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Category: Mexican
Neighborhoods: Lincoln Park, DePaulFullerton (Purple Express, Brown, Red)
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Another great spot for way late night cravings especially those fueled by other forms of influence...
Super affordable and tasty. Cocina autentica es aqui.
I got 3 different tacos: carne asada, lengua, al pastor. todos son sabrosos. In various states of mind, I like to whip out 4years worth of high school spanish and I figure the (really nice) lady who works there get's a kick out of it. She put onions and cilantro on mine vs the usual lettuce tomato and sour cream deal that is reminiscent of TB.. haha
My friend got a torta which looked super delicious, they toasted the insides of the bread all nice. They did something that some places fail to do and it's toast the tortilla for the taco, i understand that tortillas maiz are usually served softened but i like a little crunch and they grill it so the outside gets a little crispy but not like hard shell.
I recommend it for those late night meals, otherwise you can venture out to other places and get a less satisfying meal.
I just wish they had pozole or menudo. Mmm
Yes, the crowd generally still sucks.
But holy balls, are those cheese fries just what the doctor ordered as the first step in curbing what could be a raging hangover. Sweet baby Jesus, they're tasty.
The veggie/bean tostada is wonderful as well &, after devouring the fries, I can still pretend that I'm eating healthy.
But by far & large, the best part is Maria, the Patron Saint of Allende. The woman tolerates all sorts of drunken underage idiots on a nightly basis & still wears a smile.
If you don't mind drunken De Paul students who are ready for a either a brawl or to hit on every… Read more »
In LP and want an affordable and filling meal or snack without breaking bank and not hitting up the golden arches? Enter Allende.
Don't surface until dark? No problem. Stop those night-out hunger panes dead in their tracks with thats left of your binge-drinking budget. Allende soothes the stomach in a comforting blanket of tortilla, beans, cheese and salsa.
Just don't get ahead of yourself and boldly order a pitcher of water for your table of jovial drinking buddies. They can't help you there.
Although the other tables there in the wee hours will try and speak Spanish with you. Poorly constructed Spanish revolving around 'madres' and 'futbol'. They are trying to come on to you by flaunting their skills. Proves for some fun dining entertainment.
Good food, never got sick from them. Great horchata. I don't live near De Paul at all but I'd go back just to eat here.
Allende, thank you for taking me on a time travel journey back to my days at DePaul, for better or for worse.
The better: the food. One of the best veggie burritos around. After going to a place out west on Chicago that was allegedly "amazing" last week, I was hankering for a good burrito. Enter drunkenness, Lincoln Park (Neo, cut me some slack), a late night walk to the train, and hunger... Well hello there, Allende! I remember you! (There used to be an animosity between devotees of Allende and TBP#2, back when it was across the park on Halsted. I represent for Allende.)
Sure enough, within a few minutes I was walking down Fullerton tucking into a bigass foil-wrapped tube of goodness. They don't go crazy with grilled peppers or random vegetables, just everything that should be in a burrito-joint burrito. Not this "here's a little smear of beans and a pound of rice, garnished with a pinch of lettuce" crap other places pull. I had really wanted to duck into the DePaul campus to really kick it oldschool, but it was late and the burrito was too enticing.
Now the worse: the crowd. It used to be bad. It's worse. That was Lincoln Park 10 years ago. This is Lincoln Park now. There used to always be a few tables we didn't like when we went there, this time it was full. I was actually talking with another guy waiting for carry-out about that. But hey, if Lincoln Park crowds are your thing, I'm sure it's a solid 5 stars.
And some misc: never had a "bad" waitress. Ever. Those women there bust their asses. Better than average chips and salsa. $5 minimum on a card. Used to be a steak burrito every visit kind of guy before I went veggie. And has been said, amazing drunk food you'd be more than cool eating sober.
If there were an ability to give a restaurant 6 stars on Yelp, this would be it for me.
Yes if you go in on a weekend night you will be annoyed by droves of drunken DePaul students. However, I can't complain much about this because I spent nearly every Friday and Saturday night during my 4 years of college ending it with the giant plate of nachos from Allende.
