Taqueria El Charro — Restaurant in Waukegan

Went here back in June because some friends recommended it as a place to get some authentic Mexican food. The best part? Our waitress was really nice. She was pretty attentive to our table. I also loved how big the drinks were, filled right to the brim. The worst part? Unfortunately, I don’t know where to start. The moment we walked in, it immediately turned us off on how dirty the restaurant was. Tables didn’t seem super clean either. Our table was a booth and the benches were literally falling apart. We were told to sit there and we had to sit down in a way where the bench piece didn’t come falling off. I sat by the window and there was a ton of ants coming and going. I was paranoid the whole time that they’d get on me cause there were so many. We decided to stay and order anyways, maybe the food would surprise it. Well, it did but not in a good way. My dish had seafood and meat and it had everything but seasoning. I kid you not, it was so bland that the more I ate, the more I wished we had gone somewhere else. The other dishes ordered were okay but also missing seasoning, but at least not as bad as mine. We were told by others who had been there too that seasoning is a nonexistent thing in many dishes. We all decided we would never go back. But hey, maybe you’ll have a different experience....

⭐️⭐️ Great Food, But the Atmosphere Desperately Needs Improvement

We’re regulars at this place because of the food—it’s hard to beat when it comes to authentic Mexican dishes at affordable prices. The flavors are spot-on, the right amount of spices is always used, and everything tastes amazing. My wife loves one particular dish, which keeps us coming back.

That said, the owners really need to address some major issues with the atmosphere. As soon as you walk in, you notice a lot of gunk and dirt on the windows, cluttered with too much advertising. The floors feel greasy and don’t seem properly cleaned, and the ceiling tiles are stained with water marks, giving the place an overall rundown and uninviting appearance.

The restrooms, unfortunately, are among the worst I’ve seen in any restaurant. They’re in dire need of attention and don’t match the quality of the food served here.

While the food is the saving grace, it’s clear why many people are choosing competitors with cleaner, more welcoming environments. If the owners could put some effort into improving cleanliness and updating the space, this place could easily become a top choice for Mexican cuisine. Until then, it’s a...

I came here today to eat out with the guys but sadly I didn’t get satisfied with the pay the end though. But before we get to that, the server was a really nice young lady and she did indeed made us feel more comfortable at where we are at. But somehow the menu prices aren’t updated, after 2 YEARS. Supposedly the prices change after you are ready to pay. I had to pay an extra $2, I know it’s not a lot, why make a big deal about it?!? but nearly every item in the menu has a different price but nothing was done/changed with the physical paper menus that they hand out?!? I got a Torta Dinner which was 7.99 on the menu but somehow I ended up paying $11. That’s 9.99 for a Torta dinner. ——————————————————— Vine aquí hoy para comer con los muchachos, pero lamentablemente no quedé satisfecho con el pago al final. Pero antes de que lleguemos a eso, el servidor era una joven muy agradable y, de hecho, nos hizo sentir más cómodos en el lugar donde estamos. Pero de alguna manera los precios del menú no se actualizan, después de 2 AÑOS. Supuestamente, los precios cambian después de que esté listo para pagar. Tuve que pagar $ 2 adicionales, sé que no es mucho, ¿por qué hacer un gran problema al respecto? pero casi todos los elementos del menú tienen un precio diferente, pero no se hizo/cambió nada con los menús físicos en papel que reparten. Conseguí una Torta Dinner que costaba 7,99 en el menú, pero de alguna manera terminé pagando $11. Eso es 9.99 para una...