Allende Restaurant #1 — Restaurant in Lake View Township

I work close by this location and this is our go too for tacos. The tacos themselves are really good. I'm not going to lie. Whenever we make an order it's usually for the whole store so it's always a lot of tacos. I've never had a problem placing an order over the phone for the amount of tacos that I usually get. But today I called in to place an order over the phone for 24 tacos per usual because we normally have parties and when we do we order tacos from here. When I called and asked for 24 tacos plain and if we can have cilantro and onion on the side, she said we don't normally do that here but I guess I'll do it for you. I was confused because I always order them plain, one of my co-workers hates cilantro and it's just easier this way. Once I was done with my order she said I'm going to have to take payment over the phone but I was going to pay in cash because we all put our money together for these tacos. When I told her I was going to pay cash, which has never been a problem before when picking up a big order she told me I would not be able to. Because of that they ended up losing my business but I did end up finding great tacos somewhere else nearby so no harm done. Just thought I'd let the owners know through here that she was pretty short, rude, and didn't offer any explanation as to why all of a sudden the rules changed which resulted in the loss...

I've always enjoyed Allende for a quick bite when I'm in Lincoln Park and haven't (yet) hesitated to recommend the joint to anyone looking to score some decent grub, but shady business practices have almost completely changed the way I look at the place, so I wanted to give everyone a heads up:

I grabbed a burrito there the other day and paid with debit ($5.51 w/tax) only to find on my statement that I was actually charged $7.51. Now I know $2 isn't much, but I the idea that someone added a tip to a $5 burrito at a hole-in-the-wall burrito joint honestly bothered me enough to head back up there to sort things out.

The manager eventually refunded my money, but basically insinuated that I was pulling a fast one on her (for $2..) and said in the future I need to cross out the tip line if I don't want to add any tip. Now good advice as that may be, I wasn't aware that in this country leaving the tip line blank was an open invitation for a business to swipe a few extra bucks from one's bank account.

The fact that she tried to spin the whole situation on me despite my calm, friendly demeanor really irks me and is enough for me to suggest that anyone who decides to visit this place definitely pay in cash, or leave an explicit note on the receipt to please not be robbed.

Plus one star for actually giving me my money, but that was beside the point and I...

I am writing this review as I am sitting at the restaurant lmao 🤣 Man, I haven't been to this place in YEARS. I remember YEARS ago, this place was good. Baby, listen, to the people leaving 5 star reviews saying this food is amazing, probably don't season their food.... because sweetie, these tacos taste like John and Rebecca saw a Tik Tok video on how to make Mexican tacos from a girl named Carol who lives in down south Mississippi 🤣

I wanted a taco dinner with 3 tacos, 2 carne asada, and one Al Pastor, girl in the register going to be like, "We can't mix the meat" girl what?! 😫 I always asked for it with no issues everywhere else in Chicago. Just charge me separately for each meat... foo! 😡

Anyway.....to make it even more disappointing, they didn't have green salsa.. only red....I don't like red. I tried the red and it's spicy as hail, I'm going to be best friends with my toilet later.

The atmosphere here is so quiet. Some Mexican music would be nice 😌 👌

If I lived nearby and this was the only taco place, I'd be outside with a sign protesting for people not to come inside.

This will be my last time here, I should've just had Chiptole instead next...