Stopped in not too long ago, grabbed some lunch with a few co-workers. Seems to still be on a downward spiral since my earlier visits. Waitress came off a bit blunt a first, but lightened up later on...luckily. Chips and salsa started off well, but ended with a long black hair hanging from my tortilla chip. FAIL. On to the guacamole...plenty of aguacate for your dollar, and aside from a pinch of salt, a formidable recipe; one of the better in town. My entree consisted of the "vegetable" burrito; far different from our local taquerias. Included was sauteed vegetables...mushroom, squash, can't really remember what else. The sauteed veg, along with the cold lettuce and tomato really watered down the whole thing. A watery mess towards the end. Their recipe could use some tweaking...edible, just not re-orderable. An order of nopales was fair, but I've had much better at family parties.
Moral of the story... the food is edible, but with so many other Mexican choices in town, Tenochtitlan falls by the wayside.
I have never been disappointed with them. Â They are laid back and not pushy so if you go there and expect quick service I suggest taco bell but if you want a laid back and relaxed time come here. If you need quicker service you can also tell the waitress "I am pressed for time so I need to order and get out quick please". Â I have tried many things but huraches are my favorite food, then guacamole is the best i have had (well, i like mine but as far as restaurants they are the best) and yum their margaritas are soooooo delish. Â Good for families or couples or girls night out. Â The owner, Eli, is there alot in the evening and very approachable. Â Go, relax and enjoy....thanks
Review Source:My boyfriend and I were the only patrons in the restaurant at about 2:30 on a Saturday afternoon. There were two waitresses; one was slow and not very helpful, while the other waitress seemed downright bored and did not address us whatsoever. The chips were pretty good, and the salsa was delicious. Â Our order was prompt. I ordered the baja fish taco, and my bf had the steak/ chicken taco dinner. We did not enjoy our entrees. At all. It was the first time I ever had a fish taco, so I have no base of comparison. However, the fish taco was very, very greasy. As far as the steak/chicken taco goes: the chicken was dry and the steak was overcooked. After struggling to eat about 25% of our meal at the restaurant, we prepared the rest for take-out to eat later. That never happened. A waste of money. A waste of time. We will not be back.
Review Source:As a newer Southside resident, i've been searching for good Mexican places near my Beverly home to no avail. Â After doing a search on Yelp, I found Restaurante Tenochtitlan in Blue Island and quickly convinced my husband that we should do an impromptu dinner. Â
I REALLY wanted to love this place. Â Let me start with the good: Â The food and drinks. Â The food and drinks were absolutely delicious. Â The chips and salsa were great, with the salsa having just a bit of a kick, and the chips were salty and warm. Â I ordered the tacos de pescado, essentially grilled fish tacos with pico de gallo. Â They were DELICIOUS, and the tortilla they came in almost seemed like it had been flash fried twice it was so crispy. Â My husband got a combination platter than had carne asada, a chorizo enchilada, and a quesadilla, all of which he said was very good. Â I also imbibed in the margaritas, which absolutely had a kick to them (they don't skimp on the tequila here, folks). Â YUM.
HOWEVER, although the food was good, the service was HORRENDOUS. Â It was a Tuesday night (7/3), and the place was only about half full so you would expect the 2-3 waitresses to be able to handle the customer flow. Â Clearly, we got the "slow" wait staff. Â Our waitress never checked on us, left us hanging for drinks (of any kind including water) for about 20-25 minutes, and really just wasn't attentive at all. Â Our dinner came quickly (within 20 minutes of having ordered it), but we were there for over an hour to an hour and a half just because of our waitress. Â The waitress at the table next us was constantly looking after her customers, so much so that she was asking if they wanted drinks before they finished with the ones they had. Â We had a very time getting a hold of our waitress for long periods of time, and basically that soured our entire visit to this place. Â
Unfortunately, we'll not be making a repeat visit to this place... I LOVE Mexican food, but if I need a fix again, I'll either hit up Alsip's Las Fuentes or take a trip to Logan Square (my old hood).
