Mexican Seafood Restaurants - What would you suggest?

I am going out for my birthday lunch this Sunday and want to take the family for some good, authentic Mexican seafood. I read reviews on El Barco and Mi Tierra but it seems that they are somewhat inconsistant. Where should we go for good food and company. A whole Red Snapper sounds very good right about now.

I think there are a few Mi Tierra's, but the one on Belmont isn't anything special at all.

El Barco has been on my list for a while, but I still haven't been there.

Las Palmas on North Ave has some very tasty seafood dishes, but I wouldn't consider it a seafood restaurant. I think the place is terrific though.



*I completely realize none of the preceding statements answer your question in the slightest, nor are they descriptive enough to carry much worth at all.

Las Islas Marias at Grand and Cicero.

Las Islas Marias
4770 W. Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL
773-637-8233

Ed meant to say

Las Islas Marias at Grand and Cicero.


Las Islas Marias
4770 W. Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL
773-637-8233

YankeeBBQ Boy wrote:I am going out for my birthday lunch this Sunday and want to take the family for some good, authentic Mexican seafood. I read reviews on El Barco and Mi Tierra but it seems that they are somewhat inconsistant. Where should we go for good food and company. A whole Red Snapper sounds very good right about now.

El Barco is a festive place, usually pretty crowded, with a good range of items suitable for "the family." The whole red snapper, mounted upright as though on a mantle, is a specialty -- if you want the more authentic huachinango a la Veracruzana, you can get that too, though I think it takes an extra 20 minutes or so.

Las Islas Marias on Grand might be a little rough (if you're bringing your mom and dad, it might be a little less comfortable than they'd prefer).

Hammond

Virtually across the street from El Barco, Rudy's Taste makes a nice snapper with a garlic dipping sauce. It's a very clean and friendly place. Here's a dinner report from there that includes the snapper:

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=4312

Unfortunately my picture links are dead, I'll fix those one of these days.

I don't think there are Mexican restaurants that specialize in seafood; rather, there are Mexican restaurants that include some excellent seafood dishes among their selections.

Lupita's in Evanston does a wonderful job with seafood (and other dishes). Their regular menu is strictly conventional mexican fare (all of which is very good). Make sure to check their specials, as that's where they get the most creative and offer some of their very best food. They always have some fresh seafood specials. They do a wonderful job with grilled sea bass, as good as any seafood restaurant. They change their specials each week, and they do a good job of keeping their website updated on a weekly basis. This week's menu includes two specials:

Sautéed Lemon Sole Served with a shrimp & vegetable enchilada, rice & tomato sauce

Grilled Sea Bass served with green mole, white rice, sautéed chayotes & corn

Lupita's
700 Main St.
Evanston, IL 60202
847-328-2255
http://lupitasmexicanrestaurant.com

Note that on Sundays, they are only open (5-9) for dinner, not lunch...

nsxtasy wrote:I don't think there are Mexican restaurants that specialize in seafood; rather, there are Mexican restaurants that include some excellent seafood dishes among their selections.

n.,

Actually, there are a quite a few Mexican restaurants that do indeed specialise in seafood. Islas Marias is one, written up at length here (a link appears above in Ann Fisher's post) with several locations around the area. Off the top of my head, I can think of ones in pretty much all of the Mexican neighbourhoods around town -- e.g., at California and Cermak, there are two standing overagainst one another -- Cocula and Pelican... Another well known one (though I didn't enjoy my visit there some time back) is Playa Azul in Pilsen (another branch somewhere else too, I think), the late lamented Tacos del Pacifico, etc. etc. etc.

Antonius

nsxtasy wrote:I don't think there are Mexican restaurants that specialize in seafood;

If you ever drive around the Southwest Side, you can't go further than a couple of blocks before tripping across a "mariscos" (seafood) restaurant, often with a giant sign or statue of a cartoon shrimp or similar seacreature in front. One on 47th, in particular, has a neon sign beaming "100% Mariscos" to the passing traffic. So there are Mexican restaurants that not only specialize in seafood, but offer nothing else.

