Cocina TARASCAS Mexican Restaurant

The chips here are my favorite! Always perfectly crispy. Food prices are a bit steep so, if you want to keep it reasonable, go on Monday or Tuesday night. The house Margaritas are only FIVE BUCKS on those days! Plus it’s best to go when they aren’t too busy, as tables are close together. Carne Asada is amazing, but pricey. Well seasoned and comes with an enchilada and some guac, so could definitely be a meal for two. I’d SKIP THE TACOS all together. I’ve been here many times, as I used to work nearby, and they’re always a disappointment. Stick with carne Asada or enchiladas. Or go just for a margarita! Then you definitely won’t be disappointed. Always good service too.

This is the best restaurant in the area! So much flavor and a unique menu. I love the Caribbean chicken!

I really don’t understand all of these positive reviews.
Service = So non existent we had to swing our arms around and stalk the waitress to get anything.
Food = Possibly the worst if the the second worst Mexican I’ve had in Chicago (been here 7 months). Little to no flavor and too pricy for what you get.
Atmosphere = I’ve been to sport bars with less noise. The noise bounces in this place to the point that you can barely hear your companion. We had to yell to have a conversation.

Not the best Mexican food I’ve ever had, but it was definitely very good. The carne asada was delicious and the Caribbean salad was ok. They seem to have good deals for happy hour, but I wasn’t able to take advantage of those.

I’ve heard people say this is their favorite Mexican restaurant and that it is the best in Chicago. Mediocre at best. I’ve tried it a few times, ordering something different each time and I can’t say that anything I ordered was very good. It was all just ok. I tried, but definitely don’t agree with this being a great restaurant.

Great service! The staff is really friendly and the atmosphere is just right — not too quiet but not too crazy. Most importantly the food is awesome! Nachos are delicious and my all time favorite is the chicken chimichanga! The tortilla is fried to the perfect crisp and chicken is so juicy. They give you just the right amount of cheese, Guac, pico de gallo & sour cream.
They also have some killer, knock you off your ass margaritas.

Great chips and salsa! Should’ve passed on the queso– it was tasty but way too much food for two so it spoiled my appetite a bit (need more self control!). Chimichanga was overly cheesy, or maybe I had too much queso fundido! Awesome outdoor patio and attentive service.
Net-​net, I’ll be back.

I am not embarrassed to say that I am either dining in or picking it up to take it home at least 2 – 3 times a week. If only they had a loyalty program! Their entire menu is awesome, however the Chipotle Chicken Tacos are the best tacos I have ever had! Definitely my usual order. And of course, the chips and salsa is the greatest!
In the words of the Men’s Warehouse spokesman, «you’re gonna love the food at Tarascas, I guarantee it!»

Shouldve listened to the reviews.
–Awesome server, adore Vanessa
–Shrimp quesadilla, simple, good mango kick
–Chips get ya addicted
–Sala, shmeh
–Margs, blasé @ best, but expensive as f#@!
-$ 84 for 1.5 pitchers $ quesadillas… Puhhh-​lease
Final report: happy i went, but never again

Fish tacos are usually a hit or miss type of food. Unfortunately, the mahi mahi fish tacos from tarascas were a huge miss. The fish had no seasoning and the chipotle Mayo was was very one note. They might as well just put the actual chipotle pepper in the taco. Also, being a more dense fish when cooked, mahi mahi should be aggressively seasoned.
Our server was tending to about 4 tables including ours and only checked in with us once after we got our food.
My boyfriend’s enchiladas suizas were absolutely offensive. The sauce tasted like watered down ketchup. Overall, given their location, tarascas can afford to deliver sub-​par quality food. I will not be back though.

So I’ve said it before, I don’t understand the love for Mexican restaurants. But if you like them try this one. Its very clean, safe for kiddies but also a great spot for a quiet date with your significant other. The menu selection is more sophisticated than some others and that is a major plus! They also have nice outdoor seating. But if your Mexican Food agnostic like me, I shrug.

Absolutely fantastic. Been to Tarascas a couple times now and always leave feeling totally satisfied.
They advertise the hell out of their gigantic margaritas, which are great, but the best part for me is the food.
The chips and salsa they provide are wonderful. You really have to be careful you don’t fill up on the chips and salsa because they’ll keep refilling them and you’ll keep eating them.
I’ve ordered the carne asada and the puntas al albanil. The carne asada is a massive skirt steak that comes with a bonus chicken enchilada smothered in delicious mole sauce AND rice, beans, guac, tortillas. It’s an enormous amount of wonderfully delicious food. One thing I would say, ask for the meat to be done one level more than you would normally get (it’s not a steakhouse and not being put on a hot plate where it keeps cooking).
As good as that was, when I went back, I opted for the puntas al albanil. I’d never seen a dish quite like this one and holy cow was it amazing. It looks just like the picture on the menu — loads of steak tips and bacon mixed with chipotle peppers, tomatoes, etc in a circle around some rice and a bunch of avocado. Can make your own tacos out of this heavenly mix as they’ll give you some corn tortillas. Maybe a bit salty, but so delicious.
Also have tried other peoples’ orders of the Cuban quesadilla and fish tacos. The cuban quesadilla was especially good — love the addition of the plantains.
Highly recommend Tarascas — can’t wait to go back

Wow! First let me start by saying I’m a Mexican food snob, if your meat isn’t good I won’t be eating at your establishment ever again… And this place deserves more stars!
This evening my boyfriend and I decided upon Mexican. I usually don’t dig his food choices since he has a palate of a five year old. I wanted to go to my friends establishment because I know it’s amazing (café el tapatio) but since he didn’t want to drive we walked to Tarascas as he promised it was delicious.
We walked up and were instantly seated on the patio with a heat lamp and the service was on point.
Meal started with the best chips and salsa. The chips were light, not oily but freshly made– and a crispy delight. Best I’ve had…
We both ordered the Suizo burrito «Lincoln Park Best» that came with rice and beans. The Suizo sauce and bacon in the burrito are a divine delight, an explosion of flavor.
I will recommend this place to all… Especially my preggo friend who has turned into serious carnivore.

