Chicks'n Salsa - Glen Ellyn

LTH,

Today when weighing our lunch options a coworker and I decided to visit Chicks’n Salsa in Glen Ellyn on Roosevelt Rd. I’ve driven past this storefront on many occasions, noticing their advertisement for marinated fire grilled chicken, but never stopping in. My previous lunch option for chicken has been Brooster’s in Lombard, but I think this may change. Upon entering I noticed the lettering on the windows advertising many different items such as: fish tacos, burritos, fajitas, quesadillas, and tortas. My first impression is that this might be a chain imported from Southern California due to the chosen décor and color scheme, but I have not been able to find anything related on the web. There is a small salsa bar with 4 different salsas with varying heat, pickled carrots and jalapeños. Behind the cash register there are 3 large grills set-up with chickens slowly grilling at numerous degrees of doneness.


The menu is massive and quite a few items caught my eye. However, I was in the mood for grilled chicken. While ordering I inquired if the fish tacos are of the grilled or fried variety and was informed that you can order them in either fashion. Promptly, I added one of each to my double-leg order of chicken which includes 2 legs and 2 thighs. Dinners include tortillas and 2 sides of choice from garlic mashed potatoes, black beans, Spanish rice, salad, corn, pinto beans, grilled veggies or a baked sweet potato. I opted for the rice and veggies.

After what seemed to be a long wait (they had to prepare the fish) our order was announced at the counter. The tortillas seemed very fresh, possibly even made in house, but definitely not by hand. Each of the fish tacos were dressed the same: cabbage, diced cucumber, and crema with a touch of dried chili powder added. I promptly squeezed a lime over each and dug in. Damn, they were actually good! Not Tacos del Pacifico good, but damn good for the western burbs. Both the grilled and fried varieties were cooked very well, and reminded me of tacos from my recent trip to San Diego. My coworker, whose palate I respect, said “If the chicken is half as good as the fish tacos we have another place to add to our weekly visit list.” The chicken is definitely slowly cooked over a low flame because all of the fat had been rendered out of the skin leaving it paper thin nicely spiced and crispy as their tortilla chips. My order was nicely juicy, but my dining companion felt his was dry. We both agreed that we need to dig a little deeper into this menu.

Overall, I’m very pleased that this place has arrived. It goes a long way to improving some of my lunch options even though I find the décor lame. Btw: beverages include a Pepsi fountain, bottled Jarritos, horchata, and Mexican Coke.

Chicks’n Salsa
874 Roosevelt Rd
Glen Ellyn

630-790-1100

Flip

The chicken is excellent here. I've had both their quesadillas and one of their bowls. They do not have a heavy, plodding flavor that so many suburban mexican places seem to have. They also sell whole or 1/2 grilled chickens along with tortilla's and a couple of sides. They try to market themselves as having a healthy bend. Their salsas and pico de gallo are quite excellent as well.

I really enjoy this place. My only concern is the lack of trafic there during the evening. Hopefully they have a good lunch time crowd, because I'd like to see it stick around.

Just yesterday I met Dickson for lunch at Chicks'n Salsa. I had my usual order of the double leg meal with a crispy baja fish taco on the side.

The tacos were great as usual. The chicken was once again spot on. Dickson did mention that the white meat from his half-chicken order was a little dry. I've never tried their white meat our of personal preference, though.

Flip

I missed you by several hours. I stopped there yesterday evening on the way back to pick up my son from golf team. I ate about six of those pickled jalapeno's and loaded up my quesadillas with the hot sauce next to the El Tapatio. Certain areas of my body are not happy right now.

Although I haven't mentioned this place in quite a while, it appears that the Trib agrees with my assessment of the fish tacos.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/ ... 4914.story

I'm pretty sure that this place used to be a Baja Fresh, maybe a couple of years ago? I've been wondering how they were, and will try their fish tacos. Thanks for the recommendation.

Long time viewer, first time poster.

And I wouldn't have bet that my first post would have been about a place like this.

Thanks to the lth tipsters, we ventured to this establishment Saturday and were highly impressed. I have long sought a top shelf fish taco in these parts and Chicks is as good as I've had in Chicagoland. The freshness of the ingredients was very evident (a hint of cucumber was a nice touch), along with superb salsa, chips and beans - a very solid performance.

Worth it if you're in the neighborhood.

Any updates on Chicks'n Salsa? I'm trying to find good take-out chicken (fried is preferred, but roasted works too) in/near Glen Ellyn and ran across this thread.

Went two weeks ago, nice people good salsas,tortillas and cornbread, great grilled veggie side, awfull corn side (bad idea at this time of year?) Chicken was tasty but way to DRY. Wouldnt go back.

We live nearby & have eaten there numerous times. The service has always been very friendly, love their choice of salsas and the chicken has always been moist - never dry. Maybe you just hit them on a bad day?? I remember they were voted best fish taco a year or 2 ago, but I still prefer their chicken to the fish taco!

I recently moved to Glen Ellyn and found a jewel in the neighborhood next to Dominick's in the Baker Hill Center on Roosevelt Rd. When I entered the cashier immediately greeted me with a great smile and asked how she could help me. I told her it was my first time and she eagerly explained the top menu items Fish Tacos and Fire Grilled Chicken and fresh Salsa Bar. I ordered a Fried Fish Taco and a 1/4 Chicken meal with black beans and rice with corn tortillas. The taco was amazing and reminded me of San Diego taquerias. The Chicken was moist and flavorful and sides were outstanding and the trip to the salsa bar was quite an experience. I tried all the salsas and the best was the hot salsa but the rest were also very tasty and unique with a free basket of chips. I had a Watermelon Jarrito beverage which was the 1st time I had that flavor and it was incredible. The biggest surprise was the total cost was less than $12! I recommend everyone visit this jewel and experience an independent operator who has their act together.

Chicks 'n Salsa
874 East Roosevelt Road
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
630-790-1100

Sorry I'm late to the party, folks, but I just wanted to let you know that if you ever have any comments/suggestions/complaints about your experiences at Chicks 'n Salsa, please feel free to e-mail me at dan.newman@chicksnsalsa.com or simply stop in the restaurant and talk to the owner, Cindy. We want to make sure that you have a great experience.

It's good to hear that most of you HAVE had great experiences - we hope to serve you again soon!

Copaghoul: I sent you a PM requesting more details - please contact me!

I have to second moe's experience at Chicks n Salsa in G.E. Having been there a few times over the past year, everything from the breezy atmosphere to the order-to-the-table timing of the freshly made outstanding Baja-style tilapia fish tacos to the owner's enthusiasm and warmth shown through like a ray of San Diego sunshine on a beach side vendors cart. I would recommend that anyone who knows this cuisine, give it a shot and enjoy.