Where to being...I have been coming to Allende since 2001, it has been become some what of a religious experience for me. If there is any proof of god in the world it is the Nachos with extra beans, which I have been ordering every single time since my first experience.
I cannot recommend getting the nachos enough. I have tried ordering Nachos from every other Mexican place I have been to since and NOTHING compares. The refried beans are some of the best I have ever had. The Guac is amazing. The fact that they melt Chihuahua cheese, while most other restaurants just sprinkle on cheese. I think there is something magical about the combination of all the ingredients and popping them into that microwave they have. The chips take on a consistency that can only be described as what God must taste like (if you were into that sort of thing). AMAZING.
The chips and salsa are absolutely the best I have ever had, and the service is fantastic. As I mentioned, I have been coming here for so long that I developed the ability to walk in and have one of the Marias (the lovely waitresses) know exactly what I want to order. On the weekends when grabbing a table is ridiculous, they will spot out a table for me and direct me to a table.
I can never say enough about this restaurant. I have since moved from Lincoln Park and still made the trek from Mt. Greenwood. When I haven't been in for a couple months, Maria will ask where I have been and note how long it has been.
Now that I am back in Wicker Park, I routinely visit Allende and make it a point to bring everyone I know to dine at quite possibly the greatest Mexican restaurant in Chicago.
This restaurant has surpassed being just another food place and into the mythology of my life. While it may not live up to this review for everyone, at this point there is nothing that can unseat those delicious nachos from my memory. If Allende were to ever close, I think the memory of those nachos would just keep getting better in my head.
I think I need to go change my pants now.
Allende is a great place to grab lunch or dinner when around DePaul's campus.
Yes, Taco Burrito Palace #2 is right around the corner, which gives Allende a run for its money. Luckily, each place has its own strengths.
Thing to try at Allende:
1. Chips and Salsa - FANTASTIC salsa, and you get them free when you dine it!
2. Al pastor tacos - carved right of the spit and crisped on the flat top...porky goodness!
3. Rice and beans - literally, the best rice and beans I have ever had. So much flavor...they aren't an afterthought like at most places.
4. Chicken tacos - never been a huge fan of chicken, but when the mood strikes, its some of the best Mexican chicken around.
A few things to avoid here:
1. Horchata - really inconsistent, generally a poor example of a great drink.
2. Carne asada - don't like it at all. It's like they use the wrong cut of meat or cook in wrong. Not crispy or juicy...just sort of chunks.
Two tacos, rice and beans, chips and salsa, and a glass of agua for $5?
Hell Yes.
Yum! We took our kids here for supper one night, after reading the rave reviews on the steak nachos. My hubs got a skirt steak plate, with beans and rice, tortillas, avocado, tomato, and lettuce. I tried that, and it was really good! Older son even tried some and then asked for more. The steak was pretty tender and very flavorful, and the entire plate was only $8. We got horchata to drink, which was a bit too sweet, but still good.
I ordered a steak tostada and a chicken tostada--the steak was good, but the chicken was a bit dry , so I didn't eat much of it. The beans were a tiny bit too salty, but still yummy--the rice was good as well.
We had also ordered guacamole to eat with our chips and salsa, and it was very good. Our kids even ate the salsa and guacamole, which is good, cuz they're a little picky.
All in all, we prolly paid less to eat a giant meal here than we would have paid to eat at McD's, and the food was waaaaay better than McD's. I would eat here again.
I find it difficult to give an honest assessment of this place; I've never eaten here sober or in a state where I wouldn't devour monkey butt if presented the opportunity.
But I will echo the sentiments of the other reviewers here and say their food is pretty good. I think they should get four stars simply for the saint-like patience they show to all the drunk college students that jam themselves in there late night. And they serve fries. Score.
Great, inexpensive authentic mexican food. Always fast, fresh and hot. This is hands down the best mexican food. Chorizo and eggs, with refried beans and rice and flour tortillas for $5 !!!
Huge tasty burritos, I usually don't eat much pork but it is SO good there. Chips fresh and crunchy. great salsa, and excellent guacamole.
I eat there at least once a week. Never had a bad meal. Always delicious.
The food is great, and I've never even eaten here while inebriated. I think that should say something about the food.