Amazing Mexican food! Not your run of the mill chain restaurant mexican fare. The owner came around to our table (and pretty much every other table in the place) not to just ask how the food was, but to talk and get to know us a little. Â Very friendly staff.
The nachos are great, though I recommend adding some delicious pico de gallo to them. They come with a huge serving of guacamole too. Baja tacos are good, Â it's all great. Super strong authentic margaritas. I will return again and again. Prices are very fair too.
We didn't sit out on the patio but there is a huge seating area outside and we will be sure to sit out there next time!
Tenochtitlan, although hard to pronounce is worth the effort. I would recommend this place for anyone that is looking for good authentic mexican for but wishes avoid dirty dives. Their prices are fair for the quality of food that is served. I was happily surprised to find Chicarron Tacos on the menu (which is one of my favorite things). If you work in Blue Island, make this a regular stop for lunch, just try and avoid the temptation of their delicious margaritas. All others, make this your weeknight "datenight" location. I'm sure they'll love the place and it won't break the bank.
Do yourself a favor, if what you're looking for is the most amount of meat that can fit into a flour tortilla for $5, then go elsewhere, Tenochtitlan wins me over with the quality of their food not the amount.
Ok.. I returned to Tenochtitlan this past weekend for breakfast and I must say that I really enjoyed it! Â The restaurant had just opened, so it was fairly early, and there was only one other table occupied. Nonetheless, the sevice this morning seemed like it would be better, right off the bat. Â
The waitress was very cheery and upbeat. Â She was attentive and was frequently at our table to refill my coffee. Â My previous review deducted a star for the service, but I am back to say that I am upgrading my rating to four stars based on my last visit.
The food was great, portions were good, and the prices are very reasonable. Â I enjoyed their coffee, but gotta say that the hot chocolate my wife ordered was better. The use real milk and mexican chocolate to make this frothy goodness. I will have to order it next time I come for breakfast.
I really like this place. I've had lots of authentic good/great Mexican food and this place measures up. My friend and I (both Mexican) always judge a place by their rice & beans first. If you can't get simple rice & beans right, everything else will be a disaster. And they got it right. It tastes homemade, just like I love it. Maybe some of the reviewers who are complaining about the food haven't had a good home cooked Mexican meal. This food is so authentic and delicious. Authentic Mexican food is simple and flavorful.
I liked the horchata, it was light and refreshing. Last time, I last had the steak tacos dinner with salsa verde on top, omg so yum! Only complaint: wish there was more rice & beans for my greedy self. The portion was perfect even though I wanted mountains of rice & beans :( Baja fish tacos were also heavenly. Overall GOOD GOOD food.
My family and I were very happy here! Â They have a patio, so we ate outside. Â Everything we ordered was delicious! Â
If you want spicy, order the Azteca special. Â It was the best steak that I Â have ever had in a Mexican restaurant. Â It comes with nopolitos and beans. Â Yum! Â The chips and tortillas were home made. :)
Very reasonably priced.
Read the reviews on this place, went to try it for myself, and it was ... just OK. Â It may be the best Mexican food in Blue Island, sure, but far from the best I've had in Chicago and suburbs. Started w. a margarita, and it was good (shaken, no pre-mix used) but served in a small glass overflowing with ice. Tasted a little weak and watery. For $6.50, it was about 2 bucks per ounce. That's fine in the Loop, but this is supposed to be a bang-for-the-buck place, right? Ordered the Special Combo (one taco, one chile relleno, one huarache) and the huarache was the best part. Â The cheese in the stuffed poblano was mighty scarce. Taco was fine. Service was pretty slow, particularly when it was time to pay, even though only a few tables were in use. If you're in the neighborhood, check it out, but this ain't a destination restaurant.
