Cardona's

Prices 6. to 14. if you push it, parking a small lot in the back, residential streets and Chic town meters too, maybe. So many Hispanic eateries on the north side some great some ok some fast food ! this place is down to the dirt streets of Mexico where fresh ingredients meet the best peppers and then some right spices for dishes not like you had at the other spots. Red Green anyway try some of whatever you like or haven't had before ask what's special today maybe corn fungus maybe squash blossoms good space to be one two or twenty. Always a women chief when I've gone thinking they know the secret of home cooking, make it real good and a lot ! (BYO on the QT)

Come for the Spanish Soap Operas, stay for the food!

Let me start by saying this place is authentic. I found myself trying to tap into my college Spanish courses to remember what some of the basic food words were. In addition to that they have true Spanish candy at the register and Univision Spanish Soaps on the television.

But I suppose I should review the food. I stepped out of my comfort zone to try the Mexico City style Torta Cubana. For those of you who have had the Gargantuan at Jimmy Johns... this is the Mexican equivalent. It comes fully loaded with every meat known to man as well as an egg and who knows what else. It had good flavored but their was just too much of everything which made it tough to handle.

My girlfriend had more traditional food and I would consider it good but nothing to write home (or I suppose in detail on Yelp) about.

Overall it's a nice little place with a friendly staff. The atmosphere feels as legitimate as any other and the food/menu seem to match.

Doesn't look like anything special from the outside, but definitely worth it. Super cheap ( i think the most expensive thing I saw was $11.95), no limit on tortilla chips, and takes credit cards- if those aren't persuasive enough reasons I am sure the food will win you over.

Since it was my first time at this place I decided to play it safe and order the carne asada tacos. The boyfriend was far more adventurous and ordered the Cubana. The whole menu has pictures for the most part, so for beginners I would guess this could be helpful- the only bad thing is there are no descriptions :( Anyways- My tacos were pretty freaking good for $6.95. My boyfriends torta was a MONSTER. The thing easily took up the whole plate. It looked like a sub on crack- and it had like 30 different kinds of meats. Not for me, but if you're into that sorta thing I promise you will not go hungry!!  There was only one waitress there and the place was pretty hoping. She did a good job keeping up. All in all, pretty good experience and only 19.94! Excellent.

Oh and a few other things- salsa is deliciously spicy, don't wait for the waitress to come grab your credit card- just go up and pay at the register, plenty of street parking (pay to park or residential) and right by Kimball brown line stop.