The service is great as well. Even though chips and salsa are on the menu for $2 I have gotten them for free every time I eat in. Nice touch! There aren't many Mexican restaurants in Lincoln Park that do that.
Did I mention that it is cheap?
If you are drunk on Lincoln in the depual-y area- GO TO ALLENDE FOR NACHOS.
I prefer them from the other location a bit farther south on Lincoln near Webster, but oh well. If you're sober and try to eat here, you'll wish you had picked a burger joint next door.
But if you stumble in... I guarantee that the friendly staff of Allende will give you the yummiest nachos of your life. These amazing nachos are so good, they almost ended one of my friendships. Yeah, I had to re-prioritze, haha,
But seriously, keep your hands off my nachos. Also, avoid the "burrito" for fear of digestion problems.
Good drunk food but i definitely go there sober a lot.
Great for the price! The steak torta is the best deal- fills you up for less than $4, great fresh avocados on it! yum. It is pretty messy though. So if you go, don't expect to not be using your fingers by the end.
Their horchata isn't amazing, their chips are great. Love them.
This place has the best steak nacho's!!! Everyone raves about this place as a late night drunken food excursion.. and once I tried it I was hooked. Their chips and salsa is completely addictive. They have a 5 dollar credit card minimum, and it's not always that easy to hit 5 bucks.
Normally I try not to overrate places, and this is a borderline four-star, but I just can't help liking this place for the fact that in the vicinity of Oz Park, there really aren't that many cheap fast eats, let alone tasty Mexican ones. Minnies is ridiculous, Subway is for losers, and Dairy Queen is for dessert. So leaving the disaster that is The Store bar, my friend walked me through the park, now equipped with the final bizarre Dorothy statue (did she really have to be depicted feeding a doggie biscuit to Toto?!!) to this little dive taqueria on Lincoln on the southern edge of what becomes the heart of Lincoln Park's soul-crushing bar row sucking in and spewing out human filth seven days a week. Fortunately this was Sunday, so there wasn't too much Lincoln Park youth clogging up their otherwise pristine neighborhood streets with their foolish inanity and boorish behavior.
And as for Allende, I was almost shocked to be treated so kindly by the lady behind the counter. Not only did she let me eat my food before paying, but she also brought me a basket of chips and some salsa, which was totally unexpected. I mean, if I were a taqueria on this block, I'd be rude as hell and try to get the money first, then try to push customers out the door as fast as possible. Of course, I expect this is how it is on Friday and Saturday nights, but I guess they lighten up when dealing with a slow Sunday crowd. Another funny note is that they have on their door that leads to the washroom multiple signs that say "No Washroom" presumably to discourage would-be pukers or anyone on the weekends from going back and using the john, but I asked the lady and she had no problem with me going back there to use their surprisingly pristine amenities.
The food was unmemorable but tasty at the time, and of course good for a belly already full of booze. It's not the best Mexican food ever, but it doesn't need to be. It just fills a valuable niche on this block of hell in Lincoln Park. So four stars to you Allende! Keep up the good work.
Oh, and it is CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP -- three tacos and a soda were under $7!!!
I'll put it out there, I will take a bullet for Allende for the following reasons.
1) the food is delicious and cheap. I recommend their burrito al pastor which I have found to be more desirable than that of Angela's on Clark or Taco Burrito Express on Halsted. As far as vegetarian food goes, I have been told that their vegetarian burrito is nothing to write home about, but I have ordered and enjoyed their cheese quesadilla platter which is stacked with more than enough food. Oh, and their horchata is the best I have had.
2) The quality of their food is amazingly consistent. It can be a sleepy afternoon in the dog days of summer, or a busy booze-filled Saturday night and they will not disappoint you by taking too long to cook, or leaving you feeling as if they have not given you your money's worth. Besides their consistency there is a free basket of chips for every table provided that the table orders (in my experience at least) more than one taco.
3) Allende is a magic of sorts. The cooks are amazingly fast and entertaining to watch when the place is packed. The servers are all very friendly and over time of continued patronage I have come to know them to the point that I can walk by en route to another establishment and will always receive a smile and a wave.
