Adobo Grill

1610 N Wells St, Piper's Alley, Chicago, IL 60614 312-266-7999

Description: OLD TOWN. You haven't tasted guacamole until you've had it at Adobo Grill. Made tableside, it includes the freshest ingredients chopped right in front of you. It's smooth and tangy and hard to beat. Well-made margaritas abound to accompany the famous guacamole. This very popular restaurant is located in the Piper's Alley building and draws a young, upwardly mobile crowd.
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Blue Agave

1050 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610 312-335-8900

Description: GOLD COAST. Head south of the border at this popular Mexican restaurant/bar, where savory food and strong tequilas keep locals happy. The walls are adorned with colorful stuffed burros and large sombreros, and bright blue and yellow accents make for a festive environment. Cacti dot the room, and both the bar and the menu are well-stocked with authentic favorites. Burritos, enchiladas, and tacos can be washed down with any one of numerous Mexican beers offered.
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Cafe 28

1800 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613 773-528-2883

Description: LAKEVIEW. Exposed brick walls and quaint marble-topped tables greet diners at this Cuban-Mexican place. Chipotle-grilled chicken, plantains, tacos, enchiladas, and grilled shrimp quesadillas are just a few of the tempting goodies that figure into the menu. Salsa music plays in the background, perfectly setting the stage for a south-of-the-border experience.
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Cafe Laguardia

2111 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 773-862-5996

Description: BUCKTOWN. Among the options available at this delightful Cuban restaurant are beef, fish, chicken, and vegetables. Try the house specialty, paella Valencia ­ savory yellow rice cooked with shrimp, clams, fish, chicken, ham, and pork ­ or another standout like breast of chicken steak, chicken fricassee, roast pork, or fried pork chops. The full bar serves drinks like mango margaritas, straight bourbons, and beer.
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Carnivale

702 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60661 312-850-5005

Description: WEST LOOP. Colorful, loud, and festive, this Nuevo Latino eatery serves up flavorful, spicy food with an extra emphasis on flair and presentation.
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El Barco Mariscos

1035 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 773-486-6850

Description: WEST TOWN. A popular West Town destination, El Barco Mariscos is swarmed daily by denizens who can't get enough of the mid-scale Mexican seafood restaurant. Get here early because it tends to become packed. The menu encompasses fish, steak, and chicken dishes, and they're accompanied by limes and various hot sauces that reside on the table. Portions are huge and come with beans and rice. The alcohol flows, too, thanks to giant margaritas and bottles of Corona.
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Fogo de Chão

661 N La Salle St, Chicago, IL 60610 312-932-9330

Description: RIVER NORTH. This Brazilian churrascaria features experienced gauchos who slice and roast a selection of 15 different meats tableside. Lamb, beef, pork, and chicken are all available. Plus, the price of your meal includes all-you-can eat on the meats as well as multiple side dishes and access to the cold buffet. The lodge-like interior is rustic yet upscale and features dark woods, a waterfall, a cowboy mural, and a decidedly masculine feel.
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Frontera Grill

445 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60610 312-661-1434

Description: RIVER NORTH. This eatery, a more casual sibling to fantastic Topolobampo, is considered among the best restaurants in the country. The dining room boasts folk art and vivid colors inside and sunny sidewalk seating outside. The ever-changing menu offers artistic dishes from award-winning chef Rick Bayless, including stuffed poblano peppers, tamales, charcoal-cooked lamb, and desserts like almond cake and buttermilk-lime ice cream.
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Irazu

1865 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 773-252-5687

Description: BUCKTOWN. Named after a Central American volcano, Irazu is reputed to be Chicago's first Costa Rican restaurant. The family-run business offers indigenous dishes of plantains, gallo pinto (beans, white rice, spices, and veggies), excellent and affordable burritos, and yummy and distinct shakes concocted with oatmeal, guanabana, and tamarind. To venture outside of the ordinary, try tacos filled with mashed potatoes or one of the numerous seafood and chicken dishes.
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La Pasadita

1132 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 773-384-6537

Description: WEST TOWN. "The Best Tacos in Town," touts the superlative on the three eateries of this family-owned enterprise, all of which are located on the same block. The places are slightly different: The original has a spare dining area; the second one (1140 N Ashland Ave; phone 773-278-0384) has a small menu of meat tacos and burritos, including tongue; and the third (1141 N Ashland Ave; phone 773-278-0384) serves plate dinners and veggie items. Cheap, authentic, and tasty Mexican food.
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Las Tablas