Review Source:It was my first time in Blue Island and after walking up and down the street of restaurants, my sister and I decided to stop into Tenochtitlan. Â I was visiting my sister for lunch so it was the perfect atmosphere. Â It was pretty casual, clean, and the food was tasty. Â Not only did the food taste good when we were there, but the leftovers we took home also tasted good! Â I was so happy with the food! Â We ordered horchata, tortilla soup, and tostadas. Â It was a simple meal, but just what we need to catch up and feel nourished. Â I enjoyed the flavors of the meal and liked that they didn't try to overflavor everything. Â I also enjoyed the traditional basket of chips and salsa that they always bring out before your foods comes. Â The only thing I wished they had was the tortilla soup that is blended (pureed?). Â That is my fave! Â I'm not going to complain about it though, because the tortilla soup they made at their restaurant was delish too! Â Even included tortilla chips dipped around the edges of the bowl. Â yum! Â
Service: Â I liked it. Â The waitress was nonchalant, but in a good way. Â It's not that she was unconcerned about us as patrons; Â she gave us the space we needed to eat and gave a great lunch. Â She was matter of fact and gave us everything we requested. Â She also seemed to show up whenever we needed her. Â She didn't take too long and leave us with out plates sitting for a while waiting for her. Â What more could we ask for. Â I dislike when waitresses are overbearing and overly attentive when you are just trying to enjoy a break in your day with good company. Â
Atmosphere: Â Casual with hints of "party." Â I could tell that this Tenochtitlan could be a great place to gather with friends. Â They have a cute outdoor patio that we didn't get to experience, but it seems like a nice little space. Â The indoor atmosphere was relaxed and casual. Â I felt comfortable eating there; everything looked clean and well put-together. Â
If I ever do visit my sister at her workplace again, I'd definitely like to stop by Tenochtitlan again. Â Great prices, great atmosphere, great food. Â AND not overly crowded for lunch! Â something I'm not used to since I'm usually a "Loop luncher." Â Thanks Tenochtitlan for a tasty lunch and relaxed atmosphere!!!
Tenochtitlan has become an unpronounceable staple in Blue Island. Â They added an outdoor space last year, and as I write this in the dead of February, I can't wait to be back there again.
What they do best, they do great. Â We've been going there for years, and as it has evolved, every change has been for the better. Â People swear by their margaritas and tortilla soup, and I concur. Â If the owner Eli is there, he'll tell you to order the chiles rellenos. Â I love the unique tortas they offer - way more than a taco on a bun, they have some the best I've tried. Â The pambaso is my fav. Â I also like the gorditas.
It's a great place to go for a birthday party or a night out. Â The atmosphere can get festive, especially when they have a band playing.
The service can be slow. Â Attentive enough, but slow. Â Don't wait for the check to come, just go up to the counter.
HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT!! Â
Went there for lunch this past Wednesday with a couple of girlfriends. Â The hostess was rude, the server was very pleasant but very young, not knowledgeable about the menu, and very slow. Â The place wasn't at all crowded (first clue). Â I had the Milanessa Dinner....truly one step above Taco Bell....the beans and rice were mediocre at best, the milanessa steak was lukewarm and had absolutely no flavor. Â My friends had horchatas which were totally watered down and tasteless. Â I will never go back to this place.
I really like going here, but they are foolish if they don't improve a little. Â The Tortilla Soup is worth the trip alone. Â The entrees are excellent 80% of the time, the drinks all the time are great. Â The real problem is service. Â All young girls who don't have enough experience to be excellent servers, let alone in a crazy crowded restaurant. Â Plan to hang out for dinner, its not a quick place! Â Occasionally, I 've gotten a free drink out of the deal as a result. Â I think management needs to improve service and figure out why the food isn't always excellent. Â Fun atmosphere, outdoor seating. Â I love the enchiladas suizas, with green salsa. Â Also worth noting, this restaurant supports local student artists.
Review Source:The tortilla soup here is probably the best I've ever had. The avocado slice is a really great touch to a nicely seasoned soup and tortillas that hold their own in the liquid without turning to mush before you can finish. I REALLY appreciate that in a tortilla soup.