This may be stretching it, but for me Allende is a return home. Like one's home, it is a place were you know the staff will be friendly and familiar, and the food consistent and delicious. Allende is consistency in a chaotic world, and that is why I will ensure that, if ever shot at, Allende will live to see another day.
If any ANY short order mexican place in the city deserves 5 stars it is Allende - both locations. The tacos, burritos, nachos - it has all been said below and it is all true. Allende has earned its reputation as the best of the best.
This place single handedly makes living around DePaul bearable. Thank you, Allende.
This place is great for when you're drunk or sober. I always get the Huevos con chorizo along with an horchata. I've eaten here and taken it to go several times and I have not had a single issue with them yet. The staff is really nice, the food tastes great, and the prices are very reasonable! Don't settle for a hamburger or a hotdog when you can have high quality mexican food!!!
Allende is my favorite late night drunk or sober mexican place. They have good burritos and tacos and if your dining in they give you free chips and salsa which in my opinion the best salsa in Chicago. If you can handle the annoying drunk 18 year olds from Depaul I strongly encourage checking out Allende.
Maybe the best drunk food ever. And if you eat in, you get Free chips. I mean come on!
Allende provides the cheapest Mexican food in the area. Not to mention the food is also delicious! I don't like to be one to call something "authentic" but everyone I go to Allende with says that it tastes "so authentic!" My favorite thing at Allende is the tortas. The bread for the tortas is fabulous. If you don't like drunk Depaul students, avoid this place on the weekend nights...otherwise there's always an interesting crowd chowing down on some delicious, cheap mexican food!
Two key features here:
1. Late night food. GOOD late night food.
2. Great tortas!
and, they used to only take cash, but now they also take credit. sweet!
I have a love-hate relationship with this place. Some days I think its great and other times its a waste of money.
I usually get the Cheese Enchiladas. VERY GOOD.
Now they accept credit cards!
I loves me some Allende. I'd go here more often, but it's cash only, which is a bitch.
The worst part of it is that the basket of chips they give you is rather small. My group of six finished it in about three minutes; when we asked for more, they said it would be an additional $2. Also, on the subject of group of six, they only have booths that are made to accommodate four people. We jammed all of us in there (and then proceeded to feed each other chips), but it was a tight, ass-half-off-the-bench squeeze.
Their tacos and quesadillas are small--those tiny 8" tortillas, folded in half. I suggest their tortas--flatbread, lettuce, avocado, tomatoes, sour cream and your choice of meat. It's a good amount of food for very little.
YES, I WAS very drunk and very hungry when I ate here.
YES, I did enjoy it very much.
YES, I would venture another visit by my sober self.
This is my favorite Mex place in the city. The service is awesome given the crowd, you get your complimentary chips and salsa, and I've never had a negative experience from the menu.
The pork tostadas are the ultimate reason I come. Nowhere else even comes close, and I say this with certainty because God knows I've looked. Go there.
Some people below have griped about the very things about this place that I love. It is not a franchise and is run by real people who built the restaurant. The food changes from time to time, but I look at the flip side. For example, the guacamole. Each time I get the guacamole, it is slightly different...sometimes really cilantro-y, sometimes really tomato-ey. I like that the taste changes because that means it is homemade and not coming from some corporate distributor.
Stop in, have a chorizo torta and some horchata, and enjoy one of the few standing indepedent food joints.
I went to DePaul, coming back here is like going home.
With all the different Mexican places in the city, this is still my favorite. Is it the food or all the great memories I've had here?
I love the guacamole here, simply delish! Although, I wish they gave you more of it. The complimentary salsa is one of the best I've had, I drizzle it over my tacos for extra oomph. The tacos are a nice size and at times overfilled, but who's going to complain about too much food? Definitely order the horchata, it's heavenly!
And yes, be nice to the workers. They are the same ones that I remember from when I went to school and even with all the drunkenness that surrounds them, they always smile!
Okay, five stars is a bit crazy, but I LOVE ALLENDE! It's a hole, that's for sure, but it's the best cheap Mexican food around. 1.55 for amazing tacos and the hot sauce is awesome. The guac is not the best, but it's pretty good, and the free chips are great. It always seems to be open, and it's always good and cheap. *those with weak stomachs beware* a few of my friends refuse to go here again, but that's the price you pay sometimes for Mexican food!!!
