El Costeño — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

This spot is definitely a hidden gem and feels like a true mom-and-pop operation. I decided to step outside my usual go-to places and give this one a shot after seeing some great reviews—and I’m really glad I did.

As soon as I walked in, I was warmly greeted by (what I assume is) one of the owners—an older woman who immediately made me feel like I was walking into my grandma’s house. She was so kind and welcoming, which really set the tone.

I ordered the green chilaquiles with steak, and when she asked if I liked it spicy, I confidently said yes—probably too confidently! It had a serious kick, but the flavor was absolutely on point. No regrets.

I’ll definitely be back to explore more of the menu. Bonus points for how conveniently it’s located right off the...

Life-Changing Mexican Restaurant!

If you try tortilla chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant, you can tell how good the food will be. At this place, they were perfect! The tortilla chips were super crispy and savory, and the salsa? I could eat it with every dish on their menu!

Every dish I tried was seriously delicious, but my absolute favorite was the Tostadas with Shrimp. The crispy tortilla, the chewy shrimp, and the onions and cilantro all came together in perfect harmony.

Oh, and don't forget to try the Jamaica (hibiscus drink)! It was sweet enough to hit the spot for me.

I loved it so much, I went back two...

Nice neighborhood taqueria next to the Damen Pink Line Station. They have not many vegetarian options listed, but are willing to make any one of these offerings with either Rajas or Nopales. When I wanted the Burrito Dinner, I was talked out of it because the Burrito already had rice and beans included in the burrito for the vegetarian version. Which tells me that they care about the food and the customer, rather than just taking my money. Good people and I am glad they're in my hood for me to get my regular neighborhood Mexican fix. The vegetarian versions are off menu, like I said, but they're uniformly well...