2965 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60657 773-871-2414

Description: LAKE VIEW. This Lincoln Park churrascaria offers meat-eaters a comfortable haven in which to delve into heaping portions of grilled beef, pork, and chicken. The signature item is the juicy, char-grilled NY strip steak served with vegetables, a baked potato, and chimichurri sauce. The menu also offers a tasty selection of paella and side dishes that include vegetables like yuca and grilled plantains. Fresh seafood also finds a spot on the menu.
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Maiz

1041 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 773-276-3149

Description: WEST SIDE. Maiz might be a tiny restaurant, but the owners have big ideas, and the food has big taste! Carlos and Margaret Reyna's cozy little Mexican restaurant is based on the idea of "pre-Hispanic cuisine." The staples of this diet, and of the restaurant's menu, are maize (corn), beans, chilies, and zucchini. When you dine at Maiz, you first choose one of the six basic tortilla options and then choose your fillings or toppings. The chicken chalupa with rice and the daily tamale special are especially popular. Don't miss the "special sauces" that are sitting out on the tables. They are homemade and pack a kick!
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Nacional 27

325 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60610 312-664-2727

Description: RIVER NORTH. National 27, whose name refers to the 27 recognized Latin American countries, offers a unique menu featuring a wide range of thrilling Latin American favorites. Indeed, from chimichurri sauce to garlic-roasted chicken Cubano, the skilled kitchen staff goes the extra mile to make sure even novices find something suited to their fancy. After hours, this hip restaurant turns into a nightclub that emanates the spicy grooves of salsa, merengue, and quebradita, making it one of the hippest destinations in town.
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Nuevo Leon

1515 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608 312-421-1517

Description: WEST SIDE. This Pilsen area Mexican standby has been in the neighborhood for over 40 years. The basic Mexican food served here includes a home-style breakfast as well as late night (until 5am) eats on the weekends. Try the pork ribs cooked in a zesty red sauce or baked chicken that's battered and served alongside potatoes and carrots. A jukebox that includes Spanish entries makes for a lively atmosphere.
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Rinconcito Sudamericano

2010 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 773-489-3126

Description: BUCKTOWN. Peruvian eats are served against a colorful backdrop at this Bucktown eatery, which features goodies like lobster cooked in a zesty garlic sauce, rabbit made with peanut sauce, and duck prepared with spices in a wine sauce. The restaurant offers a full bar as well as a nice-sized wine list. The atmosphere is comfortable and casual, and servers are friendly and helpful.
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Salpicon

1252 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610 312-988-7811

Description: OLD TOWN. The wild decor of this contemporary Mexican restaurant is the first clue that chef Priscilla Satkoff is set to deliver wonderful cuisine to your table. Satkoff's passion for innovative flavors and fresh ingredients is evident in everything she creates. Grilled pork tenderloin and tequila halibut are house favorites. Bright yellow and blue walls, hot pink tablecloths, high ceilings, and Alejandro Romero paintings ­ along with personal attention from the owners ­ give the place a warm, inviting feeling.
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Tango Sur

3763 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613 773-477-5466

Description: LAKE VIEW. This Argentinean steak house offers diners a mix of traditional South American appetizers and grilled meats. Start off with one of their notable deep-fried empanadas, stuffed with any number of tasty fillings from beef to cheese and ham. Then, order the Steak Parillada--a mixed grill sample platter. Save the best for last and order the flan, creamy custard topped with a drizzle of gooey caramel. Live tango music on Wednesday evenings.
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Tecalitlan

1814 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 773-384-4285

Description: WEST SIDE. This friendly Mexican eatery serves heaping helpings of homemade south-of-the-border fare. Try traditional huevos rancheros, any number of enchiladas, or chicken fajitas. Top-notch steaks sizzle as well and go perfectly with one of the specialty mole sauces and a margarita. The comfortable interior features a lovely ceiling mural and a fountain. You'll love the low prices, too!
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Topolobampo

445 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60610 312-661-1434

Description: RIVER NORTH. One of the best Mexican restaurants in Chicago according to many fervent admirers, Topolobampo manages to accommodate growing ranks of patrons. The menu changes every other week and always includes great dishes whipped up by famed chef Rick Bayless, who has been named "Chef of the Year" by the James Beard Society. The complimentary guacamole ­ no chips, only fresh vegetables for dipping ­ is stellar. After you've sampled it, try the chef's tasting dinner, which offers five courses of exotic creations like trout served in a corn husk and perfect carne asado.
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Vermilion

10 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60610 312-527-4060

Description: RIVER NORTH. Indian fare and Nuevo Latino cusine collide at this hip and trendy restaurant in River North.
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