This update is for those of you who may not be aware of some significant menu price increases here, which are not reflected or updated in the Yelp "Explore The Menu" options. Recently, I ordered for takeout a Carne Asada dish which was $6.00 more than expected upon pick up. Many menu items have gone up $3.00-6.00 with the exception of the tacos whose prices are $1.00 more than the old menu. The carne asada for $20.00 was not a decent portion, and while flavorful, disappointingly, came with no sides or rice. So it appears that only the tacos come with rice and beans. If you order a carne asada now, and want it with rice, it will be around $25.00. While the food is good, the value has diminished significantly, When I spend $20.00 for Mexican takeout, I expect to feel full. This was not the case with my recent purchase. I guess success has gone to their heads. There are so many options for Mexican here, and while Los Nopales is convenient for me, I think I'll be exploring the other options. Although it's not Mexican I would recommend taking your steak need to Las Tablas. Much better value. Time to slide this baby off of the "cheap eats" lists.
Review Source:YAY! I finally found my go-to Mexican restaurant after 4.5 years of living in Albany Park. I was really beginning to wonder how there could be so many Mexican restaurants in one area and none of them are very good. Los Nopales is quaint, good service, and GREAT food...and it's BYOB! :) I had the chicken enchiladas with mole sauce. - WOW. Really, really good mole. I can't wait to go back.
Review Source:I was so excited to come here after all the fabulous yelp reviews. Â Basically I would say everything said is pretty on par. Â It was pretty tight seating when we went, but got a table in the back room where there is a little more room. Â Service was friendly but leisurely which I expected and did not mind. Â We got guacamole and queso fundido with chorizo as appetizers. Â They did not disapoint! Â I got the chimichanga dinner which was delicious. Â It is definitely not your typical idea of a chimichanga. Â You get two small ones about the size of tacos. Â Perfect serving size in my opion. Â For dessert I got the friend ice cream. Â It was good, but next time I think I'll go for the Tres Leches cake. Â I will most definitely be back here!
Review Source:Delicious food! The green and red sauce that they give you with the chips was a great way to start the meal off. I think the green sauce was like pureed cilantro, so I was scooping up as much as I could. I ordered the carne asada tacos, since I read on here that it was really good. It. Was. Delicious! Â So flavorful and juicy. My date got the chimichangas, and he liked them, but the portion was a bit small for his big appetite. Luckily his came with a dollop of guac, and it really was velvety smooth and yummy.
The only negative things were the prices and the cramped seating. Maybe I'm just used to getting Mexican food for so cheap everywhere else, but the prices were a little high. But for the flavors, I would definitely come back.
Guacamole is on point! Great BYOB and every dish I've had was rich in flavor. The go to spot for awesome Mexican food. Even spotted the (real) Mayor Rahm coming into pick up food. Â Definitely a spot we frequent once a month.
On the rare occasions we have enough room for dessert we definitely go for it. Â From what we're told it's homemade and a great finish as it's incredible.
Good service, great food! Â The front dining area feels a big crammed on a busy night if the back room isn't open. Â I had the zuccini appetizer and chicken enchilladas, BYOB with corkage fees that seemed a bit expensive, and the meal itself was a bit pricey for a Mexican place, but it's very clean and inviting. Â Worth paying a little more in my opinion, I will be back.
Review Source:This place looks small when you walk in, but there is a larger section in the back to accommodate larger parties. Â Service is great! Â Our waitress was very attentive. Â A big plus that it is BYOB. Â I had the Nopales Special, skirt steak on a plate of frijoles, it was amazing!
Plenty of street parking!
In a city with dozens (hundreds?) of Mexican restaurants, Los Nopales stands out. The food here is top-notch; try anything with steak or the (made-on-premises) mole sauce. Â Besides the usual Mexican fare, they offer specials and dishes you can't easily find elsewhere. (Not just food, either - the "jamaica" hibiscus drink is made on premises and delicious! Â Much better than the bottled stuff offered at most other restaurants.) Â They seem to have hired more staff, so service is now also excellent. Â Everyone from the owners down to the busboys is friendly and accommodating.