Enough mirrors and free chips with salsa to satify any narcissistic Mexican food lovers. It's hard to eat without feeling like you're being watched.
Drop in if you're a drunk college fool.
Avoid if you're actually looking for GOOD Mexican dishes.
A good friend of mine recommended this place, but it took me a long time to try it out instead of my old-time favorite Taco Burrito Palace #2 (see my other reviews). Eventually, I tried it -- and was blown away!
This place is great! Personally, I don't consider it a competitor to Taco Burrito Palace at all. Their menu is completely different, and the food tastes different altogether. My theory is that they are from two different regions or something.
I usually get the burritos, which are huge and very spicy. The tortillas are actually very dry, but when they add the deliciously oily, spicy meat inside, some kind of burrito magic happens.
Allende is cash only, so bring a little bit of money. They have an ATM inside, if you forgot. This place is in LP, so don't go here late at night unless you want to "interact" with kids who had too much to drink. I tend to come here after work or on weekends, usually for lunch.
The service is quick and very friendly. I've personally never had to wait for a burrito longer than 10 minutes.
I've been thanking my friend ever since...
For the price Allende is great! I can vouch for the taco and the torta. The portions were good, and 3 of us ate for $10.
The chips are very crisp and not too salty. The avocado is very fresh as well, they scoop it out of the avocado when you order.
Allende is my guilty pleasure... I was just driving by over the weekend thinking how good it would be, then I see someone recently reviews it...!.
my favorite thing from Allende is an order of Steak nachos with everything to go. And a large horchata or two to drink. Ordering them "to go" is a must, too... they just don't taste the same when served on a real plate versus when the cheese is half stuck to the styrofoam container they were microwaved in. It sounds gross and bizarre, I know. But they're good, trust me! i've had steak nachos at a ton of places, but allende's are by far the best!
if i'm ever on death row, steak nachos "with everything" will be my last meal request (and they'd naturally be "to go").
I can't tell you how many times I went to Allende late night when I was at DePaul. It was so cheap and so good. I think at that time a taco was a dollar and some change.
I would always look in the mirror that lines the wall and think to myself "why am I still out?" I guess it has something to do with the awesome vegetarian tacos. Also might have something to do with the great people watching. The bright lights don't do anyone any favors after a night out. There's always someone passed out at their table while their friends continue to eat. Very entertaining.
Eaten here a couple times, though never late at night with the drunkards and such. Too busy being a drunkard over at Weiner's Circle or wherever else.
I don't like it there mainly because it's dirty. The food is unremarkable and there's no excuse for eating bland food when there are so many better options nearby.
Food is pretty dece. If only they had the free basket of chips from "El Presidente" (Wrightwood and Ashland) they would get 5 stars. The food is cheap and well worth what you pay for. It is by no means bad food. It's great for DePaul students. I have myself ended up there a few times after a party/bar.
Not sure why, but I've never stumbled in here drunk. Every Allende taco I've eaten, I've eaten sober. And they've all been SO GOOD! Two perfect corn tortillas (soooo much better than flour tortillas) stuffed with fresh slices of avocado and tasty refried beans, fresh (I think... or at least I want to believe) salsa and spicy rice... every bite's a pure delight.
One time I bused up there from River North during my lunch break just to have two tacos. The bus fare doubled the meal cost, but that was fine by me.
I first ate here when a friend and I stumbled in after the bars one night. I've also stumbled in here sober and enjoyed the experience too.
Allende?
Si!
Get the guac (but ask for tortillas instead of chips to eat it with).
Get the Chicken Torta - shredded chicken, sour cream, avocado, oh my!
I've never had it, but apparently their carne asada is very good as well.
Let's be honest - this place is meant for late night. Its a taqueria, through and through...but if you are in the neighborhood, its highly recommended!
one of the best veggie burritos i've had in awhile. and make sure you get the chipotle sauce to go with your leftover tortilla chips...if there's any left. hell just get some sauce to go anyway even if you don't have anything to walk away with!
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