Best Latin or Mexican dining in the NW burbs

Like a old shoe, we keep going to the same comfortable nice place.
We took the advice of the board here "Thanks" and went to Flamingos. It was great and looking for more advice and recommendations.
Thanks! Bronco

Try Julio's Cochina Latino in Lake Zurich. I have had a couple of excellent meals at this restaurant.
http://www.julioslatincafe.com

Jyoti

Of course, my first thought was Flamingo's Seafood too. It is still my favorite Mexican restaurant in the entire Chicago area.

However, Julio's looks interesting - thanks for the recommendation - and hopefully additional recommendations will follow.

Chicago seems to be the leader in offering creative and regional Mexican cuisine, and has been receiving recognition as such (e.g. the recent articles in Saveur and Gourmet). I hope this means that we will continue to see more such restaurants open. Of course, we already have plenty of the more conventional "enchiladas and carne asada" Mexican restaurants as well as less expensive taco stand type places.

As to Julio's, the menu on their website sounds like a "Latin fusion" place, similar to places in downtown Chicago like Cuatro, Carnivale, and DeLaCosta. This seems to be another welcome trend; hey, the more different kinds of food that are widely available, the better, as far as I'm concerned.

Others in the NW suburbs?

I have to vote for Fuego's in downtown Arlington Heights! FABULOSO!


www.fuegomexgrill.com

Monica's is worth a visit.

La Granja is a good Peruvian chicken joint in Palatine. (Daily Herald review (pdf))

Skip Pico de Gallo in Wheeling. Bland, bland, bland.

bronco, what's your "comfortable nice place"?

My comfort zone place for Mexican : La Hacienda De Roselle
35 W Irving Park Rd
Roselle, IL 60172-1117
#2 Taqueria El Paraiso Inc.
314 S Mclean Blvd
Elgin, IL 60123 Its right off of Lake (rt20)street and get off at Mclean turn right and you'll see it on the left. Great food and like most taco joints not into fancy dining just good food!

(847) 429-9200
#3 would be Mexico Uno in downtown Palatine 15 N Brockway 847-3586856 I reccomend the Enchiladas Verdes with Al Pastor dinner. Chicken Tacos /softcorn

#4Carnitas Don Pedro
1113 W 18th St
Chicago
312-829-4757
Great Goat and brain taco on the weekend but get there early because you 'll have to wait. If you do get a chance to go get the Beef barbacoa,Carnitas and just WOW.. Also when you leaving the area just down the street the older Tamale Ladies are selling great Tamales.
I have a number we enjoy going to but off the top of my head this is our solid ones.. There is a place in Schaumburg but forgot the name,
I'll get it and post it..

I do like the Julio's Cochina Latino , good food and nice place all around and do reccomend it. I'm a pepperhead and they made me a little bowl of special sauce. A couple of Scotch bonnet toss into make sure I had enough heat, and I did

I think the building on Fuego's is just stunning and so is the place inside. The food is a 50/50 for me. I had good and ok, don't reccomend the chicken or steak tacos. They just were not seasoned and need to go to the specials of the day.. This is were I found some good stuff.. It been a while and went they opened the doors . I will have to give it another go.. Is there a dish you reccomend?

La Granja ?? never heard of it but will be going soon. I got some friends in the area and will go! Thanks

Has anyone ever tried Mexico Uno in downtown Palatine or La Pasadita near NW Hwy & Palatine Rd? I've driven by these places a million times, but haven't had the chance to try them yet.

Hi Bronco - since I see you do venture into the taqueria side of Mexican goodies, I think you should try out
Las Asadas in Des Plaines.

One on Oakton and 83, and another on Lee and Rand(Just south of the motorcycle dealship/just north of the original Mcdonalds.) I REALLY think you should try them out. Char grilled skirt steak, and usually fiery salsa verde. They are kind of a one trick pony. Get the STEAK. Barbacoa is tasty, but the STEAk is what keeps the lines long. Many do the lengua here too.

Another one which I've been screaming about lately. The Jimenez on Dundee in Wheeling. They have a little taqueria counter in the store that pumps out some seriously decent eats for the price. I'd try the costillas de puerco in salsa verde, and also the carne de res en chile arbol. Another decent option there is the torta de milanesa. Specials this week include tortas de carnitas for 2.25, and an order of three tacos de carnitas for 3.50. I usually go once or twice a week. It's a dive, you can eat in, but it's quite decent for the price.

You have a namesake joint on Dundee in wheeling also called "Burrito Bronco." It's ok. Another dive - haven't found anything REALLY good there, except for the pork tamales. Pretty darn good imo.

The "Burrito Bronco" in Streamwood is excellent. Not fancy, just good. Never ate in - just a to go place for us.

" La Granja is a good Peruvian chicken joint in Palatine. (Daily Herald review (pdf)) "

Just wanted others to know that this place is closed.

(note to self, when reading LTH when hungry .... read the dates ...read the dates )

gpconco wrote:" La Granja is a good Peruvian chicken joint in Palatine. (Daily Herald review (pdf)) "

Just wanted others to know that this place is closed.

(note to self, when reading LTH when hungry .... read the dates ...read the dates )

Darn. I was hoping to try it this weekend.

Has anyone tried the new place that replaced La Granja?

Tacos y Mariscos la Pasadita Incorporated

1572 N Rand Rd
Palatine, IL 60074-8506
(847) 963-2188

PreFlopRaise13 wrote:Has anyone tried the new place that replaced La Granja?

Tacos y Mariscos la Pasadita Incorporated

1572 N Rand Rd
Palatine, IL 60074-8506
(847) 963-2188

Is it related to the one at NW Hwy & Palatine Rd? I'm curious as well (as per my post above).

Pucca wrote:

PreFlopRaise13 wrote:Has anyone tried the new place that replaced La Granja?

Tacos y Mariscos la Pasadita Incorporated

1572 N Rand Rd
Palatine, IL 60074-8506
(847) 963-2188

Is it related to the one at NW Hwy & Palatine Rd? I'm curious as well (as per my post above).

No, not related, and they had to change the name. It's now La Presa. It's good, but not as notable as La Granja was.

Daily Herald review

Tacos El Norte
213 S Rand Rd
Lake Zurich, IL 60047
(847) 726-9114