Review Source:Whenever I meet someone who hasn't found a go-to Mexican restaurant yet, I always recommend this place! Â It's a family favorite. Â The food is consistently terrific. Â The service is always warm and inviting. Â Two stand out dishes that we always get are the carne asada and steak chimichangas. Â
Now throw away any memory of chimichangas you've had in the past, because Los Napoles' recipe will ruin any other chimichanga you encounter the moment it hits your lips... It's fluffly, light, and perfectly seasoned. Â My husband stumbled upon this gem, recommended it to other family members, and now when we all go there for dinner there are 4-5 steak chimichanga dinners on the order.
And for dessert, FRIED ICE CREAM. Â Just do it!
The price and value of this place can't be beat-- the only reason I haven't yelped about it sooner is because I've been trying to keep it a secret.
Good option for a BYOB in the neighborhood. I loooooove ceviche but their version was a little too tomatoey rather than being citrusy for me-but everything else the table had was devoured. The freshest avocados made for some delicious guac. I'd also recommend the fish tacos and chicken tortilla soup. Some rules to note: No split checks, maximum two cards per table and a corkage fee per wine bottle.
Review Source:I'm a fan but i gotta tell you, the service and prices in here will leave a bad taste in your mouth. No need to worry though....the ceviche, the chicken tortilla soup, and the cinnamon coffee will make up for it.
Nopales would get 5 stars if the prices were a little more reasonable for Mexican food and if this family run business hired some outside help to assist with the service. On several occasions we had a teenager that must have been part of the family waiting on our group and she was not remotely interested in her career as a server.
That being said, nothing but consistent, quality Mexican food here. I'd rather pay and get fresh food instead of getting the usual cheap cuts of grissel on a tortilla that 99% of Mexican restaurants know they can get away with pushing on late night drunkards.
As a Chicagoan that has access to hundreds of Mexican restaurants, I am always in awe of how many bad ones there are in this town. Why God? Why?
If it's good enough for Mayor Emanuel, it should be good enough for you! LOL. Â Yes, the Mayor of Chicago is a regular here and that is because it is AWESOME. Â You cannot go wrong here. Â I've tried almost every Mexican restaurant on the North Side of Chicago and Los Nopales is significantly better than everywhere else I've tried. Â They're not pretentious, either. Â The family that runs it are friendly, talented, and treat YOU like family when you're in there. Â Can't wait to try the new place they're about to open. Â Can't recommend Los Nopales strongly enough!!!
Review Source:Los Nopales continues to please me after a hiatus of a few years. Good food, cordial service and BYOB -- a nice combination. On our recent dinner visit, we enjoyed the cactus salad, a pleasing combination of textures and flavors dressed with just the right tang. The chicken mole enchiladas were comfy & delicious, and a special tomato/chipotle strip steak was lively and delicious. Even the corn tortillas were remarkable. I'll be back!
Review Source:Went here before catching a show at Old Town School of Music. The place was okay, options were so-so, although they had all your basics. I got the cheese enchiladas which were decent, nothing to write home about. Service was fine, price was okay, but could have honestly been even a couple dollars cheaper. It's fine place to catch a bite if you're in the area and feeling mexican, nothing really negative to say, but I wouldn't go out of my way, and if in the situation again, may try something different. Overall a nice and clean place though.
Review Source:This is a great local Mexican place. Family owned, super clean, friendly staff, and best of all delicious food. I had a "special" of steak (really tender) and salad and (forgot what else!), but I loved how the portion was a nice size, and a good mixture of items. Sometimes you're served so much rice, beans etc that it's just overwhelming.
We'll go back; very enjoyable, and of course BYOB!
Hands down the best carne asada in the City! Â Â Since finding this place about 5 years ago, its a once a month spot and have likely been there over 70 times, bringing friends and family with us most times.
While I love the tostadas and enchiladas I would recommend trying the Bistec ala Mexicana or any of the fish dishes, as they do seafood especially well too...broaden your horizons and while the burrittos and tacos are great (especially the tilapia tacos) step outside your comfort zone and try a more regional dish.
Service can be spotty but the food is always worth the wait!
