This restaurant was only 15 minutes away from my place. I was scrolling through yelp and I came across this restaurant. My bf and I came for dinner and just wanted to try it out. The atmosphere was decent. When you enter the restaurant you will come across the bar area first. Kinda small. The main dining you will noticed the high ceiling which was interesting. On a thursday night it was kinda packed. I noticed the prices were kinda pricey given that it's in the town of park ridge but still 3 tacos and rice with beans for $12? I just thought it's not reasonably priced, but my bf ordered it anyway bcuz he was too hungry. I had BISTECK A LA MEXICANA it was delicious. Along with my meal I had horchata. Over all it wasn't that bad...
Review Source:I went here one night based on recommendations, and I knew that there must be a reason I've never been to this place living in Park Ridge all of my life. That reason is because it's not that good.
The decor is cute. The host was very sweet and friendly. Our waiter was fantastic. He was super attentive and I had people continuously filling my glass of water throughout my dinner. Our appetizer came out super quick (Queso Fundido - which was just OK. It was super rubbery and not so queso-like). Food came out minutes after we ordered. I ordered Steak and Chicken Fajitas and everything was good on my plate but the steak. Dry, lacked flavor and just bad overall. The guacamole is very good. My husband ordered the Carne Esada (Skirt Steak) and it was very good. Tender, juicy and tasty. That was probably the only good thing ordered.
I ordered coffee and it tasted dirty and gritty. Kind of like instant coffee. I'm sure that's what it was.
My husband ordered flan and he said it was terrible.
I hate knocking this place because everyone was so kind, but the food just wasn't good and I won't be returning.
Never going back. The chips were super hard. There was barely any salsa in our bowl. The fundido was slightly melted - at least it was real cheese - but it wasn't hot. The food was not even lukewarm - it was cold. My mother didn't even eat hers. I was hungry so I ate half. They gave us one of the meals free. The only good thing was the iced tea and the service was average. DO NOT GO THERE. So many other good Mexican restaurants to go to around here. Taco Bell would have been way better.
Review Source:I ate here on Friday, March 22, and I was pleasantly surprised. Of course there is better Mexican food elsewhere, but I liked the decor of the restaurant, and friendliness of owner. It is family friendly and I will go back just so my boys can enjoy the colors. I am big on substance, but this particular place was so good in other areas that the ok Mexican food was not a deal breaker. I had simple chicken tacos and I could be biased because I am not the biggest fan of shredded chicken.
Review Source:So lets be honest we all like honesty right? Go to taco bell its better. The decor is nice. Looks like they spent a lot of money decorating the place. But true Mexican food is what is missing. Do yourself a favor don't bother eating here 9.00 for guacamole and its 1 avocado. I don't know about you but I can pick up an avocado for 99 cents at the most. The first bite of food we found a hair in it. They replaced the food fast which makes me believe its pre made frozen and microwaved. It bothers me when I eat somewhere and after I get the bill I realize I could have gone elsewhere and got better food for what I spent. Bottom line the food is poor quality the decor is nice. But last time I checked I didn't pay to lick the walls. Hey that may have tasted better. ;)
Review Source:I've had better mex, but I do enjoy this spot's food. In my 3 visits, I've had tacos, chimichangas, and flautas. They do make great guac that's made right in front of you - but it's on the pricey side. I guess they rolled labor costs into it somehow, ha!
Can get very crowded during the weekend but I suppose that's a good sign and you'll see most tables with big groups.
If your a straight up suburbanite American with no cultural of culinary knowledge you will love this place. Definitely a step up from taco bell.
If you have any  intellect or interest on dinning or cuisine what so ever you will stay away from here. Their pico de galo is loaded with salt in order to mask their poor selection of produce. The queso fundito was so watery that when I complained the owner told me it had mozzarella in it.... How is that a Mexican dish? Even Mozzarella should not be watery when melted.
The only appealing thing about this establishment is the decor, it seems as if they put all their effort into the looks of the place, even tough they spelled Ay caramba, "hay caramba", where's Bart Simpson and homer?
Do not eat here if you want quality food, stay away if you have any decency for quality.
Try sol de Mexico or even a local taco shack.
A friend and I had dinner at Hay Caramba last Friday and ordered guacamole for an appetizer. The server came to our table and made FRESH guacamole right in front of us allowing us to have some input regarding the ingredients. Â Hmmm, delish.
Then came dinner. I had the Pollo en Mole...fantastico !!! Â Hay Caramba !!
I'll be back !!
My friend however had the Milanesa and commented that it was just ok, a little dry.
I should note that my friend is always fussy and should not be taken too seriously.