Had my first date here with my boyfriend, charming little restaurant. Don’t be put off by the mural of topless Aztec warrior women.
Complimentary salsa and chips are a given. Great salsa. Their margs are strong and always delicious. They don’t taste overly sugary, and you can tell they are made fresh. I have ordered pretty much all the flavors they offer, and they are all really good.
All the food is delicious. We sat down next to a Mexican couple last time, who said that this is the most authentic Mexican food in the city, and they refuse to go anywhere else in Chicago. I don’t know if I’d say it’s the most authentic in the ENTIRE city, but it’s definitely in my top 3 list of best Mexican in Chicago.
My only criticism is that the entrée platters a little pricey, and they don’t do individual tacos. A taco dinner platter with rice and refried beans is roughly 14 $, which is still economical, but any other main entrée will run you around 17 – 22 $. Wait staff are very accommodating, and this is pretty much the best Mexican restaurant in the area and Lincoln Park.

Crappy service. The food has made both my friend and I sick and the drinks were horrible.
We waited for 20 minutes for our drink order to be taken. We ordered a fajita — it was barely hot when it came out. No sizzle. The shrimps were clearly frozen, not fresh.
Not returning

If I could give them a 3.5 stars, I would.
Came here for lunch and ordered a Chicken Burrito «Suizo» and it was solid. The red sauce was delicious, the chicken was perfect, and the tortilla was fluffy. My only problem is the price — my burrito (giant as it was) came out to $ 14. For such a casual meal, it’s not exactly worth it.
The best part of this meal (surprisingly) was the dessert. Their chocolate lava cake is to die for. Don’t think, just get it. I promise, you won’t regret it. I will seriously be coming back here just for the cake (even though Molly’s Cupcake is less than a block away…)
It was a bit early in the day, so we actually didn’t get any margaritas — but they looked awesome and pretty affordable. Will definitely be getting one next time.

I was more excited about the food than the date I had here.
Seriously.
Conversations were lacking, but the food wasn’t.
Now when it comes to eating food on dates, I don’t shy away from eating a lot. There’s no hiding the fact that my stomach is an abyss, so when I saw the Carne Asada entrée that not only has steak, but also rice, beans, mole, a side of pico de gallo, guacamole, and sour cream, I knew that we were destined to be.
It was great.
The steak was medium-​well, and tasted pretty good, the mole was delicioussss, I could definitely eat a lot more of it, and the guacamole… oh my damn… perfect.
The quesadilla appetizer was amazing, so much melted cheese in such small pieces of tortilla. I almost wanted to cry from happiness because of how much melted cheese there was, but then I remembered that I was on a date and didn’t want to creep him out, so I just kept that to myself and devoured those quesadillas.
Was it the best Mexican food I’ve had? Heeeellllllll no. Good enough to come back when in the area? Yes. Buy 50 quesadillas? Yes. Cry happily while you’re eating those quesadillas? Yes.
Just make sure the other person is just as fine with this as you are.

I gave this restaurant a 4 star just because i know they can get better. There growth potential is unreal. The burrito alone is literally better than sex, hand jobs and a chicken caesar salad. I would highly recommend the burrito Tarascas. The burrito alone makes chipotle look like a drunkin sorority slut.
More reviews to come
— Thanks

I live next door so I might be a little bias, but this place is great. Is it the best Mexican I have ever had? no. but is it reliable and consistent and meets the bill when I am craving Mexican.
My favorite things: margaritas, enchiladas, fajitas (chicken & steak) and of course chips & salsa.
The service is quick but attentive.

I am undeniably, super duper, crazy addicted to nachos. Unfortunately for my scale and waist size, Tarascas has the absolute best nachos I’ve ever had.
The rest of their food is good too, but does anything else matter?
The only downside: Tarascas is a little on the pricey side. Last time, we had a pitcher of margarita, split a burrito and had a plate of nachos (of course), and our bill was around $ 75 with tip.

It was a cold, November night. Freezing cold. Naturally… I wanted a Margarita. We stumbled upon Cocina Tarascas and decided to go in. My buddy and I ordered a pitcher of margarita and it was quite delicious. We ordered dinner — Mondays are quesadilla special. The food isn’t real cheap, but the $ 14 burrito I ordered was massive (and delicious). They had some unique things on the menu, but overall, pretty highly priced.
The service was good, our waitress was very nice. The best part is the chips. I would go back just for them. They seem to be fresh made and not out of a bag or anything. The salsa was decent. I also really enjoyed the white wine sangria I got (after finishing up the margaritas).
I will definitely go back, if only just to try all the things I wanted but didn’t order. good place to meet friends, seems easy to get a table. I am a fan!