Ventured here last night for my birthday, since it is close to our place. Â First impression is that the place is super clean, and well decorated. Â It doesn't smell like a grease pit either, which is a total bonus. Â My girlfriend ordered the Grilled Tilapia, which was awesome. Â The fish was perfect. Â I ordered the steak fajitas, and the biggest disappointment of the night came when they brought my fajitas out on a plate. Â Where is the sizzle plate? Â I order fajitas just so I can hear the crackle and sizzle, and smell it coming from a while away! Â But the steak was tender, and well cooked. Â
Service is great. Â The front seating area can be a bit crowded, but they have a back room that's much more roomy.
Overall, a great experience. Â Although a bit pricier than other places, we'll still go back for their great food.
I visited Los nopales looking for a traditional Mexican food but, what a great surprise when I order the Carne a la panela, it was as tender and lean as it can be, in a succulent guajillo chipotle sauce with a litle kick of spice made a great accomplishment with the nopales salad, the service is great, the place is super clean and ambiance is good I just got amazed. From now on that's my favorite restaurant.
I recommend it to every one!
Los Nopales definitely didn't disappoint when I stopped by with my boyfriend and his family for a quick lunch on a Sunday afternoon. We arrived around noon, and the restaurant had a few patrons but was mostly empty. The staff was lively and promptly seated us and gave us complimentary chips and salsa to munch on while we looked at the menu. The chips were warm and fresh, and had just the right amount of salt on them. The salsas were quite unique and varied from other salsa offerings at restaurants in the area. The salsas were more of a thick sauce as opposed to a pico de gallo fresh and chunky type salsa. Normally I tend to like the "fresher" salsas, but I was a fan of the flavor that they packed into their salsas. The red sauce was a bit spicy, but not overpowering, and the green sauce was a salsa verde/tomatillo base which was fantastic! No one in our group of four complained, and we quickly downed a few bowlfuls of these throughout the meal.
The menu offers a great range of options, which made it difficult to narrow down what exactly I wanted. Even though the Carne Asada and seafood entrees caught my eye, I couldn't quite justify having that large of a meal on a Sunday afternoon. I decided to go with the Steak Enchiladas Suizas and swap one of the three enchiladas for a steak taco that my boyfriend's brother ordered. After having some less than stellar enchilada experiences in the city, I decided to see what Los Nopales had to offer, and I was not disappointed! The sauce was very tomatoey and a little thick, but it had a great flavor to it and a little spice. It wasn't the run of the mill thin enchilada sauce that you can buy canned at Jewel, this sauce was thick and you could tell it had been stewing for awhile. The steak was freshly prepared and flavorful and was topped with a fair amount of cheese. The enchilada shells were a little mushy at times, but I'm also an incredibly slow eater, so I feel that was on me and not on the preparation.
The steak tacos were good, nothing too fancy and exactly what you would expect. The steak filling was the exact same as the enchiladas, so no surprises here. Both the enchiladas and the tacos were served with a side of rice and beans. The beans were delicious and went great with a small bite of the enchiladas.
Los Nopales is BYOB with a small corkage fee, somewhere along the lines of $3 for a six pack and $3-$4 for a bottle of wine, which isn't bad. La Sierra is still my go-to for Mexican in the area, but when I'm feeling in the mood for something different I'll definitely venture back to Los Nopales.
Dinner for two ended up being $37, which seems a bit steep for Mexican food.
I've had better food at those little hole in the walls. I guess if you need something nicer, this is a good place to go. The food is tasty.
It's BYOB but there is a corkage fee. They charged us $2 for having 2 beers.
Excellent! Â We went there last night and had shrimp, steak, and two appetizers. Â The nachos were uniquely set, I liked how they were individually piled with cheese, guac, etc.. Â I also had a goat cheese something with vegetable, it was really good. Â The place is cozy, byob, clean and casual. Â I was very very happy with the quality of food, especially given the price. Â The service was perfect. Â The owners were very sweet, saying hello and checking on us. Â I highly recommend this place if you want well prepared Mexican food, solid quality, great service, byo and want to be modest in your spending. Â I like it here better than most Mexican restaurants I've been to, frankly.
Review Source:Had dinner here last night, my review remains the same. Solid little joint, good food prepared quickly and served attractively. Clean, cozy and very friendly. Attentive service without being overbearing. Great for a casual weeknight dinner.
BYOB!
Ceviche - generous portion, this was probably my favorite thing.