I stand corrected...

Fonda del Mar on Fullerton east of Pulaski-Haven't been for a few months, but if all is well over there it will be more reliable than El Barco for sure-they may not have a whole snapper- but the food is carefully prepared.

I have always been fond of the seafood preparations at La Oaxaqueña. They do an excellent job with Mexican whole fish preparations (often found on the special card on the table) and the pulpo al ajo is hands-down my favorite octopus dish in town.

West on Montrose and Lawrence, there are a couple restaurants that specialize in mariscos one of the best being:

Marisqueria 7 Mares
4012 W Montrose
(773) 427-4480

Best,
Michael

eatchicago wrote:West on Montrose and Lawrence, there are a couple restaurants that specialize in mariscos one of the best being

I've always wondered about this place. I'm glad to hear you give it the thumbs up. I'll have to get over there sooner rather than later.

stevez wrote:

eatchicago wrote:West on Montrose and Lawrence, there are a couple restaurants that specialize in mariscos one of the best being

I've always wondered about this place. I'm glad to hear you give it the thumbs up. I'll have to get over there sooner rather than later.

I have yet to explore their menu to the point of writing a full review and throwing out some solid recommendations, but I have had a couple good solo lunches there.

Has anyone been to La Oaxaqueña lately? I saw the menu and it certainly looks inviting. The question that I have is about the size of the place. Is it like a restaurant or like a true taco bar with limited seats. The also have two locations - is one better or larger than the other?

YankeeBBQ Boy wrote:Has anyone been to La Oaxaqueña lately? I saw the menu and it certainly looks inviting. The question that I have is about the size of the place. Is it like a restaurant or like a true taco bar with limited seats. The also have two locations - is one better or larger than the other?

I go to the Milwaukee Ave. location quite regularly. It is a small, full-service restaurant, not at all a taco stand, with seating for about 30 or so. They serve beer and have very friendly waitresses.

The west Diversey location has less of a restaurant feel, with an open kitchen area and register up front when you walk in. Still, it's the same menu, and table service is just fine. Personally, I like the atmosphere at the Milwaukee Ave. location.

If seafood is what you're going for, all of the huachinango choices are very good along with camarones a la diabla, and camarones y pulpo en salsa Oaxaquena. Make sure to order at least one thing with octopus (pulpo), as they seem to have this ingredient mastered. It is always tender and flavorful, without a hint of the rubbery texture that octopus often starts to take on.

Also, this is the only restaurant that has ever made a tilapia dish that I think I'd order a second time: mojarra en mojo de ajo.

Best,
Michael

I know you've already gone to your lunch but I'm surprised El Barco has been flagged for inconsistency. There is really no other place I'd go for Mexican seafood. The place is fun, food is top-notch, and the drinks are wonderful.

I've taken some fairly large groups (Latinos) here with little prior notice to El Barco and they have always come through and everyone has enjoyed it. In fact, we just had a guest in from out of town who insisted we make the treck down from Des Plaines two nights in a row.

Do any of these places have websites with their menus posted?

nsxtasy wrote:Do any of these places have websites with their menus posted?

Menupages is an excellent resource: http://chicago.menupages.com/

I usually review menupages before I go out to eat -- so I know what I want pretty much before I walk in the door.

Wanted to thank all of you for your suggestions. We ended up going to Taqueria la Oaxaquena and had a wonderful dinner. We started with the Botana Huatulco which is a combination of shrimp, squid and octopus on a bed of lettice and was fantastic. My daughters split a big bowl of Sopa Azteca, my wife had the Chilaquiles en salsa verde con pollo and I had the Huachinago o' en salsa verde con nopales. This was a huge snapper, lightly deep fried and encased in foil with sala verde on the botton and stips of nopales. This was to die for as the fish was tender and the salsa was a nice contrast to the sweetness of the fish.

We had ice tea and and my daughters had Jarritos. What really amazed me was the bill - a little over 46 dollars with tax.

Once again thanks and y ou can bet we will be going back to La Oaxaquena again.