Ochoa’s Mexican Grill — Restaurant in Illinois

I recently visited Ochoa's Mexican Grill, enticed by its 4-star rating, only to find myself deeply disappointed. The Arrachera taco, which was the main reason for my visit, turned out to be a letdown. Contrary to what one would expect from a dish labeled 'Arrachera', the taco seemed to be a mix of different meats, or perhaps something else entirely. This ambiguity in the meat's identity was just the start of the disappointments.

The taco itself was remarkably dry, lacking any notable flavor. It was as if the essential essence of what makes a taco delightful was missing. Adding to the dismay was the sauce accompanying the taco. It was distressingly watery and, like the taco, bereft of flavor. This lackluster combination made for a rather unpalatable dining experience.

The atmosphere of the restaurant did nothing to uplift the experience. The place was eerily empty, which now strikes me as a forewarning of the experience to come. This emptiness left me puzzled, especially considering the relatively high rating of the establishment.

The service, or the lack thereof, further diminished the experience. There were no napkins available at the table, a basic necessity that was oddly overlooked. Additionally, the service staff seemed inattentive. Not once were we asked if everything was okay or if we needed anything, a standard practice in the hospitality industry.

Given these experiences, I find it hard to recommend Ochoa's Mexican Grill. For those craving authentic and flavorful Mexican cuisine, it might be wise to consider other options in the area.

To Ochoa's Mexican Grill response to my review.

Thank you for reaching out and attempting to clarify the issues I raised. Firstly, I want to make it clear that we weren't looking for a sit-down table service; our main goal was to find a good taco place. While I am aware of your extensive menu, I must point out that I wasn't greeted by staff upon arrival. When I inquired, I was simply told to order at the counter and that the food would be brought to our table.

I understand that your establishment is a family-owned, fast-paced style restaurant. However, ensuring customer satisfaction should be a priority regardless of the business model. Regarding the napkins, I didn't even realize they were almost out, so that was not a major concern for me.

As for the steak tacos, the meat didn't quite taste as expected. I acknowledge and appreciate your clarification on the difference between asada and arrachera. It's true I didn't raise the issue at the time, as I didn't have the time to wait for a redo of the tacos.

Please understand that my review was based solely on my personal experience at your restaurant. Other customers will have their own experiences and form their own opinions.

Thank you again for your response, and I do wish you all the best in continuing...

Rule number one: a customer will always remember that one time they were treated badly. They will never remember anything prior, and that’s unfortunate. I am highly allergic to most foods, and I thought I had found a genuine place where I could eat safely. I order here almost every day. How many people buy the same food every day? Not that many. I know I’m just one customer, and they probably couldn’t care less, but it is what it is, and I don’t care either.

When I find foods that I like and my stomach is not sensitive to I stick to it, even if it means ordering the same thing every day. I usually order fish, rice, and pico, or just steak tacos, nothing else. Given how sensitive my stomach is, I ordered the chicken once and got sick. Despite my unusual orders, I still pay the full price, and I have no problem doing so: heck, I’ll even overpay if needed.

Today, I called to order rice, pico, and fish, and the comment I received from the younger son was beyond unprofessional. The older son would never have treated me that way.

Me: ‘Can I have an order of rice, fish, and pico, and can I have it on a white plate?’

The younger son: ‘You have to understand, your order is not on our menu, and when we are busy……… blah blah blah’

Me: ‘Just cancel the order’

It’s not on the menu, but you have been accommodating my request for months. This is ridiculous and such a turn-off.

Before I discovered this place, I used to travel all the way to Niles for Los Comales, and after this experience, I’ll be driving all the way to Niles again. It’s disappointing to lose trust in a place where I thought I had found a safe and reliable option for my meals. Customer service matters, and experiences like this drive loyal customers away.

I’ll drive my 15 to 20 mins...

Simply the best quick Mexican food in the area. This is a big feat, too, as there is a LOT of good competition. Ochoa's manages to stand out above the rest because their food is consistently excellent. Many of my other favorite Mexican and Mesoamerican restaurants have excellent dishes, but can be a little more inconsistent. Every time I eat in or carry out from Ochoa's, the food is incredible.

My personal favorites are their tortas, burritos, enchiladas, spoes, and gorditas. Their elote bowl is a favorite in our house, and we do occasionally treat ourselves to their nachos or loaded French fries for movie night. I also really enjoy their seafood tacos and the quesadilla my partner gets is really good (when she's willing to share). When I'm craving grilled veggies, Ochoa's is my favorite stop - veggie burrito, veggie bowl, and chile relleno dinner with extra rice are all winners.

Everyone working there are super-friendly, and always happy to recommend something new (we're hoping to try their birria tacos soon). The prices are fairly reasonable for the quality of the food, and given the neighborhood. Their location is pretty convenient, with multiple entrances to the plaza on the western side of Milwaukee (during rush hour, I enter/exit from Inverrary Ln. to take advantage of the stoplight), and plenty of parking. Ochoa's is our #1 pick for Mexican grill favorites in an area where there's lots of solid...