Oh, I should mention that the place was packed. ( dinner time). You might want to get there early... Or.... after 9:00 pm when the crowd thins out. Â Then again, you can always wait at the bar and have a couple of pre-dinner drinks. I've eaten there before and will definitely return. The mole sauce is excellent !!!
Hay Caramba , nos vemos en seguida.
Hay Caramba restaurant really pulled off Cinco de Mayo. Â The live mariachi band was a real treat and played on the top of the ornate balcony. Â We had excellent service from multiple wait staff. Â I kinda liked the tag team approach, Â but wasn't sure how they would split the tip though. Â We had the combo fajitas and combo appetizers. Â The margaritas were simply A-OK. Â The best thing about Hay Caramba is the ambiance. Â They did a very nice job decorating. Â The food really didn't blow me away and wasn't too highly palatable, so expectations should be lowered.
Review Source:Normally, Hay Caramba is one of my favorite Mexican restaurants to go to over lunch. They have fantastic and reasonably priced lunch specials, a fun and lively atmosphere, and great service.
Recently I went in for a light dinner and drinks with friends. The bar service was exceptional. The bartender was very attentive, and she made some killer margaritas.
As for the food, it was good as well. It's not the best or most authentic Mexican I've had, but it's definitely worthy of going back again, and again. ((Chances are I wouldn't drive up from Roselle to Park Ridge for it, but when in the area I'm always down!))
My favorite dish of the night was hands down the Tortilla soup ((tomato base broth with a hint of chipotle pepper, crispy tortilla strips, anejo cheese, avocado and sour cream)). It was so flavorful and had the perfect combination of sweet & spicy. The added sour cream and avocado made for an extra creamy component. YUMZ. I also had a Cheese Enchilada with Salsa Rachera sauce, and your standard side of some beans and rice. ((Note: They will sell you items a la carte - but you have to ask)). Later in the evening my sweet tooth kicked in and my bf and I split an order of Sopapillas ((tortilla wedges with brown sugar, cinnamon, honey and whipped cream)). It was the perfect snack! Not too sugary, and definitely not too heavy. It paired nicely with the margarita, too!
Prices are great. Especially at lunch time. You can get quite the filling meal for under ten bucks. It's just too bad I can't have one of those margaritas on my lunch break. Boo.
Another girls' night, we went back to the scene of the crime. This time, though, service was lacking.
Ambiance - still 5 out of 5
Service - 1 out of 5. Our server did the bare minimum & could not even be bothered to smile. I promise you were were not demanding customers at all. We were nice, friendly, and thanked any staff who came to our table to give us our food and refill our water. What happened to the friendly people we met last time?
Food - still 4 out of 5
Cleanliness - 5 out 5
Free street parking - 5 out of 5
Will probably not go back unless my friends really, really, really want to come back here. Our pouting waitress left us with a bad impression.
I have had better mexican food but Hay Caramba provides such an overall wonderful experience that it steps up its quality and makes coming here so much fun. Â So much fun in fact that I've been dining here for the past 10 years, including the olden days at their previous location.
The dining area is a beautiful open room with high ceilings and rows of colorful tables that give it a "I'm casually sitting in an outdoor patio enjoying a home-cooked meal" kind of feeling. Â The waitstaff is friendly, consistent and familial; the food is consistent, authentic and well-priced. Â Overall, Hay Caramba is a great place to grab a casual lunch or dinner with close friends or family and enjoy a fun, comfortable meal.
Nice bar, good margaritas deserve 3 stars. Â Not the best margaritas, I think Zocalo's in River North are better, but decent. Â The food is alright too. Â
My friend and I got quesadillas and fajitas and both were A-OK. Â I wouldn't go out of my way to dine here but when I come to Park Ridge, it is a decent option for Mexican food. Â Service was friendly at the bar too.
Great atmosphere, great consistent food. Â If you like "restaurant Mexican", this place gets high marks. Â The selection is varied, and I've eaten many things from this menu over the years. Â The quality is consistent, rarely have I had anything that wasn't good. Â I only remember being disappointed once... Â I adore Enchaladas Verdes (with green sauce) but theirs was too spicy and too sour. Â Also, I'm not crazy about their sangria. Â But, believe me, other entrees are delicious, and the atmosphere, as many other reviewers have noted, is beautiful and the place is spacious.
Prices are reasonable for what you get, especially since this place is in Park Ridge, in a nice area just south of downtown. Â Street parking on Prospect has never been a problem.