As a lover of seafood, I ordered heavy on it--shrimp and tilapia ceviche, queso fresco with black beans and cilantro, and shrimp, crab and tilapia enchiladas with a verde sauce. The ceviche was fresh and the queso came with a basket of hot tortillas. The entree was huge, but the seafood yet again was fresh and delicious. Huge fan and can't wait to try this BYO again soon.
Review Source:I can't believe we waited as long as we did to try this place - only 4 blocks from home. Everyone who works at Los Nopales is incredibly nice - awesome service from the start. LOVE that it's BYOB.
Plates to try: Grilled Veggie Platter (the sauce and the cheese have awesome flavor), Queso Fundido, Cheese Enchiladas de Mole. Or really, anything with the Mole sauce because it's to-die for. I always ask for a side of it. YUM YUM
Beware of the no-split checks rule if you come here with a group!
I really don't have anything bad to say about Los Nopales.
The service was really good. Â We got seated right away. Â We got chips and salsa pretty much right away. Â I think the salsa could have been better. Â We got the enchiladas and they were awesome. Â One of the best I've had. Â I can think of only one or two more places that have had better enchiladas. Â The tostadas were also good. Â Lastly, we had the tres leches cake and that was also really good. Â Perfectly moist, but not overly mushy.
We had a great time and definitely plan to be back again.
I came here with a party of 10ish people and I wanted to try something new... Cactus. Got the cactus salad it was the last thing that came out (remember, this was a salad).
As for the taste test... It failed. I couldn't eat it. The cactus tastes like a pickled vegetable, but everything tasted so pickled. I eventually asked for extra chips so I could eat the salad like ceviche. Their tres leches and no good either. I give that a "meh" rating.
My friend ordered the fish tacos and they smelled delicious... They weren't fried and it didn't come with creamy sauce, so it must have been prepared with quality. Sitting next to her made me regret ordering the cactus salad.
I'd venture to say one of the most authentic Mexican places in Chicago. Â This is NOT a frilly taco place, this is NOT an overly let's cover everything in sauce and cheese place, to me this is classic, tasty, Mexican food, great prices, great staff, BYOB, great portions, what could be better! Â
I've had about half of this menu and my favorites are ANYTHING with cactus (try subbing cactus in a burrito or having the veggie tacos, the veggie platter, or the Camerones Al Chipotle with cactus salad), Enchiladas des Mole and I'd do steak (great Mole sauce!!), and any of the Sopes (fluffy and warm, can't get better).
When in doubt, try something off of their specials menu. Â Enjoy!
Los Nopales!
What a wonderful diamond in the rough you are!
I've only been in a few times, and only for lunch, but everything I've ever tried was FRESH, authentic, well-seasoned, and of good quality. In my opinion, that pretty much hits every mark of a good restaurant. Great chips and salsa, great lunches, with some surprisingly different menu options. I've had pork, chicken AND carne asada and loved them all. I wish I could remember the names of the lunch specials I had. 'Heard they were BYOB, too. I'll have to try them for dinner very soon. Two thumbs way up for the food, Los Nopales. Way up.
This place is awesome. As many of the other reviews say, avoid the weekend to just walk in without reservations. We were seated in the front area, and service was prompt and efficient. The decor is no frills, but seriously, you're here for all-star Mexican food and not glitzy downtown environs. We shared a bunch of dishes - everything was just right. We tried soups, the tilapia tacos (excellent), and the rajas con queso dinner. Everything was easily share-able and we were stuffed afterwards, even though we'd really only ordered the equivalent of a dinner and a half for two people.
As if all of that wasn't enough, this place is a total bargain. It's a real gem in an area with a lot of other gems.
Its good! Plain and simple. It's a small Mexican joint run by a family. Don't expect a fabulous environment like those Mexican places that give you half the food for twice the price. It's not a place to be scene, it's a place to eat great Mexican food.
The flavors are solid and consistent for the many times I've gone there, usually with my wife and father-in-law. I love the Tampiquena and basically all other steak oriented entrees. The salsas are great as well, not too spicy but just right to get your tongue pulsing.
The breakfast options are great too. I recently had the chilaquiles and was sad when I was done because I totally wanted more.
Last night was the 2nd time at Los Nopales and it's still a GREAT place! Â This time we brought another couple with us to judge for themselves.
