Dinner near Allstate Arena on 5 de Mayo - Flamingo's?

Hey, all.

I'll be at Allstate Tuesday night for a concert. I'm looking for dinner nearby. I've read about Flamingo's Seafood in Mount Prospect and am interested, but a little concerned about crowds for Cinco de Mayo. Should I worry? Does anybody have any suggestions for Mexican or Thai in the vicinity, preferably a place where we can have a few pre-concert drinks?

Thanks!

nixtamalizado wrote:Hey, all.

I'll be at Allstate Tuesday night for a concert. I'm looking for dinner nearby. I've read about Flamingo's Seafood in Mount Prospect and am interested, but a little concerned about crowds for Cinco de Mayo. Should I worry? Does anybody have any suggestions for Mexican or Thai in the vicinity, preferably a place where we can have a few pre-concert drinks?

Thanks!

I'd call, but Flamingo's is not a jam packed place during the week and seating shouldn't be a problem. As to great Mexican nearby, not much jumps out right there except for the Taqueria style place, Las Asadas in Des Plaines on Lee St. They easily get my rec for some of the best burritos, tacos & barbacoa in the area, and maybe even the whole city.

Thanks, Burt. Sounds good! Does Las Asadas offer margaritas or at least Coronas? My gabacho guests insist on that sort of thing on Cinco de Mayo!

nixtamalizado wrote:Thanks, Burt. Sounds good! Does Las Asadas offer margaritas or at least Coronas? My gabacho guests insist on that sort of thing on Cinco de Mayo!

las asadas on lee street has great steak tacos but its also a little shack with limited seating and im pretty sure they don't serve alcohol. there is another las asadas on oakton that is a bit bigger and in a strip mall that may well serve alcohol but ive never been there to confirm. if you are looking for margaritas and coronas, flamingos would probably be better. asadas is good food, but its fast food.

I forgot there is another Las Asdadas location less than 1 mile away from the Allstate arena, so let me slightly alter the recommendation:

Las Asadas - 782 W Oakton St # H, Des Plaines - (847) 718-9782

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&q=las+asadas+mt+prospect&fb=1&split=1&gl=us&cid=2080781160654043995&li=lmd&ll=42.022773,-87.939162&spn=0,359.961548&z=15&iwloc=A&layer=c&cbll=42.022767,-87.939281&panoid=LnzhKoi0LI3PbEVI8ODk8w&cbp=12,21.1787191655729,,0,-5.399163911813017

This one is not as much of a dive looking joint as the other two locations I've been to (Des Plaines - Lee St & Chicago - Western Ave) since it sits in a modern strip mall and is relatively new inside with more seating than the other locations (for maybe 25-30). BUT, the food is just as solid and great.

These guys are really well known for their char grilled skirt steaks, and its always grilled fresh on order. This may be just a rumor, but I've seen this on several food boards, they are supposedly a child company of La Pasadita's. IMO: They seem to do things somewhat similarly, but I like Las Asadas better since they offer a Super Burrito (choice of meat, beans, rice, tomato, cilantro, onion and cheese) on the menu and La Pasadita does not (theirs is just meat, onion & cilantro).

As to beer… I cant recall if they do or not since I gave up beer a few yeas ago, but my instinct is saying no.

Both suggestions sound great, alcohol or no alcohol. I'll choose based on speed. And report back here, of course.

Thanks!

MBK wrote:

nixtamalizado wrote:Thanks, Burt. Sounds good! Does Las Asadas offer margaritas or at least Coronas? My gabacho guests insist on that sort of thing on Cinco de Mayo!

las asadas on lee street has great steak tacos but its also a little shack with limited seating and im pretty sure they don't serve alcohol. there is another las asadas on oakton that is a bit bigger and in a strip mall that may well serve alcohol but ive never been there to confirm. if you are looking for margaritas and coronas, flamingos would probably be better. asadas is good food, but its fast food.

True, true, Lee St is not the nicest looking place, but they kill you with quality! Oakton is identical on the food quality, not sure about the alcohol.

I didn't mean to slight Flamingo's. Flamingos is an excellant seafood place, unlike any other in the city. They do have a decent alcohol offering, I remember having a pretty good red wine there with my last dinner. But left feeling that its a bit pricey, even so, it's still a dining experience worth doing.

abf005 wrote:

MBK wrote:

nixtamalizado wrote:Thanks, Burt. Sounds good! Does Las Asadas offer margaritas or at least Coronas? My gabacho guests insist on that sort of thing on Cinco de Mayo!

las asadas on lee street has great steak tacos but its also a little shack with limited seating and im pretty sure they don't serve alcohol. there is another las asadas on oakton that is a bit bigger and in a strip mall that may well serve alcohol but ive never been there to confirm. if you are looking for margaritas and coronas, flamingos would probably be better. asadas is good food, but its fast food.