The food here is fine... its not great its not bad. Â The space is rather large... I do not often dine out in the burbs and the amount of space between each table reminded me I was out in the burbs. Â
The chips... as my rating indicates... are OK... not bad not great. Â I had a combo plate... and everything was just average... nothing was horrible, nothing was outstanding. Â
Service was great... as were the prices.
I've gone to this place for several years; I went to their old (much smaller) location in the Summit strip mall years and years ago, and was very excited when they moved into their new building. Â The current location is much brighter and cheerier, and has a high ceiling with skylights and festively painted murals on the walls. Â They use the space they have very well and the restaurant is typically packed on weekends. Â During the summer, they open a very small, but nice, patio area that has 6 or so tables.
The main selling point for Hay Caramba is probably the service, though I see some of the other reviewers have had unpleasant experiences. Â Whenever I've been to the restaurant, my party has been waited on by several people-- one person to bring water and chips, another to take drink and food orders, a third to actually bring the food, and various others to bus empty plates, bring refills, etc. Â Basically, there is a fleet of employees moving through the tables at all times, making sure that everyone is taken care of quickly. Â The last time I ate there, there was a huge party of 20 or so people in attendance, and from what I could tell they were taken care of very efficiently.
I know that some of the other reviews have knocked the food for being too basic or "not authentic enough," but I love it. Â Though I often go in with the intention of trying something new, I always choose the enchiladas or tacos because they're DELICIOUS! Â I've heard good things about their egg sandwiches chiles rellenos, and burritos, too, and (despite the negative reviews I've seen here) every entree comes with satisfying beans and rice. Â Last time I ate there I tried the chicken flautas, and they were pretty solid. Â Hay Caramba has 4 or 5 different combination platters on their menu, and typically has specials every day. Â During the lunch hour on weekdays, their specials are very affordable (in the $6-ish range) and draw a crowd of people from the nearby businesses. Â Their margarita pitchers are nice and potent and come in strawberry and pineapple (in addition to the traditional lime). Â
A very inexpensive, friendly, fun place to eat-- make sure to try a cup of coffee and the sopapillas for dessert!
I work a few blocks away from Hay Caramba and come here often with my co-workers when we want a sit-down meal. Â I like that they have a few lunch specials to choose from and, although they are a smaller portion than a full dinner, it's still enough food to leave me with food coma when I return to my desk.
I've basically tried more than half of the menu at this point and the food has always been great!
They have a big bar in the front of the restaurant so we have also been there for after work drinks.
This place great for an under-an-hour-sit-down-lunch as well as a dinner date or dinner out with friends/family.
Not the greatest Mexican I have had but it is pretty good. Reminds me of a better version of Pepe's.
Atmosphere is great, nice decor and ambiance.
Service is a bit slow at times. Occasionally they forgot to bring a drink or two we ordered.
Price is resonable. Overall I say it's good and worth going, but not the best.
Great place if you're craving the typical mexican food menu (burritos, tacos, quesadillas). I love the margaritas and chips too and decor. Its a perfect place for a date night. My family and I come here alot too. Its decent service and it;s really good when its crowded. Get their flautas!
Ive been here when its not crowded and the food was horrible, but its rare that it happens. Didn't look like the owners were there so the staff  didnt care about what came out of the kitchen and when. In this experience I got their fajitas and they were NOT sizzling...
I've been going to Hay Caramba since I was in junior high, and remember it back when it had it's old location. Their new location is much, much better- more seating and a nice open atmosphere. However, it does get busy and very loud. It's a fun place to go with family or friends, but not a date place as it can be hard to hear.
The portions are huge, and prices are good. I always get the burritos suizos, and they are good- lots of gooey cheese and chicken, nice sauce, and the beans are rice are good too. They give you plenty of chips and fresh salsa- just make sure you don't fill up before dinner!
The KGB and I had lunch at Hay Caramba yesterday - this, after several dinners. One big difference - no drinking margaritas at lunch, as we were doing business. Boo hoo!
So, other Yelpers have talked about the space. It is big and airy. There is a large skylight over the center of the dining room, which provides nice natural lighting. There is a bar area near the front, at which I've lingered occasionally. It's fine too. Unlike other Yelpers, I've never been to the original location, so I can't offer any comparisons with the current location.
At lunch, the place is not busy. But try going on a weeknight! The place gets totally packed, with local workers, people stopping off for dinner when they get off the Metra (the stop is one block away), and an awful lot of families.
Service has always been good, very professional. Dirty dishes and glasses only linger a few minutes. Water glasses, coffee cups and diet cokes get refilled quickly. Food comes out hot.
The food is good, basic average Mexican. You get a lot. I am a fiend for enchiladas and mole, and that's what I normally get for dinner. It is a LOT of food. You won't leave hungry.
