good people and food was delicious. Micheladas are good too

Get time! Hosted a perfect event for New York Life!

Really well put together Mexican food. Friendly service.

Good happy hour menu. Beer taps are alright, many times they are out but don't tell you till you've ordered, just a bit of a nit.

The best Mexican food you can get in the area. Family owned, and operated. They pour a good drink too.

LOVE THE MON-FRI HAPPY HOUR :) :)
Delicious margaritas...and I know a good margarita, I've done the research!
I've been back 3 times in less than one month...and I typically prefer staying home to mix my own!

I went there after work with colleagues for happy hour after trying a couple other local Mexican restaurants (either very expensive or not so great), and was thrilled.

The Margaritas are FANTASTIC! Very tasty and they don't skimp.
The food is great too -- ceviche, tamales, burrito -- all excellent and reasonably priced.

I've been back twice in the last month after my first visit. Highly recommended.

Best lunch in town great staff love the steak, torts, and even the burrito. Great tortilla chips and make sure to ask for the green salsa. Awesome spot will make sure to come back.

Overall a fun but an over priced Mexican joint. Good ambiance, traditional food, and nice staff.

Good food. Awful pick up service. One order of fajitas took 45mins with a half empty restaurant and the order was incomplete

Food is ok...better alcohol options than most places. Margaritas strong but its all a bit too pricey.

Overal decent food, decent prices but man... when you have live music in a dining room at 5pm, turn down their amps to like '3'. It was super loud.

The other thing I didn't like was that I ordered enchiladas and they refused to let me have multiple sauces on each one. What's up with that?

Interesting menu and very good, strong cocktails. I found the food quality/taste a little above average, however I would surely suggest the margaritas. Nice surprise with singing staff if it is your birthday!

Excellent table service and quality Mexican food in a terrific restaurant atmosphere!

Food was good the service was good the atmosphere was nice.

Food was great, staff - welcoming. Will definitely come again.

Delicious food, amazing drinks and great ambiance. My favorite place

We went for a hapy hour after work and they were pretty empty. Food was pretty good, we got a variety of appetizers including quesadillas, nachos, etc.

The best Mexican cuisine you will EVER eat in your life!! My husband is from Mexico, and I am from Colombia, and we both agree it is the most authentic Mexican food we have ever shared! Great service every single time as well! I highly recommend!!

Nice place, decent food and a nice out door patio with not so much traffic in a quiet are, when the train in not arriving, lol.

Went for lunch, service was fast, food was good. Would recommend.

Tasty fajitas, quick service, solid Mexican restaurant!