True, true, Lee St is not the nicest looking place, but they kill you with quality! Oakton is identical on the food quality, not sure about the alcohol.

I didn't mean to slight Flamingo's. Flamingos is an excellant seafood place, unlike any other in the city. They do have a decent alcohol offering, I remember having a pretty good red wine there with my last dinner. But left feeling that its a bit pricey, even so, it's still a dining experience worth doing.

don't get me wrong, if it were me, id be going to asadas on lee st but i live nearby and can go home for the margarita

Love hearing Asadas fans coming outta the woodwork. I absolutely love this joint to death. When they are on, they are the best skirt steak de una taqueria imo. The lee st location is a DIVE, plain and simple. A DIVE. If you go there thinking it's anything but a total dive, you will be disappointed. If you bring a few drinks and have them in a brwon paper bag, and do not ADVERTISE the fact that you have a few drinks in a brown paper bag, you will have no issues.
If it's nice enough to sit at one of their picnic tables outside, then you will definitely not have any issues. If you go at off peak times, your chances of getting fresh off the grill steak are decreased, but I would ask them for fresh steak, or tell them I'm going elsewhere. There is a liquor store on the ne corner of rand/des plaines. It's a DIVE. formica booths, order, and they call you. It's a DIVE.

Las Asada's is run by the son of the owners of La Pasadita. He says they strive to put out identical food at all of their locations (including La Pasadita) but I find that Las Asadas consistently gives their steak a more rustic chop, whereas La Pasadita is consistently a finer chop. I am a far bigger fan of Asadas. Another difference: Asadas will only have one salsa. A verde. It is USUALLY nice and fiery, but since it's not from a can and made in a capsaicin controlled environment, it can be pretty weak sometimes, and other times, it can run volcanically hot. Many times I've "remembered" what I had for lunch around 9pm at night while "reading."
The Carne Asada platter is a decent deal. The barbacoa is is pretty good, the chicken is so-so. The "super" burrito is a a "regular" burrito with cheese, avocado, rice and tomato. A regular burrito is steak, s cream, onion cilantro. I have been salivating during writing this entire entry. No joke at all.

Did we mention that the place is a DIVE?

I'm a big fan of Flamingo's and while it isn't usually too busy on weeknights, this being Cinco de Mayo, I'd definitely call first. They do take reservations, which should be helpful in making a decision.

That said, I definitely have to try Las Asadas because I've been reading a lot of good things here about it lately. I'll be at the Allstate Arena tonight, too but I think I'll have to save Las Asadas for another time because I won't be driving.

=R=

MBK wrote:
don't get me wrong, if it were me, id be going to asadas on lee st but i live nearby and can go home for the margarita

Your so lucky to be that close, I'm jealous!! I have to trek all the way down (45 Min's) from Gurnee just to get that char grilled wondrous meat fix!

nixtamalizado wrote:Both suggestions sound great, alcohol or no alcohol. I'll choose based on speed. And report back here, of course.

Thanks!

LAS ASADAS!!! They have pulled me into their web the last two weeks. I'm a full-blown addict, having gone there at least 5 times in the past 14 days. When i'm not eating there, I'm imaginiing that I am.

Not only was the first steak taco I had there the best steak taco I've ever eaten - the taste of the steak was up there enjoyment-wise as any i've had at any top-dollar steak house. I just kept moaning in pleasure while I ate and shaking my head in disbelief. The guys behind the counter (Des Plaines location) were laughing their asses off at my facial expressiosn.

In fact - i'm gonna go there again in a few minutes!!

Thanks, everybody. We ended up eating at Flamingo's after all. We were thrilled to find a restaurant of such quality in such an unlikely location.

As a table we shared the siete mares soup, the chuleta de puerco al pastor, the fish tacos, and chicken breast entrees. All were wonderful, but the standouts were the chuleta and the fish tacos. As a Cinco de Mayo extra, we were given a plate of chorizo tamales, which were wonderful.

With drinks the meal came to $130. More than we expected, but not a word of complaint from anyone.

Thanks to everybody for the Las Asadas recommendation. We'll check it out next time we're in that area.