I did phone in a reservation for us before but it's really about getting there with your party all at the same time and when it's not CRAZY busy.
Why do we come here?!!!
First and foremost, it's a Great place for Mexican Food! Â Second, it's BYOB!!!
So far, this is the best Carne Asada I have eaten in a restaurant. Â The portion is good and the taste is superb.
We started out with BYOB Margaritas and wine. Â Mmm...
Everybody brings their own here and sometimes it's a REAL PARTY like last night.
At one point, there was a table celebrating a birthday and the whole back of the restaurant was joining in with toasts! Â So this place can get VERY LOUD but in a good way.
We ordered the Shrimp Ceviche appetizer (shrimp and tilapia marinated in citrus juices) which was some of the best I have had.
I ordered the Carne ala Tampiqueña, which is Carne Asada (Skirt Steak, marinated and grilled) and a cheese enchilada.  Perfecto!
The only reason I do not give this place 5 starts is that they are only open until 10PM on Fri & Sat nights. Â I'm sure they would pack the place until at least midnight and they should look into that.
Still a big fan of Los Nopales. The Broccoli Goddess and I had dinner there recently. If you decide to go, better to get there early. This is a very popular restaurant. And judging by the big variety of alcohol I saw on other tables (the Broccoli Goddess does not drink alcohol - well, she might if she could find a variety made from Broccoli - and I do not drink alone), the BYOB appeals to many people. Note: Los Nopales does charge a minimal corkage fee. It was either $2.00 or $3.00 for a bottle of wine; sorry, I don't remember exactly.
I wanted guacamole, but the Broccoli Goddess did not. I was talking with the waiter about the guacamole, and I said, well, I think an order of guac would be too much for me. He said, would you like to have a half order? Now, mind you, there is no such thing as a half order on the menu. I said, "really? You can do that?" with the vision of dancing avocados in my head. "Sure, no problem," he said. And it was no problem. And I loved, loved, loved the guac - absolutely delicious.
I didn't indulge in the salsas much, because I had my half order of green deliciousness.
The Goddess ordered chicken tacos. She was interested in possibly mixing and matching the tacos, but Los Nopales does not give you that option - it's all chicken, or all steak, or whatever. She ate all of it.
I strayed from the true faith of enchiladas or nopales/nopalitoes, and I ordered the Sope dinner. I chose the Nopales con Queso. I have to say, this was not my favorite dish ever. More cheese than nopales, for sure . . . I kind of thought it was like eating little Mexican pizzas, although on a corn crust. That was delicious. If I order sopes again, I'll probably try a different kind. The entrees come with beans and rice. I did add some of the red sauce to the beans, because I thought they could use a bit more kick.
No coffee or dessert. . .too full.
Los Nopales is a particular favorite of mine. The food is always good - although, yes, these sopes were not my favorite - and the service is outstanding. Friendly, accommodating, going beyond. . . everything I want to see.
Me gusta Los Nopales.
FLAYYYYYYYYYVA FLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAVE!!!
No, I'm not yelling about the guy with a clock around this neck. I'm screaming about the big flavors that come out of the quaint restaurant called Los Nopales.
A friend and I came in with a couple great bombers of some craft brew and had a blast eating some full throttle Mexican cusine that would make Kip from Night Rider malfunction.
We started with their velvety and spicy guacamole. Very good to say the least. The Carne ala Panela is a must order. The tomatillo sauce is zesty with that fresh flavor I love. There's a lof of good options on their menu. One can go for simple items like a burrito, tacos, or enchiladas. Or you can go extravagent with their awesome selection of carne dishes or seafood options.
Pastel de Tres Leches was a perfect matchup with a Chipolte stout we brought in.
Los Nopales is a fun, small, moderatly priced restaurant that will provide you with bold flavors and good portions.
Fresh, delicious Mexican cuisine. Great ceviche and the chicken, tortilla soup is amazing. I particularly like the flank steak. This place is a little pricey for Mexican food, but given how many bad restaurants there are in Chicago it is worth the extra few bucks!
They do a good job every time. One note: the service is never that great, but the food makes up for it.