I had one of my favorite Mexican dishes, chile rellano. This version was different then any other I had before. It was unexpected but turned to a wonderful treat. These are not breaded like all the others. I've always had breaded peppers. Turns out, unnecessary! If you have a delicious and fresh pepper you don't have to cover anything up. The inside of the pepper was not overstuffed with cheese, just enough is needed for the flavor and texture, not to clog your arteries.
There is also a nice selection of tortas so I will be back to give them a try.
Taco Bell here I come!  Or Rick Bayless.  And that's a shame because I bought two groupons for a local, authentic Mexican place not too far from home.  I did my due diligence and looked over the website.  Breakfast and lunch/ dinner entrees sounded good and weren't too pricey.  I went for dinner first. The chips as as openers were super greasy, and the salsa was thin as water, but nicely spicy.  I saw nothing of the 20 salsas they boasted about on the website.  Nachos were also super greasy. The   flautas were tasteless.  Beans boring.  Rice bland.  I had a stomachache from the type and amount of grease (lard?) and suffered through a fitness class the next day, after polishing off my Pepto.  My husband protested, but we went back for breakfast.  Who can mess up breakfast?  The giant bowl of fruit yogurt and granola sounded great, but the grapes and orange sections hidden under all the yogurt had seeds.  When I pointed this out, I was told, " Oranges have seeds.". Thanks for the newsflash, smart a$$, but no one expects seeds throughout in a dish of yogurt covered fruit.  I couldn't tell the granola crunch from the grape seed crunch and almost broke a tooth on an orange seed.  The French toast was BAD.  I couldn't finish it.  It's my favorite.  I always finish it.  Then when we were given the bill, I noticed gratuity was already added on.  This was posted nowhere on the menu or in the restaurant.  I typically give 20% -25% at breakfast, but I didn't appreciate them adding it on without posting it.  I did not even notice at dinner so I paid double gratuity.  Server says, it says so on the groupon.  No it does not, it says "tax and tip not included."  Not the same.  Later, tthe manager first argued that all restaurants do this, and even that Groupon made them do it!!  I don't think so.  He was reluctant to even tell me how much I was charged (17%).   They'd have gotten more if they hadn't tried to rip me off, but they'll never get another  dime from me.  If you're going, stick to cervezas, aguas frescas, tacos and tostadas and live music at night on the patio.  And don't forget to  check your bill.
Review Source:We have been to Restaurante Tenochtitlan on several occasions and have never been disappointed with the quality of the food.
We have enjoyed the guacamole appetizer, enchiladas verdes and even one of their platters that can be shared between 2 people (beware: you had better be 2 very hungry people!).
The drinks are excellent and the atmosphere is very lively. You can often see the owner mingling among the guests and ensuring that all are having a good time.
Service can be a bit slow at times, but as someone who doesn't like to be rushed through my meals, I don't find this to be an inconvenience.
Went there for dinner tonight and thought it was some of the best we've had for a long time. Â I had the Chipotle Chicken and my wife had the chicken enchiladas. Â I normally wouldn't order the chipotle chicken, but thought I'd try something different.
There weren't many people in the place, so I thought the service was excellent. Â I thought the prices were a touch high, but I don't mind paying it if the food is that good. Â I really hope this place lasts because we will be back!
I have been to this restaurant four times. Every time the food has been excellent. Â I concur that they have the BEST tortilla soup around, maybe even the best I've ever had. One complaint that I hope clears up soon - the past couple times of coming into the restaurant, they seem very understaffed. They need a bartender and a hostess/greeter and another bus boy. The waitresses do the best they can to get to the tables, but there has only been 2 of them. The owner/manager has been behind the bar making drinks (and they make an Excellent margarita!!) and everything seems in disarray. BUT, they still pull off good drinks and good food! I hope they get some more staff soon. Last time we were there a band was playing too (on a Friday night) and they were excellent!
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