For lunch, I had the special - instead of the typically beef tostada, I asked for a 2nd cheese enchilada. These came in red sauce with rice and beans. Good standard food. I was comfortably full. My friend, the KGB, had a dinner order of enchiladas (3 enchiladas, as opposed to 2 on the lunch special) and couldn't finish her meal.
The margaritas are good. Again, nothing super special, but they do the job.
If you're jonesing for good basic Mexican food and actually want atmosphere and service too, you'll do fine at Hay Caramba. I've been several times, and almost certainly will go again. That's why I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 3.
I have been here three times for lunch. The last two times I got the same thing - the tacos de pollo al pastor. I enjoy it and when I go back will probably order it again. Given that they have this on the menu I am surprised they don't have traditional al pastor tacos on the menu...if they did, I would gladly order them.
I think the rest of the menu is your typical Mexican American fare. The salsa is decent and guac tastes fresh. My collegue always get the chicken & veggie soup and it's a big heaping bowl of soup. It looks delicious but I know I'll never order it b/c I'm a taco fiend.
I think it's a tad overpriced but a decent place to grab lunch....and they have a small outdoor patio. Downtown Park Ridge is a cute little area so if you stuff yourself at lunch, just take a stroll around town and walk it off!
The family has been eating here for years (into our second decade). They serve consistently good savory Mexican food, tasty chips and salsa, good Margaritas. Â I can't say I've ever eaten anthing really mind-blowingly creative or mind-expanding here, but that's really not what they're about.
They know us when we walk in, and we can always count on a satisfying meal. Good atmosphere and decor, but it can get a little cold in winter with those high ceilings.
I used to get carry-out from their old location in the Summit all the time when I was growing up, and now sometimes go to their new location when I'm in town visiting family. Â I insist on dining-in at their new place because I love the space. Â It's got high ceilings, colorful murals, and a great ambiance, plus it's walking distance to the main part of uptown Park Ridge.
The food has always been great, and there are a decent amount of vegetarian selections, which I find is terribly rare at the higher-end Mexican places. Â Granted, I don't go there regularly like some of the other reviewers, but my food has never been stale. Â In fact, their guacamole and sour cream have always been notably fresh. Â One complaint I have is that I hated the mole sauce...it was overwhelmingly bitter and ruined the enchiladas I got. Â Other than that, though, I've always had great meals from here and will continue to go back.
It's pretty good. It gets crazy packed on the weekends, but they have a nice bar area to wait and have a cocktail. The sangria is pretty good and so are the margaritas.
The food is pretty average along with the service. For the price, I think Don Juan's is most economical in that department. Don Juan's over this place everytime for sure.
With a better Mexican restaurant in the area, don't bother with this place. You will wait forever for a table for average food.
I miss the old location so much. I remember first going here when I was 10 years old because the owners' son Michael passed out cards during class and I begged my mom to take me there. Then along came my new love for Mexican food. Dam you Michael Carranza! My waistline never regained it's taut figure again-oh well.
The decor is lovely, the sangria nothing to go nuts over but the fish was awesome as another reviewer mentioned. My particular basket of chips were quite oily which I'm not used to but maybe it was an off day.
I feel like they've spent so much money on the decorations that maybe they forgot how to keep the food homey like their last menu. There was something special about it but maybe I came in thinking it would be like that first time 15 years ago having my first burrito with a side of rice and beans. Love your rice and beans still to this day with extra cilantro.
I decided to go with carryout today. I had the enchilada suiza. I thought it had a good flavor. It also came with rice and beans. The rice and beans were above average.
The meal came with salsa. The salsa was medium on the heat scale and had a sweet flavor to it, which I didn't care for personally.
I will have to try them again and eat in the restaurant to get a better feel for the food.
The restaurant looked very clean and nicely decorated. The staff was also very friendly.
Again, I will try it again, but this time eat in.
Oh, stale chips of Hay Caramba. Somedays you are edible and somedays not so much.
Hay Caramba is another downtown Park Ridge lunch option - and since it's within a block or so of work, it's seems to be a frequent choice.
This choice for lunch is rather expensive in comparison to the surrounding options. They used to have a lunch special that was about $6, but last time we went, the lunch special was almost $10. Yikes!
The margaritas for the after work crowd are pretty good though. And the stale chips are much more edible after a few :)
Oh, boy, there's some good eatin' here, folks! Â It's a cute and tiny place inside, with some great Mexican cuisine. Â Lots of nice people work hard at this restaurant to keep you happy and coming back for more. Â I loved their guacomole, burritos and the charm of this down to earth place.
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