Small place, HUGE flavor. Â This little restaurant probably seats less than 50, but large amounts of attention and talent go into the service and food. Â Be sure to try the queso fundito. Â The dishes are hand-crafted and seem to be a step above what one would receive at comparable places, such as El Cid. Â Don't get me wrong, I love El Cid. Â Los Nopales just seems to take that extra half-step on everything. Â
Combine that with a great waitstaff and bright atmosphere and you have a winner. Â Don't be afraid to order anything, It is all well-prepared.
Category: Won't Break the Bank - 4 Stars
Oh my little cactus, how I heart thee. Â (Plus: BYOB!)
Have been here quite a few times & is consistently DELICIOUS. Â Caveat: I will probably get one of the same 2 dishes at every visit. Â Note: I'm not so convinced that for your typically Mexican fare, burritos, chimies & the like are great here, prob good, but maybe not great.
Food: A
1) Guac: A
2) Queso Fundido (w/ jalepeno is actually better than w/ Chorizo) Â Can't believe I said that. - A
3) Tilapia en Salsa Verde: A+
4) Tilapia Tacos: A
5) Enchiladas (verde sauce): B
Not awesome, but solid. Â I'm not gonna lie, I'm comparing it to Mex places all over the US & Mex. Â But for Chicago, it's pretty darn good. Â
6) Huachinango ala Veracruzana: B-
Bland. Â Try El Barco, if you're hankering for this kind of fish
Drinkypoos: A++
BYOB!!!
Atmosphere/Service: B+
Service: A
Not uber picky & can't say I attended Miss Manners school, like some of the other posts. Â When crowded, it can get a lil slow. Â But anyone who brings me plates full of limes & a salt thing to rim my tequila glasses w/out me asking, is kind of a gem. Â
Atmosphere: B
Wish it were a little less like a Chi-chi's. Â Everything else is charming enough to be a nice low pressure date place..... except the decor
Disclaimer: Los Nopales food is a little more along the lines of Las Palmas in Wicker & a little less Flash taco. Â I.e. the food is a little more upscale Mexican BUT w/out the marked up price tag. Â
p.s Who rates a place on its free chips & salsa? Â I mean really?
Usually I like to write my reviews in close proximity to my meal, but am making an exception here. I noticed that Les Nopales had received Bib Gourmand recognition from Michelin and as I am trying to hit as many of the Bib Gourmand recipients as possible, I figured I would write up a review. I enjoyed a good (but unremarkable) meal here with a monthly dinner club this past spring. I agree with Michelin that Les Nopales represents an outstanding value. Few restaurants offer cuisine this solid for such a low price, especially when factoring in that they are no corkage BYOB.
Les Nopales did a nice job handling our large group. We shared a few appetizers and the ceviche stood out as being my favorite; their guacamole is worth ordering as well. For my main course I had opted for the tilapia tacos (as I had seen a few Yelpers speak so highly of them); while I do not frequently order fish dishes, I was glad I did - the tacos were excellent.
Les Nopales' ambiance is forgettable and the quality of the cuisine and creativity of the menu certainly lag below fellow Bib Gourmand recipients Mexique and Mixteco Grill, but if you are looking for well above average Mexican food at surprisingly low prices Les Nopales is an excellent option.
Finally!! A good Mexican restaurant within walking distance of my house. Los Nopales is a wonderful little eatery in Lincoln Square. It's located in a well hidden store front on Western Ave. I've been in the neihborhood for over a year and didn't even know the place was there.
Los Nopales offers a kick ass, authentic Mexican meal at a reasonable price. The food has some kick to it. It's not the dumbed down, bland food that I've had at the last few Mexican joints I visited. The decor is quite impressive. The dining area is filled with beautiful Mexican art.
Mexican food is all about spice, heat and flavor. The food at Los Topales succeeds in all three categories. My entree was the Steak, Mole Enchiladas. Good Mole sauce is hard to find. I consider it an art form. When done right, it's hearty and delicious. When done wrong it tastes like watery, canned gravy. The Mole sauce at Los Topales is spectacular. Combine that with Steak that was marinated to the nines, and you have a great meal.
Here's the bottom line: When you combine fresh ingredients, well prepared food and excellent service, how can you not have a great experience at a restaurant. Los Topales is a wonderful Mexican eatery that I plan on visiting again very soon.